#cotswoldcookbook

[thehappyhomecook]

I really do need a sort out of my cook book collection. I didn’t put them in the book case in the study because I thought they’d be better in the kitchen. Thank goodness for utility rooms. I do need to have a sort out though. #foodcritic #foodjournalist #foodwriter #foodhack #food #foodie #foodblog #foodblogger #cookbook #recipebook #kitchen #nigelslater #nigellalawson #rickstein #bristolcookbook #cotswoldcookbook #library #bookcollection #bristolfoodie #bristolblogger #bristolfoodie #homecook #homecooking #chef #homechef #eatwith #restaurantcritic #cookbookaddict #cookbookclub #foodwriterlife (at Charfield, South Gloucestershire) https://www.instagram.com/p/B1eRU8wD4ra/?igshid=1w1facgs1o3xx

[thehappyhomecook]

One of the great foodie pleasures in life is tea and cake. Especially if your English. You just can't beat it. And this recipe for lemon and elderflower cake will blow your taste buds to new heights. It's taken from the Cotswold cookbook and is served at Beau's Bakehouse in Frampton on Severn. Ingredients: For the cake: 225g softened butter 225g caster sugar 4 eggs 225g self raising flower 1 lemon zest 40ml elderflower cordial 2tbsp lemon curd For the drizzle: 60ml elderflower cordial 1 lemon juice 2tsp sugar. For the elderflower buttercream: 60g softened butter 120g icing sugar 2tbsp elderflower cordial. For the lemon icing: 240g icing sugar 1 lemon juice and zest. Method: Line two cake tins and preheat your oven to 180 degrees. Cream the butter and sugar together for about 5 minutes it is important that the butter has softened first! Gradually beat the eggs and gradually add sifted flour. Fold in the lemon zest and elderflower cordial. Spoon the mixture into the cake tins and bake for about 20 minutes until risen and the surface springs back when lightly pressed. When the sponges come out of the oven, gently heat the drizzle ingredients together until the sugar has dissolved. Spread evenly over both of the sponges and leave to cool. For the elderflower buttercream, cream the butter and icing sugar together until pale and creamy. Add the cordial and neat until light and fluffy. Spread one sponge with two tablespoons of lemon curd. Add the buttercream to the other sponge and sandwich together. Make the lemon glacé icing by mixing together the sifted icing sugar and lemon juice, adding a little water if necessary to get the right consistency. Drizzle over the sponge cake and top with lemon zest. Serve with tea and enjoy. #food #cake #cotswoldcookbook #cotswold #cotswolds #foodie #foodblog #foodlife #foodblogger #recipe #bake #baking #lemoncake #elederflower #blog #blogger #bristolblog #bristolblogger #bristolfoodie #cook #cooking #chef #foodwriter #cookbook

[thehappyhomecook]

Two books, twice the cooking, twice the eating but twice the fun! The Bristol cookbook and the Cotswolds cookbooks where went to me by the authors PR Kerre Chen of Mezze publishers. Both books are packed with fabulous recipes and filled with wonderful places to eat throughout both counties. I'm really lucky that I live just outside of Bristol and only a stones throw away from the Cotswolds so I am in a perfect position to review most of the places in these books. They concentrate on local producers such as Butchers, greengrocers, bakers and fishmongers. It also tell the stories of how a lot of the restaurants and delis came about and the chefs who create their amazing menus. The books are well illustrated and are robust so they will last you years! To buy these books will cost you £14.95 each but it is a price well worth paying for such a wonderfully put together book. I know I am seriously going to enjoy travelling throughout Bristol and the Cotswolds with summer trying out and reviewing all of these places to eat as well as cooking some of their wonderful dishes at home. #cotswold #produce #local #cooking #recipe #food #foodie #foodlife #foodblog #foodlover #foodblogger #blog #blogger #bristol #bristolblog #bristolblogger #bristolcookbook #cook #cooking #chef #cookbook #restaurant #deli #review #product #book #cookbook #cotswold #cotswolds #cotswoldcookbook

[thehappyhomecook]

