River Cottage

Dear all,

Let’s just say I wasn’t ready but I am now.

To my family and friends who read this small blog of mine, thank you for waiting and for encouraging me in all I do.

Although I have not written about my cooking for sometime, we have certainly been cooking and eating a lot of recipes from River Cottage Veg.  We have visited Axminster (twice in 2 weeks during the summer) and have learned that River Cottage has arrived in Bristol. Fantastic news and I hope I can somehow be a part of it.

Bear with me as I write a few blogs to catch up as I am recharged, renewed and ready to complete cooking every recipe in this beautiful book. 

Roasted aubergine ‘boats’ – I got a lot of credit for very little effort here. The boat and yoghurt partnership is divine.  I struggle to find another word better suited for my blog but it just keeps sounding in my head… corrrrrrrr! So good.

Roasted squash – So many dishes from one humble vegetable.

Pumpkin and raisin tea loaf – In the haze of trying to cook everything within season, I wanted to bake this loaf and take it to Brixham where BA, Shiva and I were going for a weekend. BA went to a tree seminar at Paignton Zoo and I checked out the English Riviera with the pups. The pumpkin travelled a long way but for a special occasion it worked perfectly. It was to be my birthday cake.  With little time to think about it, I bought the pumpkin and got to work the day before we travelled. I read the instructions and was slightly intimidated by the skill required, these days I don’t ‘whisk and then fold’ very often. In fact Home Economics spring to mind! Nonetheless, first is the alchemy of yolks and sugar, such a beautiful texture and the whisking, folding and baking that followed were filled with pleasure. The joy of baking.  The end result – my birthday cake, singing included was pretty wonderful and I am mindful again of what a special goal I have set myself and the fun I am having along the way.

Lemony guacamole – great fresh flavour.

Carrot hummus – This is a special find for us. The perfect morrocan balance of sweet and spice.  Healthy too so my insides smile.  I made it for my Mum and took it to Weymouth.

New potato gnocchi – BA and I both agreed we had not eaten a good gnocchi in the past and had pretty much given up on the idea.  Our past memories are slimey and tasteless…it’s no wonder then, we were a little hesitant.  With new potatoes arrived and I must first tell you how much fun these are to make, definitely made me feel like a cook.  Taste and texture was marvelous. We ate warm and as leftovers and I was surprised how light they are, could this be attributable in part to our beloved wheat-free flour.  Pleasantly surprised and say ‘bring on the pesto’!

Garlicky bread and bread rolls and beetroot and cheddar pizza – I had been avoiding the bread section with an old pattern of mine.  Bread making has seemed like an art and do you know, I don’t ever recall making bread.  We have been wheat-free for sometime too so this hasn't really been on my radar.  Whilst thinking how to write this I can only describe the familiar feeling of when I am singing.  I was kneading and then getting on with another task whilst the dough was rising in the airing cupboard. The smell is perfection both when kneading and the scent of baking.  I used organic unbleached flour which made me feel happier about the wheat. I can make bread. Life changing cooking - old pattern be gone.

Asparagus pizza – on a roll, we made this thing of beauty and took round to H&J together with some garlicky bread.  BA and J watched football and H and I sang songs from the 80’s with the help of Spotify.  J says I can come again but I should think he talking about the cooking not the singing.

Clair.