Ultimate Pork Tacos …

… Spicy Black Beans & Avocado Garden Salad 

The pork dish is done and thus one recipe from all eight sections in the book.

This was the first meal I cooked outside my own kitchen, so I don’t have the home turf advantage.  No you’re eyes have not just deceived you.  I have just used a sporting reference. 

I have spent the afternoon and evening with my friends Tom and Hannah, who is an exceptionally talented baker (Hannah that is. To his shame, Tom has never baked me a cake!) In the afternoon I helped Tom repoint (rebuild, in places) his garden wall.  In the evening I cooked for them.  Because I wasn’t in my own kitchen, I was a little more organized for this one.  I made sure I had all the equipment to hand, down to the potato masher.  Yes, you need one! Hannah has a lovely array of serving bowls, plates and dishes to choose from. 

Like yesterday evening I cooked in a much calmer manner than the first few meals. I even just about managed to hold a conversation with Hannah while cooking. An improvement from my first meal, when I refused to have a conversation about my printer with Gavin. 

I had the book propped up next to me.  At one point I caught myself reading the next part of the recipe whilst chopping salad.  Not a sensible thing to do!

This is a nice meal to cook.  No stress at all.  Looks great on the table.  The best thing about this meal, by far, is the salad.  We are all agreed on that.  Every now and then you get just a bit of chilli, which is great. The yogurt, with Lingham’s chilli sauce rippled through it, is a delight.  In itself, this is something I would serve with a host of other things. 

Again I thought I might beat the 14 minute mark.  Not quite.  I want to present things quite nicely so it took just that bit longer. 

One cheat was that Hannah helped turn up and down the hobs.  It’s been ages since I’ve cooked on an electric hob and Hannah’s is a bit awkward to turn up and down.

Some bits of my belly pork were cut a little bigger than the 1 cm dice required by the recipe.  The smaller bits were better – much crispier.  So if you do this one, follow the recipe properly. 

I like Mexican food.  But of all the corn based accompaniments I like tacos the least.  They just break apart as soon as you take the first bite.  I’d much rather a wrap or nachos.  Nevertheless.  A great meal.  Again, good, fun, family type, food.

How much: £8.15.

How long: Fourteen minutes and nineteen seconds. 

Who with: Tom, Hannah and Maisie (who was meant to be in bed).