Eton Mess

With just 4 ingredients and a few minutes to whip up, this classic ENGLISH DESSERT is the perfect summer dessert! Always a hit whenever I make this!!

We had a holiday in England last June - perfect time for all that glorious English strawberries. Naturally, we've had many a desserts that use these yummy berries. Our favorite of all is this English classic -- Eton Mess. You know why? It wasn't only delicious but has just 3 ingredients  --- meringue, cream and strawberries!! When you use store-bought meringue (which I do) all you need is 10 minutes to make this awesome summer dessert!! Intrigued? Read on....

Chewy Chocolate Flapjacks (Oat Bars)

These oat bars are so delicious and more-ish!! These chocolate-covered and honey-sweetened flapjacks are  quick and easy to make, too! Gluten-free.

When we went to England last November, we enjoyed so many yummy food that we don't often get here in the US. That included delicious British sausages, Christmas pudding, clotted cream or simply any food from Marks and Spencers! We enjoyed lots of Victoria sandwich cakes, scones, shortbread and certainly some yummy chewy flapjacks. Thankfully, flapjacks are easy to make and the ingredients are readily available anywhere in the world unless you don't have oats where you are! In the Philippines we can buy oats so I guess, if our little country has it, I can imagine it is pretty easy to find anywhere else.

Cherry and Panettone Trifle

Freshly whipped cream, yummy custard, fruits plus Italian Panettone or any sponge cake make this a delicious and party-perfect Trifle! 

My kids and I love Italian Panettone! When the chilly fall season finally arrives, you can be certain that we look for and buy at least a loaf or two of this special holiday bread (or cake as others readily point out but I won't argue with anyone over this! I love it either way!). I compare it to a brioche loaf - deliciously sweet, buttery and tender! During the Christmas season it comes in many varieties - plain, with chocolate chips or loaded with fruits so it's like a fruitcake and taste a little bit like it, too! I guess because it was Christmas I gravitated to the more festive looking Panettone loaf that I saw.

No Bake White Chocolate Mousse and Raspberry Trifle

I am married to a British guy so we often have desserts in our house! I personally did not grow up having desserts all the time. In fact, it was considered a luxury in our house located at a tiny and somewhat remote island in the Philippines. When I was young, we had it, maybe, once a week usually on a Sunday when my Mom prepared a special lunch for everyone. If we were fortunate, we would have a family size Coke to go with it! And because it's sweet - it may count as dessert....yes, seriously!

No Bake Chocolate and Caramel Crunch Bars

This is a wow recipe, simply wow! Not only because it's a No Bake super-easy recipe but because it is totally scrumptious. Layers of pecan crumb crust, delicious caramel filling and then melted chocolate on top - how can you ever resist that?

Garlic and Thyme Roasted Chicken with Courgettes (Zucchini)

We went to England in 2010 and stayed with my hubby's very good friend, Robin, while in London. His wife was away visiting her family abroad at that time so he was left in-charge of taking care of us and feeding us. Wow, I was almost afraid for him - not that we are difficult guests (LOL) but just because I didn't want him to make a fuss or to be intimidated with our presence.

Berry Medley Bombe

For those who want to make ice cream but fear that they cannot make it because they don't have an ice cream maker, have no more fear the Bombe is here! The Bombe Glacée, or simply a bombe in English, is an ice cream dessert frozen in a spherical mold so as to resemble a cannonball, hence the name.

NO BAKE White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake with fresh Raspberry Coulis

This luscious NO BAKE White Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake is the ultimate summer dessert. Fresh and sweet-tangy raspberry coulis perfectly complements the rich and creamy cheesecake.Tried and tested, super easy recipe, too!

As some of you dear readers would know I am married to a British guy, my lovable and cute husband Mark...obviously I am very much in-love with him! :-) Anyway, he loves Cheesecake and I do too - I guess, most people do.... :-)

Travels and Travails and Full English Breakfast

I feel like, with all the trouble I had gone through recently just to make it here to the UK, I ought to write a post about it. It's not really because I want to rant or something but because I think what I went through may be interesting enough for a read and certainly will open your eyes about certain aspects of travelling that you may not be aware of....

Gluten-free Tuna Pasta Salad

 

It's been over a month now since my husband has changed his diet - dairy-free, soy-free and gluten-free! I know, sounds like an awful chunk of food group(s) have been removed.... It was overwhelming at first and I didn't think I'd be able to cook anything but with some research and a little creativity - it's not impossible to live this way, actually.

Stilton and Walnut Pie

We are excited to go to England in a few weeks time! Because of this I thought it's about time I add a British recipe, after all I am married to one! :-) Thankfully, my husband has such an eclectic taste when it comes to food and is always willing to try something new that he's not too bothered that I don't do much British cooking.

Chicken, Cashew and Tarragon Stir-fry (with Bacon)

  

When we visit my in-laws in England, my husband never fails to request his mom to cook this dish. He said that this is one of his favorite food. Having tasted it a few times, I do agree it's a wonderful dish - simple to prepare yet fabulously delicious. I particularly love the crunch that the cashews bring and the flavor that the tarragon imparts to the chicken.

I would have tried to cook this a long time ago if I had the recipe. I don't know why I haven't asked for it. Unfortunately, when my husband was craving this dish for dinner it was  a little too late to call England so I had to make this based on how my hubby remembers it was done.

When we were eating the dish, he suddenly remembered that he forgot to tell me an important ingredient of the dish ---- bacon! How can anyone forget bacon? It's a good thing that when  he mentioned that the chicken was stir-fried --- butter and garlic came to mind. So, it still came out good. The next time I made it for sure bacon was added. If you don't fancy bacon you can just leave it out. 

Ingredients

A little olive oil (1 tsp or if using a non-stick pan, a little spray on the pan will do)
3 tbsp butter or 3-4 bacon strips, chopped 
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1 lb chicken breasts (2 large ones), chopped in bite-size pieces
Salt and pepper
4-6 tbsp fresh tarragon, chopped (we love tarragon so we  use a lot of it but it has a strong aniseed-like flavor so adjust to taste!)
1/2 cup roasted cashew nuts (whole or in pieces)

Procedure

Melt the butter in a little oil in a large skillet or frying pan. If you prefer, use bacon instead. Cook the bacon until it turns brown and renders its fat. Sauté the garlic and let it sizzle for a few seconds (not more than a minute to prevent browning). Once the garlic has flavored the butter/bacon fat and oil, you may opt to remove it from the pan but if you love garlic, let it stay!

Raise the heat to medium high and then add the chicken pieces. Season with salt and pepper.  

Stir-fry for about 2-3 minutes or until the chicken has changed its color and is starting to brown a little on its sides.

Stir in the cashew nuts and the tarragon leaves. Cook for another minute or just until chicken is tender.                                                                                       

Garnish with a little more tarragon on top. Serve immediately.

Have it with green veggies on the side. Broccoli perfectly pairs with it.