A bit like the Tin Man today

 ....i.e.joints not working and extremely stiff.  Must take more Gin in it next time!

I have had a very different day today than that which was planned.  G decided he was taking me out for brunch and we ended up at Moor Farm at Newborough link is here for those of you who are interested:

Moor Farm Website

First of all we went into the Tea Room, which was busy but well fitted out, comfortable and has a big wood burner in it.  This was our first visit,  and we were situated at table 11 (according to the wooden spoon).  We will be going back to not only enjoy the hospitality but also the shop as well. Must mention that the young man who served us was cheerful and attentive and soon had us sorted out.  Service was excellent.

I must say, I was very taken with this little gem.  We started off having a Panini each.  I had ordered a Cranberry, Brie and Bacon Panini.  The bread was soft, tasty and complemented the filling. Delightful and flavourful. No doubt the best Panini I have ever had. There was also far more than I could eat - G finished off one half for me.  He had a Sausage and Stilton Panini which used the farm's own Kitty B Sausages.  He gave me a taste of the sausage filling and I can honestly say they were lovely.  So much so, that I went and bought a lot of sausage meat for using over the Christmas period and beyond if there is any left.

On the way out of the Tea Room, I spotted their array of Cakes which were visually stunning.  There is always another day though.

Then we ventured into the shop.  They had a full range of everything that you could really need and items you did not know that you needed. I was particularly pleased to find proper milled flour from the Maud Foster Mill at Boston.  I quickly snaffled a couple of bags to use over the Christmas period for bread making.  I bought 1.5 kilo bags of Wholemeal flour and a 4 seed grain flour.  When we go again I shall add to this.

The Butchery counter visually to the eye was a Command Performance.  I have never quite seen a Butcher's counter like it. There were unusual items in there which really drew your eye to them including what were called "Melts", a roulade and a couple of other unusual items. I wish I had taken a photograph. The counters were dressed to perfection and service was first class.  

There were lots of jams, chutneys, other preserves. I bought a Ginger Marmalade and a jar of Damson jam basically because I cannot make these or get hold of them in time for Christmas, but next year will actively source what I am after to make sure that I get the ingredients I am after.  There were lots of different preserves

There was lots of cheese most of which they stock I normally have to send away for so it was lovely to see a shop selling Baron Bigod, Colston Bassett Stilton (which is my favourite), Lincolnshire Poacher, etc.  I am currently waiting for a half moon of Colston Bassett and Baron Bigod from The Fine Cheese Company which is due for delivery this week.  I already have the Stinking Bishop in the Fridge direct from Charles Martell in its wooden container, inside a tub and then a Zip Lock bag to protect the contents of the fridge from being over-powered. Have been buying this for many Christmas's and so was prepared.

Lots of freezers with game pies in, and also a big selection of pre-made frozen products including frozen mixed fruits and bagels, Danish, croissants that sort of thing.  Whopping big fresh section with the veg being in a chiller. Lots of ice cream, yogurt, etc. 

I prefer where I can to support Farm shops in this area and a little beyond, however as this Farm shop is not far from me and as it stocks a lot of the things we like I think we may be going back there.

I bought 8 sticks of the Kitty B sausage meat, two Rib Eye steaks and 1 kilo of Stewing Steak as well.  They do have offers on, for which you will have to check their website, but the pricing of what is on offer seems very fair considering you are getting a quality product, which is Red Tractor approved.  Most of the meat is produced on the farm as well and all meat is traceable.

Therefore a very successful trip out which I was not expecting and which I thoroughly enjoyed.  Not for me "Diamonds" although they are nice.  Decent food has much more appeal to me.

I have found that each of the Farm shops we go to offers something different along the way and are well worth supporting where we can.  In reality we cannot always do this, but I do try as we prefer the meat from a proper Butcher and in reality some farm shops do better at certain items which tend to be different Farm to Farm.  All  Farm shops no matter how big or small provide something that we need which is food.  Without our Farmers we would be in big trouble.  Sometimes it is not about just about getting cheap food, but food that is good for you and sustainable and a reasonable price overall.  I would rather spend a bit more on meat, but not as big a piece for the flavour more than anything else.  Food needs to be flavourful from my kitchen.  If it does not taste so good, I have no real appetite for it.

