Saturday 10 December 2011
That's Christmas: Don't forget the Frankfurt German Christmas Market...
That's Christmas: Don't forget the Frankfurt German Christmas Market...: Yes, please don't forget the Frankfurt German Chirstmas Market in Birmingham! You can get a flavour of what it is like here
Thursday 8 December 2011
Morrisons To Stock Monastery Cheese From Shepherds Purse
A traditional mould rinded, soft cow's milk cheese originating from Middle Age monks has been reproduced by artisan Yorkshire cheese makers Shepherds Purse of Thirsk and is now stocked nationally in Morrisons stores for Christmas. Award winning Monks Folly is introduced to Morrisons Christmas range and the supermarket will also stock the company's latest innovation, Bells Bluemin White, across all Yorkshire stores.
Many washed and mould rinded cheeses can be traced back to the monastic orders during the Middle Ages and were sometimes referred to as monastery cheeses. The monks spent a great deal of time and effort developing these cheeses and the Bell family have now discovered a recipe they have adapted for modern palettes to create Monks Folly.
The art of traditional cheese making was thought to have been handed down by the monks and it has inspired Shepherds Purse Cheeses on more than one occasion. Monks Folly is the third cheese they have created using monastic recipes.
Commenting on the cheese, Katie Matten, managing director of Shepherds Purse Cheeses said: "Luckily for us, monks in European monasteries revived the practice of cheese making during the Middle Ages. As true researchers and innovators, monks greatly improved cheese ripening and ageing techniques. They are credited with delivering milder tasting cheeses like Brie and Camembert, as well as many classic varieties marketed today. We are delighted to have secured a national listing with Morrisons and hope it is well received by shoppers. Forget the usual suspects for the Christmas cheeseboard this year and try a cheese that is seeped in history."
Bells Bluemin White, the first cheese created by Judy's eldest daughter, Katie, is handmade with locally sourced cow's milk and has been carefully matured in the company's dedicated ripening store. The region's first blue rind brie cheese is hand turned everyday to achieve the best mould ripening, which results in a luxurious texture and delicate, yet complex flavour.
Jenny Dixon, Morrisons cheese buyer commented "At Morrisons we are always looking to discover great tasting, great value cheeses and we are delighted to introduce Monks Folly and Bells Bluemin White to our Christmas line up. These two award winning, traditionally handcrafted cheeses produced by the Bell family at their Yorkshire dairy offer the excellent quality our customers expect with a real story behind them."
(EDITOR: First stop, Morrisons, then!)
Many washed and mould rinded cheeses can be traced back to the monastic orders during the Middle Ages and were sometimes referred to as monastery cheeses. The monks spent a great deal of time and effort developing these cheeses and the Bell family have now discovered a recipe they have adapted for modern palettes to create Monks Folly.
The art of traditional cheese making was thought to have been handed down by the monks and it has inspired Shepherds Purse Cheeses on more than one occasion. Monks Folly is the third cheese they have created using monastic recipes.
Commenting on the cheese, Katie Matten, managing director of Shepherds Purse Cheeses said: "Luckily for us, monks in European monasteries revived the practice of cheese making during the Middle Ages. As true researchers and innovators, monks greatly improved cheese ripening and ageing techniques. They are credited with delivering milder tasting cheeses like Brie and Camembert, as well as many classic varieties marketed today. We are delighted to have secured a national listing with Morrisons and hope it is well received by shoppers. Forget the usual suspects for the Christmas cheeseboard this year and try a cheese that is seeped in history."
Bells Bluemin White, the first cheese created by Judy's eldest daughter, Katie, is handmade with locally sourced cow's milk and has been carefully matured in the company's dedicated ripening store. The region's first blue rind brie cheese is hand turned everyday to achieve the best mould ripening, which results in a luxurious texture and delicate, yet complex flavour.
Jenny Dixon, Morrisons cheese buyer commented "At Morrisons we are always looking to discover great tasting, great value cheeses and we are delighted to introduce Monks Folly and Bells Bluemin White to our Christmas line up. These two award winning, traditionally handcrafted cheeses produced by the Bell family at their Yorkshire dairy offer the excellent quality our customers expect with a real story behind them."
(EDITOR: First stop, Morrisons, then!)
Need a dairy free Christmas? Then indulge yourself, happily,rice with Rice Dream!
However, for millions across the UK who are lactose intolerant, having to always check to see what the ingredients are means always being on guard to ensure that dairy and gluten doesn't ruin their yuletide fun.
Rice Dream, the healthy alternative, has come up with some delicious dairy and lactose-free recipes for the 12 days of Christmas that everyone can enjoy. The festive recipes are suitable for vegetarians and can also be gluten free, wheat free, soya free and seed free.
Nutritionist Fiona Hunter said: “With an estimated five per cent of adults in the UK being lactose intolerant, we understand that it can sometimes be very difficult for people who are lactose intolerant to enjoy the festive breaks because they have to constantly watch what they are eating.
“So we have created some easy recipes for the 12 days of Christmas so those millions of adults in the UK that are lactose intolerant can join in the festive fun without having to worry.”
Rice Dream has created 12 recipes for the 12 days of Christmas. The first day of Christmas can be used to make a delicious bread sauce which is an essential part of a traditional dinner but also wonderful with a Sunday roast, sausages and cold ham.
For those with a sweet tooth, the second day could be used making apple and spice muffins to be enjoyed individually or with the whole family.
Other recipes for the remaining days include a pear and chocolate smoothie, fennel and potato dauphinoise, roasted mulled plums with vanilla custard and toasted sweet nuts and a pear, apricot and cinnamon porridge.
As part of the festive spirit Rice Dream is are giving away a free 50p money off coupon for use against a range of its products including Original + Calcium, Original Organic, Vanilla Organic, Chocolate and Chilled + Calcium.
So this Christmas, use Rice Dream as a healthy alternative and enjoy the festive period without worrying about making sure whether it is dairy or gluten free.
For more recipe ideas and information on lactose intolerance please visit www.ricedream.co.uk/recipes.
To print a 50p off coupon for the Rice Dream products please register at www.ricedream.co.uk/coupon-offer-form.
Apple and Spice Muffins
Light and fruity muffins with chunks of sweet apple and crunchy nuts. Wonderful served warm for breakfast but equally delicious as a family tea time treat. Make use of any seasonal fruits but the combination of cinnamon and apple is particularly moreish and a sensational winter treat. Dairy free, you can make these gluten free by using original rice dream and substituting the flour for a gluten free flour mix.
Symbols: suitable for vegetarians, dairy free, can be gluten free, can be wheat free, soy free, seed free
Makes 10 muffins
2 free-range eggs, lightly beaten
80g/2¾oz xylitol or caster sugar
200ml / 7floz Oat Dream or Original Rice Dream
6tbsp light olive oil
150g / 5 ½ oz plain flour
150g / 5 ½ oz wholemeal flour
1tbsp baking powder
Pinch of salt
½ tsp cinnamon
2 eating apples, peeled, cored, finely chopped
60g / 2oz chopped walnuts
Spice Topping, optional
1tbsp soft brown sugar
1/2tsp ground cinnamon
Pinch of ground nutmeg
1. Preheat the oven to 190C/380F/Gas 5 and line a muffin tin with paper cases.
2. Whisk together the eggs, xylitol or sugar, Oat Dream and oil.
3. Sift the flours, baking powder, salt and cinnamon into a large bowl. Add the chopped apple and walnuts and lightly mix.
4. Pour in the wet ingredients and beat well.
5. Spoon the mixture into the muffin cases.
6. Mix together the sugar and spices and sprinkle over the top of the muffins.
7. Bake for 25minutes until well risen and golden.
8. Transfer to a wire rack to cool.
Tips: make your own gluten free flour cake mix and store ready to use : combine together 125g / 4 ½ oz rice flour, 125g / 4 ½ oz ground almonds, 50g / 1 3/4 oz potato starch, 2tsp gluten-free baking powder plus 1/2tsp xanthan gum
Nutritional Information per muffin (10)
Calories 256kcal
Protein 5.6g
Carbohydrates 33g of which sugars 11.9g
Total Fat 12.6g of which saturates 1.8g
Fibre 3g
Nutritional Information per 100g
Calories 265kcal
Protein 5.8g
Carbohydrates 34.2g of which sugars 12.3g
Total Fat 13g of which saturates 1.8g
Fibre 3.1g
FACTFILE:
• Rice Dream is available in five flavours: Original Organic, Calcium- enriched, Vanilla, Chocolate, and Hazelnut & Almond. Whatever one you choose, it's the naturally good alternative.
• Rice Dream is available in Tesco, Waitrose, Asda, JS, Sainsbury’s, Co-Operative and independent health food stores.
• One 200ml glass of Rice Dream + Calcium provides 30% of the daily recommended allowance, which is as much as full fat milk
• Rice Dream is made from rice, which is a hypoallergenic food so, unlike soya, it's highly unlikely to cause an allergic reaction. Easy to digest Rice Dream is soft on sensitive stomachs, without the adverse digestive effects that cow's milk or soya can sometimes have.
• It is estimated that around five per cent of adults in the UK have lactose intolerance. (ref: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/lactose-intolerance/Pages/Intro...).
• For more information go to www.ricedream.co.uk
That's Christmas: Aldi for Christmas
That's Christmas: Aldi for Christmas: Over the next several days, That's Christmas and sister site That's Food and Drink will be writing articles about the special seasonal foods...
Wednesday 7 December 2011
Take a Butchers this Christmas!
Research published today reveals that three quarters of the great British public suffer stress as a result of buying and preparing Christmas meat. One in 10 even described the experience as more nerve wracking than their first day in a new job or even moving house!
The study of 1,500 people by the Q Guild of Butchers revealed that 25% of Christmas cooks have experienced a meat-based cooking disaster over the festive period, as the pressure proves too much to handle!
Christmas dinner stress capitals of the UK (with the highest number of people saying they experienced high levels of stress) include Manchester (38%), Glasgow (53%), Belfast (55%), Newcastle (40%) and Brighton (41%).
The biggest faux pas was buying the wrong size bird, with not enough turkey to go round, 3% of those surveyed admitted to leaving it too late and having to do without festive meat on the big day!
Other popular mishaps include dry meat (6%), uncooked turkey (5%) and un-defrosted turkey (4%).
The survey also found that the average UK household will spend £48.90 on Christmas Day meat alone – almost five times what the average family spends on meat in a normal week! 10% of the UK spends more than £100 on Christmas meat.
Despite the added pressure and expenditure that Christmas meat represents, over half of UK shoppers do not seek expert advice at their local butcher and instead buy off the shelf in the supermarkets.
15% of people questioned agreed that they wouldn’t know what to ask a butcher for or would be too embarrassed to ask for help, when ordering Christmas meat. Shockingly 22% of the UK adult population have never been inside a butcher shop.
In reaction to this research, the Q Guild of Butchers, who represent 140 of Britain’s best butchers, is launching a campaign entitled ‘Meat Your Butcher’ in a bid to encourage more people to visit their local butcher and avoid Christmas meat disasters.
With the aim of creating a stress-free, culinary Christmas, Q Guild butchers are inviting shoppers to attend free 10 minute sessions, where they can offload their woes to a meat expert.
Philip Cranston, Chairman of the Q Guild said: “Meat is certainly centre stage at Christmas, for many it will be the one time of the year when they have to cook for a large party or it may be the only time when all the family sits down to eat. Add to this the extra expenditure that goes into Christmas meat and it’s not surprising that many of us are feeling the pressure.
“We believe that this is where quality, independent butchers can help as we offer expert advice that will save shoppers money and stress during the festive season. Our Meat Your Butcher campaign is for those who have never ventured into an independent butcher – we hope they will change their shopping habits this holiday season and realise the benefits of asking for expert advice.”
For more information about Meat Your Butcher visit www.facebook.com/qguild or www.qguild.co.uk.
The study of 1,500 people by the Q Guild of Butchers revealed that 25% of Christmas cooks have experienced a meat-based cooking disaster over the festive period, as the pressure proves too much to handle!
Christmas dinner stress capitals of the UK (with the highest number of people saying they experienced high levels of stress) include Manchester (38%), Glasgow (53%), Belfast (55%), Newcastle (40%) and Brighton (41%).
The biggest faux pas was buying the wrong size bird, with not enough turkey to go round, 3% of those surveyed admitted to leaving it too late and having to do without festive meat on the big day!
Other popular mishaps include dry meat (6%), uncooked turkey (5%) and un-defrosted turkey (4%).
The survey also found that the average UK household will spend £48.90 on Christmas Day meat alone – almost five times what the average family spends on meat in a normal week! 10% of the UK spends more than £100 on Christmas meat.
Despite the added pressure and expenditure that Christmas meat represents, over half of UK shoppers do not seek expert advice at their local butcher and instead buy off the shelf in the supermarkets.
