Breakfast Pancakes

For a small batch of around 8 pancakes just mix:

125g plain flour
2 teaspoons of baking powder (if you have not got baking powder you can use self raising flour instead and miss it out)
1 large egg
150mls of milk
1 tablespoon of melted butter.

Lightly mix or whisk together and use immediately.  Spoon tablespoons of the gloopy mixture into a medium hot, lightly oiled non stick pan and flip them over when the edges start to bubble.

Serve with maple or golden syrup and cream or fruit.  Double amounts is our usual order of the day and makes around 14 pancakes. For Christmas Day Brunch we tripled the amounts (3 eggs) and served them with sausages, bacon and maple syrup.

Risotto time

Here’s a great recipe for winter warming risotto.

Chop 1 onion, 2 carrots, 1-2 sticks of celery, 2 garlic cloves, 1 pack of thinly sliced pancetta. In a sauce pan heat a litre of good hot chicken stock…or turkey stock!

In a large, preferably non stick pan, fry off the pancetta until all the fat has run out. Then stir in the carrot, celery, onion and garlic. and cook down until most of the moisture is gone and the quantity has halved, adding a bit of olive oil if things start to brown too quickly. Stir in half a pack, 250g, of Carnaroli Risotto Rice and stir until it crackles.

Flamboyantly throw in a glass of Vermouth or white wine and stir well. Then start adding ladles full of hot stock, one at a time, as you keep stirring and stirring. Only add a new ladle full when the last one has been absorbed. When you have added most or all of the stock and the rice is just about done, take it off the heat. Add a handful of parmesan and an ounce of butter. Stir and leave it with the lid on for 10 minutes. This is when I add any interesting extras like skinned and deseeded tomatoes or fresh peas.

The great thing with risotto is that the additions can change with the seasons or whatever you fancy at the time…fish, mushrooms, pine nuts, prawns, asparagus etc.

Here’s one I made earlier:

A big thank you to Claire for kindly letting me include her recipes in the fabulousplaces.co.uk blog…I hope you decide to have a go!  Click here to visit Claire’s blog, ‘Things We Make’, where you can find lots of other fab recipes.

Also, if you’re looking for somewhere to go during the holidays click here to go to the fabulousplaces.co.uk search page for some fabulous inspiration for some trips out and about in Derbyshire.  Happy Holidays!

Deb

Team ‘Fabulous Faces’:

Me – Deb, Owner, fabulousplaces.co.uk
Claire Sutton, FP Club Member & Domestic Goddess…click here to visit her fab blog.
Wendy & Jason – Quirky Cookies & Cakes
Kerry – The Blossom Tree
Charlotte – Cupcake Corner
David – squarechilli (the developing mastermind behind the fab places website)

Fingers crossed for a successful week!  If you would like to help the Team you can click here to follow us on Twitter.

Deb

My first homity pie was at Caudwells Mill, it was absolutely  delicious…the perfect comfort food! So when I saw this delicious looking homity pie, made by FP club member Claire (aka Domestic Goddess), I just had to include it on the blog.  

Over to Claire…

This is my version of the lovely, originally vegetarian pie. I could not resist adding pancetta as it adds a great extra flavour but I am sure it would work without.

I have had a couple of quiche based disasters recently. I can’t seem to get them to be quite the right consistency and it can all go horribly wrong. With a Homity though, there is no need to worry about that as there is nothing to ’set’ as such. Try it!

