Here comes the sun

Wow, summer has arrived at last, which means I can get the Garden Hob out tonight and cook in the garden.  What a change from the recent deluge and so quickly too. Barely time to change out of the wellies and get the sandals on!

I can never quite get over our Great British weather and how we can experience all the seasons in a day.  But today, I can safely say has been summer, summer and more summer.

So, it being the summer holidays and with nothing else to do, my talented son has been out in the sunshine,  trying out a possible future career as a photographer and has created some great new images for our website, but I want to share them with you here and now.

He is only 14, so any encouragement you can give him would be greatly appreciated - please leave a comment on the blog or contact us through the website and as long as he doesn't start demanding professional fees, I'll pass them on.

Astonishing what a difference good, natural lighting makes to a picture and I absolutely love these. 

Our style guru at Cornflower and Calico has already made the following remark:  Excellent, lovely clean pics

Thanks for that, Pete.

Please let me know what you think, so he can feel that it was worth all the effort - he is a teenager and hard work is an alien concept!





Good morning

A very early Good Morning to everyone reading the blog over the ocean in the USA.

Please let me know how you found us, what you think of the products and if you would like to see these in America.

What are you all having for breakfast this morning?  Did you know you can cook great oatmeal (or porridge as we call it) in a slow cooker.  Wake up to a delicious, healthy breakfast to make a great start to your day.
Or what about the great classsic, Huevos Rancheros?  Cook the tomato and pepper base overnight and then add the eggs when you get up - a fantastic brunch and in the large cast iron bowl you can make enough to invite the neighborhood!

And on the subject of classics, can you send me your definitive recipe for Boston Baked Beans.  I guess this is just like asking for the only recipe for Yorkshire puddings here in the UK, but  I would love to see what you all think makes the perfect can of beans.

What would you cook on the Garden Hob?  This is the wettest summer any of us can remember here in England, so the Garden Hobs are all sitting in the shed, but we have been promised a late summer in September, so I am starting to get my ideas ready now.
These products are ideal for all of us who do not have a huge back yard, but still want to eat outside and they are compact and easy to store when you are not using them - we don't all have the space to pack away a huge gas barbecue in the bad weather!

I discovered this week that the world truly is a global village - one of our Dutch friends introduced us to a customer in South Africa - I got a message about one of his connections via Linked In - the connection lives in Britain and bought one of our slow cookers.  In fact, I hope to be publising some of his Kosher recipes very soon! Six degrees of separation - who can you connect me to?

More coincidences in the next blog!

Get in touch via the website or sales@netherton-foundry.co.uk

Piggy perfection

Making the most of a joint of belly pork......

If any of you were reading Twitter yesterday, you will know that I was feeling creative and trying out a new recipe for the slow cooker.  Well I am delighted to say that it turned out even better than I could have expected and, in the words of my 9 year old food critic , Megan, was absolutely amazing - full review after the recipe.
This was so simple to make, the preparation time was less than 10 minutes and the end result was so tender and full of flavour.  What's more, belly pork is a very economic cut and you don't need to add much to it to make a gourmet dish.
As you can see in the picture, the meat just fell apart at the touch of a fork.
I am guessing that this would be delicious served cold in a crusty cob, but I can't swear to that because there is none left to try!



3 onions, thickly sliced
1 joint of belly pork (mine weighed 750g)
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons five spice powder
3 dessertspoons runny honey
300 ml water

Lay the onions on the bottom of the cast iron bowl. If they don't cover the bottom - add some more.
Mix the salt, five spice powder and honey together and rub all over the pork, ideally with your hands.  Messy, but that's half the fun of cooking.
Put the pork on top of the onions and pour the water round.
Cover and place on the heater base.
Cook for 8-10 hours on KEEP WARM.

And here is what my harshest critic had to say:

Ahhhhh, the pork is all I could ever think of. Absolutely gorgeous.  Meat soft and chewy, sauce is superb and skin is just delicious.  Everyone need and MUST try it.  It was heaven for me.

Megan, age 9



Thank you for your kind words, Megan and I love Piglet!

Where are you?

I have just been checking the statistics for the blog, just to make sure that I am not simply writing to myself. 

It would seem that this is not the case and you, my dear readers, are out there, all around the world.

