Christmas is coming...

Last year's starry mince tray bake....

At the moment I'm working on this year's variation of the traditional mince pie, but I don't think you can beat the star-topped variety for beauty and elegance, and of course taste!

Christmas is coming ... but will the penguins appear on the kids' Christmas cup cakes!!?

Or will it be Santa, the Snowman or even Rudolph himself?

This week sees the start of The Pumpkin Patch Christmas!

The Thursday Class has already weighed out the dry ingredients for the Christmas Cake, ready for me to soak in lots of 'tasty things' over the next week!

This year we will also focus on the savouries - the roast potatoes, cranberry sauce, and stuffing! I can't wait .... Mmmm!

Coginio Catref

(Home Cooking)

At last... the plans are in place, the letters have gone out and the web site is up and running!! Coginio Cartref is the Welsh medium cookery equivalent to The Pumpkin Patch - my new venture!

These cookery workshops will be for secondary school children, and will be held at Allt y Gog Farm each Monday night between 6pm and 8pm.


I'm really looking forward to the first class which will be held Monday 30th November. We'll then have three weeks to get Christmas sorted!! I hope to make the Christmas cake and mince pies, lovely cranberry jelly and a super stuffing for the turkey... I'll let you know how we get on!

If you're interested.. try www.coginiocartref.co.uk for more information,

or give me a call on 01267 290312

Tidy Up Time!!

What else is there to do when it's blowing a gale?

Well, I can think of plenty actually!! There's the ironing, cleaning.....

but nothing as satisfying as clearing out the shed and sorting out the

pots whilst the rain lashes down!

The Pumpkin Patch kids gloves all hung up ready for next time.

Spades and forks all tidied away. They've yet to be cleaned and oiled though
- I'll leave that 'till the next rainy day, bet it won't be long!

Pumpkins, Gourds and Squashes!

Some of this years lovely pumpkins, gourds and squashes -

They make great decorations indoors and out!

One of the giants!



This one never made the pot! Sam turned it into a charming lantern
- it looked great lit up on the deck outside the kitchen!

Autumn is here!! Where did the summer go!?

Over half term, I've been sorting out my photos... really time consuming but a great reminder of the summer just gone! It wasn't all bad!! the sun did shine and vegetables grew - I have the evidence!

Over the past few weeks at The Pumpkin Patch we've been clearing the raised beds for the winter.... but there's a lot left. The leeks will soon be used for Welsh cawl (leek soup), the Swiss chard is still growing and I've already had some Brussels Sprouts - though the rest of the family would rather leave them in the ground, they're not big fans!

Sunday, I went (because I thought I should!) to clear the last of the cosmos and wild flower garden... I started but I couldn't bring myself to tear down the big, blousy display of chaotic colour just because it was November. So the chaos of flowers remain and will do until the first frost or the heavy rain gets the better of them!

Above, a pretty good crop of onions out to dry! Until the rain came! Oh well, at least I tried!