My Blog

UPDATE

05/09/2012 19:11:00

Well what a year so far!!! We have been awarded the winner of The Mr George Award& Highly Commended for the 3rd year running in the Tastes of LincolnshireAwards. Our Lincolnshire Scrumpy Marmalade was then Commended in the DalemainWorld Marmalade Awards! We have done a lot of individual product development sofar this year including Goatwood Dairy to produce an Red Onion Marmalade forthem with Crepe Lucette to produce their own signature Plum & OnionMarmalade to go into their gorgeous crepes and with Keal Cotes Farm Shop toproduce a condiment to go into their homemade Roast Pork Rolls. We have alsoincreased the outlets our products are available in (see overleaf). We havealso updated our range with over 20 new lines such as Cherry & ChocolateJam, Pomelo & Lemon Marmalade, Chillililli, Damson & Blackcurrant Jam,Tomato & Basil Mustard & lots more.

Thecourses have been a little slow which is a victim of the financial times we arein, however I am working on a plan for a free experience day where people canbook to come along & work alongside me for a few hours making product togain a few basic skills ( not as much as on a course though). Our ethos is thatpeople should try preserving for themselves. This would help to get a basicstart - watch this space!

On thedown side the Farmers markets have been exceptionally poor. Unfortunately it is a catch 22 that people need to use & visit these resources or else theywill be lost & closed. Exactly the same as everyone all the producers havethe financial burdens of running homes & businesses therefore we have to goto where an income is. The benefit for the customers are local produce, freshmade in small quantities, invaluable interaction with the people involved inthe process and a superior quality product that in the long run gives far bettervalue for money at the side of mass production product. A push of friends,colleagues & relatives to visit the markets would be appreciated though -thank you!!!

We nowtake card payments whenever you see Elaine on a stall. In addition a newimproved website is being built. This will give an easy online order process(the existing one is very laborious) as well as lots more interactiveinformation. We are also on Facebook - please LIKE us for regular updates onnew products & events

Look out for a new member of the team on the stalls! Donnahas been helping me with labelling & topping pots for a while however sheis now doing some events as well as covering for me on Farmers Markets when weare on holiday. Say hello!

Ourgoods are now available at: Van Hage Peterborough, Minting Park FarmGautby, Silverwood Tea Rooms Long Sutton, Stamford Cheese Cellar Stamford, Hall Farm Park South Kelsey,Grimsthorpe Castle, The Thorold Arms Marston, Grange Farm Shop Hogsthorpe, inFields of Lincolnshire fruit boxdelivery service, Number 10 Store Little Bytham, Keal Cotes Farm Shop & onModens Plum Bread Stalls. We also attend all Lincoln, Brigg, Barton Upon Humber& Caistor Farmers Markets.

November News

11/03/2011 19:53:00

Well it has been a while since the last entry. As you will see from a previous posting we have had a few more pressing issues unfortunatly, however we are back on the road to relative normality! Thank you to all for your help & support it is much appreciated.

Ok so what has been happening in the world of preserves! Autumn gave a bumper crops of some goods & very small crops of others. Definately a season of opposites this year. Blackberries have been in very short supply with the last of the blackberries already gone from the freezer. We also completely missed the Sloe crop which was very annoying to say the least. Apples however are another story with a daily shower when putting out the washing from the fruit falling from top branches that too high to be reached! We have about 700lb laid down for storage to be used in jam & chutney and another 250lb of crab apples frozen to last me the year.

I have cut out a few of the slower lines so that I can play at development in the New Year (New Year / Christmas when did that creep up!) so keep a look out for new lines in January/February. The Christmas orders are coming in thick & fast. Don;t forget you can order on line & collect from the stall to ensure the products you want are available for you. Iknow the ordering system is a pain I am sorry but hopefully pennies will be available next year to oay someone to improve this for me!

We have taken on Brigg & Barton Farmers Markets. Andy will be doing Barton as I am in Gainsborough however we will share Brigg. There are loads of events coming up in the next few weeks accross the county so look at the tab for more details.

We are now available at Julies Bakery in March, Cambs.