Farmers need to make a living too, but because of so much red tape and supermarkets battering prices down and the food system generally in this country is unfair and not sustainable as it is.  Something has got to change.  The issues regarding the food system as it is have been brewing for years and I think currently is approaching meltdown.  The whole system needs to be over-hauled at the end of the day not just for those that grow the food but for the good of everyone.  There should be no thing as going hungry in this country in current times, but sadly it is far more prevalent than we think.  

I am pleased to have had today, and to fill up a little bit and I do not say that lightly.  It has been a long while since we have been out physically for something to eat and I enjoyed it however I have not lost sight of the fact that treats like this at the moment are not the norm.  I think however that made it much more special.  My Priorities lay with filling up my Pantry  and food storage whatever that might encompass on a practical basis.

I am on a mission with getting my Pantry sorted out.  It is not far off, but needs a concerted effort to complete the stock up.  Having the freezer has made a heck of a difference and despite the running costs has saved so many pennies. We buy so much meat for the month, and then I eke it out.  We have a lot of "scratch meals", thinks like Beans on Toast, Sausages with Tomatoes, egg and chips - meals like this scattered in between the meat element.  Sometimes during any one month I do not use all the meat, but you do not have to, it can carry over and then I go and buy more so that I gradually build up a "stock pile" of items, as much as the freezer will allow with space.  Sometimes I do not have to buy much in the way of meat, but then perhaps I stock up with tinned items so that there is a fair distribution of different food items available. This especially helps with eating during the winter months.  We have to have at least one hot meal a day during the winter months (often a couple if you include Soup into the equation as well).  

We eat a lot of veggies and those getting near past their best are often processed and frozen for use later on.  I am always paying it forward when it comes to the food.  I do not like waste, but I do appreciate being able to have a choice of foods for eating.  I buy ingredients rather than prepared meals which I do not think always meet the quantity of food people want to eat and some of which can be really expensive, although not all.  So it is very much a juggling act keeping "all the balls in the air".

Since September this year, I have been buying in a few things for Christmas, like a Gammon at a good price and freezing it, then a couple of joints of Beef, and then the Turkey.  It has eased the finances a lot dealing with it like this and not paying through the nose as a result in respect of Christmas premiums in respect of certain items. I sort of made an outline list of what was needed without going OTT.  A lot of what has been bought is not just for Christmas, but into the coming year as well.  

We eat well, but not in so larger portions as we used to eat when we were younger.  I tend to get what I can out of a piece of meat, often cooking for two meals in one go. I shall also be making preserves from fresh products as well and adding to my Pantry store to keep us fed during the coming months.  You use what comes your way, especially if the item is on a true offer.  

Equally if you cannot source suitable fruit at a fair price to preserve some jam at this time of year if you can source frozen fruit reasonably you will need approximately 1 kilo of fruit to 1 kilo of sugar to get approximately 4 1/2 to 5 jars of jam. So look in the freezers to see if you can find some offers on the frozen fruit. Making a little every so often also adds up in terms of jars and saving money overall.  Plus it is pleasing to know that you have a little stock-pile of usable items available to you predominantly through the Winter months.  Take for instance Cranberry and Apple jelly, we use all year long and so I always make at least two batches for the Pantry shelf from fresh Cranberries at this time of year.

Therefore a lovely day out and a new Farm shop found which we will be using again.  As ever, my mind is focused on ingredients and what I can possibly do with said ingredient to make sure we have something useful on the proverbial Pantry shelf (whether that is the Freezer, the Fridge, the Cellar, the Pantry shelf itself - it is all food storage) and an essential way of prevailing through the darker months.  I am always planning and plotting when it comes to food.

Have a lovely evening, keep safe, keep warm and be kind to each other.

Catch you soon.

Pattypan

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