This week at Belvoir Fruit Farms we’ve dusted off our party frocks, blown up the balloons and poured ourselves a delicious Belvoir cocktail as we celebrate something very close to our hearts.

There’s a dedicated week for everything these days whether it’s celebrating teddy bears, lauding felt hats or hugging vending machines… But some, we feel, are more deserving than others and that’s why we are celebrating everything organic with National Organic fortnight (that’s right, it’s so good they’ve given us fourteen whole days to party).

The fortnight launched on 5th September and there is still plenty of time to celebrate this year’s theme ‘Wake up to an Organic Breakfast’.  Here at Belvoir we have been washing down our organic toast and honey with some Organic Ginger Belvoir Cordial.

But we’ve become bored of the monotonous toast and cereal, so we’ve searched for an alternative and here’s a couple of our favourite suggestions:

Prepare the night before:
Bran Conference Pear and Bullace Breakfast muffins.
We thought these looked great as not only are these a sweet treat in the morning, they are healthy for your digestive system too. If you find it difficult to find Bullace, we suggest using cherry plums which are lacing our hedgerows this very moment.

In a dash: Belvoir Breakfast Smoothie.
The best things to start your day-fruit and a kick of Organic Ginger Cordial.
Fill a glass as you usually would with a mixture of Organic Belvoir Ginger Cordial and water.  Add the juice to a blender with raspberries, bananas and any other fruit you may fancy.  Simply whiz the mixture and enjoy.

Long, leisurely and lazy.
We’ve done a poll at Belvoir Fruit Farms and our favourite breakfast treat is a poached egg.  Whether it’s with bacon, homemade hollandaise sauce or simply on its own with some wholemeal buttered toast (all organic of course) it was a clear winner.
Let’s be havin’ your perfect poached egg recipe, Delia. It never fails.

If you fancy  brushing up your organic knowledge, why not head down to the Organic Food Festival in Bristol this weekend. You can sample organic delights from across the globe, pick up some cooking tips from organic chef Sophie Grigson and learn how to make chutney at the Granny Skills Workshop.

If the Autumnal weather is getting to you and you’d rather hibernate, perhaps stay at home and experiment with this dish we found from across the pond.

We were thrilled to discover that our Organic Ginger Cordial has crossed the Atlantic and is commemorated with its own Belvoir Ginger Cake!

Drop us some post and let us know how you are celebrating Organic fortnight. Why not send us your photos of our Organic Belvoir Ginger Cakes or even better, a slice? And do give us your suggestions for a great breakfast too.

Hello everyone.

Here on the farm we’ve been dipping our digital toes into Twitter recently, saying hello to lots of people and receiving some terribly nice comments about our drinks – thank you, everybody.

We’ve also been getting some good questions too. Sam asked us if we’ve got any new flavours planned. Well, we’re always keen on creating some delicious new concoctions, but alas there are no confirmed new varieties as yet. But watch this space.

(You may remember that we released two new flavours earlier this year: Gooseberry, Elderflower and Muscat Grape Cordial and Pear and Elderflower Pressé.)

Nevertheless, we’ve been giving your old favourites a new twist by commissioning some exquisite new cocktail recipes especially for the wedding season. So if matrimony is just around the corner and you haven’t decided on arrival drinks or the wedding toast, allow us to offer a few alcoholic and non-alcoholic suggestions:

Elderflower & Champagne

The Elderflower & Champagne cocktail is a refreshing little number – perfect for a garden or summer evening reception. As the champagne bubbles pop, you’re left with the romantic scent of fresh elderflowers. What’s more, it’s delightfully simple to make – just add 15ml of cordial to a champagne flute and top with bubbly. Cheers!

Elderflower Fizz

It’s often easy to forget the non-drinkers (especially if you’re getting squiffy on champers). So why not give them a treat too? Elderflower Fizz is a light and tangy non-alcoholic cocktail, full of colour and fragrance. Pour 20ml of Belvoir elderflower cordial, 50ml pink grapefruit juice and 50ml cloudy lemonade over ice in a hi-ball glass. Then stir and serve with three freshly squeezed lime wedges. And for a unique finishing touch, throw in a few flower heads (pansies are perfect) to decorate.

White Flower Martini

If you want to be a little more adventurous, try the White Flower Martini. Its layered fruit and flower flavours will impress your guests and be a hit with even the most discerning palates. Pour 15ml of Belvoir elderflower cordial, 35ml vodka (we suggest raspberry flavour), 15ml Limoncello and 50ml lychee juice into a cocktail shaker, add a handful of ice, shake and strain into a martini glass (because every cocktail looks better in a martini glass). Finally, garnish with a floating rose petal.

There you have it – three delicious new cocktails from the Belvoir Fruit Farms recipe book, all ideal for the wedding season. Having Belvoir drinks at your wedding? Let us know in the comments!

As always, let us know if you’ve got your own recipes and we’ll put the best ones on this blog.

Mother’s Day (or Mothering Sunday, if you prefer) is this Sunday. Perhaps you’ve already ordered the chrysanthemums, booked a table and bought a compilation CD of crooners.
Well done if you have. Fear not if you haven’t – Belvoir is here to help.

You could, of course, scurry off and find the perfect gift on the internet. But that’s cheating. And as for restaurants, it’s one of their busiest days – they might squeeze you in like sardines.

So this Mother’s Day, why not avoid the cost and the queues by treating your nearest and dearest to a splendid three course meal? You’ll save yourself some cash, and get to impress the whole family with your culinary skills. And your mother prefers it when you make gifts. Believe us.

Right. Apron on? Washed your hands? Okay, here’s our suggested three course menu – embellished, naturally, with a little bit of Belvoir.

Starter: Thai Pea Soup

Go East with this snappy little starter. You’ll transform 250g of frozen peas into delicious Thai pea soup with a little help from some coconut milk, fish sauce and Belvoir’s Organic Ginger Cordial. It’s deliciously different.
» Thai pea soup recipe

Main: Spicy Chicken Wrap

Quick and simple to make, this main course is full of colour and flavour. Spicy chilli flakes and Belvoir’s Lime and Lemongrass Cordial bring a pleasant zing to diced chicken and peppers. The whole thing’s wrapped in warm tortilla. Go on, pick it up with your fingers.
» Spicy chicken wrap recipe

Dessert: Elderflower Lime Cheesecake

Cool your taste buds with this delicate and delightful cheesecake for dessert. You’ll need three quarters of a large pack of Digestives. Try not to scoff the remaining quarter while you’re baking – you’ll spoil your dinner. And what would your mother say about that?
» Elderflower lime cheesecake recipe

And to drink? Well, take your pick from our fine range of cordials, pressés and juices. Or if you’re looking for something with a little more kick, why not try one of our cheeky cocktail recipes? Mums deserve a special treat once in a while.

So this Mother’s Day, instead of saying it with flowers, we suggest saying it with elderflowers. Let us know how you get on in the kitchen by sending your pics to the usual address – we’ll publish the best ones on this blog.

Good luck! And if you’re a mum – enjoy!