Betty Twyford’s Luscious Lemon Curd

Ingredients

100g (4oz) butter

225g (8oz) castor sugar

3 lemons

3 eggs

Method

Place a jam jar in the simmering oven of the AGA. Once it is hot remove from the oven and melt the butter in the jar and return to the simmering oven.

Break the eggs into a bowl and beat the eggs.

In another bowl weigh out the sugar, add the finely grated lemon rind and juice from the lemons.

Once the butter has melted in the jar, add the lemon and sugar then sieve the beaten egg into the jar.

Shake well.

Place in the simmering oven. Check after an hour.

To test, coat a wooden spoon in the mixture. Run another implement through it and if the mixture stays parted, it is ready.

Cool and spread over hot buttered toast.

Herefordshire firm to contribute to top TV show

A Herefordshire firm have restored the heart of a traditional country home as part of a top TV renovation show which was screened last Thursday.

Leominster-based Aga Twyford stepped in to re-enamel the AGA cooker for the Green family as part of the successful Channel Four TV series, ‘Help, My House is Falling Down’.

The show, which is hosted by the TV Queen of property development, Sarah Beeny, featured the family who need a make-over for their kitchen, by transforming their ‘mustard’ yellow AGA cooker into something a little more subtle.

Sarah Beeny returns for a second series of the show that aims to help people rescue their homes from the brink of disaster and the Green family are in need of help to renovate their farmhouse in Writtle, near Chelmsford.

Armed with a team of specialists Sarah diagnoses and deals with a host of potentially terminal property problems – from serious subsidence to terrifying cracking through severe water damage and even a home that might fall down a mine!

Rose Norman for Aga Twyford said: “We were delighted to have the opportunity to breathe new life into the Green family’s Aga. It is absolutely true that the Aga is the very heartbeat of the home and our customers say that once they have lived with one they simply couldn’t do without it.”

Andy and Andrea Green have lived in the house for three years but the property has been in Andy’s family since 1908. It was originally bought by Andy’s great grandfather who was the village butcher.

Andrea said: “Since we have been there we have always used and loved the Aga but we definitely did not love the colour!

“When I first moved to the farm I could not get on with it but now, when we go on holiday I find it difficult to use a normal cooker. It takes a while to get the hand of using an Aga but once you are used to it is like it is one of the family.”

Andy and Andrea, who have five children between them, have been living in a caravan for the six weeks while the makeover was underway.

“If the weather is nice we barbecue, and if not, I do the best with what I have got in the caravan. I can’t wait to get back to my Aga.”

Andrea also runs a small business making jams and chutneys which are all made on the Aga which makes it even more important that the renovation is completed quickly.

“I am always making the family things like gingerbread and shortbread. It is so easy with an Aga to pop it in the oven and if you are going to have a busy day you can just place a casserole in the simmering oven to cook all day.”

Help my House is Falling Down is still available to watch on 4OD. Visit www.channel4.com for further details.

For further information on AGA TWYFORD call (01568) 611124, visit www.twyford-cookers.com or Text Aga to 60777.

Pictured with the re-enamelled AGA cooker is assembly technician Chris Haggett who works at the Leominster base.

Retro domestic goddesses limber up for Cancer Research UK

Retro domestic goddesses proved they were last but not least when they crossed the finish line at Hereford’s 5k Race for Life on Sunday .

The ladies at AGA TWYFORD in Leominster dressed as ‘Betty Twyford', the brand's 1950s domestic goddess, complete with pinnies and headscarves were accompanied by two-year-old Alis Barker, who insisted on walking every single step of the way!

The firm's marketing director, Rose Norman, cookware sales manager, Julie Busek, book keeper, Sue Brown and sales administrators, Jo Jones and Alice’s mum, Jacqui Barker even took along a tray of Betty’s trademark cupcakes and ‘Bertie’ the Twyford’s ‘pet’ dog.

The ‘Twyford Bettys’, who all live in the Herefordshire area joined a sea of more than 2,000 other pink-clad walkers and runners during the event which is one of a series of fundraisers which take place right across the country.

Rose Norman said: “We had an absolutely brilliant day. Little Alis decided that she wanted to walk the whole way so we had to take it steady. We met some wonderful people and the atmosphere was electric.

“When we decided we wanted to raise funds for charity, we were keen to take part in an event that was a challenge and help raise money for a good cause. We all know someone affected by cancer so it is essential to support the charities that work towards helping people beat this disease.”

Race for Life takes place at a number of venues across the UK. It is the largest women-only fundraising event in the country. Since 1994, women of all ages and fitness levels have come together during the Race for Life events to walk, jog or run to help beat cancer.

