
A seasonal, tummy-friendly soup – straight from the farmers’ market. On Saturday, my mum and I went to one of our favourite farmers’ markets in the beautiful town of Bakewell in the Derbyshire Dales.
The Bakewell Farmers’ Market is held on the last Saturday of the month in the agricultural hall, within spitting distance of the town and its famous five-arch 13th Century stone bridge spanning the River Wye. This bridge always reminds me of Ken Follet’s classic novel, ‘Pillars of the Earth’. It’s a great read, particularly if, like me, you love history and architecture. Bakewell’s Farmers’ Market is extremely popular and showcases high quality, local food and crafts from in and around the Peak District. If you’ve never been, it’s well worth a visit.
Mum and I came away with bags of fresh produce, vegetables, fruits, cheeses, yogurts, fish, meats, breads and delicious golden butter, all grown or produced in Derbyshire.
Our finds at the farmers’ market are guaranteed winners at the dinner table as their fresh flavours make simple yet tasty meals. I made a delicious onion soup with juicy, fresh onions, butter, Himalayan sea salt, black pepper, chilli powder, horseradish powder, brandy and creme fraiche. I served it with chunks of Hartington Stilton cheese and sourdough bread with Derbyshire best butter. Delightful! A perfect soup for a perfect autumn Sunday afternoon. My family devoured it.

My delicious onion soup, with Hartington stilton and crunchy sour-dough bread with best Derbyshire butter.
If you are following the FODMAP diet, onions may be off the menu for you, but if not, they are a wonderful prebiotic, feeding your gut bacteria, and the good fats from the butter, cheese and creme fraiche are also gut healing.
Good cooking starts with good ingredients. Locally sourced ingredients are denser in nutrients – and you know what you’re eating! Make the most of your local farmers’ markets, farm shops and grocery stores.
Linda x