15% of people questioned agreed that they wouldn’t know what to ask a butcher for or would be too embarrassed to ask for help, when ordering Christmas meat. Shockingly 22% of the UK adult population have never been inside a butcher shop.
In reaction to this research, the Q Guild of Butchers, who represent 140 of Britain’s best butchers, is launching a campaign entitled ‘Meat Your Butcher’ in a bid to encourage more people to visit their local butcher and avoid Christmas meat disasters.
With the aim of creating a stress-free, culinary Christmas, Q Guild butchers are inviting shoppers to attend free 10 minute sessions, where they can offload their woes to a meat expert.
Philip Cranston, Chairman of the Q Guild said: “Meat is certainly centre stage at Christmas, for many it will be the one time of the year when they have to cook for a large party or it may be the only time when all the family sits down to eat. Add to this the extra expenditure that goes into Christmas meat and it’s not surprising that many of us are feeling the pressure.
“We believe that this is where quality, independent butchers can help as we offer expert advice that will save shoppers money and stress during the festive season. Our Meat Your Butcher campaign is for those who have never ventured into an independent butcher – we hope they will change their shopping habits this holiday season and realise the benefits of asking for expert advice.”
For more information about Meat Your Butcher visit www.facebook.com/qguild or www.qguild.co.uk.
That's Christmas: Are YOU Sudocrem’s 2011 Christmas Superchef?
That's Christmas: Are YOU Sudocrem’s 2011 Christmas Superchef?: Sudocrem’s 2011 Christmas Superchef Comp Sudocrem launch their Christmas Facebook competition – to crown their ‘2011 Christmas ...
Tuesday 6 December 2011
Domino’s celebrates First Ever Global Domino’s Day On Facebook – 19 Countries Across The World To Offer 50% Off Pizza Deal
The Domino’s brand, which celebrates its 51st birthday in the US this week, has stores in more than 70 international markets. Pizza lovers in the UK who are interested in joining the fun on Global Domino’s Day should visit their country’s Domino’s Pizza Facebook page at http://on.fb.me/rv8hJ0. Simply ‘like’ the page and follow the instructions to join the party and take advantage of the 50 percent off deal. The event is open to anyone with a Facebook account in participating countries.
While on the tab, Facebook users will be able to see how many fans have joined as the party circles across the globe, much like New Year’s Eve. The event will launch for Japanese customers at 7 a.m. PST on December 7, with the party continuing until the United States places its last orders at 11:59 p.m. PST on December 8. Domino’s is also encouraging fans to join in the fun on Twitter using #GlobalDominosDay.
“We’re delighted to be taking part in the first ever Global Domino’s Day,” said Simon Wallis, sales and marketing director of Domino’s Pizza in the UK and ROI. “As an international brand, Domino’s is proud of its global presence and we really appreciate our customers around the world. We’re excited to be able to unite five million Domino’s Pizza Facebook fans, representing 19 different countries, with the same special offer and look forward to our UK fans joining in alongside their international pizza loving counterparts.”
Join Global Domino’s Day on December 8, 2011 at Facebook – www.facebook.com/DominosPizza.
That's Health: Top 10 Christmas Season Weight Management Tips fro...
That's Health: Top 10 Christmas Season Weight Management Tips fro...: 1. Keep up with physical activity; this helps to tone and keep the metabolic rate going and also h...
Monday 5 December 2011
That's Green: Food waste down
That's Green: Food waste down: Tighter household budgets and soaring house prices mean people in Britain are throwing away 13% less food than three years ago. (EDITOR: A...
Luxury Spelt Producer Sharpham Park Launches New Artisan Dry Spelt Pasta Collection
Sharpham Park, pioneers of growing organic spelt in the UK, have added to their ever-expanding luxury spelt food range with the launch of a new Artisan Dry Spelt Pasta Collection.
Produced in small batches using bronze dies on a traditional Italian pasta machine, the spelt pasta has been made with Sharpham Park's White Spelt Flour, which has been stone ground in the dedicated organic spelt mill on the Sharpham Park farm.
As a result of this process, the spelt pasta has a unique ridged surface and texture, which perfectly compliments and holds sauces in recipes. The pasta is then slowly air-dried for a minimum of 36 hours which helps maintain the nutritional qualities of the ingredients and the distinctive nutty taste of spelt, ensuring a high quality pasta.
The new Artisan Dry Spelt Pasta Collection comes in 3 varieties: Campanelle, made using pasteurised free-range eggs; Conchiglie Tricolore, ribbed spelt pasta shells made with eggs, baby spinach and rich red beetroot to add colour and flavour to the pasta and Rigatoni Triclore, the same ingredients as Conchiglie Tricolore but with ribbed spelt pasta tubes.
Sharpham Park spelt is farmed and milled organically onsite in Somerset using sustainable farming methods. With a unique gluten structure that makes it easier to digest than wheat, spelt is a top super food - slowly releasing sugars and nutrients into the blood stream, making it a superb energy source.
Sharpham Park Artisan Dry Spelt Pasta Collection is available exclusively at Harvey Nichols (Knightsbridge) from September and online at www.sharphampark.com, RRP £3.99 each (300g).
Spelt ideal for people who are not tolerant of wheat, though it is not gluten free.
Recipe idea using Sharpham Park Spelt Conchiglie Tricolore Pasta:
CHICKPEA, FETA AND SHARPHAM PARK CONCHIGLIE (Serves 4-6)
Ingredients
300g Sharpham Park Conchiglie Tricolore
1 tin cherry tomatoes
100ml olive oil
50g chopped mint
50g thinly sliced spring onions
1 small handful chopped coriander
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 can chickpeas, drained and patted dry
200g feta cheese, coarsely crumbled
Method
1) Cook 300g Sharpham Park Conchiglie in a large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally and drain.
2) Mix tomatoes, olive oil (less a spoonful), chopped mint, spring onions, coriander and garlic together.
3) Heat remaining olive oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the dried chickpeas and sauté for about 5 minutes, until lightly browned.
4) Add chickpeas and pasta to tomato mixture and toss to coat.
5) Add feta; toss briefly. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
6) Garnish with mint and coriander sprigs.
7) Serve warm or let stand at room temperature up to 2 hours.
FACTFILE:
Sharpham Park was founded in 2005 by entrepreneur Roger Saul, founder of designer label Mulberry.
Ever since its early beginnings, Sharpham Park has been dedicated to growing ancient spelt grain in an organic and eco-friendly way, achieving full organic certification from the Soil Association in September 2006.
With tons of iron, zinc, riboflavin and other vitamins and minerals, spelt is one of today's healthiest grains. In addition, because of its unique gluten structure, it is much easier to digest than its distant cousin wheat.
All Sharpham Park spelt is 100% organic and is grown and milled in a purpose-built on-site mill at Sharpham Park farm in Somerset. It is the only dedicated organic spelt mill in the UK, incorporating the best machinery sourced throughout Europe.
The Sharpham Park food range also includes Spelt Mueslis, Cereal Bars, Puffs, Granolas, Porridge, Sweet and Savoury Biscuits, Pearled Spelt, Wholegrain, White, Artisan and Seeded Flour and Speltottos.
Sharpham Park
Glastonbury
Somerset
BA16 9SA
www.sharphampark.com
(EDITOR: Spelt products should be ni your pantry for Christmas!)
Produced in small batches using bronze dies on a traditional Italian pasta machine, the spelt pasta has been made with Sharpham Park's White Spelt Flour, which has been stone ground in the dedicated organic spelt mill on the Sharpham Park farm.
As a result of this process, the spelt pasta has a unique ridged surface and texture, which perfectly compliments and holds sauces in recipes. The pasta is then slowly air-dried for a minimum of 36 hours which helps maintain the nutritional qualities of the ingredients and the distinctive nutty taste of spelt, ensuring a high quality pasta.
The new Artisan Dry Spelt Pasta Collection comes in 3 varieties: Campanelle, made using pasteurised free-range eggs; Conchiglie Tricolore, ribbed spelt pasta shells made with eggs, baby spinach and rich red beetroot to add colour and flavour to the pasta and Rigatoni Triclore, the same ingredients as Conchiglie Tricolore but with ribbed spelt pasta tubes.
Sharpham Park spelt is farmed and milled organically onsite in Somerset using sustainable farming methods. With a unique gluten structure that makes it easier to digest than wheat, spelt is a top super food - slowly releasing sugars and nutrients into the blood stream, making it a superb energy source.
Sharpham Park Artisan Dry Spelt Pasta Collection is available exclusively at Harvey Nichols (Knightsbridge) from September and online at www.sharphampark.com, RRP £3.99 each (300g).
Spelt ideal for people who are not tolerant of wheat, though it is not gluten free.
Recipe idea using Sharpham Park Spelt Conchiglie Tricolore Pasta:
CHICKPEA, FETA AND SHARPHAM PARK CONCHIGLIE (Serves 4-6)
Ingredients
300g Sharpham Park Conchiglie Tricolore
1 tin cherry tomatoes
100ml olive oil
50g chopped mint
50g thinly sliced spring onions
1 small handful chopped coriander
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 can chickpeas, drained and patted dry
200g feta cheese, coarsely crumbled
Method
1) Cook 300g Sharpham Park Conchiglie in a large pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally and drain.
2) Mix tomatoes, olive oil (less a spoonful), chopped mint, spring onions, coriander and garlic together.
3) Heat remaining olive oil in a frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the dried chickpeas and sauté for about 5 minutes, until lightly browned.
4) Add chickpeas and pasta to tomato mixture and toss to coat.
5) Add feta; toss briefly. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
6) Garnish with mint and coriander sprigs.
7) Serve warm or let stand at room temperature up to 2 hours.
FACTFILE:
Sharpham Park was founded in 2005 by entrepreneur Roger Saul, founder of designer label Mulberry.
Ever since its early beginnings, Sharpham Park has been dedicated to growing ancient spelt grain in an organic and eco-friendly way, achieving full organic certification from the Soil Association in September 2006.
With tons of iron, zinc, riboflavin and other vitamins and minerals, spelt is one of today's healthiest grains. In addition, because of its unique gluten structure, it is much easier to digest than its distant cousin wheat.
All Sharpham Park spelt is 100% organic and is grown and milled in a purpose-built on-site mill at Sharpham Park farm in Somerset. It is the only dedicated organic spelt mill in the UK, incorporating the best machinery sourced throughout Europe.
The Sharpham Park food range also includes Spelt Mueslis, Cereal Bars, Puffs, Granolas, Porridge, Sweet and Savoury Biscuits, Pearled Spelt, Wholegrain, White, Artisan and Seeded Flour and Speltottos.
Sharpham Park
Glastonbury
Somerset
BA16 9SA
www.sharphampark.com
(EDITOR: Spelt products should be ni your pantry for Christmas!)
Sunday 4 December 2011
Chestnuts From Porter Foods: Adding Flavour All Year Round
Renowned purveyors of fine food, Porter Foods, bring flavoursome chestnuts that can be used in cooking and baking all year round, not just at Christmas. Unlike other chestnut brands in the UK, many of which source their chestnuts from China, the Porter Foods range is sourced closer to home, from Galicia in Spain, where they are renowned as a nutritious delicacy.
Porter Foods introduce three excellent products ideal for trade (food service and manufacturing):
Whole Organic Chestnuts peeled and cooked 10 x 1kg, Vacuum Packed for added freshness: the Porter Foods new range of chestnuts now boasts an organic variety available in 1 kilo bags (10 bags per case trade sized).
Whole Chestnuts peeled and cooked 10 X 1kg, Vacuum Packed for added freshness: Porter Foods whole chestnuts have a beautiful consistency and are ideal for stuffing and pates where texture is desired. Available in 1 kilo bags (10 bags per case trade sized).
Chestnut Puree (Unsweetened) 475g, Porter Foods Chestnut Puree comes in a convenient tray, and is ideal to use in stuffing and delicious puddings.
www.porterfoods.co.uk
Porter Foods introduce three excellent products ideal for trade (food service and manufacturing):
Whole Organic Chestnuts peeled and cooked 10 x 1kg, Vacuum Packed for added freshness: the Porter Foods new range of chestnuts now boasts an organic variety available in 1 kilo bags (10 bags per case trade sized).
Whole Chestnuts peeled and cooked 10 X 1kg, Vacuum Packed for added freshness: Porter Foods whole chestnuts have a beautiful consistency and are ideal for stuffing and pates where texture is desired. Available in 1 kilo bags (10 bags per case trade sized).
Chestnut Puree (Unsweetened) 475g, Porter Foods Chestnut Puree comes in a convenient tray, and is ideal to use in stuffing and delicious puddings.
www.porterfoods.co.uk
Deadline Extended For The FoodBev.com Awards
"Did you launch a new product in the food and drinks industry in 2011? Have you brought an innovative, exciting product to market? Have you launched a new, dynamic and effective website or media campaign? If any of your answers are yes, then the FoodBev.com Awards 2011 is for you," said a spokesman for the Awards.
