Spring has sprung and Mothering Sunday is nearly upon us.

Remember when all you needed was a small bunch of primroses to present to mummy when you came home from church? How simple life was.

Today, you’re likely already overwhelmed by the commercial card makers, busily arranging gifts for your own ma and mother-in-law, and twitching slightly at the thought of the devastation in your kitchen come Sunday morning.

Never fear, we’re here to help.

Firstly, may we suggest that you start Sunday with a reviving Elderflower cordial? Packed with floral flavour, it’s the perfect way to add sparkle to your day. (Plus it’s infinitely easier for others to make than a decent cup of tea!).

Next, demand your well-earned moment of peace and quiet. Tell everyone you’re busy relaxing. And you can’t possibly be interrupted. Remember, mother knows best.

Which is precisely the theme of this month’s competition.

Mother knows best

We want your nuggets of priceless knowledge. The advice that only mothers can give. And those thrift tips that have been passed down generations to save you time and money.

So what did your mother teach you? What can you share with others to help ease the workload this Mother’s Day? Perhaps it’s thrifty, nifty or plain silly – either way, we’d love you to tell us about it. Pop your suggestions in the comments below.

We’ll send the two entries that appeal to us most a truly lovely stripy mug set from legendary Cornishware producer TG Green. We’ve got one set for the boys and one set for the girls to give away. Perfecting for trying our range of delicious cordials with hot water.

Oh, and you’ll find those ever-riveting competition terms and conditions here.

Happy Mother’s Day!

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.

Here at Belvoir Fruit Farms, we’ve been trawling through your Great Scot! competition entries. My, they are impressive!

We’ve loved reading your poems and donning the correct accents to deduce the hidden meanings. And it’s been terribly difficult choosing the winners from the forty-one tickling and touching entries. Pats on the back all round for your efforts.

Sadly, there can only be five winners. So without further ado, here are those fantastic five. Congratulations – your Ginger Cordial will be posted very soon.

Beverley kicks us off with this ditty from Derbyshire.

Ey up, mi duck, ah’s it gooin? Arta rate?
Ah’m jus’ in me way fer a trawl up Bath Strait,
Sundee dinner, termorrer, if I ain’t got a badly rabbit,
So up ter market for nobby greens, as is me ‘abit,
Call in ter Bailey’s, gerra nice chunk o’ pork,
An ov’er t’ Copper Kettle ter gerrova t’walk,
Dahn t get me ‘Appy Liza from John’s News,
Might tret mesen ter a bag o’ peppermint chews,
Back dahn ter bottom, past owd swimmin baths,
Remember when it wer theer? We did ay some laughs,
Call in t’chippy for fish n mix wrapped,
Eight quid, ‘e’s askin’, I must be ‘afe tapped,
Berra then cookin; though, when yer stuffed from that ‘ill,
Eyup! Is this me bus? Nah, this un’s gooin’ ter Mill,
Theer’s my bus, stuck up be’ind it,
See yer agen, duck, and if it ain’t lost yer won’t find it!

Next up is Jill with this delight from Dundee.

We bide in a toon thats cried Dundee
Its a braw wee place tae be
If ye’re a culture vulture we hae the airts
Wir universities hae fowk fae a the pairts
Theres twa fitba teams an the hame o The Dandy
A totty wee airport thats affy handy
Theres a train station, an buses an a
An we looked affy bonny when we were covered in sna.

Gemma from Bradford was picked for her rhythm and rhyme

T’was Bradford I wer’ born n bread, Mi ma n fatha too,
Wi back t’ backs n high rise flats n a sky of grey not blue,
A town a closed down factories, yet Bradford holds me heart,
cos that is where me family is, of which Bradford feels a part

Laura made us chuckle with an inspired second verse

I’m from Warrington, mate, I cannot lie,
It’s a town’a strange iden-it-i an’ I’ll tell yer why,

We’re arf way from Manchest-oh,
Arf way from the ‘Pool,
So when 50%’s saying ‘our kid’,
The other ‘arfs calming down and playin’ it keewl.

It’s rightly called the Warring-town,
Cos our scallies, they like ta fight.
But the Norf west’s God’s own country,
So don’t take the mickey mate, only I’ve got that right!

Emma is our final winner with this gem about Gloucester

Glawster’s got old spot, rugger and beer
So catch the next buz and we’ll see yous ‘ere.
Walk the via sacra, it aint that far,
An’ bring ya babby ‘cos its safe from them cars.
See the cathedral mind, we’re famous for that,
‘Arry Potter wuz filmed there and that’s a fact.
We wuz ‘oping he’d use ‘is magic and charm
To rustle us up a Belvoir Fruit farm,
Cos thats all we’re missin’ in this city of old,
Class in a glass would turn us silver to gold!

