Saturday 15 October 2022
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Friday 14 October 2022
Grana Padano: It's An Italian Feeling
The TV advertisement was filmed in the historic locations of the Cistercian abbey of Chiaravalle, where the monks perfected the recipe in the Middle Ages, showcasing the region where Grana Padano is still produced and matured today.
The Oscar winners involved in its production were film director, Giuseppe Tornatore, winner of the Best Foreign Language film for Cinema Paradiso in 1990, and Ennio Morricone, composer of "Gabriel's Oboe” winner of Best Original Score for the 1986 film, The Mission.
"We wanted two standard-bearers of Italian values, icons of cinematographic art, to be entrusted with the visual and sound representation of Grana Padano,” comments Mr Stefano Berni, General Director of the Consortium.
“They are both unique personalities, masters in terms of genius, professionalism and fame, capable of representing the values that are integral to the unique, Italian taste of our cheese.”
Renato Zaghini, who is the President of the Grana Padano Protection Consortium, launched the campaign with the stirring words: “Grana Padano PDO is a symbol of “made in Italy” and its unparalleled taste is the guardian of traditions, cultures and lifestyles that have made the world fall in love with it.”
“An Italian Feeling” will be aired from October on BBC NEWS, Euronews, Eurosport 1 and 2, ITV 1 Regional, Channel 4 and on Heart Radio and Capital FM.
The campaign will also reveal the new Grana Padano logo that will feature on future packaging. The logo, which had remained unchanged since 1954, has been redesigned to reflect a more modern style with its new font lettering.
Other changes to the packaging include the indication of the ageing (12, 14, 16, 18 months) and the introduction of the new category “Riserva - Over 24 Months”.
The updates have been made to provide the consumer with more information and greater transparency when it comes to purchasing a cheese that is a symbol of Italy, and whose characteristics of absolute excellence remain unchanged and faithful to the original recipe.
Did you know that in 2021, over 5.2 million wheels were made? Of which over 2.2 million were exported (that's almost 44%) (Actually, The married couple behind That's Food and Drink were a proud part of the consumption of Gran Padano. And we expect to be ordering some in for our Christmas cheese boards!)
You can check out the TV advertisement here:
Visit: www.granapadano.it
Follow Grana Padano here:
Instagram: @granapadanopdo
FB: @GranaPadanoUK
#GranaPadano
More vegetarian options at M&S
The range includes a choice of 14 delicious vegetarian meals, developed by the retailer’s in-house chefs. Choices include Veggie Roasted Butternut Risotto (370g - £4) and Veggie Roasted Mushroom Ravioli (355g - £4).
Research from M&S shows vegetarians often feel overlooked – over 60% are unhappy with the number of vegetarian options in supermarkets and restaurants, while almost two-thirds said that there aren’t enough vegetables in restaurant and supermarket vegetarian meals currently available.
Sharry Cramond, who is a lifelong vegetarian and Director of Marketing & Hospitality at M&S, said: “Many vegetarians, myself included, know all too well how it feels to look at a restaurant menu or supermarket shelves, only to see a handful of meat-free options and rarely anything that celebrates vegetables."
She went on to say: "Our brand-new Veggie range more than meets that need and is the perfect solution for this overlooked group of foodies who want delicious, modern dishes packed with vegetables.
“From comforting mains for one to sharing centrepieces and all-important sides, this range is ideal for work lunches, midweek dinners, weekend entertaining and more! It’s all totally delicious and my favourite is the Veggie Cauli & Leek Open Pie. I literally can’t wait to make it part of my weekly shop – roll on dinner tonight!”
The launch comes as M&S’ plant-based Plant Kitchen range, suitable for vegans, has been growing in popularity. Plant Kitchen sales are up 23% YOY compared to 21/22, with bestsellers including the Hoisin No Duck Wrap (£3.75), Green Thai Curry and Jasmine Rice (£4.50) and Nutty Super Wholefood Salad (£3.50)
The retailer launched Plant Kitchen back in 2019, offering a selection of delicious dairy and meat-free lunch options, indulgent treats and meals – the range has since grown to over 200 products.
M&S has been encouraging its 30m customers to explore plant-based protein as part of its Sparking Change challenge, designed to help families make the food they eat greener, healthier and more affordable, including tips on storing vegetables properly and an all-important meal planner.
Vegetarian options for home or commercial cooking from OmniFoods!
The dish featured award-winning Omni Golden Fillet (winner of the Monde Selection Silver Quality Award 2022), wowing customers with a plant-based twist on classic fish & chips.
Recent collaborations include launching fish and chips featuring Omni Golden Fillet with award-winning fish and chips shop Sutton & Sons, and exclusively launching the Omni Ocean Burger with iconic plant-based fast food joint Oowee Vegan, giving away 600 free Ocean Burgers which were gone within six minutes. Now, OmniSeafood is finally available to cook with at home!
OmniSeafood is made from a special proprietary blend of non-GMO soy, and has indistinguishable taste and texture from real seafood. It contains 0mg cholesterol, is free from trans-fat, and has no added preservatives, hormones or antibiotics.
