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The foodie group met today to sample recipes of rice and grains. We sampled  Nasi Goreng, an Indonesian stir fried rice recipe made with chicken breast ; Help yourself tuna rice salad, a dish which the family can dip into whenever they wish; Old fashioned rice salad; a slimming world recipe full of vegetables and other delicious ingredients, and Cranachan; a traditional Scottish dessert of oats, cream, whisky, honey and raspberries, which is a delicious alternative to trifle. Although we only have “tasters” I doubt many foodie group members eat lunch after our meetings! Our topic next month is “pies” so forks at the ready!

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Following the usual tradition the Pedal Pushers cycling group rode to Sefton Park, Liverpool yesterday to visit the Field Of Hope. This expanse of different cultivars of daffodils was originally planted as a fund raising venture for the Marie Curie Hospice in Woolton, which is only a couple of miles from the park. People could purchase a daffodil bulb for £1 which was then planted in the park. Over the years the bulbs have increased by natural spread. The display is much later than usual this year, due to the poor weather we have had, but nevertheless, the display is beautiful and well worth a visit.

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The Foodie Group met again today and, as you can see from the slideshow, were treated to a veritable display of delectable delights which we demolished! Rounding off our 3 course menus the focus was on desserts and we certainly had a great time Thankfully, oops sorry, regrettably, quite a few usual members were missing, so those who attended had to were able to carry out the Oliver Twist tradition of ” please sir, can I have some more”! Thanks to everyone who served such a fine table of food.   Our focus next month is pasta dishes, which, hopefully, will be slightly less calorific !

Following weeks of bad weather on a Wednesday, illness and holidays, the Pedal Pushers managed to get an almost complete group on the ride today. Using the Cheshire Lines cycle way we rode out from Maghull, did a circuit around the lanes and paths of Lydiate and Aughton before a coffee stop at Hartleys, Then following the cycle lanes, and avoiding the debris left by the hedge cutters, we rode back to Maghull. Just under 8.5 miles, but enough to get the joints going again. Hopefully we’ll get a longer ride next week on our annual Spring trip to Sefton Park to see the daffodil displays.

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Several members of the Foodie Group, family and friends, dined yesterday evening at L20 restaurant, the hotel school of Hugh Baird College. The 3rd year students had recently visited Oslo, visiting Michelin starred restaurants, fish and vegetable markets and on their return created a menu of Scandinavian cuisine. We had the opportunity to taste cuisine combinations that we had not tried before and were all suitable impressed. Service, as ever, was impeccable and we were delighted when one of the young chefs came out of the kitchen to enquire whether we had enjoyed the evening and what we thought of the menu. Needless to say praise was heaped on the students, and, as an OFSTED visit was planned for today, took the opportunity to leave written feedback for the students’ portfolios. A Summer foraging menu is being planned for May and we have already signed up to revisit then.