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I really don’t like Marmite. I do like clever advertising. Weird, I know. But something about this one caught my eye this morning:

Well, you'd stop & look wouldn't you?

Whilst I am sure there’ll be some of you knocking down the doors at Boots tomorrow looking for the shower gel, this is actually just a clever campaign to support the release of the cereal bars. Whilst it doesn’t tempt me in the slightest, I might seek them out for the two Marmite lovers in the house.

Marmite claim these are the first in the world, in being the first ever savoury cereal bar. Quite possibly I guess. They deliver vitamins, fibre and that unique flavour that Marmite lovers adore. There was a good bit of video running at Kings Cross but can’t find it online, it just showed those very opposite reactions that Marmite gets.

If you want to upgrade the strength of your marmite, or the yuck factor, then you can buy extra strength Marmite XO online now. The XO is apparently matured four times longer for extra flavour. Deep joy.

I can’t appreciate the taste but I do love the iconic design, its Britishness (in spite of the fact it’s now owned by Unilever). The Marmite Shop has some great things like artwork for your walls, some really cute espresso cups, not to mention a special edition Marmite Dualit toaster.

It’s the closest they’re going to get me to loving it!

Photo courtesy Unilever

One of my faves!

You may have picked up that today is Cakes for Haiti day, and hopefully you’ve been busy knocking up something delicious! I’ve done blondies and hummingbird muffins, which are new to me. Dr T suggested I could have done all cakes or biscuits beginning with h, but that would be taking it a tad too far for me!

So if you need some inspiration for a last minute cake sale, or for a more leisurely bake, then these are the ones I either work from regularly, or wish I had on the shelf.

1. Red Velvet & Chocolate Heartache – I know I’m boring, I’ve written about this book several times since I bought it, but I love it. I particularly love it for a) fabulous tasting cakes b) getting veg into things I know kids will eat and c) giving me some new ideas on what to do with the annual courgette glut. Courgette and coconut cake is the way to go, and I adore the Chocolate Beetroot Brownie.

2. Sky High – I am a big fan of the He Eats blog, and regularly have cake envy. Ed regularly bakes from the Sky High book, and they always look fantastic, which is down to his skill. But I so want to have a go. So this is one my wish list!

3. Cake Chic- these are very posh looking cakes from Peggy Porschen, that would be the sort of things I would want to make for a girls get-together. They are not the sort you would knock up in a quick afternoon baking session, but definitely worth it for a big occasion. One to work up to I think, but worth the effort.

4. How to Be a Domestic Goddess – I sort of hesitate to mention this one, as I am sure so many people have this, but it is a book I come back to again and again for baking inspiration. It’s particularly good for baking with kids, or for recipes that you remember from way back but have forgotten how to do.

5. Exceptional Cakes - if you spot a branch of Baker & Spice then worth stopping by for great cakes. If you want to recreate it at home, then this is the book for you. It covers everything you could wish to bake from cakes to muffins, biscuits to doughnuts and meringues. Which should keep everyone happy for at least one round of afternoon tea!

So, whether you bake for Haiti, or just for the joy of it, these would give you some ideas. No matter how depressing a day is, homemade cakes make everything seem just a little bit better!

Know your pies

I have no idea what’s been going on out there, but all of a sudden I’ve had a whole heap of people ending up at the site looking for the answer to one question: what is the difference between a mini Melton Mowbray pork pie and a mini pork pie?

I did rather cheekily tweet that the answer was rather obvious and already in the question, but must remember that not everyone is so close to the differences. We live as part of Melton Borough Council and therefore the pork pie figures large in our life around here. I am not saying it’s the only reason we live here but…well, put it this way, when you’ve got Stilton and pork pies, what more could you want?

In case you didn’t already know, a Melton Mowbray pork pie has Protected Geographical Indication status, meaning it has to come from a specific area , and has distinct characteristics. Its sides are bow shaped, as it is baked free standing rather than in a tin of some description, and it uses fresh pork, not cured, giving the meat a more grey appearance, not pink. The meat must be pure chopped pork, as opposed to minced, and you’ll get a good amount of jelly and seasoning.

