Contact Details: Tel: +44 [0] 17684 83984 E-mail: annie@greystokecyclecafe.co.uk Occasionally our server hiccups & emails don't get through to us - we always reply - please send your message again if we don't respond within 48 hours . THANK YOU

Print This Page Quirky Cookery 2012   Click above for many recent photos of Cookery Workshops at Greystoke   Undergoing small changes between 'now and Paper Print ' Time in March Last update 9th Jan             Our Vouchers     make lovely gifts & are valid for 2 years £15 TO £200                 Our Cookery Workshops   Our Cookery Workshops are some of our most popular and tend to take place in early Spring and Autumn when we're less likely to be disturbed by passing C2C Cyclists. We are lucky to have some inspiring tutors all whom are extremely  knowledgable in their own fields and are only too willing to share their secrets, hints and wealth of expertise with us. The workshops take place in our farmhouse kitchen around one large table. Currently all our workshops are Hands On- and generally this means . . . very Hands On - you may sit down for the first coffee and introduction and the rest of the time you ll be busy. Quite often the things you make are sampled at lunch time- though don't worry, there will always be plenty to take home - especially with the baking days & Cup Cakes Our kitchen wouldn't be the same without our oil fired Aga, which we use for the majority of our Cafe Catering and Cookery Courses.  However, we always bring in an extra electric fan over for the days that need it - so you wil have the benefit of being able to use both where necessary.     Current Dates (more to be added)               Spaces Wed 22nd  Feb   Scrumptious Scone Making Day 10am - 2.30pm Gill Harris £66  fu;; Thu 23rd Feb   A Day in Cup Cake Heaven 10am - 2.30pm Sean Downes £68     3 Wed 29th Feb   Gluten Free Breads and Baking- Pastries, biscuits and scones 10am-2.30pm Gill Harris £68     3 Wed 14th March   Bread Making by Hand 10am.-2.30pm Gill Harris £68    2 Mon 18th June   Elderflower Extravaganza  -  Cordial Cake and Jelly 10am-2.30pm Fiona Barratt £65     6     MORE DAYS TO COME           More days to come in Summer/ Autumn we hope with Gill and some other new days - please use form to the right to add Cookery / update your details/ join the database. We don't send out many emails atall -infact, we ourselves are not fans of  'Newsletters ' at all, so please don't worry about too much from us.         How to book a Course at Greystoke Cycle Cafe Firstly, please either email with your initial requirements or phone and leave a message if necessary  ( the space/ availability column in above table is usually fairly up to date  ) Your name will be pencilled in and full payment will be required before your place can be confirmed.   You can pay in the following 2 ways  . . .   1      By cheque -                       For the full amount please payable to Greystoke Cycle Cafe and post to same  @  Greystoke , Penrith Cumbria  CA11 0UT                                                                  (if this may be difficult and you would rather spread the payments please do let us know - we can usually accommodate most requests) .   .                                                              Please ALWAYS write the course date and attendee on the back  of each cheque 2.       By OnlineTransfer  -  please use details Acc No 0373 9872  Sort code 72 00 00 and then use part surname      . . .     part course name as a reference.                                                                  AS SOON AS you have completed the transfer please EMAIL us with above details in the grey table below          Your booking will be confirmed by email which will contain details of parking/walking map/venue/times/what to bring etc     + + + + + + + + + + + + + + (If you're able, please copy and paste this grey table into an email to us - make sure you start the copying process including both lines of  + + + + signs   Course Name Course Date Course Cost / payment method if known Attendee Attendee phone number(s) Attendee email Attendee Home town & county Any funny food reqs? - all lunches are veggie anyway Do they need one of the few parking spaces in our driveway ? **                                                               **WALKING- Can they walk 150yds - 350yds of flat country lane walking through Greystoke or do they need  to reserve one of the 3 spaces here in our driveway - or they can be dropped off a map is downloadable  here   + + + + + + + + + + + + + +           Top     A Day in Cupcake Heaven - with Sean Downes of 'Fancy That' Cake Shop ~ Penrith         Cup Cake Heaven Workshop Thu 23rd Feb 2012 with Sean Downes of 'Fancy That' Cake Shop, Penrith Cup Cakes Stripped Bare! If you're tired of trawling through cookbooks and online for that special cupcake recipe then look no further! Perhaps you'd like to make a Cup Cake for a special occasion and don't know where to start ? Using Tried and Tested Recipes practised in our busy shop everyday we will be travelling through Cupcake Heaven  . . from the Sublime Vanilla to the Sexy Chocolate Why not join Sean for some pure and unadulterated Cupcake Fun!                      