Food and drink
Food and drink are associated with our happiest times. Diverse recipes to tempt your taste buds including meat, fish, vegetarian and vegan options from around the world. Something for everyone along with cocktail delights and top tips on pairing food and wine.
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Top 6 Fruity Wine Cocktails
Bottoms up wine lovers! Summer has finally arrived and we all know that those late afternoon sunsets by the beach are ideal for a perfect glass of wine. You might say it’s a warm winter drink but let me stop right there! Due to its versatility, wine can be tasty in every season of the year, and you just have to open your imagination and adapt it to every occasion. I’m talking about cocktails! The brilliant idea of mixing wine with other fresh ingredients has stuck all over the years, and let’s face it – a tasty, fresh cocktail with just the right food and beverages, is the best way…
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Keeping It Cool: The 4-Step Process to Selecting the Best Wine Cooler for Your Needs
There are a countless number of great wines to consume. The best wine coolers on the market prioritize top-end features at a consumer-level price. Your wine collection isn’t complete until you have a modern cooler with multiple settings. Even for non-enthusiasts, a wine cooler is much more than a convenience appliance. 1. Size Do you expect that your wine collection will grow larger in the future? If so, then it is a good idea to get a wine cooler that is large enough to meet your demand. Going bigger is always a good idea, even if you don’t properly utilize the space. When you finally decide on the size of…
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Raspberry Cream Pie Recipe
I have always loved raspberries just like my lat mother did. They featured in my wedding breakfast of course. As I return to hosting dinner parties, I can highly recommend this amazingly tasty and colourful recipe for raspberry cream pie. PREP TIME: 25 mins (plus freezing and chilling overnight) SERVES: 8-10 FOR THE CRUST: 200g dates 150g oats 150g maple syrup 2 tsp cinnamon 2 tsp cocoa powderFOR THE FILLING: 1 pack Violife Creamy Original (available at Asda, Tesco, M&S, Coop, Waitrose, Ocado, RRP £2.50) 1 can full fat coconut cream, chilled overnight 300g raspberry puree TOPPINGS: Fresh raspberry Fresh strawberry 1 orange Mint leaves Lemon zest DIRECTIONS: For the crust: place all…
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3 Reasons to Switch to Organic Products Today
To the average person, getting into the organic movement can seem initially intimidating. But now, organic options are now everywhere at the supermarket, and you might even know a few people who choose to buy everything organic. If you’re looking to try these products out for yourself, it might be best to know what the term “organic” means and whether organic products are better than your usual staples. The standards governing the use of the term “organic” as it pertains to food products can vary from country to country. But in general, it means meat, poultry, eggs and dairy products that have not been subjected to artificial growth hormones and…
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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…