We now have a new member of the team. Donna has been helping me for a while doing labelling & topping off jars, however she will also be doing some of the small events locally to Spalding. You may also see at large events with me over the next few weeks, so say hello!!!

The courses are proving very popular as they are set to be FUN! the Good Taste write up was excellent. In 2012 we will run courses in Spalding, Manor House Stables Martiin & Gunby Hall. Some are themed & some general. You get lunch, tea/coffee & all maaterials. Plus you get to take all your product made during the day home. There is a minimum & maximum number on each course so book early to avoid disappointment. See tab for details.

Well I sope to see lots of you at the events in the next few weeks & be sure to say hello!

Best regards
Lainey

Apology

10/15/2011 11:40:00

I just want to write a few words of apology & explain why a few events have been cancelled over the past few days. We have been away on holiday however I have returned with a mild case of shingles & dehydration. However in addition my father has been taken seriously ill. I am sure you will understand that as much as I am exceedingly grateful for each of my customers and I certainly detest letting anyone down my family is a priority at present. Andy is doing as many of the markets as possible & where I can I will do them as well. I thank you sincerely for your support & understanding.

Once again apologies.

Elaine

Monthly News

08/23/2011 07:44:00

Well the crops have been abundant this year. We have a freezer full from our tress of apricots, plums, pears & apples. The herbs have gone mad and are all frozen for later use as well. Another few weeks and the apple tree will be able to lift it's branches again as we will have 100's of pounds from them - never seen them so loaded as this year. The season is turning slowly with the wheat field behind us cut & ready for the next sowing, but at least we can see the rabbits & pheasants again - not just heads bobbing about!

I have cut some of the slower selling lines from the range going forward, however this just means I can create some new ones like the Pear & Vanilla Chutney requested by Stamford Cheese Cellar!! The courses are providing a source of inspiration as well.

The farmers markets have been slow this year so far, however positive signs on the food festivals & fairs. Not long now until we don the victorian clothes again for the Louth Victorian Market!

Modens Plum Bread & Saints & Sinners are doing gift bags for Christmas as well as the gift bags I normally produce anyway. These can have a choice of your favourite preserves in rather than the pre made offerings you can normally buy from shops.

We are taking a couple of weeks break in September so a mad rush to get the stock levels up!

Have a good bank holiday & hope to see you soon.

Elaine

Award

08/12/2011 10:53:00

We have been awarded Food Business of the Year in the South Holland Business Awards.

Heckington Show

07/30/2011 19:53:00

Whoop whoop!!! Awarded Best Specialist Food Stall at Heckington Show today!!! Awesome days with loads ofpeople about...roll on tomorrow!

The New Range

07/28/2011 10:48:00

Preserves - The Inspired By...... Range

One wonderful result of running courses is that peoples imaginations come alive & fantastic flavours are created. Rather than extend the normal range of preserves we create a new line is being developed to celebrate the creativity of the course attendees.

From each course as a group we will pick the best created flavour from each attendee and this will be featured in a limited edition for one month only. Each 200g jar has a limited run of 20 jars & sells for £2.50 with 25p going to Macmillan Cancer Support Charity.

From August 1st to 31st we will have available:

Heathers' Raspberry, Madeira & Star Anise
Wendys' Blackcurrant & Lemon Balm
Emmas' Apricot & Lavender
Lauras' Plum & Walnut
Halas' Raspberry, Almond & Amaretto

The Macmillan donation is in memory of my husbands best friend Adrian Day who passed away this month.

July News

07/25/2011 11:16:00

Well what fun preserving on crutches!!! Yes Mrs Accident Prone has done it again & the result is a torn Achilles Tendon. Never mind the great British spirit of get on with it has kicked, well hobbled, in!!! Thank you to everyone that has helped out both here & on the stall - much appreciated.

The jam courses start on Wednesday at Martin. We then have 4th September for jam making, 16th October for Apple preserving & 2nd November for Christmas preserves. Visit www.manorhousestables.co.uk for more details. As a result of these courses I am looking to run courses in Spalding as well. The provisional dates are 17th August, 7th Spetember, 26th October & 23rd November. These courses are for beginners & are about having fun learning to preserve & mixing flavours. Email me for more details or to register an interest.

