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.

Use your (spiced and fruited) loaf

Yesterday I made this spiced fruit loaf which, quite frankly, was totally delicious.  We ate almost half the loaf in one sitting, eaten warm from the oven and smothered in butter.  We renamed it 'Pirate pudding' for our Darling boy and had it at tea-time as he is so pirate mad at the moment.  It was so tasty that I made a second today to give to our Homing Heros.

I must confess it was made in a bread maker (I love my breadmaker, I have had it for nearly a decade and it's still going strong) but I'm sure you could make it using your actual hands, kneading it and waiting for it to rise, and knocking it back and kneading it again, etc, but who has the time for these shenanigans when there are such inventions as bread machines and Sex in the City DVD box sets to watch whilst the children are napping?

So, here is the recipe, it's basically a loaf of hot cross bun loveliness, which is just dandy in my book.  The recipe is adapted from 'Bread Machine Easy' by Sara Lewis

Makes 1x 750g loaf of spiced loveliness

200ml water
1 egg, beaten
2 tablespoons butter at room temp
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons ground mixed spice
425g strong white flour
3 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon fast action yeast
150g sultanas
50g chopped candied peel

Chuck it all in the machine in the order listed.  Choose a sweet loaf setting on your trusty machine.  Sit back and relax (remembering to add the sultanas and peel when your machine beeps at you)  When it is done, bring 2 tablespoons of water to the boil with 1 tablespoon of sugar.  Anoint your loaf with the sticky goo and sit on your hands till it's cool enough to slice and eat.

Handsome husband and Darling boy had theirs with honey, whilst Little brother and me went the simplistic route of just butter and a big smile

Saying it with cupcakes

As a thank you to our Homing Heros, I baked a batch of chocolate and vanilla cupcakes, as a sneaky chance to practice the swirly icing, and a new recipe, chocolate marmalade.   The chocolate marmalade features orange zest in the cake and a hefty dose of zingy marmalade in the chocolate buttercream icing.

Stormy weather and re-homing heros

We have been asked to move.  The problem with renting is that when the landlady wants her house back, you have to go.  It such a shame, we have loved living here.  Sure the house is shabby chic, but is it big and beautiful, with unforgettable views.

We have been rescued from uncertainty and homelessness by our wonderful, generous friends who live in a nearby village.  They are in fact the parents of our Cruwys Morchard chums who happen to have a 2 bedroom cottage lying idle.  They have offered it to us.  We went to visit it and its perfect.  Only 3 minutes further along the hill from Tivvy, so still near the farm.  Plus we will be closer to our friends, which is lush too.

Handsome husband and I hardly know how to thanks our re-homing heros.