Fit for a King

I ventured back in time this week to 6th February 1789 when ‘mad’ King George III was declared fit to dine with cutlery again at Kew Palace …Master Cook William Wybrow immediately set about preparing a celebratory feast in the Royal Kitchens featuring the King’s favourite dishes -soupe barley, mutton steaks smoured in a frying panne, and chocolate tart…

The kitchens served Kew Palace and White House but they closed after Queen Charlotte’s death in 1818 and remained untouched for the next 200 years! Thanks to restoration by Historic Royal Palaces, the kitchens are now open to the public, offering a magnificent showcase of cookery in Georgian times.

The Great Kitchen at Kew Palace

Visitors can see how food was prepared and cooked with 18th century ovens and sturdy bakehouse tables. Upstairs there are fine examples of Georgian décor, including the office of the Kitchen Clerk who kept meticulous records of meals and budgets.

The Kitchen Clerk’s Ledger

Today’s visitor’s can enjoy lively  cookery demonstrations at the palace on special occasions… or dare to test the King’s favourite recipes at home? We would love to hear if you do…

Chefs cook up a royal feast at Kew Palace

Rustic animal print cushions

I’m a firm believer that you can never have too many cushions. Not only do they provide a bit of extra comfort, they’re also a great way of adding pattern, texture and colour to your home.

My cushion crush this week is the fabulous collection from Helkatdesign at Two Red Trees. Animal motifs are big news in the interiors world and these rustic, hand-printed cushions are a perfect way to embrace the trend.

These designs are so adorable, which one is your favourite?

Hand printed rustic cushions from top left; Wading bird pair, £40; Piggy, £38; Beagle, £40; Butterfly & dragonflies, £50; Trotting horse, £39; Mouse, £38, all Helkatdesign at Two Red Trees.

Two Red Trees actively supports and promotes talented Artisans, within the UK, producing a wealth of beautiful handmade items for the modern country home.

Food for the great outdoors…

The sun is shining (sporadically) so surely it can only be a matter of time before the barbeque gets dusted down… Admittedly you may need a Moscow heater, wellingtons and a throw if you’re venturing out into the garden in the evening at the moment but it will be so worth it when you’re eating one of these… (and if all else fails you’ve always got the grill)

Lamb Stacks with Mint Relish (serves 6)

6 thin lamb leg steaks or escallopes
Salt and freshly milled black pepper
Grated zest of 1 lemon
1 tbsp rapeseed or olive oil
1 x 280g jar roasted peppers, drained and cut into quarters
50g goat’s cheese, crumbled
For the mint relish:
1 x 25-30g pack fresh chopped mint
1 small red onion, peeled and finely chopped
1 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsp rapeseed or olive oil

1 To prepare the mint relish, mix all the ingredients together in a small bowl, cover and set aside.

2 Place the steaks on a chopping board. Season and sprinkle with the lemon zest on both sides then brush with the oil. Cook on a prepared barbecue or under a preheated moderate grill for 2-3 minutes.

3 Transfer the lamb onto warm plates and top with the roasted peppers. Scatter the goat’s cheese on top and spoon over the relish. Serve with a crisp green salad.

This recipe is from www.simplybeefandlamb.co.uk. Always choose lamb that carries the Quality Standard Mark, available from independent butchers and selected supermarkets, to make sure your meat has been produced to the highest standards.

Reclaimed

I love trawling salvage yards and junk shops in search of bits and pieces other people have discarded and thinking of new ways to adapt them into something beautiful and useful, a good example would be an old, glass vinegar cask turned into a chic table lamp, or a factory palette as a coffee table.

Furniture and accessory designers and artists are taking the initiative and the trend is really taking pace. There’s a massive array of products that have been up-cycled, re-crafted or built from reclaimed materials such as wood, slate, textiles, glass and paper.

The side effect to environmentally conscientious decorating is that you get a home that is stylish, rustic and totally up to date. Even though the materials used can be hard-edged and rough hewn such as ship salvaged wood and industrial grade metals the end effect can be snug and comfortable. Simply add textiles such as handcrafted rugs for softness and recycled glass for colour. For more inspiration see our Reclaimed feature, p67-72 June issue of Country Homes & Interiors.

Industrial trolley coffee table, £290, Original House. Blackpool Pier lamp stand, £185, Ian Mankin. Three-seater Bluebell sofa in Thistle Belgian linen, £1,270, Sofa.com.

A classic country kitchen with a twist

Take a peek at this strikingly painted kitchen from the British Standard off-the-shelf collection by Plain English, which shows how you can add individuality to a simple room scheme by experimenting with a bold band of paint. It’s a great way of giving a classic country kitchen a contemporary edge. Splashes of red bring interest to the monochrome scheme, while stylish pendant lighting adds a retro touch.

