We are keeping it local!
Great piece on Harrop Fold and our ‘buy local’ policies…fantastic photo of Lovely Leah and our brood of hens.
Latest blog relating to our keeping it local pdf. Please click here to download the “Keeping It Local” PDF
Decided that since the hens are laying really well at the moment today we would treat ourselves to Lemon Meringue Cupcakes…take a basic victoria sponge recipe and add some lemon zest and juice, bake in a muffin tin with cases, when baked make a hollow in the tops and fill with home made lemon curd and then pipe the top with meringue – pop into the oven to set the meringue – yum, yum
Just going to walk Emmie round the valley to burn off some calories!
Sue x
Up, up and landed!
Having taken Emmie our Springer Spaniel on her walk I found a balloon in the bottom meadow from Molly. Having made contact with Molly we were interested to discover this balloon was released in Tyne & Wear on Sunday and has travelled the 155 or so miles across the Pennines and landed here. Shame there was not a camera attached!
This morning I have made the most delicious butternut squash soup, I roasted the squash in the Aga with fresh sage leaves in the cavity and drizzled with Wharfe Valley rapeseed oil, left it for an hour or so and scooped out the flesh and added it to a softened onion. Grated in some fresh ginger and then topped with stock and S&P. Blitzed it and served with Leah’s homemade cheese scones – DELICIOUS!
We have visitors arriving and as Leah has Cupcakes Galore running today I am going to nip into her Pantry and pinch some cakes.
Catch up shortly,
Sue x
Macaroons and Coffee & Walnut Cake
Leah decided to test us out with some new recipes and we have the most splendid Coffee & Walnut cake on the stand along with some simply yummy gluten-free Macaroons. All the guests seem to be enjoying immensely…but so am I! Perhaps it is time to walk the loop of the valley to work off those cals…and to admire the countryside in this glorious sunny albeit chilly weather.
Great comment posted online from an American Guest: When I stayed on a farm in Rainow, England (near the Peak District), I was advised to stand still near the pen with all the bulls in it. One had been hand-raised and was inquisitive. I stood still and let them feed normally, and they gradually worked their way around to where I was standing. The one that was hand-raised let me stroke its head and neck, and it was a wonderful experience. – Andy P, Brooklyn, NY
The smell in the kitchen is divine, David is making the new batch of Seville Orange marmalade, we have spent a good deal of time juicing, chopping and slicing – hope tomorrow’s guests enjoy.
Catch up shortly, Sue x
Hot off the press…
Our delightful guest midweek was in fact our Quality in Tourism assessor and I am thrilled that Harrop Fold Farm has retained its 5 Star Status along with a Gold Award AND a Breakfast Award! Our assessor commented:
Highlights
The outstanding hospitality, superb quality of food and attention to detail offered by Mrs Stevenson is commendable.
So I am now really looking forward to our new year of guests arriving, having had a little January lull we busy up now so today I’m madly baking! But talking about baking, the week started very well for Leah has she was in the ‘Best 6 Baking Courses’ in the Country according the Daily Mail (Saturday 21st January) well I know how good Leah’s courses are as I took part in the Cornucopia of Canapes recently but how fantastic to receive this public accolade…Well done Leah, love from Mum xx
Must dash as my warning bell has tinkled…first batch of shortbread piggies are ready.
Catch up soon,
Sue x
Special Offers and More
We all love an ‘offer’ and lots of us love ‘packages’…so here we go, a suggestion of packages for your visit to Harrop Fold Farm…why not spoil yourself before Christmas, after Christmas and to celebrate Robbie Burn’s Night with a special themed break…and a few treats too! To view all of our latest special offers please visit our brand new Special Offers section of the website here.
The kitchen is filled with the delicious smell of mincemeat I just love this time of year but I don’t think the Christmas preparations have ever been carried out before with the leaves still on the trees and the lovely golden colour of Autumn. The cows are all happy outside too and have not started their mooing to be let into their winter barn.
Eldest Son has now let out the 2 peacocks and 1 peahen who have settled into the farm they are named, Brenda, Alan and John. They are roosting in the rafters over the pig pen and I hope they will soon discover the courtyard to delight our visitors.
Speak soon, Sue x
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