Tapenade

Tapenade

250g/10ozs. black olives - stone them yourselves for extra flavour - tedious yes, but worth the effort
50g/2 ozs. anchovy fillets
1 tablsp. capers
2 cloves garlic, crushed
15g/1/2 oz. basil, chopped
zest and juice of 1 lemon
200ml/12 tablsp. extra virgin olive oil

In a food processor, whiz together the olives, the anchovies and the capers.
Add garlic, basil, lemon zest and juice, then the oil.
Season with pepper.


(NOTE: the tapenade will keep for up to one month in the fridge and can be served on crostinis)

Preserved Lemons

2 lemons, scrubbed and cut lengthways into 8
75g coarse sea salt
125ml freshly squeezed lemon juice
125ml extra-virgin olive oil

In a bowl, toss lemon wedges, salt and juice. Mix well. Transfer to a 500ml glass container with a non-metal mid. ( a Kilner jar is the business)
Close container and leave at room temp. for a week, shaking daily to distribute the salt and juices evenly.

To store: Add olive oil to cover and store in fridge for up to 6 months.

Quarante Quatre '44'

Fragrant and fruity, served as a digestif or with white wine, as a aperitif,'Quarante Quatre'is one of my local recipés which, once tasted, is frequently requested!
And the good news is that, at 47 days to go to Christmas (!!!) you can make it now and serve to guests at your festive table or offer it as an original Christmas gift.

You will need:

1 litre of Calvados/clear eau-de-vie or Vokda
1 orange
44 sugar lumps
44 cloves or
44 coffee grains (I use both!)

and 44 days of patience!

Pour the Calvados into a large Kilner jar with 44 sugar lumps and 44 coffee grains or ...... if you’ve opted for cloves....
Stick the 44 cloves into an orange and add to jar.
Wait at least 44 days before tasting.
Quarante quatre will, however, keep for centuries in the Kilner jar but once it's all gone you may like to try a vingt-deux...
Add some white wine to the Kilner jar, leaving the orange in the jar, and leave for, yes, you've guesses it - 22 days!!
Santé...

Into The West

The Wild West (of Ireland) - a beautiful and enchanting place!

Three Legged Tom

OK OK... any of you who've been to La Blonderie will know how I feel about cats! I'm more of a dog person and that says it all, but, our Tom, I feel, is worth a mention. He's a survivor. A charmer who's been known to charm his way into the holiday apartment and B+B on many an occasion with his sorry limp (lost a leg in a trap)on his quest for food and affection.
Before the mid-term break we lost Tom....His quest for food got the better of him as he jumped into the back of a refrigerated van, parked outside the house here, much to the surprise of the owner of the same as she opened the van outside a school about 10 kms away! A confused and frightened Tom jumped out and hobbled off into the sunset! Many posters and spottings later Tom arrived home - it took him about a week but he's here now - Tom the three-legged traveller!