Monday 9th November

I spent longer than usual this weekend in traffic, the supermarkets were choc-a-bloc with cars and in the end I eventually found a supermarket with a parking space after visiting three different locations! It very much reminded me of shopping the week before Christmas. I normally do my weekly shop on a Thursday or Friday evening but had delayed it because I had wanted to buy a whole salmon, which was for a meal (menu below) I was preparing for a group of  guests (five ladies). They have been coming to visit each year for the last ten years, so I wanted to show my appreciation as much as enjoy a social occasion with them by cooking and sharing a meal with them!

On Sunday afternoon I called upon both sons to help me in the kitchen, one did a salsa verde and the desert which was individual chocolate melting pots and the other one made a foaming hollandaise.  The guests were a group of friends who meet and play cards once a month for money and the winnings they save over a period of time and put towards a trip away, this time it was London.  

There has been much laughter and chatter in the house and they have left Parklands from mid-morning to return at midnight most evenings having had a great time in London visiting galleries, museums, shopping and even squeezing in an afternoon tea at a well-known hot spot. 

Sunday evening was also one the of the highlights of their stay – as they put it “Supper cooked by Sally!”  I did three courses, a main, cheeses and then a desert.

 They taught me the card games they played and I must have had beginners luck as I won all the tricks in the first round, the last game I played I undid all the good and lost all the points and was in deficit.  It was a fun evening and a late one as well as on the stroke of midnight it was one of the party’s birthday so a glass of champagne was in order. We all sang Happy Birthday in English for my benefit. Before everyone went to bed, I proposed that breakfast be an hour later and there was a cheer around the table!

Menu:

Poached Salmon with foaming hollandaise

Spinach, rocket, cucumber, tomato, and chive salad with salsa verde

Miniature new potatoes

Cheeses:

Blue Shropshire

Sheeps Gouda

Honey baked grapes

Green Grapes

Three seeded biscuits

 Dessert:

Chocolate Melting Pots with cream