Farmhouse Breakfast Week

We were up at the crack of dawn,(well it was still dark!) loading up the old Landrover with my microwave,( Philip had knocked the gas cylinder last night so all the gas had leaked out, had to leave the doors open for 1/2 hour so we all didn't die on the way to Crossgates School!), Lean Mean Fat Reducing Grilling Machine,- don't you just love that name? and all of the bits and pieces for cooking a farmhouse breakfast.

My youngest daughter Jessica, was very excited ( the one brandishing a plate and trussed up in a red apron), and had been looking forward to this for days, including asking me was I going to cook breakfast for them next year as well? ........lets get this one over first Jess.

We had a lovely selection, lamb & rosemary Sausages, welsh Black Beef Sausages and lamb & Cranberry Sausage, Bacon, Grilled Toms, Grilled Mushrooms and Scrambled Eggs, donated by Roger Abberley from Llanyre Free Range Chicken Sheds, Baked Beans and Bread & Butter (proper butter....)

All the children loved the sausages, and some even tried things they weren't sure about which I always think is good. The boys hung on to their plates, waiting for seconds, and the Headmistress Sue Meeke made a journey up especially for her cooked breakfast. Apparently all of the builders on site were asking what the lovely smell was, I should have taken a cash box and made a profit for the morning!, not like me to miss an opportunity....

Mrs Smith, the class teacher explained how Breakfast was made up of two words- Break and Fast, fast meaning to not eat for a period of time and break meaning to stop the fast, so during the night whilst you were sleeping you were indeed fasting, then you break the fast by having breakfast in the morning. we need to eat breakfast to give us energy to do all the things we need to do in the morning, including growing, especially if you are a young child. we went through all of the other breakfast things you could eat, which included, Cereals like Bran Flakes or Porridge, Toast, Fruit, Yogurt or Croissants.

The conversation, or shall I say debate, moved on and I was very impressed with the children's knowledge of current news regarding food issues. we discussed Free Range and what it meant, and they had some very good views and opinions on this, we discussed waste of food and the war years and obesity.

it has given me an idea to have a monthly, fortnightly weekly food debate during 1/2 hour at lunch time in the school to see if pupils want to enhance their knowledge of food and learn about the bigger picture concerning the food we all eat, what a fantastic opportunity to engage with the next generation in enthusiastic conversation about the food they eat and where it comes from, the children are interested and we should take every opportunity to encourage and nurture this.

Thanks for having me Crossagtes Class 3 & 4, and don;t forget to remind Mrs Smith that after Easter invite me and I'll come back and we'll make healthy sausages or beef burgers for you to eat at Lunch time, and many thanks to the two boys who did the washing up - well done to everyone.