Cosy Country Evenings

Snow in the countryside is lovely, very picturesque, even my limited photographic skills can turn up some pretty little snaps. The downside of the snow in the country however, is you realise just how rural it is because they don't send gritter trucks down insignificant little country lanes, so they rapidly turn into ice rinks. In the midst of the snow the whole place ground to a complete halt at one point all the roads out were blocked by broken down or abandoned cars and even the very smug four by four owners were finding it a challenge (it got easier when some kindly soul told them they would fair better if the turned the traction control off , I know I should have but it was fun to watch them turn purple as they wheel spinned - naughty me).

Still I had the essentials in luckily (coal, wood, cheese, wine, chocolate and pet food) so pretty much no major problem. As you can see Scruffbag was happy with her spot by the roaring fire, something very cosy about a coal fire especially one with a handful of lovely pine cones burning on it, all dancing orange flames and crackling as it devours the logs. Scruffbag as you can see loves her place by the fire though she doesn't mind sharing with Cooper or indeed me, just so long as she gets the best spot!.

So fire sorted,and warmed through by a gooey mug of hot chocolate (drop in a chunk of chilli chocolate for a spicy kick is my tip) thoughts turn to the perfect winter comfort food. Unsurprisngly for me this is of course of cheesy origins, Welsh Rarebit (posh cheese on toast basically) and I though I'd share my favourite recipe for it, just in case anyone feels the need for a cosy country evening of their own (recipe below). It might not be exactly up there on any "most sophosticated things in the world to eat ever" but I must admit I think it's quite often the simplest things that are the tastiest. As for the perfect accompaniement well a nice large glass of red wine for me every time, I love red wine, sadly it doesn't like me, but hey not likely to stop me enjoying it is it so long as I remember to take anti histamines beforehand!. My favourites are a nice Montepulciano or a fruity Rioja which always seem to be the perfect accompaniements to milder cheeses, delectably fruity without being overpowering. It's best eaten huddled round the fire, watching the flames, usually best to shut Cooper out though he can be as ruthless in the pursuit of cheese as he is in pursuit of sparrow).

So there we go, a cosy country evening, away from the snow and the cold. Not very exciting I know, but very me.


Welsh Rarebit



Serves 4-6

Ingredients:
4 Fl oz Milk
2oz Plain Flour
400g grated Farmhouse Cheddar
6oz fresh white breadcrumbs
120ml Ale, Guinness or Cider (personally the Irish in me screams Guiness every time, but OP works OK too)
1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce
1 heaped teaspoon dry English mustard powder
1 whole egg
1 egg yolk
Freshly ground black pepper

Method:

1.Heat the milk, add the flour and bring to the boil and allow to slightly thicken.

2.Over a low heat add grated cheese. Stir until melted, then add breadcrumbs, mustard powder, Worcestershire Sauce and beer. Cook until the mixture starts to leave the side of the saucepan.
Note: The rarebit mixture should retain its shape and not run too much

3.Take the pan off the heat and allow to cool

4.Put in food processor (or just give it a good old beat with a whisk it won’t know) and add the eggs with the motor running – for about 1 minute. Add pepper to taste

5. Allow the mixture to cool

6. Slice and put on toasted foccacia (or a good thick chunk of crusty white bread) and place under hot grill until browned and golden

7. I like mine with some roasted vine tomatoes on top and some pickle or brown sauce. Its also nice with some pan fried field mushrooms especially those you’ve picked yourself.


Hope some of you try it and like it and think hey life's good xx

Snowball anyone?

Decided to start a new little section, on cocktails, because cocktails are something that I have a fondness for (don't tell my doctor sshhh). Given the rather wintery weather we currently have I thought I'd start with the Snowball.

This was my first ever, ever cocktail, beloved of Christmas time in our house my surprisingly progressive mother was happy to let me have a Snowball, just a little one, oh yes and a Babycham of course on special occassions.

Later when I worked behind the bar at the local Working Mens club I became the queen of the Snowball as it was a drink much loved by my Bingo playing ladies so I got a lot of practice, though apparently I had a natural flair for it.

The Snowball reappeared again when I went home to break news of my engagement (or rather when Country Boy went to seek permission from my dad to marry me). We also went to see the lovely Joan & Edwin (sadly Edwin was taken from us earlier this year) and they decided a celebratory drink was in order. So guess what , even though it was only 10am wheeled out the Advocaat and whipped up some Snowballs. Not sure Country Boy would be a fan under normal circumstances but well, sort of compulsory I guess, given my dad had said yes, so he was sort of stuck with me for life. He certainly seemed pleasantly smiley happy after a rather large glass or maybe it was two, not quite sure.

