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Why I decided to take part in Veganuary 2020
Are you intrigued by a vegan lifestyle? Could you consider incorporating at least some vegan meals into your week? Can doing so really help our planet? What might it do for your health? Veganuary acts as a catalyst for many people to give veganism a try.. I am delighted to share a guest post from Jen who has decided to take part in Veganuary 2020. “I never thought I’d take part in Veganuary. I felt sympathetic to the movement, but it didn’t feel like it was part of me or my life. I think many people of my generation feel the same way. This year though, I realised I wanted…
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Lose weight and save time with Dietbon diet meals
After an interesting week of great food, I am delighted to share my DietBon review with you. After a small hiccup regarding my delivery of the diet meals and my phone consultation I was excited to receive a box full of tempting treats knowing they were good for me and might just help me shed some pounds in time for party season. What is Dietbon Dietbon is a diet plan based on home-delivered meals and telephone consultations with a friendly dietician. All your daily meals are delivered to your home : breakfast, lunch, a snack and dinner for 6 days out of 7. The 7th day is a free day…
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Nutribullet food hacks to simplify your life
You have invested in a Nutribullet or had one bought as a gift. Are you making the most of it? Here are some easy Nutribullet food hacks to simplify your life when it comes to food, drink and even being eco-friendly. Nutribullet food hacks with wine Letting wine breathe is nothing new, but not everyone has the resources or patience to bring a decanter to dinner. If you’ve got a high-speed blender, don’t worry about it: you can hyper-decant inexpensive wine varieties in a blender for 30-60 seconds. How cool is that? Smooth And Creamy Almond Milk Once you try this recipe for homemade Almond Milk, you’ll never want the…
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Perfect Gift for Cooks – The Awesome Cook’s Diary
If you are looking for the perfect gift for cooks perhaps for Christmas or a birthday, I have a lovely suggestion for you. The Cook’s Diary is a beautiful and practical present that any foodie would love. It comes from the same company as the Dairy Diary which I remember my mum always had in her kitchen. Since she was a cook by trade and at home that’s enough of a recommendation for me. I have fond memories of flicking through the Dairy Diary as a child and teenager. Perfect Gift for Cooks This unique week-to-view diary contains weekly triple-tested recipes, providing inspiration to get up and cook something from…
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How to use up Christmas leftovers
Christmas leftovers can be a nightmare and nobody likes to think of food waste. After the excess of Christmas Day this is the perfect comfort food. It also manages to use up just about every savoury ingredient from a Christmas Day lunch which is a bonus too! Use whatever you have left over to make your version of this dish, but this recipe will serve as a good guide. Serves 4 About 500g of roast turkey – brown and white meat – roughly chopped 4 or 5 leftover chipolatas (if they’re wrapped in bacon that’s even better) 2 or 3 tablespoons of leftover stuffing 25 left over sprouts Spoonful of leftover carrots…
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Panettone Al Forno recipe for Christmas
Here is a very special Panettone Al Forno recipe particularly good for Christmas. Panettone al forno Ingredients (panettone) 120gr panettone 350ml skimmed milk 80gr caster sugar Plain flour for dusting 20gr butter 1 egg 1 egg yolk Vanilla sauce to serve Panettone Al Forno Ingredients (vanilla sauce) 500 ml milk 5 egg yolks 1 vanilla pod halved lengthways Method (panettone) Preheat oven at 170c Tear the panettone into pieces and place in a bowl Bring the milk to the boil, remove from heat and stir sugar in until dissolved Pour the mix over the panettone Grease individual mould with butter and dust with flour Put the soaked panettone…
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Cranberry Muffins recipe perfect for Christmas
Festive Spiced Cranberry Muffins Recipe These lovely light muffins have a deliciously festive flavour. They even smell of Christmas as you take them from the oven! Preparation: 20 minutes Cooking: 25 minutes Makes: 8 Suitable for freezing Suitable for vegetarians Ingredients 100g (4oz) Jordans Super 3 Seeds Granola 125g (5oz) butter, melted and cooled slightly 2 tablespoons milk 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 2 large eggs, beaten 100g (4oz) self-raising flour 1 teaspoon ground mixed spice 75g (3oz) light muscovado sugar 75g (3oz) dried cranberries 1 banana, mashed Topping: 75g (3oz) dried cranberries Finely grated juice and rind of 1 small orange 200g (7oz) medium-fat soft cheese 1 teaspoon vanilla extract…
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Roast Turkey with Shallot Stuffing with Fresh Sage
