Category Archives: General Food

Japanese food, simple, healthy and creative

Posted on 23 February, 2012 by | 2 Comments

Japanese food is growing in popularity. It’s beauty is in its simplicity.

Many recognise the cuisine as healthy too. Not much salt or oil is used and vegetables make up a large part of the Japanese diet.

But cooking Japanese isn’t difficult. Many ingredients are well known: rice, noodles, tofu, soy sauce, sake, wasabi, miso.

Sanchi make high quality traditional Japanese foods, including many of  the foods you’ve heard of and some you won’t. There’s no artificial colouring, flavouring, additives, sweeteners or refined sugar. Simply the best in Japanese Cuisine.

Japanese food is so beautiful in its simplicity

Japanese food is so beautiful in its simplicity

The BBC offers a good introduction to making your own Japanese food with over 60 recipes, and when you’ve got that mastered, you can move onto the Japanese  Food Report.

So all you need are some good Sanchi ingredients, a bit of zen, add a pair of chopsticks and you’re on your way!

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Posted in Uncategorized, Lifestyle, Organic

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There’s a new tasty chocolate milkshake in town – it’s dairy free too (think Bounty bar)

Posted on 22 February, 2012 by | Leave a comment

When you’re allergic to milk you don’t have to miss out on one of the greatest wonders of the food world: chocolate milkshake!

But, you will have to find the taste that works for you. You can find chocolate milkshakes like Rice Dream Chocolate Flavour or Provamel Organic Soya Chocolate Drink. My favourite by far is Oatly Chocolate made, of course, from oat milk.

Introducing…

A delicious dairy free chocolate milk

A delicious dairy free chocolate milk

But there is a new contender to challenge the non-milk chocolate heavyweights. It’s Kara’s Dairy Free Chocolate made with coconut milk and it’s officially delicious!

For decades chocolate confectionary has been cashing in on the wonderful combined flavours of chocolate and coconut – now it’s a time for a liquid version. And it’s a bonus that it’s dairy and lactose free; no soya, gluten or cholesterol either.

All Kara’s coconut milks have added calcium and vitamins like B12 which is helpful for vegetarians and vitamin D2 which is great for vegans. Plus, just in case you’re wondering, coconuts are fine for people with nut sensitivities too (because they’re really a fruit not a nut – but don’t tell anyone I told you…)

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Posted in Chocolate, Coeliac (Gluten-Free), Dairy-Free, Vegan

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The 2012 FreeFrom Food Awards shortlist is out

Posted on 21 February, 2012 by | Leave a comment

If you’re gluten free or dairy free, vegan or avoiding yeast take note the FreeFrom Food Awards judging panels have chosen just under 170 freefrom foods to go on the 2012 shortlist.

Many of these new free from foods really pushing at the boundaries of ‘freefrom’ manufacture. From coconut yogurt to nettle ‘beer’! Here’s the 2012 FreeFrom Food Awards shortlist. Winners to be announced on the 17th April.

1. The Innovation Award
Bessant & Drury Fine Ice Cream Co. – Lemon
Bessant & Drury Fine Ice Cream Co. – Chocolate
Bessant & Drury Fine Ice Cream Co. – Vanilla
BoojaBooja – Banoffee Toffee Truffles
Conscious Chocolates – Wild at Heart
CoYo – Coconut Milk Yoghurt – Natural
CoYo – Coconut Milk Yoghurt – Mixed Berry
Foodswild – Cornish Stinger Nettle Beer
Knead Bakery – Carrot Cake
Provamel Botanicals – Alternative to Yoghurt Apple & Green Tea
The Foodamentalists – Brown Bread Mix
Triano Brands – Tofutti Ricotta Soya Cheese Alternative

2. Dairy and/or lactose-free animal milk, butter, yogurt – sponsored by Swedish Glace
Delamere Dairy – Natural Goats Yoghurt
Delamere Dairy – Semi-Skimmed Goats Milk
Delamere Dairy – Goats Butter
Woodlands Dairy – Gooseberry & Elderflower with Natural Sheep Milk Yoghurt
Woodlands Dairy – Rhubarb & Ginger with Natural Sheep Milk Yoghurt

