160 WWW.THEFIELD.CO.UK
COUNTRYESTATE
COOKERY
I HAVE cooked for countless shoots and
stalkingpartiesatwhichguestsstaggerinto
the kitchen after a heartybreakfast, time
running out before the gamekeeper’s and
gillie’spatienceexpires,exclaimingthatthey
couldn’tpossiblethinkaboutlunchjustnow.
Thentheyseea giantglazed roast ham and
somehow perk up.
Adayonthehillwillrequireheartyfare,saysPhilippaDavis,
but as it will be plucked from a pocket it needs to be robust, too
I love layingout a tablegroaning with
goodies for guests to choose their pieces
forthehillfrom.Allthefoodhastobeeas-
ilyeatenwithoutcutleryandtherightsize
toslipintoa largepocketaswellassurvive
thejourneyupthere.A rollmayseema sim-
plechoicebutishardtobeat,especiallyif
home-made, freshly baked and filled with
somethingdelicioussuchasthe gingerale
ham below. Pastiesor bridies,their Scot-
tish counterparts,aredelicious androbust
enoughtobebumpedaboutallmorning.A
sliceoffruitcakemayseemanunnecessary
extravagancehavingjustfinishedbreakfast
butyouwillfindit isjustwhatyou need to
see you through the afternoon.
GINGER ALE HAM WITH SOFT ROLLS
Making one’s piece
MAKES 13 ROLLS
GINGERALEHAM
Putalltheingredientsforboilingthe
gammonina saucepan,toppingupwith
coldwaterif necessarytocoverthemeat.
Bringtoa simmerandcookforonehour.
Placethehamina small,low-sided
bakingdish,removeanystring and skin
thenlightlyscorethefat.
Preheatovento200°C/400°F/GasMark6.
Mixglazeingredients,pouroverthetop
and roast for 20 minutes, basting once.
FORBOILING
THEGAMMON
1.5kgunsmoked
gammon
1 cinnamonstick
1 tspjuniperberries
1 tspgreenpeppercorns
6 cloves
50ggingerroot,roughly
chopped
2 litresgingerale
G L A Z E
1½tspgroundginger
1 tbspwholegrain
mustard
1 tbsphoney
MILKROLLS
Makesa baker’sdozen
2 tbsp(14g)driedyeast
100mlwarmwater
300mlwholemilk
2 tbspsoftbutter
3 tbspcastersugar
850gwhitebreadflour
plusa littleextrafor
dusting
2 tspfineseasalt4 tbsp
vegetableoil
2 largeeggs,lightly
beaten
Leave to cool then carve into thin slices.
SOFTROLLS
Ina jugmixthewarmwaterandyeastand
leaveuntilfrothy(aboutfiveminutes).
Ina pan,gentlymelt the butter with the
milkandsugar.
Puttheflourandsaltina standingmixer
orbowlandmakea wellinthemiddle.
Graduallymixinthemilk,yeast,vegetable
oilandeggs,andkneadfor 10 minutes.
Placeina clean,lightlyoiledbowl.Cover
with a tea towel and leave somewhere
warmfor1 hour.
Linea bakingtraywithbakingpaper.
Formthedoughinto 13 equal-sizedballs
andplaceontothetray,thensquasheach
onedownintoa thickdiskso they are all
justtouchingeachother.
Dustwiththeextraflour,cover and leave
torisefor 40 minutes.
Preheatovento180°C/350°F/Gas Mark 6.
Bakefor 18 minutes.
Letguestsassembletheirrolls,giving
thema choiceofbutter,mayonnaise,
mustards, chutney, salad and crisps.
