Where Our Food Comes From……. British Carrots: Sticky Roast Chantenay Carrot Medley with Pomegranate Molasses Welcome to a new series of posts called “Where Our Food Comes From”……..over the last few months I have been lucky enough to visit numerous factories, farms, orchards and food events where the focus has been all about home-grown British…
Thanksgiving
Edible Gifts for Giving: Spiced Brandy Soused Clementines
Edible Gifts for Giving: Spiced Brandy Soused Clementines Now is the time to start thinking about making special gifts for giving…….for Christmas hampers, the tea time table as well as hostess gifts for the impending party season; it’s a time for preserving, baking and making special recipes that will be served throughout the festive…
Thrifty & Organic November: Pear & Walnut Cake, Sausage Cabbage Rolls and Celeriac Gratin
Thrifty & Organic November: Pear & Walnut Cake, Sausage Cabbage Rolls and Celeriac Gratin Core ingredients for NOVEMBER: Sausages, Cabbage, Potatoes, Celeriac, Pears, Walnuts Menu Plan and Recipes for NOVEMBER: Sausage stuffed Cabbage Rolls Celeriac, Cheese & Potato Gratin Pear, Walnut & Brown Sugar Cake Welcome to a new Thrifty and Organic recipe planner for…
“Smorgastarta” (Swedish Savoury Sandwich Gateau) for National Sandwich Day
“Smorgastarta” (Swedish Savoury Sandwich Gateau) for National Sandwich Day November seems a funny time of the year to be celebrating National Sandwich Day, but as an avid sandwich lover I am keen to participate in this day of crusty bread and enticing fillings! We, in the UK, have already marked British Sandwich Week in May,…
The Walnut Tree and Spiced Runner Bean Pickle
The Walnut Tree and Spiced Runner Bean Pickle At the bottom of the garden at our holiday home in France, nearly touching the old stone wall, is a walnut tree; I’d like to say it was the “old walnut tree”, in the manner of the Old Quince Tree that we also have in the same…
Loaded Potato Crustless Quiche with Bacon, Cheese & Onions
Loaded Potato Crustless Quiche with Bacon, Cheese & Onions By the time you read this, I will be snoozing on the TGV on my way up to Lille to catch the Eurostar back to the UK……..but, all is well, as I will still be benefiting from an extra hour in bed, as the clocks went…
A Show-Stopping Chocolate Cherry Cake for Chocolate Week!
A Show-Stopping Chocolate Cherry Cake for Chocolate Week! There is nothing as nice as a BIG home-made chocolate cake on the tea time-table and although I am primarily a savoury person (cheese, bread and pies are my downfall) I do love a slice of chocolate cake now and then. And, as it is Chocolate Week…
Cast Iron Recipes! Cooking with “Le Creuset”: Comfort Chicken Casserole
Cast Iron Recipes! Cooking with “Le Creuset” Comfort Chicken Casserole What could be better than a comforting plate of chicken casserole as autumn leaves begin to fall in their hundreds and aromatic wood smoke spirals around brick chimneys……….pearl grey mists greet me on my way down to open up the chickens every morning and the Robin is sporting…
Thrifty & Organic October: Pork & Apples with French Style Lentils and Salted Chocolate Brownies
Thrifty & Organic October: Pork & Apples with French Style Lentils and Salted Chocolate Brownies Core Ingredients for October: Pork, Pumpkin, Apples, Lentils, Cabbage and Chocolate Menu Plan and Recipes for October: Meat Free “Garbure” Soup with Cabbage and Pumpkin Pork Steaks with Apples, Sage and Cider Apple Vinegar French style Braised Lentils Sea Salt…
Autumn Beckons: Slow Cooked Beef Brisket with Elderberry Glaze and Port Jus
Autumn Beckons: Slow Cooked Beef Brisket with Elderberry Glaze and Port Jus Autumn really is beckoning, the mornings are misty and cool and the evenings are “drawing in” with darkness falling by eight thirty now……..I’m sad to see the summer go, but I love autumn and all it brings. It’s a season of harvest festivals, crackling…
A Random Great British Bake Off Technical Challenge: Ciabatta Bread
A Random Great British Bake Off Technical Challenge: Ciabatta Bread Over the last few weeks, I have attempted to make the technical challenge from the Great British Bake Off every week, but with the onset of a late Indian summer and friends and family visiting over the last few weeks, that project has been unavoidably dropped by the…
Sel la Vie Tomatoes and Twice Baked Potato, Cheese and Bacon Gratin
Sel la Vie Tomatoes and Twice Baked Potato, Cheese and Bacon Gratin This last week has been a glorious late summer holiday, with my daughter visiting, and the weather in SW France being positively balmy with temperatures in the late 20’s and clear azure skies, it’s been like the late birthday gift you never expected, and…
September Thrifty & Organic Meal Plan: Spiced Plums, Pulled Beef & Hidden Veggie Cheese Muffins
September Thrifty & Organic Meal Plan: Spiced Plums, Pulled Beef and Hidden Veggie Cheese Muffins Core Ingredients for September: Beef, Carrots, Leeks, Shallots, Oats and Plums Meal Plan and Recipes for September: Pulled BBQ Beef Brisket Wraps (for a “back to school” midweek or weekend supper) Carrot, Leek and Oat Cheese Muffins (for breakfast on…
Hot Chocolate Fudge Sundae
This is my slightly adapted recipe for Hot Chocolate Fudge Sundae as taken from her book, Summer Collection, which still remains one of my very favourite cookbooks. Delia has the ability to bring the unusual and unique to the table but with simple, easy to follow instructions which makes all of her recipes appear achievable…..and…
The Moose is Loose! Newfoundland Toutons with Butter & Maple Syrup Butter
The Moose is Loose! Newfoundland Toutons with Butter & Maple Syrup Butter I love bread, and I also love butter and maple syrup as well as pancakes, so when all of these ingredients come together in a fabulous breakfast, brunch or snack dish, I am a very happy and well-fed bunny! Regular readers of Lavender…