The perfect Free-Range Christmas Turkey Box with Streaky Bacon from field&flower

City boy James Mansfield (28) and farmer's son James Flower (25) - the pair behind premium online meat delivery company field&flower - have unveiled their limited edition Free-range Christmas Turkey Box with Streaky Bacon.

field&flower (www.fieldandflower.co.uk)offers a variety of premium Somerset meat all year round, delivered monthly from Home Farm in the Gordano Valley.

field&flower Christmas Free-Range Turkey Box with Streaky Bacon

£85 including free delivery

The box contains a fantastic free-range bronze or British white bird that has been raised and slow grown outside on a local Somerset farm. This box also contains 3 packs of free range streaky bacon.

Welfare – Outside reared from 6 weeks, handled by our stockman and left free to roam in extensive paddocks when weather permits
Diet - Fed on natural vegetation found within the paddocks and cereals
Age – Fully matured birds between 6 – 7 months in age.
Production – Free range birds from one traditional farmer. Dry plucked.

Set minimum weight per bird is 6.5 kg+ (14lb 5oz) which provides 12 – 14 servings, oven size guide: 37cm (L) x 22cm (W) x 20cm (H).

Delivery date: Choose from Thursday 22nd or Friday 23rd December.

Each customer/delivery will receive a 20% New Year discount voucher, to be used in January 2012.

field&flower Christmas Gift Box:

£55 with free delivery

field&flower have also put together a special Christmas Gift Box, the perfect gift for any meat-lover this Christmas. The limited edition box is available to be delivered up until 23rd December 2011, just in time for the Big Day.

Somerset Smoked Salmon, 200g
Traditional Gammon, 1.3kg
4 Week Hung Beef Topside or Silverside, 1.3kg
Free Range Pork Chipolatas, 8 pack
Traditional Thick Cut Free Range Back Bacon, 6 pack
12 Free range Mini Chipolatas wrapped in Streaky Bacon

Choose your delivery date: Wednesday 21st, Thursday 22nd or Friday 23rd.

FACTFILE:
field&flower rear and butcher their own traditional breed cattle on Home Farm in North Somers where the Flower family has been farming for five generations. They also carefully and ethically source the very best pork, lamb and organic chicken from neighbouring farms.

Their easy-to-use website allows customers to create their own monthly meat box from just £55, delivered straight to their door. It is also possible to change the content of the box on a monthly basis for ultimate flexibility. Customers can also place one-off orders from the website.

The Blue Nun Sparkling Gold ... For Life’s Golden Moments

It may be a little early for some, but the party season is just around the corner and that means plenty of sparkle and a glass or two of fizz! (EDITOR: Never too early for a bit of fizz!)

 

For all those celebrations and family get togethers, Blue Nun has released a new sparkling Gold Edition white wine, complete with distinctive fine flecks of delicate 22 carat gold leaf!

Designed with all the glitz and glamour of the party season in mind, the iconic brand, owned by Langguth Wines in Germany, has used their passion, heritage and expertise to create a delicate, subtle quality sparkling white wine with a lovely light fruitiness (alc 11.00%). 

Blue Nun has crafted the Gold Edition with a full, rounded flavour, this light and elegant style wine has the exciting addition of gold flecks to highlight the natural effervescence of sparkling white wine.

The Gold Edition is ideal as an aperitif or to accompany light bites and hors d’oevres so it’s well suited for the party season, special occasions, celebrations or just for fun!

Blue Nun Sparkling Gold Edition is priced at £6.99 per 75cl bottle and is available to buy on-line from www.drinks2home.co.uk. or   www.drinksdirect.co.uk

The Blue Nun Sparkling will also be available to buy at the BBC Good Food Show at the NEC Birmingham which runs from 23-27^th November 2011, stand number U70.

(EDITOR: OK, some will say this is a gimmick.  All my wife and I know is that when we gently (VERY gently!) inverted the bottle and put it upright again, the flecks of genuine gold danced and shimmered in the light from our Christmas candles as they slowly fluttered down to the bottom of the bottle.

As for the taste? Absolutely gorgeous. It is not too dry, nor is it too sweet, it has a fruity and pleasing taste and it has just the right amount of bubbles. It is one of the nicest sparkling white wines of any type that we have ever tried. Getting some in for Christmas? At £6.99 a bottle? I should think so!)

Gran Stead' s New Christmas drink raises a festive cheer

Sussex’s award-winning drinks creators Gran Stead’s are turning up the heat this winter with a new alcohol-free tipple which makes a hearty Christmas drink.

