Today is World Book Day – the biggest annual celebration of books and reading in the UK and Ireland. And we’re all for it. It makes us dream of retiring to the garden on a hot summer’s day with a cool glass of our fabulous new Blackcurrant & Cox Apple Cordial and a good book.

Good books make you laugh. They make you cry. They make you think. Some even inspire you to do great things.

You never forget a good book.

So we asked some people around the office and our Twitter followers to tell us about the books that they’ll never forget. Perhaps you’ll agree with some of their suggestions. Or if you’re in the hunt for a new novel (for you or your children), maybe you’ll find some inspiration below.

The lovely Barbara (sales admin and event organisation) tells us her favourite book is Black Beauty. Written in 1877 by English novelist Anna Sewell, this children’s classic has sold over 50 million copies around the world, making it one of best-selling books of all time. (And we still love the theme tune to the TV series.)

Kim tweeted us to say River’s End by Nora Roberts is well worth a read. It’s a New York Times bestseller, so it would seem many people agree with her choice.

Becky (marketing manager) is a keen equestrienne and cites The Man Who Listens To Horses as her fave. This is the autobiography of the original ‘Horse Whisperer’, Monty Roberts.

Chris tweeted to recommend Modern Ranch Living by Mark Poirier. He tells us it’s “a blissful read, with a fabulous front cover to boot”. Can’t argue with that.

Pev (top brass) recalls King Solomon’s Mines as being a childhood favourite. Written by H. Rider Haggard and first published in 1885, it is the first English novel to be set in Africa and considered by some to be the book that started the Lost World genre.

Got a favourite book to tell us about? Simply pop it in the comments.

Then find the sunniest room in the house, sit back with a glass of our new Blackcurrant & Cox Apple Cordial, and dive into a novel for as long as you can afford. Happy reading.

With over 1/2 lb of ripe English blackcurrants juice and the juice of 3 Cox apples in each bottle, Belvoir’s Blackcurrant & Cox Apple Cordial has an intensely rich fruity taste and is made with 100% natural ingredients. Delicious simply mixed with sparkling water, but also perfect in a kir with white wine.

Find it in your local farm shop, delicatessen or buy it from our online store.

We love Christmas, but we know many people have become jaded by the seemingly endless Christmas shopping. If you lost your festive cheer during a depressing dash around the department store, we intend to bring it back. So with only a fortnight to go until the big day, we’ve compiled a list of 14 brilliant things to make this Christmas.

1. Mince Pies

No Christmas is complete without a tasty mince pie on Christmas Eve. And rather than buy a box from your local supermarket, why not get busy in the kitchen with this unbelievably easy mince pie recipe from The Beeb. Just remember to leave one spare for Father Christmas.

2. The Belvoir Christmas Corker

Bursting at the seams with flavour, this fruity twist on the traditional glass of champagne is a treat for all. This corker of a cocktail will help waken your senses and definitely boost your Christmas spirit.

10ml Belvoir’s Elderflower Cordial
4 Fresh raspberries
35ml Gin
25ml Lychee juice
5ml Lemon juice
Top with Champagne

Crush the raspberries in a shaker and add all other ingredients. Shake and strain into a high-ball glass and top with Champagne. Garnish with a lemon slice and fresh raspberries

3. The Blue Peter Advent Crown

You remember the Blue Peter Advent Crown, don’t you? The one with all the coat hangers. wrapped in tinsel. You watched Noakes, Purves and Singleton make it, but did you ever make it yourself? Well, this Christmas, opportunity knocks because full instructions can be found online!

4. Christmas Crackers

The first Christmas crackers didn’t crack. They were simply sweets, often with mottos or poems inside. Then, in 1860, Thomas Smith decided to add a little spark to these festive treats with a small strip of saltpetre (potassium nitrate) between two strips of thin card. Pulling both ends of the card creates friction and, finally, the crack.

Why not give your Christmas crackers a personal touch by making them yourself? Kits are available to buy online, or pop into your nearest craft store.

5. Paper Chains

If you can’t deck the hall with bows of holly, surely the next best thing is some homemade paper chains. Go loopy with endless streams of gummed coloured paper. We suggest a corner-to-corner arrangement (and a healthy dollop of Blu-tack).

6. Christmas Pud

It is a testament to Christmas indulgence that, after a massive roast dinner, we still find the space for Christmas pudding. If you want to make your own, why not follow Delia’s recipe? Alternatively, you could follow a 1945 recipe favoured by writer George Orwell.

