Hello All

The fields have definitely greened over with a bit of spring rain!

HEALTHY EASTER EGG
Thank you to all those who have partcipated in our "Adopt a Hen" scheme. The cost of the adoption is £5, in return you will receive the following:
A certificate of ownership for 12 months
With prior arrangement collect and take home half a dozen eggs on two separate visits
Visit your hen anytime you visit the shop, to feed and cuddle her - my mum puts her "primary school teacher" hat on, and really involves the children in how the hens are cared for.

SEASONAL PRODUCE
I am pleased to inform you that some of the prices will now start to fall- thank goodness...... Drinkwaters at Ebrington have said the price of both cauliflowers and purple sprouting should fall next week - However calabrease is being imported at this time year and is likely to remain high.

David was so embarrassed at the prices we are having to charge on some of the products he popped into Morrisons to compare....They were more exspensive on quite a few items on a kg for kg basis, but they are packaged very cleverly in £1 bags.....

FRESH MEAT AVAILABLE THIS WEEKEND - Ring the shop on 01386 870296 if you would like anything putting aside. Orders already placed have been accounted for.

ELLENDEN HOME PRODUCED BEEF
STEAK
Fillet
Sirloin
Rump
Rib Eye Steak

JOINTS
Sirloin
Fore Rib on the Bone
Top Side
Silverside
Roasting joints
Brisket

CASSEROLE BEEF
Braising Steak
Stewing Steak
Shin
Mince

ELLENDEN HOME PRODUCED PURE BRED RYELAND LAMB - FROZEN

LOIN
Rack of lamb
Loin Chops

LEG
WHole Leg of lamb on the bone
Leg Steaks

Boned & Rolled breast of Lamb

LONG COMPTON PORK

LOIN
Chops
Boned & Rolled

LEG
Boned & Rolled

SHOULDER
Boned & Rolled
Diced

FREE RANGE CHICKEN
Whole
Fillet
Thighs on the Bone
Legs on the Bone

FROZEN GAME
Wood Pigeon Fillets
Venison Steaks
Diced Vension
Oven Ready Partridge
Oven Ready Mallard
Venison & Cranberry Sausages
Vension & Black Pepper Sausages
Wild Boar & Apricot Sausages

RECIPE OF THE WEEK
This is very simple and was given to me by a child - it gave me some inspiration for my children when I need a quick idea for dinner after school!

INGREDIENTS
4 chicken breasts cut into chunks
Pinch of mixed herbs
Onion
20g butter
175g mushrooms sliced
1-2 400g can of chopped tomatoes
1/2 tsp dried Oregano
Grated Cheese

METHOD
Season the chicken and sprinkle with the mixed herbs and place in an ovenproof dish
Saute the onion in the butter until soft.
Add mushroom and saute for 2-3minutes.
Add chopped tomatoes and Oregano and simmer for 12-15 mins.
Pour sauce over chicken.
Top with grated cheese
Bake in a pre-heated oven 180 C / 350 F / Gas Mark 4 for 30-35 minutes.

FARMING NEWS
If you can't see the hens from the road side, they have now moved further down the field towards the Raspberry canes - I am presuming David thinks the ground needs some fertilizing!!

We don't seem to have any lambs to bottle feed this year.......The lambs we were bottle feeding have been used to help ewes who have lost their own lambs. We did have a set of triplets born yesterday, but the ewe seems tobe feeding all three at the moment.

OPEN FARM SUNDAY - JUNE 13TH
I know this is a long way off, but if you have any ideas of what you would like to see, do etc on the day, any ideas will be gratefully received?????

Kind regards
Sara

Hello All

Glorious start to the week..........

CHRISTMAS FEEDBACK
I am well aware this is long over due.......However we had a meeting today, and one of the agenda items was "lessons learned" We would really appreciate your help in this area, to discuss ways you think we can improve. We came up with the following ideas:

1. On the 21st, 22nd and 23rd of December have LATE NIGHT shopping evenings. On these days we will stay open until 10pm which will give customers the opportunity to come and pay for their turkey, beef etc, but will still have the option of leaving collection until Christmas Eve. On Christmas Eve rarther than having to queue to pay and collect, you can simply just collect?

2. With late night opening you would also have the oppportunity to come and do your vegetable shopping when it is quiet and less crowded, however the same applies, we can keep in cold storage for you until it is convenient for you to collect?

