Oh Jerusalem

Somehow it sounds more stirring if you say Oh before the title of the cookbook, Jerusalem. It sounds like the title of a poem, which it isn't. I know this because I consulted the-source-of-all-knowledge and googled it. William Blake, however, wrote "Jerusalem".

And did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon England's mountains green?
And was the holy Lamb of God
On England's pleasant pastures seen?

And did the Countence Divine
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here
Among these dark Satanic mills?

Bring me my bow of burning gold!
Bring me my arrows of desire!
Bring me my spear! Oh clouds unfold!
Bring me my chariot of fire!

I will not cease from mental fight
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand
Till we have built Jerusalem
In England's green and pleasant land.


Not much related to cooking there, unless you count the arrows of desire. And I suppose for some recipes, mental fight. Interesting though, Blake's fascination with rhetorical questions - what immortal hand or eye, etc. That tangent aside...

Amos gave me Plenty (by Ottolenghi, not Blake, for Christmas). It's got a lot of eggplant recipes which I suppose is not surprising for a vegetarian cookbook but you know how I feel about them.

I did find a recipe that appealed to me, called somewhat incongruously, Chard and Saffron Omelettes. They aren't really omelettes, more like little pancakes with herbs in the batter  and filled with the oddest combination of chard, saffron and yukon gold potatoes. Oh yeah, and there's creme fraiche too. The flavor is unfamiliar and delicious. They are easy. And meatless. And Paleo.

If you don't have the book the recipe is here. You should try them.

Love, Elise