Monday 9 December 2013

New Suppliers...

It's been a good start so far with our farm shop and to continue we have a new range of suppliers...

we have a beautiful chilli oil, especially nice drizzled over pizza, salads etc by Broken Spoon who makes not only this chilli oil but a range of cakes as well...


We also have a new range of Jams and Chutneys from Apple Paddock preserves. From traditional caramelised red onion chutney to the more exotic Mediterranean chutney and tantalising Gooseberry and Raspberry Jam there is something for everyone...


If you are looking for something to satisfy the foodie in your life then we also stock gift baskets from Foodiedirect who produce a delicious range of chutneys and jams, including apple and walnut chutney, and cranberry and clementine Jelly...


Not to mention, dry cured bacon, lamb and mint burgers and venison sausages...

Venison Bresaola...

A first for us at Redborne, as part of our new shop we decided to look at new suppliers and ended up swapping some pork for some Venison. Most of the venison was used to make game sausage but the loins were filleted and I decided to have a go at making Bresaola, an air dried meat traditionally made from beef.

Here is part 1:

We started by trimming all of the silvery sinews and making sure that we had only the leanest meat left over...


Then we needed the cure mix. In order to successfully cure an air dried meat it takes something a little special, a salt known as sodium nitrite. Commercially this is called 'Prague Powder Number 2' and is the curing agent along with salt and sugar.


To the curing agents spices and aromatics can be added and that comes down to taste. My curing mix was as follows:

100g Sea Salt
100g dark Brown Sugar
5g Prague Powder
Good helping of crushed black pepper
2 sprigs of rosemary












The cure is added to the meat, wrapped in a bag and left for a week, the process is repeated and only after this point is the meat ready to air dry...


Thursday 5 December 2013

What goes into making our products?...The making of Bacon...

With mass production and uniformity common in most products, even within our food it is often easy to forget the effort that goes into producing our staple goods.

Take the humble slice of bacon: Pink, Crisp and salty goodness. How does it get that good?


At Redborne we make our own using specially selected cuts of pork and traditional methods:
We start by weighing the pork, the salt that is rubbed into the meat must only be mixed at a specific ratio. Too much and the meat is unpalatable, too little and the uncured meat could turn rancid before the process is complete. The salt itself is not just any old salt from your kitchen table, the Sodium Nitrate gives the bacon its characteristic pink colour as well as its ability to last longer in our cupboards and fridges than pork.

Sugar, cure and spices (Coarsely ground)...

The salt is mixed at a ratio of 5% salt compared to the weight of the meat i.e. a 1 kg joint will use 50g of curing salt. To the salt we also add muscavado sugar that adds a sweet almost treacle note to the meat and a carefully selected blend of spices. Because the mix is not in a liquid and none is added this is known as a dry cure...


Pork rubbed in bacon cure ready to rest in the fridge...


The meat is left to cure for 5 days after which it has changed colour, in order to allow the flavour to develop the bacon is rinsed to remove any excess cure and then hung for at least another 7 days. As our bacon is dry cured as long as it is kept in cool conditions it could be left to hang indefinitely, as eventually it would resemble a Parma Ham.

Bacon hanging in the smoker...
The smoker full of oak chips...













After 7 days we smoke the bacon on site using oak or beech trimmings, this adds yet more flavour to the bacon. After resting for a further day the bacon is sliced, packed and ready for sale...

Making Black Pudding...

Always ones to try new things here at Redborne. It was decided to have a trial run at making black pudding. Here's how we did it and how it went...

Ingredients...

1 black pudding kit (Skins, blood, filler and seasonings)
1.3 kg of pork fat (Back fat is best)
1.980 kg of liquid (we used half warm water and half home brewed red wine)

The casings to the left soaking in freshwater and pudding funnel to the rear with stuffing attachment...


Important equipment...

A funnel (We used a specific black pudding funnel), Ladle, large mixing bowl, string, kitchen towel...

The Method...

1. We soaked the skins or casings. The beef runners (part of the cows intestines) come packaged in salt. This makes them tough and hard to work with so at least an hour before starting it's best to get them soaking in plenty of fresh water. We also put a large pan of water onto simmer...

2. The fat. A major characteristic of black pudding we were desperate to replicate is the mixture of soft fats in the farce (Black bit) and chunks of fat visible when cut and cooked. We took our kilo of fat trimmings and half were minced on a coarse plate and half chopped finely by hand...

Hand Diced...
Minced fat...










