The Elms, Suffolk

Breakfast: Egg, Bacon, Black Pudding, Mushrooms, Toast Appetiser: Cheesy Baked Potato Skins / Burrata, Tomatoes, Garlic Bread Lunch: Slow Cooked Beef Short Ribs, Cheeseburger, New Potatoes, Coleslaw Dessert: Toffee Popcorn Ice Cream 99's Breakfast: We would usually cook an 'English' breakfast more often, but have not had black pudding to hand. No reason, we just forgot to buy it. It made a nice change BBQ with Lewis & Rachel Table set to shelter from the wind Beef Short Ribs & Cheeseburger Appetiser: Not everyone likes Burrata.  Lewis & Rachel visited today for an afternoon bbq.  Along with Charlie & Millie. Charlie & Millie Lunch: Slow Cooked Beef Ribs.  Cooked carefully these are delicious and meaty.  Make a dry rub of salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder and a little cayenne.  Rub the ribs with a little Worcestershire Sauce (or Bovril/Marmite) and coat in the dry rub.  Heat the bbq to 120c an...

Breakfast: Bacon Sandwiches Lunch: Mortadella, Artichoke Hearts, Cornichon, Sun Dried  Tomatoes Dinner: Burrata & Piadina, BBQ Belly Pork, Chicken Thighs, Saute Potatoes, Grilled Asparagus, Baked Garlic Brocolli Dessert: Butter Toffee Popcorn Ice Cream, Soused Cherries, Meringue Lunch: Lidl had an Italian week and saw this.  Nice with the artichokes. But then artichokes make many things better Dinner with Lynn & Millie Chicken, Pork & Asparagus Meringue with Popcorn Ice Cream & Cherries Dinner: We had a long-standing reservation this evening for Lynn & Millie.  The weather hold, although a breeze took the edge off the temperature.  But we survived with windbreak and the fire pit. Lynn & Millie have joined us in Italy every time we have rented since 2011 so an Italian appetiser was the right choice. Pork & Chicken in a Korean style bbq sauce with Asparagus which is at the height of the season in the UK....

Breakfast: Bacon Sandwiches Lunch: Burrata, Tomatoes, Piadina Dinner: Pizza Night Lunch: So simple, transports us back to Italy in our hearts.  Trying to find time to attempt making Burrata again Ooni Ready for Pizza Garlic Bread Pizza Dinner: We had planned for Amie, Ben & Fred to visit in the garden this evening for a pizza night. However, the weather (again) was not reliable enough to enjoy the evening.  As the dough was made we continued with pizza for ourselves and will try another evening.  The dough is balled up and in the fridge. It can stay there for about 72 hours and will then be perfect.  After which it can be frozen and still performs well. Fine asparagus was good on the pizza Burrata & Piadina

Breakfast: Boiled Egg, Rye Sourdough Toast Lunch: Burrata, Cherry Tomatoes, Piadina Dinner: Lemon, Garlic & Rosemary Spatchcock Chicken, Garlic Courgettes, Braised Fennel with Cheese, New Potatoes Breakfast: There was a loaf of bread I hadn't seen before in LIDL. Crusty Rye Sourdough. Really good LIDL Rye Sourdough Boiled Egg Lunch: The tomatoes were very sweet, the Burrata creamy and delicious.  Perfect lunch in the garden Burrata, Tomatoes & Piadina Dinner:  Not under a brick this time as I made a paste marinade.  Grated zest of a lemon, grated garlic, rosemary, thyme, smoked paprika, salt and pepper, olive oil.  Mix well (best with a pestle and mortar and coat the flesh side, work some of the paste under the skin of the breast and then spread the rest on the skin.  In the bbq not directly over the coals and cook for about an hour.  Rest for 10 minutes. Lemon, Garlic & Rosemary Chicken Braised Fennel & Cheese Sl...

Breakfast: Cereal & Muesli Lunch: Gammon Ham Sandwiches Dinner: Burrata, Tomatoes & Piadina - Butterflied Leg of Lamb, Asparagus, Minted New Potatoes Dessert: Meringues with Lemon Curd, Honey Ice Cream Social Distance Aware Butterflied Lamb on the Grill Dinner: This was our first social disatance aware Dinner Party for more than 1 visitor.  It was lovely to have Andrew & Alison for dinner in the garden.  We tried to keep it simple and distanced, so only a couple of photos as it is just too rude to keep snapping. The lamb was from Swiss Farm and butterflied by me.  Maggie made the marinade (balsamic, garlic, a little red wine and bay leaves) An aperetif was poured by the guests, and we served our own.  Burrata was served in 2 portions with the additional elements served seperately. We served the main course in covered dishes with individual serving spoons for each couple, and inidividual pot holders to lift the lids.  The ...

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...

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: Boiled Egg, Toast Lunch: Burrata and Tomato Dinner: Pan Fried Skate Wings, Bubble & Squeak, Baked Brocolli Skate Wings Breakfast: Maggie always marks my egg for boiling, 4 minutes to the second into boiling water.  Hers is boiled until hard.  Think she got a little carried away with the mark today Boiled Egg Lunch: Burrata with a little oil and salt, and tomatoes Burrata Dinner: Thanks to Georgina & Ron in Dennington for telling us about their fishmonger delivering to the door.  He also sells in Earl Soham outside the Victoria from 17:00 every Tuesday.  We tested the water this week with Skate and some cod fillets.  Price was about what we expected, perfectly fresh and he seems to have a good selection Pan fried skate is simplicity itself. Maggie prefers simple melted butter, but I like Buerre Noisette (Brown Butter) with capers. Pan Fried Skate Mash or Buttery New Potatoes also works well with this

Breakfast: Muesli & Cornflakes Lunch: Tortilla Soup Dinner: Tomato & Home Made Burrata Bruschetta / Cheeseburger on Toasted Brioche Bun, Sweet Potato Fries Lunch: There was sufficient soup for today as well - See the recipe and give it a try Home Made Burrata Dinner: Home Made Burrata. More success than last time, although the mozzarella still did not set as well as I would like.  Taste and texture of both were good though.  Bruschetta or Crostini, only a subtle difference really - Bruschetta the bread is rubbed with garlic. Cheeseburgers are sometimes all that is needed. Brioche seems best, but the buns must be toasted! Cheeseburger We had a good long day in the garden, most of the big jobs we planned are done. So thinking of starting some more! We enjoyed the evening with the fire pit and a bottle of our 'house' red.  Toro Loco Tempranillo from Aldi.  Great value and great taste This is a review from the Guardian: Toro Loco Tempran...

Breakfast: Cereal & Muesli Lunch: Home Made Stracciatella (Italian Cream Cheese), Salami & Piadina Dinner: Date Night Chinese (Aromatic Duck, Pancake Rolls, and Stir Fry) Lunch: I have been trying to find time to make Burrata for the first time this week and today was the earliest opportunity I had However whist the curds and whey separated ok the Mozzarella which is the casing for the cream cheese just would not set. The Straciatella turned out perfectly and so we served it with Piadina and Salami Dinner: We had a trip out this evening for Click & Collect Groceries. So a Date Night Chinese seemed the perfect solution Curds being strained   Piadina Straciatella & Salami   Date Night Chinese