Did you know that it was International Hummus Day today? Yes, yes yes 13th May is the day to behold your favourite dip and enjoy it with your fave accompaniment.
Nutritious, sustainable, and delicious, the ChicP hummus range proves that no fruit or vegetable should ever be discarded! Founded in 2016 by food waste advocate and former chef, Hannah McCollum, ChicP offers a range of delicious dips created from surplus and imperfect vegetables. With an array of flavours ChicP can help you fully enjoy and make the most of International Hummus Day.
Wake up! It’s time to get your Hummus on! Kick off International Hummus Day the right way with something sweet with none other than ChicP’s Banana & Chocolate dip. This is a delicious and fulfilling healthy chocolate dip ‘chocummus’. Imagine a sugar free nutella! Perfect for pancakes, porridge and toast!
Light and airy ChicP Velvet Is a lovely smooth olive oil based hummus, using different sized chickpeas, mixed with tahini and just a hint of olive oil. This is the perfect way to enjoy another side of hummus, without the guilt and the fatigued after feeling.
Add some pep to your step Now it’s time to get serious with Chicp’s Raw beetroot & horseradish hummus. This dip is really fresh, vibrant, healthy hummus with a strong kick from horseradish. The perfect way to get you Delicious with a salad, dip or snack.
Hummus for Lunch? Yes please. Staying true to the theme of the day, it’s time to enjoy some hummus for lunch, and what better flavour than Chilli Pumpkin. This is a delicious creamy warming hummus with a welcome kick of hot chilli and is garlic free.
Time to get your snack on Wanting to take a break from Hummus, but not wanting to break the hummus festivities? Well, why not try ChicP’s veggie bites. These new additions to the ChicP collection are delicious and healthy balls full of aromatic flavours and veg. They are soft in the middle, great for dunking into the ChicP hummus range and completely natural. High in protein and fibre. They come in three unique flavours; Sweet potato & rosemary, Beetroot & Apple and Spinach, parsley & red pepper.
Dinner time! Now, of course we know you can’t eat hummus solely on its own for dinner, so why not add in ChicP’s Herby as an accompaniment to your dish. This earthy, green hummus is wonderful as an accompaniment to any meal. Packed full of antioxidant herbs. It is fresh, delicious, full of protein and contains very few calories.
Boost that immune just before bed We started the day with something sweet, so now it’s time to end it with some immune boosting goodness. ChicP’s Carrot, ginger & turmeric dip is fresh, warming and loaded with antioxidants.
For more info, visit https://www.chicp.co.uk/ available from Ocado, Wholefoods, Planet Organic and more
Whether it’s that Spring is in full bloom, or that we have been universally staying at home of an evening, we’re not quite sure, but at the end of the day when we pour a glass of our favourite drink it has been a massive plus throughout Lockdown for #TeamCoco.
With this in mind we have drawn together a little guide of liquor and wine that we have been quaffing whilst indoors, some of which you may like to try in your own home. And, as we begin to ease lockdown it may be worthwhile adding to your drinks collection for when you’re allowed to have friends and visitors around in the future.
Wine
Iheart, Italian Sparkling Rosé, £8.50, Sainsbury’s
Step into spring with this sophisticated sparkling sensation! This light, bubbly and fruity tipple is the perfect match for your home cooked dinners. This charming rose-tinted tipple is bursting with fresh flavours of ripe strawberry and summer fruits and is the perfect drink to enjoy in the sunshine.
Still by Hattingley, 2019 Rosé, £14, www.hattingleyvalley.com
A light and elegant wine from the 2019 vintage, the limited edition STILL Rosé is made from Pinot Noir Précoce, known as early Pinot Noir, sourced from prime Kent and Berkshire vineyards. Using the freshest fruit picked just before rainfall, the wine is processed in the saignée method and fermented in stainless steel tanks for five months, giving it a delicate yet vibrant acidity. Dry with refreshing notes of red fruit, the exquisite pale pink wine pairs perfectly with Asian prawn salad, grilled fish or shellfish and is the ideal accompaniment for al fresco dining.
The Bolney Estate, Estate Pinot Noir 2018, £19.99, www.bolneywineestate.com
An excellent example of a cool climate Pinot Noir, well balanced, it has soft tannins and juicy strawberry and red cherry on the palate. Leather, spice and chocolate complement fresh plums and a smooth and creamy finish.
Gin
Fishers Gin, Original 20cl Pink Fishers, £17.95, www.fishersgin.com
Robust and natural with savoury, aromatic and herbaceous notes, Fishers uses a variety of delicious edible plants such as dittany, lovage, beetroot, bog myrtle, sea purslane, rock samphire, spignel and wood avens to create its distinct flavour, reminiscent of the coast.
