Brian Turner's Mincemeat, Pear & Honey Tart

If you were at the BBC Good Food Show, Winter edition, you may have seen some celebrity chefs cooking up a storm on the Stoves Kitchen. The following recipe was demonstrated by Brian Turner. This simple yet effective recipe would be a show stopper for dessert this Christmas. The aromatic smells, juicy pears and crisp puff pastry work perfectly together. And the finishing touches of speckles of green from the pistachios and dusting of icing sugar make it look like a winter wonderland.

Please find the recipe and other delights on http://www.stoves.co.uk/conversation/recipes?page=2

Serves 6-8
Prep time 40 minutes
Cooking time 20 minutes
Temperature 180 fan















Ingredients

• 1lb/450g of puff pastry
• 4 pears, peeled and cored
• 150ml water
• 150g sugar
• Juice of half a lemon
• Cinnamon stick
• 2 star anise
• 6oz/180g mincemeat
• 2 tbsp runny honey
• 2tbsp chopped pistachio nuts
• 1 egg, whisked
• Icing sugar

Method

1. Peel and core the pears ready for poaching,
2. Place the water, sugar, lemon juice, cinnamon stick and star anise in a pan- bring to the boil until the sugar has dissolved. Pop in the pears, cover with parchment paper/foil and poach for 10 minutes. Once cooked let cool,
3. Roll out your pastry so it is about 1/4 of a cm thick and 25cm in diameter. I used a tray as a template, ensuring that there was excess pastry to form the edge. Prick the centre with a fork,
4. Spread the mincemeat across the pastry. Half your pears, and place on top, making sure the 'stalk' end is facing the centre,
5. Brush the pears with honey and the pastry with the egg,
6. Bake for 20 minutes @180 fan
7. Once baked, sprinkle with chopped pistachios and dust with icing sugar.

Tips:

• Use any left over pastry and mince meat to make mini mince pies.
• Keep the poaching liquid from the pears. Use it as a base to making mulled wine or add into whipped cream to serve with the tart.

Press Release- BBC Good Food Show Winter 2015

The BBC Good Food Show Winter offers all the ingredients for a great day out

The flagship BBC Good Food Show, sponsored by Lexus, returns to the NEC next week on the 26-29 November to set visitors up for the perfect festive, foodie season. Visitors can enjoy live cookery demonstrations in the Supertheatre sponsored by Kenwood and learn top culinary tips from familiar faces Paul Hollywood, James Martin, The Hairy Bikers, Tom Kerridge, Mary Berry plus Michel Roux Jr. as he makes his debut at this year’s Winter show. 

The BBC Good Food Show Winter will also host a variety of demonstration stages, all with star-studded line-ups. Visitors will be inspired by a range of delicious winter wonders, learning great tips and techniques from some of the country’s finest. Don’t miss the themed Eat Well sessions from industry experts, including Lorraine Pascale and learn how to create top quality dishes in the Michelin Made Easy sessions from the likes of Theo Randall on the Winter Kitchen Stage, sponsored by AO.com. Visitors can head down to The Bakes & Cakes Stage, sponsored by Magimix, and learn direct from some of their favourite baking personalities, including Nancy Birtwhistle, as they make, bake and share their expert tips and techniques. In addition, the official appliance supplier to the BBC Good Food Shows, Stoves will also be hosting their own Stoves Live Cook Stage and Hotpoint's "Love Your Kitchen" live demos are a must-see if visitors want to catch their favourite chefs cooking up a storm on a range of Hotpoint ovens, hobs and small appliances.

For the first time at the Show, visitors can have their culinary queries answered by the chefs attending the Show, with a friendly grilling on the Interview Stage, sponsored by Lakeland, and share the secrets of their success. In addition, the Book Shop run by WHSmith features a large collection of the latest and popular cook books at great Show prices. Visitors can pop along and make a purchase, and take the opportunity to have it signed by the chefs themselves.

There is so much to taste at the BBC Good Food Show Winter this November. Visitors can stock up on the best of speciality produce in the Producers’ Village and a hand-picked selection of outstanding artisan producers in the BBC Good Food Champions area. Visitors should head to the Ludlow Producer Market within the Show for a fantastic collection of producers from Ludlow and the Marches. With an emphasis on local, independent food and drink producers this is a great area to pick up some interesting products with a local flavour. Visitors can also pop-by and show their support to Legges of Bromyard, the clear and well deserved winner of the coveted title of Midlands’ Best Deli or Farm Shop.

After all this shopping, visitors can make full use of The Shop & Drop supported by Guide Dogs for the Blind, where they can drop off their shopping for collection later, leaving them free to relax and enjoy the Show. Plus, for an extra special experience, visitors can head to the BBC Good Food Kitchen where they can dine on dishes inspired by recipes from bbcgoodfood.com.

