Visitors and Cooking

I have received my latest purchase from Ebay, a little set of antique pine drawers and it is now sitting on the side in my kitchen looking rather beautiful! I am soooo pleased with them.

Its a lovely day here on the hill the sort of day that makes you feel glad to be alive.

Our garden which is in desperate need of some TLC but with all we have to do on the house the garden will have to wait a little longer

The chickens this morning decided to sit on the bridge just outside my bedroom window and the cocks had a good old crow to wake us up (far too early)

This evening I have guests coming for dinner so have decided to do a very quick fish starter of smoked salmon, poached salmon and prawns in a marie rose sauce, I did this at Christmas and it was lovely!

For the main course we will have Coq Au Vin, which is a great dinner party meal as it can be made earlier in the day and improves during the day as the flavours develop.

Coq Au Vin

1oz butter

1tbsp olive oil

8 free range chicken thighs, I use thighs because I think they have a better flavour and are cheap

approx 4oz of smokey streaky bacon

approx 2oz diced pancetta (optional)

8oz button mushrooms

8 Shallots

2 tbsp flour

1/2 pint chicken stock, I use a Knorr gel stock cube when I don't have any homemade stock

1 pint of red wine

1 bouquet garni, mine is from Waitrose and is especially for poultry

1 or 2 large garlic cloves crushed

salt and pepper to season

chopped parsley to garnish

This serves 4 people

Melt butter and oil in a large pan, add the chicken skin side down to start and brown for about 10 - 15 minutes, remove and put on some paper towels to drain.

Thought I best put this picture in so nobody thought I was eating my own chickens!!

 

I use this type of shallot as it is a long shape and very sweet

Here is the bacon and pancetta, which I have diced, I am really very lucky as I was given a huge piece of home cured pancetta and it is so delicious!

Remove any excess fat so that you have approximately the same amount you started with and add the mushrooms, bacon and pancetta and shallots and cook over a high heat until golden brown. When done remove with a slotted spoon and drain on kitchen paper.

Put the wine into a saucepan and boil until it has reduced by half. I used a Merlot and a pint leaves you with about 1 glass left in the bottle which could be the cooks perk but as I am doing this in the morning its probably not a good idea.

Add the flour to the pan you cooked the chicken, bacon etc in and cook for about 3 minutes stirring all the time, gradually stir into this the stock and red wine which should have now reduced to 1/2 a pint (300ml), you may at this point think it has all gone horribly wrong but keep stirring or as I do use my balloon whisk and keep going until it becomes smooth.

Replace the chicken, bacon, pancetta, mushrooms and onions back to the pan and add the bouquet garni and garlic, season, being careful not to use too much salt as the bacon and pancetta are rather salty then cover and put in a pre-heated oven of 160c but mine is a fan oven so in a normal oven it will probably be 180c and cook for about an hour until the chicken is tender when you stick a fork in. You will not believe the smells that will be in your kitchen at this point it is definitely something to salivate at!

Garnish with some chopped parsley and serve. If you are making this for later, I usually cook for 15 minutes less and then give it 30 minutes when I re-heat it later in the day.

I will serve this with dauphinois potatoes and purple sprouting broccoli.

Dauphinois Potatoes

Buttered gratin dish
2lb potatoes
1/4 pint single cream
1/4 pint double cream
1 clove garlic finely chopped
salt and pepper
4oz gruyere cheese

Very thinly slice the potatoes, use a food processor of mandolin if you have one but it can be done by hand.
Put a layer of the potatoes slightly over lapping into the buttered gratin dish, season and sprinkle with some cheese and garlic, and pour a little of the cream over.
Continue to layer until all the potatoes, garlic, cream and cheese have been used.
Pop in a pre heated oven of 140c or 160c if not a fan oven for 1 1/2 hours it will be a creamy, cheese bowl full of heavenly fattening gorgeousness.

