Monday, August 31, 2009

Availability

Until Sunday 6th September, we are fully booked, but, after that, we do begin to have some availability. So, if you are thinking of coming to Cornwall and might be interested in this area, give me a ring or email. the weather forecast is not looking too bad, but don't hold me to that, as it keeps changing!

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

Availability

We do have one en-suite room available from Sunday 16th August until Saturday 22nd August, if you are thinking of a visit to Cornwall soon! Otherwise, apart from the odd night, we are very busy until the second week in September.
check out page 89 of the September 2009 edition of Cook Vegetarian magazine!
The best ever scone recipe!

This recipe, which I always use for scones, has to be the best ever! The scones are crumbly, yummy and can be frozen, if you make so many you cannot eat them in one go! The recipe comes from the October 2004 edition of Good Housekeeping magazine, and the recipe has been requested, so I thought I would add it here...

8oz s.r. flour
3oz butter
1 and a half oz sugar
1 large egg
approx 2 tbsp. milk or buttermilk

preheat oven to 220c (200 for fan oven)

I use a food mixer, place the flour in and mix in the butter, and sugar, mix egg with milk, mix in, add more milk if doesn't form nice firm ball.

Flour clean work surface and flat baking tray. Roll out dough to 1 in thick. Press floured 2in cutter into mixture and pull out without twisting. Use all mixture. You should have 8 scones, I never seem to have this many!!

Brush each scone with milk and then sprinkle with flour. Bake for 10 - 12 mins. Try not to eat immediately.

Yummy.

Tuesday, August 04, 2009

We stil have availability later this week, so do give me a ring or email if you are coming this way!
Goats' cheese, pinenut and oven-roasted tomato charlotte

This is a recipe from Cafe Paradiso, by Denis Cotter. He runs a restaurant in Cork, Ireland, and is inspired in his combinations of flavours. I have indicated the things I alter in this recipe, but included the original recipe, as requested by a recent guest to Michael House.

for 6

6 beef tomatoes - or any ripe tomatoes, but more of them!
olive oil
6 cloves of garlic - I use less, this is a lot!
450g goats cheese - I use less, can be soft sort or hard, nice with the hard version
200g cream cheese - I use Philadelphia
2 eggs
3 egg whites
100-150g single cream
50g pinenuts, lightly toasted
basil, fresh
black pepper
100g puy lentils - I often do not do this part
1 red onion
120mls basil oil, don't even know what this is, unless you just mix oil with basil and let it sit around for a while!
wilted greens - again, never use this, but the dish is very rich, so does need simple vegetables with it

roast the tomatoes - cut into thick slices (he says remove the seeds, I never do!). Oil some trays, lightly oil the slices of tomato with olive oil, roast on medium oven for approx 45 - 50 mins. should be a bit dried out when done, but not completely, with some blackened bits, caramelised.

put cheeses, garlic and whole eggs in food processor, whizz to smooth puree, add egg whites one at a times with motor running. transfer to a bowl and add enough cream to give thick pouring consistency. stir in pinenuts and basil.

preheat oven to 190c. lightly oil six ramekins or dariel bowls and place a little piece of greaseproof paper in each, and place in a large ovenproof dish. put a tomato slice in, then some of the custard, then tomato, and finish with custard. half fill the big dish with hot water and place the whole thing in the oven for around 40 minutes. run a knife around the bowls to help with removal.

for the lentils, which do go very well with the dish, soak if you wish then boil them until tender, mix with red onion chopped up and basil oil. serve with the charlottes. yum.