hyper D and Lucifer Box's food thread

[Lucifer Box]

Yes but I am a mere nipper compared to ye olde Lucifer

Millenia of stoking the eternal fires does wonders for your appetite.

[DaveB]

I've got one of these, the La Pavoni Europiccola...



Makes a cracking cup of espresso and has a good steam attachment as well, but you have to treat it like a beautiful woman, "not a machine for the dilettante" as one review I read said.

I've just submitted my first invoice as a contractor and I've been wondering how to celebrate

[Lucifer Box]

I've just submitted my first invoice as a contractor and I've been wondering how to celebrate

Congratulations, DaveB. Is your Ltd going to buy it as "office equipment" for the staff?

[DaveB]

Congratulations, DaveB. Is your Ltd going to buy it as "office equipment" for the staff?

Heh, nice thought. I'm planning on kitting out the back room as an office anyway. Might have to include that on the list of essential equipment

[hyperD]

hyperD Top Tip #2: You can't beat a good spit roast...



Try clicking instead:
http://www.worth1000.com/entries/142...2583kPro_w.jpg

[Lucifer Box]

Heh, nice thought. I'm planning on kitting out the back room as an office anyway. Might have to include that on the list of essential equipment

Nothing wrong with using company funds to buy a coffee machine for the office, as long as it's only used for staff while working.

Technically, you should declare the coffee you get to drink for free as a BIK on your tax return. The IR (as it was then) made some noise about this four or five years ago when it proposed a scheme whereby all office type workers should be required to declare a minimum BIK value (I think £250 was mooted) to represent free coffee, pilfered stationery supplies, etc. Seriously.

[DaveB]

Nothing wrong with using company funds to buy a coffee machine for the office, as long as it's only used for staff while working.

Technically, you should declare the coffee you get to drink for free as a BIK on your tax return. The IR (as it was then) made some noise about this four or five years ago when it proposed a scheme whereby all office type workers should be required to declare a minimum BIK value (I think £250 was mooted) to represent free coffee, pilfered stationery supplies, etc. Seriously.

Would that include coffee etc provided by the client?
My current client provides free tea and coffee to everyone regardless of contract or permie status.....

[Lucifer Box]

Would that include coffee etc provided by the client?
My current client provides free tea and coffee to everyone regardless of contract or permie status.....

Mmm, maybe the client should run free coffees for contractors through its books as entertainment expenses.

[bangface]

Stoke the fire under one of these......

Isn't that Reg Toomer from "Boys from the Bush"?

Aha! "duck 'n' chips", so it was you!

SHUUUUT UPPPPPPPPPPP!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Lucifer Box]

Lucifer's Top Recipe For This Evening

Thought I'd share the Box's dinner this evening with you as it was excellent and it's highly recommended you try this one for yourself. Cheap too. Anyway, here we go, it's rabbit braised in vinegar, a lovely recipe for a cold winter's evening.

Take your rabbit and cut it up into portions (4 legs and the saddle). Place the rabbit portions in a large bowl and cover with a mixture of cold water and white wine vinegar (about 10% vinegar should do it). Leave to soak for about 30 minutes then drain.

In the meantime chop a sprig of sage, sprig of rosemary and a couple of cloves of garlic. Melt 25g of butter in a large pan with three tablespoons of olive oil (not extra virgin) then lightly stir-fry the garlic, rosemary and sage for a couple of minutes, seasoning with pepper. Add the rabbit portions and, turning them regularly, cook until browned all over.

Mix together 175ml of white wine vinegar with three tablespoons of water and pour into the pan. Season with salt then put the lid on and simmer gently for about 50 minutes. Check your seasoning and adjust if necessary, then toss in a large handful of stoned green olives (not the sort stuffed with pimentos - too sweet for this recipe) - about 100g - and a small handful of drained and rinsed capers - about 50g. Put the lid back on, simmer for another 10 minutes and then you're ready to rock 'n' roll.

For accompaniments, I kept it simple and rustic. A roasting tin of diced mixed potato, parsnip and beetroot, with onion and garlic, drizzled with olive oil and roasted in the oven with a couple of bayleaves for about 45 minutes, and a loaf of home made spelt bread (bread made using spelt flour, rather than wheat flour, with honey and olive oil - it's the sort of bread the Romans used to make).

Easy peasy and good eatings.