Mary Ann's Kitchen

So, who am I? I'm Mary Ann or Mither or to whom it may concern, I'm definitely not a Ms. But I am a scatty Mum whose nick name by all the family is Mither!

I've cooked many a cottage pie and apple crumble and downed the occasional pint with you on pub trips up here, and now you maybe reading this, small world isn't it?

For my sins Patrick has suggested Mary Ann's Kitchen, in which I hope to perhaps tickle your sense of humour with a few tales from around the Brewery.

I should in return very much like to hear any good stories or

tear jerkers you may have and any ideas for us to draw from. I believe I shall be able to offer a prize sometimes for competitions!

As the seasonal clock ticks on I would also like to swap recipes with you and ideas on food and growing vegetables. I was once told on a pub trip here that leeks always bolted on June 14th, is it true or false?

So this is me, who thinks Mary Ann or Mither's Kitchen is best? I do hope my computer is bunged up with ideas, I look forward to hearing from you.

Mary Ann (or Mither if you prefer)

please email me at maryann@otterbrewery.com

Brewery visit to River Cottage HQ

The boys did such a great job for the Brewery last year that we decided to try and educate them with a visit to Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall's River Cottage HQ.

A great evening was had by all – especially Neil Mottram (brewer) and Craig White (driver – big truck specialist) who demonstrated their sausage making skills. Who knows we might get them in my kitchen to do a rerun of their demo.

We particularly enjoyed the reception in Hugh's Yurt (Hippie tent) and thought it would be fun to have one at the brewery to house the guests when we start up the Otter Beer and BBQ evenings next summer. Watch this space...

Out on Bale It's amazing - we let them go off and run bars in places like Widecombe-in-the-Moor and they come back full of beans – not because the bar did really well but because they won the Widecombe Fair Bale rolling com 2008!! I ask you. I think their strategy was to oil up the local farmers with a few pints beforehand, rendering them pretty useless when it came to rolling a tonne of bale up a 60 meter course and back. Next year I shall ensure the paramedics are on hand to bring Patrick back to life having recorded a pulse of over 200 bpm after the final run.

Ashley's finger that was! At the end of the lovely late summer Ashley, who organises all the deliveries to our Landlords, had a holiday. Of course all the boys hear say he was bullied into doing a job of DIY by his loving wife!!! I think he was just having a bit of boy time. So he was playing with his saw and before he knew it his first finger was gone. Poor chap, unfortunately they couldn't sew it back as he'd made such a mess of it, so now he answers to a whole new range of names including Stumpy!!! We are all very pleased it's healing well and he's able to waggle it now!! Telephone Lines OK, so the odds are against us when it comes to telecommunications – our phones are over 2 miles from the exchange and are bad enough without being shot through – however much it rallies the Dunkirk spirit in the office!! During the latter months of last year, BT were summoned no less than 8 times to surgically remove shot from the cables that pick their way across the Luppitt valley!!! All's well that ends well – we've got some new lines, new BT friends and a fresh target to shoot at for next year!! Only joking.

Making an exhibition of ourselves

I very much enjoyed my time at Westpoint and Wadebridge where it was felt that I could add that little extra something to the Otter Stand. I had a great few days meeting the current and new Otter users! I must admit it is great to get out and see what is happening in the trade and even chat up some future Otter converts. The boys pictured below are a tribute to Newquay College and showed great interest in the production of cask beer. Give them a year or two and we'll hopefully see them in the pub.

If you have anything you want to share with me and our friends please email me at maryann@otterbrewery.com

Mither's Cottage Pie (with beer!)

I'm told all my recipes must contain beer, so I'll do my best!

1lb minced beef 2 small onions chopped 1 large carrot grated 2 sticks celery chopped 1 tin chopped tomatoes 1 tsp mixed herbs 1 sp flour for thickening 1 good stock cube Salt and Pepper ½ pt beer (preferably Otter!) Mashed potatoes

Method
Fry off the mince until turning slightly brown, add onions, carrots and celery then cook for a further few minutes. Sprinkle in flour and mixed herbs, salt and pepper to taste and then cook for a couple of minutes again, then pour in the beer and tomatoes and sprinkle the stock cube in as well. Cook until all bound together and then put into an oven proof dish. Good tip, leave until cool before putting the mashed spuds on. This gives a more defined break between the potato and mince. Fork the top if you like and serve with home made chutney, seasonal veg or salad.

It's Grizzly out there!

Well done Joe and Alistair on completing the Grizzly in a very respectable time.

For those of you who don't know, the Grizzly is a 19 mile run up and down the hills between Seaton and Sidmouth. Apparently, the upward travel is the equivalent to going up Mt Snowdon – they must be insane.

After a considered training schedule Alistair and his other half (Kay) gallantly trotted in just over 4 hours. Joe (the most I've ever run is 11 miles) Maccullum, however, came in before Alistair – what was he on? I think his secret weapon is a regular dose of my soup from Mith's Kitchen. Only I know what goes in that!

Steamed treacle sponge (no beer!)

This is a very popular children and male pud. It is also a fairly cheap way to feed a family. 2 eggs Equal weight of stork marg, SR flour and sugar. Golden syrup 2 pudding spoons of milk

Rub a pudding basin with the marg. paper and put 2 good spoonfuls of syrup into the bowl. If you have a magi mix, bung the whole lot in and pulse it 2 or 3 times or until just mixed. If you have a mixer put the marg and sugar in and blend with the beater then add the eggs and milk then the flour.

Either way spoon into the bowl and cover with cling film. Put a few prick holes into the film and cook in the microwave until its fully risen. If you are going to steam on the cooker, cover the pudding with tin foil and trap around the top well, then put the bowl into a saucepan with an inch or 2 of water, cover and steam for a good hour. This pud reheats if you are lucky enough to have any left!! Serve with a jug of custard.

Proud to be green

As you can see from the news page, we are delighted to have received the 'Greening Devon Award'. This means a huge amount to me personally and I'd like to thank Keith (our technical brewer) and my son Joe for helping me realise all the bits that need doing to make recycling happen. Also for supporting me because half the difficulty with getting environmental projects off the ground is getting all hands on deck. It's really good to know that we are doing as much as we can to help protect the beautiful environment that we are lucky enough to share.