Tips for Cooking Well for Less from the Home of 'Cucina Povera'

Danilo Cortellini

Finding cheaper ways to prepare delicious, nutritious food is very much on our minds this winter. Whilst Italy is recognised far and wide for its excellent cuisine, the country has 'Cucina Povera',  'peasant cooking' to thank for a many of its celebrated dishes. Which will be ideal for this Christmas.

Even today, much authentic Italian food is made using simple, seasonal ingredients with techniques and recipes passed down through the generations.

Danilo Cortellini, author, founder of Tiramisoo Events and former head chef at the Italian Embassy in London, grew up in humble and rural surroundings and bases much of his cooking style on all that he learnt from his upbringing. Here he shares some simple, cost effective ways to make the most of your ingredients and keep the shopping bills down this winter.

Buy in the staples

Says Danilo: "Every Italian kitchen has plenty of olive oil, dried pasta, fresh pasta and risotto rice. I always have a piece of hard Italian cheese such as Grana Padano in my fridge, which can be used so many ways once you have learned how it works in recipes, not just grated over pasta. It keeps well for weeks in the fridge without changing flavour or texture.

"I always recommend storing in a sous vide bag or covering with cling film as you don't want the cheese to oxidate. Think of it as a seasoning rather than an ingredient and you'll find it elevates so many dishes and reduces the need for salt!"

Plan your meals before you shop

"Be sure to plan your meals for at least several days ahead before you go shopping to avoid buying too much and then having to throw food away.

"Organise a fridge and cupboard raid meals with your friends, partner or family - take all the ingredients that you haven't used in a while or that are at risk of being thrown away and collectively agree what you're going to cook in the coming days. This is a great improv activity that stimulates both your creativity, saving money and doing your bit for the planet at the same time."

Learn some new techniques

"Pickling, freezing, curing, and other preserving techniques might sound tedious but they can all be easily mastered. Learning these skills not only boosts your cooking confidence but helps your ingredients go much further.  With the right jars and wrapping you can even use your new skills to create personalised and thrifty Christmas gifts."

Create dishes with fewer ingredients

He added: "Basil and lemon are hugely popular ingredients in Italy - they add sweetness and acidity to a wide range of dishes. I recommend growing your own basil on your windowsill (outdoors and indoors) which is cheaper and involves less packaging than buying from the supermarket every week.  A cheap and easy family meal is my bucatini cacio-e-pepe with Grana Padano, lemon and basil. and you can add extra lemon, basil, pepper or Grana Padano to taste.

Use the parts you might have previously thrown away

"Whilst I wouldn't recommend eating wax or cheese cloth, most cheeses have rinds that are perfectly edible and that can be a great addition to many dishes. I always use Grana Padano rinds in stocks and sauces and they are a treat in this delicious and nutritious Grana Padano, Spelt and Broad bean soup.

"A more unusual way to use the rind would be to make puffed bites into the microwave. Simply dry your piece of rind with a clean cloth, place it in a dish on a piece of parchment with the rind facing up and bake at maximum power for about 2 minutes to watch the magic happen. Use as a crouton or follow this delicious canapé recipe."

To learn more please visit https://www.granapadano.it.

No-Bake Apple Pie Cake

Those lovely folk at the Trewithen Dairy in Cornwall have introduced a no-bake apple pie that will make a delicious addition to the family's Christmas desert menus. And year-round, too, for that matter!

This showstopping dessert couldn’t be more effortless but rewarding to make. You can replace the fruit according to the seasons – strawberries in summer and raspberries in autumn. Not only does it look (and taste) sensational, it comes together in minutes and you don't need to turn the oven on!

Serves 8

300g Trewithen Dairy Cornish Clotted Cream

300g double cream

1 tbsp vanilla extract

75g icing sugar

400g shortcake biscuits – large round biscuits work well, but any size will work

3 large cooking apples e.g. Bramley – peeled, cored and diced

2 tbsp ground cinnamon

50g dark brown sugar

50g Trewithen Dairy Salted Butter

Blackberries to decorate

Line a 20cm cake tin with cling film, leaving a large overhang to wrap on top.

Melt the butter in saucepan over a medium heat and add the diced apples, cinnamon and dark brown sugar. Pop a lid on and cook gently for 3 – 5 minutes, stirring from time to time. Remove from the heat when the apples are soft but still holding their shape.