7. Winter Berries Relish

Want to add the Christmas feast this year and wow your guests? Then try Belvoir’s Winter Berries Relish. Packed full with prunes, figs, apricots and orange this fruity relish will give added zest to your dish.

1 onion chopped
½ Red cabbage
1 tbs Fresh ginger, grated
50g Belvoir’s Winter Berries cordial
50g Ready soak prunes
50g Ready soak figs
50g Ready soak apricots
1 Glass white wine
Juice of 1 orange
100ml Chicken stock
1tbs Fresh thyme

1. Sweat off the onion in a little butter. Add the ginger followed by the white wine and Winter Berries cordial. Simmer for 5 minutes then add the remaining ingredients
2. Cook ½ a shredded red cabbage very slowly with 100g of Winter Berries cordial and 100g water for approx 1½ hours to give a perfect winter veg to accompany this dish

8. A Snowman

The question on everyone’s lips this Christmas (and every Christmas) is “Will we have a white Christmas?”. Here on the farm, we think it’s vital that when the weather outside is frightful and the first snowflakes begin to fall, to get your mitts on and build an outstanding snowman. We’ve found the best tips on how to make a brilliant snowman. It’s far more complicated than you think! And if you want to be a bit more original, why not take some inspiration from the International Snow Sculpture Championships in Breckenridge, Colorado.

9. Edible Christmas Tree Decorations

Dickens’ A Christmas Carol embodies everything we think of today as a traditional British Christmas. The Victorians were infatuated with the extravagance of Christmas. And one thing that we are delighted has stuck is edible Christmas decorations.

Thread popcorn on a piece of string or bake your own tree decorations. They make fantastic last minute presents for unexpected guests. And when the festive season is over, what’s better than tucking into your Christmas decorations?

Check out these gingerbread trees, cut out some gingerbread circles and add some fruit sweets to make your decorations that more colourful.

10. Origami Snowflakes

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without folding up some paper and cutting holes in it. Slightly addictive, origami snowflakes are the quickest and easiest way to keep the kids entertained. For origami snowflakes novices, find out how to make three beautifully different snowflakes.

11. A Donation

Because it’ll brighten up someone else’s Christmas too.

12. A Nativity Scene

If you’re feeling very crafty this Christmas, why not attempt to make your own nativity scene? If paper and glue aren’t your thing, try it with Lego. Or simply arrange your scene online and click ‘print’!

13. Belvoir’s Winter Spice

Dazzle your taste buds with this spicy festive treat. This scrumptiously fruity cocktail is perfect for the designated drivers at your party, though if you want to spice things up and appeal to everyone then why not add a drop of rum!

15ml Belvoir’s Winter Berries Cordial
35ml Pomegranate Juice
35ml Cranberry Juice
5ml Fresh Lime
All Spice

Pour all ingredients into a high-ball with cubed ice and garnish with mixed berries

14. A Christmas Playlist

Many spirits have passed through the mouth of The Pogues’ lead singer Shane MacGowan, but who’d have thought the spirit of Christmas would come from the man’s lips? When he sings the opening line of Fairytale of New York, many a humbug’s heart will melt.

Put all your favourite festive hits in one place, ready for a good-old-fashioned singalong on Christmas morning. Or if you’re using Spotify, you could just play someone else’s favourites.

As the final firework illuminates the night sky and the last embers on the bonfire burn out, our thoughts turn towards the next seasonal celebration – Christmas!

We love the Christmas period. There’s a real sense of magic in the air. And plenty of good food and drink on the table.

Belvoir Fruit Farms Winter Berries cordial is the perfect tipple at Yuletide with its fruity blend of elderberry, blackberry, orange, cinnamon, clove and nutmeg. We’ve always considered it a delicious, alcohol-free alternative to mulled wine.

So when we heard that Delia Smith had used our beloved Winter Berries cordial in her Mulled ‘Wine’ For Drivers cocktail recipe (you can find it in her new book, Delia’s Happy Christmas) it’s safe to say we were thrilled.

When told about Delia’s seal of approval, Pev, our owner, said he was “Absolutely delighted. This year we have celebrated 25 years of making the country’s finest cordials and this endorsement from one of the most respected names in the industry is the icing on the cake.”