Gran Stead’s Light and Fiery Ginger Wine has been created in response to calls for an even more deeply-spiced sister to top-selling Gran Stead’s Dark and Mellow Ginger Wine.

Both these handmade beverages are big on flavour, making them a satisfying choice for drivers and those avoiding alcohol - they certainly won’t be left feeling hard done by.

“Our new drink is unashamedly fiery and is targeted at those who love their ginger,” says Chris Knox, who with wife and business partner Rosemary developed the latest recipe at their Sussex base.

“It is proving to be a real hit with our customers, and is particularly popular now the cold nights have set in, as people appreciate a smooth drink that gives a bit of a kick.”

Gran Stead’s website is a great place to find festive cocktail ideas - unleash your imagination and have fun using the drinks as a base to make some creative concoctions to warm the taste buds. Mix with whiskey and warm gently, or add to a punch or mulled wine. Alternatively sip through crushed ice or blend with apple, orange or Gran Stead’s Traditional Still Lemonade.

Gran Stead’s drinks are prepared by Chris and Rosemary at Mile Oak Farm in East Sussex. The full range of non-alcoholic drinks comprises:

•Gran Stead’s Light and Fiery Ginger Wine (RRP £4.25 75 cl)
•Gran Stead’s Dark and Mellow Ginger Wine (RRP £4.25 75 cl)
•Gran Stead’s Traditional Still Lemonade RRP (£2.25 75cl)
•Gran Stead’s Still Lemonade With A Zing Of Ginger (£2.25 75cl)

OK: Where can we buy Gran Stead's? Or how can we stock it?

Gran Stead’s traditional drinks are available online at www.GranSteadsGinger.co.uk and from stockists throughout the UK. Find your nearest retailer or buy on-line by visiting www.gransteadsginger.co.uk/stockists

Add some Andalusian magic to the Festive season!

Normally baked after Christmas by Andalusian families, Roscon de Reyes, is otherwise known as Three Kings Cake and tradition states that it contains a hidden toy , model king or butter bean which is said to bring year long luck to the finder. Traditionally served with an Andalusian tortilla or Spanish Omelette it is eaten either at breakfast or lunch during the festive period.

Andalusian Courgette Tortilla with Roast Cherry Tomatoes
Serves: 4:
600 g courgettes, sliced
6 tbsp olive oil
Salt and pepper
3 spring onions, chopped
350 g cherry tomatoes (on the vine)
6 eggs

Preheat the oven to 200°C / 400°F

1.       Heat 3 tablespoons of oil in a pan add the courgettes and fry till brown. Season with salt and pepper. Heat another tablespoon of oil and sauté the spring onions. Keep one tablespoon of chopped spring onions back for garnish.
2.       Place the tomatoes on the vine in an ovenproof dish. Drizzle with one tablespoon of oil and bake it for 10-12 minutes until they start to burst. Season with salt and pepper.
3.       Whisk eggs with salt and peppe r and add the courgettes and the spring onions. Heat one tablespoon of oil in a pan (ovenproof handle), place the egg mix in the pan and fry it for 3 minutes. Place the pan in the oven and bake the tortilla for 5-7 minutes. Place the tortilla on a plate and slice it. Top it with the chopped spring onions and pepper. Serve with the roast tomatoes.

Nutritional value (each serving):
ca. 405 kcal/1695 kJ, 17 g protein, 32 g fat, 7 g carbohydrates

Roscon de Reyes – Three Kings Cake

(Makes a 15” cake)
Ingredients:
400g flour
3 eggs
100g butter
100g sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/4 litre milk
zest of 1 lemon
dried mixed peel for decorating
glace cherries for decorating
salt

250ml whipping cream for filling
Model king / small toy / butterbean for decoration (optional)


Method

1. Mix the baking powder 4 tbsp of the milk add this to 100g of the flour. Mix together until it forms a dough type mixture - cover with a clean tea towel and set aside until it doubles in size.

2. Place the rest of the flour (300g) in a bowl and add the eggs, sugar, pinch of salt, the rest of the milk and zest of the lemon. Mix well then add the butter and continue mixing for a further 2 mins then add the dough mixture - once a smooth dough has been achieved cover and set aside for 2 hours.

3. After 2hrs knead the mixture then put it in a ring shape on a greased baking tray. Decorate with the dried mixed peel and glace cherries. Brush with milk and bake in an oven at 160 degrees for 15-20 mins.