Mix together the clotted cream with 150ml of the double cream and vanilla extract before sieving the icing sugar into the mixture. Combine thoroughly.

Now it’s time to assemble it. Add a layer of biscuits to the tin and spread a layer of cream over the top. Add a layer of cinnamon apples, then repeat with biscuits, cream and apples, finishing with a layer of biscuits. Press it down firmly, then cover with a place a chill overnight.

To serve, turn the tin over onto a serving plate and discard the cling film. Whip the remaining 150ml cream and spread it thickly over the top. Decorate with blackberries and serve.

Visit them here https://www.trewithendairy.co.uk.

Opies Launch a Trio of New Pickles That Will Enliven Everyday Family Meals and Delight Sharing Platters

With the cost of living at an all-time high, every penny certainly counts and the food we put into our shopping baskets needs to work harder than ever before to inspire us, deliver great flavour and help minimise any potential food waste.  

Opies have just launched three delicious new pickles that will effortlessly transform all types of menus: Silverskin Onions with Turmeric & Mustard Seeds, Silverskin Onions with Red Wine Vinegar and Pickled Pears. Each offer a plethora of culinary possibilities that will spark creativity - with no leftovers or waste.

The Silverskin Onions with Turmeric & Mustard Seeds are vibrantly yellow in colour and surprisingly sweet, with a back note of earthiness from the turmeric and a final pop of spice from the mustard seeds. As well as serving with a cheeseboard or alongside a ploughman's, try blitzing the onions in a food processor with a little of the vinegar, a couple of sprigs of fresh coriander and a smidge of fresh chilli for a quick accompaniment to bhajis, poppadoms or samosas.

The small, crunchy Silverskin Onions with Red Wine Vinegar make a pretty addition to any sharing platter thanks to their pink hue. They deliver a different flavour profile to traditional pickled onions as the red wine vinegar has a robust yet fruity taste. As well as a welcome addition to cheese, the onions can be added to a classic Beef Bourguignon for a pop of tart flavour and welcome crunch. Any leftover vinegar will add tang to a sauteed vegetable or spicy sausage pasta sauce.

The Pickled Pears have a warming and full-bodied flavour which comes from the malt vinegar spiked with an unmistakeable blend of cinnamon, allspice and clove spices.  These whole delicate baby pears perfectly accompany cold meats, such as pork or beef as well as enjoyed sliced with sheeps' milk cheese like Pecorino or Manchego. 

They also really hold their own when enjoyed alongside a sturdy blue cheese such as Gorgonzola or Stilton. For a quick dinner recipe, bake a ready-rolled puff pastry sheet topped with gorgonzola, pickled pears and figs.

The new range of pickles can be found in the pickle aisle in Sainsbury's stores and priced at £2 RRP.

 

Make British Vodka Your Number ONE This Christmas

Ethical spirits brand The Spirit of One has launched its first ever vodka, just in time for Christmas. 

And it's called One Vodka.  

The Richmond-based spirit company has crafted a smooth aromatic, botanical vodka, beautifully balanced with citrusy zest, their signature fresh sage and just a tiny hint of vanilla. 

It's perfect when enjoyed chilled, on the rocks, or as a smooth base for cocktails over the festive period too, particularly those dry martinis.

One Vodka is a beautiful new addition to the British vodka scene, at a time when vodka drinkers are looking for more interesting, botanical offerings. So this is a unique Christmas gift with an very good ethical slant. 

The vodka is presented in The Spirit of One's new 'Butterfly Bottle', designed by Saint Design London. Once the vodka is gone, you can remove the labels to reveal what is a stunning water carafe emblazoned with the word 'WATER', which you can keep forever.

And, as with other spirits from the One family, 10% of profits go towards The One Foundation which supports clean water projects, globally.  a

The Spirit of One's Co-Founder Ian Spooner says: “The founding principle behind The Spirit of One is to create remarkable spirits that give back. We were created to support a fundamental  humanitarian cause: the global water crisis. We are called 'One' because we know we can't change the world overnight, but we believe we can change lives one person at a time, one day at a time.”

“In the last 5 years we have launched two beautiful award-winning Gins, a limited edition Port rested gin and a ready to drink G&T range. It has always been our ambition to expand into spirits beyond gin and this launch marks the start of a new chapter for us. Exciting times”

Available from www.thespiritofone.com  RRP £34 for 70cl.

