A Christmas recipe from River Cottage...

We were delighted to attend a preview at the new River Cottage Plymouth Canteen before it opened earlier this month. What a treat that was!

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall has kindly given us his roasted Brussels sprouts with shallots recipe to share with you. A perfect choice as we head for the traditional sprout battleground at Christmas!

Hugh describes this dish as one to "convert sprout shirkers" so give it a go and let us know what you think.

Ingredients

SERVES 4

400g Brussels sprouts, trimmed and halved (or whole if small)
350g shallots, peeled and halved, or small onions, peeled and halved or quartered
3 tablespoons rapeseed oil
Several sprigs of thyme
A squeeze of lemon juice
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

Method

Preheat the oven to 190°C/Gas Mark 5. Put the Brussels sprouts and shallots or onions into a large roasting dish, trickle over the oil, season with salt and pepper and toss to coat, then tuck in the thyme sprigs.

Roast for about 35 minutes, giving a good stir halfway through, until everything is a bit crispy, brown and caramelised.

Squeeze some lemon juice over the roasted sprouts, along with a sprinkling of fresh thyme if you like, and serve.

For a change, try a sprinkling of cumin or caraway seeds instead of thyme.

More delicious recipes can be found in Hugh's latest book River Cottage Veg Every Day! and we've got a copy to give away. An inspiring addition to your own bookshelf or perfect gift for a foodie friend.

Simply email jane@helpfulholidays.com by 5pm on Monday 5th December with the word "sprouts" in the subject line and we'll pick a name from the hat.

Hot on the heels of the successful Axminster Canteen and Deli, the brand new Plymouth Canteen and Deli (pictured) opened on 15th November in a fantastic waterside location in Royal William Yard. We loved it - relaxed atmosphere; friendly, attentive staff; tasty  and inventive dishes (yummy warm salad of mushroom, squash and goats cheese and you must try the chocolate and beetroot brownie!) using local, seasonal, organic and wild produce.

If you're thinking of booking a table during your next holiday in Devon, and are looking for a place to stay nearby, here are some ideas for holiday cottages in the South Hams and holiday cottages in East Devon.

Now, don't forget to eat your veg :-)

HH Poetry Competition 2011 - our winner...

Congratulations to Jeanne Elkington! Here's the poem that captured our hearts and minds, written during Jeanne's stay at The Old School House in Lustleigh this summer. Thank you, Jeanne, for sharing your memories and capturing the timeless beauty and magical spirit of Dartmoor.

So I Return To The Moors

For the plush pile denseness of breeze strewn bracken

And the tannin streams that smooth and caress

To the flip-book greens of soft carpet swatches

And the blueprint smudges of bilberry spoils.

For the flickering flashes of smithy and miner

And the effortless compass swirl sweep of a buzzard

To the cross-party banter of chat and of swift

With the pestled fresh scent of fern and grass downed.

For the scone bite of moon and scarlet surrender

And centurion tors in their granite domain

To the welcome friend handshake. The sharing of stories

With memories forged 'til I once more return.



Looking across Lustleigh Cleave from Hunter's Tor towards Easdon Tor.
Courtesy of Dave Bellamy http://www.davebellamy.co.uk/



Devon Tourism & Taste of the West Awards…

As our customers well know, there are lots of good reasons for people to holiday in Devon, and this was celebrated this week at the Devon Tourism Awards.

Michael Caines

Gidleigh Park, one of the UK’s most renowned country house hotel and restaurants (and just a stone’s throw from HH HQ in Chagford), walked off with three awards including that of overall winner. Run by the Michelin starred chef Michael Caines, Gidleigh won Gold for the Taste of Devon award as well as a joint Gold award for the Hotel of the Year together with Bovey Castle – a luxurious country hotel on a stunning estate where we let a number of self-catering lodges. Organic Riverford Farm Foods picked up Gold for Producer of the Year.

Pennywell Farm

Pennywell Farm, near Buckfastleigh in south Devon, won the Gold Award for Visitor Attraction of the Year, and farm founder Chris Murray was presented with an award for his Outstanding Contribution to Tourism. Other Devon attractions praised were The Big Sheep, Bideford and River Dart Adventures, Ashburton. All can be found on our ‘Explore the Area’ map to help you spot the places to go and things to do near each of our cottages.

In the Tourism Activity, Sport & Experience category, Gold went to the Calvert Trust Exmoor, which offers a wide range of adventurous outdoor activities to people of all ages with physical, sensory and learning difficulties.

Dartmoor Farmers

The winners were also recently announced at the Taste of the West Awards, which celebrates the region’s exceptional food and drink industry. Amongst the winners in Devon were Dartmoor Farmers, who produce free range, slow grown West Country beef and lamb from family farms within Dartmoor National Park.

Another worthy winner was the Sharpham Partnership, producer of classic English wines and a range of English cheeses on the Sharpham Estate on the banks of the River Dart near Totnes in south Devon.

Too many winners to mention, but congratulations to them all!

Browse through our holiday cottages in Devon and come and enjoy all this glorious county has to offer.