OR Alll Quirky Workshops dates / prices   OR     Elderflower Extravaganza with Fiona Barrett -  Mon 13th June Learn how to make Elderflower Cordial,  Elderflowers Cake and Elderflower Jelly all in one day . . .         Sambucus nigra . . .  the Elderflower is a very 'iving' tree providing us in late May with a most versatile and beautiful of creamy white scented flowers that give us its wonderful cordials etc . . .   and then in autumn  . . . copious bunches of purple berries that all herbalists would agree offer a myriad of useful medicinal properties.       Fiona Barrett has been enjoying foraging and making cordials, jams and chutneys from her own homegrown produce for several years in Cumbria.  She will share with you on this day her secrets of how to make the tastiest of home made cordials with minimal preservatives , honey coloured clear scented elderflower jelly and some really different and special cakes to take away to treat neighbours friends and family. Towards the end of May the day before the class- or the morning of the class we will ask you to pick your own elderflowers-  about 80 heads and bring them with you on this special day - if at all possible             A common sight in our hedgerows coming into flower just after the May tree (aka Hawthorn/ Quickthorn) the heady scent of the Elderflower fills the air and heralds the warmth of early summer.    During this day you will learn all about the many things you can make with Elderflowers . . . including cordial, cakes and jams  and you will take home all you have made.  A really lovely way to start summer and  A perfect opportunity to try and get back in touch with nature in the kitchen. Booking essential       You will recognise its large flat creamy white heads looking like lace and  nodding in the wind, growing low as if almost waiting to be picked.   It is said in ancient folklore that the summer has not yet started unil the elder is in full flower and is over when the berries are ripe for picking   See http://www.briarrigghouse.co.uk/produce.htm     Top Specialist Baking Days with Gillian Harris       The eldest of 10 children, Gillian has always been interested in cookery, especially baking.  Her job after Sunday school was to bake bread and cakes for the family for the week.  It was never a chore for her – she loved being in the kitchen.  Over the years she learnt to make cakes for her siblings' birthdays and later for other members of the family and for friends.  This expanded to wedding cakes, christening cakes, buffets, etc,as the family grew up    Since moving to Cumbria and becoming involved with the Women's Institute and the Sugar Craft Guild, Gillian has demonstrated various forms of cookery and cake decorating - fish cookery, soups, starters, quick suppers, jams & preserves, gateaux, sugar flowers, gelatine flowers, all kinds of cake icing and decorating, bread making by hand and by machine.   As a result of a Christmas bread making demonstration Gillian was approached by Carrs and asked to help with the development and promotion of their specialist bread making flours developed for bread machines.  Since then she has given many demonstrations and workshops, enjoyed trying out different recipes and different bread machines. She has also been asked by many people with food intolerances to find recipes to suit and found this area of research really interesting All in all she would like to say a big thank you to her mum and grandma who were always ready to let her lend a hand whenever they were in the kitchen and who encouraged her to try out different recipes.  She considers herself very lucky to have 3 children and 5 grandchildren who all enjoy cooking. .it means her kitchen will continue to be the hub of the house for some time to come.         Gluten Free Baking - Breads, Pastries Biscuits and Scones with Gillian Harris     Anyone who has ever tried to make Pastry,  Bread, Biscuits and Scones gluten free knows that result can be disappointing It's the gluten in baking and flour that gives bread and pastries their elasticity and cakes their spring.  Therefore Gluten free flours are a little more difficultt to work than normal flours and results less predictable - but there are ways round to getting good results. . IN addition there are other ingredients to use as substitutes for a gluten free diet which will provide equally tasty alternatives and so help towards a fresher approach and better results. Gluten Free Bread and Bakes   Gillian has been baking for many many years and has been making gluten free breads and bakes for the past  fifteen. She bakes for several gluten free clients and is well versed on all the short cuts, hint and tips available to get the best out of your gluten free recipes . She will arrive with many ingredients and many recipes.  