Gourmet Recipes is brought to you by Real Food Direct

The big talking point this Christmas in some circles is not just how much should we spend but should we be buying Christmas gifts at all? The PC brigade would have us all leading dull austere lives, or so it seems. For my part I think it’s good for the soul to give presents and it’s great to receive them, this is the tradition of Christmas.

But having said that, maybe the politically correct “thought police” do have a point. I don’t subscribe to their preferred martyrdom at Christmas but like many other people I do wonder at the senseless giving and acquiring of so many useless gifts. I feel like screaming when I get yet another scented candle in a box….. So here is my idea, instead of budgeting to allocate a spend level to all the various members of a close group of friends say your sister’s family or neighbours that you socialise with, amalgamate the individual budgets and buy one big family present.

So why not buy them a Christmas gift hamper? “It will cost a fortune” you might say. No it won’t… once you have combined all the individual budgets you will probably save money. It makes so much sense and scores maximum points on all fronts. Christmas gift hampers are really useful and sustainable; you eat and drink all the contents, and the wicker hampers are re-usable. There is something for everybody and most of the items will be genuine treats… things you wouldn’t normally buy in the weekly shop.

Of dramatic importance is that it’s very, very exciting to receive a hamper. Hampers are really special and excellent gifts to both give and receive. Only the best people receive Christmas gift hampers! Perhaps a little elitist but you will have so thrilled the family that receives such a great Christmas gift. And that feeling is really good for the giver as well.

A Christmas hamper is more or less a totally sustainable gift concept especially if you order from Real Food Direct. Please look at the range, there are hampers at all prices with great organic foods and wonderfully different treats. All the products are sourced from independent producers and RFD is a completely independent award winning company that is renowned for its ethical business practices. RFD doesn’t just walk the walk to “appear” to be on side with issues. Please visit the website and consider giving Christmas gift hampers to people you care about and want to remember and include this Christmas.

About Real Food Direct
Real Food Direct acts as a vital link in the chain between specialist food producers and the customer. Through just one website, the customer can access a wide range of high quality delicatessen products and have them delivered to their door for a small carriage charge. The product range is also available to those in the food trade from the sister company Cotswold Fayre.

Contact Details
For further information on Real Food Direct and its products please contact MD Paul Hargreaves, Real Food Direct, Units 9-11, Manor Farm, Peppard Common, Henley-on-Thames, RG9 5LA.

Tel: +44 (0)844 2477777
Email: sales@realfooddirect.com

Labels: Uncategorized

These individual apple puddings are perfect comfort food for the cold winter months. They’re delicious served with crème fraiche or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

Serves 4

• 75g Unsalted Butter
• 75g Clear Honey
• 4 tbsp Double Cream
• 4 Eating Apples (I used Cox’s), peeled, cored and thinly sliced
• 120g Dean’s Butterscotch Shortbread Rounds

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 200°C. Place the butter, honey and cream in a small saucepan and heat, stirring until melted, to make a caramel sauce
2. Divide the caramel sauce between 4 ramekins, top with a layer of apple slices, then half the crushed shortbread
3. Layer with the remaining apples and shortbread, then pour over the rest of the caramel sauce
4. Place on a baking sheet and cook for 20 minutes until golden and bubbling
5. Allow to stand for 5 minutes then carefully turn out onto plates (you may need to run a sharp knife around the inside of the ramekin)
6. Serve with crème fraiche or vanilla ice cream and a dusting of ground cinnamon

Labels: Apples, Butterscotch, pudding

Real Food Direct has brought out a number of hampers specifically designed for Christmas. They are great gifts for family friends, companies and children.

Christmas Food Box – £34.95
The Christmas food box is a smaller hamper with only 7 products but is a lot cheaper and is great for individuals, couples or your parents. Below is a list of products you get in the box:

• Traditional Christmas Pudding – Medium 450g
• Handmade Star Mince Pies
• 12 Cocktail Stollen
• Cranberry Sauce 227g
• Brandy Butter 227g
• Luxury Christmas Truffles 60g
• Mini Christmas Cake 225g

Christmas Food Hamper – £99.95
The Christmas food hamper is a great gift for a whole family or maybe a company. Including 18 different products – this hamper contains all the classic Christmas products you would expect to see for a family Christmas. Go on – indulge yourself.

