As the cold weather settles in why not warm yourself with one of these hot winter drinks using Devon produce.
Mulled Devon cider This was inspired by a mulled cider Barny Butterfield served up at Crediton Farmers Market last year. 2 litres Sandford Orchards scrumpy cider 1 lemon, thinly peeled, peel only 1 cinnamon stick 1/2 a nutmeg, grated 2 tablespoons juniper berries, slightely crushed Mix all the ingredients together in a saucepan and warm without boiling. Leave for a few hours off the heat. Warm through again, strain and serve in mulled wine cups or ordinary mugs, or heat proof...
A couple of weeks ago I cooked this at a demonstration marking the opening of the Kitchen Studio in Exmouth. And then last Friday I was reminded of it at the wassailing evening at The Lamb in Sandford. This old Devon ceremony is held to encourage a good apple harvest and involves 'watering' an apple tree with cider and shouting to keep evil spirits away from the orchard trees.
To encourage the apple trees I cooked this warming dish which uses a local cider, preferbly Sandford Orchards' scrumpy, which has lovely layers of flavour and cooks very well. (It also 'drinks' quite well...
Having enjoyed a mini-boom since the new John Lewis store opened just up the street, the Real Store and Cafe has announced it will be opening for late-night shopping until 8pm every Thursday from 18th October. Pop in early evening to pick up your groceries, or for those wishing to plan ahead, maybe a few Christmas gifts - local chutneys, jams, biscuits, coffees or cider will go down a treat. The fresh produce is looking decidedly autumnal with corn, leeks, bulb onions, shallots, beetroot and scrumptious squash all crying out to be transformed into a culinary feast.
Apple Day at Quicke's Farm Shop: Saturday 20th October 11.00-4.00
Apple Day is an event started in 1990, traditionally in October, by an organisation called Common Ground to be both a celebration and a demonstration of the variety of English apples and the danger of losing variety – not simply in apples, but richness and diversity of landscape, place, ecology and culture too. Apple Day has become a nationally recognized event hosted across the country.
The actual event and theme of the day works off supporting orchards, bringing people back to nature, but leaves room...
