Mansion House at Tatton Park

Betty has been mixing with the great and the good in the Mansion House at Tatton Park with George, as guests of Country Living magazine.

Dressed in our best bib and tucker, we dined on Italian chicken, hams and cheeses from all regions.  Quite a lot of food and wine was consumed whilst regaling the difficult economic times we are all suffering, and then a lot of retail therapy indulged in afterwards in the R.H.S. Flower show.  It seems we are all holding our own, and bravely ‘getting through it’!

Here is a version of the delicious Italian chicken consumed in copious amounts by George!

To feed four people, cut up about three chicken breasts and sauté in some butter with some crushed garlic.  In a separate saucepan gently melt 4 tbspns butter and then add the cream, when this has been absorbed, add the grated Parmesan, ground black pepper and a dash of nutmeg and a tiny tsp.sugar. simmer to thicken but take care not to burn.   Add the chopped chicken breasts and allow to amalgamate.  Serve over cooked Pasta – delicious. 

•    3 skinless chicken breasts
•    2 tsp crushed garlic (optional for sautéing chicken)
•    4 Tbs butter
•    1 cup heavy cream
•    1 cup grated Parmesan (Parmigiano Reggiano)
•    8 oz Fettucine Pasta (or enough to feed 4 people)
•    salt to your taste
•    a little ground black pepper to bring out the taste
•    a little sugar to taste
•    dash of nutmeg

GARDENING

It is the Weekend (how I love that word) and we are out in the garden.  At first it is with a slight reluctance, when yawning and still tired from a hectic week, we eat breakfast and don the gardening gloves.   But once the fresh air kicks in, it becomes addictive, and borders are weeded, vegetable beds are raided and George sits astride his red mower to motor up and down, up and down, to mow the area we have named the orchard.  I think he finds this therapeutic, as he jealously guards this machine.  It is a man thing...

Red and Blackcurrants drip from young bushes planted by me, Betty Twyford, last year.  Now they are heavy with fruit, and I realise that whilst it is good to pluck and pick, you then have to MAKE something with the produce.  Well, it is all about Jam, and there is something wonderful about filling the pots – like a squirrel, I am hoarding up food for the winter.  I feel like a pioneer, growing, picking, preserving.  Better think about cleaning out that old freezer in the garage!

Cupcakes

Susan and Teddy have been invited to a Birthday party, so I am doing my bit with cupcakes!  I am creating them from my own special cupcake kit (go to www.bettytwyford.com) I have decided to make blue ones! With blue edible glitter and candy stripped candles – I think that sometimes we just have to go for colour and taste!  

Now, a quiet afternoon while they are partying – what must I do...sofa, chocolates, glass of wine – oh Betty, practise what you preach! Let us pray for the rain to stay away.

Remembering Italy

Back from Italy, I am cooking all Italian! Lots of Pasta, but here is the thing – I am using my vegetables from our raised vegetable beds (which have been a boon – no hard digging, the soil is freshly delivered ready mixed with fertiliser!)

The Italians, like the French, have a wonderful way with simple food. We eat fresh Pasta with broad beans, peas, spring onions and garlic sautéed in butter and just lightly rinsed with single cream. A few gratings of Parmesan cheese, and voila! A complete meal, just simple and delicious. Wash this down with a light Italian wine from the Barolo region from producer Giacomo Borgogno and Bob is definitely your uncle!!