Homity Pie

• Make up a batch of ‘rich pastry’ – see below, refrigerate for 20 mins then roll out
• Butter a pie dish and line it with rolled out pastry with a good overhang as it will shrink, a lot
• Prong it with a fork and blind bake it for 10-15 mins on 200 degrees

I find that I don’t need to do the baking beans thing if I use wholemeal pastry

• Peel, cube (dice size) and slowly fry 1lb potatoes in olive oil until soft and browned, new potatoes stick a bit but are still nice
• Peel, finely slice and fry 1lb of onions until soft and browned
• Add 2 sliced garlic cloves to the onions near to the end of their cooking time
• Fry off a pack of cubetti di pancetta – easy to find in the shops with the deli meat

All of the above can be done in advance like this: 

 Mix all this together in a large pan on a very low heat to help you mix

• Add a small bunch of fresh chopped herbs: marjoram, thyme, that sort of thing
• Add plenty of salt and pepper, 2 really big pinches of each
• Stir in a small carton of double cream (100-150ml)
• Take off the heat
• Stir in 2oz mature grated cheese
• Pile into your blind baked pastry in the pie dish
• Add another 2oz cheese on top
• Cook in a hottish oven (180-190) for 25-30 mins until golden

Allow to cool for ½ an hour before you eat. It’s great for picnics too.

‘Rich Pastry’

Put 180g of flour in a bowl, I use a mix of 1/2 plain flour and 1/2 wholemeal

• Rub in 100g butter
• Add 50g grated parmesan and a pinch of salt
• Add some stripped thyme leaves if you have them
• Add 1 egg yolk mixed with 1tsp water gradually to bring it into a ball
• Wrap in cling film and put in fridge

You can cook any strips of leftover pastry with a bit of cheese on the top as impromptu cheese straws. 

Click here to go to Claire’s fabulous blog where you can find lots of other inspirational recipes.

I’m sat working in the garden today, the weather is far too nice to be stuck indoors.  I received some great feedback on the last ‘Something for the weekend’, so I thought I would do another!

I really love this time of year in Derbyshire….there’s always something to do, whether it’s a fair, carnival or traditional event the county offers something for everyone and with the weather being so very kind to us, there’s no better reason to head out for the day.

If you haven’t planned your weekend yet, maybe this post will help you decide…..

Chatsworth Estate
Saturday 30^th & Sunday 31^st May
Chatsworth are holding their first ever food and drinks fair this weekend, which I think I’ll head over to.  The fair is located on the hill leading up towards the stables.  There will be food and drinks producers from all over the Midlands, from Sheep dip malt whisky, cider perry fruit wine, handmade farmhouse cheeses and freshly made organic pancakes will be among the delicious goods on offer.  

Other ‘fabulous places‘ within the Chatsworth Estate are the Farm Shop Restaurant, Farm Shop, Interiors Shop & Carriage House Restaurant.  

 
Bakewell Farmers Market
Agricultural Business Centre Bakewell
Saturday 30^th May
I love a good farmers market and Bakewell’s is pretty fantastic for great produce.  The market offers a wide variety of locally produced foods for sale under cover at the Agricultural Business Centre, which is easily signposted as your approach the town.   The market runs from 9am – 2pm.

‘Fabulous places’ to visit while you’re in Bakewell are Chalet Home, Treeline Gallery, The Style House and Ag Gallery.

Chesterfield Farmers Market
Sunday 31^st May
Situated in the centre of town, the market runs from 10am – 2pm.

While you’re in Chesterfield some great ‘fabulous places’ to visit are Koo coffee Shop & Koo Deli, Libby’s and Created Gallery.

Other great ideas while the weather is so good are: 

Ice cream from Bluebells 

Lunch ourside at the Bottlekiln – there’s something quite wonderful about catching up with friends over lunch in the garden.  Quiche and salad washed down with sparkling Belvoir Elderflower, yum!  The Bottlekiln are also running a promotion where there is 25% off all their British handmade art pieces and jewellery.  I highly recommend a browse….I picked up a gorgeous necklace today.

Right, must go and prepare for this evening’s BBQ!  Have a fabulously British weekend!

I was so surprised to find out the fabulousplaces.co.uk blog had been nominated for the Dorset Cereals little blog competition!  I’d like to say a HUGE thank you to everyone who have taken the time to vote for me over the past few weeks!  )

THE COMPETITION IS NOT OVER JUST YET….the winner is the blog with the most votes at the end of May, so there’s plenty of time to scoop that fabulous first place position.  Please take a moment to click here and place your vote…I will be eternally grateful!  

