My first Foray into Foraging - Wild Garlic

I've known of the existence of wild garlic for a long time. I even knew where it grew locally as I had smelt it when out running, but until my recent visit to the Celtic Food Festival at the Scottish Crannog Centre I had absolutely no idea what it looked like. Inspired by our amazing day of Iron Age Feasting and with knowledge gleaned of what to look for I returned home determined to go on a foraging trip and get me some.

With my friend C and our collective kids we headed out to the woods and followed our noses. We smelt it long before we saw it. Huge expanses growing close to a burn in the shade of the woods. Boy had his swiss army knife to chop it down and we soon filled our trug. It's certainly powerful stuff and my car stank for days after our foraging adventure.

Wild Garlic Pesto was my initial aim and I blitzed some up using bucket chemistry so no exact recipe to follow I'm afraid. Wild Garlic, Parmesan, Olive Oil, Toasted Pine Nuts, Salt and Pepper. Boy was it strong. I added a couple of bunches of parsley into the mix to tone it down a bit. The resulting Pesto will still stun a Vampire at 50 yards. Not sure how long it will keep in the fridge but I've got a large jarfull in there and also filled an ice cube tray for the freezer. First experiment - pesto pinwheels.

WILD GARLIC PESTO PINWHEELS

225g plain flour
1/2 tsp Bicarb of Soda
1/4 tsp salt
175ml Milk
1 tsp lemon juice

1Tbsp wild garlic pesto
25g parmesan grated

Sieve together the dry ingredients in one bowl and milk and lemon juice in another.
Bring together by pouring the wet into a well in the dry. 
Mix well and add a wee bit more flour or milk if needed to make a dough.
Knead lightly and roll out into a rectangle approx 1cm thick.
Spread over the pesto and sprinkle with the parmesan.
Roll up like a swiss roll and cut into slices.
Bake at 200 degrees for 15 minutes or until golden brown.

These were a huge hit and I've now made them three times. Beats shop bought garlic bread hands down. Aside from pinwheels, the pesto has been making an appearance in practically every meal over the last couple of weeks. Mixed through pasta either hot or cold. Mashed into potatoes. Flavouring the pasta and filling for ricotta ravioli and zinging up a quiche lorraine.

I've thoroughly enjoyed my first foray into foraging and still have a few ideas I want to experiment with before the short lived wild garlic season is over. Only yesterday I found out that its also known as Ramps and that the flowers are also edible so I'm planning making New Potatoes in Ramps and Lemon for the weekend. Have also seen wild garlic combined with nettles in various dishes so I'm going to have to don some sturdy gloves and go Wombling in the nettle beds.

I'm linking this post up to a couple of blogging challenges 

Herbs on Saturday run by Lavender & Lovage and hosted this month by Delicieux

and

Nature's Lunchbox run by Foodie Laura

Meal Planning Monday - Vampires, 10k and Afternoon Tea

Another busy week gone. This year is just flying past. Pretty much stuck to the Meal Plan from last week and still using up that wild garlic pesto to keep the vampires away.  A second batch of pinwheels made to accompany Nigella Orzo Pasta Risotto. They beat shop bought garlic bread hands down. Chopped up some leaves through the Quiche Lorraine too. A foragers feast.

The meatloaf was surprisingly wild garlic free but did include some of the conventional stuff. It was good hot but even better cold. Headed to Las Iguanas for a delicious meal with M on Thursday before going to the pictures to see "The Great Gatsby". Amazing film. Loved the 1920's decadence. The sets and costumes in particular were fantastic.

The sun shone on Friday night so a BBQ was had. Ribeye steaks with Spicentice peppery rub. Saturday night saw me carb loading for a 10k race on the Sunday. Homemade Ricotta and Wild Garlic Pesto Ravioli.

Clearly pasta doesn't make you fasta as my race time was well short of a PB but I am still carrying a whiplash injury from a car crash last year. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it. Have to say that I thoroughly enjoyed my post run Chip Butty from the burger van. Possibly the best meal of the week.

Also managed to fit in a couple of afternoon teas over the course of the week. One consisting mostly of Chocolate at Cup Aberdeen and the other of Crafting, Cakes and Mocktails with KnittyKittyBangBang. Bloggage on both to follow later this week.

Without further ado, here's this week's #mealplanningmonday menu.

Monday - Fish Pie with Crumble Topping

I seem to have an abundance of fish in the freezer so this will be perfect to use it up.

Tuesday - Meatball Subs

At the request of boy we are going to try and recreate the Subway classic...

Wednesday - something quick from the freezer. 

