Welcome
I’m very lucky to live in a beautiful part of Devon in the UK, I love to cook, grow my own vegetables, and take pictures of the food.
I was a vegetarian for 14 years, and a couple of years ago started eating meat again, but try to eat local good quality meat, and am determined to be more in control of the food my young family and I eat.
Hopefully we can share some good food cooked in the garden. I love to hear what people are cooking and that they’ve tried the recipies and techniques here, and please let me know if you’re thinking of your own wood oven or smoker as there are a lot of resources out there to help.
Cheers
Marcus
This is me cooking pizza in my outdoor wood oven
Posted by neville spritely on June 26, 2011 at 6:15 pm
i too have an uncontrolable urge for wood oven baked pizza but over the years have rationed myself to just six a week. (i have quiche on tuesdays) Being a ex- veggie what would you suggest as side dish to accompany my pizza, i.m not to keen on cauliflower.
Neville Spritely
Posted by countrywoodsmoke on June 26, 2011 at 6:26 pm
well neville, if you’re not keen on cauliflower, that would make things difficult….
….but it would have to be coleslaw
2 carrots grated
half a celeriac grated
finely shredded white or red cabbage
then make a dressing with 3 tablespoons mayo, a few good glugs of lemon juice, a teaspoon of mustard, salt and freshly ground black pepper, mix and then pour over the veg, and give it all a good toss to coat with the dressing
perfect with pizza!
cheers
marcus
Posted by neville spritely on June 27, 2011 at 8:35 pm
marcus -thanks for the reply, the coleslaw recipe sounds great i can’t wait until wednesday to give it a try. Do you use your own veg from your garden?
Any suggestions as to what i could do with a surplus of spinach? I’m not to keen on it by itself. my sister maureen boils it to buggery.
good baking Neville
Posted by countrywoodsmoke on June 27, 2011 at 9:00 pm
i’m glad you like the recipe neville, and really look forward to hearing what you think of it when you make it on wednesday
were you hoping to cook spinach in your wood oven? you could make a nice gratin perhaps?
you could try it on one of your nice pizzas, a nice fiorentino with an egg in the middle, certainly better than boiling it to within an inch of it’s life!
cheers
marcus
Posted by Grazing Kate on July 16, 2011 at 8:53 pm
sorry – just asked if you were in Bristol / Dorset and now just realised you’re in Devon too – oops, should have read the ‘Abouth Me’ section before I opened my mouth. I’m going to have to find out more about your oven now. Questions, questions. Where in Devon are you? I’m near Teignmouth (South)
Posted by countrywoodsmoke on July 16, 2011 at 9:11 pm
No worries
Feel free to fire away with any questions
I’m between Cullompton and Honiton on the edge of the Blackdown Hills
Cheers
Marcus
Posted by Gordon ramsey on July 21, 2011 at 8:17 pm
Thinking of shooting a new cooking program a little different from the many previous ones that i have been involved in. It will combine the serious culinary message of Hell’s kitchen with the lightheartedness of Dale Winton’s supermarket sweep. The working title at the moment is ‘ A chef for all seasonings’
We hope to find couples one of which is keen on cooking, the other less so.
The couple will be encouraged to argue by the host Dale while preparing a meal together for a select group of friends. Then (just before the end of the program) I will arrive in my traditional chef’s hat and smooth over any friction between the warring parties just as the guests are about to arrive. We have already secured sponsorship from ‘ RELATE’ the marriage guidance charity and Spam if we promise to use their products in every episode.
Are you in??
regards Gordon
Posted by Gordon ramsey on July 21, 2011 at 8:50 pm
Bad news i’m afraid Dale Winton has pulled out. He’s committed to another series of ‘the Wall’ Will contact Peter Andre who is a close friend. He could fit the hosting role perfectly. Good looking, recently seperated, keen on spam and desperate for work. We may have to let him have a food related singing spot in the show to clinch the deal.
any ideas Gordon
Posted by Gordon ramsey on July 24, 2011 at 7:10 pm
Things are moving fast at this end I need to know if you and your wife are in. We should be able to find some funds for a locational shoot in your garden. The oven will look great. Could you put Peter Andre up over night. Hes happy to chip in with the kids if you and your wife need a night off. he will bring his own sleeping bag.
We really need you to get back to us soon Gordon
Posted by countrywoodsmoke on August 20, 2011 at 8:24 pm
Hi Gordon,
Thank you for your kind offer, I apologise for any delay on my part, but I have already put plans in place to do something very similar with Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, but based at River Cottage, unfortunately Hugh has been very busy recently with his involvement in something about fighting with some fish?? i think the Haddock may have taught him a lesson!
Perhaps we could keep this on ice and look into it at a future date.
P.S. I really enjoy your F-word, and have a few of my own every now and again!
Cheers
Marcus
Posted by stavros papacrapalot on September 24, 2011 at 6:34 pm
Hello Mr Marcus I am new to your blog and have very much been enjoying. sorry my english so poorly. I find very interesting your article on Anglo-nubian goats. I too enjoy the company of goats and would like verymuch to exchange cheeses with you
stavros papacrapalot
Posted by countrywoodsmoke on October 16, 2011 at 8:07 pm
Was so good to meet you Stavros, hope you enjoyed the cheese!
Cheers
Marcus
Posted by stavros papacrapalot on October 17, 2011 at 7:46 pm
i enjoy your cheeses very much. It reminds me of my homeland and the beautiful hills of karpathos. we have a saying in Greece ‘A hairy man with a goat will judge no donkeys’ which you must agree is as relevant today as in ancient times. however It does lose a little in translation?
stavros
Posted by Adam Wright on November 27, 2011 at 10:24 pm
Hi Marcus your website is really good. I like how you have set it out and some great recipes.
Hope too see some video clips of your cooking soon
Adam Wright
Posted by countrywoodsmoke on November 28, 2011 at 7:06 am
Hi Adam, cheers for visiting, maybe one day will do some video clips, please let me know if you try any recipes.
Cheers
Marcus
Posted by The Townhouse Homesteaders on March 17, 2012 at 2:56 pm
We just started getting into the art of grilling. Your blog will be a great resource. Thanks for sharing.
Posted by countrywoodsmoke on March 17, 2012 at 7:31 pm
Thank you for taking the time to visit and leave a lovely comment. Hope your grilling goes well.
Cheers
Marcus
Posted by Amrita on April 16, 2012 at 4:12 am
Vegetarian for 14 years?! You are a brave man!
Posted by countrywoodsmoke on April 16, 2012 at 5:56 am
Thank you Amrita, yes I learnt lots of things while not eating meat, about how to get the most flavour into food, and now I am eating meat again this has helped my cooking. I’m very passionate about the quality of food my family and I eat.
Cheers
Marcus