An eye for an autumn bargain

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Posted at 11:00AM, 09 October 2008 by Mary Cadogan - Food writer

Autumn is a season of mists and mellow fruitfulness. Not half! All that free and almost-free food there for the picking brings out the bargain hunter in me every time. There's nothing I like better than to go scrumping, cadging and generally keeping a look out for the bargains that a glut brings.

It all started with the blackberry season. A relaxing walk in the country ended in a frenzy of picking and no one was allowed to get back in the car until we had filled our boxes, bags and pockets with enough to make jams, jellies and a great crumble for supper. Never mind the scratches and scrapes, it was worth it.

I sneaked a few apples that were sort of leaning on my side of the fence

Next I noticed my neighbour's apples looked a bit neglected, and as he's not much of a cook, I sneaked a few that were sort of leaning on my side of the fence. The next day he stopped me to say I was welcome to pick his apples anytime as he didn't need them. I turned away to hide my red face, but I'll reward him with some of my apple chutney that fills the house with eye stinging vinegary smells.

As I stroll into the village each day, I keep a careful eye on how the fig tree that I pass is getting on (tantalisingly close to ripeness). Happily it belongs to my good friend Margaret and we have a deal going that I take her figs and turn them into chutney and jam, some of which goes back into her larder.

It's all a bit exhausting because the markets are also full of produce at knock-down prices, overripe tomatoes to make into sauces for the freezer, huge squashes to roast in big wedges with spices and olive oil, and I find myself unable to resist.

The problem is that there are features to write, supper to cook, work to be done, and not enough hours in the day. But at the end of it I'll have a larder full of jars, a freezer full of fruit and a general feeling that all is well with the world when I check it all over. Must dash, the wind has blown all the hazelnuts off the tree in the garden and I must get them before the squirrels do.

Comments

Elaine

10 October 2008, 6:16AM
Elaine

There's something so satisfying about getting food for free, especially when it's so fresh and particularly in these credit crunchy. I too love combing the hedgerows for blackberries and was chuffed when my neighbour left me a big bag of plums from her tree. All I've been able to offer in return is a few solitary strawberries (that was in June) as the pesky squirrels ate most of our crop!

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Pat Evans

15 October 2008, 4:35PM
Pat Evans

I agree with Mary, it's like being a child again, scrumping apples and blackberries, but one of the most satisfying trees to raid is the walnut tree - we've gathered enough to last us and the dog the whole winter and the fresh walnuts are delicious in cakes, bread and salads.

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the Ships Cook

15 October 2008, 9:39PM
the Ships Cook

We have a lovely chestnut tree and hazlenut bush in the field behind our house. Only wish I could beat the squirrels to the nuts!

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