Cavalier Launches Healthy Chocolate

What is claimed to be the healthiest chocolate that you can buy has been launched by a premium Belgian chocolate producer Cavalier.

This unique range of over 20 flavours of 100% no added artificial sugar chocolate created using a natural and healthy sweetener Stevia instead of sugar is perfect if you are looking after your waist. It is one of the first products available in the UK which incorporate Stevia since it has been approved by the EU. The guilt free treat has been created without compromising on the celebrated taste, texture and aroma of fine, traditional Belgian chocolate.

Stevia is a 100% natural sweetener that has been used for centuries in countries such as China, Japan, Brazil and Paraguay and was approved for use in the European market at the end of 2011. It is a small green plant that originates from the border between Brazil and Paraguay and produces a very strong sweetener deemed to be 300 times sweeter than ordinary sugar meaning that only a very small amount is used in the creation of this delicious tasting chocolate. In comparison to standard bars, with far less sugar added Cavalier chocolate is therefore packed with additional goodies such as fibres including inulin which, due to their health properties, essentially make the bar healthier.

By only using Stevia as the sweetening property in their chocolate, Cavalier chocolate has twice the amount of fibre than sugar and, with Stevia containing no calories or carbohydrates, it is the ultimate healthy bar of chocolate. The authentic sweet taste of chocolate is retained throughout the products which contain natural antioxidants, fibres, vitamin E, magnesium, zinc and iron. It could be an ideal option for diabetics and it is also gluten free.

Cavalier Stevia chocolate comes in a large variety of flavours further to dark, milk and white including dark chocolate with blueberry, milk barley rice crisp and white coconut. The full range of the healthy indulgence is available to buy online from www.chocbox.co.uk, RRP £2.99 for 85g bar and £5.99 for a 4 bar selection (4x42g).

Beverage Standards Association (BSA) Welcomes Its 100th Member At Midlands Meeting

The Beverage Standards Association (BSA) welcomed its 100th member - La Cimbali - at its Midlands regional meeting at The Bottle Kiln, West Hallam, Ilkeston on Monday 5 March.

Another new member was also announced - Taylors of Harrogate - which is sponsoring the tea category of the BSA Awards, launched last week in London.

Martyn Herriott, Executive Director, BSA told the well attended meeting "We're delighted to have La Cimbali on board as our 100th member. It shows signs of strength and growth and kudos that the BSA is attracting high calibre companies such as La Cimbali and Taylors of Harrogate, alongside long standing members who have been with the BSA since it started in 1995."

Daniel Clarke from La Cimbali was presented with a special certificate to mark the 100th member. He said "It's good to be part of such a strong and vibrant Association."

John Sutcliffe from Taylors of Harrogate received a certificate for sponsoring the tea category of the BSA Awards. He said "We've been so successful in the retail market, we want to develop the Out of Home business. The BSA is an excellent vehicle for developing in this area. Sponsoring the BSA tea Award increases our awareness in that market."

At the meeting, Martyn Herriott encouraged all 'out of home' cafes (fixed & mobile) and restaurants to enter this year's prestigious Beverage Standards Awards. Rebecca Stone, owner of The Bottle Kiln which in last year's Awards not only achieved 5 cup status, the highest BSA cup grade but also the Best Cappuccino, Latte and Flat White Award, said at the meeting " The BSA Awards have been a framework and opportunity to benchmark the Bottle Kiln business against the best in the industry. The Awards have given me confidence that we have the consistency of products and quality of service which enables us to maintain a 5 cup standard and win the Best Cappuccino, Latte and Flat White Award. "

She went on to say that one of her colleagues was training to be a judge in this year's Awards. "I am going to actively promote the Awards in my area to encourage other Out of Home establishments to enter."

For entry details about the Awards, visit www.beveragestandardsassociation.co.uk

Culinary Celebration Of Queen's Diamond Jubilee

Lyth Valley damsons and English Rose Liqueur have been creatively combined to produce a unique and very regal flavour, encapsulating a very British taste experience. Whilst the damsons; peculiar only to the Lake District embrace Cumbria's unique heritage, the Rose Liqueur embodies the symbolism of the nation as a whole in this delicious commemorative condiment.

