Monday, October 29, 2012

Creamy Crunchy Baked Leeks and a Giveaway!

Creamy Crunchy Baked Leeks

I was asked by TLC Book Tours to review Jamie Oliver's new cookbook Great Britian.

First off let me say, if I ever had a cookbook published, it would so much like Jamies. I love that it's loaded with photos and the whole style is very unpretentious. It just flowy and fun. Just like his cooking. The recipes are authentic British foods and in most of the recipes you get a nice little history lesson to boot.

I've been watching Jamie since he was the Naked Chef. I love his casual style of cooking. I love how he will grab things up in handfuls, or gobs as he says, or how he will just say throw a bit of this in or add just a pinch of this in. My favortie Jamie saying is "this or that are best mates". Like this:

"rosemary and pork are best mates"
"apples and brown sugar are best mates"
"avocados and lime are best mates"

You get the picture. I also love how he always says "brillant". Most of the Brits do and it just tickles me to know end.

My maternal great grandmother was English so I'd like to think there are some recipes in this book that she might have grown up eating. There are a few that I had never heard of like......St Clement's Cake, Cranachan, Welsh Cakes, Arbroath Smokies, etc.

So I poured over all the recipes in this book and I had it narrowed down to two recipes. This one for Creamy Crunchy Baked Leeks and his Jammy Coconut Sponge Cake. As luck would have it, my friend Amy at Very Culinary made the cake. You should go check it out! Click here! Amy and I always seem to be on the same wave length when it comes to food so I'm a little surprised that we both didn't post the same recipe.

I'm a leek lover. Caramlized leeks just send me over the top. Leeks baked with cheese. I can't even speak.

This recipe was every bit as delciious as I expected it to be.


Creamy Crunchy Baked Leeks 1


Creamy Crunchy Leeks
recipe from Jamie Oliver's Great Britian
1 rasher of bacon, finely sliced (I used 3 strips) I hear from my Brit friends a rasher is normally 1
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 fresh bay leaf
¾ lb baby leeks (I used regular ole leeks)
Sea salt and ground pepper
1 cup organic chicken stock
5 tablespoon light cream
1.7 ounces cheddar or any delicious cheese crumbled.
1 clove of garlic
3 thick slices of stale white bread, crusts removed
Small bunch of fresh thyme, leaves picked.

Oven to 400.

Put a medium sized pan on medium heat. Put the bacon, the oil and the bay leaf into the pan and fry for a few minutes until lightly golden. While that’s happening top and tail the leeks (cut off the bottom and the dark green tops), cut in half lengthwise and wash well. Slice them into 1 inch pieces and add them to the pan. Stir together, season generously with salt and pepper then pour the stock and cream in and bring ot a boil. Simmer for about 10 minutes. At this point turn off the heat and stir in most of the cheese. The mixture will still be quite runny at this point but don’t worry; it will thicken up in the oven.

Meanwhile, put the garlic and the bread into a food processor with the thyme leaves and pulse until you have nice coarse flavored breadcrumbs.

If your pan is ovenproof you can simply pop it straight into the oven, if not, place into a shallow 8x10 inch pan. Sprinkle with breadcrumbs and cheese. Cook on the top shelf for 30 to 40 minutes or until golden and crispy. Serve with absolutely anything you like.

So I want to share this wonderful cookbook with one of you. Here's what you need to do to win....

Leave a comment answering this question: What's the last thing you ate?

One lucky U.S. or Canadian reader has a chance to win a copy of Jamie Oliver’s Great Britain.

If you don't have a blog, please leave me email address to contact you!

There are three ways to enter: (1) leave a comment on the blog (2) go “like” The Cutting Edge of Ordinary on Facebook or (3) Already a fan? Just leave a comment on The Wall. Want to increase your chances? You can leave a comment here and on Facebook.

Giveaway ends on Friday November 2 at midnight EST. Good Luck!

62 comments:

StephenC said...


The last thing I ate: homemade mango ice cream last evening.

Jen said...

Grilled cheese on homemade bread. Yum
!

Unknown said...

The last thing I ate was oatmeal, with diced apples and brown sugar. MMmm. But the last thing I watched was an episode of Jamie Oliver's Great Britain. It's a brilliant show. ;-)

Joan @ Debt of Gratitude said...

