Top Tips from our Head Chef
June 2011
Strawberries, Elderflowers, Artichokes, Asparagus, Cauliflower, New Potatoes, Mackerel.... ready..steady.. cook! With summer finally here, there is so much to choose from to create simple, yet fabulous, mouth watering dishes. Delicious, sun kissed Cornish Strawberries need so little time spent on them. I just love them served with clotted cream or ice cream. They make a stunning finish to a dinner party served sliced and decoratively placed on top of a baked vanilla custard tart. If you love jelly and ice Cream, then try my elegant, seasonal version of this summery sweet, using foraged ingredients:
Wild Strawberry and Elderflower Champagne Jelly:
150g Wild Strawberries, picked through, hulled and washed (or Cornish Strawberries)
250ml homemade Elderflower Champagne (Elderflower Cordial, diluted with sparkling water or Elderflower Presse can be used instead)
2 Gelatine Leaves
Squeeze of lemon juice
30g Caster Sugar
Method:
1. Place the strawberries, lemon juice, sugar and a little water into a small bowl and cover with cling film. Place this over a saucepan of simmering water over medium heat.
2. Cook slowly until the berries are soft and they have released their juices.
3. Remove from the heat and pass the liquor through a muslin lined sieve. Don’t push it through though as you need the juice to remain clear
4. Put the strawberry juice in a clean saucepan with the lemon juice and sugar and place over low heat to dissolve the sugar.
5. Soften the gelatine leaves in a little cold water and squeeze out the moisture
6. Stir the gelatine into the strawberry mix to dissolve, then set aside to cool
7. Once cool add the Elderflower Champagne and stir in well.
8. When the jelly mix is starting to set, whisk it until bubbles form
9. Pour the bubbling jelly into glasses and place in the fridge to set
10. Serve with Ice Cream and Shortbread
Happy Cooking
Fiona
To sample dishes like this make your reservation in our Harbourside Restaurant, please call us on 01326 312440 or email reception@greenbank-hotel.co.uk
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