First day back at the market is always a special day

First day back after a break during Christmas. I was getting excited for the last few days thinking about other producers and stall holders and what they could have been up to over the holidays. The start of a new year is always an exciting time around the markets. Everyone comes back recharged full of new ideas for the coming seasons. New recipes, new stalls and new packaging, new additions to the farm, new events etc …

Yesterday I started back in Midleton Farmers Markets and I wasn’t disappointed. Everyone was in the best of moods and all had some news to tell.

So here’s some things i learned at yesterdays market:

Declan Ryan of Arbutus Bakery, has developed his own bread mix from his famed ‘Granny’ Ryan’s Soda’ recipe so those of us who want to eat Declan’s amazing West Cork Soda for breakfast, lunch and dinner can do so at home with out any fancy machinery or skill for that matter. It keeps for ages too so a great one to send to far away Irish Bread Fans

Eldest daughter Louise Murphy of Arsallagh Goat Farm, was full of news from the farm. Christmas time is always hectic at the farm. The farm is a family run with everyone involved in different aspects of the business Responsibilities include but never limited to raising and caring for goats, milking and processing of milk, producing milk, yoghurt and a whole range cheeses, bottling, packing and labelling, managing sales to local deli’s, large chains and wholesalers, deliveries, unbelievable amount of Farmers Markets and along along building a family home. On the way they have picked some of the most prestigious prizes and honours in the Artisan Food World.

The first of this years Smoked Ardsallagh are already out on the stall. Unbelievable beach smoked flavour. Louise was delighted with it saying that it took two weeks to smoke because the air was so damp the smoke was heavy and stayed very low in the smoker.