3. The fat, pudding mix and warm liquid (Not hot otherwise the mix will start to cook, not cold otherwise it won't mix) must be mixed together, if the water is warm this will be much easier...

The Black pudding mix...

4. Once the mixture is incorporated leave to stand for about half an hour. While the mix is resting cut your skins (casings) to your desired length. We estimated 50cm lengths as this allowed a good curve, plenty of skin for forming knots and room for expansion...

5. Tie a knot in one end of the skin and feed the open end over the funnels tip or attachment. Once upright slowly start to ladle the mixture into the funnel. This should be done very slowly a ladle at a time as you must leave about 2 inches of empty casing for expansion and knotting...

The casing knotted at the end, fed over the stuffing nozzle...

6. Once filled (almost) remove excess air from the remaining casing and knot. Using string tie the two knots together to form the characteristic horseshoe shape. This looks nice and helps lift the puddings in and out of the cooking pot...

Knotted and ready for the pan...

7. Once knotted add to the stock pots and cook for at least 80 minutes. Do not leave too long or they may rupture...

8. Once cooked remove and leave to cool. It's worth noting even after 80 mins the puddings that are wet will appear brown not black it is only as they dry they turn a deep black. They may also still be a little soft as the fats will not be set...
 
9. Once cool they can be stored for up to a week in the fridge, frozen or of course enjoyed fried in a little oil or butter...
The finished article with the remaining salt from the casings visible on the skins...

Our black pudding kit came from http://www.weschenfelder.co.uk/

Friday 1 November 2013

Redborne School Farm Shop...

Exciting news!!! We now have our very own farm shop. Based at the North School Site right at the farm entrance a small shop selling farm and other local produce can be found.

Small but perfectly formed...



We are initially open:

Monday: 8am - 3.30pm
Tuesday: 8am - 3.30pm
Wednesday: 8am - 3.30pm





If successful we will hopefully extend these opening hours.




Although small and cosy, our shop is welcoming and stocked with supplies for weeknight dinners or weekend breakfasts
Our meat is frozen fresh and displayed for your convenience

The Farm shop will sell Redborne Pork in the form of roasting joints, sausages and bacon. Various seasonal products such as lamb and mutton, fresh farm eggs, Local honey and preserves as well as other seasonal products and items produced within the school.

As well as our own Honey we will also stock other local and Artisan preserves 

Thursday 17 October 2013

Christmas Turkeys 2013

It is that time again, the supermarkets decorate ailses with sweets and puds and we offer beautiful Bronze turkeys for your Christmas table...


Redborne School Farm has a long history of providing high quality, rare breed turkeys and traditionally reared Christmas Chickens. This year is no exception and we’re again offering Turkeys and Chickens reared and prepared onsite, reserved for you at a weight that suits you.





The only change this year is in our weighting system. Traditionally Turkeys have been ordered and sold on a traditional long leg weight system (The weight before dressing). This year to streamline the process and make it much easier for you the customer we will order and charge at the more common oven ready weight i.e. the weight you order is the exact weight that goes into the oven. The prices reflect this and so although the price per kg has increased the bird that you purchase is still excellent value for money and works out at a similar price to previous years. We offer a high quality product at less than the supermarkets (Often more than £3 per kg cheaper) as you are buying straight from us; the supplier.

We will also only be offering Bronze birds this year as we have switched to a higher welfare hatchery to ensure that you get only the best product we can provide and this is the only variety they offer.



Plucked Weight

Price/Kg

Chickens

1.5-4.5Kg

£4.50

Turkeys


Bronze

5.0-9.0 Kg

£8.00

9.1-11.5 Kg

£7.50

11.6+ Kg

£7.00

Turkeys can be collected from the school between 8am and 12pm on the 23rd and 24th December

As well as turkeys, we also stock Hams, pork, sausages including Chipolatas, dry cured bacon and a whole host of other products to tantalise the taste buds

Order forms are available form Redborne Farm or can be requested by email at stbwilliams@redborne.com 

Thursday 1 August 2013

Bedford Foodbank...

Students at Redborne often carry out various social enterprise tasks. This not only enriches the curriculum but helps build life skills and more importantly involves students within the community...

Redborne Students cooking some of Redborne's Sausages...

Our Environmental Studies students were set the challenge of raising £10 each in order to purchase food for Bedford Foodbank..

So they set about organising a BBQ for staff and students at Redborne School. They advertised, arranged the event and did all of the cooking; raising a very impressive £100 for the project...

