AGA marathon man Pete makes it in style

You’ll be thrilled to hear that charity runners Pete Digby and Paul Milson completed their challenge and ran the Virgin London Marathon in an amazing six hours and 28 minutes.

This is extraordinary when you consider they did this each carrying a pink replica AGA cooker, weighing just under a staggering 70lb!

It was an incredible challenge and Pete and Paul have done an amazing job and we are hugely proud of them.

Of course, no one completes such a challenge simply for fun and they did it to raise money for the Afganistan Trust.

It’s not too late to donate, so if you wish to help them reach their target please visit www.justgiving.com/agaman

National Bread Week

Did you know it's National Bread Week? An AGA cooker can produce particularly special bread. Here's a great recipe for an AGA Brioche.

HAZEL JORDAN’S AGA BRIOCHE

15g (½ oz)fresh yeast
¼ tsp caster sugar
3 tbsp lukewarm milk
85g (3 oz) butter
225g (8 oz) strong flour
¼ tsp salt
1 tsp caster sugar
2 large eggs, beaten
a little softened butter, for greasing
1 egg, beaten, for glazing

Individual brioche tins

Method
Place the yeast and ¼ tsp of sugar into a bowl with the milk. Place on a cloth at the back of the AGA and leave until it becomes frothy. Rub the fat into the flour, then add the salt and sugar, finally the eggs and yeast mixture. If the mixture seems too dry, add a little extra milk. The dough should be silky in texture.

Knead well by hand for 5-8 minutes, or 1-2 minutes at a slow to medium speed using a dough hook in a stand mixer. Cover the bowl with oiled clingfilm and stand the bowl on a folded cloth next to the AGA. Allow the dough to double in size.

Knock back and divide the dough into small balls each about half the volume of the brioche moulds. Butter the moulds well and place the balls into them. Place on a tray and cover with oiled clingfilm. Leave to prove in a warm place adjacent to the AGA and allow them to rise out of the tins. Gently brush with beaten egg. Place onto a baking sheet or the cold plain shelf.

2, 3 and 4 oven AGA: Slide the cold plain shelf onto the third set of runners down in the Roasting Oven. Bake for about 12-15 minutes until well-risen and golden brown. Cool on a wire cooling rack.

Adapted by Dawn Roads from “A Lifetime of Aga, Recipes and Recollections”
by Hazel Jordan. (Out of Print)

AGA Cookery Doctor Tip:
Just before closing the oven door, throw in an ice cube onto the floor of the oven. It will melt and turn to steam, giving a perfect steam oven which is just right for cooking brioche. Live steam is used in the ovens of all the best Paris bakeries.

Do you have an email address?

We are trying to lower both our costs and impact on the environment by reducing our reliance on paper and postage. Our intention is to be able to contact customers by email if they are happy for us to do so! There is no obligation to do this, however if you have the facility and would like to be added to our email database for service reminders and other useful information please contact us.

We need:
Your name
Address
Mobile number
Email

All customers who submit their details will automatically be entered into a prize draw to win a copy of the wonderful Mary Berry & Lucy Young Cookbook.

Effortless Entertaining for Easter and Beyond

Here are a few images to make your mouth water!

We had a great cookery demonstration for Easter cooking and entertaining.

Thank you to everyone who attended.

For more information about our cookery events visit our Demonstrations page on the website www.countrywarmth.co.uk 

VIP EVENT March 14th 2013

Our VIP event was a special evening for customers who have been with us for over 15 years! 

More than 100 people were welcomed to County Warmth with chilled champagne and delicious homemade canapes. 

On display were the latest models from the AGA range along with some ideas for customers that might want to update their existing AGA cookers. Two engineers were on hand to discuss the technical details of the upgrade kits available for older oil and gas AGA's. They explained how to make some AGA's more controllable by the addition of new technology in the form of a retro installed handset with a time clock allowing programmability.

There was a special offer on cookware purchased over £75 along with some limited time deals on new AGA Cooker purchases.

It proved a very successful and informative evening and a nice way to thank our customers for 15 years of custom!

If you would like to be kept aware of similar future events please click to join our email newsletter box on our web page.
 

AGA is thrilled to announce a new addition to its colour palette

Aqua has been added to the collection, bringing the total number of shades available up to 13. Aqua offers a fresh, modern take on a pastel shade and is an incredibly versatile colour when it comes to working with cabinetry, tiles and paint.

The new colour is perfect for both contemporary and traditional kitchens and is available on all AGA models, including the AGA Total Control and AGA iTotal Control.

Derwent Hunt point-to-point Sunday 10th March 2013

'Its tough up north' would have been an accurate description of Sunday’s event. With the thermometer barely scraping above zero and cruel north easterly winds bringing sleet and snow flurries it was not a day for the faint hearted. However as the saying goes 'when the going gets tough the tough (get going) go to Charm Park'.

Charm Park is fortunate to have good draining land and old turf allowing the races to go head on what could have been very soggy going. As it was the going must have been exceedingly sticky and I suspect this had an impact on the overall number of non-finishers. When we arrived horseboxes were being towed on to the field however an appearance by the sunshine cheered everybody on.

We trotted around with banners, cable ties, and baler twine. Decking out the paddock to our satisfaction we set up the prizes display. Highly visible thanks to the bright pink AGA point-to-point tee shirts.

After our initial set up duties we were invited to sample the exceptional hospitality provided by the Derwent supporters. These folks should be running an outside catering company - such was the standard of the food being served up. The presentation and floral arrangements would put many wedding venues to shame. I cannot stress what a friendly group of organisers and supporters surround this point-to-point.

We saw friends and fellow business traders at this popular venue. No one more loyal in her support and dedication to the local point-to-point community than Wendy from White Rose Saddlery, nursing a cruciate ligament injury, but still working hard. See her web site for extensive stock www.whiterosesaddlery.co.uk

With the ever helpful Charlotte pointing us in the right direction for what to do next, we set off to the paddock to judge the best turned out.

A difficult task to pick a winner as there were three strong contenders, however the grey Green du Ceil looked so striking and immaculately plaited. Striding around in his racing green colours he had to be our winner. Well done to Jo masons groom (apologies we don't have her name).

The race itself was fantastic and probably the most competitive of the day, in the end optimistic Harry having lead for quite a way, nearly lost his crown to Minstalad, but held on to take first place. A delighted jess Gilliam was deservedly thrilled with her run.

Poor Jacqueline Coward had to nurse a bashed face and nosebleed after her mount Pevensey objected violently to heading to the start.

Michael presented the trophy and the Coalbroodale Pot to a thrilled owner Miss Barr. An equally delighted Jess took AGA memorabilia for herself and her groom.

All in all a great day in spite of all the weather could hurl at us. A huge thank you to all the people who make these point-to-points such fun and of course to the riders, trainers and owners who work so hard to give us exciting races.