So what better way to celebrate this brilliant news than with a new competition?

Christmas dinner dreaming

Perhaps the best thing about Christmas is getting the family together for a big roast dinner. It’s just a shame you have to peel all that veg beforehand.

So if you didn’t have to cook Christmas dinner, who would you choose to prepare your festive feast instead?

Delia? Gordon? Jamie? Perhaps you’d plump for ex-England rugby player and Celebrity Masterchef winner, Matt Dawson? Or maybe you’ll decide on Stephen Fry – even if he can’t cook, the after dinner conversation will be terrific.

Or perhaps you’re fed up of turkey, and would prefer something a little different. Why not choose Ching-He Huang from the Beeb’s Chinese Food Made Easy? Or Ray Mears for a spot of wild food!

Tell us in a comments who you would like to cook your Christmas dinner and why, as well as what would be on the menu.

Writers of the ten best entries will each receive a copy of Delia’s Happy Christmas and two bottles of our delicious Winter Berries cordial.

The closing date for entries is Friday 27th November so we can post your prize in time for Christmas. Riveting terms and conditions can be read here.

Well, it certainly seems that autumn has rolled up its sleeves and got to work.

Last weekend saw the climax of the 2009 World Conker Championships. Congratulations to the winners. Sadly, our shoe laces, vinegar-soaked conkers and fancy dress costumes remained in the cupboard this year because we’ve been concentrating on a big competition of our own.

Belvoir Fruit Farms has teamed up with the wonderful people at Nursey Sheepskin to offer you a fantastic prize that’ll warm your heart – quite literally.

One lucky winner of our new competition will receive a toscana lambskin gilet worth nearly £300 courtesy of Nursey. It’s the perfect garment for strolling across the fields or through the town in the colder months. Don’t worry about size because Nursey Sheepskin will make your prize to order. And since they’ve been making sheepskin garments by hand for over 200 years, you can guarantee that plenty of care and experience will go into the making of your gilet.

(If you’re not our lucky winner, but would like to get your hands on some of Nursey Sheepskin’s garments, you can order their new catalogue here.)

Three runners up will receive three bottles of cordial and stylish Belvoir Fruit Farms jute bag, so there’s plenty to play for.

The competition

Since as far back as we can remember, one page has been missing from the fabled Belvoir Fruit Farms cordial recipe book. Some have suggested the page contained a recipe that its creator felt was too much of wild idea and so discarded it forever.

We often speculate on the cordial recipe this page contained. Everyone has their own theory. How about you? What do you think that cordial recipe was?

Maybe it was just a simple but delightful blend of flowers and fruits. Or perhaps it was something much wilder. With flowers and fruits never used before (or since) in the making of drinks.

How to enter

Once you’ve hatched a brilliant idea of what the missing cordial might be, leave your suggestion in the comments. And who knows? Perhaps we’ll give the winning entry to our team to concoct!

We very much look forward to reading your weird and wonderful suggestions!

Closing date for the competition is 30th October 2009. Riveting terms and conditions are here.

Shining brightly at the Great Taste Awards

Have you entered our Bright Star competition yet? We’re just about to top 500 entries. If your name isn’t in the hat already, click here to enter. Remember: you could be the lucky winner who bags a stay at the exquisite Maison Talbooth in Constable Country. How very delightful.

Speaking of winning, Belvoir Fruit Farms is very proud to the be the recipient of two Great Taste 2009 Awards from The Guild of Fine Food.

Our brand new Elderflower, Gooseberry and Muscat Grape cordial grabbed a gold star just months after hitting the shelves. And Belvoir’s Lime & Lemongrass Pressé was also awarded a gold star by the panel of fine food retailers, chefs, restaurant critics, food writers and other industry experts.

The team at Belvoir Fruit Farms works tirelessly to bring you our range of delicious drinks, so it’s great to be officially considered “close to perfect”. Pats on the back all round then.

Such is our success, we’ll be sharing our drinks with royalty soon.

An evening with Queen

On Friday 4th September, the Belvoir Fruit Farms trailer (pictured above) will roll into the grounds of Harewood House in Leeds, home to the Queen’s cousin, the Earl of Harewood, for what promises to be a magnifico (oh oh oh oh) night of music. Come and visit us, speak to the team and try our award-winning cordials and pressés.