Top spots to celebrate New Year in the West Country…

There are lots of towns renowned for New Year frivolities in the South West – thousands of revellers hit the streets in fancy dress, making for a fun, friendly and irreverent night, culminating in spectacular firework displays, often reflected in the black, inky sea below.

Bideford Fancy Dress

If you can think of it, someone will be wearing it in Bideford, from grown men in nappies to ladies in rabbit costumes. 20,000 visitors mean all the Quayside pubs are packed, and people mingle and dance in the streets. As midnight approaches, many gather on the medieval Long Bridge to watch the fireworks and listen to the parish church bells ringing in the New Year. Get into costume at Peelers Cottage.

Said by The Times to be in the top four places in the UK to celebrate New Year, the small Cornish town of Looe again sees huge numbers of people in fancy dress fill the pubs, restaurants and streets before a fireworks display on the Banjo pier. If fireworks are your thing, prime viewing spots are the promenade and beach at East Looe or the eastern end of Hannafore promenade. Start your countdown at Samuels Cottage.

Revellers in Looe

People from miles around flock to Cawsand as the entire village dons fancy dress and goes promenading before fireworks on the beach at midnight. Large groups often have themed dress: there were 24 carrots one memorable year and someone dressed as a policeman was teased all night until he revealed himself to be the real thing!  To wash away the hangovers, there's a charity fancy dress New Year's Day swim, with prizes for the best dressed. Peel your carrots at Draystone.

The New Year arrives with a splash in several other West Country towns, and last year more than 100 people braved the elements to celebrate New Year's Day with a dip in the sea in Wembury, Devon. The swim is an annual event – now in its 8th year with more people taking part each year. Dry off at Creek House.

Newquay Fancy Dress

Other hot spots famous for their atmosphere and antics include Exmouth, Dartmouth, St Ives and, of course, Newquay.

Search our holiday cottages with New Year availability in Devon and Cornwall, or give our telephone team a call on 01647 433593 to discuss your requirements. From a party on the seafront with the crowds to a cosy gathering with friends and family, we’ll help you find a special place to celebrate.

HH photography competition – the winners…

Thanks to everyone who took part in our photo competition on Facebook over the summer. We received lots of fabulous photos, predominantly coastal shots so we can tell you love to be beside the seaside!

After using last year’s winning shot on the front cover of our dog friendly mini-brochure, we were on the lookout for another captivating image that we could use in our marketing material for 2012.

The super shot by Natalie Chapman of a child jumping for joy on the beach at Hope Cove made us smile and is now featured in our 2012 Collection mini brochure (pictured). 


We picked an overall winner too - the lovely landscape by Lorna Alsop of the ponies at Godrevy Head which now sits on the header of this blog.

There were so many good pictures; we had several other favourites which we’ll try to include in our marketing material over the next few months if we can.

We love seeing your snaps, so if you’d like to share your favourite moments and memories of the West Country, please feel free to post them on our Facebook wall.

Big houses with professional catering for New Year…

As you see in the New Year with friends and family, we’re betting that you’ll be eating and drinking well too. But you don’t want to miss out on the fun whilst slaving over a hot stove, so how about relaxing in one of our huge holiday homes with professional catering available, so you don’t have to lift a finger?

  

The former shooting lodge of Sir Francis Drake’s estate near Yarcombe in east Devon, Sheafhayne Manor, sleeps 24 in ten bedrooms with ten bath/shower rooms. This  Grade II listed Elizabethan manor house has been in the same family for some 400 years and is surrounded by 2,500 acres of farmland and its own large garden. The oak panelled drawing room has a cosy open fire, there’s also a billiard room with a full-sized table and games room for children and the dining room has a big table for 24 - perfect for a celebratory dinner. Pets welcome.

We’ve a big detached house for 12, large enough to make up a party for New Year week at Mevagissey on Cornwall’s south coast. Penpol has a stunning contemporary interior and superb panoramic views overlooking the colourful harbour. Top quality and elegantly simple, this house has been designed to relax in and have fun and it’s just a two minute walk down to the village pubs, cafés, shops and harbour.

Or how about Parnacott, a handsome detached Georgian house sleeping 14 guests near Holsworthy, north Devon? The house is set in 12 acres of gardens and grounds, and is ideal for a family group or friends planning a break together, with fine furniture, portraits, an open fire and pool table; plus it’s also decorated for the festive season. Pets welcome.

A mile or so west of Porlock within Exmoor National Park,  Porlock Vale House is a magnificent, large country house dating from the 19th century with exceptional views across fields and out to sea. A great place for family gatherings and parties, the house sleeps 30 in 15 bedrooms/15 bathrooms. Inside, it’s a wonderful mix of comfort, elegance and space with old oak beams, comfy leather furniture and a large open fire with a handsome mantelpiece. The house is set in 12 acres of grounds and mature gardens for guests to wander while the beach is easily reached on foot across two fields. A former hunting lodge enlarged over the years, it has excellent stables for guests wishing to bring their own horse, or two, and pets are also welcome.

All these properties have professional catering available (at extra cost). Some also have a maid service available. Give our telephone team a call on 01647 433593 to discuss your requirements and we’ll help you find a special place to celebrate.