Gourmet Recipes

Grandma's Oatmeal Biscuits / Cookies

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 11:49:00 +0000

Simply the best 'cookies' you will taste anywhere. Whilst we cannot guarantee that consuming quantities of these will lead you to lose inches off you waist, we can guarantee you will earn brownie points with the rest of your family.

Ingredients

8oz (225g) of butter
8 oz (225g) of brown sugar
8oz (225g) of granulated sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
6 oz (175g) of plain flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
10 oz (300g) Organic Pertwood Porridge Oats
Chopped nuts, raisins, chocolate chunks (to taste - but we advise adding them all)

Method

Pre-heat oven to 350oF/175oC.
Cream butter and sugars.
Add vanilla and egg, followed by dry ingredients.
Drop by small teaspoonfuls onto greased baking sheet.
Bake for 8-9 minutes until very light golden colour.

Chai Spiced Tea Bread

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 10:02:00 +0000

Ingredients

225g luxury dried fruit
50g glace cherries, halved
50g ready to eat dried apricots, roughly chopped
100g soft brown sugar
4tbsp Drink Me Spiced Chai
100ml boiling water
25g blanched almonds, chopped
225g self raising fl our 3 large eggs, beaten

Method

In a bowl combine the dried fruit, cherries, apricots, and sugar.
In a jug mix the Spiced Chai with a little of the boiling water to dissolve it then stir in the remainder of the boiling water.
Pour the Spiced Chai mixture over the fruit mix, stir thoroughly then cover and leave for 2 hours.
Preheat the oven to 160c/325f/gas mark 3 and line a 900g (2lb) loaf tin.
In a clean bowl combine the almonds and flour. Then make a well in the centre and stir in the fruit and Spiced Chai mixture.
Add the beaten eggs and stir until well mixed. Spoon the mixture into the loaf tin and smooth over the surface.
Cook on the middle shelf in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes or until well risen and golden (and a skewer when inserted into the centre comes out clean.)
Remove from the oven and leave to cool for 5 minutes in the tin before turning out.

To serve, cut into slices when completely cool.

Take the Stress out of Christmas - Order Your Christmas Food Hampers Now!

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 11:11:00 +0000

Why spend another Christmas Eve rushing around trying to get your Christmas shopping done? It's one of the busiest and most stressful shopping days of the year. Everybody else has left it until the last minute too. Thousands of people trying to find the perfect present, with time rapidly running out and shelves getting emptier by the minute. And then there's the wrapping to do.

So rather than spending the run up to Christmas in a mad panic, why not order some fantastic Christmas food hampers from Real Food Direct? They're packed full of gourmet food goodies, and if you're no good at wrapping we can do it for you. Then you can spend Christmas Eve in true festive spirit. Visit friends you haven't seen for a long time. Hand-deliver your presents and stop by for a glass of sherry and a mince pie. Or just put your feet up and relax. How about that for a stress-free Christmas?

At Real Food Direct, we have such a variety of Christmas food hampers that you'll find the perfect gift for everyone, even the kids. The Father Christmas Present Sack is packed full of festive treats like candy canes and a reindeer tin. For that someone special, the simple but luxurious Champagne & Chocolate Hamper contains a bottle of the finest Champagne and a pack of delicious truffles. And for the true foodie, why not try the Organic Christmas Hamper? Brimming with goodies like organic spelt & oat crackers, clotted cream fudge and even a bottle of organic white wine.

For a more personal touch, you can choose your own products from the website and have them packed in a traditional wicker hamper. And don't forget, we can wrap it too. Just make sure you order before midday on Tuesday 22nd December so we can deliver in time for Christmas. And don't worry, all our hampers contain high quality products sourced from independent World and European sources. When you buy from Real Food Direct, you are buying from a completely independent award winning company.

Please visit the website and consider giving Christmas food hampers to your friends and family 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

Christmas Gift Hampers from Real Food Direct - An Award Winning Independent Company Renowned for its Ethical Business Ethos

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 09:27:00 +0000

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

Apple & Butterscotch Layer Puddings

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 09:31:00 +0000

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

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
Divide the caramel sauce between 4 ramekins, top with a layer of apple slices, then half the crushed shortbread
Layer with the remaining apples and shortbread, then pour over the rest of the caramel sauce
Place on a baking sheet and cook for 20 minutes until golden and bubbling
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)
Serve with crème fraiche or vanilla ice cream and a dusting of ground cinnamon

Christmas Hampers

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:03:00 +0000

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

Lancashire Hot Pot with Hawkshead Relish Beetroot & Horseradish Chutney

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:41:00 +0000

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

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.
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.
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.
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.
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

Win! Luxury food hamper

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 10:24:00 +0000

You could win lots of tasty Christmas treats worth £50
Five lucky users will win a Luxury Fine Food Hamper from realfooddirect.co.uk packed full of mouth-watering treats.

