Georgina Hayden – Page 11 – Feeding since 1982

Thai spiced mackerel pâté

04.27.2015 by georgie // Leave a Comment

Hello Monday. What a joy to start the week with some good food and a blog post and a spot of crochet on the bus!

There are some really exciting things in the pipeline which are keeping me busy right now, one of which is a supper club, my first! We’re holding it the week before Archie’s birthday in May to raise money for Sands and Tommy’s, two amazing charities. I’ve wanted to do some fundraising for a long time and I’m so excited about hosting a proper supper club and cooking for so many people, it feels like a great personal challenge whilst also doing something positive in memory of our baby. I’m just working on finalising the menu at the moment and placing orders – watch this space.

I also recently did an interview with fashion and lifestyle website Secret Sales, and got to talk about my job as a Food Stylist and why I love it. I’m really chuffed as I love what I do and where I work, so it was a lovely opportunity to talk about it. You can read the interview here.

And even though all these things are exciting and fun, today has been a really lovely calm day, I got a chance to thoughtfully cook myself lunch (and shoot it) before leaving the house and Skype my best mate in Spain – I miss her bad. It feels so good to actually take the time to think about what I need, and want. I’ve been trying hard to make sure we regularly eat fish for some time now as it is such a quick and nutritious source of energy and omega 3’s – proper brain food. However being a Monday fresh fish isn’t really an option, so I went for the smoked kind instead, which is a brilliant fridge staple. Read more…

Greek Kourabiethes

04.12.2015 by georgie // 5 Comments

Xristos anesti! Today is Orthodox Easter, the biggest celebration in the Greek Orthodox church, and my favourite time of year – there really is nothing like it for for epic feasting. Last week we started preparations by baking about 25 flaounes (yiayia needed to do a test batch with a new starter her friend had given her), and this week she made 100 more. I’ve been baking today and I can guarantee she’ll have made a million biscuits too. And of course there are the daily church services (I did all the 5am ones one year, killer).

The last few weeks have been a bit mad, hence the lack of recipe writing and posting – I’ve really missed it. I’m back at work a bit more, been doing more in the kitchen, there have been a lot of appointments and a few trips, and for some reason it seems like we’ve gone from 0 – 60 in a short space of time. Also I’m really missing Archie at the moment too, I think specific occasions and days highlight his absence. Don’t take me wrong, I always miss him, but I was having some better days. On the way home from work the other day I become inconsolable as I walked through the (very sunny) park by my house, it was swarmed with families and buggies and the realisation that I shouldn’t be back at work yet and that should be me in the park was like a punch in stomach, face and heart. Some days its manageable, others not so much. But I guess celebrations and holidays you just notice the absence of a loved one that little bit more. Today would’ve been his first Greek Easter.

Kourabiethes and coffee. Photography by Laura Edwards.

So, I’m taking it easy today. Church in the morning, lunch with my wonderful, gorgeous and crazy family and I’m going to eat everything that is put in front of me and just let it all hang out. I will start my Mexico diet on Monday?!

Easter Kleftiko

04.03.2015 by georgie // 5 Comments

Happy Good Friday!

Today I’m off to my Yiayia’s house to do some traditional Greek Easter baking, the highlight of Easter time for me. Our Easter isn’t until next week, but there is a lot to be done and that means tonnes of prep (my grandma doesn’t do things by halves – hundreds of breads, pastries and biscuits. Basically enough to feed the entire London Greek Cypriot community). Cooking with her is sheer joy, no measuring or precision, everything by eye and instinctive. It’s loud and fun and utter chaos. My favourite time of year!

A couple of years ago I was lucky enough to shoot a Greek Cypriot Easter story for Jamie Magazine, with my gorgeous grandparents and sister, cooking all the traditional foods and hanging out with them all day. Essentially what we do normally but in front of a camera, they loved it. So, today I’m posting an oldie but a goodie for you. A traditional (but with a twist) kleftiko recipe, that is perfect for Easter Sunday. And hopefully in time for you all to add to your shopping list to make this weekend.

Continue for recipe…