Cheap, quality, food

Apparently we poor people are not going to live as long as rich people. When I say poor, most of us are either monetary poor, have poor knowledge of how to cook, or mostly, time poor, to cook real food.

I suppose a whole generation has been educated without domestic science on the curriculum and the last 20 years has been the era of fast food and ready meals. It is all far to easy to get a take away or pop a ready meal in the microwave especially with so much clever marketing between favourite soap operas.

At the same time we also seem to have more TV programs about cooking than ever. What we really need is a reason to cook and knowledge to make live easier, cheaper and healthier.

So this is my attempt at a thrifty menu for 2 for a week (http:/www.bigbarn.co.uk/thriftmenu.pdf). These are the kind of meals I enjoy and you will notice reflect my taste for savoury rather than sweet. To find cheap seasonal food check your local food map and click on the icons with the '£' flag, that are cheaper than the supermarket. And please comment below with your cooking on a budget ideas/recipes.

Valentines Day Special

How about a delicious treat for your Valentine? Food and drink is a primal need so what better way to reach your valentine's heart? At BigBarn we have some great ideas and have asked a few of our producer members to send in their ideas as comments below. Please also comment if you have a heart winning recipe or story.

To start with something basic. Ladies, your man will pander to your every whim for weeks if you cook him a delicious, locally-produced, well hung, juicy, steak. We recommend you look at the BigBarn map to find your local farmer or butcher and ask questions so you can tell your man the story of his meal. Please note that a local sirloin steak will probably be cheaper and better than a supermarket fillet steak.

And you men, forget the sweetie shelf at the local garage, or crappy flowers from the supermarket and give your lovely lady some hand made, high cocoa, aphrodisiac rich, hand made chocolates.

Simply visit the BigBarn map or MarketPlace to find and buy the best local steak or for a huge range of chocolate.

Burns Night/Week Celebration

Whether you have Scottish blood, love Haggis, need a tiny excuse for a party, or like wearing a man skirt, Burns Week is here. I say week, as my friends can't come until the weekend.

As one quarter of my body is Scottish and I love haggis, I will be carefully steaming my haggis for the big night. I will also boil some turnips, swede and carrots and roughly mash them, (to leave lumps) and mix with some butter and black pepper. Some potatoes will get the same treatment with butter, black pepper, milk and a pinch of mace, but be mashed finer and then whisked with a fork until my arm aches.

I am afraid I won't struggle through the traditional Burn's grace for the cutting of the haggis especially now that I have found this recording. I will put my laptop near the table, click the link and have the big knife poised over the beastie, ready for the word 'cut' in the 3rd verse!

To find your local haggis try your local butcher, or use the BigBarn MarketPlace.

Farmhouse Breakfast Week 24-30 January 2010

I enjoyed a hearty breakfast in London yesterday to mark the launch of this years Farmhouse Breakfast Week. Thank you to the HGCA and well done!

Health professionals all agree, and I am sure we all notice, especially with kids, we should start the day with a healthy, balanced breakfast. Breakfast really can benefit your energy levels, concentration, mood and can even help you manage your weight.

To get involved and join farmers, producers, schools, retailers, caterers and individuals in celebrating the benefits of breakfast. Hundreds of events of all sizes are expected to take place across the country. For great ideas and tips on organising your own event, click here.

Farmhouse Breakfast Week also provides a perfect opportunity to promote the wealth of wonderful breakfast produce available around the country. From butchers style bacon and sausages to speciality breads and cereals, there is a fantastic choice to benefit the start of your day.

To buy your great breakfast foods in our MarketPlace click sausages, bacon, black pudding, porridge, muesli or visit our map to visit your local producers/retailers.

Happy New Year

A very prosperous money saving year to all.

To get your finances in order, or start the New Year saving some money for the next celebration, switch from the supermarket to buying locally. Seasonal and local is cheaper and you will not be tempted by the BOGOFs and cheap DVD movies that will be on telly very soon.

You may already have noticed our "cheaper than the supermarket" flags on many icons on the BigBarn map, meaning that the producer or retailer is cheaper, normally on the products they produce. That's not difficult when on average only 9p in every pound spent on food in the supermarket goes to the farmer.

All you have to do is find your local supplier and ask questions about price, quality and what is in season. Change to shopping locally every week, and if you have to, visit the supermarket once a month for the tins, washing powders, etc.