Fast Days and Feast Days . . .

Eat great and feel well all week long with the Intragram star everyone is talking about!  I was recently sent a cookery book to review, entitled Elly Pear’s FAST DAYS & FEAST DAYS, by Elly Curshen, foodie and proprieter of the hugely popular Pear Cafe!  Having opened this cafe in March of 2006, running a supper club and pop ups, she soon found her weight creeping up and so she tried out the 5:2 philosophy of eating, which great results.   In this new cookbook Elly shares some of her favourite, most exciting recipes fo reating well and enjoying food on both fast days and feast days.

Fast Days and Feast Days is a collection of more than 100 of Elly’s favourite pescetarian recipes from both fast and feast days, her home kitchen and her cafe, inspired by world cooking, but always with an eye on the local greengrocers.  With clear and concise advice on shopping well and using your local shops, stocking your refrigerator and cupboards sensibly and avoiding waste at all costs, this book will guide you to a new way of eating delicious and nutritious food all the year through.

Included in the book is a very comprehensive Introdutory to the ideology behind the 5:2 way of eating, including store cupboard essentials, how to shop, where to shop, etc.

The first recipe chapter revolves around Breakfasts and Brunches with a wide variety delights on offer such as Honey Oat, Granola, Avocado and Miso Butter on toast and yes   . . . even Buttermilk Pancakes.

Weekday Lunches and Salads  brings to the table such delights as Mexican Avocado Chopped Salad, Raw Rainbow Salad with Golden Amazing Sauce, and King Prawn, Fennel, Pink Grapefruit, and Mint Salad, to name but a few.

Do you like soup?  Not a problem, there are some lovely soups in the book, including such tasty offerings as Yellow Gazpacho with Avocado Salsa and Tomato, Lentil and Broccoli Soup,  Roast Parsnip Soup . . .

Weeknights will see you sitting down to dinner with such delights as Sweet Potato, Lentil, Kale and Coconut Curry, Root Vegetable and Halloumi Fritters with Frying Pan Flat Bread, Beetroot Burgers . . .

Entertaining?  Not a problem!  You and your guests can enjoy a variety of dishes  . . .  Tofu and Kale Gyoza, Seared Scallops in Brown Butter with Double Jerusalem Artichoke, Blue Cheese Polenta with Mushrooms and Hazelnuts . . . scrummy yummy!

Like to Nibble?  Again, not a problem with such tasty things such as Babaganoush with Pita Chips, Spicy Roasted Chickpeas, Basement Rarebit . . . to name but a few . . .

 There are Sauces, Pickles and Dressings  . . . Golden Amazing Sauce (amazing!), Ginger and Miso Dressing, Roasted Red Pepper Sauce  . . .

And don’t think that dessert is off the menu!  How would you like to sit down before a slice of Best Ever Carrot Cake, Ewe’scurd Cheesecake Mousse with Spiced Poached Pears . . .  or Rosemary and Lemon Posset with Italian Meringue!  Delicious!

Packed full of more than 120 recipes for both fast days and feast days, from her home kitchen and her cafe, this is cooking inspired by world cuisine but always with an eye on the local green grocers.  This is delicious food.  Fresh food.  Interesting food.  Fantastic food.

Who knew healthy could taste and look so good!

Elly Pear’s Fast Days & Feast Days
by Elly Pear
Published by Harper Collins Publishers
ISBN 978-0-00-815792-0
UK £20.00

Elly Curshen (aka Elly Pear) is the founding owner of Pear Cafe in Bristol, a must-visit destination with a cult following.  The Pear Cafe frittata has people queuing out the door and the hugely popular Ham, Emmenthal and Chicken Crackling Sandwich was named one of Buzzfeed’s 17 Sandwiches You Must Eat Before You Die.”

Elly is the resident food anc cookery columnist for Instyle.

Twitter - @PearCafe
Instagram - @EllyPear

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