I love late summer when the garden begins to share it's bounty with us . . . that is the time of year when all the hard work begins to pay off . . . the fruit ripens, vegetables are ready to be picked . . . and there is nothing tastier on earth than things you have grown yourself.



I have always loved tomatoes.  As a girl we ate ripe tomatoes at the end of the summer out of hand like apples.  It was not unsual to sit down to a complete meal of nothing but sliced ripe tomatoes, sliced ripe cucumbers . . . scattered with salt and pepper and served with buttered bread.



Or a feed of nothing but sweet corn on the cob with lots of butter and salt.  We never felt deprived when this happened.   It was a real treat.  It still is.



I took some of our ripe tomatoes today and used them to make a delicious tomato tart.  Tomato tarts can be as complicated or as simple as you want them to be.  This one is very simple and very rustic.



It's just a matter of rolling out the pastry into a nice round and then sprinkling it with some rich and creamy soft Goat's cheese.   You then layer that up with sliced tomatoes and chopped olives . . . you could add a few capers as well, if you are fond of them.  I am, but today I didn't have any to use . . .



A sprinkle of coarse pepper and salt and into the oven it goes . . . until the pastry gets crisp and golden brown . . . and the tomatoes are just beginning to caramlize . . . and the goats cheese lays all rich and creamy beneath them . . .




I like to use the dry cured olives because they have more flavour and are usually cured with some herbs.  I love them and a few can go a very long way because they are so very flavourful!




After that you only need drizzle the tart with a bit of really good extra virgin olive oil and a few strips of fresh basil before cutting it into wedges to serve.



Me . . . I always like to drizzle it with a bit of balsamic dressing as well, such as the house dressing in my sandwiches of yesterday.  (It's most delicious you know!)  All in all this makes for a delightfully toothsome and flavourful light lunch or supper.



1 TBS extra virgin olive oil

Preheat the oven to 190*C/375*F/ gas mark 4.  Line a baking sheet with baking paper.

Roll the pastry out to a 12 inch circle.  Place the pastry carefully onto the paper lined baking sheet.   Crumble the goats cheese in the middle., leaving a 2 inch border all round.    Remove and discards any seeds and excess juice from your tomatoes.   Arrange the tomatoes in an even layer over the goats cheese.   Grind some black pepper over top and a bit of salt and sprinkle the olives evenly over all.  Gently fold the edges of the pastry over top of the filling all the way around, crimping as need be.  You want to leave the centre open. 

Bake in the heated oven for 40 to 45 minutes until the pastry is crisp and golden and the filling is cooked.  The tomatoes will be lightly roasted.   Remove from the oven and allow stand for about 10 minutes. Drizzle with the olive oil and sprinkle with the basil strips.   Cut into wedges to serve.

 

I can remember being taught many years ago, I believe in Home Economics at school . . . how to make a good sandwich.  Or maybe I read it in a book, in any case I was just a young girl when I learned the following rules about sandwich making.



One -  always seal your bread, to the edge with butter, or marg, or something which is going to keep your bread from getting soggy from the filling.  Nobody wants a soggy sandwich, which is especially important when we are talking about fillings which are wet . . . like tomatoes or cucumbers . . . or in a sandwich which is going to have to sit overnight or longer.



Two -  Don't be stingy with your fillings.  There should be more filling than bread.   There is nothing worse than a sandwich that tastes like bread, but nothing else.  And spread it to the edges folks!  I have purchased far too many store sandwiches that have a pile of filling stuck in the middle and nothing on the outer edges, rendering the edges dry and inedible . . .  tasteless.



Three -  Air is your enemy.  If you aren't serving them right away, keep them well covered and chilled.  What I do is I dampen a white cloth with cold water and wring it almost dry and then I place it over the sandwiches and then cover with cling film making sure it's well sealed.  Or I place them back (uncut) into the empty breadbags and seal and put them in the fridge.



Four - Don't store different kinds of sandwiches together.  Nobody wants to eat an egg and cress sandwich which tastes like tuna or salmon, or vice versa. It just makes sense to me, but may not be something someone else has thought of.  I am a bit pedantic about this.



Five - Use the freshest, finest ingredients you can afford to use.  That can mean the difference between a sandwich and a . . . SANDWICH!



Having said all that I have one heck of a sandwich to share with you here today.  I think the BLT (Bacon Lettuce and Tomato) Sandwich has to be just about everyone's favourite sandwich.  That's pure diner food, and a popular choice when having lunch out.



This version here today is the absolute BEST BLT you will ever eat.  Seriously.  With a Basil Pesto Mayonnaise, crisp bacon, fresh ripe tomatoes, house dressing and lots of lively fresh rocket leaves . .  . and a sturdy baguette (I used an Olive Flute today) . . . this is a simple sandwich that is anything but simple. This is bound to become a firm favourite and much requested sandwich.

Trust me on this one.   Would I lie to YOU?  Never! 



Do try to use a good quality baguette and other ingredients for this sandwich.  It really makes the difference between a good sandwich and a GREAT sandwich!

