River Cottage - Spring

Debt_Free_Chick

Penelope_Penguin wrote: »

He says that all us meat-eaters should take a stint as butcher's apprentice. Where do I sign up :j

Try your local college.

Our agricultural college does this course - which is of absolutely no use to anyone, unless they live in Sussex (sorry)

LittleBill

she_grinch wrote: »

Why can't you cut the asparagus, I am growing this for the first time, didn't see HFW as DD watching Britains got talent and OH watching footie at the same time?

We bought our crowns a year old and were told ...

Not to cut at all in the first year
Stop cutting end May second year
Stop cutting mid June third year
Stop cutting end June after that

I have been surprised how many spears they have produced this 'first year' ... well worth the permanent space they take up ...

We bought ours from here ...

http://abbeyparksasparagus.co.uk/shop/index.php?categoryID=85

... they were very healthy crowns and have got off super ...

I watched the lovely Hugh on 4+1 ... I think his idea on 'knowing your animal' is superb ... but you likely do not need to go in a butchery course ... If you go to a reasonably friendly butcher at a quiet time ... (buy something of course) ... you can ask him to for a brief run down on say a lamb ... people love to talk about themselves and what they do so as long as you are not holding up a queue he won't mind ...

It is a great bonus to know what's what ... my father was a chef in the 50's/60's and he took me shopping from an early age and showed me what each cut of meat was and what it was good for ... There is so much more than what's on offer in plastic packs in Tesco ...
The hardest thing is finding a butcher these days ...

sammy_kaye18

I watched the show last night and thoroughly enjoyed it - not too sure about keeping livestock in my garden though (small communal garden in block of 4 flats) i think they might object to a piggy running round the garden although there would be plenty of scraps to feed them i expect with coop next door and all their reduced veg.

Am looking forward to watching ht eother episodes although am a bit disappointed hes chosen Lamb to use, we dont eat it in our house - chicken and beef is all we use in this home.

Had to say as well that Delias cheap shepherds pie looked revolting - would have much prefered a portion of Hughs. Loved it when he said the left over roast lamb form previous nights.......i jsut thought 'oh how very OS'. lol.

Penelope_Penguin

sammy_kaye18 wrote: »

Had to say as well that Delias cheap shepherds pie looked revolting - would have much prefered a portion of Hughs. Loved it when he said the left over roast lamb form previous nights.......i jsut thought 'oh how very OS'. lol.

Sadly, Delia's "cheat" recipes aren't cheap Take a look at this article.

Penny. x

floyd

That pie did look absolutely foul, I would rather make a sandwich if I am pushed for time!

sammy_kaye18

Penelope_Penguin wrote: »

Sadly, Delia's "cheat" recipes aren't cheap Take a look at this article.

Penny. x

lol i ment ot write cheat not cheap. doh!:rolleyes:

LittleBill

Penelope_Penguin wrote: »

Sadly, Delia's "cheat" recipes aren't cheap Take a look at this article.

Penny. x

Goodness ... I cannot see the point of making one over buying a 'ready meal' from the non-cookers point of view ... and the cost is bonkers!

shelley1977

i love HFW and am so glad hes back on tv.cant wait to next week.as for the 2 shephards pies delias looked awful.i have HFWs mums cookbook which is really good too.

mother_noah

Not able to watch it last night so put it on my planner for a quiet moment later today.

beckstrous

I love HFW too. I enjoyed the show last night - we're trying to grow veg ourselves this year. It's sort of trial and error but so far we've planted potatoes (LOTS of bushy leaves on top...wonder what's going on underneath?!); various herbs; french beans (tiny beans just starting to come through now); aubergine; carrots; squash; chillies and tomatoes. We have a tiny garden, so most of it is going to go in containers (a lot of it is still on our windowsill!).

I think the whole idea of trying to grow your own stuff is brilliant and I love HFW's ethics. Don't know if anyone has either of his Meat or Fish books but they are fantastic, with loads of great tips on thrift. They're not just recipe books, but textbooks too, and they are written in a very conversational style.

This is a bit O/T and certainly not OS but has anyone actually been to River Cottage HQ for a meal? It is mindblowing. I was fortunate enough to get a trip there on a Saturday night for Christmas, and my fiance and I will be going again a couple of weeks before we get married as a sort of celebration just for us. It isn't cheap but it is worth every penny!

@mrbadexample, are you a Warren Zevon fan?