So tonight for tea I delved into two of my latest cookbooks. I took two nice pieces of tomahawk steak cooked in Rosemary, anchovy, butter and capers as featured in the Bristol cookbook. The steak came from Winterbourne Buxton butchers. I then took the recipe for béarnaise sauce and beef dripping fried chips from the Cotswold cookbook. That recipe is courtesy of Jesse Smith Butchers in Cirencester. I live five minutes away from Buxton Butchers that is why the meat came from there. The potatoes I used for the chips where Maris piper potatoes which are perfect for making into steak chips. Just boil them in salted water for 10 minutes then cool them in a freezer. Just be careful not to overlook the potatoes. They only want parboiling. Then when your ready for them fry them in Beef dripping. The béarnaise was really easy to do and tasted delicious. Prepare a bain-Marie and whisk an egg yolk along with 1tsp of white wine vinegar until light and airy. Next pour 100g of melted butter onto the eggs whisking until lightly thickened and resembles the thickness slightly like mayonnaise. Add one finely chipped shallot and a sprig of tarragon. Season with salt and pepper to taste then set to one side. All ingredients where bought locally and where fresh. Both cookbooks are filled with wonderful recipes and great places to eat. This is my first delve into them as a cook and the meal was a great success. #food #foodie #foodlover #foodlife #foodblog #foodblogger #blog #blogger #bristolblogger #bristol #bristolblog #bristolcookbook #cotswolds #cotswoldcookbook #winterbourne #buxton #butchers #butcher #bernaise #sauce #book #review #cook #chef #recipe #cooking #local #produce #cotswold

[thehappyhomecook]

Just received this brilliant new cook book in the post. The author sent it to me to review so over the next few weeks and possibly months I'll be trying out recipes from the book as well as trying to visit some of the pubs and restaurants mentioned in it to review their food and eating establishments. Really looking forward to doing this as it is my first foodie based blogging assignment I've been asked to do. I should point out that I am NOT getting paid for doing this I'm doing it all for the love of eating, cooking and writing! #food #foodie #foodblog #foodblogger #foodwriter #foodielife #blog #blogger #writer #recipes #cook #cooking #foodtodie4 #foodtodiefor #bristolblog #bristolblogger #bristolfoodie #bristol #cotswolds #cookbook #cotswold #cotswoldcookbook

[thehappyhomecook]

Incase any of you missed it hear is my foodie weekend in pictures. In the menu was: surf and turf lamb shanks, Boulanger potatoes with pancetta, tomahawk steak with chips and béarnaise sauce and lemon and elderflower drizzle cake. The cake was taken from the Cotswold cook book. The steak and béarnaise recipe was taken from the Bristol cook book. The surf and turf lamb was taken from my all time favourite TV chef @nigelslater and the potatoes are a classic french recipe but I have jazzed it up a little by adding smoked pancetta. All the recipes can be found at my blog site: www.simplesite.com/foodtodiefor and also: www.facebook.com/foodtodie4 #lambstew #food #foodie #foodlife #foodblog #foodblogger #blog #bloggersuk #blogger #bristol #bristolblog #bristolfoodie #bristolblogger #cotswoldcookbook #cotswolds #bristolcookbook #nigelslater #cook #cooking #chef #recipe #surfandturf #lamb #lemoncake #bake #baking #foodwriter #facebook #simplesite #lambstew

[thehappyhomecook]

How fab is this. The publishers of the #cotswoldcookbook are also the the publishers of #thebristolcookbook and they have very kindly sent me a copy to review. Between that one and the Cotswolds one I am going to be a very busy boy this summer both cooking and eating out! However someone has to do it I suppose? Might as well be me? Keep your eyes open for restaurant reviews and recipe shares. #foodwriter #food #foodie #foobblog #foodblogger #foodtodiefor #foodtodie4 #bristolblog #bristol #bristolfoodie #bristolblogger #blog #blogger #cook #chef #cooking #recipe #restaurant #review #cookbook #cotswolds #cotswoldcookbook #author #publisher #kitchen #foodielife #eat