British Food Fortnight: Making Plans

21 08 2009
your invitation

your invitation

Since its launch, the British Food Fortnight (19th September – 4th October) has quickly become the definitive national celebration of our regional foods and drinks and the health benefits and pleasures of eating quality, fresh, seasonal and regionally distinct produce.

Here at VegBox, where we try to make every fortnight’s food as British and as local as possible, we’re more than ready to join in the festivities, and we’re wondering whether you’d like to take part too.

Amongst the acres of brilliant information on the Love British Food website, there is a list of “14 things you can do”. And that’s our kind of list!

Here are our favourites.


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November Supplementary!

25 11 2008
wellies optional

wellies optional

“Growing Your Own” has never been more relevant than now, and is a singular, powerful and personal choice in favour of a healthier economy, ecologically respectful living, physical well being and stronger communities.

With this in mind, and as promised in the last newsletter, at 7pm on Tuesday December 2nd the VegBox Recipes Team will host a live webcast dedicated to providing guidance on how to get started growing fruit and vegetables at home. We will be joined by writer, broadcaster and veritable eco-hero Penney Poyzer, who will dispel some of the myths surrounding the GYO lifestyle choice, before sharing priceless “How To” tips for beginners.

To take part in the call, simply click here. We are encouraging everyone to use the Q&A box at the link above to submit questions before the event.

“See” you there!

Claire, Clare and the VegBox Team

About Penney Poyzer

our eco-hero penney

our eco-hero penney

Penney Poyzer is an author, broadcaster, trainer and campaigner specialising in the communication of green issues.

She is co-owner of the Nottingham ecohome, a pioneering eco retrofit of a Victorian semi in Nottingham. She and her husband green architect Gil Schalom have lectured extensively on their home and the issues surrounding our existing housing stock. Their ecohome has been cited as an exemplar and has been featured in many case studies, hundreds of media articles and formed the basis of dozens of dissertations. She is mentor to a number of PhD students and green business entrepreneurs.

She presented BBC2′s ‘No Waste like Home’ which has been broadcast on four continents. She is also author of two books with a third out in 2009.

She is a regular guest on TV and radio and frequently appears as panellist at conferences talking on a wide range of green issues. Penney is an advisor to several strategic organsiations including the Environment Agency.

She is a Matron, Patron and trustee of several green charities.

Penney is 48 and lives with husband Gil and toddler Jasmine. Penney also has Lucy, her grown up daughter and her two children. Penney is a happy, busy granny working hard with others to hand our children a planet worth inheriting.


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November Newsletter from VegBox Recipes

21 11 2008
going back to our roots

going back to our roots

Welcome to November’s newsletter!

Given our slightly more than passing interest in seasonal vegetable growing, we often start off our newsletters with a reference to the weather here in the United Kingdom … and yes, it has continued to be weird (snow in the UK? At the end of October?!) But this month, whilst hanging out on the VegBox sofa, we just couldn’t help shifting our focus to the climate in the US, politically speaking.

It’s been an incredible month, and from an eco perspective, I think it’s safe to say that new hopes abound. So as well as bringing you the usual round-up of what’s in season as we move firmly into the realm of the root vegetable, our feature article brings you news of two fascinating campaigns, one from each side of the pond, that capture the Zeitgeist of a renewed global focus on locally-grown seasonal produce.

As always, we’ve got recipes, this month to help you get cosy with cabbage and toasty with turnips as the nights draw in and the extra sweaters go on, plus an update on our new favourite online green community “ ooffoo”, and the launch of our traditional sprout-peddling contest.

Enjoy!

Claire, Clare and The VegBox Team x

Back to the (Forties) Future…

Back to the (Forties) Future... Everyone worth their ethically-sourced salt (yep, including us here on the VBR sofa) is writing to Barack Obama, it seems.

In his open letter to the next President in last month’s New York Times, American activist Michael Pollan spoke of energy independence, climate change and the health care crisis and urged attention on the US food system. He says “You can’t deal with any of those three problems without dealing with the food system”.  He’s on the same page as ecologist Satish Kumar in this month’s publication of Resurgence. “People ask, “What can we do to combat global warming, environmental degradation and social injustice?” The answer …. is, “Let us start with food: let us eat local, organic, seasonal and delicious food…”

Hear hear!

Joining in the clamour for President Obama’s attention are the US-based Eat the View campaign and the White House Organic Farm Project, both of whom are petitioning President Obama to dig up his new “back garden” appoint a Farmer in Chief, and appear with the family, come January, not for the customary stroll, but rather with sleeves up, wellies on, picking their own…

And then there’s Boris Johnson. “What?!” you cry! “Has he been writing to Barack too?”

Well, not quite. But on Tuesday November 4th, he unveiled the Capital Growth project which is encouraging the capital’s residents to plant gardens on their empty, flat roofs (and pretty much any other available space) in order to increase the amount of locally grown food available. To be precise, the aim is to create 2,012 new food growing spaces by … you guessed it – 2012!

It’s not a new idea, of course. Think Second World War and Eleanor Roosevelt’s “Victory” Home Gardens. And the corresponding surge in allotments in here in the UK. Maybe the rise and rise of Grow-Your-Own can help all of us living on what Obama describes as “a planet in peril” to reduce our dependence on fossil-fuels and help address the problems of climate change. As well as improving our own personal nutrition in the face of the obesity crisis and helping ease the current strain on our household budgets.

I’ll leave the (almost) last word to Satish Kumar. “We have to transform our [personal] relationship with food, as a first step towards transforming political, economic and social policies… Are we prepared to put our hands in the soil?”

Well, you know that here at VBR we are very up for the whole hands/soil relationship. And given that this is the perfect time to plan and prepare for next year’s crops, we are dedicating the next VegBox Recipes Club webcast to providing some practical guidance to all you would-be-home-gardeners out there to help you get started.

STOP PRESS

We can now announce that the webcast will take place in the early evening of Tuesday 2nd December, and I am DEEEEE-lighted to tell you that our special guest will be none other than the quite incredible writer/broadcaster Penney Poyzer – co-creator of the UK’s first radical eco retrofit of a Victorian house, author of “No Waste Like Home” and Matron of the Women’s Environmental Network!

