Down came the rain by Brook Shields

Title:Down Came the Rain: A Mother's Story of Depression and Recovery
Rating:****
I first heard about this book on oprah. I thought Brook Shields was honest and heartfelt. And that is the overwhelming feeling that I get from this book. It's what she went through during and after her pregnancy. It is a truly heartfelt book. She does mention the special issues she has to deal with because she is a celebrity but there is no self pity. She comes across as a mature woman who had to go through hell for a specific period in her life.

It is an excellent book. Speaking as someone who has suffered post natal depression, it was eerily accurate. And it is not even a little bit self indulgent.  Absolute must read for someone who has suffered from post-natal depression. An excellent read for pregnant women. A very good book for all the other women.

Salmon Kedgeree

Ingredients:

2 salmon fillets
200 ml skimmed milk
1 vegetable stock cube melted in 200 ml water
200 gm basmati rice
1 red onion chopped lengthwise
100 gm baby spinach

Set the oven temperature to 180C.  Mix the milk and the stock and put in an ovenproof dish. Put the salmon fillet in the mixture and cover in a foil from all sides. Cook in a pre-heated oven for about 15 minutes or till the salmon flakes easily. Remove from the oven and remove the foil. Wrap the fish in the foil to keep it warm.

Heat oil in a pan and add the onions and add the rice. After the rice is well coated with oil, add the liquid from the fish and cover and cook for about 8 minutes. Then add the spinach and cook for another 2-3 minutes or till the rice is well cooked. Flake the salmon and add to the rice and serve hot. Garnish with a boiled egg cut into thin slices.

Easy no-cheese pizza

This pizza does not need cheese to taste good. However if you want cheese on it, feel free to put some after all the other toppings. It comes out very well even without the cheese. Crisp and nice.

225 gm wholemeal bread flour
11/2 tsp dried yeast
150 ml warm water
4 tbsp tomato passata
1/2 red onion finely chopped lengthwise
1/2 each red,yellow and green pepper chopped finely lengthwise
1 tsp chopped mixed herbs
1 tsp sea-salt
8 cherry tomatoes halved
1 tbsp olive oil

Sift the flour and salt into a mixing bowl.
Blend the yeast into water until the yeast is dissolved.Make a well in the center of the flour and add the liquid.Mix them together and knead on a floured surface till it is smooth. Cover with a damp cloth and leave for 10 minutes.
Pre-heat the oven to 200C.
Knead the dough and roll it out on a large flat surface into a large circle. Place it on a baking sheet. Brush the pizza base with olive oil.Spoon the passata onto it evening leaving a border around the edge.Arrange the tomato, peppers and onions on the base and sprinkle with salt.
Bake for 20 minutes. Serve hot.