As our children return to school and I look out of the window at torrential rain it is easy to feel doleful. But in fact we have much to be thankful for and the great thing about living here on the farm at Overtown is that the land constantly reminds us of the cyclical nature of our lives. After a summer of growth, crops need to be harvested and our productive garden is overflowing with delicious fruit and veg.
September signals a return to routine for many of us, after a summer of travel, family, spending time outside. And it is no different here as I return to the kitchen with renewed zest, enthused by the bounteous harvest provided by our veg garden. Harvest has always been important here, the last five generations of my family have farmed this land, with my son now old enough to work on the farm.
Our veg garden is now in the very capable hands of the lovely Lucille who is breathing new life into it so that we can support our ethos of Eat Well to Feel Well. As we approach Autumn we have crops of apples, varying bean varieties (borlotti, runner, French), beets, courgette, the list goes on. All of this ensures that the food we prepare for our guests is as fresh and seasonal as possible, and of course of the highest quality.
As a cook I cannot wait to get into the kitchen at this time of year, creating great autumnal feasts for our meeting lunches, batching up homemade chutneys to use on cheese boards, or with curries throughout the months ahead
There is nothing we love more here than cooking for people and hosting so if you have a team of people that you would like to get together to plan, or deliver a project, or brainstorm, why not consider a meeting here at Overtown Manor? Many of our clients have been with us for years. The tranquil setting combined with great home cooking gives teams time and space to focus and think. Invaluable in this new world where building cohesive teams is so much harder due to the amount of remote working.
Pick, Cook and Eat
Over the last two years we have had students from Horizons College in Wootton Bassett join us once a week to help in the garden. Horizons is a community-based college for young adults with learning difficulties. Now that Lucille is with us the young adults can get involved with even more jobs and it has given us great pleasure to see what they have been able to achieve and witness their enjoyment of the garden. We would love to expand this offering and as such are applying for charitable status for Pick, Cook and Eat to enable us to secure funding for the expansion, so watch this space!
Cookery Courses and Demo’s
Cookery classes have gone with a bang this summer and by popular demand two day Student Cookery Workshops are back this September. To go alongside this I am working on a cookery book aimed at young people who are venturing out on their own for the first time, whether off to uni or work. It will be out at the start of December and will make a great Christmas gift.
Christmas Cookery
As a first for Overtown we are running a ‘Get Ready for Christmas’ cookery demo on Tuesday 19th November, so why not join us for an evening of recipe inspiration and food tasting over a glass of wine.
For a link to our scheduled cookery classes and demo’s please click here: Cookery
We are also able to run bespoke classes if you have a particular area you or your children would like to cover.
Cookery at Badminton Estate
Following some really fun Gentlemen's Cookery classes earlier in the summer we have been invited back by the Badminton Estate to run a Game Cooking class and a Get Ahead for Christmas cookery class in the next couple of months. So if you would like to take part in some fun sessions with the Overtown team in the very grand surroundings of the old kitchens and servants hall at the world famous Badminton please click here :Cookery
Recipe - Apple Sauce Cake
With so many delicious apples around this autumn I like to make this easy crowd pleaser. Great with morning coffee, or to treat the kids when they get home from school. Alternatively serve with a big dollop of creme fraiche or ice cream as an indulgent pud.
Apple sauce is very easy to make, simply peel, core and chop your apples, put in saucepan, add enough water to ½ cover them and cook the apples until soft (sieve excess water) and mash with a fork or potato masher. There is no need to add sugar. Apple sauce is great for breakfasts to go with yoghurt, nuts and cinnamon or some granola, or serve with roast pork or make Apple Sauce Cake!
You can use cooking or eating apples in this recipe but reduce the sugar if you are using eating apples by 50g.
175g plain four
¾ tsp bicarbonate of soda
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp mixed spice
½ tsp salt
125g butter
150g soft brown sugar or golden caster sugar
1 egg
250ml applesauce (it doesn’t have to be smooth)
- Pre heat your oven to 180 C/325 F/ Gas 3. Line a 33 x 25 cm baking tray with greaseproof paper Put all the ingredients in a bowl and mix together.
- Bake at 180 C for about 45 minutes.
- I like to sprinkle the cake with a tbsp of demerara sugar as soon as it comes out of the oven.
- It is quite a dense cake but easy to cut into squares and take on a picnic or serve as a pudding dusted with icing sugar, served with Greek yoghurt.
Notes: This cake keeps well for 3 days.
Retreats
Throughout the year we host a number of private yoga retreats and walking holidays. We especially love these as we get to know our guests and cater for their special event. Many return to us time, and again. If you are interested in hosting a retreat, or would like to join one please do email me to discuss your needs nancy@overtownmanor.co.uk
