Hinchliffe's Farm

Money saving tips from Hinchliffe’s
(2 minute read)

The rise in the cost of living is hitting us all at the moment and with fears over the ever-increasing energy prices this winter everyone is feeling the pinch. We understand that our customers maybe looking to save money on their food shopping and we want to do everything we can to help support them without compromising on quality.

It’s really important during this difficult time that we continue to feed our families healthy and nutritious foods and the best way to achieve this is cooking from scratch when possible and using locally sourced produce. Here are a few small ways that could help you save a few pounds this winter but still enjoy delicious home cooked food.

We love making stews and casseroles in the Autumn months which we bulk up with extra veggies, we try and cook multiple portions of these types of meals so we use less energy and have meals in the freezer for a quick but delicious dinner to warm up in the future. A Microwave is the most energy efficient way to do this, rather than putting the oven on.

Homemade soup is great for a warming lunch and so easy to make using a variety of vegetables and if desired a small amount of meat such as a rasher or two bacon for extra flavour.

Fresh herbs really finish a meal but often we find we don’t use the whole pack and the remainder goes to waste, did you know that you can actually freeze a lot of herbs to use at a later date? If you  chop your fresh herbs up an add them to an ice cube tray topped up with water or oil they will keep in the freezer until you need them and are great stirred in to soups or casseroles for a pop of flavour.

Try and utilise your freezer as much as possible by freezing leftovers, batch cooking and also stocking up on any offers available for future meals. We run a three for £12 offer on meats that include pork sausages, braising steaks, pork loin chops, whole chickens and oak smoked bacon chops which are all suitable to be frozen and make a great quick dinner with potatoes and veg.

When shopping it always helps to make a meal plan for the week to ensure you only buy what you need and avoid food waste. We have put together a ‘Meat for the week’ box for our customers which will help with this, there are three options to choose from and all include five different types of meat for you to base your meals around for just £20 or £25

And with all this doom and gloom in the news we still want to indulge ourselves at the weekend and have something to look forward to! Our Butcher Chop deals often includes a joint of meat at a reduced price which is perfect for a Sunday roast and with the money saved you can treat yourself to our wine of the month which is a great bargain with up to 20% off!

We are also running a free drink promotion in The Rusty Bull, grab one our promotional leaflets from the farmshop and you will receive a free drink* on us! When ordering 2 courses at The Rusty Bull.

*Free glass of house wine (175ml), pint of beer or draught soft drink per person per booking. Simply show the promotional leaflet, or email when ordering your food (print or on your phone) to claim your free drink. One glass per guest when ordering two courses, served from 6pm on Friday & Saturday evenings. Offer cannot be exchanged for any other product and/or cash alternative. Offer not to be used in conjunction with any other offer or promotion. Selected house wines only, please ask your server for a list. Offer valid until 31^st October. 

Where does our food come from and why is it important that we care?

Food plays an important role in the lives we lead and the choices we make around which food we buy can impact both our health and the environment. 

When we go to a supermarket we are bombarded with offers selling us highly processed foods at low prices, but we really should be asking ourselves why is this food so cheap? Where was it produced and manufactured? And what on earth is in it that keeps it fresh for so long?!

Highly processed foods can be detrimental to our health when eaten in large quantities as they are generally filled with preservatives, sugar and fats with very little fibre and nutrients. They have been linked with a variety of health issues such as diabetes, obesity, cancer and cardiovascular disease. So, it’s really important that we are aware of what we are putting in our bodies aiming for more wholefoods, fresh fruit and vegetables and meat and fish which is responsibly produced and as locally reared as possible.

We also should be paying attention to where the food we eat comes from and the impact that has on the environment. It’s great that we have access to a variety of exotic fruit and vegetables all year round but the carbon footprint attached to that luxury is enormous. By making small changes to the way we shop we can improve both our own health and limit damage to the environment.

Here at Hinchliffe's we care deeply about where the food we sells comes from. Our beef is from our own free-range herd which we raise from birth under the best possible conditions ensuring our cows are happy and the meat they produce the best quality. Our eggs are laid by our own barn chickens on the farm ensuring all our eggs are as fresh as possible. We have an in-house bakery which makes a vast array of breads and cakes baked fresh daily which are not filled with a cocktail of preservatives and additives that we can’t pronounce let alone want to eat! Our manufacturing on site uses only the very best ingredients - so our Pies, Pasties and Sausages are all made with love and filled with meat and not fillers! And our fresh fruit and vegetables are delivered from local markets keeping down our carbon emissions whilst still ensuring the best quality available.

So next time you go shopping please keep in mind a few of these points, it’s not about making massive changes all at once but more little tweaks which all add up and will improve your health, support your local economy and reduce your impact on the environment. 

The joy of Eggs

It’s no secret that here at Hinchliffe’s we are passionate about eggs and the hens we have that produce them. Our eggs not only taste delicious but are nutritional powerhouses jam packed full of vitamins and nutrients that keep us healthy. In fact, eggs are pretty much the perfect food as they contain a bit of almost every nutrient your body needs. 

Most people know that eggs are a great source of protein which helps keep us feeling full and maintains and repairs body tissue but did you know that eating eggs can also help prevent age related blindness? Egg yolks contain high levels of lutein and zeaxanthin which significantly reduce the risks of macular degeneration and cataracts which are common eye conditions we often experience as we get older. 

As well as helping your vision eggs also help make you smarter! They contain a little known nutrient call Choline which helps nerve cells in your brain talk to each other, we are often deficient in Choline so eggs are the perfect way to keep your levels up and guarantee your winning streak on Wordle!

Aside from all the health benefits of eggs we really love them because they taste great! We believe that our passion for animal welfare here at Hinchliffe’s ensures that we produce the highest quality, healthiest and happiest hen’s in the country and their eggs are the best quality available. 

Next time you visit the farm shop why don’t you pick up half a dozen and have a go at making our Spring Vegetable and New Potato Frittata, it’s the perfect spring dish! 

Spring Vegetable and New Potato Frittata

Ingredients

200g new potatoes, quartered
50g peas
100g tenderstem broccoli
1 tbsp olive oil
1 onion, finely chopped
6 eggs, beaten
40g cheddar, grated

Method

Firstly put your grill on the highest heat. Boil a kettle full of water. Add your quartered new potatoes to a pan and cover with boiling water and a pinch of salt. Cook for approx. 10 mins until almost tender.

Whilst your potatoes are cooking heat the tablespoon of olive oil in a frying pan (oven proof ideally as this will need to go under the grill) and cook the onion until softened.

Add the tenderstem broccoli and peas to the potatoes pan for the final couple of minutes. Once cooked drain and set aside.

Whisk the eggs with half of the grated cheese and season, then add this mixture to the onions and spread the cooked new potatoes, tenderstem broccoli and peas evenly on top. Cook until starting to firm up underneath.

Scatter on the remaining cheese and place under the grill for approx. 5 mins until golden and cooked through. Delicious with a side salad and some crusty bread.