• Cranberry Butter Shortbread
• Rose & Lemon Turkish Delight in Hexagonal Box
• Marzipan Fruits 75g
• Traditional Christmas Pudding – Medium 450g
• Handmade Star Mince Pies
• Mr & Mrs Reindeer
• 9 Mini Christmas Cakes
• Pickled Walnuts 270g
• Cranberry Sauce 227g
• Brandy Butter 227g
• Luxury Christmas Truffles 60g
• Sugared Almonds 190g
• Artisan Biscuits – Grate Britain Stilton Biscuits
• Christmas Day Chutney
• Boxing Day Chutney
• Smoky Chilli Nuts
• Huntley & Palmers Chocolate Olivers 200g
• 12 Cocktail Stollen

Father Christmas Present Sack Boy & Girl – £34.95
A cute fairtrade present sack, full of treats for your little ones

• Present Sack For a Good Boy or Good Girl
• Reindeer Lollipop
• Strawberry Candy Cane
• Reindeer Tin
• Animal Box with Jellies
• Chocolate Gingerbread House
• Two by Two Money Box Gift Tin

Diabetic Christmas Hamper – £44.95
One of the best selling hampers that we stock. Contains a range of products suitable for Diabetics and comes in an attractive box.

• Diabetic Christmas Pudding 396g
• Diabetic Fruit Loaf 454g
• No added Sugar Oatcakes
• Sugar-free Shortbread 150g
• Low Sugar Sherbet Lemons
• No added Sugar Celtic Chocolates 125g
• Sugar-free Twosorts Liquorice 200g
• Low Sugar Fruit Drops
• Tomato & Basil Pasta Sauce 395g

Family Christmas Hamper – £89.95
This hampers contains a selection of our favourite food suitable for all the family.

• Hambleden Herbs Peppermint Teabags
• Ella’s Kitchen Smoothie Fruits 5 x 90g The Red One
• Farmhouse Biscuits Assorted Tin 400g
• RJ’s Soft Eating Liquorice 300g
• Marshfield Bakery Flapjack Selection Bag 10pcs
• Belgian Chocolate Chunk Stacker
• Travel Pasta – Assorted Shapes – cars, trains, etc
• Gingerbread Cow, Sheep & Pig
• Farmyard Friends Tins
• Burt’s Mature Cheddar Crisps 1 x 150g
• Uncle Joe’s Mintballs 200g
• Bag of Fruity Pop Lollipops 170g
• Peanut Butter Filled Pretzel Nuggets
• Large bag of Roasted & Salted Jumbo Cashews
• Lorina Pink Lemonade 75cl
• Fruity Marshmallows
• Chocolate Wafer Sticks
• Chocolate Dessert Sauce
• Organic Natural Spirit Coffee

Organic Christmas Hamper – £79.95
This wicker basket contains a large selection of food from our range of organic products.

• Organic Hand-made Lemonade 75cl
• Organic Spelt & Oat Cracker For Cheese
• Organic Praline Chocolate 100g
• Organic Clotted Cream Fudge 100g
• Organic Chocolate Lime Biscuits 150g
• Organic Granola with Sultanas & Nuts 500g
• Organic Clover Honey Clear 340g
• Organic Dulche de Leche (sweet toffee spread) 250g
• Organic Elderflower Teabags 24bags
• Organic Mint Humbugs
• Organic Natural Spirit Coffee
• Organic Traditional Free Range Mayonnaise
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Herb Dressing
• Organic Chilli in Sunflower Oil
• Organic Sicilian Olive Tapenade
• Organic White Wine 75cl Vida Organica Torrentes

Gourmet Christmas Hamper – £124.95
This is our second largest and one of our most popular corporate hamper gifts. Containing 23 products and you get FREE delivery on this hamper.