Cream together the shortening and sugar until light and fluffy.   Beat in the egg and vanilla.   Whisk together the dry ingredients.   Add alternately to the creamed mixture with the milk, beginning and ending with dry ingredients.  Mix until smooth.  Stir in the blueberries.  Pour into the prepared baking pan.   Bake for 30 to 35 minutes until the top springs back when lightly touched and a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean.

While the cake is baking make the sauce.

Whisk the sugar, flour and salt together in a saucepan.  Add the boiling water, whisking constantly.  Continue to whisk, cooking over low hear until thickened nicely.   Whisk in the butter and vanilla.   Serve warm and spooned over squares of the warm blueberry cake

I often get sent different products to taste and try.  On Friday I received a lovely little pot of Maille Pepper Sauce, just in time for the Bank Holiday weekend.  This is traditionally a barbeque weekend . . .   the last hurrah of summer before we get stuck into the looming autumn!

 Maille Pepper Sauce (with a touch of armagnac & espelette pepper)
This Pepper sauce, with a subtle hint of Espelette Pepper, is ideal with grilled entrecote steak or duck breast.
Since 1747, Maille (pronounced "MY") has developed a unique expertise to offer you the finest French condiments and sauces.

Of course we had to grill a couple of steaks to try it out.   (And why not!)



Our Verdict

I thought it was supposed to be heated and so I tried to heat it . . . aren't all sauces heated???   DOH!

 Nope, this is meant to be serve cold.  I went and got another jar so I could try it as it was meant to be.   Heated,  it tasted a bit oily and mayonnaise-ee to me, and I wasn't overly fond of it.  It split as well.

Cold it was alright . . .   I found it to be very rich and peppery, which went quite well with the steaks.  Neither of us could taste the Armagnac though.

Would I buy it again??   Possibly.  Heating the first jar, probably threw my taste-buds off a bit.   I'd like to really give it a fair shake.  Today just wasn't the day.   I have tried other sauces of theirs and I have always liked them, and  I do really like their Hollandaise sauce.  This wasn't bad . . . it just wasn't as great as I was expecting it to be.

And so . . . the jury on this is still out.

To celebrate the birth of the latest heir apparent to the British throne, PG tips has developed a new take on the traditional cuppa to wet the baby’s head – a ‘royal-tea cup’ cocktail.

Working with Rebecca Seal, drinks expert from Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch, the Fruit Cup style cocktail takes inspiration straight from the royal wedding day to combine details from the pair’s nuptials with quintessentially English ingredients, resulting in a rich and refreshing PG tipple packed full of Britishness and served in dainty tea cups.



Ingredients in a PG tips ‘royal-tea cup’ include:

• Strawberries – as a major crop in Cambridgeshire, these summery English berries are perfect to include as part of a royal celebration
• Rose petals – two new rose bushes were named after the happy couple and planted in the grounds of Windsor Castle and sugar roses were used to decorate their eight-tier wedding cake
• Sparkling wine – English sparkling wine was served to guests at the bride and groom’s wedding breakfast
• PG tips The Rich One – like red wine, all tea contains tannins, which gives drinks a wonderfully rich flavour.  We’ve used PG tips The Rich One for its full-bodied taste
• Gin – a quintessentially British ingredient and, according to Rebecca Seal, the botanicals used to make gin (like juniper) perfectly complement the flavours in tea
• Cucumber – from a dainty finger sandwich at traditional afternoon tea
• Apple juice -  from the fruit trees of the great British orchards
• Elderflower – from the hedgerows that line England’s green and pleasant land
• Mint - from English country gardens

A ‘royal-tea cup’ cocktail can be made either with or without alcohol and is perfect for a sunny garden party, to have with afternoon tea or as an aperitif before a barbecue.




PG tips Royal-tea Cup Cocktail Recipe:
To enjoy a very British punch in celebration of a potential future king, the below recipe makes 10-12 teacups or 6-8 longer drinks -

Ingredients:

• 6 British strawberries with the core removed
• A handful of fresh mint leaves, ripped
• 100ml freshly boiled water
• 1 PG tips The Rich One teabag
• 75g sugar
• 50ml freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 1 ½ lemons)
• ½ an unwaxed lemon’s rind, peeled and chopped
• 15ml elderflower cordial
• 100ml English apple juice
• 200-400ml gin
• 350ml soda water or sparkling water
• 350ml English sparkling wine (or cava)

For non-alcoholic punch:
Omit the gin and sparkling wine and use 150ml apple juice and 550ml soda water instead

 

Garnish:

• Lots of fresh ice in big chunks
• Slices of cucumber skin
• Rose petals
• Slices of strawberries  

 

Method:

Step 1: In a pestle and mortar, roughly crush the strawberries and mint leaves together

Step 2: Mix the crushed mint and strawberries with the hot water, PG tips The Rich One teabag, sugar, lemon juice and rind then stir until all the sugar has dissolved. Leave to stand for 8-10 minutes, then strain, reserving the syrup

Step 3: In a large bowl or jug, mix the syrup with the elderflower, apple juice and gin to taste. (The mix can be chilled for a few hours at this point until ready to serve.)