The BBC Good Food Shows team has been searching the UK and Ireland to find the most outstanding artisan food and drink producers. The Producers’ Bursary Awards called for applications from small artisan producers with companies carefully shortlisted and all entries tasted at the BBC Good Food Test Kitchens by a team of experts. Visitors to the show will be able to meet, taste and buy from this year’s impressive winners, including mouth-watering selection of charcuterie from Sedgewicks Charcuterie.

If visitors are keen for a tipple during the day, there’s plenty to choose from. The Drinks Cabinet provides a variety of tipples and artisan spirits for the festive season. Plus, The Campaign for Real Ale will be back hosting their unmissable tutored beer tastings with industry experts. During the sessions, visitors will have the chance to explore new tastes, learn about the art of brewing and gain an insight into the diversity of British beer. In addition, visitors can join a 30-min Cocktails at Home Masterclass and learn how to make incredible tasting, party-starting festive drinks in just a few simple steps. Cocktail gurus Tom & Frankie will get visitors making delicious drinks using easy to access ingredients that they can re-create at home.

This year, The World Cheese Awards, the largest cheese competition on the planet, are returning to the BBC Good Food Show Winter. Visitors can watch the judging take place on the first day of the Show, or join one of the tutored tours across the weekend to sample and discover more about the world's best cheeses.

ENDS

For more information on interviews, competitions or features, please contact Katie-Jane Sullivan on 0203 405 4286 or email kj.sullivan@riverstreetevents.co.uk

Adult standard super tickets start at £24.75 for BBC Good Food Show Winter

The BBC Good Food Shows are organised and presented by River Street Events Ltd

The GoodFood word mark and logo are trademarks of BBC Worldwide Limited. Copyright 2015 BBC Worldwide Limited

About BBC Worldwide Ltd. BBC Worldwide Limited is the main commercial arm and a wholly owned subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). BBC Worldwide exists to support the BBC public service mission and to maximise profits on its behalf. It does this through investing in, commercialising and showcasing content from the BBC around the world, in a way that is consistent with BBC standards and values. The business also builds the reach and reputation of the BBC brand overseas and champions British creativity.

In 2012/13, BBC Worldwide generated headline profits of £156m and headline sales of £1,116m and returned £156m to the BBC. For more detailed performance information please see our Annual Review website: http://www.bbcworldwide.com/annualreview

Banana Muffins

In my previous blog post I created a dish using ingredients from suppliers that will be featuring as this years BBC Good Food Show, Winter, Birmingham.
Here is a simple yet delicious banana muffin recipe using 'Mellow Yellow Rapeseed Oil' and 'Honey Munchy Seeds'. This recipe is great as it uses up any of those "unwanted" bananas, creating a healthy snack, great for a chilly Autumn afternoon.

Prep time 20 mins
Cooking time 20 mins
Makes 12

Ingredients

• 210g self raising flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 225g caster sugar
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 3 bananas- mashed up
• 100 ml Mellow Yellow Rapeseed oil
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla essence

Topping

• 12 tsp of Honey Munchy Seeds
• 1 tbsp of honey- melted

Method

1. Preheat your oven to 180 degrees Celsius (fan),
2. Place all the dry ingredients in one bowl,
3. Mix the mashed banana, rapeseed oil, egg and vanilla essence in another bowl,
4. Combine the dry and wet ingredients together, 
5. Pour the mixture into a measuring jug and divide between the 12 muffin cases,
6. Sprinkle 1 tsp of 'Honey Munchy Seeds' on top of each, pushing them down gently with the back of the spoon,
7. Bake for 20 minutes, until golden brown and the mixture is cooked through,
8. Whilst hot, brush over the melted honey,
9. Enjoy warm with a cuppa!

Midlands Best Deli or Farm Shop Winner Announced

For immediate release

Midlands Best Deli or Farm Shop Winner Announced

The BBC Good Food Show Team have been scouring the Midlands in association with BBC Good Food to award the most outstanding shop with the title of Midlands Best Deli or Farm Shop 2015. Following an extensive nomination and judging process the deserving winner has been confirmed as:

Legges of Bromyard, Herefordshire

After searching through customer nominations, reviews, mystery shopping reports and visits to the ten shortlisted delis and farm shops from across the Midlands, The BBC Good Food Show are delighted to award Legges of Bromyard with the coveted title of The Midlands Best Deli or Farm Shop 2015. 

The judging panel scored each shop on a range of criteria including quality and value of produce and customer service. The number of customer nominations and reviews and mystery shopping exercises from some of the Midlands most prolific food bloggers were also taken into account. 

Legges of Bromyard impressed the judging panel with its range of local produce, excellent customer service, atmosphere and overall shopping experience. Legges of Bromyard take pride in being unique - endlessly exploring the sumptuous tastes of glorious Herefordshire. They have worked non-stop since 2000 to champion the fantastic produce straight from the heart of the countryside. As farmers themselves, they know everything about the products they sell, plus most of their meat comes from within a six mile radius of the front door.