Your order of Pink Fishers includes: 1 x 20cl bottle of Fishers Gin “Original” with 2 x miniature Angostura Bitters and 2 x Fever Tree Mediterranean Light Tonics – ideal to make your own ‘Pink Fishers’. Includes free delivery for all online orders.
Manchester Gin, Lockdown Package, £95, www.manchestergin.co.uk
Create your own bespoke Lockdown Package from Manchester Gin, with a choice of three 500ml bottles from a choice of six flavours (including Manchester Spirit Vodka). You can enjoy any three full-sized 500ml bottles plus six tonics from Fever Tree or Franklin & Sons. Choices include: Signature Gin, Raspberry Infused Gin, Wild Spirit Gin, Blackberry Infused Gin, FAC51 The Haçienda Gin, or Manchester Spirit Vodka. For a limited time they are offering free delivery on all orders over £30.
Villa Ascenti Gin, £34.95, www.thewhiskyexchange.com
This premium Italian Gin from Villa Ascenti is made using a secret combination of locally-sourced botanicals, including Tuscan juniper berries, fresh mint, thyme, and Moscato grapes. A light and aromatic spirit, which is perfect for this time of year.
Rum
ARLU Rum, Passionfruit & Mango, £23, www.arlurum.com or from Harvey Nichols
This expertly crafted rum collection is imported from the award-winning Demerara Diamond Distillery and lovingly blended with unique natural flavours and spices in the heart of Manchester. Offering three new flavours in the range; ARLU RUM Original Spiced, ARLU RUM Passionfruit & Mango and ARLU RUM Blood Orange are set to tantalise taste buds. We are loving the passionfruit and mango flavour here at #TeamCoco.
Whisky and Whiskey
Talisker Single Malt, Scotch Whisky, £39.45, www.thewhiskyexchange.com
Talisker Single Malt is a seriously classic malt whisky, with an intense smoky sweetness, including notes of heather, moor, sweet seaweed, and black pepper. It boasts a powerful peat-smoke flavour with sea-water saltiness and a citrus boost – a drink that is full of character.
Jack Daniel’s, Tennessee Apple Whiskey, £25, Tesco, Asda, and Sainsbury’s
The Jack Daniel Distillery introduces Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Apple: a blend of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Whiskey with finely crafted apple liqueur. The newest member of the Jack Daniel’s family is made from real crisp apples for a fresh distinctive flavour and approachable taste that is truly Jack to the core. Perfect served as a Jack Apple and Tonic!
Hard Seltzer
DRTY, £15 (6 x mixed cans), www.drtydrinks.com or Ocado
DRTY is a zero-carb hard seltzer canned drink, offered in White Citrus and Raspberry Rosé flavours. DRTY uses fermented fruits with 100% fermentable sugar profile, leaving no residual sugar and no carbohydrates, which in turn offers a crisp and refreshing sugar-free beverage clocking in at only 90 calories and 4% ABV, making them the perfect drink to have this spring and summer.
I’ve found it remarkable that in the face of adversity, so many individuals and businesses – both big and small – have responded with so much generosity during this pandemic. It just goes to show that sometimes, not all change is bad and there have been instances in all our lives where from bad times we seem to emerge as better versions of ourselves.
In this case, it’s fair to say that it has forced many of us to think about giving back and the impact our fast-paced lives had on the environment and nature around us. And on a human level, we seem more empathetic and caring towards our neighbours and community. In London, a friendly smile, hello, or good morning to a stranger is no longer a weird thing to do. Normally unthinkable – something, as a Northerner, I have always found difficult to come to terms with! – it is now the norm.
So, in honour of all the good humans out there, we’ve picked out a few of our favourite initiatives and good news amidst the doom and gloom reporting that has dominated the headlines. And if you have any of your own good stories to share from your community, please share with us – we want to know all about it!
Feed the Frontline
Feed the Frontline is a new charity working in partnership with wholesale food suppliers, giving thousands of bags of seasonal fruit and vegetables to hospitals each week. Once delivered, they are distributed to frontline staff by NHS volunteers. Anna Prior, who is part of the team launching the initiative, says “Food is at the heart of this nation and helping sustain those heroic healthcare workers that are risking their lives for us is a small way of us giving back and showing our appreciation”.
By giving the nutritious food parcels directly to hospitals, this helps maintain social distancing, allows the collection of fresh parcels at the end of shifts and saves the time of going to supermarkets. This effort is also helping save the jobs of wholesale suppliers as many have lost most of their trade from restaurants and events. So far in April they have received donations that have enabled them to deliver 23,000 food parcels to 7 different hospitals across the UK. They have a further target raise of £250,000 so that we can keep deliveries going throughout May and hopefully beyond. 100% of any donation goes to supporting frontline key workers because there is no administrative leakage, the team behind the charity are all voluntary.
