Saturday 31 December 2011

Ingredients: Hungover Cooking Like a Baddun

You had turkey for Christmas (and boxing day, and the day after, and the day after) so on New Year's you'll probably want something different. Now, we're not sure about you, but New Years Day roast dinners are usually standard procedure up in our houses, and due to an over-indulgence in poultry, it's nearly always lamb. It's become a sort-of tradition. However the official Hangover Bank Holiday is probably not the best day for getting out the sharp knives and playing with hot roasting tins, but if you're entertaining notions of cooking for mates despite the state of your head 1) good on you, and 2) what about cooking something simple that looks a bit showy?


Enter Psylence's Lamb & Brie Burgers. A little bit special, but meaty enough to satisfy the weariest of post-party appetites, they'll also use up the remnants of that elaborate cheeseboard you've been working through since Christmas Eve (we know you opened it early. Naughty.)




6 Lamb Burgers with Brie and sweet pepper Relish
  • 2lb lamb mince
  • zest of 1 lime
  • 2 egg
  • fresh coriander
  • 2 green chilli
  • 1 1/2 tblsp cumin
  • 4 tblsp olive oil
  • salt & pepper
  1. Finely chop the chilli, coriander and grate the zest of the lime.
  2. Add to the minced lamb, adding all the ingredients.
  3. To taste a bit simply pan fry a small piece so you know they are seasoned well.
  4. Mould into 6 nice sized burgers, and I'd say the best way to cook them would be to pan fry in very shallow oil & seal each side for 2 mins.
  5. Once you've sealed them all, place in a tray with baking paper and cook them through on 190.
  6. Before serving, add a nice slive of Brie on top and warm through so it's melting slowly. 
  7. Slice some ciabatta bread, toast it lightly and brush with some olive oil.

Nice with some sweet pepper relish.


Saturday 24 December 2011

A Very Ingredients Christmas: Part Two

Christmas is a time for giving. It’s also a time for stuffing your face with all of the chocolate, so this next recipe is a combination of these two important aspects of the festive period – namely lots and lots of chocolate, and giving you a couple of extra pounds to work off in the new year. We’re nice like that.


Chocolate Tart with Mascarpone

Pastry:
  • 185g Flour
  • 1 tblsp caster sugar
  • pinch of salt
  • 185g unsalted butter
  • dash of cold water

Filling:
  • 370g plain chocolate
  • 185g unsalted butter
  • 60g caster sugar
  • 8 egg yolks

Nice bit of extra stuff:
  • 1 Tub mascarpone.

  1. To make the pastry, mix the flour, sugar and salt in a bowl. Rub the butter into the flour mix mixture  with your fingers until it forms crumbs and will hold together. Gradually add the water to the flour mix just until the pastry is formed and will hold together when you press it, wrap in cling film and allow it to rest for 30 mins. Then, roll it out and line in a tart case, set it in the freezer for 20 mins.
  2. Then you want to get a load of lentils or similar, in some tin foil, and place onto the pastry so you can 'blind bake' it, which means you're pre-baking the pastry. Bake for 20 mins, remove the lentils in foil and allow the pastry to cool.
  3. To make the filling, place the chocolate and the butter in a metal bowl over some simmering water on the stove. Once melted, remove from the heat, and meanwhile beat the egg yolks with the caster sugar until the mixture forms ribbons when dropped from the beater. Fold into the Chocolate & butter until completely blended, pour into the pastry shell, and cook in the pre-heated oven until set and a skewer inserted comes out clean.
  4. Allow it to set over night in the fridge, and slice a portion with an ice-cream scoop of Mascarpone.

Thursday 22 December 2011

A Very Ingredients Christmas: Part One

We thought we'd be cool and give you some Christmas recipes & tips for the festive period. After all, turkey gets a lot of hype, but when it comes to a third day of leftovers it’s probably time to say ‘enough’. Christmas (and that week that doesn’t really exist between Christmas and New Year) should be a time of chocolate oranges, cheese, and bucks fizz for breakfast. It definitely shouldn’t be about eating boring old dry poultry. Since he’s so good to you, DJ Psylence got thinking about some almost-festive recipes to give you a bit of a break from your sixty-seventh turkey and camembert sarnie (it’s a great combo, try it!)



I looked at what would be relevant rather than trying to be all "Heston" and get you creating
a laboratory of scientific experiments.

