Family feast

My eldest son Alex's birthday today but he's doing his bit in Afghanistan.  Got a message to him on Facebook so paternal duties done. Home soon, though, and we can't wait to see him back safe and sound! 

My youngest, Joe, and his lovely girlfriend, Claire, are over later for food, booze and freshly laid eggs for breakfast.  Wendywoo and I have top and tailed the house and she's made some yummy rum laden choccy mousse delights.  I'm doing a toad in the hole with two kinds of sausages courtesy of Marsh Produce (who usually have a stall at Tonbridge Farmers' Market), braised red cabbage and cheesy, mustardy mash.

The market is a great place to visit.  We had a family get-together at the last one and did a bit of mooching about, a bit of shopping and a fair bit of eating!  The website is http://tonbridgefarmersmarket.co.uk or you can follow on Twitter @TonbridgeFmMrkt

In the braised red cabbage I have used some of @TonbridgeDaily's blackberry and cassis jelly which she gave Wendywoo a couple of weeks ago.  I used it in a red wine sauce to go with some duck breasts we had last weekend and it's absolutely delicious.

Wendy's sons, Joe and Sam, are out gigging this evening so we'll see them at some point if we're still up!

Got to go and chase some chickens round the garden now and put them back in their coop as the dogs need letting out for a wee.