Saturday 18 October 2014

Cocktail of the month: Autumn acclimatisation


I find the change in the seasons the most difficult. Once I get into the swing of Autumn I adore it: scarves, tights, hats, soup, bonfires, leaves, harvest hymns. I love it all. But while I'm adjusting, I find it tricky. I made it hard on myself this year by grabbing a few days in sunny Spain at the start of October which just delayed the inevitable. This change of season manifests itself as extreme tiredness, crankiness and an overwhelming urge to hibernate. I prescribed myself an Autumnal cocktail in an attempt to get over it. It had to be sloe based. It serves as a reminder to get out into the hedgerows and pick the last of the sloes.
 
Autumn acclimatisation

50mL medium apple juice (I like the juice from Watergull Orchards)
30mL sloe gin or vodka
Squeeze of fresh lemon juice

Combine all of the ingredients in a cocktail shaker or pint glass. Taste and add more lemon juice if necessary. Pour into a lowball glass filled with ice. Top with slices of apple and sloes if you have them (I freeze some every year when I collect them for garnish purposes).

Hear me talking about this lovely Autumnal cocktail on the Flavour programme (Cambridge 105) at 12 noon today.


Sunday 5 October 2014

Wake up with Wintercomfort brunch






Wintercomfort is a fantastic Cambridge organisation who support men and women who are homeless or vulnerably housed by offering them vital welfare service and opportunities for learning and development. To mark World Homeless Day this Friday 10th October and to raise funds for their vital services, Wintercomfort are encouraging the people of Cambridge to get together for brunch or breakfast. All the details including recipe ideas can be found on their website here.

I held a brunch event for friends this Saturday in advance of the big day. Somehow I squeezed 10 guests into my dining room. Between the cocktails and the Irish black pudding I think we managed to send them home satisfied. Special mention has to go to The Husband for outstanding pudding frying and washing up skills. Running around like a lunatic din't give me much time to take photos, but here are a couple of particularly rubbish ones to give you an idea:



My main thanks are reserved for my lovely guests who took a chance on brunch Chez Aoife, donated their hard earned cash and also contributed to the Toiletries Amnesty, a genius idea from Karen at idontlikepeas.co.uk. It's not too late! Get busy organising an event or come along to the breakfast organised at The Centre at St Pauls on Friday.