In order to purchase one of everything from the list takes approximately £10 so all that was needed was to head to teh shops...

There are several drop off points for those wishing to donate:
Brickhill Baptist Church, Brickhill Drive, Bedford MK41 7QFMonday 2:00 to 4:00pm and Wednesday 1:00 to 3:00pm
Christ Church, 117 Denmark Street, Bedford, MK40 3TJ
Tuesday 1:00 to 3:00pm
St Mary's Church, Church Lane, Goldington, Bedford MK41 OAPWednesday 1:00 to 3:00pm
The Salvation Army , Bedford Congress Hall, Commercial Road, Bedford MK40 1QS
Friday: 1:00 to 3:00pm
Project 229, 229 Bedford Road, Kempston, MK42 8DA
Friday: 1:00 to 3:00pm (opening 12th July 2013)...

We delivered to Brickhill Baptist Church who were very pleased to have received a van load of food...

There is often a misconception over foodbanks; that they supply benefit cheats and people who cannot be bothered to find work. This is simply not true, when we visited the centre was busy supporting a large number of elderly people who are living on the bread line as well as a disturbingly large number of young children...

food stamps are ghiven out by key workers such as GP's, Social workers and Police and so they are a truly valuable resource for many...



Buying the shopping at a local supermarket...


10 of everything...
All boxed up and ready to go with a few extra donations...
Starting to fill up the drop off point at Brickhill Baptist Church...







http://bedford.foodbank.org.uk/

Fibre East II: A Woolly Weekend...

Over the weekend Fibre East came to Redborne. 140 exhibitors and various demonstartions made for a fantastic weekend...




The farm was open to visitors and many folk made their way around the farm to see what we offer students and the local community...
The exhibitors also came for dinner...

Tuesday 16 July 2013

What to do with Mutton...

Here at Redborne we produce Mutton seasonally and it is that season again. A few folk have asked for mutton recipes and so I thought I'd place just a couple of easy guides to cook delicious mutton dishes:

If you fancy some mutton to make either the dishes below or anything else then we have joints priced at £7 per kg...

The Pie...

This does make a BIG pie reminiscent of Despertae Dan.

Ingredients:

Pastry:

400 - 500g plain flour
150 -200g Fat, cubed (I prefer lard but stork will do)
150g grated cheese (Proper mature cheddar)
Cold water to bind

Filling:

One large onion diced
A little olive oil
1 kg Mutton shoulder, diced (or left over mutton from the delicious roast)
250g new potatoes
100g frozen peas
1/2 Jar redcurrant Jelly
4 tablespoons Mint Sauce
1tr Lamb Stock (Stock cube stuff is good)
Corn flour

Method:
 
1. For the pastry add flour and fat and rub until fine crumbs, add a generous pinch of black pepper (Don't add salt as there is plenty in the cheese)
2. Add the cheese and work in as you have the fat but not too much
3. Once mixed add just enough cold water to bind
4. Bring Pastry together into a dough.

5. For the filling, add the diced onion to a hot pan with a little olive oil. Saute until golden
6. Add the lamb and brown (Unless using left overs then skip to step 7)
7.Cover the lamb with the stock and add the peas, mint sauce and redcurrant jelly. Stir until Jelly has dissolved.
8. Place pot in the oven for at least four hours, adding the potatoes during the last hour. (If using left overs just add the potatoes and simmer for 45 mins)
9. Once the lamb is deliciously tender and the potatoes are cooked, add 4 teaspoons of cornflour to a mug and mix with cold water. Once mixed, stir cornflour into lamb to thicken the gravy.

10. Roll out 2/3 of the pastry and line a genrous pie dish.
11. Fill with meat, veg and gravy
12. Roll out the remaining 1/3 and place as lid. Cut a hole to let steam escape and crimp the edges
13. Glaze and cook one 170 degrees C for 40 mins - 1hour or until golden and crisp

Job done!!!
 
Roast Mutton
 
1. Take one of our legs or shoulders of mutton
2. Place on a trivet of onions in a large roasting dish
3. Fill the bottom of teh roasting dish with white wine until it just touches the bottom of the meat
4. Sprinkle the mutton with a little salt, pepper and either chopped thyme or rosemary.
5. Cover tightly with foil
6. Cook in a low oven (160 degrees Celsius) for 6 hours
7. Serve with whatever takes your fancy, sauteed cabbage and roast potatoes are a personal favourite)

Monday 15 July 2013

As happy as a pig in...

