Tuesday, 29 November 2022
That's Christmas: Over third of Christmas shoppers to spend less, sa...
That's Christmas: Over third of Christmas shoppers to spend less, sa...: Over a third of Christmas shoppers (35%) are aiming to spend less on gifts this Christmas, with some reducing their budget by 50%, says rese...
That's Christmas: Pud a smile on the face of your family and guests ...
That's Christmas: Pud a smile on the face of your family and guests ...: Nothing says tradition quite like a glorious Christmas pudding, which is why Aldi has unveiled a new range of super indulgent delights to he...
That's Christmas: Make your Christmas greener this year with the Nat...
That's Christmas: Make your Christmas greener this year with the Nat...: The take up of recycling by many households throughout the UK show that most of us are keen to do our bit to be "greener." And th...
That's Christmas: Asda, quality wines for Christmas at affordable pr...
That's Christmas: Asda, quality wines for Christmas at affordable pr...: There's now less than a month to go until Christmas and Asda has revealed an unmissable offer across one of the most important categorie...
That's Christmas: Experts promote drinking more water over Christmas
That's Christmas: Experts promote drinking more water over Christmas: Leading hydration experts, Vidrate are urging us Brits to look out for less common signs of dehydration and drink more water over this Chris...
Why Cheese Is the Recipe to Impressing Your Valentine
The chefs at Grana Padano PDO have some great ideas for those looking for something different with which to impress their Valentine this year.
From waking up to freshly cooked Grana Padano pancakes, to a restaurant worthy dinner and a grown up dessert - you can always look to the Italians (and the world's most consumed PDO cheese) for inspiration of the romantic kind.
Grana Padano Ciabatta dumplings with avocado, Amalfi lemon and chilli dip will transport you to relaxed lunches enjoyed in the Italian sunshine. For a taste of Italian street food, cacio e Pepe pasta “frittatine” with Grana Padano are crispy, delightful and surprisingly simple to make, while Grana Padano cheese and nutmeg puffs offer a comforting start to any dinner, enjoyed with your favourite tipple.
For starter or main Aubergine Milanese with Grana Padano hot espuma is a lovely contrast of textures and flavours.
You might not want to take on anything too challenging whilst you entertain your date, so we recommend aged Grana Padano and pumpkin gnocchi as a delicious and simple main course (chefs tip: save time by making the mashed potatoes in advance). For confident cooks who really want to go to town, Grana Padano agnolotti cacio e pepe is perfect for the wow factor.
Cheese is often the perfect way to end a meal but Grana Padano also has some inspiration for those with a sweet tooth, Grana Padano Riserva soufflé with fruit mustard and poached pears is perfect for discerning taste buds. Looking to impress with your presentation?- Grana Padano cheesecake with lemon and figs looks as beautiful as it tastes.
Seeking out this authentic and versatile ingredient is super easy too, just look for the Grana Padano yellow lozenge and PDO trademark. Grana Padano PDO is widely available in supermarkets, delis and specialist grocers across the UK. For more information, please visit: https://www.granapadano.it.
Incidentally, my wife and I love Grana Padano PDO cheese as part of our Christmas cheeseboard!
It's Scale-Up Time for Michelin Star Food Box Company Chefs for Foodies
Launched during the pandemic, the brand works with UK top chefs and beloved food brands to develop luxury meal kits which can be cooked and eaten at home, along with expert video tuition.
It's already delivered 3,400 recipe kits to customers across the UK and has a Trustpilot rating of 4.8. The chefs involved so far have included Masterchef winner, Steven Wallis and Michelin Star chef Rohit Ghai.
The brand has also forged innovative brand partnerships with food heroes KitchenAid, Landmann BBQ, Eat.planted, Thermapen and Quorn which has catapulted the brand in front of a global audience for a fraction of the usual marketing spend.
The business is launching its funding drive via Seedrs to bring more chefs on board to create an even larger variety of boxes, as well as recruit more staff to help with fulfilment.
chefs for foodies founder and CEO, James Hill, said: “We're really excited about this latest funding drive as it will really take chefs for foodies to the next level as well as help us achieve our true potential as a business.
“We already work with some incredible names in the food industry, as well as top brands such as Kitchenaid, but a new cash injection will enable us to expand this offering further, helping us reach an even wider audience.
“Our chefs, suppliers and brand partners have access to an innovative SAS platform giving all stakeholders involvement in the growth of the brand
“The recipe box market is thriving and a brilliant investment at the moment. In 2017, it was worth £400 million, today it's £1 billion. So there there really is a clear market for chefs for foodies out there.”
