Wednesday 30 October 2013

Traditional Suffolk Recipes to Enjoy During Your Holidays in Suffolk

There are plenty of traditional recipes which you can enjoy during your holidays in Suffolk. The county is well-known for its delicious food, and a big advantage of staying at Windmill Lodges is that you can choose to do your own cooking in the superb kitchen of your own log cabin, or visit some of the excellent local restaurants.

Windmill Lodges is at beautiful Saxtead, near the Suffolk Heritage Coast, and has a choice of seven luxury lodges, each with a private hot tub. All the kitchens have a full range of equipment, while in the 5-star Kingfisher the range of items available extends to include a range cooker and a bread maker.

Here we are going to look at some of the recipes which you might like to try.

Click to see our range of  log cabins for relaxing holidays in Suffolk, East Anglia.

Shopping for Suffolk Food

A recent tourist survey showed that one of the main attractions for visitors to the county is the choice and quality of food available. Among the most popular places to shop for unusual delicacies are the county's wide choice of farm shops and farmers' markets, where you can buy fresh local meat, fish, vegetables and fruit, as well as juices, sauces and many speciality products. A monthly market is held at the Snape Maltings food hall, which features delicious foods from many local producers.

Buying fresh fish from huts on the beach at Aldeburgh is another treat to enjoy during your Suffolk holidays. There are also many excellent butchers and delis to discover, as well as pick-your-own fruit. You can sometimes buy fresh fruit, vegetables and free-range eggs from people's gardens if you notice a poster at the end of their drive.

Special food celebrations in Suffolk include the annual Aldeburgh Food and Drink Festival, which runs from late September through to October, and the Framlingham Sausage Festival in October. Late October sees the Suffolk Herring Festival, based at Middleton Farm Shop near Westleton. All of these events feature cooking demonstrations and many other attractions, and promote Suffolk food and cookery.

Suffolk Recipes

Starters

Oysters are a luxurious locally-produced treat available from producers that include Pinney's of Orford, who have collected them for more than half a century at Butley Creek. You can simply serve them with wine vinegar, onions and lemon for a sophisticated starter, or poach or grill them if you prefer. If you are not a fan of oysters, smoked fish pate is another good local option, and thinly-sliced brown bread will go well with both.

Another favourite choice for a starter is Suffolk's famous smoked ham, available locally from producers such as Emmetts of Peasenhall and Neaves of Debenham. Ham and melon is one of many combinations which will make a fantastic start to your meal, or you could serve slices of ham with a fresh salad.

Main Course

Suffolk Fish Pie

This pie can be made from whatever fresh fish is in season, and you could even use a mixture of different kinds. Boil a sliced onion, carrot, parsley, five whole peppercorns, a bayleaf and a little salt in 600ml of water for about eight minutes. Then add about 0.7kg of fish – non-oily kinds like cod or haddock will work best – and simmer for 15 minutes.

Next, drain the cooked fish, keeping some stock for the sauce, and place the fish in a greased baking dish. Slice six boiled potatoes and place them around the fish. Then make a thick sauce from the stock you have kept, together with 30ml of butter, 60ml of flour and 300ml of milk, season to taste, and cool. Stir 50ml of cream together with an egg yolk, and add it to the cooled sauce. Pour the sauce over the fish and potatoes and sprinkle grated cheese on top. Put the dish in an oven heated to 200 Celsius and cook it for about 15 minutes.

Dessert

Ipswich Almond Pudding

This traditional 18th-century recipe is a sweet and warming dessert which still tastes good today. Mix 450ml of milk with 150ml of double cream, warm it in a pan and add 60gm of breadcrumbs. Stir in 60g of sugar and 170g of ground almonds, then take the pan off the hob and let it stand for five minutes.

Beat three eggs together well. Next, add them to the mixture, stirring it all well, and pour it into a large greased ovenproof dish. Put a small knob of butter on the top. Put the dish in a tin containing water, which needs to be below the level of the dish. Bake the pudding for half an hour in an oven preheated to 150 Celsius. Traditionally this is often served with soft fruits or a fruit compote.

About Windmill Lodges

Located near Framlingham and Woodbridge, Windmill Lodges is the perfect base for holidays in Suffolk. Whether you are seeking a romantic break or a family holiday, our log cabins will provide you with top-quality accommodation.

