clemmo.com » Food

An early spring drive

Stace — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 18:08:51 +0000

We thought it was about time we took Missy the mini out of her winter hibernation. It’s been three weeks since the last snowfall, and tiny buds are just starting to appear on the stick trees. After two jumpstarts (thanks random kind man near the servo!), we were off! We headed west on the south Deeside b roads that Missy likes so much. Unfortunately this was a particularly harsh winter, the snow left the roads with more than a few potholes, so it was dodgems most of the way. We decided not to risk an engine switch off at Glen Tanar to nab a cache there, and kept on westward instead. We had a quick stop (engine running) to check out the art at this quaint gallery with an old petrol bowser and red telephone box. The lady gave us a handy lesson to fine tune our Scottish pronunciation. We already knew Garioch is geerie and Strachan is strawn, but now we also know Finzean is pronounced fingan with a soft g and Feughside is feeookside!

Then it was time to hit the road again to the Finzean Farm Shop and Teahouse for afternoon tea snacks before a quick roadside TB drop cache then home again. Now we are settled onto the couch with our red wine, gorgonzola and Finzean venison chorizo. Yum! Fingers crossed Missy’s battery is charged enough for another spin tomorrow!

13 June BBQ at the Horne’s house

Stace — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 17:49:29 +0000

We spent a cruisy afternoon at Cat, Nikk and Aimee’s house. BBQ and chatting. I made my first ever pavlova to share with them some Aussie cuisine. Thankfully they all loved it – hurrah!

Rothiemurchus and the Lairig Ghru

Stace — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 07:13:30 +0000

Although the weather forecast was not great (rain, 3-9 degrees), Wes and I decided to brave it camping in the Cairngorms. And we’re so glad we did! We had hardly a spec of rain and instead three days of blue skies! Yes it was cold, but bearable when the sun is out. We set up camp next to the fast-flowing burn at the Rothiemurchus Estate and on Saturday we set off on a 15 mile hike up into the Lairig Ghru to the Pools of Dee (where the River Dee starts) and back to Whitewells. We have been wanting to hike into Lairig Ghru for a while, but our previous attempt was foiled by temporary terrible map reading skills. It was a good hike and worth it when we reached the ‘summit’ where we could see the pools on one side, and the track we took on the other. We definitely earned our venison casserole at the Cairngorm Hotel on Saturday night. On Sunday we woke early to take part in the RSPB’s Caper Watch, we were running a bit late when we arrived at 7.10am (started at 5.30!), but we managed to see our first capercaillie doing it’s lekking display. Stroke of luck for us, as the previous day they had 50 people turn up and didn’t spot a single bird! Yesterday we packed up camp and had a quick 2 hour hike around Loch an Eilean and a spot of lunch overlooking the mountains before coming back to the city. Just a pity we left our cameras and my phone at home so we have no evidence! I’ll try to get a pic off Wes’ phone tonight, but not sure if it will work.

GB vs OZ

Stace — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 16:03:45 +0000

When I first arrived in the UK, it took me a while to work out whether it was just the milk that tasted different (it does!) or whether the Milo itself is different. Ok, so the tin says ‘made in UK’ instead of ‘made in Australia’, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a different recipe.
On our way back here from our recent trip to Oz, I unpacked a few wedding presents to make room for tins of Oz Milo. Sounds crazy, but I just HAD to work out if it really is different or all in my head. It was Ray (Wes’ stepdad) who suggested I make up identical glasses of the drink to properly compare, one using UK Milo and one using Oz Milo. Being home sick today gave me the perfect opportunity.
You can see from the photo, they are wildly different compositions.

The UK version on the left is darker, harder somehow, and more crystalline. The Oz version is paler and more powdery. Thus they each behave differently in milk: the UK dissolves quicker and what remains has retained more crunch; while the Oz becomes soft, wet and less crunchy. The taste test? Different of course. The UK is more chocolatey and sweet, whilst the Oz is malty and creamy. Both taste good, however my preference is definitely the Oz version. I will happily drink the UK again once my Oz supply runs out.
Upon inspection of the nutritional information, not a single nutrient has the same % in both, which I suppose proves it’s a different recipe altogether. The taste test was more fun though!

Pat lives on in Claremont Place

Stace — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 14:28:25 +0000

While Pat was here, he shared with us the recipe for Pat’s Amazing Pancakes. They really are amazing.

The genuine authentic American maple syrup he gave us came in handy too!

Borough Markets

Stace — Sun, 02 Nov 2008 14:07:47 +0000

I saw this cute little guy at Borough Markets when I was down in London and just had to take his picture. So sweet!

London again

Stace — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 15:12:47 +0000

I’ve just spent the past 5 days in a training room/hotel room learning about Investment Management for the IMC (certificate required for my job). Talk about a brain strain. The 10 years since uni have certainly diminished its capacity to absorb new information in this way.

It’s interesting to be back in London. I certainly haven’t missed the city, the dirty air and crowded footpaths, and I’m already looking forward to returning to Aberdeen (and Wes!). There have been highlights though – I’ve caught up with a few colleagues and friends, and the huge choice in cuisines at each mealtime is definitely an advantage to being in the big smoke.

There are more good things for me in London before I go home – KJ’s birthday celebrations tomorrow and sleepover at Team Barbeque Chicken HQ in Putney.

Hot cross loaf!

Stace — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 18:20:05 +0000

Available all year round up here in Aberdeen, it’s the best fruit toast ever. A massive hot cross bun. Amazing.

Arbroath smokies

Stace — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 08:11:56 +0000

Meat on tick

Stace — Sun, 10 Aug 2008 17:57:47 +0000

We have a local butcher on our street and we’ve taken to buying our chicken and fish (and amazingly tasty local strawberries!) from him just on the day we want to eat it. So we’re in there two or three times a week, but only spending 3-7 squids a time. We’d have to be his lowest-paying customers, seeing as how we don’t even eat meat! He even refers to Wes as ‘No Meat Man’. Anyway, we were in there yesterday for strawberries, chicken and eggs (1 pound for six huge free range eggs on the day they were laid!). He only takes cash, and after scraping together as many pennies as I could, we were still one pound short. Instead of putting my eggs back, he kindly offered to put it in ‘the book’. How’s that for country living? Feels weird being in debt to the butcher though!