For Christmas Delivery last orders should be made by 19 December.

 

Bonne Maman's Beautiful Bakes for the Christmas Season

Help make the Christmas you want this year with some gorgeous show stopper cakes and delicious sharing bakes, with the assistance of Bonne Maman.

The flavour combination of chocolate and orange is a delicious seasonal favourite, so these Chocolate Orange Macarons made with Bonne Maman Hazelnut Chocolate Spread and Bitter Orange Marmalade could become a new home tradition.

Whilst this beautiful, jam-filled Spiced Gingerbread Wreath is a wonderful, welcoming creation to present for a special Christmas tea. The light gingerbread biscuits can be made well in advance and frozen then brought out when youngsters arrive to help finish the decoration, jammy filling, serving and devouring, too!

Either one of these sumptuous cakes could take pride of place on a celebratory Christmas spread. This Christmas Carrot Cake with Apricot Conserve is as pretty as a picture with its lightly spread snowy frosting, Rosemary fir trees and mini gingerbread house. Enormous fun can also be had with the children helping to make the Reindeer antlers for this Rudolph Reindeer Cake.

Full of fruit, this light and moist take on a traditional Christmas cake, is gluten and dairy free and by swapping aquafaba for egg whites can be made fully vegan. Bake the mixture in small baked bean tins to make cute individual ones to give away – a perfect gift to leave out for Santa and his helpers on Christmas Eve!

You can find the above recipes, and more, here https://www.bonnemaman.co.uk/recipes.

Homemade Christmas gifts and crafts with Bonne Maman

Bonne Maman jars are an ideal choice to fill with all manner of seasonal goodies. If you do have time to bake at home, these sweet treats are wonderful stored and served to family and friends or when prettily tied with festive ribbons and tags make delicious homemade gifts and presents.

The Mini Shortbread Mince Pies recipe is a new take on the traditional favourite, featuring Bonne Maman Apricot Conserve. Updating a French staple, Cranberry & Pistachio Tuiles work well with Strawberry, Raspberry, Wild Blueberry or Blackcurrant Conserves, and are great as an after dinner morsel; whilst the utterly delicious, no bake Choc Cherry Truffles are full of Black Cherry Conserve with a great vegan option available also. 

Put together a selection of Chocolate Cherry Crinkles using Black Cherry Conserve and Spiced Sugar Snowflakes made with Bonne Maman Salted Caramel. Bonne Maman Hazelnut Chocolate Spread makes a delicious Christmas gift when presented with a box of homemade Thumbprint Shortcakes, just neatly stack them up and tie with a ribbon. 

For further information, tips and recipes please visit www.bonnemaman.co.uk.

Cherish Christmas with the Bonne Maman Advent Calendar

You can help cherish your family and friends this Christmas with a gorgeous, highly desirable Bonne Maman Advent Calendar, the 24 doors offer 23 mini jars of exclusive seasonal flavours of delicious jam, each one different, along with two special surprise gifts on day one and day 24. 

This year’s Advent Calendar will feature a joyful creation of a Christmas carousel centred around a snowy Christmas tree laden with decorations and gifts. The first 23 doors each hide an adorable mini jar of jam or marmalade, every one offering an exclusive fruit variety or unique flavour combination created especially for Christmas 2022.  

It's the perfect way to say Joyeux Noël to loved ones during the holiday season, the Bonne Maman Advent Calendar starts the Christmas countdown with an additional little present on day one and then on Christmas Eve another perfect mini gift behind door 24 to usher in the big day itself.

Each day will offer a new, delectable and seasonal taste sensation to enjoy at every breakfast or tea over the Christmas period. Delight in finding a 30g mini jar of White Nectarine & Peach with Lemon Verbena? 

Or perhaps Pear with Cocoa Nibs? Maybe discover a new favourite with Chestnut & Orange with Spices? Apricot with Bergamot? or Strawberry & Star Anise?  The empty jars can also be saved and upcycled into pretty Christmas decorations or stocking filler treats for Christmas day itself. 

The Bonne Maman Advent Calendar is available to order from September online at www.bonnemaman.co.uk  at £25.99 + p&p. The calendar will also be available from Ocado, Booths, Fenwick and WH Smith plus other selected specialist stores.