In Season in November

In Season in November The tree outside my window, which was a-flame this time last month, is now looking decidedly naked. Mother Nature has definitely shifted her focus from branch and hedgerow and is now working most of her magic underground, summoning up delicious root vegetables for us to bubble and bake and stew and roast to keep ourselves warm till spring.

So, get ready to hunker down with November’s most likely box-stars – here’s a round-up of what to expect this month:

apples, beetroot, broccoli, butternut squash and all other winter squashes, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower,  celeriac, Jerusalem artichoke, kohlrabi (whose time is now, finally, running out), leeks (now even sweeter since we’ve had a frost), onions, parsnips, pears, sprouts (don’t miss the competition!), swede, turnip, watercress

And here are some of our current favourite recipes:

Baked Butternut Squash with Apple Baked Butternut Squash with Apple
Baking or roasting squash gives it a sweeter flavour. Stuffing it with apple makes a delicious variation. http://www.vegbox-recipes.co.uk/recipes/butternut-squash-recipe-5.php#notes

Spicy Cabbage Soup Spicy Cabbage Soup
Spices are a good way of boosting your metabolic rate, which can get sluggish in winter, so this soup should leave you feeling full of energy. http://www.vegbox-recipes.co.uk/recipes/cabbage-soup-recipe-2.php

Celeriac and Other Root Vegetable Crumble with Cheesy Topping Celeriac and Other Root Vegetable Crumble with Cheesy Topping
This is a delicious recipe for carrots and other roots veggies. The secret ingredient gives it a warming kick. Make the most of your celeriac, kohlrabi, turnips, Swedes and parsnips. http://www.vegbox-recipes.co.uk/recipes/carrot-recipe-2.php

Brussel Sprouts with Nutmeg Brussel Sprouts with Nutmeg
We thought we’d whet your appetite as we launch our annual “sprout peddling” contest. This recipe was rated 10/10 on the main website, but we reckon you guys can find something even more delicious. Read on! http://www.vegbox-recipes.co.uk/recipes/brussel-sprouts-recipe-5.php

Remember, you can find hundreds more recipes on the main website: http://www.vegbox-recipes.co.uk/recipes/recipes-index.php

The Annual Sprout Peddling Contest

Brussel Sprouts with Nutmeg There’s no denying it, the season has well and truly shifted … if the snow and the bare branches aren’t proof enough for you … check out the new arrival in our vegboxes. Yep. Sprrrrrrrrrrrouts!

Love ‘em or hate ‘em (perhaps sprouts are the marmite of seasonal food?), they are here for a while. So in honour of these much-maligned little greenies, we thought we would run the annual VBR “sprout peddling” competition to find arguably the most sought-after of all seasonal cooking treasures … I speak of course, in appropriately hushed tones so as not to scare my family, of The Best Brussel Sprout Recipe of 2008. This recipe will be recognizable by its magical power to convert entrenched sprout-loathers across the Northern hemisphere to “devout-sprout-touters” in time for Christmas.

Since the Going Back to my Roots (Yeah…) blogpost, we have already had one submission, and it’s sounding deeeee-lish (I will be test driving this one next week, Siobhan in London), so thinking caps on, friends.   The winner will be announced in the December issue of the VBR Newsletter, and will receive a copy of the very beautiful “ Grow Organic” courtesy of Natural Collection

WooHoo! It’s ooffoo …

Last month the hot tip from VegBox was to “Get Ready to ooffoo”. And now that the community is live and kicking, it’s surely only a matter of time before the sheer volume of green souls bartering, buying and blogging there every day make “to offoo” an official verb!

Front and centre on the homepage it says that “ooffoo has been designed to bring together a community of people who share the desire to create a positive vision for our world. ooffoo is for those who really do believe that the world is what we make it and that collectively, positive actions no matter how small, can make a difference.”

And when they put it like that … well, we just had to give it another plug!

WooHoo! It’s ooffoo …

Anyway, that’s all for now. I hope you’ve enjoyed this month’s newsletter.

Until next time, may your vegboxes heave with all the root-y beauties this season has to offer : )

Claire, Clare and the VegBox Team x

P.S. If you’re involved with a Box Scheme or other eco business, please do feel free to forward this newsletter to your customers.


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Going Back To My Roots (yeah…)!

30 10 2008
green meanies?

green meanies?

So the clocks went back, we had the first snow (how bizarre was THAT?!), and now the leeks are even sweeter and the parsnips are arriving for the winter in droves.

There’s no denying it, the season has well and truly shifted … it is the time of mash and stews and chunky soups. And sprrrrrrrrrrrouts.

Love ‘em or hate ‘em (perhaps sprouts are the marmite of seasonal food?), they are here for a while, and likely to start making appearances in your vegbox. So in honour of these much-maligned little greenies, we thought we would run a VBR competition to find that recipe worth its weight in gold … the one that will convert sprout-loathers across the Northern hemisphere over the next few months.

We will officially launch the competition with the November newsletter and announce the winners in December in time for the festive season. Meantime, thinking caps on, friends. And if you get some in your box, start experimenting! The person who submits the most delicious suggestion (I can’t believe I am going to have to test drive all your submissions) will win a special prize and free membership to the VegBox Recipes Club.

So, going back to my roots before I sign off, I wanted to ask for your help.

The root in question was beetroot. Earlier in the week I decided that it was finally time to dust off my baking tins and try a chocolate and beetroot creation. I used gluten free flour, agave nectar instead of sugar and carotino oil instead of butter. And it was truly horrible. In fact my sister was adamant that it no longer classified as a food stuff.

I think the main problem was the carotino oil and the agave nectar, as I had struggled to find guidelines for substitution amounts.

And I’m hoping that’s where you folks come in. Where do you go when you want to make substitutions for less traditional ingredients and don’t know how much to swap in?

mind your clothes!

mind your clothes!

Meantime, I will leave you with a link to my favourite beetroot recipe:

Pink Mash – sent in by Natasha Mangion and always a winner in our house!