Hawkshead Relish based in the Lake District is recognised with over 40 Great Taste Awards for their handmade creations as well as a host of other accolades. Their commitment to regional provenance ensures all the ingredients are sourced locally and cooked in traditional open pans without any artificial components.

"2012 is a very historical year for Great Britain", exclaims Mark Whitehead the Managing Director. "We felt that we (as a speciality producer) wanted to create something which was very much part of the spirit of Jubilee celebrations as well as part of us and Cumbria, what better way for us to do that than conjure a commemorative condiment".

The Limited Edition preserve is on sale in specialist independents throughout the UK and the Hawkshead Relish website throughout 2012.

Kate Nicholson (Sales Manager) adds "We have received a huge amount of interest in the Jubilee Jam from overseas. It seems the world wants to join in on UK's celebrations as well as enjoying the latest Hawkshead Relish conception!"

RRP £2.60

For more information visit: www.hawksheadrelish.com contact: info@hawksheadrelish.com or telephone 015394 36614.

Harry's Nuts! declared elephant friendl

Harry’s Nuts!, the Fairtrade salted nuts from Harry Hill, have been declared ‘Elephant Friendly’ thanks to the work of Fairtrade cashew farmers in India in protecting an endangered species. The snacks are available in Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and other outlets and the packs of cashews have an extra environmental boast with each munch.

 

The cashew farmers have used some of the extra money which comes with Fairtrade to protect wild Indian elephants which had been trespassing on their farms from the local forests. Farmers had found trees they had been growing for twenty years felled by the power of these elephants.

Wanting to protect their crops, farmers often fought back, risking both injury to themselves and the elephants.

The farming organision Fair Trade Alliance Kerala (FTAK) decided the farmers, their trees and the elephants needed to be protected and studied ways of keeping the animals at bay without hurting them. FTAK came up with the idea of investing the Fairtrade premium on solar panels to power electrified fencing around the farms. This provides a very mild shock.

“The shock deters but does not injure the elephants, so these cashews are now elephant-friendly,” explains FTAK’s Tomy Mathews.

Dan Bucknell, Head of Conservation and Campaigns of the charity Elephant Family, says:
"With the Asian elephant suffering from massive habitat loss and persecution where it feeds on crops, it is refreshing that Harry's Nuts! are grown in such a responsible way that works for both the farmers and the elephants."

The 3,200 cashew nut farmers are all part of an organic conversion programme and 45% of them have already achieved this certification. Organic methods are seen by the farmers as the best way of protecting their crops while protecting biodiversity. The farmers are operating in a 'biosphere' of exceptional biodiversity and take protecting this environment extremely seriously. There is also a focus on replanting indigenous breeds of cashew trees which produce a better crop.

The farmers were also concerned that an indigenous breed of goat, the ‘Malabari’, was becoming extinct – a breed which has far greater immunity to disease than crossbreeds, eats less fodder and is much cheaper to rear for milk and meat. They have started a breeding programme which sees a farmer being given a male and female goat and then passing on the offspring to another farmer.

Harry Hill works with Fairtrade nut company Liberation Foods on Harry’s Nuts!, currently available in two varieties – salted peanuts and salted cashews. Liberation’s biggest shareholder is a co-operative of nut farming and gathering organisations including FTAK. Managing Director Kate Gaskell says: "All of the nuts in Harry’s Nuts! are transporteded to the UK by sea - the most environmentally friendly form of long haul transport. Everything we do in our business reveals a respect for the environment as well as the farmer." Fairtrade has strict environmental criteria though it is, of course, best known for the fair prices it guarantees to farmers.

Harry’s Nuts! are popular for their taste – they are cooked for longer than other salted peanuts and cashews to give them an extra crunchiness and deeper flavour. They have been backed by celebrity food writer Sophie Grigson who says: "The peanuts have a very appealing creamy texture and a delicious sweet, rounded flavour enhanced by just the right degree of salt."

