Fire & Salt Cookout

So this post has been a long time coming, just like the last one. But amazing food is always worth writing about, even long after the event. And the Fire & Salt Cookout, hosted by Mal (aka Mangechester) was AMAZING. You can read more about the event in his post, but please, I implore you, ignore the horrendous photograph of me eating ribs. A woman should never be photographed eating ribs.

Now, I'm a MASSIVE fan of all things barbecue. And all things meat. In fact, smoky barbecued meat might well be in my top ten things that I love. Who am I kidding, it's easily top five. The Soldier will attest to the fact that I make a mean pulled pork and a fairly incredible (modesty is my middle name) slow-cooked brisket (pictured above) but the food at Fire & Salt took meaty joy to a whole new level.

1) Picking the pig 2) Dinosaur ribs and slaw 

3) & 4) Incredible homemade sauces and happy faces 

5) Ribs, slaw, mac 'n' cheese, hush puppes 6) Ribhenge

LOOK AT THOSE RIBS.

I have a fairly big appetite and have been known to out-eat pretty much everyone I've ever met. Helen vs Food is a game that The Soldier and I often play. I am not ashamed. HOWEVER, I met my match at Fire & Salt. I blame the four homemade sauces, the glorious pulled pork rolls (not pictured) and the fact that two people didn't turn up (the fools) for the fact that I ate far more than any decent human being should in one sitting. And then for the awful bloaty price that I paid afterwards. Still, I have no regrets.

Unfortunately the menu we had was a one-time only affair. BUT, if you're lucky enough to live in Manchester, or you fancy a roadtrip for some of the best barbecue that you'll ever eat, then Mal is hosting two Southern Summer Barbecues, on 11th and 18th August. Full details can be found here and I implore you to go and gorge yourselves on glorious meat. Unless you're a vegetarian, obv. In which case, soz about all the meat pictures.

A Teeny Tiny Holiday

Wow. Six weeks without a post. 


I think that might be a new record.

It's hard to explain why I stopped blogging. I just... didn't want to do it anymore. I make no apologies for that fact. None at all. But now I... do want to again. I am nothing if not fickle.  So, while I try and get myself back into the habit, here are some pictures from a little trip that The Soldier and I went on a few weeks ago, to celebrate six months of mega love. Shall I pass out the sick bags now, or later?

We stayed at Harrop Fold Farm in the glorious Cheshire countryside and it was just perfect. That peacock and two of his little friends roamed around the grounds, squawking. The view from the bedroom window was second only to the view that we had in the Lake District back in March and the peace and quiet was just what I needed, after some very stressful weeks at work.

We took a little middle aged day out to Chatsworth while the sun was shining, roamed the grounds, looked at the beautiful flowers and ate ice cream that melted ridiculously quickly. It was a perfect Summer's day. Followed by a trip to Bakewell for the market and the BEST ploughman's platter ever. I even discovered that I like gherkins. Amazing scenes.

Of course, it wouldn't be a blog post without a little bit of Instagram. Including a few more of our feathered friends, a bit of cider and a cricket match on a village green, with added BUNTING. It doesn't get more English than that.