Such a simple Summer choice. Prawns with Marie Rose Dressing*  Green Salad  with a simple French Dressing and Summer Jersey Royal Potatoes . With a nice glass of chilled Sancerre what could be nicer.

*Marie Rose Sauce for Prawns. Hellmans Mayonnaise, Tomato Paste and a little Cayenne Pepper, very little Salt all blended well with the  Prawns.

Wash and cut two aubergines length-wise and place in oven-proof dish face down and sprinkle with a little olive oil, and cooked in oven for twenty minutes. Meanwhile dice one medium onion and cook in saucepan with two cloves of garlic until nice and soft and transparent add some mince beef as much as the size of the aubergines will allow. Fry off and then add some tomato concentrate a generous tablespoon will do it, a good amount of basil, a desert spoon of cumin, a little salt and a generous amount of black pepper.  Now you can at this point add some cooked rice or as I do on occasions, some cooked pasta to the meat mixture. Check your cooked Aubergines in the oven and when a fork will pierce easily, bring from the oven and scoop out the insides carefully as not to damage the skins including the little seeds as well, they are very good for you. Add this pulp to the meat mixture and blend well together, then transfer the mixture back into the skins. Top with the Cheese of choice I like strong cheddar or Lincolnshire’s Poachers cheese or of course Parmesan. Place back in the oven for 5 minutes and serve with love.

Olive Oil  Roasted Chicken with new Jersey Royal Potatoes and Beefsteak Tomatoes, a little Basil, some good Mayo, and a Fresh Green Salad, just as simple as that!

Or how about a very tasty often forgotten Caesar Salad, with good green leaves, I like rocket  which is so great with  left over cooked chicken. Add  nicely baked multi-seeded wholemeal bread croutons, popped in the  oven with a sprinkling of  olive oil and baked until perfectly crunchy. Add some finely cut onions and chopped tomatoes and with a good Caesar dressing dribbled over the top, you can buy such good ones these days, hardly worth making and then with a generous amount  of finely sliced parmesan cheese, this salad is quite perfect, served with a nice cold white wine for a summer  meal what could be better?

Beetroot, onion, celery, nuts and slices of Parmesan cheese with garlic olive oil croutons – delicious lunch for a hot summer day.

Christmas time for you and me

tis’ very different I’m sure you’ll see

the favourites that please you and me

complete this yuletide picture…

Christmas bright with candlelight

good friends to share with you,

log fires that crackle, and ban the cold

toes warm as toast on rugs of old,

scented smell of cinnamon and

warm mulled wine to sip,

when carols sung of partridges, turtle doves,

winter crystals fall as snowflakes

from heaven above, to settle

on gleeful warm faces, catching

their lashes as they quicken their paces

to peep in pretty windows dressed ready to share,

a few of these favourite things.

Jenny’s warm crisp mince pies

adds a sparkle to your eyes,

quince jelly and all those yummy things

brandy butter and children’s grins,

at snap of pretty crackers, mottos

laughing faces and silly chatter,

sweet smell of oranges, chestnuts too

Oh! to share them all with you.

Coloured garish paper hats, that special robin

that came and sat

near mistletoe for that special kiss,

we hang in bunches not to miss

the wonder of the child’s eyes

as underneath the tree is spied

coloured papered box entice,

if you’ve been good, if you’ve been nice?

Family, friends, laughter, fun..

“Merry Christmas” special ones.

Christmas time no different you see

Just as long as you’re here with me.

All Rights Reserved @ December 2009

I’ve never made a fancy cake
a malt loaf is really me
I can make a lovely cuppa
so I can always have Assam tea,
I can rustle-up a chicken pie
with the shortest crust you’ll ever find
with a tasty bit of gravy too
but I never make tiramisu,
or even glorious meringues that rise
in heavenly peaks that reach the skies!
I’d rather have a drop of gin
and write a little ditty,
I’m getting on a bit you see
but I really don’t need your pity.
I truly like to dance and sing
with music playing in my ears
a duster in my hand,
like I was seventeen again
as I listen to rock-bands!

I like the music blaring out
put on my heels and gad about,
It gets the work done double quick,
then a drop of Gordon’s does the trick.
Pies,Poetry and a pint of Gin
my life’s complete, I dream within
of Para-gliding in sunny climes
but to be quite honest I haven’t time.
I’m busy selecting the brightest hues
of brand new hair colours,
and when I stand in queues
I love to listen to the latest chat,
of pretty girls who admire my hats!
I love to spray the testers too,
such fun to smell like a famous star
with Chanel and Gucci, I’ll go real far…

Never mind the ‘leccy bill, would
love new lipstick, better than pills!
Ah! this ones, the one for me
scarlet red, smooth as can be
will make me feel like twenty three,
Pies, Poetry and a Pint of Gin
to dance down street, new life within.
I spend the days reviewing years
I like to write and think a lot
not much one ,for knitting socks
nor for mowing or removing weeds,
I think I’ll  move overseas!
and sit all day with skirt to knees                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             in deck-chair on sand and feet in sea
with wrinkled face and cigar for me.
I can dance all night in Latin clubs
with swarthy handsome younger coves,
then come home at dawn for a cup of tea,
perhaps… I can learn to water ski?

but really I think I’d rather have…
Pies, Poetry and a Pint of Gin !