OmniSeafood retail packs including the golden-crusted Omni Golden Fillet, Omni Ocean Burger, and OmniCrab Cake have hit the shelves of Whole Foods Market in London, while Omni Golden Fillet is also listed online on Ocado.
The full range, priced from £2.25, is also available at the Vegan Kind Supermarket, including Omni Golden Fillet, Omni Classic Fillet, Omni Ocean Burger, Omni Ocean Fingers, OmniCrab Cake, and OmniTuna.
But there's more! The OmniPork range includes three high-quality pork alternatives, Mince and Luncheon, both of which are Great Taste Award winners, and Strips which are currently available HERE and online.
The three varieties allow chefs and home cooks to create an infinite variety of plant-based dishes which can be seasoned, steamed, pan- or deep-fried, stuffed or crumbled.
Made using a proprietary blend of plant-based protein from non-GMO soy, peas, shiitake mushrooms and rice, OmniPork contains no cholesterol, and has less saturated fat and less calories compared to animal-based pork products.
Follow OmniFoods on social media @omnifoods.uk now to discover the Omni Way to ‘chip in’ to save our oceans and our planet.
For more information, please visit https://omnifoods.co.
That's Food and Drink thinks that the OmniFoods range will make excellent meat free alternatives for Christmas meals for vegetarians in your life.
Brand New Food & Drink Festival Confirmed for July 2023 at Three Counties Showground
A stellar line-up of special guests, celebrities and TV chefs will also be on hand over the whole weekend to share tips and provide live demos in the dedicated 500 seat Cookery Theatre.
The weekend will also include a range of exciting fun for the entire family. Ranging from children's activities to fairground rides, bungee trampolines to a circus school.
There will even be special classes available to book on the day for children aged 6 – 12 years old in the Kid's Cookery School, where they can learn how to make butter, cheese, ice cream, pasta and gnocchi, too!
Visitors to the show can then shop for unique foodie gifts, handmade crafts and artisanal homewares from talented makers and creators.
After indulging in a feast of mouth-watering food and drink, visitors will be able to sit back, chill out, relax and soak up the family-friendly festival atmosphere while enjoying live music and DJ sets.
Says Bev Channell, from event organisers Channell Events: 'We're thrilled to be bringing the ultimate foodie weekend to the Midlands next summer, with a whole host of regional delicious delights, artisan food producers, outstanding street food, independent drinks distillers, a tasty line-up of celebrity chefs and so much more!'
Early bird tickets for the Three Counties Food & Drink Festival cost just £12 and will be available online from 11th November 2022 at https://www.threecountiesfoodfestival.com
VIP tickets are also available for a reasonable £25. This includes priority parking, fast track entry, a special goody bag, plus entry to the VIP Marquee which offers a chance to meet the special TV guests set to appear that day.
That's Food and Drink considers that tickets for this event (especially the VIP passes) will make excellent Christmas presents for the foodies in your life as they'll give them something to look forward to.
That's Christmas: Chocolate Bombe Dessert from Cocoba
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Thursday 13 October 2022
Diwali recipes brought to you by Romy Gill, MBE and Maldon Salt
Serves 6
Ingredients for roasted chicken
1.5kg of whole chicken
2tsp tandoori masala
1tso chilli powder
3tsp Greek yoghurt
3 large cloves garlic, grated
4tsp honey
few small stem of thyme
½ juice of lemon
5tsp olive oil
1&1/2 tsp Maldon salt
Ingredients for roasted sweet potato
6 medium size sweet potatoes, sliced in the middle
1tsp Maldon salt
1tsp black pepper
1tsp chilli flakes
1tsp garlic granules
4tsp olive oil
Ingredients for the salad
Bag of salad leaves (any preferred)
4tsp honey
½ juice of lemon
½ tsp Maldon salt
1/2tsp crushed black pepper
4tsp olive oil
Hot and spicy whole roasted chicken served, whole roasted sweet potato and leafy salad
Method
For the chicken:
1. In bowl add tandoori masala, chili powder Greek yogurt, grated garlic cloves, honey, thyme stems, half juice of a lemon, oil and salt and whisk it together, and then apply the paste to the whole chicken properly, leave it in the fridge to marinate for at least 2 hours before roasting.
2. After 2 hours take the marinated chicken out and leave in the room temperature for while the oven is getting hot.
Preheat the oven at 180C. Place the chicken on a baking tray and cover the chicken with a foil, make sure to seal the tray with foil on all the sides properly. Put the chicken in the oven and cook for one hour 30 minutes.
Leave to rest for 10 minutes before eating.
For the sweet potatoes:
1. Preheat oven at 180C
2. While the oven is getting hot marinate the potatoes, and then layer them on the baking tray and bake them for
40 minutes.
For the leafy salad
1. Make the dressing in a small jar with 4tsp honey, ½ juice of lemon, ½ tsp Maldon salt, 1/2tsp crushed black pepper 4tsp olive oil.