Harry launched the products after travelling to Malawi and meeting some of the peanut farmers, many of whom are women looking after Aids orphans. He heard that the benefits which come with Fairtrade are a huge help to them. Harry, a big peanut lover, says: "These Fairtrade salted nuts are an extra tasty version of my favourite snack and there’s no money in it for me (what a mug!). I’m working with Liberation and it's great that the company is run to benefit the farmers and their families."

Fairtrade Fortnight this year (February 27 - March 11) has the theme Take A Step For Fairtrade http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/step This is the latest step from Harry's Nuts!

For more information see http://www.chooseliberation.com or http://www.facebook.com/harrysnuts

Harry’s Nuts! are sold in Sainsbury’s and Waitrose stores and other outlets. Prices are around £1.50. Harry’s Nuts! Crunchy Peanut Butter is available from 200 Sainsbury’s stores at a RRP of £1.99

Liberation Foods is co-owned by farming groups from Malawi , Mozambique , Bolivia , Brazil , Nicaragua , Peru , El Salvador and India . Farmers receive the guaranteed fair price which come with the FAIRTRADE Mark for their produce and receive a Fairtrade premium often spent on projects which benefit the entire community. They are also involved in the running of the company and will receive a share of profits when a dividend is paid.

Liberation is a Community Interest Company (CIC). This is a new type of company which has to be run for the benefit of a ‘Community of Interest’. For Liberation, the Community of Interest is small-scale nut farmers and gatherers in Africa, Latin America and Asia . As well as its own snacks, Liberation also supplies Fairtrade nuts to supermarkets in the UK and abroad for own-label products including Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Morrisons. Liberation works closely with the Fairtrade Foundation which administers the FAIRTRADE Mark in the UK.  See www.fairtrade.org.uk.

That's Books: Forget the Fear of Food, The Essential Guide, by D...

That's Books: Forget the Fear of Food, The Essential Guide, by D...: Forget the Fear of Food The Essential Guide by Dr Chris Finn is an interesting book. Nutritional consultant Dr Finn covers a wide variety ...

Bendigedig! Recipes to celebrate St David’s Day

March 1st is St David’s Day so why not celebrate by cooking up some new recipes with a Welsh twist using Collier’s Powerful Welsh Cheddar?

Collier’s was inspired by Wales’ proud industrial heritage. Its characteristics reflect those of the coal miner - reliability, power and integrity - while its distinctive black packaging shows a miner’s face.

Collier’s is a cheddar with a unique long, powerful, creamy and slightly sweet taste. And unusually it contains tantalising “crunchy bits” which are actually tiny salt crystals, evidence of the cheese’s high quality.

It is the perfect ingredient in a range of recipes, more of which can be seen at www.collierscheese.com

These recipes all have a Welsh flavour and are bendigedig – wonderful!

Collier’s Cheese Welsh Cakes
Welsh cakes are a traditional Welsh favourite and it was customary to cook them over a heavy, flat, iron pan called a bakestone. Traditionally they are sweet, but for a savoury taste sensation, swap the sugar and sultanas for Collier’s Powerful Welsh Cheddar. These are great fun to make with children and cook in a few minutes on a hot frying pan.

For 20 Collier’s Welsh Cakes:
225g self-raising flour
110g butter
75g Collier’s Powerful Welsh Cheddar, grated
10g Parmesan, grated
4g fresh chives, chopped
Pinch of cayenne pepper
Pinch of salt
1 egg, beaten

Sift the flour, and then rub in the butter until crumbly.
Add the both the cheeses, chives, cayenne and salt and gently mix.
Add the egg and mix to dough. If the mixture is a little dry add a spot of milk, until dough is formed.
Transfer the dough on to a floured working surface and roll out to 5 mm (¼ inch) thick.

Using a 6.5 mm (2½ inch) plain cutter cut the dough into rounds. Re-roll the trimmings until all the dough is used.

Heat a heavy flat frying pan on a medium heat (traditionally a heavy flat iron pan called a ‘griddle’ pan or bakestone was used). Now grease with a little vegetable oil, using a piece of kitchen roll.

Cook the Collier’s Cheese Welsh Cakes in batches of 4 to 6 for about 3 minutes each side until golden brown. If they are browning too quickly, turn the heat down so they cook in the middle.

They should be fairly brown and crisp on the outside.
Serve immediately while still warm, with butter if you like.

