FoodLovers Britain
Just another WordPress.com weblogFood Lovers Britain New Look
Hi folks,
Just a quick update to tell you about our new look FoodLovers website.
It’s more of an overhaul than a radical change of style. We’ve tried to make the navigation easier to use and following feedback from readers / users we’ve also changed the Food Lovers Search pages – making it easier and faster for you to find FoodLovers approved food shops and suppliers.
Other news: This month we are gearing up for Christmas, so check out our seasonal recipes (including a suitably seasonal recipe for pheasant from Ian Rogers of Manor Farm Game) as well as the special Christmas food offers in our shop.
We hope you enjoy using the new and improved site.
Best wishes from Henrietta Green and all the team at FoodLovers Britain.
Recipe of the Month – Somerset Apple Cake
This October we’ve been championing British apples. So naturally our recipe of the month is apple based.
Recipe for Somerset Apple Cake
Ingredients:
1lb (450g) cooking apples
Salted water to keep apple slices white
12 oz (350g) self raising flour
2 tsp baking powder
12 oz (350g) caster sugar
4 eggs
1 tsp almond essence
8 oz (225g) melted butter
Flaked almonds
Caster sugar to sprinkle
Method
Pre-heat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas 4. Grease and base line a 12 x 9 in (30 x 23 cm) roasting tin with greaseproof paper. Peel, core and thinly slice the apples into lightly salted water.
Measure flour, baking powder and sugar into a large bowl. Beat eggs together with almond essence and stir into the flour with the melted butter. Mix well then spread half mixture into the tin. Arrange the apple slices over the top of the mixture, then cover with remaining mixture (don’t worry if apples show through a bit). Sprinkle generously with almond flakes.
Bake for about 1 1/4 hours or until the cake is golden, firm to touch and slightly shrunk from the sides. Leave to cool. Turn cake out, sprinkle with castor sugar and cut into generous chunks.
Can be served cold or warm with custard or cream.
For more scrumptious recipes check out the FoodLovers Britain recipe pages.
What’s On – Apple Festivals
We have three apple-related events to draw to your attention this weekend – all taking place on Saturday 11 October and Sunday 12 October 2008.
First up we have the Waterperry Apple Weekend, close to Wheatley, Oxfordshire. Get your mystery apples identified by the professionals at the Apple Weekend at Waterperry Gardens. They grow over 50 varieties themselves, and are offering orchard tours and advice on growing apples as part of the festivities.
Next, we have Apple Affair, at West Dean Gardens, Chichester, West Sussex. West Dean’s walled Victorian kitchen garden grows over 100 varieties of apples, all of which will be on display and featuring in the various apple-based food and drink goodies on sale during the weekend.
Finally, we have the The Big Apple festival in and around Much Marcle, Herefordshire. This is one of the biggest apple celebrations in the country. Tour the villages around Much Marcle – the main events will be centred around the Grand Barn in Hellens – for apple tastings, apple trails, cider tastings, apple ID, orchard walks and much more.
For more foody events happening around the UK this October see our Food Events page.
Top Ten Sandwich Fillings
We found a list of the top ten most popular sandwich fillings.
At FLB our top sandwich is probably a traditional cheese and pickle using chunky white bloomer bread.
cheese
It’s important to use a good, local cheese in thick slices, just a little butter, and preferably a handmade piccalilli or other pickle. If none at hand, then shame on you! – try a search on our foody database for a FoodLovers Approved preserves and pickle producer – however, Branston’s remains one of the best of the mass produced and we admit to using it ourselves now and then.
Cut into two halves, serve with a glass of perry or cider and switch on The Archers for added authenticity.
Junk Food Feasting is Doubly Dangerous
A tale from the dark side. Not only is eating junk food hazardous to your health, it’s also a hazard to your wallet.
This cautionary tale is taken from the The Sun newspaper via the Herald Sun.
“A FAST-food fiend is outraged after being slapped with a £150 fine for staying too long in a KFC carpark in Britain while she and a mate gorged on a huge meal.
