Georgian Style Plum Chutney
Its chutney time, and this year our orchard trees are groaning under the weight of beautifully ripening fruits. I have already made jams and jellies, and put pies and purees into the deepfreeze. The last job of the season is to turn the remainder, and the later ripening fruits into chutneys and pickles. This year I thought I would try something a bit different and have developed a plum chutney inspired by the traditional plum sauce of Georgia. Continue reading
Chicken cooked in a rich sauce of sherry, sherry vinegar and rosemary.
The Sherry and sherry vinegar used in this recipe add a warm complex slightly piquant flavour. Use a good Manzanilla dry aged sherry, or a Tio Pepe, and the best sherry vinegar that you can find. The addition of Rosemary adds depth and a wintery note to the dish.
Like many casseroles it is best made in advance to allow the sherry vinegar to mellow and the complex flavours to develop. Instructions are given in full below. Continue reading
Ribbons of thin courgette lightly dressed with lemon and garlic and tossed together with slices of parmesan and fresh peppery nasturtium flowers.
Every Summer its a race against time to pick the courgettes before they turn into marrows. I don’t always win. They seem to grow before your eyes from small tender courgette with the flower still attached to massive Marrows that need a very different style of cooking. I love Marrow and I like to let a few courgettes become mature towards the end of the season, but I do prefer courgettes. I love their raw nuttiness in salads, and cooking them is so quick and easy which is perfect for suppers on hot summer evenings. We like them sliced and fried in a little olive oil and served sprinkled with flaked sea salt. Or, simply steamed and garnished with a handful of fresh garden herbs such as lemon thyme, and a knob of butter.
Below are two further fresh and simple ideas for using Courgettes. A raw Carpaccio Salad and a wonderfully versatile and flexible Garden Ratatouille. Continue reading
Stirring Stuff 