Breakfast this morning: an orange, a banana and a boiled egg. Would rather have cheesy leeks!

Maria Alau said...

"I got a rock" :) Rice krispy treats dyed purple and torn into "rocks" (leftovers from prep for my Bebe's school Halloween...oh, 'scuse me "Fall Fun" party. )

Maria/Haleoalau

Jackie said...

I just had a bagel with paenut butter and jelly, along with my Raspberry/caramel Latte'

Suburban prep said...

The last thing I ate was a piece of toast and some yogurt.

Amy said...

"best mates"..."brilliant"... right? I love him, too. Totally my style.

I remember flipping through the book and hesitating when I got the coconut cake, thinking "Lisa will probably make this." It is funny (and almost shocking) that we didn't post the same recipe. I am completely on board with your choice. Luuuuhuv leeks.

Be safe today! Thinking about you.

Janine at Rustic Kitchen said...

Whoa my fingers are crossed! The last thing I ate was my friend Cathy's vegetable barley soup. I feel so virtuous I'm off in search of pastry!

Cheryl Lewis said...

Last thing I ate was Beef eye of round roast, loaded smashed taters, and roasted brussel sprouts,carrots, and onions. Had last nights left overs for lunch. :)

Unknown said...

I had some potato soup. Made a crock of soup in anticipation of no electricity thanks to Hurricane Sandy. Still have power, but leaving the crock on.

elly said...

The last thing I ate was some yogurt with fruit and granola. (The baked leeks look awesome. I just bookmarked them and can't wait to try them.)

traveler said...

A bagel with smoked salmon spread. saubleb(at)gmail(dot)com

petite said...

I ate yogurt with cereal. elliotbencan(at)hotmail(dot)com

Creating Through LIFE said...

mmm that recipe looks delicious! The last thing I ate was an apple.

Carla said...

The last thing I ate was mandarin orange, lol. Munching until dinner is ready. theslajcherts AT gmail dot com

Meg said...

I just finished up some basil pesto on Texas-shaped pasta with a spritz of fresh lemon. Mmmm!

Peppermint Ph.D. said...

Last thing I ate was Crawfish Soup :) No need to enter me in the Giveaway as I already own this cookbook :) One of the best I've seen this year!

Julie said...

The last thing i ate was salmon, mushrooms and leeks in phyllo. YUM!

Julie said...

The last thing i ate was salmon, mushrooms and leeks in phyllo. YUM!

Jan Spell Pritchard said...

OOooo that looks so good! Gonna go get me some leeks - LOL!

As for the contest, the last thing I ate (absolutely no joke!): Crockpot apple butter off a spoon - just made it yesterday from your very own wonderful post about it a while ago - with Honeycrisp apples and Penzy's viet. cinn. - so good I didn't even want to dilute it with bread! (Seriously -if you're reading this and haven't made her applebutter this way - you absolutely have to! Best stuff on earth!)

Mel said...

We had tacos, cheesy salsa rice and refried beans. I'm also looking forward to a Durian ice pop as a snack!

lunar_embrace@hotmail.com

KAM said...

The last thing I ate was grilled halibut with brown rice, brocolli and baked winter squash for dessert.

snicklefritzin43 at hotmail dot com

Lora Meadows said...

The last thing I ate was banana pudding made with pound cake instead of vanilla wafers! :) yummy

Gerilynne said...

I made cupcakes for Halloween and had to sample one. White cake, orange frosting and green homemade marshmallow block monster heads with pretzel sticks sticking out of his head :-)

Mindy said...

Dinner was roasted chicken, baked macaroni and cheese, and roasted local veggies. Then we had pecan pie. Oh my. (snowball1957@comcast.net)

jennifer_f said...

Dinner last night was grilled steak and asparagus with mashed potatoes.

barbaradougherty126 said...

The last thing I ate was Beef Stroganoff and homemade biscuits. :) Thanks for the giveaway

Becky LeJeune said...

Ha! The last thing I ate was also Beef Stroganoff! Though Nana-Bob and I are not in the same house :) Mine was a garlicky beef stroganoff made in the slow cooker and man was it tasty! Course I work from home and had to smell it cooking all day. Torture!

Suko said...

I made my special oatmeal this morning: organic oats cooked with soymilk, with chopped up apple and raisins, sprinkled with ground flaxseed and cinnamon. I topped it with a dollop of Greek style organic yogurt. It's delicious and filling!