  • Tip: I was thinking of Turkey dishes for Boxing day onwards, but look, it's simple to avoid eating the big bird for days on end, just buy a smaller one than usual.
  • Tip: Don't worry about piling on the pounds eating too much chocolate, just buy fun-size everything.
  • Tip: Avoid having to wash-up after the big meal, just fall asleep on the sofa, it's acceptable at Christmas.

Caesar Salad with Chicken for 2

1 x Cos lettuce
6 anchovies
8 slices of bread
Parmesan cheese (fresh)
Mayonnaise
2 x breasts of chicken
Garlic
Olive oil
Salt & cracked black pepper

  1. Season the chicken breasts with salt and black pepper. Oven bake them until cooked.
  2. Dice the slices of bread and put in a bowl, with some olive oil, fresh garlic and salt.
  3. Mix through so they are wet and oven bake to make croutons. 
  4. Put the mayo in a bowl, add 2 chopped anchovies, a little garlic, french mustard and a good dash of cold water.
  5. Mix it through, it should be a little runny. 
  6. In a bowl, add some chopped cos lettuce, add some mayo and mix it through, then the croutons.
  7. Transfer to the serving bowls. Slice up the chicken breast into 4 and lay on top, slice some parmesan
  8. cheese with a veg peeler, and lay 2 anchovies on top.

Wednesday 21 December 2011

Psylence's Tracks of 2011

It seems to be said every December, but 2011 really has been a big year for drum and bass. Styles have been pushed further than ever, and some truly interesting sounds have emerged from the scene. DJ Psylence takes a look back over the past twelve months and picks his personal favourites from an ever-growing list of brilliant tunes. May the quality continue to escalate in 2012!






10) J Majik & Wickaman - Old Headz - Metalheadz

This guy was one of the heroes around 1996/97 on Reinforced and Metalheadz.
His sounds were so deep, and his Metalheadz track Repertoire is still one of my favourite Metalheadz tunes ever, so it was great to hear him hark back to those days once again with this killer tune.



9) DBR UK - Fortress VIP - Dispatch

DBR UK are a collective form Luton who have made some great tracks in the last year or so.
People talk about the old Metalheadz / Blue Note days and this track reminds me of them so much.
The sort of track Doc Scott would have drawn in 1996. Excellent.


8) dRamatic & dbAudio - So Strong - Mars Recordings

This duo from Nottingham have had a big year! Their debut on Ingredients' "Life Console" was hammered
on Radio 1 and they've just gone from strength to strength since. "So Strong" reminds me of High Contrast
of old and it's electric vibes with the huge sub should have made it one of the most played tunes of 2011 in my book.


7) Break - Framework - Symmetry

Break is a beast in the studio, I've not heard a producer push his equipment so hard since Dillinja.
As a dj, sometimes you want a track that just annihilates the dance floor and this does it every time.


6) Skeptical - Refraction - Ingredients Records

Skeptical has been my favorite producer for the last two years, and I make no excuses for that, he's just brilliant. It was either going to be this or 'Blue Eyes', but there are so many to choose from I could be here all day. Why Refraction? It's the 2011 version of 1999's Ed Rush & Optical. Sick.


5) Enei & MC DRS - Obsession - Critical

Enei is one of the few producers this year who I rated but didn't manage to get any music out of.
His EP earlier in the year was brilliant, as was his big hit Cracker (Danger dance was the one for me),
But this latest offering with DRS kills it. DRS is the mastermind behind the current wave of excitement
coming out of Manchester at the moment and this track just hits the spot with where d&b is at in 2011.


4) Villem - Splinter In Your Mind - Ingredients Records

Villem is one third of Mute & Mako and half of Mute! This guy has a great attitude to drum & bass and what he feels people want to hear on the dance floor. This track is perfect, just can't fault it.


3) Dub Phizix & Skeptical - Rags - Exit

The B side to Marka, but don't think for one minute it's a filler. An absolute beast of a tune that even Photek would admire, I'm sure.


2) Mute & Mako - Astral Transmissions - Ingredients Records

This trio from Bristol are very versatile and are accomplished producers. When they sent this over to me as a demo, I couldn't quite believe it was available. Tracks like these are very rare; play from start to end.



1) Dub Phizix feat Strategy - The Editor - Soul:R

The attitude in this tune is awesome, with its moody bass line and slick vocals from the excellent MC Strategy. Their Manchester sound is finally getting props & this definitely gets my vote as tune of the year.