TOP TIP: use baked rather than boiled potatoes, remembering to rub the skins with oil and salt, then scoop the pink mash back into the skins, grate over some cheese, melt under the grill and serve.


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Where Are We?

12 10 2008
Where has Veg Box Recipes Gone?

Where has Veg Box Recipes Gone?

Where has the Veg Box Recipes website gone?

That’s precisely what I wanted to know when I went online after a few days off this week!

My inbox was flooded with emails asking me exactly the same question.

So, despite it being a Sunday afternoon, I managed to raise someone who was half awake with our web hosting company.

It turns out that we got too popular on Friday!

So they’ve shut us down? Duh?!!!

And they didn’t even tell us. Nice people.

Obviously, we’re working away to find a sensible solution to this, as soon as we can. But in the meantime, please just bear with us.

We’re gutted and frustrated and hope to be back tomorrow – the peeps who turn websites back on at the hosting company don’t work weekends. Joy!

And if anyone knows an affordable, reliable, kind-hearted hosting company who can cope with a website as big and popular as Veg Box Recipes, without costing the earth, please let me know!

While we’re waiting, how about sharing some of your current favourite recipes or asking the questions you were looking for answers to, via the comments box on this blog post?

Thank you for your patience!

Clare x


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September Newsletter from Veg Box Recipes

2 09 2008
Patty Pan Squash

Patty Pan Squash

Dear All,

Welcome to September’s newsletter!

This time, not only are we bringing you your usual round-up of what’s in season this month, plus some lovely recipe ideas, we’re also talking about chickens, whether kids should know their broccoli from their broad beans and how to be an eco-shopper!

We’ve got news of an exciting live call you can join in on with Kate Lock (author of Confessions Of An Eco Shopper) and even a competition to win a copy of her new book.

So whatever your views on the current weather and whether or not we ever had a summer this year, hopefully we’re bringing some sunshine your way!

Clare x


In Season In September

Although September is often seen as the start of autumn, from a fruit and veg point of view, much of the summer produce is now at its best.

You only have to smell the tomatoes to know they love September!

So this is a month of transitions, saying farewell to the summer fare and welcoming in the earliest signs of the new season in the form of the winter squashes.

Here’s a round-up of what to expect in September:

apples, aubergine, butternut squash (just in, UK), beetroot, blackberries, broccoli (tenderstem), carrots, cauliflower (miniature varieties), chillies, courgette, cucumber, fennel, french beans, globe artichoke, kohlrabi, leeks, onions, patty pan squashes, pears, peppers, potatoes, runner beans, sweetcorn, tomatoes, turban squash, turnip, watercress

And here are some of our current favourite recipes:

Beetroot and Fennel Salad With Sage Croutons
If you’ve not tried this combination, it’s well worth a go and might even convert someone who’s not sure about fennel!http://www.vegbox-recipes.co.uk/recipes/fennel-recipe-4.php

Blackberry And Apple Syrup
A delicious way of preserving a glut of blackberries – time to get picking!
http://www.vegbox-recipes.co.uk/recipes/blackberry-recipe-4.php

Caramelised Onions With Goats’ Cheese
The sweetness of the caramelised onions contrasts wonderfully with the tang of the goats’ cheese. Enjoy!
http://www.vegbox-recipes.co.uk/recipes/onion-recipe-2.php

Remember, you can find hundreds more recipes on the main website: http://www.vegbox-recipes.co.uk/recipes/recipes-index.php

Getting Clucky

Aside from the fact that my landlord is sulking with me over a rude workman he sent round – and the fact that I kind of have enough to do already – the boys and I are getting clucky.

hen

hen

We’re thinking of getting some chickens – the egg-laying variety.

We’ve got enough space in the garden for them to run around during the day and have been doing our homework on what’s actually involved for the last few months.

But I figured there are probably plenty of people reading this who know far more than we do! So I wondered if you’d mind sharing?

The main reason I want to get hens is so that we know exactly what has gone into our eggs and also so the boys can start to learn to take responsibility for caring for animals. Is this a good idea? Are we nuts?!

I’ve started a blog on this one, to get the discussion going. If you’ve got any opinions, thoughts or ideas, please get sharing via the comments section. I’d love to hear from you! Thanks.

http://blog.vegbox-recipes.co.uk/2008/08/31/getting-clucky/

Confessions Of An Eco Shopper

Confessions Of An Eco Shopper

Confessions Of An Eco Shopper

I recently came across a fab new book from Kate Lock called “Confessions Of An Eco Shopper”.

Kate and I have been chatting about her experiences during the two year journey she took into the world of becoming a more eco-aware shopper.

She’s got a wonderfully down-to-earth attitude towards it all and there’s not a hint of preaching anywhere in anything she talks about, which is so refreshing! Also, she recommends Veg Box Recipes as a resource to her readers, which is very kind (warm, glowy moment coming on!).

Kate gets answers to the questions we just think about:

Are muddy carrots worth the effort? Can a natural deodorant survive a salsa class? Will clothes swapping ever beat clothes shopping?

Two years ago, shopaholic and supermarket addict Kate Lock set herself a series of ‘eco-challenges’, from kicking her Tesco habit to composting her kitchen waste.

The book shares everything she learned over those years, served with a large dollop of humour.

Kate has persuaded her publishers to run a special offer for Veg Box Recipes readers so you can get hold of your copy at a discounted price, with free P&P - very kind of them. If you’d like to find out more, go to:

http://www.pressoffers.co.uk/bsh657

And to find out how to win a copy of Kate’s book next Sunday, read on…

Live Call – Clare Josa & Kate Lock!

Live Call

Live Call

On Sunday 7th September at 2pm, we’re running a live call with Kate Lock.

She’ll be tackling, head on, the mis-belief that eco-shopping has to be more expensive!

Given all the talk about the credit crunch, Kate has pulled together her top tips for saving money on whatever you’re buying, whilst also doing your bit for the planet and its inhabitants.

