Something For The Weekend

Exclusive Jamie Oliver recipe

It's here folks, an exclusive recipe from Jamie Oliver's new book, Jamie at Home. Cook it for your loved ones, your friends or maybe just yourself, but at least it won't be a microwave meal from Tesco's tonight, hey?

Try printing it out as a PDF here, or just follow the instructions below. Lovely.

Spicy Pork and Chilli-Pepper Goulash

The idea of cooking a tough piece of pork in a lovely pepper stew to make it extremely tender and melt-in-your-mouth is something I find quite exciting. This dish is one of my favourites and, unless you’ve got a strange aversion to chillies and peppers, I know you’ll end up making it again and again. It’s a complete classic. It’s also one of those dishes which tastes great when reheated the day after it’s made. You’ve got a whole range of chilli and pepper flavours going on; from smoked paprika to fresh chillies, and fresh peppers to sweet grilled and peeled ones. Delish!

Serves 4 to 6

2kg pork shoulder off the bone, in one piece, skin off, fat left on

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Olive oil

2 red onions, peeled and finely sliced

2 fresh red chillies, deseeded and finely chopped

2 generously heaped tablespoons mild smoked paprika, plus a little extra for serving

2 teaspoons ground caraway seeds

A small bunch of fresh marjoram or oregano, leaves picked

5 peppers (use a mixture of colours)

1 x 280g jar of grilled peppers, drained, peeled and chopped

1 x 400g tin of good-quality plum tomatoes

4 tablespoons red wine vinegar

400g basmati or long-grain rice, washed

1 x 142ml pot of soured cream

Zest of 1 lemon

A small bunch of fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped

Preheat the oven to 180˚C/350˚C/gas4. Get yourself a deep, ovenproof stew pot with a lid and heat it on the hob. Score the fat on the pork in a criss-cross pattern all the way through to the meat, then season generously with salt and pepper. Pour a good glug of olive oil into the pot and add the pork, fat side down. Cook for about 15 minutes on a medium heat, to render out the fat, then remove the pork from the pot and put it to one side.

Add the onions, chilli, paprika, caraway seeds, marjoram or oregano and a good pinch of salt and pepper to the pot. Turn the heat down and gently cook the onions for 10 minutes, then add the sliced peppers, the grilled peppers and the tomatoes. Put the pork back into the pot, give everything a little shake, then pour in enough water to just cover the meat. Add the vinegar – this will give it a nice twang. Bring to the boil, put the lid on top, then place in the preheated oven for 3 hours.

You’ll know when the meat is cooked as it will be tender and sticky, and it will break up easily when pulled apart with two forks. If it’s not quite there yet, put the pot back into the oven and just be patient for a little longer!

When the meat is nearly ready, cook the rice in salted, boiling water for 10 minutes until it’s just undercooked, then drain in a colander, reserving some of the cooking water and pouring it back in the pan. Place the colander over the pan on a low heat and put a lid on. Leave to steam dry and cook through for 10 minutes – this will make the rice lovely and fluffy.

Stir the soured cream, lemon zest and most of the parsley together in a little bowl. When the meat is done, take the pot out of the oven and taste the goulash. You’re after a balance of sweetness from the peppers and spiciness from the caraway seeds. Tear of break the meat up and serve the goulash in a big dish ore bowl, with a bowl of your steaming rice and your flavoured soured cream. Sprinkle with the rest of the chopped parsley and tuck in!

Win a weekend at the Manor Hotel, Datchet

A really good boutique hotel feels more like the immaculately kept house of a fashion designer than a public hotel. The Manor definitely has that feel with its unique rooms decorated with plush, luxurious materials, individually selected colour schemes and furniture. There are two annexes, one with four bedrooms and the other with seven suites. In the Phillippe Starke bathrooms the heads of the power showers are the size of frying pans giving you that luxurious Victorian water-closet feel. The bedrooms themselves have all the mod cons like Wifi, 24 inch plasma TVs (in fact in the feature rooms there are plasma TVs in the bathrooms) and homely creature comforts like deep-fill, duck-down duvets.

So what makes a boutique hotel boutique? We think it's the fun stuff - The Manor has self-contained suites available (with kitchens) that not only share gardens, but have a private billiard room too. So you can knock a few balls about with fellow guests after dinner.

The restaurant, Black Olive, is a popular one in the local area. Definitely not the canteen-style eateries you get at larger, more corporate hotels (you know, the ones that smell of breakfast toast all day). It's a stylish, cosy place to eat, with exposed beams and rustic wooden furniture which contrasts nicely with the modern, fusion menu.