"We know you're going to be busy for Christmas and the holiday season in general, so we've extended the deadline for entering the FoodBev.com Awards. You now have more time to gather materials, answer questions and make your entries (and some time for wrapping presents, too).
"You can enter right here, www.foodbevawards.com/Enter_the_Awards.html and the closing date for entries is now 20 January 2012, with judging to take place a week later."
(EDITOR: Well go on then! Get to it. And we will keep out fingers crossed for you!)
-Ends-
"We know you're going to be busy for Christmas and the holiday season in general, so we've extended the deadline for entering the FoodBev.com Awards. You now have more time to gather materials, answer questions and make your entries (and some time for wrapping presents, too).
"You can enter right here, www.foodbevawards.com/Enter_the_Awards.html and the closing date for entries is now 20 January 2012, with judging to take place a week later."
(EDITOR: Well go on then! Get to it. And we will keep out fingers crossed for you!)
-Ends-
Go nuts with Dormen. And fruity and... get all your Festive Flavour From Dormen
This Christmas, The Dormen Food Company has created two special festive fruit and nut blends to help get the holiday season off to a cracking start.
Seasonal Fruit, Nut & Chocolate brings together orange flavoured cranberries, golden raisins, whole sweet and sour cherries, baked cashew & almonds and rich creamy milk chocolate.
Seasonal Fruit & Nut offers sumptuous cinnamon flavoured cranberries, Chilean and crimson raisins, baked cashews, almonds and toasted hazelnuts.
Fran Campbell, Managing Director of The Dormen Food Company, comments: 'Our seasonal blends include a little bit of everyone's favourites and are the ideal snack for the whole family to enjoy. Nuts are an integral part of Christmas celebrations and these special editions offer the perfect festive treat.'
Seasonal Fruit, Nut & Chocolate brings together orange flavoured cranberries, golden raisins, whole sweet and sour cherries, baked cashew & almonds and rich creamy milk chocolate.
Seasonal Fruit & Nut offers sumptuous cinnamon flavoured cranberries, Chilean and crimson raisins, baked cashews, almonds and toasted hazelnuts.
Fran Campbell, Managing Director of The Dormen Food Company, comments: 'Our seasonal blends include a little bit of everyone's favourites and are the ideal snack for the whole family to enjoy. Nuts are an integral part of Christmas celebrations and these special editions offer the perfect festive treat.'
Get a taste of Cornwall to your Christmas table
Banbury's Cornish Turkeys certainly live the rural idyll, raised by three generations of the same farming family outside Padstow on the North Cornish Coast.
And this year for the first time Christmas diners across the land will get to savour the difference between these birds and their intensively reared relatives - via a new national delivery service from www.cornishfoodmarket.co.uk.
"We hand-rear free-range black and traditional white turkeys here at Trembleathe Farm and they grow for much longer than mass produced birds so they develop that lovely deep turkey flavour," says Richard Banbury whose parents Fernley and Nancy, wife Clare and little daughters Gracie Ann and Roseanna all play their part in the nurturing process.
"I think part of it is also that our natural environment is so clean and clear with fresh air off the Atlantic - we're remote from roads and noise and commercial activity and the birds are raised as they should be - stress free."
For nearly fifty years these turkeys have been enjoyed throughout Cornwall at Christmas time but now the Banbury family - like scores of the county's best food and drink producers - are working with the team at cornishfoodmarket.co.uk to spread not just the word but the reality of best Cornish fare to the nation at large.
"We launched our website a year ago, delivering online orders of all this fantastic produce to homes and businesses in Cornwall and parts of Devon," says Sean Williams, MD of cornishfoodmarket.co.uk and its parent company Westcountry Fruit Sales, which delivers wholesale to restaurants and caterers across the two counties.
"Now we're delivering further afield and the Banbury family's turkeys are a prime example of why we are almost evangelistic about the wonderful products we can supply.
"The big supermarkets have had it their own way for far too long and their deal for customers, communities and their suppliers leaves so much to be desired. We're showing how you can provide a better service all round, with the freshest and best products, but still great value for money."
Alongside the Cornish turkeys cornishfoodmarket.co.uk's online customers can order award-winning wines and ciders, beers and juices, cheeses and pickles, clotted cream, mincemeat, puds and even mistletoe - delivered to doorsteps across the country. Check out their Christmas offerings from the top Cornish producers at www.cornishfoodmarket.co.uk.
FACTFILE:
cornishfoodmarket.co.uk...... was officially launched at the Cornwall Food and Drink Festival 2010, for which it was key sponsor again in September this year. For latest news, to register and to offer product suggestions visit www.cornishfoodmarket.co.uk.
· more than 3000 products, including
· more than 100 top local producers
· more than 1000 other food and non-food grocery and household items
· deliveries across Cornwall and parts of south and west Devon FREE to customers, Monday to Friday, with a minimum order value of just £12.50.
· products include the freshest fruit and veg, organic and non-organic dairy products, fresh Cornish meat and locally landed fresh fish.
· prices that compete with the supermarkets across all categories every day.
· Users can create their own 'Favourites' list of products they frequently purchase and even create and edit their own 'standing orders' for the various weekly food purchases they require.
Westcountry Fruit Sales Ltd
· Family business Westcountry Fruit Sales Ltd was established in 1856 in Falmouth, Cornwall.
· Now has 20,000 sq ft Distribution Centre at Higher Argal, near Falmouth, with a second satellite depot occupying purpose built premises in St Austell.
· In 1999 it established The Essential Food Co to supply the professional catering trade with an expansive range of dairy products and ambient food and non-food products, to complement its range of fresh produce.
· Now the largest Cornish based specialist supplier of foods to the catering trade in Cornwall. See www.thegreengrocery.co.uk.
And this year for the first time Christmas diners across the land will get to savour the difference between these birds and their intensively reared relatives - via a new national delivery service from www.cornishfoodmarket.co.uk.
"We hand-rear free-range black and traditional white turkeys here at Trembleathe Farm and they grow for much longer than mass produced birds so they develop that lovely deep turkey flavour," says Richard Banbury whose parents Fernley and Nancy, wife Clare and little daughters Gracie Ann and Roseanna all play their part in the nurturing process.
"I think part of it is also that our natural environment is so clean and clear with fresh air off the Atlantic - we're remote from roads and noise and commercial activity and the birds are raised as they should be - stress free."
For nearly fifty years these turkeys have been enjoyed throughout Cornwall at Christmas time but now the Banbury family - like scores of the county's best food and drink producers - are working with the team at cornishfoodmarket.co.uk to spread not just the word but the reality of best Cornish fare to the nation at large.
"We launched our website a year ago, delivering online orders of all this fantastic produce to homes and businesses in Cornwall and parts of Devon," says Sean Williams, MD of cornishfoodmarket.co.uk and its parent company Westcountry Fruit Sales, which delivers wholesale to restaurants and caterers across the two counties.
"Now we're delivering further afield and the Banbury family's turkeys are a prime example of why we are almost evangelistic about the wonderful products we can supply.
"The big supermarkets have had it their own way for far too long and their deal for customers, communities and their suppliers leaves so much to be desired. We're showing how you can provide a better service all round, with the freshest and best products, but still great value for money."
Alongside the Cornish turkeys cornishfoodmarket.co.uk's online customers can order award-winning wines and ciders, beers and juices, cheeses and pickles, clotted cream, mincemeat, puds and even mistletoe - delivered to doorsteps across the country. Check out their Christmas offerings from the top Cornish producers at www.cornishfoodmarket.co.uk.
FACTFILE:
cornishfoodmarket.co.uk...... was officially launched at the Cornwall Food and Drink Festival 2010, for which it was key sponsor again in September this year. For latest news, to register and to offer product suggestions visit www.cornishfoodmarket.co.uk.
· more than 3000 products, including
· more than 100 top local producers
· more than 1000 other food and non-food grocery and household items
· deliveries across Cornwall and parts of south and west Devon FREE to customers, Monday to Friday, with a minimum order value of just £12.50.
· products include the freshest fruit and veg, organic and non-organic dairy products, fresh Cornish meat and locally landed fresh fish.
· prices that compete with the supermarkets across all categories every day.
· Users can create their own 'Favourites' list of products they frequently purchase and even create and edit their own 'standing orders' for the various weekly food purchases they require.
Westcountry Fruit Sales Ltd
· Family business Westcountry Fruit Sales Ltd was established in 1856 in Falmouth, Cornwall.
· Now has 20,000 sq ft Distribution Centre at Higher Argal, near Falmouth, with a second satellite depot occupying purpose built premises in St Austell.
· In 1999 it established The Essential Food Co to supply the professional catering trade with an expansive range of dairy products and ambient food and non-food products, to complement its range of fresh produce.
· Now the largest Cornish based specialist supplier of foods to the catering trade in Cornwall. See www.thegreengrocery.co.uk.
Hand-Made Australian Christmas Puddings From Pudding Lane
From an inherited prize-winning family recipe, Pudding Lane award-winning Christmas puddings are proudly hand-made in Australia with the finest quality fruit selected from Australia's pasturelands and well sourced fresh ingredients; fresh free range eggs, fresh butter, fresh breadcrumbs (crumbed by hand), flour, sugar from Australia's tropical north, spices and the finest brandy, matured in American Oak, from the world famous Barossa Valley wine region of South Australia.
Pudding Lane Christmas Fare:
(1) (2) (3)
(1) Classic Christmas - Australia's finest handmade prize-winning Christmas pudding
(2) Date & Toffee Log - a delicious sticky date texture with luxurious toffee
(3) Australian Macadamia Nuts and Barossa Valley Brandy - Organic Macadamia Nuts, finest matured in oak Bandy and some gourmet magic
Available to purchase from: www.porterfoods.co.uk
Food miles and the environment
'In Australia we talk about "paddock to plate", (field to fork) but the meaning is the same, no matter where in the world you are, most people want to know what food companies like Pudding Lane are doing to help and minimize their impact on the natural Environment.
Pudding Lane has a unique handmade method that has been unchanged for 100 years or more. Unlike most other pudding manufacturers, who ship all their many ingredients from the corners of the world, we use only locally sourced ingredients, and so, even though our puddings come from Australia, ours create far fewer food miles and energy waste than a pudding that is made in the UK.
We have based our reputation for quality on the "boiled-in-the-cloth" method. That is, we select the finest ingredients, local, combine these ingredients by hand, including fresh bread (from a local bakery that we hand-crumb) add the "wet-mix" of fresh butter, fresh Free Range eggs (hand cracked), Brandy and then hand-mix the mixture. This pudding mixture is then hand-weighed with spoons into lined boiling cloths. The cloths are actually "squares" of unbleached calico and are reused over and over to make many hundreds of puddings.
If the calico square develops a small hole, then we cut it down neatly to make another (smaller) size of pudding and so the process continues. The puddings are hand-tied with twine, then cooked (boiled) in (gas fired) "coppers" before being hung, again by hand, individually on a line to age and mature in advance for Christmas.
When the puddings have been hung and dried we then take them off the line, cut them out of the cloth, dress them in plain cotton fabric to sell and the only disposable part of our pudding making process is a short piece of cotton twine used to tie the pudding cloth up with prior to cooking. The puddings are packaged in cartons made from 100% recycled material and dispatched.
In this way, we do not use any automated processes, no production lines, no electric steam ovens (in fact we don't even have a conventional oven in our pudding kitchen), we do not use plastic basins, plastic bowls or moulds to shape the puddings, each and every pudding is different, only the same supreme moist taste is the same - but each and every pudding is unique!
Many people who know our method and also who visit our pudding kitchen are amazed at the level of detail, at the hand-made method, the hard work, but also that we can make many many tonnes of puddings every year - but each and every one, without ever changing the method and almost no machinery whatsoever, is made individually by hand.
These days however, we are less accidental in our philosophy of the environment. We have a practical commitment to community involvement and make sure that our ingredients are; fresh and local, that our method is maintained by our strict Haccp controls and that we just make traditional Christmas puddings in the old-fashioned (environmental) way.'
Ambrette Dreaming Of A White Vine Christmas
The Ambrette Restaurant at Rye announces Christmas menus
The Ambrette Restaurant at Rye recently opened the historic White Vine House, which holds 5 AA stars, has announced three Christmas menus.
Patron chef Dev Biswal, renowned for his deftly spiced fine Indian dining, has created three special Christmas menus for under £20, £30 and £40 per person. The Christmas menus, with vegetarian options, are available throughout December for a minimum of 6 people when ordered by the whole group.
