Delicious Scottish Tablet~ but is it Art?

Back story ...

When I lived at Trebarwith Strand one of our number built a cairn on top of the enormous rock, Gull Rock, a little off Trebarwith Beach.

It could be seen from shore (and is just visible in this photo) and if anyone asked what it was they were told "Oh that's a P.O.S." which, not wanting to show ignorance, they generally accepted not realising that P.O.S. stands for Pile of Stones.  

Thinking about it this may or may not have been an early "installation".

Now, travelling around the Highlands, I see small P.O.S.s  erected all over the place so decided to create my own, it's pretty easy but here are the instructions ...

~   Sit on the ground near some stones.

~   Select a biggish flattish stone and set it in place somewhere.
~   Choose another stone.
~   Balance it on the first.
~   Carry on till you are happy with you cairn.
~   Stop.

Here is one I built at a place called Poolewe.

In seemingly other news have long wanted to try Scottish Tablet a crumbly variety of fudge which I have been told is similar to lovely Granny Wobbly's.  I bought some, ate it and agree. It is rich, sweet, buttery and goes particularly well with black coffee enhanced by the addition of a wee dram.  After trying this delectable combo inspirations struck ...

Now that's what I call art!  And this is what I call tart ...

Whilst cleaning up the kitchen before leaving Cornwall for Scotland I chanced upon a butternut squash labelled "best before 8^th June" so brought him with me and the other day roasted him as per the instructions here and made a quick rustic tart for lunch.  

There was Absolutely Nothing Wrong with the squash even though it was well over a month past its date and is just another case of this strange labelling system.

In other news ...

The weather here has been fab and we have been for lots of walks ~ a Scottish mile bears some resemblance, we find, to a Cornish mile!  My real man whittled (you know what they're like!) a couple of walking sticks and we picked wild blaeberries (which are very similar to blueberries) to sustain us.  

We have seen an eagle, seals, deer, vast amounts of tiny fish leaping, tadpoles, maybe lamprey, a man travelling around the country on a mobility scooter for Help for Heroes and the aforementioned and best of all, so far, pine marten.  I'd really like to see an otter too but won't be cross if I don't.

P.S.  Sorry about any inconsistencies in this post - I am on a strange computer in a strange land!

Granny Wobbly's!

I am often disconcerted, when walking through Wadebridge, to see this displayed in a window!

~  Menu  ~

Salmon & Asparagus Hash

Roasted Garlic Mayonnaise

White Wine Spritzer

A Tad of Granny Wobbly’s Finest

Coffee

Today’s lunch was very sudden yet very satisfying.  

My leftovers comprised 3 cold cooked new potatoes, about 3 ounces (oops, sorry, I mean 85g) of cooked salmon and 4 stalks of asparagus which surprised me as I thought I’d finished the lot off yesterday.  So I made ...

Salmon & Asparagus Hash

~   I snapped the asparagus into short lengths and cooked it in a non-stick pan with a little oil, salt and pepper till al dente.  I much prefer asparagus roasted, sautéed or grilled to steamed or poached; tastier and a nice texture.  I set the asparagus aside.

~   Heated a spoonful more oil and added the new potatoes which I crushed in a manly sort of way and fried over medium heat till crunchy and golden.

~   A broke the salmon into little bits and added it to the pan together with the waiting asparagus.

~   Chivvied the whole lot into a sort of cake arrangement and decanted it onto my waiting plate.

All that and I didn’t even use a knife!!

(I'd like to apologise for the poor quality of this picture but you get the gist!)

The roasted garlic mayo that I have been so enthusiastic with is from M & S and I love it.  Yes I could, and indeed do, make my own but this is so delicious and handy, has a long shelf life, comes in a useful squirty bottle and doesn't upset my real man with it's garlicky aroma as it does when I make my own! I have quite a passion for it with fish and potatoes.

Granny Wobbly

I went to Wadebridge the other day.  Every time I am there I assume a vague, possibly gormless, look and wander into Granny Wobbly’s Fudge Pantry where I “test” their sample fudges and hope they don’t recognise me.  I may invest in a moustache!  Having been “surprised” at the excellence of their product I then buy some as is only right and proper.

If you haven’t tried Granny’s Wobbly’s wonderful fudge and you live anywhere near Cornwall for Gawd’s sake come and get some or order it online here.

The vanilla fudge I bought was intended for some fudgy experiments for my forthcoming book (see below) but so far I haven’t got round to trying my ideas and could hear it calling to me from the cupboard.  

“Suzy – you know you want me!”

What could I do?

A bit more about the wonderful Granny Wobbly (actually there are two of them and one is a chap!) who make, on the premises, the best fudge I have ever tasted; rich, crumbly and perfect, in five standard flavours; Vanilla, Maple and Walnut , Rum and Raisin, Butterscotch and Chocolate plus a weekly mystery flavour and other specialities.  In addition to the basic flavours I myself have assiduously tried their Lemon Meringue Fudge, their Sparkly Chocolate Mint and the Christmas Pud – some while ago now.

News From Way Into the Future!

My "Forthcoming book" was published in March 2013 as The Leftovers Handbook and a second edition is now available under the new title Creative Ways to Use Up Leftovers. 

Read More Here