Christmas is the time to indulge in the very best luxury food, so what better way to celebrate the festive season than with a foodie gift for your family?

This fantastic range of gourmet goodies provides treats for everyone, from chocoholics to diabetics and coeliacs.

For more information visit: www.goodtoknow.co.uk

If you mean Christmas say Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 09:42:00 +0000

For years we have been persuaded and pressured into calling Christmas trees Holiday trees and Christmas cards Holiday cards. We are even encouraged, so as not to offend anyone, that we should wish people "Happy Holidays” not Happy Christmas. Oh really? Well Real Food Direct has got news for you. We want to wish everyone a Happy Christmas and that’s why our hampers are called Christmas Gift Hampers. Not Holiday Hampers.

Real Food Direct is a totally independent online retailer offering a range of English, Irish, Scottish and Welsh food and beverages all of which have been produced by the very best companies in the independent food sector. We also supply a great range of high quality sustainable products from both World and European sources.

For instance our fine quality French Champagne is presented in an attractive but simple “Champagne & Chocolate” hamper priced at only £34.95. Then we have our box of South African delights at only £32.95. And those prices as with all our great hampers are subject to a 10% discount if ordered before the end of October 2009.

Real Food Direct only supplies the very best quality hampers at excellent prices and of course they are delivered either to your doorstep or the house or business of your friends. So please order any hamper from our extensive range now or before the end of October. When you place the order, whether it’s for the delightful Mulled Wine and Mince Pie Hamper at only £19.95 or the fabulous Luxury Hamper at £199.95 we will give a 10% discount bonus. Just enter the voucher code HAMPER when you place your order.

Great Christmas Food Products in October

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 15:29:00 +0000

Cranberry Jelly
This is a delicious relish that is great for any left over Christmas lunch or even with your roast. Packed with lovely fruits and spices, it is fantastic with cold meats, in sandwiches it is far too good to save just for Christmas, cranberries are a superfood and very healthy so feel good and choose this relish all year round.
Buy Hawkshead Cranberry Jelly

Christmas Pudding Gluten-free
Jenkins and Hustwit produces an excellent selection of superb, highest quality hand-crafted speciality cakes, fruit cakes, Christmas Cakes, Christmas Puddings and other products for its many discerning customers.
Buy Jenkins & Hustwit Gluten-free Christmas Pudding

Mulled Wine and Mince Pie Gift Box
This is a great gift or you could just buy it for you and the partner. It includes all the components you need for a cosy night in front of the fire!
Contents: Gourmet Mulling Syrup 200ml, Handmade Star Mince Pies x 6, French Red Wine 75cl Chateau Lauduc Bordeaux Claret
Buy Mulled Wine and Mince Pie Gift Box

Gourmet Mulling Syrup
A non alcoholic syrup which contains a special blend of spices. You can use it to make mulled wine, cider or juice. When heated, it fully dissolves and doesn’t leave any residue or powdery aftertaste, which can sometimes occur with sachet type alternatives. Simply add to your chosen drink in an 8:1 ratio, heat and serve.
Buy Selsley Herb & Spice Gourmet Mulling Syrup

View Real Food Directs complete Christmas food selection

Do large urban food halls have a future?

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 09:27:00 +0000

Another flagship food hall has gone into liquidation this week – Farmer’s City Market in Richmond. This is concerning for the industry as I know there are other embryonic plans in the industry based on its perceived success. This latest set-back follows the failure of Food Inc in Bayswater at the beginning of the year and the well-documented struggles of Wholefoods Market in Kensington who continue to announce large losses.

