Poor Man's Noodles

Some people say that mackerel is a dirty fish, I have no truck with this point of view, apart from the odd thing they might gulp down by mistake they spend their lives drinking good Highland seawater, they're very well hydrated I'm told. I'm also sure that award winning director Hayao Miyazaki who feeds this meal to his animation team on a regular basis would agree, as it was his movie (extra features on the DVD) Spirited Away that brought this magnificent noodle recipe to our shores. So full credit to the undead, the spiritual bath house for the frog people and the flooded path and railway line that leads to the scary witch's house. Special thanks to Chihiro and Haku.

Ingredients for Poor Man's Noodles: Instant noodles - your favourite kind, cooked/canned fish in oil – chopped (mackerel will do but apparently there are many other fish in the sea), an egg, chopped spring onion or other vegetable (optional).

Method: cook the noodles normally, a three minute boil does, add the egg (slowly stir it so it cooks in the noodle's heat), add the chopped fish, simmer for minute. Throw away the spring onions, they'll only give you dodgy breath, drain and serve. Makes a good quick snack or an unconventional winter warmer.

Silver Darlings

Fife's Forgotten Fast Food has been overlooked too long so an revival is due. Here's the easy way to start educating your taste buds in how to savour the staples our forefathers enjoyed (?).

1 pot of roll mop herring from the Hopetoun Farm Shop (drained).

4 small slices of brown wholemeal toast a la Jack Nicholson, Five Easy Pieces.

Thinly spread with salted butter.

Combine.

Add a lot of pepper and quaff a glass of dry white wine.

yum

Japanese Lunch Boxes

Ok, these are not recipes at all, they're lunch boxes but kids lunch boxes as they are designed and prepared in Japan. Put simply these are weird, brilliant, inspirational and disturbing all at the same time. If you want to see more (and there are plenty) it's an easy google. Can it happen here?