Half a lamb

On Friday my little boy and I picked up our ‘half a lamb’ from our local farm, ‘Cold Harbour Farm’ We feasted on the liver for Saturday lunch, and had curry on Sunday. The rest has gone in the freezer. If you have an opportunity to buy a half or whole (if you have a big freezer and family) I can highly recommend it. The taste is wonderful, quality meat, couldn’t be more local (no air miles) and very economical. Our half was £40, (a whole would have cost £70) and will keep us going for ages…

If your in the area, contact the very friendly and helpful Jenny Hallam tel 07890 889830 Cold Harbour Farm, New Mills, High Peak.

Today’s illustration, Lamb © 2008 Lois Blackburn www.loisblackburn.co.uk

economical food resources

Ok, where to buy cheap, ethical, seasonal, delicious ingredients and culinary goodies?

Here are some of my favourites…have you any to add?

‘Unicorn’ Manchester’s co-operative grocery. http://www.unicorn-grocery.co.uk/ it offers wholesome and organic (vegan) foods. Its really well priced, and ethical principles remain at the core of the business. Everything from Fruit and Veg to dried foodstuffs, inc pulses, grains, nuts, fruits and spices. I go when I’m in town, and buy in bulk!

‘Eighth Day Co-op’ http://www.eighth-day.co.uk/ as well as a great shop, there’s a wonderful café. Well worth a visit if in Manchester.

For supplies of Chinese and Thai foodstuffs, try any of the groceries in China Town, Manchester http://www.manchester2002-uk.com/shops/chinatown.html Great for large slabs of Tofu, rice, fresh herbs etc.

If your after basmati rice, spices, fantastic Asian vegetables and herbs and much, much more, visit Ayres Road, Old Trafford, or the Curry Mile, Rusholme, Manchester.

For seasonal organic food boxes, delivered to your door, I can recommend http://www.abelandcole.co.uk/Home.aspx

And just down the road from me, my friendly local ‘The Organic Shop’ New Mills, Derbyshire.

For fish, there’s a great fish market in Manchester at The Arndale. www.arndalemarket.co.uk
And if your short of goods to cook all of this in, or need the oven or the kitchen sink… sign up with your local Freecycle Network http://www.freecycle.org/ all for free!! You just need to organise picking the wonders up.

Todays illustration is from an ethical ABC, go to http://www.loisblackburn.co.uk/pages/editorial/ethical%20abc.htm to see more...image © Lois Blackburn