• Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Snapchat
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

MsMarmiteLover

  • Food
    • Recipes
    • Vegetarian
    • Vegan
  • Travel
    • France
    • Italy
    • Spain
    • UK
  • Wine
  • Gardens
  • Supperclubs/Events
  • About
    • Press
    • Books
  • Shop
    • Cart

Recipes for a long walk

September 19, 2021 4 Comments Filed Under: Desserts and sweets, Food, Gardens, Lifestyle, London, Recipes, Travel, UK, Vegetarian, walking/hikes

Hiking recipes

Two years ago I ‘did’ the camino pilgrimage to Santiago de la Compostella. Since then we have been through a global pandemic and well, I have done nothing. I’ve had spates of exercise: a bit of zoom yoga, walks on Hampstead Heath (which at times resembled Oxford Street), a half-hearted attempt to ‘jog’ which lasted a week. Mostly I’ve completed Netflix.

The lack of a structured timetable, always a problem for the freelancer (pyjamas and an apron are my working uniform of choice), was starting to get to me. It felt like suspiciously like unemployment-itus. I was going a bit bonkers, getting nothing done.

On the spur of the moment, I rammed my camino gear and a pop-up tent into my car and drove up to Hadrian’s Wall. I was going to do it West to East, the best way as the wind is at your back. Eighty four miles of wild crags and heather, discovering Roman Britain. Although August is usually a difficult time to go, everything being block-booked by tour companies, I managed to book most of my accommodation the night before, from my lodgings at Bowness on Solway. Comfortable bed and breakfasts at either end, and camping in the middle.

What food is good in Cumbria and Northumberland the two counties over which the wall traverses? Cumberland sausage, good beer, baps and barms, hearty filling food. But en route I’d made some hiking snacks, designed to keep you going. I’ve created a recipe for (gluten-free, sugar-free) breakfast bars and some home-made mint cake.

I also took advantage of the season where the hedgerows are positively heaving with berries.The fields coming up to Carlisle were lined with rows of blackthorn shrubs, also known as sloes. On arrival in Carrlisle I decided to make an impromtu Sloe gin, heading into Sainsburys where I’d left my car. I bought gin, sugar, a wide-necked container and ‘borrowed’ a colander which I used to rinse the sloes in the disabled bathroom.
In the car park I popped the berries into the neck of the empty container, poured in enough sugar to cover and topped it up gradually with gin. I sealed the container and left it for the 10 days I was on the walk. I was somewhat concerned that they would overferment in the hot car during that time. Usually sloe gin takes 6 weeks but this was ready when I returned to my car.

Nearing Newcastle I came across wild plums and sea buckthorn berries. These I made into a tangy but lightly sweet compote, to be spooned over yoghurt or ice cream.

hadrians sloe gin

Print
5 from 2 votes

Sloe Gin

The end of August and throughout September, the hedgerows are full of berries. The fields coming up to Carlisle had rows of sloe shrubs. I spent time gathering them.
Course Drink
Keyword Hedgerow drinks, Sloe gin

Ingredients

  • 35 cl gin
  • 150 g sugar
  • 450 g sloe berries, stems removed

Instructions

  • Using a clean wide mouthed jar, add your washed sloes. (Usually you prick each one but I didn't bother)
  • Top up with sugar then slowly pour in the gin, shaking the container so that the air bubbles escape.
  • Leave until it looks and tastes good.

Print
5 from 2 votes

Oat Energy Bar

Feel free to replace hazelnuts with other nuts or seed, and the dried fruits with those of your choice. This is easy to make.
Course Snack
Keyword Cereal bar, Energy bar, Hiking food, Mountain food, Oat bar, Trail bar
Serves 12

Ingredients

  • 100 g butter
  • 100 g honey
  • hazelnuts
  • 25 g dried pineapple, cut into thin strips
  • handful sultanas
  • 2 bananas, thickly sliced
  • 50 g dessicated coconut
  • 150 g rolled oats
  • big Pinch sea salt
  • 1 tsp vanilla paste

Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 160C. Grease a 20 x 30cm tin and line with parchment.
  • Melt the butter in a medium pan on a low heat, then add the honey.
  • Mix the rest of the ingredients into a bowl.
  • Add the dry ingredients into the butter and honey, stirring.
  • Pour into the tin and bake for 20 minutes.
  • Leave to cool and cut into bars. They can be wrapped individually in greaseproof paper or frozen for later use.
walking recipes pic Kerstin Rodgers - 2
walking recipes pic Kerstin Rodgers - 5
Print
5 from 2 votes