Collier’s Welsh Rarebit

3 egg yolks
50ml brown ale
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
200g Collier’s cheddar
4 shallots – finely diced
3 x traditional muffins, cut in half

Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl. Toast the muffins on both sides. Spread a layer of the cheese mix on top, quite thickly, and grill until brown and bubbling.


Collier’s Cheese, Leek and Chilli Muffins

The leek, like the daffodil, is the national emblem of Wales. Shakespeare refers to the custom of wearing a leek as an “ancient tradition” in Henry V. The leek is seen on the cap of the Welsh Guards and boys will be wearing them to school on March 1st, while girls will wear a daffodil.

These muffins are really easy to whip up and make a nice change in lunchboxes.

For 10 muffins:

200g self-raising flour
1 tsp baking powder
Pinch of English mustard powder
1 medium leek, finely chopped
1 medium red chilli, deseeded and finely chopped
100g Collier’s Powerful Welsh Cheddar, grated
80ml milk
100ml vegetable oil
1 egg, beaten

Heat oven to 180° C / 160°C Fan / Gas Mark 4.
Line muffin tins with 10 cases.
Mix all first 6 ingredients gently together.
Now add the milk, oil and egg and fold together to form mixture.
Spoon the mixture evenly into the muffin cases (top with a little extra grated cheese if desired)
Bake for 25 minutes, then check to see if they are done.
Enjoy warm or cold
 

"Bwyd da ar gyfer Sant Davi Dydd!"

Free Cookies To Celebrate The Free Day - Leap Day Deal From Domino's. Today only!

To celebrate Leap Day on Wednesday (February 29, 2012), Domino’s Pizza is offering a portion of cookies absolutely FREE from any of its UK stores.

To claim your free cookies, just spend £10 online at www.dominos.co.uk on February 29, 2012. They collect your order from your local store or arrange for it to be delivered to your door and the free cookies will be yours to enjoy!

Simon Wallis, sales and marketing director of Domino’s Pizza, said: “Leap Day only comes once every four years so what better way to celebrate this free day with some free cookies. In every box, there’s a cookie for each year since the last Leap Day!”

To claim your free cookies, log onto www.dominos.co.uk.

Making Pizza A British Dish With The Stone Bake Oven Company

With the recession hitting UK manufacturing hard, it’s more important than ever to buy British and support UK manufacturing.

The Stone Bake Oven Company, who have held their own amongst the recession, tell how wood fired pizza ovens made in the UK, are proving to be an investment during the current economic climate.

With hard times making everyone, regardless of income, reassess the way they spend their pennies, more attention than ever, is being paid to the origins and the quality of products on the UK market.

The Stone Bake Oven Company, who hand cast a range of wood burning pizza ovens in England, use a modern aggregate, sourced within the UK which utilises reclaimed materials. The result is a technically efficient wood fired oven, which heats up quickly and retains its heat for hours. A wood fired oven can be used to cook authentic Italian Pizza, specialty roasts, desserts, breads and just about anything else.

“It’s often a misconception buying quality means spending more money “, says Tom Gozney the company founder, “our ovens are some of the most competitively priced on the market, and we are proud to support UK manufacturing and labour.”

The benefits of opting for British doesn’t stop there either, ever heard the phrase ‘buy cheap, buy twice?’ With a wood fired pizza oven by the Stone Bake Oven Company one can enjoy cooking in their oven either indoors or outdoors for years to come, with a selection of ovens to suit a range of budgets and space restraints.

The environmental benefits of choosing English products are vast. Manufacturing in the UK, means a lower carbon footprint due to reduced miles traveled by the product, and with the Stone Bake Oven Company the costs saved are passed onto the customer.The Stone Bake Oven Company are also proud to present a range of pizza ovens which promote the use of an environmentally sustainable fuel source, wood.

Available for many applications the Stone Bake Oven Company have a range wood fired ovens which are divided between the ‘at home range’ and a the ‘commercial wood fired ovens range’ too. The Stone Bake Oven Company are fast becoming a house hold name, gracing many kitchens and gardens with the affordable Primo Oven, to your local restaurant with their range of Gio commercial pizza ovens.

