As soon as Darrell had unpacked and relayed all of Hugh’s news to Nigel and I, Darrell then proceeded to tell us all about the tutorage Hugh had given him in the art of fine cuisine and that to show us how diligent a student he had been, he was going to prepare us a robustly rustic tea of home baked bread and tomato soup that wasn’t out of a can ….. but requested that there wasn’t an audience on this occasion as the pressure might put him off.
As this was his first attempt at bread, and fresh yeast being a stranger to our village, Darrell opted for a packet mix just to start him off and practise his well oiled kneading technique.
He decided, ambitiously, to make a multigrain batch and then three tomato and parmesan mini batches for our lunch boxes the following day.
To say that Nigel and I were impressed was a humungously, mahoooosive understatement.
The only time Darrell showed any nerves was after the multigrain batch had been left to prove and had proved so much that it had stuck to the tea towel ….. but not to be deterred Darrell put it in the oven, his fingers firmly crossed and started preparing his own recipe tomato soup using “real” tomatoes, carrots, onions and garlic, four of our five a day in one bowl…. genius! 
When everything finally came out of the oven Darrell finally called Nigel to show him his wares, the smell was just divine, it was just as if we were using cunning ploys to sell Castle Greysquirrell!!!
And then the momentous moment arrived for us to sample Darrell’s “fine cuisine”. We all dipped, we all slurped, and we all wiped the bowl to an inch of it’s life with Darrell’s wonderful bread ….. and then we all nom, nom, nommed!! “Zeese is jzhust toooooo good” declared Nigel “I zhust can’t get enough …. encore, encore, s’il vous plait!” What is he like? Darrell was sooooooooooo proud and said there should to be enough left over to take to work in our flasks. ……. nom, nom, nom!
The only trouble is poor Darrell hasn’t quite mastered the fine art of tidying and washing up as you go along, oh dear!!!
4 comments:
Most impressive - well done D,H,M&M for such teaching and cooking.
I tried a few times to make pizza bases with not much success.
How many noms for each part?
Oh I can see it now - Darrell will be hob knobbing in a tent pitched romantically in a wildflower meadow with the great and the good of The Great British Bake Off, Paul and Mary - not to mention - Sue & Mel. Watch out Series 5 - Darrell's on his way! JantheFan x
WELL DONE MY BOY FABTASTIC YOU HAVE MASTERED THE ART OF THE RISING BREAD
WELL NEXT STAGE IS PIES I WANT TO SEE YOU BAKE BAKE BAKE BIG CREAM PUFF AND FRENCH HORN LOVE HUGH
As everyone said, Impressive is THE word for this fantastic display of culinary skill! Obviously canned tomato soup will never be served at Castle Greysquirrel again after tasting the real deal! Everything looks so very delicious and I know deserved every NOM...Dianne...PS
I don't think the top most talented chefs do their clean up.
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