3. Plant ‘milk’, spread & cheese – sponsored by Pure Dairy Free
Bessant & Drury Fine Ice Cream Co. – Chocolate
Bessant & Drury Fine Ice Cream Co. – Lemon
CoYo – Coconut Yoghurt Natural
CoYo – Coconut Yoghurt Mixed Berry
Delamere Dairy – Sweetened Soya Milk
Essence of Eden – Virgin Coconut Oil
Higher Nature – Omega Excellence Organic Virgin Coconut Butter
Its Only Natural – Fruit Freezies Orange and Mango
Kara Dairy Free – Alternative to Milk Original + Calcium
Vegusto – Melty Dairy-Free Cheese
Vegusto – Mild Aromatic Dairy-Free Cheese
Vegusto – Dairy-free cheese sauce

4. FreeFrom Breakfast Cereals – sponsored by Fria Gluten Free
Bob’s Red Mill – Pure Traditional Oats
Groovy Food Company – Corn Flakes
Groovy Food Company – Choco Crispies
Juvela – Fibre Flakes
Morrisons – FreeFrom Gluten Free Oats
Nature’s Path – Maple Sunrise
 Sainsbury’s – FreeFrom Oaty Granola
Tesco – FreeFrom Special Flakes

5. Gluten-free breads and bread mixes – sponsored by Genius Gluten Free
Butterfly Snacks – Gluten Free Rotis (Naan/Bread Wrap)
Crazy Bakers Bundies Brothers – Brown Bread Rolls
Finax – Oat Bread Mix
Fria – Grova Dark Seeded Sliced Loaf
Fria – Grov Minibaguette Dark Seeded Roll
Glutafin – Gluten Free Wheat Free 4 Fibre Rolls
Juvela – Gluten-Free All Purpose White Mix
Sainsbury’s – FreeFrom Soft White Seeded Rolls

6. Gluten-free pasta and pizza bases/mixes – sponsored by Tesco
Bob’s Red Mill – GF Wholegrain Pizza Crust Mix
Co-operative Foods – FreeFrom Fusilli
Doves Farm Foods – Organic Tricolore Pasta
Eskal Foods – Corn Pasta
Farabella – Acini di Pepe/Pasta Grains
Molino di Ferro – La Veneziane Penne

7. Freefrom foods manufactured for food service – sponsored by Livwell
Costa  – Gluten Free Fruit Cake
Doves Farm Foods – Gluten Free Plain White Flour Blend without Buckwheat
Doves Farm Foods– Organic Brown Rice Penne
Foodamentalists – Golden Batter Mix
Red House Foods – Gluten Free Chicken Bites
Sauces of Choice – Sauces for Kids Tikka Sauce
Triano Brands – Tofutti Grated Mozzarella Soya Cheese Alternative

8. Freefrom Ingredients – sponsored by Juvela
Anila’s Sauces – Goan Green Sauce
Black Farmer – Spicy Muscovado sauce
Bob’s Red Mill – Gluten Free All Purpose Baking Flour
Clearspring – Kuzu Gluten Free Starch Thickener
Finax – Psyllium
Go Free Foods – Pancake Mix
Mesquite Company – Pure Mesquite Pod Flour
Pepper & Stew – Jollof  Sauce
Sauces of Choice – Balsamic & Garlic Sauce

9. Raw foods and superfoods – sponsored by Asda
Elements for Life – Raw Chocolate Making Kit
Elements for Life – Spiced Hot Chocolate
Higher Nature– Omega Excellence Raw Organic Walnut Butter
inSpiral – Raw Blackout Tart
inSpiral – Raw Dehydrated Kale Chips: Cheesie Purple Corn
James White Drinks – Beet It Organic Stamina Shot
Mesquite Company – Pure Mesquite Pod Flour
Pulsin’ – Beond Organic Acai Berry Bar
Raw Health – Organic Chia & Flax Dippers
The Living Food Kitchen – Raw Hummus

10. Gluten-free savoury pies, flans, sausages and ready meals – sponsored by Delamere Dairy
Meat-based meal centres:
Black Farmer – Pork Meatballs
Black Farmer – Pork, Onion & Chive Sausages
Cloughbane Farm – Gluten Free Beef Sausages
Cloughbane Farm – Gluten Free Steak Burgers
Co-operative Foods – Truly Irresistible Pork Sausages
Co-operative Foods – Truly Irresistible Minted Lamb Burgers
Pies, flans, pizzas, one pot meals:
Amy’s Kitchen – Gluten Free Vegetable Lasagne
Amy’s Kitchen– Gluten Free Bean and Rice Burrito
Butterfly Snacks – Gluten Free Chicken Spring Rolls
Dr Schar – Gluten Free Tortellini
Dr Schar – Gluten Free Bonta d’Italia Margherita Pizza
Easy Bean – New Mexican Chilli Fairtrade Red Bean with Sweet Pepper One Pot Meal
Foodamentalists – Pork, Black Pudding & Caramelised Red Onion Pie
Genius – Mozzarella Cheese & Tomato Pizza
Gluten Free Kitchen – Ovencrust Steak Pie
Gluten Free Kitchen – Ovencrust Chicken & Bacon Pie
stewed! – Chickpea, Sweet Potato & Feta One Pot Meal
The Food Resource – Fusilli al Funghi
Worthenshaws – Chicken Tikka with Brown Basmati Rice
Worthenshaws – Thai Green Vegetable Curry with Brown Basmati Rice