I still like to ask for a Snowball whenever I can, especially if I'm in some achingly trendy bar where the clientele are sipping champagne and all act as though they are fresh from the pages of Vogue (though actually they're accountants).

It's amazing whenever I do because once one is unleashed there's often a ripple effect and suddenly everyone wants one. It's a sure fire way to find the truly nice, cool people in the place from the pretentious wannabe's who probably spend their
entire live's pretending to be someone they aren't.

So, join me people in Snowball madness as I propose a toast to being yourself, to liking things because you do not because they're cool and to health and happiness for all those I love. Oh yes and of course:

Slainte go saol agat,
Bean ar do mhian agat.
Leanbh gach blian agat,
is solas na bhflaitheas tareis antsail seo agat.


Ingredients
1 1/2 oz Advocaat

4 cubes Ice

1 slice Lemon

10 oz (Cold) Lemonade

1 splash of lime

Directions

Place one ice cube in the glass and add 1 1/2 oz of Advocaat. Add a splash of lime juice. Fill up the glass with lemonade and decorate with a slice of lime and glace cherries on a cocktail stick. Serve at once.

Translation of the Gaelic above for those who do not share my Irish blood:
Health for life to you, A wife of your choice to you, Land without rent to you, A child every year to you, And the light of heaven after this world for you.

Total whiteout

OK so I thought they were exaggerating when they predicted a major snowstorm, but looks like the weather guys actually got it right. I noticed it had snowed overnight purely because Cooper did a double take and headed back to his chair rather than investigate opportunities for bird munching. Then it actually started to snow and that was about six hours ago and yes indeed it is still going.

I have happy memories of snowdays from childhood, we'd often get sent home from school because the boiler would break down or blow up or because there was a strike or something. We didn't really care why, just loved being able to escape school and make our way home, which took a very long time as there would of course be a snowball fight or a snowman to build or someone who lived nearby would have just got a "dead good sledge". When home, it'd be Jamie and his Magic Torch or Chorlton & the Wheelies on the telly and I'd be quite happily left to my own devices with some hot milk or hot chocolate and an Animal Bar - I loved animal bars, do they still even make them?. We haven't really had lots and lots of snow, not like when i was a child, but I suspect that maybe that snow drift wasn't really six foot deep then, it just seemed bigger as I was quite little.

But today we have lots of snow. Sadly I don't live near my childhood friends, if I did I suspect we would still be having snowball fights and stealing the kiddies sledges for a go, so I have to make do with Scruffbag to be be my snowday adventures amigo.

Scruffbag as I have said before loves snow, she loves to chase snowballs and still always seems surprised when they explode on impact and just aren't there. Equally, she really loves burying her nose in it, although I'm sure that's pretty chilly. Generally everything about snow, oh except snowmen. Snowmen she thinks are deeply suspect and not to be trusted or indeed passed. (I learned this after spending 20 minutes wondering why she was refusing to follow me up her favourite lane one day - sadly in the end snowman had to be sacrificed in the interests of us going anywhere, she liked it lots when snowman was pushed over and lay defeated on the ground). here she is anyway, enjoying the snow as I said:



So walkies today was very exciting for Scruff and indeed for me because we were the first to venture out to the lane (pictured above) and so we had pure, virgin snow all for us to make footprints in. There's something very exciting about that don't you think? Reminded me of being four and being very excited about snow and snowmen and being able to wear my red wellies in it lots. (Though apparently I liked to wear my red wellies everywhere and in any weather condition at all. I even once insisted on wearing them to the outdoor swimming pool at a local park). I still like wellies, sadly my red ones split rather dramatically, overuse I suspect. You will be pleased to know I no longer insist on wearing them to the swimming pool, mainly because I suspect they have policies about that sort of thing).

Anyway as ever I have wandered off point, I do that, I suspect you have noticed. Off we stomped anyway happy in our snowy wonderland, even I will admit that the countryside can look rather quaint shrouded in snow. So I duly showed my love, by leaving a little heart for my fellow dog walkers to enjoy :



I think this shot shows just how much snow there actually was, it was certainly interesting clambering over the style with this lot on it !



Overall, it was lovely, snow glistening on the trees, a neverending mass of white covering the top fields and an amazing stillness and quiet about everything. (probably because the birds were hiding).

So now we're back, started up the coal fire early as it is minus 6 or something crazy and I'll probably have a mug of hot chocolate and make some buttery toast. Scruffbag is happily snoring on a cushion which she really shouldn't have, but she looks cute so I'm letting her get away with it (sssh don't tell).

So here's to snow days, because they are actually really quite lovely.