At this stage I was going to have put a picture up of the finished products, which were beautiful even though I do say so myself, unfortunately they were spooned into and plated up before I had a chance and as I don't really know one of the gentlemen who came very well I thought he might find it a little strange me taking photos of all the food! But saying that I did manage to sneak a photo of the dessert I made

Almond Tart, I gave the recipe for that in an earlier post, fresh fruits and a raspberry topped Panna Cotta, heaven in a little dish!

Vanilla Panna Cotta

3 Sheets of gelatine

1 Vanilla Pod split with seeds scraped out

250ml whole milk

250ml double cream

1oz caster sugar

Put the gelatine sheets in a bowl of cold water until they go soft

Heat the milk, cream, sugar and vanilla pod with seeds into a pan and heat to a simmer but do not boil., take off the heat.

Remove the vanilla pod, I always give it a rinse under the tap and then plonk into my caster sugar jar and it still imparts a lovely flavour into the sugar.

Now give the gelatine sheets a squeeze to remove excess water and drop into the pan, give it a stirring to make sure that it has dissolved and then although you don't have to I always sieve the mixture before pouring it into little ramekins. This mixture made 6 of the size that you can see or 4 bigger ones.

Pop into the fridge to set, which should take about an hour and then I made the raspberry topping, which was a small punnet of raspberries, with a few saved for decoration, 2 tablespoons of caster sugar and 2 tablespoons of water, put all of this into a pan and simmer until the sugar is dissolved and the raspberries are soft, its about 3-5 minutes, when that is done I added a dash of Rumtopf liquior and half a sheet of gelatine just to give it a soft set and poured onto the little custardy delights.

If you don't want to put a topping on and wish to turn them out, it is easily done by giving the ramekin a quick dip into hot water and then upturning onto a plate, with a little shake it should, fingers crossed plop out as a little quivering mound of calories!

My guests all left feeling very full, well oiled from lashings of wine and port that we had with the cheese and biscuits and I hope very happy.

Claire xx

Aching Fingers!

Well I have been doing more crochet hexagons for my blanket and its coming along nicely! I am really pleased with it, it feels so soft. My fingers are starting to really ache though after a good crochet session and I am wondering if I should be changing to another style of hook??

And lucky me, my daughter has bought me a few extra balls of Rowan handknit cotton to keep my supply from running out. I just adore the colours available and it crochets up perfectly with not splitting.

When I had done my weekly stint helping out in the reception class at our little school with lots of sticking, reading and dressing up, I did a very quick trip into town as it was such a lovely day and I had a few hours to kill.  Of course I had to go into one of my favourite shops.

Bibelot it has the most devine little treasures in and I had to make a little purchase :) Some nice Cath Kidston stationary

Along with a few extra buttons for my button box.  I must confess I do have rather a liking for buttons and this little tin is just the tip of the iceberg I have another two tins which I must say are considerably larger and the last thing I needed was more buttons, but they were just so colourful and shiny I couldn't resist! Isn't the this little tin super, I only got it a few weeks ago and it had a little selection of 'Love Heart' sweeties in. I don't even like the sweets but the tin was just too nice I had to have it.

I had a stroll around the little flea market that comes to town on a Friday and got a few bargains

Five little EPNS coffee spoons, a beautiful silver plate cake slice which was made for the 1937 coronation grand total of £3 a lovely little Royal Winton egg cup plate £2 and a dinky green enamel ashtray which is edged in brass just £1. Cant wait for tomorrow I just hope the weather is good then I can have a dash around the collectors market while my little man has his guitar lesson.

And I had to take a picture of this stand in the town it was just lovely. I really should start to think about my garden, the chickens are making quite a mess of the back and I would love to look out onto something colourful.

Claire xx

Back Home

After the excitement of the weekend I am back to reality and doing what I love best, BAKING!!!

Things at the weekend went a little astray and I never did get around the that baking session, so today is another day and here we go again!!

I have always made a habit of writing in a little book recipes that I use on a regular basis and recipes I have done and liked as I always forget where I have seen them and can never repeat it.

