Free from gluten

We have had a new baker join us just before Christmas that specialises in dietary requirements, and has a lovely range of products, savoury and sweet using gluten free flour, and other gluten free ingredients  Needing the special requirements herself is meticulous in choosing her ingredients.  

By ordering she can also offer lactose free products, but we have found that there is not enough demand to always supply them on the stall.  So contact us at the stall or by email, if you want something.

Here are some photos of some of the products that she has been baking and now has quite a following of customers:

Re-use and re-purpose - Jeans

One of our producers is turning old jeans into bags, lots of different sizes and shapes.  

If the jeans have zipped pockets or other fasteners this will mean that they will have an extra pocket.  So maybe you have some jeans destined for the bin drop them off at the stall.  

If they are of no use they will be added to a charity bag, charity shop or the recycling.

Holes on the knees are perfectly usable.


Above are the latest acquisitions that are destined to be bags in the near future.

So the jeans are laundered and then stared at for a few days :) to try and decide how to make them into pretty bags!  The fabric to line and make the strap is chosen from a large stash of fabric that seems to be ever growing after a visit to the shops....and also a large drawer of haberdashery...oh dear :)

Once cut up into pieces they are accessorised with lace and other trimmings.  The linings are made from a pretty contrasting fabric and have a slip pocket added, and maybe a button pocket, really as the fancy strikes.  Normally a handmade fabric flower added using the same or contrasting fabric as the lining, big button and a strap made that loops around or buttons through and adds to the 'decoration'.  Button holes are great fun on the new machine.

The challenge is to get the right size bag, with enough pockets, It can often mean piecing together denim to make it wider, but it all adds to the charm.

You can be assured that any sales will mean that more fabric can be purchased.....fabric obsession confession

So as you can see they are all made with loving care, and take quite a while...

And here are a few that have been on the stall in recent months:

More denim bags

Redcurrants

How pretty do these little jewels look on a plate, add to super sweet meringues, some double cream and a dusting of icing sugar.  For extra sweetness, as the redcurrants are tart, you can add icing sugar to the cream, how about a a few drops of vanilla essence too.

I remember my grandmother having loads of these bushes and she used to spend ages taking all the currants from the stem by putting them through the fork tines to gently strip them off.  Having had a search around I find a handy video....not my grandmother!
remove currants

I posted a summer pudding recipe a while back that is always good to fall back on, super easy to make, just needs to be done in advance:
Summer Pudding

Also available are gooseberries and raspberries - for the next few weeks:

Not into puddings well how about red currant gin:
Red currant gin

Coconut Ice

I searched around for a recipe for coconut ice and found this one.  


Seems as though there are 2 types one with condensed milk that is more like a 'Bounty'












Coconut Ice

The recipe said makes about 50

2 1/2 floz milk
2 1/2 floz water
1lb granulated sugar
4oz dessicated coconut
1/2oz butter
1/2 teasp vanilla essence
pink food colouring

Pour milk and water into a pan and bring to the boil
Add sugar and butter, heat slowly, stirring until sugar dissolves and butter melts
Bring to the boil. Cover pan and boil gently for 2 mins.
Uncover and continue to boil, stirring occasionally for 7-10 mins or until a little of the mixture, dropped into a cup of cold water forms a soft ball when rolled gently between thumb and finger. Temp on a sugar thermometer should read 116C or 240F
Remove from heat, add coconut and vanilla.
Beat briskly until mixture is thick and glossy.
Pour half into an 18cm (7inch) square tin lined with greaseproof paper.
Quickly colour the remainder pale pink and spread over white layer.
Leave to cool until firm and cut into squares

I have to say I only made 20 squares so not sure why that was - must have been super large.

You have to work quickly with it, and I tried cutting with a knife the first time.  second time I just broke into chunks for a more rustic look

Ampthill Festival 2016

Every year there is a Festival put on by a hard working committee in the town, it has grown into a 'pop' concert on Friday, proms on Saturday and a parade and gala on Sunday.  Along with an open gardens the week before and a literary festival the following week, quite a busy little town.







Over the years I have been when my son was little and when he was bigger I used help with the teas and makes some cakes for the cubs and scouts tent.  For the last few years I have been on holiday, but this year we were back on Sunday so popped over there.  Thought I would share some photos that my son's girlfriend took.

Dick & Dom on the stage

Woburn Safari Park

Woburn Safari Park along woth Woburn Abbey is the biggest 'tourist attraction' around here.  I have visited many occasions - I had a season ticket for a year, and have been at least once a year as my son was growing up, and even helped with the Alameda school trip a few years ago.

With the school trip we were treated to a guide on the coach too, so even better.  

I have not been for a few years, although I would say it is a place that you can enjoy whatever your age.

Over the years the place has changed and I thought I would share some pictures of a visit this year.

The lions have always featured in the Park for as long as I can remember - I went in the 70s and they were there then!

The monkeys have changed over the years, and these cheeky ones will soon climb on your car if you stop, best to keep moving slowly...

These little chaps are in an enclosure that have lots of trees and you enter and wander around with them up in the trees.

Feeding time with the wallabies, how cute are these with their little joeys in their pouch, you walk around their enclosure. 

The lemurs you visit on foot also, and so fascinating and comical

A recently added attraction - I remember seeing these giant tortoises on a trip to the Seychelles a few years ago, different climate...but still fascinating!

And of course meerkats - did we even know of their existence before the advert.

Tropical birds in a large conservatory, great on a chilly day!

There really is something for everyone, plenty of picnic areas, or food to buy there if you prefer.  Play areas for little ones, and areas for the slightly older children.  Go Ape is also in the grounds at an extra charge for the even bigger kids!  If the weather stays dry you really can spend an entire day there.  It can get a bit chilly up there, so take an extra layer just in case, you are always nearby your car once you have parked up.  You can go around the safari again, or even leave it until later if it is busy when you first arrive.

It is only a 15 minute drive from Ampthill, and even better to drive via Eversholt through the deerpark to see the Abbey.

Lemon Drizzle

I decided to bake my usual lemon cake in a square tin which is around 18cm/ just under 8 inches square. I then cut it into 4 portions - I reckon each portion is enough for up to 4 slices depending how big you like them!  Have done the weights in old and new money :)

Don't forget we sometimes have lemons for sale on Ampthill Country Market Stall, check out the facebook page.

4oz 125g Butter or margerine
6oz 175g Sugar (Caster if you have it) 
2 large eggs 
6oz 175g self raising flour 
2 lemons (I reckon 1 big lemon would be enough) 

For topping:
sugar approx 2 ozs 

Oven is at 180c 350f gas 4 

Cream together the fat and sugar, add the egg and beat. Add the grated rind of one of the lemons, and also the juice of the lemon (or half if large lemon). Fold in the flour. Bake for 30 mins. 

So if you are new to baking - for best results, beat the fat and sugar until light and fluffy, you can use caster sugar.  Beat eggs in one at a time.  Sieve flour onto the mix and carefully fold in.

Now there are several ways to finish this. You can melt the sugar and lemon juice and pour over the cake whilst warm, spike it first with a cocktail stick. You can mix the juice of the lemon with the sugar and put on the cake whilst warm. You can add lemon rind to the mix too.  Or you could make icing from juice and icing sugar and cover and then add some rind.  Or maybe do the first and one of the others as well, for extra lemony sweetness :)