How to Make Blackberry Jelly, and why fruit jellies work.
Want to know how to make Blackberry Jelly? It’s not that difficult, and so satisfying to make the best of the (free) autumn harvest.
Author: john.webber22
Free Up Breakfast with a Berry Fruit and Oat Smoothie.
Why not start your day with this Berry Fruit and Oat Smoothie. There’s no better time of year to make this smoothie and free up breakfast geting the day off to a good start. All the goodness of fresh fruit with the health benefits of natural honey and oats.
Simple, Summertime Courgette and Tomato Tarts
Courgette and Tomato Tarts, with feta cheese and Basil. It’s mid-summer, the tomatoes are ripening, and the courgettes are going wild. These Courgette and Tomato Tarts are an ideal way of using up this seasonal bounty. And impressing your guests.
I have been making this starter for years and it has always been a favourite of my guests. Light, crispy and full of flavour it’s easy to make. And the best part is to serve it, you just pop it into the oven.
In fact, some years ago my team served this to 300 people for a charity dinner. With each of five chefs producing a course. It was quite a bit of work to prepare the tarts. But when it came to the time to serve the course it was the quickest and easiest of the entire meal.
Before you start look up our pages on Blanching Tomatoes, Chive Oil, and Making your Own Pesto at Home
So, let’s get cooking.
You will need.
Chopping board and knife.
Baking sheet.
Frying pan.
Small saucepan.
Baking sheet.
Fish slice.
Small bowl.
Small fine sieve.
Baking paper.
Courgette and Tomato Tarts
Serves 4.
4 sheets filo pastry.
50g unsalted Butter.
3 slices garlic.
1 sprig thyme.
4 med courgettes.
Olive oil.
1 clove garlic (bruised).
1 sprig thyme.
4 ripe tomatoes.
4tsp pesto sauce.
170g feta cheese.
2tsp Pine kernels.
Basil leaves.
Sea salt.
Mill pepper.
chive oil to serve
Making the bases.
Place the butter into a small pan with the bruised garlic and thyme then put it on to melt. We don’t want to toast the butter, just melt it enough to separate the milk and fat. When you see the butter begin to clear, stain it into a warm bowl leaving the milky part in the pan. This can be discarded.
Take the pastry and carefully unwrap it. Then cover the pastry with a tea towel to avoid it drying out. Lift off a sheet of pastry and place it on a flat surface. Brush lightly with the melted butter then cover with a second sheet of pastry.
Storing the bases.
Repeat the process until you have a sheet of pastry three layers thick and with butter. You can if you wish use olive oil instead of the butter, however you will need to cook the flans as soon as they are made. The butter will cool on the pastry and form a waterproof layer to protect the pastry. This allows us to make the flans in the morning. Pop them into the fridge, then cook them at night. How easy is that!
Cut out disks of pastry using a saucer or small plate about 10cm diameter cutting around with the point of a sharp knife. Arrange the disks on squares of baking paper on a tray that will fit in the fridge and put aside.
Now for the topping.
Remove the skin of the tomatoes. Blanch, peel, and de-seed the tomatoes. Cut the flesh into 8mm dice and set aside
Top, tail and wash the courgettes then slice into 4mm thick slices. Pour some of the olive oil into a large shallow pan over a medium heat. Half cook the slices by tossing in the hot oil with a clove of garlic and sprig of thyme for flavour. Spread the cooked courgette on to a tray and allow to cool.
Arrange the courgette on the filo discs in concentric circles starting 5mm in from the edge. Overlapping each slice slightly until the disc is covered. Don’t be tempted to season the tarts yet, the salt will make them weep.
Final additions.
Lay a tablespoon of tomato in the centre of each tart. Set a teaspoon of pesto on the tomato then cover with the remaining diced tomato. This will protect the pesto from the heat of the oven, while adding a little punch to the flavour.
Drain the feta and dry off with kitchen paper, then cut the cheese into 6mm dice. Divide the cheese between the flans and sprinkle with pine kernels. Again, if you want you can change the cheese, but I find feta to be ideal. In the oven it gently toasts without running and it’s salty tang gives the tarts a bit of a kick.
