Go to work on an egg

eggs

Would you try to start your car in the morning knowing the petrol tank was empty? Of course you wouldn’t – or if you did, you wouldn’t get far!

But if you’re one of the 25 per cent of adults who regularly skip breakfast in the week or if you’re among the 17 per cent who never eat breakfast at all, that’s precisely what you’re doing to your body, setting off to work without fuelling up first.

If you don’t ‘top up your tank’ after 10 to 12 hours overnight without food, you’ll struggle to get going, your energy and concentration levels will dip mid-morning and chances are you’ll find yourself being moody and irritable with friends and colleagues for no apparent reason.

Experts agree that breakfast is the most important meal of the day and, according to the NHS, it plays a key role in helping to reduce obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes.

Ideally, you should ‘break your fast’ within an hour of waking, kick starting your day with a combination of protein, such as meat, fish or eggs, and greens to keep you full for longer and give you a healthy hit of vitamins and fibre.

Eggs are a great choice for breakfast. Here’s the recipe for one of June’s favourites which is quick and easy to prepare – and it makes a delicious lunch or light supper too, served with a simple salad!

Baby Spinach Souffle Omelette

  • Servings: 2
  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print

Ingredients

  • 4 eggs
  • 60g torn baby spinach leaves
  • 15g grated Parmesan
  • 1g onion powder (optional)
  • 0.8g ground nutmeg (optional)
  • black pepper to taste

Directions

  1. In a bowl, beat the eggs and stir in the baby spinach and Parmesan. Season with onion powder, nutmeg and black pepper.
  2. In a small omelette pan coated with a little butter or cooking spray, cook the mixture over medium heat for about 3 minutes.
  3. Put the pan under a hot grill and cook for a further 2 to 3 minutes or until the omelette is set and has risen souffle-style.
  4. Fold and serve immediately.

An egg-cellent idea!

easter egg huntThe Easter Bunny will be making a special trip to Nottinghamshire on Easter Monday and, while he’s here, he’ll be hiding lots of chocolate eggs in the lovely grounds of Langar Hall.

Just for the under 12s, Langar’s Easter Egg Hunt starts at 3pm on Monday 21 April. Tickets, which include a delicious afternoon tea, are £12.50 for adults and £4.50 for children.

langar hallOr why not make a day of it and enjoy lunch before the hunt? Available from 12 noon onwards, two courses for £25 or three for £30, with children’s meals £15 (or charged as ordered).

Booking is essential – call 01949 860559 for reservations.

An open invitation…

manor farm - teashop exteriorIf you haven’t found your way to Manor Farm Tea Shoppe in Bleasby yet, here’s the perfect opportunity – they’re having an Open Day from 10am to 4pm on Saturday 12 April and you’re invited!

Enjoy morning coffee and cake, lunch or afternoon tea in the Tea Shoppe itself – meet chef Matt and the rest of the Gastro Dining team, who will be on hand with tasting samples – and have a chat with textile artist Jane Lightfoot about the sewing workshops she’ll be running in the Function Room over the next few months.

shepherds hut interiorWhile you’re there, don’t miss the chance to take a peek inside the Shepherd’s Hut. This gorgeous little B&B is the only one of its kind in Nottinghamshire and is the perfect place to spend a relaxing night (or two!) away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life…

There’ll be some super special offers too, with discounts available on bookings made on the Open Day for meals on one of their Gastro Dining evenings (every Thursday, Friday and Saturday) or reservations for the Shepherd’s Hut.

Visit manorfarmteashoppe.co.uk for more details of everything Manor Farm has to offer and make a date to visit the pretty rural village of Bleasby, just outside Southwell, on 12 April to see it all for yourself…