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Friday, 06 April 2012 12:49

But hold on...

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...my control freakery about coffee is well known. I went to the restaurant show one year and decided to ask the experts there what my kind of coffee is called - an espresso with the same amount of hot milk - and a barista said 'a bloody awkward'. I don't like froth, it has to be hot milk, I hate too much milk, I want it strong... I thought I had it when the Flat White arrived but they are still just too big and milky in most places. I had it in Cuba in a Cafe con leche - you don't have to ask for hot milk there.

african coffee

Coffee has a long history - longer, perhaps, than most of us originally realised. Rumour has it that the first person to understand the effects of the coffee bean was a goat herder in Ethiopia in the ninth century. Apparently he noticed the effect of coffee beans on the goats in his care which consumed them. However, others argue that the real beginning of coffee drinking began in the middle of the 1400s in the Yemen by monks in a Sufi monastery. These monks are said to have recognised the properties of caffeine which they found useful to keep themselves awake during nocturnal devotions.

  coffee-beans

The consumption of the drink spread to the northern African countries and by the 1500s, the practice of drinking coffee had spread throughout the Middle East and also travelled to Turkey and Persia. The first coffee house was said to have opened in Istanbul in 1554. At first, there was some suspicion about the effects of caffeine but the popularity of the bean eventually overcame these objections. From here, it was not long before the beverage was consumed in Italy. This was probably because of the strong trade at the time between Venice in Italy and the North African countries. As in the Arabic world, there was initially some concern about the stimulating effects of the drink within the Catholic church, but also as with the Arabic world, these objections were overcome.From Italy, coffee spread across Europe. One of the first coffee houses opened in Venice in the mid-seventeenth century. Franco Anglo, an Italian farmer, is said to be responsible for discovering many coffee beans in far flung countries. Thanks to the British East India Company and also the Dutch East India Company, England was introduced to the drink around the 1500s and the first English coffee house was said to be opened in the Cornhill. The word `coffee` probably comes from the Dutch word `koffie` which came from the Turkish `kahve` which comes from an Arabic phrase which translates as `wine of the bean`. Certainly it was said to be the Dutch who were responsible for taking the coffee drink out of Europe and across to America and the East Indies.

barista  

Of course, the modern day coffee industry is huge. There are many many varieties of coffee, blend of coffee and ways to serve the drink. Many countries in the world are being seduced by the caffeine elixir and markets are growing quickly in countries such as India and China (both traditionally associated with tea). There is also a celebration in the art of coffee preparation. Many nations now take part in the World Barista Championships and many competitions have already been held to try to find the national representatives for this years` global competition to find the world champion. Each barista will have to do his or her best to impress the judges about their skills in transforming humble coffee beans into a delicious and creative drink that is worthy of the title.

Friday, 06 April 2012 11:57

Hot Cross Buns

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Allow three hours to make these hot cross buns include rising time. Makes 12 buns so well worth doubling up if like me, you'll eat four as soon as they come out of the oven.

 

 

Friday, 06 April 2012 11:42

Hot but not very crossed buns

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Now that you can buy hot cross buns all year, everywhere, the only thing to do to make them special is make them yourself. I had a go and have eaten four so far and these are lovely. I should have spent more time getting the shape right but as usual I was rushing. I tried the recipe from my charity shop find, the Good Housekeeping Cookery Book -  the 'Cooks Classic Companion', which I use all the time although I have my own recipe here. Later on I'm going to make some fab Easter chocolates to give to the family (but don't tell them I've just melted down Lidl Dark Almond chocolate to do it...)

Sunday, 01 April 2012 21:33

ribbet, ribbet, ribbet

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The  French lady in our village has started a frog patrol.  She goes out in the evening to rescue frogs from the traffic. We are not quite so sure of her intentions.

Sunday, 01 April 2012 20:05

Our Hot Hot Hot Dish of the Day for Spring

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denise_and_adrian
Here are the people who make it all, you can easily buy the sauce online from them, and here is how you do it...
Sweet Chilli Prawns
1 knob of butter
8 raw King or Tiger prawns
half a chargrilled 10" tortilla
1 tbs Hot Sweet Chilli Sauce
1tbs fresh chopped coriander
2 splashes of single cream
juice of half a lime
Heat a knob of butter in a large pan or wok and fry King Prawns for a minute or two until they start to change colour. Add the Hot Sweet Chilli Sauce, coriander and lime juice and stir for one minute. Add the cream, turn down the heat and cook the prawns through for a couple of minutes. This will also thicken the sauce.
Chargrill a pre cut tortilla and roll to make a cone. When the prawns are cooked spoon them in the cone and lay it on your plate and pour the sauce over the prawns. Serve with a handful of baby leaf salad as a garnish.
Saturday, 31 March 2012 22:57

Turn up the heat!

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Wow.  I have just made sweet chilli prawns with a recipe sent by the Suffolk Chilli Company, using their Extra Hot sweet chilli sauce. The sauce really is extra hot, it reminds me of the fiery Durban curry called Mother in Laws Tongue.  Needs a little respect! Look out for the recipe on our new Dish of the Day.

Friday, 30 March 2012 14:27

Writing about Food

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Here's a challenge. A writing competition for foodies. You might be better at it than us.

Monday, 26 March 2012 13:43

Another food festival...

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We have been asked to give this a mention, so here it is. This is the first food and drink festival of its kind to be held at Henham Park Nr Southwold, in the lovely setting of the historic walled garden. Over the two days of the Festival, the aim is to celebrate and publicise the amazing variety of food and drink available in East Anglia. Local, regional and national firms will exhibit and there will be a special children’s activity area. Cookery demonstrations and talks will be held throughout both days and those purchasing food will be able to store their shopping in a chilled store. Day entry is £6 for adults and £3 for children aged 12 – 16, under 12’s are free. For more details and to buy tickets please visit www.flavoursof2012.co.uk.

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