HM King Charles III Awards Royal Warrant for Artisan Ham Producer DukesHill

Shropshire's artisan ham producer DukesHill is proud to announce it has been awarded a Royal Warrant by HM King Charles III to supply ham to the Royal Household. 

DukesHill was first bestowed a Royal Warrant by Queen Elizabeth II in 2003 for its production of traditional artisan hams.

Mark Gallagher, DukesHill's CEO, said, “We are incredibly proud and truly honoured to receive the Royal Warrant from His Majesty The King. 

"As an artisan ham producer focused on working with the very of best British farmers, this prestigious accolade further solidifies our faith in the importance of championing true artisan craftsmanship. As we approach our 40th anniversary, it's really wonderful for our team to be acknowledged for our unwavering dedication to quality, provenance and welfare.”

Founded in Shropshire in 1985, DukesHill began as a labour of love, crafting the finest Wiltshire, York and Shropshire Black Hams using time-honoured traditional techniques with the highest regard for animal welfare.  

Champions of the artisan, DukesHill works closely with local farmers and skilled artisans to create the very best of handmade British fine foods, focusing on welfare, provenance, taste and texture above all else. Their guiding principle of putting flavour and quality before speed or yield remains as strong as ever. 

Recently awarded the Organic Food Federation Certificate for a range of its hams,  DukesHill is one of only a few producers of certified organic wet cured ham in the UK. 

What sets the DukesHill curing process apart is the combination of using traditional curing techniques and its very own special recipe brine, including unrefined brown sugar that imparts a subtle, sweet undertone that complements the ham's natural flavour. 

After steam cooking for 12 hours, each ham is hand-skinned, trimmed and inspected by an expert quality manager, ensuring every product meets the highest standards of excellence. 

The renewal of the Royal Warrant reflects DukesHill's dedication to the values championed by HM King Charles III, such as preserving British heritage.

For more information on DukesHill, visit dukeshill.co.uk or @dukeshill on Instagram.

Make your very own easy-peasy Italian-Mexican-Indian-British tortilla wrap in minutes!

You too can make your very own easy-peasy Italian-Mexican-Indian-British tortilla wrap in minutes! And I'm going to tell you how.

First, take a tortilla wrap and oil it with ghee, butter or vegetable margarine, olive oil, or rapeseed oil. In fact Borderfield's British Rapeseed oils are excellent for this. Especially their delicious spray oils. Trust me. You won't know how you coped before you buy Borderfields!

Spread it with humus or a similar paste.

Next spread a thin level of tomato puree or tomato sauce over it.

Then shred ham, chicken, any other type of cooked meat that takes your fancy, or a vegetarian alternative. Squeaky Bean products are ideal.

Next add a good layer of grated or sliced cheese dairy or otherwise, it really is up to you.

Sprinkle with cumin, turmeric, a little bit of salt, a good deal of pepper (ground black is awesome!) and some Italian seasoning.

Roll it up tightly and then microwave it for two to three minutes.

It'll be piping hot, as they say, so whatever you do, don't burn your mouth on it! 

You are then the owner of an Italian-Mexican-Indian-British feast on a plate. Enjoy it!

https://www.squeakybean.co.uk

https://borderfields.co.uk

Spoil Dad With Fine Foodie Gifts from Dukeshill

Father's Day is almost upon us. And what better way to show appreciation for the father figure/s in your life than with a thoughtfully curated artisan food and drink hamper from, DukesHill?

Shropshire's very own DukesHill offers a top quality range of delicious foodie gifts for the dad who has it all. And who wouldn't love a luxury hamper to arrive at their doorstep?

Whisky Cask Cider Savoury Hamper - 10 items in a 14” wicker hamper - £69

This deliciously savoury hamper includes DukesHill Whisky Cask Cider, which has been matured for 6 months in single malt Scotch whisky casks, imparting warming notes of vanilla, oak and honey. 

There's a charcuterie offering that includes Sliced Lomo, Sliced Bresaola, Sliced Porchetta, and Sliced Pastrami. 

The special Isle of Mull Cheddar is known for its exceptional quality and flavour, to be enjoyed with the carefully selected Fig Chutney and Multi Seed Crackers.  

