Recipes & News Updates

As I type this, the sky outside my window has turned as strange “graphite” colour and I long for summer teas in the garden. Scones, jam, cream and a pot of freshly brewed tea. Patience is a virtue, and I am sure that the day will come soon, but for the time being, I will not move my wellies from the door.

I have been having great fun with my friend Lisa from Seattle, chatting with foodie heroes and learning so much. Last week I joined Claire from Trumper’s Tea for a lesson in how to make the perfect cup of tea. 

But the conversation was about so much more! It was so interesting learning about grass infusions, fruit infusions, how to slurp….. (failed miserably). If you have not watched it, please pop to YouTube and search for Foodies across the Pond. If you could subscribe whilst there, not only would we be grateful, but you will also be notified of any new video’s being added. We are both learning as we go along, please be patient with our techy skills.

At the end of each video, you will find recipe ideas and Lisa has a couple of options, using the chai and Earl Grey teas, both of which would be amazing added to a cream tea. 

I was so impressed with the Rooibos tea, one that I had never tasted before and I am a complete convert!  Below is the recipe that I created, and I really hope that you will enjoy making it.  Send me photographs!

Rooibos Panna Cotta

Serves 4

100ml whole milk

250ml double cream

40g caster sugar

2 gelatine leaves

4 teaspoons rooibos tea

150ml natural yogurt.

Put the rooibos tea, cream and milk into a saucepan, heat carefully to boiling point, but do not allow to bubble boil.

Take off the heat and allow to infuse for  half an hour.

Drain through a fine sieve to remove tea leaves and return the cream mix to the saucepan. 

Soak the gelatine in cold water for 5 – 10 mins.

Reheat the cream mix.  Drain the gelatine, squeezing to remove excess water.  Add to the cream and stir until it dissolves.

Allow the mix to cool and then stir in the yogurt.

Pour the mix into your chosen moulds or serving dish.

Chill until set.

If you are using moulds and need to turn out the panna cotta, dip the mould into hot water for a matter of seconds and then turn out onto serving plate.

Serve with a fruit coulis.  I particularly like stewing rhubarb until tender and I add the juice of an orange and some vanilla paste.  A little sugar to taste.

Myrtle News:

Slowly, we have are starting to have events and this month is one of our favourites!  Hellen’s Garden Festival.

If you have never been, we highly recommend this one!  We will be there for the two days offering our pastries, preserves and seasonings.

Other dates for this month:

Sunday 6th June – Teme Valley Market at the Talbot Hotel, Knightwick

Saturday 12th & Sunday 13th June – Hellens Garden Festival at Hellens Manor, Much Marcle

Saturday 19th June – Malvern Farmer’s Market

Thursday 24th June Myrtle’s Home Delivery service (order by midnight Monday 21st June)

www.myrtleskitchen.co.uk

Hopefully we will catch you at one of these and we would recommend pre-ordering if you wish to purchase some goodies from us.

Gosh, I don’t know about you, but my head is spinning with change at the moment.  Not only are we having to keep up with all of the regulations as we come out of, and hopefully stay well out of, lockdown, but we have lots going on in Myrtle land as well.

Finally, we launched our new products; Our range of Lemon Myrtle Seasonings which have been in the planning for so long and I am beyond delighted with them.  Every day I have a new favourite.  Check them out in our online shop.

They all have Lemon Myrtle running through them, Droitwich Brine Salt and then a herb that I am sure you will know.  Just a case of choosing which one.  (Dill, Oregano, Tarragon, Rosemary, Thyme and Mint).

Farmers markets are back, and I have been catching up with quite a few of you at these.  Thank you for your support.  We had two new pastries to offer you this weekend.  A brunch roll and a new vegetarian option (Butternut squash, Chickpea & Green bean Sambol.  Of course, it has a secret weapon, Myrtle’s Mango Chutney (not so secret any more!)

Last Friday was our first chat in “Foodies across the Pond”.  If you have not caught up with this bit of news, let me fill you in.  Lisa, my lovely pal who lives in Seattle (USA) and I have teamed up and created “Foodies across the Pond” where we share our passion for all things foodie.  We chat with enthusiasts and post the conversations on a YouTube channel along with banter and recipes.  We are having so much fun with it! 