Katy Truss, Artisan food specialist for the BBC Good Food Shows and member of the judging panel, visited Legges of Bromyard and says: "As you walk into Legges of Bromyard you don't know which way to turn; join the queue for one of the glistening hot sausages, peruse the range of local craft beers and ciders or marvel at the meats on offer in the butchery and cold meats counters. Discover new local producers from the Midlands, along with fresh fruit, vegetables and baked goods. Its beautiful displays, buzzing atmosphere, great range of produce and excellent customer service made it stand out as this year's winner."

The Winner receives a free of charge stand at the BBC Good Food Show Winter at the NEC from 26 - 29 November, promoting their award winning Midlands business to tens of thousands of food loving visitors. 

The flagship BBC Good Food Show returns to the NEC to set guests up for the perfect festive, foodie season. Guests can watch chefs, including Mary Berry, Tom Kerridge, The Hairy Bikers, James Martin and Paul Hollywood, create delicious seasonal dishes live on stage, and stock up on all the treats and tipples needed to see them through the winter. Plus, the largest cheese competition on the planet, The World Cheese Awards, are returning to the BBC Good Food Show Winter. Visitors can watch the judging take place on the first day of the Show, or join one of the tutored tours across the weekend to sample and discover more about the world's best cheeses.

ENDS

Judges include:

Barney Desmazery – Senior Food Editor, BBC Good Food 

Laura Biggs - Managing Director, BBC Good Food Shows

Katy Truss - Artisan Food Specialist for BBC Good Food Shows and owner of Fabulous Food Finds

Members of BBC Good Food Show Midlands Blogging Community

For more information on interviews, competitions or features, please contact Katie-Jane Sullivan on 0203 405 4286 or email kj.sullivan@riverstreetevents.co.uk

Adult standard super tickets start at £24.75 for BBC Good Food Show Winter

The BBC Good Food Shows are organised and presented by River Street Events Ltd

The GoodFood word mark and logo are trademarks of BBC Worldwide Limited. Copyright 2015 BBC Worldwide Limited

About BBC Worldwide Ltd. BBC Worldwide Limited is the main commercial arm and a wholly owned subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). BBC Worldwide exists to support the BBC public service mission and to maximise profits on its behalf. It does this through investing in, commercialising and showcasing content from the BBC around the world, in a way that is consistent with BBC standards and values. The business also builds the reach and reputation of the BBC brand overseas and champions British creativity.

In 2012/13, BBC Worldwide generated headline profits of £156m and headline sales of £1,116m and returned £156m to the BBC. For more detailed performance information please see our Annual Review website: http://www.bbcworldwide.com/annualreview

Bruschetta made with rapeseed oil & smoked garlic

Prep time 20-30 minutes
Marinating time 1 hour
Serves 6- as a starter or side dish

Ingredients

• A country grain loaf- Hedonist Bakery
• 3 bulbs of smoked garlic, crushed- The Garlic Farm
• A mixture of ripe tomatoes, chopped/cubed- I used 4 plum tomatoes, 10 yellow cherry tomatoes and a handful of tomberries 
• Small red onion- finely diced
• 4tbsp Rapeseed oil- Farrington's Mellow Yellow
• Fresh herb of choice- basil, thyme or oregano
• Balsamic vinegar- Gourmet Spice Co.
• Sea salt & cracked black pepper

Method

1. Bake your loaf from Hedonist Bakery- following packet instructions.
2. In a bowl combine smoked garlic, tomatoes, red onion, rapeseed oil, fresh herbs & seasoning. Leave the mixture to infuse and marinate for an hour in the fridge.
3. Slice your grainy loaf into thick slices, approximately 1cm thick, place under the grill to create a bit more crunch- until golden brown.
4. Place the items on the table to let everyone get stuck in.
5. Pile the glistening tomato mix on top of the toasted bread, and finish with a dash of balsamic vinegar.
   

This recipe was inspired by a delightful box of samples, from some of the exhibitors that will be at this years BBC Good Food Shower Winter.

Luxury farmers country grain loaf from Hedonist Bakery (stand C90)

A beautifully crafted loaf full of nuts & seeds, that only needs a sprinkle of water and 8-10 minutes in the oven. Warm and crusty with no additives. Great for this recipe or to have with soup this Autumn/Winter.

Farrington's Mellow Yellow cold pressed rapeseed oil (stand F60)

Beautiful golden yellow rapeseed oil that is versatile and full of natural goodness. I have used it for the above recipe but it is great to make those perfect Sunday roasties or for baking with.

Smoked garlic bulb- The Garlic Farm (stand J56)

I absolutely love ALL things garlic! So when I opened my box of goodies to inhale the smell of smoked garlic I was very excited. It compliments the fresh tomatoes in this recipe and is ideal to roast with chicken.

