Supporting local producers.
Welcome to the latest Shop Local Food Blogging Challenge round up! For the month of December food bloggers around the globe have been busy cooking and baking with locally sourced ingredients. Find out what they’ve been doing below with these eight tempting recipes…
Johanna over at Green Gourmet Giraffe is enjoying the middle of the Australian summer just now. This month she whipped up this beautiful zucchini flower recipe with rice using flowers she picked up at her local Coburg Farmers Market. I’ve never tried zucchini flowers, have you? Maybe this year! Seasoned with cumin, mustard, parsley and mint this dish would surely impress at any dinner table.
Polish/UK top food blogger Ren Behan picked up some sausages at Hedges Farm, her local farm shop, and made these super quick make ahead leek and poppy seed sausage rolls. She insists that once you start making your own you’ll never go back to shop bought ones again!
Helen over at Family, Friends, Food concocted this vibrant winter root & Brussels tops stir-fry with sesame using the Brussels sprouts stem instead of the sprouts itself! What a clever idea! I have to confess to usually composting the stem – I had no idea it too could be eaten! Lesson learned!
Get the recipe.
Alida from My Little Italian Kitchen never fails to impress with her recipes, and this month she’s shared her gorgeous Apple & Yogurt Cake with Coconut made with British apples. Don’t you just want to jump right in and take a great big slice?
Using a mixture of home grown and local farm shop vegetables, Kate the Gluten Free Alchemist created this perfect winter warmer soup. Aren’t the colours beautiful, and packed full of vibrant veg it will certain contribute to your five seven a day!
Over at Spices Galore, Gayathri utilises seasonal pomegranates in a festive family dish: Pomegranate Pine Nut Pilaf with cauliflower-pineapple curry. She described the pilaf as: “The pomegranates seeds were like tart little jewels in the white blanket of rice along with buttery toasted little nuggets of pinenuts……..all coming together to form a delicious morsel.” Beautiful!
Using local Cornish duck eggs and wholemeal flour, Choclette over at Chocolate Log Blog dishes up generous slices of this lovely fig and mincemeat Christmas bundt cake.
To finish things off, the incredibly talented Kate over at Veggie Desserts made this stunning beet and vanilla candied popcorn! Oh my goodness gracious me – isn’t it beautiful! Who would have thought vegetables could be so tempting! Her beets came from her local farm shop, and I think she’s put them to rather good use!
That rounds up the latest issue of the Shop Local Blogging Challenge. If you would like to participate you can find the current linky over on the Shop Local page. I’ve made a few small changes to the challenge for the new year – it’s got a new hashtag #ShopLocalChallenge for Twitter and Google Plus, and I would really like to see participants include more detail about the local producers they are shopping from. This is your chance to let them shine!
Follow Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary’s board Shop Local on Pinterest.
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Mum of three, daydream adventurer, OU Life Sciences graduate, occasional crafter, ex-pat Canadian & quite possibly Britain's most northerly food blogger.
Emily @amummytoo says
Gosh those look wonderful, particularly the stuffed courgette flowers. Beautiful.
Jan Bennett @GlugofOil says
What a lovely lot of delicious looking recipes!
Jan Bennett @GlugofOil recently posted…Digestive Health – Gut Gastronomy Book Review
Elizabeth says
I am inclined to agree 🙂 Such an inspirational lot!
Elizabeth recently posted…Become a Wine Expert with Sip & Learn {review}
Sarah Maison Cupcake says
What a tasty round up! I am most envious of GGG’s courgette flowers because I’ve always meant to try these but never found any anywhere. I suppose I should grow my own really but I’m a terrible gardener.
Sarah Maison Cupcake recently posted…Cavolo nero banana smoothie (Simple and in Season)
Elizabeth says
I’ve never even seen these for sale anywhere before. I will have to ask my veg box providers for some this year to try them out! I’m a terrible gardener too – I will leave that to the experts!
Elizabeth recently posted…Virgin Cranberry Grape Bellini & 8 Other Mocktails
melissa zia says
such beautiful recipes! the popcorn and apple pie look amazing.
Elizabeth says
Don’t they! I just want to grab a spoon and jump into the photos, haha!
Elizabeth recently posted…Shop Local Challenge { December Round Up}
Kate - gluten free alchemist says
Lovely round up. Everything looks so tempting. I too had no idea that you could eat brussels sprouts stems (shame on me!) and I have never thought of adding leeks to sausage rolls either….. I will be trying both!
Kate – gluten free alchemist recently posted…Hot Smoked Salmon & Cream Cheese Tartlets with Parmesan Pastry – gluten free
Elizabeth says
I’m glad it’s not just me that didn’t know! 🙂 Happy baking Kate, and thanks for linking up again this month x
Elizabeth recently posted…#BreadlineChallenge – The Results
Lucy @ BakingQueen74 says
what a lovely assortment of recipes, the pomegranate and pine nut pilaf in particular looks amazing. I would like to join in the next challenge if possible so will look out for the theme and get myself to my local farm shop!
Lucy @ BakingQueen74 recently posted…Slow Cooker Panettone Bread and Butter Pudding
Elizabeth says
It looks like a little pile of jewels doesn’t it! 🙂 There’s no specific theme for each month, simply use a locally produced ingredient, include a little bit about the producer and link up! It’d be great to have you on board!
Elizabeth recently posted…Become a Wine Expert with Sip & Learn {review}
Judith (Mostly About Chocolate Blog) says
WOW! This all looks amazing! Some of these dishes look like ones I could actually achieve as well so that’s brilliant!
Judith (Mostly About Chocolate Blog) recently posted…Coeur de Xocolat Haiti 75% Dark Chocolate Bar – Helping the people of Haiti through Chocolate
Elizabeth says
Aw thanks Judith! I’m so pleased the challenge is still going strong and that people share such gorgeous recipes. You’re right too – most of them are no fuss and easily made in ordinary kitchens.
Elizabeth recently posted…Virgin Cranberry Grape Bellini & 8 Other Mocktails
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy says
Poppy seed sausage rolls sound delicious. Great round-up!
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy recently posted…Comment on 2015 Goals and Tips For Reaching Your New Goals by Dannii
Elizabeth says
Don’t they! 🙂 I love the variety of recipes people share – so inspirational
Elizabeth recently posted…#BreadlineChallenge – The Results
Ren Behan says
So many great recipes here – Kate’s soup has really caught my attention. I’ll be making that! Thanks for featuring me and for your kind words. All the best for 2015. x
Ren Behan recently posted…Healthy Pasta Dishes | Guest Blog Event: Pasta Please January 2015
Elizabeth says
It does look rather delicious, doesn’t it! Thank you so very much for sharing your lovely sausage roll recipe too!
Elizabeth recently posted…Become a Wine Expert with Sip & Learn {review}
fashion-mommy says
I think all of these recipes look absolutely amazing, and I love how they promote shopping local.
#UKBlogggers
fashion-mommy recently posted…Outfit posts – Christmas and New Year 2014
Elizabeth says
Thank you – I am always amazed at what lovely recipes are shared each month. Such inspiration!
Elizabeth recently posted…Virgin Cranberry Grape Bellini & 8 Other Mocktails