Sunshine time...

Every time the sun pops out to say hello I get excited, I think 'Yes! Finally the weather has turned we can start to enjoy some sunshine'. Only to be disappointed each time the clouds roll back in, along with the rain and even hail! Will our seasons ever return to normal? Will we get a proper summer this year, or the same dismal imitation of the sunny season that we have experienced for the last few years? Now, as a geographer I do understand the ins and outs of why the rain keeps pouring and the wind keeps blowing. However, that is a topic for another, rainier day. Instead, I am going to offer up a something that helps lift the spirits and remind you that just maybe summer is on its way.


Elderflower and Cucumber Collins...

I had something similar at Browns a little while ago, and this weekend whilst there was the tiniest bit of sun shining, these refreshing flavours were in order! As we always have a ton of homemade elderflower cordial overcrowding the fridge I couldn't think of a better way to use some up.

It took a couple of goes to get all the quantities right but ended up with something like this...

2 Shots Gin (50ml)

1 Shot Fresh Lemon Juice

1 1/2 Shots Elderflower Cordial

3 Chunky Wedges Cucumber

Ice-Preferably Crushed

Soda to top up

I used a cocktail shaker but thats just because it helped to get us in the summery mood, but it is definitely not necessary. You can just pour all the component into a glass and away your go.

1. I added the Gin, Lemon, Elderflower and Cucumber into the cocktail shaker and gave it a good old shake! The shaking dance is also optional!

2. Next fill up a glass with crushed ice.

3. Pour the shaken mixture over the ice and top up with soda water.

4. Sit back, sip and relax!

Fingers crossed there are a few more days like this on their way!

Prawn & Courgette Curry

When it comes to simple Indian home cooking I really don't think you can beat Madhur Jaffrey. This take on her Prawn and Courgette Curry is not only delicious, it is quick and fuss free. Unlike other curries it does not need hours of blipping away so the components all keep a lovely freshness of flavour.  A great midweek supper, and even better the next day so make sure you save a bit for lunch!


To make the Prawn and Courgette Curry for four people you will need:

2 Medium Courgettes

200g Raw King Prawns

1/2 Tsp Salt (to taste)

Vegetable Oil (or any other flavouless oil)

1/2 Pack Fresh Coriander

1 Green Chili

1/2 Tsp Tumeric

1 Large Tsp Cumin

1/4 Tsp Cayenne

1 Tin Chopped Tomatos

2 Inches Ginger

A Squeeze of Lemon (about 1 Tbsp)

1. First, prep all the ingredients so they're all ready to pop into the pan when their time comes.

2. So...chop the courgettes into your preferred shape, I like a good jardinier (that's baton shape to you and I).

3. Chop up the chili. I like a good chili kick but if you don't want it to be too spicy then you can de seed them first.

4. Grate the ginger. Now you're ready to get cooking.

5. Get a heavy based pan on a medium to high heat and add a good slug of veg oil.

6. Once the oil has heated up add the powdered spices, cumin, cayenne, tumeric and salt to cook through for a minute or so. Then add the ginger and chili.

7. Next add the courgettes and stir so they are covered with the spices.

8. In go the tomatos, and ripped up coriander. Bring everything up to the boil and then turn down to a medium heat for 3 minutes.

9. Add the prawns and let the curry gently simmer for 4-5 minutes. Once the prawns have pinked up, take the pan off the heat. The last thing you want is over-cooked rubbery prawns, they really do not take long to cook.

10. Finally squeeze in the lemon juice and check the seasoning, adding a little more salt if needed.

There, I said is was quick and simple!

Pancakes with Brandy Fruit and Toasted Pecans

Now I know Shrove Tuesday has been and gone but just one day a year isn't enough! As a lover of all things sweet, I'm never one to turn down a stack of pancakes!

For this batch, some might say I went a little over the top, but I say once in a while you've got to!

For a fail safe pancake batter I always adopt the one cup method...1 cup flour, 1 cup milk and 1 egg. Or if your going for a decent sized stack...2 cups of each and 2 eggs.

Serves 4

2 Cups Self-Raising Flour

2 Cups Milk

2 Large Eggs

5 Figs

4 Oranges-Preferably Ruby Red as they

 look beautiful alongside the pinky flesh of the figs.

75ml Brandy

 Caster Sugar (approx. 6 tbsp)

250ml Double Cream

100g Pecans (chopped)

(Maple Syrup to serve)

Right off we go...

1. Whip up your pancake batter so it's all ready to go. Ideally if you have two people working on this one can make the pancakes whilst the other prepares the fruit. However if not you can make a stack of pancakes and keep them warm until you are ready to devour them.

2. Using an electric whisk (or by hand if you want to work off some of those pancakey calories), whip the double cream until it becomes thick and forms luscious ribbons when dropped from a spoon. Don't over-whip so that you end up with a thick chalky cream. It just doesn't posses the same decadence. Set aside until everything else is ready.

3. Peal the oranges by using a sharp knife to slice away the peal from the top and then the sides of the orange.

4. Slice the oranges into 1/2cm slices. Looks nicest if you slice horizontally but you can do it how you want as it'll all taste as good in the end!

5. Quarter the figs ans put into an oven proof dish with the orange slices.

6. Bake the fruit in a hot oven (180 degrees) for about 10 minutes, or until soft and sticky.

7. Whilst the fruit is in the oven pour a good slug of brandy (about 75ml) into a saucepan and add approx 6 tbsps of caster sugar. Or enough to sweeten to your taste.

8. Place brandy and sugar mixture on the hob until the sugar has disolved and some of the alcohol has had a chance to burn off. (Approx 3-5 mins).

