Big Business (and greengages for breakfast)

When I'm not cooking (or trying to learn flamenco guitar), I'm usually marketing - that's what I do for a living at least.  It struck me recently, while reading the weekly magazine Marketing, that food and drink really are big business.  Of course, we already know that - we see the profits every year from the likes of Tesco, but it's interesting that it's food that seems to be feeding the marketing industry.



In this week's magazine, there are no fewer than 17 articles about food and/or drink.  Articles include one about carbonated soft drinks being in decline (the insipid Fanta's sales sell by 12% to 'just' £127million in the last year in the UK - tell me, why is it that in Europe, Fanta Lemon is actually quite nice but the UK version tastes of washing-up water?  I happen know the answer if you're really interested!).



Another article lists a bunch of facts about sandwiches.  Did you know that in the UK almost 200 sandwiches per person per year?  How do they know this, particularly given that 6.24billion are made at home?  The UK's appetite for chicken sandwiches consumes some 24,924 tonnes of chicken.  I feel enlightened for knowing this factoid!



In all these 17 articles, there are lists of facts and bits of interesting information - but astonishingly, the word 'greengage' does not appear once!  I had about a pound of these in my organic box this week - so here's a very nice and healthy breakfast:



Greengage Compot with Yoghurt

(enough for 4)

1lb Greengages - you'll need to stone them I'm afraid, but it won't take too long

About 3-4 tbsp sugar - vanilla sugar for preference - to taste

2-3 tbsp water

Greek yoghurt to serve



Gently stew the greengages with the sugar and water for about 10 minutes until soft but not falling apart.  Shake the pan or stir them gently every so often.

Allow to cool overnight and serve with the juice and a big spoonful of yoghurt on top.  Simple and tasty.  To ring the changes, you might want to use normal sugar and add a sprinkle of cinnamon.

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