11. Gluten-free savoury biscuits and snacks – sponsored by Genon Laboratories
Amisa – Multiseed Crisp Bread
Conscious Foods – Millet Crackers with Rosemary
Crazy Bakers – Half Pipes Swedish Crispbreads
Darling Spuds – Fire Roasted Jalapeno Crisps
Darling Spuds – Sour Cream with a hint of Mexican Chilli
Darling Spuds – Tomato, Olive & Oregano
Juvela – Crostini Bites

12. Gluten-free scones, sweet tarts, Bakewells, cake bars, muffins etc – sponsored by Tesco
Asda – FreeFrom All Butter Lemon Sicilian Shortbread
Conscious Foods – Ginger Thins
Co-operative Foods – FreeFrom Triple Chocolate Cookies
Co-operative Foods – FreeFrom Fruited Teacakes 4 Pack
Crazy Bakers – Oaties
Heavenly Cakes – Gluten & Wheat Free Millionaires
Molino di Ferro – La Veneziane Coconut Biscotti
Morrisons – FreeFrom 6 Assorted Jam Tarts
Sugargrain – Almond, Apricot and Tahini Flapjack
Sweetcheeks – Almondies
Tesco – FreeFrom Chocolate Chip Cookies
Tesco – FreeFrom Ginger Cookies

13. Gluten-free cakes and mixes – sponsored by Mrs Crimbles
The Brilliant Bakers – Cupcake Gift Cake
Cake Angels – Traditional Cherry & Almond Cake
The Cake Crusader – Gluten, Wheat and Dairy Free Carrot Cake
The Cake Crusader– Rich Fruit Cake
Cakes Divine – Dairy & Gluten Free Carrot Cupcakes
Cariad Cakes – Gluten Free Orchard Plum & Ginger Cake
Fria – Kladdkaka Chocolate Brownie Cake
Incognito Cakes – Choc Fudge Cake
Incognito Cakes – White Choc Raspberry Muffins
Lewis & Cooper – Gluten-free Fruit Cake
Ms Cupcake – Cupcakes
Sainsbury’s – FreeFrom Chocolate Chip Muffins
Steph’s Free From Cakes – Lemon Drizzle Cake
Sugargrain – Banana & Chocolate Chip Loaf
Sweetcheeks – Maple & Pecan Cupcakes

14. Gluten-free puddings, desserts & cheesecakes – sponsored by Hale & Hearty
Food Heaven – Summer Fruits Cheesecake
Food Heaven – Sicilian Lemon Cheesecake
Tideford Organics – Butterscotch Rice Pudding
Mamma Cucina – Mango & Passionfruit Non-Dairy Cheesecake

15. Dairy/gluten-free chocolate and snack bars – sponsored by Tesco
Biona – Organic Sour Snakes
Booja Booja – Rum Sozzled Sultana Chocolate Truffles
Celtic Chocolates – Choices FreeFrom White Choc Easter Egg & Buttons
Conscious Chocolates– Essential Orange
Eskal Foods – Chocolate Coated Pretzels
Eskal Foods – Yoghurt Coated Pretzels
Gourmelli – Secret Passion Organic Strawberry Dark Chocolate Bar 74%
Kinnerton – Dairy, Egg, Gluten and Nut Free Bar
Nut Free Chocolatier – Pomegranate & Elderflower Truffles
Pulsin’ – Raw Choc Brownie
Tickety Boo Cakes – Roo’s Crunch

16. Dairy/gluten-free Christmas foods – sponsored by Produced in Italy
Cariad Cakes – Christmas Cake
Conscious Chocolates – Cherry Christmas
Christine’s Puddings – Rum and Ale Pudding
Foodamentalists – Frangipane Mince Pies
Friendly Food and Drink – Xmas chutney
Genius – Gluten-free mince pies
Lewis and Cooper – Plum Pudding
Livwell – Christmas cake
Morrison’s – FreeFrom Christmas pudding
OK Foods – FreeFrom Mince Pies
Pyman Pates – Chickenliver with port, brandy and cranberries
The Heavenly Cake Company – Christmas cake

