Claire
Goat meat from Rattlesden
My links with the Caribbean dictate that I have to have goat meat every now and then and now we have a supplier - the most delicious barbecued chops I have ever had jerked in England! Forgot to take a picture though.
The Jive Aces, Texas Tommy & Dinky Donuts
Went to this fantastic dance event at Debach Airfield, home to the USAF in the war. We could have been back in the 1940's if we had dressed up like the hundreds of others who did - sailors, land girls, officers - all jiving to the live band. After jiving for hours Jane was forced to try the Dinky Donuts so I had a reason to put this on my blog and next year I am definitely going to get my hair rolled.
Elderflower Cordial
GCSE's over for this week, so time to show Danielle how to make elderflower cordial. The flowers are fantastic at the moment and have picked them while the sun is out - as recommended by others. No citric acid though so will add lemon juice and hope for the best, whatever happens this is going to be a lot cheaper then buying it in the shops.
White Horse – Whepstead
Had lunch here to write the article for last months Suffolk magazine - delicious creamy haddock chowder with bread, followed by chilled rice pudding brulee with rhubarb, and that was more than enough for me. Nice menu with lots of choice and all kinds of things on it (especially jams and chutneys) made by food conscious local people. The great thing about this pub is how hard they are trying to do local food, and the big square family size pine table in a room by itself near the garden, which could seat ten easily for Sunday lunch. And then there are those lovely country walks with maps included to walk it all off. www.whitehorsewhepstead.co.uk
Pea Porridge – lunch for two
Back to BSE for lunch with my son at our favourite local restaurant (has anyone nominated it yet? It's had enough fantastic reviews online) before we go to Wales for a two night stay with Uncle David. My first ever lunch here; it's a little bit formal if you are looking for a quick three choice menu and no frills, but as usual every mouthful from the Raspberry Prosecco aperitif to the last drop of gravy on our plate is tasty, interesting and well thought out. We have the delicious and complimentary signature pea and ham croquette canape, then a soft salami paste on fresh foccacia, cod cheek tempura (for me) and snails with bone marrow (my son) and then he has a steak with fat chips and I have pigs cheeks casserole with vegetables. I have forgotten the exact menu as they wrote it but we were too full for pudding, it was £39.75 and so much better than your average restaurant I could jump for joy.
Wales
Been to Wales but didn't see much roadside selling - no local cheeses, a few eggs and some ordinary looking preserves in the touristy places. But what a beautiful, rural, peaceful country - there must be lots of nice food here if you have time to find it. Will definitely be going back to Uncle David's!
Veg patch – don’t despair
In real life believe me it looks better, and in lovely WALES Uncle David's veg patch looked a lot healthier than this! But all being well I should have broad beans soon, courgettes, runner beans, french beans, potatoes, spring onions, beetroot, artichokes, gooseberries, currants, carrots, plums and apples, and have already had plenty of broccoli, rainbow chard, spinach, mixed salad leaves for weeks and lots of fresh herbs. The birds stole my strawberries.
Bury Market
What a great day for the market...I bought fresh peaches, a big pineapple, gorgeous cherries, strawberries, new potatoes - Bury market isn't always this good but it beats a supermarket for fruit & veg any day in a summer like this.