Food with a view

1. Just after a shooting star | 2. Sunset on the docks | 3. Our little marina | 4. Glitter

5. Fergal is adorable | 6. My new favourite piece at the Walker | 7. Salmon | 8. Romantic meal for one

Autumn snaps

1. Beetroot and feta toastie | 2. Broccoli and stilton | 3. Tiny pies | 4. Car trialling

5. Sunset on the common | 6. Autumnal wool | 7. Celebratory roses | 8. A last cake at Nom Nom

 

Popcorn and flowers

 

1. Banana cake | 2. Kitten | 3. Tea party | 4. Sunset | 5. Flowers

6. Arrangement | 7. Mango cheesecake by Olivia | 8. New books | 9. Popcorn | 10. Gromit!

Sundae breakfasts

Books and broth

Mango Eton Mess

I mentioned in my bramble clafoutis post that I made some meringues with the spare egg whites. I was craving an eton mess, but I wanted to give it a twist of my own, so I made this one with mango.

There is no elegant way to take a picture of eton mess. The clue’s in the name..

First, I made meringues – I followed Delia’s recipe. It was my first go at making meringues without the help of my grandmother, so I was really pleased with how they turned out, although I might have to work on my piping skills before I make a pavlova!

Whisk up some whipping cream until it is fluffy and thick (I did it by hand because it’s more satisfying, but grab an electric whisk if you’re pushed for time). Add the crumbled meringues and chunks of mango. A fresh, ripe mango would work for this but I used a pot of Nature’s Finest mango slices in juice, as this guaranteed the ripeness. Whichever you are using, keep some of the flesh out of the cream.

Puree (or even just mash with a fork!) the mango pieces that you kept, and put them in a small pan on a low heat. If you used a pot of mango, add some of the juice, and if not add some water. Sprinkle in a spoon of sugar and let the mixture bubble, as if you were making a mango jam. Continue to add juice to keep the consistency and sugar to taste, until the sauce just coats the back of a spoon (it will thicken a little as it cools). When the sauce has cooled, fold it carefully into the cream to create a rippled effect, and serve in generous bowls.

What variations on eton mess have you made?

Bramble Clafoutis

I made this last week and it was a delicious midweek pudding.

 

You will need enough fruit to fill the dish you are using with all the fruit in one layer. I used blackberries because they are in abundance in the hedgerows at the moment, but I want to try it with cherries or  peaches next.

Preheat the oven to Gas Mark 4, and soak your fruit in water with 1tbsp icing sugar for 10 minutes, then drain. While they’re soaking, mix 50g ground almonds, 35g plain flour, 100g caster sugar, 1/2 tsp vanilla extract, 2 eggs, 2 egg yolks and 250ml double cream together.

Put your fruit in a greased dish and pour the custard over the top. Bake for 25 minutes (ish – mine took a little longer but this will depend on your oven) until golden. Serve warm with cream.

I made some meringues with the left over egg whites – I’ll share how I used those soon!

A very hungry caterpillar

Lots of food in this post – chachouka (recipe here), pizza from The Quarter, halloumi burger from The Moon and Pea and beer and deliciousness at Host.

My backpack came from eBay!

Peaches and cream

That piece of cake was probably the best I have ever eaten – a gluten-free peach and amaretti cake from The Quarter that had crushed amaretti biscuits, fresh peaches and cream. All of my favourite things!

Surprise!

Some of these photos are from nearly a year ago, and I can’t believe we’ve been away for so long, but this is apparently what happens when we try to get master’s degrees.

Luckily we’ve only lost blogging time, not the urge to take photos, so there should be more to come!