17. Gluten-free beer – sponsored by Asda
Daas – Ambre Beer
Daas – Blond Beer
Foodswild – Cornish Stinger Nettle Beer
Gluten-Free Shop – Ambar
Green’s – Bottle Refermented Blonde Ale
Green’s – Premium Golden Ale
Wold Top – Against the Grain

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Posted in General Food, Chocolate, Vegan, Coeliac (Gluten-Free), Raw, Dairy-Free

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Kuzu – king of thickening agents

Posted on 17 February, 2012 by | Leave a comment

You may never have heard of Kuzu (or Kudzu) but it is reputedly one of the best food thickeners around.

If you care about the quality of your food then it will interest you to know that kuzu powder is believed to be of far greater quality cooking starch than cornstarch or other thickeners. In fact kuzu can be used as a food in itself and was carried around by samurai warriors for that very purpose.

Kuzu has an ability to enhance tha natural flavours of the food it is cooked with. It’s sweeter flavour lends itself to mousse and jellies. When used in frying it helps food become crispy. It adds a lasting luster and shape to dishes without being affected by slight temperature changes.

Muso pride themselves on their organic kuzu. It’s vegan and, as root vegetable, doesn’t contain any gluten.

For more information on kuzu and its legendary medicinal properties, read the Muso website.

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Posted in Coeliac (Gluten-Free), General Food, Organic, Vegan

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Amazing ways to make pancakes – coconut pancake recipe included

Posted on 15 February, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Is it me or are there more special days around this time of year: Valentines, Burns Night, Mother’s Day, St Patrick’s?

But Pancake Day is surely the most loved of all!

Pancakes are so popular they are made in thousands of different ways around the world, whether they are French crepes, Russian blinis, Mexican tortillas or Indian dosas, so don’t be afraid of trying something a little different.

Just add fizzy water…
If you’re avoiding dairy, or eggs, the day can still be fun.

Did you know that it’s possible to make pancakes with just self-raising flour and carbonated water? You just sift 300g/11oz of flour and whisk in 600ml/1pt of water, and that’s it! Of course, there are lots of little flavourings you can add like vanilla or cinnamon, and it’s easy to use buckwheat flour as a substitute well.

Pancakes - You may start drooling now...

You may start drooling now...

Cooking pancakes with fruit.
Or perhaps if you are avoiding eggs you may want to use pulped mango or banana instead which make brilliant binders for flour and milk (or soya milk). There again, you could always use an egg replacer. Significantly for coeliacs, when it comes to avoiding gluten, the whole process is now a lot easier because there are so many speciality flours out there.

However, if you want a tried and tested method then there are always pancake mixes from Orgran and Barkat. The Orgran versions are vegan too.

Try this recipe
Finally, you could try using coconut flour in your pancakes – an entirely gluten free recipe of course; but be careful, the coconut flour soaks up a lot of liquid, you may need to water it down…

Makes 4 pancakes.
2 tablespoons organic coconut flour, sieved
2 tablespoons organic butter, melted down
2 organic eggs
1 teaspoon organic sugar
⅛ teaspoon salt
75ml whole organic milk

Blend the eggs, oil, sugar and salt. Then mix in the coconut flour thoroughly. Continue to stir the mix as you add the milk.

When frying the pancakes use a small frying pan. Make sure you spread the batter thinly across the whole pan.

Enjoy.

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Posted in Coeliac (Gluten-Free), Dairy Free, Dairy-Free, Egg free, General Food, Gluten-Free, Organic, recipe, Vegan, Vegetarian

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Honey love and the recipe for Jus d’Amour

Posted on 14 February, 2012 by | Leave a comment

They say that you can be a connoisseur of honey in the same way that you be a collector of wines because there are so many types and flavours of the Aphrodisian nectar.

In fact, the rarest, most valued honeys are difficult to find because not simply as a result of their taste but also their energizing, aphrodisiac properties.

Referenced in both the Kama Sutra and The Perfumed Garden, honey does indeed bless the body. It releases enzymes and vitamins which are absorbed quickly into the body.

