Following N1WI's trip to Priory Farm in Surrey, chief organiser, Louise Whitley sings the praises of a fabulous cookery lesson and an exceptionally good lunch...There couldn't have been a better Saturday in January for a visit to the country. With the sun shining and birds singing a happy troupe of N1WI ladies set off for a bit of rural therapy, their destination Priory Farm in the Surrey Hills. A warm welcome was waiting with Gill and her team armed with coffees and home made fruit cake to aid recovery from the journey across London.
The demonstration kitchen is housed in the upstairs of a beautiful barn conversion with views over the rolling countryside. Gill enthusiastically got started with a warming cranberry and chestnut soup accompanied by savoury muffins, explaining the nutritional values of the ingredients and the best way to buy and store the ingredients. Having all had a taster, Gill moved swiftly on to wrapped pheasant breasts accompanied by celeriac and potato mash, purple sprouting broccoli and an exquisite orange and cranberry sauce. Being a pudding fan (!) Gill showed us how to make not one, but two desserts: a compote of gingered orange fruit and an orange and rhubarb upside down pudding. Having always been one to salivate over tv cookery programmes and feel envious towards the lucky celebrities or members of the audience who are able to try the finished product it was with great relish that I tucked into my tasters of the finished dishes.
Having had a very inspirational and yet instructive morning there was then an opportunity to browse the farm shop. Some ladies bought the same ingredients as Gill used to rustle up a dinner party feast (cheats!!! cheats!!!!). Others checked out the garden centre, followed by a hearty home-cooked lunch in the coffee shop. You can view the photos of the trip by clicking here.
It was a fab day out and will hopefully be repeated at the end of May with new recipe ideas and the added excitement of an afternoon gardening lesson for all those WIers who struggle with their (or the concept of) summer tubs and hanging baskets. For all information and to register interest please contact Louise at n1wi@yahoo.co.uk
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