The evening’s entertainment, The Music Of Queen – A Rock & Symphonic Spectacular, presents you and your family with an opportunity to hear the classic songs of Mercury, May, Taylor and Deacon sung by stars from the West End smash hit musical We Will Rock You with the backing of a 60-piece symphony orchestra and full rock band. It should be fantastic – let’s just hope the stage is big enough for all those performers!

This open air concert is a great chance for a final picnic this summer. So why not bring your cheese and crackers, Victoria sponge and bottle of Belvoir in one of these wonderful wicker picnic hampers available at Swings & Pretty Things?

It sounds like a perfect evening to us. And if you can’t make it to Leeds, why not take your family and friends for a picnic in one of Britain’s best spots?

Have fun!

Belvoir’s Ginger Cordial is a deliciously warm and spicy beverage made with 100% natural ginger root. And after consulting the wise words in the fabled Belvoir Fruit Farms recipe book, it seems that ginger is a tremendous little tuber if you’re expecting a baby.

Allow us to explain …

“I have to be honest, my morning sickness has been horrendous.” Kirsty Gallacher recently told celebrity babble magazine Hello! “I’ve been experiencing terrible nausea. Digestive biscuits, which I carry everywhere, help to alleviate it, but I take a sick bag wherever I go just in case.”

Nice. Well, Kirsty, perhaps you should carry around ginger biscuits and a flask of Belvoir Ginger Cordial instead. Because ginger has long been touted as a remedy for morning sickness and other types of nausea. And it’s also meant to alleviate discomfort associated with indigestion, gas pains and stomach cramping.

(Words of warning: We are not doctors and nurses. If you’re feeling very unwell, don’t pin your hopes on a glass of cordial. Please go and see someone with a medical degree.)

If it does help with morning sickness, it seems we could see sales of Belvoir’s Ginger Cordial rocketing in Iceland. According to The Guardian, Iceland is experiencing a baby boom – there’s been a 3.5% increase in the birth rate this year. It’s been suggested that people’s new found amorous nature is a result of the economic meltdown. “I think many of us have sought solace in love,” explains blogger Alda Sigmundsdóttir. Back here in Blighty, we’ve sought solace in chocolate.

Not pregnant? Don’t worry – it seems ginger might be able to help with that, too.

In herbal lore ginger is said to be an aphrodisiac. It’s mentioned in chapter seven of the Karma Sutra (apparently), and in Melanesian Islands in the South Pacific it is employed ‘to gain the affection of a woman’. So much for a nice bunch of flowers!

Ginger is native to India and China. It takes its name from the Sanskrit word meaning stringa-vera which means ‘with a body like a horn’. Ginger has been important in Chinese medicine for many centuries, and is mentioned in the writings of Confucius. It is also named in the Koran, indicating it was known in Arab countries as far back as 650AD.

Ginger was one of the earliest spices known in Western Europe, used since the ninth century. It became so popular in Europe that it was included in every table setting, like salt and pepper.

So, this summer, why not make ginger popular at dinner tables once again with a bottle of Belvoir? Our range includes Ginger Cordial, Organic Ginger Cordial and a rather tasty Ginger Beer (available in 75cl and 25cl bottles). Find them in farms shops and supermarkets around the country or grab a few bottles from our online store.

It’s not often you get to nibble at an elephant’s bottom, but here at Belvoir Fruit Farms we’ve been doing it for twenty-five years.

Don’t worry, such peculiar metaphors won’t get us fired. Because believe it or not, we’re paraphrasing Pev Manners, our beloved MD.

Pev’s ‘elephant’ is the adult soft drinks market – a multi-million pound industry. And although our company has grown tremendously in the last quarter of a century, Pev insists that Belvoir Fruit Farms is only nibbling at that big elephant’s bottom.

Elephants’ behinds aside, how did Belvoir Fruit Farms become a much loved addition to cupboards and (once opened) fridges across the world? On our twenty-fifth anniversary, we thought we’d shed some light on the history of our delightful drinks.

Once upon a time

The Belvoir Fruit Farms story begins a long time ago, in the Manners family kitchen. It was here a very young Pev and his sisters would help their mother, Lady Mary Manners, infuse the blossoms they had picked from wild elderflower trees around the family farm.

“I remember mum and dad dashing back home from Royal Ascot every year, getting out of their smart clothes, donning dungarees, then we’d all jump into the cars and set off to scour the country for elderflower blossoms,” recalls Pev. “Nanny would stay at home to slice the lemons and a farm hand would mix the sugar and water. We’d return with the elderflowers, looking like we’d been in a yellow snow storm because of all the pollen.”

