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Alan's Cookbooks
| Product of the month :Blackberries - |
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Blackberries , also known as the bramble and is the fruit of a wild shrub grown mainly in the Northern parts of Europe and North America.
In the UK the season for blackberries starts in mid to late August through to early October.
I love fresh blackberries sweet and juicy and like to add them to a pie with the other seasonal favourite Apple.
This combination with a hint of cinnamon and a splash of pastis/pernod makes Autumn worth looking forward to.
I also incorporate blackberries with smoked meats and game such as smoked duck, and smoked pigeon, the strength and flavour can carry them of perfectly .
They are equally as good in a leaf and herb salad, and not forgetting the blackberry jelly for that wobbly Sunday treat with thick crème fraiche or clotted cream !
The word berry comes from old English meaning Fruit without stone .
The alternative name bramble also comes from Old English "Braemel" meaning prickly and refers to the actual bush from which it is picked .
In old Folk law it is forbidden to eat blackberries after the 29 th September ( st Michaelmas day ) because Lucifer was supposed to have passed by on that night and spit on the bushes, presumably on his way to hell from heaven .
(St Michaelmas day was the day he was expelled from heaven ! ) |
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| Product of the month :Avocado - |
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Avocado
What’s in a name? The name derives from the Spanish aguacate via the Aztecs who name it ahuacatl, meaning “testicle tree”, a reference to its shape.
Historical The avocado comes from a tree originating in Central America. The Spanish noted its existence as early as 1519 but did not become popular until the 20th Century. In many producing countries, they were given to babies as their first solid food, and were referred to by sailors as midshipman’s butter. Avocados were planted in the United States around 1833, but commercial production did not take place until the turn of the century.
Fact There are more than 500 varieties of this tropical tree. Some of the fruits are no bigger than a human thumb; others can weigh up to several pounds. Their shape also differs from that of a pear to that of a sausage. This subtropical tree is a member of the laurel family and main exporters around the world include Israel, South Africa and Mexico. In nature, avocados drop before they ripen; this is due to an inhibiting agent in the leaves preventing it ripening on the tree.
Health & Fitness The flesh contains more than 25% fat and has more protein than any other fruit. The downside is they may contain up to a400 calories per fruit, so look out if on a diet. On the vitamin side, they are a rich source of Vitamin E, an anti-oxidant that prevents free radical damage that might lead to cancers, and potassium, that helps to control blood pressure and Vitamin B, good for a healthy nervous system. (Low levels of B6 may also be associated with morning sickness).
Hints & Tips If your avocado is a little too firm and unripe, try placing it into a brown paper bag with a ripe banana, and then seal the bag. The gases produced by the banana will help the avocados to ripen and will be ready to eat in less than 24 hours. |
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| Product of the month : Cherries - |
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Cherries What’s in a name? Our word Cherry evolved from the Mediaeval Latin “Ceresia” and that eventually became ‘cerise’ in French. The English dropped the se at the end due to it sounding plural, and ended up calling it ceri. Historical First distributed through Europe by the Romans in 100 AD, Lucillus, the Roman general and bon viveur brought the cherry tree from the city of Cerasus hence also its name. The type of cherries known then would have been the sour varieties and used mainly for medicinal purposes. Fact There are more than 1,000 varieties of cherries and are divided into two groups, the sour cherries such as Morello and the sweet cherries like Napoleon and Bing. It will be the sour varieties that are found in jars, or dried, the sweet are usually reserved for eating fresh. In French cookery, any game, poultry or sweet dish called “montmorency” has a sauce of sour cherries.
Health & Fitness The raw varieties of cherries are a good source of potassium, which helps to regulate the heartbeat as well as keeping the skin healthy.
They also contain a good amount of vitamin C. In alternative medicine, cherries are used to help cure joint inflammation and in particular – gout – helping to lower levels of uric acid in the blood. It is also believed that they have a cleansing effect and is able to remove toxins and cleanse the kidneys. Hint & Tip When buying fresh cherries, check out its stalk. It should be green and liable, as it ages the stalk dries and withers. |
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| Product of the month :Tomatoes - |
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Tomatoes
What’s in the name? There are several name traces for tomato; one of them is from the Aztec word Tomat meaning plump fruit. The other is pommo d’oro, or golden apple in Italian, referring to their original colour and firmness.