Original mint cake

Kendall's mint cake is the celebrated Cumbrian energy snack for walks in the Lake District. It was even taken up to Everest. Today it is made with glucose syrup but the original recipes uses milk, low heat and relentless stirring.
Course Snack
Cuisine Cumbrian, English
Keyword Hiking food, Mint cake, Sweets, Walking snacks

Ingredients

  • 450 g sugar
  • 150 ml milk
  • several drops of peppermint or spearmint essence
  • Mint leaves to decorate (optional)

Instructions

  • Put the milk and sugar into a small saucepan on a low heat. Stir until the sugar is melted. Keep stirring continuously until the mixture thickens and steam is coming off the top, about 15 minutes.
  • Pour into a greased cake tin. Leave to cool, pressing in a few mint leaves if desired.

sloes hedgerow foraging pic Kerstin Rodgers - 1
hedgerow foraging pic Kerstin Rodgers - 1
Print
5 from 2 votes

Hedgerow compote

Course Afternoon Tea, Breakfast, Pudding
Cuisine English, French
Keyword Cherry compote, Hedgerow, Sea buckthorn, Wild plums

Ingredients

  • Wild plums and sea buckthorn berries, however many you forage!
  • caster sugar to cover the fruit

Instructions

  • Cover the washed foraged fruit with sugar and leave overnight.
  • Put into a pan and simmer until the fruit has partially broken down. (I like to have some whole pieces in).
  • Prepare a clean jar and pour in the compote. It'll last a couple of weeks in the fridge.
hedgerow foraging pic Kerstin Rodgers - 3
hedgerow foraging pic Kerstin Rodgers - 2

Recent posts

Emily O'Hare serving pasta at an al fresco dinner in La Torre Alle Tolfe, just outside Siena in Tuscany pic; Kerstin Rodgers

Visiting Tuscany, Chianti, sommelier Emily O’Hare and the world’s most famous butcher

August 4, 2022

The Palio in Siena, Italy: curses and horses

July 28, 2022

Local vegetarian recipes from Naples and Campania

July 23, 2022

Previous Post: « Summer at last: panzanella, bread salad, recipes
Next Post: Walking the wall »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Albertina

    September 20, 2021 at 6:06 am

    These recipes look really good and healthy. I will try one of these recipes today!

    Reply
  2. Sarah

    October 2, 2021 at 10:11 am

    5 stars
    You are very clever and I loved your blog about your walk, been meaning to comment. I’m probably too lazy to do it but my husband dreams of doing that walk. Well done! That milk cake looks unusual never heard of it. Did it taste nice? Im not keen on milk but strangely fascinated by that cake!

    Reply
    • Kerstin Rodgers

      October 2, 2021 at 12:49 pm

      Thanks sarah. The milk cake tasted like Kendal mint cake!

      Reply
  3. Sarah

    October 2, 2021 at 10:11 am

    5 stars
    You are very clever and I loved your blog about your walk, been meaning to comment. I’m probably too lazy to do it but my husband dreams of doing that walk. Well done! That milk cake looks unusual never heard of it. Did it taste nice? Im not keen on milk but strangely fascinated by that cake! Very unusual.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

MsMarmiteLover aka Kerstin Rodgers.

Chef, photographer, author, journalist, blogger. Pioneer of the supperclub movement.

This is my food and travel blog, with recipes, reviews and travel stories. I also stray into politics, feminism, gardening.

