Newsletter

New Bramble Thyme jam, marmalade and chutney

 BRAMBLE THYME
Bramble Thyme began in 2000 as a hobby. Debbie's early days picking blackberries and making jam for friends and family have developed into a successful cottage industry. She now produces over 40 different varieties of jam, marmalade and chutney. Locally grown fruit is used wherever possible and no artificial additives are used.

LIZZIE'S HOMEMADE
Lizzie makes Frutta Cotta,Amaretto Apricots,Primi Prunes,Frutta Cotta Mostarda, and Posh Prunes. The inspiration for Cumbrian Frutta Cotta came from a family holiday in Umbria, Italy. The local restaurants were fascinating and delicious, inspiring an exploration of Italian recipes when back home in Cumbria. From this exploration came Cumbrian Frutta Cotta (Cumbrian cooked fruit) inspired by Gennaro Contaldo's recipe. Cumbria meets Umbria.

Friendly Food and Drink
A new company which produces preserves, chutneys, curds and coulis for the health conscious, diabetics or those with allergies. Our hand made products contain fruit sugars rather than cane sugar, this means they are friendlier. However, they do still contain sugar and as such we do not recommend excessive consumption.
Fructose is generally recognised as a healthier alternative, because it does not contain any of the tooth decaying acids and is not absorbed by the body, therefore does not encourage weight gain.
None of our products contain gluten/wheat or nuts. Most do not contain dairy. None contain artificial preservatives or colourings.

Phew!!!
Catering for the local Beer Festival was tough. Thursday evening, then from lunchtime to midnight Friday and Saturday. We put on a Steak and Ale pie, using a new Ulverston microbrewery stout. Plus veggie curry pasties for the non-meat eaters and rolls with meaty equivalents for the carnivores.
All this extra cooking is of course additional to keeping the shop stocked. Lots of people are in the Lakes on holiday - and roughly one customer in twenty would like a hamper making up.
Wishing stones are proving popular this school holiday. A hand-thrown pot smiley face in various colours at £1.50 they're apparently "The" gift for teacher this season. One customer bought 18!
Sandie and I are thinking of putting on a Pudding of the Week as well as specials and some new salads. Only problem is, when we put a different dish on the menu, everyone wants it to become permanent and thus our extensive selection is extending. Unfortunately the kitchen isn't.
Talking of puddings, a Polish tourist came into the shop on Tuesday. Transporting a carton of Sticky Toffee Pudding home for mum and dad could prove a problem. Does anyone have any idea how a carton of Sticky Toffee Pudding can clear customs, travel to Poland and then survive an eight hour journey by road to mum's? Please post any answers on the Website. Does anyone know where we can obtain a passion fruit concentrate? Watch this space for amazing passion cheesecake recipes, passion pudding and sponges.