Dec 24th Xmas trifle coming together

I have decided to make this year's trifle from scratch as best I can. I have baked a jammy sponge for the base, made some amaretti biscuits to be crushed over, and this morning it was the sour cherry cherry jelly and the vanilla custard. All coming together and a full recipe will appear on my 'Simple cooking' blog.

Cherry jelly and Vanilla custard

Dec 23rd Storm Barbara approaching

So far we have missed the new Storm Barbara but I suspect we are going to be hit soon. The clouds are building up over Arran, lookout. In Troon we live in a micro climate where the surrounding countryside gets a lot more rain than we do but not this time.

Storm Barbara approaching

Dec 22nd Inspired by Masterchef Raspberries 4 ways

Masterchef has been excellent again this year and as always I am so impressed with the contestants. First of all to have the imagination to think of these dishes with their multiple components. Secondly to have the skill to cook their ideas into perfectly executed plates of food that satisfy the judges. It was rhubarb 4 ways the other night and as my tribute to these stars I raided the cupboard and got these ingredients. Not sure I will get by Marcus and the scary woman Monica.

Raspberry 4 ways

Dec 21st Amaretti cookies

Well the good weather had to end and the storms are on their way just in time for Xmas. An indoors day. My Xmas trifle required a layer of amaretti biscuits but Tesco had none today. I was not facing the shopping mayhem again so I decided to make my own (see simple cooking blog for recipe). These worked well for a first effort. They are going to be crumbled anyway so made these cookie style not domed. Still there were some left over and lovely with coffee this afternoon.

Amaretti cookies

Dec 20th Sheer Greed

Xmas is a time to enjoy with friends and family and yesterday I had a really good few hours in Glasgow with an old friend. We visited Miller & Carter for a late afternoon bite to eat. My first visit and a nice place. We omitted starters in favour of dessert. After a filling main course I had ordered this banoffee bakewell tart. Delicious but by the time I was finished I knew I had too much. Did not help having to run for a train after the food and drink. Still the joys of Xmas and a good day.

Banoffee bakewell

Dec 19th What a sunset tonight

Another day where the afternoon was so mild for this time of year despite the clear sky. I suspected I would get a good sunset so walked along the beach to take advantage and I was not disappointed. The west coast is as good as it gets.

Barassie sunset

Dec 18th Aldi Value & Quality

A couple of days ago I posted my pear chutney. For my lunchtime roll tomorrow I will be having it with this excellent smoked duck, a match made in heaven. When we go to Pitlochry we always go to the food shop in the House of Bruar, look it up a very posh store. They sell the duck pictured, same product. But so does my local Aldi supermarket and guess what, it is almost half the price compared to Bruar. So you can get quality products at value prices in a basic store.

Smoked duck