“We made elderflower cordial for just ourselves and family and friends. But it became so popular that people would beg, steal and borrow to get hold of a bottle. At the time our pick-your-own fruit farm wasn’t doing terribly well and so my father decided we should try our hand at selling the cordial, making us the first company to go into commercial production of elderflower cordial.”

So in 1984 we began trading as Belvoir Fruit Farms and selling our naturally delicious elderflower cordial. Virgin Atlantic had just made its inaugural flight from Gatwick to Newark Liberty, and the world was under a repressive, totalitarian regime led by Big Brother [you’ve been reading too many books – Ed].

Pev’s father, Lord John, would pack boxes of hand-made cordial into the boot of his car and set off to visit local delicatessens and farm shops to cut a deal. He made an unlikely salesman in his country tweeds and battered Mercedes, complete with the family dog and wheat literally growing in the boot!.

In that first year, we shifted eighty-eight cases of cordial (with each case holding twelve bottles).

Here comes the son

Pev joined Belvoir Fruit Farms full-time in 1992 and soon after, together with his father, took the decision to close the fruit farm and PYO business to focus exclusively on the burgeoning drinks company.

Production has long since moved out of the family kitchen and down to the fruit farm, located on the beautiful estate of Belvoir Castle in Grantham, Lincolnshire (home to Pev’s cousin, the Duke of Rutland). ‘Nanny’ has also been replaced by former shepherdess Phyllis Howitt, who arrived on the farm to do some casual work in 1984 – and never left. Phyllis still single-handedly makes all the products today, infusing the elderflowers in huge vats (purchased from an old cheese farm) and hand pressing all the fruit.

The recipe for the elderflower cordial is still the same as the one Pev’s mother used to make. It was given to her by her friend Lady Astor of Cliveden and it’s rumoured that it was a firm favourite amongst the 50s and 60s socialites frequenting the Italianate stately home.

“It’s a clean, fresh drink, but with the complexity of wine,” says Pev. “People want traditional products; something that’s natural but tastes great too.”

Elderflower still remains the bulk of the business and demand is so great that orders are dispatched across Europe, America, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Hong Kong, Japan and Korea.

Drinking to the future

Lots of things have changed in twenty-five years, but our commitment to using only natural goodness has never wavered. All the drinks, which include an organic range, are 100% natural and free from artificial flavours, sweeteners, colours, preservatives or any other nasties.

The Belvoir Fruit Farms range now includes fifteen cordial varieties, nine pressés and five Good Stuff juice drinks. And although the fruits and flowers vary from bottle to bottle, one ingredient (the key to the magic of Belvoir) remains the same – spring water. It’s been naturally filtered through limestone for centuries and is at the heart of all the Belvoir Fruit Farms range.

This year, we’ll sell nine million bottles of our lovely little drinks. A big thank you from Pev and all the team if you’ve bought one – we promise we’ll never rest on our laurels. (This year we’ve already released two new new twists on our famous elderflower recipe.)

Meaning that next year, we’ll still be nibbling at that elephant’s big old bottom.

Happy 25th Birthday Belvoir!

Maybe it’s our fault. Maybe we were drunk on sunshine. Those two weekends of gorgeous weather that graced us a few weeks ago must’ve made us a bit giddy with excitement. You see, it was during those sun drenched days we came up with the idea of the Belvoir On For Britain Flower Show. We sat back and imagined all these wonderful sunny pictures flooding into the Belvoir Fruit Farms inbox.

And then it clouded over, turned cold and started raining.

So we understand if you haven’t had a chance to take a photo of you and your garden for the competition. But don’t worry. You’ve still got two weeks to capture your back yard in full bloom. And we’re sure the sun’ll come out tomorrow (tomorrow, bet ya bottom dollar…etc).

And even if it doesn’t, you’re a talented bunch so we’re sure you’ll come up with a splendidly creative way to take a good floral snap in the absence of sun.

Once you’ve taken your picture, send it to photos@belvoirfruitfarms.co.uk. Remember: two lucky winners will win a pair of tickets each to RHS Hampton Court Palace Flower Show on Saturday 11th July.