Natalie Jackson – who eats KFC three times a week – has vowed never to go back after she was hit with the fine as she and a friend chowed down on 14 pieces of chicken, six packets of chips and large soft drinks, The Sun reports.
Jackson, a trainee nurse, and her mate spent an hour and a half eating their way through the 5,456-calorie meal.
But days later Jackson was outraged to receive a fine in the mail for staying too long in the KFC car park, which has a 75-minute limit…. more
Championing British Cheese
This month at FLB we’re championing the best in british cheese.
You could explore the possibilites at The Great British Cheese Festival, but if you can’t get there, we’ve picked out some of our favourite FoodLovers Approved cheese making businesses for you to enjoy as we run down our list of favourite specialist cheese shops, cheesemongers and cheese-makers.
Also, you can check out our cheese wafers recipe, perfect cheesy snacks ideal for parties, read more about the so-called ‘ Territorial cheeses’ which are traditionally named after the county they are made in, and our guide to cheeses made with unpasteurised or raw milk – are they safe?
Cookbook of the Month – Thane Prince’s Jams & Chutneys
Our ‘Cook Book’ of the month for September is our review of Thane Prince’s Jams & Chutneys.
September is the traditional time for dealing with summer’s glut in preparation for winter’s leaner months. As Thane Prince points out, it wasn’t so long ago that “preserving nature’s bounty was a necessity rather than an indulgence” so every prudent housewife (and I use the description advisedly) would beaver away bottling, pickling, making jam and so on.
Jams & Chutneys is a charming and useful book, full of sparklingly original recipes, classics and their variations, stylish photographs, hints and helpful tips. Everyone will be charmed by Pears in White Wine with Lemongrass or an unctuous Spiced Pumpkin Butter and with apples coming into season now, who can resist Apple, Plum & Onion Relish.
What’s On – Ludlow Food Festival
With more than 130 of the region’s best food and drink producers, Ludlow Marches Food Festival is considered by many to be the top foodie destination festival on the calendar. With taste workshops, cookery demonstrations, a food fair in Ludlow Castle and food trails on everything from sausages to beer, you can be sure your tastebuds will be challenged.
Look out for FoodLovers Approved businesses and Henrietta Green at Ludlow. She’ll be Championing Cheese- sampling the best cheeses local to Ludlow at 3pm on Saturday at The Olive Theatre.
When: Friday 12 September to Sunday 14 September 2008, starting at 10am
Entry: from £5.50
Contact: info@foodfestival.co.uk
Website: www.foodfestival.co.uk
Featured Food Business – Fish In A Box
A big welcome to Fish In A Box, that has joined the FoodLovers Britain stable of approved food businesses.
The FIAB team are based in Newport, Shropshire and provide a national fresh fish mail order service with FREE delivery in some areas and subsidised delivery costs elsewhere throughout the UK.
We’re not the only ones to recognise the quality of service of Fish In A Box – the company was a winner of the Heart Of England Fine Foods Special Diamond Award 2008; finalist in the The Seafood Authority Independent Retailer of The year award 2007 and a Slow Food UK Bursary Award Winner 2008.
FIAB offer top grade fish from all around Britain’s coast supplied by day boat fishermen in the main, including white-fish, oil rich fish, flat-fish, fresh water fish, smoked fish, shellfish and specialties. The fish is sent in overnight on refrigerated transport to the processing unit where it is prepared to individual specification in temperature controlled conditions and packed for dispatch the same day.
The head fishmonger is the third of his generation in the trade, he knows what to look for and always gives best prices on the freshest fish and seafood. It’s a complete service by knowledgeable staff, and we heartily recommend the Fish In A Box company as representing everything best in British food.
Food Prices – More Bad News
Figures just published by the research company Verdict, show that overall prices of food in supermarkets have risen by more than 8 per cent since January, several times the rate of inflation.
The price of fresh food has risen by 12 per cent since the start of the year, while meat and fish now costs 23 per cent more on average. Chicken and ham have risen by 42 and 45 per cent, while staples like pasta and basmati rice went up over 40 per cent.
Even tinned goods rose 15 per cent, so if you’re follwing Delia’s How To Cheat At Cooking series you’re going to be paying more.
