The Good Food Show

Last week I went to the Good Food show in Bluewater, was lovely to get out and about and view all different types of products, What was the most interesting is how a lot of the stands where using local products. I even tried some Honey from my home county, Essex.

I am quite the fan of Macaroons. So I got very excited when I saw these, what caught my attention is the delicate drawings on top of these. I had a lovely conversation with the director from On Cafe, Loretta Liu, and she said to me "we don't only eat by taste, but by also the by the eyes." I have to agree with her, and her Macaroons do just that.

Now, to the good stuff... Rum. This caught me by the eye the bottle is amazing, and then by taste. The rum is caramel, yes Caramel flavour, its so sweet and it goes down on its own. As soon as I tried this, my mind was already of cocktails recipes that will go well with it. The bottle its self is also a piece of art and stands out on its own. I opened the bottle on Sunday to share the delight with the family and friends. At the moment it is only available at Harvey Nichols. So if you passing by, and feeling indulgent, This is next on your list!

Ron Aguere Caramel Rum

Now for la piece de resistance I met Gino D'Acampo, I went to the live show where he cook a pasta dish with courgettes and smoke salmon and then explained how to make the perfect tuna steak, apart from the salmon he won me over. He is absolutely brilliant live he had me laughing and cheering him on, He is just as cheeky as you would think he is.

I got my book signed too, and had such a laugh with him. When he asked me who to make it out to, I said Sophie.G, and he was why are you called Sophie.G, Can the 'G', stand for Gino, and then you are my Sophie.G. Now how can you say no to that.

Gino D'Acampo and Sophie.G 

Ciao x

Easter Sunday - Gateau a la coque

Happy Easter,  hope that you all got countless chocolate eggs today and that you are in a chocolate overload. I got very excited when I saw all these chocolate bunnies, but was heartbroken when mum told me they weren't for us. But I had to get a cheeky photo.

Lindt Golden Bunny Family 

This weekend I have been experimenting in the kitchen to make a new easter cupcake.  I made easter style cupcake with easter decorations. As I later found out I was not the only one baking away, a couple of my friends were too. 

Though my Easter creation this year are my Gateau a la coque, loosely translates in to cake in an egg. As a little gift to a couple of my friends this year I gave them a coloured egg, but these were not normal eggs, they had cake inside them. I had fun creating these unique treats.

Gateau a la coque

What is fun about these, is the way that they are still eggs, so at first sight they just look like coloured eggs. With the family we all play the 'egg game'. This game is played with coloured boiled eggs, traditionally red, but ill give you more on that next week, as the Greek Easter is next weekend, lucky me hay!!

So this is way to fool everyone, but they are actually cakes. And if you do not believe me, check out the photo below. 

To present them, I put them in to wire egg cups and glued them down to the pink base and used various colours of shredded paper and a yellow and pink bow as a final touch.

I had fun creating the Easter table today, as we were inside due to the cold weather, I brought spring to the table with bunnies both ceramic and chocolate, eggs and flowers. 

Easter Table

Hope you all had a nice Easter, 

Bon Appétit 

Posh Flap Jacks

I am a big fan of the Pink Lady apples, they are sweet, juicy and crunchy. So when I found this recipe I was very keen to try it out. There was no time to waste and I was in the kitchen by the time I had finished reading the recipe.

Les Ingredients 
1kg Pink Lady apples, peeled, cored and grated
200g Oats
3 table spoons honey
125g Butter
40g Sugar
Pinch of ginger, cinnamon and salt

Methode 
With the Pink Lady apple thats already prepared pop them in to a pan with the sugar, until the apples become soft, then add the butter and honey and bring it to a gentle simmer. Stir in the oats, salt and seasoning and make sure all is coated. Finally put it all in to a greased cake tin and pop it in to the oven for 30mins, at 180°C.

These treats are not as guilty as some of the other cakes I have made, these are light and use fresh fruit, which is obviously good for you, but these are also good if you are training, a good snack to have after a workout to replenish yourself. Being naturally sweet you do not feel bad eating them.

They can also be served as a dessert with fresh whipped cream or cream if you want to make them slightly naughty or if you want to keep them healthy, serve with fruit.


Bon Appétit