So, you have an insight into my life - on the road; in the shops; cooking; tasting; eating.  Is it too much to ask that I get a brief glimpse of who you are and what you are doing? 
How did you find me?
What's your favourite post?
Have you got a recipe for me to publish?

Of course the hot (or not so hot) topic here in Britain is the dire state of our British summer weather.  As Annie Lennox so beautifully sang, "Here comes the rain again" and "Is it raining with you?"
Let me know where you are and what the weather is like.

Of course, whatever the weather, one of our slow cookers or the kitchen companion is invaluable - you will already have seen the summer recipes, but if you fancy something to warm you up, there are plenty of those to choose from too.

Please get in touch, we love to talk to people, even if it's only by e-mail.
Leave a comment on the blog, send us an e-mail or contact us through the website. 

Let me know you are really there!
Meanwhile, I'm off to put the kettle on.

Pete's sticky chicken and I don't know how she does it!

This is  a fabulous recipe specially created for us by our great friend and Netherton Foundry stockist, Cornflower and Calico in Stroud, a shop full of lovely things and Pete the proprietor!

Pete's Sticky Chicken

Fry off until lightly brown as many chicken portions as you require in your Netherton Foundry bowl.

Add a large lump of finely chopped ginger, two rough chopped onions, half a jar of runny honey, half a jar of damson cheese, salt and pepper.

Stir it all up a bit, set to LOW on the Netherton Foundry slow cooker or put it on the Garden Hob and leave with lid on for about 5 hours.

Remove lid and place on hot heat source and reduce until you are left with sticky chicken portions (about 20 mins).
Best eaten with your fingers! 
Yum yum, enjoy.

If you are feeling lazy and don't want to cook, even with all the ease and convvenience of our slow cookers and you happen to find yourself in the Bradford on Avon area, go and visit the New Inn at Westwood for a warm welcome and a great meal.

The pub is owned by the lady who runs the fabulous Tillions in Bradford on Avon, where you can not only buy from a great range of china, glass, cutlery and cookware, but also fresh eggs from her own hens. There must be 26 hours in a day in Wiltshire, because I have no idea how else she fits it all in! 



If you know anyone who would like to join our stockist list, please get in touch.

A day on the farm

Actually it was 2 days and a big "Thank you" to everyone at Apley Farm for making me so welcome at  their Jubilee BBQ and then Open Farm Sunday, where we were promoting the Netherton Foundry cast iron range.

I don't know how they managed it, but the weather stayed fine (although not what you'd call summery, whatever has happened to the weather this year?) for both events and the crowds of people who turned up are testament to what a fantastic place this is to visit.  This is not just a farm shop - there is loads to see and do and the Skylark walk is a fantastic way to get children interested in the countryside around them.  If it rains, take them to the Playbarn.

This is also the place to be if you want a delicious lunch - here's Derrin cooking up a storm at the BBQ

................. I can personally endorse the cakes in the Courtyard cafe too.

The atmosphere of the BBQ was greatly enhanced by the wonderful music from Simply Jazz lending a laid back air to the general mood.  Like having molten chocolate poured into your ears, I could have listened to these guys for hours. 

I adored Matilda the Kune Kune pig who put in a special appearance on Open Farm Sunday, and I am pleased to report that she was spared the trauma of a photo opportunity with Derrin and his meat cleaver - shame on you, sir!

A great place, with lovely people - please go and see them and I know you will not be disappointed.

Diamond Jubilee

Are you all looking forward to the Jubilee weekend?  I know we are here at Netherton Foundry.  It's fantastic to see our Limited Edition clocks so beautifully displayed in Bentleys shop in window on Stourport High Street - I drive past on my way in to work every morning and Julie's displays are always so eye catching.  Good luck in the window dressing competition, Julie!

We are going to a party to celebrate the wedding anniversary of our friends who met at a Silver Jubilee street party - public and personal celebrations combined. 

I hope the weather is fine for everyone planning a street party - just heard on the radio that 9,500 roads are going to be closed for parties.  It's good to know that we are all in the mood and ready to celebrate.  It feels so exciting as I drive round the country and see bunting, flags, Olympic rings ...

I will be at Apley Farm  tomorrow, cooking on the Garden Hob for the Jubilations; come and see us if you are in the area.

Dashing off to make cakes now! 

www.netherton-foundry.co.uk