Do you make time for breakfast every day, or are you always just a little bit too busy? Maybe you’re not quite sure what to have for breakfast or just don’t like eating alone.

Breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day, so in order to promote the health benefits but also the variety of top quality Welsh breakfast produce available, the Pembrokeshire branch of the Farmers’ Union of Wales is hosting a farmhouse breakfast on Friday, January 27, at Crundale Hall, Cardigan Road, Crundale, Haverfordwest.

FUW Pembrokeshire County Executive Officer Rebecca Voyle, who is organising the breakfast, said: “I would like to extend a warm welcome to you all to join us for breakfast here in Pembrokeshire. It’s our first ever breakfast function as part of Farmhouse breakfast week and we would love for you to be involved in what we do.

“There surely is no better place to share your thoughts and worries about the state of the industry, tell us your stories and help us to understand how we can help each other, than round a table where we share great food and have a cup of tea.

“We can start the day together in a positive and healthy way and at the same time raise money for British Heart Foundation Cymru.”

For more information and to book your seat at the Pembrokeshire breakfast table contact the Haverfordwest office on 01437 762913.

[caption id="attachment_7328" align="alignleft" width="285"] FUW Anglesey CEO Heidi Williams[/caption]

Why not get your day off to a racing start and join the Farmers’ Union of Wales farmhouse breakfast at Cartio Mon, Bodedern on Anglesey.

The breakfast is held on Friday, January 27 and starts at 8.30am. It is part of the FUW’s farmhouse breakfast week campaign, which aims to help politicians, key stakeholders and the general public to really understand the important role the food and drink sector plays in their everyday lives.

“We want you to be a part of what we do, and share your thoughts and worries about the state of the industry, tell us your stories and help us to understand how we can help each other. And of course there is no better time or place for bonding people together and sharing ideas than over good food,” said FUW Anglesey County Executive Officer Heidi Williams.

This breakfast campaign provides an opportunity to promote the quality premium local produce that farmers grow for us every day of the year and throughout breakfast week the FUW will shine a spotlight on the importance of our rural economy.

Over the last year the FUW has been busy highlighting why farming matters – not just in terms of food security but also in terms of our rural economy and our rural communities.

A host of businesses up and down the country have already been supporting the FUW in bringing that message across to politicians last year. Through farm visits, round table discussions and meetings, the Union has been making great progress in highlighting why #FarmingMatters.

“However, we want to continue that work and would like to invite you to join us around the kitchen table for breakfast. This is why we are holding a breakfast here on Anglesey and we will be joined by producers, members and our local politicians. So why not book your place at our breakfast table, get your day off to a racing start and help us to show why farming matters?,” added Mrs Williams.

To book your seat at the Anglesey breakfast, please contact the office on 01248 750250.

Planning ahead for your Sunday roast next weekend? Why not give this recipe a try?

[caption id="attachment_7465" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Roast Welsh Beef Sirloin with chestnuts, stilton and chives[/caption]

Recipe information

Serves: 6

Cooking time: 120 mins

Ingredients

• Welsh Beef sirloin joint
• 1 onion, roughly chopped
• 1 clove garlic, crushed
• 6 Welsh Beef sausages, skins removed
• 50g (2oz) dried natural breadcrumbs
• 15ml (1tbsp) oil
• 75g (3oz) vacuum packed peeled chestnuts, chopped
• 75g (3oz) stilton cheese, crumbed
• 30ml (2tbsp) fresh Chives, chopped
• 300ml (1/2pt) mulled wine (optional for gravy)

Method

1. Pre-heat your oven to Gas Mark 4, 180?C, 350?F. Cooking times: Rare – 20 minutes per 450g (1lb) plus 20 minutes Medium – 25 minutes per 450g (1lb) plus 25 minutes Well done – 30 minutes per 450g (1lb) plus 30 minutes
2. Gently heat some oil in a pan and lightly soften the onion and garlic – once softened place in a bowl and allow to cool slightly.
3. Once cooled add the Welsh Beef sausage meat, breadcrumbs, chestnuts, stilton and chives and mix together well. Shape half of the mixture into small sausages.
4. With the sausage shapes complete, take a sharp knife and make a small slit in the joint of Welsh Beef – cut into the fat pocket. Take small spoonfuls of the stuffing and press it into the pocket that you’ve just created.
5. Next, it’s time to weigh the joint and calculate the cooking time using the method above.
6. Once you’ve made the calculations, place the joint in a shallow foil lined roasting tray and cook for the calculated time.
7. When the joint is 30 minutes away from being cooked, place the stuffing ‘sausages’ into the oven.
8. Remove the cooked joint from oven and allow to stand for at least 10-15 minutes.
9. Pour all of the juices into a small pan along with the mulled wine and reduce.
10. Serve thick slices of the Welsh Beef with stuffing, Yorkshire puddings and seasonal vegetables.

Breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day and having a healthy start by eating breakfast can help to reduced obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes.

In order to promote the health benefits but also the variety of top quality Welsh breakfast produce available, a variety of farmhouse breakfasts are being held in Caernarfonshire as part of Farmhouse breakfast week.

