This time of year sees the arrival of stone fruits – peaches, nectarines, plums, Mirabelles (if you can track them down in Scotland), greengages and my favourite – apricots! Fond memories of a holiday in France, plucking the slightly fuzzy fruit from an esplanaded tree outside our gîte; bees buzzing lazily around the lavender, the air heavy with perfume from blowsy roses. Looking like flushed … Continue reading Lazy Days and Sunshine … Oh and Apricots!
When we first planted the garden, I had a rather fine gooseberry bush, well two actually – one red and one green. That was until BOGG (Big Ol’ Grumpy Git) built a bonfire on top of them! It took until last year to get around to planting up another couple of bushes. Now I’m sure that I had two varieties – again one red and … Continue reading Gooseberries – A Tart Fruit in Need of Some Lovin’
Baking with a Buggered Back – Apple and Mincemeat Tart It’s been a wee while (well more than a wee while) since I’ve posted a recipe and I feel guilty about it. It’s not as if I haven’t been baking or cooking as you can see from my Instagram account. I know, I must try harder (this was a regular comment on several subjects when … Continue reading Baking with a Buggered Back – Apple and Mincemeat Tart
Proust’s Favourite Little Cakes – Madeleines Like Proust, The Daught loves madeleines. These little temptresses seem to be shrouded in mystery as to who, where and when they were first made. Could it have been Madeleine Paulmier, possibly a cook in the 18th century for Stanislaus I, Duke of Lorraine, or perhaps a cook named Madeleine who is said to have offered little cakes in the shape … Continue reading Proust’s Favourite Little Cakes – Madeleines
Sunday Afternoon Baking – Banana Fudge Cookies It’s Sunday afternoon. I like to bake on a Sunday, so as BOGG (Big Ol’ Grumpy Git) wandered through the family room, I asked him what sort of cookie he’d like, as I flicked through a lapful of cookery books. “Soft and Chewy!” was the reply as he walked from the room. With a couple of manky bananas … Continue reading Sunday Afternoon Baking – Banana Fudge Cookies
‘Tis the Season It’s that time of year where Panic, Manic and Chaos tend to be unwelcome visitors to anyone’s home, including mine. I don’t know about you, my dear readers, but I pile on the pressure by opening up our home to friends and neighbours on Christmas Eve. Nothing fancy, just booze and nibbles, but it means that come Christmas Day I can only … Continue reading ‘Tis the Season
Bramble On I’m still picking these thorny blighters with the added danger of drowsy wasps buzzing around the fruit and my head. I say drowsy, but they could be drunk on the rotting windfalls. BOGG (Big Ol’ Grumpy Git aka the Husband) almost stuck his fingers into a hollow apple that had over twelve of the angry buggers inside! That would have been a … Continue reading On a Bramble Roll – The Bramble Glut Part lll
Bramble Glut Curd A Glut of Brambles – Part Deux! Well with the amount of fruit that I’ve amassed over the past few weeks, I really couldn’t leave you, my dear readers, with just one proper bramble recipe. As I said in my previous post, there are pickles, gin and cider vinegar on the pantry shelves, all stuffed full of autumn’s voluptuous wild berries. I have … Continue reading A Glut of Brambles – Part Deux!
Bramble Glut Posset This year has just been phenomenal for brambles. Our garden seemed to be overrun with the thorny buggers. Next year’s tangle thrashing around like demented spiky snakes, waiting to catch the unwary as they gather the fruit from this season’s pickings. I have had more than my fair share of scratches and miniscule thornlets embedded in my fingers and hands. And as … Continue reading What To Do With A Glut of Brambles
A great use for any leftover haggis you might have lurking around in the fridge. You can use any variety; works well with the meaty version or if you’re a vegetarian, Macsween’s make a very good veggie one. Has it been done before , I kenneth not! Scone Ecosse Tip 8oz of self raising flour into a bowl and rub in 1oz butter. Crumble in about … Continue reading Scone Ecosse – or in other words, haggis scones!
In the Kitchen with @BakersBunny 