Playing with new toys

OK, so after a total excess of very pleasurable eating out, it's great to have an opportunity to mess around with some new toys. The ice-cream maker is currently chilling in the freezer (await update tomorrow!), so tonight I tried out the griddle and 1080 Recipes. From 1080 I made the fantastically (hurr, hurr) named 'Fantasy Salad' (ensalada fantasia). This was a real winner: watercress, avocado, potato and apple with mayonnaise as a dressing - I cheated on the last part and bought it pre-made. I suspect that bunches of watercress are smaller in Spain because this made a lot of salad! Simple, nicely-balanced and yummy - good for vegetarians and the potato in the salad means that it's quite substantial. 

I also used 1080's instructions for griddled steak (filetes a la plancha) to try out the griddle pan. This was a success, although the steak was a little rarer than my usual preference. The effect from the griddle pan is great; it's really possible to get that crisp, sealed finish. To go with the steak, salsa de mantequilla y anchoas (Butter and Anchovy sauce) - this is basically the same as Stephanie Alexander's Anchovy Butter but in liquid form and with fresh parsley. The compatibility of red meat and anchovies was a bit of a revelation to me when I first encountered it. It shouldn't work, but it really does. 

My only concern from the whole evening is whether or not I've managed to scorch the enamel top of the stove with reflected heat from the bottom of the griddle pan... maybe it will look better in the morning...