So why not kick start your day the healthy way and join us at one of our 5 breakfasts, which have been organised on the following dates:

• Saturday, January 21, at Meillionydd Bach, Rhoshirwaun, Pwllheli
• Monday, January 23, at Ty’n Hendre, Talybont
• Tuesday, January 24, at Llys Padrig, Y Ffor, Pwllheli, Gwynedd, Bangor
• Friday, January 27, at Dylasau Uchaf, Padog, Betws-y-Coed, Conwy 
• Friday, January 27, at Caffi Ann, Bryncir Mart, Bryncir, Garndolbenmaen

Farmers’ Union of Wales Caernarfonshire County Executive Officer Gwynedd Watkin, who is organising the events, said:

“I get really excited about our farmhouse breakfasts every year. We can start the day together in a positive and healthy way and at the same time raise money for British Heart Foundation Cymru at all locations and Cancer Research Wales as well in Meillionydd Bach. Over the last 8 years, the Caernarfonshire breakfasts alone have raised over £35,000 and we’re looking for yet another good turnout this year. It’s fair to say that a healthy start is good for a healthy heart. As they say, eat breakfast like a King.”

BHF are the nation’s heart charity and the largest independent funder of cardiovascular research. Coronary heart disease is the UK’s single biggest killer and their pioneering research has helped to transform the lives of people living with heart and circulatory conditions and their work has been central to the discoveries of vital treatments that are helping to change the face of the UK’s fight against heart disease.

“This Farmhouse breakfast week also provides an opportunity to promote the quality premium local produce that farmers grow for us every day of the year, and throughout breakfast week the FUW will shine a spotlight on the importance of our rural economy.

“I hope many of you will be able to join us for breakfast. We want you to be a part of what we do, and share your thoughts and worries about the state of the industry, tell us your stories and help us to understand how we can help each other, and what better way to do that than round a table where we share great food and have a cup of tea,” added Mr Watkin.

For more information on how to book your seat at the breakfast table contact the Caernarfonshire office on 01286 672541.

A new year usually means a New Year’s resolution for many. So why not make having breakfast a good habit starting from this month? To help you with the new resolution there are farmhouse breakfast being held in Denbighshire and Flintshire, which you can join.

The Denbigh and Flint branches of the Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) are hosting three breakfast in January as part of the FUW’s farmhouse breakfast week, which are held on:

• Friday, January 27, at Neuadd y Pentre, Groes, near Denbigh;
• Saturday, January 28, at Gwytherin Village Hall,
• Friday, January 27, Cilcain Village Hall, Flintshire.

“Breakfast is one of the most important meals of the day, providing the body and brain with fuel after an overnight fast. Without breakfast you are effectively running on empty, like trying to start the tractor or car without fuel, it’s not going to give you the best start to the day.

“And if like some of us, you have overindulged a little bit over the festive period, then you will be pleased to hear that research has shown that those who eat breakfast regularly are less likely to be overweight. It might even help you to lose a few extra pounds, because if you have breakfast you are less likely to reach for high sugar and fatty snacks mid-morning,” said Gwennan Williams, the FUW’s Denbigh and Flint County Executive Officer’s Assistant.

This breakfast campaign also provides an opportunity to promote the quality premium local produce that farmers grow for us every day of the year and throughout breakfast week the FUW will shine a spotlight on the importance of our rural economy.

“Politicians, key stakeholders and the general public need to really understand the important role the food and drink sector plays in their everyday lives, so to do just that we will be enjoying some great local produce to kick-start our day as part of our breakfast week campaign.

“But we want you to be a part of what we do, and share your thoughts and worries about the state of the industry, tell us your stories and help us to understand how we can help each other,” added Gwennan Williams.

[caption id="attachment_7475" align="alignleft" width="297"] Darren Williams[/caption]

The Farmers’ Union of Wales (FUW) has welcomed Welsh Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Rural Affairs Lesley Griffiths’ announcement of a £40 million investment scheme which will allow farm businesses to improve performance in key areas.

The scheme will provide 40% support for farm business investments of up to £12,000 over a four-year period for around eighty items linked to:

• animal health,
• genetics and performance,
• crop management,
• energy and resource efficiency
• Information and Communications technology.

Welcoming the announcement, FUW Younger Voice Committee Chairman Darren Williams said:

“Over the past three years farmers have paid around £120 million into the Rural Development Programme through pillar transfers, so the opportunity to access funding to improve their businesses in this way will be welcome.

“The FUW has lobbied hard to secure such a scheme for years, and more recently has worked with Hybu Cig Cymru, AHDB Dairy and the Welsh Government to draw up a list of possible items which would improve farm performance.”

Mr Williams said that while there would no doubt be items, desired by some businesses, which will not have made it onto the list due to the strict selection criteria, the comprehensive list of those which had, would bring major benefits to farms.

Announcing the scheme, Lesley Griffiths said the key objectives would be reducing carbon emissions and to improve resilience and competitiveness.

“We are continually striving to make our farms more efficient and effective, while also lowering our impact on the environment, but with many farm incomes well below the £20,000 mark, finding the money to invest in what’s needed can be impossible.

“This scheme should therefore provide welcome help on that front, while seeing investment on farms which have paid into the RDP for years but not received anything. I do however hope that every farmer will be able to access the scheme and not just a select target few,” said Mr Williams.

Mr Williams added he looked forward to seeing more of the scheme’s details, and hoped the application and implementation rules would not be too burdensome.