Purple Sprouting Broccoli and Bacon Pasta

The first of the season purple sprouting broccoli was standing tall and proud at the Farmers' Market letting us all know that Spring is just around the corner. Everyone wanted some of this majestic member of the Brassica family. 

In order to celebrate the first greens of the year there was only one companion up to the job - extra mature Cheddar cheese. To make it a glorious trio I bought some excellent collar bacon. This is one of those recipes where if you don't fancy as much cheese you can leave it out, if you want more bacon put it in or if you have some cauliflower lying around later on in the year it would do just as well. 

Chicken Liver Pâté

Pesto, hummus and bread are just a few examples of things that if you make yourself, couldn't be further from the shop bought version. Chicken liver pâté is another. I have long had an affection for this most accepted of offal and I felt it was about time I got myself some to see how a homemade one compares. I couldn't have asked for better livers. They were free range, organic and fresh as you could ask for. I never eat supermarket chicken and so the money I would have spent on that I spend on farmers' market chicken and just eat it less often.
This recipe took me about 10 minutes to make so if you find yourself with the opportunity to buy livers, do so. For my pâté I used:
80g butter and some extra
200g chicken livers
1 very small onion
Thyme
Basil leaves (for aesthetic purposes)

Chocolate Concrete

I was on my daily ramble (more like scramble) through the countryside this morning. It was exceptionally blustery. If I had tried to open my umbrella to shield myself from the onslaught of rain I feel quite certain there would have been a Mary Poppins moment. There was only one thing I could think about whilst battling the elements...Chocolate Concrete.

Chocolate concrete is an old school recipe that I got from my Granny. There's nothing quite like this recipe, it's so versatile, quick and easy to make. I probably make it once a fortnight and it gets consumed like there's no tomorrow.