Yesterday I picked the last of the mulberry crop from the suffolkfoodie ancestral home.. The old mulberry tree blew over in the great storm of 1987 but being from a farming family, daddy suffolkfoodie pulled the tree upright with his tractor and tied it back into position. It survived! I have picked over 20kgs of fruit and made some into jam. Here is the recipe. I used jam sugar with added pectin as mulberries are low in pectin. I added plenty of red, unripe fruits to improve the setting, as the red fruit have higher pectin levels.
1kg Mulberries and 1kg of Jam Sugar
Rinse the mulberries carefully and quickly so as not to lose too much juice. Put into a large saucepan and simmer until soft. Stir in the sugar ensuring that it all dissolves. Boil hard until setting point is reached. (Setting point can be tested by dropping some cooked jam onto a saucer which has been chilled in the freezer, a skin will form on top of the jam when setting point is achieved)
Warm some clean jars in the oven, bottle and store.
Meet Malcolm our October Dish of the Day - you can just see him at the back! Malcolm is one of the bakers at The Suffolk Food Hall. Their display of homemade artisan breads and baked goods is very impressive and so is the view from the Cookhouse Restaurant window.
There is a new Farmers’ Market at Ixworth Village Hall on the last Sunday of Month; (30th Sept, 28th Oct, 25th Nov); 10am – 1pm. Join local producers selling a variety of local products including sausages and bacon, cakes, flour, bread, jams, chutneys, pickles, chocolates and beers/juices, as well as autumn plants and flowers. Refreshments and biscuits available. More info/stall bookings via Charlotte Brown on 07545 629372 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..">This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
A very special afternoon tea is being held in Ickworth House West Wing. It is in aid of Leukaemia and Lymphoma Research. Tickets cost £15.00 for adults and £3.00 for children. The cost of the ticket includes afternoon tea and entrance to the park and gardens.The County Upper School Swing Band will be playing and the tea will be served on the fabulous vintage china of suffolkvintagechinahire. See the flyer for booking details. See you there!!
Today I picked my whole crop of basil and turned it into pesto sauce ready to smother onto hot pasta. Pesto is very quick and easy to make, either in a mini food processor or by hand, with a pestle and mortar. You will need:
- 2 cups fresh basil leaves
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan-Reggiano or Romano cheese
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1/3 cup pine nuts ( or try walnuts for a change)
- 3 medium sized garlic cloves crushed
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Crush the basil leaves, salt, pepper and garlic together adding the nuts and oil a little at a time. Keep working until you have a rough paste. Add the grated cheese and the last of the oil. Mix well and store in the fridge in a covered jar.
I keep a layer of oil on top of the sauce, to maintain the colour and texture.
Asda have whole, fresh trout on offer for £1.50 each, and what a bargain they are. I have been hot smoking mine, and the fishmonger told me that the customer before me also bought 10 to smoke. My Weber-style barbeque works well, however Hugh Fearnley -Whittingstall uses an old bread bin.
Our French Dish of the Day - Creme de Roses Liqueur
Written by Claire
Served just like Kir with white wine and ice ....mmmm
Mais oui...here we are in Marseilles admiring the vast spread of produce at the market - including donkey salami - this one's not for me - but only because of the vast choice. And of course we tried a whole selection of new aperitifs - merci Monsieur Bonfils - bright yellow Mimosa, sweet Chestnut and fragrant Roses. The latter is a bit Turkish Delight perhaps, but still worth featuring as our Dish of The Day because we know you would like to stock this next to the Pamplemousse and Rhubarbe, in case we come for a drink. There are many things that the French simply do better and one of them is drinking.
On Saturday night Cambridge was hit by flash flooding which forced most restaurants in the centre of the city to close, including Jamies Italian and The Cambridge Chop House. Forced to search elsewhere for supper we spotted Fitzbillies, famed for Chelsea Buns and for having Stephen Fry as a fan. The 1922 vintage facade gave us no clue that anything other than afternoon teas were served. On closer inspection we saw diners inside so went in.
A hesitant Maitre D' thought carefully before allowing us a table (we thought they must all be reserved, but in fact weren't) The main courses were simply presented and included a pork chop with roast fennel, cherry toms and new potatoes, and grilled mackerel with courgettes, saffron and organo which I chose. Portion sizes varied wildly from a Ploughmans size starter of Potted Venison, pickled redcurrants and sourdough, to a three mouthful plate of Goose Ham and melon (yes, we asked, it's cured and dried goose breast) No culinary masterpieces but well cooked and fresh ingredients.
The service is laid back here and the staff appeared to be having a good time on their own table. One of our puddings is pictured - Filo, layered with chocolate cream and raspberry, but the best part of the meal was undoubtedly the discovery of a delicious Boekenhoutskloof ( Franschhoek. Cape Wine.) The Wolftrap. delicious...buy yourself a case. I will.
Wow! Suffolkfoodie has found the perfect burger - in Great Yarmouth. YES! Great Yarmouth... We followed our noses tthrough the wood smoke to the The Barking Smack, next door to The Hippodrome. We also followed our ears, as we loved the sound of the Roots Reggae that gave the terrace bbq shack a relaxed and laid back feel. The burgers were proper, juicy patties, cooked to your liking and there were real ales too, including Blonde Ash. Here is the Carnivore Burger. Well done to Mark, not only an excellent burger, but happy and helpful service too!
