Honeycomb - a treat for hubby

Yesterday after the workshop Jenny handed me some goodies which included chocolate covered honeycomb....I woofed the lot except one piece so to keep hubby happy I made him some today its an amazing thing to make this and watch the magic, bit like a chemistry experiment.

3oz butter
3oz golden syrup
8oz caster sugar
2 teaspoons bicarbonate of soda

Melt the butter, golden syrup, caster sugar in a deep based saucepan.  Once melted boil rapidly for 5 minutes until it turns a golden colour.  Take off the heat and stir in the bicarbonate of soda.  Put into a 8in square tin greased with oil and cool, then break into pieces and enjoy.

Monkfish and Prawn Curry

Earlier this week it arrived signed by Lucy Young and Mary Berry the new cookery book - At Home...oh my goodness filled with much delights for me.

So I got hubby to pick our first meal....Monkfish and Prawn Curry....now I will say that next time it will be with a cheaper cut of fish...but I also have to say that it was divine.

Serves 6 (however we adjusted to serve just 2 with boiled rice)

1 tablespoon Olive Oil
2 chopped onions
1 red deseeded and finely chopped chilli
1 tablespoon of grated fresh ginger (I used dried ginger and worked just as well)
1 1/2 teaspoons of ground cumin
1 1/2 teaspoons of ground coriander
1 tablespoon curry powder
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1/2 teaspoon black mustard seeds
1 x 400g tin/carton chopped tomatoes
300 ml (1/2 pint) fish stock
1 teaspoon runny honey
Juice of 1/2 lime
750g (1 1/2lb) of monkfish, cut into 5cm cubes
250g (9oz) peeled raw prawns
salt and freshly ground pepper
2 tablespoons chopped fresh coriander

Heat the oil in a frying pan.  Add the onion and fry for about 5 mins until it starts to soften.  Add the chilli and ginger and fry for 1 minute.  Sprinkle in the other spices and fry for one more minute.

Add the tomatoes, fish stock, honey and lime juice.  Stir until combined and bring to the boil.

Add the cubed fish and prawns, lower the heat and gently simmer for about 5 minutes until the prawns are pink and the fish is cooked through - be careful not to overcook it, otherwise the fish will break up.

Season with salt and pepper, sprinkle over the coriander and serve....now you thought Mary was just good at baking...think again!  Buy Lucy and Mary's new book AT HOME you will be forever cooking.  To order a signed book visit www.lucyyoung.co.uk

Bay Tree Cottage Wedding Workshop

A wedding workshop covered by Image Magazine took place at Bay Tree Cottage.  Everyone was taught how to make a very country style handtied bouquet, a corsage and a couple of simple table centrepieces.

Everyone was treated to Jenny's wonderful homemade sweets and cakes.

For more details of the Bay Tree Cottage Workshops visit www.btcworkshops.co.uk

Peterborough Flower Club Demo

It has been a bit of a very down sort of couple of weeks, but finally I am settling into my new temporary post on another ward at work.  I work at Springhill which is very apt at this time of year, a beautiful old school building with a fantastic garden...as I arrived I was very excited about the surrounding foliage...lots of tree ivy and holly and much much more, then I thought I should do some work.  But yes Spring I thought last week was just around the corner then the snow came last night, thank goodness there is not much settling.

On Thursday I took my loyal fan club of Mother to Peterborough to watch my demo entitled Music.  Mother in Law also joined along with her friend....they were very well behaved and both mothers won something in the raffle...not a fix I didn't draw the tickets!  The lady who supplied my refreshments how did she know I had this thing about marzipan I love it so my two mini battenburgs didnt stay on the plate that long.

My loyal woof brought me a huge box of chocolates this morning for Mothers Day....he knows me so well! 

Well here some pictures from Peterborough, I will cook soon I promise got lots of lovely things up my sleeve.  This week I have a family funeral for which I am making a lovely wreath...please let the lilies come out by tomorrow the most temperamental flower in the world they come out when you don't want them and don't when you do.  Off to the South Midlands Area Council meeting on Wednesday to ask that Corby Flower Club be voted in to affiliate, and an exciting local project is underway as well as doing a workshop at Harborough Flower Club on Wednesday, they are calling my piece a Spring Cake, don't know where that name come from but I won't argue the name!

If you are local and want to know all about wedding flowers book into Bay Tree Cottage for the workshop next Saturday click on the link at the homepage of the blog. 

Enjoy these flowers in the meantime.... i think i should bake a cake next weekend....what do you think?