Ridiculous brownies

Me and the boys are currently having a mini holiday with my marvellous mum and dad whilst Handsome husband is off in America visiting Wagyu farms (more on this later) So, taking the advantage of being nearer to London than normal, we scheduled a much needed visit to our dear friends.  Its so great to meet up with old friends, especially when various bumps are due to turn into babies any time soon.

  

We sat around and chatted and the kids romped around and played.  Darling boy and Little brother were delighted to rush in and out, playing in the garden and with the girls, or rather 'ladies' as Darling boy put it.

Naturally, one does not arrive empty handed when visiting.  A hand-tied bunch of hot pink roses, gerberas, and some other handsome looking blooms were bought from the local florist and I had made a batch of double chocolate brownies.  I was feeling in the mood to pimp my brownies, and so added some glace cherries, and then a mix of almonds and cranberries were thrown in too, as well as a smashed up bar of dark chocolate too.  They went down well, and the cherries added a juicy fruitiness which would easily pass as one of your five a day.


Incidentally, my favourite line of the day went as follows

Darling boy:  'Where are the ladies?'
The Mini greek: 'I'm not a lady, I'm a princess'

...Too true, the mini greek is a properly beautiful creature, with eyelashes that just won't stop. And at this point was wearing an irresistible Disney princess dress that calls out to all little girls to be worn straight away, over whatever they are already wearing and flounced around in, in a way that all grown ups only wish they could too.

Sausage time

I know this blog is called Adventures in Cake, but who can resist these bangers.  My amazing friend- she of the many many skills, has made these sausages from her own pigs and they are d.e.l.i.c.i.o.u.s.  Quite frankly the best sausages ever.  Reared by my friend and made by my friend, on her farm, just up the road.  Now thats what I call 'going local'.

This little piggy

It's nearly two months now of going local and it is still going just fine and dandy.  I only meant to do it as a one month challenge, but it felt pretty good and has spilt over into April.  I'm still hitting the local farm shops and still dodging the supermarkets.  My poor old debit card and bank balance have been enjoying the rest, and it's so much easier, as well as the local economy enjoying the benefit of our wonga instead.

I won't lie to you though and pretend it's all wicker baskets and muddy carrots.  Fresh supplies of loo roll and nappies do not materialise inside my house magically (as much as a I wish they would) but I have decided I will limit myself to a once a month hit, and the rest of the time its local local local baby.  Try it, you might like it...

The end result of 'going local'

For the last month, the supermarkets have felt the cold shoulder of my steely defiance.  I have been shopping only in markets and farmer shops.  Annoyed with the mighty power that the big four have, I wanted to turn away from their dominance and go local.

Surely, I thought, it would be fine.  If our mother's mothers did it (and their mother's, and their mother's mother's mothers), then it must be possible.

It's been good, it's been fun.  It's been cheaper and it's felt more wholesome.  I've met some lovely local folk and our fridge and larder have been 'run down' in the true spring cleaning sense of the word.

Other things I have found.  Little brother doesn't really like yummy wholesome store cupboard porridge and would much prefer weeatabix thanks.  And, unsalted butter cannot be found for love nor money.

So, here is what I'm planning...  Do all my food shopping from markets and farm shops as before.  But, for the necessities in life that farm shops don't sell, like nappies and washing powder I'm off to the Co-operative, who as a retailer, focus on quality, equality, fair-trade and animal welfare, as opposed to the cheapest of cheap food.  This has got to be a good thing.

'Bills that were big enough to be Williams'

The clearest thing I have noticed so far about 'going local' is that our shopping bills are so much smaller than before. Tiny in fact.   For weeks one and two and three, I have spent a quarter of what we spent for the equivalent weeks the month before...and we have still eaten, and well at that too.

Though I never bought ready meals before and have always cooked from scratch (though obviously jars of pesto and fish fingers do not count) I think maybe it is that the farm shops simply have less to sell than the miles and miles of supermarket shelves.   Less to choose from simply means less to buy.

Perhaps it is the different surroundings as well as the reduced choice that sharpens your awareness onto the things you actually are picking up and putting in your wicker basket/hessian bag (...I know) as opposed to flinging stuff into the trolly and paying by card.  