I'd love to have this cookbook, as much for the history bits and photos as for the recipes. I'm a big fan of Jamie Oliver! :)

suko95(at)gmail(dot)com

THANKS FOR HOSTING THIS GREAT GIVEAWAY!!!

Zonie54 said...

Last thing I ate...Southwest egg rolls from Chilis...mmmm good!

Sarah said...

The last thing I ate? Joy the Baker's Caramelized Mushrooms and Biscuits.

Sarah said...

I liked the Cutting Edge of Ordinary on Facebook.

bn100 said...

buttered popcorn

bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

Toni said...

A caramel roll :)

Stacy said...

The last thing I ate was a lovely home cooked dinner of pan-fried salmon, arugula/rocket salad and sauteed mixed mushrooms. I would love to win the Jamie book as a gift for my daughter who is at university in the States.

Cheers!

Stacy

Judy said...

A leftover Salted Nut Roll

Elle said...

Leeks and I are best mates! Ha! I love leeks. Love them! I also love Jamie Oliver.

The last thing I ate was grilled cornbread and some oatmeal. Breakfast.

Elle said...

I liked your page, which I can't believe I hadn't already.

Anonymous said...

Gigi. I made penne pasta with braised short ribs!

Gigicuccaro02@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

I like your page on FB!

Gigi

Gigicuccaro02@yahoo.com

Monica said...

I would love to add this book to my cookbook collection.

Thanks!

White Toast with Butter said...

A bagel - finally found one here in New York!

White Toast with Butter said...

I liked your page a long time ago!

White Toast with Butter said...

A bagel - finally found one here in New York!

Karen B said...

I just ate a nice warm chocolate chip cookie from McDonalds! Great for us senior singles who don't bake often because we would eat it all...

KG said...

The last thing I ate was sweet potato, the way I like it best: cooked and mashed. Keepeth thine brown sugar and marshmallows away!

Also: I would totally eat the top of those leeks first. That beautiful, crispy-looking golden brown top...

Carla said...

Chicken korma. It wasn't that good.

Heidi's Garden said...

Oh I love leeks. I never hear of anyone eating them in the US. I only started eating them when I moved to Europe. They are a staple here. I am going to try this.

The last thing I ate was my lunch...a piece of whole brown bread with a little butter, cheese and slice of ham.

Hugs from Holland ~
Heidi

Heather J. @ TLC Book Tours said...

That recipe looks AMAZING - wish I was there to share it with you!

Thanks for being on the tour.

Pam said...

Just had a slice of Chai Banana Bread, need to make more.

imdaveswife said...

Candy corn! Oh you mean real food? Tuna Sandwich with red onion and dill pickles chopped in. BBQ chips on the side. Typical Saturday lunch!

imdaveswife said...

Candy corn! Oh you mean real food? Tuna Sandwich with red onion and dill pickles chopped in. BBQ chips on the side. Typical Saturday lunch!

Foodiewife said...

Beautifully done! This looks so comforting and flavorful. The last thing I ate... does the umpteen fistfuls of Kettle Korn that I'm still chewing on, count?

Mrs. K said...

Last thing I ate was a Pepperidge Farm distinctive Milano cookie...one of the limited edition peppermint ones.

Desertjaye at AOL dot com

Ashley W. said...

The last thing I ate was cinnamon chip oatmeal cookies that my sister sent me, with my morning cup of coffee.

awaltemath at cox.net

Susan said...

The last thing I ate was a baked Sweet potato

suzanmw at yahoo dot com

Jo Ann Buller said...

don't know if i've already signed up but will do so again so i might be a lucky winner. i love jamie oliver.

test said...

Afritada, a Filipino dish. Here's a recipe:

http://panlasangpinoy.com/2009/06/30/pork-afritada/

test said...

oh -- you can find me on my blog Guiltless Reading and my email addy: readerrabbit22 at gmail.com

awesome giveaway!

Holly (2 Kids and Tired) said...

Pasta Carbonara, for dinner tonight. Not from Jamie's cookbook though. I prepared the Early Autumn Cornish Pasties and they were terrific. My British husband said they were just right. I thought this was a great cookbook and have several other recipes marked to try. Great review.
2 Kids and Tired Books

Barblou said...

Banana pancakes fortified with wheat germ and slice of ham.