What a great choice of a theme – the food was very varied, but drawn together with one of our favourite components, alcohol! A great evening, but with Tracey very much missed.

Starters

Janet – Prawn cocktail (with brandy in the cocktail sauce).

This was a (whisper it) a John Torode recipe, we decided not to cancel him on the strength of this lovely sauce. And then we discovered the sauce wasn’t his after all – just his prawn cooking technique. Phew. As a double alcohol whammy, it was served with bread, the recipe for which Janet got from a restaurant called Fishy Fishy in Kilkenny. It has Guinness in it. Lovely and sweet, partly from the treacle, we think, and set off with the genuine Irish butter. 

https://www.jamesmartinchef.co.uk/recipes/ultimate-prawn-cocktail/

Jane – Beetroot and Vodka cured salmon

This dish was really brought to light by the sauce, which was another double alcohol whammy, although the horseradish in the cream meant that you couldn’t taste the vodka. But it contrasted brilliantly with the smoothness of the fish. 

https://proware-kitchen.co.uk/beetroot-and-vodka-cured-salmon/

Mains

Julie – sweet and tangy bourbon chicken.

Lovely kick from cayenne and paprika. The recipe was from the website Mashed. It had tons of bourbon in it, tasting all the better for being Matthew McConaughey’s bourbon, donated to Pete by the man himself. And this was served by the third double alcohol serving of the night, which was a beer bread, made with self raising flour, sugar and beer with melted butter on the top. It was so delicious I could have eaten the whole loaf. 
https://www.mashed.com/914050/sweet-and-tangy-bourbon-chicken-recipe/

Debrah – venison sausage in red wine.

This was a Delia recipe, maybe from Winter, and it happened to be one of Janet’s favourites. The sausages were from Warners, which led to a wide ranging discussion of local butchers. The food was tasty and warming. https://www.deliaonline.com/recipes/collections/succulent-sausages/venison-sausages-braised-in-red-wine

Sides
Karen – Green beans with onions, bacon, cranberry, maple syrup and bourbon

This was ‘from the internet’ and was so tasty and sweet. Having never had bourbon, it was no hardship at all to have it twice in one meal. Definitely a side to repeat.

https://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/maple-glazed-green-beans/#RecipeCard
Puddings

Justine – Raspberry clafoutis 

This had Chambord in, which is a raspberry liqueur that was new to me. On Helen Lindsey-Clark’s suggestion it was made with raspberries instead of cherries. The texture was a bit soft in the middle, possibly because of extra chambard?  But very tasty, with the tartness of the raspberries. 

Sue – Tipsy dessert.

An old recipe that Sue has made for years, involving sponge fingers, soaked in amaretto, that lined a pudding bowl. Inside them there was chocolate cream and raspberries, and then it set in the fridge. And then there were almonds and chocolate as a lovely additional texture. 

Tipsy cake dessert
Sue Greenwood recipe

Sponge fingers. Shop brought
Almond liqueur or any other tipple
Double cream 1 pot medium
Chocolate 🍫 bar milk or dark
Raspberries
Almonds or hazelnuts
Coco powder

In a mixing bowl line with grease proof paper. Dunk the sponge fingers in the liqueur for a few seconds. Not too long otherwise go floppy. Place them around the outside of the bowl upright and place a couple of half ones in the bottom. Completely line it.

Whip double cream. Halve and mix one with melted chocolate and almond slices broken up or hazelnuts. Or any other nuts you like but small pieces
Other half with raspberries or black cherries. They can be cut up small too.

Place the chocolate cream in first and make a rounded whole to place the raspberry cream in. Once full. Cover with more soaked sponge fingers. Leave overnight to set. Put plate on top of bowl and turn upside down so it’s a dessert mountain. Cover using a sift with coco powder or icing sugar or a mix.

Keep refrigerated but normally doesn’t last long. A must for family gatherings in summer or winter. Can serve with runny. Chocolate or cream too. For more calories ! Xx