The Christmas Feast menu comprises a 'Champagne Cocktail', Appetiser of the day, Delicate Fillet of Claresse, Soup of the Day, Breast of British Chicken, Grenita, and Exotic Rose Flavoured Vanilla Crème Brule, for just £19.99
The Christmas Party menus also features Breast of Gressingham Duck, with a pudding of Indian-style cardamom and Vanilla rice Dessert with Carpaccio of Gulab Jamun at £29.99.
The Christmas Extravaganza menu also has Crispy Pooris and Tenderloin of Pork, with Hand-Crafted Chocolate Silk with Home-made Ice Cream for £39.99.
Biswal's other restaurant, The Ambrette in the Old Town in Margate Indian Princess) in Margate has received wide national press recognition for his unique style. The approach has seen The Ambrette secure listings in the major restaurant guides including, Michelin and Good Food Guides and received numerous awards from TopTable, TripAdvisor, Visit Thanet and the Restaurant Show.
Double rooms at the White Vine House cost from £130 per person.
The Georgian Room seats 26, the Elizabethan Room 16, the and the Club Room 14 and the outside terrace a further 20 diners. Head chef: Deepak Surman.
Dev Biswal grew up in Calcutta. He trained at the Dubai Sheraton, before moving to London, aged 26 in 2003 for spells at Mangoes and Eriki. He became a partner in The Indian Princess in Margate in December 2006, becoming patron and rebranding it as The Ambrette in 2010
The White Vine Houseaccommodates 14 guests in 5 double rooms (one 4-poster), and a family room (sleeping four). Room rates from £130 to £180 a night including breakfast. Set on Rye's High Street, the Georgian frontage of the White Vine House belies its medieval heritage. Beneath the dining room lies a C13th cellar, complete with stone spiral staircase. Refurbished in 2005, the once grand home is now one of the country's premier bed and breakfast venues.
Each of the 6 guest rooms includes period furniture, contemporary en suites stocked with locally made organic toiletries, the latest in home entertainment technology. The original building was destroyed during one of the many French raids on the town during the 100 Years War. The Elizabethan Dining Room named for its exquisite and unique French oak panelling, which probably cost more than the original building, with each panel individually formed to fit the timber frame. The room is "signed" with a carpenter's mark visible just above the fireplace.
Weddings: Specialising in small intimate weddings the White Vine House is licensed for civil ceremonies.
Rye Bay Scallop Week: 25th February - 4th March 2012. A mainly restaurant-based event when the local delicacy is at its plumpest and most succulent. The festival features cookery schools, cooking and scallop shucking demos. The week culminates on the final day with the hotly contested 'What a Load of Scallops' race with competitors racing barrows of scallops, through the cobbled streets of Rye, to win the coveted wooden scallop plaque. www.ryebayscallops.co.uk
The Ambrette Restaurant at Rye
T: 01797 222 043 E: info@theambrette-rye.co.uk W: www.theambrette.co.uk
The White Vine House
T: 01797 224 748 E: info@whitevinehouse.co.uk W: www.whitevinehouse.co.uk
24 High Street, Rye, East Sussex TN31 7JF
The Ambrette Restaurant at Rye recently opened the historic White Vine House, which holds 5 AA stars, has announced three Christmas menus.
Patron chef Dev Biswal, renowned for his deftly spiced fine Indian dining, has created three special Christmas menus for under £20, £30 and £40 per person. The Christmas menus, with vegetarian options, are available throughout December for a minimum of 6 people when ordered by the whole group.
The Christmas Feast menu comprises a 'Champagne Cocktail', Appetiser of the day, Delicate Fillet of Claresse, Soup of the Day, Breast of British Chicken, Grenita, and Exotic Rose Flavoured Vanilla Crème Brule, for just £19.99
The Christmas Party menus also features Breast of Gressingham Duck, with a pudding of Indian-style cardamom and Vanilla rice Dessert with Carpaccio of Gulab Jamun at £29.99.
The Christmas Extravaganza menu also has Crispy Pooris and Tenderloin of Pork, with Hand-Crafted Chocolate Silk with Home-made Ice Cream for £39.99.
Biswal's other restaurant, The Ambrette in the Old Town in Margate Indian Princess) in Margate has received wide national press recognition for his unique style. The approach has seen The Ambrette secure listings in the major restaurant guides including, Michelin and Good Food Guides and received numerous awards from TopTable, TripAdvisor, Visit Thanet and the Restaurant Show.
Double rooms at the White Vine House cost from £130 per person.
The Georgian Room seats 26, the Elizabethan Room 16, the and the Club Room 14 and the outside terrace a further 20 diners. Head chef: Deepak Surman.
Dev Biswal grew up in Calcutta. He trained at the Dubai Sheraton, before moving to London, aged 26 in 2003 for spells at Mangoes and Eriki. He became a partner in The Indian Princess in Margate in December 2006, becoming patron and rebranding it as The Ambrette in 2010
The White Vine Houseaccommodates 14 guests in 5 double rooms (one 4-poster), and a family room (sleeping four). Room rates from £130 to £180 a night including breakfast. Set on Rye's High Street, the Georgian frontage of the White Vine House belies its medieval heritage. Beneath the dining room lies a C13th cellar, complete with stone spiral staircase. Refurbished in 2005, the once grand home is now one of the country's premier bed and breakfast venues.
Each of the 6 guest rooms includes period furniture, contemporary en suites stocked with locally made organic toiletries, the latest in home entertainment technology. The original building was destroyed during one of the many French raids on the town during the 100 Years War. The Elizabethan Dining Room named for its exquisite and unique French oak panelling, which probably cost more than the original building, with each panel individually formed to fit the timber frame. The room is "signed" with a carpenter's mark visible just above the fireplace.
Weddings: Specialising in small intimate weddings the White Vine House is licensed for civil ceremonies.
Rye Bay Scallop Week: 25th February - 4th March 2012. A mainly restaurant-based event when the local delicacy is at its plumpest and most succulent. The festival features cookery schools, cooking and scallop shucking demos. The week culminates on the final day with the hotly contested 'What a Load of Scallops' race with competitors racing barrows of scallops, through the cobbled streets of Rye, to win the coveted wooden scallop plaque. www.ryebayscallops.co.uk
The Ambrette Restaurant at Rye
T: 01797 222 043 E: info@theambrette-rye.co.uk W: www.theambrette.co.uk
The White Vine House
T: 01797 224 748 E: info@whitevinehouse.co.uk W: www.whitevinehouse.co.uk
24 High Street, Rye, East Sussex TN31 7JF
Eddie Gilbert's £35 Christmas Menu
Ramsgate's award-winning Eddie Gilbert's seafood restaurant has announced its Christmas Menu.
The £35 menu, that includes a glass of mulled wine on arrival is available for lunch and dinner until 24th December, with no minimum numbers required.
STARTERS
Roasted honeyed parsnip soup, spicy croutons & parsnip crisps
Pan fried scallops, caramelised baby onions, crispy bacon lardons & a cranberry balsamic,
Cured & smoked venison salad with a chocolate & red wine glaze, soused vegetables & watercress, Thai fish & crab cake with an Oriental salad, coriander cress & a cucumber relish
A tian of King prawns, smoked salmon & salmon mousse, avocado with a dill & mustard emulsion
Peppered breast of wild wood pigeon, celeriac remoulade, Kentish cider jelly & chestnut oil
MAINS
Roasted monkfish tail marinated in red wine, pancetta, winter vegetables & lemon thyme dumplings
Grilled cod with a chestnut, parsley & garlic crust, creamed potato, green beans, seafood chowder
Pan fried fillet of sea bass, crab & mussel risotto, baby scallops, aromatic sauce Vierge
Poached delice of lemon sole Bercy stuffed with prawns & smoked salmon,spinach & crushed potatoes
Fillet of English beef, shredded sprouts with smoked bacon, beef dripping roasted potatoes,
shallot confit & a peppery port jus
Roasted duck breast, crispy leg confit, bubble & squeak, baby carrots & a black cherry,brandy & juniper sauce
DESSERTS
Christmas pudding "Arctic Roll", poached plums & eggnog sauce
Chocolate marquise with a warm spiced orange compote & a milk chocolate ice cream
A Platter of British & French Cheeses, served with biscuits, grapes & celery
Date, walnut & fig sticky toffee pudding, toffee sauce, vanilla ice cream
Kentish bramley apple & pear crumble tartlet with a stem ginger & advocaat ice cream
Crisp Mincemeat strudel with a cinnamon crème Anglaise
Coffee and Eddie Gilbert's selected teas
Bookings: T: 01843 852123
Eddie Gilbert's opening times: Monday to Saturday 11.30am - 2.30pm, 5.30pm - 9.30pm. Sunday 12.00am - 2.30pm.
Awards
Taste of Kent Award for 'Best Fish Retailer' - 2007 & 2010
Potato Council - National Chip Week Perfection Portion 2010 - Finalist
Kent Restaurant Awards 2009 - Best Newcomer
Pride of Thanet - Overall winner 2010
Thanet Times - In the 2011
Coast Magazine - Best Seaside Restaurant runner up 2010
Eddie Gilbert's, 32 King Street, Ramsgate CT11 8NT
T: 01843 852123 E: jonny@eddiegliberts.com W: www.eddiegilberts.com
The £35 menu, that includes a glass of mulled wine on arrival is available for lunch and dinner until 24th December, with no minimum numbers required.
STARTERS
Roasted honeyed parsnip soup, spicy croutons & parsnip crisps
Pan fried scallops, caramelised baby onions, crispy bacon lardons & a cranberry balsamic,
Cured & smoked venison salad with a chocolate & red wine glaze, soused vegetables & watercress, Thai fish & crab cake with an Oriental salad, coriander cress & a cucumber relish
A tian of King prawns, smoked salmon & salmon mousse, avocado with a dill & mustard emulsion
Peppered breast of wild wood pigeon, celeriac remoulade, Kentish cider jelly & chestnut oil
MAINS
Roasted monkfish tail marinated in red wine, pancetta, winter vegetables & lemon thyme dumplings
Grilled cod with a chestnut, parsley & garlic crust, creamed potato, green beans, seafood chowder
Pan fried fillet of sea bass, crab & mussel risotto, baby scallops, aromatic sauce Vierge
Poached delice of lemon sole Bercy stuffed with prawns & smoked salmon,spinach & crushed potatoes
Fillet of English beef, shredded sprouts with smoked bacon, beef dripping roasted potatoes,
shallot confit & a peppery port jus
Roasted duck breast, crispy leg confit, bubble & squeak, baby carrots & a black cherry,brandy & juniper sauce
DESSERTS
Christmas pudding "Arctic Roll", poached plums & eggnog sauce
Chocolate marquise with a warm spiced orange compote & a milk chocolate ice cream
A Platter of British & French Cheeses, served with biscuits, grapes & celery
Date, walnut & fig sticky toffee pudding, toffee sauce, vanilla ice cream
Kentish bramley apple & pear crumble tartlet with a stem ginger & advocaat ice cream
Crisp Mincemeat strudel with a cinnamon crème Anglaise
Coffee and Eddie Gilbert's selected teas
Bookings: T: 01843 852123
Eddie Gilbert's opening times: Monday to Saturday 11.30am - 2.30pm, 5.30pm - 9.30pm. Sunday 12.00am - 2.30pm.
Awards
Taste of Kent Award for 'Best Fish Retailer' - 2007 & 2010
Potato Council - National Chip Week Perfection Portion 2010 - Finalist
Kent Restaurant Awards 2009 - Best Newcomer
Pride of Thanet - Overall winner 2010
Thanet Times - In the 2011
Coast Magazine - Best Seaside Restaurant runner up 2010
Eddie Gilbert's, 32 King Street, Ramsgate CT11 8NT
T: 01843 852123 E: jonny@eddiegliberts.com W: www.eddiegilberts.com
Last Minute Christmas Shopping With Teddington Cheese
Panicking about your Christmas shopping? Not sure what to give? A 'cheesy gift' from Teddington Cheese is always welcome. What's more, you can order right up until Sunday 18 December for UK deliveries (Tuesday 13 December for international ones).
With over 140 different cheeses to choose from, many of which are British, Teddington Cheese is one of the UK's leading online cheese suppliers, and ships all over the UK and abroad. In addition, its two retail shops (in Teddington and Richmond upon Thames) serve the local south west London community and with Christmas being the busiest time of the year for the company, savvy locals place their order in advance online, for collection from their nearest store just before Christmas.
A range of hampers is available from just £28 to £140 or customers can design their own by making their choices online.
The website also has a selection of cheese accessories, ranging from camembert bakers to raclette grills and accessories and, of course, the classic cheese fondue set.
All cheese purchases are wrapped individually by hand in wax paper and supplied with a small tasting card detailing the type of milk, the flavour characteristics, the producer and other relevant information.
On the website, a series of symbols allows the customer to identify those which are made using different milks, pasteurised and unpasteurised.
Nearly a third of the cheeses stocked are made with vegetarian rennet, which can be identified clearly on the website by the green 'V'.
