Georgina Hayden

Feeding since 1982

Elderflower jellies (and cordial)

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It’s elderflower season! And I am giddy from picking this free treasure. I love that even living in a heavily built up and busy city I managed to do a little foraging. These beauties were found by the canal in East London and I’ve been back twice since (I haven’t depleted the whole tree I promise). We’ve had a quiet couple of days after a heavy few weeks and this was perfectly calming and therapeutic. So, a short and simple blog post from me today, and appreciating these beautiful little flowers in all their glory.

 

Elderflower
Freshly picked elderflower
Elderflower jellies
Elderflower jellies

 

ELDERFLOWER CORDIAL

Classic elderflower cordial calls for just caster sugar and lemons, however I love the subtle addition of honey.

  • 15 heads of elderflower (be sure not to wash them, but do pick off any bugs)
  • 500g caster sugar
  • 4 tablespoons good quality runny honey
  • 2 unwaxed lemons

Continue for recipe…

Feast for Archie

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I’m writing this post and feeling quite bleary eyed. Buzzing from the adrenaline of the last few days, emotional because of what it is all for and overwhelmed by how much love is in our hearts. When I first started planning Feast for Archie a few months ago I never dreamed it would end up the way it did, such a momentous and incredible day, and that we would raise over £3000 for two incredible charities (Sands and Tommy’s) just from a supper club! It blows me away and makes me feel pretty tearful that all of this is in memory of our little boy, and that so many people know about him and want to help… It means so much to both of us.

May has been a tough month, and in my head this week was going to be the hardest, and I know it probably still will be, but doing this has definitely helped make a difficult time less so. His legacy lives on and that is all a mother can ask for. So, thank you all, for helping me create a legacy for my baby and for helping these charities do what they do. If you would like to donate, you can still do so here.

Here are some highlights from our wonderful day, with a list of ‘thank you’s’ to everyone who helped! And a recipe for the starter – roasted ricotta with figs and honey roasted walnut kataifi.

 

Tom Calver's beautiful Westcombe ricotta ready for the oven
Tom Calver’s beautiful Westcombe ricotta ready for the oven. On fresh fig leaves, with oregano, lemon and olive oil.
Pete busted me instagramming on the job
Busted instagramming on the job.
The most incredible flowers, donated by the wonderful Rebel Rebel.
The most incredible flowers, donated by the wonderful Rebel Rebel.
The beautiful studio above Fifteen, all set for our supper club and filled with incredible flowers from Rebel Rebel
The tables all set, such a gorgeous space – flowers everywhere! They totally made it.

Continue for more snaps and recipe…

Crispy pork and chilli egg fried rice

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Happy Monday!

We’ve just got back from a week in Tulum and I’m pretty jet-lagged. Thankfully I’ve got a day at home to sort through a tonne of photos (expect a Mexico picture post next!) and reflect on all the amazing things we have seen and done this last week, it was an incredibly inspiring trip.

May is proving to be a difficult month for us, a lot of memories and a lot of build up to Archie’s birthday. There was some serious soul searching whilst we were away, a lot of reflection and we made some resolutions about what we’d like to do differently when we get home. There aren’t lots but it’s quality over quantity, and things that are achievable. Small things like waking up earlier, make time every week to exercise together (like we were doing before, we’ve been slack), small changes that will make a big difference. My weekly shop is one of those resolutions. When I first started cooking again in the early days, doing my weekly shop and meal planning gave me such a sense of achievement. I felt good knowing I was doing the best I could by feeding us well, as well as relaxing by spending time in the kitchen.

Pork chilli egg fried rice
Pork and chilli egg fried rice

So today I did my first weekly shop. Lots of fruit and veg, organic yoghurts for breakfast, tea smoked fish for a seasonal asparagus salad, ham hocks for our favourite hash, chicken to have with mole sauce… For lunch today however I wanted something comforting and homely (although it is supposedly warm by UK standards, I’m not convinced – I’m not bringing the Birkenstocks back out just yet). Read more…