I'll be too busy baking for Eurovision themed Pinnies and Petticoats Cake Club. I'm Norway. I may get nul points.

Thursday - Homemade Gnocchi

Thanks to Victoria Sponge Pease Pudding for inspiring me to give this a go.

Friday - Chicken Fillets in Crisps

As requested by girl. An adaptation of a recipe from her Annabel Karmel Princes Party Cookbook. They are actually really nice.

Saturday-  BBQ & Salady Stuff

Sunday - Beef Olives

Haven't had these in ages and have a real fancy for some. Will serve them full on Sunday Roast stylee with yorkshire puddings and all.

Enjoy the week ahead whatever it has in store for you foodie or otherwise.

Big Fat Gypsy Glamping

I've managed to tick two more things off my bucket list in the past year. Stay in a Treehouse and visit a German Christmas Market. Another long standing wish of mine was to stay in a Gypsy Caravan. Not quite sure why, but I've always loved the look of them. I think Fred Dibnah towing one with his steam engine may have had something to do with it. After our Glamping trip to High Seas Hobbit I was determined to make it happen so had a quick Google and found some much closer to home than I had thought possible. Bramble Bield on the outskirts of Stirling in the shadow of the Wallace Monument.

Our Caravan for the night was "Holly" which is the largest of the three. She was gorgeous and we instantly fell in love with her. Boy and Girl are big Roald Dahl fans and Danny Champion of the World is their benchmark as far as Gypsy Caravans are concerned.

The interior can best be described as compact and bijou - but oh so cosy and shabby chic. Boy and Girl slept underneath our bed in the traditional "cupboard bed". They loved their little den but there was indeed a bumped head incident. An electric heater and tea/coffee making facilities provided home comforts and there were a surprising amount of cubby holes to stow belongings in.

Surprisingly we were the only people staying at Bramble Bield so we also got to have a sneaky peek into "Rowan" and "Bramley". Girl was very taken with Rowan as it's her middle name. The beds in her are a wee bit shorter so we opted for comfort over namesake.

Caravan number three is Bramley and she has been on the Estate since the 1920's. The smallest and less ornate of the three she is kitted out with bunk beds.

In addition to the caravans there is a Stable which provides communal facilities. Again we had this all to ourselves and it was fantastic. A fully equipped kitchen/diner with everything you could possibly need. Plus a shower and eco toilet.

Thankfully the weather was better this time round than on our last glamping trip so it was much easier and more pleasant to get the campfire and BBQ on the go. A selection of meaty goodies from Andrew Gordon Butchers hit the spot.

Then it was hot chocolate time. I'd been at Candy Belle Vintage Fair earlier in the day and picked up a gorgeous selection of retro kitchenalia including a beautiful French Enamel Teal Pan. It was perfect for the job.

Something a little stronger was also required. What better than a Cucumber G&T around the campfire. One of your five a day I reckon. 

As soon as we arrived we were greeted by the neighbouring sheep and boy and girl headed off to feed them. Also resident are some hens and two ducks - Charlotte and Henrietta. Much excitement in the morning when they went to collect the eggs. Thankfully their feathered friends had delivered.

Also delivered to the stable was a delicious breakfast of fresh fruit, pastries, bread, cereal, yoghurts, juices and conserves. What a spread. We fired up the BBQ again for some bacon and sausages to go with our fresh eggs.

So where to next? I'm currently eyeing up a lighthouse and a houseboat. Further ahead the Ice Hotel in Finland is in my sights for my next significant Birthday. Meantime we've booked a return trip to High Seas Hobbit and I reckon we'll be back to Bramble Bield before long - need to make the most of it whilst boy and girl can still fit in the cupboard bed.

1983 A Foodie blast from the past #SpecialK30

What were you up to in 1983? That's thirty years ago. I was ten. Even then I was a bit of a foodie quine.

This post is an entry for the #SpecialK30 Linky on BritMums. For the first time since 1983 Kellogs is updating one of its most popular cereals. We were sent a box of the new Special K to try with a new, more delicious and wholesome recipe. The new recipe contains three grains -rice, wheat and barley (previously there were two) - and is made with wholegrain, for a source of fibre as well as 8 vitamins and minerals.

I have to say that Special K is a cereal that I have dabbled with over the years and it certainly is tastier than many of its "healthy" compatriots. Its a really tasty breakfast (although I confess to the addition of a handful of sultanas), doesn't go soggy, doesn't taste of cardboard and doesn't make you feel like you are depriving yourself. I've done the special K challenge in the past and lost some lbs with it but never quite made it to the sleek red swimsuited look. Perhaps 1983 was my last chance at looking good in a skimpy red swimsuit.