I will also be taking you on a whistle-stop tour of the best bits from the Soil Associations Organic Food Festival that I’m off to on Saturday. I’ll be doing interviews with loads of the businesses there, so I can bring you, hot off the press, the latest eco shopping news.

This call is not to be missed!

And if you’d like to take part, you can call in live, listen live on-line via the webcast, or download the MP3 recording to listen to later.

Here’s where to go to register and book your place:

http://www.vegbox-recipes.co.uk/teleclass-2008-09-07.html

Everyone who registers will be entered into a competition to win a copy of Kate’s book!

Should Kids Know their Broccoli From Their Broad Beans?

In these “post Jamie days”, we’ve pretty much all picked up on the fact that lots of children don’t even know that chips come from potatoes.

And I was wondering what the fuss is all about?

A friend of mine was recently teaching a course on health to a group of children. Of the 7-9 year olds in the room, hardly any knew that chips are made from potato and few could identify vegetables beyond carrots, peas and sweetcorn. And this wasn?t in an area that could be called in any way “deprived” – the excuse we all usually make.

Are we, as a nation, making too much of a fuss about children knowing about fruit and veg? What could we be doing differently? In these days of readily available vitamin supplements, should we care anyway?

Let?s get some discussion going via the blog comments!

http://blog.vegbox-recipes.co.uk/2008/08/24/should-kids-know-their-broccoli-from-their-broad-beans/

Veg Box Recipes Club

Thank you to everyone who has signed up for their free 28 day taster of the Veg Box Recipes Club.

We’ve been sorting out the techy side and this week are moving the main club area over to a dedicated site, away from Facebook, which we know had confused a few of us… So now you’ll get the chance to join in properly – with chat, your own page, discussion boards, posting photos and videos, getting access to your exclusive section on what’s in season in September, with loads of members-only stuff, and lots, lots more.

And we’ve also got some exciting news that the Veg Box Recipes Club has hit the radar of Gordon Ramsey’s team. We had them on the phone last week. Seriously. Club Members: we’ll be telling you more over coming weeks!

If you’ve not joined in yet, here’s how: http://www.vegbox-recipes.co.uk/subscription.html

Quick Reminder: Zero Waste Week

My Zero Waste

My Zero Waste

A quick reminder from the last newsletter: if you want to get involved with Rachelle’s Zero Waste Week campaign, it starts today!

Whenever you’re reading this newsletter, it’s not too late to get going. So how about popping by her blog and letting her know how you’re going to get involved today? You could win goodies from loads of eco companies, just by cutting down your rubbish!

Anyway, that’s all for now. I hope you’ve enjoyed this newsletter.

Here’s wishing you bountiful butternut squash and sparkly saucepans.

Until next time!

Clare x


If you were forwarded this email and would like to receive your own copy next time, you can register here: http://www.vegbox-recipes.co.uk/resources/veg-box-recipes-newsletter.php


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Go Beyond The Kale – Veg Box Recipes in the Evening Standard

20 08 2008

Today’s Evening Standard has a great article by Charlotte Ross, all about how to make the most of your veg box.

You know the kind of thing – how to avoid having to compost yet another cabbage or kohlrabi at the end of the week!

Veg Box Recipes - Evening Standard

Veg Box Recipes - Evening Standard

And she says some glowing stuff about the Veg Box Recipes website and our new Veg Box Recipes Club, in particular!

In her article, Charlotte talks about the challenges facing veg box users to find out what to do with all the different vegetables they receive – and to get out of the rut of just doing stir fries or pasta sauces each night.

Charlotte says: “There is little worse than admitting defeat and throwing your Jerusalem artichokes in the compost bin. My boyfriend… for one, will be thankful that help is at hand, in the form of a new veg box support group. Run by Clare Josa, who also hosts the popular website Veg Box Recipes, and billing itself as a private members club for vegetable enthusiasts, the helpline is fast becoming a hit.”

She goes on to say that she can see quite some demand for the club and she can see like-minded cooks teaming up to share advice on what to do with beetroot or, in her case, the first cabbage of the season, sitting stubbornly in her cool box!

As ever, it’s great to get publicity for the website. Everyone involved puts in lots of effort and it’s great to know it’s appreciated.

If you’d like to join the Veg Box Recipes Club today, we’re offering a free 28 day trial.

Join the Veg Box Recipes Club now.


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VBR founder called JKRowling of Root Vegetables in national press

11 08 2008
The JK Rowling of Root Vegetables interviewed in this week’s Guardian…
The JK Rowling of Root Vegtables…
Last week, Zoe Williams from the Guardian interviewed VBR founder Clare Josa, calling her the JK Rowling of root vegetables! Her interview was intended to test drive the service available to our Seasonal Food Made Easy course subscribers. The whole thing was a real hoot, and the article was featured in G2 Shortcuts on Monday 11th August. You can read Zoe’s report at:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/2008/aug/11/foodanddrink

*#!VBR just in time to avert Pak Choi disaster!#*

When Katy Wild sent out her Pak Choi SOS (“Help please!” discussion topic on the VBR Fan Page), VBR donned its tights and cape. The Pak Choi narrowly missed relegation to the compost bin, and Katy ended up with a yummy stir fry. We may have a ways to go before winning the Nobel peace prize, but we are most assuredly here to help you get the most from your veggie boxes and not waste food pounds during the credit crunch.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7389351.stm

Number One Fan claims crown…

After a flurry of activity on the VBR Fan Page

http://www.new.facebook.com/pages/Veg-Box-Recipescouk/21587731425

Cherise Richardson in Nottingham has earned herself the title of Number One VBR fan, with her amazing contributions to the “This week I’m mostly eating…” discussion. There’s a secret treat in it for anyone who steals her crown!

And finally…

The new VBR discussion topic…

Finally, we’ve just opened a new discussion topic, “Being Green?!“, which we’re inviting you to join in on. This week we’re asking you how you find ways to be a greener consumer, and what, if any, obstacles you encounter.

Sending you all our best summer veggie wishes, and looking forward to seeing you on the Fan Page soon,

Claire & Clare


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Welcome To Our Newest Team Member

1 08 2008

This is a post that is long overdue!