2. Give the jar a shake before drizzling the dressing on the salad.
Serves 6
Ingredients
250g moong beans
1&1/2 tsp Maldon salt
1tsp turmeric
1litre water plus 20ml extra
Ingredients for the tadka
4tsp ghee
6 spring onions, chopped with greens
15g ginger, peeled and grated
2-3 green chillies, chopped (bird’s eye or similar)
1 large tomatoes chopped
10g fresh coriander, chopped with stems
1tsp garam masala
4tsp natural yogurt
Method
1. Soak the lentils for couple of hours or overnight. Wash and drain the water from the soaked lentils. Add the lentils to a medium-sized saucepan with the salt, turmeric and water. Cook the lentils until soft for about 40 minutes on medium heat and occasionally stir.
2. While the lentils are cooking, we make the tadka. Heat the ghee in a frying pan, once the ghee has melted, add chopped spring onions and cook for a minute. Add the grated ginger, chopped green chillies, cook for 3 minutes. Add chopped tomatoes, chopped coriander into the pan and cook for another 4 minutes. Lower heat, add yogurt, garam masala combine and add the tadka to the moong dal. Add water rest of the water to the pan, swirl and add the water to the dal.
3. Mix, cook on low heat for about 5 minutes. Leave to rest before eating with any flat bread or rice.
Leaves
Serves 4 - 6
Ingredients
200g basmati rice
4tsp ghee
8-10m fresh curry leaves
1tsp black mustard
1&1/2 tsp Maldon salt
1tsp turmeric
juice of one lemon
75g toasted peanuts
Method
1. In a saucepan add water ½ tsp salt and water, bring it to boil for 6-7 minutes on medium heat. Then drain the water and keep the rice aside.
2. In a pan dry toast the peanuts on a low heat in a pan. Toast them until light brown. Remove from heat and remove them in a bowl. In the same pan add ghee, once ghee has melted add the mustard seeds and curry leaves as soon as they start to pop add the toasted peanuts, rest of the salt, turmeric, mix. Tip in the rise mix and cook with a lid for 5 minutes on low heat. Once all done add the lemon juice, mix and serve hot as a side dish or on its own.
Serves 4
Ingredients
4 courgettes, cut into half
300g lamb mince
3 large cloves of garlic, grated
1 banana shallots, diced small
1tsp paprika
1tps ground black pepper
1tsp turmeric
2tsp ground coriander
1& 1/2tsp Maldon salt
2tsp tomato puree
small handful of mint, chopped large handful of panko bread crumbs (if you love the crispy crunch more than do add more)
6tsp olive oil
Method
1. Cut the courgettes into half and then scoop the flesh. Then mash the flesh and mix with the lamb mince, garlic, diced shallots ground black pepper, paprika, turmeric, ground coriander, 1tsp salt, tomato puree and mint chopped.
2. Heat 3tsp oil in a pan and add the mixture to the oil, and then cook the mixture for 6-7 on high heat. Once the mixture is half cooked, keep aside to cool down.
3. Preheat the oven, 180C while the oven is getting hot, fill the courgettes with the mixture. Sprinkle rest of the salt, and panko bread crumbs and rest of the oil. Cook until golden brown10 minutes.
4. Enjoy with a flat bread and a leafy bread on the side
Serves 4
Ingredients
12 broccoli stems
1 heaped tsp of zaatar spice blend
1/2tsp chilli flakes
1/2tsp Maldon salt
2tsp olive oil
small handful of toasted almond flakes
1packet of feta
6tsp of chilli sauce
20ml olive oil
10ml milk
sprinkle of Maldon salt
Method
1. Preheat oven at 170C, and then on a baking tray add the broccoli stems to a mix of the zaatar, chilli flakes, ½ tsp of Maldon salt and 2 tsp of olive oil. Mix them together and roast for 8-10 minutes.
2. Crumble the feta in a food processor and add the chilli sauce, 20ml olive oil, 10ml milk and a sprinkle of Maldon Salt and blend together to make it into a fine paste.
3. To serve spread the feta on a large plate, and then place the roasted broccoli, sprinkle with toasted almond flakes.
Serves 8 - 10
Ingredients
100g butter melted, extra to apply inside the cake tin
50ml butter milk
200g dark muscovado sugar
2 medium eggs
100g plain flour
1tsp baking powder
3 tbsp cocoa powder
1tsp Maldon salt
2tbsp smooth peanut butter
juice of two oranges and zest of one orange
Method
1. Preheat the oven to 170C, prepare a 20cm baking sheet, spread the butter, and then place right size baking sheet in the tin. Keep aside.
2. In a bowl add sugar, melted butter and whisk, then crack the eggs and beat the mixture all together. Sift the flour, baking powder, cocoa powder, ½ tsp salt, peanut butter, juice of oranges, 1/2tsp orange zest, and then combine properly.
3. Spoon the mixture into the prepared tin, spread evenly. Bake the cake for 25 minutes, sometimes the ovens are different so until it is well risen.