Over first coffee she will cover the hazards of gluten free baking, and tell you about some of her  favourite ingredients that she likes to use etc - you will then be invited to choose from a variety of recipes and the cooking will start.   Wed 29th Feb     Baked goods pose a particular problem when it comes to gluten free diets . . as it's gluten that gives bread its elasticity and cakes their spring. Therefore, gluten-free breads will not display the same characteristic as 'normal' bread. Gluten-free flours are a little more difficult to work with than regular flours, however  one does become used to cooking with them and Gillian will introduce you to time honoured ways to get the best results aswell as alternatives that may not immediately spring to mind. You will feel far more confident about all you prepare and serve after a workshop with Gill.   T                 You will be eating for lunch the items you have made where appropriate Please bring an apron, some lightweight scales and a bag to take some of your things home in.      OR Alll Quirky Workshops dates / prices   OR       Scrumptious Scone Making Day with Gillian Harris       Please bring a pinny, a mixing bowl and a container for all your scones to take home and impressfriends and family     .   Scrumptious Scones Day Wed 22nd Feb 2012 Gillian Harris shares with us her many hints and tips gleened from a lifetime of baking. This is a very hands on cookery day experimenting with different mixes and recipes, why do we we use eggs, marg or butter, baking powder ? And how do these ingredients change the basic  resulting scone. Once you have made a batch or two and discovered the feel of how it should be (and that its not so hard at all) - then the fun will begin . Suddenly, a perfectly baked - light as a feather- plain scone will be just too easy . You will quite soon be enticed by savoury as well as sweet and then the fun begins. Gillian brings almost a whole supermarket of ingredients you might add to a scone- be prepared to be adventurous! We will be working with an Aga and a conventional oven. There should be plenty to take home at the end of the day.                 Beautiful Bread Making Machines with Gillian Harris     THERE WILL BE AN AUTUMN 2012 DATE- PLEASE CONTACT US TO JOIN THE LIST   Learn just how easy and simple it is to create a variety of lovely breads using a Bread Maker -           and how cakes can be conjured up with ease. Gillian will advise on the importance of quality ingredients, the best flours to use, the whys and wherefores of different options, seeds , fruits and more - she is widely recognised for teasing the very best out of these wonderful machines. Your day will include coffee, home-made biscuits and a two course lunch and there will be opportunities for ‘hands on’ experience where possible. Please bring an apron, some lightweight scales and a bag to take home your goodies..       The Best Ways to make Bread by Hand with Gillian Harris               Wed 14th March Machines are great but can’t do everything we might need to make and sometimes its just ‘more rewarding and plain nicer’ to make bread the traditional way…by hand.    Gillian,  who is becoming very well known throughout the county for her whole repertoire of bread making skills will share with us her secrets for a wonderful variety of her very achievable and special  ‘hand made breads’ .  Not to be missed - using both Aga and conventional ovens. Includes a lovely 2 course lunch – with hand made bread – and of course, all refreshments. Please bring an apron, some lightweight scales and a bag to take home your goodies..                OR Alll Quirky Workshops dates / prices   OR       Christmas Bread from Around the World with Gillian Harris     ..fougasse, kolach,panettone ,pulla,  challah,christollen, vorte limpe   and many more         Filmed by Border TV  in Dec 2008 as a Christmas Cookery feature ...... click right       We will be running Xmas Breads course again this year- please contact us to join the list         Join us for a whistle stop bread-making tour around the world.  Have a go at making and tasting some of the special Christmas breads from such places as France, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Greece, Italy, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Poland, America, Israel, etc, from very simple 'hearth bread' to very rich spicy, alcohol-soaked fruit loaves.     Enjoy the aromas and traditions of real family Christmases.  With each bread you will learn a little of how the recipes were developed and what they represent.  Surprise your family with something a little different this Christmas!    