Some of you will have noticed a new name appearing on some of our emails and definitely in our Facebook Fan Page.

The name is Claire Van Den Bosch.

Now some of you may have thought she was simply my alter ego – taller, longer hair, subtly different spelling?

Well I can let you in on the exciting news that Claire has come on board as a fully-fledged member of the Veg Box Recipes team and she tells me she’s loving it!

She’s heavily involved in running the Veg Box Recipes club, keeping things going on Facebook and creating a lot of the behind-the-scenes information that means you’ve always got the latest and best tips, ideas and recipes on hand, whatever ingredients you throw at us!

So please join me in welcoming Claire to the team.

I know she’s looking forward to getting to know you better.

Clare x

P.S. She’s promised me a photo of herself sporting her latest creation – an aubergine top turned into a tie-on nose. I’ll update this post as soon as she delivers! ;)


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We’re Now On Facebook!

26 07 2008

Being a humungously big website (our servers are groaning at the mere thought of it) and a blog… we decided it was time to reach out in new ways…

… and we realised how many of our Veg Box Recipes friends are on Facebook…

So now we are too!

We’re migrating our forum onto a Facebook Fan Page because it allows you to post discussion topics, share vegetable pictures and watch videos, which is much more than our old forum could do.

And you don’t even have to be a Facebook member. We’ve set it up so that it’s visible to the public (though you do still have to sign up to post, but you had to do that with the forum, anyway).

And so far it’s been great fun.

If you’d like to pop along and have a look, upload some of your most random veg pics or share ideas and recipes, here’s how to find it:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Veg-Box-Recipescouk/21587731425


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Veg Box Recipes Now On You Tube!

7 04 2008

That’s right – your favourite Veg Box Recipes tips and techniques are now arriving on You Tube.

I’ll be showing you how to prepare seasonal vegetables, to make it even easier.

So if you end up with kohlrabi, celeriac or even enoki mushrooms in your box, soon there will be a mini video on You Tube for you to check out exactly what to do with them!

I’ll also be doing quick vids on basic techniques, so you’ll know the difference between chopping, slicing and dicing – to name just a few!

Check out today’s new video: how to peel and dice butternut squash. Look out for the top tips, to make the job easier and safer.

Let me know what you think!

If you’ve got any ideas for stuff we could stick up on You Tube from the website, please let me know. I’d love to hear from you!

Thanks,

Clare x


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Categories : ingredients, veg box recipes news

Quick And Easy Veg Box Recipes

24 02 2008

Quick and easy recipesMy sister is famous for her attitude towards cooking: “If it takes longer to cook than it does to eat, then I’m not interested!”

She has mellowed a little these days, but for many of us, we no longer have hours to spend creating culinary delights in the kitchen.

That’s why so many people resort to ready-made food – and I can understand why!

Getting a vegetable box or eating seasonal food often requires a bit more preparation than convenience diets, but the rewards in both taste and nutrition are immense.

I don’t have a huge amount of time for cooking. Being in the kitchen usually involves letting my 3 year old help out, trying to stop him from playing with sharp objects, whilst balancing the 7 month old, climbing up my leg. Sometimes Louis will play in the lounge and Theo will sit in the high chair, which frees me up to do more complex dishes, but not always.

I had a friend (no kids) to stay recently, who told me she absolutely no way has time to cook from scratch and it’s “alright for those of you who do”. (I did manage not to spit in her coffee, as I thought about my daily routine of juggling work and the boys and having just single-handedly made the spinach and mushroom quiche with home-made coleslaw that she was enjoying, whilst she had sat in my lounge reading a book and I looked after the boys!). She doesn’t get in from work until 6:30 and “can’t be bothered” to slave in the kitchen. And I do actually sympathise – having been there myself for many years.

So I thought it might be interesting to go through some of the hundreds of recipes on the Veg Box Recipes website and check how many of them are quick and easy. And I was surprised!

I figured that almost anyone can spend 20 minutes preparing food – after all, even pre-packed supermarket stuff would probably take that long. And most people would probably consider half an hour. So I’ve created a new section on the website to make it easy to find the quickest, simplest veg box recipes.

So pop along and take a look at our new search:

Delicious food in under 20 minutes

I’m still updating the database (it’s going to take a while!), so the list will grow over the next few days.

Let me know what you think – I hope it helps!

Love,

Clare x


Comments : 3 Comments »

Categories : seasonal recipes, veg box recipes news

Would you be interested in recipe podcasts?

14 02 2008

Recipe PodcastsI was wondering…

I do that a lot… Recipe podcasts…

Lots of people have ipod / mp3 players in their kitchens, but not many have computers. To save trees (so you don’t have to print out the Veg Box Recipes), would you be interested in podcasts of recipes?

Would you want these to just be a clear reading of the recipe ingredients and stages, that you can easily pause? Or would you want them to be a recording of someone actually cooking, so you can hear the chopping of the onion and the bubbling of the pans in the background?

Would  you want the podcasts for free or would you expect to contribute for it as a premium service?

I’d love to know what you think!

And just in case you need to check out what my voice would sound like, here’s a message from me!

http://www.vegbox-recipes.co.uk/podcasts/2008-02-14-veg-box-recipes.mp3

I’d love to hear your views.

Thanks,

Clare x


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Categories : veg box recipes news

1 Million Visitors

13 02 2008

1 million visitorsI’ve just checked our web visitor statistics and discovered that this month we had our 1 millionth visitor!

In fact, we’re averaging over 130,000 unique visitors per month, and it’s still growing, which makes us one of the UK’s leading seasonal food resources.

In the 18 months since Veg Box Recipes launched, I think that’s a fantastic achievement (if I say so myself!)

I had the idea for the site a couple of years ago, when struggling to come up with suitable seasonal recipes for the contents of our veg box, and decided I couldn’t be the only person with that problem. And the numbers confirm it!

I’m normally a part time writer / trainer and full time mum to a 3 year old and a 7 month old and I run Veg Box Recipes as a “hobby”, though I have to admit it does take up quite a bit of time… But I feel it’s worth it – especially when I get feedback from people telling me it has helped them identify mystery seasonal vegetables or work out how to cook those guiltily lurking at the back of the fridge.

