Armagh’s food and cider weekend

We’re so excited to see the return of food festivals and one of the first ones to welcome back is Armagh’s award-winning Food and Cider Weekend, which gets under way on Thursday 9 September.

Scrumptious food, bubbling cider and a huge serving of top-end gastronomic experiences are all back on the menu.

The festival celebrates a heritage of more than 3,000 years of apple-growing in Ireland’s Orchard County and the weekend promises outdoor dining experiences, food masterclasses and demos, food trails and foraging, cider tastings and tours and much more across a range of stunning locations.

Armagh’s historic Crannagael House, the Keepers Cottage close to Gosford Forest, Armagh Robinson Library and Milford House will be a hub of activity throughout the weekend.

Highlights include a feast of fires prepared by Fiona Chapman, where the wood smoke will layer the flavours of the food and foraged ingredients as you enjoy the atmosphere around the flames.

Fiona will also host a woodland supper, celebrating the local produce.

And at Crannagael House, there will be a delicious seasonal tasting menu prepared and served by Gareth and Kasia Reid and the 4 Vicars Catering team.

Crannagael House is a stunning Georgian House set in rolling Co Armagh countryside.

To see the full programme and to book your place, visit www.visitarmagh.com/foodandcider.

Granola without all the sugar

Granola can be one of those foods that you think is healthy, but on further inspection can be high in sugar, not what you want first thing in the morning.

Flahavans.

So we were curious to try out Flahavan’s new no added sugar granolas. Without the sweet touch, would it stand up on taste?

There are two new flavours available - raisin, cashew and almond plus strawberry and almond - and both are delicious, packed with fruits, nuts, seeds and Flahavan's toasted oats.

Granola is best known for being a breakfast food, but one of our favourite uses is to spread it on top of apple crumble just before you put it in the oven, giving a lovely crunch to the dessert.

It also works great on top of yoghurt or smoothies for a delicious and moreish snack.

Granola is packed full of fibre and a good source of energy and these are free from artificial colours, additives and preservatives too.