Like most people in the UK at the moment I am thoroughly depressed by seemingly freezing Arctic temperatures we have had all year so far. At the weekend it seemed to have warmed up a bit but now its become as windy as an Army barracks the morning after the whole battalion have been out for a few beers and a Vindaloo !
As to getting hold of any lovely spring produce to create some of the old Kitchen Kev magic with just seems to be impossible !!!!
However the other day at Meldon Park I got a little wiff of Spring air when Emily (The Guvnor) informed me we had Wild Garlic within the manors grounds.
I really like wild garlic it's in my opinion stronger and more pungent than the bulbs you are probably more used to. It is great in a Creamy Chicken soup or used mixed into a salad but I think It is really lovely when you use it instead of basil and make a nice pesto from it and drizzle it over some New potatoes.
Chicken with Wild Garlic and leek Mash with a Cider Gravy.
I could have done something with a bit more of a Spring feel but as my nose is blue still with the cold I went for a bit of a winter warming buttery mash potato number. I love this kind of cooking it is so simple and quick to make and hits the food satisfaction button every time !
Make a pan of mash and season it well. Add butter and a plop of cream !
Now finely slice some leeks about half a stalk will do and gently saute in a pan with oil and butter until soft. Now drop your mash potato into the pan with the leeks and combine well.
Now get a few of your Garlic leaves and roll up into a cigar shape and slice into fine strips and then mix into the mash and leek mix.
To make the gravy, sauce or Jus whatever you want to call it open a can of Cider and neck half of it down in a one za ! (excuse the spelling)
Pour the remaining half into a hot saucepan and reduce by half. Now time for Uncle Billy's YEHAAA cowboy cooking time kids ! And this weeks tip (Although I have mentioned it before !) to make up some Bisto Chicken gravy powder making sure you follow the mixing instructions on the side of the yellow box with great care and then pour the made up gravy into the reduced Cider and let cook for 10 minutes or so.
If you want to do it the professional way then saute a small finely diced onion, one stick of finely diced celery, 1 crushed garlic clove and half a diced carrot in your saucepan until soft, Now pour in your cider and reduce to a third of its volume and then pour in some chicken stock and reduce by half until the sauce has a nice thickness to it and a rich intense flavour.
Quick and simple. I dont remember seeing Wild garlic for sale in the supermarket but I am sure a walk in the country will yield some for you. If not pop in to Meldon and Ill get you some but be quick as it will have soon disappeared for another year...enjoy !
Cresswell.
Since I was a child, walking on the beach at Cresswell in Northumberland has been a place I have played on and then as I got older it was somewhere I loved to go to clear any cobwebs or do any kind of thinking that I may need to process in my head. It perhaps does not have the beauty of Druridge Bay up the road or the wonderful romance that the beach at Bamburgh has but for me it is part of my life. With my new found interest in photography again I am constantly surprised by how every time I go there I find something to photograph. It may be the dramatic crashing waves underneath an apocalyptic sky or just something that the sea as washed up on to the shore.Today as the wild North-east wind occasionally threw handfuls of sand into my face I took a few pics.......
Celebrity Chefs corner.
At Meldon we are always happy to welcome celebrity chefs into our cafe. Last week we were lucky enough to have The celebrity Cook Phil Elliot in our establishment. Phil has recently featured on "Im a celebrity dinner lady cook get me out of here !" and the BAFTA award winning "Elliotts Golf club Captain dinner nightmares !" So thank you Phil for eating in our cafe and we award you the "We are not worthy" car sticker for April !
Ok there is bragging.......
..........and then there is just having an high opinion of yourself !
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