4. When cool, whip the cream and slice the bun in half. Fill it with whipped cream (you can hide the toy, model king or butter bean in the cream). Slice and serve.

Chemo Cookery- Ideas to Make Chemo More Tolerable

This month is breast cancer awareness month, and while the shops are brimming with all things pink, helping to raise valuable funds for cancer research, it doesn’t do much in the way of making those suffering with breast cancer feel more comfortable. So, chef Jim Fisher has created some delicious recipes that aim to do just that. And with Christmas not far away, these recipes will be of great help if you are catering for someone who is having Chemo.

From foods high in vital nutrients to ingredients to suit a changing sense of taste, every aspect of the dish has been considered with the chemo patients needs in mind.

Chemo Cookery

Ideas To Make Chemo More Tolerable For Cancer Sufferers

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month when the world turns pink and the disease is endorsed by celebrities. Raising awareness this way is fantastic but the women actually going through treatment for this debilitating disease can be overlooked. Their world is far from pink.

Inspired by his own mother’s battle with cancer, Jim Fisher, chef patron of French cookery school www.cookinfrance.com has worked with nutritional therapist, Lucy Hyland http://www.foodforliving.ie to create ideas and recipes to help people going through chemo. Available on his website completely free of charge, Jim plans to add to the pages and creating a valuable resource for cancer patients throughout the year.

Commenting on his Chemo Cookery, Jim Fisher said: “My mum and I used to love cooking together but once she was diagnosed, there were more important things to consider than gourmet cooking. We had to focus on maintaining her strength and fitness as well as choosing foods that helped her overcome chemo’s radical effects of her body. This included a diminished appetite and a drastic change in her sense of taste.

We concocted a series of recipes that could be adapted on the fly to her changing sense of taste and her - often severe - physical symptoms. Chief amongst those that affected her appetite and ability to taste was Oral Mucositis which caused pain and inflammation of the surface of the inside of her mouth. Mouth ulcers were also a problem making it difficult to eat, drink and even talk. Coupled with this was constant fatigue, high levels of stress and a nagging fear for the future.

Our recipes and approach helped Mum and I hope others will get benefit from this too”.

FACTFILE:.

JIM’S CHEMO COOKERY ADVICE

Maintain and repair mucosal lining of mouth, stomach and gutCalm lining with teas such as liquorice, chamomile and fennel. Ginger tea also helps with any post nausea. Include these ingredients in dishes or even juices if it helps.

Increase consumption of easily digestible foods It’s the perfect time for slow cooked stews and casseroles and soups with heaps of veggies. Liquidise as much as possible –people drink broth to get the electrolytes and nutrients in. Freshly made smoothies and juices are great if you have a blender – dairy can be hard to tolerate but you might be able to add some yogurt to smoothies – if not, I tend to use 100% nut butter blended into smoothies and not noticed – great source of easily digestible protein and good fats (great for all that repair work)

Increase consumption of anti-oxidants to help boost immune systemConsume plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables (see soups above) or stew your fruit if you can’t handle fresh. Add fresh herbs and spices to dishes  – perhaps infusing a broth with rosemary to provide anti-oxidant support.

Increase natural anti-inflammatories as body is generally quite inflamed afterwards Examples include garlic, ginger, nuts and seeds (grind them if they are too course or use nut butters) fish. Also try to reduce naturally inflammatory foods such as dairy, sugar and meats.

Ensure a healthy bowel by eating plenty of fibre rich foods (wholegrains such as porridge for breakfast, brown breads at lunch and brown rice/pasta for dinner), beans and legumes (hummus, adding a tin of chickpeas to your stew or vegetable soups), nuts and seeds and heaps of veggies and fruit. This is more for post chemo – the body may not be able to handle all this fibre and so use your blending and pureeing and grinding techniques to make digestion as easy as possible.

Try to consume at least 8 glasses of water a day and try to walk a little every day.

Increase protein intakeThe body is undergoing some repair and so having protein with every meal will help fuel this, for example, eggs or yogurt with breakfast, and beans, legumes, fish, eggs or a limited amount of meat with lunch and dinner. again – this is post chemo but going for easy to digest proteins might help – I blend beans and legumes into soups so people don’t need to digest them as much. Even if people can tolerate a little porridge in the morning, I will grind some nuts and seeds and sprinkle on or soak the nuts and seeds over night to make them much easier to digest.