Pregnant women or anyone with concerns about eating unpasteurised cheese can identify them easily as they are clearly marked on the website.
And for the gift which can last all year, there is the Teddington Cheese Club where you can arrange for friends and family to receive a monthly selection of cheeses throughout the year. Each selection costs £38.50 including UK deliver and contains five or six cheeses (total weight approximately 1.5 kg). You can send just one monthly selection or one every month. The cheese will arrive in peak condition.
With seasonal assortments to mark dates like St George's or Father's Day there is a wide choice. Teddington Cheese sends the certificate of membership, confirming the selections chosen to the recipient (or the gift giver if they want to hand it over in person), together with a greeting card with your personal message on the date of your choice. They have the option of changing the delivery date of any cheese selection to take account of any holidays or other commitments.
For further information visit www.teddingtoncheese.co.uk
With over 140 different cheeses to choose from, many of which are British, Teddington Cheese is one of the UK's leading online cheese suppliers, and ships all over the UK and abroad. In addition, its two retail shops (in Teddington and Richmond upon Thames) serve the local south west London community and with Christmas being the busiest time of the year for the company, savvy locals place their order in advance online, for collection from their nearest store just before Christmas.
A range of hampers is available from just £28 to £140 or customers can design their own by making their choices online.
The website also has a selection of cheese accessories, ranging from camembert bakers to raclette grills and accessories and, of course, the classic cheese fondue set.
All cheese purchases are wrapped individually by hand in wax paper and supplied with a small tasting card detailing the type of milk, the flavour characteristics, the producer and other relevant information.
On the website, a series of symbols allows the customer to identify those which are made using different milks, pasteurised and unpasteurised.
Nearly a third of the cheeses stocked are made with vegetarian rennet, which can be identified clearly on the website by the green 'V'.
Pregnant women or anyone with concerns about eating unpasteurised cheese can identify them easily as they are clearly marked on the website.
And for the gift which can last all year, there is the Teddington Cheese Club where you can arrange for friends and family to receive a monthly selection of cheeses throughout the year. Each selection costs £38.50 including UK deliver and contains five or six cheeses (total weight approximately 1.5 kg). You can send just one monthly selection or one every month. The cheese will arrive in peak condition.
With seasonal assortments to mark dates like St George's or Father's Day there is a wide choice. Teddington Cheese sends the certificate of membership, confirming the selections chosen to the recipient (or the gift giver if they want to hand it over in person), together with a greeting card with your personal message on the date of your choice. They have the option of changing the delivery date of any cheese selection to take account of any holidays or other commitments.
For further information visit www.teddingtoncheese.co.uk
Best of beer writing honoured at beer writers’ banquet: Ben McFarland crowned as beer writer of the year
The Beer Writer of the Year is chosen from one of seven category winners which seek to find the very best of beer writing and journalism in the UK.
As well as picking up the overall title, McFarland also won the Fuller’s ESB Award for Best Writing for the Beer & Pub Trade.
Last year’s winner and chairman of the judges Simon Jenkins said: “Ben is really setting the standard for writing about beer. His work is always interesting and informative – and his passion for the subject really shines through everything he writes.”
Other winners named at the event at the London Riverside Park Plaza included Mark Dredge for beer and food writing, Martyn Cornell in the online category for his blog ‘Zythophile’ and Marverine Cole, for her regional television work.
Pete Brown scooped the new award for corporate communications, Des de Moor picked up the beer and travel writing prize, and Adrian Tierney-Jones was named national journalist of the year. The Guild’s Brewer of the Year was named as Kernel Brewery’s Evin O’Riordain
Results in full:
Brewer of the Year 2011 - Evin O’Riordain, Kernel Brewery
Budweiser Budvar John White Travel Bursary - prize £1,000 plus trip to Czech Republic . Winner: Des de Moor
Shepherd Neame 1698 Award for Beer and Food Writing - prize £1,000. Winner: Mark Dredge
Thwaites Award for Best Corporate Communications - prize £1,000. Winner: Pete Brown
Brains SA Gold Award for Best Use of Online Media - £1,000 & £500. Winner: Martyn Cornell; Silver Award: Mark Charlwood
Adnams Award for Best Writing in Regional Media - prize £1,000 & £500. Winner: Marverine Cole; Silver Award: Gavin Aitchison
Fuller’s ESB Award for Best Writing for the Beer and Pub Trade - prize £1,000 & £500 . Winner: Ben McFarland: Silver Award: Glynn Davis
Molson Coors Award for Best Writing in National Media - prize £1,000 & £500 Winner: Adrian Tierney-Jones; Silver Award: Will Hawkes
The Michael Jackson Gold Award – Beer Writer of the Year 2011: Ben McFarland
Judges this year were: Simon Jenkins, winner of the 2010 Beer Writer of the Year title; Fiona Matthias, executive editor of The Sunday Telegraph; Martin Ross, journalist, writer and home brewer; Martin Kellaway, founder of Wharfebank Brewery in Leeds and Joanna Copestick, who has commissioned and published a number of books about beer.
Simon Jenkins added: "The exciting thing for myself and my fellow judges was seeing the sheer range of material which is being published about beer – whether in books, newspapers, magazines, TV, radio and online."
"This reflects a fundamental change in Britain’s brewing industry, which has seen huge numbers of micro-brewers and craft brewers posing an increasing challenge to the dominance of the industry’s big boys. These brewers have brought hundreds of new beers to the market, and opened up to customers a vast new array of tastes, styles and experiences."
"These awards celebrate the very best in British beer writing. The scope, scale and variety of the work created by the winners is astonishing, and show that writing about our national drink is now being treated very seriously indeed."
On the Brewer of the Year Award given to Evin O’Riordain, British Guild of Beer Writers chairman Tim Hampson said: “Even though the Kernel brewery is not yet two years old, Evin O'Riordan and his team have created some of the most stunning beers in the country. If you're thinking about the London craft beer scene, just saying the phrase 'Craft Brewer' evokes images of this microbrewer working in his train arch brewery.
“The creative flair of O'Riordan with his passion for collaboration and generosity of spirit which has produced beers such as IPA Black, London Brick, Big Brick to name just three, speaks volumes about what is going on in the London craft beer scene and it's down to people like Evin.”
More than 230 journalists, brewers and pub operators attended the dinner at the London Riverside Park Plaza. The British Guild of Beer Writers was established in 1988 to help spread the word about beer and brewing and improve standards of beer writing in general. Today the Guild has more than 150 members – to find out more go to www.beerwriters.co.uk.
PICTURED: (l-r) Ben McFarland, Beer Writer of the Year 2011 and Simon Jenkins, chair of judges, British Guild of Beer Writers Annual Awards 2011
British Guild of Beer Writers www.beerwriters.co.uk
(EDITOR: The hearty congratulations of That's Food and Drink go to all concerned. Well done for helping to promote good, healthy British real ales!)
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Friday 2 December 2011
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This month, as we head toward Christmas, head toward Tossed, too!
Another week closer to Christmas, and as the weather is getting colder, things are heating up at Tossed, the high street healthier eating place.
If you are not over-sweating from over-shopping, you might want another way to warm yourself up over-lunch. Try a hot and warming soup, stew or curry, from the new Hot and Healthier range at Tossed. Soup is great for getting your veggies as well as being warm and comforting.
Starting at just 68 calories for a Skinny Minestrone, the Tossed soups are made from 100 percent natural ingredients. There is also Leek and Potato at 154 calories, a classic Tomato and Basil and the new Sweet Potato, Coconut & Coriander. They are around £3.00 for a full size, but they also come as ‘mini’, a great addition to the equally tasty and warming stews.
With a low GI carb base of Mixed Wild Rice, Wholewheat Noodles or Cous-cous, the Tossed version of Chicken Tikka Masala is hot stuff, as is the Chilli con Carne and the Sweet & Sour Chicken, with free-range meat from Gatacombe Farm in Devon.
The low GI carbs will make sure you have enough fuel to make it through the day, and at under 500 calories for any of the hot dishes, you will not compromise your diet, even at Christmas. All at under £5.00, they will not empty your purse either. ‘Grab and go’ has never been so good.
Grab a soup or a stew from Tossed in the West End and the City, at Westfield London and at Westfield Stratford City. www.tosseduk.com Twitter @tosseduk.com or www.Facebook.com/tosseduk
If you are not over-sweating from over-shopping, you might want another way to warm yourself up over-lunch. Try a hot and warming soup, stew or curry, from the new Hot and Healthier range at Tossed. Soup is great for getting your veggies as well as being warm and comforting.
Starting at just 68 calories for a Skinny Minestrone, the Tossed soups are made from 100 percent natural ingredients. There is also Leek and Potato at 154 calories, a classic Tomato and Basil and the new Sweet Potato, Coconut & Coriander. They are around £3.00 for a full size, but they also come as ‘mini’, a great addition to the equally tasty and warming stews.
With a low GI carb base of Mixed Wild Rice, Wholewheat Noodles or Cous-cous, the Tossed version of Chicken Tikka Masala is hot stuff, as is the Chilli con Carne and the Sweet & Sour Chicken, with free-range meat from Gatacombe Farm in Devon.
The low GI carbs will make sure you have enough fuel to make it through the day, and at under 500 calories for any of the hot dishes, you will not compromise your diet, even at Christmas. All at under £5.00, they will not empty your purse either. ‘Grab and go’ has never been so good.
Grab a soup or a stew from Tossed in the West End and the City, at Westfield London and at Westfield Stratford City. www.tosseduk.com Twitter @tosseduk.com or www.Facebook.com/tosseduk
Tuesday 29 November 2011
Get creative with carrots this Christmas and win a £200 meal
The independent guest judge, Niamh Shields from Eat Like a Girl, will be looking for culinary creativity with carrots. The author of the best recipe will receive a £200 restaurant voucher to a UK restaurant of their choice. Three runners up will receive a copy of Niamh Shields’ cookbook Comfort & Spice.
Entering the competition is easy. All bloggers need to do is:
• Share a carrot recipe on their own blog;
• Mention the competition in the post;
• Tell LovetheGarden by emailing the URL of their entry to entries@lovethegarden.com before 21st December 2011.
The orange root vegetable is a prominent part of traditional Christmas meals, but recipes don’t have to be Christmas themed. Recipes for soups, salads, stir-fries and even cakes with this versatile vegetable are welcomed too.
Lovethegarden launched their first competition to find the best recipes for garden vegetables in February 2011, which encouraged bloggers to be creative with cabbage. The winner was Karolina with her Cabbage & Mushroom Pasties. In August, David Hall won the Potty for Potatoes competition with his Hot potato, bacon and nasturtium salad and the winner of the Taste for Tomatoes competition was Nic from Cherrapeno with her Summer Tomato Tart with Chilli Cheese Pastry. The carrot competition will be the last one for 2011, but in 2012, Lovethegarden will continue to encourage everyone in the UK to eat their five-a-day.
The deadline is 11.59pm (UK time) on 21th December 2011. For more information, please visit the vegetable garden competition page.
FACTFILE:
LovetheGarden ®, ™ and Miracle-Gro, Plus, Scotts and Pour & Feed are trade marks of The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company LLC or its affiliates.
Sunday 27 November 2011
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Silver Spoon Create helps you create masterpiece cakes
The Queen of couture cakes, Mich Turner MBE, launches the new Professional Quality Silver Spoon Create range of edible cake decorations.
To get the best results, professionals recommend that you start with the very best ingredients. Well-known for adding a quality and reliable helping hand to many home bakers, Silver Spoon is taking baking to the next level by teaming up with Mich Turner MBE.
Mich is renowned for the stunning designs she has created for celebrities and royalty and she’s sharing some of her professional secrets in a new range, Professional Quality Silver Spoon Create Designed by Mich Turner.
The selection includes:
Finest Quality Marzipan which is not only made with specially selected Mediterranean almonds, but also 40% more almonds than a standard version to give a particularly superior flavour and texture. RRP for a 500g pack is £3.99.
Ready to roll Madagascan Vanilla White Icing, made with the finest Madagascan Vanilla beans to give an enhanced flavour and ensure a perfectly smooth, pure white finish. RRP for a 1kg pack is £3.29.
Gold, Bronze and Pearl Lustres which can be delicately painted on to hand piped detail or sugar flowers and decorations for a romantic pearl finish. RRP for a 20ml bottle is £2.49.
Find the Professional Quality Silver Spoon Create Designed by Mich Turner range in the home baking aisle in Sainsbury’s.
Previously known as Silver Spoon Cakecraft, the Silver Spoon Create range will include all existing products, plus the new Mich Turner line and is aimed at bakers of all levels hoping to achieve professional looking results.
To get the best results, professionals recommend that you start with the very best ingredients. Well-known for adding a quality and reliable helping hand to many home bakers, Silver Spoon is taking baking to the next level by teaming up with Mich Turner MBE.