4. Remove, leave the cake in the tin until cool. Carefully turn the cake of on to the wire pack and peel off the parchment.
5. Before eating sprinkle rest of the salt and orange zest.
That's Food and Drink would like to thank Romy Gill, MBE and Maldon Salt for helping us put this delicious Diwali feature together.
To learn more please visit https://maldonsalt.com.
Cappuccino is the most popular coffee round the World
60% of the world prefer Cappuccino
Brits love a Flat White
Aussie’s and Kiwi’s opt for a sweet Mocha
Nearly two-thirds (60%) of Commonwealth countries prefer a cappuccino, making this the most desired coffee around the globe.
The Italian beverage, consisting of equal parts espresso and steamed milk foam, is the most popular choice in many countries including India, Jamaica, Spain, France and the USA!
The Brits are in the minority with their love of Flat Whites. Only 7% of the globe agree this recent coffee house staple is the top pick, counting the Irish, Germans and Argentinians amongst its fans. In the past year, searches for ‘flat white’ have risen an amazing 50%.
Having only been on menus since 2010, this caffeine kick, originating in Australia, is quickly becoming a firm favourite across the UK.
A tenth of the world clearly needs an energy boost with countries including Canada, Cyprus and Pakistan all opting for the simple espresso to start their day.
Surprisingly, the latte and mocha are the least popular coffee’s across the globe.
The most popular coffee in each country:
Coffee Type
Country
Cappuccino
Antigua, Bahamas, Bangladesh, Belize, Botswana, Cameroon, Fiji, Gambia, Ghana, India, Jamaica, Kenya, Maldives, Malta, Mauritius, Nigeria, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago and Uganda, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Spain, France, Brazil, Greenland, Iceland, United States, Bolivia, Algeria, Libya, Dominican Republic, Saudi Arabia, Afganistan, Denmark, Netherlands, Switzerland
Black Coffee
Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia, Sierra Leone, Venezuela
Mocha
Australia, New Zealand, Rwanda, Russia, China
Espresso
Canada, Cyprus, Pakistan, Italy, Eygpt, Iran, Ukraine
Latte
Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Columbia
Flat White
UK, Argentina, Ireland, Germany, Poland
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Wednesday 12 October 2022
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Sainsbury's coffee pods now 100% recyclable
The aluminium pods can be recycled at home using a pod recycling device or by emptying with a teaspoon and then rinsing, before placing in kerbside recycling.
The coffee pod range has also seen over a 20% reduction in the amount of cardboard employed in packaging, with changes to the packaging and cases.
The new aluminium packaging means the range is now fully recyclable and will help to save over 10 million pieces of plastic annually.
The change is across the whole Sainsbury’s coffee pod range, helping customers recycle more at home.
The move comes after Sainsbury’s was the UKs first retailer to label its own-brand aluminium coffee pods as recyclable last year. Before this it was widely believed aluminium coffee pods were too small to be recycled at kerbside and needed to be recycled via specialist collection schemes.
The roll out of the packaging change across Sainsbury’s entire coffee pod range means more people can recycle their coffee pods at home.
To recycle, all coffee drinkers must do is empty the pods with a teaspoon, rinse them out and just place in their usual kerbside recycling.
Or they can purchase a Dualit EcoPress from Sainsbury’s. The device is an easy way to ensure coffee is separated and removed from the aluminium, and ready to be recycled. Whilst not essential, the EcoPress makes it quicker and easier, making recycling a bit easier.
Sainsbury’s has also reduced the amount of cardboard across the range by over 20%, via changes to the box packaging plus the cases the products are transported in.
The extensive variety of aluminium pods in the range means there's something for all! From blonde inspired trends featured in the Signature Light Roast coffee, to short-shot Ristretto coffee, Sainsbury’s is helping coffee lovers reduce their plastic waste. The aluminium pods can be purchased in both packs of 10 and 30 pods.
Check out Sainsbury's at https://www.sainsburys.co.uk.
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Lotus Biscoff Launch Two New Chocolate Bars
After the highly successful launch into the confectionary market a couple of months back (August, if you are counting!) Lotus Bakeries has secured its second national retail listing at Morrisons with two new Lotus Biscoff chocolate varieties; Milk Chocolate with Biscoff Crumbs and White Chocolate with Biscoff Cream (RRP £3.00).
Launching in mid-November (that's just in time for Christmas confectionary purchasing!) the White Chocolate Biscoff Cream bar (180g) features the company’s iconic smooth Lotus Biscoff spread, encased within a creamy Belgian white chocolate shell speckled with crunchy Lotus Biscoff biscuit pieces.
Frances Booth, UK Category & Development Marketing Manager, is thrilled to be expanding their confectionary range with these two new flavours: “We were utterly blown away by the response to our confectionary launch in August, so we're obviously delighted to be expanding our range with two delicious new flavours, further providing our customers with irresistible Belgian chocolate with a crunchy Lotus Biscoff taste sensation."
