The Elms, Suffolk

Breakfast: Cereals Lunch: A quick pork pie in the car Dinner: Grilled Lobster Tails & Garlic Butter, Cheeseburgers Lunch: We skipped lunch really and so a couple of pork pies in the car served as a quick 'picnic'. We visited Grace at their new flat near Hadleigh, and a shopping trip to the local Morrisons.  We also visited Swiss Farm  for some meat, and have a nice gammon for next week Maine Lobster Tails Hamburgers in the grill Dinner:  We picked up Maine Lobster tails at Waitrose.  Good value at 20% of (on a Friday).  Unfortunately they only had the 2 tails. But the cost was only £7.30.  Cooked on the mini bbq Cheeseburgers also on the mini bbq

Breakfast: Cereals & Muesli Lunch: A little picnic Dinner: Fish & Chips (Takeaway) Lunch: We visited Carol in Aldeburgh for lunch today.  We popped in to visit, and this was our first venture out to eat somewhere other than home. A lovely spread in the garden, with her home made Pate, Hummus, Potato & Onion Tart, Falafel, Asparagus and more.  No photos of the food as it is a bit rude to get the phone out (or so I am told), but here is a photo of her beautfiul roses We gave a little gift of our back Bacon, amd Carol had some horseradish roots to plant, and some saltpeter.  Maggie intends to try the Potato & Onion tart Carol's Roses in Aldeburgh Dinner: We discovered that one of our local Fish and Chip shops (Debenham) are open for take-away.  It makes a change not to cook for a day Fish & Chip Takeaway

Breakfast: Bacon Sandwich with the new cure Lunch: Scotch Egg and Pickles Dinner: Burrata amd Tomatoes, Garlic Flatbread, Pizza Dessert: Honey Ice Cream, Meringue & Strawberries Back Bacon Streaky Bacon Sandwich Breakfast: Our new home cure is ready.  Back bacon & Streaky. The cure is made of Salt, a very little sugar, a sprinkle of Italian Salt for Meats (rosemary/fennel/oregano), Prague Powder No. 1, and a good sprinkle of ground black pepper.  It was very good, if not perfect.  I think it will be our 'house' cure Lunch: Shop bought scotch eggs Scoth Eggs Dinner: Burrata & Tomatoes, Garlic Flatbread. Pizza.  We had a lovely visit from our friend Ingrid and had Pizza in the garden.  I took the opportunity of cooking my own pizza in the Monolith and the other 2 were cooked in the Ooni 3 Ooni wins hands down!  The Monolith version was cooked with the stone at 370c and a good draw on the coals to give some top h...

Brunch:  Left over Pizza Ingredients Omelette & Sausage Merenda (Tea): Coffee & Panetone Dinner: Shephers Pie, Cauliflower,Vegetables Brunch: We had a late breakfast, early lunch. An omelette for breakfast is an indulgence really! Merenda Brunch Omelette Merenda: We do not often have merenda or tea and something sweet in the afternoon, but we had socially distanced visitors dropping off an anniversary gift of Sparkling Italian Rose Wine & Flowers.  Thank you Alison and Andrew, we are so glad we met you.  A little catch-up and a little reminisce of Italy 2 years ago Shepherds Pie Dinner: Making enough to share with a neighbour and also have some to freeze for when we dont feel like cooking.  Also the weather was a bit grey today and it does knock the enthusiasm for cooking outside

Breakfast: Boiled Egg and Soldiers Lunch: GI Bread rolls and Corned Beef Dinner: Lamb Chops, Hummus, Chick Pea Salad, New Potatoes Dessert: Local Strawberries & Clotted Cream Breakfast: We have personalised Alexa to give a more personal message as an egg timer. We have been using Alexa as a timer but this seems to make it more interactive Lamb Chop Dinner in the garden Dinner: Local Lamb cooked on the Baby Grill ( perhaps not the best name for it ), seared and seerved medium. Dessert: Perhaps a little early for strawberries, they are from Bedingfield. Perhaps another week, just tasted a little fresh Strawberries & Clotted Cream Coffee:  We ordered 'Chit Chat' coffee from Paddy & Scott  in April. It was not in stock at the time and so they sent a replacement of their flagship coffee 'Jerry Can'. The taste is good but we can't get it to the strength we like. A quick email to Paddy & Scott and they are happy to replace it with ...