Serving.
To serve. Lift the flan’s on their paper squares onto a baking sheet. Lightly season then bake in a 200˚c oven for about 10 mins when they should be crisp and golden. The edges of the pastry will souffle up to form a border around the courgettes. Lift each flan onto a serving plate, sprinkle with freshly cut basil and pour a little chive oil around.
This is one of the most flexible dishes I know. Serve it as a starter, light lunch, or replacement fish course. I have even tiny ones to use as a canape in the past. I would love to know how you get on.
Enjoy life!
John.
Hi, my name is John Webber, award winning chef and tutor, now retired to the west coast of Scotland. Welcome to our blog focusing on food, cooking, and countryside. My aim is to pass on my years of skills and knowledge together with an appreciation of the countryside.
Join us to experience the beauty of the west coast, cook some great food and be at ease in the kitchen.
If you enjoyed your visit with us, please subscribe up to our newsletter to receive regular updates of what’s new and upcoming at The Westcoaster. Subscribe Here
©John Webber. 2023
Discovering Appin, a Scottish haven of peace, and magic.
Discovering Appin, a haven of peace and magic. If you’re taking a stay in Oban, take advantage of the wealth of places to visit just a short dive out of town.
Discovering Oban, The gateway to the isles.
Discover Oban, jewel of the Scottish west coast. Gateway to the isles and seafood paradise.
How to make, Rosemary and Red Onion Focaccia Bread
This Rosemary and Red Onion Focaccia is one of my favourite breads to make at home. Soft textured and delicately flavoured it is an ideal as picnic bread or served with a casual lunch. Try out some variations by adding cooked onions or sun blushed tomatoes into the dough with the herbs. I also use this focaccia for my ultimate B.L.T.
How to get extra flavour in your bread
To get flavour throughout the bread. I blend the water, garlic, and olive oil together. This ‘milkshake’ is to in then used to bring the dough together. I have also used marjoram in the dough. And rosemary and red onions set into pockets pushed into the dough. Which also hold olive oil to keep the bread moist. Alternatively try some stoned olives in the pockets and a sprinkling of flaky sea salt on the crust before baking.
I would recommend you check out the Food Files pages on What is Yeast and our Guide to flour. Also the fundamentals of Making bread at home will help you to fully understand the bread making process.
If you are interested in the origins of focaccia, or other Italian dishes take a look at. https://www.deliciousitaly.com/liguria-food/origins-of-focaccia
My Rosemary and Red Onion Focaccia.
Makes two 20cm dia loaves.
Oven temp, 185°C/ 370°f fan oven, 200˚c conventional oven
600g Bread Flour
1.5 tsp Salt
1.5 tsp Sugar
3 tsp fresh chopped marjoram leaves, or 1tsp dried
360ml/g Water
7g dried yeast
2tbsp water @ blood heat
3tsp olive oil
1 clove of garlic, sliced
olive oil for the crust
2 sprigs fresh rosemary
1 red onion peeled and cut into small wedges
flaky sea salt to sprinkle on crust
You will need: –
Mixing bowl or food mixer with dough hook.
Scales.
Hand blender and goblet.
Chopping board and knife.
2 x 20cm x 4cm sponge tins.
Make your ferment.
If you are using dried yeast. Measure it into a small container and mix with the 3 tbsp of water to form a smooth paste. Add a pinch of flour and put it to one side while you weigh up the other ingredients. If you are using fast action yeast mix it directly into the flour.
Making the dough.
In the blender goblet mix the water, salt, sugar, olive oil, and sliced garlic. And blend until smooth.
Place the flour in the mixing bowl, and if your using dried marjoram (oregano) add that now. Check the yeast container. It should be beginning to foam. If so, congratulations, you have made a ferment and improved the actions of the yeast.
Add the water mix to the dry ingredients followed by the yeast ferment and knead on a low speed for 5 minutes. The dough does not need an enormous amount of kneading as we are making a flattish soft loaf.
1st proving.
Cover the bowl and leave the dough to prove until doubled in size. Don’t place the bowl in a very warm place. Normal room temperature is fine. In fact, if you need freshly baked loaves for the morning. Make the dough in the evening with cool but not cold water. Place the bowl in the fridge and the dough will be ready to finish at breakfast time.