Contains: Whisky Cask Cider (3 x 330ml), Sliced Lomo (80g), Sliced Bresaola (80g), Sliced Porchetta (175g), Sliced Pastrami (175g), Isle of Mull Cheddar (200g), Multi Seed Crackers (100g), Fig Chutney (198g)

Weekend Breakfast Box with Coffee £44.50

If Dad loves breakfasting, set him up with the perfect beginning to his day with the makings of a good, hearty breakfast. He'll be thrilled to receive the finest of sausages, bacon and black pudding, plus some yummy lemon & poppy seed pancakes and delicious spreads. And it also comes with a bag of special  ground coffee. Just nip out to buy him the newspapers of his choice and he'll be all set for a gloriously and utterly delicious morning.

Contains: Traditional Pork Sausages (400g), Smoked Dry Cured Streaky Bacon (350g), Black Pudding (500g), Ampersand Butter (210g), Wholegrain Pancakes (240g), Lemon & Poppy Seed Pancakes (240g), Seville Orange Marmalade (227g), Strawberry Jam (227g), DukesHill Medium Roast Coffee (250g)

Whisky cask cider and chocolate indulgence - 3 items - £45

This luxurious gift box contains two bottles of DukesHill whisky cask matured cider - an exquisite, smooth cider infused with rich vanilla undertones and some delightful yet subtle oak notes. There's a box of velvety Dark Chocolate, Roasted Almonds and Ginger Mendiants and to complete the gift - Chocolate Covered Orange Slices - a true treat for all the senses. 

https://www.dukeshill.co.uk

Spoil Dad with Fine Foodie Gifts from DukesHill and cook up some Ginger Beer Glazed Ham, recipe included

Father's Day is not that long away now, and what better way to show appreciation for the father/s figure in your life than with a thoughtfully curated artisan food and drink hamper? 

DukesHill offers a range of delicious gifts for the dad who has it all. And who wouldn't love a luxury hamper to arrive at their door?

Whisky Cask Cider Savoury Hamper - 10 items in a 14” wicker hamper - £69

This savoury hamper includes DukesHill Whisky Cask Cider, been matured for six very important months in single malt Scotch whisky casks, imparting warming notes of vanilla, oak and honey. 

There's a variety of charcuterie including Sliced Lomo, Sliced Bresaola, Sliced Porchetta, and Sliced Pastrami. The Isle of Mull Cheddar is known for its exceptional quality and flavour, to be enjoyed with Fig Chutney and Multi Seed Crackers.  

Contains: Whisky Cask Cider (3 x 330ml), Sliced Lomo (80g), Sliced Bresaola (80g), Sliced Porchetta (175g), Sliced Pastrami (175g), Isle of Mull Cheddar (200g), Multi Seed Crackers (100g), Fig Chutney (198g)

Weekend Breakfast Box with Coffee £44.50

Set dad up with the perfect start to his special day with the makings of the hearty breakfast. He'll be delighted to receive the finest sausages, bacon and black pudding, along with lemon & poppy seed pancakes and spreads. Comes complete with a bag of ground coffee. Just add a newspaper for a gloriously delicious morning. Or make sure his iPad's charged up!

Contains: Traditional Pork Sausages (400g), Smoked Dry Cured Streaky Bacon (350g), Black Pudding (500g), Ampersand Butter (210g), Wholegrain Pancakes (240g), Lemon & Poppy Seed Pancakes (240g), Seville Orange Marmalade (227g), Strawberry Jam (227g), DukesHill Medium Roast Coffee (250g)

Whisky cask cider and chocolate indulgence - 3 items - £45

This luxurious gift box contains two bottles of DukesHill whisky cask matured cider - an exquisite, smooth cider infused with rich vanilla undertones and subtle oak notes. There's a box of velvety Dark Chocolate, Roasted Almonds and Ginger Mendiants and to complete the gift - Chocolate Covered Orange Slices - a true treat for the senses.

But we promised you a recipe to enable you to cook up a special DukesHill feast, so here it is:-

Ginger beer cooked ham

Treat your dad to a Father's Day lunch starring a sticky, succulent ham with a delicious, tingly gingery kick. Cooking it in the best quality fiery ginger beer infuses maximum flavour into the ham. 

