STOP PRESS - New pie alert!

Drum roll please...... may I introduce you to our new pie 'Slow roasted pork with Bramley apple and stuffing in a cider gravy' - although I'm sure we'll come up with a more catchy name soon! We introduced this pie yesterday at Frome Market and customers have already reported back - it's a winner!  

We ensure each pie is generously filled and topped with stuffing before sealing the lid and adding Nigella seeds.  Every single pie is individually made and finished, no machines here just environmentally friendly re usable pie containers which get washed up (thanks Mum!) that are then ready for the next batch.

We'll be at Whiteladies Road market on Saturday and Wells Food Festival on Sunday so come and try one before they sell out fast!

Frome - Hide and seek!

Just to let you all know that we'll be at Frome market tomorrow - hurray!!!!  However, we won't be in our usual spot (boo!).  Come and find us on Scott road opposite Boots.  We've been baking all day to bring you our usual top notch goodies so come and say hello!!!

An Indian Summer?

It's been very busy throughout the summer at Snowdrop Cottage.  Whilst the weather has been somewhat variable at times, today whilst I ate my breakfast the sun streamed through the windows whilst a low mist hung on the hills and an Autumnal nip was in the air - apparently we're set to have an Indian summer - hurrah!  The girls are now back at School and quiet descends on the house enabling lists to be made and chores to be caught up on.

At the start of the summer we welcomed some 'new girls' into our home, or perhaps more accurately into their home under the Quince tree at the bottom of the garden.

We have four 'Lowmans' - like the one above who has been named Sneaky for her persistent ability to escape constantly only to be found pulling the lettuces to pieces in the kitchen garden!  We also have a 'Cream Legbar' (Hermione) who will lay lovely blue eggs and another gorgeous girl whose breed we're not sure of, that will lay us green eggs (Pip). They've settled in really well and my youngest daughter loves nothing more than checking eagerly for any eggs laid whilst rewarding then for being so clever with very enthusiastic cuddles.

We're lucky to live in the heart of the countryside so we often take walks around the village and across the fields.  The girls love checking to see whether the damsons and blackberries are ripe enough to pick or throwing sticks into a nearby tree to release the ripe apples into eager mouths!

This is the view across the village and out towards the start of the Cotswolds hills

Such a gorgeous plant!  

Today though, a chance to breathe and catch breath before another hectic weekend ahead. Do take a look at our events page and come and say hello if you're nearby, we'd love to see you!

New Event - Temple Quay Market

We're so excited to be attending this established market based in the business district of Temple Quay.  We'll be busy cooking on a Wednesday to make sure all our goodies are as fresh as can be to satisfy hungry office workers.  Our Christmas puddings will also be available as well as our other award winning preserves and chutneys.  

Hedgerow Foraging

Foraging it has to be said is in my blood.  My mother as a young girl would climb into a cart pulled by the family farm horse and with friends and relatives and an ample picnic would set off on the annual Autumn 'nutting party'.  It was an event which was eagerly anticipated by both young and old although keen eyes were needed to spot tricky nuts hidden under leaves.  

We don't have 'nutting parties' anymore unfortunately (boo, hiss), but that's not to say our countryside isn't bursting with berries and other delectable goodies waiting to be discovered.  With my children at school, a beautiful warm and sunny day and a few hours to spare, the hedgerows started calling.

Hiking boots on (stinging nettle defenders in my case), with bags at the ready it was time for the off. Walking along the country lanes, the sun on my face with peace and quiet, I felt quite simply - happy.  This year the hedgerows were almost groaning under the weight of the fruits and within a couple of hours I'd picked 3kgs of the most beautiful, dark jeweled berries, a handsome reward for the odd sting I reckon! 

That evening I strained the berries which had been cooked until soft, a wonderful mix of blackberries, elderberries and sloes and then started the jelly making process.  For my efforts I was rewarded with 4 jars of jelly, not a huge amount but the fun certainly made up any shortfall!  In the back of my cupboard I'd noticed a rather dusty bottle.  Closer inspection of the label read 'Sloe vodka, 2007, Solsbury Hill, Bath', so if you happen to bag a jar of this jelly you'll notice a slug of this ruby offering has been added to each jar!!  Next week I'll be venturing into the fields again to pick some more, what a fantastic way to spend a morning!

Pretty Nostalgic Photo shoot - Part 2

Photo from Pretty Nostalgic magazine, taken by Jonathan Rapley greenfieldphotography

I believe in a simple life really.  I find beauty in all kinds of things from the simplicity of a rose, my daughters faces and of course in my home made preserves.  It wouldn't be unfair to call me a 'preserve geek', in fact I'd smile inwardly and glow with pride.  These photos made me smile, in fact several days later having been sent them I'm still smiling.  

Photo from Pretty Nostalgic magazine, taken by Jonathan Rapley Greenfieldphotography

  Of course we stock some little shops, the ones which are quirky, with lovely assistants that make you want to stop and share a cup of tea with them, who know who you are.  To see the shelves lined with our preserves and chutneys is such a privilege.

Photo from Pretty Nostalgic magazine, taken by Jonathan Rapley Greenfieldphotography

If you'd like to stock our preserves, chutneys or pastries please do email us at snowdropcottagefinefoods@gmail.com or telephone 01453 520112 and we'll be delighted to talk with you.  Finally a huge thanks to Oldbury Community Village Shop for inviting us to their photo shoot, to Sarah at Pretty Nostalgic magazine and the amazing Jonathan  who was the man responsible for making me smile for several days after seeing such wonderful photos!