In fact there is a recipe called Jus ‘Amour or love juice which I’ll copy out for you in a moment…

Ogilvy's Honey - Food to be passionate about

Ogilvy's Honey - Food to be passionate about

Ogilvy’s Honey
But first to tell you about Ogilvy’s because they really are honey-collectors who are making finds from all over the world available to the British populus.

Ogilvy’s are the first to provide fine, single source and rare honeys on a national scale in the UK. Not only that but, because they want you to be passionate about honeys too, tasting notes are included on every jar of honey they produce.

Himalayan Highlands (Organic)
A very light, intensely sweet flavour.  Mild to medium in strength.
New Zealand Rainforest
Fresh, mild taste.  Mild to medium in strength.
New Zealand Tawari
Hints of orange blossom and a buttery taste.  Medium in strength.
New Zealand Rewarewa
An intense toffee flavour. Delicious to eat and wonderful for cooking. Medium in strength.
Zambezi Plains (Organic)
Slighty spicy with a distinctive red currant flavour.  Strong in strength.
Balkan Black Locust
A lovely pale shiny honey with a delicate light flavour. Mild in strength.
Balkan Linden
An intense aromatic sweet honey that is particularly delicious in tea. Medium to light in strength.
Argentine Delta
(Awaiting good weather for harvest.)

Jus d’Amour recipe
A traditional drink made simply of honey, ginger, lemon and water. Sharp and fresh, it will enliven your senses.

1. Peel and juice 100g of ginger and mix with water to make one litre. Leave in a jug to stand for a few hours.
2. Squeeze 5 lemons and add the juice to the jug. Pour in a quality fluid honey, enough to sweeten the drink.
3. Serve very cold (and if you drink too much at once I won’t be held responsible for your actions…)

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Posted in General Food, Organic, recipe, Vegetarian

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Hooray for wholenut smooth peanut butter

Posted on 10 February, 2012 by | Leave a comment

I’m not sure why I’m so chuffed about Meridian’s smooth natural peanut butter. I’ve long been a fan of the wholenut crunchy version but, I guess, not everyone can take all that nuttiness.

Good wholesome peanut butter

Good wholesome peanut butter

So it’s a good thing there’s a smooth version out there in both the 280g jar and the whopping kilo bucket. Meridian’s natural peanut butter with no added sugar tastes so much better than those more sickly sweet versions.

Incidentally to show Meridian’s sense of humour I came across this article from their news page and I thought I’d share it here.

HOW TO CLEAN OUT JARS OF PEANUT BUTTER
If you love nut butters as much as the team here at Meridian Foods, you’ll regularly face the challenge of cleaning out the jars before recycling.

Determined to provide a credible solution, we’ve been conducting experiments, researching ideas and consulting our friendly experts. Before we pass on our answer to one of the stickiest of questions in the kitchen, take a look at some of the other considerations below.

Don’t bother – Some recycling experts believe it is futile to spend energy and waste water trying to thoroughly clean nut butter jars. When glass jars are recycled they are subjected to a heat treatment process that exceeds 2700 degrees. Not even Meridian’s organic whole nut butters can withstand such an attack.

Get saucy – A popular way to use up the last of the nut butter is to combine it with other ingredients in the jar as a final act of delicious thriftiness. If you love to use peanut butter to make a savoury sauce or dressing, try this approach from the Paid in Full blog. It’s packed full of frugal ideas.

Pooch power (do not try this at home) – Apparently dogs love nut butters, though we can’t imagine that it should be a regular feature of their diet. Several contributors to online forums report that they give their dogs the empty peanut butter jars to clean up before a final wash out with soapy water. This may give satisfaction to a dog with a generous snout but imagine the frustration it would cause a pug! Not recommended.

OK, enough of the doggie-style fun. Here’s our recipe for success to clean out your peanut butter jars.

Step 1.          Pour in around 4 tablespoons (60ml) of spirit/white vinegar into the empty jar

Step 2.          Add water from a freshly boiled kettle and top up the jar so it’s two thirds full

Step 3.          Replace the lid, shake vigorously, then leave to stand for a few minutes

Step 4.          Repeat step 3 a few times while the water/vinegar solution is still hot

Step 5.          Rinse and recycle the jar

If this solution has worked for you or if you’ve got other great nut butter, recycling or domestics tips to share, email us and we’ll post up the best ones for others to see.

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Posted in General Food, Nuts, Uncategorized

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Why is coconut so healthy?

Posted on 6 February, 2012 by | 2 Comments

Recently I wrote about coconut palm sugar. If you’re into health food you can’t have failed to notice that the coconut has become more and more popular lately.