In British Food Fortnight, what is the future for urban food halls concentrating on selling British produce to the British public? I am particularly keen to find out the answer to this question as I have lost £15,000 in bad debts to the two outlets named above in this calendar year. I am wondering whether we should continue to offer credit accounts to these potentially large customers. This week I would really value some thoughts on why places like this aren’t prospering as the rest of the industry seems to be. I was at a well-known farm shop in the North of England yesterday, who is reporting year on year growth of around 15%. Our turnover as a wholesaler is projected to be around the same for this financial year – and this is largely due to farm shops buying more from us. Regular readers of this blog will know that we celebrated our 10th anniversary earlier this year by inviting our top 50 customers. The vast majority were farm shops, not urban food halls.

So, why are farm shops prospering and urban food halls struggling? I would love to see more of these places open and stay open as they are more likely to be positioned geographically near supermarkets and take business off them. I suggest the following possible reasons as things to be aware of if you go down this route:

Crippling rent – generally farm shops would have low or no rent as they are on owned premises, whereas premises in towns and cities can command enormous prices. Now is a good time to negotiate these downwards.
Enormous business rates – again these are generally a lot lower for farm shops.
Stocking the right products for the catchment area. Wholefoods have recently admitted that they have far too much fresh produce in their store when half the people that go through the doors are tourists staying in hotels who are unlikely to buy this.
Car parking – farm shops have lots, whereas you might not be able to park anywhere near a food hall in a high street. (A free home delivery service would be almost essential otherwise customers' baskets would not be big enough.)

As I said at the beginning, I dearly hope there is a future for these urban food halls. If nothing else we will lose less money through bad debts. But I reckon, from the above points, they would need to turnover double or even treble a good farm shop to survive.

I look forward to further comments to this debate.

Posted by Paul Hargreaves
Speciality Bites

Chilled Chai Cocktail

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 15:55:00 +0000

Drink Me Chai is a luxurious blend of cinnamon, ginger, cloves, black tea, milk and sugar. Its the perfect way to cheer up the day and take 10 minutes out for pure kind thoughts. New for this year is the Fairtrade Chai Gift box which was received very well at IFE 2007

Serves 1

Ingredients

4tsp Drink Me Spiced Chai
2tbsp boiling water
50ml Baileys
25ml vodka
100ml milk
a handful of ice cubes
to decorate, chocolate shavings and cinnamon sprinkles

Method

In a jug combine the Spiced Chai with the boiling water and stir until dissolved and smooth. Transfer the Spiced Chai mixture to a cocktail shaker, add the Baileys, vodka, milk and a few ice cubes and shake until well mixed. Strain the mixture into an ice filled highball glass then dust with chocolate shavings and cinnamon sprinkles before serving immediately.

Drink Me Chai

Corporate Hampers Make The Perfect Gift This Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 07:55:00 +0000

With the festive season almost upon us, Real Food Direct has put together a huge range of corporate hampers to treat your employees and clients this Christmas. Each hamper has a fine selection of gourmet foods, from handmade cakes and biscuits to organic snacks and beverages.

Whether you want to thank clients for their continued support or reward employees for their hard work, corporate hampers make the ideal gift this Christmas. Our most popular hampers include the Christmas Food Box, English Hamper, Gourmet Food Hamper and Luxury Organic Hamper. Prices start from just £34.95, and hampers are usually despatched within two working days. We also offer a wrapping service if you need it.

If you would prefer another hamper there is plenty of choice available from the website, and for special diet requirements there is a Diabetic Hamper and a Gluten Free Hamper Box. A hamper always makes the perfect gift for friends, family and employees. For a personal gift Real Food Direct customers are able to select any products from the website and have them packed in a traditional hamper.

Rochester Mulled Berry Punch

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 15:48:00 +0000

The Rochester mulled berry punch is made from blackcurrant, apple, elderberry and blended with mixed spices and orange oil. It is best served hot with a slice of lemon or orange, you can heat it up in a saucepan but be careful not to boil it. It’s a perfect drink for a cold festive day to have with your friends.

INGREDIENTS: water, organic raw cane sugar, organic elderberry, organic blackcurrant and organic apple juices (30%), organic mixed spices, citric acid, organic orange oil.

Buy Rochester Mulled Berry Punch

Autumn Fruit & Port Crumble

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 13:23:00 +0000

This isn’t an everyday crumble it’s the taste of autumn in a bowl! The addition of port to the fruit brings out a deeper flavour whilst the cinnamon adds warmth to the dish. It’s definitely best eaten warm out of the oven with a dollop or two of crème fraiche.

