Never mind the eye of the beef looking at me ...how about the aubergine with a message from God?
See the eye of the home cured salt beef ? It didn't quite get all the cure it should. My father, who has cured many a joint of beef himself says it shows that it has not been oversalted. It was delicious and provided many tasty sandwiches after the party. Can't help thinking that it was looking at me...
Look at this for a cheese scone, it's colossal. It came from the new bakery and deli in St Johns Street, Bury St Edmunds. The bread looked very good and the cheeses represent East Anglia very well. The deli is called Gastrono-me. The only website link that I could find is via twitter on http://www.vanilla-bakery.co.uk/ - but here they are on facebook.
They may not look like prize winners (Kirsty) but they taste GOOD!
Written by ClaireIt takes about 10 days to cure a decent bit of salt beef. Curing salts and spices can be sourced from sausagemaking.org who have an online shop. Add a few juniper berries, cloves and bay leaves for even more flavour. The silverside came for F.L Edge, a great butchers shop in East Harling. Ok, it is in Norfolk, but only just. This piece will be ready for my daughters 21st birthday party on Dec 17th.
La Hogue Farm was on my route on Thursday so I called in to take a look. I didn't have time to try the cafe which looked really inviting and had an interesting menu. Has anybody been? I came away with an excellent pork pie and a lemon and ginger loaf, both of which were very good value. this is much more than just a cafe and deli - take a look for yourself - a great stop off the A11 close to both Newmarket and Mildenhall.
Emily worked as a waitress at The Chalice when it was open in Bury and was so enthused by the cooking that she now makes home made food every day. Here is her favourite autumn recipe.
Autumn Butternut Squash and Pancetta Risotto
1 Butternut Squash
1 Onion
Knob of butter
300g of Pancetta
200ml of White Wine
Stock cube or fresh stock
300g of Risotto rice
150g of spinach
Pine nuts and Parmesan to serve
How to do it
Cut Butternut Squash in half and remove seeds and pulp. Roast on tray until soft with crushed garlic and drizzle with oil. This should take around 30 to 40 mins depending on the size. Dice one large onion, add to heavy bottom pan and sauté with a large knob of butter. In a frying pan, fry pancetta until crisp and brown, add the onion and risotto rice and fry rice for 2 minutes, add white wine and stir until it is absorbed.
Make a litre of stock, keep this simmering in a small saucepan, and add a ladle full at a time to the risotto. Stir until it is absorbed then add a further ladle full. Keep adding more stock, a ladle at a time, until the rice is soft, it may take a little more or a little less depending on the brand of risotto rice. Once the rice is soft add spinach leaves and spoon the butternut squash out of its skin in to the risotto. Stir until spinach is wilted and the squash is mixed in.
Serve with pine nuts sprinkled on top and shavings of delicious parmesan.
Oh dear, suffolkfoodie has gone to London, Veggieplot has been publishing books and InspectorX has been on the road, visiting hotels. Nobody left to explore Suffolk! InspectorX did manage a family outing to the Bury St Edmunds Christmas market today. The lack of artisan foodie producers was dissappointing. They were probably at the far better Craft Markets at Blackthorpe Barns. We did eat a good Suffolk Ham and Cheese Crepe ( £5!) a funnel cake ( £3.50) two cups of mulled wine, weak and warm for (£7) The best thing we ate were the two Tin Miners Pasties (£2.75) from Edis of Ely in St Johns Street on the way home, and they have been on here lots of times before.