News

There was a good turnout for the latest Walking Group outing. After a spell of hot weather the cooler day was welcomed as members enjoyed a circular walk around Godolphin, finishing with a well deserved tea and cake in the tearoom.

The White Hart at Hayle was the venue for this month’s Meet and Eat. This increasingly popular subgroup meet for lunch each month at a local venue. The White Hart in the centre of Hayle is a hotel that was built in 1838, by the shipyard and foundry owner, Henry Harvey for his sister Jane, as lodging and hostelry for visiting engineers, and still retains much of it’s original character and style.

Pasta Verde (serves 4)

INGREDIENTS

240g dried pasta (shape of your choosing)
80g asparagus tips (cut into 1 inch pieces)
120g frozen broad beans
120g frozen peas
2tbsp olive oil, plus 1 tsp
1 courgette, sliced
¼ tsp chilli flakes
1 lemon, zest and juice
50g Parmesan, grated
15g butter
10g mint, chopped

METHOD

1. Cook the pasta in a large pan of salted boiling water for eight minutes until al dente. Add the broad beans, peas and asparagus during the last two minutes. Drain, reserving 200ml of pasta water just in case you feel the dish is dry (personal choice, I don’t use it).
   
2. Meanwhile, heat 1 tsp oil in a frying pan over a medium heat and cook courgettes with a pinch of salt for eight minutes, stirring, until golden and softened. Add chilli flakes and cook for one minute. Set aside.
   
3. Combine lemon zest and juice, Parmesan, butter and remaining olive oil in a large bowl with plenty of ground black pepper. Tip in drained pasta and veg, along with half reserved pasta water if needed. Add more if the mixture is dry.
   Stir in mint and serve in bowls, sprinkled with more Parmesan.

ALTERNATIVES

If asparagus is unavailable adjust quantities of frozen beans or peas or use mangetout.
You can use broken dried lasagne sheets as an alternative to pasta shapes.

At our August meeting we try to take the opportunity to do something different. This year we went to the Community Garden armed with gazebo, chairs, cakes and scones and spent a lovely afternoon in the dappled shade, catching up and having a sing song.

What a glorious day – we went along to Tremenheere and were able to find a spot with some shade – there were 5 of us in total and it really was a lovely meeting.   We discussed two books, the first of which was ‘Unheard’ by Nicci French. In fact this is the pseudonym of husband and wife team – Nicci Gerard and Sean French – the book club has enjoyed many novels by this couple.  They write psychological thrillers together.   Apparently one writes a piece then this is followed on by the second person.    On most occasions this has worked very well for us but in this book many of us felt it was disjointed as situations in one chapter did not follow through into the next and you were left wondering why that particular thing happened.   Saying all that, it was well written, full of suspense at times full of twists, turns and red herrings.   Some were a bit disappointed at the reveal.   I am pleased to say that a couple of our members who have not read them before are looking forward to reading their other books.  In one instance a member read the book in 2 days ‘just one more chapter’. I do urge you to try one of their books.  This book was rated a 6 out of 10.

Our second book was The Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovitch. In this novel Probationary Constable Peter Grant dreams of being a detective in Metropolitan Police.  Too bad his superior plans to assign him to the Case Progression Unit where the biggest threat he’ll face is a paper cut.   Peter’s prospects change in the aftermath of a puzzling murder when he gains exclusive information from an eyewitness who happens to be a ghost.   Peter’s ability to speak with the lingering dead brings him to the attention of DCI Thomas Nightingale who investigates crimes involving magic and other manifestations of the uncanny.     As a wave of brutal and bizarre murders engulfs the city, Peter is plunged into a world where gods and goddesses mingle with mortals and a long-dead evil is making a comeback on a rising tide of magic.   The River Thomas is a prominent feature of the story.  Several members felt that this story would have come across well on audio.

We did enjoy Gail reading a passage to us – it brought the characters alive.  This book was marked 8 out of 10. (Report by Pat G)

We had so many requests for instructions for these, so Gail has put together an easy guide.

 

Sticky Toffee Apple Pudding

Ingredients

85g butter, melted

140g self-raising flour

100g golden caster sugar

1 tbsp baking powder

200ml milk

1 egg, beaten

1 tsp vanilla extract

2 Bramley apples- peeled, cored and sliced

For the topping

50g pecans, roughly chopped

140g dark brown sugar

Method

STEP 1

Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Grease a 2-litre/3½-pint ovenproof dish lightly with butter. Tip the flour, sugar and baking powder, along with a pinch of salt, into a large bowl. Mix together the milk, butter, egg and vanilla extract and stir into the dry ingredients until you get a smooth batter. Arrange the apples in the dish, spoon the batter on top and smooth with a knife until the apples are covered.

STEP 2

For the topping, pour 250ml boiling water over the sugar and stir together until smooth. Pour the liquid over the pudding mixture, then scatter over the pecans. Bake for about 40 mins until the pudding has risen and is golden. Use a big spoon to serve the pudding, making sure you get some of the gooey caramel sauce covering the bottom of the dish. Serve with pouring cream, warm custard or vanilla ice cream.

Note – the topping appears to be a lot of liquid but it is necessary for the sauce.

This recipe from BBC Good Food was chosen by Di – let us know if you try it!

A misty damp morning greeted us at Botallack at the start of the walk.  However, the remaining iconic land marks of mining in Cornwall were just visible despite the mizzle. Our destination was Cape Cornwall where we found a sheltered spot to eat our picnic while watching a brave swimmer dive into the sea . 

We returned in the sunshine to Botallack and ended the day with tea and cake in the Count House Cafe.  (Shirley)

Meike Weiser was the speaker for our July Monthly Meeting. Meike is Project Officer for the Cornwall Council initiative ‘Forest for Cornwall’, which encourages and enables individuals, businesses and communities in the planting of trees. A particular focus is to ensure that the right trees are planted in the right place. Meike also reminded members of the multiple benefits of trees, to humans, to biodiversity, to communities and the planet. The ultimate aim of the programme, also known as F4C, is to cover 8,000 hectares of the county with new trees, whether it be individual trees in gardens, hedgerows, urban planting or in parks by the year 2030. Every council area is also being offered a free tree for their community. You can read more, and find out how you can get involved, by clicking the link below.

https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/environment/countryside/forest-for-cornwall-programme/

At their latest meeting Gail’s Craft Club made Lavender Wands. Traditionally used in drawers and wardrobes to keep away moths and other insects, these pretty, fragrant wands are simple to make with just long stemmed lavender, ribbon and a decorative button.