And some of the emails over the last year have been really touching, with people telling me the website has helped them rekindle their interest in cooking, or widen the variety in their family’s diet.

When I set up the site, I had no idea it would be so popular, all over the world. Just today I got a lovely email from a lady in Kenya, saying she had been using the recipes for her veg box!

So a huge thank you to everyone who has supported Veg Box Recipes so far! Without you, there would be no point to the time I put in.

I’d also love to hear your ideas about what else the website could be doing. What would you like to see for the next million visitors? How would you like to get involved?

Time for a celebratory cup of tea, methinks.

Love,

Clare x

P.S. If you’re involved with a website or magazine and fancy helping spread the message about Veg Box Recipes, please feel free to tell your visitors our exciting news and check out our Press section, which includes background on veg boxes, more about the website and some photographs / logos you can download to use with your article. Thank you for your help :-)

P.P.S. If you’d like to link to us, here’s how to make it easy: http://www.vegbox-recipes.co.uk/link-to-veg-box-recipes.php


Comments : 2 Comments »

Categories : veg box recipes news

See Us In Tastes Of Britain

5 11 2007

Tastes of Britain MagazineDid you know…? I’m now writing a seasonal recipes column each month for Tastes of Britain magazine.

Tastes of Britain is all about British regional specialities, the producers, food heroes, and the stories behind the best food that Britain has to offer.

As their marketing spiel says: “From Land’s End to John O’ Groats; from pheasant to fish and chips; pumpkins to puddings – if it’s available on British shores it can be found in Tastes of Britain. “

And I’m doing the veggies!

Clare x


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Categories : just chatting, seasonal recipes, veg box recipes news

We’re In The Ecologist – Again!

15 10 2007

Ecologist October 2007Thank you again to the Ecologist for mentioning us!

This time we’re recommended alongside Hugh Fearnley-Wittingsall as a resource for seasonal food recipes, with a particular mention for our Rogues’ Gallery (where you can identify mystery veggies and work out what to do with them).

So thank you to Paul Kingsnorth and The Ecologist team for letting more people know we’re here.

P.S. Congratulations to Matilda – Green Pages Editor – on the arrival of your new bundle of joy!


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Categories : veg box recipes news

2007 UK Veg Box Awards

1 10 2007

2007 UK Veg Box AwardsHot off the press!

Voting is now open for the 2007 UK Veg Box Awards.

So if you get a veg box, have your say and get voting now.

You can rate your veg box provider on quality of produce, customer service and seasonality of produce, as well as telling us what they’re doing well and what they could do to improve.

This is your chance to have your say!

Vote now:
http://vegbox-recipes.co.uk/veg-boxes/2007-uk-veg-box-awards.php

Thank you!

Clare

P.S. Full press release:
http://www.vegbox-recipes.co.uk/media/press-release-01-Oct-07.php


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Categories : organic news, veg box recipes news, veg box stuff

Would you buy a Veg Box Recipes book?

27 09 2007

VBR - Book SurveyHi everyone,

Quick favour to ask here!

I’m trying to work out whether people would be interested in buying a Veg Box Recipes book – you know, a good, old-fashioned paper copy of the best recipes for veg boxes, that you can keep in the kitchen!

I get daily emails from people telling me how useful the website is (thank you! Warm glowy thing going on!), so I’m trying to work out whether you would like to be able to buy a recipe book – and what you would want from it.

Could you take a minute to fill in this quick questionnaire for me? It would be a huge help!

http://www.vegbox-recipes.co.uk/resources/vbr-book-survey.php

Thank you :-)

Clare x


Comments : 5 Comments »

Categories : seasonal recipes, veg box recipes news, veg box stuff

September Newsletter Now Out

13 09 2007

Newsletter now outThe September Veg Box Recipes newsletter is now out.

If you’re not already a subscriber, you can read it here: http://www.vegbox-recipes.co.uk/resources/veg-box-recipes-newsletter.php

In this month’s issue you’ll find out what’s in season, our favourite seasonal recipes, why we’re feeding Gordon Brown an organic breakfast,  101 uses for a parsnip, how to find out about local veg box scheme open days and why you should be looking forward to autumn!

So if you’ve not read it yet, why not grab a quick cuppa and sit down to enjoy :-)

Thanks,

Clare


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Categories : veg box recipes news

Off To Bristol

31 08 2007

ORganic Food Festival 2007Nearly there! We’re busily packing the nappy bags and everything else we’ll need for the trip to Bristol tomorrow. It’s time for the Soil Association’s Organic Food Festival.

Last year was fab and we know what to expect this year, so we can enjoy it even more.

There are about 250 stands there – all ethical or organic companies – loads of decent organic nosh, some organic plonk and a range of shows – fashion, comedy and music. And not an e-number in sight!

The weather is due to be ok-ish, so probably worth packing a jumper, too!

If you’re going this weekend, please do say hello (I’ll be wearing a multi-coloured baby sling).

If you’d like to find out more, go to http://www.soilassociation.org

See you there?

Clare


Comments : 1 Comment »

Categories : organic news, veg box recipes news

What Do You Think Of The New Logo

29 08 2007

logo-option-3a-3cm.jpgThose of you who spot these things might have noticed we’re using a new logo on the website. Our friend Jacquie is a graphic designer and has come up with this little gem for us.

We’re trying it out for a few days on the main website and would love your feedback.

What do you think of the logo? Does it suit Veg Box Recipes?

Any thoughts would be much appreciated!

Thanks,

Clare


Comments : 3 Comments »

Categories : veg box recipes news

Veg Box Recipes – Ecologist’s Website Of The Month

15 07 2007

Ecologist magazineHot off the press!

VegBox Recipes is named as the Website Of The Month in the July / August issue of The Ecologist magazine.

The Ecologist is the leading magazine for all things ecological and green, and we’re absolutely chuffed that they’re recognising the efforts we’re putting in to the site.

Thank you!

If you spot us anywhere else in the press, please do let us know.

