Now The Party's Over

Can't believe my little girl is one!! Can't believe we fitted so many people in to the house. In fact, in one room, as various babies were sleeping in other rooms. It felt a little like that scene from The Birds, having to tread very carefully indeed. The fear of stepping on someone else's offspring was omnipresent throughout the day. A sucessful party was had though. Not bad for someone who only got into this kid lark a year ago. Roll on party number 2. This is contrary to how I felt last Sunday however. The words "never again" left my lips more than once.

The next big occasion for the family Dunbarski is a big wedding bash Daaan Saaarff innit. We are leaving early doors for Londonshire with our friends Debbie and Jude in complementary first class, then onto Kent to the wedding of my oldest mate Hilary and her very lovely husband to be Tim. I am Maid of Honour, and sadly will be feeling like an old maid next to her two very young and very pretty nieces, Emmy and Yasmin. However, I forsee an amazing weekend and am looking forward to it with bells on. Originally I was to make chutney wedding favours for them, to have in wheelbarrows at the door, but the logistics of transporting 100 jars on the train was pretty inconceivable, so we gave up on that idea. In a moment of wine related intoxication, I suggested to make them my famous cake pops as favours. Thankfully they declined. It would certainly have given the guests a laugh, and would have filled in any awkward silences between strangers, as they 'guessed what the hell that thing on a stick is'.

The next big Mmm...nice event is going to be Out of the Blue, at the Dalmeny Drill hall, on 2nd July, and usually proves to be a success. Later in the month there is a Friends of the Earth sale in Morningside. the last one was a disaster for all concerned(except yours truly) in terms of organisation and advertising. I recently got a mail saying the organiser concerned has left and someone new taken her place, so it remains to be seen how that goes. I ahve also just been offered a place at the Sick Kids Christmas fair. It's fundamentaly wrong to be thinking about the C word at this time of year, but there is no escaping that it is the season for consumerism.
In that case, HO HO HO. MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!

Merry Merry month of May

Well here we are nearly half way through the year. How the hell did that happen? You can tell Summer is approaching as the heating has had to go back on and the knee length socks looked back out. We may get another couple of nice days in September, and that will be it till next year. Ho hum. Can't really complain when the place you live is quite close to Iceland. The country, not the shop. Although, I do actually live close to Iceland. The shop that is, not the country.
I digress. As usual, I have been slack at updating this. I will make it my half year resolution to try and update this every week. I have been prompted to do this tonight after a lengthy phone call from a very good friend of many years, Craig Grozier, who is a very good Chef, who has recently opened Heart Buchanan Deli, on Buchanan St in Glasgow. We had a good chat about the trials and tribulations of setting up a business, and with Craig being a chef, we had a chat about recepies and so on, and it gave me a little burst of motivation.
Since having gone back to work fulltime, my day is filled with work, pick up Lily, home, sort out dinner for the three of us, and by the time that is done, it's almost bedtime!
It is also Lily's first birthday party on Saturday, so my head is full of cakes, macaroons and cake pops. I had my first attempt at cake pops at the weekend. Frogs, for my friend Mands birthday. Not as easy as they look in the book. Mine resembled John Merrick style martians. However, I like to think they looked quirky, and it is the thought that counts....
Anyhoos, on the Chutney front, they are on sale at Renroc on Montgomery St now, and I have handed in two or three samples this week.
Also, I have been asked back to Real Foods for another tasting, so I will keep you avid readers posted on that. Also handed a load in to the shop on castle St, and they said people had been asking for them as they had run out, so that was nice.
I had my first negative feedback a couple of weeks ago, which was a bit disapointing, but you can't please all the people all the time. I have also taken the advice on board, so its all good.
So, off to bed Igo, feeling pretty smug about getting round to getting this written up. Night night. Don't let the bedbugs bite

Real Foods

At a recent Business gateway meeting, I was told if I have  a blog it really needs to be updated every week or so. Since I haven't looked at it for about a month, I decided to get on the case this evening.
I will update my blog
I will update my blog
I will update my blog
I will update my blog
And so on.......
Well, since my last update, a couple of things have reared their heads. Firstly a tasing day at real Foods, that great Edinburgh health food institution. Anyone who knows anything about lentils and open toed sandals will have their fingers on the Real Foods button. I must say, the staff at both the Tollcross and Broughton Street shops were absolutely fantastic. They were so helpful to me, and really plugged my products throughout the day. I felt the day went ok, a bit slow at Broughton Street but overall avery positive response, so fingers crossed folks, that you should be seeing the Mmm...nice logo emblazened on the shelves of  a very well respected Edinburgh shop.
Secondy, My lovely pal Lisa is back from her travels, and has taken on the managing of the Black Dutch Cafe (formerly Renroc) on Montgomery St, and has requested me to make some of my dill pickle, which used to be a staple on the Renroc sandwich menu. they will also be selling my jars of chutney over the counter.
So, softly, softly, catchee monkey. I won't be retiring any time soon, but definitely by the time I am 65.

Friends of the Earth Fair

Well folks, Christmas is a distant memory, so it's time to start putting your hands in your pockets, and what better way to start than at the Friends of the Earth fair, which is on this Friday 11am-5pm and Saturday at St. Augustine Church on George IV Bridge 10am-3.30pm.
I will be headlining on Saturday, giving out samples to those who would like to try my yummy goods.
All of the flavours will be available, and are for sale at £2.50 per jar. I will also have pretty jute presentation bags that hold 2 jars, and will cost £6.00 for the bag with both jars.
So have a look at the link, and hopefully see you all on Saturday.
http://www.foe-scotland.org.uk/craftfair

Mmm... nice Relishes. Groovy grub for grown ups.

Have you ever thought your cheese board lacking in zing? That your ham sarnie needs an overhaul? And dare I say it, Sunday's leftover roast, which tasted so good on Sunday, is positively bland by Monday?

Well, help is at hand, in the guise of a new range of locally produced relishes and chutneys. Not only are they produced locally , but also made with locally sourced produce where ever possible.

"So what?" I hear you cry. Go to your nearest supermarket and you will find the condiment aisle groaning under the weight of various pickles, relishes and chutneys. What makes these bad boys different?

Booze. That great Scottish stalwart. We are famed for our parsimony and our ability to drink the rest of the world under the table.

When I started down the chutney path, I was dealing with a large haul of apples from a friend, and running out of ideas to give them a bit of va va voom. Grabbing a bottle of Bells, I glugged in a few measures, and so my apple and whisky chutney was born.

And from there it was a small step to realising that a few snifters in the pot worked wonders, lifting flavours, both complementing and sharpening them, and creating  pretty unique combinations that taste phenomenal.

Now, these canny condiments are retailing at a mere £2.50 for an 8oz jar, which, to my mind, is very reasonable, and with today's rising costs, they are a little bit of affordable luxury.

They won't make you ten years younger, or make you look good naked or even afford you that place in the sun, but they will brighten up an otherwise dull plate.

A list of suppliers will be available shortly, but I can be contacted directly for sales. See product list below.

• Apple and Whisky Chutney
• Rhubarb and Ginger Pickle
• Spiced Sweetcorn Relish
• Sweet Chilli Jam
• Yellow Pepper and Coriander Relish
• Sweet Onion and Chilli Relish
• Beetroot and Port Pickle