James Callaghan

Category: Journal

  • Delicate mushroom risotto

    Delicate mushroom risotto

    I’ve always been fond of risotto and during a work trip in Rotterdam, Netherlands this was reconfirmed when I had what was the most incredibly delicious mushroom risotto. Since then I have been just dying to cook it. But to cook it like the dish I had in the Netherlands I’ve had to source some special ingredients that I’ve never cooked with before. Not only is this an absolutely delicious risotto it was fun to research and cook. The trick though to any risotto is to keep stirring and use a hot stock so the risotto rice releases its starch which creates the beautiful creaminess that the best risottos have. If you don’t have any speciality mushrooms use what you already have at home.

    I hope you enjoy my take on a classic risotto recipe inspired by chefs Theo Randal and Marco Pierre White.

    My first attempt at a delicate mushroom risotto with truffle

    Delicate mushroom risotto

    Recipe: Delicate mushroom risotto
    Serves: 2
    Prep Time: 20 mins
    Cook Time: 25 mins
    Ready in 60 min
    Category: Main

    Ingredients

    • 3-4tbsp olive oil
    • 4 tbsp butter
    • White truffle oil
    • White wine
    • 2 garlic cloves, crushed over salt
    • 2 shallots, chopped
    • 2 sprigs of thyme
    • Fresh parsley, chopped
    • Rocket leaves
    • 700ml chicken stock
    • 50g dried porcini mushrooms
    • 400g shiitake or wild speciality mushrooms carefully, chopped
    • Slice of black truffle
    • 50g block of parmesan
    • 300g arborio rice
    • Salt and pepper to taste

    Method

    1. Warm 700ml of chicken stock. Using hot stock and hot rice before adding the stock will allow the rice to cook evenly.
    2. Carefully chop the larger mushrooms while keeping the texture.
    3. Place the dried porcini mushrooms into 200ml of chicken stock and allow to soak for 20 minutes.
    4. While the porcini mushrooms soak, finely chop the fresh parsley, garlic and shallots.
    5. Grate the Parmesan but keep some back to slice grate over the risotto when serving.
    6. Drain the porcini mushrooms but make sure you keep the stock back for later.
    7. Heat 1 tsp of olive oil and a knob of butter over medium heat and cook of the mushrooms for about 5 minutes to reduce their water and intensify the flavour.
    8. Add the porcini mushrooms and continue to cook for a further 3 minutes.
    9. Add a nice generous glug the truffle oil, seasoning and a sprig of thyme.
    10. Transfer the cooked mushrooms into a bowl.
    11. Then in the frying pan with medium to high heat add 1 tsp of olive oil and a knob of butter and sweat off the chopped garlic and shallots for 2 minutes until they’re sauteed.
    12. Add the rice and keep stirring until the is evenly coated in the oil until the rice is translucent (4-5 minutes).
    13. Add the good splash of white wine to deglaze the rice and stir until it has all been absorbed (2-3 minutes).
    14. Add a small amount of chicken stock (100ml). Stir and allow the stock to be absorbed.
    15. Keep adding stock in small amounts (100ml) while continuing to stir until it is absorbed. This allows the stock to mix with the starch from the rice and create a creamy risotto.
    16. Once the rice is almost al dente pour in the stock used to soak the porcini mushrooms.
    17. Carefully introduce a few shavings of black truffle.
    18. Add the thyme, parsley and mushrooms.
    19. Continue to add the last of the stock while stirring for a further 15 minutes.
    20. Finally, add the parmesan, seasoning to taste and the final two knobs of butter and stir until melted then cover and rest for a few minutes.
    21. Stir before plating the risotto and serve with a topping of rocket leaves, parmesan and a small shaving of truffle.
    • Carefully sources ingredients on display.
    • Ingredients. Just love the texture of the mushrooms.
    • Truffle and parsely
    • Mushrooms being cooked in the pan
    • My mushroom risotto rice cooking in the pan
    • Topped with parmesan, rocket and truffle
    • One very delicious delicate mushroom risotto

    Use my mushroom risotto recipe Pinterest board of inspiration

    I’ve created a Pinterest board with samples of ingredients, recipes for inspiration, presentation tips, videos and photos of my own dish.

    Other inspiration

  • Little Morton Hall

    Visited Little Morton Hall, another National Trust property this weekend. This is a very wonky Tudor property that has been left entirely in its original state. The great gallery has some claims to tennis. I have shared a few more photos that are available on 500px here.