Thanks,

Clare


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Categories : veg box recipes news

Veg Box Recipes Featured In Delicious Magazine

1 07 2007

Delicious MagazineWe’ve just found out that VegBox-Recipes.co.uk has been featured in the July issue of Delicious magazine!

In a feature about ethical food, they have recommended us in their “How To Be A Savvy Organic Shopper” section.

Coralie Dorman writes,

“This website champions organic food with lots of hints and information on organic fruit and vegetables, tried-and-tested recipes and a special section for kids. Visit www.VegBox-Recipes.co.uk“

Thank you guys for your support!

If you spot us anywhere in the press, please do let us know!

Thanks,

Clare


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Categories : veg box recipes news

Our First Allotment Harvest Is In

18 06 2007

BlueberryAt last, after 3 months of intermittent weeding and trying to keep up with whether the seedlings are going to be scorched or drowned, our first allotment crops are in!

It’s official!

This week we’ve been enjoying loads of broad beans, salad leaves, rocket, radishes and even our very first blueberry.

It’s great getting a veg box, but it’s also fun to be able to add our own stuff to the ingredients.

I’m sure the more mature members of our allotment community are despairing at the fact that my patch seems to have more baby weeds than anyone else’s, but I’m using the excuse of being 9 months pregnant to full advantage. Half an hour of hoeing last week nearly sent me into labour and I’m not sure the baby would appreciate “allotment number 23″ on it’s birth certificate…

How are your allotments / veg patches / window boxes going?

What are you growing?

If you’re looking for allotment recipes, here are links to some of the latest we’ve put on the Veg Box Recipes site:

Tomato & Rocket Risotto

Broad Beans Salad

Courgettes With Sun-Dried Tomato Sauce

Broad Beans Quinoa

Courgette Soup

Broad Beans Rice Salad

If you’ve got any recipes you’d like to share, please add them to the recipe swap section of the forum:

http://forum.vegbox-recipes.co.uk/phpBB2/index.php

Thank you!

Clare


Comments : 3 Comments »

Categories : ethical living, seasonal recipes, veg box recipes news

Broad Beans Recipes Are Here

24 05 2007

Broad BeansIt’s that time of year – broad beans are creeping into veg boxes and farmers’ markets. And the early season beans are particularly delicious.

Later in the season, the beans can tend to get a bit tough and need skinning (a labour of love, but worth it). So make the most of them now.

Here are some delicious recipes for broad beans:

Broad Bean Risotto

Broad Bean Risotto

This recipe is easy to do, and takes about 1/2 hour. Though you have to be patient if you’re skinning the individual beans.
Skinned Broad BeansSkinned Broad Beans

If your broad beans are more mature and larger, then you might want to pod them and then skin them. This leaves delicious, sweet, delicately-flavoured beans.

Broad Bean Couscous Broad Bean Couscous

This couscous is delicious and packed with protein and superfoods. A great way to boost your immune system!

Exclusive to Veg Box Recipes Club Members.

Broad Bean CouscousSpring Vegetable Quinoa

Quinoa (pronounced “keen-wa”) is a South American “grain” – actually a seed. It’s considered by many to be a super-food, because of the balance of proteins it contains. It’s easy to cook and delicious.
Exclusive to Veg Box Recipes Club Members.

We’ve also got scrummy recipes for the latest springtime ingredients:

Asparagus

Rocket

Spinach

Enjoy!

Clare


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Categories : seasonal recipes, veg box recipes news

May Newsletter Now Out

2 05 2007

Grab your free copy of the May Veg Box Recipes Newsletter now.

It’s out today and is packed with news, updates and info on the latest seasonal recipes.

This month’s edition includes:

What’s In Season?

Asparagus Recipes

Rhubarb Recipes

Survey: Should Veg Box Schemes Charge Extra For “Fussy Eaters”?

Allotment News: the first seeds are in!

The End Of The Road For Plastic Bags?

Members’ Club Update

Get your copy now and, if you enjoy it, make sure you subscribe, so you don’t miss out on future issues.

Thanks

Clare


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Categories : seasonal recipes, veg box recipes news

Veg Box Scheme Of The Year 2006: Winners Announced

2 02 2007

Thank you to everyone who voted in the Veg Box Scheme of 2006 awards.

I just wanted to let you know that the winners have been announced.

The awards are unique, because schemes are nominated by their customers, rather than being evaluated by a panel of expert “foodie” judges. This means that your views really counted.

Here are quotes from the two winners:

First Prize

Photo of the winning farm“We are absolutely thrilled to win this award. Producing an exciting weekly box, entirely from produce we grow ourselves on our farm is hard work and challenging, but we believe it is the only way to ensure our boxes contain the freshest quality vegetables.

“Nutrition is linked to the vitality of the produce and you are what you eat after all! That our customers voted for us to win this award shows they appreciate our efforts, enjoy our vegetables and the process of cooking and eating them, and that makes it all worthwhile.”

Highly Commended

“We are really giddy to have been given the highly commended award from veg-box recipes. We always put customer service as our number one priority, and feel privileged as a small but rapidly growing scheme to be recognised for this.

“We feel that receiving a box from us should always be a treat, and have built a service offering flexibility and variety to ensure that ‘box boredom’ never sets in.

“We are chuffed to bits that our customers have been so generous in their praise, and we will continue to strive to keep them happy!”

Want to know who they are? Click here.


Comments : 1 Comment »

Categories : veg box recipes news, veg box stuff

Looking For Veg Box Recipes Testing Volunteers

10 01 2007

We need you!Do you like experimenting with new recipe ideas in the kitchen?

Want to get involved with promoting seasonal food recipes?

We need more testers to join our team.

What’s involved?
Every few weeks we send out a list of new recipes. If you fancy trying out one of them, let us know – no pressure. You can volunteer as little or often as you want.

Then, when you’ve cooked it, fill in a simple feedback form, send us a picture, if you’ve got one, and we’ll add it to the website!

Simple, really.

We’re looking for volunteers from absolutely anywhere in the world – and you don’t have to be an expert cook.

