Summer Food Tips

With the summer comes the sun (usually!). Here are ten top tips to help keep your tasty food safe over the summer months.

1. Use small ice packs in your picnic bag to keep food cool, fresh and hygienic (especially anything that it dairy based).
2. Add wet ingredients to sandwiches on arrival at your destination to avoid soggy bread.
3. When picnicking, pack rubbish bags, so you can take your leftovers and packaging away with you.
4. Don't attempt anything to grand - the most popular food is often the simplest. Quality, fresh ingredients always taste fabulous in the fresh air.
5. Buy some simple mesh dome-shaped covers to keep insects away from salads and other foods.
6. Stock up on paper napkins and hand-wash gel, and keep them in the car ready for impromptu picnics.
7. Simple crudités with dips are great sharing food and work well for summer lunches and suppers at home or on a picnic.
8. For sweet treats in summer, avoid chocolate, and opt instead for refreshing fruit salads and yoghurts, or finger foods such as flapjacks or shortbread.
9. Use insulated containers to keep cold foods cold and hot foods hot.
10.  Try herbal or mint tea, or iced coffee as a refreshing, thirst-quenching variation.

(These great tips come from The Co-Operative Food)

 

 



Rainbow Cupcakes - great to brighten your day!

Simple but cute and tasty cupcakes!

 

First, start with my cupcake recipe here.

 

Then, when cool, cover with blue glace icing. Leave to set while you make the buttercream.

 

Pipe 2 small clouds (I use a 1M Wilton nozzle) on top of the set glace icing and carefully form a rainbow with jelly strips (I found these in Co-Op - 3 bags for £1, bargain!)

 

Lastly, share with your friends and enjoy!

BBC Good Food Show Winter

Last Friday, a good friend and I ventured out of Wales to The Good Food Show Winter at the NEC Birmingham.  I have been to the Good Food Show Summer during June before and so was excited to see if the Winter event was comparable or not.

Well, I'm pleased to say it was fantastic!  The number of exhibitors was overwhelming!  We entered the exhibition halls and it was definitely bustling!    After a good look around what we thought was about 2/3 of the stands, we turned a corner and found even more foodie stands around said magical corner!

There was lots of different produce on offer... from alcoholic tipples to cheese and nibbles there was something for everyone.  Also, there were kitchen equipment stands, gifts and homewares - you would definitely find something for that hard to buy for family member!  And as a bonus, most exhibitors have special show prices, so it's kind to your pocket too!

And of course, don't forget the many free tasters on offer!

I quickly fell in love with Rubis Chocolate Wine and just had to buy a bottle to bring home!

I was pleased to see lots of Welsh companies and food producers at the show... to name just a few of my favourites - Snowdonia Cheese Company, Toffoc, 9Bar, Brecon Carreg, Celtic Spirit Co, Condessa Welsh Liquers, Gower Cottage Brownies, Rachel's Dairy Ltd and Scarlet Angel Ltd.  

Oooohhhh, so many glittery colours!

 And, there were plenty of cake decoration suppliers, for example Cake Crafting, Cupcake World, Frost and Snow Cupcake Bakery, Renshaw and The Happy Cupcake Company. 

A quick glance at Gino D'Acampo was an extra bonus too!

So, all in all a great day - but I would recommend flat shoes and make use of the "Shop & Drop" supported by Guide Dogs for the Blind!

Keep the dates in your diary for next year - BBC Good Food Show Summer 12th-16th June 2012 and BBC Good Food Show 27th November - 1st December 2013.