• Hawkshead Red Onion Marmalade
• Belvoir Spiced Winter Berries Cordial 70cl
• Rose Farm Thick Cut Olde English Marmalade 340g
• Pudding Lane Macadamia & Brandy Pudding Log 500g
• House of Dorchester Dusted Milk Champagne Truffles 130g
• Island Bakery Organic Oat Crumbles 150g
• Hanbury ‘Good with Everything’ Herb Sea Salt 200g
• Champagne and Tarragon Mustard
• Rose Farm Raspberry Sauce 300g
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Herb Dressing
• Gourmet Mulling Syrup 200ml
• Sunshine Olives
• Curry Sauce Company’s Thai Green Curry 475g
• Lawncourt Harvest’s Munchy Seeds Pumpkin Mix 200g
• Hanbury Four Coloured Peppercorns
• White Chocolate Sauce
• Harrington Foods Benenden Sauce 250ml
• Hambleden Herbs Rooibos Tea 20 bags
• Acacia Honey with Comb
• Marinello’s Puttanesca Sauce 395g
• Schiaffoni (large pasta tubes)
• Tregroes Toffee Waffles x 8
• French Red Wine 75cl Chateau Lauduc Bordeaux Claret

Gluten Free Christmas Hamper – £39.95
This wicker basket contains a large selection of food from our range of organic products.

• Jenkins & Hustwit Gluten Free loaf 500g
• Jenkins & Hustwit
• Chocolate Macaroons 225g
• Gluten-free Berry Delicious Cookies
• Gluten Free Bread Mix
• Beef Biltong
• Gluten-free Celtic Chocolates 125g

View all of Real Food Directs luxury Christmas hampers

Labels: Christmas, hampers, luxury

Hawkshead was once a part of Lancashire, known as Lancashire beyond the sands. Many of the traditional Lancashire and Cumbrian dishes bear common routes, and are based on great locally grown and farmed produce.

This recipe for Lancashire Hotpot is the recipe I use at home, but as with many of these dishes every household makes their own version, mine is based on my mothers recipe and always reminds me of my childhood.

Serves 4 – 6 people

Ingredients

• 2lb best end or middle neck of lamb, cut into bitesize pieces, cutting off any excess fat
• 1 whole link of great lancashire Black pudding cut into 4 – 6 pieces
• Hawkshead Relish (bottled sauce similar to Worcester Sauce but a softer version)
• 2 large Onions sliced
• 1 large Carrot sliced
• Oil
• Butter
• plain flour
• Bay leaf
• Thyme
• 2lbs potatoes (waxy lancashire potatoes) cut into thin slices
• Sea Salt
• Freshly ground black pepper

Pre heat the oven to 170c/325f/Gas3

Method

1. Having trimmed any excess fat from the lamb and pat dry with kicthen paper, roll the meat in some seasoned flour, heat the oil in a heavy bottomed frying pan and cook the meat a few at a time intil browned all over and transfer to a heavy based casserole dish.
2. Fry the onions, carrots and black pudding with a little butter in the frying pan and transfer to the casserole dish adding a couple of teaspoons of the Hawkshead Relish together with 20fl oz of boiling water and season with salt & pepper, the bay leaf and a little thyme, allow the pan to simmer for about 5-10 minutes adding a little more water if needed, it should just cover the meat but not drown it.
3. Remove from the heat and layer the potatoes seasoning with salt & pepper in between each layer. Dot with a little butter and cover with a tight fitting lid.
4. Place in a hot oven and cook for an hour and a half, after the first hour remove the lid and allow it to cook uncovered for the final half hour so that the potatoes can crisp and brown.
5. Serve with a generous helping of Hawkshead Relish Beetroot and Horseradish Chutney and a fresh green vegetable such as kale or spring greens with lots of black pepper.

Original Recipe

Labels: Beetroot, Chutney, Hawkshead, Horseradish, Lancashire Hot Pot, Relish