Mince Pies

Calling all jam makers and gardeners of the village...

For my Christmas mince meat I need any gluts you might have this autumn of the following:

Plums - as many bags as you can bring me, 10-20kg but any welcome

Apples - Easton Cyder Cooperative, I look to you on this!

Jars of homemade marmalade, especially if you made some and weren't happy with it, it's all the same when used for cooking

Sloe Gin - again, if it needs using up, it would be ideal for cooking use

Please do let me know if you may have a glut of any of the above, I'm looking to make a very large batch of mincemeat around September. All contributions will be gratefully converted into Earl Soham beer or similar!

Christmas Day Lunch 2011

After a hiatus last year we will again be serving lunch on Christmas Day. I have mixed feelings about this, I love the opportunity to 'roll out' all the elements of Christmas with as much of Mr Pickwick about me as I can muster. On the other hand it should be a time for families and working on the day does demand compromises. I think...yes, I think I shall decide here and now that we will serve food on Christmas day but not Boxing Day.