The British Standard kitchen collection by Plain English starts at £5,000

Country Business of the Year winner

I spent an exciting afternoon last Thursday, shortlisting and then deciding on the winner of our Country Business of the Year competition. The judging panel was a highly-regarded and experienced mix of experts: business advisor and owner of Business Talent Linda Eziquiel; owner of online gift store The Handpicked Collection Jo McGivern; Founder of Neom Luxury Organics Nicola Elliott; publisher of Country Homes & Interiors Belinda Cooper and myself.

And the winner was…Juliette Brown Forden of Hayloft Foods. You’ll be able to read more about Juliette and the runners-up of the competition in our October issue (on sale 2 August). Juliette wins £6000 worth of business advice from Business Talent to help her take the business to the next stage.

Garden inspired ceramics

This month Country Homes & Interiors celebrates the great British garden. For me it’s about being inspired by the beauty of flowers and foliage in their array of bright colours. Ceramicist Dee Hardwicke’s new Garden flowers collection truly captures this spirit with mugs, sugar bowls, teapots and jugs (below). These stunning new ceramics would make a charming addition to display on the kitchen dresser, also ideal for hosting a spot of afternoon tea in the garden.

Mug, £10; Teapot, £25; Lidded sugar bowl, £10; Jug, £8, all the Garden Flowers collection by Dee Hardwicke available at Salt & Pepper.

The new decorative china range follows on from the success of Dee’s hugely popular hand-painted, Garden City tiles (below).

Tulips; Blue flower; Seed head; Blue daisy; Spring & Seedling tiles, all £12.60 each from the Garden city collection by Dee Hardwicke

No longer a side show

Rain or shine, salads are my favourite summer food. But not as a side – for me they’re more of a main event. I like to opt for some interesting leaves such as pea shoots, sorrel or purslane – widely available at farmer’s markets if you haven’t quite got round to growing your own – and bulk them out with a base of quinoa or sweet potato. Then I add some Puy lentils, chunks of rich Somerset goat’s cheese or seasonal fish. Favourite extras to jazz things up include oven roasted tomatoes, toasted pumpkin seeds or a good handful of fresh herbs. And you can’t beat extra virgin olive oil and a squeeze of fresh lemon to dress. But sometimes I’m in need of inspiration and I really liked some recipes that were sent to me recently from makemoreofsalad.com. This quick and easy crisp Summer Leafy Salad with Salsa Verde Dressing is one of my favourites…

Mix together 200g defrosted frozen peas and 1 large grated carrot with a bag of baby salad leaves and half a round lettuce, roughly shredded. Make the dressing by mixing 4 tbsp chopped mixed herbs such as parsley, chives, mint and thyme with 2 tsp chopped capers, 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil and 3 tbsp white wine vinegar. Toss the dressing into the salad, and add 25g toasted flaked almonds. Divide between four bowls and top each one with a poached egg. And that’s it – so simple.

Grow a gorgeous tree peony

I’ve been playing a waiting game in my garden. This mad weather has had my Japanese tree peony stubbornly holding on to its buds, which are swelling in anticipation of the first genuine blast of late-spring sunshine. Here’s a picture of it taken last year on 21st April. So early! What is happening to the seasons? Have you noticed your plants behaving out of character?

As you can see, this peony’s large, white, papery blooms are well worth the wait. At 20cm across, they ruffle out their delicate petals like a ballerina rearranging her tutu. Catch the sun shining through the gentle folds and you’re in heaven, well I am anyway…

Paeonia suffruticosa ‘Hakuo-jisi’

It more than lives up its grand-sounding name, Paeonia suffruticosa ‘Hakuo-jisi’, which apparently means ‘King of White Lions’. You can buy tree peonies from specialist nurseries such as Claire Austin, Kelways and The Place for Plants. They can take a while to establish, but they’re easy to grow – and your patience will be rewarded!

In the meantime, pick up the June issue of Country Homes & Interiors. It’s full of beautiful gardens and gorgeous flowers that really pack a punch, like this one.

Coastal style bedroom

We’re just finishing our fabulous July coastal special (don’t miss it!) and with one Bank Holiday just over,  more on the horizon and the summer holidays in the distance, here at Country Homes & Interiors we’re in the mood for days out at the seaside.  I love this maritime-inspired  bedroom with its relaxed four poster bed,  stylish cushions and the nautical ambience conjured up by the wooden floor from Tarkett. The easy-on-the-eye  blue and white colour scheme sets the room off a treat. And how about that for a view?

Salsa Patina White Oak wooden flooring by Tarkett, from £65 a square metre