Last week Lisa spoke to Melina from “Peace & Plenty Farm” in California, where they grow saffron.  It was so informative and for our first video, for two not so sprightly things like us, I don’t think we did too badly.  This week it is my turn to chat with a local food producer from Herefordshire and I really hope that you can hop on to YouTube to catch it.  We would love you to hit the subscribe button, that way we will know that we are not talking to ourselves and you will be notified of any new episodes.  It is our intention to add one a week on Foodie Fridays.

Here is my oh so simple saffron recipe, which I hope you will make

Saffron & Garlic Colcannon with Spinach.

I love this recipe, it is so easy, effective and delicious!

I often cook a double batch and use it the next day for a pie topping or Bubble & Squeak.

I have not been specific quantities as I am sure you can wing this according to how many you are feeding.

Ingredients:

Approx ½ kilo / 1lb potatoes

2 cloves garlic – peeled

Pinch of saffron strands

A large handful of spinach leaves (washed)

Butter

Milk or cream

Seasoning

Cut you potatoes into chunks and add them to a pan of salted cold water.  Add to this the saffron and garlic cloves. 

Cover the pan and bring to the boil.  Simmer and when the potatoes are fork soft, they are done. 

Add the spinach to the potatoes and use your fork to push them below the water.  After a minute, the spinach will have wilted, and you can remove from the heat and drain the potato mix.

Return to your saucepan and to the potatoes add butter and your milk/cream.  Add as much as you prefer. Add some salt and pepper and mash with a potato masher.

It is as simple as that. 

Emily and I will be out on the road again next week (Thursday 27^th) delivering, pastries, picnic boxes, preserves and the new seasonings.  We also have a limited amount of the award winning Ruby’s fudge as a one off.

Have fun!

Jane x

A busy week at Myrtle HQ – we have finally, after 5 years of planning, launched our range of seasonings.  Six in all, and all include the amazing super herb, Lemon Myrtle. These pots are a Summer Table essential, perfect for BBQ & picnic baskets.   Finally balanced seasonings, fragrant and delicious.

A customer first sent us in the direction of Lemon Myrtle and ever since we have been trying to incorporate it into one of our preserves.  The flavour and aroma got lost, so we soon realised that this deserved a special place of its own underneath the Myrtle banner. 

You have been warned, prepare yourself to fall in love with Lemon Myrtle.  Prized by Australian Aboriginals for not just its cooking uses, but its healing properties. It has a reputation as a “Superfood”.  A native bush food, it is now regarded as Queen of the lemon scented plants in Australia.

Often used as a leaf for tea, or with its oil extracted, we have used the leaf ground and added it to award winning DROITWICH BRINE SALT.

To this blend we have added a herb, (either dill, rosemary, tarragon, oregano, mint & thyme) balancing the flavours to create a unique seasoning for your food.  All are available from our website:

Seasonings Archives – Myrtles Kitchen

Here is one of our favourite recipes that includes the Oregano seasoning.  These tomatoes pop with flavour.  We use them in a orzo pasta dish with fresh pesto and shredded basil.

A real taste of summer.

Enjoy

Jane x

Oven dried tomatoes in oil with oregano seasoning

This is an ideal recipe if you have an Aga or Rayburn as they need a lovely slow roast at a low temperature. I have cooked them in a conventional cooker, but to make it really cost effective, I would suggest filling the oven with the fruit. 

You can often find real bargain boxes of tomatoes at the end of a day at a market or this is a dream recipe for a keen gardener with a glut of tomatoes.

1.8 kilo tomatoes (any variety) but a cherry variety will dry quicker.

