Book 6: Fast Food - Gordon Ramsay

I have a bit of a crush on Gordon Ramsay.  There is something kinda sexy in his craggy face and baby blue eyes...  I also love watching him on TV, when he goes into a crappy restaurant that doesn't understand soap and yells at them until they wash stuff, its just awesome!  I always hope he will rock up at my house and tell me to clean my kitchen, usually he has his top off and keeps..... (maybe I should keep that to myself?)  Anyway, I love kitchen nightmares, especially the original British series with the kitchens that were disturbingly dirty.  I remember one in particular restaurant that served Gordon (disappointingly with his top on) rancid meat and then were annoyed at him for pointing it out. Granted his way of pointing it out involved a stack of F-bombs and yelling, but I'm pretty sure he was only trying to be helpful.  I find dropping f-bombs and yelling at everyone gets stuff done, if people aren't sobbing quietly and asking me not to yell....  some people are just too delicate.

Recipe:  Beef Fajitas with Soured Cream and Guacamole

600g Beef Fillet
1 Red capsicum
2 Yellow capsicum
1 tsp ground Cumin
1/2 tsp hot (or medium) chili powder (replace with ground coriander for a mild taste)
1/2 tsp paprika
Sea salt and black pepper
3 tbsp olive oil
6-8 plain tortillas
6-8 tbsp sour cream
few coriander sprigs (leaves only), roughly torn

Guacamole:
2 medium ripe avocados
juice of 1 lime
1 garlic clove, peeled and finely granted
1/2 red chili, deseeded and finely chopped
1 shallot, peeled and finely chopped
2 ripe plum tomatoes, finely chopped
handful of coriander (leaves only) chopped

Slice the beef into long, thin strips and place in a bowl.  Halve, core and deseed the peppers, then cut into strips.

In a small jar, mix together the cumin, chili powder, paprika, salt and pepper.  Add half the spice mix to the beef strips and mix well.  Add the rest to the sliced peppers and toss to coat.  Set aside to marinate.

To make the guacamole, halve the avocados and remove the stones.  Scoop the flesh into a bowl, add the lime juice and lightly mash with a fork until you get a chunky paste.  Add the garlic, chili, shallot, tomatoes and coriander.  Mix well and season with salt and pepper to taste.  Set aside.

Heat a large wok and add the olive oil.  When it is very hot, tip in the peppers and saute until they are slightly soft, the toss in the beef strips.  Cook for 2 minutes, stirring and tossing frequently, until the beef is just cooked.  Remove from the wok and keep warm.

Warm up the tortillas in a dry frying pan for about 10 seconds each side.  Put some beef and peppers along the centre of each tortilla and add a dollop of sour cream and some guacamole.  Scatter over some torn coriander and roll up. Serve...

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I struggled a little bit trying to find something to cook in this book, don't get me wrong there are lots of delicious recipes, but some of them are a little stuck up for a night with the kids.  I decided to make fajitas mainly because we eat them a lot at home.  Generally though (when I say generally I mean all the time) I use a spice mix by Old El Paso and have heaps of cheese.  I've got to say although this recipe is delicious, I would double the spice mix (at least), it has a really nice flavour but you can hardly taste it.  I only used half the meat, so more spice is definitely required!  On the hugely plus side, the capsicum, meat and coriander all go brilliantly together.  This is one tasty recipe. 

What makes this even better for me, is that this book only cost me $10.00.  I picked it up at work when the book man came.  Even better for you is that ever since Gordon insulted the chick from A Current Affair (Tracy Grimshaw?) you can pick up a lot of his books in clearance bins all over the place.  Not good for Gordon but awesome for everybody else (maybe not Tracey either?).  Anyway, I like this book and will be making up extra spice mix to go in the pantry for next fajita night.  Sorry Old el Paso....

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Thanks

Kate

xx

Hey do you remember last week when I was telling you about me brain washing my daughter to get the recipe book I wanted for Mother's Day?  I made my first thing out of it this weekend, Chocolate Terrine with Spiced Praline and Mandarin Oil....