Picnic rucksack competition winners

We’ve been trawling through all your entries for April’s picnic competition over the last few days and have picked our favourite five.

And here they are. Congratulations to them. And a big thank you to everyone who took the time to enter. We sincerely appreciate your efforts.

Deborah went for a very English approach, including the much underrated hard-boiled egg in her picnic. A terrific choice, we thought.

A picnic for St George’s Day,
By the river, a sunny day,
To a pretty Cotswold town I’d go,
Still & quiet, just me & my beau,
Home-made sandwiches, hard-boiled eggs,
Sausage rolls & chicken legs,
And at the end, to help us digest,
Some Belvoir cordial – Ginger’s best!

A few Sherlock Holmes wannabes in the office think Yvonne is giving her nationality away in the first sentence of her winning entry. We’re inclined to agree.

My ideal picnic would be next to the loch with my wee daughter. We would have ham sandwiches, sausage rolls, fruit, any other foods that take our fancy and Pear & Elderflower Pressé to wash it down with. After our food we would feed the swans and ducks, then I would let my daughter play at the little park. And before we head home we would stop of for an ice cream.

Lorna puts Bono in his place and brings a Bear along as a contingency plan. Superb!

As nice as Scotland is for picnics – generally it ends up with everyone sitting in the car munching on soggy sandwiches waiting for the rain to go off so we can rescue the soaking wet tartan blanket – my ideal picnic would have to be on a huge yacht in the middle of a turquoise sea – sounds nice eh!! We would be eating prawn cocktail, then black forrest gateau for dessert ,washed down with a huge Dragon’s breath cocktail. Padraig Harrington would be there teaching us a thing or two on the onboard golf course (as you do) and just because he looks really nice. U2 would be singing for us, but Bono would be banned from talking and of course we couldn’t leave out Bear Grylls incase we ended up shipwrecked on an island and had to live off berries and frogs.

Kerry dreams of Belvoir, dashes around au naturel and then heads off on a picnic – all in one wonderfully epic poem!

BY GEORGE! LET’S HAVE A PICNIC!

In my dreams, I’m packing hampers,
Filled with caviar, Belvoir and champers.
A handsome prince in a sweeping cape,
Moistens his lips with some Muscat Grape,
Before carrying me off on his dashing white horse,
To enjoy a fruitsome picnic of course after course.
He holds my hand as we sip chilled Belvoir,
Before crushing me juicily with ardent “fervoir”!
But, alas! Alack! My alarm clock goes!
Where are my maidenly, demure, wee clothes?
I dash to the mirror-what a bummer!
I’m an ordinary mum in the British summer.
I pack my cool bag and summon my kids,
I ensure all my presses have nice tight lids.
We jump in the car, setting off at full throttle,
Before stopping to sip from our Belvoir bottles.
We’ve Dragon’s Breath Cocktails, they’re fruity and fun,
We eat soggy sandwiches and stroll in the sun.
We’re fortified by flavinoids, we never feel annoyed,
Our entente is so cordiale at the day we’ve just enjoyed.
The bairns are bathed, we’re home at last, the picnic’s packed away,
Belvoir’s brought its sparkle to another summer day!

Nicola would talk cathedral construction and the Chronicles of Barsetshire over cucumber sandwiches and cordial down by the Cam.

Dream picnic?
I’d love a lazy sunday lunch with Sir Christopher Wren on the backs in Cambridge. It’d be good to get author Anthony Trollope and my favourite monarch Richard III along too. And who could resist a guest appearance from Colin Firth?
I reckon they’d like the traditional picnic fare – cucumber sandwiches and strawberries and cream washed down with ginger cordial.
With all that talent we could discuss everything under the sun, literally. Perfect.

The last time dear Blightly was in a recession, ITV decided to cheer everyone up by screening The Darling Buds of May. The show, based on the novels of Herbert Ernest Bates (a name to which we doff our bottle caps), follows the shenanigans of the loveable Larkin family on their farm in Kent. It starred the much-loved David Jason as Pop Larkin and launched the career of a little known Welsh lass called Catherine Zeta-Jones (who, as Mariette, ended up marrying a taxman – the poor thing). Re-run it, we say.

