A New Deli and a New Dish

The bramble picking has continued apace and I now have enough for the first batch of jelly, which I'll get underway next week. I found a new patch of berries today on the old, disused railway line between Aberlady and Gullane and there's still plenty more to ripen so I think I'll be back to get some more for the freezer.

It's always good news when a new shop opens in East Lothian. For me, it's especially good when it's in the Gullune - North Berwick area. And it's even better when it's a shop that I know I'll use. So it was a nice discovery today when I was in the Main Street in Gullane and saw that a new deli had opened - Letourneau's. I love delis and this one is quite small but I think it's going to have a lot of character. I hope it does well though I fear my meagre purchase of 6 peppadew peppers stuffed with cheese, will not make them a vast fortune. But don't worry, I'll be back.

Tonight I tried yet another recipe from the Olive '£5 Suppers for 2' booklet. 'Baked Salmon and Noodle Parcels' - except this one didn't do exactly what it says on the tin because the two salmon fillets cost me a fiver on their own. Salmon isn't my favourite thing but I thought I'd give it a try - possibly because I fancied cooking it and serving it in a paper parcel. I also added broad beans and fresh peas to the parcels, mainly because they're in season but they also added good colour and fresh, summery flavour. It certainly was tasty but it didn't convert me to being a salmon lover. If I try it again, I think I'll use a realy good piece of fish like haddock or maybe even sea bass. That will definitely burst the £5 barrier though!

Baked Salmon and Noodle Parcels:

100g Egg noodles

2 Skinless, salmon fillets

2 Spring onions - shredded

1 Red Chilli - shredded

200ml Chicken stock

2 tbsp Mirin

1 tbsp Soy Sauce

1 tbsp Sesame Oil

 - I also added broad beans, peas and diced carrot

Method:

• Heat the oven to 190C/Fan 170C/Gas 5. Cook the noodles until just tender as they will cook a bit more in the oven. Drain and rinse in cold water
• Take two large squares of baking parchment or foil and divide the noodles between them. Sit a salmon fillet on top then divide all of the other ingredients between the parcels
• Seal the parcels and bake in the oven for 10 minutes
• (I found that the dishes were barely hot enough so I blasted them in the micro for a minute and it was much better)