FEAST Blog

Could you tell the difference?

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 05:25:00 GMT

Our news article on the fury growing between British farmers of water-grown watercress and those that farm on land, has prompted us to question whether we could tell the difference in flavour! We would really hope so!

In fact, we all probably make claims quite regularly that one food type tastes better than another, but can we really tell or after years of eating over-processed shop bought produce have we all lost the ability to do so!

If you would like to take part in some taste testing why not let us know- email or blog us with your thoughts - we would be delighted to set up a session!

"Wasting" Away!

Sat, 10 Oct 2009 21:33:00 GMT

Readers of our OPINION AND OPPORTUNITIES page, will have seen we have included an article about Clifton Nursey and how they are inviting customers to come in and pick their grapes, rather than to let them go to waste. This has made the FEAST office have a few interesting and lively discussions about how much food is wasted and how we all have a role in stopping this from happening, whether in the home, workplace or school.

One of our local primary schools, for example, is still selling produce from it's vegetable garden to raise funds for playground equipment, and is using the left over soft fruits, onions, and other brightly coloured vegetables to dye clothing, to tie in with their Tudor project, showing pupils what clothes would then have been like - in terms of colour and smell back then! Well done to them for being so resourceful and for minimising waste - are you doing anything similar or know of other such intiatives? If so please feel free to add your comments.

Some unusual 1930's remedies!

Tue, 29 Sep 2009 08:40:00 GMT

Those of you who regularly visit our site will know we try to include recipes that are peculiar to certain regions or are from bygone days when people were unable to buy anything they wanted at any time of the year. Well, this month is no exception and our FEAST friend Kate has sent in some wonderful recipes from a 1930's cookbook,which was sold by The Farmers Weekly as a collection of recipes submitted by readers.

A selection have been put on to the site, but there are a couple of less traditional recipes which which we wanted you to see which we have included below. We have not tried these and can not comment on their effectiveness or medicinal qualities but they do make interesting reading!

REMEDY FOR EXHAUSTION, Mrs H Squires of Yorkshire

Beat up a fresh egg in a little warm water, and sweeten to taste. In ¼ hour the whole of the egg thus taken is turned to nourishment, whereas if milk is used it is not so digestible. One egg should be taken in the forenoon and another in the afternoon, between meals.

ELDERBERRY CURE FOR A COLD, Mrs E G Clarke from Berkshire

Fresh ripe elderberries, Bruised ginger, Cane Sugar, Cloves

Wash the elderberries well, then put them into a muslin bag and wring all the juice out into a bowl. For each pint of juice add 1lb of cane sugar. Put into a saucepan and boil for ½ hour. Add a small piece of bruised ginger, and 12 cloves to each gallon. Bring to the boil for 5 minutes. Strain through a muslin and when cold bottle ready for use. Dose – 1 Tablespoon in a glass of hot water.

Farming in action

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 11:24:00 GMT

I have just returned from a meeting with Sally Scantlebury at FEAST HQ. Everytime I go to see Sally it reminds me of how embedded FEAST is in the farming community. I approached the farm down the long farm track watching lapwings circle and dive over the golden stubble. As far as the eye could see were fields at various stages of harvest, presenting an increasingly autumnal palette of golds, browns and reds. From the FEAST HQ office you could see farming in action as we watched six workers, gathered around their tractors and landrovers surveying the work to be done. It seems very appropriate to be sat around Sally's dining table discussing FEAST's involvement with the Flintham Show with the noise of tractors chugging away in the fields.

Buy British plums!

Mon, 14 Sep 2009 13:23:00 GMT

I have just returned from a fabulous weekend with friends in Worcester, enjoying the wonderful Malvern Hills and more importantly eating delicious autumn food. How lovely it is to once again be eating those comforting Autumn puddings! Plum crumble, with a lovely oaty topping and covered with piping hot custard (and ice cream as we were feeling really indulgent!) - and the fun we had with the gaggle of kids and counting the stones to find out whether they were tailors or soldiers! But then i get back and once again read about the problems our Farmers are having trying to sell their plums! Please please, can we at FEAST plead to you all to seek out and demand BRITISH plums - they are delicious and in season now! Tell us your experiences and whether you were able to find any locally.

Harvest is nearly over!

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 12:16:00 GMT

Well, September is here already and the nights are drawing in. From our office windows we can see the local farmers have been very busy over the holidays and harvesting is well on its way- no longer are we looking upon fields of corn but short golden stubble! Our resident hound can once again be seen in the fields instead of disappearing amongst the crops! There will be plenty happening at Feast this Autumn and we will keep you updated via newsletters and our website.Please feel free to contact us with any food and farming issues or just to talk- we would love to hear from you!

Getting excited about Hot Pots

Fri, 29 May 2009 09:47:00 GMT

The sun is shining and we are running around collecting fantastic produce for you to enjoy at Belvoir Castle this weekend - just been chatting to Billy at Colsten Bassett Dairy, not one to sit on the fence but we enjoyed chewing the cud (sorry!) in the sunshine leaning on the fence - off to see the boys in Mrs Kings production unit now - to collect the sausage rolls and pies.
Just rung local Farmer Richard Barlow who suggested the best field to pick some OSR ( Oil seed rape) so when we are tasting the amazing variety of OSR products - oils, dressings, mayonnaise - we can see where it comes from - why not come and see us - Belvoir Castle 10am - 5pm Sat and Sun - loads to do, see, admire, buy and eat. www.earthmarque.com