Serves: 25 | Cooking time: 4hr 30 minutes | Prep time: 30 minutes

DukesHill 5.5kg whole boneless uncooked Wiltshire ham

4 litres ginger beer - we suggested Luscombe's Hot Ginger Beer as being perfect for the job

1 onion, peeled and quartered

2 carrots, peeled and roughly sliced

1 tbsp allspice berries

1sp cloves

1 tsp black peppercorns

For the glaze

550ml hot ginger beer

200g light brown sugar

1sp English mustard

1 tsp ground cloves

Method

Put the ham in a large stock pot and add the onions, carrots and spices. Pour over the ginger beer and top it up with enough water, if required, to cover the ham. Bring it to the boil and allow to simmer until the ham reaches a core temperature of 75c when probed with a meat thermometer, for a 5.5kg ham it will take about four hours. Skim the scum off the surface every-so-often. When the ham's cooked and cool enough to handle, slice the skin off the top of the ham and score a diamond pattern into the fat. Allow to cool before glazing.

Preheat the oven to 190c. 

In a small saucepan, whisk together the glaze ingredients and bring to the boil. Allow the glaze to simmer until it has reduced down by two thirds, stirring occasionally. It should become a sticky syrup consistency. Use a basting brush to coat the glaze generously over the ham, before placing on a baking tray. Roast for 25 minutes but remember to baste occasionally, using the glaze from the tray. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly before slicing.

Tanner's (of Shrewsbury) wine pairing: Mâcon-Vergisson Les Rochers. They say, “Fiery ginger beer is softened out by cooking but it still adds a punchy backdrop to the cured, succulent meat. A light red such as Pinot Noir would be great here, but we have opted for a crisp white. This Macon is almost in a Chablis style, with a crisp acidity that offsets the richness of the meat and the ginger spice.”

For more information, visit dukeshill.co.uk  

To learn more about Tanners visit https://www.tanners-wines.co.uk

Heritage Brand DukesHill Commemorates St George's Day With a Specially Crafted Ham

DukesHill St George's ham is available in half boneless, midi boneless, whole boneless and whole bone-in ham. Prices start from £77 from www.dukeshill.co.uk

Royal Warrant holder and ham producer, DukesHill proudly presents a special ham carefully crafted for St George's Day, known as the feast day of St George, England's patron saint who is celebrated on 23rd April. 

St George's ham has a Great Taste Award star and is a tribute to England's rich cultural heritage. 

Each leg of outdoor-bred English pork is immersed for a week in DukesHill's own Wiltshire brine which gives it a moist texture. Unlike other brining processes, a touch of unrefined brown sugar is added, imparting a subtly sweet flavour through the ham. After being steam cooked for 12 hours, the hams are inspected, hand-skinned and trimmed by an expert quality manager. 

They are then baked in a glaze of spiced oranges, cinnamon, mace and cloves. These spices were introduced during the medieval spice trade and have been integral to English cooking for centuries, shaping the flavours of classic British cuisine. The careful curation of bold ingredients and traditional methods culminate in a ham that embodies the true spirit of St George's Day.

Named after the patron saint of England, the day honours St George's legendary role in slaying the dragon and symbolises bravery and chivalry. St. George's Day remains an opportunity for people to celebrate England's rich history and heritage and take pride in English identity, culture and values.

Luxury heritage brand DukesHill has always embraced its British roots with an unwavering commitment towards provenance and traditional craftsmanship. A DukesHill ham is a celebration of good farming techniques, which is good news for British farming and industry, as they use only the finest quality outdoor-bred English pork and the most traditional curing methods which can take up to six months to produce. 

Good quality ham has to start with best practice farming and is always RSPCA assured. Pig farmer Andrew Tomson plays a crucial role in helping meet the demand. Andrew says, “As a pig farmer of 45 years, our commitment is to ensure the wellbeing of every pig under our care. I firmly believe that raising healthy pigs on straw is about providing them with a life of comfort and respect in an environment where they thrive. This produces the best quality pork and we know these animals have lived the best life possible.”

DukesHill St George's ham is available in - half boneless, midi boneless, whole boneless and whole bone-in ham. Prices start from £77 from www.dukeshill.co.uk

DukesHill Launch NEW Cook-in-the Bag Gammon Range

Royal Warrant holder, DukesHill, is proudly introducing the latest addition to its product range: Their Cook-in-the-bag gammon range. This latest launch offers convenience with DukesHill's unwavering attention to detail and to quality.

