Paula Deen Celebrity Cook - Along

Lynn at Happier Than A Pig In Mud is hosting a "Celebrity Cook - Along" on the 15th with non other than our favourite Southern Chef Paula Deen.
Lynn quotes Paula from her cookbook "It ain't all about the cooking":

I never call myself a chef, never went to chef school... I'm a cook.

Learned at my Grandmomma's stove.

But I can cook honey, cook rings around all those tall-white-hatted chefs.

Lynn has suggested that we recreate one of Paula's appetizer dishes and so I thought what could be nicer on a warm, spring evening than Paula's "Salmon Dip"?

Chunked salmon mixed with mayonnaise, diced onions, fresh parsley and something called "Silly Salt"!

Being me, I had to tweak the recipe a little bit.
To a big serving spoon full of Hellmans Light Mayo I added the same quantity of creme fraiche and a large, salad onion (diced small).
I mixed these ingredients with chopped smoked salmon slices and since "Silly Salt" was not to be found in my pantry added Cavender's All Purpose Greek Seasoning (1), to taste.
Onto a simple white platter I tumbled freshly picked mesclun salad from the potager, then piled the salmon dip onto the mixed leaves and decorated the dish with chives, from my herb garden.

To garnish the dish, I added slices of cool green avocado and cucumber (peeled and de-seeded), before sprinkling Piri Piri (2) from a height, (of course) over it all.

Baguette slices, lightly toasted under the grill, and peppery Italian EVOO (sorry, wrong celebrity chef!), with a large glass of RUNAMOK Australian Chardonnay (3) and our appetizer platter was complete.

According to Paula this appetizer will serve 4 - 6.
However, as soon as the photoshoot was over, the Senior Partner & I ate it for supper.
It was a big success and definitely a dish I will do again when family and friends come to visit in June.

1) A friend from Dallas got me hooked on Cavender's a few years ago, it's a great spice mix to have in the cupboard and always does what it says on the tin. I usually bring 2 or 3 tubs back with me from HHI every year.
2) Portugeuse PIRI PIRI is a finely ground mix of hot peppers from Africa, South America and China. We learned to love it on our last trip to Lisbon and is another must have spice for us.
3) RUNAMOK (our vin de table) does not really make you run amok (well, it might if you drink too much of it).
It is, to quote the wine label:
a deliciously refreshing combination of tropical and citrus fruit flavours, with a fragrant hint of sweet vanilla - oak and a soft, rounded finish.
bon appétit.

British Red Cross Great Spring Gardening Event, 2011.

Yesterday the Senior Partner and I joined many other keen gardeners at the British Red Cross Great Spring Gardening Event which this year was held in the grounds of Hampton Court Castle, Herefordshire.

To reach the showgrounds the pathway led us past the newly restored Victorian walled kitchen garden and through a tunnel of overhanging wisteria reputed to be over one hundred and fifty years old.

Mr B couldn't resist buying fresh green asparagus and strawberries, both locally grown, we passed on the fruit juices though.

There were many specialist plant nurseries represented, about eighty craft and gift stalls in the grounds and tents.

We enjoyed looking at the varied displays created by several garden designers, "posh shed" builders, potters and wood workers to name just a few.

Several times we were gently accosted by small children from Burghill Primary School, all eager to tell us how they have been working with the British Red Cross and learning lots of different skills. Other activities they had taken part in were Bag Packing at a local supermarket; a sponsored walk; resilience training and creating a refugee camp.

They told us that they "had a fantastic time talking to some people in Ohio (in America!), where we taught some children facts about the British Red Cross".

The Orangery cafe looked beautiful but the lunch menu was a little too much and a little too late for us so we opted for a sandwich and a cuppa in one of the refreshment tents.

We also took the opportunity to tour the Castle but that's another story..........................

I hope that you have enjoyed your virtual visit to Hampton Court Castle Gardens and will come back again for a fascinating look inside.
Walking back to the car we couldn't resist taking more shots of the kitchen garden and it's glasshouses.

Linking this post to The Tablescapers Seasonal Sunday where bloggers gather each week to share seasonal activities happening in their corner of the globe.

Click here or on the sidebar button to join in. 