    National Trust: Little Morton Hall
    National Trust: Little Morton Hall
    A very wonky Tudor hall.

    You can browse my published portfolio over at 500px. Be sure to share your feedback.

  • Rutting Deer @ Tatton Park

    I recently visited Tatton Park in Knutsford where the deer were rutting. This is a beautiful park to walk and plenty to do for kids too! This was my first time photographing deer this close and they gave me plenty of opportunities. I have shared a few more photos that are available on 500px. This trip might just cause me to go an buy a new lens. A really big long new lens!

    Deer rutting at Tatton Park, Knutsford
    Deer rutting at Tatton Park, Knutsford
    My favourites from Tatton Park
    I did get a really big lens!

    You can browse my published portfolio over at 500px. Be sure to share your feedback.

  • Granada, Spain and Gibraltar

    A recent trip to Granada, Spain filled me with joy after an absolutely stunning guided tour around the Alhambra. I also found a little gem of a steak restaurant called Apo restaurante on Plaza de San Lázaro 15. The trip finished with a road trip over to Gibraltar and Seville. The views of Africa from the top of the Gibraltar rock where breathtaking. The guided tour also provided an opportunity to get close to photography the Barbary macaque monkeys. Seville has plenty of sights to take in with my favourites being the Cathedral of Saint Mary and the Plaza de España. I have shared a few more photos that are available on 500px.

    Barbary macaque monkeys, Gibraltar

    You can browse my published portfolio over at 500px. Be sure to share your feedback.

  • Rufford Old Hall

    A beautiful day to visit this Rufford Old Hall, a National Trust property. The grounds are lovely to walk as is the canal which is only a few minutes away. I have shared a few more photos that are available on 500px.

    National Trust: Rufford Old Hall
    National Trust: Rufford Old Hall

    You can browse my published portfolio over at 500px. Be sure to share your feedback.

  • Dunham Massey

    There is nothing nicer than having a beautiful local park that you can visit. Dunham Massey, a National Trust estate is no exception and one of my favourite places alongside Tatton Park that I like to visit. The estate is wonderful and the garden is just beautiful. I have shared a few more photos that are available on 500px.

    Snow Drops at Dunham Massey
    Snow Drops at Dunham Massey

    You can browse my published portfolio over at 500px. Be sure to share your feedback.

  • Pike Place Market, Seattle

    I’m spending more time with one of my favourite hobbies again – photography. You can browse my published portfolio over at 500px. Be sure to share your feedback.

    This photo was taken shortly before I slipped and broke my ankle, leg and wrist in the incredible snow that fell in Seattle. I have this as an A0 print on the wall to remind me of this incredible trip along with my scars. The touch of the scars and pain from the injurys takes me back to my favourite place. I have shared a few more photos that are available on 500px.

    Picture of the snow in Seattle, Feb 2019.
    A snowy Pike Place Market, Seattle, Feb 2019 – before my accident.
    See more of my photography over at 500px.com/jamescallaghan

    You can browse my published portfolio over at 500px. Be sure to share your feedback.

  • Fondue with friends

    Fondue with friends

    This year I will be welcoming in the New Year with friends at home in Manchester. The last year has undoubtedly been a trying year. A year that has seen much change and I welcome all the challenges and change that 2019 will see.

    I considered all kinds of recipes and food I wanted to cook for my friends, but a fondue and raclette grill was a clear winner for many reasons. The elves at Amazon kindly delivered an extended raclette grill that includes a fondue pan, grill and twelve raclette grills. I was keen to encourage games and conversation at the table but also have something that would have longevity as with New Year’s Eve, the evening is long. Food that was easy on the washing up was essential, as was the amount of time in the kitchen for me. The fondue and crudités can all be prepped beforehand if not the day before. Additional with the raclette grill and a hot plate for the fondue, the warmth in the food can be maintained throughout the evening. As with a lot of my cooking I really enjoy the research element to recipes and food, finding out what works well and what doesn’t etc but also very much enjoy sharing my recipes.

    Fondue and Racelete research.
    Fondue and Racelete research.

    I wish friends new and old the best of luck for what 2019 brings and I thank you for all that you have done for me 2018.

