Food & Drink

Enjoy fruits of the Jurassic coast

by Barbara Cossins

Here in Dorset we’re so lucky to live in a beautiful part of the world. Not one motorway in the whole county and surrounded by the stunning Jurassic coast.

The fishing industry is something I know very little about but in the last few years I’ve been learning more from our Dorset fishermen and fish sellers. In fact, I’ve been on the most exciting journey with the Love Local Trust Local food awards, as I hear the wonderful stories of our very own Dorset shellfish and fish producers.

When Covid first struck, the fishing industry were one of the most inspiring for me. Not only were they already struggling with the UK having just come out of Brexit, they were suddenly left with no borders open at all.

Never an industry to fall at the first hurdle, they started selling straight off their boats, getting rid of the middle man and rebuilding their businesses with a different supply chain. Innovation at its simplest and best, it was about survival.

We don’t eat enough fish from our own waters despite having some of the best fish and shellfish in Europe. In fact, we export most of it, almost 75 per cent to Europe for them to enjoy instead.

What is total madness is that most of what we eat in the UK is then imported fish?! What is wrong with us? We must be the laughing stock of Europe for letting this happen.

Did you know that, just in our Dorset waters, we catch wild sea bass, Dover sole, plaice, Pollock, mackerel and, of course, our very

LOOKING FOR 4 PERSONS WITH WAITERING EXPERIENCE for buffet dinner party on the evening of 27th August, 4pm to 9pm, Motcombe.Email david@larkinglass.co.uk

Dover sole, plaice and pollock are among more than 40 species of fish caught in Dorset’s waters. PHOTO: Dimitris Vetsikas/ Pixabay own Portland crab and lobster and pool bay oysters. What a mouth-watering selection that is. Let’s try and eat more of it whenever we can.

In fact, an even wider range of seafood can be sourced from the waters of Dorset, more than 40 species in total. If our Dorset fishermen are allowed to fish and return with their catch daily, then they can offer us the freshest fish of the highest quality. Something none of us should take for granted and all of us should enjoy. Let’s celebrate our seafood and eat local. Dorset fishermen are simply the best. Barbara Cossins is founder of Love Local Trust Local; www. thelangtonarms.co.uk; www. rawstonfarmbutchery.co.uk; www.lovelocaltrustlocal awards.co.uk

ENJOY A GREAT DAY OUT Enford

Farm Shop

Durweston DT11 0QW

Home reared and locally produced meats, game, deli, fruit, veg, free range eggs and lots more. Follow us on Facebook for all our latest meat pack deals and what’s in fresh that week. BBQ packs also available. Half a pig approx £120. Chicken feeds etc available. Open Wednesday to Saturday 8.30am-4pm. Outside shop with self service for essentials open daily 8am-8pm 01258 450050

Food & Drink

Show some love for British rapeseed

by Barbara Cossins

The hot weather in July was incredibly challenging for our combining of the rapeseed oil crop. Combining when it’s so dry means the seed doesn’t press well so doesn’t produce the volume of oil we want. As there is already a shortage of sunflower oils from Ukraine right now, this makes rapeseed oil very sought after this year.

I’ve been using rapeseed oil in my kitchen for years now. It’s a really good product to cook with as you can get the oil very hot and it still doesn’t burn. It cooks really well in the frying pan and is also great for salad dressing. A great all-round choice for cooking and often overlooked in favour of trendier olive oil.

We grow lots of rapeseed here in Dorset – it’s the bright yellow flower you see everywhere in late spring filling the fields with vibrant colour. Did you know it is an excellent source of Vitamin E, a strong antioxidant? Plus it’s a great source of omega-3, a good fat which is good for your heart health and helps lower blood pressure. Despite the fact it is so wonderful for us all, these last few years it’s been a very challenging crop for British farmers to grow as they can’t use a spray in this country which kills the black beetle, an insect which eats the crop and causes a great deal of damage. It’s been banned from use on British soil, but what is bonkers is that we are still importing oilseed from Europe which has been grown with the same pesticides which are illegal in our own country!