Make stocks, soups and sauces from natural ingredients Often, processed foods can taste strange or metallic so try to use fresh or non-processed ingredients.

Back off on salt, pepper and spices and avoid overly-browning meat and over-reducing sauces Sometimes, highly flavoured foods are too strong for chemo patients. Sometimes, it’s beneficial to serve hot foods cold or at room temperature because heat increases flavour.

Avoid dairy and fats These can trigger nausea - use pure nut butters and soy products where possible. 

Recipes

Vanilla and Banana Smoothie

A soothing and nutritious smoothie. Vary the ingredients to include blueberries, raspberries, etc.

Serves one

250ml soy milk (or soya cream for extra mouth feel)

1 ripe banana

seeds of ¼ vanilla pod

1 tsp un-processed honey

Blend all the ingredients together until ultra smooth. Pass through a fine sieve if still too course (to relieve throat pain).

Vichyssoise Soup

Classic creamy potato and leek soup traditionally served cold (thus reducing the intensity if the patient is feeling sensitive to strong flavours).

Serves 6

1 leek (white part only), roughly chopped

3 medium semi waxy potatoes (i.e. Maris Piper), peeled

2 tsp nut oil

1 ltr fresh chicken or vegetable stock (pale, not roasted)

250 ml soy milk

salt (scant)

Gently sweat the leek in the oil for about five minutes until softened. Add the potatoes and then the stock. Bring to a simmer and cook gently until the potatoes are very soft. Turn off the heat and stir in a little salt to the patient’s taste. Add the soy milk and blend to a smooth puree. Pass through a fine sieve and serve either cold or warm (never hot).

Chicken and Watercress Salad with Chickpeas and a Lemony Yoghurt Dressing

Chicken is a source of Selenium, a powerful antioxidant that has been linked to the restriction of cancer cell growth and the alleviation of some chemotherapy side-effects. Chickpeas contain Folic Acid, essential for cell growth and for proper synthesis and repair of DNA. There is evidence to suggest that a compound in watercress can ‘turn off’ a signal in the body that is responsible for cancer growth.

This recipe is also a great way to use any leftover roast chicken, and it has a beautifully simple dressing to go with it.   

Start by soaking the chickpeas in plenty of cold water overnight.

Serves four

3 heaped tbsp dried chickpeas (soaked, as above)

4 free-range organic skinless chicken breasts

1 tbsp nut oil

Salt (scant)

Freshly ground black pepper (scant)

Glass dry white wine

250 ml low fat or dairy-free yoghurt

Finely grated zest and the juice of a lemon

1 tbsp finely shredded mint leaves

Bunch of watercress

Simmer the chickpeas in plenty of un-salted water for about 30 minutes (salt toughens the skin of dried peas and pulses and can make the dish unpalatable to chemo patients).  Drain and cool.

Smear the chicken pieces with a little oil, then season lightly (if at all - see above) with salt and pepper. Bring a large deep lidded frying pan to a high heat and fry the chicken on the ‘skin’ side for about two to three minutes or until golden brown.  Turn the pieces over and brown as before on the ‘flesh’ side.

Pour in the glass of white wine (or water or chicken stock) and simmer for two minutes. Put the lid on and turn off the heat – yes, that’s right, turn the heat off.  Drape a couple of t-towels over the top and leave it alone to ‘rest’ for fifteen minutes or until the chicken is cooked through (t chicken will continue to cook in the residual heat of the pan).

And make the dressing: empty the yoghurt into a glass or ceramic bowl.  Stir in the lemon zest, a teaspoon of the juice, the mint leaves and a scant pinch of salt.

Now, remove the chicken from the pan and pull off large strips of flesh, placing them in a bowl.

To assemble the salad, place pieces of chicken, some croutons and watercress on the plate working them into a pile.  Drizzle the dressing over and around.

Panna Cotta and Spiced Prunes

Gelatin - used to set the Panna Cotta - in the diet can help reduce the effects of chemotherapy on the patient’s nails, which often splinter and can even turn black. Soy instead of dairy helps with nausea, and honey is always better than processed sugar due to its naturally antiseptic and hypo-allergenic qualities. Rehydrated dried fruits are often easier to digest than fresh.