I have a abundance of lovely eggs at the moment so, I decided to make a lovely Egg Custard Tart. Just look at the colour of those eggs, so orange and bright. I always despair when the chickens go off the lay, shop bought eggs just don't have the same colour or taste, even if I do buy the supposedly 'organic free range' variety.

So with pastry case blind baking in the oven I made the filling and then carefully, carefully poured it into the baked crispy case, and after a quick spritz of freshly ground nutmeg into the oven it went until it was cooked. 

I usually can tell when its done as when I move the case it gives a little wobbly shake.
When it came out of the oven it had shall we say a homemade rustic look, but thats just how I like it! I will leave it to go cold then put in the fridge to chill and later have a piece with pouring of cream over.

Next onto replenishing the biscuit tin. This time I used just a basic biscuit recipe of:-

8oz Softened butter
4oz Caster Sugar
10oz Plain flour
a few drops of vanilla

This is a wonderful basic recipe and you can add whatever you like to spice it up a bit. In the past I have added some grated lemon zest and poppy seeds and dried cranberries and then dipped in white chocolate, YUMMY!!

Cream the sugar and butter together until pale and fluffy, then add the flour and mix until it forms into a dough.

Today I divided the mixture up into three and left 1 lot plain, the second lot I added some mixed spice and the third lot I put in some sugary coated little golden nuggets of crystallised ginger which I chopped into small pieces. After a quick sprinkle of flour, a sweep of the rolling pin I was soon cutting away and piling baking trays into the oven. They take about 15 minutes to cook.
When they had cooled on the baking tray I melted a few squares of dark chocolate I had left and dunked some of the little devils into the silky smooth depths of the glistening chocolate and hey presto!

The washing up is done, my biscuit tin is full and I am now ready to do the school run to collect the children.
What a treat it will be for them to come home to the smell and taste of lovely homemade goodies, I feel so good that I can provide them with something to eat where I know exactly what is in them and that only the best ingredients have been used and that there are no preservatives or additives. JOY :)

Claire xx

Living it up in London

Well Helen and I are back from London having had the most wonderful, wonderful time. Oh how the other half live! and for a short time we tried to live that life!!

After leaving the train we caught a taxi to The Carlton Club and went to our rooms to get changed into our little black dresses and headed straight for The Ritz and after a small disaster with my hold up stocking, which decided they were going to play the Nora Batty Game whilst walking there (they were ceremoniously removed in the street) we entered The Ritz and decided to eat and drink in The Rivoli Bar

We Started with Champagne cocktails which were devine 

and served with little bowls of crisps, green olives and salted almonds

We had a sharing platter of Hors d'Oeuvre a la Russe and every mouthful was the most wonderful a taste experience

Then accompanied by a bottle of chilled bottle of Chablis our main course arrived on a little silver tray and we tucked into probably the most expensive burger and fries I have ever eaten, but with its accompanying crispy onion rings, exquisite home made sauces of bernaise, blue cheese and mayonnaise it was to die for. 

After more wine, olives, almonds and crisps we had a few glasses of free water settled and rather large bill at which point we thought it time we headed back to The Carlton.

But before doing so we thought we would just have a trip to the ladies powder room, and yes you guessed, more photos!!!!

I am not quite sure why there was a need for a sofa in the ladies but it was the most sumptuous loo I have been in.

Back at The Club and a small night cap before retiring to our rooms to dream of the evening we had just experienced.

The view from my window

In the morning we were up early and after a full english breakfast with cereal, toast, juice and tea, we stuffed ourselves to bursting so we wouldn't have to stop for lunch and then pulled on our comfortable Ugg boots and off we went for a day of excitement and window shopping.

The Burlington Arcade

Fortnum & Mason

 Cath Kidston on Marylebone High Street, this was just such a wonderful shop and at one point I did think I may faint from the excitement.

Purchases had to be made, it was an absolute must!