Gran Riserva 7 year aged balsamic vinegar- Gourmet Spice Co. (J80)

First I will admit that I am guilty of dipping foccacia in balsamic vinegar- a flavour/texture combination that just works. But this dark syrupy balsamic is the best I have tried so far! A dash of this on top of the bruschetta compliments it.

Taking a break

Hey, just an update on what is going on with me and my blog. I am in my final year of University, so have a lot going on with assignments and writing my dissertation. On top of that I am now an official blogger for my university. So due to so much going on, I am going to take a short break from my personal blog. I will occasionally post on here, especially in regards to blogging about the BBC Good Food Shows. Blog posts to follow in the coming month!

However, you are more than welcome to join me/follow me on my new University blog. I will be posting articles weekly on the following link https://helenaatucb.wordpress.com/

I want to thank everyone that reads my posts and hope you will continue browsing both my blogs :)

Spiced chocolate torte with a fragrant note of Christmas

Yes, you read that correctly, the title does imply the word 'Christmas'. However, even though this recipe would be great to use for the Christmas season, it is perfect for any occasion. It is merely the combination of spices, chocolate and orange that reminds me of Christmas.

I developed this recipe for a date night and also to use up some of the excess goodies I had left over from the BBC Good Food Show. Before I get on with the recipe, I would just like to say a thank you to Lotus Biscoff for the samples. If you are not aware of this company feel free to look at what they have on offer- http://www.lotusbiscuits.co.uk/

Serves 6-8

Prep 30 mins

Ingredients

200g of Lotus biscuits
100g unsalted butter- melted
100g dark chocolate
100g milk chocolate
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 tbsp icing sugar
200ml whipping cream
Creme fraiche, a small tub
Zest and segments of an orange

Equipment

12 x 36 rectangular tin or a 25cm round tin. I recommend lining the tin with cling film, this makes it easier to take out.


Method

1. Crush the Lotus biscuits until they resemble sand, combine with the melted butter. Press the mixture into your tin, pushing slightly up the sides; set aside in the fridge.
2. Melt both the dark and milk chocolate. Whilst the chocolate is melting, whip up the cream until it forms soft peaks.
3. Once the chocolate is melted, stir in the vanilla extract and sifted icing sugar. Fold in the whipped cream.
4. Pour the mixture on top of your biscuit base; set aside in the fridge for at least 2 hours or overnight.
5. Zest the orange and add to the creme fraiche. Then cut away the skin or the orange and cut out the segments.
6. Once the torte has set, serve with the orange flavoured creme fraiche and orange segments- enjoy!
7. If you are unsure of how to prepare the orange, here is a helpful video: 

Proof read by Gillian Whylie

You Are Write Editing and Translation Limited

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Searching for Midlands Best Deli- BBC Good Food Show Winter

Calling all Midlanders to support their local Farm Shop or Deli by voting for them as the Midlands best

The search is now on for the best Deli in the Midlands 2015

The Shows are once again teaming up with the BBC Good Food Senior Food Editor, Barney Desmazery, to scour the region for the Midlands’ hidden gems and calling on Midlands locals to nominate their favourites. This year, for the first time, delis can be voted for on Twitter and Instagram, and the deli with the most votes will be automatically shortlisted and visited by the judges. The winner will receive a stand at the BBC Good Food Show Winter at the NEC from 26 – 29 Nov.

Barney Desmazery, Senior Food Editor, BBC Good Food and judge for Midlands Best Deli 2015 says, “This is the fourth year we have run this competition and each year the competition just gets stronger and stronger – with more entries flooding in for 2014 than ever before we are expecting this year to see an even higher quality of nominations.”

Winner of last year, Ludlow Food Centre commented: “Winning the Midlands Best Deli in 2014 was such a great honour! Attending the Show gave us such a great platform to showcase our business to over 85,000 visitors. We wish all the delis good luck this year and we know this experienced and knowledgeable team will really scour out the best food haven in the area.”

Judges will be looking for the following:

·        Range of international and local produce

·        Quality of produce

·        Knowledge of providence of produce

·        Customer service

To nominate a local deli, visit bbcgoodfoodshowwinter.com/Midlandsbestdeli or to nominate on Twitter or Instagram by using #MBDNomination and mentioning @BBCGoodFoodShow – the deli with the highest number of votes will automatically be shortlisted .

For more information please contact Katy Truss on katy@fabulousfoodfinds.co.uk, call her on 07837 753 403 or find out more through her twitter account @katytruss.

Deadline for applications is 25 September and the winner will be announced on 23 October.

