Porlock Arts Festival 2010

Germaine Greer tops the bill at Porlock Festival 2010

Germaine Greer and Marcia Willett, are among the leading lights at this year’s Porlock Arts Festival from 9th – 12th September. Germaine, controversial author of The Female Eunuch, will be appearing on Saturday night. An acclaimed academic and outspoken broadcaster she has appeared on television in such favourites as “Have I Got News for You”, “Grumpy Old Women” and controversially “Celebrity Big Brother”. Popular local author Marcia Willett opens the festival on Thursday evening. She has a great affinity with Exmoor and a number of her stories, including her latest The Summer House, are based in and around the Porlock area. On Friday, throughout the day, over 20 local authors will gather to discuss their work and sign copies of their books. The day will be informal and relaxed with refreshments and free entrance. On Friday evening we welcome three principal artists from Opera Novella in London, who will perform a variety of opera favourites. This promises to be a stunning event to delight a musical audience. Also on Friday evening, at Dovery Manor, Widsith and Deor Storytelling Theatre will take the stage for their unique theatrically performed stories, taken from three ancient texts and suitable for adults and teens alike. On Sunday afternoon the Festival showcases Greg Chapman’s one man play ‘Small Town to Big Apple’ at the final venue of his UK tour. This promises to be a funny and moving show for everyone who enjoys theatre. Throughout the festival artists, photographers and a host of crafts people will be hosting local exhibitions, while the weekend also showcases a Writers’ Forum, a drama workshop and the Poetry Picnic. Miles Robertson, Chairman of the organising committee, said, “I am delighted that we have, once again, secured some great names for the festival. Last year we sold out in advance for four big events. This year we have even more to offer. We are advising people to buy their tickets early to avoid disappointment.” A full programme of events is available on the Festival website www.porlockfestival.org or from the Porlock Visitor Centre by phoning 01643 863150 or by emailing porlockci@somerset.gov.uk

Poor Man's Goose Recipe

Another recipe transcribed from my old Somerset cookbook.

1lb. potatoes
1/2 lb pig's liver
2 small onions
1/2 teaspoonful dried sage
cold water
1 oz. flour
salt and pepper

Mix the flour, pepper, and salt together. cut the meat into pieces of an even size and roll them in the seasoned flour. Place these in a pie dish with layers of thinly sliced onion and sage in between. Peel the potatoes, boil in salted water until half cooked. strain off the water, cut them in thick slices, and place over the top of the meat. Three-parts fill the dish with water or gravy, sprinkle any of the seasoned flour over the top, cover with greased paper, and make in a moderate oven for 1 hour.

Delicious!

Dulverton Folk Festival

A picture of some Morris Men dancing down by the Bridge Inn at this weekend's Dulverton Folk Festival.

Cooked Starlings

Another interesting now-out-of-favour recipe from my hundred year old collection of family recipes.

STARLINGS

When killed, pull off the heads, when plucked and trussed, soak them in vinegar and roast very quickly. Be sure to bast with butter continually whilst at the fire.

WHEATEARS may be cooked in the same way, but are best dipped in breadcrumbs, and only take from ten to twelve minutes roasting.

West Somerset Devil

Here's a snap I took last week of a West Somerset devil! It's on a very old cottage, but, where? A packet of the splendid Co-operative Indian Prince tea for the first person able to correctly identify the location :-)

Somerset Farmers' Fruit Cake

This is an untested recipe for Somerset Farmers' Fruit Cake and looks like it would make the perfect afternoon tea cake to go with a nice cup of black tea. I've left the recipe details exactly as I discovered them.

1 lb of Apples
1 teacupful of Golden Syrup
1/2 a cupful of Sour Milk
1/4 lb of Butter
2 teaspoonfuls of Cinnamon
1 of baking Soda
1 of Cloves
1 Egg
1 lb of Flour

Peel, core and chop the apples fine, and let them simmer in the syrup till tender. Work the butter into the flour, next the sugar and spices, mixing well, then add the milk, the egg and the syrup and apples before they sre cold. Beat the cake well, and bake it in a buttered tin for 1/2 to 3/4 hour in a moderate oven.

Please contact me or leave comments if you find the time and inspiration to try this recipe out for yourself. Invitations for tatsings in the Exmoor and West Somerset area warmly welcomed!

Exmoor and West Somerset

Hello and welcome to a new development for my long-standing Exmoor and West Somerset website. A blog. Come back soon to catch up on what recipes from my one hundred year old cookery book I've deciphered, tried and can recommend; see some of my photographs; and read about what I've been up to in and around the Exmoor and West Somerset area.