Fruit wise everything in the garden is blooming! Plums are nearly ready to pick, in fact we have picked our first Damsons. The apricot trees look as though they are about to split in two with fruit (our neighbour Bill will be happy as he loves apricots & picks the ones hanging over his side :)), the pear trees are filling although the fruit is still quite small & the apple trees are swelling rapidly.

We have started supplying The Thorold Arms in Marston near Grantham. This was originally the first shop to be set up in a pub & now has been fully refurbished & re-opened.

Events coming up include Heckington Show this weekend, then Revesby Show & Belton Food Fayre, Spalding Food Festival & Newark Food Festival. All the dates are on the Where to Find us - Events tab.

Have a great summer everyone & hope to see you at an event soon.

Elaine

July News

07/02/2011 12:36:00

Well summer is finally here & the wheat field outside my kitchen window is slowly changing to a yellow green. No doubt it won't be long until we can see the pheasants again once the harvest has taken place! One result of the weather conditions this spring, late frost & lack of water, is that some summer fruits are extremely short in supply. Rhubarb dried out 6 weeks early & gooseberries are like gold dust. I normally freeze approx 120lb gooseberries & 200lb rhubarb to see me through he winter months, & I have 3lb of rhubarb & 50lb of gooseberries. Plums look as though they maybe hit as well with many of the fruits that survived the late frost falling from lack of water. It is one of the facts of seasonal based businesses that these things happen & a challenge to explain to our customer bases. It does give customers a chance though to try new flavours they may not have tried before if their favourites have disappeared for the season!

I have been experimenting with Blackcurrant & Liquorice Jam. Inspired by the childhood sweet flavour I expected a deep sweet sticky flavour of liquorice to come through. However the liquorice gives a fresh almost mint type flavour to the jam. It is now on sale on the stall.

In conjunction with Manor House Stables at Martin nr Lincoln we are running courses over the next few months. July & September there are jam making courses, October celebrates the good old English Apple with a day of apple preserving & November is a day of Christmas Preserves & Gift Making ideas. Click on the courses tab for more details.

Fenberry Fruit at Bicker, who supply all our berries & currants, have planted 2 new exciting crops that will come to life over the next couple of years. The first is Jostaberries which is a cross between blackcurrants & gooseberries & the second is Honeyberries which is an edible honeysuckle native to America.

Woodlands Organic Farm at Kirton, with whom we work closely for a lot of our produce, has an open day on 24th July. Why not pop along for a day packed fun on fun, animals & activities for all the family. See www.woodlandsfarm.co.uk for more details.

May News

05/22/2011 14:53:00

So much going on!!!!

We have just been on holiday to Symi, Greece for a few weeks. Food was as wonderful as ever with new discoveries including Mastic Ice Cream, an amazing pine flavoured experience! A friend there had opened a new restaraunt, Pantelis, so it had to be fully supported of course! There is as a plan next year to teach one of hosts there how to make marmalade...... the wonderful Maria & me in a kitchen will certainly be an experience!!!

Back here the wonderful English season is erupting but in desperate need of rain!! Strawberries are sweet, gooseberries will be following in the next few weeks & we will pick the first of the horseradish from the local Droves next weekend. With a full growing season ahead if you have a excess of product we will willingly pass on recipes and also buy any excess that you cannot utilise.

We are also happy to announce that in conjunction with Tastes of Lincolnshire award winning members Manor House Stables, Martin we will be conducting preserving courses during 2011. The idea is a small group will have fun learning how to use product. The first course, Jams & other Delicious Delights, is on Wednesday 27th July. 10am to 5pm. On this one day course you will start with the basics of jam making and be taken right through to learning how to use your creativity in mixing flavours and textures can result in unusual (but delicious!) combinations. If you have your own home-grown fruit, then please bring it along and you will be provided with recipes and ideas to use on the day as well as taking home with you. Otherwise, we can supply the fruit.There will also be hints and tips as well as ideas for dressing the finished product. £45. Maximum 6. Materials, a jam--themed lunch and refreshments included. To book your place visit www.manorhousestables.co.uk/courses-and-workshops.html