For the Panna Cotta:

250 ml soy milk

250 ml soy cream

2 level tbsp honey

1 vanilla pod, split down its length

3 level tsp gelatin        

For the prunes:

24 no-soak prunes

2 tsp honey

250 ml strong cold tea

1 star anise

1 cinnamon stick

Put the milk and cream into a saucepan with the honey and vanilla pod and simmer for five minutes.  Turn off the heat and leave to infuse while you deal with the gelatin;  sprinkle the powder onto 3 tbsp. of hot water in a small saucepan and leave it alone for five minutes after which time the crystals will have softened and absorbed the liquid.  You can now gently heat the gelatin to dissolve. Whisk in the still-hot cream.  Remove the vanilla pod and pour the mixture into 6 ramekins or dariol moulds.  Cool to room temperature then pop them into the fridge to set - about 2 hours.

Place the prunes in a saucepan with the other ingredients and bring to a simmer.  Turn the heat down and simmer very gently for 5 minutes.  Cover and leave to steep in a cool place, preferably overnight, or for at least 6 hours.

To serve:

Briefly dip the bases of the dariol moulds into hot water for about 2-3 seconds to loosen the sides, then carefully turn them out onto four cold plates.  Pile some prunes alongside and pour on some extra juice.

Company information

Learn to "Cook in France" - a fun friendly hands-on cookery school in Drdogne. Foodie banter, tips & recipes from me, chef Jim Fisher (“I learned from Rick Stein, Alastair Little & Tony Tobin,” says Jim)

Making cocktails this Christmas season? Make sure the answer is 1870!

Available to buy in Waitrose and priced at a very modest 89p for a 1 litre bottle, 1870 Mixers are the ultimate soft drink for a touch of luxury at home without a hefty price tag! 1870 Mixers can be enjoyed on their own over ice, or as the finest accompaniment to alcohol.

1870 are excited to announce the transformation of their classic mixer range, complete with exquisite flavours from around the world to compliment their pure Kentish spring water.

All of 1870’s seven varieties are made with pure spring water, bottled at source in Kent's Garden of England to deliver optimum taste and refreshment, in keeping with the brand’s heritage as a Great British mixer.

1870 have endeavoured to source the finest natural ingredients from around the world, to ensure a perfectly cosmopolitan blend of flavours. From Lemonade blended with Argentinian lemon oil and Ginger Ale made with fiery African ginger, to crisp Tonic created from the finest Brazilian essential oils, 1870 mixers have all been expertly blended using premium ingredients to deliver optimum taste. The range of seven variants can be enjoyed on their own as a refreshing drink, or as the finest accompaniment to alcohol. (EDITOR: And there's real Quinine in the Tonic Water!)

1870 are the original premium British mixers and the ultimate drink for entertaining, a special occasion, or simply relaxing of an evening. Grab a tall glass, plenty of ice and a dash of alcohol if you wish, for an exquisite taste sensation every night of the week.

For details visit www.1870mixers.co.uk

Available in 7 varieties – Tonic Water, Tonic Water Light, Soda Water, Bitter Lemon, Lemonade, Lemonade Light and Ginger Ale

Available in selected Waitrose stores nationwide, as well as all good independent and wholesale stores.

·         1870 is made by Silver Spring, one of the UKs largest independent soft drinks manufacturers. Founded in Folkestone , Kent in 1870. (EDITOR: Hence the 1870 name!)

·         All varieties are made with pure spring water from the Silver Spring in Kent .

·         Cocktails served at the ‘Around the World with 1870’ launch event were expertly blended with the following premium spirit brands: Crystal Head Vodka, Teichenne Kiwi, Four Roses Bourbon, Teichenne Raspberry, El Dorado 7, Teichenne Peach, El Dorado, Teichenne Apple, Goldschlager.

EDITOR: What about the all important question? Which is: What do they taster like? Extremely good. They compliment the spirit/s you are mixing them with, without overpowering the taste of the spirits, yet are strong enough to be ideal for serving chilled, as they come, over ice for a refreshing and non-alcoholic drink.)

Tasty gluten-free Mince Pies. And that's the Genuius of it!

There was a time when "gluten free" sent a shiver down the spine of anyone with an allergy or an intolerance to wheat and/or gluten.

Yes, years ago there were gluten free products but they lacked a good mouth feel and they did not taste particularly nice, either!


Mince Pies were a good example. Either the pastry was wrong and horribly dry and/or the mince mixture was cloying and not especially pleasant.

But then along came someone with a genuine desire to put all that right. To ensure that gluten free did not mean taste free!

That someone was Lucinda Bruce-Gardyne, who created Genius Foods. And so set in train a move toward providing people with decent tasty foods that were indistinguishable from normal food because it was normal food itself!

