Frosty mornings and blue skies have brightened up an often dreary time of year on the farm. The cold clear weather has been good for getting on with the all important job of muckspeading, building fertility back into the soil for the coming year. When there is a high pressure weather system it’s a good time to rack off our home made cider too, filtering it into clean barrels leaving the lees behind. ‘Candlemas’ at the beginning of this month marks the mid point between the winter solstice and spring equinox and traditionally when the farmer counts up his bales to see if they’ll last through. Luckily that’s not a worry this year, and the animals have got plenty to eat, and don’t mind it being a bit chilly.

 

I think we’re the same too! Happy as long as we’ve got plenty to eat! At this time of year, there’s nothing better than slow roasts and warming casseroles and our winter warmer slow cook meat box is perfect for that ‘hungry gap’ at just £70. And why wait till Valentine’s Day to treat yourself to a tasty rump steak? We experimented the other day with melting some beef fat in with the cooking oil to make the chips extra flavoursome with great results. I’ve been delivering pigs, lamb and beef to Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall’s River Cottage H.Q for their restaurants and courses and getting some inspiration from their chefs. They cooked delicious rack of lamb with a rich gravy sauce made from finely chopped lamb heart, with red onions, balsamic vinegar and I think a generous slug of cider brandy. I’m not quite sure of the exact recipe but it tasted fabulous.

So if this has got your taste buds going, choose your own selection of our award winning, high welfare organic meat from the Higher Hacknell website, and get FREE delivery until the end of this month . This special offer (on orders over £100) is available when you write FEBFREE in the comments box at the end of the order, or mention it if you order by phone on 01769 560909, and we will deduct the cost of delivery when we take your payment.

There’s birdsong in the air, and snowdrops and daffodils to remind us that Spring is on its way, whilst here in the farm butchery we are planning our new ‘Spring’ boxes for the months ahead. We wish you well and look forward to hearing from you soon.

With best wishes from

Tim and Jo and all at Higher Hacknell Farm