And that’s it. Well done everyone. If you’ve been inspired by these entries and are feeling creative, enter our new competition.

So then, did you get a visit from Cupid?

Did a beautiful stranger sweep you off your feet, wine and dine and you, before arranging a private viewing of one of the most romantic films of all time?

Or did this Valentine’s Day pass without even a flicker of love?

Perhaps there was somebody who you really wanted to surprise, but the opportunity didn’t arise. Maybe nerves got the better of you. Or worse still, you forgot.

So that’s why this week we’re offering you the chance to show your affection to somebody special – and make up for any mishaps, missed chances or plain forgetfulness on your part.

And what better way than to say it with biscuits?

The lovely people at Biscuiteers hand-make delightful biscuits. Their creations are so impressive, you almost don’t want to eat them. One little nibble, though, and you’ll be in love. Which is why they’re the perfect gift for any sweet-toothed sweetheart.

If you’re one of our three winners this month, we’ll arrange for a box of Biscuiteers’ finest creations to be sent your loved one along with three bottles of our ever-romantic Raspberry & Rose Cordial.

How to enter

Remember acrostics? Well, we want your romantic odes in this almost-forgotten format. To refresh your memory, we’ve composed one for the ever-delectable Mr Clooney.

Grey but improving
Even my husband’s approving
Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?
Revealed you as a knockout
Gosh! Films, I’ve seen too many
Except of yours – they’re worth every penny

We think you can do better. So let’s have your odes, please. Pop them in the comments once they’re composed and perfected.

Good luck!

P.S. If reading competition terms and conditions is your thing, you can find them here.

P.P.S. If you cannot wait to get your hands on some delicious Bicuiteers biscuits, simply use the special code BLV15OFF to get 15% off your website order. You’ll have to be quick, though – it’s only available until the end of March.

But we do have some very good news.

Belvoir Fruit Farms is proud as punch to announce two new additions to our range of pressés. And unlike us Brits – these delicious drinks love to be chilled!

Belvoir Raspberry Lemonade

This tastes as gorgeous as it looks. We’ve created a lip-smacking blend of real raspberry juice and real lemon juice with lightly sparkling Belvoir spring water.

Sip it with your eyes closed and you can almost feel the summer sunshine. Delicious on its own or over ice with a dash of Pimms, Belvoir Raspberry Lemonade is the perfect accompaniment to raspberry ripple ice cream or Cornish clotted cream and scones. Available now in Asda.

Belvoir Organic Orange & Jasmine Pressé

Quench your thirst with this sophisticated zesty blend of real orange juice, lime juice & lemon juice with a hint of fragrant Jasmine.

If you’re planning a summer party, this wonderfully refreshing drink is perfect for your designated drivers. And since it’s your party, why not add a little gin or vodka to your glass of Orange & Jasmine Pressé for an exquisite tipple? It’s great with organic Green & Black’s dark chocolate, too.

Where to buy these new pressés

Both pressés will be available in Belvoir’s unmistakeable 75cl and 25cl bottles. You’ll find them soon in farm shops and supermarkets across the country. They’ll also be available in our online store very soon.

Do let us know which one is your favourite!

Good news – next Tuesday is Pancake Day!

Traditionally, it’s called Shrove Tuesday (or Mardi Gras – literally, Fat Tuesday – if you’re in the carnival mood). And it’s the last day of indulgence before Lent.

But why pancakes? Well, to avoid wastage, households would use up all their sugar, butter, flour, milk and eggs. Pancakes are easily made from these ingredients and provide some final fuel before the fasting period. Eggs would not be eaten thereafter until Easter.

In Iceland, Pancake Day is called Sprengidagur or Bursting Day (which we think is fabulous name). The event is marked by eating salted meat and peas (admittedly less fabulous).

Pancake Day racing

Back in Blighty, pancake races are held in villages and towns across the land. The tradition is said to have originated when a housewife from Olney was so busy making pancakes that she forgot the time until she heard the church bells ringing for the service. She raced out of the house to church while still carrying her frying pan and pancake.

The Olney Pancake Race has been held since 1445. Contestants, traditionally women, carry a frying pan and race to the finishing line, tossing the pancakes as they go. The winner is the first to cross the line having tossed the pancake a certain number of times.

Since 1950 the people of Olney have competed against a small town called Liberal in Kansas, USA. This event is now called the International Pancake Day Race. It all started when a magazine picture of the Olney women racing each other to the church fell into the hands of Liberal’s then President. He contacted the Vicar of St. Peter and St. Paul’s church in Olney, challenging their women to race against women of Liberal. The rest is history. And an awful lot of pancakes.