Serves 6

Ingredients

50g Butter
1kg Bramley Apples, peeled, cored and cut into 1cm slices
500g Blackberries (fresh or frozen)
200g Caster Sugar
300ml Port
½ tsp Cinnamon
300g Deans All Butter Shortbread Biscuits

Instructions

Preheat oven to 180°C.
Melt 20g of the butter in a pan over medium-low heat. Cook apple, stirring, for 5-6 minutes until soft. Add berries, sugar, port and cinnamon. Cover and cook for 8 minutes until fruit gives off a lot of juice. Using a slotted spoon, transfer fruit to a 2L pie dish or six 300ml ramekins. Reduce juice in pan over medium-high heat for 3-4 minutes until syrupy. Pour over fruit.
Pulse shortbread in a processor to form coarse crumbs. Add remaining butter and process to combine. Top fruit with crumbs. Bake for 35 minutes until golden.
Serve warm with cream or crème fraiche

Dean's All Butter Shortbread Rounds

Lavender Creme Brulee

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 08:35:00 +0000

Serves 4

VIEW A PRINTABLE RECIPE CARD

Recipe Ingredients

6 eggs
6 egg yolks
60g Hanbury Lavender Sugar
2 pints double cream
120g caster sugar

Preparation Instructions

Mix eggs and sugar together.
Gently bring cream to almost boiling point.
Pour over the eggs and sugar whisking all the time.
Set aside for 15 minutes to infuse, and then pour through a fine sieve.
Put into small ramekins and cook in a Bain Marie at 180C/Gas 4 for about 30 minutes, until set.
Cool and chill in the fridge overnight.
Sprinkle some caster sugar on top and glaze with a torch.

Visit Bartspices to view the original recipe

Boozeberryade - Ice Bar Four Seasons Dublin

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 08:10:00 +0000

Ingredients

1 & 1/2 shots Ursus Slow berry vodka
1/2 shots Crème de Cerise
1 shot Boozeberries wild Blueberry liqueur
1 shot Lemon juice
3/4 shot Elderflower cordial
7 Fresh Blueberries

Instructions

In a cocktail shaker muddle 7 blue berries, add all ingredients to the shaker and shake with regular ice.
Fill a highball style glass up with crushed ice and pour the contents of the shaker.
Dome the glass with more crushed ice. For the garnish simply get 3 blue berries of all different sizes and put them on a small cocktail stick. It looks great.

Boozeberries

Pig Out with the Get Well Soon Swine Flu Gourmet Food Hamper from Real Food Direct

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 09:59:00 +0000

With Swine Flu spreading like wildfire, Real Food Direct has put together the perfect Get Well Soon gourmet food hamper for friends and family recovering from the illness. Tasty treats like the Fairytale Gingerbread Deluxe Iced Pig, House of Dorchester Dusted Champagne Truffles and Farmyard Friends Pig Gems are smartly presented in a traditional wicker hamper, and can be ordered online for just £24.95.

Whether friends and family have been suffering from Swine Flu, or the side effects of Tamiflu, they will be desperate for some luxuries to enjoy when they feel better. The Get Well Soon Swine Flu Hamper has six yummy products, so there is something to suit everyone.

If a customer would prefer another hamper there is plenty of choice available from the website, for example the English Hamper and the Fine Food Hamper Box, for special diet requirements there is also a Diabetic Hamper and a Gluten Free Hamper Box. A hamper always makes the perfect gift for friends, family and employees. For a personal gift Real Food Direct customers are able to select any products from the website and have them packed in a traditional hamper.

Visit the Real Food Direct website to order your hamper:
http://www.realfooddirect.co.uk/swine-flu-hamper.html

Lemon Baked Fish

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 07:33:00 +0000

Ingredients

450g (1lb) Haddock or Cod Fillets
4 tsp Lemon Juice
1 tbsp Butter or Margarine
1 tsp Lemon Rind
1/8 tsp Salt
1/8 tsp Rosemary
Salt & Black Pepper

Method

Preheat oven to 180°C: 350°F: Gas 4.
Divide fish into four portions.
Place into a stoneware dish.
Mix butter or margarine, lemon juice, grated lemon rind, rosemary, salt and pepper.
Pour over fish and bake for 25 minutes or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork.

