'this is why your fat' vs tabbouleh, falafel, laksa, curry

Having recently stumbled upon the gut churning website 'this is why you're fat', my obsession with food porn (it's officially now ok - and virtually a recognised movement, to sit and lust over photos of food, drooling and mmmming in a corner) has taken on a slightly darker tangent, a morbid fascination if you will, with the astonishing foods that people eat/abuse their bodies with - we're talking corn dog pizza, deep fried milky ways and something ominous dubbed 'the chubby girl scout' all awash with melted cheese. I LOVE CHEESE like Wallace but not in heart attack quantities.

Mint & coriander raita, toasted pistachio, chickpea & pomegranate salad, mango salad

This weeks blog is the antithesis of that kind of 'throw all caution to the cholesterol laden wind, food'. (Don't get me wrong I love a good dessert as much as the next person; here's a great dessert).

Here are some photos of totally delicious foods I've cooked in The Spicery kitchen lately; vibrant, colourful and generally good to drool over, if a bacon mug full of melted cheese is just not your cup of tea (no pun intended). They will be tested to near perfection and then find their way to you via spice box delivery!

Spinach dahl, baigan bharta, Indian potato salad, chappatis, coconut sambal & a rogue falafel.

I think people commit such crimes against food because our palates are growing more and more accustomed to 'loud' flavoursome foods (the salt and fat satisfy this craving). Putting a load of spices in your food, and adding BOOMZING with a souring agent such as a citrus juice, kokum, tamarind powder, amchur/ dried mango powder or vinegar gives your mouth the same powerful tastes so the high salt and fat aren't necessary/ or craved anymore.

Preparing to Laksa one off

Even the blandest of foods can be transformed into something tantalising and interesting, what's more it really doesn't need to take anymore time. Mum's and dad's trying to keep the kids from going feral whilst also knocking up something vaguely healthy/ interesting for adults and edible to fussy kids will understand the merit of time during dinner making hour - which is BTW between 5-6pm, I call it the 'dark hour'.

Epic lasagna, add nutmeg, dried herbs, chilli flakes or smoked paprika to pick up the flavour.

Lest I bash 'this is why your fat' website too much, the Guinness chocolate pudding from sprinkle bakes looks beautiful, and the bacon and chicken narwhal from incoherent ramblings is pure genius.
As for upside down double mac n cheese pizza sandwich. Just don't. Eat this tabbouleh instead.

Spiced tabbouleh

Spiced tabbouleh:

SPICES: ¾ tsp ground cinnamon, ¾ tsp toasted ground cumin, ½ tsp ground coriander, ½ tsp mint, ¼ tsp ground black pepper, ¼ tsp ground allspice

You can eat this on the side of grilled chicken or fish, burgers, falafel, endless possibilities. Try rubbing meat with Chermoula (a herby Moroccan blend, fragrant with a hint of cumin)/ Insanity salt (chilli hot with a touch of fennel, pepper and celery) or my fav at the moment Urfa, (a smoky, deep, not very hot chilli from Turkey - mix with oil and rub it on).

There are some recipes on our website, you can e-mail me for ideas (emma@thespicery.com) or just go CONDIMENTAL with spices in your everyday recipes. I'd be suprised if you can find a dish that doesn't benefit from a herb or spice - even if Jamie/ Nigella doesn't state it on the recipe!