Category Archives: Food & Drink

Spring FoodFest returns to Thoresby Courtyard

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easter eggsSpring is in the air and, for foodies, that means it’s almost time for the annual Spring FoodFest at Thoresby Courtyard…

Now in its seventh year, this popular event is a celebration of local food, highlighting small artisan businesses with a retail Food Fair, a Kitchen Theatre offering demonstrations by  Nottinghamshire chefs and even a themed Easter Egg Hunt for children.

thoresby courtyardStallholders from Nottinghamshire, South Yorkshire and neighbouring counties will be bringing plenty of mouthwatering tasty treats to this stunning setting near Ollerton, all showcasing a wide range of high quality produce and products.

Taking place from 10am to 4pm on Saturday 28 and Sunday 29 March, with free admission and free on site parking too, it’s an ideal opportunity to sample some of the goodies on offer, stock up on food and drink for the Easter celebrations – and enjoy a great family day out into the bargain!

Cooking the books

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spoonsful of honeyIf you love cooking, cookery books, food shopping – and puddings! – a brand new event in Lowdham next week has all the ingredients you could ask for…

Nottinghamshire Flavours magazine and The Bookcase are joining forces to present Cooking The Books in Lowdham Village Hall on Sunday 1 March.

Included on the menu between 10am and 4pm there’ll be a Food Fair featuring local artisan producers and a series of talks by food writers.

wi cookbookGeorgina Mason will be sharing the story of Gonalston Farm Shop from 10.30am to 11.15am; award-winning writer Hattie Ellis discusses her new book Spoonsful of Honey from11.45am to 12.30pm; and between 1.30pm and 2.15pm, Diana Birch of WI Enterprises will be talking about The WI Cookbook, a fascinating insight into the organisation’s baking history which has been produced to celebrate its centenary.

Also on hand from 2.45pm to 3.30pm will be the Cook&Book team Julia Pirie and Jackie Skinner, there to whip up a couple of seasonal recipes garnished with some springtime readings.

Entry to the Food Fair, held in the main hall, is free; tickets for individual talks are £5 (£4 for concessions, £3 for Festival Friends) or £15, £12 and £10 for entry to all daytime events.

And to round off the day, how about joining The JollyGoodFellows Pudding Club for a two-course dinner with Pudding Platter, dessert wine tasting and poems about puddings too? Advance booking for this is essential and tickets are £25 each.

Click here for more details; to book your tickets for the talks or dinner, visit The Bookcase at 50 Main Street, Lowdham or call the Lowdham Festivals Box Office on 0115 966 3219.

Tina’s winter warmer

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blackberries

Country girl Tina has been busy in the kitchen just lately – if you were listening to the show on Saturday, you’ll have heard her talking about making the most of the copious quantities of blackberries she picked and froze during the summer…

Here’s her recipe for Blackberry Cordial from one of her favourite cookbooks, Country Harvest by Linda Burgess and Rosamond Richardson (Ebury Press 1990).

The original recipe calls for brandy but rum or vodka work just as well, she says! Perfect as a celebratory tot for Christmas or New Year’s Eve – but keep some in reserve to fight off January coughs and colds…

Blackberry Cordial

  • Difficulty: Easy
  • Print

Ingredients

  • 900g blackberries, hulled
  • 450g granulated sugar
  • ¼ whole nutmeg (or about 1tsp of ground nutmeg)
  • 25g whole cloves (or ground equivalent)
  • 15g cinnamon stick (or ground equivalent)
  • 300ml vodka (or brandy or rum)

Directions

  • Put the blackberries in a blender or food processor with a little of the sugar.
  • Whizz to a puree then sieve.
  • Put the sieved puree into a pan with the rest of the sugar and the spices.
  • Cover and simmer gently for 20 minutes.
  • Allow to cool slightly then add the vodka (brandy/rum).
  • Bottle and set aside.
  • Strain before using and drink the cordial neat in tot-sized glasses, add to sparkling wine, water or ginger beer as a cocktail or – especially good at this time of year – top up with hot water for a drink to warm the cockles of your heart…