Not ones to give up without a fight, our British farmers have overcome the problem by planting the crop early enough that the young plants establish themselves early and are strong enough to fight off the beetles so they can’t destroy the crop. I get so mad when I think our farmers have the best practices, the smartest innovations and the strongest determination, and then we are still importing all the bad things from abroad. On a positive note, I was recently in a meeting on chocolate. The demand for British sugar to be used in chocolate production here in the UK is on the rise – instead of importing sugar from abroad our sugar beet farmers are busy growing our own. This makes me happy.

Remember, eat seasonally, eat locally and always support our British farmers. Barbara Cossins is founder of

Rapeseed oil is very sought after this year with the shortage of sunflower oils from Ukraine. PHOTO: Kanenori/Pixabay

Love Local Trust Local; www. thelangtonarms.co.uk; www. rawstonfarm butchery.co.uk; www. lovelocaltrustlocalawards. co.uk

CELEBRATING SOMERSET GOODNESS, TEALS OFFERS RESPONSIBLY SOURCED GOODS FROM FANTASTIC LOCAL PRODUCERS.

It features a restaurant, food market, butcher, bakery, cheese counter, bottle shop selling wine local cider, and beer, a gift shop with independent-label gifts and healthy food to go. A healthy kitchen will serve nourishing plates from across the region. We can’t wait to welcome you, through our doors to sample the local produce and enjoy the orchard. If you fancy a trip out with a friend or an alternative to shopping in the supermarkets this is a great destination worth exploring.

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EASTBOUND

Keep it simple with green beans

by Rebecca Vincent

I adore green bean season, so much so that my wonderful mother would post some runner beans to me from our vegetable garden at home each year when I moved away, and I was so grateful!

I’d always look forward to finding new ways to cook with them but would always come back to simple recipes that just help to bring out their natural, delicious flavour. In this recipe I have paired them with peas to add a little natural sweetness, along with store cupboard essentials.

Green beans are a good source of vitamins A, C and K, folate, thiamine, riboflavin, iron, magnesium and potassium, and the anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory flavonols quercetin and kaemferol.

Strictly speaking, peas aren’t a vegetable, they are a legume like lentils, chickpeas and white beans. They share a similar vitamin and mineral profile to green beans, and contain good levels of protein and fibre which makes them very satiating.

Braised peas and beans

(serves 2-4) 200g peas (fresh or frozen) 200g green beans (Runner or fine beans) 1 medium shallot (finely diced) 1 garlic clove (finely grated) 1 sprig of thyme 100ml Stock (chicken or vegetable) Zest ½ lemon 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil Pinch of black pepper Optional extras: lemon juice

Green beans and peas is a food marriage made in heaven.

Pop a large sauté pan on a medium-high heat, add the oil and the diced shallot, and cook for a couple of minutes, stirring regularly until slightly softened. Add the garlic, thyme and lemon zest, and cook for a further minute.

If using fine beans just cut off the ends, if opting for runner beans cut off the ends and cut on the diagonal about 1cm thick. Add to the pan with the stock and cook with the lid on for about five minutes until starting to soften, then add the peas for a further three minutes. If you find all the stock evaporates before the end, top up with a splash of water. Finish with a pinch of black pepper and a squeeze of lemon for an extra zesty kick. Rebecca Vincent BSc (Hons) BANT registered nutritionist (07515 019430; www.rebeccavincentnutrition. co.uk)

Our new all-day menu, now available at the Bull Tavern, to eat in or take away

Our normal pub menu is still available but if you fancy popping in for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea with home-made cakes or just a coffee we are open from 9.30am – 9pm. Choose from a fabulous selection of paninis, pizzas, fresh salad bar, cheeseboard, charcuterie board, ploughman’s, much sourced from local suppliers. Ideally situated in the heart of Dorset with a ‘secret garden’ and views over the River Stour. Kids and dog-friendly. Free parking. Tel: 01258 472435

Townbridge, Common Lane, Sturminster Newton DT10 2BS lance@thebulltavern.co.uk www.thebulltavern.co.uk

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