Kitchen Essential

The traditional smoked foods of Britain and Europe are not normally eaten straight from the smoker. In all cases it is usual to allow the food to ‘mature’ for at least 24 hours after smoking, so that the best possible flavour can be enjoyed. Hot smoked foods are almost invariably eaten cold, as are some cold smoked delicacies such as salmon, cod roes and fillets of beef. Others, like kippers, cold smoked mackerel or finnan haddocks, not to mention ordinary smoked bacon, are cooked before eating, but even these products are not used straight from the smoker. Continue Reading »

Sinks and Taps

Essentials like sinks and taps are such an integral part of the kitchen that it’s easy to forget what a variety there is to choose from.

Old-fashioned porcelain butler’s sinks (the deep rectangular tanks that have been turned into so many container gardens over the years!) are still very appealing for country-style kitchens. The disadvantage with traditional installations was that the join between sink and adjacent wooden draining board was difficult to seal, allowing water and waste to get into the gap. If you’re buying a new butler’s sink, look for a design with an edge that overlaps the worktop, to avoid this problem. Continue Reading »

The table illustrated here is not just a still life; it is a compilation of a small selection of things which are used as decorations for various tables in this book. This should give you a fewideas about the many accessories whichsurround you in your house.

Every container, every sculpture, pretty stones or shells, decorative ribbons or marbles can provide you with ideas for table decorations. Don’t be afraid to use simple, everyday items from house and garden, or even foodstuffs. What about wire, pieces of cloth, sand, old pots or flasks, balls, candles, mirrors or even toy cars? What is wrong with a large cabbage or asparagus as a replacement for, or addition to, flowers? Why not use fifty sharpened pencils for an accountant’s fiftieth birthday party table? Or why not put brown leaves on the table, when we enjoy them so much outdoors in autumn? Continue Reading »

Serving

As long as there is sufficient work surface beside the hob, the oven or the free-standing cooker on which to put plates and serving dishes, there should be few problems.

Within the serving area there should be convenient storage for oven gloves, serving spoons, plates and serving dishes.

Dishwashing

This is often a part of the preparation area. However, if the kitchen is large enough, it may be worth considering a separate dishwashing zone, close to the eating area. This zone will accommodate the waste disposal unit or a rubbish bin and, ideally, a dishwasher. Twin sinks should be large enough to hold a grill pan.

The hob should be linked by a worktop to the sink. It should also have ample work surfaces on both sides of it. Kettle, tea, coffee, cups and saucers are best kept close to the sink. Toasters should be on a work surface or shelf near to the bread. Deep drawers for bread storage are preferable to bins on the work surface. Continue Reading »

The British were passionate about their picnics in the last century. Most weekends they went off into the countryside in pairs or in groups, but the whole experience could besummed up by “grass in the salad, sand in the butter, wasps in the fruit juice and endless flies”!

Despite these various misfortunes the picnic has remained one of thefavourite ways to get together down through the years.

Not every picnic is a picnic, by the way. A couple of sandwiches by the side of the road have very little to do with the original concept. Nearly one hundred and forty years ago picnics were governed by rules of etiquette, for example regarding the kind of people who should join the party. Continue Reading »

Do you like visiting the countryside, tracking down plants and animals and perhaps spending a few happy,relaxed hours in the open-air?

If you enjoy rustic meals in the country, then this table decoration will surely fire your imagination as a hostess. Enchant your guests with the magic of a rural still life on the table. This decorative idea can be put into practice very easily in any little green corner.

What to do:

The materials and objects used here should all reflect the natural, rural atmosphere. Continue Reading »

Glimmer, glitter, glamour and gaudy colours — is this an American Christmas? You might think so if you were to visit a shopping mall in the run-up to Christmas, but Christmas is not as commercialised everywhere in America as that which you see in the shopping malls would lead you to believe. Americans do tend to go to town more on decorations, but it doesn’t have to be kitsch or tasteless.

If you’d like to try a different style of table decoration this Christmas, then why not American-style? Continue Reading »

To become the ideal host, it’s important to rememberthat success lies in the details: the niceties of setting a lovely table, extra attention to comfort, and adding those thoughtful little touches that surprise and delight your guests. Whether the occasion is a barbecue, tea or a children’s party, the table setting will set the mood. Choose white linen for a formal dinner; cutlery wraps and a quilted liner for a picnic hamper. Plan your centre-pieces and candleholders, and choose napkins that suit the occasion. Continue Reading »

SEASIDE CHIC

Natural textures with pale wood Shaker-styled units bring a fresh breeze into this seaside holiday home. The eclectic ’shabby chic’ look continues to be a popular choice in casual, formal or contemporary settings.

Accessories

Muted pastels, slightly wilted roses, chipped paint and pure whites blend modern practicality with wistful, old-fashioned aesthetic appeal. Tall glazed wall units, generously wide pot drawers and wooden counter tops are a feature of the U-shaped kitchen, where the work triangle is displayed to its best advantage. The plain white scheme complements the white-washed wooden beams and chunky wooden counter tops that add warmth to the kitchen. The plate racks on the walls add character, and open shelves display colorful crockery and glass jars. The glass-fronted units give the room a lighter look compared to the solid doors on the units housing cookware and china. Stools pulled up to the counter top for casual dining have faded floral cushions for comfort. Continue Reading »

In any decorative scheme, colours brighten, set a mood,or provide depth and texture to a room.

The kitchen isno exception, and there’s now a vast selection of flooring, work surface and cupboard finishes. Choose practical shades, and bear in mind that colour in the kitchen influences your sense of sight, smell and taste. White and neutral backgrounds promote cleanliness, freshness and efficiency.

Adding color changes the look and feel of a room. If your kitchen is to be cool, light, airy and open, then stay natural and avoid dark woods and lots of pattern. But if it needs sprucing up, a colourful counter top may be a practical and decorative option. Continue Reading »

THE HOB IS AT THE HEART OF THE KITCHEN

It may include an electric fryer, direct contact grill or a wok burner, and it can be made up to cater for your personal cooking requirements. Hobs are available with touch controls that allow an element to reach full heat in only three seconds. Today’s ovens combine good looks with high technology to help you achieve perfect results every time.

Gas ranges are fashionable because of their honest-to goodness looks, and because cooking with gas gives an even heat, greater control, and economic operation. Today’s gas ranges and cooker tops offer innovations in burner technology that make cooking easier than ever. Continue Reading »