Mothers Day dinner

This year my husband and I were going to cook dinner for our mothers to celebrate Mother's Day,  but our six turned to three because people had double booked. I wasn't impressed with the situation, so I decided to take my mom out for dinner just the two of us. 

Www.elderflowerrestaurant.co.uk is a brand new restaurant located on the cobbled quay of Lymington. It has been a restaurant for decades- my aunt used to manage it when it was called Flounders. The location has always served fresh seafood and has been known as a fine dining establishment. 

The new Michelin star chef and owner has kept the fish cuisine going, but had put a special twist on the menu. My Mom and I were wowed by our meal- delicious!! 

Homemade bread roll with pumpkin, sesame and poppy seeds. 

Amuse bouche: Smoked octopus- the best mouthful of the whole meal! 

Land and sea- crab, scallop and prawn with crispy kale, grapes & pomme soufflé 

Another amuse bouche: cucumber ice with a cloud of elderflower- awesome! 

Bouquet of flowers- interesting concept, but not a big fan my mom enjoyed it though! Lavender ice cream, elderflower brûlée & rhubarb. The rhubarb was marinated in elderflower champagne- delicious play with the taste buds! 

Gratuity is automatically added to the bill, I normally tip 20% if the service is good. The Sevice was exceptional, but because the tip was already added I wasn't a fan so left the nominal 10% the restaurant added.... Maybe it's because the Brits aren't the best tippers?! But if that's the only fault I can give the restaurant I would rate this 💎💎💎 (3/3) 

Festive Friday: Mother's Day UK

It's Mothering Sunday this weekend. The UK were the first country to celebrate Mothering Sunday, which started in the 1600's. 

Traditionally children give gifts of cards and flowers on Mother's Day, and here's a crafty way of personalizing your Mother's Day gift. 

Spruce up a potted plant by placing it in a patterned box or wrap it in tissue paper. Potted plants last longer than bouquets of cut flowers & they can then be added to the garden for the following spring, so it's the gift that keeps on giving! 

My Mom has a rose that I gave her right years ago for Mother's Day and every spring the little rose bush comes into flower. 

Travel Tuesday: Redcliffe

Last weekend we had a lovely family weekend in Devon. Granny sourced a house last year to accommodate all our immediate family under one roof. We had such a lovely time we have made it an annual event and this was year two of the family getaway. The nearest village is a quaint seaside destination called Shaldon. www.shaldon-Devon.co.uk

The house is amazing and has been voted number 5 in the country to rent for a holiday! It has five double bedrooms all en suite, gym, sauna, steam shower, hot tub, beautiful view of the Teign estuary and is equipped with water toys. For pictures look at http://www.classic.co.uk/holiday-cottage/desc-1767.html which should take to to Redcliffe's page. It has better pictures than I could've taken! 

Redcliffe is located in South Devon in an area also known as the English Riviera. There are lots of things to do nearby if you're staying for a weekend or even a week. From walks along the sandy beach of Teignmouth and Shaldon to day trips to local towns like Torquay or Exeter. 

Www.englishriviera.co.uk 

When the tide is out you can walk along the beach from the house to a fab restaurant called Coombe Cellars, which is located right on the estuary and had a 180 degree view of the rolling hills and water. The menu is delicious too, check it out at Www.thecoombecellars.co.uk 

The combination of the quaint village, great accommodations, gorgeous views, tranquil setting, and delicious food, made for some precious memories. I look forward to the continuation of this new and fabulous tradition. Overall, our family holiday was wonderful and time was well spent. 

Savoury Saturday: Baked Tortilla Espanola, (Spanish Tortilla)

Inspired by our 2005 Annual Adventures in Madrid, Spain. 

Spanish Tortilla is a perfect dish to serve for a Tapas Themed Night.

Oven Baked Tortilla Española – Adapted from Food and Wine Magazine

2 pounds potatoes (Yukon Gold. preferred) – peeled and sliced in 1/4 inch rounds
2 large onions, thinly sliced
6 large eggs
1/4 cup Extra Virgin  Olive Oil
Salt & Pepper

Directions

1. Place potatoes in a large saucepan and cover with cold water. Add 1 t. salt and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and simmer until potatoes are tender, about 7 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking. Lay potatoes out on a kitchen towel or paper towels to dry. Pat dry.
2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Heat 2 T of the oil in a 12 inch oven proof skillet and cook the onions over medium heat until brown (10-15 minutes.)Remove from heat.
3. Crack the eggs in a large bowl and beat until pale yellow in color. Gently stir in potatoes, onions, and season generously with salt and pepper.
4. Transfer to a glass or ceramic dish coated with EVVO. Drizzle the remaining 2 teaspoons of EVVO on top of the egg, onion, and potato mixture (this will help make the top part of tortilla a little crunchy).
5. Cook uncovered for 20 minutes, or until eggs are set, and and potatoes are tender. Remove from oven and cool.
6. To remove the tortilla from the dish, run a knife around the edge and invert on to a plate. Cut and serve.

Bon Appétit! 