All of these breads are usually made by hand but the use of a bread making machine and/or Kenwood (or similar) mixer for making the dough cuts out some of the hard work ! We usually do a bit of both. Vorta Limpa - a Swedish bread made with rye flour, cloves, port and ale - especially good with cheese * Julekage - A jewelled crown with lots of glace fruit Kolach - from Russia unusually made with yoghurt& * Christopsomo - a Greek bread with a byzantine cross and walnuts for good luck * Placek Swiateczny - Polish - more like a teabread - traditionally the centrepiece of food eaten after midnight mass * Panettone - the famous Italian Christmas bread named after the baker who created it Bolo Rei or Roscon de Reyes - fthe King's Crown - found in Portugal or Spain, also known as twelfth night bread, eaten on 6th January * Fougasse - a french hearth baked bread, again the centrepiece after midnight mass * Christollen - German Christ Cake - representing Jesus wrapped in his swaddling clothes * Pulla - a Finnish bread flavoured with saffron and cardamon * Challah - a traditional Jewish bread, similar in taste and texture to brioche, made for all festivals but in an elaborate plait for Christmas * Money Bread - from the USA - not strictly for Christmas but using the usual Christmas spice, brandy & fruit and good fun to make and eat * Spiced Christmas Bread - an English recipe although probably not really traditionally just for Christmas .                    OR Alll Quirky Workshops dates / prices   OR     Sugarcraft Days with Gillian Harris         All materials needed will be provided at cost (around £7.50 upwards depending on cake size)   Christmas Cake Decorating ‘ with  Gillian Harris     Bring along your own Christmas cake and whilst make it just a little bit different to bring a smile to your family's faces.    Something personal or relevant ....a tractor .... or some golf clubs on some holly, Gillian is an expert with Sugar craft -   which doesnt have to be flowers .   Alternatively - if you like a traditional finish you can do just that -  but in a very professional way - click on any of the photos here to see more of the whole day         We shall be covering the cakes with marzipan and Regal-ice (a roll out fondant icing) and will then choose a seasonal decoration made from petal paste (an edible sugarpaste) from a wide choice of examples shown from the very easy to the more complicated.   Any special equipment will be available for use.      Spring and Summer Sugar Craft with Gillian Harris          Learn how to make a beautiful flower spray to decorate a special occasion cake.  Each petal is individually made fromsugar and then wired to make flowers and leaves which are then taped together to make a spray.   During the course of the day you will learn how to work with the special petal paste used to make the flowers, including use of colour pastes and dusting powders.  We will make a variety of hand pulled and cutter flowers and leaves, and learn different ways to wire and tape them together.            All materials will be provided, apart from your cake and cost will depend on the size of the cake and decoration chosen.  Please let Annie know what size and shape cake you will be bringing so that I can be sure to have everything you need     Top       We reserve the right to cancel any workshop- in which case a full refund will be given. If you find you cannot attend your workshop, ideally try to send a friend. For certain workshops we hold a waiting list and may be able to offer a partial refund. Please phone asap OUR OAK FLOORED WORKSHOP IS AVAILABLE FOR HIRE at other times for informal meeting/ workshops etc. Catering optional   Apart from cycle support vehicles, we only have parking for those attending workshops who feel unable to walk from the village car park and ask all others to take the short walk (8 mins)  around the Greystoke Castle Estate walls (approx 350 yds) to the Cycle Café @ Poplin Dub - a map is provided. Places may be held for a short period until full payment is made. We reserve the right to cancel a course in the event of unforeseen circumstances and then a full refund will be made. Please let us know if you need to cancel or ideally send a friend.   Greystoke Cycle Cafe opens on: Fridays 12 - 6pm, Saturdays 10 - 6pm & the 2nd Sunday of the month 10 - 6pm between Easter & end September. We are a family run tea garden on the C2C cycle route  and also  welcome  walkers if they are prepared to take the short walk from the village car park (350yds)   We serve hot and cold light lunches, using our own organics where possible, home made cakes, large mugs of tea & real coffee, have spacious cottage gardens ideal for families & enjoy lovely views out over the parkland to Greystoke Castle. At other times, if we are in & available we will gladly serve weary cyclists & walkers with whatever we have- and will open for groups with notice.        OR Alll Quirky Workshops dates / prices   OR

[Poplin Dub, Greystoke, Penrith. CA11 0UT] [+44 [0] 17684 83984] [annie@greystokecyclecafe.co.uk]