Mich is renowned for the stunning designs she has created for celebrities and royalty and she’s sharing some of her professional secrets in a new range, Professional Quality Silver Spoon Create Designed by Mich Turner.
The selection includes:
Finest Quality Marzipan which is not only made with specially selected Mediterranean almonds, but also 40% more almonds than a standard version to give a particularly superior flavour and texture. RRP for a 500g pack is £3.99.
Ready to roll Madagascan Vanilla White Icing, made with the finest Madagascan Vanilla beans to give an enhanced flavour and ensure a perfectly smooth, pure white finish. RRP for a 1kg pack is £3.29.
Gold, Bronze and Pearl Lustres which can be delicately painted on to hand piped detail or sugar flowers and decorations for a romantic pearl finish. RRP for a 20ml bottle is £2.49.
Find the Professional Quality Silver Spoon Create Designed by Mich Turner range in the home baking aisle in Sainsbury’s.
Previously known as Silver Spoon Cakecraft, the Silver Spoon Create range will include all existing products, plus the new Mich Turner line and is aimed at bakers of all levels hoping to achieve professional looking results.
When you are doing your Christmas baking, shouldn't you reach for the Renshaws?
Making a Christmas cake? Then reach for the Renshaws' edible icing ribbon, to give your cake that glamorous finish that will taste every bit as good as it looks.
And you'll find them in six very exciting and extremely Christmasy colours. Black, pink, blue, yellow, red or green.
And whilst you are at it, why not give your cake a bit of Chirstmas magic by adding some other items from the new Consumer Range from Renshaw's?
There's even something to keep the children happy and baking (under your careful supervision, of course!) with Magic Melting Icing, and Cool Coloured and the Funky Flavoured Sugardough!
For inspiration and full access to the range visit www.mybakes.co.uk and learn how Renshaw can help you be the baking expert that you really always knew you could be.
(EDITOR: But DO make sure some human helpers don't help themselves to too many of the icing products before you get to bake with them! But they are very tempting!)
Saturday 26 November 2011
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Thursday 24 November 2011
Get The Festivities Started With Byron Bay Cookies
The new Limited Edition Byron Bay Cookie has been developed to marry the classic flavours of indulgent dark European chocolate with the citrus punch of orange zest providing the perfect cookie treat for winter shoppers.
Each cookie is packed with over 30% premium European dark chocolate chunks and a hint of orange zest, to give a deliciously festive flavour that is sure to follow in the foot-steps of previous seasonal Limited Edition Byron Bay Cookies and be a big seller this winter.
"It has taken months of development to get a cookie that delivers the perfect winter taste as well as being on course with under-lying consumer food trends," commented Paul Maxwell, European Marketing Manager for Byron Bay Cookie Company.
"With extensive taste testing we are confident that we have the perfect winter accompaniment for any tea, coffee or hot chocolate. With the success of previous Limited Edition cookies such as Strawberries & Clotted Cream, Plum Pudding and White Chocolate Chunk and Cranberry we are confident that the Dark Chocolate Orange Cookie will be well received."
Since its launch in Australia during the mid 1990's, Byron Bay Cookie Company has become synonymous with impeccable quality, resulting in numerous awards from all over the globe. In 2008, to allay concerns over food miles, production of the world famous Australian cookie brand started in the UK. These UK-baked Byron Bay Cookies use locally sourced ingredients, free range eggs and premium European chocolate. They are fully approved by the Vegetarian Society and the gluten free range is certified by Coeliac UK. The UK baked product has already won the Vegetarian Societies Award for 'Best Approved Snack Product 2009' for the Triple Choc Fudge Cookie and nominated for the same category in 2010 for the 'Dotty' Cookie.
The new Byron Bay Limited Edition Dark Chocolate Orange Cookie is available from Cafes and Coffee Shops nation-wide. For more information about the full range of Byron Bay Cookies (including the new Limited Edition Dark Choc Orange Cookie) please visit www.byronbaycookies.co.uk
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Muddy Boots And Fine Burger Company Team Up to make this a very good Christmas, indeed!
Robert Tame, founder Fine Burger Company, said, "This is a fantastic tasting Christmas burger. It's a limited edition offer and the taste is unique. Muddy Boots guarantee the same distinction and provenance that we look for in our own burgers and their Camembert and Cranberry Christmas flavour is really special. We're excited about working together and making burgers taste so good."
The Camembert and Cranberry burger will be on the menu from Monday 28 November until Christmas and Roland and Miranda will be handing out free samples on Wed 30 November and Friday 9 December too.
Muddy Boots already has a busy lead up to Christmas with its limited edition Camembert and Cranberry beef burger hitting the shelves of Waitrose and helping to launch two new retail contracts with Midcounties Co-Operative and Budgens this month too. The Christmas burger combines the succulent top cuts of Aberdeen Angus beef, which Muddy Boots always uses in its burgers, with the smooth creaminess of the Camembert and the sweet bite of the cranberries.
FACTFILE:
Muddy Boots: www.muddybootsfoods.co.uk
Fine Burger Company: www.fineburger.co.uk
Muddy Boots Real Foods Ltd is a Worcestershire based beef burger company that was founded in December 2008 by Roland and Miranda Ballard.
They featured in BBC One's High Street Dreams in May 2010 and are now stocked in 41 Waitrose stores, with Ocado, Midcounties Co-Operative, Budgens and with some independent retailers and restaurants. They also sell their burgers through their online Muddy Boots foodhall.
Fine Burger Company was founded by Robert Tame in 2003, when he began his mission to upgrade the burger. Everything on the menu is fresh, locally sourced and completely free from additives, preservatives, colourings and GM nasties. The company now has four sites in London: Islington, O2, St Pancras and ExCel Exhibition Centre.
Have Yourself A Very Godminster Christmas
The cheese came to life after Godminster owner Richard Hollingbery bought Godminster Farm and had the waxed cheese made using milk from the farm as a thank-you gift for friends. The cheeses were a great success, so much so that Richard decided to that he should begin making the cheese commercially and as a result the Godminster brand was born.
These days no cheese board is complete without a Godminster cheddar, its rich wax coating making it especially popular at Christmas.
The cheese, which is available in 2kg, 1kg and 400gm rounds as well as a 400gm heart, is delivered beautifully packaged in distinctive Godminster colours, making it an ideal gift for a foodie friend.
Godminster also produces an oak-smoked Godminster cheddar. "We use the same mature cheddar as in our waxed truckles and cold smoke it over oak chippings sourced from sustainable woodland", said Richard Hollingbery, Godminster's owner. These are then hand-wrapped in muslin, making the perfect addition to the Godminster range.
Richard adds: "Our cheeses have been a great success' so much so that over the years we have developed a number of foodie gifts, which always include the cheese, of course! My personal favourite as a traditional Yorkshireman is the cheese and fruit cake combination. When you eat the cheese we find there is no need to remove the wax before cutting. In fact, we find our cheese keeps its creamy consistency best if you keep it in the wax.
"The cheese can be scooped or sliced. Either score around the top and use it as a lid, scooping the cheese out, or cut through the wax like you would a cake. If there's any left replace the lid, wrap the whole cheese in cling film and refrigerate."
The organic cheddar starts at £14.95 and is available from www.godminster.com
These days no cheese board is complete without a Godminster cheddar, its rich wax coating making it especially popular at Christmas.
The cheese, which is available in 2kg, 1kg and 400gm rounds as well as a 400gm heart, is delivered beautifully packaged in distinctive Godminster colours, making it an ideal gift for a foodie friend.
Godminster also produces an oak-smoked Godminster cheddar. "We use the same mature cheddar as in our waxed truckles and cold smoke it over oak chippings sourced from sustainable woodland", said Richard Hollingbery, Godminster's owner. These are then hand-wrapped in muslin, making the perfect addition to the Godminster range.
Richard adds: "Our cheeses have been a great success' so much so that over the years we have developed a number of foodie gifts, which always include the cheese, of course! My personal favourite as a traditional Yorkshireman is the cheese and fruit cake combination. When you eat the cheese we find there is no need to remove the wax before cutting. In fact, we find our cheese keeps its creamy consistency best if you keep it in the wax.
"The cheese can be scooped or sliced. Either score around the top and use it as a lid, scooping the cheese out, or cut through the wax like you would a cake. If there's any left replace the lid, wrap the whole cheese in cling film and refrigerate."
The organic cheddar starts at £14.95 and is available from www.godminster.com
Donald Russell On How To Cook The Perfect Turkey
Donald Russell's free range turkey, sourced from the beautiful Loué region of France. These turkeys are slow grown and traditionally bred to give a wonderful plump, meaty, turkey taste.The Donald Russell turkey is priced at £56, feeds 6-8 people and is available from www.donaldrussell.com
Please find below tips from Donald Russell on how to cook the perfect turkey:
* Weigh your bird to calculate the cooking time and place in a preheated oven at 230C/450F/Gas7 for 30 minutes.
* After 30 minutes reduce the temperature to 180C/360F/Gas4 and cook for a further 15-18 minutes per 450g.
* Rest for 20-30 minutes. If you need to keep the bird warm for longer, cover with oil and lower the oven to 60C. Your turkey will stay warm for up to an hour.
(EDITOR: Those tips are clear, concise and to the point. Could it be that the long-winded advice from some experts cause more confusion than enlightenment?)
Christmas Made Easy With Heart Of Gold's Christmas Cake Cupcakes
The season of goodwill is fast approaching so why not keep your spirits up and be of good cheer with this healthy and incredibly easy-to-make alternative to Christmas cake, made with Heart of Gold Rapeseed Oil!
Heart of Gold is a 100% natural, pure, rapeseed oil grown, produced and bottled by farmer Nick Bradley on his farm overlooking the picturesque Vale of Belvoir, on the Lincolnshire/Leicestershire border.
Bursting with flavour - chef Tristan Welch of Launceston Place deemed it tasted ‘like a summer’s day!’ - and oozing with healthy goodness, Heart of Gold is grown, pressed, triple-filtered (for maximum purity, taste and nutritional content) and bottled in the same square mile, making it a completely sustainable and traceable British product, originating from fields right in the Heart of England.
Rapeseed oil enjoys many health and culinary benefits. It has been proved to contain only half the saturated fat of olive oil and is packed with Vitamin E (a natural antioxidant) and Omegas 3, 6 & 9. In addition, it’s free from preservatives, trans-fats and artificial colourings, all of which make it the ideal choice for lowering cholesterol and promoting a healthy heart.
It can be used either cold or hot - where its high flashpoint makes it particularly versatile, but what many people don’t realise is that rapeseed oil can be used in baking as well!
This delicious Christmas Cake Cupcake recipe has been devised for Heart of Gold by local Lincolnshire cupcake supremo, Kate Elizabeth of Enchanting Cakes www.enchanting-cakes.com and the results are simply mouth-watering. The quantities of mixed fruit and marzipan can be altered according to taste, and the mixture can equally well be used for one whole cake, or doubled up for a super-sized one!
Say goodbye to the days of sad-looking Christmas cake, still sitting there in its tin at Easter, and welcome the arrival of a light, moreish and healthy Christmas cake cupcake, which you can whip up in a matter of minutes – although be warned, it will probably be devoured just as quickly!
Heart of Gold Christmas Cake Cupcakes
Makes 12 cupcakes
Equipment
Mixing bowl
Electric whisk/ wooden spoon
Spoon/ ice cream scoop
Spatula
12 cup muffin pan
12 muffin cases
Ingredients
3oz (75g) unsalted butter OR Margarine *butter will produce a richer sponge*
3oz (75g) Heart of Gold Rapeseed oil
6 oz (175g) Dark brown sugar
3 eggs
8oz (225g) self-raising flour
3 1/2 oz (100g) mixed dried fruit
2oz (50g) chopped golden marzipan
Before you start
Line a 12 cup muffin tin with muffin cases.
Pre heat oven, 180oC, 160oC fan oven, gas mark 4.
How to make
1. Using a wooden spoon or electric whisk if possible soften the butter in a bowl until it forms a creamy soft texture.
2. Add in the Heart of Gold rapeseed oil and combine with the butter.
3. Add in the dark brown sugar and mix well with the butter/rapeseed oil.
4. Add the eggs one by one into the mixture until all 3 are well mixed in. Adding the eggs one by one also prevents from spoiling the mixture if you happen to come across a bad egg.
5. Sift in the self-raising flour and bring the mixture together.
6. Finally stir in the mixed dried fruit and marzipan.
6. Divide the cake mixture between the 12 muffin cases using a spoon or ice cream scoop.
7.Place on the middle shelf in the oven for 20 minutes. If are unsure if the cupcakes are baked after 20 minutes gently press the top of one of the cupcakes. It should feel spongy and bounce back up.
8. Once baked remove from the oven and allow to cool on a cool wire.
Decorate with some Christmas sparkle and enjoy!
