The Cottage Smallholder

I’d written my post for tonight. Budget, delicious chicken risotto for 62p per portion when I realised that the main ingredient – the chicken stock hadn’t been blogged.
A horse without the cart is no good for anyone who is travelling in foodie country. So here’s the cart. This stock works with cooked chicken bones or a Read More »

I found some half price braising steak and parsnips on offer at the weekend. Both were tossed into my trolley along with a chunky bag of carrots and a can of Guinness. It’s the perfect weather for a beef in Guinness stew.
As I was chopping the vegetables Danny piped up.
“Do you know what would be Read More »

It started last year. I sampled some homemade mayo at a client’s house. I was making a chicken salad lunch for a golf widower. Their homemade mayo was stunning. Light, tasty and sublime. He liked it too.
The next week it was the same menu with a pivotal difference.
“It will have to be the bottled stuff, Read More »

The Chicken Out Campaign is working. Masses of people are avoiding the cheap intensively farmed supermarket chickens and visiting their local butchers to find free range birds.
When I went in to see Fred Fitzpatrick (Exning Road, Newmarket) on Saturday I had a small chicken on my shopping list.
“I’m sorry Fiona but we’ve sold out of Read More »

Poor Danny got ticked off by the Tightwad Queen for dolloping too much Greek yoghurt on his chick pea cakes last week. TTQ wanted to use the rest of the pot for another meal. The Greek yoghurt that we like is expensive.
I hate being scratchy about money. Would far rather work a longer day and Read More »

Many years ago, when I wasn’t into cooking, I invited my best client and his wife for a weekend in the country. This was one of those invitations that you suggest to a very busy person after a very long lunch. To my horror he jumped at it. We both enjoyed good Soho food.
Perhaps he Read More »

I learnt how to make pastry at school. I didn’t enjoy the experience. It seemed to take forever. I think that I made it for Smart Wife. Once. Heavy ponderous stuff that shrank alarmingly away from the sides of the quiche dish when baked blind and guaranteed a soggy bottom.
Light years later I discovered Jusrol. Read More »

Last Sunday I drifted into TKMax. The shop is heaving with great stocking fillers. Scented drawer liners, a loofah, Amaretti, shortbread and Liquid French soap for my mum. Toffee for Danny.
The kitchen department is always worth checking out. I’ve bought great kitchen knives for under a pound. We needed a new saucepan so I went Read More »

“Have you got to Sainsbury’s yet?”
“No.”
I was curious. Why was Danny ringing me? I had run out of tea bags and was combining a trip to Sainsbury’s with a trip to Ridgeons to pick up some more paint. Tea is fuel. Without it all work would quickly grind to a halt.
“There has been a small Read More »

It’s worth making friends with your butcher. Especially if you are like me and don’t know a lot about meat.
Fred Fitzpatrick (Exning Road, Newmarket) is our favourite local butcher
Fred loves meat. Loves talking about it, handling it and cooking with it. He is a man with a mission and wants to spread the word.
I once Read More »