Subscribe to my mailing list

msmarmitelover

Kerstin Rodgers/MsMarmiteLover
Grilled Manouri cheese (like halloumi but not rubb Grilled Manouri cheese (like halloumi but not rubbery and less salty) with watermelon, spruce oil and tarragon. #salad #summervibes
I went to @hide_restaurant in Piccadilly, they are I went to @hide_restaurant in Piccadilly, they are now doing breakfast & brunch. The restaurant design is stunning in itself, from the gaudi-esque central staircase, to the table decorations, to the uniforms of the waiting staff. Chef @olliedabous has developed an incredible menu: from standards like avocado on toast (beautifully presented with edible flowers & 2 lightly poached eggs), pain au chocolat (buckwheat), french toast with blueberry compote ( cloud-like, soft, light), British @exmoorcaviar with sourdough, mango with kefir lime zest, an extraordinary tea & coffee menu ( Brazilian single estate coffee) Yuzu indigo tea. You can spend a lot. Or a little. Worth it for the design, the baking, the feeling of experiencing a rare treat. #london #breakfast #brunch #review #invitation
My niece @rachaelrodgers wedding to Luca Venezia @ My niece @rachaelrodgers wedding to Luca Venezia @cursesforever. It’s been featured in US vogue. Style, good food, great music, stunning backgrounds of mount vesuvius & Naples were the order of the day. Or should I say 3 days which is how long it lasted. The bride wore white but it was a vintage @viviennewestwood corset (one of only 5 existing, the other 3 are in fashion museums), and a flowery bikini to cut the delicious rose 🌹 and cherry 🍒 cake. Hawaiian barbie & La Cicciolina were inspirations. The guests were equally stunning. #naples #wedding #bridestyle
Air fryer recipe: aubergine sticks with yoghurt an Air fryer recipe: aubergine sticks with yoghurt and tahini sauce. Aubergines 🍆 soak up a lot of oil so an air fryer is a great way to minimise the calorific content. They tasted just as delicious! Recipe here: https://msmarmitelover.com/2022/06/air-fryer-recipe-aubergine-sticks-with-yoghurt-tahini-sauce.html I only used a couple of tablespoons of olive oil rather than a gallon. Going to play about with some other recipes. #airfryer #recipe I got my air fryer here: https://www.very.co.uk/electricals/cooking-appliances/fryers/e/b/4571.end it’s an extra large with 2 drawers.
This is a new dish I’ve invented called, ahem, p This is a new dish I’ve invented called, ahem, patatas nachas. Underneath is a layer of potatoes fried in olive oil. On top nachos with cheese, salsa, guacamole, creme fraiche, rajas. It’s a mash up of patatas bravas and nachos. There is a brilliant book out with 75 nachos variations by @tfimb called nachos for dinner. Nachos are quick tasty & if you add other elements- filling. #nachos #dinner
Ciambotta which is an Italian version of ratatouil Ciambotta which is an Italian version of ratatouille but with fried potato. Recipes here: https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/things-to-do/food-reviews/three-neapolitan-vegetarian-recipes-9147040 #naples #recipe #vegetarian
Aqua Sale, a fisherman’s meal in campania. ‘Yo Aqua Sale, a fisherman’s meal in campania. ‘You take dry bread, put it in a colander, put it in the sea, drain it, add tomatoes, oil, oregano and this is a meal. Every family had a dried bread drawer.’ I was told. I used basil and made my own ‘sea water’ by adding salt to fresh water. Recipe in the @ham&high and on the blog soon. #aquasale #breadsalad #cucinapovera #tomatoes #heatwavefood
Zeppoline, deep-fried pizza doughnuts with seaweed Zeppoline, deep-fried pizza doughnuts with seaweed - a Neapolitan dish I had in a local trattoria in a sweltering narrow street. Served hot in a basket, I tore them up and dipped them in oil & lemon juice. Recipe in the ham and high and on the blog soon. #recipe #naples #fried
Being silly at last night’s picnic for my sister Being silly at last night’s picnic for my sister in laws birthday in waterlow park. A rolypoly race. 
I’ve not been feeling great the past few days, sniffles, headache, sore throat. I took a test after the picnic just to be on the safe side & sure enough I finally caught the dreaded covid. 
When I feel better I’ll return to Italy.
This vegetarian met the worlds most famous butcher This vegetarian met the worlds most famous butcher @dariocecchinimacellaio whose shop is located in Panzano, Tuscany. He trained my favourite food writer @bill.buford in butchery. I told him I didn’t eat meat & he twinkled ‘to beef or not to beef’. He has a Clark Gable elegance: moustache, slicked back hair, charm, & a designer shirt depicting cows from @cotondoux paris. I instinctively wore a red & white striped dress which matched the colours of his shop, the red & white of the surgeon. They serve you glasses of Dario’s own Chianti Classico complete with straw bottomed ‘fiasco’. Now where else do you get that? When I return I will try the vegetarian menu at his restaurant opposite. #butcher #panzano #tuscany #chiantishire #chianticlassico #foodsiena #foodreportage