Breakfast: Cereal & Muesli (New Bacon Tomorrow!!!) Lunch: Pate, Closeslaw, Olive and Beetrort Dinner: Pizza /Night Pizza in the Ooni Trash Can Pizza Dinner: We love our Ooni pizza oven.  Pizza dough from the freezer from a previous pizza night.  The recipe I use is  just about foolproof and allows for real abuse of the dough! It can be frozen, left all day. Mine was a trash can pizza - (ie a bit of everything) and Maggie had Gorgonzola, Courgette & onion

Breakfast@ Muesli & Cereal Lunch: Conred Beef Sandwich with Lidl GI Bread Dinner: Garlic Prawns and Flatbread. Sirloin Steak 'Tagliata' on a Salt Block, Grilled Mushrooms, Grilled Asparagus Steak Tagliata Steak on Hamalyan Salt BLock Dinner: We had a lovely day and evening.  Prawns, quickly cooked with Garlic and a little bread to mop up the sweet juices. Steak in a marinade of balsamic, herbs and garlic. Quickly seared over very hot coals, and then rested for a few minutes.  A himalayan salt block heated in the barbecue for about an hour,.  Serve to the table and put the meat on the hot salt. It will sizzle, and you can then rub into the salt to season and heat a little more. Garlic Prawn And look at this beautiful box of chocolates, Beglian and Italian selection.  Thank you again Lynn & Millie

Breakfast: Bacon Sandwich Lunch: Spaghetti with Oil, Chilli, Garlic & Parsley (Spaghetti aglio e olio) Dinner: Tandoor Chicken, Malaysian Chicken Curry, Aloo Gobi, Pappadums, Onion Bhaji Spaghetti aglio e olio Lunch: This must be the easiest and probably one of the tastiest dishes in the world.  Cook some spaghetti (No 1 if you can find it - but any will do), finely chop some garlic and heat gently in some good olive oil in a frying pan. Add some chilli flakes or very finely chopped fresh red chilli.  Add the pasta to the frying pan, sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley and serve.  Add parmesan We had a surprise today from a very good friend, and a present for our wedding anniversary.  Thank you, you are such a thoughtful and lovely person Dinner: Using the Monolith as a tandoor the chicken was good.  The Malaysian curry was a shop bought mix, which was a bit average (Sharwoods) and the Aloo Gobi was made using the Bhaji Man mix. Onion Bhaji wa...

Breaklfast:  Boiled Egg, Toast Soldiers Lunch:  Charentais Melon, Salami & Prosciutto Dinner: Cheeseburger, (Hamburger with Marrow Bone) Sweet Potato Fries Breakfast: These egg were from the hens of Steve & Marion.  Lovely colour and taste.  Thank you Charentais Melon Boiled Egg Lunch: Early for melon here but these were ripe and ready at Waitrose, and on offer.  Almost sweet Dinner: Hamburgers from Aldi, with marrow bone.  Very good and cheap (£2.69 for 2).  Every bit as good as the burgers from Waitrose or Marks & Spencer at £4.50 for 2.  Cooked on the new baby Kamado, a perfect size for 2 and a new addition to the kitchen.  It will also be used for example, for a fish starter whilst the main grill is in use Cheeseburgers Also click here for the recipe for Hot Smoked Salmon from yesterday

Breakfast: Bacon Sandwich Lunch: Cheese Sandwich Dinner: Hot Smoked Sea Trout, Lemon Mayonaisse, Jersey Royals, Buttered Green Beans Breakfast: The last of the original bacon from the home cure kit.  This was another slightly sweet with pink peppercorn.  A touch too sweet for me again.  I will try my own pink peppercorn as the idea sounds good. Trout in Dry Brine Hot Smoked Troud Hot Smoked Trout, Jersey Royals Dinner: We saw sides of sea trout at Morrisons recently at £11.00 per kg, and so decided to try our Hot Smoked Salmon recipe on the trout.  Recipe added here  It worked well, but think I would dry brine for a little  longer next time (45 minutes this time, so probably add 10 minutes) Also note our Monolith Ceramic Grill has a little cousin - a baby size Kamado from Lidl (at £79.00)

