A Mum and Daughter Afternoon

We are finally reaching that time of the year where our busy changeover Saturdays are slowing down. This week I was able to take advantage of a couple of hours in the sunshine with Clio between checking our freshly cleaned properties and welcoming in our newly arriving guests. Heading out onto the farm with a stale loaf of bread we were warmly welcomed by all the animals.

Wondering back up the garden path we decided on a quick check of our over grown and somewhat abandoned green house. Despite a huge burst of enthusiasm when we planted it back in the spring, we have been very remiss with our subsequent tending and I really didn't hold out much hope of discovering anything edible between the weeds. Clio's squeal of delighted when she as she foraged through the greenhouse told me I might just be wrong. Indeed so wrong I had to back track to the house to find a container for our haul! Tomatoes, cucumber and perfect little red chillies were just perfect for picking and the herbs were all thriving too!

Encouraged by our findings here we checked the vegetable crop we thought we lost round the back of the green house, the sweetcorn and carrots were nowhere to be seen but beetroot must be more hardy and had survived just fine.

Back in the house we added the splitting tomatoes and red chillies to the chilli I had left simmering for supper and used the rest to make a salad together. Boiling the beetroot we made a simple beetroot salad too. By the time Nick and the boys returned with the grocery shopping Clio and I were able to pronounce supper already well in hand and just 3 properties left to check in. 

Joining In with Country Kids

How have you enjoyed the outdoors with the children? Fresh air is good for us all, wrap up and enjoy, then pop back and share your fun here on the linky. Do take a little time to see what others have been up to; there are some lovely ideas each week.

<a href="http://www.coombemill.com/blog/post/2012/10/13/country-kids-from-coombe-mill.aspx" target="_blank" title="Country Kids from Coombe Mill Farm Holidays Cornwall"><img src="http://www.coombemill.com/images//blog/country_Kids/thumbs/th_Country_Kids_badge_transparent.png" border="0" alt="Country Kids from Coombe Mill Family Farm Holidays Cornwall" title="Country Kids from Coombe Mill Family Farm Holidays Cornwall" /></a>

Thinking Spring!

At this time of year on the farm we are planning ahead to next year, all those cute spring babies need careful planning and Farmer Nick has a meticulously planned timetable for all the animals. Our sheep are Jacobs, known for their lovely black and white colouring and horns. We have found them to be pretty, gentle and to give us just the cutest lambs. We aim for lambs from March through April, this involves finding a suitable Ram and letting him loose on our ewes a couple at a time from now to the end of November. 

Enter Rambo

Rambo comes from a lovely Farm up at Rough Tor on Bodmin Moor. We have a
different Ram each year to avoid inbreeding. This year we have a real handsome devil, entirely fitting of his name Rambo! He has been delivered to the field next to the ewes and eagerly eyeing them up for the past couple of days.

One Man and His Dog

We don't have a farm dog, but never mind, we have the wonderful trio that is Farmer Nick, Farmer Ted and Me! I know it is not going to be easy when I am roped in to assist, and they know I will have the camera in one hand! But I figured trying to capture these lovely ewes and separate one off for our eager Rambo would be entertaining so I gamely joined the team.

After 2 laps of the field I see why farmers with hundreds of sheep need a dog, even our dozen really gave us the run a round. Finally we cornered them and coaxed them in the direction of the carrel, before separating the lucky lady to meet her boyfriend!

A Match Made in Heaven! 

I couldn't resist a little comic strip from my photos of the afternoon fun: 

Well it tickled me making it anyway! Now here's to hoping for some beautiful lambs from late February onwards, if you are booked to stay there should be cuddles all round and the treat of bottle feeding any orphans from the group.

A Classic with Blackberries

It is that time of the year when we have been raiding the farm for blackberries. We have made Ice cream, Bread and Butter Pudding and blackberry buns and now it is time for a classic crumble with the last pickings from the bushes. As always there is a little twist since I can never follow a recipe! 

