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  1. Making Summer Berry Recipes for Marks and Spencer

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    I was recently asked to try a couple of recipes for M&S to celebrate the summer berry season and with it being one of my favourite places to shop I was only too happy to oblige.
     
    I knew 2 desserts would be too much for our little family so I timed the baking with us going on holiday to Devon so we could share them with the Grandparents.

    My chosen recipes were a no bake strawberry and passionfruit cheesecake and a raspberry and coconut traybake.  I won’t lie, I was nervous I’d do something wrong but actually both recipes were very easy to make and looked pretty darn good if I dare say so myself.
     
    I started by making the cheesecake base and then while that was in the fridge I quickly mixed the ingredients for the raspberry and coconut traybake.  You have to bake it in a low oven for quite some time and add the raspberries and coconut near the end.  I will admit that I cooked it for longer than the recipe stated because I thought it wasn’t cooked enough but I really didn’t need to.  No one complained about the crispy edges though haha.

    While the traybake was cooling down I beat the cream cheese, icing sugar and vanilla extract before adding the cream, lime juice and zest and then smoothed that onto the base ready to go back in the fridge.

    Once we reached Devon and the kettle was on we all tried the raspberry and coconut traybake which was delicious with our cup of tea.  I was surprised the raspberries held their shape and it still tasted great even though I used desiccated coconut instead of the flakes stated in the recipe.
     
    m&s recipe 3
     
    As the sun was shining we had a BBQ in the evening and after we ate I decorated the cheesecake with strawberry slices and passionfruit.  This one for me was the winner!  I’ve made a few cheesecakes before but I think this is definitely my favourite and everyone else was pretty impressed too.  The flavour combinations are just perfect with the sharp lime and passionfruit and sweetness of the strawberry.  The recipe made a good 10 servings and it was all gone in less than 2 days.  I even caught my husband with his head in the fridge and a spoon in his hand!  Apparently he couldn’t be bothered to get a plate haha.
     
    mands recipe 4b

    I can thoroughly recommend you have a look on their website for more mouth drooling recipes.  I now want to have a go at making their Rhubarb and Custard Pavlova, Elizabeth Sponge Cake, Chocolate Nut and Berry Slice and the Eton Mess Meringue Cake.

    Although I got all the ingredients from M&S in Poole you can also get them from Castlepoint in Bournemouth too.  M&S is passionate and committed to the sustainable sourcing of quality British ingredients.  They have worked with some of their berry suppliers for over 40 years and is proud to work with farmers who have been farming for generations.

    I'd love to know if any of you have a go at making one of their recipes.  Any slices in the post for taste testing will be gratefully received and devoured in seconds.
     
    Love

    Dorsetmums
    xxx
     
     
    Dorsetmums was gifted the recipe ingredients for the purpose of a review however all thoughts and calories are my own.

  2. A family day at the Dorset Heavy Horse Farm Park

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    What can I say about our day out at the Dorset Heavy Horse Farm Park?  Well, for starters I honestly can’t recommend it enough, we all had so much fun and loved every minute of being there.

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    BeFunky Heavy Horse Farm 1

    Like me, Nanny had always wanted to visit but we’d never got round to it so I decided to take her and the kids and leave Daddy at home. 

    This family run farm park is clearly well run and their passion for heavy horses and other farm animals is visible from the moment you walk in the door.  We arrived just in time to catch some of the stableyard tour but the kids were just too excited to pay attention and were desperate to explore so we watched and listened whilst feeding the horses around us in the stable.  I knew the children could go on a Cinderella miniature pony carriage ride so we did this first and they looked completely adorable adorning the hats which were ready on the seat for them.  My daughter Lucy was smitten with her little pony and thoroughly enjoyed her gentle stroll up and down the yard. 

    I had no idea there was so much there for them to do and all of us were bickering about what to do and where to go first.  I had looked at the daily schedule when we arrived and had a mental list of the things the kids would enjoy the most but I didn’t want their day to be too structured by me so I let them play on the ride on tractors and play areas whilst we waited for the chance to drive a real tractor.  We didn’t wait too long for my son to have a go and he leapt up into the seat with full on nerves and excitement.  Of course he wasn’t alone in the driving seat and I watched while the gentlemen told him what to do.  They had a great big circular track to go round with big muddy holes perfect for splashing.  Two bumpy laps later and one very happy boy got off telling us all about his first driving experience.

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    On this occasion I’d packed a picnic for lunch but next time I’ll leave it at home as the food from Smokey Joes Café looked amazing!  Whilst I was in there ordering some chips and hot drinks to go with our sandwiches I had a quick look around and noticed there was a full lunch menu, children’s meals, daily specials and homemade cake.

    During our day the children enjoyed pony grooming, guinea pig handling, vintage fairground rides (I challenge you not to laugh on the bumpy one), swing boats, outdoor adventure play park and zip slide, go karts, straw barn with a huge steep slide and a lovely play house perfect for tots, sand pit and vintage vehicles.  Myself and my son also enjoyed a tractor trailer ride snuggled up together while Lucy and Nanny had a rest.

    BeFunky Heavy Horse Farm 2

    Unfortunately we missed a couple of the activities including the harnessing display, farm feeding tour and romany display, but the kids had so much fun that I really didn’t mind.  They also have lots of activities just for the kids which include an off to work tour, close encounters in pets corner, farm feeding tour and the farmer’s garden tour.

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    We had such a memorable day out and chatted about it all the way home.  The staff are incredibly friendly and enthusiastic and we really can’t wait to return and do it all again!

    BeFunky Heavy Horse Farm 3