The pastry of Genius Mince Pies is a real crumbly shortcrust pastry and the filling is a real and extremely tasty proper rich, moist and fruity Mince Pie filling. Together the combination is a truly classic Christmas traditional delicacy. So good, in fact, that you could serve it as your only mince pie. But you'd best be sure to get a good few boxes in! Because they will prove popular! Could you pass them off as home made? You know, you probably could, but as that's definitely not in the tradition of the spirit of Christmas, you'll not want to be doing that!

So, tuck into your Genius Mince Pies, whilst raising a glass of mulled wine to Lucina Bruce-Gardyne, the founder of this particular Christmas feast! (And yes, that was a reference to A Christmas Carol!)

Of course, Genius make a whole range of equally tasty Gluten free products, so to find out more, visit www.geniusglutenfree.com  or nip over to their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/geniusglutenfree.

Simply Ice Creams Natural, home made, hand made goodness for the Christmas period

Offer your family and friends, favourite flavours such as Christmas Pudding, Heavenly Honeycomb Crunch, Brown Bread and Stem Ginger and Marmalade. Simply Ice Cream is made in Kent by Sally Newall’s team of helpers.

To learn more, simply visit www.simplyicecream.co.uk

The range is available at Waitrose £4.65 for 500ml tub and across London and the South East in various restaurants, cafes, fine food shops and delis.

Add a touch of Italian Style to your Kitchen this Christmas, with Filippo Berio

Perfect for that hard to buy for foodie or as a yuletide treat for your own kitchen, the brand new Filippo Berio Extra Virgin Olive Oil Special Edition tin makes the ideal gift this Christmas.

 

 

This special, limited edition 1L tin from Italian Olive Oil specialists Filippo Berio features one of Italy’s most iconic landmarks, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, which is located a short drive away from Lucca, Tuscany, the home of Filippo Berio. 

 

 

 

 

Filippo Berio Extra Virgin Olive Oil is rich and fruity and perfect on for salads, jacket potatoes, vegetables, pasta, meat and fish as well as being ideal for dipping, basting and marinating.

 

In 1867 when Filippo Berio first started producing fine olive oil, tins were used as packaging to protect the olive oil from sunlight and to preserve the oil’s fine flavour. Back then, Filippo Berio’s tins and their contents, won international acclaim and awards for quality and taste. To this day, Filippo Berio Olive Oil uses the same carefully selected procedure ensuring the olive oil tastes just as good as it did in 1867.

 

This unique, limited edition tin is available on supermarket shelves from mid October, RRP £6.49 and enjoy a price promotion at Sainsbury’s from 24^th Nov – 3^rd Jan where the tin is on offer at £4.49

 

Italian Christmas Recipes

Christmas isn’t just about gifts, it’s also about wholesome, tasty foods. These unique recipes from Filippo Berio will bring a touch of Italian festive flavour to your Christmas period; and when you buy 500ml bottles of Filippo Berio Olive Oil and Extra Virgin Olive Oil you’ll receive different recipes on-pack to keep and use year after year.

 

Crunchy Roast Potatoes with Garlic

PREP TIME: 10 MINS

COOKING TIME: 1 HOUR

SERVES: 4

You’ll need: 900g Potatoes – Peeled, 6 tbsp Filippo Berio Olive Oil and 6-8 garlic cloves – unpeeled

 

1.       Preheat the oven to 200°C/400°F or Gas Mark 6 and put a large roasting tin in the oven to heat.

 

2.       Cut the potatoes into large, even chunks. Boil in salted water for 5 minutes. Drain, return to the pan, cover with the lid and shake the pan to roughen up the edges of the potatoes. Set aside.

 

3.       Add the oil to the roasting tin and return to the oven for 2 minutes. Tip the potatoes into the hot oil, then turn to coat in oil. Roast for 30 minutes. Turn over the potatoes, add the garlic cloves and roast for a further 25-30 minutes or until crisp and golden.