1 tbsp sugar

Myrtle’s oregano seasoning and ground black pepper

3 Tbsp white wine vinegar

200ml  Extra virgin olive oil

Chilli flakes

1.  Preheat oven to 70 c (gas ¼ – ½ )
2. Slice cherry tomatoes in half or quarter larger tomatoes.  The juicier the tomato, the longer they will take to dry out.
3. Spread the tomatoes out on a roasting tray.  Spread them out so that they dry more quickly.  Leave in the oven for 7+ hours or overnight.  They need to have shrunk almost by half and be dry. 
4. Allow them to cool completely.
5. Sterilise a jar & lid.  On a low heat in a small saucepan, gradually heat your oil and vinegar together until it comes to boiling point.  Add as many chilli flakes as you like (I put about a teaspoon in) and the seasoning and allow to cool.
6. Pack the tomatoes in your sterilised jars and finally slowly pour in your olive oil mixture.  Tap your jar gently on the counter surface to release any air pockets and finally seal.  Store somewhere cool or in the fridge.

Cooks notes, I love oregano so confess that I added more to the oil.  I also don’t let the oil to go to waste, I use it for dressings and frying!

Thank you for all the great feedback for our sharing boxes.  As part of our Mothering Sunday bundle of goodies, we included one of my favourite biscuit recipes.  I cannot take the credit for this one, it is a Nigella gem.  I found it in her “Nigella Christmas” book.  (2008)

I confess to not being a fan of her TV shows.  I find them a bit cringe worthy, though a disturbing fact has come to my mind whilst typing this.  I was given the nickname of “Janella” some years ago!  I am not sure why, as I have none of Nigella’s looks, vocabulary or wealth.  I must put this on my list to explore further.

I have attracted a few nicknames over the year’s and one was “Margot”.  That is a story for another day.

I am however, a fan of her recipes, having the majority of her books.

To business.  A loyal mango chutney addicted customer, who has become a firm friend actually shared her biscuits with her daughter Jemima, who is now a fan too.  So this recipe is especially for Jemima.

I have included at the beginning Nigella’s description.  I take no credit

“I love these dark, fat patties of chocolate shortbread exuberantly topped with festive sprinkles.  There’s something so cheering about the sight of them, but they have more in their flavour than looks: they are a doddle to make, and meltingly gorgeous to eat”

Nigella Lawson

“Well I mean, really?” Jane Raven

Makes approx. 24

250g soft butter

150g caster sugar

40g cocoa powder

300g plain flour

½ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

For the topping:

2 x  15ml tablespoons of cocoa powder

175g icing sugar

60ml boiling water from a kettle

1 teaspoon vanilla extract.

Sprinkles

1.  Preheat over 170g gas mark 3 ad line a baking sheet with Bae o Glide or parchment
2. Cream the butter and sugar in a bowl and, when you have a light, soft, whipped mixture, beat in the 40g cocoa powder (sieve it is lumpy) and, when that is mixed in, beat in the flour with the bicarb and baking powder.  Or, just put everything into a food processor and blitz if you prefer.
3. The mixture is very soft and sticky and I find it easiest to form the biscuits wearing my CSI (disposable vinyl) gloves, so pinch off pieces the size of a large walnut, roll them into balls, then slightly flatten them into fat discs as you place them, well spaced, on your baking sheet.  You should get about 12 on at a time.
4. Bake each batch for 15 minutes; even though the biscuits won’t feel as if they have had enough time, they will continue to cook as they cool.  They will look slightly  cracked on the top and it’s the cosy homespun look I love.
5. Remove the baking sheet to a cold surface and let it sit for 15 mins before transferring the biscuits to a wire rack, with a sheet of newspaper under it (to catch the drips while topping them)
6. To make the topping, put the cocoa powder, icing sugar, water and vanilla into a small saucepan and whisk over a low heat until everything is combined.  Take off the heat for 10 minutes.
7. When the biscuits are cool, drizzle each one with a tablespoon of chocolate glaze – to glue the sprinkles on in a minute – using the back of the spoon, to help spread the mixture, though an uneven dribbly look is part of the charm.  After you have iced 6 biscuits, scatter with some of the Sprinkles and continue thus until all of the biscuits are topped,  If you ice them all before sprinkling, you will find that the cocoa “glue” will dry and the sprinkles won’t stick on.

Have fun with this one, I have other biscuit recipes if you would like me to share, though none quite as wordy as this one.  Though I could try to flower them up a bit?

If you try the recipe tag us with your photo’s – we would love to see them and it is not mandatory to be doing a Nigella look a like, but it may be fun.

Jane x