Charlotte's Newsletter | Issue 9

Issue 9 | Friday 10th June 2022

Welcome to Issue 9

Welcome back!

I hope you've all had a good couple of weeks since I last wrote. The eagle-eyed readers amongst you have noticed it's been three weeks, not two, since I last wrote thanks to a technological breakdown here. Also, I did wonder how many of you would be checking your emails over the Jubilee weekend, whether you were celebrating or not. I had a nice weekend with my family, with some lovely food and drink. I made us a cream tea, rather than the Jubilee trifle. 

May was the busiest month I've had for over two years, which was enjoyable and challenging in equal measure and the rest of June looks similar, with some intensive house-hunting thrown into the mix. I'm launching a new project I've been working on shortly, which I'll share with you next time, which is exciting and has been keeping me busy.

Last night, I had the pleasure of heading to London to attend Felicity Cloake's new book launch, which was great fun. As Chair of The Guild of Food Writers, we are holding our 25th annual Guild of Food Writers Awards the week after next, which I have been working away on furiously. A highlight will be meeting Delia Smith. Her books were the ones I picked off the shelf to cook from as a child, and so it really will be a special moment to finally meet another of my food heroes in real life. 

I hope you will all have a positive and delicious fortnight ahead,

Charlotte

Charlotte's Basket

I know I keep talking about strawberries, but they really do just keep on getting better and better at the moment. Yesterday, I had some really sensational strawberries from Oakchurch Farm in Herefordshire, which were truly exceptional.

We've also taken a super delivery of Isle of Wight tomatoes, an amazing range of aubergines and some excellent asparagus, all from The Tomato Stall.

In the garden, the chard and courgettes are not that far off, and I am watching them closely. Mint, parsley and lemon verbena are thriving, and my red and black currants are really nearly ready to pick, but they have been moved to the greenhouse for a while, to stop the birds from stealing the fruit again this year. I can't wait to make my first summer pudding with them.

 

Charlotte Loves

My favourite new product discoveries

• I love to cook with wasabi, and the Wasabi World website is an amazing resource for truly special Japanese ingredients.

• This week, I tried one of the most delicious things I've had in a long time; Saclà's jars of Inaudi anchovy fillets with black truffle. My idea of heaven.

• I bake all of our bread, and tried the Wessex Mill's Wessex Cobbler flour blend, which I highly recommend for a delicious all-purpose loaf.

• You probably know by now that I like good cheese. The Paxton & Whitfield Weekend Cheese Box has been a great discovery, and I really recommend trying it.

• Pork from The Decent Company is very special indeed. So much flavour from happy, happy pigs.

What to cook this week

• This lovely chicken salad from Jane Lovett is just so good and always pleases a crowd

• This apple cake from Sam Gates is such a good recipe to have in your repertoire. Her books are brilliant, too.

• I am a bit obsessed with making tapenade. Sally Clarke's version is superb.

• I love a good salad, and this one, from Anna Jones, is a great template recipe for the fantastic summer vegetables that are just about in season.

• Thinking about Delia, this apple and almond pudding is probably my family's most-cooked pudding of hers. Have you ever tried this one? 

Kitchen Essentials, under £15

There are quite a number of little things I would not be without in the kitchen. Here are my favourite bits, that all cost modest sums, but really pull their weight.

• Non-stick baking paper is something I use all the time. It is so useful for baking, avoiding anything sticking to the tin, and helping with the washing up. Try Lakeland or Nisbets for large rolls

• A good peeler is essential. I like Good Grips Y peelers and say it's £7 worth spending.

• An inverted palette knife is seriously useful, and again, Good Grips make two sizes that are both worth having

• These shakers from David Mellor look smart and are very practical. I have one for flour and one for icing sugar and use them all the time.

• I use silicone spatulas all the time, and have at least a dozen, so I have enough to go through the dishwasher and keep on using more. Nisbets are an excellent source.

Something for the Weekend

As the weekend approaches, here are 
some of my top recommendations for new cookbooks to look out for.

Do, please, let me know if you try any of them, and what you think.

Some brilliant new cookbooks

• Red Sauce, Brown Sauce by Felicity Cloake is, of course, on my bedside table this weekend

• I'm so excited to start cooking from Chetna Makan's book Easy Baking, which is just out

• The Last Bite by Anna Higham is on my reading list, too. It's a beautiful book with some great ideas within.

My upcoming cookery classes

• Monday 20th June - Cooking for a Healthy Body and Mind at Harborne Food School

• Monday 27th June - Bread making at Harborne Food School

• Tuesday 28th June - Knife skills at Harborne Food School

Places are available, currently, on all courses. And if you'd like a private class, either one-to-one, or for your friends or business, you can find our more on my website, or get in touch.