The UK’s first plant-based recipe box. We Review Grubby.

I find cooking stressful. I also have no time. But I want to eat healthy and I do not want to damage the planet while doing so. Grubby attracted my attention for many reasons. It is plant-based and sustainable. I got sent two kits in impressive recyclable packaging. I hate how some recipe boxes have so much plastic.

The recipe card is so easy to follow. I made a superb mushroom stroganoff in 35 minutes. I think Grubby is fantastic and I cannot recommend it enough. The food is delicious and so easy to make.

Meet Grubby – the UK’s first plant-based recipe kit

Grubby are the UK’s first 100% plant-based recipe box subscription service on a mission to make plant-based cooking more accessible and convenient without costing the earth.

Championing British produce and suppliers, Grubby deliver delicious meals nationwide (excluding Northern Ireland and islands), with all London meals delivered via bicycle in partnership with PedalMe. Available from grubby.co.uk from £26 (£6.50 per meal) for two recipes.

Launched in 2019, Grubby has over 50 flavour packed recipes to choose from. In the box, customers can expect fresh, pre-measured ingredients needed to cook up two or three healthy and delicious, plant-based recipes with, on average, a variety of six or more fresh veggies in each box. Accompanying recipe cards make meat-free cooking simple, with easy to follow steps, cooking times and nutritional information, as well as QR codes to curated Spotify playlists to cook along to whilst prepping. Customers can also expect the occasional freebie, from drinks, desserts and more.

Founder Martin Holden-White comments: “When I first started adventuring into plant-based cooking, I found it really hard to approach. Mainly because I found ingredients hard to source, dishes weren’t filling enough, they lacked flavour and online recipes were hard to follow and full of ads. So with Grubby, I wanted to alleviate the uncertainty and stigmas around vegan cooking and eating and make our recipes accessible, simple, hearty, healthy and most importantly tasty! Grubby is for anyone looking for a little more adventure when it comes to plant-based cooking.”

With sustainability at its core, the packaging is 100% recyclable, compostable, ethically sourced, and produced in the UK in 95% of cases, with intentions to be completely plastic-free by 2023, in line with their efforts to reach B-Corp status. Determined to use ‘pedal power’ wherever possible, all London deliveries are made by bike and they have ambitions for bike deliveries in all major cities across the UK. Their food waste is offset through food waste partners and local food banks to ensure that no grub goes unused.

Passionate about giving back, Grubby donate a meal to a child in poverty for every box delivered through Uganda based charity 1moreChild. In 2020, Grubby also provided over 1,000 meals to London NHS hospitals.

Whilst solely plant-based recipes, Grubby do not see themselves as a ‘just-for-vegans’ box. “We are not preachy about eating solely plant-based. I’m a plant-based part-timer myself, and many of our team and customers do not define themselves as vegan.” says Martin.  “Instead, we want to invite plant curious individuals to give veggie-based cooking a chance with our tasty, quick to prepare meals, which are not only healthy but produced and delivered with sustainability at the core of everything we do.”

How it works:

  1. Choose your recipes & delivery date.

  2. Grubby delivers everything you need.

  3. You cook up delicious plant-based meals. No stress. Skip or cancel anytime.

To see what’s on the menu this week, visit grubby.co.uk

Melanzane Parmigiana Recipe | Cooking

Parmigiana di Melanzane, aubergine, bake, recipe, melanzane, Everyone has their signature dish. My melanzane parmigiana is mine. Now my signature dish has changed over the years. It used to be spaghetti bolognese and lasagne. Both are simple and easy to make, but no one makes them better than I do.

My family and I rarely eat beef anymore so we have moved on to this tasty vegetarian dish. It is easy to make and so healthy. Well, until I load it with cheese. Ha.

You need:

An aubergine.

Two cans of tinned tomatoes.

An onion.

Two packets of Mozzarella. You can always add another type of cheese. I tend to use cheddar or red leicester to top it.

Two bulbs of garlic.

Olive Oil, pepper and salt to season.

You can also add basil and some bread crumbs on top. The Italians do not add breadcrumbs so neither do I. 

Cut the aubergine into even slices. Preheat the oven to 200 for a fan oven. Lay the aubergine on a baking tray. Add some olive oil, salt and pepper to season. I am generous with the olive oil. Pop it in the oven for twenty minutes.

While the aubergine is cooking chop the onion and the garlic. Add it to a pan with a little butter. Cook until the onions are golden. Then add two tins of chopped tomatoes to the pan. Leave it to cook, stirring occasionally.  Chop up the mozzarella and grate any cheese you are adding.

Take the aubergine out and lay out in a roasting dish. Add some of the sauce and then aubergine, more sauce and then the mozzarella. I do aubergine, mozzarella, auberinge and then mozzarella on top, along with the grated cheese. Pop it in the oven for forty-five minutes.

