At the moment I'm waxing lyrical, to anyone who will listen, about the joys of visiting a country market. I'm reposting this because it's pertinent to my cause and also because the recipes are delicious!
As I mentioned, my friend Gill is fortunate enough to buy fresh locally grown fruit and vegetables from her local country market. Mostly people now buy their fruit and veg from the supermarket although country markets and Farmer's markets have grown in popularity in recent years.
Once upon a time street markets were a popular choice for women to buy their fruit and veg, I used to go to Lewisham market where amongst the bustle, and banter of the stall holders, you could touch and smell the produce on top of which you always got a bargain. Older fruit and veg would be sold off in in large scoops for 50p.
However, we have become such a gluttonous society we see no shame in importing fruit and veg from impoverished countries where we demand low prices, only to dump the surplus in the bin. Misshapen fruit and veg is often rejected by supermarkets and we the consumers have bought into the concept that our produce must be perfect looking, uniform shape and size, plastic-wrapped and untarnished before we buy it. Food statistics never get less shocking, in the UK we waste seven million tons of food each year! What's the answer? Well quite simply USE IT!
Hardy vegetables can last a long time if kept in paper bags in a dark, cool place. Over ripe soft fruit and veg can be used in sauces, chutney or soups. If you buy at market or from a greengrocer or indeed have a delivery box, you can pick smaller amounts of fruit and veg, adding variety to your recipes, plus keeping the cost and waste down.
Now that I've said my piece I'll share the delights of a good, fresh, savoury and economical dish that is sure to tickle your taste buds.
Potato salad
Recipe
1kg small salad potatoes, Gill peeled hers but if you find this too painstaking just make sure the skins are clean
1 red onion, sliced very thinly
2 cloves garlic, sliced very thinly or crushed
Small bunch flat leaf parsley, remove stalks and finely chop leaves
Small bunch of mint leaves, finely chopped
2 small gherkins, chopped
2 anchovies, chopped (optional)
1/2 a lemon
Sea salt and black pepper
4 tablespoons mayonnaise
Boil potatoes for 15 minutes or until soft
Combine all the other ingredients, (lemon to be squeezed) except mayonnaise, in a large bowl
Drain potatoes and add to bowl, combine well
Add mayonnaise when ready to serve
Gill's clever tip was to pare down used cans to use as an assembly ring
Alternatively of course you could just spoon your salad onto the plate
Gill's jooshed up fruit dessert
Recipe
A handful of fruit per person: this is about using up surplus fruit, whatever you have be it berries, pineapple, grapes, kiwis.....
A tub of natural yoghurt
Hazlenuts or nuts of your choice, flaked almonds, pecans, pistachio.......
A dash of alcohol, cointreau, grand marnier, sherry.........
Douse fruit in yoghurt, add a splash of alcohol to each dish
Crush nuts and sprinkle on top
If you want to add a touch of decadence grate chocolate over the top, or add a chunk of chocolate
'If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world'
-J R R Tolkien
Love Donna xxxxxx
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