9. Put the pecans in a dry pan over a medium heat and lightly toast for approx 4 minutes. Frequently moving them around the pan so they don't burn.

10. Finally remove the fruit from the oven and pour over the brandy mixture.

11. All that is left to do is construct a magnificant tower of pancakes adorned with brandy soaked fruit, cream, toasted pecans and a drizzle of maple syrup and enjoy!

For a quick and easy pudding, you could make this without the pancakes and spoon the sweet, brandy fruit and pecans over some ice cream. Or alternatively crumble some (good quality) ready made meringues into the cream and fold together with a generous helping of the fruit. Yum.

The Best Dressing!

Although at first I was rather dismissive of Jamie's 15 Minute Meals concept, I must admit I have found rather a few tasty morsles lurking within it's pages. This dressing has become my new favourite, and I keep coming up with excuses to make it again and again.Yes, I know it's winter and most of the time the last thing you want is a salad, but the vibrant colour of this punchy dressing will enliven any murky February lunch time.

You will need...

1/2 Bunch of Fresh Basil

1 tsp. of English Mustard

4 Anchovy Fillets

1 tbsp. Red Wine Vinegar
1 Clove Garlic (crushed)

40g Grated Parmesan (or similar)

1 Lemon

4 tbsp. Natural Yoghurt

It couldn't be more simple...

1. Rip the basil into a food processor.

2. Next add the mustard, anchovies, garlic, red wine vinegar, lemon and parmesan.

3. Blitz until you've made a paste.

4. Pour out into a nice bowl to serve.

5. Stir in the yogurt.

This dressing goes best on any salad 'a la Jamie' as it has become known in our house. Basically take all your favourite salad ingredients and pop them through the chopper on your food processor and there you have it. Each mouthful will hold a fresh hit from each of your chosen ingredients.

Breakfast with a view- Beachhouse, South Milton

Beachhouse is a small shack perched on the side of the hill behind the big beach at South Milton, that used to be the old National Trust shed. If its haute cuisine your after then this is not the place for you, however, if like me you can think of nothing better than a brisk, windy walk and a slap up breakfast on a Sunday morning then whack on your wellies and off you go!

It didn't take us long to get there from Hope Cove, although, we all felt thoroughly deserving of a big old breakfast when we arrived! Well, the world and his wife had also had the same idea, which meant we had a bit of a wait to order and an even bigger wait for our food. The two staff, one cooking and one taking orders, making coffees and running food, were slightly overrun by hungry walkers and their dogs!

When our food did finally arrive, it hit the spot. The boys had both ordered the Beachhouse Monty breakfast whilst I had a giant sausage and egg sarnie. The breakfasts weren't huge for £7.50 but were apparently very tasty. Plus, they included two perfectly fried eggs, somewhat of a personal gripe of mine, oh how I hate a wobbly egg!  My sandwich was more like a sausage and egg tower, piled high between two huge,  fluffy slabs of bread, perfect! 

Breakfast with a view!

I have actually been to beachhouse on another occasion for their evening service and I can only report great things. It was a particularly cold and windy autumn evening so rather than the usual half an hour trudge, we chickened out and drove, just in case we got blown off the cliff! 

The shack proved to be a  warm, cosy haven, serving tasty morsels. They can only squeeze 30 people in so you have to remember to book ahead, but believe me its worth it. As the tables are all packed tight you might end up sharing with new friends, which adds to the experience of all cramming in together to enjoy simple, tasty food whilst the wind whistles outside. 

Now, they do have a small menu of a few, slightly uninspiring regulars, however the specials board of local, fresh fish is what you want! I enjoyed a bowl piled high with plump, local mussels in a simple white wine and garlic sauce which were perfectly delicious. Whilst my dining companions went for delicate fillets of seabass, and lemon sole both yummy.

All thats left to say is, this Sunday, put your coat on, never mind the weather, and amble along the coast path in search of a hearty breakfast! But don't forget to check the opening times just in case!

A little trip to the seaside.

With a free weekend on your hands, what better to do than take a trip down to Devon for a spot of fresh seaside air?

So late Thursday evening we packed up our bags and jumped in the car. Well...getting there proved to be somewhat more difficult than usual as twenty minutes from the house my car decided to give up the ghost and move no further! But, after being rescued from the cold, dark roadside by a knight in a flashing van, we finally arrived!

The beach in the morning

It was definitely worth it! The sun shone and the rain left us alone which made it extra lovely to be back down on the coast. After spending all summer there, by early November the withdrawal symptoms were definitely setting in! So with only a few short days we had a lot to pack in, mainly, lots of crab sandwiches! So anyway I thought I'd share a few pictures from Hope Cove, I cannot wait to go back again.

Lobster pots on the sea wall

More pots!

Oh buoy!

Another crab sandwich on the way=happy!

Over the sea wall

About me...

Hi! I'm Sophie, and most of all I love to eat! 

I have been wanting to start a blog for a while, but worried that no one would want to read my ramblings, I have kept them to myself, until now! 

I graduated from University in Leeds this summer, so with the comfortable bubble of full time education finally burst, I am back home again! Although, for now, I'm not complaining, as it's definitely nice to enjoy some home comforts. Possibly the best of these being the food!

During my time at University I loved having free rein of the kitchen, and along with my friends, set about eating our way through our student loans. We enjoyed everything from ridiculously large mid-week roasts, to deliciously delicate desserts. Not wanting to stop there I have been using my recently increased spare time, in between job hunting and other serious real life things, as an excuse to experiment with more yummy dishes. 

So this is going to become my little slice of the internet where I can share my tasty morsels and musings.

Here we go...