With the recent warmth the pigs have been making the most of their attention and facilities. Our indoor pigs have been having regular baths and those outside have been making the most of their wallows...

 


Pigs use their wallows for many things especially covering their skin from the sun to avoid sunburn...

Learning to butcher a pig...

Ever fancied learning a new skill? Keep livestock and fancy exploring the production process? Well we haved and do and wanted to see if we could teach others...

Doug had asked if he could help with the butchering of a pig and so we thought lets see if we can transfer the skills needed...



Looks like success to me...

If you fancy a go then why not search our blog for our step by step guide to butchering your own pig and keep your eyes peeled for our adult courses in pig keeping, butchery and sausage making which will be coming soon...

Thursday 4 July 2013

Join us at Fibre East...

Fibre East is a regional event that brings together all things natural fibre...



Spinners, producers and crafts people will all be present and of course the sheer sheep experience will also be visiting with the road show...

 and the Farm will be open to visitors...

Monday 1 July 2013

The Great Escape...

Anyone who keeps livestock especially sheep, realise that to our stock the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence...

In this case it was just as green but loaded with fruits, vegetables and interesting plants to munch...

After a bid for freedom, a mad dash back to the fields and barn...


Still eventually all the escapees were rounded up and we can rest assured that this years lamb will have been fed a truly varied and healthy diet of fresh fruit and the best pastures...

Thursday 13 June 2013

Suffolk Show... The start of a Showing Season...

The production of livestock, especially rare breed livestock is a passion as well as a vocation and sometimes it is nice to sse that your hardwork pays off. Kelly our Livestock technician has spent years cultivating Redbornes stock and ensuring that we produce a high quality stock and each year enters stock into Agricultural shows...


Waiting for the big moment...



Suffolk show is the first of the year for us and this year we entered a Gilt and Sow...


Holly our Sow won first place in the coloured pigs class, first place in the saddleback place and reserve champion of the coloured pigs overall...


It's important to ensure that stock is produced to the highest standards as it benefits the pigs in the long term. The rare breed pigs that we keep have shrinking gene pools, the careful management of teh quality of the stock becomes ever more important. Those with the strongest attributes build a better breed...


A fine and well controlled pig...




After 15 minutes of fame a well earned tummy rub is needed









Thursday 21 March 2013

Lambing 2013...

Spring is in the air all be it only just and it is lambing time again. We use contraceptive sponges to deliberately control the period during which our lambs are born. Sponging involves a progesterone sponge sitting against the cervix for two weeks. After two weeks it is removed and the ram is able to serve the ewes. in Theory approximately 147 days later they should give birth...


With 30 ewes including 12 first time Mum's this year is keeping us fairly busy...



The lambs have been well received, cuddled to their very limit and of course will be raised to show students the entire food chain from 'Field to Fork'...

Not Just For Christmas...

At Redborne we produce a whole range of Fayre for Christmas from Bronze and Norfolk Black Turkeys right through to Hams and Sausages...

The thing is; not only do we produce food all year round, not just at Christmas but we also sell all year round...

With this in mind why not have a look at a few of our Alternative suggestions to see that Turkey and Ham is not just for Christmas...

Ingredients:
1 x Redborne Ham (2-4kg)
1 x 1.5 litre bottle of Idris Fiery ginger beer (Other ginger beer will do as long as it is the full sugar version
6 tsps of Redborne Honey
1 x Savoy Cabbage (Finely Chopped)
1 x 500g pack of Redborne Streaky Bacon
Assorted Vegetables for roasting

Method:

1. Soak the ham for 24 hours in a big pot of cold water, change the water at least twice

2. Place the now soaked ham in a slow cooker and cover with ginger beer. Cook for 6 hours. If using a pan and the hob, simmer gently in the ginger beer for at least three hours and for larger joints as long as 5 hours

3. Remove the joint from the ginger beer

4. Carefully remove the skin leaving as much of the fat as possible

5. Gently warm some honey and smear liberally over the top of the fat

6. Place in a preheated oven for no more than 20 minutes

7. For the cabbage cut the bacon into lardons and fry on a high heat until crisp


8. Add a little butter and place the finely chopped cabbage in with the bacon

9. Cook until soft.

10. Serve with Roast parsnips and potatoes, a little gravy and of course a smidgen of bread sauce

How about a variation on Coq-Au-Vin using our very tasty Turkeys:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/turkeylegscoqauvin_13962