Breakfast: Bratwurst / Bacon Sandwich, Date & Walnut Bread Lunch: Pork & Chicken Terrine, Queso Tetilla Dinner: BBQ'd Loing of Pork, Jersey Royals, Grilled Courgette Breakfast: The wurst was left over from last night. Maggie's efforts in the garden are amazing,.  I will add more pictures of some of the elements that she has been working on.  I dig holes, water and mow the lawn (and now the bloody ride on has packed up!) We have created a little rose garden and found a really beautiful rose to join the bare root roses and smaller specimens we planted a little while ago Climbing Rose - Blue Moon Wurst Sandwiches Lunch: We often get this cheese from Aldi when they have a Spanish week. The name of the cheese describes the shape perfectly.  It is a semi soft cheese from Galicia. Queso Tetilla Dinner: Jersey Royals, our first of this year.  Looking forward to our own crop of potatoes in a few weeks time. They are coming along nicely in t...

Lunch: Tuna Salad with Artichokes, Olives and Hard Boiled Egg Dinner: Hot Dogs with Bratwurst, Brioche Buns, Onions & Corn on the Cob Lunch: We are missing our trip to Italy.  Tuna & Artichokes Cornetto is a favourite of mine for breakfast with cafe.  Cornetti are very similar to croissant but subtly different. This salad reminds me of that.  It also has other elements of a Salad Nicoise ( green beans, olives and egg ) Tuna Salad with Aritichokes Dinner: We visited our fish monger this evening, collecting and delivering to our friends Steve & Marion in the neighbouring village.  We appreciated the eggs they gave us as it seems their hens are still laying.  More about the fish as we prepare it later.  I  will also add details of the fish monger in a separate post Hot Dogs Hot Dogs for a change, Bratwirst eaten German style with just a little mustard

Breakfast: Boiled Egg & Toast, Toast & Marmalade Lunch: Corned Beef Sandwich, Date & Walnut Bread Dinner: Prawn Cocktail, Pork & Chicken Terrine, Egg & Chips Breakfast: Wonderful morning in the sunshine. Marmalade seems to suit breakfast in the garden Toast & Marmalade Lunch: A very nice combination with the Date & Walnut Bread.  We took a quick run out to the supermarket today, definitely more people on the streets.  And even after all of this time, I am not sure how many people quite understand what social distancing is. Children running around in a supermarket, playing hide & seek with their parents Dinner: A take on Ham, Egg & Chips. This was the terrines we made a couple of weeks ago. The second terrine went into the freezer in 2 halves and so will portion nicely Pork & Chicken Terrine Prawn Cocktail We are getting excited about the kitchen garden. It is all beginning to take shape and Maggie's planting and so...

Breakfast: Cereals & Muesli Lunch: Burrata, Piadina, Tomatoes Dinner: Rib Eye Steak, Horseradish Parsley & Chive Butter, Baked Potato, Garlic Field Mushrooms Burrata, Piadina & Olive Oil Pat and her Mountain Breakfast: We always have eggs in the house.  But we seem low, our usual local roadside supplier seems to be out, but I understand chickens do stop laying from time to time. Lunch: We used our ceramic olive oil bottle and had a lovely lunch talking about our dear departed friend Pat Sargeant. She passed away a few years ago now, but little things we do remind us of her. Aperol Spritz on a scorching day  We took her to Italy a few times and the ceramic oil bottles were purchased with her whilst we were in Liguria, at a little ceramic shop.  Pat used to make wonderful ceramics herself and we have a few of hers in the house.  She was so interested in all crafts and always had something on the go. The house we rented in Liguria wa...

Breakfast: Egg & Bacon Sandwiches Lunch: Afternoon Tea (from yesterday) Dinner: Pork Nachos Breakfast: The new bacon is in curing, will be a few days yet.  Thank you Carol for the offer of saltpeter. I am looking forward to trying out some more cures, and promise when I make a good corn beef to share it with you Lunch: There was enough from our Afternoon Tea gift from yesterday for lunch today. Lynn advised us that she found the supplier on the Framlingham.  Search for Aimee Widowfield on Facebook. Pork, Onions & Peppers Nachos Dinner: We had a busy day in the garden, but we do try and stop at about 4:30/5:00 which means an Aperitivo.  I have added some photo's of the Nachos in the bbq Aperitivo Still a little cool in the evening