Tuesday, 30 August 2011

Burnt Bangers Not Enough' As BBQs Go Gourmet

New research has discovered that a charcoaled sausage is no longer enough to cut the mustard among BBQ loving Britons - with 61% of UK adults now making the effort to marinate their food before their BBQ. A growing number of us are becoming more adventurous with our BBQ menus with over a third saying that steak, pork and lamb steaks are our meat of choice.

The survey, commissioned by Hybu Cig Cymru - Meat Promotion Wales (HCC), the organisation responsible for promoting Welsh Lamb, also revealed that almost a third of us take up to a week to plan for a BBQ - with Londoners taking alfresco dining the most seriously.

As we dust off the BBQ and dig out the deck chairs in the hope of sunny bank holiday spent cooking and eating in the garden, it seems that the Great British BBQ is growing in popularity - on average people are having BBQs eight times a year, with the biggest BBQ lovers found in East Anglia where 10% of people pack in a whopping 16 a year. And they're not small affairs either, with the majority of people (52%) hosting up to 10 guests every time they BBQ, and 11% saying they cooked for up to 20 at their average BBQ.

Myrddin Davies, Welsh farmer and Face of Welsh Lamb, said: "It's really encouraging to see more people taking the time to put extra love and attention into their BBQ food this summer by cooking different meats and using marinades. Although we all still enjoy a sausage from the BBQ, it's important to try new cuts of meat in new ways. Welsh Lamb for example is often associated with Sunday lunch or a dinner party treat however, mouth-watering lamb steaks can be popped on the BBQ and served in a matter of minutes. BBQing is a great way to enjoy good home-cooked food with all the family."

Red meat is still the way to a man's heart with 40% of them preferring to eat red meat to chicken and fish (30%) and 70% of them prefer cooking it to white meat on the BBQ.

90% of Britons said that the BBQ is still a man's world. Both men and women confessed to preferring food cooked on a BBQ by a man, regardless of what they were serving up.

And if the sun doesn't shine this weekend - it won't hamper the BBQ fun for resilient Britons, almost 80% stick out the showers and carry on grilling instead of retreating to the kitchen when the rain starts!

Why not try making delicious Welsh Lamb and apricot burgers for your bank holiday BBQ?
Welsh Lamb and Apricot Burgers
Ingredients
o 450g (1lb) lean Welsh Lamb mince
o 5ml (1tsp) oil
o 1 small onion, peeled and finely sliced
o 5ml (1tsp) mild curry powder
o 50g (2oz) dried apricots, roughly chopped.
Heat oil in a small pan and lightly cook onions. Add curry powder and gently cook for 1-2 minutes. Allow to cool slightly.

Place lamb mince and apricots into a large bowl and add slightly cooled onions.

Mix well together and divide the mixture into 4 or 6 and shape into burgers.

Place under a preheated grill or on a hot barbecue for 8-12 minutes, turning occasionally until cooked thoroughly.

Serve with curried mayo and spicy couscous.


Monday, 29 August 2011

Wing Yip nail Tesco deal



Wing Yip stir-fry sauces
Leading Oriental grocer Wing Yip has secured listings for four of its stir-fry sauces in Tesco following significant investment in consumer research and new look packaging.

The four 185ml sauces; Black Bean; Kung Po; Spicy Szechuan and Chow Mein sauce were rolled out in 300 Tesco stores, recently.

Wing Yip undertook extensive research with consumer focus groups to explore buying patterns, perceptions of the Oriental food category and attitudes towards current product branding, before the labelling was redesigned and the listing secured.

Wing Yip Director, Brian Yip said: “The Wing Yip sauce range uses traditional recipes and quality ingredients to create an authentic Chinese taste. Consumers are thinking more about ingredients and provenance and we are delighted to be able to offer this range to Tesco customers.

“This new look range is the result of in-depth research with target consumers and we believe the refreshed packaging will create real stand out in the cooking sauce aisle. These are the first Wing Yip stir-fry sauces to be stocked by Tesco. If they prove popular, we anticipate the range will be extended to a further 200 Tesco stores. This builds on our well established relationship and expands our existing produce range within the store,” added Brian Yip.

That's Christmas: Nudo Olive Oil with much more

That's Christmas: Nudo Olive Oil with much more: Everyone knows that olive oil is good for you. And everyone knows that for you to get the best in quality, you really do need the first cold...

Let Diet Chef help you out this Christmas!

Two words: Christmas party - enough to put the fear into even the most preened and pampered women. (EDITOR: And some chaps, too!)

But here's another two words: Diet Chef - the easy weight loss plan here to help you get you into your LBD and party the festive season away.

Diet Chef is here to support women in the lead up to Christmas as the one stop solution for losing weight sensibly. Enough time is wasted in the kitchen over the festive period preparing for Christmas parties and dinners without the added hassle of having to calorie count too. So imagine if you had your own personal chef who planned your meals, measured out the portions, did all the cooking for you and delivered it to your door.

Executive Chef Alan Mathieson has created a whole range of delicious and mouth-watering meals that come in 1,200 calorie a day hampers (mainly for women) and 1,500 calorie a day hampers (mainly for men). It’s the easiest way to stick to a calorie-controlled diet that is actually enjoyable and packed full of flavour.

In the Diet Chef range you’ll find all your winter warming favorites including porridge and soups in a variety of flavours and a scrumptious ready meal for dinner. You can also choose a snack a day from a selection of bars, biscuits, oat bites or popcorn to keep hunger at bay.

The nutritionally balanced menu means Diet Chef delivers a healthy pace of weight loss, which will be much easier to keep off! So you will be eating real, tasty food with healthy ingredients and losing weight – the icing on the cake for anyone’s Christmas.

Diet Chef Founder Kevin Dorren, says: “At this time of year everyone is counting the pennies, and at Diet Chef it’s no exception. We’ve ensured that our delicious diet delicacies are affordable for everyone at only £5.57 per day which is what the average Londoner usually spends on lunch alone!”

Jenny, 36, Norwich, says: “I’m really excited about getting my LBD out for Christmas, it’s only my first week on Diet Chef and I’ve already lost 5lbs. The food is truly delicious, easy to make and you even get online support to help you keep track of your weight loss and gain tips on a healthier lifestyle.”

For more details or to sign up to a trial, visit http://www.dietchef.co.uk/

FACTFILE:
The price of £5.57 per day price is based on the Diet Chef 1200 programme on Pay Monthly.

Taste test results: The Lasagne was very filling and the soups tasted home-made.

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

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

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

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

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

Sucralose is not recognised by the body as a carbohydrate, thus making it suitable for people with diabetes. When it comes to carbohydrate, SPLENDA Granular has just 0.5g per teaspoon and SPLENDA® tablets are virtually free.

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

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

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

Sunday, 28 August 2011

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