If you want to know about the history of the Melton Mowbray pork pie (and it is interesting in terms of clever cooks turning a problem into a profitable business) then I recommend a read of Rupert Matthews’ Leicestershire Food & Drink. The book covers the pie’s history from humble beginnings through to protected status, and also covers that other great protected product of the area, Stilton.

Never mind all that, what about eating them? Well, there are 10 manufacturers who belong to the Melton Mowbray Pork Pie Association. Here’s my thoughts, coloured completely by the two big pork pie lovers in the house, who have worked through them all!

1. Dickinson & Morris – if you came to Melton Mowbray, then Dickinson & Morris is the most visible pork pie manufacturer in the town. You can possibly even see a demonstration of how the pies were made. You don’t even need to come to Melton as most of the big supermarkets carry them. Dr T proclaims them pretty good, especially the hand raised one. But you will have to go to the shop for that one. They do good hampers of local produce which we have sent to my awkward father-in-law a couple of times, and they have been well received.

2. Mrs King’s - I don’t know how many more accolades Mrs King’s needs. One of Rick Stein’s Food Heroes, and also features in Simon Majumdar’s Eat My Globe, this is also Dr T’s favourite and features on the lunchtime menu at our local, and several others in the area. Generally we buy this ready to be cooked at home, where you also add in the jelly as well. Or not, depending on your preference. This is an old family company, and there are a number of stockists around the country, but they don’t have a website. Give them a ring on the phone. Or if you are in Nottingham then stop in the excellent cheese shop in Flying Horse Walk, they definitely stock them.

3. Brockleby’s – I’ve featured these before, but the pies from Brockleby’s are the only certified organic Melton Mowbray pork pie. The pork is from rare breed pigs, either at the farm or from neighbouring ones. These are worth the trip out to the farm shop, or you’ll find Ian and his team at many of the farmer’s markets in the area. Or, if you’re posh, then Daylesford Organics carry them too!

4. Pork Farms – you know what, I don’t buy their pork pies, or any other of their products. I am amazed they are in the organisation. My view, and that of these tasters, is don’t waste your money.

5. Northfield Farm – another stalwart of local food festivals, normally cooking up very tasty sausages and burgers, but also make a very good Melton Mowbray pork pie. Northfield are really big on rare breeds, and the pork comes from their pigs. Pies are hand raised and baked without support, in the traditional manner. You can order online, and I highly recommend their burgers as well.

6. F Bailey & Son – a small, traditional butcher, this is stocked by our local butcher, and is a good standby pie for our household. This is a slight variation, as this is backed in a mould, so not entirely traditional.

7. Nelsons of Stamford – if you fancy somewhere a bit different on the pie run, then head to Stamford and get one from Nelsons. Stamford is lovely, and Nelsons not only make a pork pie but some great tasting Lincolnshire sausage as well. The pies have been feted with over 50 medals, and there has been a butchers carrying the Nelson name in Stamford since 1826. Whilst you’re in Stamford, you might want to stop by the Adnams shop, great beer and wine selection, bound to be something good to go with your pie!

8. Patricks – we have failed, I am sorry. For some reason this one has passed us by. However, Dr T says he will make amends and volunteer for the job of a taste comparison with his favourite. They’ve been in business over 20 years, so I guess they know what they are doing.

9. Chappell’s Fine Foods – look for these labelled as Forryans Melton Mowbray Pork Pies. Again, nearly 40 years of experience, following the traditional methods, this gets rated as per the company name: fine.

10. Walkers Charnwood Bakery – producing a lot of the supermarket own brand Melton Mowbray pork pies, you can also buy this under their own name of Walkers, but mainly just here in the East Midlands. But when we have so much choice, it’s a rare moment when we do.

So, this is perhaps part one, and should tell you what the difference is, and what I would recommend eating, but it has to be said there are some fabulous pork pies being made without the Melton Mowbray name, with different techniques, and enjoying a bit of a revival. I’ll come to those later in the week.

Happy pie eating though in the meantime! Photo of a fabulous Mrs King’s pork pie by Dan Taylor on Flickr.

What will you swap?

The annual Fairtrade Fortnight started yesterday, and I like this year’s theme around asking people to swap just one thing they regularly purchase for the Fairtrade version. Small steps to change always seem much more manageable somehow!

