Welcome

Reaching the final of Masterchef 2007 was a rollercoaster of emotion, with huge highs and lows, but I loved every minute and learnt a huge amount. I owe a great deal to John and Gregg who had faith in my ability when I did not believe in myself. Since competing on the programme my life has changed considerably. I now write cookery columns for two magazines, give cookery demonstrations and am just working on my 13th cook book - unlucky number for some but not for me!!! I love all forms of country cooking, using seasonal and locally sourced produce. This blog is to enable me to share with you a few of my recipes and baking ideas. Enjoy Hannah xxxx

Thursday 3 July 2008

A few photos from our afternoon teas at the weekend. Our guests feasted on Rose and sour cream dark chocolate cupcakes, Violet fondant fancies, Rose and lavender drizzle flowerpot cakes, White chocolate coconut lavender flapjack, Cucumber sandwiches, Thyme flower mushrooms, Mini poppyseed scones with smoked salmon and peashoots, lavender shortbread, rosepetal scones with clotted cream and strawberries, baby meringues with rose petal cream, violet tea and violet prosecco. Cooking for 70 people is quite a large task - my poor Aga did not know what had hit it! Kathy gave wonderful tours of her garden and we jointly gave cookery demonstrations on using edible flowers in cookery - lovely ice bowls and petal ice cubes, lavender dressing, petal salads, lavender chicken, marigold petal bread! We had such a lot of fun and were asked by the guests if we could do another event at Christmas - mulled wine, mince pies and logs fires - with some Christmas cooking demonstrations. Having said never again on Saturday morning, my mind is now busy coming up with ideas of what to cook for a winter tea party! Will I ever learn to say no I wonder!!!

11 comments:

Lucy said...

Hannah it sounds amazing. Your cakes are so beautiful. I too am in Bedfordshire and think your weekend event would have been just my cup of tea! I really hope you do decide to do the Christmas one. My 11 year old daughter is obsessed with cooking (like her mother!) - do you ever do demonstrations for children? We think you're fab! Lucy and Emily. Ampthill.

Celia Hart said...

Beautiful!!! Well done. Everything looks so mouthwateringly lovely.

Celia

David Hall said...

Fab! Wish I could have been there. Then you could show this tough Geordie lad a few of your flower inspired dishes.

x

Rita said...

Wow Hannah.... this looks beatiful and yummy! You are amazing!!! I agree with loobyloo.... it is definitly my cup of tea.

Elke said...

I was such a good girl today, not eating too much and now I made the mistake of reading your post today....and now I will bake when i get home and eat it all...there you go...the cakes and fancies are just to scrumptious looking....

Anonymous said...

Looks brilliant!

Shell said...

The food sounds and looks so delicious!! Making me hungry right now.

Marie Rayner said...

Hannah it sounds and looks like a wonderfully tasty event for everyone involved! Your treats look amazingly delicious!

aforkfulofspaghetti said...

That is a tea from heaven! So pretty...

Lynne said...

when I move my mouse over picture number 4, it says it is mushrooms. Is it really mushrooms? I can't work out what you made... all I recognise is the lavender flower on top!

It all looks so yummy (even the mystery mushrooms!)

Hannah said...

Hi Lynne - yes it is mushrooms, they were baked, stuffed with breadcrumps, olive oil and thyme and are topped with thyme flowers - they do look similar to lavender flowers don't they! These were one of the things we demonstrated in our cookery demos.