Debs

Looking for something to do this weekend?  Why not get out and about and visit some fabulous places in Derbyshire?  fabulousplaces.co.uk is the perfect ‘where to go’ resource if you’re looking for an extra special visit into Derbyshire.  This blog post is looking at the A6 journey into Derbyshire, starting from Duffield and ending at Avant Garde in Baslow.

Gifted is a lovely gift boutique on the main road in Duffield.  From jewellery to bags and homwares to childrens traditional toys.  Gifted is open 7 days a week.

Next on the A6 is Belper which has lots of fabulous places:


I Should Cocoa – a must see for all chocolate lovers.  This is artisan chocolate at its best and the selection is to die for…there are even a few surprising chocolates for the adventurous chocolate fan.  I Should Cocoa also have a lunch menu which is perfect for a light bite at a great price.  I Should Cocoa is open Monday to Saturday.

Fresh Basil – a fab deli eatery offering a great range of carefully selected local and continental deli produce, homemade cakes, bread, meats, eggs and lots of other tempting fresh goodies.  They also have a great menu, which I’m working my way through…delicious!  Fresh Basil is open Monday to Saturday.

Definitely worth a visit is Sweetings Interiors.  On several floors, this interiors shop is a wonderful place to lose an hour wondering round getting  lots of inspiration. Sweetings is open 7 days a week.

The next must see is Lavender grey.  This little shop is fabulous, each time I visit I know there will be something to tempt me.  Run by Lucy, an interior designer, who is always happy to help you find exactly what you’re looking for.  Lavender grey is open Tuesday to Saturday. 

Next would have to be Bow at the Printworks in Cromford.  I wonderful little shop full of accessories for the home, jewellery and cards.  What I love about Bow is that each item is carefully selected by the owner, Susanna, and the prices are very reasonable.  Susanna also sources locally and stocks lots of products made from all over Derbyshire.



Heading a little further towards Bakewell, I always stop off at Caudwells Mill.  The Mill has such a lovely atmosphere on a sunny day and the eatery is great….the hommity pie is delicious and the cakes always look and taste fab.

 After Caudwells Mill I would go for a wonder around the Chatsworth Estate.  A mid afternoon walk around Chatsworth is a treat.  The best walk, in my opinion, and it’s totally free, is to head up through the car park and follow the track past the farm yard and round to the right.  This takes you up to the back of the house, a great view and there are also magical-looking lakes, waterfalls and woodland – the perfect place to head with doggies and it’s normally very quiet.

Our Chatsworth ritual is to finish off in the farm shop to get sausages and other goodies to cook for tea when we get home…or in the case of the caramel slices, to eat in the car on the way home!

I’m not sure how much time you’ll have left, but Avant Garde in Baslow is one of my favourites.

This is a pretty full on day and it can be done with children and/or doggies…especially if you’re lucky like I am and have a partner who’s happy to wonder around with the dogs while I nip into browse round a shop!  ) 

Have fun!

fabulousplaces.co.uk Summer Fete

A traditional fete with a fabulous twist!

I’m super excited about the website’s next event…the Summer Fete.  I’ve found the perfect venue and I have lots of fabulous places and producers from all over Derbyshire coming along.  From artisan bread and cupcakes to art and eco products….there will be something for all the family.

Blackbrook House
Sunday 26th July 2009
11.00am – 4.00pm 

If you would like to come along, join the FP Club and I’ll keep you up to date with all the latest developments!  Also, if you are a fabulous place or producer and would like to come along and exhibit, please contact me.

Country Living Spring Fair

A couple of weeks ago I went along to the Country Living Fair, held at the Islington Business Centre in London. The Fair was fantastic and full to the brim with great independent shops and producers. I was delighted to see Clare Gage exhibiting who won the Editors Choice Award – well done Clare! Also attending was Massey and Rogers with their fantastic range of hand printed textiles.