So, bananas and coffee feel a bit old hat, and many will already be buying fairtrade (or did 5 years at The Body Shop do too much brainwashing on me?) Anyway, what else could you swap?

* Swap your vodka for Fair Vodka, the first Fairtrade certified vodka, and the first quinoa based in the world. At last, a decent use for the stuff! And apparently it does it very well as it was voted best tasting vodka 2009 at the New York Spirits award. Does good and tastes good then!

* Swap your regular basmati rice for Suma’s organic & Fairtrade brown basmati. That’s such an easy swap of such a basic item that it almost doesn’t need thinking about.

* Swap a morning brew for a morning brew from Make Us a Brew. Strong, full on, English breakfast tea that is both organic and fair traded. Not to mention it has very cute illustrations!

* Swap your regular beer for something quite different from Mongozo. Fruit based, you could try something like the Coconut Beer, and still keep to your fair trade principles.

* Swap your spice rack to fairly traded spices. I love Steenbergs anyway, but even more so for the fact that there is a large range of fair trade options available from them, as well as being organic. Even if you only switch one spice, it’s a start. I’m starting with cinnamon sticks.

So, take one small step and make one small change. But equally, I want to make another plea, and that is not to forget our own farmers and small producers, that they equally deserve a fair deal. Please get out there and support those working hard, delivering great animal welfare standards and great tasting produce. Small producers making products the traditional way, or inventing new ways, to really delivery high quality products. Fair trade for all!

Bring on the full English

I love breakfast. To be fair, I love weekend breakfasts, holiday breakfasts, breakfasts out…anywhere really where it’s relaxed and, preferably, someone else has made it. And if you didn’t make someone breakfast in bed on Valentine’s Day, then do it just as a surprise on any other day, or take them somewhere special, or just somewhere different, for a great breakfast, just because.

Want some ideas? Try these.

* I love the marmalades from The Pickled Village, even if only for the names. Depending on the kind of breakfast you want to create, you can choose from things like The Amorous Breakfast (pink grapefruit with cranberry and a nip of vodka) and The Morning After Breakfast (lemon marmalade with stem ginger and ginseng). They’d start any morning with a bit of a bang!

*If you want to share breakfast with quite a lot of people, then try the Breakfast Box for six from Sillfield Farm. The farm is home to wild boar, rare breed pigs and Herdwick sheep, and these end up providing some great brekkie treats. Eggs, two types of bacon, sausages, black pudding…that’s a serious breakfast with taste!

* If you want to head out for breakfast, then it still seems that the Wolseley is one of those places that you can’t go wrong at. But if that is a bit too formal, then how about Lantana? Or I’m very fond of Cecconi’s as well. But if you made me choose, then it would be a toss up between the corned beef hash at the Carnegie Deli, or cinnamon toast and a double strength cap at Alf Resco in Dartmouth. Depends if anyone is offering up the ticket to NYC!

* Get out and find your best local baker, and support them, get in there buying real bread. For me, I’m between Paul’s and King’s Road Bakery, who supply the great bread that the Red Lion serve. If you start with great bread, all you need is a toaster, great butter and fabulous jam, and that’s a great breakfast.

* Don’t want to cook yourself, and need to get away? How about a quick break but somewhere quite extraordinary? Have a look at the selection on Unique Home Stays, there are some fabulous options. I fancy The House in the Sea, although possibly not good if you are afraid of heights. Or don’t like the sea. But if you want a sea view with your full English, then this is for you. Alternatively, Mr & Mrs Smith always have a great selection and I would put a lot of faith in Alastair Sawday’s view.

So go ahead and make breakfast something remember. Although I have to say my favourite brekkie is still when MGG arrives at my bedside with a bowl of cornflakes. Sometimes even with milk!

Full on full English photo by peasap over on Flickr.

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Love meat!

Those of you who’ve read my blog on more than one occasion will know that I try to not feature the obvious, am not much of a lover of the themed gift, and tend to write about stuff that first and foremost tastes great, rather than looks right for the occasion. I’m not going to divert from that now so, if you’re looking for hearts and flowers, you’re in the wrong place.

