We can’t believe it’s taken so long to get to the blessed Mary, she was worth the wait! Thanks to Tracey for choosing her, and Karen for hosting. We missed Julie, but hope that she’ll be up and around ready to come to Tracey’s next time.

Starters

Sue – salmon and horseradish pate

The dish was lined with smoked salmon, and the pate then filled it. The recipe suggested putting it in the freezer, but Sue didn’t have time, so it was quite soft and tricky to cut. But absolutely delicious. The horseradish divided the group, some thought it was perfect, others that the recipe could have taken more. https://www.maryberry.co.uk/recipes/first-courses/twosided-herbed-smoked-salmon-and-horseradish-pate

Tracey – Goat’s cheese and shallot tart with walnut pastry

These had the delicious addition of walnuts in the pastry. They were added once the pastry had been completed, Tracey would have changed the recipe to make it with the walnuts from the outset.https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/goats_cheese_and_shallot_60881

Mains

Debrah – Salmon and fennel with white wine and petits pois

A one pot wonder that was extremely tasty, the fennel giving a zing to the flavour, and although it used creme fraiche it wasn’t especially rich. Definitely one to repeat. https://www.maryberry.co.uk/recipes/main-courses/salmon-fennel-onepot-wonder

Karen – Chicken Valencia

The chicken thighs were meltingly tender, and the whole dish was absolutely delicious. Easy to make, and less than an hour to cook. It was thickened with flour, but not stodgy. And remarkably, Karen almost didn’t trial it! https://www.maryberry.co.uk/recipes/main-courses/chicken-valencia

Sides

Justine – Sprouts with pancetta and chestnuts

Brought forward from the cancelled Christmas session, and thank goodness it wasn’t missed out, this excellent recipe was a big hit. Jus used the chestnuts in packets, but could also have used frozen. https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/sprouts_with_chestnuts_87565

Puddings

Janet – Hazelnut meringue raspberry cake

The recipe suggested roasting the hazelnuts in their skins and then put them in a tea towel, rub them and the skins would just fall off. It didn’t work for Janet, so she just ground them up with the skins and would buy peeled hazelnuts next time. The hazelnut addition to the meringue was lovely, really chewy and tasty. Janet went off piste with the recipe and added some chopped stem ginger to the cream and raspberries. Definitely a variation to tell Mary about. https://thehappyfoodie.co.uk/recipes/hazelnut-meringue-cake/

Jane – Cranachan

Jane gave us this pudding as a nod to Burns Night. Toasted oats with sugar mixed with cream, mascarpone and whiskey. It divided the room between those who liked whiskey and those who didn’t, but the crunch of the oats against the cream was good. And it led to a reading of some Robbie Burns at the end of the evening which was memorable for the accent alone…. https://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/cranachan_49732