First rule when you're organising a foodblogging event: tell people about it. Don't assume that because it's the 57th time you're doing it, people will actually remember. Mea culpa... I completely forgot to announce our WTSIM event this time - but not to worry, it might be quite an intimate party of a dozen or so guests, but I bet you're going to enjoy it just as much... and there'll be less washing-up afterwards!
First up is Abby of eat the right stuff. She's inviting us to a traditional British Sunday Lunch and chooses a slow-roast shoulder of lamb as her centre piece. Seven hours on a bed of minted cannelini beans makes this cut melt-in-the-mouth tender and all the better for being served up with roasted pumpkin and buttery savoy cabbage... a regal treat!
Gourmet Chick Cara interprets "a sizeable chunk of something or other" somewhat loosely, but you can't help but warm to her longing for a warm winter salad. (Massive) roasted sweet potatoes huddle up against chorizo in a roasting tin, only to join some crumbly feta and mellow spinach in a bowl of healthiness.
My namesake Johanna, the Green Gourmet Giraffe, presents us with the vegetarian version of what carnivores claim to be their own... I had never heard of a nut roast before, but I can assure you that I am thoroughly tempted - anything featuring chestnuts, mushrooms and walnuts as protagonists gets my vote!
Shortcut to mushrooms was seemingly inspired by above-mentioned vegetarian as she created her own version of the nut roast. Judith even takes this as a chance to change her lifestyle choices (diet is such a boo-word in my household) and treats herself to a sneaky pain au chocolat as a reward... way to go!
Kat of Food Good to Eat in Estonia tempts us with a pork tenderloin seasoned with juniper berries and thyme, served on a bed of vegetables including carrots, potatoes, beets and radish. I might not be able to pronounce Kadakamarja ja tüümiani marinaadis seapraad glasuuritud aedviljadega but I am sure it is unspeakably delicious!
Co-host Andrew of SpittoonExtra goes hunting in Oxfordshire and returns with wood pigeon which he expertly roasts in the oven to serve them with mashed potato and a stir-fry of brussel sprouts, chestnuts and pancetta... he risks being sought up one weekend by Jeanne and myself, forcing him to cook it for us (if we don't have to go foraging)!
A traditional Spanish roast with an almost exotic twist over at A punto de caramelo... Heleni's pork is seasoned with spices and pomegranate molasses, roasted with quinces and presented on a bed of couscous - and if the question of Moorish influences is debatable, the utter moreishness of this dish certainly isn't!
Claudia of The Missing Flavour is a Brazilian expat living in Norway, fighting the winter blues that hits her extra hard bravely with a rib of pork roasted in some white wine and orange juice. And look at that crackling... if that isn't perfect then I don't know what is!
The Scientist takes over the reigns in Lysy's kitchen at Munchkin Mail. With cultures colliding in their family, they are still determined to keep the traditions alive and everyone plays their important part, with him excelling at roasting the obligatory potatoes in his own unimitable style...
Some seemingly impossible pairings turn out surprisingly delicious as my dear friend and co-host Jeanne of Cook Sister! roasts her lamb with - are you sitting down? - coffee. She begs you to suspend your disbelief and promises the end result is a symphony of flavour and tenderness... try it on a day you're feeling brave!
My favourite flavour combinations feature in Angela's roast pork with apples and sage at A Spoonful of Sugar. She also wonders how long it'll be until her little one grasps the connection between the pork on his plate and the pigs he fed just moments ago at the farm... but I am sure the flavour will win him back without delay!
Trinigourmet's Sarina Nicole is apprehensive making her first crisp lemon chicken, but her braveness is rewarded with succulent meat and "rivers of love" in the form of garlicky juices under the crispy skin. Having overcome her fears, I am positive this recipe will feature on her table more often from now on!
My good friend Pille serves up fish in style and colour over at NAMI-NAMI. Sliced beetroot and dill make a wonderful coat for her roast salmon and she almost has me, beetroot hater par excellence, convinced that I ought to try this despite my deep-seated loathings. A whole panel of judges at her dinner party certainly approved, too!
As for myself, I have been taking it upon me to spread the love by putting together a Schweinsbraten tutorial and allow you to cook our traditional roast pork at home, however far you might be from Austria. It comes complete with recipes for bread dumplings and warm cabbage salad and is a perfect example of the hearty, comforting fare that we all need at this time of the year!
*** UPDATE ***
Kit of Food & Family made all the effort to send her entry early and I lose her email... not good. I owe her a big one! She's enjoying summer where she lives but takes advanatge of an overcast day to serve up a roast chicken with crisp postatoes and baked butternut squash with cinnamon... and has the perfect technique for moist and tender chicken breasts!
Thanks to all of you for participating, sorry to all of you who never found out - in case you are in this catergory and are a bit miffed, I will add your recipe any time you send it in... and I promise to do a better job at hosting when it is again my turn!
Just back home and super hungry to see those roasts. Delicious stuff...
C.
Posted by: Claudia PAS Bjørgum | Dec 06, 2008 at 08:14 PM
Lovely round up Johanna! While I don't eat meat, I do enjoy seeing the different seasonings and accompaniments in a roast dinner because a roast was such a frequent meal in my childhood!
Posted by: Johanna | Dec 07, 2008 at 12:35 AM
What a great round-up. What could be better that a good roast? Wish I'd spied this event as I did a delicious roast rib of beef last weekend with yorkshire puddings and all the trimmings. Something so comforting about gathering friends and family together on a Sunday for a traditional roast, isn't there?
Posted by: Antonia | Dec 07, 2008 at 09:56 AM
Lovely roundup, Johanna! That should keep us all busy during the cold and dark winter nights :)
Posted by: Pille | Dec 07, 2008 at 11:49 AM
All sounds delicious! Did you get my entry too? I sent it good and early for the first time ever, but maybe it never got to you? I'll e-mail it again - I'd like to be one of the select few at your roast dinner party!
Posted by: Kit | Dec 07, 2008 at 06:41 PM
Nice roundup.. Wish I could've joined in.. Novemeber was crazy!
Posted by: JUde | Dec 08, 2008 at 07:14 AM
Fantastic round-up, Johanna! Sorry it took me so long to get around to commenting--life just went crazy this week!
Posted by: Angela | Dec 11, 2008 at 10:12 PM
Will def be trying some of these! x
Posted by: till rolls | Dec 24, 2008 at 11:27 AM