DukesHill's cook-in-the-bag gammon joints are hassle-free and simple to cook. All you need do is just pop them into your oven to cook for a perfectly succulent joint with no preparation or washing up sticky trays afterwards. 

A key advantage to this cooking method is that it retains all the moisture and gives a delicious fully developed flavour and texture. 

Renowned for producing the finest quality of hams, with satisfied customers including The Ritz, Harrods and Fortnum & Mason, DukesHill has developed this new range to make cooking ham at home as straightforward as humanly possible. 

Each premium silverside ham cut is cured in DukesHill's famous Wiltshire style before it's deboned, and trimmed to ensure the right balance of fat to lean, ready to cook-in-the-bag for the most tender, succulent, melt-in-the-mouth texture ever.

Muscovado Sugar Gammon Joint - (1kg) RRP £20

Coated in premium dark muscovado sugar and matured for 24 hours to allow the flavours to develop, this succulent joint delivers a rich and truly complex flavour driven by the natural molasses of the sugar.  

Black Pepper Gammon Joint - (1kg) RRP £19

Cured using DukesHill's popular Wiltshire style and coated in tangy coarse black pepper, this tender, succulent joint delivers a hint of black pepper and provides hassle-free cooking.   

Said Mark Gallagher, CEO of DukesHill: “Since our humble beginnings 38 years ago, the one thing that's never changed is our uncompromising attitude toward provenance, quality, and exceptional flavour.

"In collaboration with British farmers, we source the highest quality outdoor-bred British pork and apply our own traditional curing methods. We launched the cook-in-bag range to offer customers the finest home-cooked ham with maximum levels of convenience. We obviously take immense pride in ensuring our customers experience only the very best examples of food and drink. And pork is at the heart of our business.”

You'll have heard about Wiltshire ham, But what, exactly, is Wiltshire ham?

The Wiltshire curing method was developed in 1841 by Elizabeth Harris who introduced the process of immersing pork in brine as opposed to dry-salting it. 

This produces a milder flavour compared with the distinctly saltier dry-cured hams previously available. 

DukesHill's brine recipe has a modest amount of brown sugar to impart a subtle level of sweetness. Following this phase, the ham spends an additional week air-drying, allowing further maturation and the removal of excess moisture. 

Finally, they are steam-cooked for 12 hours, rendering the fat and resulting in a succulent, buttery texture and delicate sweet flavour. 

Once the cooking process is complete, the hams are meticulously inspected by a quality manager with 15 years of experience in curing and the preparation of the finest hams. This ensures both taste and appearance are in keeping with DukesHill's uncompromising standards of excellence.

DukesHill's NEW cook-in-the-bag range is available exclusively from www.dukeshill.co.uk. 

Incidentally, DukesHill is available on various affiliate programmes including Skimlinks and Awin. Please ask for further information.

Instagram: @dukeshill

Parma Ham And Caramelised Red Onion Valentine's Tart

Treat your special someone this Valentine’s Day with this recipe from Parma Ham. These adorable heart-shaped pastry cases filled with Parma Ham are fantastically easy to make and deliciously romantic. Simply cut two heart shapes out of puff pastry and bake in the oven until beginning to brown.

Add caramelised red onions, chunks of feta cheese and fresh rosemary, and serve with balsamic figs and delicious, sweet Parma Ham. The perfect way to show your love on February 14th!

Parma Ham is a completely natural food with nothing added except salt. Making a Parma Ham is a long and painstaking process. The curing is controlled carefully so that the ham absorbs only enough salt to preserve it to retain its distinctive sweet flavour.

Prosciutto di Parma is produced in the hills surrounding the Italian town of Parma. The air is unique, dry and sweet-smelling with breezes from the Apennine Mountains, creating perfect environmental conditions for a natural “drying” of the hams.

The unique taste of Parma Ham is dependent on the traditional production process passed down from Roman times, carefully controlled by the Consorzio del Prosciutto di Parma. Only hams that have passed stringent curing regulations approved by the EU can be awarded the stamp of the Ducal crown – a five pointed coronet logo with PARMA in the centre which is branded onto the ham’s skin. The Ducal Crown is now a certification trademark.