Morrisons will also stock Lotus Biscoff’s Milk Chocolate Biscoff Cream bar (180g) which launched in Co-op stores in August.
That's Food and Drink already loves Biscoff products and we will be certain to add these new products to our Morrison's shopping lists from November onwards, especially as we will then be in the Christmas run-up for buying yummy Christmas treats for all!
Tuesday 11 October 2022
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Garden bars growing in popularity due to cost of living crisis
With the cost of living crisis hitting us, more homeowners are adding their own pub to their gardens.
With the average cost of a pint now over £4 across the UK and over £5 in London it’s no surprise Brits are looking for ways to save on the cost of their entertainment.
By building your own garden pub you can save on the cost of the booze with a pint from the local supermarket costing just £1.38.
So it's easy to see how much is saved by having your favourite tipple at home, plus there's the added advantage of no expensive taxis home or waiting at a bus stop, for a bus that might not even turn up!
During the pandemic the popularity of having your own pub in your garden exploded, estimates put the number of over more two million back garden pubs and bars that are now in operation.
Many of these bars are DIY builds featuring fully functioning bars with sound systems, pool tables, darts boards, real fires, and a huge range of drinks for friends and family.
The owners even name their bars with many owners having a bar sign featuring their bar name and a tongue in cheek design.
To recognise the best of the best Pubshedradio.uk, Twofatblokes.co.uk & the Facebook group Garden Shed Pubs & Nightclubs run a competition for back garden publicans to enter their bar for the converted title Pub Shed of The Year 2022 plus various other prizes for first, second and third places.
With 1,066 entries this year the judges selected their top three which go to a public vote via their voting platform https://pubshedoftheyear.co.uk Each bar is shown on the site for visitors from across the UK to vote for their favourite between 14th and 28th October 2022.
The final winner of PSOTY2022 will be broadcast live on Pubshedradio.uk the partner of Twofatblokes.co.uk.
None of the finalist will know if they are the winners until the live on air announcement., Ashley Turner the owner of twofatblokes.co.uk, DJ Tommy Funka the owner of Pub Shed Radio & Nick St.John from Garden Shed Pubs & Nightclubs will knock on the door of the winners Pub Shed Of The Year on the night of 12th November complete with a DJ rig to broadcast live to the nation!
The three finalist for the public vote are
The Dog & Ball - Portsmouth
The Stagger Inn - Manchester
The Tiger - Minehead
Two Fat Blokes Bar Sign Emporium Ran by Ashley Turner is a small company of two somewhat rotund men who, following redundancy in February 2021, launched their own company to make and sell bar signs to fellow back garden publicans. All profits made from selling Pub Shed Radio merchandise is gifted to Pub Shed Radio to help keep the radio station free and on air.
Pub Shed Radio is a not-for-profit ad free radio station running for the last three years by DJ MRJ and DJ Tommy Funka, it broadcasts on the internet at http://pubshedradio.uk and via Alexa every evening and all weekend with DJs broadcasting from their own garden pubs. All the shows are hugely interactive via the groups Shoutbox on Facebook,
The DJs are all semi-professionals who have daytime jobs and then run a typical two hour show in the evening. Music styles to suit all. The DJs all pay to play to keep the station on air for free.
Garden Shed Pubs & Nightclubs Facebook Group. The group started 4 years ago with the aim of getting like minded people help and advise on how to build and obtain everything they needed to build their own garden bar. Fast-forward 4 years and the group has 286,000 active members with help and advice from experts in building, electrics, beer pups etc. The group has inspired many many people to build their own with ideas picked up from the group.
A pub in the garden sounds like a great idea for celebrating Christmas with your friends and family members.
GoGo squeeZ X Disney Classics
GoGo squeeZ has teamed up with Disney Classics to give families the chance to win a stay at Disneyland Paris plus other goodies such as lunch boxes, pencil cases and backpacks with every promo pack purchased.
What’s more, there’s unlimited digital downloadable gifts for every entrant such as colouring pages, quizzes, games, and puzzles to keep the kids entertained throughout the half term break. So, everyone is a winner!
Promo ends 31.10.22
The GoGo squeeZ fruit pouches are:
Made from 100% fruit
1 of your 5 a day
A source of fibre
No added sugars, no artificial colours and no preservatives
Available in two flavours: Apple and Strawberry, Apple and Mango
They are Available in Tesco and Morrisons and also online at Amazon. The recommended retail price is £2.55.
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River Cottage Launches Organic Ketchup Range in Partnership With 9 Meals from Anarchy
Building on an existing relationship, the new River Cottage Organic ketchups have been developed in collaboration with organic food producers 9 Meals From Anarchy. Three of the flavours: squash, tomato and beetroot, will be available in Waitrose stores from 16 October.
In partnership with the artisan organic food producers River Cottage most admires, the growing range of products now includes kombucha, vegetable stock, cider, beer, sparkling wine, award-winning yoghurt, kefir as well as soaps and balms.
