Thanks for those, I am going to try bacon this time but might leave sausages until next time as I am planning to put a mincer/sausage stuffer on our wedding list this summer!
The butcher we are using this time will make sausages for 80p a pound but doesn't do bacon. I'm gong to ask for the casings though, am I right in thinking I can freeze them?
I was reading some bacon recipes that were talking about re salting the bacon daily and draining off the liquid, but the leaving it in the fridge sounds much better.
I was also reading about saltpetre and how it can be dangerous (not just in bombs Mr Ree!) as it can be toxic and potentially carcinogenic. The site said that most butchers now use an alternative but didn't say what it was! I will post it if I find out.
I suppose that you can find a website claiming health risks with almost any substance though...
)
There seems to be a lot of contradiction, one person seemed to be saying that you could use the stuff you get from garden centres instead of foodgrade saltpetre! Don't think I will be trying that.
Thanks for the link rustyme, that looks like the kind of job Will would love, he's just a big scout at heart!
I rang the butcher and gave him my wish list for cuts etc, I gave him a list based on yours Hilarysmum, he seemed to think I was a bit mad though. I am just hoping that there will be enough room in the freezer for all the piggy bits.
Just tagging to be done this weekend and they are off at 7 on Monday night.
Had an inspection from trading standards yesterday, apparently we have excellent animal welfare and very good paperwork!