Easter chocolate biscuit cake.....

This is Easter. No not August, Easter. Sunny wonderful spring time. I'm off to Scilly for 2 weeks to enjoy Bryher hot cross buns and my mum's Easter nests. See you in May xxxx

Easter Chocolate Biscuit Cake....(Makes about 8 slices)

6oz butter
8oz galaxy chocolate
4 tbsp syrup
1 mars bar
1 caramel bar
1 bag of mini eggs
1lb digestive biscuits

On a very low heat melt the galaxy, syrup and butter together. You might need to give it a good mix with a spatula to make sure the butter and chocolate melt together.

Crumble the biscuits into rough chunks. Take the chocolate mix off the heat and add the biscuits. Give it a good stir to make sure the biscuits are covered in the chocolate mix. When it's covered add the other chocolate bits. I left the caramel chunks whole and the mars bar in big chunks so it didn't melt away but actually I should have chopped the lumps in half because they didn't melt at all!

Press into a foiled of cling filmed tin. Push the mini eggs into the mix. Press down and pop in the fridge.

The Rising Sun, St Mawes.....

Last week we took the water taxi from Falmouth to St Mawes. It was one of the many sunny evenings we've had recently. Boats were darting around the harbour while gig crews practised around the mouth of Carrick Roads.

We ate at The Rising Sun. Everyone else ate football sized fish and chips I had a thick wedge of grilled hake with sun dried tomatoes and balsamic.

We drank wine and beers while the sun streamed through the window. It was perfect.

Early time of spear...

The asparagus season has started three weeks early in Cornwall. Usually it would be the end of April or beginning of May but this week people have started seeing asparagus in their vegetable boxes.

One farmer I spoke to yesterday said he started to see signs at the beginning of March. It's all down to the cold hard winter and mild spring (he says).

I'm jealous. I didn't get vegetables this week. I'll have to head to Truro Farmers Market tomorrow and see if I can get some.

For asparagus recipes see here and here

Great British Menu....

Later this month Paul Ainsworth from Padstow is going to compete in the regional rounds of Great British Menu.

It will be on BBC 2 at the end of the month. The chef that makes it through to the final will be fighting for the right to serve one of the dishes at The People's Banquet- a street party for 100 deserving members of the public.

I've never at eaten at his restaurants (Paul Ainsworth at Number 6 and Rojano's In The Square) but I've had a lot of long ad gushing reviews from friends....so no doubt he will be there until the end and so he should.

Watergate Bay.....

I am enjoying this sunshine. I'm enjoying the barbecues and the eating out. And wiggling my toes in the sand.

At the weekend we went to Watergate Bay and ate at the Beach Hut.

It was officially better than being abroad.

The Beach Hut

Watergate Bay

01637 860543

Porthleven Food Festival....

Could there have been a better day for the Porthleven Food Festival? Sunshine reflecting off the water, the warm air clinging onto the smell of barbecued fish. The festival is a complete delight.

This year there was a stand of Turkish food. There were huge crowds around it. I left empty handed as I only had £3 left so missed out on their £4 salad plate which would have been great on the beach this afternoon.

Hope's Bread were also there. I bought two fluffy pesto, tomato, pepper and olive focaccias.

But its real highlight are the array of street food stalls. Big bowls of mussels, barbecued fish, Cornish sausage rolls and vats of noodles.

I enjoyed the festival a lot last year and it's only got bigger and better.

Boconnoc Spring Flower Show....

This weekend it was the Spring Flower Show at Boconnoc. About 8000 people descend on the historic estate. There's every flower and plant you can think of.....camellias, rhododendrons, trees and shrubs. The colours are beautiful. It also has a wonderful food tent with an unusual selection of pasties!

Today there was a new stall (for me) the 'Bellamama Deli". It's website says it's been around since 2009 but it was the first time I've seen them at an event. It's so refreshing to see a deli with so many homemade goodies. I had a slice of the spinach and feta filo pie for my lunch but there were also delicious looking chorizo, red onion and chilli quiches and some amazing scotch eggs.

I'm definitely going to plan a walk around Lostwithiel so I can head their for a proper picnic. I'm still thinking about their millionaire's shortbread.

Bellamama Deli, Fore Street, Lostwithiel

01208872524

Stalker....

I got a shock last week. I was told that my rhubarb was ready. My poor forgotten rhubarb left to its own devices over the winter months. It knew spring was coming and was bursting with pink shoots when I finally caught on. It made the most delicious pudding.

Rhubarb and vanilla sponges (serves 2)..........

4 rhubarb stalks

2 tbsp light brown sugar

1 large egg

50g self raising flour

1 tsp baking powder

50g caster sugar

50 soft butter

2 tsp vanilla extract

Chop the rhubarb into 2cm chunks and put in a pan with the brown sugar and a couple of tbsp of water. Put on a low heat and leave to soften.

Preheat the oven to 180'c. Mix all the sponge ingredients together in a small bowl. Butter a ramekin with melted butter and pop in the fridge for a couple of minutes. Butter again. Spoon the rhubarb mixture into the ramekin. Then add the sponge.

Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes.

Carefully turn out and serve with custard or clotted cream.