Sustainable food advocate Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall devised the range of ketchups along with River Cottage Culinary Director, Gelf Alderson, and 9 Meals From Anarchy.
The full roster of flavours, squash, tomato, mushroom, rhubarb and beetroot, are inspired by the original recipes created at River Cottage HQ, which is home to the famous cookery school, setting for the River Cottage television shows and a hub of sustainable food and farming on the Devon and Dorset border. Each flavour has been carefully spiced, creating a range of five distinctly different sauces containing less than 10% sugar. RRP of £3.50 for a 250ml bottle.
Discussing the new products, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall said: “I've always loved a good ketchup, and we are very excited to bring the distinctive, lively flavours of our River Cottage recipes into a market which has become bland and over-sweetened down the years.
"Our spicy 'Squashchup' has a piquant kick to it thanks to a dash of cayenne, mellowed by the sweetness of ripe squash. The earthy Beetroot Ketchup is warmed by aromatic toasted cumin and the Tomato Ketchup has an up-front tomato tang which is balanced with nutmeg, sweet onion and red pepper. It's a collection that can bring some lovely rich, tangy flavours to your table on a daily basis.”
Commenting on the collaboration, 9 Meals From Anarchy founder, Tom Whitley added: “Working with Hugh and the team has been a lot of fun. We are both committed to making foods that taste great and benefit people and the planet, so it's been a real meeting of minds.”
As with all 9 Meals From Anarchy products, the range is certified organic, vegan friendly, palm oil-free and gluten-free, too. The 250ml recyclable glass bottles feature biodegradable paper labels applied using plastic-free adhesives.
It's not the first time River Cottage Organic and 9 Meals From Anarchy have worked together, with the two companies already collaborating on a delicious veg stock range.
Head to rivercottage.net for serving suggestions and more information about the partnership.
The squash, tomato and beetroot River Cottage Organic Ketchups will be available in Waitrose from 16 October. RRP £3.50/250ml. The products will be sold in Waitrose with an introductory offer of £1 off, for a limited time only.
The full range of ketchups will be available to buy from River Cottage's new Kitchen & Store, situated a stone's throw from River Cottage HQ, as well as on ninemealsfromanarchy.co.uk.
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Hocus Pocus Platters
Ingredients:
• Laughing Cow Cheese Triangles
• Poppy Seeds
• Yellow Pepper
• Mini Babybel cheeses
• Pretzel sticks
• Bread sticks
• Wholewheat tortilla wrap
• Chives
• Cherry tomatoes
• Black olives
• Cucumber slices
• Green grapes
• Baby carrots
• Blueberries
• Guacamole
Method:
Dip the Laughing Cow cheese triangles in poppy seeds and top each one with a strip of yellow pepper to make witches hats. Carve jack-o-lantern faces into the wax of mini Babybel cheeses and top with a pretzel stick stalk to make pumpkins. Make cuts along a strip of tortilla wrap and wrap around half a breadstick to make a broomstick. Tie together with chives.
Cut cherry tomatoes in half, scoop out the flesh and fill with Laughing Cow cheese. triangles Top with slices of black olives to make eyeballs. Fill a small bowl with guacamole for a cauldron.
Place all your witchy foods on a large platter or tray and fill in the gaps with cucumber slices, green grapes, cherry tomatoes, baby carrots and blueberries. Decorate with toy spiders for extra creepiness!
Ingredients:
• Mini Babybel cheeses
• Pretzel sticks
• Black olives
• Small crackers
• Laughing Cow Cheese Triangles
• Clementines
• Cucumber
• Baby peppers
• Cherry tomatoes
• Edible eye sprinkles
• Black grapes
• Blueberries
Method:
De-wax the mini Babybel Cheeses. Break the pretzel sticks into small pieces and push them into the sides of the cheese for spider legs. Finish the spiders with slices of black olives for eyes. Remove packaging from Laughing Cow cheese Triangles and pop into a disposable piping bag. Snip off the end and pipe cheese ‘bandages’ over crackers to make mummies. Finish the mummies with black olive slice eyes.
Peel clementines and top with cucumber slicks to make pumpkins. Use Laughing Cow cheese to stick edible eye sprinkles to baby peppers and cherry tomatoes to make monster veggies.
Place all your spooky Halloween foods on a large platter or tray and fill in the gaps with cucumber sticks, black grapes and blueberries. Decorate with toy spiders for extra creepiness!
Actually, I think that these platters could be really useful (without the spooky bits!) as Christmas Platters.
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With Party Season Nearing, Mix up a Thatchers Cider Cocktail to Celebrate
If you are looking for different ways to enjoy your Somerset Cider as the party season approaches, why not think about mixing a cider cocktail to celebrate with your friends and family?
It's a great way of enjoying your favourite Thatcher's cider in a slightly different way. A long and refreshing mix, or perhaps a twist on a sophisticated classic, we've got plenty of recipes to choose from on our website.
If our Blood Orange Cider is your favourite, why not try our new Thatcher's Toffee Apple Cider Cocktail.