Instead I’m going to write a series of these for foodies with different kinds of tastes. Perhaps I should have called this first entry My Bloody Valentine, as I thought I would start with great gifts for those that love their meat.

Of course it’s not a traditional gift (unless it’s in the stalkerish tradition of sending an animl heart in a box to an ex, not recommended) but could be good excuse to indulge in some great meat (no tittering at the back please). Here’s a few suggestions from me:

•  A little dried sausage, perhaps? A whole saucisson or two could be just the thing . Try a natural countryside rosette of whole smoked saucisson dried in an old fashioned fireplace by Roches Blanches. Available through Virtual Farmer’s Market.
• Where’s the beef? Well, they won’t be asking that if they take delivery of 18kgs of Longhorn beef from Huntsham Farm. Every cut of beef you could want, from sirloin to silverside and plenty of mince in between. Renowned for their rare breed meat, this is going to be a gift of exceptional taste that will create a whole heap of meals for you to share happily together.
  

  Salami from The Real Boar Co

• Want to see a look of confusion followed by delight? Try wrapping up an 8kg Serrano ham on the bone. It’ll look like you’re sending a haunch of something, but once they’ve stopped being concerned/laughing then delicious ham is guaranteed, for weeks!
• Indulge them in the glory that is a proper pork pie with the only certified organic Melton Mowbray pork pie from Brocklebys. Made with organic Saddleback pork to a traditional 200 year old recipe, this is what a pork pie should really be like.
• Valentine’s Day is no time to be mean, so be generous and go large. How about a whole traditional rare breed pig, all butchered and ready for great eating? Well Keythorpe Traditional Pork & Lamb can offer you just that. It could be any one of the rare breed pigs that they keep, but all are going to be interesting eating, or curing, depending on your loved one’s level of skill.
• For a slight tounge in cheek gift, how about salami from The Real Boar Co? Hopefully they won’t take offence and will get slicing these great British salamis. The Bit of Each gives you three tasty salamis and a chorizo, or you can buy the individual salamis. Great looking cutting boards and knives too.

Meat serving board

• If they’re into roasts, then how about a meat serving board? I like the one that Jamie Oliver has, for having both style and substance. Looks good, spikes will hold the joint securely and the grooves will capture the juices ready for gravy making. Or just pouring directly back onto the meat!
• For a bit of inspiration for recipes, then you can’t go wrong with The River Cottage Meat Book for almost the a to z of all meat. But I would guess most meat loving foodies already have that one, so perhaps something like Rotis by Stephane Reynaud or John Torode’s Chicken and Other Birds for something a bit specific.
• If they would like to take things into their own hands, then there are some really good butchery courses around for the amateur. The School of Artisan Food has an introductory two day course, as well as Lamb & Mutton or Pig in a day, and River Cottage are of course past masters in this.

So, choose to indulge their favourite food choice, rather than falling prey to the norms of Valentine’s Day gifting. It will give them something to talk about, as well as something very tasty to get their teeth into.

Fabulous neon sign photo by SqueakyMarmot on Flickr and Saddleback pig photographed by Dave Hamster.

Given that this is the closest Friday Five to Burns Night, today’s cookbooks all have a Scottish slant to them, which has certainly had its own food renaissance. These books will therefore take you way beyond neeps and tatties, haggis and deep-fryed Mars bars.

Nick Nairn Cook School Cook Book

1. Nick Nairn Cook School - Nick is someone I can watch time and time again, and a few days at his Cook School would be a great present for any foodie. If that is a bit out of reach at the moment (prices seem to start about £150 plus your accommodation) then maybe the book of the school would be a good alternative. Perfect for serious or not so serious foodie, there are sections on technique as well as recipes, so you can brush up on your knifework or need to know how to prep a lobster then this is perfect. And it’s not all about fish, although there are great fish recipes. I’d be quite keen to try the Cook School steak with Cabernet Sauvignon vinegar.

2. Maw Broon’s Cookbook: The Broon’s Cookbook for Every Day and Special Days - these characters will be very familiar to the readers of the “Sunday Post” in Scotland, and this is an entertaining read with some good recipes. This would make a good gift for expat Scottish foodies with a nostalgia for home, and tastes of home.