If you like the sound of the The Manor, just email us with your name, address and daytime phone number to be in with a chance of winning a weekend stay.

Or if you'd rather not leave it to chance, book your stay here.

Please note that comments on this blog will not be counted as entries to the competition.

How Mary grabbed the Tour de France

I GRABBED THE SUMMER and then had to hang on for dear life!! What a week.

We were relocated to Cambridge with my husband’s job from Atlanta, Georgia almost one year ago, so when we discovered the Tour de France Bike Race was starting in London for the first time in many years, the excitement started to mount. We knew we could not let this opportunity pass us by. 

It all began July 7 in London for the Prologue, a speed trial where each racer covers a 7.9 kilometer course as fast as possible. There were enormous crowds for miles and that only generated more fun and enthusiasm.  People of all ages, all nationalities, all sizes and every walk of life were standing shoulder-to-shoulder, armed with their cameras and prepared to capture great photos as each racer sped by.  It was hilarious to watch all those wannabe photographers trying to get “the shot” as each rider passed only to find he missed the racer!!  It was very funny to watch them prepare only to find they had missed again!!  This went on for several shots before the riders with their aerodynamic helmets and bodies close to the handle bars could be caught as a bright colored blur of speed as they sailed by. 

The Prologue began at 3 p.m. and ended when the last rider began his lap at 6:20 p.m.  As he passed us we packed our blanket and lugged our luggage back to the subway station heading for the train to Canterbury. I’m sure at least half the population of London was also heading in the same direction!  We arrived for our 8 o’clock dinner reservation at 10 o’clock, and finally collapsed in a 12th century B&B. Do you think we were impressed and excited?

After our full English breakfast, we set out to explore Canterbury and the cathedral for a short while before heading to the finish line.  The streets were already filling with tents selling fresh baked breads and pastries, strawberries and cream, cherries, olives, anything you could think of.  It was a beautiful morning and you could already tell it was going to be another hot race day.

After continuing to travel with our luggage on the cobble stone streets, pavements, roads, up and down stairs, we finally settled into our perfect location. Our spot was approximately 325 meters from the finish with only one row of people in front of us.  Great place for more photo opps. Everyone was patient, hot, and just so glad to be at this place at this time to see these riders as they headed for the finish line on the first leg of their long journey.

As we watched the filming helicopters get closer and closer, you could really feel the excitement building in anticipation of what was about to happen.   Here they come and there they go.  The leaders and the pelethon passed us just that fast.  It was like an artist stroke of bright and beautiful liquid color as they passed.  It probably lasted no longer than 10 seconds. But what you felt just by being there! And you get to see it all over again tomorrow. It is one of those moments that I will never forget.  At that point the SUMMER HAD GRABBED ME!

As soon as the riders passed us we collected our luggage (again) and headed to the train station, then the ferry terminal to cross the English Channel. Another wonderful thrill and something new for us.

With all the ticket planning laid out so smoothly, you knew you were living on borrowed time before disaster would occur. It happened when we departed the ferry terminal in Dunkirque and found NO WAY to get to the train station.  We finally found someone who told us we had to call a taxi. By the time they arrived there were 6 Americans who had missed the last train to Lille with connection in Brussels to Gent for the arrival of the bikers the next day. You should have seen all of us trying to come up with enough cash to pay for the taxi. Euros, pounds, American dollars, all swapping hands allowing us to barely catch the last train to Brussels for the night.

We had all decided we wanted to be at the finish line in Gent since this would be our last day with the tour and thought we would get to the finish line early only to discover many, many other spectators had already filled that area.  So we walked a little of the city and made our way back toward the finish line for the 5:30 arrival of riders.  People were everywhere- - standing on all the balconies, sitting in the concrete window ledges, one bloke was sitting on the top of traffic light. It was amazing to see the sheer number of spectators who turned out in each city to get a glimpse of these world-class riders.

All or time and effort carrying our luggage and backpacks for 2 days, the eight trains we caught, the missed train, one ferry, the numerous subway trains, the millions of steps, in 4 days to reach 3 different countries, did not dampen the spirit and the excitement of this event.  I would not have changed a minute of it (well, maybe the missed train).  I learned a lot, saw many new places and things, and the amount of determination these riders show every day when it is time to begin another new leg of their journey is simply incredible.

I grabbed the summer of 2007 and it is definitely one I will never forget!!!