James is passionate about his business model, which in essence connects chefs with foodies. When the pandemic hit, he spoke to a number of chefs and realised that they were very down and emotional. Not only had their restaurants closed, they also didn't have strong social media channels or a digital footprint. In fact, despite being top of their game, the restaurants they worked for were getting all the credit.
It was then he realised there was a gap in the market for a recipe box company that created high end recipe boxes created by top chefs that foodies could cook at home.
Using his quarter century in brand partnerships with premium brands, James gives chefs for foodies a unique advantage and a major point of difference which can help scale CFF through purpose-led brand partnerships.
Those who invest in chefs for foodies will be contributing to the growth of a brand which prides itself in its eco credentials. They reduce food waste by using measured out ingredients which are as fresh as possible and often locally sourced from independent companies. Every single component of the recipe is carbon certified by Klimato.
To find out more about chefs for foodies' crowdfunding campaign head to https://www.seedrs.com/chefs-for-foodies/coming-soon
To learn more about CFF please visit https://chefsforfoodies.com.
Festival of Food and Drink Announces Thoresby Park as Its New Home for the Celebratory 10th Anniversary next year
Loyal visitors to the established festival, which boasts in excess of 170 food and drink traders will not have to travel far however, as the event which was previously held at Clumber Park, will be moving to a new location just minutes away.
Thoresby Park is a vibrant neighbouring estate, making it even easier for residents of Nottinghamshire and surrounding areas to enjoy a great day out at one of the region's best loved foodie festivals!
In addition to a veritable feast of fantastic street food traders, bars, and artisan producers, the family-friendly festival also offers a wide-range of have-a-go activities for visitors to take part in, from wine-tasting sessions and cocktail masterclasses, to a specialist Children's Cookery School allowing younger visitors to make their very own tasty treats, which in previous years has included pasta, butter, gnocchi and ice cream.
The festival's hugely popular Cookery Theatre will also return for 2023, with a fantastic and stellar line-up of well-known faces from the culinary world. Previous guests have included Masterchef's John Torode, Bake Off's John Whaite, TV chef Phil Vickery and food author Rosemary Shrager, who have hosted delicious cookery demonstrations in the 500-seat theatre, whilst sharing special hints and tips with audience members to recreate at home. The line-up for the event's tenth anniversary will be announced in the coming months.
The jam-packed weekend will also include a range of fun activities for families to enjoy, including circus skills workshops, face painting, fairground rides and a large selection of unique gifts, handmade crafts and homewares to be browsed in the event's Shopping Area.
After indulging in a feast of mouth-watering food and drink, visitors can sit back, relax and soak up the family-friendly festival atmosphere while enjoying live music and DJ sets.
Gareth Evans, Event Manager at Thoresby Park commented “Thoresby Estate is extremely pleased Festival of Food and Drink has chosen the beautiful surroundings of Thoresby Park to host their anniversary event in 2023. The amazing quality of food and drink on offer at the event is testament to the high numbers of visitors the show attracts each year.”
The festival's hugely popular VIP tickets have returned for 2023, offering visitors priority parking, fast-track entry, a goody bag, and entry to the VIP Marquee, which offers a chance to meet the special celebrity guests for just £25.00.
Early bird tickets for Festival of Food and Drink cost just £10.00 and will be available online from Tuesday 29th November at https://festivaloffoodanddrink.com.
Sainsbury’s supports low-income families in Wales and Northern Ireland in time for Christmas
Until 11th April, eligible customers will automatically receive a £2 printed coupon every week they shop at Sainsbury’s, whenever they check-out using their Healthy Start card.
The coupon is valid when purchasing fresh, frozen and tinned fruit and vegetables, helping families to access affordable, nutritious food
Sainsbury’s has announced it will be rolling out its £2 top up coupon that accompanies the Government funded NHS Healthy Start scheme to Wales and Northern Ireland. The move comes as the cost-of-living continues to rise, as the coupon extension could to help feed an additional 47,000 pregnant women and children over the coming months.
The roll-out follows Sainsbury’s announcement last month that it would be re-introducing its £2 coupon over the next six months to customers using a Healthy Start card in England.
The NHS Healthy Start scheme helps to encourage a healthy diet for pregnant women, babies and young children under the age of four from low-income households.
Customers in Wales and Northern Ireland who use a Healthy Start card when shopping at Sainsbury’s will now automatically receive a printed coupon worth £2, every week, to use towards fresh, frozen, and tinned fruit and vegetables, until Tuesday 11th April 2023.
The Healthy Start cards, which are provided by the Government to low-income families, provide pregnant women or families with a child between the age of 1 and 4 years old with £4.25 a week to use when purchasing milk, fruit or vegetables. Families with a child under the age of 1 will receive £8.50 each week. Sainsbury’s top-up means that families that use their Healthy Start card each week in a Sainsbury’s superstore could receive either £6.25 or £10.50 worth of healthy and nutritious food per week.
