British & Irish Food

It's National Vegetarian Week here in the UK, a campaign run by the Vegetarian Society to raise awareness, and debunk myths about vegetarian eating. I like to do my bit every week with my Meat Free Monday recipe, but this week is a chance to go the whole - I nearly said the whole hog, oops - way.

You may think that British food and its dependence on fur and feather would not lend itself to a vegetarian lifestyle but that's so not true. Have a look at my small collection of vegetarian recipes below or if you want tons of inspiration, About.com's Vegetarian Guide Jolinda's site.

• British Vegetarian Recipes
• About.com Vegetarian Food
• Gordon Ramsay - Vegetarian Wrap Recipe
• The Vegetarian Option - Simon Hopkinson - Cook Book Review

Am loving this recipe from Chef Atul Kochar for Tenderstem broccoli. It is a perfect dish for a day like today, when finally the sun has finally appeared, as well as in celebration of National Vegetarian Week this week..

Warm Tenderstem and Chickpea Salad Recipe

How about this as Something for the Weekend. A lovely, light Smoked Haddock and Bean Risotto Recipe. The recipe comes courtesy of British Peas and Beans, and is one of my spring and summer favourites.

• Smoked Haddock and Bean Risotto Recipe

It's almost summer, well OK, late spring and the food festival season is kicking off big time around Britain and Ireland. I love spending time wandering round a food festival but with so many it means choosing carefully which ones to visit.

One I have always been fond of (mainly because I have long been involved in the set up and running but no longer) is the Malton Food Lovers Festival in North Yorkshire and takes place this weekend. Also in Yorkshire and this weekend is The Tockwith Beer Festival, and the clue to what is happening at the festival is in the title, plus there is live music and some rather delicious looking food.

Further afield there is Cromer & Sheringham Crab and Lobster Festival, Loch Fyne Food Fair in Western Scotland and the Cornwall Asparagus Festival, all taking place this weekend.

For an up to date list of many of the festivals for the rest of the year have a look at the Food Festival Calendar for the UK, there is something going on every weekend somewhere.

Over in Ireland I am saving space in my diary for one of my all time favourite events which is the Dingle Festival of Food and Wine. I'd love to hear about more festivals in Ireland, in fact any upcoming festivals, do let me know. I may not be able to attend but it will be great to let everyone know about them.

Soda bread is so quick and easy to make, delicious to eat and with the addition of a little Guinness and black treacle can only get better.

• Guinness Bread Recipe
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This week's Meat Free Monday Recipe uses one of my favourite vegetables, the beetroot. This beetroot salad takes a twist to the exotic with the Moroccan-style spicing in the dressing.

• Moroccan-Style Beetroot Salad Recipe

This recipes is based on recipe from Love Beetroot

Something for the Weekend this week is a current cheffy favourite, the Pithiviers. Why? Probably because it is such a versatile recipe. A Pithiviers is a sweet pasty-like dish made with rough puff pastry which originates in a town of the same name in Northern France. Pithiviers is originally filled with delicious almonds and fruit but also lends itself to many types of filling both sweet and savoury, hence why chefs love it.

This Crab and Prawn Pithiviers recipe is one of my favourite savoury ones; a true beauty as once prepared it is then frozen and can be cooked in twenty minutes straight from the freezer. How useful is that at a busy time like Christmas, especially if unexpected guests turn up?

• Crab and Coriander Pithiviers Recipe

Photo © RFB Photography.

If I mention the word Thermomix to any of my chef friends, they break into a smile and become all misty eyed. When they talk about the machine they use words like "precious," "perfect," "amazing." So how come a kitchen machine can evoke such reactions in these normally tough guys?

A while back I got to spend a pleasant morning and ate a very enjoyable lunch made entirely with the aid of the Thermomix, I became a total convert and wanted one so badly. I saw clearly how this little German-made kitchen wonder and work-horse will save me oodles of time, energy and importantly, money. All that and it looks good too.

Now I am close to seriously thinking about investing and wondered what anyone else has to say about them. This is my review, it's clear to see I am already hooked. What do you think though?

Read My Review of the Vorwerk Thermomix

It doesn't come much better than this week's Meat Free Monday RecipeBritish radishes have just come into season and are at their best right now. Forget using them simply sliced on your salad, they are much more versatile.

• Indian Spiced Radish and Pumpkin

The wonderful Yorkshire Pudding is one of the most popular recipes here on British Food and one of the most watched videos. It was time for an update to the video however, so I am pleased to announce the arrival of a much updated and revised video, and hope you like it as much as the last one. We do.

• New Yorkshire Pudding Video - How to Make Perfect Yorkshire Puds
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