This month sees the launch of my online store. Over the next few months we will be adding more food products and also ‘hard to find’ equipment that I use in my cooking classes. Look out for the new DVD too.

Every class I teach I hear things like “I wish my Mom or Sister could try your food” or “I wish you taught classes here or there so my friends could come along” Well finally they can. Starting with this month with the ever popular Traditional Scottish Shortbread I serve at my Afternoon Tea Party classes.

The Shortbread was so good that one member of the Royal family asked me to make half a dozen to take home with her whenever she came to stay with the Queen. It arrives at your door in a white box with the royal chef logo on top and wrapped in a cream silk ribbon. Inside the box the shortbread is plastic wrapped and encased in royal blue tissue paper for a presentation that makes the perfect gift for birthdays, holidays or just as a ‘thank you or thinking of you’ gift.

Click on either image to read more, or to place an order …

OK! It’s time to confess, Princess Diana was having an affair with her chef too. It’s true, I promise! Call the papers – it’s a world exclusive. Ask her…. Oh, you can’t.

Despicable! That is the only word to describe Sebastian Rich (apt surname) the television camera man who claims he slept with Princess Diana in a new book he is hawking around publishers hoping for a one million pound deal. His ‘friend’ insists he is ‘telling the truth’ … Oh, and my friends insist that I am too… just deposit the million in used notes in my Swiss bank account whilst I order the Champagne.

The award winning photographer is not an award winning lover though it seems. His ‘romp’ he says, lasted 2 ½ long minutes. Let’s hope that is just how long this story lasts and exactly how many pennies he makes from it too.

Diana, A Celebration

This month sees the end of the international tour of Earl Spencer’s ‘Princess Diana Exhibit’. I was in Dayton, Ohio teaching two cooking classes at Dorothy Lane Market and found time to visit the exhibit at the Dayton Art Institute on the last leg of its tour before returning to Althorp.

It promises ‘visitors will get a rare inside look at the late princess’s public and private life through nearly 150 objects, including her 1981 Royal Wedding gown, 28 designer dresses and gowns, family heirlooms, personal mementos, paintings, and rare home movies and photos’…and that it delivered.

I came away though feeling shortchanged. Three huge parts of the Princess’ life were missing - William, Harry and her sense of humor. Where were the photos of the boys and why were they not in the exhibit? Why didn’t we see any examples of Princess Diana’s wicked sense of humor?

Here is a list of my cooking classes right up until Christmas. It’s not that far away you know! Thank you for the huge turn outs at Central Market in San Antonio – to accommodate those who only made the waiting list we have added another date, call the store if you weren’t on the list, they may just have a space for you.

Because of vacation and food photography for my book I don’t have many classes July and August so the fall and winter classes will sign up quickly. If you think you might want to attend a class call them as soon as possible before they appear in the store brochures or you may end up on the waiting list.

Thank you as always to those that support my classes, without you and the wonderful teams at the stores I just wouldn’t be able to do them

Sunday July 23
Central Market, San Antonio
Royal Tea Party.
Chocolate Cake; Shortbread, Raspberry Tartlets; Clotted Cream Scones; English Cucumber Sandwiches; Egg Mayonnaise Sandwiches; and Chicken & Tarragon Sandwiches.
Telephone: 210 368 8617

Saturday August 19
Central Market, Fort Worth
Royal Garden Party.
Chilled Dill & Tomato Mousse with Marinated Shrimp & Herb Dressing; Shredded Carrot & Egg Roulade with Honey-Lime-Cilantro Dressing; Coronation Chicken with Basmati Rice Salad; and Strawberry & Greek Yogurt Cheesecake with a Chocolate Amaretto Sauce.
Telephone: 817 377 9005

Friday August 25
Central Market, Houston
Royal Dinner Party.
Twice-Baked Stilton & Walnut Soufflés with a Red Currant Glaze; Gaelic Beef Tenderloin Steaks with Cretin Potatoes; Peas “Bonne Femme” Style; and Banana Timbales with a Sharp Caramel Sauce.
Telephone: 713 993 9860

Saturday August 26
Central Market, Houston
Royal Garden Party.
Chilled Dill & Tomato Mousse with Marinated Shrimp & Herb Dressing; Shredded Carrot & Egg Roulade with a Honey Lime, Cilantro Dressing; Coronation Chicken with a Basmati Rice Salad; and Strawberry & Greek Yogurt Cheesecake with Chocolate Amaretto Sauce.
Telephone: 713 993 9860

Saturday September 2
Central Market, Austin
Royal Dinner Party.
Stilton and Walnut Salad with a Parmesan, Basil Dressing. Gaelic Steaks (Beef Tenderloin steaks in a creamy, mushroom whisky sauce) Sage Derby Dauphinoise Potatoes. French Style Peas. English Sticky Toffee Pudding with Clotted Cream.
Telephone: 512 458 3068

Saturday September 9
Central Market, Fort Worth
Royal Dinner Party.
Stilton and Walnut Salad with a Parmesan, Basil Dressing. Gaelic Steaks (Beef Tenderloin steaks in a creamy, mushroom whisky sauce) Sage Derby Dauphinoise Potatoes. French Style Peas. English Sticky Toffee Pudding with Clotted Cream.
Telephone: 817 377 9005

Sunday September 17
Market Street, McKinney
Pies, Puddings and Pastries for the Holidays
Telephone: 972 548 5167

Sunday October 8
Market Street, Colleyville
Pies, Puddings and Pastries for the Holidays
Telephone: 817 577 5047

Sunday November 19
Market Street, McKinney
Canapés, Nibbles and Appetizers
Telephone: 972 548 5167

Sunday November 25
Market Street, Colleyville
Canapés, Nibbles and Appetizers
Telephone: 817 577 5047

Saturday December 2
Market Street, McKinney
Royal Christmas Party.
Telephone: 972 548 5167

Saturday December 9
Market Street, Colleyville
Royal Christmas Party.
Telephone: 817 577 5047

Thank you to everyone that turned out to listen to me talk at the Julia Sweeney talk series at Mercury Grill in Dallas last Wednesday. Mrs.’ Crumb and Rowlett had rallied the troops for such a fine turn out that we had to turn people away. Both ladies introduced me dressed as chef’s assistants, wooden spoons et al and the event raised money for The American Foundation for the Blind's new Center on Vision Loss in Dallas.