3. Taste Ye Back: Great Scots and the Food That Made Them - part interviews with famous Scots, and part recipes, this will reveal what dishes they loved. We can enjoy foodie reminisces from Sharleen Spiteri, Ewan McGregor and Andy Murray, and then perfect the dishes that they love.

4. The Caledonian Kitchen- I’ve featured this one before when I looked at charity cookbooks, but it’s worth a mention again. With recipes from around Scotland, the sale of this book goes to support Action Duchenne, the UK charity working towards finding a cure for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. The recipes come from a mix of celebrities and award winning Scottish chefs, as well as from ordinary people across the country who support the charity.

5. The Three Chimneys: Recipes and Reflections- The Three Chimneys is somewhere I’d love to go. Talk about combining spectacular cooking with amazing scenery! The photography is beautiful, and the recipes cover traditional Scottish fayre, as well as more modern updates. I like the idea of Autumn pudding as a seasonal alternative, and cranachan is always worth making.

So, whether you’re doing a full on Burn’s Night dinner, or just perhaps pouring a wee dram, it’s a great excuse to have a look at just how much great cooking has been coming out of Scotland.

Beetroot Relish from Jamie Oliver

Just spotted that the Jamie Oliver sale is in full swing, and there are some good things to pick up, either if you need a gift urgently, or to put aside. I’ve written before that I think this is a great range of products, not just name stamping by Jamie but stuff cooks and foodies, big and small, would actually want.

There are scented candles, always a good standby. and canisters of tea (come on, how can anyone not like tea?) It would be boring of me to mention tea towels again but…! I’m also very keen on the kids gardening kits, as getting kids involved in growing stuff is one step away from getting them cooking it, which really helps with the eating of a bigger variety of stuff.

I would say this any time you are buying a gift, but particulary right now with what’s happening in Haiti, but please buy with thought, not panic, and really consider the person you are buying for, that they really will use and value what you’re buying them. If in doubt, donate what you were thinking of spending, and shop another day when you spot something they will really love.

Regardless of the discount, if they don’t love it, it’s not a great buy, and it’s certainly not a great gift! That said, I’d welcome pretty much all of these! There is a free delivery code, AA1W1A, so you could donate the delivery cost you’ve saved!

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I know, eating local is nothing new, it was all the rage last year. And, lets face it, 2008 and 2009 were incredibly tough years for everyone and just when we thought there was light at the end of the tunnel the snow came. We all wanted to hibernate. Nice and warm, but bad for business.

Melton Mowbray, ruler of rural food

So now the snow and ice are leaving us, this is my plea for you to get out there and support your local food and drink businesses: everyone from the producers to the retailers, the farmer’s markets to the restaurants. Many will have had the best part of nearly 3 bad weeks, which is not the best start for the new year. Never mind food trends, they need you right now. Here’s my shameless plug for the local businesses that will be getting my cash over the next few weeks:

1. Red Lion Inn- these guys don’t really need the plug (they were on the Hairy Biker’s and Olive Magazine called the team in charge the dream team) but they deserve all the praise, and the rewards. Early doors dinner is just £16.50 for 3 courses, and this week included a spectacular smoked haddock risotto with poached egg, pan fried sea bream with chorizo and mash and braised blade of beef.

2. Caffe & Deli Italia- probably the best proper cappucino going in Melton Mowbray, not to mention a great deli. This is a great independent business, a family business. Skip the chains, head here.

3. The Melton Cheeseboard- we’re blessed around here with great cheese makers, and also with a great cheese shop in Melton Mowbray. If you love cheese, you’ll love it in here. If you’re avoiding cheese, you will need to avoid here! With Stilton from Long Clawson and Quenby and Sparkenhoe Red Leicester, you can be busy supporting several local producers at once.

4. Brockleby’s Farm Shop - perfect for devotees of Melton Mowbray pork pies, Ian Jalland and the team produce the only organic pork pie produced in the borough of Melton, and mighty fine it is too. The farm shop also carries meat from their rare breeds, and a full range of everything that you’re going to need for some great dining at home.

5. The Malt House Deli- if I’m working at home during the week, then I tend to sneak out for breakfast at The Malt House. You can get a full English, but I tend to go for a sausage butty, made with good Lincolnshire sausages. A small but good selection of victuals, and a really good selection of breads, including a very good spelt one.

