Cumbria on a Plate

ANNETTE GIBBONS must surely have the most delicious job in Cumbria not only does it involve food, but it involves local' food, which she has now decided to celebrate in a brand new book.

A champion of the county's food for many years Border TV viewers will know her from the popular Home Grown series which we apeared on recently with her. Annette describes herself as a professional cook, not a chef "with the health of everybody at the heart of her recipes".

And you can't get healthier than sourcing your food from your own doorstep remember, it's always better to buy an ingredient which has been grown just down the road than an organic one which has had to be flown halfway around the world to reach your plate.

Annette Gibbons is no stranger to growing fruit and vegetables at her home beside the Solway Firth. Indeed, this connection' with food is an important aspect of Annette's new book Home Grown in Cumbria.

Over the last few years there has been an explosion of small, traditional craft food producers in Cumbria. Here at The Old Smokehouse we have been producing gourmet smoked foods for the last 21 years so we are no newcommer to the region. And in the first half of this book Annette introduces the reader to many of them with chapters on baking, pork, beef and Herdwick, brown shrimps, beer, fresh water fish and fruit, for example.

Packed full of interesting facts and beautiful pictures (courtesy of Keswick-based photographer James Walker), Home Grown part 1 will fascinate dedicated foodies, whether they are from Cumbria or not.

The book's second section is devoted to Annette's delicious recipes, many of them using local ingredients Herdwick liver pate, for example; Solway Salami Salad; Cumberland Tatie Pot; and Salt Beef in Yates Bitter Beer.

Other recipes simply reflect Annette's love of cooking Potato Pancakes with Juniper Berries; Herb-filled Carrot Roulade; Chocolate Baked Alaska; and Grandma's Elderberry & Apple Jam.

Home Grown in Cumbria also contains a useful directory and farmers' market guide.

This book will be despatched direct from Annette who has kindly agreed to sign each copy.



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