WG Blog Tales
Buy Seasonal Produce
As a company that really promotes sustainability and supporting the community, we thought it would be great to take a look at how we can be more green, and more resourceful when buying food.
One of the best ways of ensuring a lowered carbon footprint is to buy seasonal produce, grown and cultivated in the UK. Here are some of the reasons why buying local, and buying seasonal can not only reap benefits for the environment, but also for the individual:
Environment
British food travels far less from farm to shop than most imported foods, which means you're cutting out a big portion of the transportation journey and reducing energy and impact on the environment.
Nutritional Benefits
Local, seasonal foods tend to be fresher, tastier and full of nutrients. Eating the foods that are seasonal will give your body the elements that it needs at that particular time of the year. Unlike some meats from other countries, British meat tends not to have any growth-promoting hormones and is produced to some of the highest welfare standards in the world. You will also have the assurance of knowing what you are eating. Britain has some of the most robust food assurance and traceability systems in the world.
Supporting the Economy
Supporting the local economy is incredibly important. You’ll be able to do your part in supporting the farmer, those who work in food processing, the local shopkeeper and the pubs and restaurants selling the food. In recent years, there’s been a real push in supporting our farmers, and now since food transport is so easy, we need to think about the farming communities closer to home.
Variety
The variety of food that the UK produces is amazing, each season has something different and delicious to try, with a million different recipes for each one. From root vegetables to ripe delicious fruit, as a country we’re hardly lacking in diversity! If you’re looking for something new and different to try, we have compiled our favorite recipes in one place!
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Spring |
Summer |
Autumn |
Winter |
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Beef steaks Sausages Chicken Spring lamb Asparagus Carrots Cauliflower Celeriac Cucumber Kale Purple sprouting broccoli Savoy cabbage Sorrel Spinach Spring greens Spring onions Watercress Gooseberries Rhubarb Crab Haddock John dory Lobster Mackerel Monkfish Prawns Sea bass Sea salmon Trout Turbot |
Beef steaks Burgers Chicken Ham Lamb Pork pies Pork spare ribs Saltmarsh lamb Sausages Venison Beetroot Broad beans Carrots Cauliflowers Courgettes Cucumber Fennel Fresh peas Garlic Green beans Lettuce and salad leaves New potatoes Radishes Runner beans Sage Salad onions Squash Tomatoes Watercress Blueberries Currants Elderflower berries Greengages Loganberries Plums Raspberries Strawberries Tayberries Crab Pilchards Wild salmon
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Chicken Grouse Ham Heather-fed lamb Pies Pork Roasts Sausages Venison Field mushrooms Lettuce Marrow Potatoes Pumpkin Rocket Squashes Sweetcorn Watercress Apples Blackberries Damsons Elderberries Pears Plums Sloes Brill Dabs Dover sole Flounders Oysters Skate |
Casseroles Chicken Gammon Goose Partridge Pheasant Pies Roasts Sausages Turkey Venison Wild duck Bay leaves Brussels sprouts Cabbage Carrots Cauliflower Celeriac Curly kale Fennel Leeks Parsnips Potatoes Red cabbage Swede Turnips Apples Pears Quince Grey mullet Mussels scallops
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Springtime
Here’s a few things we love to do as we transition into Spring…
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First of all...Easter! Nothing welcomes spring better than easter egg hunts, gifting your loved ones and making cute crafts with the kids.
One of our favourite bakes is this glorious easter cake with, of course, a mountain of mini eggs for decoration… Treat the family with some home baking which will keep everyone happy, and on a constant sugar buzz!
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As well as baking, we love the traditional easter egg hunt. Hide chocolates of every shape and size in little nooks and crannies and everyone will be running around like headless chickens!
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The Scavenger hunt is just as fun if not more so, you can hide clues around your garden and everyone will be searching for less traditional treats. In fact, the more specific and random, the better. An example of this is a colour scavenger hunt, where you’ll have examples of the colour you want, and everyone has to run around and find anything that matches that colour, it could be a pebble, flower or even a gnome!
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If the weather isn’t perfect, then you can always take the activities indoors with some arts and crafts. Dress up some eggs to make them beautiful or create little spoon bunnies that the children can play puppets with. The possibilities are truly endless.
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If you want to enjoy the changing seasons, then spending a day in the countryside is the perfect plan. Take a stroll through some farmlands to watch the lambs gambole, and the daffodils sprouting, the true epitome of spring. Take a picnic, but always remember to pick up your litter!
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Not only are we looking forward to spending more time outdoors, but we can now properly plan our gardening efforts. Plant some flower seeds in that overgrown patch (remember to weed first) and expect a beautiful vista of budding bulbs in a matter of weeks! If you’re a beginner then start with some easy veggies that aren’t too high maintenance. Some of these veggies are: beetroot, salad leaves, tomatoes, potatoes, peas, radishes and courgettes. A little bit of patience, love and green fingers will go a long way!
Lockdown Distractions
Wine and Cheese tasting
Why not try out a company that sends you handpicked wines and cheeses and will then guide you through with a personalised video. They’ll explain why each component fits perfectly with each other, and you can widen your vino knowledge, as well as fill up on delicious dairy! They’ll also provide you with crackers, gherkins and cured meats. https://www.lafromagerie.co.uk
Podcasts
Here are some of our favorite podcasts that you should definitely check out!
Table Manners / Deliciously Ella / Off Menu / My favourite Murderer / Something rhymes with purple / Serial / The Cheer Up Luv Podcast / The Guilty Feminist / Code Switch / Grounded with Louis Theroux
Use a Tie-Dye Kit
Feel like being creative? This is great fun to have with the family, or to turn an old white t-shirt into something colourful for spring!
- Find a clear space. Tie-dye can be messy, so we recommend arranging bin bags or plastic sheeting outside, in the garage, or on a craft table.
- Prepare your T-shirt. Choose a pre-washed, 100-percent cotton T-shirt. Soak the shirt in lukewarm water, wring out the excess, then lay it flat. (You don't need to wet the T-shirt before dyeing it, but the color won't spread as far on dry fabric.)
- Prepare your dye. Grab a tie-dye kit and follow the package instructions. The highly-concentrated dyes will come in partially-empty squirt bottles. You'll probably fill the bottles with warm water and shake to combine.
- Plan the design. Pinterest is full of pattern ideas, choose one you like, and tie your shirt tightly with rubber bands to make the desired design.
- Tie-dye your shirt. Squirt dye from the spray bottle onto the shirt, following the pattern of your choice. Make sure to apply only one color at a time. Work with lighter colors first (pink, yellow, lime green, etc.), since darker colors can be layered over the top of them.
- Let it dry. With the shirt still rubber-banded together, place it in a plastic bag or cover it with plastic wrap. Let it sit for 12-24 hours so the colors set. You can also take it out sooner to achieve pastel-like colors.
- Wash the shirt. Unwrap the shirt and take off the rubber bands (wear gloves!) Rinse it in cold water until the run-off is clear. Then wash it in the washing machine with cold water; don't put any other clothing in the machine. Dry the shirt and it's ready to wear!
Karaoke Night
An easy party night could be to indulge in some home style karaoke! There are plenty of karaoke apps out there, or even splash out on a karaoke machine if you’re feeling extra. YouTube is also a great place to find karaoke versions of all your favorite sing-alongs.
Try Out New Cuisines
Try out a new cuisine to cook at home - we have plenty of recipes for you to try. Getting out of your comfort zone in the kitchen can be rewarding and delicious!