 

4.       Serve immediately.

 

 

Italian Chestnut Stuffing

SERVES 8-10 OR IDEAL FOR A 4.5kg TURKEY

You’ll need: 1 bulb fennel - trimmed and finely chopped, 4 shallots - finely chopped, 4 tbsp Filippo Berio Extra Virgin Olive Oil, 2-4 cloves garlic - finely chopped, 400g sausages (Italian-style), 200g peeled chestnuts, 2 tbsp fresh sage – chopped, 1tbsp fresh thyme leaves – chopped, 200g ciabatta bread - diced small,  Grated zest 1 lemon, 1 egg – beaten and salt and pepper to season

 

1.       In a large frying pan, heat the extra virgin olive oil, stir in the fennel and shallots. Cook over a medium heat until soft then add the garlic. Cook for another 1 minute before transferring to a bowl to cool completely

 

2.       Remove the sausage meat from the skins and chop or roughly breakup the chestnuts. Add these and all other ingredients to the bowl and season well. Mix together using your hands. This mixture can be kept in the fridge for up to 24hrs until needed.

 

3.       Cook the stuffing either in the neck of the turkey (adjust the turkey cooking time according to new weight), or in an ovenproof dish for 45mins- 1hour until golden brown on top.

 

Find out more at www.filippoberio.co.uk and Twitter @filippoberio

 

Now the shopping is Divine, as well as the chocolate!

The Divine Chocolate Shop has been redesigned and enhanced to make for a seamless shopping experience for every Divine customer. It offers something for every age and chocolate palette and there's more choice than ever before - customers can stock up on their favourite chocolate flavours as well as choosing beautiful gift sets with unique combinations that can't be found anywhere else. The gift sets range in price from £12.50 to £50.00 and all come packaged in elegant powder blue and pale green boxes.

Visit the Divine Chocolate Shop here: www.divinechocolate.com/shop and start your Chirstmas shopping in earnest!

As well as gift boxes there are over 40 individual products for sale including the following hugely popular lines: strawberry white chocolate, raspberry dark chocolate, and a dark chocolate infused with ginger & orange.

Baking enthusiasts can stock up on Divine's plain white, deliciously dark 85%, and the acclaimed 70% bars, of which Charles Campion, food critic for The Independent describes as "very fruity, with a good texture and a long finish".

Spruce Up Your Festive Feasts With Castle MacLellan's Luxury Pâtés

Castle MacLellan is offering food lovers top tips on how to make festive entertaining easier, but just as indulgent, with a selection of mouth-watering recipe and canapé ideas using their luxurious premium pâtés.

Made from the finest Scottish ingredients, sourced from local independent producers, Castle MacLellan’s core range of pâtés comes in five delicious varieties, ideal for hassle free Christmas feasts and New Year party snacks.  Each flavour provides simple recipes to inspire quick and easy dishes and stylish, flavoursome canapé suggestions.

Rannoch Smoked Duck Pâté with Bramley Apple Jelly - A deliciously smooth duck liver pâté with pieces of Rannoch smoked duck, complemented by locally produced Bramley apple jelly and aromatic tarragon

Chicken Liver Pâté with Scottish Heather Honey - A smooth, rich and creamy chicken liver pâté enhanced with the sweetness of Scottish heather honey

Scottish Smoked Salmon Pâté with Lemon Juice and Horseradish - A blend of Scottish smoked and poached salmon, enriched with cream, lemon juice and horseradish

Luxury Orkney Crab Terrine with Lemon Juice and Galloway Mustard - A luxurious blend of Orkney crab enriched with créme fraiche and enhanced with lemon juice and locally produced Galloway mustard

Oven Roasted Mushroom Pâté with Garlic & Thyme - A rich, creamy, oven roasted mushroom pâté made with full fat soft cheese and créme fraiche, and seasoned with a hint of garlic and thyme (suitable for vegetarians).

For hosts who want to impress with their festive banquets, Castle MacLellan pâtés can be used to create impressive but easy to prepare dishes and warming winter fare.  The on-pack  suggestions feature mouth watering recipe ideas such as Mini Duck En Croutes With Beetroot Chutney or Orkney Crab Spring Rolls.

The luxury pâtés are also great served as a snack straight from the fridge, making ideal and stylish canapés for New Year celebrations. Simply top artisan oatcakes, blinis and brioche with your favourite flavours or serve sandwiched between palmiers or smothered on fresh crusty bread.

Castle MacLellan has been making the finest fresh luxury pâtés since 1982 and is dedicated to sourcing the very best local ingredients from small, independent companies rooted in Scottish heritage and provenance. The company remains an established and trusted brand, working with a number of local suppliers, which include Rannoch Smokery and The Orkney Fisherman’s Society.

Castle MacLellan pâtés are available in supermarkets throughout the UKincluding ASDA, Sainsbury’s and Waitrose as well as independent stores priced from around 99p to £2.35.