So this year, choose products and services from the UK. Look for quality and longevity and play a part in keeping UK manufacturing buoyant, whilst taking the time to enjoy mouth-watering, thin, crispy authentic pizza, from a Stone Bake Oven.

To view the Stone Bake Oven Company’s a range of pizza ovens, visit www.thestonebakeovencompany.co.uk.

Holywell Water Company Brings Malvern Water Back to Life

New Holywell 'Malvern' Spring Water

The original Malvern water will be quenching thirsts once again as The Holywell Water Company Ltd gains the right to use the famous township in its branding.

The Holywell Water Company is now delighted to announce the subtle yet highly significant rebranding of its bottled still and sparkling spring water to Holywell Malvern Spring Water!

The Holywell Water Company has produced Holywell Spring Water, which is sold in some of the top hotels, restaurants and castles(!) in the country, since 2009 from the original spring in the heart of the Malvern Hills, Worcestershire, but has been unable to use the word ‘Malvern’ in any branding until now.

Water from the original Holywell spring in Malvern was first commercially bottled by Schweppes in 1843 and continued there for 54 years until the company moved production to a different site in 1897. Coca-Cola took over Schweppes and continued to produce Malvern Water from this site until the brand was dropped in 2010.

The Holywell Water Company took ownership of the original Malvern spring and 19th century buildings used by Schweppes in 2009, but despite bottling fresh spring water from this source the company was unable to use the iconic town in its branding.

Rhys Humm, Director of The Holywell Water Company, said: “I’m hugely excited about our subtle name change. The Holywell spring is indisputably the original source of Malvern water so it is fantastic that we can now include the prestigious Malvern name in our branding.”

He added: “It’s important that water from Malvern is still bottled and that the name and association is not lost forever. Our solicitors have done some fabulous work in registering this trademark and I hope the public will be as happy as we are that we can use the term Malvern in relation to our pedigree water.”

The Holywell Water Company will be showcasing its newly branded bottles for the first time at the Hotelympia trade show at ExCeL, London, from the 26 February - 1 March.

The company has also taken this opportunity to include a QR code on its labelling which will take users on a video tour of the Holywell spring.

For more information visit www.holywellspringwater.co.uk

Welcome To Squires Kitchen Bake School, a new publication!

SKMP, publishers of Cakes & Sugarcraft, Wedding Cakes - A Design Source, and Inspired by Food, are launching a new title for budding bakers and cake decorators: Squires Kitchen Bake School.

This title is a unique new concept which presents a whole host of baking inspiration from expert tutors at the esteemed International School, based in Farnham, Surrey as well as other top names in the industry.

With home baking and crafting both enjoying a phenomenal resurgence, this brand new title will help satisfy even the most avid bakers and cake decorators. And with cupcakes still leading the way in the fashion stakes, they take centre stage in the first issue. Features include:

• Classic, contemporary and allergen-free recipes for cupcakes and frostings

• Trade secrets and top tips from some of the best-known tutors, writers and bakers in the industry, including Mark Tilling, Fiona Cairns, Ann Skipp, Peggy Porschen, Eddie Spence MBE, Paddi Clark, Susan Griffiths and Jan Clement-May

• Creative and original ideas for dressing up your cupcakes, including quick and easy solutions for the busy baker

• Year-round ideas for every occasion, including Easter, weddings, summer holidays and Christmas.

If this tantalising peek at what's on offer at Squires Kitchen's International school is tempting you to learn more, information about what's on offer is detailed in the magazine. Whether you're making your first wedding cake or you're looking to discover the secret of making perfect sponges or pastry at home, there is a wide range of courses covering all baking and decorating topics for every skill level.

Out 8th March 2012 onwards!

160 pages, RRP £5.99, ISSN 2049-6001

Available from WHSmith, Sainsbury's, selected newsagents or direct from the publishers at www.squires-shop.com.

SKMP and Squires Kitchen's International Cookery School are part of Squires Kitchen, The Grange, Hones Yard, Farnham, Surrey GU9 8BB Tel: 0845 61 71 810 Email: customer@squires-shop.com Online shop: www.squires-shop.com.