So bring out your inner mixologist by trying one of the cider cocktail recipes we have at www.thatcherscider.co.uk/cocktails .
Thatchers Toffee Apple Cider Cocktail
Ingredients
25ml Jameson Whiskey
25ml Kracken Spiced Rum
25ml Tia Maria
25ml Cinnamon syrup
25ml Ginger beer
150ml Thatchers Gold cider
Top up with Thatchers Blood Orange cider
Method
Shake the whiskey, rum & Tia Maria over ice in a Boston shaker
Strain into a glass with ice
Add the ginger beer & Thatchers Gold. Top with Thatchers Blood Orange Cider
Garnish with a slice of apple and a cinnamon stick.
Actually, thinking about it, this would make a great cocktail for drinking over the Christmas period, too!
Saturday 8 October 2022
More on home microgreens with the November issue of Kitchen Garden
In the November issue there are a wide variety of topics including how to make great compost, how to reduce your garden's carbon footprint, how to feed you soil to enable it to grow larger crops and a article on easy leafmould use.
You'll learn how to grow better garlic in your garden, how to fill your patch with tasty winter harvests.
You'll learn about fruit tree rootstocks, how to sow broad beans and their experts are running tests on a range of compost bins.
Learn the mysteries of companion planting, how to get rid of your lawn and replace it with a vegetable plot and page after page of features and news. And all this for a very reasonable £5.99.
However! There's so much more! Because in this, the November issue, they are including, free of charge, what we estimate to be over twenty quid worth of seeds!
These are all from the highly reputable Mr Fothergill's seed company.
There are Mint, Broccoli, Garlic Chives, Lettuce, Mixed Spicy Salad Leaves, Carrot, Nantes 5, Scarlet Kale and Chervil all of which my wife is going to use as microgreen plantings.
There are also some Moneymaker Tomato seeds and Wildlife Attracting flower seeds, which can't be used for microgreens, but which will be excellent to plant in your kitchen garden.
Kitchen Garden is published by Mortons Media Group. the magazine's website address is www.kitchengarden.co.uk.
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Microgreens are great. But a word of caution
However, my wife, who is the RHA trained gardener in our family, (I merely have a BA (Hons) in Creative and Professional Writing!) has asked me to point out that not all seeds are suitable for microgreen cultivation and production.
For example, you should not even attempt to microgreen cultivate plants that are in the nightshade family of plants.
This means you should not microgreen cultivate the following plants: tomatoes, tomatillos, eggplant, potatoes and peppers.
Pretty much all other plants that are edible for humans should be safe to microgreen cultivate, but if there is any doubt in your mind, do err on the side of caution and ask an expert.
Or read a book on microgreen cultivation? There are now an ever widening range of books available on microgreen cultivation which you should be able to find at good garden centres with a gardening book section, major and independent book sellers and also online book shops such as Amazon, etc.
(Image courtesy of Markus Spiske and Pixabay)
Broccoli and kale microgreens pack a nutritional punch that varies with growing conditions
Despite their “superfood” label, the levels of healthful compounds, such as phytonutrients, in most varieties of microgreens are generally, not known.
However, researchers in ACS Food Science & Technology now report kale and broccoli microgreens grown in either windowsills or under commercial growing conditions are rich in phytonutrients, though the levels of some compounds varied considerably between the two environments.
As indoor gardening has taken off in recent years, microgreens have added a pop of color to the windowsills of many homes. The most commonly planted varieties of these small seedlings are from the Brassica family, which includes broccoli, kale, cabbage and mustard. The mature, fully-grown versions of these vegetables are rich in vitamins, minerals and phytochemicals, and environmental conditions can impact the plants’ nutritional contents.
But not much is known about the levels of these compounds in young microgreens. In a previous study, Thomas Wang, Pei Chen and colleagues observed that red cabbage microgreens had higher amounts of phytonutrients that have been reported to have antioxidant and anticancer properties, including polyphenols and glucosinolates, than the full-grown vegetables. However, similar assessments haven’t been done on other Brassica seedlings.
So, the researchers wanted to measure the levels of polyphenols and glucosinolates in broccoli and kale microgreens, and then compare data from those grown on windowsills to those raised in commercial growth chambers.
The researchers placed trays of newly planted broccoli and kale seeds either on a windowsill in natural sunlight or inside a temperature- and humidity-controlled refrigerator-like growth chamber with artificial sunlight for 12 hours a day. Ten full days after seeding, the team harvested the plants and assessed the phytonutrient content with a liquid chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry system.
The broccoli and kale microgreens were rich in polyphenols and glucosinolates, no matter how they were grown. But there was considerable variability in the amounts of individual compounds when comparing the two growth environments. For instance, three flavanol compounds that contribute to the plant’s dark color and bitter taste were higher in windowsill-grown microgreens. However, chamber-grown plants had higher levels of two glucosinolates, which are antioxidant- and anticancer-related compounds.
Overall, the growth environment for kale and broccoli microgreens affects the abundance of individual phytonutrients, the researchers say, which could affect their flavor and potential health benefits.