Summer School - Domenica de Rosa

It’s August and the thirteenth century Castello della Luna in Tuscany, owned and run as a writers retreat by Patricia O’Hara, assisted by seventy five year old Aldo (the region’s best chef) and Matt, her teenage son, is getting ready to receive its next seven summer residents.
There’s Cat, the yummy mummy/blogger who knows she just needs to get away from her husband and children to “release the writer I know is inside me”; Anna, Cat’s best friend, has already had a few short stories published. Sam is a burnt out City exec who wonders how hard can it be to write a bestseller and get rich, quick. He just has to find the right genre, and that’s the problem; Sally, a landscape gardener by profession has a huge crush on the tutor, she’s attended all of his Creative Writing courses at the Castello; retired civil servant Mary, wants to learn more about Tuscany and “make some progress with my writing”; also wishing to hone his writing skills is attractive French lawyer Jean-Pierre and finally there’s Mary an American home-maker looking to find closure by writing about her childhood.
Rounding off the list of Castello residents is Jeremy the course tutor, who wrote a bestselling, self- help book many years ago but hasn’t written anything since and Myra who teaches yoga and relaxation techniques to the guests, to get the creative juices flowing.
Mustn’t forget Fabio, the new mysterious handyman, with a secret of his own.
Despite charging each guest three thousand euros for the two week course Patricia is facing mounting maintenance costs and is under pressure from the bank.
Will this be the last summer at the Castello, which she and her ex - husband Sean so lovingly restored? Perhaps Rick, Dorothy’s oil baron husband will be her saviour?
Each day, to take the pressure off the budding writers, Patricia schedules a trip for her guests; visits to Siena and Rome; wine tasting at a neighbouring vineyard or shopping in the village market.
The highlight of the fortnight is the Ferragosto, the Feast of the Assumption, a day of celebration throughout Italy.
In the evening there’s always a special dinner at one of the restaurants in San Severino followed by a grand firework finale, the highlight of the guests’ visit to Tuscany.
I enjoyed reading Summer School, the story moves along well with unexpected visitors, secrets revealed and a scary Castello legend adding to the plot ; the characters are well drawn and the descriptive passages, of Siena especially, evoke the Italy I remember from our visits in the 1990’s.
An easy summer read, it does what it says on the cover.
Perfect for a lazy, hazy day in the sun.
This is my first review for the "Italy in Books Reading Challenge 2011" hosted by Brighton Blogger @ Book After Book.
If you're a fan of Italy, or would just like some great book recommendations, why not take a look at Book After Book, I think it's a blog you'd enjoy.

Linking this review also to the "What We're Reading" party on the 20th of this month, hosted once again by Bonnie.
P.S.
Some other books I've enjoyed recently and would happily recommend are:
Various Flavours of Coffee - Anthony Capella.
Pomegranate Soup - Marsha Mehran
Crazy Ladies- Michael Lee West
and
Future Homemakers of America - Laurie Graham.

Enjoying Herefordshire.

Whilst Mr Ben and Miss Fleur are being totally spoiled and cosseted at home by Aunty June, Mr B and I are spending two weeks here in the UK exploring the beautiful county of Herefordshire, famous for its Historic Black and White villages.
Shepherds Rest at Hill Farm a small, cosy cottage for two, high on a hill in the village of Much Marcle situated close to the market town of Ledbury, is our base this week.

We are surrounded by wide open fields, it's like being at home but with sheep not cows, it is a working farm after all.
All around are apple orchards and the village is home to Westons Cider established in 1880 and still making cider the traditional way.

Market House, Ledbury.

Today we went shopping in Ledbury where I took this photo of the 17th century black & white Market House in the centre of town.
Originally it was the towns grain store and it is still used for council meetings.
It was completed in 1653 by John Abel, the "Kings Carpenter".

Tomorrow we're off to visit Hampton Court Castle and Gardens for the British Red Cross Great Spring Gardening Event, stay tuned for pix!

Mosaic Monday

It's Monday and that means Mosaics!
For Marys Mosaic Monday @the littleredhouse this week some shots of our gardens front and back!

Scenes from the potager

Fragrant wisteria, pure white clematis and an old fashioned rose.

The front garden is blooming all over!

Click here or on the little red house button on the sidebar to see plenty more mosaics from around the world.

Congratulations to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. (Wills & Kate!)

William & Kate are married!!

 Click here to read all about it!!

Italy in Books Reading Challenge with Book After Book.

I love the connectivity that occurs between bloggers, don't you?
Two months ago I joined like minded, book reading bloggers for the monthly What We're Reading linky party and have added quite a few more titles to my TBR list since then.

LindyLouMac paid Normandy Life a visit after reading my review of Fall On Your Knees by Ann-Marie MacDonald last week.

I repaid the compliment by visiting her blog (as you do!) and there I discovered another book linky party that really appealed to me:

The Italy In Books Reading Challenge hosted every month by Brighton Blogger @ Book After Book.

It caught my eye because I recently read and enjoyed "Summer School" by Domenica de Rosa, I'll be reviewing the book soon, and linking it to the Challenge, in May.

There are a few other books on my shelves that will fit this challenge too and I know that I'll find plenty more next week when I'll be visiting the revered and hallowed "Book Town" of Hay on Wye in Herefordshire, UK.

Sadly we won't be there for the Festival of Literature and The Arts but I do hope that I'll get there one day.