Healthy and Speedy

I enjoy good wholesome food, am not prepared to slave for hours and want my children to have a healthy diet. This crumble ticks all the boxes for me as I can make it in literally minutes, excluding the blackberry picking. I use wholemeal flour and add oats to boost the fibre content and give more texture to the crumble with no loss to flavour and the vitamins are plentiful from the fruit. The drop of alcohol does nothing for the health benefits but is great to jazz it up a notch for a dinner party.

Ingredients

For the Crumble

150g Wholemeal Self raising flour

50g Porridge oats

125g granulated sugar

75g oz butter

Teaspoon of cinnamon (optional)

Fruit

410g tin of sliced peaches in light syrup. 

3 pears (not too soft)

1 small cup of blackberries

2 tablespoons of Kirsch or Cassis (Optional)

Method

Place sliced peaches with the syrup in an oven proof dish

Slice the pear, leaving the skin on but removing the core and add to the dish

Scatter blackberries over the top

Add Kirsch / Cassis.

Place all the crumble ingredients in a food mixer and whiz to a fine breadcrumb consistency. 

Pour the crumble mix over the fruit and level out with fingers or a fork but without pressing down as this will make the crumble dense instead of light and airy.

Place in an oven at 180 degrees for about 30 minutes till golden and bubbling. Don't worry if the juices spill over at the edges, this creates a sticky caramel taste with the crumble top which is delicious. 

To Serve

 Serve warm with fresh cream or blackberry ice cream and enjoy!

To Freeze

Crumble is easy to freeze and can be heated from frozen in the oven or microwave making it perfect for my Coombe Cuisine reception shop range to tempt our holiday makers. Do look out for them in the freezer if you come to stay.

I would love to hear of any other good ideas with blackberries, as I have a freezer full! If you have a post please include a link in the comments here to I can take a peep.

Photo of the week from the Farm

Far away from the farm

We have been in Lanzarote all week with our younger four children while the older ones, together with Farmer Ted, have looked after the farm and our holiday guests for us. Arriving home to green and drizzle last night I couldn't have been happier, I just wanted to take endless photos of the farm today it looks so beautiful after the sun scorched rock of Lanzarote. Having said that we had a wonderful time together and as we were on an all inclusive safe resort, the kids had the freedom they are so accustomed to here on the farm, just totally different activities, which was perfect. It was of course an outdoor based holiday and here are a few of our highlights for Country Kids.

Round the Pool:

Guy gets his imagination running with pool side inflatables:

We discovered an outdoor Gym along the sea front which even Farmer Nick had to try!

 On the beach with some beach burying, family volleyball and splashing in the sea, no need for wet suits here!

Down at the local market I found my self acting as a model for a wrap dress that Nick claimed looked like a dish cloth which was enough to ensure I didn't buy one! We were all captivated by the amazing human statues along the way and Nick had serious boat envy!

 A captivated audience with my kids:

Without doubt the highlight of the holiday was our boat trip, inspired by Nick's yearning from watching them all moored up! A lovely looking million pound plus boat was offering 2 hour trips with snorkelling and fishing. We booked up and sailed off with two delightful members of crew and turned out to have the boat all to ourselves. A wonderful way to spend an afternoon, thankfully not one we can afford to indulge in very often as did discover I lack good sea legs and was glad of a pool day to regain my equilibrium before the long journey back to Cornwall.  

There is plenty to catch up on here on the farm and I am refreshed and ready to go. Holidays are definitely great for ensuring time out from work and time spent with the family. 

Joining In

OK so not everyone has been on holiday this past week, but Country Kids is perfect for ensuring a little family time and enjoying the wonders of the outdoors. Remember there is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing! Please grab the badge and share your adventures with me here, then be inspired by others too.

<a href="http://www.coombemill.com/blog/post/2012/10/13/country-kids-from-coombe-mill.aspx" target="_blank" title="Country Kids from Coombe Mill Farm Holidays Cornwall"><img src="http://www.coombemill.com/images//blog/country_Kids/thumbs/th_Country_Kids_badge_transparent.png" border="0" alt="Country Kids from Coombe Mill Family Farm Holidays Cornwall" title="Country Kids from Coombe Mill Family Farm Holidays Cornwall" /></a>