Concrete and Clay

As the colder nights set in and the crickets cease cheeping in the hedgerows, this classic rustic faux cassoulet will be the perfect bride for a warm spicey syrah brimming with autumn fruit.

Method for four

• Chop 6 shallots/onions/ half bulb of garlic. Fry onion to soften and brown. Then add garlic.
• Chop two carrots into small pieces. Gently soften in a separate pan and once slightly brown, add a splash of balsamic vinegar to caramelise.
• Add two generous glasses of red wine to onions. Cook off the excess alcohol. Add half pint of veg stock to mixture. Put the whole mixture into large pan with 600g at least of flageolet or similar beans. Simmer and add some sage and chopped parsley.
• Grill sausages for four.
• Add to bean mix once it has simmered for half an hour.
• Put in oven for a further twenty minutes either in cast iron pot or deep baking tray.
• Stir mixture again and top with bread crumbs. Bake ten minutes and serve.

Cabernet/Syrah/Grenache go well with this.

Enjoy! Herbie

Ingredients: 50 grammes of cob nuts (either seasonal or removed from a bar of Ritter Sport chocolate), 2 knobs of butter, 2 cloves garlic, Concrete and Clay classic toast, chopped parsley to garnish.

Method: using a pestle and mortar, blend the nuts, butter and garlic to a smooth paste. Spread on grilled toast and garnish with a sprinkling of parsley. Enjoy with a glass of chilled sweet aperitif wine such as Coteaux de Layon from the Loire. If not, Dandilion and Burdock goes well.

Take one skinny duck and force a funnel down it's throat. Tip in organic seed mix. Leave bird to waddle around yard for several weeks, have a couple of pastis, then send to have neck wrung. Take to reputable chef to prepare foie gras and encase it in the remaining yellow fat.

Serve with toast and Sauternes. If not available Fanta will do.

Herbie

Se echan los huevos en agua fria y cuando hierve el agua se retira el cazo del fuego y se dejan dentro del agua durante 20 minutos mas. Peace.

1 part carrot juice, 1 part condensed milk, 2 parts Red Stripe.

Mix the carrot juice and milk together in a cup with a spoon or finger. Add beer and serve over ice. NIce.

1 slice of bread (brown is tastier), 1 toaster.

Place bread in toaster and select the toast function on the toaster then toast. Make sure you live in France.

1-5 marshmallows (depends on how many you can eat), 1 clean stick or fork, an open fire or gas hob.

Place marshmallow on desired toasting device, place close to but not in the flame (2-3" away should be great). Rotate marshmallow and enjoy the slight feeling of euphoria and general well being that usually accompanies this act, then withdraw from flame. Check for signs of toasting. Repeat if necessary.

1 banana, 1 pint of milk, 75ml dark rum, ice, nutmeg to taste.

Put ingredients in a blender, blend for a minute or so and serve in nice glasses.

1 bottle of dry red wine, 1/4 cup of brown sugar, 6 cloves, 1 cup of cheap port, 1 orange & 1 lemon peel (diced), 1 big pot.

Put in all in the pot and heat till it bubbles a bit. Stir and taste as often as you feel necessary. Simmer for 10 minutes, serve in mugs or whatever you deem fit.

2 oz currants, 2 oz raisins, 2 oz sultanas, 1 ripe banana, a few dashes of whisky, 1/2 tsp ground ginger, 1/2 tsp nutmeg, 1/2tsp mixed spice. 4 oz flour, 2 oz shortening, 3 tsp cold water.

Mix all the fruity things in a nice bowl. You can use whatever you desire, I prefer a wooden spoon. In another nice bowl rub shortening into the flour until it sticks together, adding water as needed. Roll out pastry and put an upside down mug (standard size & weight) on it, and cut around. Keep on reforming and rolling and cutting around until you have a load of pastry circle. Place circles into the bottom of lightly olive oiled baking tins and dollop in the mincemeat & cover with another circle. Press down at the edges & make a small hole in the top. Bake for 10-15 minutes (start watching from 10) at Gas Mark 6. Makes 18 tasty pies.