Sainsbury’s first introduced the £2 top-up coupon in 2021, helping families during February half term and beyond. The coupon was then reintroduced last Christmas to provide extra help to those struggling over the festive period.
Ruth Cranston, Director of Corporate Responsibility & Sustainability at Sainsbury’s said, “We know how challenging things are at the moment and as the cost-of-living continues to rise, we’re committed to helping ensure that everyone has access to affordable and nutritious food.
"We are really pleased we can extend our £2 top up for the NHS Healthy Start scheme to eligible customers in Wales and Northern Ireland and hope the additional coupon will provide some relief to many people over the coming months. Through our Nourish the Nation community programme, we remain dedicated to helping tackle food insecurity now and in the future.”
Rebecca Tobi, Senior Business and Investor Engagement Manager at the Food Foundation said, "Many families are really struggling at the moment as cost of living challenges intensify. Our latest data tracking in the UK finds that one in four households with children have experienced food insecurity in the past month, with four million children living in households experiencing food insecurity.
"Sainsbury’s decision to extend its coupon offer to families in Wales and Northern Ireland will help to reduce health inequities by ensuring that all Healthy Start recipients are eligible for the £2 top-up. We know that good nutrition during the first few years of life is critical for healthy growth and development, so it would be great to see other retailers follow Sainsbury's lead and boost their support of the Healthy Start scheme."
The step comes as last week, Sainsbury’s announced its new Nourish the Nation programme, a long-term aim to support communities with access to food now and in the future, working with longstanding charity partner Comic Relief.
As part of the programme, Sainsbury’s will be donating £3 million to support communities with access to food now and supporting projects that help prevent people and communities falling further into food poverty in the future. This includes a £1.5 million donation to long-standing partner Comic Relief, FareShare and key redistribution partners to support communities this Christmas.
From 23rd November until 24th December, the retailer is also asking customers to donate, if they can, when shopping in-store at Sainsbury’s and Argos, online at Sainsbury’s, or donating Nectar points on the Nectar app or website. Sainsbury’s will match all donations up to the value of £1.5 million. Customers can also donate food products at the food donation points in selected Sainsbury’s stores, which will go to local food charity partners.
Full terms of eligibility can be found here: https://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/frequently-asked-questions
Coupons are printed in superstores and not convenience stores. However, coupons can be redeemed in both superstores and convenience stores.
The NHS Business Services Authority deliver the NHS Healthy Start scheme on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.
Monday, 28 November 2022
Cranachan Cake for Burns Night - 25th January
The traditional dish to finish a Burns night celebration, cranachan is a delicious mix of cream, raspberries, oats and honey - a true taste of Scotland.
We've married these crowd pleasing ingredients (including Trewithen Dairy's Cornish stamp of clotted cream) with a whisky soaked sponge cake. Best served with an extra wee dram of Scotch - just in case.
Ingredients
6 Eggs
410g Trewithen Dairy Salted Butter
410g Caster Sugar
410g Self-Raising Flour
1 tsp Baking Powder
1 tsp Real Vanilla Extract
30g Trewithen Dairy Natural Yoghurt
200g Trewithen Dairy Cornish Clotted Cream
500g Fresh Raspberries
45g Oatmeal (or you can whizz up regular oats)
45ml Whisky
1 tbsp Honey
Icing Sugar to decorate - optional
Method
Preheat the oven to 180c. Grease and dust flour in three 20cm cake tins.
Using an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl between each addition. If the mixture starts to curdle, add a little of your weighed flour. Add the vanilla extract. Combine the flour and baking powder before adding to the mixture. Finally, stir in the yoghurt.
Bake in the centre of a preheated oven for approx. 20-25 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the cake comes out clean.
Leave to stand in the tins for 5 minutes, before turning out onto a cooling rack. When just slightly warm, brush or drizzle all the whisky evenly over the cakes.
Toast the oatmeal, either on a dry pan on the stove, or grilling in the oven. Keep an eye on it - it will turn colour quickly! Take it off when it starts to brown and smells beautifully toasty.
In a medium bowl, combine the clotted cream and three quarters of the raspberries, reserving the remainder for decorating. Using a fork, combine the two together while pressing down the raspberries to break them up. Stir through the honey and toasted oatmeal. Chill until you're ready to assemble the cake.
To assemble, layer up the sponges and cream, reserving just a little mixture to spread over the top. Finish with a dusting of icing sugar and the remaining raspberries. Enjoy with a dram of whisky.
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