Using dried herbs to flavour Fish:

Sprinkle onto fish or seafood before baking or grilling.

5 teaspoons of dried basil
5 teaspoons of crushed fennel seed
4 teaspoons of dried parsley
1 teaspoon of dried lemon peel
Combine all herbs and store in a tightly closed glass jar at room temperature.

Lomer Foods

Caramelised Red Onion & Goats Cheese Tart

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 07:59:00 +0000

This is a lovely fresh tasting tart that is great with a salad for a light lunch or as a starter.

Ingredients

Hawkshead Red Onion Marmalade
1 Med Red Onion - Sliced
Butter
Puff Pastry (use the frozen kind, life's too short!)
100g Goats Cheese (the log style with the rind on)
Fresh Thyme

Instructions

Heat the oven to 225c/ Gas 7
Soften the onions in a little butter until they are translucent but not browned.
Roll out the pastry into a rectangle to about 1/2 cm thickness, using a knife score a border around the edges and prick the base all over with a fork.
Spread the base with sufficient Hawkshead Relish Red Onion Marmalade to coat the base, leaving the border clear. Top with the softened onions and a slice of the Goats Cheese, sprinkle with a little of the fresh thyme and bake in a hot oven for 15-20 minutes or until the pastry is golden and puffed up and the cheese has browned on the top.

Roast Leg of Lamb with Apples and Cider

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 09:18:00 +0000

Ingredients

(Serves: 8-10)

1 leg of lamb, about 2kg, fat
trimmed and skin scored
olive oil, to drizzle
3 tbsp NoMU Lamb Rub or
NEW NoMU Roast Rub
NoMU Just Salt
NoMU Just Pepper
3-4 garlic cloves, skins
on and halved
a few sprigs of thyme
juice from half a lemon
4 Granny Smith
apples, quartered
500ml apple cider
60ml honey, to drizzle
300ml lamb or chicken stock

This is one of my favourite Gordon Ramsay recipes from his book “Cooking for Friends”, with an added NoMU touch of course. It is very easy and truly delicious.

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 220°C.

Weigh the lamb and calculate the final cooking time at 12 minutes per 450g for medium-rare, 15 minutes per 450g for medium. Score the fat in a criss-cross pattern, then drizzle with a little olive oil and rub all over with NoMU Rub, salt & pepper. Place in a deep roasting pan and scatter the garlic and thyme over and around. Pour over the lemon juice and drizzle again with olive oil. Sprinkle with a little more NoMU Lamb Rub, then roast in the hot oven for 20 minutes.

Remove the lamb from the oven and reduce the heat to 180°C. Scatter the apples around the pan and pour the cider and honey over the lamb. Continue to roast for the calculated time. To check, insert a skewer into the thickest part of the lamb, then press the meat lightly, the redder the juices, the rarer the meat. Lift the lamb onto a carving board and cover with a piece of kitchen foil. Rest it in a warm place while you prepare the gravy.

Pour the contents of the pan, including the apples and garlic into a fine sieve set over a saucepan. Push down with the back of a ladle to extract all the juices and flavour and then discard the pulp. Place the pan over a medium heat and add the stock. Bring to the boil and let it bubble vigorously until it has thickened. Taste and adjust the seasoning, then pour into a warm serving jug. Carve the lamb into thin slices and serve drizzled with the apple and cider gravy. Alternatively only use half the apples to make the gravy and keep the rest to serve whole with the lamb.

The Ashes Hamper - a winning mix of spicy mouth watering snacks presented by Real Food Direct, supplier of Gourmet Food Hampers

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 13:05:00 +0000

With the cricket season upon us, Real Food Direct has put together the perfect Ashes Hamper for men, brimming with spicy snacks, it is ideal for a long day supporting the England team. Interesting and mouth watering nibbles like Chilli Jelly, Chilli Chocolate and Thai Chilli Oat Flakes are stylishly presented in The Ashes Hamper box that can now be ordered online for £49.95. Real Food Direct delivers high-quality delicatessen products straight to the customer’s door. With nearly 20 different gourmet food hampers, customers can always find the perfect hamper for any occasion.

Whether the cricket is followed in front of the TV or at the cricket ground, keen supporters will get peckish at some point during the game. The Ashes Hamper products make the perfect complement to cold beer and sandwiches and make for great commentary as everyone will try some of the more unusual nibbles and find their favourites.

