Foodie Heaven - In words, pictures and food!

Like the picture? It's about the only sun we had and light was perfect for showcasing this fudge.

Summers here and its rain, rain, rain - a real joy! There is a vegetable shortage as nothing is being nurtured by a happy sun come to that, neither am I.

So here I am watching too much TV in the evenings, surfing the web on my lovely new laptop (hurrah! Vista - Bah!) So what should I do? Oh I know, how about a blog update and finally put in the pictures I keep rattling on about?

They are uploading as I type and soon, you will be treated to a myriad of colours, textures and faces as you explore my world of very amateur snaps (but lovingly shot mind you). In the meantime, did I tell you about nibbles on Saturday just past? Don’t read nibbles, read feast for thousands, well, ten. Had all the girlies with boyfriends and babies in tow for an impromptu drinkies party. I laid on casseroles, roasted meets, veg and fruits from the Farmers Market in Wymondham and we all consumed far too much wine - I love it when we all get together as we are all bats. Poor Em had me panicking around her as she was so animated when she spoke, the giant mirror in my front room started to tip and her life was in peril... I was very tired afterwards.

Saturday was pretty great actually(see the pictures above). I was at the farmers market picking up supplies and I saw a woman standing behind the meat stall and thought 'I know her'. Lo’ and behold! It was celebrity chef and food writer Sophie Grigson making a promotional film for the Guardian promoting British Beef. The best thing was that she spoke to me, converted me to pan fried skirt steak (I usually casserole it along with thousands of other Brits [I don't casserole Brits], the French are way ahead) and then the filming person asked me to be in the film checking the provenance of my meat - fantastic foodie heaven!!!

Foodie Days

Sometimes there is nothing better than escaping the rat race and having a day off to enjoy baking; which is exactly what I did yesterday. I am already on a mission with my Christmas cakes (really) and only have about another three jars of pre-macerated fruit to go, which I started (huge amount of fruit glut) preparing last year (macerate when it's sweet, marinate when it's not).

My tip? When making a cake, stick in whatever dried fruit you like and then just make sure you have enough fruit to add to the cake mix. Do note, as I found out yesterday, that fig seeds appear to rise to the top providing a slightly grainy texture. I just used the reipe in Leiths Baking Bible and I have to say - it looks superb and the texture of the cake looks lovely and moist.

I also made a self saucing Raspberry dessert yesterday which on reheating. I did appear to very cook - but it was still tasty. The recipe comes from an old M and S desert cook book which my friedn A bought me to cheer me up, lawd bless him. I'm at work at the moment so haven't got it to hand but will post again later.

I had to use eggs in this and it was rather gory as there appeared to be a blood clot in it, which went everywhere. I felt quite ill.

I have to say that on the whole, I really enjoyed my day - just pootling along and adding the radio and the chance to peruse my books into the mix, was bliss - however, Idid have to wash up a lot.....