wordless wednesday...(almost)

newcastle tour

We went on a really interesting tour around Hidden Newcastle on Tuesday evening starting at Grey's Monument which stands at the top of Grey Street - think of Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square and you'll be pretty close, in fact the statue at the top is by the same sculptor.  

Although Early Grey also provides the name for the bergamot tea, this monument commemorates Grey's involvement, as Prime Minister in the passing of the Great Reform act of 1832










Grey Street has the claim to fame of being Britain's 'third most picturesque street' with it's 'descending subtle curve' (Betjeman) sweeping down to the quayside filled with shops, hotels and the magnificent Theatre Royal.








On the tour we were looking for things that you don't normally see or notice and we found a vampire rabbit...














extraordinarily grand doorways..














    
    beautiful tiles adorning the Beehive Pub (spot the bee)...

mosaic tiling depicting all manner of trades...

 amazing church buildings next to modern day   architecture...
















Thomas Cook's first travel agency...





and some random street art.

wordless wednesday

wordless wednesday

wordless wednesday

appleby manor hotel...

A lovely visit to the Appleby Manor Hotel in late spring was a welcome break.  This Victorian pink sandstone building dates from 1871 when it was built for a wealthy solicitor 

                                                

Our two night stay included free tickets for Lowther Castle and Gardens (previous post), a gingerbread tea, breakfast and meals on both evenings.

On the first evening we had a beautiful meal in the bistro...but the highlight for me was the herd of cows wandering backwards and forwards across the field just beyond the hotel's garden that kept me spellbound.  On the second night we ate a fantastic four course meal in the conservatory and the food was delicious, but I missed the cows!

Wonderful views from the hotel garden. 

lowther castle and park...

From a distance Lowther Castle has a Downton Abbeylike appearance, however, if you look a little closer all that remains is the mere shell of a building that was originally completed in 1806.  The reason for the ruin like appearance is an interesting one; in 1957the Yellow Earl removed the roof and the interior structure in order to avoid death duties on his estate of £25 million. 

                                      

This Cumbrian castle's 50 acres of gardens  have been as equally neglected as the castle, having been requisitioned by the army in WW2 and then used to  house huge chicken sheds Work is now underway by an army of volunteers and gardeners to restore the gardens - a huge  undertaking.

                                                       

There are still hidden gems to find....a Yew Tree Avenue first planted in the 17th century.

Delightful little summer houses and play houses can be found in the gardens.

A visit to the castle and gardens must include a trip into the cafe, which is housed in the most  beautiful coach house.  The food is gorgeous and reasonably priced and the views from the shop into the courtyard and the hills beyond are magnificent.

wordless wednesday

june...

beetroot three ways...

Digging over the vegetable patch in preparation for planting we unearthed a few beetroot from last year's crop and plans to cook these burgundy brutes were made.

First of all washed, peeled and grated.  Fortunately I'd just bought a machine to grate the beetroot after my food processor passed away last year.  Even with a machine to do the hard work the kitchen looked very colourful by the time I'd finished.

Beetroot Soup (Tomato Borscht) 

from New Covent Garden Soup Company's 'Soup & Beyond'.

Ingredients:

  25g(1oz) butter
 1 small onion finely chopped
 1 garlic clove crushed
  225g (8oz) raw, grated beetroot
  1 tsp ground cumin
  1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
  225g (8oz) ripe tomatoes skinned 
  & chopped (or use tinned)
  275ml (1/2 pint) tomato juice
  1 tbsp tomato puree
   570ml (1 pint) vegetable stock
  1 tbsp soy sauce.

Method: 

1..Melt butter and cook the onion, garlic and beetroot gently in a covered saucepan for 10 minutes.

2.  Add spices, tomatoes, tomato juice and stock - bring to the boil then lower to a simmer for 15 minutes.

3.  Add the soy sauce and add salt and pepper if needed.

4..Cool then puree/blend.

5.  Serve hot or chilled, topped with greek yogurt and chives.

Beetroot & Poppy Seed Loaf Cake - from Diana Henry's 'a change of appetite'
Ingredients
  3 large eggs


  225g ( 8oz) soft light brown sugar
  100ml (3 1/2 fl oz hazelnut oil
  200ml (7fl oz) olive oil
  1/2 tsp vanilla extract
 150g (5 1/2oz) regular wholemeal flour)
  50g (1 3/4oz) wholemeal spelt flour
  pinch of salt
 3/4 tsp baking powder
  3/4 tsp bicarbonate of soda
  finely grated zest of an orange
  2 tbsp poppy seeds
  2 tbsp chopped hazelnuts
  225g (8oz) raw, peeled and grated beetroot

Oven temp: 180 deg C, 350 deg F, Gas 4.  Baking tins:  two 22 x11 x 6cm lined loaf tins.

Method
1.  Beat the eggs and sugar using an electric whisk until pale and light.
2.  Stir in the oils, vanilla and whisk on the lowest speed.
3.  Mix in the flours, salt, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, and orange zest.
4. Stir in the poppy seeds, hazelnuts and beetroot.
5.  Pour into prepared tins and bake for 40 minutes.
6.  Reduce heat to 170 deg C, 340 deg F, Gas 3 1/2 and cook for a further 20 minutes or until a    skewer comes out clean.
Cool in tin for 10 minutes.
7.  Top with icing made from icing sugar and orange juice and a sprinkling of poppy seeds.

Although the batter is bright fuschia the cake bakes to a 'normal' colour and I think that anyone unsuspecting would be hard pressed to identify beetroot as a key ingredient.  This is a beautifully moist cake.



Prickly Green Beetroot Salad 
(which contains nothing prickly or green - see the reason for the name at the end).

Ingredients

   2 large raw beetroot, peeled and grated
   1 large onion finely chopped
   110g (4oz) sultanas
   2 tbsp sunflower oil
   1/2 tsp dried basil
   salt & pepper
   juice of 1 lemon
Method
  This couldn't be simpler - mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl.

The recipe found in Sarah Brown's 'Vegetarian Kitchen' comes from the actress Kate O'Mara and the salad is named after the village where Kate lived.

This book is from the 80's when fresh basil was unheard of (certainly where I lived) but I'm sure you could use fresh rather than dried basil.  However, I continue to use dried as I think the salad will last a little longer in the fridge - whereas fresh basil might go slimy.

national BBQ week

FIrst BBQ of the year - in the drizzle...

everything cooked to perfection...

and rounded off with beautifully toasted marshmallows!

lake district wanderings...

Messing about on boats on Lake Windermere.

In the grounds on Brantwood, John Ruskin's Lake District home

-scupltpures on the Zig Zaggy path (representing Dante's journey)

More lovely food...

And snow on the way home!

Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, 

wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating;

there is really no such thing as bad weather,

only different kinds of good weather.

                                     John Ruskin

wordless wednesday

lake district food...The Rybeck Hotel...

A visit to The Ryebeck Hotel in Bowness on Windermere the Lake District with friends recently where a very lovely foodie time was had by all (the photographs don't do the food the justice it deserves)...

....mmm!