Festive Food For All Budgets At Aldi
Whatever your budget, Aldi has everything you need for your Christmas Day festive feast. From traditional fresh British turkey to melt-in-the-mouth mince pies, you're guaranteed to impress your guests with the quality of your dishes - and all at the lowest possible price.
Don't forget, Aldi Special Buys are only available as long as stocks last, so don't miss out!
Luxury at Aldi...
NEW! Four Bird Roast - 1.48kg, £9.99
A new twist on one of Aldi's most famous Christmas dishes, the handmade Four Bird Roast includes turkey, goose and duck breast meat layered with a pork, sage and onion stuffing, all wrapped in a basted chicken breast. This delicious dish also includes a marmalade glaze, specially created by TV chef Phil Vickery.
Frozen Whole Stuffed Duck - £8.99, 1.4kg
This whole, deboned, stuffed duck is perfectly prepared to make serving guests easy and is also a great addition to turkey come Christmas Day.
This product is a Special Buy, on sale 30th November and available as long as stock lasts.
(Awaiting image from McCann)
Frozen Whole Goose - £19.99, 4.8kg
A traditional Christmas meat, goose is making a comeback to the season's festivities. Aldi's delicious and succulent Whole Goose is great value at £19.99. Serve with roast potatoes, fresh vegetables and piping hot gravy.
This product is a Special Buy, on sale 30th November and available as long as stock lasts.
Specially Selected Roast Potatoes in Goose Fat - £1.39, 1kg
These roast potatoes with a soft, fluffy centre and crispy golden coating are a firm favourite with families.
Phil Vickery says: "These are always a winner with me and my family; the potatoes are perfectly sized, cook really well and taste delicious."
This is a seasonal product, on sale from 5th October 2011 throughout the Christmas period.
New! Specially Selected Yorkshire Puddings - 99p, Pack of 4
Try these delicious Specially Selected Yorkshire Puddings - a bargain at 99p.
Phil Vickery says: "These are very good indeed; they look homemade and are perfect for a family Christmas dinner."
This is a seasonal product, on sale from 5th October 2011 throughout the Christmas period.
New! Specially Selected Lobster Tails - £11.99 each
Add a real touch of class to Christmas starters with Aldi's luscious Specially Selected Lobster Tails. A new addition to Aldi's seasonal range, these easy to cook lobster tails taste really great. Each pack contains two tails.
This product is a Special Buy, on sale from 30th November for as long as stocks last.
Specially Selected Christmas Pudding - £3.49, 454g
This decadent Christmas pudding is made with the finest vine fruits, crunchy almonds, glacé cherries and pecans. It is generously laced with sherry and Cognac, with a good helping of candied peel and mixed fruit to add a little festive zing. Matured for a minimum of six months for a rich flavour, it is perfect served with brandy cream.
This is a seasonal product, on sale from 31st October 2011 throughout the Christmas period.
New and Improved! Luxury All Over Iced Christmas Cake - £6.99, 1.2kg
This Luxury All Over Iced Christmas Cake is new and improved for 2011 and is set to give fruit cake fans a real treat. Made from only the finest natural ingredients, including juicy sultanas marinated in French Brandy, natural coloured cherries and fragrant lemon zest, it is jam-packed with festive flavour.
This is a seasonal product, on sale from 28th November 2011 throughout the Christmas period.
Specially Selected Mince Pies - £1.69, Pack of 6
The epitome of Christmas, no dinner table is complete without an abundance of mince pies. Aldi's Specially Selected Mince Pies are filled with the finest Mediterranean fruit, which has been dried naturally in the Mediterranean sun, then laced with French Brandy and a hint of mixed spice for a festive kick. The luxurious filling is wrapped in an all-butter pastry and oven baked until golden brown.
This is a seasonal product, on sale from 18th September 2011 throughout the Christmas period.
Extra Thick Brandy Cream with Courvoisier VS Cognac - £1.49, 250ml
At Aldi you will find everything you need for the festive season, including the ideal dessert accompaniment - a decadent double cream combined with Courvoisier VS Cognac and French Brandy. Jazz up a warm mince pie or add a touch of sophistication to Christmas pudding with this indulgent brandy cream.
This is a Special Buy product, on sale from 5th December 2011 for as long as stocks last.
Veuve Monsigny Premier Cru Champagne - £15.99, 75cl
An ideal pre-dinner treat, Veuve Monsigny Premier Cru Champagne hails from a village in the Champagne region of France which is highly rated for the quality of its wines. With subtle aromas of brioche and pear and a delicate flavour of honey and bright fruits, this elegant Champagne is a must-have buy for the Christmas celebrations.
This product is a Special Buy, on sale from 4th December for as long as stocks last.
On a Budget at Aldi...
Holly Lane Mince Pies - £0.99, Pack of 6
If you are on a strict budget this Christmas, you can still keep the cupboards well stocked with some of Aldi's great value festive treats. You will find these bargain buys at just 99p for six. (EDITOR: But these value products from Aldi taste as good as some retailer's 'quality' ranges! )
60 Piece Snack Selection - £4.00, 1.2 kg
The ultimate saviour for Boxing Day buffets, this 60-piece snack selection is all you'll need to impress guests who are bored with turkey. Available in Chinese or Indian, at just £4 each you could serve up both.
This product is a Special Buy, on sale 30th November and available as long as stock last.
Duck Spring Rolls - £1.00, 144g, pack of 8
Keep these stocked up for either a Christmas Eve celebration or a Boxing Day buffet. Available in packs of 8, these tasty Duck Spring Rolls will add some oriental flair to the season and make your guests think you've spent a small fortune. They are a must-have for the perfect host.
This product is a Special Buy, on sale 30th November and available as long as stock lasts.
Filo Prawns - £2.00, 192g, pack of 16
Available in packs of 16, Aldi's Filo Prawns are an ideal starter for Christmas dinner. They are fuss-free and easy to cook, so you'll have time to concentrate on perfecting your main course.
This product is a Special Buy, on sale 30th November and available as long as stock lasts.
Bramwells Cranberry Sauce - 59p, 200g
This classic cranberry sauce is a must-have with a delicious Christmas dinner and all the trimmings. The mouth-watering condiment is packed with juicy cranberries, and its re-sealable packaging will make it last well beyond the festive season.
Gateau - £1.99, 630g/ 600g
Spoil your guests with Aldi's delicious gateau, available in three indulgent flavours: chocolate, strawberry or Black Forest.
This product is a Special Buy, on sale 30th November and available as long as stock lasts.
Philippe Michel Crémant du Jura Sparkling Chardonnay - £6.99, 75cl
A multi-award winning wine, Philippe Michel Crémant du Jura is a decadent sparkling Chardonnay, worthy of any festive celebration.
Available in stores all year round.
And don't forget the Festive Drinks offering from Aldi!
Picking the perfect party aperitif or finding the ideal wine for a festive dinner doesn't have to break the Christmas budget this year. With Aldi, there's a great-value top tipple for every occasion.
Grandi Mori Prosecco Spumante Magnum - £12.99, 1.5 litres
This product is a Special Buy on sale from 4th December for as long as stocks last.
Christmas parties call for a glass of fizz, and with this Grandi Mori Prosecco Spumante Magnum, which is twice the size of the average bottle, there's more than enough to keep a gaggle of guests happy. The bubbles in this light and refreshing Prosecco make way for attractive autumn fruits and delicate floral touches. At just £12.99 per bottle, this is an extra-large treat, without the extra-large price tag.
Philippe Michel Crémant du Jura Sparkling Chardonnay - £6.99, 75cl
Available in stores all year round.
A multi-award winner, Philippe Michel Crémant du Jura Sparkling Chardonnay is produced in the same way as Champagne. Made from 100% Chardonnay grapes grown on the slopes of the Jura Mountains, its second fermentation, which creates the sparkle, is carried out in the bottle. This refreshingly dry vintage has crisp citrus notes and a pleasing length, meaning that it would be well-matched with light starters, such as seafood.
Philippe Michel Crémant du Jura Sparkling Chardonnay has scooped an array of awards, including Silver International Wine Challenge 2011, Bronze International Wine & Spirit Challenge 2011 and Quality Drink Awards Finalist 2011.
Freeman's Bay Sauvignon Blanc - £5.49, 75cl
Available in stores all year round.
Looking for a white wine to wow dinner guests? Then look no further than Aldi's well-respected Freeman's Bay Sauvignon Blanc, which is a stunning match for fish and seafood. Zesty, refreshing and packed with ripe gooseberries, this wine from New Zealand's Marlborough region is a superb vintage with a surprising length for such a young wine.
Freeman's Bay Sauvignon Blanc received a Bronze award in the International Wine Challenge 2011.
New! Baron Amarillo Rioja Reserva 2006 - £5.99, 75cl
Available in stores all year round.
Aldi's latest wine is a full-bodied, classic Rioja Reserva, which has been carefully aged in oak casks for three years and has intense red fruits leading to hints of blackcurrant and cherry. Add to this the perfectly balanced festive flavours of fine vanilla and oak spices, and you have the perfect accompaniment to Christmas roast meat dishes.
Bushland Premium Estate Barossa Valley Shiraz - £4.99, 75cl
Available in stores all year round.
Full-bodied with a soft, earthy and spicy style, this festive tipple has rich black cherry and creamy chocolate flavours. Carefully picked from a selection of Southern Australia's finest wine estates, this stylish, classic Barossa Shiraz is an ideal partner to a wide variety of rich Christmas meat dishes.
Specially Selected Irish Cream Liqueur - £5.99, 70cl
This is a Seasonal Product on sale from 30th October for as long as stocks last.
A festive classic with a smooth, mellow finish, Specially Selected Irish Cream Liqueur is perfect for a Christmas nightcap or an indulgent addition to after-dinner coffee. Made with Aldi's exclusive blend of fresh cream and Irish whiskey and priced at just £5.99, it also makes a fantastic-value gift for Mum or Grandma with no compromise on quality.
An award winning product, Specially Selected Irish Cream Liqueur won a Bronze award in the International Spirits Challenge 2011.
Don't forget, Aldi Special Buys are only available as long as stocks last, so don't miss out!
Luxury at Aldi...
NEW! Four Bird Roast - 1.48kg, £9.99
A new twist on one of Aldi's most famous Christmas dishes, the handmade Four Bird Roast includes turkey, goose and duck breast meat layered with a pork, sage and onion stuffing, all wrapped in a basted chicken breast. This delicious dish also includes a marmalade glaze, specially created by TV chef Phil Vickery.
Frozen Whole Stuffed Duck - £8.99, 1.4kg
This whole, deboned, stuffed duck is perfectly prepared to make serving guests easy and is also a great addition to turkey come Christmas Day.
This product is a Special Buy, on sale 30th November and available as long as stock lasts.
(Awaiting image from McCann)
Frozen Whole Goose - £19.99, 4.8kg
A traditional Christmas meat, goose is making a comeback to the season's festivities. Aldi's delicious and succulent Whole Goose is great value at £19.99. Serve with roast potatoes, fresh vegetables and piping hot gravy.
This product is a Special Buy, on sale 30th November and available as long as stock lasts.
Specially Selected Roast Potatoes in Goose Fat - £1.39, 1kg
These roast potatoes with a soft, fluffy centre and crispy golden coating are a firm favourite with families.
Phil Vickery says: "These are always a winner with me and my family; the potatoes are perfectly sized, cook really well and taste delicious."
This is a seasonal product, on sale from 5th October 2011 throughout the Christmas period.
New! Specially Selected Yorkshire Puddings - 99p, Pack of 4
Try these delicious Specially Selected Yorkshire Puddings - a bargain at 99p.
Phil Vickery says: "These are very good indeed; they look homemade and are perfect for a family Christmas dinner."
This is a seasonal product, on sale from 5th October 2011 throughout the Christmas period.
New! Specially Selected Lobster Tails - £11.99 each
Add a real touch of class to Christmas starters with Aldi's luscious Specially Selected Lobster Tails. A new addition to Aldi's seasonal range, these easy to cook lobster tails taste really great. Each pack contains two tails.
This product is a Special Buy, on sale from 30th November for as long as stocks last.
Specially Selected Christmas Pudding - £3.49, 454g
This decadent Christmas pudding is made with the finest vine fruits, crunchy almonds, glacé cherries and pecans. It is generously laced with sherry and Cognac, with a good helping of candied peel and mixed fruit to add a little festive zing. Matured for a minimum of six months for a rich flavour, it is perfect served with brandy cream.
This is a seasonal product, on sale from 31st October 2011 throughout the Christmas period.
New and Improved! Luxury All Over Iced Christmas Cake - £6.99, 1.2kg
This Luxury All Over Iced Christmas Cake is new and improved for 2011 and is set to give fruit cake fans a real treat. Made from only the finest natural ingredients, including juicy sultanas marinated in French Brandy, natural coloured cherries and fragrant lemon zest, it is jam-packed with festive flavour.