Step 4: When ready to serve, add large blocks of ice, the soda water and sparkling wine. Stir gently to combine

Step 5: To serve, line teacups with a sliver of cucumber skin, shaved using a potato peeler, then fill the cup with fresh ice. Serve using a ladle

Step 6: Garnish with a red rose petal and a slice of strawberry in the shape of a heart



I did the non-alcoholic version of this delightful little tipple and we quite enjoyed! Except for the cucumber skins . . . I thought they added a bitter touch which I didn't like very much, so I got rid of mine . . . so did the Toddster.

Of course, you know we did more than drink.  I had to make something to eat along with our little "tipple," and I baked some beautifully crisp lemon crisp biscuits!  Celebrations always call for something  REALLY special don't they?   And these crisp little biscuits are just perfect for that!



This is a very, verrrrrry old recipe, gleaned from the cardboard covering of a package of margarine many years ago.  My mother had ripped it off and it lay hidden in her red Co-op cookbook for many years.  I cannot remember my mother ever baking these, but I have  baked them many times.



The original recipe called for hard margarine, but I have always used butter.  I figure if they add stuff and chemicals to make margarine hard etc., . . . I don't need it in my veins.   I'd prefer to have natural vein cloggers.



These are a slice and bake cookie.  I've never been able to get them to come out perfectly round, but that doesn't matter.  They are crisp and sweet and buttery . . . with a hint of lemon as well as ginger, which is a perfect combination I think.  I added the lemon sugar garnish a while back.  It just made sense and was the nicest addition I thought.

So, what are you waiting for?    Let's get baking!



Rub the sugar and lemon zest together until very fragrant. Cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.  Beat in the egg and lemon juice to combine.  Whisk together the flour, salt, soda and ginger.   Stir this into the wet ingredients, blending in well.   Shape into two 1 1/2 inch in diameter cylinders.  Wrap well and chill until very firm.

When ready to bake rub the topping ingredients together until fragrant and preheat the oven to 190*C/375*F/ gas mark 5.  Line several baking sheets with baking paper.   Set aside.

Cut the rolls with a very sharp knife into 1/4 inch thick slices.   Place these on the baking trays.  Sprinkle each with a bit of the lemon sugar.   Bake for 6 to 8 minutes until crisp and golden around the edges.   Allow to cool on the baking sheets for several minutes before removing to a wire rack to finish cooling completely. 

Store in an airtight container.

 


I don't want to belabor the point, but as you know I haven't been too awfully well for about a week now.  Cooking has been at a minimum really.  ie.  not a lot going on!  I told my friend Julie today, I opened my kitchen drawer to get out the vegetable peeler and spied the pizza cutter and my tummy did flip flops all over again.  Not kidding!  I do think pizza is off the menu for a while.  The Toddster doesn't mind a bit.

He hates Pizza.



I haven't been cooking which means that I haven't been using up the veg in the drawer which needs using up.  We all have weeks like that sometimes.   I hate waste.  Don't you?  So today I thought I would use up some of it and make a pot of soup.  Something cosy and comforting, and filling . . . without going over the top.



Something mild enough so as not to upset the balance of things . . . but still tasty enough to be exciting.  The Toddster loves thick vegetable soups . . . soups that are hearty.  He often buys himself a bowl of soup and a roll at the market cafe in town.  You and I both know it came from a packet . . . but Todd, he doesn't care.   He just loves soup and the thicker the better.



Looking in my vegetable bin I found a rather tired looking potato, a sweet potato, a small white turnip, a large carrot and a wilting parsnip.  I added an onion and a couple sticks of celery.



Did you know that sweating your vegetables in some butter and olive oil helps to bring out their natural sweetness and goodness?   I'm not sure how it works, but it works . . . they always taste better when they sweat.  Me, I don't like sweating much, but then again . . . I'm not a vegetable.



A bit of vegetable stock and a slow simmer later and I had lovely soft vegetables . . . just ready to blitz to a smooth velvety soup with my stick blender. I didn't even need a lot of seasoning really.   I added cheese.



Some I grated and stirred in so that it melted smoothly into all of that velvet goodness . . . the rest I cut into small chunks and just threw in, leaving it as whole as I could.



That way anyone dipping their spoon into this soup would come up with a tasty little nugget of cheese.   Qu'elle surprise!  Delightful even!   The croutons are it's crowning glory.  We both loved.  'Nuff said.



I love it when deliciousness comes together like this.  It's pure magic.   Cooking magic.  My favourite kind of magic of all.



Grate half of the cheddar and cut the remainder into cubes.  Return the soup to the pot and gently reheat, stirring in most of the grated cheese and all of the cubes.   Cook and stir until the cheese begins to melt.   Add the mustard.  Taste and adjust seasoning as desired.   Spoon into heated bowls.  Top with the croutons and the remainder of the grated cheddar to serve.