For this blog post we were asked to compare how things had changed in the last 30 years. Back in 1983 we went on a family caravan holiday to Findhorn. A quaint village on the Moray coast with a glorious beach. I had a bit of a thing (and still do!) about keeping scrapbooks and on this occasion I drew what I ate on holiday. Goodness knows why I never pursued a career in food illustration.

So breakfast in 1983. No sign of Special K. Frosties and Crunchy Nut Cornflakes appeared to be the order of the day. Sophisticated tastes with Grapefruit and Alpen. Boy and Girl would definitely turn up their noses at those. I love the green melamine tableware which I remember well from our caravan. I actually spotted some of it on sale at a Vintage Fair on Saturday That made me feel very old. If I remember rightly "Just Drink" was a powdered orange juice that came in a sachet that you made up with water. Very modern.

Lunch (which we called dinner) in 1983 is looking pretty varied. I reckon "Pizza Grill" is some kind of tinned toast topper that you spread on and popped under the grill. Bacon and noodles ( I suspect supernoodles) on a green melamine plate. Liking my napkin from our restaurant lunch. My clever food illustration techniques depict the lid off my cheese and tomato roll for full dramatic effect.

This has to be my absolute favourite illustration from my scrapbook. 1983 lunch in a Chinese Restaurant.  I have recently been engaged in a twitter conversation with someone (lets call her H) who refuses to believe that "Fresh Fruit Juice" was ever a starter on menus. Now I have proof. I am only disappointed that my 10 year old self did not draw the accompanying saucer and paper doily. As for dessert of tinned fruit (two fruits?) and cream. Imagine if you were offered that today.

I'm going to have to have a stern word with my Mother about our Supper/Tea in '83. I know we were on holiday but chippy tea on three occasions?! Love my newspaper drawings and the headlines "The Dons Victory". 1983 is pretty much the last time Aberdeen FC had a victory. Boy is most perturbed by the idea of a Pineapple fritter supper. Do you not still get those? I do remember that the chip shop in Findhorn - The Bunty - did frogs legs suppers. Way ahead of its time.

I've loved my trip down memory lane. Thanks to Special K for prompting me to dig out my scrapbook. I wonder if in another 30 years I'll be looking back through my blog with similar hilarity.

Meal Planning Monday - The hurriedly thrown together edition

Just back from the most awesome weekend. We were Glamping in a Gypsy Caravan close to Stirling in the shadow of the Wallace Monument. Had a fantastic time and caught up with some friends from our Uni days. A couple of photos below and a blog post to follow. Lots more pics on my Facebook page. Can't recommend Bramble Bield highly enough. 

This #mealplanningmonday has been hurriedly thrown together whilst I juggle with unpacking, washing and an online shop. I never really caught up with myself last week after the kids being off for the May Holiday.

Last week was all about wild garlic. We spent the Monday holiday foraging for it and making Wild Garlic Pesto. It featured heavily in meals last week and will continue to do so. I have enough to feed the 5,000 and a little goes a long way. Powerful stuff. Anyone want some?

The gammon finally got roasted and was served up with mustard sauce and wild garlic pesto mash. The Tomato Gnocchi Gratin was accompanied by wild garlic pesto pinwheels. The combination of the bread and the act of cooking toned down the powerful flavour and they were delicious.

The salmon with Maple Syrup and Grainy Mustard was BBQ'd wrapped in wild garlic. No escape either for the giant brisket hot dog sausages served with wild garlic pesto pasta salad. No vampires to be found anywhere near the Foodie Quine household last week.

And so to this weeks #mealplanningmonday and another busy week ahead

Monday - Nigella's Pasta Risotto with Peas and Pancetta

Might make some garlic pinwheels to accompany

Tuesday - Quiche Lorraine, Baked Potatoes

Taking my chum L for a Chocolate Afternoon Tea to celebrate her birthday. Doubt I'll be fit for any dinner. Will save my slice for breakfast tomorrow.

Wednesday - Meatloaf 

Have been meaning to make one for ages as I keep seeing it appear on others meal plans

Thursday - Out with my BFF for some Jo Malone Pampering, Cinema and Food. Will leave the troops to fend for themselves.

Friday - BBQ

Weather permitting!

Saturday - Homemade Ravioli with Ricotta and Wild Garlic Pesto

School Fair today so will need to bake for the Cake & Candy stall at some point this week. Carb loading for a 10k race tomorrow morning.

Sunday - Roast Chicken Dinner

Running in the am and a Tea Party Themed Crafternoon in the pm

Have a good week everyone whatever you're up to and whatever you're eating. Check out other blogger meal plans over at Mrs M's place.