Bitter Orange Icecream

1 x 600ml tub double cream
Zest & juice of one orange
Zest of one lime & juice of 2 limes
175g icing sugar
(optional) dash of orange bitters

Put everything into a bowl and whip to soft peaks. Freeze for 3-5 hours in a sealed container. Remove from freezer 15 minutes before eating - brilliant with anything chocolately ;-)

The World Cup

Can I wake up now ? Is it over ? The best thing about the world cup was that one of those clever Waitrose ads introduced me to Delia's Saltimbocca recipe, made with pork rather than politically incorrect (huh, like I care !) veal.
Oooh Lordy Lordy. It's delicious.

www.deliaonline.com/recipes/main-ingredient/pork/pork-saltimbocca.html

Bailey

Meet Bailey Martinez. He is an international jet set Shitzu, who spilts his time between Marbella and Cheltenham. Sadly, Bailey is not mine. He belongs to my uber glam model friend, Jules. Bailey comes to stay whilst his Mummy is living her equally jet set life, and fits into our house full of dogs and cats as if he has lived here all of his life. Dog walking has never looked more like a Pride Parade.

Spoilt Brat

It's July, which signals the annual move for my son, from one flat to another, in his University hometown, Bristol. He has already been a student for 5 years, it seems like 10. Once upon a time students were despatched with a bean bag, a saucepan, and a cookery book entitled "1001 ways with Jacket Potatoes". Not my boy. Like Mother like Son. Brought up by a Mother who preferred to do her weekly shop in Selfridges Food Hall, he regularly calls me for cooking tips. " Mum", he wails, "I'm rustling up a scallop and chorizo rissotto. Which rice should I use, Arboria or Carnaroli ?"

He has had flats in some of the most beautiful buildings in Bristol, 18th buildings with character, once occupied by the rich merchants. Student life is not what it used to be. The smug little gits ;-)

So the Jag is filled with his (duck down, he insists on it) duvets, speakers, laptops, vinyl, top end saucepans and woks, and bags upon bags of fresh laundry (I dipped out here, and rather sluttishly sent it to the local service wash). I note there are no work books; odd when he has 3 modules to resit next month.

Life is always a little more dull when Fauntleroy isn't around, but I shall look forward to the regular call with his cookery FAQ, "Mother - how long in the oven for a 1kg fillet of beef" (18 minutes darling, after searing, then rest for the same, and how the *!?$ can you afford that !)

Time Flies

I have been a very naughty blogger; I let life run away with me and neglected to attend to The Secret Speakeasy. So here I am, to dust off the cobwebs and rearrange the furniture.

A lot has been happening in Nightingale World. I have decided to go back to work; John's recovery from an aquired brain injury is progressing well and I need to get back in touch with the outside world. So, in less than two weeks time I will become the new PA to the Directors of One Creative Environments, an architectural design practice. Having spent the last five years working within the design & build sector, I know this job will fit me like a glove.

I have also had my own cow named after me. Ali lives in New South Wales, Australia on the "ranch" owned by one of my BF's, Janine Snow (Princess Nini of Snowland - she rules Wales you know !)

I adore Highland Cattle, and Ali is a beauty. I only hope she doesn't end up like Colin, another of Janine's bovine entourage. He is now packaged up in her kitchen, marked as Scottish fillet and lean mince :-(