Judging panel will include:

Barney Desmazery – Senior Food Editor, BBC Good Food

Laura Biggs - Managing Director of BBC Good Food Shows

Katy Truss – Artisan Food Specialist, Fabulous Food Finds

BBC Good Food Show - Midlands Blogging Community

The Midlands regional boundaries include:

Derbyshire

Gloucestershire

Herefordshire

Leicestershire

Northamptonshire

Nottinghamshire

Oxfordshire

Rutland

Shropshire

Staffordshire

Warwickshire

West Midlands

Worcestershire

ENDS

---

For more information on interviews, competitions or features, please contact Katie-Jane Sullivan on 0203 405 4286 or email kj.sullivan@riverstreetevents.co.uk

The BBC Good Food Shows are organised and presented by River Street Events Ltd

The GoodFood word mark and logo are trademarks of BBC Worldwide Limited. Copyright 2015 BBC Worldwide Limited

About BBC Worldwide Ltd. BBC Worldwide Limited is the main commercial arm and a wholly owned subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). BBC Worldwide exists to support the BBC public service mission and to maximise profits on its behalf. It does this through investing in, commercialising and showcasing content from the BBC around the world, in a way that is consistent with BBC standards and values. The business also builds the reach and reputation of the BBC brand overseas and champions British creativity.

In 2012/13, BBC Worldwide generated headline profits of £156m and headline sales of £1,116m and returned £156m to the BBC. For more detailed performance information please see our Annual Review website: http://www.bbcworldwide.com/annualreview

BBC Good Food Shows- Producers Bursary Awards

The search is on for the BBC Good Food Show Producers Bursary Award Winner 2015 and we need your help! 

Small, independent food and drink producers are one of the most important parts of the Show and we know how much our visitors love discovering something new. Nominate a small, independent food or drink producer via social media and they will be in for a chance to win a free stand package at one of our Shows. 

River Street Events, organisers of the BBC Good Food Shows, are pleased to announce that applications are now open for this year’s Producers Bursary Award Scheme. The BBC Good Food Shows, in conjunction with BBC Good Food Magazine will be scouring the country for the next month looking for the most exceptional artisan food and drink producers in Britain and we need your help. The scheme has now been running for six years and aims to pick out the very best new producers the nation has to offer. The most commendable of these small independent producers will be rewarded with a free opportunity to exhibit at the shows. 

To nominate on Twitter or Instagram, just write the name and/or social media tag of the producer and then tag us @BBCGOODFOODSHOW with the following #GFSBursaryNominations. Producers will then be notified of their nomination and asked to fill in an application form. 

Nominations that will be considered are producers that have been running for less than three years and have a turnover lower than £250,000. The lucky company with the most nominations via Twitter and Instagram will be automatically shortlisted and will be in with the chance to win a free stand package at one of the shows in Glasgow, London, Birmingham or Harrogate. 

BBC Good Food Magazine editor Gillian Carter comments: “The scheme is an excellent way of rewarding the very best independent food and drink producers by giving them a platform in which to put their business in front of tens of thousands of consumers. This is such a great way to discover passionate, young, smaller brands and I personally cannot wait to see what a fantastic array of producers the competition has to offer!” 

ENDS 

---

 

Producers can find out more information and apply for the scheme at www.fabulousfoodfinds.co.uk/bbc-good-food-show-producers-bursary-awards/ or by contacting Katy Truss on katy@fabulousfoodfinds.co.uk, call her on 07837 753 403 or find out more through her twitter account @katytruss. 

For press enquiries please contact Katie-Jane Sullivan on 0203 405 4282 or email kj.sullivan@riverstreetevents.co.ukSocial media votes for companies that are not eligible will not be counted. 

Nominations close Monday 24th August 2015. 

For more information about the shows see www.bbcgoodfoodshow.com. 

Visitor numbers and Prize Value: 

The winners of each respective stand will have the opportunity to put their products in front of these predicted visitor numbers: 

BBC Good Food Show Scotland, SECC Glasgow – 20,000BBC Good Food Show London, Olympia – 30,000BBC Good Food Show Winter, NEC Birmingham - 85,000BBC Good Food Show Spring, Harrogate – 17,500BBC Good Food Show Summer, NEC Birmingham – 90,000 

Value of prize depends on the show they are selected for (Scotland, London, Harrogate, Summer (NEC) or Winter (NEC) but can be worth up to £2,500 each. 

Once all nominations have been reviewed and shortlisted, applicants will have their produce judged and tasted by a team of expert judges. These include BBC Good Food Magazine editor Gillian Carter and BBC Good Food Senior Food Editor Barney Desmazery, taking place in the BBC Good Food Testing Kitchen.
  

The BBC Good Food Shows are organised and presented by River Street Events LtdThe GoodFood word mark and logo are trademarks of BBC Worldwide Limited. Copyright 2015 BBC Worldwide LimitedAbout BBC Worldwide Ltd. BBC Worldwide Limited is the main commercial arm and a wholly owned subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). BBC Worldwide exists to support the BBC public service mission and to maximise profits on its behalf. It does this through investing in, commercialising and showcasing content from the BBC around the world, in a way that is consistent with BBC standards and values. The business also builds the reach and reputation of the BBC brand overseas and champions British creativity.
In 2012/13, BBC Worldwide generated headline profits of £156m and headline sales of £1,116m and returned £156m to the BBC. For more detailed performance information please see our Annual Review website: http://www.bbcworldwide.com/annualreview 

The humble bread roll

Sitting around the dinner table last night with my parents, casually eating our supper, the discussion led to the following... "What would you call this bread roll?" A cob, bap, bread cake or just a roll?
So this morning I thought I would have a look into what us Brits call the humble bread roll. After doing some research I discovered that there are 18 terms for a bread roll in Britain, the map below points out the terms along with their origin.