Mary Jones

Jamie at Home - at the weekends

To celebrate the release of Jamie Oliver's new book Jamie at Home on September 6, we're giving one lucky newsletter reader an £100 voucher for Jamie's London restaurant, Fifteen. You can enter the competition here.

Jamie at Home includes 100 new recipes, all inspired by Jamie's garden at home, and in particular his beloved vegetable patch. Jamie says, 'I came to realise last year that it's not always about looking out at the wider world for inspiration. Being at home, feeling relaxed and open, can also offer this'.

We also asked Jamie to tell us what he gets up to at home at the weekends. Here's what he had to say:

On Thursday (6th September), we’ll also be publishing an exclusive Jamie Oliver recipe, right here. So check back on Thursday.

Win a weekend at the London Hilton on Park Lane

The fashionable London Hilton on Park Lane hotel is situated in the heart of Mayfair and overlooking Hyde Park, this hotel has a health club and treatment rooms. There are also a variety of places to eat and drink within the hotel. Such a variety, in fact, that you might not need to leave the hotel all weekend!

Galvin at Windows restaurant:
Enjoy 360° views of the city from this renowned restaurant on the 28th floor of the London Hilton on Park Lane hotel. Enjoy seasonally inspired modern French haute cuisine and à la carte dining in elegant surroundings. Take a seat in the raised central area for even better views.

Podium:
Sample seasonal modern European cuisine at Podium, situated in the Lobby of the London Hilton on Park Lane hotel. Contemporary burnished pewter and bold citrus tones forms the backdrop for you to enjoy a relaxed dining experience.  The top-to-toe refurbishment has almost finished and the sparkling, new-look restaurant will be open again next week.

Pop Bar:
Savour Pommery Champagnes served in mini bottles at this vibrant bar. Decorated with bubble glass and elegant gold tones, admire the work of Pop Art's Sir Peter Blake while relaxing with friends and guests of the London Hilton on Park Lane hotel.

Trader Vic's Restaurant and Bar:
Trader Vic’s is a London institution and home of the Mai Tai cocktail. Sample French Polynesian-style cuisine like Szechuan Butterfly Prawns and admire the traditional Tiki carvings adorning the walls of this tropical bar at the London Hilton on Park Lane hotel.

Zeta bar:
If you've a thirst for a refreshing cocktail, this is the bar to head to, because cocktails don't come fresher than at Zeta. No concentrated juices are used, in fact with all the fresh fruit and the calm sanctuary inspired décor, you might even be able to convince your conscience that drinking is good for you.

Of course it's not just about the food and the drink, staying at a Hilton means the highest standard of service and beautiful decor throughout. It's a five-star hotel, and from the moment you step through the doors to until you reluctantly dawdle out again you'll notice the quality in every aspect of your stay.

If you like the sound of the London Hilton, just email us with your name, address and daytime phone number to be in with a chance of winning a weekend stay.

Or if you'd rather not leave it to chance, book your stay here.

Please note that comments on this blog will not be counted as entries to the competition.

August bank holidays that made history

When it comes to momentous events, the August bank holiday has had its fair share over the years. Remember any of these?
(If you remember 1784, please don't come knocking for us... and stop leaving occult symbols in our cornflakes too.)

2000
Millennium festival – Mardi Gras, motor sports, processions and performances took place all over the UK as part of the year long millennium festival.

1997
A Cambridgeshire family who sold everything to sail around the world are rescued from their crippled yacht by the Royal Navy in the Bay of Biscay.

1995
In London, the Rugby Union authorities announce that the amatuer game is turning professional.

1979
Lord Mountbatten, cousin of Queen Elizabeth II, is killed by an IRA bomb planted on his boat Shadow V off the coast of County Sligo, Ireland.

1966
English yachtsman Francis Chichester leaves Plymouth Harbour to begin a solo voyage around the world aboard his boat, Gipsy Moth IV.

1962
US spacecraft Mariner II is launched on a voyage to the planet, Venus.

1960
A quartet comprising John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Pete Best (later replaced by Ringo Starr) performs as "the Beatles" for the first time in Hamburg, Germany.

1940
Bombs fell at Shiremoor, Broomhill, Holy Island, Hepscott, New York and Netherton in Northumberland, South Shields, Sunderland, Shincliffe, Warden Law, West Hartlepool, Ryhope and Stockton in Co Durham and Hull in Yorkshire.

1883
The most powerful volcanic eruption in recorded history occurs on Krakatau, a small, uninhabited island located west of Sumatra in Indonesia. The explosions caused 120-foot tidal waves and could be heard more than 2,000 miles away in Australia.