6. Crossroads Farm Shop- this is my nearest farm shop, and does fantastic pork. Have a look at the pigs in the farmyard, and then pop inside to see what they’ve got. We had a brilliant joint of pork from them to make porchetta at New Year, and Best Foodie Friend had an amazing gammon joint. Cracking bacon too!

7. Colston Bassett Dairy- talk about cutting food miles! During the week and on Saturday morning you can buy your Stilton direct from Colston Bassett Dairy, from the shop on site. Just don’t come at lunchtime, it’ll be closed. If that’s the case, then pop just down the road to Colston Bassett Store, as they carry it too. You might even be able to get into the coffee shop for lunch. Failing that, you could always head over to The Martin’s Arms. Not cheap, but will be one heck of a good lunch.

These are my local food haunts and whilst I’d love everyone to visit them, first and foremost get out and find the equivalents in your area. It’s not just a gift to you and your family, but to them and their families, their employees, their suppliers, their families….and so the circle goes on. Money spent locally continues to do good locally. This is not about being parochial, but thinking about how you spend your money. And maybe think about spending just a little less this week and sending it to the Haiti appeal.

Getting planning your home grown goodies!

Lets face it, it appears we are in the worse winter since God was a boy and sent us the last Ice Age. Which means we don’t have to feel remotely guilty about not setting foot out of doors. Personally, this is the time of year I like to spend curled up with the seed and plant catalogues, full of good intentions of all the things I am going to grow.

Regardless of how much space you have, you can grow something, and it will taste better than lots of stuff you can buy. There’s nothing like leaning out the conservatory window to pick some rosemary that goes straight into the kitchen. I can think of no shorter supply chain!

You can either buy seeds, plants and kits for the foodie in your life, or just order in the catalogues and let them make some choices. Here’s where I’m looking for some inspiration this season:

1. Seeds of Italy is new to me, and I want to grow loads of stuff from here. Given that we have 3 raised beds and a patio, I shall have to be strict! There is an amazing choice of varieties of tomato though, and I really do like the look of the Costoluto Fiorentino and the Yellow Pear Shaped. Something to keep even the most experience vegetable grower interested and trying something new!

2. Sarah Raven has lovely things, although not necessarily the cheapest. If your foodie is new to growing their own, then the Beginner’s Garden Veg Collectionis a great gift for a beginner, as it says on the tin. Looks very pretty, and useful seeds like french beans, lettuce and parsley. For the more advance, there are things like Beetroot “Burpees Golden” and Courgette Trombomcino (yes, it does look like a trombone, kind of) not to mention edible flowers. If you’ve got mini gourmets to buy for, then also worth taking a look at the Easy Veg for Children kit.

3. If you want to grow unusual, heritage varieties, then the Heritage Seed Library is a perfect choice. You have to become a member, and you get to grow up to 6 varieties a year. It’ll certainly give you something different to show at the horticultural show, not to mention benefit from tastes that have all but disappeared. Membership is just £20 for the year, definitely an unusual but useful foodie present.

4. Lets not dismiss Thompson & Morgan just because you can get them in every garden centre. They are big on research, and are big on seeds and plants for small spaces. Check out the vegetable pouch collection, which allows you to grow things like salad leaves and runner beans in a pouch hanging on a wall. Only got patio space? They have varieties for you to be able to grow everything from blueberries to cucumber, not to mention some patio veg planters.

5. I’m not brilliant with growing from seed, with last summer being my most successful. If you really want the lazy route, or a brilliant gift, then check out Rocket Gardens, who will send you little plants all ready to go in the ground. They offer everything from patio container and window box versions, through to a full Mediterranean vegetable garden. You can order and give the vouchers any time of the year, and the plants will be sent when the time is right for planting. You do have to plant them yourself and tend for them, but this is lazy gardening that should lead to great and tasty results!

So, get snuggled up in front of the fire, get your graph paper and coloured pens out and all the seed catalogues, virtual or otherwise, and put these cold nights to good foodie use!

Shot of great looking raised beds by greengardenvienna on Flickr.