Organic Carrots

 Organic Carrots

I do like carrots and I like organic carrots even better, as they have a much fuller flavour than “standard” carrots.

In a recent report however as reported by the BBC and commisioned by the Food Standards Agency it was found that:

Organic food is no healthier than ordinary food, a large independent review has concluded.

There is little difference in nutritional value and no evidence of any extra health benefits from eating organic produce, UK researchers found.

Things change, back in October 2007 I read that:

Organic produce is better for you than ordinary food, a major European Union-funded study says.

The £12m four-year project, led by Newcastle University, found a general trend showing organic food contained more antioxidants and less fatty acids.

That survey said organic food, well organic produce, could be better for you than non-organic produce.

So who is right?

When I started buying organic, and about 90% of what I buy is organic, the data and research seemed to indicate that there was no real difference between organic and non-organic produce.

I justified it to myself that possibly it was good for me, but in reality the main reason for buying organic was the flavour, and I still stand by that.

I buy organic for the flavour and so should you.

Roasting a chicken

Currently roasting a chicken.

Chicken is an organic free range bird, stuffed with a sausagemeat stuffing and draped with pancetta bacon.

Going to serve it with traditional accompaniments including roast potatoes, roast parsnips and steamed vegetables.

St Peter’s Organic Ale

St Peter’s Organic AleLast night I had a very enjoyable bottle of St Peter’s Organic Ale. I really enjoyed the beer.

Water is extracted from our own 300’ deep borehole and combined with Soil Association accredited light malted barley from Norfolk. Organic hops provide the distinctive palate. The yeast used is St. Peter’s own single strand variety. The result is a delicate, clean, crisp, lightly carbonated, traditional English Ale with a full ‘citrus hop’ aftertaste. This lovely beer won the Soil Association’s top prize in 2002 and a silver medal in 2006.

It also comes in a very unique bottle as well.

Southern Fried Chicken Strips

Are you worried about the additives in the fast food you buy?

Are you concerned about the ingredients used in the snacks you eat?

Do you care about the welfare of the animals used for the foods you love?

I really like southern fried chicken, but wherever possible try and avoid buying it from those fast food places as:

a) I am worried about the salt content.

b) I am worried about the additives used.

c) I prefer to use organic free range chicken where possible.

So I now make my own southern fried chicken.

Take some skinless boneless organic chicken thighs, some supermarkets sell them like this, others you will need to skin and bone them. I prefer the thigh meat as it has a lot more flavour than the breast meat (and is cheaper).

Slice into strips.

Coat in flour.

Coat in beaten egg (free range and organic).

Coat again in seasoned flour, I use a mix of cajun spices usually.

Deep fry for a minute or so, until brown.

Drain and put onto kitchen towel on a plate to drain any excess oil.

Serve with dips and stuff.

Quick and easy.

Which coffee do you drink?

coffeeSo which coffee do you drink on a regular basis?

Personally I stopped drinking instant coffee a few years ago, and now only drink “proper” coffee. I either use my espresso machine or the cafetiere.

I use Percol’s Fairtrade Organic Percol which is quite a strong coffee.

Dark and full with upfront flavours of bitter chocolate and hazelnut with a smooth and rounded finish.

I enjoy this first thing in the morning and often have a second cup mid-morning if I am at home.

So which coffee do you drink and enjoy?

Organic is “better for you”

When I started buying organic, and about 90% of what I buy is organic, the data and research seemed to indicate that there was no real difference between organic and non-organic produce.

I justified it to myself that possibly it was good for me, but in reality the main reason for buying organic was the flavour, and I still stand by that.

Fruit

However it was nice to read today that:

Organic produce is better for you than ordinary food, a major European Union-funded study says.

The £12m four-year project, led by Newcastle University, found a general trend showing organic food contained more antioxidants and less fatty acids.

So there we have it, organic food, well organic produce, could be better for you than non-organic produce.

It should be noted that they are talking about organic produce and not processed organic food like crisps or other unhealthy foods.

Photo source.

Air Freighted Organic Food Rule Change

The BBC is reporting that the Soil Association wants to change the rules on organic produce which is air freighted to the UK.

Food flown into the UK will be stripped of its organic status unless it meets new stricter ethical standards, the Soil Association has warned. The association, which certifies 70% of the UK’s £1.9bn organic food sector, says firms must show trade brings real benefit to developing world farmers. It wants all air-freighted food to meet tough “ethical trade” standards.

Only 1% of organic food in the UK is flown in, so it only impacts on a small amount of the total. Will this impact on developing world farmers? I expect so.

Epicure Organic Puy Lentils

Today I roasted some pancetta covered organic chicken thighs on a bed of onions, red pepper, mushrooms and courgettes. This was splashed with some olive oil and seasoned with black pepper.

Whilst this was in the oven, I softened in a frying pan, some finely chopped onion with pancetta. When the onion was nicely soft, I added some red wine and beef stock before simmering it down. Beef stock over chicken stock just because of the colour rather than flavour. I then reduced and reduced this.

When I was happy with the sauce I whisked in some butter (with a fork as it happens rather than a whisk) and then added a tin of Epicure Organic Puy Lentils. I needed to add a bit more stock at this point.

I was really impressed with the Epicure Organic Puy Lentils and will certainly be buying them again, I guess it would be potentially tastier to use dried lentils, but I personally was quite happy with the tin.

So I put the lentils on the plate, placed the chicken on top and surrounded it with the roasted vegetables. I served this along with carrots and green beans.

Really tasty.

Southern Fried Chicken Goujons

Are you worried about the additives in the fast food you buy?

Are you concerned about the ingredients used in the snacks you eat?

Do you care about the welfare of the animals used for the foods you love?

I really like southern fried chicken, but wherever possible try and avoid buying it from those fast food places as:

a)    I am worried about the salt content.

b)    I am worried about the additives used.

c)    I prefer to use organic free range chicken where possible.

So I now make my own southern fried chicken.

Take some skinless boneless organic chicken thighs, some supermarkets sell them like this, others you will need to skin and bone them. I prefer the thigh meat as it has a lot more flavour than the breast meat (and is cheaper).

Slice into strips.

Coat in flour.

Coat in beaten egg (free range and organic).

Coat again in seasoned flour, I use a mix of cajun spices usually.

Deep fry for a minute or so, until brown.

Drain and put onto kitchen towel on a plate to drain any excess oil.

Serve with dips and stuff.

Quick and easy.

Organic Chicken

So organic free range chicken is twice the price of *normal* chicken.

Is it worth it?

A resounding yes.

The flavour and tenderness was superb.

I made chicken, mango and pineapple kebabs and served it with a mixed salad (with virtually all organic ingredients).

Recommended.