I know some people can be put off by shopping at farm shops because of the perceived extra expense, but its not always dearer (a word my wonderful grandma would have used)  In fact sometimes you can even bag a bargain, and do a local farmer or shop keeper a favour too.

Little Brothers birthday

It was Little Brothers 1st birthday this weekend.  We can hardly believe he is now one year old. Amazing.  He is such a cool little man, very smiley and he had a brilliant time at his party.  He managed to squeeze in a record 2 sausages, 2 strawberries, 1 crisp and a piece of bread all into his mouth at the same time, like a hamster.

We had the usual party fare, and as usual, all the cake and biscuits were gobbled, and naturally most of the sandwiches remained.  After all, under fives definitely have their priorities right.  Sugar first, vitamins second.  

I was pleased to have sourced everything from local shops and managed to continue my going local campaign.

Little brother had chocolate cupcakes, and lemon cupcakes, with a secret home-made lemon curd filling. And centre place was Little Brothers very first birthday cake, a two tiered duck cake, iced in yellow buttercream icing and complete with eyelashes and a baby duck.

A brilliant time was had by all, prosecco for the grown ups and running around outside for the kids.  Perfect.

Darts Farm and chocolate cake

Marvellous mum and I treated ourselves to a trip to local foodie shopping mecca, Darts Farm with the boys recently.   We oohed and ahhed over the lovely things, we mooched and meandered around the food hall and, most importantly, we stopped for lunch.

I was able to take advantage of the lovely food hall and stock up on a few essentials (bacon, cream, and a very tasty local blue cheese)  And Darling boy was able to take advantage of the Darts Farm cafe comprehensive cake counter.  As with all battles between cake and toddler, the chocolate cake was a worthy adversary, but it was a child's devotion to chocolate that won through.

Little brother looked on in wonder, but is still too little for cake (though ask again next weekend, at his 1st birthday party and it will be game on)

My new milkman

One of my main ambitions for my 'going local' challenge was to find a milkman.  With two bambinos at home, we go through quite a lot of the white stuff, and finding a good, and local, source was going to be key to my success.  Dairy farmers have always had a raw deal from the supermarkets and it's only been getting worse for them.  So supporting a local dairy was important to me.

Luckily one of my chums at bell ringing was able to recommend her milkman.  They are a great dairy, and produce their own milk, cream, butter and yoghurt. What could be better?  I've also asked them if they could make me a huge batch of unsalted butter every now and again.

Apart from a less than clever first start (the milkman waking up our next door neighbours, the heros looking for our front door)  It has been plain sailing ever since.  I remember having milk delivered when I was a little girl, and it's just great.  So convenient.  I just have to go to my front door- and there it is!

So, people everywhere, find your nearest milkman and embrace him.  Buy his milk, support your local dairy and keep him in business.  If you don't know anyone already with a milkman, try asking in your local farm shop, or you can try websites like findmeamilkman.net   Or you could always ask your friend at bell ringing practise.

The cupboard is bare, well almost

Pre-going local challenge, and our fridge was almost always fairly full and the larder and freezers likewise, but now, something rather curious is happening.  We are actually eating all the food that we have had stored away for ages.  And something even more magical is happening... I strongly suspect with all the tempting produce in the farm shops, we are eating more fruit and vegetables. Shhhhhh, don't tell Darling boy!

The second week...it's getting better

So, I have reached the end of the second week of 'going local'.

This weeks spend was £47...Even more impressive than last weeks bill.  So, okay, things we are running short of may start to be in issue later on in this month, ie dishwasher detergent and nail varnish remover (both essentials to me, as my refusal to waste any time doing washing up when the clever robot can do it for me, is in equal proportion to my love of nail varnish.

I'm still enjoying discovering new farm shops and market stalls that pop up in towns nearby selling colourful veg and fruit - usually with a cheeky grin and a devonshire quip.

My new favourite farm shop is in Tiverton, The most lovely Landrake farm shop, is run by the even lovelier Mary.  I'm hoping to make a weekly trip there part of our new shopping habits.