However, the term commonly used would be 'roll' which has been used as early as 1581, followed by 'bap' in 1600 and then 'cob' in 1869. But whatever you like to call your bread roll it does not really matter as long as you enjoy it. So here is the recipe (altered from BBC Good Food) for the bread roll that triggered the conversation and this blog post.

Courgette, dill & feta rolls 

Makes 12 rolls

Prep 30 mins plus rising time

Cook 20-30 mins (depending on how powerful your oven is)

Ingredients

500g pack of white bread mix- ciabatta was used for this batch

225g grated courgette

Small pack of dill, chopped

100g of feta crumbled

1 tbsp of olive oil

Method

1. Tip the bread mix into a mixing bowl, along with the grated courgette and chopped dill. Gradually add half the amount of water suggested on the pack, knead the bread for a few minutes. Then gently mix in the crumbled feta. Cover the bowl and let the dough rise until it has doubled in size.
2. Line one to two baking trays with baking parchment. If your dough is dry add a little water or if your dough is wet add a little plain flour. Divide the dough into 12 pieces, if you like to be accurate, use scales to get equal pieces. Roll into balls, cover with oiled cling film and let them rise until they have doubled in size.
3. Heat your oven to 180C/160C fan/ gas 4. Brush each roll with some olive oil and bake until golden brown and cooked through.
   

Tip: Tap the bottom of the roll to see if they make a 'hollow' sound, if so they are cooked.

Serving suggestion: Home-made soup with hams, cheeses and home-made chutney.

Birchermuesli recipe

History

Birchermuesli is originally a supper dish invented by Dr. Bircher in Zurich, Switzerland during the 1900's. Dr. Bircher believed in a whole foods diet composed of cereals, fruits and vegetables. The original birchermuesli recipe is composed of oats, water, evaporated milk, honey, lemon and apples. However, it is a recipe that can be altered to fit your taste.

As I have previously mentioned in other blog posts, oats are a great cereal as they are slow releasing carbohydrates which means they keep you fuller for longer. This recipe is also a great way to incorporate fruits into your diet. Fruits are best consumed in the morning before mid day so that your body can work off the natural sugars.

The recipe I use is one that was passed down to me from my Swiss-German Grandma.

Ingredients- serves 4

• 1 cup of oats
• 1 2/3 cups of milk
• 2-3 small apples grated
• 1-2 bananas sliced
• Juice of a lemon
• 1 cup of mixed fruits (fresh or dried) & nuts of your choice
• Yoghurt or cream can be added
• Honey to add to your taste 

Method

• Place the oats, milk and fruit in a container and leave to soak overnight
• If the mixture is too solid add yogurt or cream to loosen the mixture
• Add honey to taste.

Enjoy with your favourite breakfast beverage of choice, mine being a mug of builders tea and a glass of refreshing fruit juice.

Carthy's Country Cream Cupcakes

The Story- From Beast to Bottle

Mr Carthy worked hard for two years straight to develop this beautiful traditional alcoholic country cream. 

• It all starts in a field with Betsy and her girls
• The cows roam free and graze on fresh grass
• Well looked after, happy cows supply the freshest milk
• Milk is collected and prepared for mixing
• All the ingredients are blended to create our delicious recipe
• The liquid is carefully bottled and packed ready to serve

Now with 30 years experience behind him, his team have concocted some sensational recipes to create with the country cream. 

Here is my attempt at making 'Carthy's Country Cream Cupcakes'. Great little treat for those of you with a sweet tooth.

Ingredients

For the cupcakes

• 150g plain flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 115g unsalted butter
• 200g granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 220ml Carthy's Country Cream

For the buttercream topping

• 230g unsalted butter
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 330g icing sugar
• 50ml Carthy's Country Cream
• 45g chopped milk chocolate

Method

For the cupcakes

• Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius/ gas mark 4, and line a cupcake tin with 12 paper liners.
• Mix together the flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon and set aside.
• In a separate bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs one at a time and mix until each is blended into the batter. Add the vanilla and blend until the mixture is smooth.
• Fold half of the dry mixture into the wet mixture and add the Carthy's Country Cream. Stir in the remaining dry mixture until it is combined and the batter is smooth.
• Fill cupcake liners about 2/3 full and bake for around 20 minutes or until the tops feel firm.
  
