The Beautiful Game (The BG) – the dessert browse

It occurs to me that you'll probably want to have a dessert up your sleeve for your football fans.

There are 118 recipes to choose from on the blog – check out the “Desserts” label for inspiration.

I'd suggest too that you have a look at “Stock the store cupboard” in the Desserts – if it's quick and easy you want I think you'll find this helpful.

Basics

for your freezer “store cupboard”

vanilla ice cream

sticky toffee sauce

frozen cherries

frozen raspberries

for your pantry “store”

meringue kisses – if you don't want to be

bothered to make your own

a good quality lemon curd – if you don't have

time to make your own

hazelnuts

walnuts

pecan nuts

Of course you don't have to serve a traditional dessert – make some Rocky Road or Chocolate Hokey Pokey for the freezer and layer either with fresh seasonal fruit, ice cream, nuts and a drizzle of warmed sticky toffee sauce.

Since I gave you a new dish after your “savoury browse” it seems rude not to follow suit with a dessert … read on!

Asian Spiced Gallimaufry – Photo-guide continued

So sorry these photos are out of flunter – they are the last part of the post on 17^th June here!

Anyway, here's the cooking guide :

I have to end with another footballing metaphor – back of the net. Actually these days I always say – courtesy of the phenomenal athlete Usain Bolt - “back of the shed”.

You'll be glad when this footballing malarkey is over and done with!

P.s. You don't have to use fillet steak – chicken breast fillet, sliced, works just as well.

Chippy Quest – the photos

As is usual – here's the proof :

I don't think I've forgotten anything – oh and by the way – I'm not on commission – just reporting in for those out there who like good food, reasonably priced and the smile is for free!

My continuing chippy quest!

You'd think it remiss of me not to check out the chippy situation whilst on holiday.

Mission accomplished!

Scarlett's Fish & Chip Shop is located in the High Street in Rhosneigr, Anglesey. It has an area to eat in and your dog is welcome too. The shop is immaculately clean and the staff are lovely. Not a surprise they hold a Fish & Chip Quality Award – Five Star.

It is definitely what you'd call traditional – keep it simple is my motto and they do just that.

What I really loved was they use no plastic or polystyrene in their packing – they use biodegradable containers that are microwavable and feel like cardboard – even the forks are biodegradable. It's a long time since fish and chips were wrapped in newspaper – they seemed to taste better that way or may be it's just nostalgia – the bio version is fantastic – I hated the squeaky polystyrene containers - hats off to Scarlett's.

We visited twice during our stay – it was top class on both occasions. The best curry sauce I've had in a long time – excepting my own!

Photos next ...

Island of Anglesey – Beaumaris

Beaumaris is a beautiful town in the east of Anglesey and is steeped in history, check out the Castle.

Here are a couple of photos - one taken from the pier looking back into the town and the other to the sea :

If it's a spot of retail therapy you're after then Beaumaris is the place – unusual these days I know – it has real shops – perfect for a holiday mooch around.

Here's my discovery - “The Little Chilli Shop” 4 Church Street Beaumaris.

I met the lovely Suzanne who was so helpful. Apart from all things chilli Suzanne has a wide variety of spices. What a find – I'm always on the look out for star anise powder. I love the whole spice but the powder is really useful for making marinades. 100g later I'm a very happy person. They grow their own chillies and make the products - and much more besides.

I'd definitely recommend you visit!

Summertime and the livin' is easy …

to quote Gershwin's Porgy and Bess – haven't seen any fish jumpin' but you can't have everything!

Who'd have thought we'd be in the middle of a heatwave in the UK and here I am on holiday on the Island of Anglesey in North Wales – for those not familiar, it's off the mainland's northwest coast. Access to the island is by either the Menai Suspension Bridge or the Britannia Bridge. We are staying in Rhosneigr which is in the south, in an “upside down” house with a perfect view of the sea, which is literally two minutes away.

I know that everything I do is food related but it's really difficult to predict what provisions to take when you're self-catering. I have no intention of spending my holiday shopping for food and so gave some thought to bits and pieces that I thought would appeal. Don't get me wrong we'll be out to eat too but now and again it's nice to relax and to be able to throw together something quick, easy and tasty.

My two hits were to take the wherewithal to produce a giant platter of a prawn cocktail – everyone can dig in! The other was a smoked mackerel paté. I've made this paté for years – there are two excellent benefits – it's actually healthy – you'd never know!

Here's the recipe again for ease of reference :

Smoked Mackerel Paté

250g smoked mackerel

250g Quark

glug of lemon juice

freshly ground black pepper

2 tsps creamed horseradish

Peel the skin from the back of the mackerel, break the fillets into small pieces and place in a food processor. Add the Quark and blitz with the mackerel, then add the lemon juice, black pepper and horseradish, blitz again. You can gauge the consistency of the paté to your personal taste.

Hold the front page – there are new Quark flavours – Cherry Tomato & Basil and Garlic & Herb in 250g pots – there's a vanilla version too. I used the garlic and herb in my holiday paté instead of the plain. I know I shouldn't say so but it really was delicious. If you want versatility and get your Omega 3 hit from the mackerel, this is for you. Add whatever you want – finely chopped sweet onion and sliced black olives are my favourites – fold through after you've blitzed.

Spread on whatever you like best – any savoury biscuit – on toast – on cheese flavoured oakcakes or for the ultimate indulgence – freshly baked bread.

You won't be sorry.

More holiday stuff ...

Butterscotch tart photo guide - take 2

Sorry there are two lots of photos - necessary I think to show what you'll achieve.

A definite indulgence, not an everyday dessert!