Well believe it or not I'm late again to be fair its been hectic again and the old tiredness creeps in.
Had our first use of this seasons wild garlic recently and it was lovely! Its very versatile and can be used in salads,stuffings,sauces etc. At the same time the wild garlic is emerging my foraging friend and I came across the last of the seasons velvet shank.....its a wild mushroom which is found around decaying elm and oak trees usually in clusters. its one of the very few fungi that can survive heavy frosts and boy did we have these this winter!! If you are using them remove the tough stem and the cap can be added to soups ,stews etc. I did a pan fried breast of chicken recently for family dinner making a simple white wine and shallot sauce reduced with a glass of white wine added 1/4 pint of double cream thru in the velvet shank caps seasoned sauce with salt pepper touch of lemon and at the finish just before serving added some shredded wild garlic leaves......it was reallly nice!
I'm offering this month and next another dinner party menu which I hope you will take us up on as last months offer was reasonably busy. For £25.00 per head you can have Fresh Pea soup with a Smoked Ham Hock Sandwich and Mustard Creme Fraiche followed by Lime Crusted Pollock,buttered greens,new potato's and chorizo oil dressing then for dessert.....Strawberry Parfait,Brandy Snap and White Chocolate Sorbet.
For anybody within a tight budget at lunchtime and are looking for a value for money buffet with delivery how about Ploughmans style sandwich...Potato Scone topped with red onion jam, smoked cheddar and rocket...fruit skewers with white choc dipping sauce and for afters caramel shortbread!! this is priced at £4.50 including delivery within 10 mile radius.

Speak soon
Raymond