  

For the buttercream topping

• Beat the butter in a large bowl until soft. Add half of the icing sugar, the cinnamon and beat until smooth.
• Add the remaining icing sugar and the Carthy's Country Cream and beat the mixture until creamy and smooth.

To serve

Allow the cupcakes to cool completely! Pipe swirls of the buttercream and sprinkle over the chopped milk chocolate. Now there is nothing left to do but to get stuck in, enjoy!

Spicentice recipe & review

About Spicentice

Spicentice is a family run business that has been going strong since 1994. They produce a range of Indian, Thai, Jamaican, Moroccan, Portuguese, Cajun and Mexican spice mixes.

I was fortunate to meet Ketan Varu (the founder) at the BBC Good Food Show in Birmingham this year. Here is the recipe to one of their delicious spice kits... if this makes you hungry go to http://www.spicentice.com/home.php to have a browse. 

yee-hah! Chilli con carne with 'mayan' spiced chocolate!

Shopping List - Serves 4

• Spicentice kit
• 500g minced meat
• 4 onions (medium)
• 3 garlic cloves
• 300ml tomatoes (tinned)
• 400g kidney beans (tinned)
• 3 tbsp tomato puree
• 1 lime
• 220ml of stock
• 6 tbsp cooking oil
• 1 tsp salt
• Half tsp sugar

Cooking the dish

1. Heat the oil in a large pan over a medium heat. Add the contents of sachet 1 and fry the seeds for a few seconds before adding the onions.
2. When the onion is nicely browned, add the garlic and continue to fry for a minute.
3. Now add the minced meat and stir thoroughly with the onions and garlic. Brown the meat for 10 minutes or so, stirring occasionally. 
4. Now add the tomatoes, 1 tsp of salt, half a tsp of sugar and sachet 2. Also add in 3 tbsp of tomato puree and half the juice of the lime. Stir in the kidney beans and leave to cook for a further few minutes.
5. Add 220ml of stock, herb sachet and 'Mayan' spiced chocolate sachet, stir and cook with a lid on for 15-20 minutes.
6. Once cooked, check the seasoning and serve.

Personal serving suggestions

• Fluffy white rice
• Homemade guacomole
• Sour cream
• Bottle of red: Gran Colina Rioja 2007

Review

As you can tell the recipe above is easy to follow and the ingredient list is easily sourced for a good price. You can tell these kits have been made with love as they contain NO; additives, preservatives, colouring or waste. This definitely makes a difference in the final taste. The addition of the 'Mayan' spiced chocolate adds real depth to the sauce making it beautifully glossy. Resulting in extremely satisfied diners that would go back for more.

These kits are perfectly designed and are great to get people cooking up a storm in the kitchen.

The cost of all the ingredients including the spice kit and rice came to approximately £2.00 per head. 

BBC Good Food Show Summer - Supertheatre

James Martin- Supertheatre

If you have not already bought your ticket to this years BBC Good Food Show Summer in Birmingham then maybe you should! You will find celebrity chef James Martin in the supertheatre throughout the week. Here is a sneak peek recipe into what he will be demonstrating. Why not have a go at recreating it yourself...

Note: Use discount code BL15 right up until the show to get 15% discount.

Lebanese Spiced Lamb Flat Breads- Serves 4

Ingredients for the pizza dough:

• 400g '00' flour, plus more for dusting
• 100g semolina flour (can be found in selected Sainsbury's and Tescos)
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 tsp caster sugar
• 7g dried fast-action yeast
• 235ml warm water
  

For the topping:

• 1 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 shallot, finely chopped
• 1 garlic clove, finely chopped
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• 1 tsp ground cumin
• 1 tbsp ground baharat spice mix (can be found in Waitrose)
• 500g minced lamb
• 75g sultanas
• 300ml chicken stock
• 250ml natural yoghurt
• 2 green chillies, finely chopped
• leaves from 4 sprigs of mint
• 16 sprigs of coriander, roughly torn
  

CLICK HERE! Watch the video on how to make this recipe.

BBC Good Food Show Summer- Press Release!

Here is a preview of what is to come at this years summer edition of the BBC Good Food Show! A post to follow of a sneak peak recipe that James Martin will be demonstrating. In a chance to win a pair of free tickets to the show (excluding Saturday) please comment within the next 24 hours!

For immediate release

BBC Good Food Show Summer line up, NEC Birmingham, 11-14 June 2015

The BBC Good Food Show Summer sponsored by Lexus returns to the NEC Birmingham promising to be a great Summer day out. With a host of fabulous chefs and experts, visitors can expect a top class food experience.

Talent Line Up

Big personality Tom Kerridge and proprietor of the only 2 star Michelin pub, The Hand and Flowers in Buckinghamshire. returns to the NEC. He has recently been seen on our TV screens in the rejuvenated BBC 2 Food & Drink series and his effervescent personality and culinary genius on stage are always popular with visitors.