The authors acknowledge funding from U.S. appropriated funds to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of China and the State Scholarship Fund of China Scholarship Council.
The American Chemical Society (ACS) is a nonprofit organisation chartered by the U.S. Congress. ACS’ mission is to advance the broader chemistry enterprise and its practitioners for the benefit of Earth and all its people. https://pubs.acs.org/journal/afsthl
(Image courtesy of congerdesign and Pixabay)
Johnsons adds cress and mustard to their Microgreens Range for 2023
The Microgreens seed collection now consists of a whopping 18 varieties, ranging from established herbs and vegetables varieties such as Coriander and Beetroot, to somewhat more unusual choices like Mizuna and Spinach Komatsuna. All of which can be grown for baby ‘micro’ leaves, all year round on a kitchen windowsill. (My wife grows our microgreens in our conservatory. And in the kitchen, too.
Whether it’s putting a touch of colour to a sandwich, adding an extra ‘flavour punch’ to your main meals, anyone can grow these nutritious baby leaves, whatever size of garden space you have. Or even if you have no garden space at all, as they'll be ideal for growing in the kitchen or living room of a flat or an apartment. Some varieties are ready to harvest in as little as a couple of weeks. So making it absolutely perfect for those gardeners who want or need a quick and relatively easy way to add some goodness to their diet. Ideal for vegans and vegetarians, too? Student accommodation would make for a good location for growing microgreens to help students ensure they have a good varied diet.
Helen Clayton, who is the Brand Manager for Johnsons said: “Our range of seeds for microgreens continues to be a big hit with customers and consumers."
She went on to say: "Even after the exceptional growth we saw during the pandemic, sales of our Microgreens range have continued to increase this season, by over 20% compared to 2021.
"For those of us who enjoyed growing from seed for the first time during the lockdown and who perhaps don’t have the time or garden space to spend growing vegetables in the conventional way, microgreens have proved to make an excellent alternative choice.”
Also available as part of the range is the Microgreens Growing Kit (RRP £4.99) which is an eminently reusable and high quality growing tray which helps start you off on your Microgreens journey by helpfully including packets of Basil, Coriander and Rocket microgreens seeds.
Once ready, the Johnsons compact Micro Snips (RRP £3.99), with spring action handles, are an easy way to harvest your crops.
The Microgreens Kitchen Seed Sprouter has an RRP £11.99 and is a convenient and economical way to produce continuous crops of fresh seed sprouts such as alfalfa and mung beans, as well as the baby leaves of microgreens.
To learn more please visit http://johnsons-trade.com/
That's Food and Drink feels that using Microgreens will be an ideal way to enhance your Christmas meals. Imagine including, for example, Mizuna and Spinach Komatsuna microgreens with your Christmas dinner vegetables?
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Finlays Announces James Woodrow as New Group Managing Director
 |
| James Woodrow |
James brings with him a vast a wealth of experience and knowledge to the role and joins from Swire Shipping where he was the Managing Director for the last seven years.
James has been with Swire since 1990 and has previously held executive roles at a variety of Swire businesses including Cargo Director at the airline Cathay Pacific.
Headquartered in the UK, Finlays is one of the world's leading suppliers of tea, coffee and botanicals to the global beverage industry
Founded back in 1750, Finlays has extensive and diverse operations across Europe, North America, South America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East.
It also has a unique bush to cup supply chain in tea, a strong direct trade coffee sourcing network, and is a major player in the global tea, coffee and botanical extracts market.
In more recent years, Finlays has increased its focus on extracts via organic growth, acquisition and innovation. It's the world's largest producer of cold brew coffee and will soon open a new UK cold brew coffee production facility to serve Europe.
It also offers a range of premium, health-focussed tea extracts called The Wellbeing Collection which are produced at its Saosa facility in Kenya, one of the few extracts facilities globally which is actually situated on a tea farm.
Woodrow says, “Finlays has an illustrious heritage stretching back almost 300 years and is a trusted and admired industry leader. Today, it's ideally placed to serve the evolving and growing needs of the global beverage market by helping customers address critical long-term consumer trends, whether that's health and wellbeing, premiumisation or sustainability.”
Through its integrated supply chains, Finlays strives to operate with sustainability at the heart of all it does, creating value for stakeholders at every stage from bush to cup. This is something Woodrow believes is of paramount importance to the future of Finlays.
He says, “Sustainability, be it environmental, social, or economic, is a defining characteristic of our era. Global consumers have never been more switched on to the provenance of their food and drink and this represents a big opportunity for the beverage industry, even in markets where this trend is just emerging.”
He went on to say: “The scope and scale of Finlays means it can offer true traceability and assurance that its products have been ethically sourced. But most vitally, it gives us the precious ability to have a positive, long-term impact on the communities we serve around the world, and the environments in which we operate. Our core value of 'sustainable' has never been more important.”
Woodrow joined Finlays in September and will be based at its headquarters in London, UK.
For more information visit www.finlays.net.
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