Ok, so some things aren't great about only using local farm shops...like the unsalted butter I bought which went off 2 days later, to the new milkman who woke up our neighbours, the homing heros at 5:45am (more about him later!) but on the whole, it's still proving to be a change for the better.

The end of week one of 'going local'

At the end of the fist week of supermarket dodging and 'going local' I can proudly say it has been brilliant.  

No frustrating, boring twilight time lost in the vortex of Tesco, dragging the kids up and down aisles they don't want to be in, being tempted and brainwashed into buying things we probably don't need, no popping for a couple of essentials and accidentally spending £60.  Just simpler shopping (well, there is less to choose from) and nicer shop keepers.  It's more fun, more interesting produce, it's quicker and there is all the benefits of supporting local businesses.  Hooray.

To top is all, the cherry on the locally produced cake is that it has been massively cheaper.  Here are the figures...This weeks shop came to £67, compared to the first week in February when I was using the supermarkets as normal, which cost an eye-bulging, puke inducing £205.  For me, this second figure says something quite telling about my consumer behaviour in supermarkets.  Perhaps it is,'I consume, therefore I am'  God, I hope not.  I think it might be more along the lines of George Mallory,  (I bought it)...because it was there'

Though 'going local' can have its drawbacks (more of which soon) the bottom line is the massive saving of nearly £150 quid (don't tell Handsome husband though, he will blow a gasket that I was spending that much before!)  It feels good to know that, instead of lining the pockets of the big 4 for another week, I have instead been going local and supporting local producers, shop keepers and farms instead.  Right on sista.

Here is to the next 3 weeks

Day two of 'going local'

 
Not really needing anything, but keen to check out what the coming weeks had in store, I popped along to the farm shop nearest to Darling boy's playgroup.  I've been there before on a hunt for seville oranges and knew what I was likely to find.  It has nice looking fruit and veg, a meat counter manned by a butcher straight from Central Casting (ie, jolly, rosy-cheeked and a local man through and through)  I managed to come away with a wicker basket of chicken paupettes, leeks, fruit, cornish brie, some eggs and some lovely daffs, as spring has finally sprung.  Proper job.

...and ps, check out Darling boys brilliant hat made by himself at playgroup, as my Cruwys Morchard chum said, ' Philip Treacy eat your heart out!'

Breaking free of the supermarket chain

Inspired by watching The Peoples Supermarket on telly and knowing what I know about how cruel supermarkets can be to the farmers they exploit, and the consumers they brainwash, and also being annoyed at how I give Tesco half our monthly income, despite the poor service and quality, and not forgetting their general evilness, I have decided to cut them off. Cold Turkey. For the whole of March I will not be buying anything in any supermarket.  Just for a month, to see how it goes.  If its bearable, likeable, or even wonderful I hope to continue.

Now to some, who tra-la-la from grocers to butchers each weekend with a wicker basket in hand, this might not sound like all that much, but for me it represents a stand and a big change.  With two small children and Handsome husband who works 7 days a week, and me with a cupcake business to run, time is short and precious. However, I shall join those who protest against the wicked ways of the big four.  I will take up my wicker basket and cast aside my clubcard.  Women ran family homes quite successfully before there was such a thing as supermarkets, so surely it can't be all that hard?

I will be buying all my veggies and other foods from farmers markets and farm shops.  A chum at bell ringing has recommended a local milk round (how exciting) I make our own bread, biscuits and cakes (duh, obviously) Eggs and meat can come from the chickens at the farm (and the freezer full of lamb and pork given to us by the farmer how rents the grass off us for his Houdini sheep)  So that is food pretty much covered.  I must confess to a slight cheat, I stocked up on coffee and nappies (life's essentials)  But apart from that, Tesco and their wicked brothers shall feel the coldness of my shoulder.  

I will let you know how I get on.  It already feels very liberating knowing I will not be spending any twilight time lost in the identical aisles of our local supermarket...though slightly nervous at how much time it might take once I start tra-la-la-ing with my very own wicker basket (and yes, I do have one, and yes it is lovely)

Wish me luck!