It is ready when the top is crispy and the sauce has been reduced. It tastes amazing with basil. you can add the basil to the sauce or on top. The best thing about this recipe is that there is usually leftovers. You can also change things to suit yourself. Add two aubergines if you are a bigger family and more onions if you like.

I hope you enjoy this recipe. Let me know if you make it and please share any signature recipes of your own.

 

Delicious Gluten Free Cauliflower Cheese That Takes Less Than 30 Minutes

gluten free cauliflower cheese, cauliflower cheese recipe, cauliflower cheese, recipe, how to, ingredients. gluten free cauliflower cheese, cauliflower cheese recipe, cauliflower cheese, recipe, how to, ingredients. Cooking from scratch can be hard. Our lives are so busy and exhausting. So I want to share this great, easy recipes that I make for my family. All you need is cauliflower, cheese, mustard and milk. You can also add some cornflour or butter.

You need:

3 cups of cheese.

1 cup of milk.

A tbsp of mustard.

One cauliflower.

Cook the cauliflower. I boil it for 15 minutes in a pot with the lid on. While that is happening mix the cheese, milk and mustard in a pot. Stir until smooth.   Mix both together when the cauliflower is done. You can also add gluten free flour, cornflour or butter. I tend to add a dollop of butter. If you add too much milk the sauce will be too watery. If this happens you can add cornflour or gluten free flour. 4 tbsp does it.

This meal is delicious and you can make it in under 30 minutes. Let me know if you try this recipe and how you get on.

 

Celebrate National Margarita Day with the Cointreau | Cocktail Recipes

Margarita Day, cointreau , cocktails, cocktail recipes. This National Margarita Day on February 22nd celebrate in style. Be inspired by the beaches of Acapulco and the iconic, ageless cocktail created by ‘Margarita’ Sames in 1948, who famously said of her instantly classic concoction, ‘a Margarita without Cointreau is not worth its salt’.

This year marks the 170th Anniversary of the House of Cointreau – a celebration of all things Cointreau, the heart of cocktail culture and a key ingredient in over 350 classic recipes, including the famous Margarita. Bringing together generations of loved ones, Cointreau is the heart and soul of cocktail culture, and its bold orange flavour and incomparable freshness have solidified its role in cocktail history.

Celebrate the origins of this iconic cocktail with delicious, innovative Margarita inspired cocktails from Cointreau, as well as the classic itself.

 

Original
The classic, created by Margaret Sames herself.

Ingredients:
30ml Cointreau
50ml Blanco Tequila
20ml Fresh Lime Juice

Method:

– Shake with ice
– Serve in a salt-rimmed margarita glass.

The Spicy Margarita
Bring a little heat to an iconic classic by adding jalapeno and cilantro to your Margarita. Your taste buds may walk on fire, until the subtle sweetness of Cointreau washes over the flame – bringing that perfect balance to life.

Ingredients:
30 ml Cointreau
50 ml Tequila
20 ml Fresh Lime Juice
2 slices Jalapeño
2 sprigs Cilantro

Method:
– Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass and add ice
– Shake and strain into an iced rocks glass
– Garnish with cilantro and a jalapeño spiral

The Pina Margarita
Nothing brings the beach vibe to life like fresh pineapple juice. Adding a cinnamon-sugar rim provide an indulgent, sweet taste you wouldn’t usually get from a margarita – expect the unexpected.

Ingredients:
50ml Tequila
30ml Cointreau
20ml Fresh Lime Juice
10ml Fresh Pineapple Juice

Method:
– Shake all ingredients with ice-
– Strain over ice in a cinnamon sugar rimmed rocks glass
– Garnish with pineapple wedge

The Matcha Margarita
A modern twist on the classic, the vibrant colours and complex flavours will be the highlight of your Margarita Day soiree.

Ingredients:
30ml Cointreau
50ml Tequila
20ml Fresh Lime Juice
½ tbsp matcha green tea powder

Method:

– Combine all ingredients in a mixing glass
– Shake with ice
– Strain over ice in a rocks glass
– Garnish with a lime wheel

The Berry Margarita

The perfect bright, pink twist on a classic, bringing the sweet tastes of summertime to life – inviting to even the most timid tipplers.

Ingredients:
30ml Cointreau
50ml Blanco Tequila
20ml Fresh Lime Juice
3-4 blackberries

Method:
Shake all ingredients with ice
Fine strain over ice in a rocks glass.
Garnish with blackberries.

 

Mezcal Cocktail Recipe for Dia De Los Muertos

This Saturday we celebrated National Mezcal Day and we thought it was just about time this smokey agave plant made a comeback to claim it’s place proudly in your drinks cabinet. Here in the UK, Mezcal is making a comeback and we would love you to try this smoking hot cocktail perfect for Dia De Los Muertos which is coming up on November 2nd.