Follow the link to see our log cabin lodges to unwind in during your Suffolk holidays.

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Monday 28 October 2013

Spotlighting Suffolk's Lost City of Dunwich

Spending log cabin holidays at Windmill Lodges in Suffolk gives you the perfect base to explore many historic towns and villages. Set in the heart of the countryside, our luxury lodges are ideal for both couples and families, with each cabin having its own private hot tub.

One of the most fascinating places to visit in the area is the lost city of Dunwich, which is said to have been the capital of East Anglia in the Anglo-Saxon period and at one time had eight churches. It gradually fell into the sea because of coastal erosion, and is now a small village with around 120 inhabitants. But legend has it that, when the tide is right, you can still hear the church bells from beneath the waves.

Dunwich is only 14 miles from Saxtead, where Windmill Lodges are situated. You can have a great day out there during your log cabin Suffolk holidays, exploring the beach and the Dunwich Heath National Trust site, visiting the museum and eating the village's famous fish and chips.

Seeing How Dunwich Was Claimed by the Sea


During a visit to this unique village, you can get a glimpse of its past as a major city and port by visiting Dunwich Museum, which has a detailed model showing what it was like in the 13th century. The museum is open from March to October and admission is free, although donations are welcome. A short film, detailing how Dunwich was lost to the sea, makes a perfect introduction. There are also varied exhibits covering the area's history from Roman times right up to the Victorian period and later. A cannon recovered from a shipwreck off the coast is on display outside the door.

Among the museum’s most haunting items are photographs showing how the tower of the last medieval church, All Saints, was finally lost in 1919. However, one buttress was saved and placed in the churchyard of the Victorian church of St James. You can also walk around the remains of the 13th-century Franciscan priory of Greyfriars, where the old gateway and part of the refectory give a feeling of what the whole site would have looked like before it fell into ruin.

Unspoilt Beaches

If you are looking for an unspoilt stretch of Suffolk shingle to visit during your log cabin holidays, then Dunwich Beach is ideal and offers an attractive alternative to the busier resorts nearby. This beach has a large car park, toilets and plenty of space to walk around. It is also very atmospheric, so it is likely that you will find yourself listening out for those lost church bells. If you are a sea angling enthusiast, it is also possible to go fishing off the beach. Different types of fish can be caught at varying times of year, including flounders and whiting.

Wealth of Wildlife and Nature

For anyone wanting to discover more about Suffolk's wildlife, the National Trust's Dunwich Heath site offers the chance to explore a stretch of rare heathland habitat. Birds you might spot here include the Nightjar and Dartford Warbler, while lizards, adders and grass snakes also live here. During the summer months, the flowering gorse offers a colourful display. As well as heathland trails, the site also includes sandy cliffs leading down to a section of beach owned by the Trust.

The Trust's site is right next to RSPB Minsmere, which is one of the most famous bird reserves in Britain, offering the chance to see a large number of birds, including waders and the iconic avocet. The Suffolk Wildlife Trust (SWT), RSPB and Natural England also work in partnership to run the Dingle Marshes reserve, in between Dunwich and Walberswick, a good place to see marsh harriers and bitterns.

Yet another wildlife site is the Dunwich Forest reserve, run by the SWT, RSPB and the Forestry Commission. And, following the Coastal Circular Walk between Dunwich and Walberswick, nature lovers will have a chance to see the different countryside and wildlife along the way.

Great Places to Eat

One reason Dunwich is so popular to visit is that it is famous for its fish and chips. People travel from far and wide to visit the beach cafĂ©, Flora's Tearooms, and are happy to stand in a long queue in order to eat there. The large wooden hut is open from spring to the end of November, with plenty of space to sit outside if you prefer. Although it is best known for its fried fish, there are also other dishes on the menu. 

The Ship pub in the village is another great place to go for fish and chips, as well as many other meals. If you want a cup of tea and a homemade cake, then the Clifftop tea room at the National Trust's Dunwich Heath is a good choice, and there is also a fine tea room at RSPB Minsmere.

About Windmill Lodges


Sheer relaxation is guaranteed on our log cabin holidays in Suffolk, with all our lodges offering four or five star luxury. Each cabin is fully equipped, with everything you need for the perfect break.


Click here to see Windmill Lodges’  family-friendly holiday accommodation in the Suffolk countryside

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