If a customer would prefer another hamper there is plenty of choice available from the website, for example the English Hamper and the Fine Food Hamper Box, for special diet requirements there is also a Diabetic Hamper and a Gluten Free Hamper Box. A Hamper always makes the perfect gift for friends, family and employees. For a personal gift Real Food Direct customers are able to select any products from the website and have them packed in a traditional wicker hamper.

Order your hamper throughout the Ashes Test Series.

Sandwich filling ideas using Balsamico

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 09:48:00 +0000

If you are looking for picnic ideas this summer why not try one of our seasonal sandwhich filling ideas

Beef and caramelised onion

Rare roast beef, onions sautéed gently until soft and then finished with Balsamico, served in thick slices of bloomer with watercress.

Antipasto sandwich

Artichoke hearts, pitted olives, rocket, Parma ham or salami, sliced tomatoes, rocket, Parmesan and Balsamico on Ciabatta

Turkey and Blue Cheese

Sliced cooked turkey, crumbled blue cheese, walnuts, baby leaves, and Balsamico on sourdough

Imaginative Cuisine - Balsamico Vinaigrettes

Spiced Chai Honey & Yogurt Muffins

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 09:16:00 +0000

Ingredients

3tbsp Drink Me Spiced Chai
50g medium oatmeal
2tbsp boiling water
50g light muscavado sugar
125ml milk
50g butter, melted
225g plain flour
1 x 200g tub Greek style yogurt
1½tsp baking powder
1 large egg, beaten
1tsp bicarbonate of soda
4tbsp runny honey
A pinch of salt
A little extra medium oatmeal for dusting

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 200c/400f/gas mark 6.
Place the Spiced Chai in a jug, add the boiling water and stir until dissolved and smooth. Then top this mixture up with the milk and set aside.
In a large bowl sift together the plain flour with the baking powder, bicarbonate of soda and salt. Stir in the oatmeal and sugar and make a well in the centre.
In a jug mix together the melted butter, yogurt, beaten egg and honey then stir in the Spiced Chai mixture and pour into the dry ingredients. Stir together until just mixed together, if it looks a little lumpy this is fine as over mixing will result in rubbery muffins.
Divide the mixture between a 12 hole deep muffin tin lined with muffin cases then sprinkle each with a little extra oatmeal.
Cook in the preheated oven for 15–18 minutes or until well risen, golden and firm to the touch. Remove from the oven and cool for a few minutes in their tin before removing and cooling on a wire rack. Just delicious served slightly warm.

Drink Me Spiced Chai

Chilli, Bacon and Onion Bread

noreply@blogger.com (Admin) — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 09:35:00 +0000

Serve this delicious bread with cheese and soups or use it to turn beans on toast into a gourmet experience.

* For best results use Traditional Dried Active Yeast if making the loaf in a bread maker and Fast Action Dried Yeast if making by hand.

Ingredients

1 medium onion, finely chopped
2 rashers smoked back bacon
1 1/2tsp/7.5mlsp dried yeast*
6floz/175ml water
1tsp/5ml sugar
6oz/175g strong brown flour
41/2oz/125g strong white flour
3oz/75g Munchy Seeds Chilli Mix (or another Mix if you prefer)

To bake in a bread maker

Trim the rind and fat from the bacon keeping it in one long strip, chop the bacon. Put the fatty rinds into a pan with the onions. Cover and cook over a very low heat for 5 minutes. Discard the rinds, and add the chopped bacon. Cover and cook for 5 minutes. Leave to cool.
Meanwhile stir the yeast, water and sugar together. Leave for 10 minutes.
Put all ingredients into the bread maker and set to mix and cook a 1.5lb/675g loaf immediately (do not use the delay facility). Remove cooked loaf from pan and cool.

To bake in an oven

At step 2 stir all ingredients together (do not mix the fast action yeast with the water first) and knead on a lightly floured surface for 10 minutes. Put into a covered bowl and leave in a warm place until doubled in size (approx 1 hour).

Knead for 5 minutes. Shape into an 8in/20cm round and put onto a floured baking sheet. Cover loosely with oiled cling film and leave in a warm place to rise until doubled in size. Bake at 210C/425F Mark 7 for 15-20 minutes or until cooked through, (the underside of the loaf will sound hollow when tapped). Cool on a wire rack.

Chilli Munchy Seeds