James Martin has been a familiar face in family homes for years on a Saturday morning and once again he returns to the NEC. Aside from his TV job, James is a successful restaurateur and author of several popular cook books.

Mary Berry CBE is undoubtedly the Queen of baking and this Summer she returns with her daughter Annabel by her side. Mary has sold over 5 million copies of her cook books worldwide and enjoys continued success on the TV.

Michel Roux Jr. is a member of one of the most prestigious culinary families in the world and is the brains behind one of London’s finest dining experiences, the 3 Michelin starred Le Gavroche. In addition, Michel enjoys continued television success, has written many cook books specialising in the art of French cooking and has run many marathons raising thousands of pounds for charity.

Popular duo, Antonio Carluccio and Gennaro Contaldo aka The Two Greedy Italians are both well known for their love of Italian food, wine and laughter. Both have many years experience in the culinary world; Antonio is a chef, restaurateur and food expert and Gennaro is one of the most respected chefs in London and good friend and mentor to Jamie Oliver.

Writer, restuaranter and judge and co-host on BBC 1’s MasterChef , John Torode is credited as one of the main players in introducing Australasian food to the UK in the mid 1990s.

Michael Caines MBE has been at the helm of Gidleigh Park in Devon, one of the country’s most prestigious country house hotels for over 20 years. He prides himself on being ‘inclusive’ not ‘exclusive’ and the restaurant is proud to have 2 Michelin stars.

Both John Whaite and Jo Wheatley were successful winners of The Great British Bake Off. Since then their baking careers have taken off. They are both successful authors in their own right; Jo Wheatley runs a thriving cookery school and John is a resident chef on ITV1’s Lorraine.

Top features to whet your appetite

Top entertainment in the 2,000 seat Supertheatre sponsored by Kenwood featuring top chefs and experts cooking live, and every advanced ticket includes a seat!

The Summer Kitchen Stage is another base for watching live cooking and chat! Featuring Eat Well and Bakes & Cakes themed sessions and a few Michelin starred chefs!

Stoves Live Cook Stage - Top chefs and foodies will give demonstrations on how to create the best seasonal dishes and will also be giving away some fabulous spot prizes to lucky audience members.

Ludlow Producer Market – an area of the show dedicated to a fantastic collection of producers from Ludlow and the Marches. With a Farmers Market ambience and the chance to pick up some ‘not on the high street’ produce, it is a must for all food lovers.

Producers Bursary Award Winners – This years deserving winners of the highly coveted award for small independent producers are: Blackberry Cottage, Chazwinkles and Gregor’s Umami Dressings.

BBC Good Food Champions –  our handpicked selection of approved producers exhibiting their outstanding artisan food and drink. The line up this year includes local favourites Pip’s Hot Sauce and Urban Herbs, exciting new companies like Flapjackery, Pomora Good Food and The Hebridean Food Company along with old favourites The Handmade Scotch Egg Company, Cornish Cheese Co and Cotswold Gold Rapeseed Oil.

NEW for 2015

The Interview Stage sponsored by Lakeland makes its debut at the BBC Good Food Show Summer. An interactive stage hosting all your favourite chefs and experts at the show, it’s a chance to catch our experts giving an insightful Q&A. So come along armed with any questions you may be desperate to ask.

French Goat’s Cheese Feature – an interactive area for visitors to learn more about the different goat’s cheese from across France and to sample and buy! Award winning chef Sophie Wright will be rustling up some delightful and unusual dishes using French Goat’s cheese, and cheesemonger Charlie Turnbull and cheese blogger Phoebe Weller will be on hand to talk though the different tastes of different cheeses.

Mer et Vigne – the French Market – the BBC Good Food Shows have teamed up with Mer et Vigne to bring visitors a bustling French market atmosphere. With plenty of delicious French food and drink specialities to choose from, it’s a Gallic gastronomic feast!

 

Ends

For more information, interviews and competitions please contact flo.simpson@riverstreetevents.co.uk  or call 020 3405 4286.

Advance ticket prices start at £24.25, VIP tickets start from £89 - please check the website for more details: bbcgoodfoodshowsummer.com

The BBC Good Food Shows are organised and presented by River Street Events Ltd

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About BBC Good Food

BBC Good Food has been the cooks’ choice for 25 years. It’s the UK’s most popular food media brand with a total brand reach of 10 million people.

Good Food is proud owner of the UK’s market leading food magazine and digital edition, the UK’s number 1 food website, an expanding number of live events, including the UK’s largest food event - the BBCGoodFood Show Live at the Birmingham N.E.C - and a hugely successful series of cookbooks. Every recipe published by BBC Good Food is triple tested by the in-house cookery team in the Good Food kitchen. And the brand offers more than just trusted recipe content: BBC Good Food is the ‘Go To’ destination on everything to do with food, whether that’s inspiration, help and advice, skills, reviews or ideas, for areas spanning foodie travel, local and seasonal, and getting children cooking.