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.

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.

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.

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!