Great Service - Shoppin' Local

Today has been a busy day.

My raspberry vinegar production has started - I'll update more fully tomorrow but I started the straining process today.

I'm starting to feel better after my recent op and I'm now able to drive short distances again. That is, if my car was working. The battery was flat and needed replacing so the AA man came along and got it running and then I had to zoom up to Links Road Garage in Port Seton where the ever helpful Jimmy B gave up his tea break to put in a new battery for me. Great service from everyone and now I really am fully mobile.

First stop on the way home was the brilliant Gosford Farm Bothy near Aberlady. I've already mentioned them this week because they had local, wild Chanterelle mushrooms in stock, so I needed to get some for myself. But they've got so much more than that. The butcher's counter is so well stocked that it's hard to decide what to take but as another Tweet had recommended chicken olives stuffed with haggis, I decided to plump for them. And they really are plump - and wrapped in their own bacon as well. I haven't tried them yet but I'll let you know how good they are.

For dinner tonight, I'd decided to make an old favourite from my previous blog - Arbroath Smokie Risotto (see variations and notes to the recipe below) so I had to head down to North Berwick for more ingredients. The obvious place to go is not Tesco, but the excellent Bunney's Deli right in the middle of the High Street. It was also good to meet Lorna, the second real life Twitterer I've met today following the Gosford Bothy butcher. (* See Stop Press below).
I had already picked up the spring onions and lemon at Gosford, so now I needed the smoked haddock (instead of the smokies), the herbs, the rice and a sandwich for my lunch (pastrami, cream cheese and sun-dried tomato on arctic bread - delicious!).
Everyone I've met today has served me with a cheery smile, and they've given great service and advice, so my tip of the day is - SHOP LOCAL - and support the businesses in your community.

I hope you try the Smokie Risotto recipe - it's really tasty and a smaller portion would make an excellent starter. Here's my tips and the variations I made to the recipe.

• I couldn't get Arbroath Smokies but good quality, undyed smoked haddock works fine
• The recipe is for 4 but I more or less halved the quantities (except for the fish) - there was still plenty left over after 2 big portions were served
• I fried the Chanterelles in butter and added them near the end - they tasted great but 100g wasn't enough!
• I think shelled broad beans or garden peas would also add colour and flavour to the finished dish
• I didn't have fish stock but used half and half chicken and vegetable - it worked fine. I also needed more stock than the recipe suggested.
• I used some dried Italian herb seasoning as well as fresh thyme instead of the parsley and the dill - you can use your own favourites. The thyme was quite strong. 

* - Stop Press!!
Lorna from Bunney's Deli has Tweeted this evening that 'Rod is retiring'.
The deli is up for sale or lease
 - oh how I could be tempted.