The Elms, Suffolk

Breakfast: Sausage Sandwich / Bacon Sandwich Lunch: Curried Lamb & Cauliflower Soup Dinner: Southern Fried Chicken (KFC Recipe), Skinny Fries & Coleslaw Breakfast: Leftover sausage from yesterday for me, Maggie bought streaky local bacon from the corner shop in Otley.  It is tasty but too salty. Lunch: The last of the leg of lamb from last week made into a soup.  Still cool outside so soup seemed the most suitable lunch Southern Fried KFC Chicken Curried Lamb Soup Dinner: Shortly after lockdown I saw a Facebook post about the secret KFC formula.  KFC would be close to the bottom of our list of convenience food but we do like Southern Fried Chicken. So I tried the online recipe I found here but changed it do the final coating with breadcrumbs.  KFC deep fry their chicken in a pressure cooker and so I wanted to protect the meat a little whilst cooking, and Panko crumbs are always good.  Give the recipe a try, there is a 'healthy' ...

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: Sausage Sandwich, Bacon Sandwich Lunch: Pork Tortilla Soup Dinner: Lamb Chops/Steak, Baked Potato, Sweet Corn Tortilla soup Preparing Soup Lunch: We never see this soup in the UK. It is such a good soup, Winter or Summer. Usually made with Chicken but leftover pork worked well. See here for the recipe , it may seem lengthy but worth the try. Full of options to add. We usually make stock from chicken and freeze it if not using immediately, but works well with stock packs Maggie would certainly have this soup at any opportunity, and I will always order it if I see it on a menu. One of our favourite choices on the menu at Armadillo Willy's Dinner: Lamb Chop/Steak - on the Monolith - seared and served rare, and a simple baked potato Lamb & Steak

Breakfast: Croissant with Egg & Bacon Lunch: Spiced Cauliflower and Lamb Soup Dinner: Fish & Chips Breakfast: Trying to make room in the freezer we found a pack of 4 butter croissants. Egg & Bacon Croissant We usually keep them for when we have guests stay over, but from time to time Egg & Bacon in a warm croissant is a little indulgence Lunch: We combined the curry from a couple of evenings ago to make this soup. Spiced Cauliflower Soup Dinner: Fish & Chips and Mushy Peas (for me - Maggie had extra chips).  The fish was haddock from Morrisons at £2.50 each. Fish & Chips Beer batter made with almost frozen flour and baking powder, almost frozen beer. Whisked and the fish dipped seconds before deep-frying, makes a really crisp and air-filled batter Alcohol-free We are trying not to fall into the trap of alcohol every evening.  Most of the alcohol-free beers and ciders are good these days

Breakfast: Cereal & Muesli Lunch: Pea & Ham Soup Dinner: Ham Hock Terrine, Egg & Chops Lunch: Another benefit of cooking Ham or Ham Hocks is the wonderful stock that is left.  I used dried peas, soaked overnight. Dried Peas for Pea & Ham Soup   Fry some onion and carrot in a little butter, then add the drained peas to coat in the butter.  Add the stock and a little of the ham hock. I also add parsley stalks that I keep in ice (and other herbs) to add to soups and stocks. Cook for 30 minutes or so until the peas are soft and blitz if required. Pea & Ham Soup Dinner: We had some very sad news today, our good friend David Moore, also known to some of us as Wing Commander from his keen interest in aviation, passed away after falling ill in his nursing home.  Our thoughts are with his partner and family.  A simple dinner of Ham Hock Terrine. Dessert: I have a real weakness for Pistachio Ice Cream, and think I may have cracked my S...

Breakfast : Home cured Bacon Sandwich Lunch :  Brocolli & Stilton Soup Dinner :  Hot Smoked Haddock, Creamed Cabbage Apple & Bacon, Fishcake Brocolli & Stilton Soup   Smoking Haddock Cabbage, Apple & Bacon Breakfast : We bought a Bacon Curing Kit from Ocado ( Ross & Ross ) when it was on offer (£11.50 - with enough kit to make 6 x 500g bacon joints - from which I cut 20 slices). The whole belly (2.2kilos) cost £15.00 from Swiss Farm.  It proved very successful, although I would butcher the belly to get better-formed bacon.   I also intend to try with a loin of pork to make back bacon, try curing salts instead of using a kit, and to try different meats to make Bresaola and other salumi Lunch : Was a use up of the broccoli and stalks from the previous day Dinner: We have been cooking Hot Smoked Salmon for a while now.  We spotted the fresh haddock on offer at Morrisons and decided to try the same pro...

Ingredients 1/1.5 litres Chicken Stock 2 carrots - small dice 1 celery stalk - small dice 1 red onion - finely chopped 2 cloves garlic - grated 1 tbs olive oil 1 red pepper - chargrilled and skinned (is best but not essential) and chopped 1 large tomato - skinned (is best but not essential) and chopped 1 small bunch of coriander squeeze of lime pinch of chill flakes a little diced cooked chicken or pork 1 bag or salted tortilla chips 1 avocado (optional) Grated cheese (70 grams) Method Fry the onion / garlic / carrot / celery in the olive oil until soft. Then add the chilli flakes to cook out To skin red pepper - place under the grill until well charred on all sides - place in a zip-loc bag or a bowl with cling film until cool. Then the skin just peels away.  Discard the seeds and skin but retain the juice Add a little of the chicken stock to the softened onion mix and reduce to almost nothing, then add this mixture to the remaining stock and simmer for 10 min...