Historical Tomatoes may have originated in Peru and travelled towards Mexico where they became part of the Aztec staple diet. The Spanish brought the plant to Europe in the 16th Century, where they were met with great suspicion; many feared that they would transmit leprosy. Early cookbooks recommended that they be thinly peeled and cooked for a minimum of 3 hours to render them edible. In the 18th Century, the tomato began to be taken seriously and the Red variety, as we know today, was introduced. In 1835, the tomato was adopted by the USA, where today million of tonnes are grown and exported.
Fact The tomato is technically a fruit and not a vegetable and is a relative of the nightshade family, its other relatives include the pepper and potato. There are over 1,000 different varieties ranging in size and colour. The best flavoured tomatoes come from ones that have been left to mature on the vines.
Health & Fitness They are a good source of carotenoids, potassium, and Vitamins C and E. They also contain very few calories. In fact, two medium sized tomatoes contain around 22 calories between them, and so are ideal to include in a weight reducing diet.
Hints & Tips If you have an abundance of fresh seasonal tomatoes like I do, then one way to use them is to cook them down into a thick paste, cool, strain and freeze the puree in an ice-cube tray. Once frozen, transfer to a freezer bag. When cooking simply add a tomato cube whenever you need to boost the flavour of sauces, soups or gravies. |
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| Product information of the month "Strawberries" - |
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Strawberries
What’s in a name?
There are a couple of associations related to the strawberry, one probably comes from the Anglo-Saxon from the wild strawberry plant “streawberige” meaning runners. The other relates to the bed of straw that the berries are cultivated upon, to prevent thee fruits coming into contact with the muddy earth.
Historical The wild fruits were grown in Classical Rome as well as in Europe during the 17th Century. The strawberries that we know today are relatively new fruits, when to American species were brought together in the 18th Century to produce the varieties of many of the thousand or so cultivated strawberries today.
Fact The strawberry is a member of the Rose family and is the only fruit to have its pips on the outside and not on the inside.
Health & Fitness Strawberries are a good source of Vitamin C and higher than any other berry. Six average sized strawberries contain as much Vitamin C as an orange with 100g portion containing only 27 calories. In traditional medicine, strawberries have long been used to cleanse and purify the digestive system and are said to act as a mild tonic for the liver and to have antibacterial properties. In a book published in 1931, it claimed that strawberries held on the teeth for 5 minutes will removed any discolouration and a cut strawberry rubbed over the face after washing will whiten the skin and remove sunburn.
Hints & Tips Always wash strawberries with their calyx in place, as this prevents water entering into the centre of the fruit, thinning down the flavour and washing away the nutrients. If the strawberries are lacking in flavour try dusting them with icing sugar and leave them covered at room temperature for 45 minutes. Alternatively, sprinkle them with Kirsch, Cointreau or Grand Marnier. |
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| History of the Asparagus - |
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Asparagus.
Originally from Eastern Europe and know by the Greeks in its wild form, Asparagus was also loved by Louis XIV of France.
It became a popular local produce after the Elizabethan period and was, as it is today, classed as an aphrodisiac, due mainly to its shape.
These long spears usually take a couple of years to establish and will last up to 20 years, with the best quality achieved in the fourth or firth season.
In traditional folk medicine, it was used as a sedative and a treatment for poor eyesight, whilst on the medicinal line, it is not recommended for people suffering from gout.
It also contains a chemical that scents the urine, apart from that, it contains a good deal of beta carotene, vitamin C and E and can also be a mild laxative.
An Asparagus auction is held in Evesham every year and attracts visitors from far and wide.
If you are cooking some at home the simplest methods are the best, steamed or microwaved with plenty of butter.
If you trim the stalks, you can then save the ends and reserve for soup. You could always try cooking asparagus in your pan of boiled potatoes, simply stand the asparagus upright and cover the tips with foil. The heads will cook from the steam and the stems will flavour your potatoes and the same time. |
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