Hazelnut and Chocolate Torte

Using our own homegrown hazelnuts, so much pleasure was derived from this relatively simple but delicious cake. I am not at all sure if it would taste the same using shop- bought imported nuts, but it would probably work quite well. If you do not have your own hazelnuts, then go and plant a couple…

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One Pot Cooking, Shoulder of Lamb with Vegetables and Rice

It really is a case of using only one Pot for this recipe. Here, I am putting everything into a tagine. This is a wonderful piece of kitchenware which can be used for many dishes other than traditional North African tagines, or spicy stews. The earthenware ones are by far the best, and get one…

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Autumn Harvesting

The clocks have just changed back from Summer Time, it is now getting dark at 5 pm in the South-East of England, and it is a frantic rush to harvest the tender vegetables before the first frosts. In my unheated Greenhouse, the tomatoes, cucumbers,  Chillies,  basil and Bulls Horn Peppers  are still growing, just, but…

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Training the Working Cocker Spaniel, the next 6 months

Poppy has just had her first full day on the shooting field, and I am delighted with her attitude, calm disposition and prodigious ability. Actually, she was praised highly by all who saw her work, and procured instantly two invitations for me and herself to attend shoots in the near future. This pleased me enormously,…

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CHILLI JAM

One of the family’s firm favourites at this time of the year is Chilli Jam made with the copious tomatoes and chillies which abound in my garden just now. Everyone seems to find the combination of Chillies, Ginger, Sugar and Garlic quite addictive. I see no point in making a lily-livered version of this, and…

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