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Simply smokin’ garlic chicken
This recipe is a lot less costly than buying a whole smoked chicken
NOT quite tractors and trailers but all the delicious produce without the mud and ‘fresh animal smell’ has now firmly planted itself in Princess Road, Primrose Hill and a great success it is so far.
The only gripe is that for the residents in the street I feel it should open at 10am and not 9am as the trucks arrive two hours before to set up the stalls, and that seems a little unfair in a quiet and heavily residential area. Shame not to consult before with the neighbours, but I am sure the problem can be solved.
There is a lovely mix of meats, where the seller knows each animal and can chat about the breed of the week.
One of the breeders tells me: “The pork this week is Gloucester Old Spot with their huge floppy ears which makes them hard to move but next week we will have Tamworth which are much easier to handle. Smaller ears.”
There are also lovely fresh vegetables and fruit with some of the best looking and tasting raspberries and strawberries I have ever had.
The goats’ milk cheese stall from Sussex was also wonderful with saucers of samples, which lured one into definitely buying some to take home.
Moving on I come to one of my favourite stalls which comes from the Isle of Wight and carries the aroma of fresh homegrown garlic.
They have the best smoked garlic, which is absolutely delicious.
They sell variety packs so that you can grow your own garlic, which is a very good present for the friends who have everything.
I then got tempted into trying the courgette cake and pumpkin cake and got chatting to the couple that do the home baking.
After a little persuasion she has also given me a recipe for blackberry muffins. I suggest that you go and try it first and then I think you will be convinced that it is a must to cook at home having walk round the hedgerows or just buy a fresh punnet of blackberries in the market.
Many thanks to all you farmers who get up early, work hard all week and bring us your superb fresh and healthy produce.
Smoked Garlic Chicken
Colin who owns the Garlic Farm on the Isle of Wight gave me this recipe and I have to say that it has transformed my life.
Get a free-range chicken from the market and have a go. A lot cheaper than buying a smoked chicken and also a perfect time of year for this, as garlic is known to chase away colds and coughs.
Serves 4
Ingredients
A 3.5lb roasting chicken;
One whole smoked garlic bulb;
50g butter;
Salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Method
Preheat the oven 190C 375F Gas 5.
Cut the whole garlic bulb in half horizontally (along the equator) and insert the unpeeled halves of garlic into the chicken cavity. Smear the chicken with the butter, season with the salt and pepper, cover and roast for about one hour. Cook for a further 20 minutes uncovered to crisp the skin. Check if cooked by putting sharp knife down inside of thigh meat and make sure the juices run clear.
Remove the garlic from the cavity and keep chicken warm on a dish. Squeeze out the garlic pulp from the cloves and add to the roasting dish. Discard the garlic skins. Mix the juices from the chicken with the garlic puree and serve with the chicken. Pure heaven!
Blackberry Muffins
(Makes approx 18)
Ingredients
350g plain flour;
One tbsp baking powder;
Half a teaspoon bicarbonate of soda;
175g caster sugar;
Pinch of salt;
400g blackberries;
Two eggs;
200ml milk;
100g melted butter;
100ml orange juice;
Zest of one orange, finely grated.
Method
Pre-heat the oven to 200C 400F Gas 6. Sieve the flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, caster sugar and salt into a bowl. Add the blackberries and roll until coated with flour.
Mix the rest of the ingredients in a jug. Add the wet to the dry ingredients and stir until blended. Do not over mix, as it will make the muffins tough.
Spoon into muffin cases and bake for 20 minutes. Cool on a wire rack. |
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