On a very steep street in siena, Tuscany. They’v On a very steep street in siena, Tuscany. They’ve had to be creative with the table legs. We went to the Palio horse race in the shell-shaped piazza where the passion & downright enmity of the different contrada or districts, each represented by an animal or mascot, was on display. The riders go bareback. It’s the horse that wins not the jockey. A riderless horse can win. There are many false starts, a massive explosion going boom in the square each time which led kids to cry. We waited for hours in the cheap seats- the burnt ochre brickwork of the centre. While tourists at windows paid 600 euros for the privilege. I loved the singing, like football chants but operatic- lots of finger pointing at each other. After I went to a contrada dinner on the streets of Siena, a rare opportunity. For 35 euros you attend the largest ‘supper club’ ever- 800 people, 4 courses, generous helpings of chianti. The servers are local teenagers. I wore my ‘Oca’ or goose scarf around my shoulders, looking like a girl guide. A bucket list item ticked off. I only wish my daughter @siennamarla was with me. #travel #food #italy #chiantishire #siena #palio #supperclub #oca #contrada
Looking at vegetables in Italy. Photo by @loredana Looking at vegetables in Italy. Photo by @loredanaparisi72
My piece in the @hamandhigh about the 3 day @heat My piece in the @hamandhigh about the  3 day @heathostile training course. Incredibly interesting & challenging. Link: https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/things-to-do/hostile-environment-training-9037980 to read more #hostileenvironmenttraining
Supper club dishes from Saturday: pickled beetroot Supper club dishes from Saturday: pickled beetroot eggs, cheeseboard, stracciatella & cucumber, tomato/strawberry/peashoot salad with real balsamic & spruce oil, home cured dill gravlax, smoked salmon, homemade sourdough crisp bread, potato salad with wild fennel & lots more! #supperclub #midsummer #eattherainbow (miss you @linnsoederstroem)
Last nights supper club. My first supper club in 2 Last nights supper club. My first supper club in 2 years was great fun. I’m pleased with my food, the guests were lovely, it looked magical in the garden. But the weather! I even had to bring my duvets from the bedroom out. They looked like refugees. But this brought even more laughter! Next event September
My first supperclub in two years will take place t My first supperclub in two years will take place this Saturday 18th June starting at 7.30pm. Tickets are £50 byo you can book here: https://msmarmitelover.com/product/midsommar-supper-club there are still a few places left. Pescetarian menu. Scandi and botanical influences. #gettingbackonmyfeet #postpandemic #smallbusinesses #supperclub #london
I recently completed the 3 day @heathostile train I recently completed the 3 day  @heathostile training course. On the last day I was kidnapped by ex-special forces for a few hours & learnt how to deal with compliance training & a hostile environment. It was one of the most interesting experiences of my life. 3 intense days of combat first aid, navigation & how to survive in a war zone. I handled short, long guns, mortars, grenades, bullets, and tourniquet & bandaged an amputee. I learnt where to sit in a car, where to hide from a bullet, where to protect myself if in a car. It was brilliant. Highly recommended for any journalists, photographers, cameramen, charity workers, paramedics going into any difficult environment say a disaster or war. The stories from the tutors & the other participants were so interesting. My piece on it out soon. Book a course: https://hostile-environment.co.uk/  They also do jungle & desert training. I’d love to join the Antarctic expedition. Anyway that’s me hooded in the front. #adventures #het #hostileenvironmenttraining #experiences #travel
Bundoran beach, Donegal. I spent a week knocking o Bundoran beach, Donegal. I spent a week knocking on doors, going to libraries, searching through graveyards for my Irish forebears. It’s really hard to find information prior to 1850. I found this in last years trip to Arbroath in Scotland. Headstones wear out, records are lost or burnt in a fire, everybody has the same name and are known by nicknames, successive children have the same first name, that usually means they died and the next one is called by the same thing. Women did have children out of wedlock, and people remarried more often than you’d think, plus families fall out & never see each other again. I learnt that my Irish great grandfather michael went to Glasgow & met a woman who came from a similar place: somewhere wild & beautiful by the sea. Then they and their children came to london. Chasing the work & the money always. Politics and economics matter for they push people around from rural to city. And now we rodgers are Londoners. #ireland #scotland #family #travel #roots
How some of us celebrate the Queen’s jubilee! My How some of us celebrate the Queen’s jubilee! My sister & a random Irishman come for the Rory Gallagher festival in ballyshannon. Sis has pulled already!  #getyourcoat #sexpistols #ballyshannon #rorygallagherfestival #ireland
Tullaghan, county Leitrim, Donegal, where my grea Tullaghan, county Leitrim, Donegal,  where my great great grandfather john Rodgers was a postman, then a tailor, then a pawnbroker. #irishheritage #donegal #myancestry #irish #rodgers #travel
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Archives

Copyright © 2022 msmarmitelover