Cookery School

Rockingham Castle
Craft & Food Show
26 & 27 September 2009
Market Harborough, Leicestershire LE16 8TH

The show includes dozens of local and national food artisans and up to 100 of the UK’s finest crafts men and women.

Rockingham Castle Park is set in the idyllic location that over looks five counties and the Welland Valley. This breath taking view and picturesque venue provides a fantastic backdrop for you to browse the 1000’s of unique items that are on sale. The show is packed with dozens of attractions and demonstrations that aim to keep the whole family occupied for the entire day. You, the public, have the opportunity to meet some of the most talented artisans and craft producers in the UK and the opportunity to sample and take home some of the finest in British and continental fayre.

Celebrity Chef Cookery Demonstrations – An opportunity to sit down, relax and listen to the running commentary from our resident celebrity Chef Nigel Brown as he prepares and cooks the food. A chance to pick up helpful hints and tips for hosting your own dinner party and impress your friends and family at home. There are demonstrations going on three times a day and Nigel is also available after the demonstration to answer any questions you have.

Top chef Nigel Brown regularly demonstrates his culinary talents at top food festivals and events, entertaining his audiences with his cheeky sense of humour and easy to follow teaching style.

You won’t find any “ego-bursting” recipes or impossible to find ingredients in Nigel’s demonstrations, just good food, heaps of fun and a good splash of finesse.

For more information about Nigel or his cookery school in North Lincolnshire visit www.nigelbrownchef.co.uk

To help plan your day you can find below a list of all the attractions that will be at the show. A full timetable will be listed closer to the date of the show.

Attractions include:

Wood Turning Demonstration, Children’s Make ’n’ Bake Area, Craft Make ’n’ Take Area, Celebrity Chef Cookery Demonstrations, Clay Workshop, Amazing Flying Vulture Display, Goat Racing, Lama Trekking, Chainsaw Carving, Kids Zone, Monster Bouncy Castles*, Kids Quad Bikes*, Pets Corner, Donkey Sanctuary, Cooking with Spices Demonstration, Pedro’s Circus Skills Workshop (suitable for young and old), Archery, Owls Great and Small, Dog Display, Live Music, Card Making Workshop, Full Catering Facilities.
*A small surcharge applies

For a detailed explanation of all of these attractions please visit www.gmseventscms.uki.net/rockingham-castle.htm

Show opening times:
10am – 5pm daily

Admission charges:
Adults £5.00, Children £2.00,
Family Ticket £15.00
(up to 2 adults and 3 children).
This charge does not include entry to the house

Rockingham Castle Website: www.rockinghamcastle.com

How to get there:

Rockingham Castle is ideally positioned in the centre of the country with good road, rail and air links.

By Road:
Poised on the side of the Welland Valley, the Castle is off the A6003, 1 mile north of Corby; 24 miles from Peterborough, Northampton and Leicester; half an hour from the A1 and the M1 and 10 minutes from the A14 at Kettering.

By Rail:
There is a regular train service from London St Pancras to Kettering (8 miles) and Market Harborough (10 miles). The train journey takes approximately one hour. Taxis should be available at the Stations.

Events of Excellence LTD
35 Coombe Drive, Binley Woods, Coventry, CV3 2QU. Tel. 024 76541055

email info@gmsevents.co.uk

Strawberry shortcake

Ingredients

For the shortbread:
175g unsalted butter, softened
75g golden caster sugar
175g plain flour
75g rice flour or ground rice

For the filling:425ml double cream
1 vanilla pod
45g icing sugar, sieved
450g fresh strawberries, washed
To garnish:
8 whole strawberries
Sugar Baskets

Method
1. Preheat the oven to 160C/325F/Gas3.

2. Place the butter into a large bowl and, using a wooden spoon, cream until softened. Add the sugar and blend together.

3. Sift both the plain flour and ground rice together into the creamed mixture.

4. Cut it in half and set one half aside. Using a rolling pin roll out the paste onto a large baking tray. Use a 20cm/8in plain flan ring as a guide around the ring.
5. Remove the flan ring and decorate the shortcake mixture by crimping the mixture with your thumb and forefinger to form scalloped edges. Prick the surface of the shortcake with a fork. Repeat the process with the remaining shortcake mixture.

6. Place the shortcakes in the fridge and chill for 30-40 minutes until hard. Meanwhile, reserve eight whole strawberries. With the remaining strawberries remove the stalks (or hull) and cut in half. Set aside.

7. Remove the shortcakes from the fridge and bake for about 30 minutes until pale golden brown.

8.Prepare the vanilla cream filling: pour the cream into a large bowl. Split the vanilla pod with a knife lengthways, scrape out the seeds and add the seeds to the double cream with the icing sugar. Whisk until the cream forms soft peaks.

9. Allow the shortcakes to cool for 2 minutes. Carefully release from the baking sheet with a palette knife. Using a large knife mark into eight equal wedges. Allow to cool completely.

10.To assemble: place eight of the shortcake wedges onto a large plate. Lay the wedges closely together. Spoon over half of the whipped cream; pile the halved strawberries onto the cream. Spoon over the remaining cream and place the remaining eight shortcake wedges at an angle with the reserved whole strawberries underneath to keep each piece at an angle. Dust with icing sugar and serve with a sugar basket garnish.

The Nigel Brown Cookery Academy
www.nigelbrownchef.co.uk