2nd proving.
Re mix the dough for two minutes (known as knocking back). If you are using fresh marjoram add it at this stage. This is also the time to add other flavourings if using (see below).
Divide the dough into two and form into rounds 20 cm across and 1cm thick.
Set the rounds onto a greased sponge tins and press your thumb into the dough in a regular pattern with 3 cm spaces.
Rub a little olive oil into the surface of the dough, cover and allow to prove until doubled. Placing the tins in a clean bin bag and forming a tent with the bag works well if the kitchen is very cold.
When the dough has proved, you may need to use your thumb again to open up the indents made earlier. Push thin wedges of red onion and rosemary into the pockets alternating each one. Brush very lightly once more with olive oil and sprinkle with flaky sea salt if wished.
Baking.
Bake at 185°C/ 370°f fan oven, 200˚c conventional oven for twenty minutes.
When ready remove the bread from the tins and cool on a cooling wire. I like to brush a little more olive on the crust as the bread cools.
Ringing the changes.
Try adding other flavourings into the dough, like fried onions, stoned black olives or sundried tomatoes at the second proving stage.
You can half the dough if you only need one loaf, but as the bread frezzes well I always make two at a time to make best use of the oven.
Enjoy Life!
John.
Hi, my name is John Webber, award winning chef and tutor, now retired to the west coast of Scotland. Welcome to our blog focusing on food, cooking, and countryside. My aim is to pass on my years of skills and knowledge together with an appreciation of the countryside.
Join us to experience the beauty of the west coast, cook some great food and be at ease in the kitchen.
If you enjoyed your visit with us, please subscribe up to our newsletter to receive regular updates of what’s new and upcoming at The Westcoaster. Subscribe Here
©John Webber. 2023
The Best, Walnut Bread, Rich, and Delicious
Rich, and delicious, Walnut Bread is a perfect bread to serve with cheese at a casual lunch. Or as part of a dinner party meal. Savoury yet sweet it’s very moreish and is just as good lightly toasted and served with butter.
A Simple Springtime, Pea and Wild Garlic Houmous
Pea and wild garlic houmous. A versatile taste of spring, fresh and light.
Yet easy to make.
Sinful but Nice, Clotted Cream Brûlee with Grenadine Rhubarb.
Clotted Cream Brûlee with Grenadine Rhubarb is a great dinner party dessert. It’s both light and rich at the same time. The sharp, sweet fruit cutting through the rich comforting cream of the brûlee. What’s even better, you can make both components the day before. Leaving only the glazing of the brûlee to be done on the day. I have always had a fondness for clotted cream. Going back to my days in the west country where we used to collect it straight from the farm. The shop bought version is not the same but works perfectly for this.
You will need.
2 medium sized Pyrex bowls
A suitable saucepan- see below
Whisk
Flat bottomed heatproof silicone spatula
Probe thermometer
Fine strainer
Suitable serving containers.
Clotted Cream Brûlee.
Makes 4 x 150ml
200ml double cream.
150ml clotted cream.
80ml whole milk.
1 vanilla pod.
5 large egg yolks.
40g golden caster sugar.
Caster sugar to caramelise.
This is not technically a true crème brûlee, as we are not cooking it in the oven. This is a stove-top or cheats brûlee. This method has some advantages. We can add more delicate ingredients into the mix that would be spoilt in the oven. It also allows us to serve the cream in a non-oven proof container. A positive change from the everyday ramekin presentation. These are best made the night before you wish to serve them, so they are fully set for your guests to enjoy. The Food Files page on Eggs will give you more information on eggs and how to use them
How do I cook the Clotted Cream Brûlee?
Choose a saucepan where it’s easy to access the corners of the pan. One with curved edges is ideal. Add the milk and double cream to the pan. Split the vanilla pod and release the seeds from the husk with the back of a knife. Pop the pod and seeds into the liquid and bring the pan to the simmer over a medium heat. Remove the pan from the heat and leave to stand to extract the full flavour of the vanilla.