    Food with great friends.
    Food with great friends.
    (more…)
  • Chicken and vegetable egg fried rice

    Chicken and vegetable egg fried rice

    Last week I enjoyed a lovely Chinese meal out on my birthday in great company. The restaurant was incredible, as was the food. I wanted to eat everything. What I did eat was like nothing else I have had before, but it was the most simple of dishes that really hit my taste buds. A week on and I wanted to make a meal of one of the plates and decided to give Chicken and vegetable egg fried rice a go.

    Recipe: Chicken and vegetable egg fried rice
    Serves: 2 ½
    Prep Time: 25 mins
    Cook Time: 15 mins
    Ready in 40 min
    Category: Soup

    Ingredients

    • 2 cups of rice, cooked, drained and still warm
    • 1 large chicken breast, diced
    • 2 medium carrots, diced
    • 1 large onion, diced
    • 3 spring onions, diced
    • 3 eggs
    • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
    • 1 tsp dashi powder
    • 1 tsp crushed chicken stock cube
    • 1 tbsp minced garlic
    • 2 tsp unsalted butter
    • 2 tbsp soy sauce
    • 1 tbsp sesame oil
    • salt and pepper to taste

    Method

    1. Heat the wok until hot.
    2. Add some oil and once smoking add the eggs.
    3. Leave them to whiten before turning and scrambling using a spatula.
    4. Add the diced chicken and cook until it is 90% cooked through.
    5. Add the carrots and onions and keeping mixing in.
    6. Now add the warm rice and break down any large lumps.
    7. Now is the time to practice the wok flick!
    8. Add a few pinches of salt and pepper, the garlic, dashi and chicken stock.
    9. Once mixed add the unsalted butter and a handful of spring onions.
    10. Now add the soy sauce and sesame oil while continuing to combine the ingredients together.
    11. Leave to cook for a few more minutes before serving with a sprinkle of spring onions and chopped parsley as a garnish topping.
    Fried rice ingredients prepared in bowls on a tray ready for cooking
    The ingredients can be prepared ahead of cooking
    A full plate of chicken and vegetable fried rice
    A bowl of chicken and vegetable egg fried rice
    Chicken and vegetable egg fried rice

    PS the restaurant was called Tattu in Manchester.

    Research and Inspiration

  • Hey friends…I’m back…

    Hey friends…I’m back…

    My last post was almost two years ago – 7 February 2017. I was writing about SharePoint, Office 365 and me breaking into the scene of IOT, Sonos, HUE and generally hacking around with home automation. These topics have continued to be at the forefront of my world since then and remain close to my heart. And these topics are exactly where I plan to kick things back off!

    It’s not to say I’ve had nothing to say, quite the opposite I’ve got a ton to share, but more that I didn’t have the time to post. Excuses, excuses and excuses they are but family, life and work have pulled on me beyond belief. But how have I let almost two years passed?

    Well…I’ve had two migration projects. One of them was as badass as they get, taking me back to the world that was SharePoint 2003 for one of the worlds leading banks with an endless amount of complications and customisation’s that we had to unpick and reverse engineer. What a team it was and great friendships formed! Then there is this hugely aspirational and transformational Office 365 Modern Workplace agile project in the heart of the UK government that I continue to lead, and well you could say I am and have been pretty flat out. But that just works, it’s been the personal things that have taken their toll the most. Add managing and contributing to two house renovations, relocating from the South of the UK to the North. Then a relationship break-up for all of it to pretty much no longer exists. All that time, energy, DIY, cost and distance you do start asking yourself what was the point? For me, it is quite simple. One beautiful sparkling daughter and a new life outside all of this to create. My daughter is so deserving of all and any of my free time and attention. For all intense and purposes, it has felt like my hands and tongue have been pretty tied up.

    For many years I reached certain lows. These last two years included. It is those around me, close and far that I needed the most but during these times I have pushed those I needed the most further away. And for that, I wholeheartedly apologise. For those in similar places. Please talk. However hard you may find it, please reach out to an old friend or family member. You’ll be surprised at how many people out there who are willing to listen. A granddad like figure I grew up with also said present me a solution, not a problem when things were going wrong…how his words still stand true. In reflection. I dedicated myself to my family and work commitments too heavily and isolated myself away and alienated my friends and those close to me with silly excuses. I gradually felt that my voice wasn’t worth hearing and that I was somehow less significant than my peers. Slowly this amounts to a horrible feeling of low self-worth and degrades your confidence and any sense of authority massively. Mostly remote working and home renovations in the middle of nowhere often resulted in days passing with little to no contact. This isn’t healthy. Fact. I’m now pushing myself to visit the office more frequently and trying hard to break back into a rhythm of yoga, cycling again and time with friends.