This is a seasonal product, on sale from 28th November 2011 throughout the Christmas period.
Specially Selected Mince Pies - £1.69, Pack of 6
The epitome of Christmas, no dinner table is complete without an abundance of mince pies. Aldi's Specially Selected Mince Pies are filled with the finest Mediterranean fruit, which has been dried naturally in the Mediterranean sun, then laced with French Brandy and a hint of mixed spice for a festive kick. The luxurious filling is wrapped in an all-butter pastry and oven baked until golden brown.
This is a seasonal product, on sale from 18th September 2011 throughout the Christmas period.
Extra Thick Brandy Cream with Courvoisier VS Cognac - £1.49, 250ml
At Aldi you will find everything you need for the festive season, including the ideal dessert accompaniment - a decadent double cream combined with Courvoisier VS Cognac and French Brandy. Jazz up a warm mince pie or add a touch of sophistication to Christmas pudding with this indulgent brandy cream.
This is a Special Buy product, on sale from 5th December 2011 for as long as stocks last.
Veuve Monsigny Premier Cru Champagne - £15.99, 75cl
An ideal pre-dinner treat, Veuve Monsigny Premier Cru Champagne hails from a village in the Champagne region of France which is highly rated for the quality of its wines. With subtle aromas of brioche and pear and a delicate flavour of honey and bright fruits, this elegant Champagne is a must-have buy for the Christmas celebrations.
This product is a Special Buy, on sale from 4th December for as long as stocks last.
On a Budget at Aldi...
Holly Lane Mince Pies - £0.99, Pack of 6
If you are on a strict budget this Christmas, you can still keep the cupboards well stocked with some of Aldi's great value festive treats. You will find these bargain buys at just 99p for six. (EDITOR: But these value products from Aldi taste as good as some retailer's 'quality' ranges! )
60 Piece Snack Selection - £4.00, 1.2 kg
The ultimate saviour for Boxing Day buffets, this 60-piece snack selection is all you'll need to impress guests who are bored with turkey. Available in Chinese or Indian, at just £4 each you could serve up both.
This product is a Special Buy, on sale 30th November and available as long as stock last.
Duck Spring Rolls - £1.00, 144g, pack of 8
Keep these stocked up for either a Christmas Eve celebration or a Boxing Day buffet. Available in packs of 8, these tasty Duck Spring Rolls will add some oriental flair to the season and make your guests think you've spent a small fortune. They are a must-have for the perfect host.
This product is a Special Buy, on sale 30th November and available as long as stock lasts.
Filo Prawns - £2.00, 192g, pack of 16
Available in packs of 16, Aldi's Filo Prawns are an ideal starter for Christmas dinner. They are fuss-free and easy to cook, so you'll have time to concentrate on perfecting your main course.
This product is a Special Buy, on sale 30th November and available as long as stock lasts.
Bramwells Cranberry Sauce - 59p, 200g
This classic cranberry sauce is a must-have with a delicious Christmas dinner and all the trimmings. The mouth-watering condiment is packed with juicy cranberries, and its re-sealable packaging will make it last well beyond the festive season.
Gateau - £1.99, 630g/ 600g
Spoil your guests with Aldi's delicious gateau, available in three indulgent flavours: chocolate, strawberry or Black Forest.
This product is a Special Buy, on sale 30th November and available as long as stock lasts.
Philippe Michel Crémant du Jura Sparkling Chardonnay - £6.99, 75cl
A multi-award winning wine, Philippe Michel Crémant du Jura is a decadent sparkling Chardonnay, worthy of any festive celebration.
Available in stores all year round.
And don't forget the Festive Drinks offering from Aldi!
Picking the perfect party aperitif or finding the ideal wine for a festive dinner doesn't have to break the Christmas budget this year. With Aldi, there's a great-value top tipple for every occasion.
Grandi Mori Prosecco Spumante Magnum - £12.99, 1.5 litres
This product is a Special Buy on sale from 4th December for as long as stocks last.
Christmas parties call for a glass of fizz, and with this Grandi Mori Prosecco Spumante Magnum, which is twice the size of the average bottle, there's more than enough to keep a gaggle of guests happy. The bubbles in this light and refreshing Prosecco make way for attractive autumn fruits and delicate floral touches. At just £12.99 per bottle, this is an extra-large treat, without the extra-large price tag.
Philippe Michel Crémant du Jura Sparkling Chardonnay - £6.99, 75cl
Available in stores all year round.
A multi-award winner, Philippe Michel Crémant du Jura Sparkling Chardonnay is produced in the same way as Champagne. Made from 100% Chardonnay grapes grown on the slopes of the Jura Mountains, its second fermentation, which creates the sparkle, is carried out in the bottle. This refreshingly dry vintage has crisp citrus notes and a pleasing length, meaning that it would be well-matched with light starters, such as seafood.
Philippe Michel Crémant du Jura Sparkling Chardonnay has scooped an array of awards, including Silver International Wine Challenge 2011, Bronze International Wine & Spirit Challenge 2011 and Quality Drink Awards Finalist 2011.
Freeman's Bay Sauvignon Blanc - £5.49, 75cl
Available in stores all year round.
Looking for a white wine to wow dinner guests? Then look no further than Aldi's well-respected Freeman's Bay Sauvignon Blanc, which is a stunning match for fish and seafood. Zesty, refreshing and packed with ripe gooseberries, this wine from New Zealand's Marlborough region is a superb vintage with a surprising length for such a young wine.
Freeman's Bay Sauvignon Blanc received a Bronze award in the International Wine Challenge 2011.
New! Baron Amarillo Rioja Reserva 2006 - £5.99, 75cl
Available in stores all year round.
Aldi's latest wine is a full-bodied, classic Rioja Reserva, which has been carefully aged in oak casks for three years and has intense red fruits leading to hints of blackcurrant and cherry. Add to this the perfectly balanced festive flavours of fine vanilla and oak spices, and you have the perfect accompaniment to Christmas roast meat dishes.
Bushland Premium Estate Barossa Valley Shiraz - £4.99, 75cl
Available in stores all year round.
Full-bodied with a soft, earthy and spicy style, this festive tipple has rich black cherry and creamy chocolate flavours. Carefully picked from a selection of Southern Australia's finest wine estates, this stylish, classic Barossa Shiraz is an ideal partner to a wide variety of rich Christmas meat dishes.
Specially Selected Irish Cream Liqueur - £5.99, 70cl
This is a Seasonal Product on sale from 30th October for as long as stocks last.
A festive classic with a smooth, mellow finish, Specially Selected Irish Cream Liqueur is perfect for a Christmas nightcap or an indulgent addition to after-dinner coffee. Made with Aldi's exclusive blend of fresh cream and Irish whiskey and priced at just £5.99, it also makes a fantastic-value gift for Mum or Grandma with no compromise on quality.
An award winning product, Specially Selected Irish Cream Liqueur won a Bronze award in the International Spirits Challenge 2011.
Taylor's Ports
Taylor's 10 Year Old Tawny Port is aged for 10 years in wooden casks and is then carefully bottled. And it should then be carefully drunk, to ensure that the warm, rich tastes of a combination of fruits is not wasted.
My wife and I have a special Christmas tradition. Every year just before Christmas we like to take some Stilton cheese, some mince pies and some Taylor's 10 Year Old Tawny Port and settle down to some festive feasting whilst watching the 1951 version of Scrooge. Sometimes we also watch the George C. Scott version, filmed in Shrewsbury, too.
If we do not have any Taylor's 10 Year Old Tawny Port to hand, we instead will replace this with an extremely good substitute, some Taylor's Late Bottled Vintage Port, which being younger that the Taylor's 10 Year old Tawny Port, has a different range of equally appealing fruity flavours, but is a little less well-developed.
This year my wife and I were both suffering from colds. My wife remarked: "Are you starting to feel better?" I had to acknowledge that I was starting to feel a little warmed and that my cold was now nowhere near as oppressive as it had been, before I had started to drink the Port.
My wife took another sip of her Taylor's, smiled, and said in tones of extreme satisfaction: "No wonder doctors used to prescribe Port!"
Taylor's 10 Year Old Tawny Port costs from £19.99 and is available from E. H. Booths, Majestic, Morrison's, Sainsbury, Selfridges, Teso, Wholefoods Market and Waitrose.
Taylors Late Bottled Vintage Port should cost you from £13.99 a bottle and is widely available.
Wednesday 23 November 2011
BBC Good Food Show
It is the BBC Good Food Show at the NEC this week, with the launch today. I will be there today.
That's Food and Drink and That's Christmas will be reporting on what is available at the Good Food Show over the next week or so.
That's Food and Drink and That's Christmas will be reporting on what is available at the Good Food Show over the next week or so.
Sunday 20 November 2011
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.
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.
Fantastic! Caskmarque launches Real Ale Trail Caskfinder App!
Available for iPhone and Android, the World's Biggest Ale Trail offers customers the chance to use their phone's camera to scan QR codes placed on Cask Marque certificates in accredited pubs. There are 7,500 Cask Marque pubs and bars across the UK to choose from to take part in the World’s Biggest Ale Trail.
The app records the number of pubs visited and rewards prizes for milestones of 25, 50 and 100 pubs. Once you have scanned 100 pub barcodes you become a Cask Marque ambassador, which includes the opportunity to spend the day with an assessor, visiting a number of pubs to see how Cask Marque ensure a quality pint.
Real ale is helping to save the great British institution of the pub - the recent Cask Report found cask drinkers are more than twice more likely to visit pubs on a regular basis than non-cask drinkers. With the opportunity to try before you buy, cask is recruiting new drinkers – 10% of drinkers tried it for the first time in the last 12 months.
Cask Marque Director, Paul Nunny, who is responsible for the quality of ale in pubs said: “Cask ale is a British institution which should be celebrated by everyone up and down the country. The CaskFinder app helps customers get the most out of their pub visits and rate their favourite beers, sharing tried and tested favourites with other app users.”
Download the upgraded version of CaskFinder straightaway to start your very own World’s Biggest Ale Trail.
For any further information please contact Anna Jones or Sarah Stevenson at Seal on 0121 616 5800 or sarahstevenson@seal.uk.com
FACTFILE:
CaskFinder is designed to help consumers enjoy and appreciate Cask Ale wherever they may be in the UK! Combining data from the Cask Marque pub quality inspection scheme and the Cyclops® beer standardisation initiative, both industry sponsored bodies, CaskFinder has a host of features to aid customers in the pursuit of ale drinking.
On top of the NEW World’s Biggest Ale trail, CaskFinder has a range of features for any beer enthusiast:
• CaskFinder uses the location-awareness of the smartphone to show customers their nearest Cask Marque award winning pubs – 7,500 to choose from
• Details of the cask beers on sale in each pub
• Description of over 1,000 beers from 250 brewers using Cyclops Beer database
• Rate beers to help other ale fans
• Find similar beers
• Beer Festivals – a complete list with contact details, admission prices and maps
• Beer Blog – from award winning writer, Pete Brown, that gives you an inside track on the beer industry
• Beer of the Week – a featured beer of interest
• New Bar code reader for bottled beers – try it on your Tiger beer to get the full Cyclops descriptors and suggested beers for you to try
Cask Marque was set up in 1998 to promote cask ale but in particular beer quality.
The 7,500 award winning Cask Marque pubs receive 2 unannounced visits a year and the qualified assessors check up to six beers on the bar for temperature, taste, appearance and aroma. Any adverse consumer feedback triggers a mystery drinker visit.
The app allows consumers to keep a pub guide in their pocket with stacks of useful information. Currently 46% of consumers who drink cask ale recognise the Cask Marque plaque (NOP survey)
Scottish Win for Costa Coffee's Barista of the Year's Speciality Drink
The Winning Drink - A Cranachan Affogato
1 teaspoon Honey
1 small scoop of vanilla icecream
3 teaspoons raspberry coulis
Raspberry syrup
1 teaspoon toasted pin head oatmeal
1 shot of Costa mocha Italia coffee
Layer ingredients into the glass. First add the honey, next the icecream and raspberry coulis. Then sprinkle the oatmeal over the top and drizzle a little of the syrup. At the last minute, add the shot of hot Costa coffee. Serve immediately and enjoy. In this way the coffee stays hot and the icecream doesn’t melt.
Flying the flag for Scotland, Boyd who works at the Ayr Central Costa Coffee store, wanted to prove that great coffee can be found just as easily in a quiet seaside town as it can in a bustling metropolis.
(PICTURED: Boyd Murdoch experimenting with ingredients)
Saturday 19 November 2011
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.
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 23-27th November 2011, stand number U70.
The Blue Nun Sparkling will also be available to buy at the BBC Good Food Show at the NEC Birmingham which runs from 23-27th 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!)
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