As a special treat, for a special occasion, Sue and I enjoyed a weekend at Ashburton Cookery School.
We were students on the two day 'Express Dinner Parties Plus' course. Eight of us were guided through some inspirational menus by Joe 'passionate about food' Bartlett. We had great fun all weekend, not least enjoying the products of our efforts.
Saturday involved cooking for lunch and dinner, whilst on Sunday we enjoyed a light lunch and an early dinner, enabling us to start the long journey home by 4pm.
Saturday Lunch
Selection of canapés (crab and avocado bread tartlets, parmesan biscuits, and stilton and sesame biscuits)
Creamy mussels with leeks, bacon and smoked paprika (below - getting this ready for 'service')
Saturday Dinner
Leek, garlic and sweet potato soup (to take home)
Roast duck breast with a cassis jus, Dauphinoise potatoes and glazed green beans
Apple tarte tatin with crème fraiche
Sunday Menu
Chicken liver paté with red onion marmalade (to take home)
Mini aromatic seafood parcel (a delicious snack for lunch)
Roasted chicken breast wrapped with parma ham stuffed with red onion marmalade and goats cheese, together with pesto new potatoes and balsamic dressed salad leaves (above)
Seasonal fruit sabayon with lemon shortbreads (below)
We also made copious quantities of vegetable stock and white bread rolls.
Thank you, everyone, for making this such a pleasurable weekend.
In particular, thank you to Maureen and Trevor in Exeter for their hospitality on Friday and Saturday - their skills as former B&B proprietors remain undiminished despite several years of retirement.
For a small (13 images) album of snaps from the weekend, click here.
Bon appetit...
2 comments:
n behalf of your fellow Challengers I accept your invite to sample these menus on the Challenge this year ;-)
Food looks amazing - Master Chef next then or Come Dine With Me?
It was great, Darren. Joe the chef said the recipes they do on their various courses frequently come up on Masterchef, so it is a training ground for people aspiring to that.
We like to cook without any pressure, and we came away with lots of ideas as to how to prepare everything in advance.
The recipients of our 'Meals on Wheels' service will particularly benefit....- 'Stay at home Hazel' has already ordered the chicken dish.
You'll be welcome to call in for a sample on your way to Durham, but other Challengers may have to make do with the CCS. (If we catch up with any of them up - we are lingering in the west again.)
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