British pork in London Porter

Best of British challenge, sponsored by New World Appliances is drawing to a close today. The last month has been hosted by London Unattached blog (one of my favourite foodie blogs). For the last challenge I am cooking a roast British pork with Fuller's London Porter, a veritably British combination of flavours.
To make it even more local, I went to the butcher's and bought a piece of the outdoor reared British pork tenderloin fillet.

Ingredients:
500g British pork tenderloin fillet
1 small carrot
3 garlic cloves
1 tsp of Hogwood Spice blend
1/3 bottle of Fuller's London Porter
olive oil
Cornish sea salt and luxury pepper seasoning

For the side dish:
1 big butternut squash
1 tbsp of butter
olive oil
1 tsp of Wild Rose el Hanout
salt

Cut the carrot in half lengthways and then into smaller sticks. Cut the garlic cloves lengthways into 3 pieces. Take the long narrow knife and pierce the pork fillet along its length.Then put the carrot and garlic pieces inside the meat (sort of stuff the pockets). Brush the meat with the olive oil, sprinkle with the Cornish sea salt and luxury pepper seasoning as well as Hogwood Spice blend. This blend is called a secret spice from Britain, and mine came from Forage Fine Foods.
Place the meat on a hot skillet and seal it on both sides.
Put the meat in the ceramic tray and pour about 1/4 of the rich and dark London Porter. Put the tray in the oven preheated to 150C and cook on low for over 2 hours, turning occasionally and pouring more London Porter.

Take the pork out of the oven and let it sit for about 5 minutes before slicing it.
Serve with the mashed butternut squash.

While cooking the meat, cut the squash into big chunks, remove the seeds, brush them with the olive oil and wrap in foil. Place on the lower shelf of the oven. Once soft, remove from the oven, let the squash cool slightly and peel the skin. Mash in the bowl with a tabelspoon of butter, add a bit of sea salt and a spice mix. My Wild Rose el Hanout comes from Forage Fine Foods. It is a beautiful blend of aromatic spices and a cooling rose. The blend might be not British in its origins but it is produced by Forage Fine Foods which is run by Liz Knight, and I would definitely name her products as the best of British. Put the mashed squash back in the oven for another 10 minutes.

The Adventures of Achilles

Years ago I was teaching the history of the world art in school. I wish I had this edition of The Adventures of Achilles (Hugh Lupton, Daniel Morden & Carole Henaff) from Barefoot Books then to help me with the visual material for the lessons in Greek mythology.
This book is a true feast for eyes. The panel and border illustrations by Carole Henaff depict both gods and humans and remind of the images from the ancient Greek vases. It is a homage to the ancient Greek art without actually copying it, but giving it a modern twist.

This edition comes with two full-length CDs so that you can listen to the riveting retelling of the Iliad and be transfixed with the story of the Trojan War, its  causes and violent progress. The young audience will get their first taste of Homer's language with the references to Apollo, the Lord of Light, the Mighty Archer, to ox-eyed Hera, owl-eyed Athene and Great Father Zeus, the Cloud Compeller.

I have read some rather critical reviews of this book on GoodReads, which accuse the book of being too sophisticated for the younger audience or being too grim. Yes, some of its content is too dark for the younger children, but that is true with most of the Greek myths, they are pretty much sombre and morbid. I must have read the Greek Myths for the first time when I was 8 or 9 (and several times afterwards including recently). Many of the storylines were totally alien to me, but it was such a fascinating world, with its own rules and logic.

This edition is a brilliant combination of the most compelling narrative retold in modern language, striking art of illustration and a fabulous audio-recording.
As you may have read, the original Greek statues were brightly painted. These paints have become very faint or completely disappeared after thousands of years, but the Infrared and X-ray spectroscopy helped the scientists to see the original colours. I imagine they used the same intense blues and terracottas as the artist of The Adventures of Achilles.

My older son and I took our time to go through the book, as we listened to the story in installments. This is a thought-provoking book, and I would suggest reading this book or listening to the CD together with your child.

Score: 10/10

Disclosure: We recieved a free copy of the book for the purposes of reviewing. All opinions are ours.

Recreate an Orange Grove in Winter

I wish I could create an olfactory video review so that you can discover yourselves what I am trying to describe in words. We all have olfactory memories, and Christmas time for me is forever associated with the aroma of mandarins and oranges. In the time when the fruit was seasonal and haven't been in the shops all year round, some of the first manadarins appeared around this time of the year and every time I smell this beautiful fruit, I think of the Christmas trees of my childhood days. The White Company has a variety of candles to appeal to all tastes, but they couldn't find a better one for me than Orange Grove Signature Candle.
Do you like the smell of the orange peel and green leaves? That's what you get, when you light the candle. The aroma is very delicate and subtle, which I absolutely love. I cannot stand strong-smelling candles which are so overpowering they give you a headache. You get the earthy and woody rich notes underfoot, and sultry bergamot strikes a cord with its classic touch.
The Orange Grove is warming and zesty at the same time.

This signature candle (as well as all the candles in their range) is "individually hand poured in the UK using high quality wax and fragrance. The 140gs of wax gives approx 28 hours of burning."
Each candle is Gift boxed. The packaging is very stylish. It is a black and white box, a Bond-girl type of packaging, sleek and expensive-looking. At £20 per candle it is not cheap, but it is oh so excellent as a Christmas gift.

It wouldn't be Christmas without a festive candle. Christmas is known as a time of indulgence, and this candle would impress even the most harsh critic.

Campbell's Capsule Cupboard: Pasta bake with Campbell's Cream of Mushroom soup

Winter has arrived, and all we want is warming comfort food.
Campbell’s Condensed Soup has partnered with renowned Michelin-starred chef Gary Rhodes to develop the Campbell’s Capsule Cupboard. As a blogger who enjoys cooking challenges, I was thrilled to be invited to submit a recipe for Campbell's challenge.

"Rather like a woman’s capsule wardrobe, where a variety of outfits are created from a few classic items of clothing, the Campbell’s Capsule Cupboard enables dozens of recipes to be made using a tin of Campbell’s Condensed Soup and a variety of the 12 store-cupboard essentials listed below:

• Pasta
• Rice
• Potatoes
• Onions
• Peppers
• Kidney beans
• Sweetcorn
• Broccoli
• Tuna
• Chicken
• Sausages
• Cheese

We would like to invite you to take up the Campbell’s Challenge too - to come up with your own delicious recipes using the same store-cupboard ingredients above, plus any one of the Campbell’s Condensed Soup range"

As we eat lots of pasta, I knew that a pasta bake would be always appreciated by my hungry men.

From the list above I have chosen sausages, cheese, onion, pasta, peppers and a tin of Campbell's Cream of Mushroom soup.

Pasta bake with meatballs

Ingredients (serves 4)

300g dry pasta (penne)
190g cheese (Jarlsberg)
1  can of Campbell's Cream of Mushroom soup
300g beef sausages
1/2 red onion
7 Peppadew Piquante peppers (mild), chopped finely
dried mixed herbs
olive oil

Take the sausagemeat out of the skin (discard the skin) and mix with a finely chopped half of a red onion and dried herbs (Italian Garlic seasoning mix) in a medium sized bowl. Roll meatballs. Drop a few meatballs at a time into a pan of salted boiling water, remove them once they surface at the top of the pan. Set them aside.

In a medium size pan cook penne (as per instructions). Pasta should still have a bite, and be cooked al dente. Once cooked, drain the pasta. Grate the cheese. Chop the peppers.
Mix the pasta with the can of Campbell's cream of mushroom soup, a half of the grated cheese and peppers.
Take a deep ceramic tray and drizzle about 1 tablespoon of the olive oil. Spoon the pasta/cheese/soup mix in the tray and add the meatballs (push some of them deeper inside the pasta mix). Place the tray in the oven preheated to 180C for about 25  minutes. Take the tray out and add the remaining grated cheese. Back in the oven for another 5 minutes.
Serve hot.
This is an easy but satisfying pasta bake. The Cream of Mushroom soup works as a lovely mushroom sauce in this dish.

The Land of Sometimes: a mysterious magical musical journey

As someone brought up on musical stories like Peter and the Wolf, I'm all in favour of cultivating musical tastes of children from a very early age. "The Land of Sometimes" has taken me back to my childhood, when I was listening to music stories like "Alice in Wonderland" and others, sitting by the family record player and being totally enchanted.
The Land of Sometimes will take you on a long journey to the mysterious magical world.
The first thing you notice about this CD is the CD case: it is beautifully designed. The illustrations were created by artist Howard McWilliam who is well known and much loved for his front covers of The Week. His style is very distinct and imaginative. Turn the pages slowly and marvel at the tiny whimsical details. The illustrations alone tell a story and entice you to put the CD on and listen.

What is the story about? Twins Alfie and Elise start a magical journey, exploring the Land of Sometimes. In one day they travel through four seasons and meet a whole collection of curious and eccentric characters who perform their original songs.

There is the River Slouch who just wants to make friends.

There is a cute mischievous fairy Little Twink (who made me think of my 5-year-old niece Sonia and her passion for fairies and all things pink).

"Little twink, little twink

I have your stuff upside down in a blink

Little twink, little twink

I’m a disco devious

Mischievous pink

Little Twink!"
 (I'd say that sums up my niece perfectly)

Mrs Blip makes you slip. Eddie found her very amusing, now we sing with him

"I’m Mrs Blip and I’m slippery

I slip and I slide

I live in a bucket

With bubbles and slime"

There is Mr Smaller and the Chameleon Catcher and the Man with the Flying Feet.
Aren't you intrigued yet?

Songs are very catchy, with amusing lyrics that will make you smile. And each song is different from the previous one. As for the styles and genres, you get a mix of Irish folk and New Orleans jazz, reggae and disco.
Francesca Longrigg, a singer and songwriter, created all concepts, words and lyrics for The Land of Sometimes. Chicky Reeves wrote the music, and together they brought the project to life.
We loved the voice of the narrator (Nicholas Jones), it links the story  and the songs with a natural ease and artistry.
 

 

The recommended age group for the CD is 2-99 years (I loved this specification). At 2 years and  a bit, Eddie is a bit too young to appreciate the story in full. In fact we listened to it in parts for several days, and I think he enjoyed music more than the story.

This CD will make an excellent stocking filler for children who enjoy music and stories.

This is a kind of CD which will make your kids leave their laptops and ipads, switch off the DVD player and let their imaginations carry them away on the wings of fantasy.

The Land of Sometimes has a great website which has downloadable colouring pictures and details on all the characters.  You even download a map, how cool is that.

They have a Facebook page  and are on Twitter too.

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And the latest news:

Two School Children From Oxfordshire Are Set For Chart Battle For The Christmas Number One Spot!

"Ladbrokes have just announced that two unknown school children from Oxfordshire are now in the chart battle for the coveted Christmas Number One Spot with odds of 10/1 with their charity single ‘Dare Make A Wish’.

400 other children also from the Oxford area came together to record the song, with the two youngsters, which will see all proceeds being donated to the Dyslexia Action charity.

Francesca Longrigg, writer and creator of The Land of Sometimes CD from which the single is taken from has said

“This single is by children for children. In the music industry particularly with the likes of X Factor and Novelty singles competing for the top spot we wanted to remember what the heart of Christmas is all about – the children and give them a chance to shine and have their special moment.”

Ladbrokes have put the children in front of the likes of Kylie Minogue, Girls Aloud and Olly Murs with only the X Factor hopefuls Jermaine Douglas, James Arthur and the Hillsborough charity single in front of them.

The Land of Sometimes will be joining forces with the charity Dyslexia Action to release a charity single on December 9^th, which will be a version of one of the album tracks ‘Dare Make A Wish’.

The musical director for the single is the wonderful Mo Westworth, who is director of the Unison Rock Academy and the i-Stage Academy in Oxfordshire.

The proceeds will go to the charity ‘Dyslexia Action’, the biggest dyslexia charity in the UK. We believe in the tremendous power of music in helping to transform learning difficulties, and indeed the Land of sometimes very own Isadora, who plays Elise on the album, who felt that her involvement in recording The Land Of Sometimes boosted her confidence and helped her overcome learning difficulties from her dyslexia enormously.
 

Libby Griffiths who will sing the lead part of Elise is also Dyslexic, which the panel had no idea of until after she had won the part!

“Dyslexia Action are so grateful for being the partner charity of the single made by all at the ‘Land of Sometimes’. We are very keen to have enthusiastic fundraisers such as LOS on this team, supporting the charity. It is both such a lovely and unique idea and we are glad to be a part of it. The money raised from this single will be used to help change many lives and help to break down the barriers in education that those living with dyslexia face. On behalf of Dyslexia Action, I’d like to thank all those involved in making this wonderful piece of music and to all those who purchase it and therefore support this very worthy cause”

 (Danielle Perrin, Supporter Relationship Team)

The single will be available on iTunes from Sunday December 9th

and will be titled

The Land of Sometimes voices of the big sing!

 

 

VELCROing all the way

The quest for finding #101 uses for Velcro continues.
To see Tips no.1 and 2 please read my previous blog posts with #101uses.

Tip no.3: create your own gift container (yet again crafts-related) by recycling an empty round box. I am a hoarder, a big time hoarder, and don't like throwing boxes or containers, ask my husband and he will sigh. I skip a heartbeat when I see a perfectly good box binned, so I save as many as possible by squirreling them in the attic. The box below was once a container for a Hotel Chocolat Easter Egg. I knew it would come handy one day.
Take one round box, two pieces of fabric (I have used the free fabric samples), attach them to the box with Velcro ribbon stick on along the top edge and lower edge. If you have a small wooden decoration, add it with a small round Velcro dot.

That's how the box looks on the side. Put the shredded coloured paper inside and any right size gift that you might want to give to your family member or a friend.

Tip 4. Keep a recipe clean while cooking: if you need to consult the right amount of ingredients while using a magazine or newspaper cutting, place it in a clear plastic pocket and Velcro the pocket to the kitchen wall or shelf for reference. Your hands might be messy but your recipe will stay clean.

Tip 5: Velcro Stick Ons are widely used with PECs (picture exchange communication system). Ask any parent with a child who has speech problems, and they will tell you: Velcro is a super medium for laminated PECs.

Tip 6: Velcro Reusable Ties are a great tool in the garden. Attach a laminated name tag to any plant with a colourful reusable tie.

Tip 7: Another use in the garden - Tie a raspberry (or any other) cane with a reusable tie.

Tip 8: hold the gas lighter in one place by adding a Velcro stick on to its back and another piece to the wall: you won't be looking for it again next time you need to use it.

Tip 9: Did you ever swear in the kitchen trying to find a candle when there is a power cut? Attach a candle to the fridge door with a Velcro stick on. Next time you need it, it will be there, waiting for you.

If you liked reading this post, you might like to read the previous posts on the topic:

1. Create your own gift tags with Velcro
2. Wrap it up on a budget

"Sooo funny" - bath time with Nuby

"Sooo funny", seems to be Eddie's favourite expression. Isn't it great to be two years old and find the world an irresistible place full of fun discoveries?! Like most kids of his age, Eddie loves his bath. The bath time turns into the splash time which is made even jollier with interactive toys like Nuby Tub Time Turtle. It is a very cute bright toy which floats on the water's surface, it doesn't go down and is always within easy reach.

Eddie seems to be fascinated by the waterfall effect and is happily lifting the turtle up from the water. The turtle's shell works as a sieve. The toy is soft enough for a younger child to chew.  As a parent, I appreciate that the toy is BPA free.

This toy is available from Nuby and Amazon. This purchase will help support Deaf Children's Literacy Project.

Nuby Bath Letters and Numbers is another fun bath product which is suitable for kids 3+. Eddie is 28 months old, but I think it is never too early to introduce kids to numbers and letters. We count lots of things with Eddie, he is repeating and learning, and is happy to count on his own (at the moment it is "one, two, three, seven, six, nine, ten", but we're getting there).

These soft foam letters and numbers can float in the water, they are so light, and stick easily when wet to the bath's surface.

The letters and numbers are very bright and colourful. I remember we used to have a similar bath toy (a different brand) when Sasha was younger, but once we moved house, they were hidden in the box in the shed. When I decided that it was time for Eddie to enjoy this toy, I have searched in the shed and realised that the mouse has shredded most of the parts, eeek.
Now we have a bright new set of letters and numbers, and one happy tot.
The foam is made of non-toxic material and is BPA free.

To find out more about Nuby and keep up with their latest news, follow them on Twitter & Facebook.

Wrap it up on a budget

I like to splash on Christmas gifts, but I often resent spending money on all the wrapping paraphernalia. It seems such a waste of money and resources, most of them ending up in the recycling bins the next day after Christmas. If anything, I prefer buying the gift bags as they are sturdy enough to be recycled, and tend to get a bargain after the holiday season is over, when you can get nice gift wrapping things for pennies. Even better, when you can make your own gift wrapping, tags and decorations.
If you like the look of my poinsettia decoration, here is how you can make the same.

You will need
a few pieces of fabric (I urge you to go to your local furniture shop and ask for the free discontinued sample books)
2 Tulip 3d paints
1 Christmassy ribbon (the one I used was from a 99p Shop, it was a pack of 5 ribbons)
1 Velcro stick on

Using the 3d paints, draw the outline of your poinsettia flower, one slightly bigger than the other. Let them dry completely it might take a few hours, if you use the Glitter variety. To speed up the process, place your fabric on the radiator (painted side up, you don't want it glued to the radiator).

Once the paint is dry, cut out the flower shapes (cut close to the painted lines). Sew two flower shapes together using a red thread (just a few tiny stitches in the middle will do). Add a few golden dots of paint in the middle of the flower (optional). Let it dry. Attach the Velcro stick on to the back of the flower.

Wrap up the gift (in my case it was two boxes of Green & Black's chocolate) in a fabric sample, tie it with the ribbon. Add the Velcro stick on to the ribbon in the middle of the box, and attach the poinsettia.

Easy, colourful and not pricey. The flower can be recycled for the future gifts by the recipient (that is, if they like it).
And that's my crafting tip no.2 for the Velcro challenge.
If you liked this post, you might like the crafting tip no.1, which you can find here.

Du pain, du vin, du Boursin Sun-Ripened Tomato, Onion & Chive

 Apologies for the rather predictable title. I  am one of those people who can't resist saying "Du pain, du vin, du Boursin", when treating myself to a lovely chunk of bread with a soft crumby cheese generously spread on top. For all Boursin lovers there is a new indulgent flavour to enjoy - Boursin Sun-Ripened Tomato, Onion & Chive, a boost of Mediterranean flavours.

 

As with all the soft cheeses in the range, only the finest ingredients are used to create this new variety. You get the same signature creamy, crumbly soft cheese with an added flavour of the sun-ripened tomatoes as well as aromatic onions and chives. The flavours are very summery and evocative of the leisurely lunches under the hot Mediterranean sun. Close your eyes, have a bite and imagine yourself on holidays, dining al fresco. The tastes are rich and intense, very tomatoey.
This lovely crumbly cheese added flavours to the stuffed tomatoes, when mixed with rice and herbs.
 

 

I have also crumbled it on top of the sweet pepper, stuffed with rice and minced beef with herbs and tomatoes.

 

And on top of the grilled Portobello mushrooms.

It is lovely spread on the rye bread (try Borodinsky bread, Russian-style rye bread). The maltiness and coriander are enhanced by the Boursin. That is probably the most tasty combination (I tried a few different breads with Boursin, and Borodinsky won the battle).

It transforms a humble plain baked potato into a feast. Add a handful of olives or cornichons for a thoroughly satisfying lunch.

Boursin’s sun-ripened tomato, onion & chive flavour is available now in the speciality cheese section alongside the rest of the Boursin range, in most Tescos and Morrisons stores, at a price of £2.20 per 150g.

Fudges biscuits for your Christmas cheeseboard (giveaway c/d 15 December 2012)

Christmas meal won't be complete without a big cheeseboard groaning under the weight of many cheeses, a great selection of biscuits, a bowl of nuts and dried fruit. You feel stuffed already after the main meal, but the cheeseboard is so tempting, you keep nibbling. Pure bliss. Fudges has kindly offered a selection of biscuits for one of my blog readers. One lucky winner will receive two boxes of Biscuit Cheese Selections, one box of Cheddar Wafers and a box of Marmite Biscuits.

These indulgent biscuits won't last long on the cheeseboard, that I can promise. They are very moreish  and delicious. Cheddar wafers are melting in the mouth.
My ideal cheeseboard will include a good old Parmiggiano, Stilton, Cornish yarg (with nettles), Capricorn goat's cheese and Lincolnshire Poacher, or Tickler. Lots of biscuits, fresh figs and grapes.

I confess I haven't tried Marmite biscuits, as I'm not the biggest fan of Marmite. A couple of years ago my Marmite-obsessed niece bought a pack of Marmite cheese for me. I tried, reader, honestly. I tried but didn't like it. And she loved it. Tastes differ, and I'm sure Marmite biscuits will be greeted with Hurrah by Marmite lovers.

To win this lovely selection of biscuits for Christmas, please enter using the Rafflecopter. Only the first step - leaving a comment (answering the question) is mandatory. All the other steps give you bonus entries.

Good luck! a Rafflecopter giveaway