Long time no write...

It has been a while since I have written and there is so much to write about! So in the next two or three weeks I will write more but many of my blogs may be shorter as a consequence. The Academic year is drawing to a close and this leaves those of us who teach in a position of looking forward to six weeks of holiday. I love teaching and couldn't see myself doing anything else but the idea of being able to get up (at a reasonable hour), go shopping (somewhere nice) and then spending the late morning producing something lovely for lunch is very appealing at the moment.
A couple of weeks ago I visited the Haddenham Vale Harvest market (First Saturday of every month) and picked up two products that blew my socks off!
The first was a pack of sausages from Orchard View Farm - The initial idea was to promote these sausages to the role of Toads and pop them in their respective Holes but the weather has been so hot of late that the idea of Toad in the Hole covered in onion gravy was not as appealing as it might have been in January. They ended up sliced, still hot and cast over a salad of leaves and beetroot (from the Kitchengardener's (AKA The Mmusician) plot. Incidentally, he has recently joined the blogosphere and writes about his vegetable adventures. Just because I had some in I threw some chunks of feta over the salad and dribbled over a lemony dressing. With all these flavours going on, the sausages still stole the show. The rebirth of the British sausage has been gathering pace over the last few years and long may it continue!
The second product was some UK made Bresaola from the guys at Egg House Charcuterie. This was not what was expected at all. For those of you who expect your bresaola to be even coloured, circular and wrapped in cling film this is not for you (Which means all the more for me!). These were beautiful, delicate strips of Hereford beef full of real beef flavour. The term "melt in the mouth" is overused and had become a bit of a cliche in recent years, but this beautiful meat did melt in the mouth leaving a long and gentle flavour on the palate - fabulous! What's more the beef grew up within a few miles of Corner Cottage.
I hope this market is a success for the stallholders because I, for one, would happily see it turn into a fortnightly or even weekly event. The fact that it is a half hour walk from Corner Cottage makes it the perfect Saturday morning adventure.

Vale Harvest at Haddenham

I visited the Vale Harvest market in Haddenham on Saturday morning - what a revelation!
This is a quote from their website -

Vale Harvest is a group of local food producers within a 10 mile radius of Haddenham and the immediate area. They say "Our aim is to make it easier for local people to connect with local produce. The markets will host a range of stalls selling hot and cold food and drink to have there and to take home." Stalls selling some of the following will be there (rain or shine): free-range lamb and pork; cupcakes and ice cream; fresh bread and eggs; sausages and charcuterie; jam and chutney; fresh herbs and vegetables; cider and apple juice; hand-made chocolates; Oriental sauces and food; Chiltern rapeseed oil; Italian sauces and lasagne.

It was a wonderful market with meats from local suppliers. I purchased some black pudding from Orchard view farm and some Bacon and Sausages from the Egghouse Butchery and Charcuterie who also supplied me with a cheeky bag of little sausage rolls (they did not last very long at all). I also bought an equally cheeky couple of bottles of beer from the XT Brewery.
 I plan to buy a "lump" of Dexter beef next month.
The real joy, however, comes from the fact that I can comfortably walk from my front door to this market in about half an hour. Bring on the first Saturday of every month!