DEFRA has granted permission for an outdoor trial of GM wheat at Rothamsted Research in 2012 and 2013.  The crop is genetically modified using a gene from cows. Please read more on the GMFreeze website where you can (1) sign a pledge to register your objection and (2) follow a link to ask your MP to do the same.

If the event does move to ‘The Chester Fields’  I will participate if I can but Saturdays are very busy for me and it was only possible for my bread and other products to be at Grange Farm thanks to the Rowlands family’s willingness to sell on my behalf while I was out delivering to shops etc.

It’s a case of watch this space and keep your ear to the ground!

Meanwhile, I would like to thank the Rowlands family for their hospitality and all the hard work they put into making the monthly event so enjoyable. It’s been a very great pleasure for me to meet so many people from our village and further afield.

Should you wish to buy bread or other products from me, these are all still available to collect from my home, close to Grange Farm.  To order, please ring me on 01244 300761 or send an e-mail to jane.artisanbread@gmail.com.

The Campaign defines Real Bread as made with all-natural ingredients, and without the use of any processing aids or other artificial additives.

This might sound simple enough (because it is so simple) but sadly something like 95-97% of the loaves we buy in Britain fail to meet this utterly basic standard.

You can read more about Real Bread here.

You may not want to join the campaign yourself, which is absolutely fine, but please consider asking, when you buy your daily bread, is its baker a member?  If not, it’s possible that your bread contains a whole lot more than you might think (and that whole lot more might be a load of chemicals that aren’t at all nice …) Or perhaps the baker just needs an extra prompt to join that you could give by asking the question.

The Real Bread Campaign isn’t a whacky hippie alternative movement. It’s for everyone who wants bread to be a healthy staple food, free from unnecessary chemical additives to preserve shelf life or speed up the baking process.

Together we CAN bring REAL bread back to every community in Britain!

What’s the difference?
There is only one difference between my original and new recipes and this is that, where the original calls for flax seed oil, my new recipe contains ‘R-Oil’ from the Cotswolds instead. This has a delicious flavour that, in my opinion, knocks the spots off the flax oil in my original recipe and actually improves the taste of the loaf.

Why have I changed my recipe?
Some time ago the company that produced the flax-seed oil I used regularly went out of business. Since then I’ve tried a number of different brands, all of which have been okay but ridiculously expensive. I haven’t reflected this in the price I charge for ‘Miracles’ but I need to do so.

New recipe (with ‘R-Oil’) £2.00 for a 400g loaf. (No price change.)
Original recipe (with flax-seed oil) £2.35 for a 400g loaf. (35p increase.)

Alison Diamond, saxophonist

Put Sunday 5 February in your diary!
Alison Diamond will be playing to us live and I for one can’t wait.
Speed over to Alison’s website to hear some tracks and feel free to send Alison your requests.
See you at the market – bring your dancing shoes!

Nut roasts for the market at The Grosvenor Garden Centre this Friday, 9 December, will be chestnuts and mushrooms with cranberries. Standard size is easily big enough for a main course for two or three people. Please let me know if you’d like a ‘double-size’ roast (for four to six main course portions). £3.90 for the standard size, £7.30 for the large (or for two standard sized roasts).

Chelsea buns. Well, these flew at the last market at The Grosvenor Garden Centre so it’d be a good idea to order in advance to be sure of getting some… £1.20 each.

GOOD NEWS for customers who collect bread from my home on Thursdays…

On certain Thursdays from 17 November, you will be able to collect EITHER from my home OR from the new Mini Market at Mill View Primary School.

I am planning to take a range of items to each Mini Market. Shop on the day or order in advance. To order in advance please ring 01244 300761 or e-mail jane.artisanbread@gmail.com

Currently, Mill View has only released dates for November and December. However, if the event is popular, we will resume after the Christmas holiday, when other producers will no doubt want to join us.

There will still be a full market in the school hall on Saturday 17 December 2011.

Looking forward to seeing you there!