The Glenalmond Food and Wine Society

The latest gathering revolved around an Italian wine tasting and pasta making session. Our own Head Chefs, Ron and Andy, deftly demonstrated how to make your own fresh pasta and encouraged parents to have a go themselves! The tagliatelle and ravioli were then whisked away for cooking and served, with delicious sauces, during the tasting. (Recipes below)

Mike Stewart of Liberty Wines took us through a fascinating tasting of 6 wines from a delicious, rounded fruity Soave to the magnificent full bodied, rich Alpha Zeta Amarone. We finished up with the wonderful aptly sparkling Moscato D'Asti, which at only 5 ½ % alc vol would make a great party wine. Mike's easy manner and bonhomie made this both an informative and light-hearted way to end a long winter!

Pasta Dough Recipe

200g 00 flour (this has a very different texture to 'normal' flour)

100g Duram wheat semolina

3 eggs (and an extra to seal if making ravioli)

*for a pasta Verdi add 50g of well drained cooked spinach to the dough mix – you may need a little extra flour too)

Mix all the ingredients together and knead until silky smooth.

Wrap in cling film and allow to rest in the fridge for an hour – this resting period is vital.

This dough can be used to make ravioli, tagliatelle, tortellini and linguine.

Saffron and Pesto Sauce

2 shallots finely chopped

2 tsp green pesto

1 small glass of dry white wine

¼ g saffron

500ml double cream

Fry the shallots in a little olive oil until soft.

Add the wine and allow to reduce by half.

Add the cream, pesto and saffron and stir. Simmer until thickened. Check seasoning and serve with your chosen pasta.

The next meeting of The Glenalmond Food and Wine Society will be on May 19th - 'What makes Provender Brown different? Why it makes sense to buy locally.' A talk and tasting by Diane Brown. Tickets £3.50 each. For bookings please contact the school direct or Emma Woods at The Warden's House.

Annual Easter Egg Hunt and Fundraising Breakfast at the Warden's House.

School families gathered for a cooked breakfast at the Warden's House before the last Sunday Chapel Service of term to raise funds for MacMillan Cancer Support and also Bliss (the charity for premature babies). The staff children scampered about in the garden hunting for eggs, one of which had seemingly disappeared down a rabbit hole! We raised almost £100 this year. Many thanks to all who took part.