Hello there!

My friend Elodie shared a recipe during one of my Culture Exchange workshops and I thought I would share it here too. It’s a delicious and simple recipe that I love making with plums, although another friend suggested making it with blackberries (Genius!). So if you want to impress your friends or family for Christmas, give it a try and let me know how it went!

FAR BRETON Recipe:

Ingredients:

• 130g sugar (1cup minus a finger width)

• Vanilla essence 2 tsp (or vanilla sugar 9g)

• 220g flour (1cup + 1/3 cup + 1 full tsp)

• 5 eggs

• 750ml milk (3cups + ¼ cup)

• 20g salted butter (0.8cm thick slice or melted half of ¼ cup)

• 2 apples

Can be made plain, or with rum/raisins, or prunes, or caramelized apples

Instructions:

• In a bowl, mix in the sugar + flour + vanilla

• Add one by one the eggs while whisking in between each – with the 4th/5th egg the batter will become easier to mix and whisk until smooth

• Add the melted butter and mix => so it doesn’t get lumpy and hard when adding the milk

• Add 1 cup of milk, whisk, then add the rest • Now it’s time to add the rum 😜 or another alcohol of your choice (usually about 30ml = half of ¼ cup)

• Peel apples and cut them in cubes

• Put baking paper or grease with a lot of butter a 9x9 baking pan

• Pour the batter and the apples in it

• Bake at 180C/356F for 1hr

• Ready ? It’s golden and set. Put a knife blade in the middle, it needs to come out dry.

• The cake will rise a bit while cooking, then come down once cooling down, it will be about 2-3cm thick

• Let the cake cool down then you can eat it warm or at room temperature.

• Can keep the cake for 5 days in the fridge

Check out her other French goodies at the Cape Breton Farmers Market, through the Cape Breton Food Hub and on her website!

About the Farm

Thyme for Ewe Farm is a diversified Organic farm located in Millville, Cape Breton. We produce vegetables, herbs, free range chickens, pastured pigs and beef cattle. We also have some sheep and goats for mowing and milk production (personal use).

We like to provide learning opportunities through workshops.

The farm sells through the Cape Breton Food Hub and at the farm, as well as some other retail locations.

We believe that farming can be regenerative and sustainable, leaving a legacy for the future generations.

Responsibilities

The General Farm Worker responsibilities would include:

-         Seeding, planting, weeding, watering, harvesting and preparing crops for market, including trimming tomato plants,

-         Feed and tend to livestock, check fencing, clean manure out of barns and pens, catch chickens and handle livestock,

-         Participate in building projects and renovations,

-         Help with meat processing (especially sausage making), cleaning, handling raw meat.

Qualifications and Qualities

–        Previous farm hand experiences required (market garden vegetable production and animal production)

–        Ability to maintain a professional and positive attitude

–        Self-motivated and able to maintain a fast pace of work for a whole day

–        Follow direction well and willing to learn

–        Strong attention to details and organization

–        Must be able to work independently as well as in a team setting

–        Ability to work under challenging ergonomic conditions, including work that requires frequent crouching, bending and kneeling

–        Ability to regularly lift loads of 50 pounds

–        Must be able to work outside in all weather conditions (especially heat)

–        Tractor experience

–        Passion and interest in working/learning about small-scale, low-input, sustainable vegetable and animal production

–        Comfortable with kids and a family working environment

Compensation

Minimum wage negotiable upon experience, starting part time in May moving to 35 hours/week in full season, till end of October, accommodation in camper trailer available.

Application process

Please fill out this form - This is a multi-step process and will involve virtual interviews. Final candidates will be expected to visit the farm before hiring. The start date is May 1st.

Click Here to fill out the form.

One of the tools in my arsenal of homemade remedies is elderberry syrup. I won’t spend a winter without it, especially when the kids are back to school! You can find elderberries fresh in the wild or from your local farmer, or buy them dried at a health food store.

Here are some of the Health Benefits of Elderberries:

-          Boost the immune system

-          Fight and protect against bacterial and viral infections

-          Reduce the symptoms and duration of a cold or the flu

-          helps clear sinus infections

-          has natural diuretic effects and promotes bowel movements

-          anti-inflammatory properties

-          anti-carcinogenic properties

-          eases symptoms of allergies

-          high in antioxidants

-          high in vitamin A, which makes it great for healthy skin

I only use the syrup when I’m not feeling well, or when the kids get the sniffles. For adults, take 1 tablespoon up to 4 times a day and for children, 1 teaspoon up to 4 times daily. Then you want to stop using it for a while before taking it again (best to keep it for when you really need it).

Elderberry Syrup Recipe

Ingredients:

• ¾ cups dried elderberries, or 2 ¼ cups fresh elderberries

• 3 cups water

• 1 teaspoon dried cinnamon or 1 cinnamon stick

• 1 teaspoon dried cloves or 4 whole cloves or 1 drop clove essential oil

• 1 tablespoon fresh ginger or 1 teaspoon dried ginger or 1 drop ginger essential oil

• 1 cup raw honey

Instructions:

1. In a large pot, bring the elderberries, water, cinnamon, cloves, and ginger to a boil.

2. Reduce the heat, cover, and simmer until the liquid has reduced by half, about 40-45 minutes.

3. Allow the liquid to cool, and then drain the liquid using a fine mesh strainer or cheese cloth.

4. Press all liquid out of the berries using the back of a wooden spoon.

5. Add the raw honey and mix well.

6. Store in an airtight glass container in the refrigerator. Mine usually last the winter, and you want to have a fresh batch for the following flu season.

It feels a lot better when you know you can take charge of your health. No one knows you better than yourself, and your body has the ability to heal itself. All it takes sometimes is a little help from Mother Nature.

Estelle