Mortar & Pestle, craft cocktail specialists with bars across the West Coast of USA have kindly supplied us with a cocktail which is evocative of their signature style. Full of show-stopping panache.

Mayan Calander
created as a libation for the end of days.

With flavours of;

Wahaka Joven Mezcal
Creme de Cacao
Habanero Syrup
Blackstrap Bitters

You will need:

One Martini Glass

¾ oz Lime juice
½ oz Habanero Syrup (cut 50/50 with 1:1 Simple Syrup)
1 ½ oz Wahaka Espadin Joven Mezcal
½ oz Tempus Fugit Creme de Cacao
3 dashes Blackstrap Bitters
5 drops Saline Solution

Garnish: Flamed Lime Boat with Grated Cinnamon.

Method:

Combine ingredients into shaker.
Long shake and double strain into martini glass.
Garnish with lime boat filled with Overproof rum to fuel flame.
Torch, then grate cinnamon over time boat to create sparks.

Delicious Cinco de Mayo Fiesta Inspiration

Cinco De Mayo continues to serve it’s purpose to celebrate the victory of The Mexicans and what better way to celebrate than with the best of Mexican culture, good food and good booze. Mexican food is known for being hearty, flavoursome and rich so why not try a recipe which will impress everyone;

We have a delicious Vegan recipe for you to try tonight alongside a mouth-watering Vegan cocktail to see in Cinco De Mayo! Olé

Coronation Cauliflower Tacos;

Screenshot 2017-04-10 at 12.28.39

For the cauliflower;

1 teaspoon curry powder
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 teaspoon cumin
1 teaspoon onion powder
100g vegan mayonnaise
40g dried apricots – chopped
1 tablespoon of chopped coriander
1 teaspoon of chopped mint
Zest of 1 lemon
1 teaspoon lemon juice – or to taste
Good pinch of Malden salt
Fresh cracked black pepper
1 medium sized cauliflower (must be ultra fresh)

For the garnish:
2 tablespoons of toasted almonds or sunflower seeds
Edamame Beans

For the Slaw
Ingredients:
¼ white cabbage
¼ red cabbage
1 carrot
100g vegan Greek yoghurt
2 tbsp lemon juice
Good pinch of Malden salt
Fresh cracked black pepper

Add Tacos

Now for the Cocktail:

Vegan Martini
MAKES 1 LITRE

Screenshot 2017-04-10 at 12.23.56

300ml Tanqueray Gin
40ml Ginger juice
12ml Salt Water
120ml Agave
80ml Lime
80ml Lemon
400ml Green juice

Shake it up and serve.

¡ARRIBA!

Authentic Peking Duck Pancakes Recipe

authentic peking duck pancake recipe Pancake Day (28 February 2017) often makes you think of a sweet treat, but why not mix it up this Shrove Tuesday by making savoury pancakes.

Below, the chefs at Royal China reveal their exclusive recipe for the most authentic and delicious Peking Duck Pancakes.

Serves 4

Ingredients:

  1. Duck Breasts

3    Shallots – sliced

3    Spring Onion

1 Clove Garlic

1Tsp Maltose Sugar

2 Tbsp Vinegar

3 Tbsp Oil

Salt to taste

Method:

  1. Fry the shallots, spring onion and garlic in a pan and heavily salt
  2. Marinate the duck breasts with the fried ingredients
  3. Mix the maltose sugar with vinegar and hot water, and pour on the skin
  4. Place the duck into a barbeque cooker until cooked
  5. Baste the skin of the duck with hot oil until it is golden brown and crispy

For the Pancakes:  

Slice the duck breast into slender strips, and place meat in a pancake with sliced spring onion, cucumbers and a dollop of plum sauce.  Wrap and enjoy!

The Royal China Group consists of six of London’s most authentic and prestigious Chinese restaurants, including the luxurious and critically-acclaimed Royal China Club.  Based in prime areas of London, the restaurants are centrally located on Baker Street, as well as in Bayswater, Fulham, Harrow-on-the-Hill and Canary Wharf.

www.royalchinagroup.co.uk

 

 

The Frost Food And Drink Christmas List

panettonecarluccio

panettonePanettone from Carluccio’s

It is just not Christmas without it.

http://www.carluccios.com/shop-online
iseapasta

I Sea Pasta

Organic seaweed pasta. Original, healthy and delicious.

From planetorganic.com

vodka

Żubrówka Embossed Bison Grass Bottle

Żubrówka Vodka, the Original Bison Grass Vodka, has over 500 years of tradition and history. Żubrówka’s exceptional character is emphasized by a single bison grass blade that is hand placed in every bottle. Each blade of bison grass is hand-picked and dried under natural conditions, making each bottle of Żubrówka an exceptional gift this Christmas.

