August | The start of the main game season
Another emotive subject in the same week, sorry but nature does have it’s own timings too. The glorious 12th kicks off the grouse season with a bang, but a lot of tradition and common sense is built...
View ArticleSeasonal favourites | The Blackberry
The blackberry is one of the real gems of the hedgerow, up there with the sloe. Like any fruit, too much water can produce a soft tasteless berry and too little, will prevent them reaching their...
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Corn | A seasonal treat
When it comes to sweetcorn, he is bang on the money. Not only is this a delicious, multi purpose ingredient, it’s also grown in great quantities in the UK. This is emphasized when I was driving around...
View ArticleIn Season | The Leek
A close relative of the onion and nearly just as versatile. the leek is deservant of it’s position as a symbol of Britain. One noted Welshman, Terry Walton, has plenty of advice on the humble leek....
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Foraging | Easy pickings …
One of my favourite activities is talking the children to one of our village parks. To get there, you walk across a couple of fields and some well trodden footpaths. A common feature of any of these...
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Walnuts | The battle begins …
At home we have a mature walnut tree standing at the side of the house. Every so often you will here one of the fruit dropping from the tree and then bouncing down the tiled roof. Technically they are...
View ArticleIn Season | Parsnip
The parsnip is just coming into season and by this we mean they are available domestically from the ground in peak condition. Many parsnips arrive in large plastic storage bags and these cause the...
View ArticleStaffordshire Buttery Potato Cake
This is one of those easy to cook / easy to get wrong dishes. With simple ingredients, it is all to easy to add extra items or tweak the method. Buttery potato cake makes a great side dish, especially...
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Beauty and the Beet(root)
This time of year, the most visible form of beetroot is in the pickled form. Although a great accompaniement to pot roasts and stews, it is surprisingly versatile elsewhere. This root vegetable has a...
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Christmas Senses | Ahead by a nose ?
When you think of fantastic festive fragrances, which ones jump out? Mulled wine? The bird coming out the oven? Christmas pud? Gravy? Brandy sauce? Stuffing? Roast vegetables? An open fire? The...
View ArticleThe Haggis is English …
Tonight is Burn’s Night, a celebration of the colourful Scots Poet, Robbie Burns. One is his most famous poems was Address to a Haggis: ” Fair fa’ your honest, sonsie face, Great chieftain o the...
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Oysters …
The oyster has got to be one of those foodstuffs that is up there with Marmite. I have strong opinions on both, but oysters are a simple and enjoyable treat. They have to be so fresh that you can...
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