Jayne and Ray were the deserved winners of 'A Farmers Life for Me' on tv recently. Here is Jaynes recipe for June.

 500 g of cubed mutton

1 tbsp dry coriander

1tbsp garlic powder

1 tbsp ginger

1 tbsp turmeric

1tbsp black pepper

1 tbsp cumin

1tbsp chilli, star anise, bay leaf.

2 tbsp oil

1 tin tomatoes, 1 tin coconut milk.

plain yogurt and chopped coriander to serve.

Make the garam massalla by mixing all dry spices together and dry marinate mutton for at least 2 hours.

Heat the oil in a heavy bottomed pan, add mutton and seal. Turn down the heat add coconut milk and tomatoes and simmer, mix thoroughly.

Cook in a medium oven 160 for 1-2 hours until tender. Serve with rice, plain yogurt and chopped coriander to garnish.Serves 3-4.

You can contact Jayne or Ray to buy their mutton from Shotley on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call them on 0779 566 2273

But lots to tell you; another award for our favourite restaurant, a new Dish of the Day and an article about food in literature coming soon.

There will be home-made food a plenty as usual at next weekend's Petta Fiesta. If you haven't got tickets yet you can buy them online, because you won't get many on the gate this time. Head for the Make Do and Mend tent where you can taste everything carrot (just like we had in the war, says Granny) There will be carrot and lentil burgers, carrot cake baked on the spot and the usual Happy Hour but with Harvey Carrotbanger cocktails. 

A day back at school for me, doing a Caribbean cookery session. Five lessons, eighty-five children, loud reggae and chicken with rice and peas. 

This was full of people on Saturday and ice creams were selling fast. I tried gooseberry and elderflower (Aldercarr) and double cream vanilla (Criterion) Both were fab. I came home with a mutton curry from Jimmy's Farm, eating it now - very spicy and soon to feature on our Dish of the Day. Also tried guessing the four ingredients of the smoothie - I got carrot, ginger, apple, mango - how did I do?

...who happen to be serving champagne and beautiful tiny gateaux.

Crepes, frites et saucissons, et j'avais mange toutes!