3. Simpler Order forms - Cathy is working on this one for me, especially the fruit and vegetable form

PLEASE LET ME HAVE ANY IDEAS YOU MAY HAVE..........

MOTHERS DAY 14th March - GIFT IDEAS.

We will have bunches of Alstro and Baskets of Primroses available.

JAMIE AT HOME
If you are looking for something a bit different we have got the following "Jamie at Home" products in the shop which would make lovely gifts.

Tiny, Small, Large and Spaghetti Kilner jars
American Oak Meat Carving Board
American Oak Tablet Chopping Board
Carving Set

HAMPERS
We can make hampers up to your own specification with:
Ellenden Apple Juice
Jams,
Chutney,
fruit
Biscuits etc.

Simply tell us a price you would like to spend and we will do the rest. Alternatively you can select the products you would like in the hamper and we will do the finishing touches for you.

If within a 5 mile radius of the shop we can deliver any of the above gifts on the day

NEW PRODUCTS
GOOSE FAT
We have Judy Goodman's Goose Fat in stock again, having sold out over the Christmas period.

ELLENDEN BEEF SAUSAGES
We have a few packets available from the freezer this week.

CHOCOLATE SPONGE PUDDINGS
This Frozen Field Fayre product seems to have really taken off, it is so easy and really tasty. You simply place in the microwave, heat for 1 min and serve. The end product is a warm chocolate sponge pudding coveredwith hot chocolate sauce......Yum!

FRESH MEAT AVAILABLE THIS WEEKEND - please reply to this email or ring the shop on 01386 870296 if you would like anything putting aside. Orders already placed have been accounted for. Please remember when replying to an email, If you use the "reply to sender" tab the email will NOT get distributed to everyone on the email list.

ELLENDEN HOME PRODUCED BEEF STEAK
Fillet - minimal availability a lot has been ordered.
Sirloin
Rump
Rib Eye Steak

JOINTS
Sirloin - frozen
Fore Rib on the Bone
Top Side
Silverside
Roasting joints
Brisket

CASSEROLE BEEF
Braising Steak
Stewing Steak
Shin
Mince

ELLENDEN HOME PRODUCED PURE BRED RYELAND LAMB
LOIN
Rack of lamb
Loin Chops

LEG
Leg of lamb on the bone
Leg Steaks

SHOULDER
Shoulder on the bone

Neck of Lamb

LONG COMPTON PORK
LOIN
Chops

LEG
Boned & Rolled

SHOULDER
Boned & Rolled
Diced

FREE RANGE CHICKEN
Whole
Fillet
Thighs on the Bone - we have ordered extra this week, in response toselling out very quickly over the last two weeks.
Legs on the Bone

FROZEN GAME
Diced Venison
Wood Pigeon Fillets
Vension Steaks
Oven Ready Partridge
Oven Ready Mallard
Venison & Cranberry Sausages
Vension & Black Pepper Sausages

RECIPE OF THE WEEK - Thank you Linda
Coq Au Vin
Preparation time: 15 mins
Cooking time: 45 mins
Serves 2

INGREDIENTS
4 Chicken Thighs
1 tsp plain flour
8 small shallots, peeled
75g mushrooms
2 garlic cloves, peeled and chopped
2 rashers back bacon cut into large strips
1 tsp thyme
1 bay leaf
150 ml (1/4 pt) red wine
150 ml (1/4 pt) chicken stock

Dip the chicken thighs in the flour and place in a small saucepan or casserole dish that can be used over direct heat. Add all the other ingredients. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Bring the chicken to a boil, reduce the heat, cover and simmer for approx 50 mins or until the chicken is cooked. It should come away from the bone easily with a knife. Linda has added she thickens the sauce with corn flour if a bit thin.

FUND RAISING EVENT - JANE'S DINNER PARTY

I would like to share with everyone a fantastic fund raising idea I was lucky enought to be part of last weekend. Sue, a member of the NCT is running the London Marathon in April. In addition to a vigorous training regime she also needs to raise sponsorship money. Jane, a customer and friend decided she would host a dinner party with a difference.......In order to raise money she charged everyone a fee for attending, this included a three course meal, numerous bottles of wine and fabulous companyof 13 other ladies...... She purchased a large quantity of Shin Beef for the main course, of which we reduced the price to help raise the funds. Itwas a great evening and raised nearly £400, I am hoping she will share the recipe for all next week!

Have a good week

Kind regards

Sara