Zoë Bowyer

Am suffering from a cold. Feeling v sorry for myself.

Sadly, the tale of a Ballymena character in the Archers has not made it into the local papers yet. Yes, I crawled out of my sick bed to fetch a paper yesterday. But LK had a big write up and picture in the paper after having come second in a cookery competition. Very impressive! But what is Hum? And what is Laffi?

Well turns out (I’ve just carried out a little search) that the ‘Hum’ is probably a liqueur. Laffi, I couldn’t find, so I’ll just assume that it is a version of lassi.

It seems to me that people in the catering trade like to make up words to describe their foods. I seem to recall a recent menu at work that was filled full of made up words - I checked the dictionary. Descriptions were also ridiculous, ‘homemade savoury pizza’? Funny, I don’t think it is all that common to have sweet pizza.

I recently bought myself a book called ‘ The Best Home Cookin’ Ulster Style’ which is apparently flying off the local shelves faster than Nigella, Jamie and Delia. It is a funny little book, obviously put together by a bunch of grannies and their friend who had access to a photocopier. There are things I like about it such as that it includes recipes for cheesecake made with Philadelphia creamed cheese - the height of sophistication around these parts. There are things I don’t like, my being a bit of a butter snob - most of the cake recipes use ‘marg’ instead of butter, even the Butter Sponge is made with Marg. Other things just make me laugh. The ingredients used sometimes seem a little bizarre and cheap. Their idea of a good quality chocolate is Bournville - which is bogging! And their Ice Cream is as follows:

• 2 Eggs
• 2 tablespoons caster sugar
• 1 packet dream topping
• 1/2 cup milk, room temp.

Beat eggs and sugar until creamy. Whip dream topping and milk. Add to eggs and sugar, beat well. Add a few drops of vanilla, if desired. Put in ice tray in freezing compartment and leave overnight.

Dream Topping???????