The Cottage Smallholder

Bored up a ladder is quite a good state to be in if I’m working across the road from the cottage. It’s salved by a proper lunch hour. I can guzzle a sandwich and concentrate on a bit of midday weeding.
Yesterday I decided to cook us lunch, from scratch. I had found an intriguing recipe Read More »

Although we are in the middle of the asparagus season it wasn’t until last week that I found English asparagus on sale locally. I bought a couple of bunches, put them in a large jug of cold water and forgot about them.
I spotted them a few evenings later, looking less than their best so I Read More »

Frittata. The word used to freeze me to the core. It meant nasty, yellow rubbery slabs. Now the suggestion is welcomed with open arms since we were introduced to Anna’s brilliant potato frittata. We’ve guzzled them every week since then.
A great way of using up a glut of eggs as well as being true instant Read More »

I learnt how to make pastry at school. I didn’t enjoy the experience. It seemed to take forever. I think that I made it for Smart Wife. Once. Heavy ponderous stuff that shrank alarmingly away from the sides of the quiche dish when baked blind and guaranteed a soggy bottom.
Light years later I discovered Jusrol. Read More »

“I do hope this quiche is tasty,” I carelesly remarked as we sat down for lunch.
Danny was just about to sample my concoction and paused fork in air.
“You said it was a tart.”
“Well, yes. It is a tart.” I had slipped up. Danny won’t eat quiche, but he’ll wolf down tart.
“Isn’t a quiche supposed to Read More »

We’ve had rather a gruelling time recently. Just wall to wall work plus projects, blog and garden. It’s very easy to get things out of proportion. I found myself driving down to Essex, gripping the steering wheel and fretting about not getting all my seeds in on time.
So I earmarked Sunday to catch up. Not Read More »

I was given a really good tip today from a quiche maker. She sells quiches to her local deli.
“Do you know how to avoid soggy pastry?”
No, I didn’t. I never make quiche as D is not a fan. I love it and occasionally buy one for a girly lunch. Mysteriously Danny always vanishes with the Read More »

We make this omelette as a treat for each other. We call it The Souflette. If we are cooking for children we always make this for their supper as they love the crisp outside and the super fluffy melt in the mouth centre.
At the moment I am working down in Saffron Walden at my friend Read More »