Gourmet Gals Aberdeen Festive Food Swap

The final Gourmet Gal Food Swap of 2013 had the theme of all things festive. Not just food, we also had some handmade Christmas cards, bath salts and candles. For my end of the swaps I brought along Mincemeat & Ginger Muffins (baked by boy), Candy Cane Reindeer, Bramble & Apple Jelly, Chicken Liver Pate, Crab Apple Jelly, Christmas Pudding Vodka and Rowan, Apple & Rosemary Jelly.

Once again Annette welcomed us into her home and kept us fed and watered with an endless supply of festive cupcakes and hot drinks. We had a couple of new faces at this event and a fantastic variety of goods on offer including herbs, honey, layered gingerbread biscuit mix, chilli jam, plum jam, eggs, apple crumble, toffee and caramel sauces and mulled wine kits. I had my eye on one of the Gingerbread Biscuit Mix Jars complete with Cutter but alas I was too slow of the mark.

After heated negotiations I did however come home with a fantastic haul consisting of
Strawberry Jam
Bouquet of Herbs - Chocolate Mint, Rosemary, Thyme & Parsley
Polish Honey (I'm not a Honey fan but boy and girl are LOVING this)
Caramel Sauce x 2
Mulled Wine Kit - Cloves Studded Orange and a Muslin Bag of Spices
Fruit Loaf
Sticky Toffee Sauce
Ginger Angel Biscuits
Date & Raisin Microwave Dumpling
Orange & Yellow Carrots & White Cabbage

There was lots of interest in my Chicken Liver Pate. Hopefully those who swapped for it enjoyed it as much as we do. Here's how I make it.

CHICKEN LIVER PATE

8oz Chicken Livers (you'll probably need to buy these frozen and defrost)

1 medium onion

1 clove garlic

3oz Butter

S&P

1tsp Mustard Powder
Bay Leaf

Good pinch of dried mixed Herbs

Fresh Parsley

Tablespoon Congac, Brandy or Sherry

Fry chopped onion and crushed garlic in 1oz of the butter until soft.

Add the chicken livers and seasonings and cook for a further 3-5 minutes

Remove Bay leaf and cool slightly

Melt the remaining 2oz of butter and add along with the alcohol

Blend in food processor/liquidizer until smooth. 

Pour into container and leave in the fridge to set.

This freezes very well so is great to make ahead for Christmas.

The next Food Swap will be taking place early in 2014. Keep an eye out on the Gourmet Gals Facebook page for further information. Hopefully we will be moving to a more public venue in the new year and spreading the Aberdeen Food Swapping love even further.