    Poppet. A term of great endearment and affection, used to describe in one word all the feelings of warmth, comfort, kindness, generosity, honesty and strength of character you feel every time you are with that person.
    Poppet. A term of great endearment and affection used to describe in one word all the feelings of warmth, comfort, kindness, generosity, honesty and strength of character you feel every time you are with that person.

    Microsoft lovingly gives staff a holiday gift. This small amount of money is for us to donate to a charity of our choice, collectively this is a huge and generous donation. This year I am giving my gift to Mind and Shelter and also personally matching it. Thank you to Microsoft, my colleagues and my friends and family near and far for everything you do.

    This week I was surprised and shocked to see an email from the Microsoft Ready team telling me that I have been selected to speak at the Microsoft Ready event in Seattle next February. My initial thought was one of fear and worry (it still is). Closely followed by, heck I’ve got to cancel this, but I’m determined to speak there. And friends far…I hope we find the opportunity to meet and enjoy time together! From Attendee to Speaker…flipin heck.

    From attendee to speaker. Microsoft Ready speaker invite.
    From attendee to a speaker. My email from the Microsoft Ready team. 

    While I have genuinely missed writing on my blog over the last few years, I’ve continued contributing to some of the most significant communities in the world (in my opinion). The joy and passion shared in these communities are one of the fundamental reasons I keep my blog alive and the drive for me to get back writing again.

    I can’t wait to get writing and sharing with you all again, particularly about some subjects close to my heart: STEM, Modern Workplace, SharePoint modernisation and food!

    Love and warmest Holiday Wishes.

    James

  • Lambing Time

    During what was an incredibly hard time in my life, I was introduced to the most loving and magical farming family. They allowed me to help on their farm and gave me incredible opportunities, not only for me but for my daughter too. She will hold on to these moments for the rest of her life as will I. Being on the farm took me back to some of my happiest memories as a child myself helping and working on the farm. I also experienced the lambing season and managed to capture some wonderful photos. I have shared a few more photos that are available on 500px here.

    Lambing in Rivington

    You can browse my published portfolio over at 500px. Be sure to share your feedback.

  • Framing an #IoT thing of beauty

    Framing an #IoT thing of beauty

    A picture can tell a thousand words. That’s just what I wanted to achieve by placing my Raspberry Pi into a picture frame. This all started with a long trip to IKEA over the weekend. One of those trips where you get to the car and realise you have way too much to fit it all in the car. During this long trip, I spotted a thick picture frame. My mind jumped at the thought of placing a working Raspberry Pi within it. Well, this evening I decided to give it a try and went about trying to house a Raspberry Pi in the picture frame and succeeded.

    I researched how others might have tackled this. My searches returned examples where people have made a digital picture frame as opposed to housing or framing a Raspberry Pi in a traditional picture frame. Bizarrely the one example I did find, Digital PI-cture Frame by David Park was from IKEA Hackers. Great minds! This, although some years old was what I had pictured in my head.

    IKEA Ribba picture frame

    I love my tech and whilst I appreciate the clean, tidy and organised side of life. Sometimes I hate hiding things away too. This isn’t just any Raspberry Pi, this is one that is the hub of our home automation. One that should be out on display for everyone to see.

    I was really torn whether I should house a Raspberry Pi 3b or a Raspberry Pi Zero within the picture frame. They are both absolutely beautiful and remarkable devices. In the end, I decided on the Raspberry Pi (RPi) 3b as it is such a significant device to our home. I may add another frame to house a RPi Zero for another project in a few months. For now, the frame currently sits on my desk but I plan to hang this on a significant wall in the house and make a feature of it including some internal lighting.

    A picture frame as a Raspberry Pi case

    The list below is a summary of bits I used:

    • Picture Ribba frame – IKEA £3.50
    • Black backboard – cut from a recycled notepad
    • Mounting nuts/bolts – taken from a spare Raspberry Pi case

    OpenHab

    For those wanting to know what that other bit is that is included in the picture frame. It’s a RF transmitter (315MHz). This RPi runs OpenHab where I have some rules that trigger my projector blind to come down or go back up when using my Logitech Harmony remote. Personally, I think the picture frame looks better for having something alongside the RPi rather than having it sat there by itself. I’ll have some more posts on this topic very soon!

    My Raspberry Pi at work sending RF codes