Treat Thursday: World Happiness Day Chocolate Chip Cookies!

We luv creating and in celebration of World Happiness Day, try this yummy recipe from Joy of Baking!


1 cup (2 sticks) (226 grams) unsalted butter, room temperature

3/4 cup (150 grams) granulated white sugar

3/4 cup (160 grams) firmly packed light brown sugar

2 large eggs

1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

2 1/4 cups (295 grams) all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 cups (270 grams) semisweet chocolate chips

1 cup (100 grams) walnuts or pecans, coarsely chopped (optional)


Chocolate Chip Cookies: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) with rack in center of oven. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

In the bowl of your electric mixer (or with a hand mixer), beat the butter until smooth and creamy. Add the white and brown sugars and beat until fluffy (about 2 minutes). Beat in eggs, one at a time, making sure to beat well after each addition. Add the vanilla and beat until incorporated. Scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed.

In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the egg mixture and beat until incorporated, adding the chocolate chips and nuts (if using) about half way through mixing. If you find the dough very soft, cover and refrigerate until firm (from 30 minutes to two hours).

For large cookies, use about a 2 tablespoon ice cream scoop or with two spoons, drop about 2 tablespoons of dough (35 grams) onto the prepared baking sheets. Bake about 10 - 14 minutes , or until golden brown around the edges. Cool completely on wire rack.

Makes about 4 dozen - 3 inch round cookies.

Note: You can freeze this dough. Form the dough into balls and place on a parchment lined baking sheet. Freeze and then place the balls of dough in a plastic bag, seal, and freeze. When baking, simply place the frozen balls of dough on a baking sheet and bake as directed - may have to increase baking time a few minutes.

Savoury Saturday: St. Patrick's Day Super Food Salad

Serves 2 main course

3 kiwis, peeled & sliced into 6
75g feta, cubed
3 cups of fresh spinach leaves
80g chopped walnuts
Dash black pepper
2 tsp balsamic vinegar

This dish works best in layers. On two dinner plates evenly distribute spinach. Sprinkle feta evenly over plate, then place kiwi slices in a circle, and garnish with chopped walnuts. Drizzle balsamic vinegar lightly over salad, top with a dash of pepper & enjoy!

Bon Appétite  

Festive Friday: 5 St. Patrick Day Traditions Around the World

In just a few days, many around the world will be celebrating St. Patrick's Day on March 17^th.

St. Patrick is the Patron Saint of Ireland, although he was born in Britain! The day is an official holiday in Ireland and over time has become a tradition around the world, especially in the United States. To learn more about St. Patrick, visit this great link from the History Channel.   http://www.history.com/topics/st-patricks-day/who-was-saint-patrick

5 St. Patrick Day Traditions around the world.

1. Parades: One of the largest St. Patrick’s Day parades in the world is held in NY, NY with an expected 2 million spectators. The parade in Dublin, Ireland will draw approximately 400,000 this year! The St. Patrick’s Day parade traditions began in 1737 in Boston, Massachusetts and New York City 1n 1762.           

 

2.   Green River: Tomorrow the famed Chicago River in the US, will be transformed to a sea of green, this time honored tradition has continued for over 40 years.

3.   Cheers! What would a celebration be without a traditional drink? According to USA Today, the most popular drink on St. Patrick’s Day is Guinness. Typically, an average of 600,000 pints are consumed on a daily basis in the US, but that number increases five-fold with a consumption of 3 million pints are consumed!

4.   Eat: Although many are familiar with corned beef and cabbage, the traditional meal for St. Patrick’s Day is Irish Lamb Stew. Try this recipe from Homecoming.com http://homecooking.about.com/od/soups/r/blss28.htm and pair it Irish Soda Bread from BVF’s March 13^th blog http://bonvoyagefriends.blogspot.com/2014/03/thursday-treat-day-st-patricks-day.html

5.   Blessings:  Irish blessings some of the beautiful and well known blessings. "Beannachta na File Pdraig oraibh Translation:  "St. Patrick's Day blessing upon you."        

                                                                                                                                                                                           Here is another Irish blessing we wish to share with you. 

Dublin’s annual parade is the largest in the world, followed by those in New York City and Birmingham, England. - See more at: http://clearwatergazette.com/Colorful-Clearwater-Green-beer-aside-St-Patricks-Day-has-its-traditions-worldwide#sthash.Iavkb40M.dpuf

Thursday Treat Day: St. Patrick's Day Irish Soda Bread

Baking is a BVF fav and we especially enjoy baking for special occasions and festivities. With St. Patrick's Day a few days away, its the perfect time of year to bake a delicious batch of Irish Soda Bread. 

Bon Appétite!!

Ingredients 

4 cups all-purpose flour

4 tablespoons caster sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 cup raisins (optional) 

1 tablespoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

Flour for surfacing the counter or cutting board. 

1/2 cup butter , softened

1 cup low fat buttermilk

1  egg

Butter mixture for when the soda bread is baking

1/4 cup butter, melted

1/4 cup buttermilk 

Quick tip: Using ingredients at room temperature helps bind  all of your ingredients together better. 

