Sharon at the market

Sharon went to the market this morning at the County Buildings, Wigtown. In the summer the stalls are set up outside but at this chilly time of the year things move inside.

First stop was the cake stall where Sharon was keen to select something to keep her going over the next few days. Cheerful baking expert Katie was happy to explain that the moist lemon-iced cake studded with walnuts was carrot cake and Sharon quickly snapped it up. Beetroot cake had also been available earlier but we were too late for this as customers had bought them all. On asking what “Border Tart” was Katie explained that it was a very sweet traditional Scottish favourite. Some people say it is like an Ecclesfachan tart but others disagree with this. As we have never tasted either this is a debate we could not enter into. The ingredients are lots of mixed dried fruit butter and egg in pastry and a Border Tart was quickly added to the shopping bag (see picture).

Katie comes from a long line of bakers and cooks and her great grandfather, whose surname was Brodie, worked long ago in North Berwick, East Lothian. So famous were his skills that he was charged with the important duty of cooking the king's Christmas pudding. The king did not like candied peel so the pudding was made without it. We made a mental note to buy our Christmas pudding from Katie later this year.

Next stop was a stall run by a very friendly lady who had a range of spices. Sharon's stroke has made her mouth very sensitive and so she can't enjoy curries as she used to. But the lady recommended a gentle tandoori masala powder. All you have to do is to mix a little with some plain fresh yoghurt and marinate chicken fillets before putting into a tray and baking in the oven. Serve with boiled rice. A packet went into the shopping bag.

Next stop was the book stall where a copy of “Old England At Play,” by Lynette Feasey was picked up. This was published in 1943 and it is a collection of traditional town festival plays, such as the Coventry Nativity Play, the Play of the Yorkshire Shepherds, the Play of Noah's Ark, St George and the Dragon and Punch and Judy. The bookstall lady said: “I knew someone would buy that one day.”

At the vegetable and freshly-baked bread stall Sharon bought a large parsnip and a nutty multi-grain loaf.

Moving on we came to the stall of Barlochan Highland Beef where Sharon had a long chat with Nigel Taylor, who, with his wife Angela, raises the long-haired long horned cattle at their farm near Castle Douglas. Nigel's enthusiasm was infectious. Three calves have recently been born. Two of the mothers take little interest in their offspring but the third is a really good mum. However, her calf keeps wandering off with the other two youngsters to play, leaving his mum looking everywhere for him.

Nigel and Angela also raise lambs and sheep and it was a real treat to see that he had mutton on sale. This rich meat, from sheep more than 24-months old, was once a mainstay of the British diet but it has almost disappeared being displaced by lamb. Mutton is delicious and rich and Sharon bought a pack of diced mutton which will be cooked in Guinness in the slow cooker. A real treat ahead. Sharon has even been invited to visit the farm and said she would love to do so once the weather is a bit warmer.

Sharon said: “The Border Tart was delicious. There was a layer of something like toffee on top of the pastry base which obviously helped to make the fruit juicy. It was very sweet and it was perfect to go with my afternoon cup of tea.”

***