Jame Jones of Yalbury Cottage talks about breakfast (From Dorset Echo)

Jame Jones of Yalbury Cottage talks about breakfast

10:21am Thursday 21st January 2010 in

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NOW, I am not going to go on about losing those unwanted pounds you have put on over the festive season by over indulging!

That is your own fault...you can, however, if you feel fit to, help shed those unwanted pounds by indulging in breakfast The word breakfast means to ‘break the fast’ the first meal, be it of the day or a life-time. When you get married the lunch is often known as the wedding breakfast.

As everyone knows, breakfast is the most important meal of the day – and it’s true.

If you do want to lose weight the worst thing you can do is miss out on breakfast.

So, to celebrate National Farmhouse Breakfast Week from January 24 to 30 you can make it your New Year’s resolution to have breakfast every morning.

It does not need be such a drag or fattening and you may find that you really enjoy it. It could be a bowl of cereal like cornflakes (I always forget how good they taste) or a slice of toast and marmite (love it, hate it) but there is a more interesting side, a more fun side and a more sexy side to having breakfast.

Demanding teenagers deserve a little more of an interesting breakfast. I am thinking freshly squeezed carrot and apple juice, healthy bran muffins and granola bars.

For the kids I am thinking more fun – and trick them into having something more healthy, such as carrot and walnut muffins, porridge with apple compote, Weetabix with banana split.

As for sexy, yes, I’m talking breakfast in bed. When was the last time you surprised your partner with breakfast in bed?

Do not wait until you have messed up after an office Christmas party. Be spontaneous – and with Valentine’s Day just round the corner, why try not bucks fizz, boiled egg and soldiers and pancakes with maple syrup.

So this weekend why not visit a farm shop like Pampered Pigs in Bere Regis and cook up a true Dorset Breakfast – if not for anything but to celebrate National Farmhouse breakfast week. Do you really need any better excuse?

Here are some recipes to get you started, enjoy your breakfast and have a nice day.

PANCAKES AMERICAN STYLE

Ingredients:

600g self-raising all-purpose flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

50g sugar

750ml buttermilk

250ml milk

115g butter

4 eggs

1 tbsp vanilla extract

Method: Sift the dry ingredients together. Combine the wet ingredients and add to the dry. Mixture should be slightly lumpy. Pour into hot frying pan, slightly oiled, four-inch in diameter and cook until golden brown on both sides.

WAFFLE BATTER

Ingredients:

500g soft flour

50g sugar

6 whole eggs

750g milk

180g melted butter

180g egg whites

Pinch of salt

Method: Combine flour, sugar, whole eggs, milk and butter. Whip together the whites and the salt, and fold into the mixture.

Pour into hot waffle machine.

PANNETONE WITH ORANGE SYRUP

This is a great way to use up the left over panettone from Christmas.

Serves four people

Ingredients:

4 large pieces pannetone

200ml milk

3 eggs

40g sugar

Pinch of cinnamon powder

Zest of 2 oranges

Method: In a bowl whisk together eggs, sugar, cinnamon and orange zest. Step by step add the milk. Place in the fridge Cut 3 large pieces of Pannetone and plunge them into the mixture.

Toast them from both sides in a hot non-stick frying pan with a little vegetable oil until golden brown.

Orange Syrup

Ingredients:

50ml maple syrup

Segments and juice of 2 oranges

Method: Bring to boil the maple syrup until reduced by half.

Add the segments and the juice, return to boil and pour over the Pannetone and serve warm dusted with icing sugar.