All posts tagged christmas

Cook The Perfect Christmas Dinner

by Andrew on December 9, 2011 in On The Web, Television, Radio, Video, Film with No comments

cook the perfect christmas dinnerThe way to a perfect stress-free Christmas dinner is just a click away thanks to the new free and must see Christmas cookery website which has been launched by Ashburton Cookery School.

The “The Perfect Christmas Dinner” website has been designed by one of the UK’s leading cookery schools to take the stress out of cooking for what can be one of the most pressurised family meals of the year.

Ashburton Cookery School’s professional chef tutors have included 26 video recipes covering every component of the traditional Christmas meal. Either watch a video or print off a favourite recipe for free. The site offers essential tips and expert advice from everything on how to cook perfect crispy roast potatoes to creating the most succulent turkey. Cook canapés with confidence and dazzle your family and friends with perfect puddings and decadent mince pies.

The website simplifies the meal into separate sections and gives advice on meal planning and delicious recipe ideas to master the classic Christmas meal with all the trimmings.

It is an essential culinary tool to have at your fingertips according to the Chef Director for Ashburton Cookery School Darrin Hosegrove: “ The website is very simple to use and it will bring Ashburton Cookery School renowned training to you in your very own kitchen. It will guide you through the difficulties of cooking for large groups of people, using tips and helpful hints based on the broad wealth of experience from our talented chefs at the cookery school.”

Further details on the Cook The Perfect Christmas Dinner can be found at the dedicated website www.perfectChristmasDinner.co.uk

For more information about Christmas cookery courses or the full range of courses available at Ashburton Cookery School then please visit: www.ashburtoncookeryschool.co.uk


Bake The Perfect Panettone This Christmas

by Andrew on November 25, 2011 in In Search Of..., In The Basket, Online Retailers with No comments

panettone aromaStart or indulge a passion for artisan baking this Christmas with all the baking essentials needed for a truly authentic Panettone from online specialists, www.BakeryBits.co.uk.

Add a twist to this traditional Italian sweetened celebratory cake with BakeryBits’ special Aroma Panettone essence. The essence contains the exquisite Fiori di Sicilia but adds to it further flavours and aromas suited specifically to Panettone dough – like candied fruit, vanilla, honey and spices – so that the quantity of those ingredients can be kept lower. The benefit of using the authentic essence is to avoid these ingredients slowing or even stopping the fermentation, this ensures a cake which is dark on the outside yet moist and fluffy on the inside.

By adding essential oil that contains these flavours the texture of the Panettone crumb will stay very light and open. Supplied in a 100ml dropper bottle, the essence can be used in Panettone, custards and puddings. Recommended usage is 1-2 tsp per kilo of dough.

To bake your special Panettone, BakeryBits offers a variety of cases for individual Panettone. The special tubular Panettone cases range from 70mm diameter suitable for approximately 100g or 4oz dough, to 170mm diameter suitable for approximately 1kg of dough and are designed to free-stand in the oven while the Panettone bakes, and for presentation of the baked cake.

Panettone cases (known in Italy as Pitrottini) originated in Milan. A homemade Panettone, using a good recipe that follows the authentic long proving and contains quality ingredients is incomparable with the supermarket versions.

Available from www.BakeryBits.co.uk, the Aroma Panettone is priced at £6.99, plus a delivery charge of £2.95 + VAT. Panettone cases are priced from £2.99 for a pack of 25, (100g or 70mm) to £4.49 for a pack of 25, (1kg or 170mm).

Orders can be made online up to the 22 December for next-day delivery. Delivery is available anywhere worldwide.

RSPCA Urges Cooks to Think Pig This Christmas

by Andrew on December 20, 2010 in On The Web with No comments

Pigs in blankets, honey glazed ham, roast pork, cocktail sausage rolls – all Christmas favourites, but how many of us spare a thought for the pigs during the festive season?

Turkey has always been a staple of Christmas dinner, but pork products such as ham, sausage, bacon and roasting joints are now almost as popular. Last December, the UK spending on pork roasting joints rose by 25% in comparison to the previous year, and we spent £843m on pork in 2009.

However, many of the 160 million pigs raised annually in Europe for meat are kept in conditions that don’t meet some of their most basic needs. The decisions that we make in the supermarket this Christmas can have a huge impact on the lives of pigs, so The RSPCA is asking shoppers to ‘Think Pig’ by looking for Freedom Food, free range, outdoor reared, outdoor bred or organic labels and choosing higher welfare sausages, bacon, ham and pork.

Buying higher welfare doesn’t mean having to compromise on cost either - try the new RSPCA Freedom Food Christmas pork recipes, with creative ideas for using leftovers, to get more value from your meat. RSPCA Freedom Food has also devised the ultimate gammon joint recipe with a timetable of tips and reminders for a higher welfare Christmas. You can keep up to date with the Think Pig campaign, and try out the recipes, on the RSPCA Think Pig Facebook Page.

Source of figures: Farmers Weekly Interactive.

Darren Gough’s Christmas Cooking Videos

by Andrew on December 14, 2010 in Television, Radio, Video, Film with No comments

Christmas is now just around the corner and chances are you’ll be looking forward to a fair few feasting sessions. But if you are the type that leaves it all to your partner or family then it’s probably about time you swapped the remote for the saucepan (for a short time at least) and try cooking up a storm in the kitchen.

By giving your loved one a bit of a treat this year, not only will you win a few brownie points but if you plan it carefully you should be able to nip off for a bit of footie or telly viewing whilst you have a stew slow cooking in the oven.

However, if the prospect of taking charge in the kitchen leaves you cold, or you’re worried that your chef skills will be under fire from your other half, then help is at hand.

Cricketing legend Darren Gough has teamed up with Red Tractor beef and lamb to show you how easy it is to shine in the kitchen over the festive period.

From Beefy Red Pepper Stew to Tray Baked Lamb Chops with Roasted Veggies, some easy but impressive recipes will see you hitting a six.

In the following videos, learn how to impress with a delicious Beefy Red Pepper Stew and Tray Baked Lamb Chops with Roasted Veggies

Free Panettones at Natoora

by Andrew on December 13, 2010 in In The Basket, Online Retailers with No comments

For a limited time, Natoora is offering a free Christmas gift! Customers can enjoy one of Panarello’s beautiful Panettones FREE with their order (terms and conditions apply, see below). Panarello have been making cakes since 1885 and their buttery and light traditional Panettone is bursting with the flavours of an Italian Christmas.

How to claim:
1. Place an order before 18th December 2010
2. Spend £100 or more
3. Enter code NATOOXMAS at checkout

*Minimum spend excludes delivery fee. Subject to availablity. Offer valid once per address or account holder. No cash alternative. Not valid in conjunction with any other offer excluding price discounts.

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