For more details and recipes please visit www.castlemaclellan.co.uk

Two ‘Golds’ for legendary Christmas pudding

The only thing missing from a festive celebration with a Feeding Your Imagination Christmas pudding this year will be frankincense and myrrh...

Christmas is going to be extra special this year for Feeding Your Imagination and Master Chef Paul Da-Costa-Greaves. The Bristol based fine food company have received Gold in the 2011 Great Taste Awards and Gold in the 2011 Taste of the West Awards.

The multi-award winning food brand entered their famous Christmas pudding into both Taste of the West and the Great Taste Awards, and won. The Great Taste Awards are organised by the Guild of Fine Food and are widely acknowledged as the benchmark for speciality food and drink - described by many as the ‘Oscars’ of the food industry. The prestigious Taste of the West Awards is also one of the most highly respected in the food and drinks industry and is run by Taste of the West, based in Devon.

The Christmas pudding is part of a premium food range from Feeding Your Imagination, headed up by Celebrity Chef, Paul Da-Costa-Greaves. ‘As an innovative company, both the Great Taste Awards and the Taste of the West are extremely important to us. We are excited to have won two more Gold awards which will now certainly differentiate our Christmas pudding from the norm. These independent awards offer absolute confidence to the consumer that the product they are buying comes with a reliable seal of approval purely based upon great taste,’ says Paul.

Having developed the recipe over 15 years ago, after ‘pinching’ it from his Jamaican Aunt, Paul has gone on to refine and adapt the Christmas pudding. It is now Gluten free, suitable for vegetarians and does not contain any suet. The overall result is a festive pudding that is fruity and light in texture. It comes wrapped in a muslin cloth and presented in a striking carry box, making it ideal for gifting.

Paul, who has delighted the West Country foodies with his Christmas pudding for many years and has become quite legendary in the Devon fine food circles, says. ‘I am absolutely thrilled to have won two Golds this year for the pudding, it’s fantastic to receive acknowledgement from independent sources for all of the hard work we’ve put in over the years, to get the pudding to where it is now.

We have never stopped listening to our customers and we continue to refine our products based on the feedback from the market. The “Chrimbo Pud” is vegetarian and we also have full Gluten and Wheat free approval from the Coeliac Society. We also approached Courvoisier this year to request a license agreement, as we only use their VS Cognac in our puddings. We were delighted to have been granted full approval from Courvoisier to promote their brand on our packaging and I believe we are the only Christmas Pudding manufacturer to have this!’

All entries to the Great Taste Awards are judged by three different judging panels at three different venues. The Taste of the West Awards take the best part of a year to coordinate, from launch to judging, culminating in the awards ceremony which will be held in November 2011 in the Mediterranean Biome at the Eden Project.

The Chrimbo Pud from Feeding Your Imagination will serve 6-8 people and is certified Gluten free and suitable for vegetarians. Purchased either online at www.chrimbopud.co.uk or from independent delicatessens and various retail outlets across the UK, details of which are available on the company website.

Feeding Your Imagination has a premium range of puddings, chocolate bars and gourmet seaweed sauce products which are all available throughout the UK, either online or via approved stockists.

For further information, where you can purchase or how to become a stockist, please visit; www.feeding-your-imagination.co.uk or email; eatme@feeding-your-imagination.co.uk.

Sugar free does not have to be taste free if you use SPLENDA

Some people cannot tolerate sugar due to health issues, others cannot use sugar because they are watching their weight as part of a calorie controlled diet.

But what alternatives are there to sugar? There is saccharine. To be honest, with its horribly bitter taste, it's a wonder it every caught on as a sugar substitute! And there are a variety of other artificial sweeteners, some which cannot really be used in cooking as they do not tolerate heat, whilst there are others that are liquid so not as useful in all applications as they might be. And they can impart a different taste to a recipe that is not always welcome.

SPLENDA is different. It can be used as a direct replacement for sugar in many recipes (it's granulated) and it is actually made using sugar.

SPLENDA is recommended by the new Atkins-Advantage plan as 'a low-carb alternative to sugar'

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This means that people with diabetes can now look forward to a whole new world of cooking, baking and dining opportunities with SPLENDA. Meaning they do not have to feel left out at Christmas time.

SPLENDA Granulated and SPLENDA Sweet Minis are available across all good retailers.

For cooking and baking tips on how to incorporate SPLENDA Granular into your favourite recipes – please visit www.splenda.co.uk