For the perfect Christmas cocktail our brand ambassador, Przemyslaw Matuszewski, suggests our legendary Apple Zu, an extraordinarily smooth and aromatic cocktail, with a festive twist.

Glass
Highball

Ingredients
50ml Żubrówka
100ml traditional pressed cloudy apple juice
Squeeze of lime

Method
Fill a highball with ice, add all the ingredients and stir
Garnish with a few slices of apple and a sprinkle of ground cinnamon to tickle your festive tastebuds.

Available at Tesco.com, Waitress.com and Sainsburys.co.uk

courvoisier-vsop

Courvoisier VSOP

Cognac is experiencing a revival this year, with the discerning drinker opting for spirits steeped in sophistication, history and glamour. Whether you drink a quality cognac such as Courvoisier neat to enjoy the pure flavours of lavender and citrus, tobacco and patchouli, or as a part of an aromatic cocktail before dinner, let Courvoisier help you celebrate this Christmas.

Luxury cognac house Courvoisier has been an expert in celebration since the opening of the Eiffel Tower in 1889 where its cognac was served as a drink of choice. The cognac can now be served at your own Christmas celebration, alongside your favourite Christmas indulgence. For a real delicacy, try our VSOP with your smoked salmon or alongside your coffee and a decadent chocolate Christmas treat.

Since no celebration is complete without Courvoisier, make sure to add a drop of luxury to your Christmas festivities this winter.

A gift for cocktail lovers – Courvoisier VSOP

Courvoisier VSOP (Very Superior Old Pale) can be enjoyed on its own or as part of a distinguished cocktail. This blend of Courvoisier is an elegant mix of cognacs that are up to 10 years old, from two of the finest crus in the Cognac region.

For a cocktail that is as indulgent as it is delicious to serve at your festive soiree, try the Courvoisier Champagne Cocktail with your chic canapés.

Tasty and decadent stuff. We love it. 

Courvoisier Champagne Cocktail

Ingredients:

1 part Courvoisier VSOP
1 Demerara sugar cube
2 dashes of Angostura bitters
Top up with Champagne

Method: Soak a sugar cube in bitters and drop into a champagne flute. Cover with Courvoisier VSOP and slowly top with champagne.

cocktailfromjar

Casso Cocktails
Available from cassococktails.com

Casso Cocktails has launched in the UK with a delicious range of ready-to-shake cocktails. Served in their signature individual jars and available in both glass and plastic format, opportunities for cocktail sipping moments are now endless.

The carefully curated range features five ‘twist on the classic’ flavours; Raspberry Cosmo, Coconut Mojito, Apricot Mai Tai, Peach Appletini and Grapefruit Sling. With equal focus on flavour and convenience, this delicious array of cocktails has been developed under the discerning tastebuds of Casso’s in house mixologist team, perfect for those unforgettable Christmas parties.

A great idea. Just add ice for a delicious cocktail. 

harveys-bristol-cream

Harveys Bristol Cream

Let’s face it, Christmas isn’t Christmas without Harveys, so what better gift to bring to your next Christmas party? This year the UK’s favourite sherry celebrates its 220 year anniversary and has launched a new campaign celebrating the timeless moments that Harveys has been a part of.

Harveys Bristol Cream is not only the UK’s favourite drink at Christmas it’s also a world renowned icon for its quality and heritage, This unique blend of Sherry combines the character and body of aged olorosos with the aroma and finesse of finos and amontillados, sweetened with the addition of high-quality Pedro Ximenez wine. It has a deep golden colour with a full, fragrant aroma and rich, mellow and long-lasting flavours.

This Christmas classic is the perfect way to embrace the festive season whether it’s to refresh your palate with a classic serve over ice with a slice of orange, shared amongst friends over Christmas party snacks, or alongside the inevitable stocking sweet treats and heaving Christmas cheese board. You can even impress your festive guests with a simple Harveys cocktail like our delicious Frosted Apple & Ginger recipe below:

Harveys frosted apple & ginger
Harveys frosted apple and ginger is bursting with effervescent flavours and is great served in a punch bowl so you can share with friends

Recipe:
Fill a highball glass with ice (crushed ice looks even better!)
Pour over 50ml Harveys Bristol Cream and 50ml premium pressed apple juice
Top up with a dash of ginger ale
Swirl with a cinnamon stick and leave in the glass. Garnish with a sprig of mint and apple slices

 

A Hamper

hampermini2 hampermini hamper

We got sent this wonderful hamper full of delicious and original products. Unfortunately it didn’t have a label and we couldn’t see a press release. We just had to feature it anyway. Please let us know if you know where it is from. Thank you!

 

Merry Christmas from Frost Magazine.