Dinner party food

First - preparing the grapes in advance. I served pickled grapes with the cheese, another smittenkitchen recipe

The grapes were removed from the stem, and a little sliced off

They were steeped in white wine vinegar, water, sugar, black peppercorns, mustard seeds and cinnamon

Rhubarb fool was a repeat dessert from last weekend

Rhubarb was cooked down in caster sugar and a little water


Cooked until not quite falling apart

Cooled, then mixed with softly whipped cream

For the main course, sausage casserole

Pancetta, torpedo shallots and sausages were simmered gently . . .

. . . in red wine

Mushrooms were added near the end, and it was served on sweet potato mash

With a fresh green salad from the garden

Twice cooked shortbread made another appearance

The finished rhubarb fool

A cheese board

And finally, the pickled grapes