St Georges Vol-au-Vents

The lovely mealy flavour of St George’s mushrooms works particularly well with white meats and cream. I have tried to harness both of these with this tasty little starter. Or try it as an unusual canapé – the perfect nibble to accompany a crisp white wine as the sun sets on a spring evening.

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1 Clove garlic
½ Small onion, finely chopped
250g St George’s (roughly chopped)
1 cup Shredded cooked chicken leftovers

100g Parmesan (grated)
1 tbspn Flour
1 tspn Dijon mustard    
150g Single cream
150g Milk
75g Butter
1 pack Frozen vol-au-vent cases

Cook the vol-au-vent cases according to the instructions (you can make your own of course, but I find it too much of a fiddle when the whole point is to have a tasty nibble with the minimum of fuss). Lightly sauté the garlic, onion, mushrooms and chicken (if used) in a little of the butter. Meanwhile, make a roux by melting the rest of the butter, stirring in the flour and mustard. When this has formed a thick paste, slowly stir in the milk, then the cream over a very low heat. Add the Parmesan and the mushroom mixture and season to taste. Leave to cool and then put a dollop in each vol-au-vent case. Garnish with a little chopped parsley, tarragon, chives, ramsoms or whatever takes your fancy and serve warm.

 

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Wild Food

Our ancestors relied on wild food from the fields and woods, great great grandfathers were transported for helping themselves, while Mabey, Mears and Fearnley-Whittingstall have introduced a new generation to its charms. So what free delicacies are available now?

Alexanders
Birch Sap Wine
Chanterelles
Chestnut
Cockles
Elderberries
Hairy Bittercress
Hogweed
Hops (March 2010)
Morel
Pennywort
Ramsoms (May 2010)
Red-legged partridge
Silver Birch
Sloe
St Georges (April 2010)
Stinging Nettles
Wild strawberries

Wildlife Profile

Britain is blessed with a rich and varied fauna - what seasonal highlights are visible now?

Badger
Barn Owl
Bats
Brown Hare
Butterflies
Fieldfares
Frog
Garden Warbler
Great spotted woodpecker
Hedgehogs
Jay
Kingfisher
Mistle Thrush
Mistle Thrush
Moths (July 2010)
Nightjar
Nuthatch (June 2010)
Partridge
Redstart
Roe Deer
Spiders
Tawny Owl

Recipes

Just as we Britons have lost any mushroom lore we might once have possessed, so most of us are at a loss when we finally venture into the kitchen with our haul. In reality, however, mushrooms are one of the easiest things to work with. They have such fantastic flavours, the general rule is to not to mask these with complicated recipes. Most should be cooked, particularly the first time, because they can be indigestible, but otherwise, simple is usually best . . .

Baked eggs and rocket with chilli and yoghurt (June 2010)
Chanterelle and Feta Quiche
Chanterelles a la forestiere
Chicken and Mushroom Pie
Chicken-of-the-Woods Satay
Elderflower Cordial
Grilled Cepes
Jew's Ear on Pasta
Morel Fondue
Morel Stroganoff (March 2010)
Parasol Tempura
Pearl Barley and Wild Mushroom Risotto
Shaggy Ink Cap Soup
St Georges Vol-au-Vents
Venison and Blewit Casserole
Wild Mushroom and Nut Pate
Wild mushroom soup