I came away with some great buys and will definitely be going along to the Christmas Fair, November 11th to 15th.

My favourite place for a skinny latte

It really is no surprise that The Bottlekiln Cafe has won awards for their coffee, it’s fabulous! I met a friend there last week and, I have to say, they do the best skinny latte! I love proper coffee and have tried coffees all over Derbyshire and I’m yet to find somewhere that comes close! So, well done The Bottlekiln, keep up the good skinny lattes!

Wirksworth Farmers Market
Saturday 4th April 2009

The first of what will be many outings to promote the website was Wirksworth Farmers Market. What a fantastic event, it was the first farmers market I have attended to promote the website and I’m so glad I did. I met some great producers of both food and goodies for the home.

Here’s what the FP stand looked like…

I found a fabulous producer there too! New to the website is Hearts & Homespun Soaps. The soaps, bath melts and liquid soaps are made by Elaine, in the Amber Valley, using only natural ingredients. They smell fantastic!

Have a wonderful Easter break…there’s no better time to head out and about around Derbyshire!

Anyone who has a dog or two will agree when I say that I’m delighted to see the signs of spring….slightly warmer, snow drops, sunshine….and the dogs don’t get caked in mud, well not all the time anyway! The weekend showed us some lovely sunshine, so what could be more perfect than getting out in Derbyshire to visit some fabulous places!

New fabulous places!

Receiving the Stamp of Approval recently are:

	Bluebells Dairy, Locko Road, Derbyshire   If there’s ever a good reason to eat ice cream in March it has to be the delicious ice cream they make on the farm at Bluebells Dairy. Bluebells is also a cafe and farm with great facilities for little ones. I recommend the bacon and poached egg on toast, yum! Click here to view Bluebells Dairy fabulous places page.
	Helen Meakin   Helen Meakin is a textile artist who produces some truly beautiful items ranging from framed pieces to cards and candles. Click here for more information about Helen Meakin.

Join us on our fundraising Crocus Walk!

I’ve decided to organise a Crocus Walk and would love for you to come along too! The walk is open to everyone and please feel free to bring your dogs, I’ll be taking my dogs, Molly and Toby.

Click here to be taken to the Crocus Walk page.

fabulousplaces.co.uk events

With the success of the website’s first event in January, my task this month is to start working on the next one. I have lots of ideas, but the first step is to find the perfect venue, so I’ll keep you posted!

The events are always planned with the website’s users in mind and I would love to hear your feedback regarding the first event and any thoughts on what you would like at the next one? Click here to contact me.

Coming soon…

fabulous places to stay in Derbyshire!

Do you know a B&B, hotel or self catering accommodation worthy of the FP Stamp of Approval? Click here to let me know all about it. Thank you!

Well, it seems I’ve been given my orders……

off out to walk the dogs….bye!

What can I say! The evening was a huge success and I’m now enjoying some much needed rest. Well, I’m sat on the sofa with a cup of tea and biscuits with the laptop typing this blog, that will do for now!

Thanks so much to everyone who came along to the Showcase – guests travelled from all over Derbyshire, Sheffield and Nottingham! I hope you had a fabulous time and enjoyed the opportunity to browse so many fabulous products in one place. I hope you all liked your goody bags too! You’ll find some really great goodies in there… a Teapigs sample, Weleda products, a packet of Crips, a Dorset Cereals bar and flyers/offers from some of the fabulous places featured on the website.

Below are a selection of photographs taken at the event. To view a larger image, please click on one of the thumbnails:

I have a few people who I would like to say a huge thank you to:

Firstly, thank you to all the fabulous businesses who took part in the event. I’m sure you’ll all agree, every stall looked fantastic!

Lucy….thank you for all your ‘fabulous’ help leading up to and during the event – you’re a star! )

Lastly, thank you all for coming along to the event and supporting the website. I would love to receive your feedback on what you thought of the event… please take a moment to enter your comments below.