In the morning, when I open the front door I’m greeted with the harsh scream of the Buzzard, shortly followed by the caw of the Crows it’s trying to harass, this drama is mellowed by the gentle song of the Thrush and the coo of Wood Pigeons, watching the unfolding masquerade from a safe distance….
Tag: recipes
Dealing with Diabetes: the beginning of a candid journey…week 1
I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes a little over 13 years ago and was told that after my son was born, things ‘should’ return to normal. They didn’t. This led to a long period in my life where I was in complete denial. I knew my sugars were high and made some concessions, however they…
Midweek Musings – Nourishing the body and soul under lockdown living.
So, it has been over year since I last added to my blog. It’s been a difficult year, but now, more than ever, I see the need to use technology, not only to communicate with others but also to hold myself accountable. These past few weeks have been challenging for everybody. We have been forced…
The Pheasant Philosopher’s Christmas Diaries: ‘Vegging’ out at Christmas
I personally find the Christmas standard veg offering rather boring, ‘boiled’ or ‘roasted’ (aside from potatoes) seems so unimaginative and it doesn’t take much more time to ‘pimp’ those everyday vegetables up to new heights. I enjoy all veg, I try and stick to seasonal choices, however, aside from the somewhat more exciting spiced red…
The Pheasant Philosopher’s Christmas Diaries: just a little trifle, please!
Christmas is now the only time of the year I make trifle. Growing up it was a mainstay of my grandmother’s birthday and Christmas tables, but the tradition now firmly sits within the festive period. There’s something wonderfully decadent about the layers of creamy comfort, the hit of booze and the digging down to the…
The Pheasant Philosopher’s Christmas Diaries: Fuss Free Canapés with a Welsh Twist
Last year my sister published her first book and asked me to make some canapés for the launch. I didn’t have much time to prepare, so wracked my brains for something quick, easy and delicious. I am extremely proud of my Welsh heritage and, as I have mentioned before, am a great believer in the…
The Pheasant Philosopher’s Christmas Diaries: the fruity side of Christmas.
Proudly displayed on my wall, above my desk, is a bill of sale dated November 3rd 1845. It relates to the sale of fruit, preserves and pickles and is signed by my great-great-great Grandfather, who, along with his wife were the proprietors of a ‘Foreign and British, fruit, oil, Italian and fish sauce warehouse’ in…
The Pheasant Philosopher’s Christmas Diaries: Variations on the Mince Pie
Every year, I do my utmost to avoid Mince Pies until, at least, the second week of December. The description ‘warm mince pie’ always sounds far better than the factory produced supermarket offerings which frequent gatherings, events and parties at Christmas. I believe that making your own is simple, far more satisfying and, it will…
The Pheasant Philsopher’s Christmas Diaries: Party Punch and Mulling
No Victorian Christmas party was complete without a gleaming punch bowl full of inhibition-removing deliciousness. In richer households, these bowls would be silver or silver gilt, with matching chased cups and ladle, in middle class houses cut glass or crystal was offered, whilst lower down the social pecking order china, wood or pewter was most…
Digging for Ancestral Roots in our Cookery…..?
I think that most of us were probably taught to cook by family members; whether Mum, Dad, Grandparents, Great-Grandparents or the more extended family. I learnt a lot from my Grandmothers; though each was very different in their approach to cookery. One was very much a bake-from-scratch cook; still alive today (at 106) she taught me…
Seasoned with Slow from The Pheasant Philosopher 