It has been way too long. Everyday for the past few weeks I have been telling myself that I need to get my brain in to gear and update my blog but I have been so busy over the past few weeks. Busy working, busy playing and, not to fret, busy eating. I am trying to avoid baking too many cakes or too much bread as I need to lose a pound or ten but it is so difficult, I just can't help myself. I am off to cake club Sunday so will have a little binge and then give it a rest for a couple of weeks. The highlight of my cake eating since I last posted was an amazing peanut butter and chocolate cake by the brilliant Say It With Flours. It was gorgeous. I guess if I am going to indulge in baked goods then at least I am not going wrong if I choose good quality products, free from preservatives and all those chemicals in supermarket bakes. This is why I just love the bread from Baltic Bakehouse: a great family run business providing freshly baked goodness to those in Liverpool who demand real bread.
I am still addicted to Ottolenghi's ' Jerusalem ' book, it is just so beautiful; I cannot put it down. As well as some lovely lamb dishes ( made with lamb from the fabulous Acorn Farm) I have been trying the fish recipes, with the sea bream with harissa and rose being my highlight. Another cooking highlight for me was my Tuscan style ribs, that were packed full of flavour and fell of the bone. I will post the recipe soon.When I have felt like a bit of treat I have been out and about at local restaurants, including sampling the BEST burger in Liverpool at Free State Kitchen. I realise that is a big claim but they really are so good and come with a huge jar of pickles, making them even better. It took me a while but I finally made it to Asparagus Patch, the brilliant pop up restaurant situated in Liverpool One, set up my the team at Claremont Farm. It is a simple, relaxing space filled with simply great tasting food.
Summer is a great time to get out and about, especially with the abundance of farmers markets and food festivals that pop up this time of year. I have already been the the lovely Scarisbrick Food fair, where I picked up some great local produce and have sampled some fantastic food from Moochers ; the wild rabbit burger with wild nettle pesto was fantastic. Hopefully I will be off to a lot more food festivals and fairs this year plus I will be spoilt for choice when I visit Tuscany later this month, I truly cannot wait for all that good wine and gelato!
See you soon, won't be so long this time