Loads of lemons

If you need a classic pancake day recipe, try Delia’s with sugar and lemon. There’s quite a few of us on the farm, but thankfully we’ve got plenty of lemon juice. (Not only for our organic lemonade, but it also gives us natural citric acid for our drinks.)

Just for fun, can you guess how many lemons we use every year? Pop your guesses in the comments box below.

If you’re doing anything special for pancake day, send your words and pictures to the usual address. And if you’re not, well, simply dig in and enjoy!

Here at Belvoir Fruit Farms we love nothing more than reading through the mail you send us; whether it’s telling us how much your son loves our organic ginger cordial, a delicious recipe featuring one of our cordials, or perhaps something slightly more obscure.

And this week it was the latter that caused a stir in the office. We could barely believe our eyes when we saw a full (yes, full) pack of playing cards had been placed inside a Belvoir bottle.

We wanted – no, make that needed – to know more! So we asked the sender of this fascinating photo, Phil, for an explanation.

Here’s the response we received.

Thanks, Phil!

This got us thinking. We wondered whether anyone else had a penchant for Belvoir packaging? Maybe you collect our labels or our limited edition glasses are part of your collection? Or perhaps you just love using our bottles as vases?

If this is the case, we’d love to hear from you. If you have photographs, then even better. And maybe you’ll be featuring in our next blog!

Burns Night may have been held on a completely different date if merchants born in Ayrshire didn’t realise their mistake. The first Burns Supper was held in 1801 on what they thought was Burns’ birthday. It was two years later that they realised they’d got the wrong date and to this day the celebrations take place on the 25th of January.

And to make this Burns Night go off with a bang we’re offering top-notch prizes to five lucky winners. But like Burns’ poetry we’ll tease you and move on.

We’ve got our haggis, cock-a-leekie soup, tatties and neeps ready for the main supper and also a fine bottle of Scotch whisky to accompany proceedings. Perhaps, like us, you need a little something to take the edge off the whisky, so we suggest mixing our organic ginger cordial with a bit of water and whisky to provide a less overpowering version.

Each supper starts with a reading of Burns’ poem The Selkirk Grace:

Some hae meat and canna eat,
And some wad eat that want it;
But we hae meat, and we can eat,
Sae let the Lord be thankit.

Burns’ poetry uses the Scottish language and dialect to comment on the wonderful Scottish landscape and people that inhabited it. Which neatly brings us on to this month’s competition. Because we’d like you to do the same.

The Competition

In true Burns style, we’d like you to compose a poem about your hometown or homeland – and if you can put it in your own dialect, even better!

Submit your poem in the comment box below.

Five lucky winners will each receive a gift pack of three bottles of our ginger cordial. We’ll announce the winners on the 22nd February along with some exciting news about new drinks for this summer.

So find your muse and grab a pen, and we look forward to reading your entries! (Terms and conditions are here.)

Oh the magic of snowfall!

Well, magical if you’re a kid and, instead of going to school, you’re hurtling down hills on a makeshift sled. Not so great if you’re stood on a station platform rueing the cancellation of your train home. Yes, we know that this white blanket over Britain can make many people jaded.

So here are five things you can do to make light of the coldest spell in 100 years.

1. Snow creates an opportunity to settle some scores with a good old fashioned snowball fight! If you’re stuck at work, you could call the competition and tell them you’ll meet them on the corner in twenty minutes – two rival advertising agencies in Manchester did.

2. Get creative in the snow. Many people are branching out from the traditional snowman to animals, sculptures and famous figures. What can you build? Send us your snaps!

3. Snow creates a wonderful magical wonderland that makes the world look altogether more vibrant. Here at Belvoir we’re looking at all the glorious images of this country in the snow.

4. The slushy aftermath of snow gives every form of news broadcast the chance to overuse the word ‘treacherous’. Create your own tally chart for the times it’s mentioned. Then compare and share with friends.

5. Check out the #UKSnow map and, if you use Twitter, tweet the snowfall in your area to contribute.

And after playing in the snow, we think there’s nothing better than defrosting in front of a roaring fire with a warm mug of Belvoir’s delicious Winter Berries Cordial, and dreaming of picnics in summer.

Right. As it’s now officially The Twelfth Day of Christmas, we must dash off and tuck the angel back in her box, pack away the decorations and finish off the last of the Christmas treats.

And on that note, Happy New Year everyone. Enjoy the snow as much as you can!

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.