Love British Food

Penny’s Diary

There’s nothing I enjoy more than a leisurely stroll through our local farmers markets; held in general once a month in Sutton Coldfield, Lichfield, Birmingham and Solihull they are a delight to visit.

Stalls selling fabulous fresh vegetables and fruit, locally produced meat and cheeses, homemade cakes, pickles and preserves as well as seasonal plants all line the streets of the high street, and you can often pick up a spicy samosa or traditional pork and stuffing bap for lunch.

Recently I visited Brindley Place local produce market and cooked up some dishes for the public to sample the delights on offer, my pea, broadbean and locally produced Woodhouse Farm pancetta was a huge hit.

Last month I also spent a very pleasurable Friday and Saturday at Shrewsbury Flower Festival with the HEFF cookery theatre. Cooking alongside the cheeky Italian Gino d’acampo, Brompton cookery school and Our Lizzy was a pleasure.

It was wonderful to see so many of our local food producers in the food marquee and it was an honour cooking with their produce. Check out my recipes www.pennyzako.co.uk – love our britishfoods.

I highly recommend to all you foodies Gino’s new book – ‘Gino’s pasta’ by Gino d’acampo rrp £16.99

Fantastic pasta recipes to suit all, from family fayre to dinner party dishes – check it out!

Each month I shall be recommending one of our local farmers market traders this month it is:

                                     The snoggable garlic company

They really are what they claim to be, even though Ann who runs the stall on Birmingham New Street adds; I can’t guarantee the snog!’ Their fantastic tasting garlic has all the flavour without the smelly breathe! There is a selection of flavours: hot chilli, paprika, lemon, lime, ginger 7 thyme, simply snoggable and oak smoked. I particularly liked the paprika variety which I used to marinate some local fillet of beef. They are all suitable for snacking on or to use in marinades or dressings.

For those of you who like a touch of hot and spicy, the harrisa paste from this company is second to none, glaze a leg of lamb with it and roast in the oven serve with sour cream cucumber dip and paprika potato wedges; it’s a great alternative to the traditional roast.

I recommend seeking out this stall at your local farmers market or visit their website @snoggablegarlic.com