Just the stew for a cold day

Its February and the wind is mighty cold, so perfect time for a stew…Lisa has procured me some Little Heath (www.littleheathfarmshop.co.uk) diced venison which I’m going to stew.  I’ve checked all my recipe books and I’ve not found any stewed venison recipes (& I have a lot of recipe books).  So off to the internet to search for some inspiration.  I love reading recipes as whilst I can chuck a load of ingredients into a pot as well as the next person I like to try and compare different recipes.  I’ve found a recipe from Jamie Oliver www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/game-recipes/venison-juniper-stew that looks interesting & it uses Juniper berries some of which I’ve had in my store cupboard forever.

 
Yum that was easy and tasty and with a few extra potatoes made enough for 2 teas  - so fed 11 of us over 2 nights.  I also made some corn bread to accompany it on the second night.
 

Shop local for lovely Valentine's gifts

 

How gorgeous are these biscuits?  I popped into Nancy's Deli in Lymm village yesterday.  I had no idea what to buy my beau for a Valentine's gift, so it was good to find lots of ideas there.  The first thing that hit me among the pies and cakes, were these cute double-layered biscuits. 

The next eye-catching gift, was this champagne/passionfruit curd/chocolate combo.  I can imagine that going down really well with some lucky recipients.  However...I was shopping for a man who isn't known for champagne drinking, so the next gift was perfect...

My husband and I are big fans of local ales, so this will be right up his street.

 

OK, I have to admit to sneaking in one of the heart-shaped biscuits to eat myself with a coffee at home.  Well, you know they say, 'while the cat's away...'!

And the best thing about the gift is that it is already wrapped.  All that is left is to find where to hide it without drinking it myself!

 

Lisa Reid



 

Vive la France a la High Legh

You know sometimes you go on holiday and think 'Oh I really wish we did this in the UK'?  I frequently think that when I am in a French market.  It is one of my favourite pastimes when abroad.  I love to guess some of the more unusual offerings, chat to stall holders and just soak up the ambience.  It is a great way to interact with the local culture.  That's one of the reasons I prefer self-catering holidays

On Sunday I felt proud to wander around Abbey Leys farm, High Legh at the monthly farmer's market because it was so like that French market experience.  The snowdrops were glistening in the hedgerow and everyone had a spring in their step because it was unexpectedly sunny.  I got a real kick out of talking to stall holders because they really know their stuff and were pleased to be able to showcase their lovely produce to an appreciative audience. 

A friend and I have realised that we are sometimes a bit too busy to do all the local shopping we would like, so have started to text each other when we are about to shop.  That way, we go out half as often but get to enjoy local food just as much.  For my part, this is entirely a win/win situation because I get to spend even more time at the market since I am now shopping for two!

Beary good time had by all

Well, Thursday night was a great success.  I found myself at the Barn Owl, Lymm.  Having made a pledge at New Year not to drink alcohol Monday, Tuesday or Wednesdays, I was glad to be at a meeting on a Thursday so I could partake without feeling guilty! 

If you're not familiar with the Barn Owl, they always have a selection of real ales on tap.  Thursday evening didn't disappoint, and I tried a Beartown.  A lovely ale: pale and fairly light.  Kept really well by the expert staff at the Barn Owl to make an enjoyable pint (or two, ha ha!). 

I'd love to extend my alcohol-free pledge to include Thursdays, but it's too difficult with tempting ales like this on offer.
Lisa Reid

Parsley perfection

Gosh, I'm a little behind with blog posts!  So many local foodie things have happened in our house over the last few days, that I can't keep up.  First up, after my visit to Lymm market on Thursday, I washed off the HUGE bunch of parsley I bought for 50p...yes 50p.  I love a bargain: it really puts a spring in my step.  I can't help pulling a few leaves off every time I am in the fridge because it is so glossy and green. 

My aunty gave me a gammon joint, so I pot roasted it with veg, and all the parsley stalks.  It fed 8 of us that evening easily.  Whenever I cook gammon this way, I pop some red lentils in the pot after removing the joint and some of the liquid for gravy (we are northeners after all!).  I leave it simmering for 15 more minutes and then zizz up with a blender to make delicious soup.  If I have leftover gammon, I then flake it in. 

As a result, I made 15 meals with this joint and a few vegetables: 8 for gammon dinner and a further 7 soup portions. 

Lisa Reid

 

British beauties

I was at Lymm market yesterday and picked up both these two lovely British cabbages for less than £2.

We were having pot roast gammon for tea, so I chose the savoy to steam alongside that.

The other is a King cabbage.  It has lovely almost iridescent purple outer leaves and very pale green ones inside.  It is a good all rounder because the inner leaves are almost as sweet as a white cabbage, so can be used raw in the same way.  I prefer this to a white cabbage because I find it hard to eat a whole white one without tiring of it...its a lot to get through isn't it?!

The stall also had sacks of leeks for £2, so I'll be hitting the cookery books today to find alternative ideas to the archetypal leek and potato soup. 

Lisa Reid

Getting thrifty as energy prices rise

This meal was all about using up leftovers and getting a meal on the table

We had an Indian leg of lamb recipe the night before  (Madhur Jaffrey's whole leg of lamb in a spicy yoghurt sauce - a real show stopper) , and I made sure I held a bit back before the hoards wolfed the lot.  I used that to make a quick lamb pilau with mushrooms, almonds, raisins and frozen peas.  As the oven was on, I used my favourite Mary Berry recipe for traybakes to do a quick chocolate sponge.  They cooked in about the same time. 

There was some vegetable tikka left over from last night too.  All in all, a lovely meal which fed the family quickly and cheaply, and a chocolate cake for later with no extra energy consumed. 

I corrupted a Madhur Jaffrey recipe to make the pilau, and it turned out well.  Not the prettiest dish, but tasted great, with moisture provided by some yoghurt and a sprinkle of water.   I used a few whole spices, which made it seem authentic: cloves, cardamom, black pepper, cumin and coriander.

If the speed of consumption is a judge of a meal, then this one was a big success!
Lisa Reid