Roast turkey is delicious and the addition of shallot stuffing with fresh sage makes it sensational especially at Christmas. You’ll need: 5kg free-range Totally Traditional Turkey 4 tbsp rapeseed oil Sea salt and black pepper For the stuffing: 75g butter 2 tbsp rapeseed oil 8 shallots, peeled and finely chopped 3 cloves of garlic, peeled and finely chopped 250g dried figs, chopped into small cubes 2 small eating apples 250g fresh breadcrumbs 3 tbsp fresh sage leaves, chopped 750g sausage meat 3tbsp of parsley, chopped 1 large egg beaten Sea salt and black pepper What to do: Preheat oven to 230°C/Gas Mark 8 Remove turkey…
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Fancy Roast Potatoes Recipe for Christmas
Fancy roast potatoes? I always do and these are very fancy roast potatoes! Preparation Time; 10 minutes Cooking Time; 1 ½ hours You’ll need: 1.5kg Potatoes, medium sized, peeled 900g parsnips, medium sized, peeled 2 tbsp plain flour 1 tbsp fresh thyme, chopped, plus a few sprigs 6-8 tbsp rapeseed oil 12 shallots, peeled 200g pancetta, roughly chopped 6 whole bay leaves Sea salt and black pepper What to do: Preheat oven to 200°C/Gas 6 Cut any large potatoes in half and all of the parsnips in half lengthways, cook the potatoes in boiling salted water for 8 minutes or until par-boiled. Meanwhile cook the parsnips in the…
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Christmas Reindeer cookies recipe
Christmas reindeer cookies are a real treat over the festive season and easy to make. Makes: approximately 20 biscuits Ingredients For the biscuits 100g butter 175g caster sugar 2 happy eggs 2 happy egg yolks 50g ground almonds 240g plain flour For the icing 120g butter 250g icing sugar 1-2 tbsp milk Food colouring to suit Method Biscuits In a bowl, mix the butter and sugar together with an electric blender, until they form a creamy paste. Add the happy eggs and happy egg yolks and mix, then fold in the almonds and flour with a wooden spoon or spatula until fully combined. Press the mixture into…
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How to make eggnog at Christmas
How to make eggnog is a common question at Christmas and I have the answer. In case you were wondering, I add rum to this recipe! I have to admit this is one of my favourite festive recipes at this time of year. Ingredients 6 happy eggs 60g caster sugar 600ml milk 1 tbsp vanilla extract ½ tsp grated nutmeg 150ml plain yogurt Method You will need a cooking thermometer for this recipe. Don’t be scared of raw eggs in eggnog; we gently cook them in this recipe. Place 4 happy eggs, 2 happy egg yolks, caster sugar and milk in a saucepan. Heat slowly whilst stirring…
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Easy Chocolate Swiss Roll Recipe
I have very fond memories of my late Mum’s chocolate log at Christmas. It is one of those traditional recipes on which Christmas memories are made. I highly recommend this very easy chocolate Swiss roll recipe perfect at any time of year for a tasty treat. SERVES 6 Ingredients for the easy chocolate swiss roll recipe 75g caster sugar 3 happy eggs 2 happy egg yolks 75g plain flour (sieved) 25g cocoa powder (sieved) Zest of one orange Chocolate filling 6 happy egg whites 30g caster sugar 120g 72% dark chocolate 20g butter Candied Kumquats & citrus sauce 10 kumquats 150ml water 100g icing sugar Method Preheat your oven to 200⁰C/400⁰F/Gas…
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How to make mince pies for Christmas
How to make mince pies for Christmas and impress your family and friends. You can try this recipe or my other one for chocolate mince pies muffins for yet another indulgent treat. An easy recipe for mince pies 150g butter 250g plain flour 50g ground almonds 50g caster sugar 1 orange pinch of salt 1 happy egg 1-2 tsp cold water 280g/10oz good quality mincemeat For the topping: 100g butter 75g plain flour 100g caster sugar 1tsp cinnamon powder 1 nutmeg Method Place butter in freezer overnight. Preheat oven to 180°C. Put the flour into a mixing bowl. Using a cheese grater, grate the butter into…
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Easy Coffee and Walnut cake recipe
When my mum died, Dad gave me a folder full of recipes that she had kept. That is where I came across this easy coffee and walnut cake recipe. Some of her notes are now showing signs of damage and age so I thought I would start putting her recipes online to refer to and perhaps someone might want to have a go at them too and let me know how they get on. My mum was a great cook both a family one and as a paid cook for a variety of organisations not to forget her famous baking for church and community events. You will have to do…
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Easy Pumpkin soup recipe for Halloween
Pumpkin soup recipe Serves: 10-12 Preparation time: 25 minutes Cooking time: 24 minutes Ingredients 2-3 tbsps of olive oil 2kgs pumpkin, peeled and chopped into approx 2.5cm chunks 1.2ltrs fresh carrot juice or water 2 Knorr Vegetable Stock Pots 50g finely grated Parmesan cheese 100ml double cream Black pepper Serve with: Freshly grated Parmesan to sprinkle over the soup and a twist of freshly ground black pepper Method 1.Heat a large heavy casserole dish on the hob. Add in a splash of olive oil, spread evenly in the dish and then add in the diced pumpkin. 2.Cover the dish and cook over a medium heat for 10–12 minutes, stirring now…