Our aim is to make sure all the recipes on the site are well tested and reliable for cooks of all abilities!

If you think you could volunteer to help out as a Veg Box Recipes tester, find out how to apply.

Thank you. :-)

Clare


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Categories : seasonal recipes, veg box recipes news

Christmas Newsletter Now Out

22 12 2006

The Veg Box Recipes Christmas 2006 Newsletter is now out.

If you don’t already receive it via email, you can read it here:

Christmas Newsletter

The topics include:

Last Minute Christmas Recipes ~ Forum Goes Live ~ 5 Reasons You Should Love Brussels Sprouts ~ 2006 Veg Box Awards Last Call For Votes ~ A Greener Christmas?

Enjoy!

Clare


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Categories : veg box recipes news

New Veg Box Recipes Forum Goes Live

19 12 2006

ForumHot off the press!

The Veg Box Recipes forum is up and running.

Topics include:

  1. All About Food

    Veg Boxes – Questions? Ideas? Tips? Suggestions?
    Recipe Swap –     Got a great recipe you want to share? Or need inspiration?
    Organic? Seasonal? Local? –     What do you reckon? Discuss!

  2. Green Living

    Questions? Dilemmas? – This is the place to ask for advice and share opinions.
    Resources & Reviews –     Green products, books or websites – what’s hot and what’s not?

  3. The Coffee Machine

    Fancy A Chat? - Chat about anything and everything else, with whoever’s online!

So if you fancy chatting about anything from the contents of your veg box to your latest green dilemma, pop along and get posting.

Go to the forum now.

Enjoy! :-)

Clare


Comments : 2 Comments »

Categories : veg box recipes news

December Newsletter Now Out

7 12 2006

Savoy CabbageThe December edition of our newsletter is now available!

If you’re not yet on our email list, the good news is you can still read it online.

This month’s topics include:

  • What’s In Season – what to expect, despite the unseasonally mild weather – yes, there are still raspberries being picked out there!
  • Recipe Ratings – find out about this latest addition to the Veg Box Recipes website features
  • What Could We Do To Improve? – we’re after your feedback! Tell us what you want from the site and we’ll get busy :-)
  • Seasonal vs. Local – just because it’s in season, doesn’t mean it’s an environmentally friendly choice. Find out why local is so important.
  • Website Of The Month – find out which is our favourite green website this month, and why.
  • Christmas Recipes - we’re publishing a Christmas special at the end of next week. So if you’ve got a great Christmas recipe you’d like to share with other Veg Box Recipes visitors, please send it to us!

Read our December Newsletter now.


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Categories : veg box recipes news

Welcome To Veg Box Recipes Blog – on WordPress

30 11 2006

Welcome to the new Veg Box Recipes blog!

We’ve moved it to WordPress, to make it easier for you to find.

It’ll still be full of the latest veg box news, recipes and ideas – along with topical discussions on anything green.

And it’ll be easier for you to leave your comments – so make sure you have your say!

If you’re a keen blogger and would like to submit a topic for us to consider including,  please get in touch.

Thanks.

Clare Jaques


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Categories : veg box recipes news

Supermarkets To Muscle In On Veg Boxes

31 10 2006

Sainsbury’s and Tesco’s announced this month that they are considering launching an organic box scheme.

To be honest, when I first heard, I wasn’t sure whether I thought it was worrying or ridiculous.

The marketing teams must have decided there is an opportunity to take over more of the rapidly growing organic market. (Up 30% last year). Sainsbury’s is to trial their new scheme with 1/2 million customers in the Midlands this autumn.

But haven’t they missed the point?

Surely organic box schemes are about small-scale producers delivering fresh food to their local community?

Veg BoxOur research in June this year showed the reason most people choose an organic box scheme is because they want to buy local, seasonal food, straight from the grower. It’s almost a rebellion against the supermarkets. (Read Not On The Label by Felicity Lawrence, if you want to know more).

But I wonder whether the “big two” are trying to capitalise on the image of a veg box scheme?

After all, ask the man in the street about veg boxes and, if he’s ever heard of them, chances are he’ll tell you they’re organic, fresher than supermarkets and better for the environment.

So he’s unlikely to quesiton whether the butternut squash is from Ashford or Argentina. He’s not going to worry about how much the UK farmers are getting paid or whether they’re being tied into impossible delivery contracts. After all, none of that’s relevant with a veg box – is it?

Another reason most people choose vegetable and fruit deliveries is because they want to reduce food miles. Again, supermarkets aren’t likely to advertise the fact that their veg boxes are using up a glut of apples from New Zealand, when delicious varieties are in season in the UK.

What is the likely impact on existing veg box schemes?

Smaller providers are likely to find their core customers remain loyal. But they need to act now, to start increasing their customer base, in case they do lose any to the supermarkets.

The providers most likely to suffer are the large-scale schemes, who deliver nationwide. One of the factors that drives most people to veg boxes is the idea of buying locally from food growers. But with these larger schemes, that’s not the case, so they’ll be in direct competition with Sainsburys and Tescos.

This move risks splitting the organic food market. Those who want to buy locally or are rebelling against the supermarkets will continue to do what they’re already doing. But those who are less bothered about seasonal food and food miles will be more tempted to jump ship. After all, the supermarkets’ pockets are deeper than farmers’, when it comes to marketing incentives.

What can veg box scheme providers do?

  1. Stay firm to their commitment to provide high quality, seasonal, local organic food.
  2. Build relationships with their customers, through regular newsletters.
  3. Get feedback from their customers – fix anything that’s not working, before they lose them.


And above all, there’s a certain element of “wait and see”.

The supermarkets will, at least, be bringing two benefits in all this:

  1. The marketing publicity will encourage more people to eat fruit and veg
  2. More people will be aware of the benefits of buying and eating organic food. This will increase demand, encouraging farmers to convert to organic methods. And that’s got to be a good thing.

Let’s hope they bring in a new customer base, rather than poaching from genuine, hard-working, committed farmers.

We’ll make sure we keep you posted with developments ont his one.


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Categories : ethical living, veg box recipes news