Copyright @ Susie Hemingway 2009

 

It was our village ‘open gardens’ day this Sunday, the morning dawned fair and after such preparation from the eleven sensational gardens that would be open to the public, we knew we were in for an exciting and enticing day. Abundant flower drenched bowers, roses dripping in splendour,  colourful arbour’s, covering walkways, plants of  such exotic delights, lawns manicured to perfection, handmade paths so clever in design.  All manner of interest and panoramic views to mesmerize, scents to please the senses and calm and serene borders and textures. Corners of interest and wonderful hidden places to sit and view awhile.  Vegetables crammed and laden, bursting full of goodness and showing skills of years of knowledge and precious tending. For many of the gardens with chickens, ducks and geese producing a self sufficiency with daily  eggs, crops of every vegetable,  fresh and packed full of glorious vitamins.  We feasted on wonderful fare on the stroll around the lanes of this enchanting village, stopping for a ploughman’s lunch with a selection of English cheeses and pickle and a cooling drink at the hottest part of the day. Then peeping into our little church to view the theme displays of flowers, some shown below.  On we went, with ice-cream in hand to end our very English day at the last garden for afternoon tea and delicious cakes and scones laden with strawberries and cream. My photos do not do justice to these wonderful gardens but perhaps will give you my reader a little idea of this heavenly day…

Shown above: Two simple fruit cakes with a little touch of  brandy in each. One ‘old fashioned’ Apple-pie, and Two,  Ham, Mustard, Egg and Cheese Flans.

How delightful afternoon tea is. Not much beats this, in my opinion. Yes of course  it should be the real deal, of  tiny thin crust-less sandwiches filled with such delights as salmon and cucumber or potted paste. Then to follow a nice slice of rich homemade fruit cake, all serve-up with a good quality pot of  tea. It is such an English tradition, that still works well, even if  only during the weekends of  our busy lives.  But what about  the humble scone, which is often neglected, still cheap to make and can turn in a minute, into the most delicious tea-time treat, with a good portion of whipped cream and topped with some really wonderful  strawberry jam. When the need for a full high-tea is not  required, this little humble cake can been perfect. It  is also such a useful stop-gap when having a house full of  weekend guests, particularly if you are to eat out or perhaps later in the evening. It makes a focus to the afternoon, gathering  guests together for a cosy afternoon chat.  Always remember, that the not so humble scone, makes a very reasonable quick and scrumptious tea time treat which never seems to stay on the plate for long.

1 lamb shank per person, some rosemary and thyme – fresh is best.1 clove of garlic per shank, carrots and onions , a good rich stock and at least half a pint of good red wine about 50/50, to cover the entire shanks.

Dust shanks in a little flour and brown on all side in a little olive oil, place in good large casserole pot. Then fry the onions in the same pan until a lovely golden brown  add the sliced carrots and chopped garlic and stir in with the onions and cook for a min or two further, then add generous amounts of rosemary and thyme, salt and black pepper.

Place this mixture on top of the lamb shanks in the casserole, add stock and the  red wine to cover and place in a pre- heated oven cook on high for  10 min’s then turn down to a low temperature about 150c and cook for as long as possible -  I usually cook them all afternoon. If you are doing a large number – separate into two dishes and use  appropriate amounts of carrots and onions.

Serve with love and a good bowl of  fresh spinach, lovely creamy mash or Baked potatoes , it makes a great hearty supper dish for colder days.

We were so lucky to receive many wonderful gifts at Hemingway this  Christmas. Among them all was this delightful ‘Panettone al cioccalte’ which we will enjoy so much during the coming weeks.  It is lovely just eaten as it comes, or warmed and spread with some good butter, or indeed made into the most  marvellous Bread and Butter Pudding for a wonderful Winter treat. The weather is really cold now, so how comforting this will be. Thank you kind givers X

225 grams plain flour, 75 grams of Icing Sugar, 150 grams butter, A pinch of  Salt.

Preheat oven to 160c/gas mark 4

Sieve dry ingredients into good size bowl, warm butter and pour into bowl and mix well until mixture forms a ball of dough. Turn out onto lightly floured surface and roll until about 15mm thick, then cut into shapes of your choice. Can at this point be decorated with sultanas or chocolate chips pressed into dough. Cook in oven until pale gold in colour,  Allow to cool then sprinkle with sieved icing sugar.

Great biscuits for little ones to make for Christmas. ( about 3p per cookie)

BABA GHANOUSH  3 Large Aubergines, 2-4 cloves of Garlic, a little salt,1/4 pint Tahina paste ( always sold in health food shops these days) Juice of 3 Lemons, 1/2 teaspoon of Cumin, 2 tablespoons finely chopped Parsley. A little Olive Oil. A few Black Olives to garnish.

Method: Wash and dry your aubergines and cut in half  lengthways, place in a baking tray with a little olive oil and baked in oven on a  medium heat until soft right through to the centres. Scoop out the aubergines and place in large bowl – discarding the skins.

Crush the garlic gloves with a little salt, Mash the aubergines with a fork and add the garlic cumin, salt and mash until smooth  can all be transferred at this point to an electric blender, but can certainly be done without.

Add the Tahina paste and lemon juice alternately, beating or blending as you go, you may at this point add a little more olive oil to soften further and a little more salt and cumin if  liked. It should have the consistency of very thick cream.

Pour into a nice coloured bowl, garnish with a few black olives and serve with warm pitta bread or favourite crispbreads.

So lovely for a lunch break or as as a starter, an addition to other small bowls like Humous, Tzatziki,olives etc to form the basis of a Mediterranean Mezza

Nadrat. Alexandria  1979

Method.

Mix 500 ml of Mascarpone with 200ml of Creme Fraiche and 3-4 heaped dessert spoons of sieved icing sugar ( depending on how sweet you like it and how much brandy you will be using! ). Make up your best  coffee, good and strong,  allow to cool a little, and mix with 2-3 dessert spoons of good quality brandy. Dip Boudoir Biscuits in coffee  and brandy mixture ( not letting them get too soggy) enough to fill your selected dish,  layer up with the  Mascarpone mix, to the top of the dish. Chill  and before serving with love,  sprinkle with a little coco powder or chocolate curls, and perhaps a little angelica as decoration.