IT ALL started when pudding queen Lynne Mallinson from Penrith tweeted news of National Pudding Day last week.

“No pudding is complete without its beloved custard,” reckoned Lynne, who wanted to know what favourite accompaniments her many followers (@pudslyn) had for the yellow stuff.

I suggested my mum’s divine apple pie adding that, while I wasn’t a big fan of bananas, I was rather partial to sliced bananas and custard.

@Pudslyn then recommended poshing my bananas and custard up with a pastry case, whipped cream and chocolate shavings.

Now there’s an instant, impressive dessert if ever there was one. Thanks Lynne!

If you’ve got any suggestions for easy desserts then drop me a line at Gillian@scrummypr.com Meanwhile, more great news for those of you with a sweet tooth or two, is the invitation to ‘eat cake’ and help protect the Lake District landscape.

The Friends of the Lake District’s ‘Cakes for the Lakes’ campaign will be launched by Cumbrian food champion Annette Gibbons at Kendal United Reformed Church on Saturday morning.

The idea is to get people baking cakes created in the county and then hold a fund-raising tea party.

Recipes have been donated and created by expert pastry chefs and cake-makers, teashops and bakeries from across the county, including the likes of Ginger Bakers and the Waterside Cafe in Kendal, as well as More? Artisan Bakery at Staveley and Natland and Oxenholme WI.

All are welcome to attend Saturday’s free event. For more information call 01539-720788 or visit www.fld.org.uk/cakes-for-the-lakes.html I reckon a contender for the Friends of the Lake Distrtict campaign would be Hazelmere Cafe & Bakery’s superb Christmas stollen (£1.65 per slice) with sultanas, raisins, cherries, rum and marzipan. Or what about Hazelmere’s rum truffles (£1 each) which are topped with white icing (to look like a little Christmas pudding), or Christmas chocolate snowballs (£1.05 each) with coconut and marshmallow?

And now for this week’s savoury selection...

With Christmas well on the way, Low Sizergh Barn farm shop recommended delicious Salar hot smoked honey and thyme salmon (£4.99/125g); while Greenodd butcher Peter Hutchinson suggested boned and rolled sirloin of beef (£18 per kilo) as an impressive festive dinner alternative.

Kendal butchers Watson & Woollard advised customers that they are now taking orders for Christmas, while Cherith Plat from Baba Ganoush came up with the ideal Christmas pressie for the foodie in your life – a gift voucher for the deli (any denomination), which can also be used for the nearby Baba Ganoush Canteen.

Watson & Woollard also recommended oxtail for this week’s Checkout (brilliant value at only £4.95 per kilo), while Baba Ganoush suggested Blengdale Blue (£2.60 per 100g), Cumbria’s answer to dolcelatte.

Try putting them together in this dish I made the other night – cook oxtail, tinned tomatoes, diced carrot and swede in a slow cooker and serve with a seasonal green vegetable and a big dollop of polenta flavoured with your favourite creamy blue cheese.

Finally, Grange-over-Sands butcher Stuart Higginson’s hot tip for a good-for-your-heart winter casserole was diced stewing venison (£4.49 per 500g). If you are not too sure how to get the best out of this amazing low cholesterol meat, then have a chat with Stuart who has a tasty supply of special venison recipe cards.