Bristol Good Food Awards 2014 - Finalists!!!

I'd like to say a BIG THANK YOU to all those people who have voted enabling us to be runners up for 'Best Preserve'  for the second time in as many years.  We have our selection of preserves ready to submit for the blind tastings on Tuesday 22nd April at The Bristol Marriot Royal Hotel which we hope the judges will love!  The judges this year will include Xanthe Clay (columnist for the Telegraph), Martin Blunos (amazing two star michelin starred chef), Dhruv Baker (Masterchef winner 2010) and Sam Moody (Bath Priory) among others!!! Fingers crossed we can win for the second year running!  Of course we'll be keeping you posted so watch this space!

Bristol Good Food Awards 2014 - Voting closed

Image from thelittlehoneybee.com

A HUGE THANK YOU to everyone who managed to vote for us in the Bristol Good Food Awards 2014, we're keeping everything crossed that we've made it as runners up again this year.  Keep an eye out for some more posts - hopefully with good news! 

Whiteladies Road and Tobacco Factory Markets

Our delicious sweet potato, wilted spinach & goats cheese pie!

The weather is looking rather good for the weekend and already we're thinking about what we're going to bake for our lovely customers.  This weekend we have a surprise in stall though... a new pie for our vegetarian customers.  At Whiteladies Road market (click here for details) we'll be bringing you our:

 'Beetroot, potato and creme fraiche pie'

  We've already given it a road test and we think it's rather wonderful, but we'd like you to let us know what you think!  We'll also be there with our rather renowned 'tipsy' bread pudding.

We ensure our fruit is steeped in our alcohol of choice overnight to bring you a decadent treat for your weekend.

We'll be at the Tobacco Factory (click here for info) on Sunday once again, we're thrilled to have a regular spot at this popular market and can't wait to meet new customers.  We'll have all our freshly baked goods to keep you well fed and a selection of our award winning preserves and marmalades.

Enquiries have already started flooding in for our Elderflower Cordial - we were overwhelmed with the success of our cordial and  within 6 weeks all our supplies had sold out! This time we'll be out in force picking as much elderflower as possible to ensure lots of satisfied customers. Keep an eye out from May onwards!

Tyndall's Monument

Image from Wikipedia

Sunday brought not only fabulous weather, but also my in laws from North Devon, up for the day to visit their grandchildren.  Snowdrop Cottage is a small Victorian affair and what it lacks in space we like to think it makes up for in charm but after a substantial Sunday lunch it was clear more space was required in the form of the great outdoors.  We're very lucky to live in an area which commands many great walks, although one of our favorites is to Tyndall's Monument in North Nibley.

It's a couple of miles walk through lovely woodland before the landscape opens up and Tyndall's monument stands before you.  There were plenty of people out with young children, dogs and picnic blankets all to take advantage of the warm sunshine.  We found many treasures a long the way including a hard fungus growing from a tree which our youngest child quickly commandeered as their own and refused to let go for most of the way.

It really is a lovely walk and well worth a visit should you find yourself in the area.

A kindle of kittens...

But what is the collective noun for a collection of markets?  Quite frankly it's exhausting although I cannot deny a very satisfying weekend which has just occurred.  This is a question I've pondered for a while, perhaps at an early hour of the morning when really I should be sleeping. We've a busy weekend ahead coming up on 15th and 16th March with the fantastic Whiteladies Road Saturday and on Sunday we'll be at The Tobacco Factory.  Perhaps one of our lovely customers could answer the question for us and allow me to finally get some sleep!!!

Frome Independent Market

What a great day we had a our new market 'Frome Independent' yesterday.  Despite the rain customers came to spend a day out at what is an amazing market.  Wandering around the flea market area I managed to pick up a few things, the stalls on Catherine Hill were jammed and smiles were seen everywhere!  

The stall looked really good, we'd brought along some Spring flowers from home and even the drizzle couldn't mar their wonderful colours!

We'll be back there again on the 6th April... hopefully Spring will well and truly be out in force! For more information take a look here 

Is Spring here?

Sssshhhh, I do believe there may be a hint of Spring around the corner?  On my run today there were an abundant supply of Snowdrops and daffodils poking their head up and the very first signs of spring blossom starting to form.  Just feeling the sun on your face seems to brighten everything in a day .... even our dreaded car repair bills!!! Take a look at these amazing Snowdrops we spotted the other day!

Hurrah.... hello Frome!

We're so excited to be attending this popular market on the 1st Sunday from March on wards. From fine artisan food to flea market finds and small producers lining St Catherine hill in this scenic market town.  Come down and find us on Sunday 2nd March and say hello!

For some photo's of this event and to find out how we got on take a look here

Christmas...

Christmas is so busy here at Snowdrop Cottage, it's a time when the house is filled with the most heavenly scents which entice passers by to linger and savor the spices that waft enticingly on the air.  Many will know simply by these aromas that it has to be 'stir up Sunday' signalling to all that it's time to don your apron and embark upon this long tradition of gathering your family together to make a wish as you stir up your pudding.

We only cook a limited number of puddings using fresh ginger, cranberries, local apples and many more lovely ingredients, beautifully wrapped ready for the table, many are bought as gifts for those difficult to buy for relatives of course!  This is an event we're really looking forward to where all our gorgeous offerings will be for sale: