From Britain with Love

I have to confess to being something of a packagingaholic. I simply can’t resist beautiful packaging, so when I was sent a parcel of goodies from new organic food brand Roots & Wings I couldn’t help but be seduced by the bright jewel-coloured jars and packets - almost too pretty to be hidden away in a cupboard.

But this brand is more than just a pretty face… the philosophy behind the name is inspired by the received wisdom that the best thing you can give your children is roots for stabililty and wings for aspiration. As a mum of two small boys I couldn’t agree more. Family life and good food go hand in hand, and these delicious products are all made from ethically sourced organic ingredients and crafted with care by artisan food producers across the UK.

What’s more, 10% of their profits are donated to children’s charities such as Ickle Pickles which helps the smallest and sickest babies in neonatal intensive care units nationwide. Look out for Roots & Wings products in selected branches of Tesco or buy online at Food Revolution. You can find out more at www.rootsandwingsorganic.com.

Maybe it’s the cold weather or perhaps I’ve gone into ‘nesting’ mode, but I seem to have been baking for England recently. Hot on the heels of last friday’s brilliant Traditional British Baking course at The Lighthouse Bakery School for an upcoming Course Notes feature, I was donning my pinny again over the weekend to try out a recipe for Coffee & Walnut Cupcakes, courtesy of Heart of Gold who kindly sent me a bottle of their new 100% natural pure British rapeseed oil.

Grown in the Vale of Belvoir, it’s low in cholesterol, packed full of healthy Vitamin E and Omega 3 and has half the saturated fat of olive oil, making it a heart-friendly alternative. Carried away by the thought of healthy (and therefore surely guilt-free!) cupcakes, I tried out the recipe and can report that the results were deliciously light, moist and tasty…. although my piping skills may need a bit more work! Find recipes and information at www.heartofgoldrapeseedoil.co.uk.

It’s British Sausage Week… and with fireworks night tomorrow what better excuse do you need to celebrate the Great British Banger than around a glowing bonfire, with perhaps a steaming mug of mulled wine on the side?

With this in mind I popped into my local butchers, Armstrong’s in St Margarets, to peruse their sausage list… yes, they have a sausage list! 16 different award-winning, homemade varieties to be precise, from traditional Cumberland and Lincolnshire to the more exotic Creole and Merguez. I settled on a medley of three tasty sounding varieties: Ginger & Leek, Pork & Stilton, and mouthwatering Pork, Caramelised Onion & Cracked Black Pepper. With these beauties on the menu, bonfire night is sure to go with a bang!

British Sausage Week runs from 1st to 7th November. Find out more along with recipes, videos and sizzling sausage facts & stats at LovePork.co.uk.