Archive for July, 2008

How To Make Lemon Posset Video

Everybody loves a good pud! From homemade apple pie to granny’s spotted dick or mum’s treacle tart, everyone’s a winner. But how often do you make home-made puds and do you really know where to start?

Well don’t panic! Celebrity chef Phil Vickery is here to save the day. Below is another in a series of ‘how-to-make’ videos. Previously we had millionaires shortbread. This month Phil is creating a zesty Lemon Posset, viewable after the break…

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Moo One%

Moo One%A new milk – Moo One% has just been launched. It is a long-life 1% milk, produced by Milk Link.

Moo one% contains nearly half the fat of semi-skimmed milk, while still providing the important nutritional benefits of milk, including calcium, protein, minerals and vitamins. moo one% is now available in Sainsbury’s, coming soon to Tesco and will be stocked in other major retailers over the coming months. The recommended retail price is 75p

National Cherry Day

Cherry AidI recall a photograph of a mass of cherry trees in a village nearby my childhood home. There wasn’t a single tree remaining as I grew up. Which isn’t surprising as the country has lost a vast majority of its cherry orchards over the last fifty years. Kent alone has lost 85 per cent of its orchards.

Step forward Henrietta Green of FoodLoverBritain and a campaign – Cherry Aid – that aims to Get everyone to bite into at least one British-grown Cherry this year, Save our remaining traditional Cherry orchards and plant new ones, and encourage chefs, restaurateurs and home-cooks to use British-grown Cherries.

The campaign culminates in National Cherry Day which is tomorrow, 19th July.

On National Cherry Day Henrietta will be at Borough Market, sampling the specially-made Cherry Down Cheese from the Kent Cheese Co from Sillfield Farm stall, who will also be selling their Wild Boar & Cherry pie. Turnips and E & A Sugarman will be selling fresh English cherries from their stalls, so make sure you pick up a bag as you go past and Utobeer will be doing a sampling of British cherry beer.

Elsewhere Food Inc in Whiteleys will have fresh cherries and a range of cherry-based products to buy; The Ludlow Food Centre in Shropshire will be selling traditional variety cherries and cherry ice cream.

Other events can be seen on the Cherry Aid page.

Two Of Scotland’s Iconic Brands Join Forces

valvona and crolla with JennersAs part of the multi million pound investment by House of Fraser in Jenners, Princes Street, and to re-establish the excitement and glamour of the world’s oldest department store, House of Fraser has joined forces with Scotland’s oldest continental grocers, Valvona & Crolla, in a unique and exciting partnership, to take over the famous food hall.

The food hall will be filled with the best produce from Scotland’s own producers as well as finest quality food and wine selected from European artisan producers and specialists. In addition, Valvona & Crolla are also taking over the smaller food hall in Jenners on Loch Lomond Shores. The major revamp will also see celebrity chef James Martin brought in to modernise the stores restaurant.

Valvona & Crolla is a family-owned and managed business. Over four generations, the company has received accolades for wine, food and quality of service and has most recently been awarded the Royal Warrant to supply cheese to Her Majesty the Queen.

We are delighted by this exciting new partnership. Like Jenners, the Valvona & Crolla name is steeped in history and is an important part of Edinburgh’s appeal. This collaboration is part of our on-going plan to add exciting new brands into our stores, alongside the investment we are making inside Jenners. We are confident our customers will enjoy the new look store.

Preserves: River Cottage Handbook No.2

River Cottage Handbook 2 PreservesPreserving is a centuries-old way to make the most out of every season, stretching the more bountiful months into the sparser ones – and what’s more, it is fun, rewarding and easy to learn.

Explaining the history, science and basic processes of preserving, our preserving expert Pam Corbin will guide you through a world of jams, jellies, butters, curds, pickles, chutneys, cordials, liqueurs, vinegars and sauces, which can be made from local produce throughout the year.

Britain’s seasonal gluts of fruit, vegetables and herbs are ripe for turning into delicious preserves to enjoy all year round

From jams, jellies, curds and leathers to pickles, chutneys, cordials, vinegars and sauces, Pam Corbin presents an abundance of preserves across the sweet and savoury spectrum.

Over 75 recipes encompass traditional favourites such as raspberry jam, lemon curd and sloe gin, to fresh combinations such as apple butter and nettle pesto.

River Cottage Handbook 2: Preserves is available from Amazon.co.uk for £7.79 (Available from the 4th August 2008)