Meanwhile, in a bowl, whisk, together the egg yolks and the sugar until well blended. And insure you have a second clean bowl large enough to take the whole mixture when its cooked. Pyrex is perfect for this and if its possible stand the bowl in some iced water so we can cool the finished mixture quickly
Return the pan to the heat, and as it nears the simmer whisk in the clotted cream, do not let the pan boil.
Give the egg and sugar mix one last beat then pour the hot clotted cream into the egg-sugar mixture, whisking constantly. Tip the mixture to the pan scraping it all out of the bowl with the spatula ten set the pan over a medium heat. Cook the mix stirring all the time with the flat – bottomed spatula. Do not use any spoon shaped tool for this. Too little of the pan’s base is touched by a curved tool. Resulting in the contents of the pan sticking to the bottom and burning.
Clotted Cream Brûlee, The Tricky Bit.
Heat the mixture until you see steam starting to rise from the surface. Now pay close attention to the pan as the egg will be close to overcooking. Bring the temperature of the mix to 82°C and cook for three to four minutes. At which point the mix will have become quite thick a little like plain yoghurt. As soon as the temperature reaches 84˚C strain the brûlee into the waiting bowl with the help of the spatula. Give the mix a stir in the bowl to remove the heat as quickly as possible
Now this can all be a bit daunting the first time you try it. The trick is to be well organised; you can’t afford to be looking for things while you are cooking the brûlee. Put the cat out, lock up the kids, tie up the dog, and turn off the phone.
If at any point you think the mixture is getting too hot. Tip it directly into the bowl, if your wrong it doesn’t matter. You just have one more bowl to wash up.
Once the mixture has cooled down a few minutes, fill your serving containers and let them cool completely. Do not cover the containers until completely cool. If you do condensation will form and spoil your attempts at caramelising the surface of the brûlee. This is one occasion when you do want a skin on your custard!
For the Grenadine Rhubarb.
80ml grenadine syrup.
20 pieces of rhubarb, split and cut inro 5cm sections on an angle.
For the rhubarb, in a wide pan, bring the sugar, water and grenadine syrup to the boil. Add the rhubarb and cook gently at a simmer for a minute or so – any longer and it will lose its shape.
Remove the rhubarb with a slotted spoon and continue to reduce your syrup. Remove the syrup from the heat and allow to cool.
You can dip the rhubarb back into the syrup, once both are cool, then remove again. This will help intensify the flavour and hold the shape of the rhubarb pieces.
The best way to glaze a Clotted Cream Brûlee.
‘Burnt Cream’ is a common translation for a brûlee but the very last thing we wish to do is burn it. The target is to produce a light, crisp coating with a rich caramel flavour, which also add texture to the dish
The traditional way of glazing the surface of a brûlee is to set the container into ice and water to keep it cool. Cover the surface with refined sugar and glaze them under the grill. It’s quite messy. Water everywhere and of course useless if you have not served your dish in an oven proof container.
Using a gas blowlamp.
I think the best option use to use a gas blowlamp. They come in all sizes, with the smaller ones been popular at home. I find these a bit small with too narrow a flame to get a nice even glaze on the sugar. Go for a medium sized blowlamp with a removable head. Not only can you use it to glaze your sugar. But they are also ideal for finishing Naan bread, Chapati and of course the BBQ.
To glaze the tops, using a small sieve sprinkle evenly with caster sugar. Don’t overdo the sugar or it will be impossible to dissolve it all. This will result in a sandy texture to the topping and poor flavour.
This process needs to be done close to serving the dessert to avoid the crust becoming soft and chewy. And don’t use brown sugar as many recipes suggest. Only white refined sugar will make caramel, the rest are a poor substitute. Take the blowlamp and get a good fierce flame. Wave the flame over the sugar working back and forth watching the sugar. As the sugar begins to melt sprinkle once more with sugar and return the flame. The trick is to keep the flame moving all the time. Don’t let any one part of the surface get too hot or it will burn. Imagine you are using a can of spray paint and attempting to get a nice even coat of paint without runs. It’s very much the same movement.
Safety.