Preheat oven to 190 degrees C 

Directions

Combine and mix together dry ingredients, raisins, and butter in a large dish. Mix in 1 cup of buttermilk and egg. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead slightly. 

Form dough into a round and place on a lightly greased baking sheet. In a small bowl, combine melted butter with 1/4 cup buttermilk; brush loaf with this mixture. Use a sharp knife to cut an 'X' into the top of the loaf.

Bake for 45 to 50 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean Check for doneness approximately 30 minutes into baking and every 5-7 minutes following. You may continue to brush the loaf with the butter mixture while it bakes.

5 Staycation Ideas

The UNLV chapter of Alpha Delta Pi Sorority just had a fun staycation in Las Vegas! Our sisters inspired us to create a list of 5 simple ideas for a staycation.  

1. For the kiddos, have them build  a tent/fortress and "camp" indoors. Broil hot dogs, make s'mores, and tell stories  to get the authentic camp feel. 

2. Book a spa day or overnight stay at a local boutique hotel. 

3. Spend a day at a town or city nearby that you normally don't go to: such as Beaulieu or Boulder City. Try new things such a different type of cuisine and try to meet new people. 

Beautiful Beaulieu 

Beautiful Boulder City 

4. Go on a hike, pack a picnic basket, and enjoy a close by national treasure such as the New Forest or Redrock. 

5. Culinary tour. Spend a day trying different local bites. Create your own culinary tour by planning a few food stops such as a light starter at a new place or a fav spot, dinner somewhere else and top it off with dessert at an entirely new place. London and Las Vegas are ideal for this since there are endless choices, but you cancustomize your own tour anywhere with dining options in close proximity to each other. 

Enjoy!! 

A little pawpaw

If I only pack one thing to travel with it's the Lucas PawPaw ointment. It's from Australia originally but thanks to the www it's now readily available to me! 

It's a fermented papaya ointment that you can use on pretty much anything- burns, bites, scratches, lippy, nappy rash, etc. I call it my magic cream! Www.pawpawshop.co.uk 

Mediterranean Tuna Steaks

Bon Voyage Friends love creating and cooking! My husband Phil, was in charge of preparing the main course for our Valentine's Day Dinner. This is a simple, yet delicious kitchen creation. Bon Appétite!

8 Reasons Why you Should be Motivated to Travel

Travel- to describe the meaning of this profound experience extends well beyond the official dictionary definition.  The adventures of traveling often result in compelling events, which are endured beyond returning from an incredible journey. For this blog entry we are sharing 8 Reasons Why you Should be Motivated to Travel based on a collection of views from seasoned and novice travels. Bon Voyage!!

 

1. Experience: Try new customs and new cultures. Seeing something first hand brings a healthy dose of reality and broadens views.

2. Meet: Get acquainted with new people and learn the stories others have to share, while experiencing the places they have been to and sharing your own experiences.

3. Desire: Have a desire for an adventure, get away and do something just for you.

4. Movies: Have a goal to visit new places such as featured destinations in movies: Empire State, Golden Gate Bridge, Cape of Good Hope, etc.

5. Inspiration: Turn the pages of the book 1,000 Places to See Before you Die, by Patricia Schultz and get inspired.

6. Food: New flavors. There’s nothing like trying authentic cuisine and even stepping outside of your palate’s comfort zone.

7. Self-Discovery. Traveling is a wonderful opportunity for inner reflection.

8. Exploration: Set out to explore the countless wonders of the world and create an epic journey you will cherish for a lifetime. Be spontaneous! 

Savoury Saturday: Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese

Enjoy this simple to make recipe, gluten free variations included.

Ingredients

Serves 6
16 oz. whole wheat or brown rice penne
2 tbsp EVVO
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
4 tablespoons wheat or rice flour
2 cups frozen organic broccoli
3/4 cup vegetable stock
2 cups low-fat milk or rice unsweetened almond milk
2 cups shredded low-fat yellow cheddar cheese
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
Pepper
Pre-Heat oven to 400°

Add pasta and 1 tsp salt to boiling water. Cook for 10 minutes and add the frozen broccoli. Cook for 2-4 minutes until the pasta is al dente. Then drain.

Preparing the cheese sauce: Sauté the garlic in olive oil, over medium heat. Slowly add the flour and whisk for 1 minute. While continuing to whisk, slowly add the milk and vegetable stock until a thick consistency. To test the thickness of the sauce, dip a spoon into the mixture and if the sauce easily coats the back of the spoon, then its time to add the 1 and 1/2 cups of the cheddar cheese and mix well.

Combining the remaining ingredients: Add the pasta and broccoli to the cheese sauce and mix. Transfer to a casserole dish or if its for a gathering, a disposable aluminum dish. Sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese and the parmesan cheese on top.

Bake for 15 min. uncovered. If you prefer a crunchy top, bake for 10 min and turn the broiler on high for 3-4 min until the top is golden brown.

Bon Appétite!