Some of the fundraisers take part in celebration of surviving cancer. Others take part in memory of a loved one or to give hope to a cancer-free future.

There’s still time to donate. Call 01568 611124. For more information on Race for Life and forthcoming events log on to www.raceforlife.org.

NEW PRODUCTS: Stylish Laundry Basket to Beat the Wash Day Blues

Wash days always tend to linger on especially when it is raining. But with the help of this simple but brilliant rustic laundry basket which has arrived at the Betty Twyford Shop in Leominster, there can be no more whites and darks washing mishaps.

How many times has the odd red sock slipped in with the children’s school shirts or worse with cricket whites or delicate underwear?

Here is the solution – this rustic laundry basket contains two compartments so red socks will never mingle with the delicate whites ever again. It fits in beautifully with the country cottage theme and can double up for linen storage and even a toy box.

And for drying washing super fast on those rainy days? The AGA drying rail is a must. There is a single rail for small washes, a double rail for a medium load and a larger mechanism for the larger family wash.

All the rails easily fit on to the front of the AGA and can be stored away when they are not in use.

DROP IN FOR A CUPCAKE DURING BETTY’S BIG T

Staff at AGA Twyford will be inviting their customers to raise their coffee mugs and enjoy a cupcake for a great cause all this week.

AGA Twyford at Leominster Enterprise Park will host a ‘big T-party’ in aid of St Michael’s Hospice every day this week (July 11 – 15) from 10.30am until 2pm.

A selection of simply beautiful cupcakes which have been created from a variety of special cupcake making kits from the firm’s ‘Betty Twyford’ range will be on offer along with a good old fashioned brew.

Cookware sales team member, Jacqui Barker who works for AGA Twyford said: “We wanted to do something special for St Michael’s Hospice and making some delicious cupcakes will hopefully encourage everyone to dig deep and raise as much money as possible for such an essential facility.”

The Big T is a brand new summer fundraising event in Herefordshire and supporters at St Michael’s Hospice in Bartestree near Hereford are keen to get everyone involved.

Ideas include traditional tea party, toga party, G&T party, and a teddy bear's picnic; you can also gather your colleagues for a 'wear your T-shirt to work' day.

Customers and visitors are invited to pop in throughout the week from 10.30am until 2pm at AGA Twyford’s new showroom at the Marches Trading Park, Brunel Road, Leominster Enterprise Park, Leominster or cal 01568 611124.

For further information contact the events team on events@st-michaels-hospice.org.uk

LATEST UPDATES - AGA TWYFORD SHOWROOM

The showroom at AGA TWYFORD's new premises on the Marches Trading Park, Brunel Road, Leominster, Herefordshire is certainly looking fabulous. The latest work has involved installing some beautiful soft furnishings which means customers can browse new products in total comfort.

The furnishings and blinds have been expertly crafted for AGA TWYFORD to create a stunning ambience specifically designed to help potential customers visualise what the products may look like in their own homes.

NEW SHOWROOM FOR AGA TWYFORD

Staff and customers have been enjoying some extra space, a fabulous new showroom and lovely offices after AGA TWYFORD moved to the Marches Trade Park in Leominster.
In April, AGA TWYFORD expanded and moved again to the Marches Trading Park in Brunel Road, relocating in a large new purpose built factory, offices and showroom. The showroom has been designated as a Deluxe Design Centre by AGA Rangemaster Ltd and is featured on the Rangemaster website.
It means that many more of the products will be constantly on show allowing prospective customers to take their time when it comes to choosing their dream kitchen.
Visitors will see a range of AGA cookers in kitchen set ups, the new Rangemaster Design Studio as well as an array of stylish cookware products from the Betty Twyford home and garden range. The new Betty shop is almost ready for an official opening, the walls have been painted a pretty pink and many of the Betty products are now in situ.
Also on display will be a series of other cookers such as Mercury, Masterchef and Falcon along with the classic Rayburn range.
A new range of stoves from Gazco will be the latest addition to the showroom alongside the popular AGA cast iron stoves range. And there will be opportunities to see both the AGA cookers, Rayburns, and other cookers in action.
Choosing your dream kitchen really has never been simpler. The stylish large showroom will also form the basis for regular open days and special events giving visitors the opportunity to see the AGA Rangemaster and Betty Twyford products in action.
And there is even space to sit back and relax while customers consider the very best products for their home. The new showroom now has an array of stylish matching soft furnishings adding to the homely feel.
The showroom is open Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm and Saturday from 10.30am until 4.30pm.