Breakfast down on the farm
Jan 22 2010 by Katharine Capocci, The Journal
WE'RE down on the farm for Farmhouse Breakfast Week, where local produce is on the menu, as KATHARINE CAPOCCI discovers.
Breakfast facts
THE word breakfast literally means "breaking the fast". Overnight our energy stores are used up, so eating breakfast will top up energy used while sleeping and give us the boost needed to start the day.
Traditional breakfast staples such as cereal and toast remain the most popular choices in the mornings. Most households have four different types of breakfast cereal in the kitchen cupboard.
The world's first breakfast cereal was created in 1863 and comprised of dense bran nuggets that had to be soaked overnight to be chewable.
Research carried out by the Cardiff University School of Psychology has shown that eating breakfast helps children function better in school than those who skip the first meal of the day.
The results revealed children who start the day with cereal are 9pc more alert than those who have no breakfast.
Warm porridge smoothie (Serves one)
Ingredients
25g porridge oats
300ml semi-skimmed milk
100g natural yogurt
50g blueberries
50g strawberries, roughly chopped
Method
Place the oats and milk in a small saucepan and simmer for two minutes. Pour into a liquidiser or food processor with the remaining ingredients and blend until smooth.
Tuck in at traditional farmhouse B&Bs in the region
Low Urpeth Farm
Situated in Chester-le-Street, County Durham, Low Urpeth Farm is the place to sample the Taste Durham and Enjoy England Breakfast Awards’ "Cracking Urpeth farmhouse breakfast." Visit www.lowurpeth.co.uk or call 0191 410 2901.
Bilton Barns
Located between Alnwick and Alnmouth, Bilton Barns is a 390-acre traditional Northumberland mixed farm recommended in the "Best Bed and Breakfast in the World" Which? Guide. Visit www.biltonbarns.com or call 01665 830427.
The Riding Farm Cottages
Situated in Kibblesworth, Gateshead, the farmhouse bed and breakfast offers a full range of fresh fruit cereals and yogurts as well as a traditional farmhouse breakfast made with locally sourced produce. Visit www.ridingfarmbedand breakfast.co.uk or call 0191 370 1868.
Wharnley Burn
The Wharnley Burn bed and breakfast is in the beautiful Derwent Valley on the border of County Durham. Visit www.visitcountydurham.com/site/accommodation/wharnley-burn-farm-p5311 or call 01207 508374.
Hamsteels Hall
The Hamsteels Hall bed and breakfast is ideally situated for touring Durham and a number of surrounding attractions such as Durham Cathedral. Deer and foxes are also known to venture out of the woodland or play in front of the house. Visit www.hamsteelshall.co.uk or call 01207 520388.
South Farm
South Farm is a traditional working farm within the hamlet of Wingates, Morpeth. It is the third generation to keep cattle and sheep and it uses locally sourced produce such as free-range eggs for their breakfasts. Visit www.southfarmwingates.co.uk or call 01670 788562.
The Lee Farm
The Lee farm is a working livestock farm near the village of Rothbury. Named the 2001 Pride of Northumbria – Bed & Breakfast of the Year, it offers a traditional farmhouse breakfast made with locally sourced produce. Upon request the farm can also offer freshly baked baguettes, porridge and fresh grapefruit.
Visit www.leefarm.co.uk or call 01665 570257.