1939
In Germany, a jet-propelled aircraft, the Heinkel 178, makes its' first flight at Marienehe in north Germany.

1912
The story of Tarzan of the Apes, written by Edgar Rice Burroughs, first goes into print as a serial in a magazine.

1900
In South Africa, the Boer army commanded by Louis Botha is defeated by the British at Bergendal.

1859
The world's first commercially productive oil-well is drilled at Titusville, Pennsylvannia, by Edwin Drake.

1813
130,000 French troops, commanded by Napoleon Bonaparte, defeat a 200,000 strong Austrian Army at the Battle of Dresden.

1784
The first British balloon ascent is made by James Tytler at Edinburgh.

Win a weekend at the Marlin Apartments (Empire Square)

Picture the scene: you want to cook a romantic dinner for someone, someone you really need to impress... but you know that your rickety Ikea futon and a kitchen full of your flatmate's dirty dishes just aren't going to cut it when it comes to playing culinary Casanova. Wouldn't it be great if you didn't live with the real-life equivalent of Spike from Notting Hill? If maybe instead of a semi in Bromley you actually lived in a swanky pad in the heart of the city? Well... we'd never encourage fibbing, but you could always "pretend".

The Empire Square Apartments are eight floors of classy living 2 mins from Borough tube station. Rather than staying in a hotel, you can hire out an apartment for anything from one night to a few weeks. As well as flat screen TVs, stylish, muted furnishings, wooden floors, sparkling bathroom and a fully fitted open plan kitchen, you get a welcome basket of necessities (including some quick-fix food in case you've arrive in the middle of the night) and Molton Brown toiletries.  Of course, if you're really trying to pass off the luxury life as your own, you'll want to stock up the fridge a bit and put some clothes in the built-in wardrobes or your date might think you're a bit OCD.

Right in the centre of the city, it's a great place to spend a weekend, with the shared garden area, the local pub The Royal Oak which does a proper Sunday roast and Borough Market just around the corner. Bookings are taken until 7pm on the day you want to stay, so you can make-like-a-millionaire with pretty short notice.

If you think you like the sound of the Empire Square Apartments, just email us with your name, address and daytime phone number to be in with a chance of winning a weekend stay.

Or if you'd rather not leave it to chance, book your stay here.

This competition is now closed.

Get our Andy to Hollywood

Eagle vs Shark

 

You'll giggle and you'll cringe. Eagle vs. Shark is the bizarre, yet touching story of two socially awkward oddballs and their journey through the uninspiring social wilderness of suburban New Zealand to find love and acceptance; through free french fries, video game fight-offs and a rich tapestry of pointless lies. And who said romance is dead?

When Jared sets off on his revenge mission to thwart a childhood foe, Lily follows him to his hometown as his faithful sidekick. They might not be as dynamic as Batman and Robin, they give them a run for their money when it comes to their outfits.

Eagle vs Shark released 17th August

lastminute.com in conjunction with Vue Cinemas has decided to bring cinema prices back to proper prices with this great deal for just £4.25. Click here to buy your ticket - available from £4.25 (Mon-Thu)

Who's got the best prices? We do!

Wicked
Wicked based on Gregory Maguire’s acclaimed novel, this spellbinding musical transports audiences to a spectacular fantasy world of wizardry, witchcraft, sorcery and spells to tell the captivating untold story of an extraordinary friendship between two girls: the blond and popular Glinda and the misunderstood green girl, Elphaba, whose destiny is to become the Wicked Witch of the West.

Best prices online from £15*

Lord of the Rings
The magic of The Lord Of The Rings comes to life in a stunning new onstage spectacle with over 70 actors, singers and musicians. An amazing live event, filled with jaw-dropping theatricality, that transports you to Middle-earth as breathtaking special effects, thrilling music and dazzling performances fill the Theatre Royal Drury Lane.

Best prices online from £20*

The Sound of Music
The world’s best-loved musical, The Sound of Music is breaking all box office records in this dazzling new production at the London Palladium. The Sound Of Music stars the recently discovered bright new talent of musical theatre, Connie Fisher, voted to play the part of Maria by the British public on the top-rating BBC TV programme How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?

Best prices online from £30*

The Lion King
A spectacular visual feast, this adaptation of Disney's much-loved film transports audiences to a dazzling world that explodes with glorious colours, stunning effects and enchanting music. At its heart is the powerful and moving story of Simba - the epic adventure of his journey from wide-eyed cub to his destined role as King of the Pridelands.

Best prices online from £27.50*

*at time of writing. Prices are subject to change.