The larger than life Larkin family would no doubt approve of British Sandwich Week, which is currently in full swing. And as farmers, they’d probably opt for a classic ploughman’s. But according to The British Sandwich Association (who else?), a ploughman’s only ranks at eight in the top ten sarnie fillings favoured by us Brits. And, perhaps shockingly, there’s no place for cheese and pickle in the list. Here it is in full:

1. Chicken Salad
2. Mixed Selection
3. Chicken & Bacon
4. Bacon/Lettuce/Tomato
5. Prawn Mayonnaise
6. Chicken & Stuffing
7. Egg & Cress
8. Ploughman’s
9. Cheese & Onion
10. Chicken Caesar

We’re guessing a ‘mixed selection’ is one of those three-sandwich packets found in petrol stations across the country where you get two fillings you like and one that you don’t. But as Meat Loaf once bellowed, Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad.

One filling that rarely graces the Esso forecourts is Strawberry, Clotted Cream and Rose Petal. What a delightful sandwich! And we think we’ve got the perfect accompaniment….

Belvoir’s Raspberry and Rose Cordial

Belvoir’s Raspberry & Rose Cordial is a sweet, sensuous drink, packed with raspberries grown on UK farms and hand pressed by us. It’s perfect to quaff on long summer days as ripe raspberries help combat heat and thirst. Alternatively, use it as a base for cocktails: Try mixing 50ml gin, 75ml of lychee juice and 15ml of Raspberry & Rose cordial for a delicious Raspberry Blush.

Mythology says that raspberries used to be white. Things changed when a clumsy nymph,  furiously picking the fruit to appease a particular god’s rage, pricked her finger on a thorn. Blood spilled from her digit, forever turning the raspberries red. But don’t let that put you off. Roses are believed to make potent love potions, so Belvoir’s cordial balances not only taste perfectly, but also the anger of the gods.

In days gone by, raspberry juice was used to calm fever and gargling it would ease a sore throat. Raspberry syrup was said to dissolve tartar on teeth, too. So as well as making you feel better, your smile would be a couple of notches brighter.

Raspberries are high in querticin (whatever that is) and antioxidants which can provide a natural cure for hay fever.  Raspberry juice has reputed benefits for eye problems, mouth ulcers, toning the uterine muscles in pregnancy and is great for detox.

(Please note: Belvoir Fruit Farms is neither a doctor nor dentist; we are merely reporting herbal lore for the fruits and flowers in our products. We recommend you consult a medical specialist before declaring never to buy Lemsip, spectacles, Bonjela or toothpaste ever again.)

As for the rose petals, their scent is said to have an uplifting, restoring effect on the nervous system, and can relieve insomnia, lift depression, dispel fatigue and soothe irritability.

Of course, you don’t have to feel under the weather to buy our Raspberry and Rose cordial, it’s just as tasty even if you’re feeling right as rain. Speaking of which, where did those first signs up summer go?

A big week for Blighty!

Today is Her Majesty’s birthday (her actual birthday, not the official one with all that colour trooping). Perhaps one shouldn’t mention how old dear Elizabeth is, but if you’re baking her a cake we suggest you pop down the shops and pick up about 83 candles.

Here on the farm, we’ll be raising a glass to Her Majesty. And what better way than with a glass of something from the beloved Belvoir Fruit Farms recipe book – the Dragon’s Breath cocktail.

Let’s be clear: we are not implying HRH has a bad spot of halitosis. Not at all. The Dragon’s Breath cocktail is in celebration of St George, dragon-slaying patron saint of England (and Aragon, Catalonia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Greece, Lithuania, Palestine, Portugal and Russia, according to Wikipedia).

The cocktail makes use of Belvoir’s delicious Raspberry & Rose Cordial – available, of course, from our online store.

Here’s the recipe in full:

Method: lightly crush the chilli and raspberries in a shaker. Add all remaining ingredients and shake for 8-10 seconds (if you’re feeling brave, throw in a few tricks to make you feel like a Las Vegas bartender). Double strain into a chilled martini glass and garnish with a long red Thai chilli.

Toasting the Queen with a Belvoir Fruit Farms cocktail on St George’s Day. Could anything be more quintessentially English? (Perhaps watching the London Marathon with a slice of victoria sponge while moaning about the weather.)

Best of luck if you’re running the aforementioned marathon on Sunday. Remember to refresh yourself with plenty of water (or delicious cordial from you-know-who) during and after the race!

And if you do decide to make the Dragon’s Breath cocktail – or any of the Belvoir Fruit Farms recipes – please send us your pics. We’d love to post them on this blog.