Using a blowlamp indoors needs care and attention: –
Do Not attempt to tough or eat the dessert until the caramel is completely cooled down. Hot caramel is roughly 185˚c and will give you very nasty burns.
Do Not attempt to glaze or work with cooked sugar with pets or children around.
Be aware of where the flame of the blowlamp is pointing work far away from any flammable items. In fact, when possible, work outside.
When storing the blowlamp always remove the head from the gas canister. This will prevent any slow leakage of gas that may develop.
Clotted Cream Brûlee To Serve (optional)
Chopped skinned pistachio nuts.
Crisp shortbread biscuits.
A rectangular plate suits the dish well if you have one. Lift the rhubarb from the syrup and set a small pile to one end of the plate. Place a brûlee at the other end with a shortbread biscuit propped up against it. Coat the rhubarb with some of the syrup letting it drizzle across the plate and finish with a sprinkle of chopped, skinned pistachio nuts if wished.
F.A.Qs.
My Brûlee cream isn’t setting, What’s wrong?
Your mixture hasn’t been cooked enough. It must reach 84˚C for the egg yolk to set and thicken the cream. Also if you are using a probe thermometer make sure you don’t touch the base of the pan. This will give you a false reading
Can I make the Brûlee in advance and freeze it for later?
Unfortunately not. If you try to freeze the mix it will separate as it defrosts. You can of course make the Brûlee the day before. In fact I would encourage you to do so. The mix will firm up overnight and you have plenty of time to repair any disasters.
Enjoy Life!
John.
Hi, my name is John Webber, award winning chef and tutor, now retired to the west coast of Scotland. Welcome to our blog focusing on food, cooking, and countryside. My aim is to pass on my years of skills and knowledge together with an appreciation of the countryside.
Join us to experience the beauty of the west coast, cook some great food and be at ease in the kitchen.
If you enjoyed your visit with us, please subscribe up to our newsletter to receive regular updates of what’s new and upcoming at The Westcoaster. Subscribe Here
©John Webber. 2023
Quick and Easy, Ricotta Hotcakes.
Quick and easy Ricotta hotcakes. perfect for breakfast with honey butter and berry fruits. Alternatively serve them to enhance a full cooked breakfast.
Arisaig and Morar.
Sample Arisaig and Morar, one of the outstanding areas of the Scottish west coast
How To Grow Your Own Tomatoes.
Now is the time to grow your own tomatoes. This year again we are looking forward to a good crop of tomatoes from the polytunnel. And as I’ve said before, I’m no gardener, so if I can do it anybody can. But, you don’t need a polytunnel or greenhouse to enjoy home grown tomatoes. A bit of space near a window is all you need to give it a try. My seedlings are coming on in the living room ready to be planted later. Once the weather improves and we have seen the end of the frost.
How to Grow Your Own Tomatoes.
Getting started.
If you have never tried growing your own, grab a packet of seeds from the garden centre and get going. I have been growing three varieties Outdoor Girl, Alisa Craig, and San Marzano.
I start the seeds in plug trays and once I have about 8cm of growth re-pot them into 10cm recyclable pots. The seedlings will be quite fragile. And if allowed to grow too tall will be unable to support themselves. When re-potting cover the seedling stem down to just below the formed leaves. If you have small leaves forming near the base of the stem pick these off before covering with compost. If this is not done, they may cause rot below the surface. The pots are used later as a watering aid once the plants are in their final position.
Once they begin to outgrow the pots again, they are re-potted once more into 15cm deep pots proceeding as before. I always use fresh compost when seeding and re-potting. As the plants get larger feed once a week with liquid feed and support with plant sticks as needed.
I keep the plants in the living room by the window until I’m sure the frosts have finished. I you live in a warmer area; you should be able to move into the greenhouse or polytunnel earlier.
Moving outside.
When the time comes the plants are potted on once more into 30cm pots. You can use slightly smaller pots if space is a problem. But if the pot is too small, the yield of the plant may be reduced. Again, I use fresh compost with a layer of gravel in the base of the pot for drainage. The 10cm pots are sunk into the compost to allow water to reach the roots and not form around the stem. Watering the surface of the pot can cause the stem to rot at ground level. The sunken pots get the water/feed down and keep the surface dry. try to avoid getting the leaves wet as this can also be a cause of rot. It’s often a good idea to take the plants outside during the day and then bring them under cover for a few days to become acclimatised to a change in temperature before permanently planting them out.