Two impressive claims spring to mind. Coconut water can be taken intravenously (don’t try this at home, but it was found to be useful by soldiers during the Vietnam War). Secondly, coconut oil is the closest food in nature to a mother’s breast milk.

Healthy food from the coconut

Healthy food from the coconut

Other interesting benefits are said to be that it speeds up the metabolism, it’s high in dietary fiber, it helps lower cholesterol, it’s low Gi, it helps those with digestive problems, it provides quick energy, it boosts the immune system.

One company that has capitalised on being able to  providing organic and fairtrade coconut is Tiana. They make coconut flour, oil, milk and sugar which all count as particularly beneficial if you are trying to cut out similar more mainstream foods from your diet.

Tiana’s flour, for example, is gluten and wheat free, the coconut milk is dairy free and while the coconut oil is not fat free – there are still loads of dieters who say it helps them lose weight.

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Posted in Coeliac (Gluten-Free), Coeliac Disease, Dairy-Free, Diet, Digestion, Fairtrade, General Food, Heart and Blood, Low GL (Glycaemic Load), Organic, Uncategorized, Vegan

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Stuck for a gift? See the Valentine’s Day Chocoholic Hamper

Posted on 3 February, 2012 by | Leave a comment

It’s just a few days away now… I’m beginning to wonder if this year’s Valentine’s stories will be more romantic than usual?

It is a leap year after all, which traditionally allows women to propose to their men on the 29th February. (And don’t forget, if the man refuses he is obliged to buy the woman a new pair of gloves or a silk dress!)

But the gentleman might just be waiting for the 1st May where ancient practice dictates he should leave a hawthorn branch at his sweetheart’s door. (Ladies please note that if you don’t want to marry the man you must replace the branch with a cauliflower…)

At least we are not forced to adopt Italian culture where an over confidence in men’s ability to sing results in many young suitors publically serenading their intended brides. Though the Welshmen among us will have to give up their singing in preference for carving a wooden love-spoon for their amor.

The Valentine's Chocoholic Hamper

The Valentine's Chocoholic Hamper

However you choose to celebrate Valentine’s day for goodness sake don’t forget about it!

To help you out GoodnessDirect have put together a Chocoholic’s Valentine’s Hamper to send to a loved one.

What better way to spoil that someone special than with a hamper full of chocolates delivered straight to their door (or workplace)?

The GoodnessDirect hamper service allows you to put whatever you want in your hamper. But the ready-made Valentine’s Chocoholic Hamper is specifically designed as a perfect mix of luxuriously lovely gifts.

The hamper can also include a dictated message in a Valentine’s card for the recipient (written in beautiful handwriting of course).

(Just, please, don’t force us to write “To my dearest Fluffykin”)

Whatever you do, make sure you take the opportunity to spread a little love around.

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Posted in Chocolate, GoodnessDirect

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Is Licorice the elixer of life?

Posted on 1 February, 2012 by | Leave a comment

Roger and Regan Halliwelll claim to have found the meaning of life and, they say, it’s soft, black and delicious.

They are the father and son duo behind the surprisingly lovely RJs Licorice. I say surprising because I’ve never been a licorice fan myself. But I sampled these, and you know what? I really liked them.

I have a licorice loving friend, Rob Halligan, who loves licorice so much, everyone buys him the black stuff for his birthday. It was through his chomping through the stuff that I became converted.

Some would say it is the elixer of life...

Some would say it is the elixer of life...

I’m still not sure I’d like other licorice; but RJ’s seem to be a world apart. Not only are they soft and sweet and healthy (*) RJ’s are really clever about the licorice flavours they make.

At GoodnessDirect we’ve recently taken on four new innovative flavours: Raspberry Choc Twists, Raspberry Bullets, Licorice Choc twists and Licorice Bullets – the twists have the chocolate in the middle, the bullets have chocolate on the outside and the raspberry ones involve a fruity flavoured licorice.

Please forgive my clunky description. I’m not yet a licorice expert, but I’m beginning to think I could be persuaded. Certainly now that I have got my hands on these my friendship with Rob could get a lot closer; and friendship is what life is all about after all.

* Licorice or liquorice is still a sweet but as sweets go it is a healthier choice. Black licorice has no fat in it and a little protein which helps the body feel fuller. Obviously there’s a fair bit of sugar there, but also some iron and calcium. There’s also some research into licorice’s effect on ulcers, eczema, cold symptoms  and even indigestion, but the results are mixed.

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Posted in Chocolate, General Food

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