Final Month Cottage Cooking Club

Once again it’s time for our cooking club to gather together and post our recipes for the month of July. But what makes this post even more special is that this month marks the sixth and final month of our second project for our international online cooking group. We are a group of blogger's from around the world that collectively post our pictures and experiences as we cook along with two of Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's cookbooks. The books are, "River Cottage Every Day" and "Love Your Leftovers". Our group is meant to be a project aimed at incorporating more seasonal dishes in our everyday cooking. Andrea of "The Kitchen Lioness" is our dedicated founder and leader. The goal is to cook and share as many recipes from either cookbook of our choosing. This month I decided to shake things up a little bit as I will be sharing two recipes that I enjoyed this month and then share one recipe from each book that was a favorite during this online cooking adventure.

Muesli with blueberries, orange juice, strawberry jam and yogurt
The first recipe I prepared was Muesli with blueberries, oranges and yogurt. Why I waited so long to make this myself I’m not sure maybe because I always enjoy the one from Bob’s Red Mill. For this recipe I combined dates, raisins, rolled oats, sunflower seeds, walnuts and flax seed. You can use different seeds, fruits and grains, whatever you have available. Muesli will keep for several weeks in an airtight container in the fridge. To serve; measure out about 1/3 cup into a cereal bowl, then add a small amount of orange juice and milk, let sit about 5 to 10 minutes to soften. Enjoy! I added a few blueberries, some Greek yogurt, a dab of strawberry jam and a drizzle of honey. FANTASTIC! The perfect way to start your day.

Roast Carrots with Butter, Cumin and Orange

The second was a bright and easy side dish made with young summer carrots. The carrots were so fresh that I gave them a good scrubbing and then cut them in half lengthwise. (no reason to peel) These carrots were roasted with olive oil, butter, cumin seed and a little honey. They caramelized beautifully and as soon as I removed them from the oven I added orange juice and the zest. It’s amazing the range of flavors and textures that root veggies bring to a dish. I will make this dish again and dress it up depending on the season and what spices and herbs I have available. Funny how such a humble ingredient can achieve so much flavor.

Spiced Fig Compote with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream


My favorite recipe from, "River Cottage Every Day" hands down was the Spiced Fig Compote with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream. Here dried figs were soaked in water and then drained. The liquid was reserved and then the figs were added back in along with some brown sugar, honey, cardamom, star anise, cinnamon stick and a peel of an orange. This flavorful mixture was cooked down until a syrup consistency was achieved. I served this fruit dessert warm with vanilla bean ice cream.

Potted Smoked Fish
My favorite from Love Your Leftovers" was the Potted smoked fish. In this dish I used leftover hot smoked salmon, parsley, dill, olive oil and fresh lemon juice. Another amazing combination that is great on toast, and delicious with pasta.

I also would like to take this time to thank Andrea from "The Kitchen Lioness for her leadership and inspiration. Please accept my heartfelt gratitude for your time, support, and patience.

To see the postings of what other Cottage Cooking Club Members prepared as their final dishes, click here.

Comments

  1. Everything looks so delicious, Cheri. Specially, that 'Spiced Fig Compote with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream'. I bet it tastes awesome. :)

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    1. Thanks Anu, that was my favorite too! Have a great weekend!

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  2. Pretty sure I'd love the Potted Smoked Fish too! (Plus everything else!)

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    1. Thanks Inger, I had a great time cooking with the CCC.

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  3. I love your Cottage Club Cooking Posts, each and every one of these dishes sounds and looks amazing! Such unique and fun recipes!

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    1. Thanks Chris, yes I'm going to miss our CCC cooking group, had a lot of fun and learned alot too.

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  4. They are so yummy, and that fig compote is for sure my favourite!

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  5. Love your choices. The idea of soaking the muesli in orange juice is great. I shall have to try and find a recipe for the fig compote as I don't have the book. We always peel carrots, only because the dogs love the peels.

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    1. Interesting about the carrot peels I bet my dogs would love them too, makes alot of sense.

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  6. Looks like you've enjoyed some delicious treats lately from those cookbooks, Cheri! They all look great, but I'd love to try that potted smoked fish on some rye cracker bread :) Yum!

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    1. The potted smoked salmon was another great one, thanks Marcelle.

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  7. I have really enjoyed this series! And the recipes in this post are all wonderful. I especially like the flavoring of fhe figs. I make some with a thyme and lime syrup... and the potted smoked fish! Yum. Beautiful photos, as always, Cheri!

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    1. Figs with thyme and lime syrup sounds delicious David, would definitely love to hear more about that dish.....

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  8. Muesli! The breakfast of champions! Well, at least for my mom, the tennis star. Thank you for the memories and the how-to. Appreciate the intro to fig compote...love that it's served with vanilla bean ice cream =)

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    1. Thanks Kim, I just started enjoying muesli this summer, love it!

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  9. All your dishes for the final look amazing. I must give the muesli a go!

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  10. Dear Cheri, such a wonderful post with so many lovely dishes that all looks delicious - prepared with love and care! Thank you so much for being such a kind and enthusiastic member of the Copttage Cooking Club - there is a new cookbook from Hugh due to be released on September 21, entitled River Cottage Much More Veg - let´s see where that will lead us as a group...In the meantime I'm enjoying your posts and all! Must give that Müsli a try - looks healthy and so good! And those carrots are always a hit at our house, as are so many of the River Cottage dishes.
    Thank you for everything, my friend, it is always a pleasure cooking and baking along with you!
    See you soon!
    Andrea

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    1. Hi Andrea, can't believe this is our last month cooking together, have had a wonderful time, will keep an eye out for any new endeavors....Thanks again!

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  11. Look at those glorious carrots! I was planning to check our carrots this weekend and see if I can pick them. I will have to try this recipe with them for sure.

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  12. These are bearings on the most proficient method to do a formula.

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