Using Grow bags.
An alternative is to use grow bags and buy Plant Halos‘. These are doughnut like devices which are perfect for growbags. They allow extra compost to be used in the centre to give the plant more depth for growth. The outer ring is then filled with water that dribbles down via spikes in the base of the halo to water the roots. If you want to try growbags, I would definitely recommend you use the halos. I don’t think the growbag on its own has enough depth to support an adult plant. I have heard of people cutting one side of the plastic off two bags. Then sandwiching the two together to increase the depth. Fine if you are just growing a couple of plants on the balcony, but I think pots are a better bet. This year I am also going to use the Haloes on my 30cm pots to make the watering easier.
Tomato types.
There are two main types of tomato plants, Bush, and Cordon. Some varieties such as Rio Grande, Red Alert, and Incas are bush tomatoes. These are better if you want to use grow bags, smaller pots or even hanging baskets. These are a good bet if you are just starting off or don’t have a greenhouse or polytunnel. They also don’t require any pruning as they grow.
All three of these tomato varieties I’m growing are Cordon Tomatoes, San Manzano, Outdoor Girl, and Alisa Craig. This means they need to be supported as they grow with robust canes as they can grow up to 1.8mt in hight. Set the canes deep into the pots and support the top with garden wire. The watering halos have the provision to set a tepee of canes around the plant.
They also need to be pruned during the growing process. The basic principle in pruning cordon tomatoes plants is that you want the main stem to be where the leaf stems emerge from. Take a look at https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/grow-plants/how-to-grow-cordon-tomatoes/ for a detailed instruction on pruning.
Outdoor Girl Tomatoes.
These are well suited to variable, colder UK conditions, i.e., Scotland. And can be grown outside if you have a suitable protected sunny spot in the garden. Flavour is a traditional sweet and sharp, good for salads and preserving.
Alisa Craig Tomatoes.
As far as taste goes this variety is still the one which many gardeners compare against for measuring how tasty a tomato is. Ailsa Craig has the right balance of sweetness and acidity combined with deep tomato flavour. There are few, if any tomatoes, which can match Ailsa Craig when it comes to taste. The texture is good for salads, and firm enough to make them excellent for slicing and serving on burgers and in sandwiches.
San Marzano Tomatoes.
These are my go-to cooking tomatoes and even if you are just buying your tomatoes in a tin, look for San Marzano. This is both a tomato variety and a region in Italy from where they take their name.
They are a plum tomato, a bit thinner and longer than the plum tomatoes you will be familiar with. with a lovely sweet – sharp flavour. The key thing is that they have fewer seeds and more flesh than a plum tomato. I find a lot of ‘Plum’ tomatoes seem to be no more than a stretched round tomato. If you have ever wondered why your tomato sauce is never as good as the one you tasted on your Italian holiday. It’s simply the quality of the ingredients.
So, now’s the time to get started. Once you have tried your home-grown tomatoes, you will realise how poor the shop bought versions are.
Look up the websites below for more in-depth information.
https://www.tomatogrowing.co.uk/
https://www.rhs.org.uk/vegetables/tomatoes/grow-your-own
Enjoy Life!
John.
Hi, my name is John Webber, award winning chef and tutor, now retired to the west coast of Scotland. Welcome to our blog focusing on food, cooking, and countryside. My aim is to pass on my years of skills and knowledge together with an appreciation of the countryside.
Join us to experience the beauty of the west coast, cook some great food and be at ease in the kitchen.
If you enjoyed your visit with us, please subscribe up to our newsletter to receive regular updates of what’s new and upcoming at The Westcoaster. Subscribe Here
©John Webber. 2023
Easy Potato And Spinach Curry.
My easy potato and spinach curry ( to make at home. Quick, easy and very tasty, what’s not to like?
Easy Soda Breads to Make at Home.
Make these easy soda breads at home. It’s so satisfying and rewarding everybody should be doing it.