Some Rose pillowcases and the most lucious little clutch purse you have ever seen! It is called the Victoria Rose Pearly zip purse and I think it must be a special range Cath Kidston is doing for the Diamond Jubilee, it feels lush and has tiny little pearly buttons all over.

At this point it was 2 o'clock and time for a large white wine spritzer and a well earned rest. I can't remember the last time I walked so far and looked at so much.

 After a few more shops we headed to Liberty's, a shop with an old fashioned elegance it almost felt like stepping back in time.

We were at the point feeling like yet another sit down and a bite to eat, so thought we would do the typically British thing and have Champagne afternoon tea. On our little stand was presented with little bites from heaven and all of this was washed down with a glass bubbling and sparkling glass of Veuve Cliquot and lashings of hot tea.

Again we battled on with the shopping, it was difficult but we did our best!

On through St. Christopher's Place and its trendy shops

These beautiful painted eggs were all over London and this peacock one took my eye, the colours are amazing.

Time was getting on so we headed back to The Carlton Club to pick up our luggage, going through Picadilly Circus

 Past St. James Palace

and with a little stop off at the famous Davidoff shop to buy out husbands a little bottle of Whisky to say thank you for looking after the children and letting us be ladies that lunch for a day rather than our usual roles as Mummy's and housewives

At the Station there was just enough time for a few more glasses of chilled white wine spritzers before heading back to my lovely family, home and life in the Peak District. 

What I joyous weekend, I have laughed and cried with happiness and joy, it was a delight to spend time with my beautiful friend, a weekend to talk of for many many years to come and an experience I will never forget. I feel that a few of the boxes on my things to do before you die list have been well and truly ticked.

Claire xx

A Nice Surprise

I have just arranged to go to London on Sunday evening until Monday evening with my lovely friend Helen, it was quite a surprise organised by my lovely husband! We will be travelling down 1st Class on the train and staying at The Carlton Club. Very posh so unfortunately I won't be packing my trusty jeans, not allowed I'm afraid.

So I have spent the morning browsing the internet, eating hot Marmite on toast and trying to decide where to visit.

Cath Kidston in Covent Garden is an absolute must! I was delighted today when she commented on Twitter that she loved my tapestry Union Jack Cushion that I did from her Stitch book.

I think I will be mainly looking for inspiration rather than spending up big, mind you that is what I say know, when the shops are there and all those lovely things are saying 'buy me buy me' who knows if I will be able to resist :)

I am always on the lookout for something nice to make. Below are some tea cosies I knitted the first 2 were inspired by the Crochet with Raymond blog which I adore. Although mine don't look quite the same I think they are gorgeous, and the last one was the first tea cosy I knitted and this was from Kirstie Allsopps book

Well I think my evening will be spent baking again as my beautiful little hens have laid me a lovely lot of special little eggs and I need to prepare for the weekend and to make sure that my lovely boys (and I include my husband in that) have a fully stocked cake tin to feast on whilst I'm not here. 

Claire xx

A Hooky Day

My middle son is off school today with an upset tummy so I am confined to the house on a day like today! I had planned going to the monthly antique sale but hey ho. There are worse places to live on a day like this, I only have to walk outside my front door and I am in the middle of stunning countryside.

This is my home, we are currently renovating it and it is my pride and joy!

So today has been spent crocheting a few more hexagons for my blanket and it is starting to grow, I did start by just crocheting hexagons and putting them where ever i felt but am now trying to neaten it up so I can actually see what size it will be. I have done it in Rowan hand knit cotton, but I seem to have little stashes of wool and cotton all over the place.

Below is my Rico Creative Cotton stored in a lovely little Cath Kidston bag I got for the bargain price in the Bibelot sale I also have quite a lot of wool hidden out of sight under my spare bed, so other members of the family can't see my addiction!

As you can see my lovely lovely little crochet blanket is coming on nicely :)

So tea and sympathy have been administered to my little one who is tucked up in bed and then I will shortly have to head off to school to pick up my other little darling