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This weeks news from the Black Cat Farm Shop
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The year seems to be inching ever so close to autumn, as this week we have the first of the new season apples. Grown by Kate in Colmworth, we have Epicure (Eater) and Grenadier (Cooker). Both don’t keep well, so are best consumed within a few weeks.
 
We have plenty of plums at the time of writing this, but the hot weather has made them ripen very quickly. I’m not sure if we will have any next week, so please pop in ASAP if you need some. I have included a couple of great recipes using them if you have your own surplus.
 
It’s been too hot to cook over the last week. Last night Danny made this lovely egg salad, everything was from the shop except for our own French beans and potatoes.
This was my breakfast yesterday, again everything from the shop with the exception of the blueberries – again from our garden. We’re so lucky to have so much great produce in the shop, and great local growers/suppliers.
 
Linda and I both got soaked in the thunderstorm this morning, we needed the rain but maybe not that much that quickly! I hope you got plenty of rain too for your gardens and allotments.
Whilst on the subject of the weather – if its going to be very hot, we are trying the keep the front doors closed to keep the cool air inside. So if you see the veg barrow, a board and table outside, please try the door, I know it has confused a few people.

Thank you to all the veg box customers who have let me know about planned holidays, it is much appreciated.
 
Plans have been finalized for w/c 24th August: emails should be going out this weekend if your delivery day is to change for that week only. It is likely that the Bedford area ones will be with you on Tuesday 25th instead of Wednesday, and the St Neots/Eaton Socon/Eynesbury ones will be with you on Wednesday 26th instead of Thursday 27th.
 
 
What’s in stock in the shop this week:
 
Available as ‘extras’ or ‘substitutes’ for your box are:
 
Veg: second early potatoes (Marfona – still scrapable, but you can also roast them), loose and bunched carrots, loose beetroot, cabbages, French beans, flat beans, runner beans, red and white onions, butternut squash, sweet potatoes, garlic, mushrooms, spinach, broccoli, marrow, aubergine (including white ones), chillies (Serenade, Fresno and Jalapeno), cauliflower and lots of courgettes, first of new season Curly Kale.
 
Salads: little gem lettuce, cucumber (large and small), tomatoes (beef, salad and 3 types of cherry), celery, salad onions, rocket, peppers.
 
Fruit: Local new season apples (Epicure – Eaters, Grenadier – Cookers), Rhubarb, English Strawberries, English Raspberries, last few Plums and last few Greengages.

 
 
What’s in the veg boxes this week:
 
This is the list of veg that will be in the box’s w/c 17th August.
 
Please confirm any changes (size of box, frequency, if you wish to cancel, any additional items from the lists above) by the end of Saturday 15th August.
 
New potatoes (Marfona - from Bedfordshire)
Loose carrots
White Onions
Lettuce
Tomatoes
Cucumber
Curly Kale
Beans (we will have French and Runner). Please let me know if you have a preference).
Courgettes (Green or yellow)
Cauliflower
 
 
Thank you for all the eggs boxes – I am very pleased to report that normal service has been resumed, and I took delivery this week of loads, so I finally have plenty of stock. You’re welcome to keep returning yours though.   I also have plenty of punnets now, so please recycle them in your usual way, thank you.
 
Finally on the recycling front, I don’t have collecting boxes now for printer cartridges or batteries, but your local tips will be able to help you recycle them.
 
A gentle reminder to the veg box customers to leave your empty box out for us to collect and re-use – thank you!
 
Recipe of the week
 
Gingery plum cake
 
Ingredients
butter, for greasing
2 tbsp demerara sugar
500g plums
 
For the cake
175g butter
175g dark muscovado sugar
140g golden syrup
2 eggs, beaten
200ml milk
300g self-raising flour
½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
1 tbsp ground ginger
1 tsp mixed spice
 
Method
  1.  Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Grease and line the base of a 23cm square cake tin with baking parchment. Butter the paper generously and sprinkle with the demerara sugar. Halve the plums and arrange in the base of the tin in 1 layer, cut-sides down.
     
  2. For the cake, melt the butter, muscovado sugar and syrup in a large pan over a low heat, stirring until smooth. Cool for 10 mins, then stir in the eggs and milk. Sift in the flour, bicarbonate of soda and spices, then mix to a smooth batter.
     
  3. Pour the batter into the tin, over the plums, and bake for 45-55 mins until firm to the touch. Cool in the tin for 10 mins, then turn out onto a wire rack and leave to cool. Will keep in the fridge, wrapped in baking parchment and foil, for up to 5 days.
 
 
Limoncello plum tart
This is great to make ahead for a special dinner.
 
Ingredients
500g ready-made shortcrust pastry
zest and juice of 2 unwaxed lemons
4 tbsp double cream
100g pack ground almonds
5 eggs
100g butter, melted
8 tbsp limoncello liqueur
6 plums, stoned and cut into wedges
200g golden caster sugar
 
Method
  1. Roll out the pastry and use to line a loose-bottomed tart tin, 25cm diameter and about 3.5-4cm deep. Chill for at least half an hour.
     
  2. Heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Line the pastry with greaseproof paper, fill with baking beans and bake blind for 15 mins. Remove beans and paper.
     
  3. Put the lemon zest and juice, cream, almonds, sugar, eggs and melted butter in a large bowl and whisk until smooth then stir in the limoncello.
     
  4. Put the plums in the pastry case then pour the custard mixture over. Bake for about 20-30 mins until the custard is just set. Allow to cool then dredge with icing sugar before serving.
 

Whatever your plans this weekend (shopping, cooking, gardening or just relaxing), I hope you have an enjoyable one.

Kind regards

Sue Lang
Black Cat Farm Shop
c/o Roxton Garden Centre, Bedford Road, Roxton.
Beds. MK44 3DY
07522 559010
www.blackcatfarmshop.co.uk
www.facebook.com/blackcatfarmshop
Open Wednesday 10:30-3, Thursday 10:30-3, Friday 10:30-3, Saturday 10:30-3, Sunday Closed

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Bedford Road
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Black Cat Farm Shop · Black Cat Farm Shop · c/o Roxton Garden Centre · Roxton, Bedfordshire Mk44 3DY · United Kingdom

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