BBC Good Food Show & BBC Gardeners' World Live

What a day, I am worn out! I went over to the BBC Good Food Show & BBC Gardeners' World Live, at the NEC in Birmingham, with my husband, David, as we had exchanged some of our Tesco Clubcard vouchers for the tickets online.

Me in the RHS marquee

I had a really enjoyable day today, and I came home with lots of new ideas, and lots of new plants (and a few goody bags). I really want to go back on Sunday as I didn't see all of the exhibits, especially in the garden bit, and I think I could quite easily buy some more beautiful plants!

The plan was to do the garden show first, then the food show, however, we decided to go for a breakfast at Alfonso's in Leamington Spa (which is the best full English in Warwickshire), so we caught a later train and didn't arrive until just before lunchtime. We hit the RHS marquee first which was absolutely chock full of beautiful flowers and plants, I could have bought enough to fill a mini bus!

At 12:30 we made our way to the Sainsbury's Summer Kitchen as we had tickets to see Simon Rimmer do a live demonstration at 1pm. Well, it was well worth the money as he was fantastic, and really funny! He cooked 3 dishes, 2 fish (sea bass & salmon), and 1 lamb, and you can find the 2 of these recipes in the "my favourite recipes" section, below my blogs.

Simon was on for 40 minutes, and when he finished he received a rousing ovation from the audience in the theatre, and from the people in the cheap seats who couldn't afford a ticket! He then went off to sign some books, and we went for a wander around the food hall, trying lots of samples in the process (David was also on a mission to try every drink going, and just about achieved it). I so very nearly tried an oyster for the first time ever, however, I chickened out at the last minute and decided to have some Carte D'Or ice cream instead.

Simon Rimmer

We then headed back to the marquee, where I was able to pick up some very good tips, and also some more plants. We only left when we couldn't carry anything else, although our first attempt at leaving was aborted at the exit, and we turned back as David was convinced that I really didn't want to leave! We eventually left at around 5pm, and caught a very busy train back to Leamington Spa, and I was back in the house with a cup of tea in my hand by 6pm!

I'll be back on the allotment tomorrow, unless of course David has won the EuroMillions lottery, and if he has my next update will be written from a very white Caribbean beach ... you never know!

Cindy xx

Day off today

I'm going to the NEC today for the BBC Good Food Show & BBC Gardeners' World Live, I'm really looking forward to it, and I will post an update this evening. I've also booked to see Simon Rimmer cooking live in the Summer Kitchen, can't wait!

Cindy xx

Neglecting my plot

I have had a very busy two days, so busy in fact that I have not been on my plot! Fortunately, my dad is up at the crack of dawn to let the chickens out, and he also puts them away at night (thanks dad). My updates have been missed because my father in law sent me a text message this morning asking me where the update was for Tuesday (thanks dad in law).

What has been keeping me away from the plot you must be thinking? Well, yesterday I visited my friend Annette's farm, Myer Bridge Farm, nr Southam, Annette is my best friend, we grew up together and have remained friends since our school days. She has been on the farm for 4 years, along with her husband Gavin, and I really like to go and visit because I can lose myself over there, and we do lots of farmy things!

On Tuesday we pottered around, first we pricked out some chilli plants, and picked some fresh strawberries, then we cleaned out the barn, which is where Ernest the naughty (teenage) donkey lives. He's a very lovable donkey as well, but he does have a habit of trying to take a bite out of any part of your anatomy, especially if you are silly enough to turn your back on him.

Juicy and fresh

Then we had some lunch, and a good old natter, one of the things we discussed was the two Dexter cattle that have just been sent to slaughter, they are the first beasts to go, and Annette and Gavin are marketing the meat! This is their first attempt, and they are quite excited by it, they already have commitments from several family members and friends (me being one of them), to buy a box of mixed meat, so hopefully they will make a nice profit. I have also bought lamb and pork from Gavin and Annette as I think it is nice to know where your meat comes from. We finished our afternoon by watching the first day of Royal Ascot, but we did not manage to pick any winners.

I'm off to bed now so I will fill you in on Wednesdays activities tomorrow (most of the afternoon was spent watching the action from Royal Ascot), and I will also have some allotment news as I will be spending a good few hours on my plot!

Now, I wonder what colour hat the Queen will be wearing tomorrow?

Another busy day

Well, after a day of rain yesterday, the allotment looked good today, weeding is so much easier when it has rained! I think two of my hens are broody because this is the second day that they have spent in the nest boxes, they haven't moved so I need to do something or the other hens will stop laying.

Dorothy, my little Bantam chicken is so protective of her eggs, she goes for you if you try to remove them, so I sometimes have to wear my gloves when I collect the eggs. I was expecting a basket full today but only had 8, which was slightly disappointing.

My broody girls

Well, back to my gooseberries, because yesterday evening I promised that I would tell you all about what I was going to make. After giving it a lot of thought, I decided to make a creamy vanilla Panna Cotta, with a gooseberry and ginger compote, sounds delicious doesn't it?

Here is the recipe for the Panna Cotta:

3 gelatine leaves

250ml/9fl oz milk

250ml/9fl oz double cream

1 vanilla pod, split lengthways, seeds scraped out

25g/1 oz sugar

Soak the gelatine leaves in a little cold water until soft.

Place the milk, cream, vanilla pods, seeds and sugar into a pan and bring to a simmer.
Remove the vanilla pod and discard.
Squeeze the water out of the gelatine leaves, then add to the pan and take off heat.
Stir until the gelatine has dissolved.
Divide the mixture among four ramekins and leave to cool.
Place into the fridge for at least an hour until set.

For the compote you will need:

500g of gooseberries, topped and tailed
75g of caster sugar
50ml of water
Ginger

To make the compote, put the gooseberries into a pan with sugar, water and ginger, then bring to a simmer and cook gently for 10 minutes, until the gooseberries are soft. You can leave it to cool, or serve it warm.

Enjoy!

What to do with fresh Gooseberries

Well, my first crop of Gooseberries have been picked and are in the kitchen, so tomorrow I will tell you what I have made with them, and post some pictures as well.

What should I do with these?

How it all started

I live in Cubbington, which is also where I was born and grew up, and as a little girl I can remember my nan and grandad having an allotment on this very site. I am one of nine children, and throughout my childhood I was a regular visitor to the allotment, and my earliest memory is of sitting in the pea patch, shelling the peas, but eating more than we kept!

Our village church

My nan used to feed us with the produce from the allotment, and there was a constant stream of goodies, including, home made apple pies, various jams and fruity chutneys, all of which were delicious. A particular favourite of mine was the plum jam, which I used to enjoy on some nice fresh bread, and I remember that my nan always used to leave the stones in it. Sweets were scarce in those days but a stick of rhubarb with a bag of sugar was a more than adequate replacement, and was also a real treat! 

When nan and grandad passed away, my dad took on the allotment, and when it became too much for him, he retired, and my youngest brother Simon took it on. Simon sadly passed away in January 2010, so I decided to take on the allotment, with help from my sisters, and my eldest brother Christopher, and my dad also came out of retirement to boss us about. The idea was for the allotment to provide a wide variety of home grown produce, and to be a place where the whole family could meet up. We also invested in some chickens, a brand new hen house, and a rather boisterous cockerel called George, and we were soon producing a regular supply of fresh eggs as well.

Christopher finished building the shed that Simon had started, and between us we soon had the allotment ship shape, then earlier this year another plot became available. This was a much sought after plot, nicknamed "The Orchard", and we asked if we could also take this on as well. To our delight, the answer was yes, so we now have two very productive allotments ... I think we are going to be busy!