Dr Nail Mehlem, St Thomas’s Hospital in London who has been redeployed to help support COVID-19 patients said: “It’s difficult to put into words how I feel about what people have done. I get quite emotional talking about it, to be honest. It’s unbelievable, I think when I see all of the outpouring of support and generosity even just talking about things like Feed the Frontline, that makes me emotional because it’s so heart-warming. I couldn’t thank our supporters enough. Just because they’re stuck at home, I don’t want anyone to feel they’re not making a difference. Any small thing that brings the country together, everyone is playing their part and it makes a huge difference.”
How you can help: Any social and general media endorsement will allow us to achieve more donations, reach a larger number of hospitals and gain more awareness to be able to continue. We would also appreciate any social media posts of support from any channels (Instagram, Twitter and Facebook) referencing our handles, with a donate now plea.
Jamb Launch Charity Auction
Charlotte and Will Fisher, owners of Jamb, have selected 10 reproduction mantels to sell via ebay auction for the Shelter Charity. The proceeds will benefit the charity’s emergency appeal to help people facing housing issues and homelessness because of coronavirus. Amongst the chimneypieces in the charity auction are a fine Portland stone Georgian chimneypiece, a pure Siena marble bolection and a late 18th Century style French chimneypiece. charity.ebay.co.uk
Noxy Brothers coffee
After discovering that many large coffee chains in hospitals had totally closed leaving doctors and nurses with no caffeine fuel, the two best friends, who run the Noxy Brothers in Burlington Arcade, set up a coffee bar in NHS Northwick Park and are sponsoring it for up to 4 weeks. They are providing free speciality, barista made coffee to all 3,000 NHS staff every day. They are looking at opening in multiple large NHS hospitals desperately in need of good coffee during the peak of this pandemic. They have also raised £15,870 to help support the NHS further.
N.Peal, an authentically British and luxury cashmere knitwear and accessories retailer, has donated 30% of their online sales from Easter long weekend to the NHS staff. The contribution of £10,751 will go towards NHS workers.
ROSEWOOD HOTEL GROUP LAUNCHES ROSEWOOD RAISE, A RELIEF INITIATIVE TO SUPPORT ASSOCIATES AND COMMUNITIES AFFECTED BY COVID-19
Rosewood Hotel Group today announces the launch of Rosewood Raise, a comprehensive relief initiative developed in support of the Group’s associates who have been impacted by the COVID-19, as well as the communities in which the Group operates. Rooted on the foundation of Relationship Hospitality, a belief that true hospitality springs from the nurturing and building of strong and lasting relationships with associates, guests, partners and communities, Rosewood Hotel Group has always recognized and revered the power of people in creating the exceptional experiences that drive the industry. Developed in dedication to these very individuals that have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the Group’s hotels and destinations, Rosewood Raise supports an associate relief fund and community-focused efforts, including donated hotel rooms and meal preparation and supplies for essential workers.
In London, Michael Bonsor, managing director of Rosewood London, Warren James, co-founder of hospitality headhunter James & Cranwell and Thomas Kochs, managing director of the Corinthia Hotel in London have launched the Hospitality 4 Heroes Challenge with the aim of raising £10,000 to support the NHS Charities Together Covid-19 Appeal
Donations Boost Women’s Support Organisations
De Beers Group has donated $200,000 across its four producer partner countries of Botswana, Canada, Namibia and South Africa to assist women’s shelters and support organisations to respond to an increase in gender-based violence resulting from the pandemic. This is in addition to the $5million already pledged by the brand to support response efforts. These new funds will support the capacity of women’s shelters and organisations in host communities to meet the increase in immediate needs, as well as beyond lockdown periods. Anne Shongwe, UN Women Representative, South Africa Multi-Country Office, said: “As economic and social pressures and fear have grown over recent weeks, we have seen a significant and deeply concerning surge in domestic violence throughout the world, what UN Women has termed the ‘Shadow Pandemic’, that is already being felt in Southern Africa with calls of distress from women more than doubling. Current restrictions on movement – locking women in with their violent intimate partners – is exacerbating the situation, so we must ensure women can continue to access essential support services safely as we work to beat COVID-19.”
Globally, Diageo has pledged to create eight million bottles of hand sanitiser. In the UK, 500,000 litres of GNS will be made available for national healthcare systems and workers across the UK and Ireland
And we mustn’t forget, Captain Tom!
Captain Tom Moore turned 100 last week, having raised more than £30 million for the NHS with his 100 laps walk around his garden. His initial fundraising target was £1000. Captain Tom has been made an honorary colonel in recognition of his efforts. The war veteran has received an estimated 140,000 birthday cards, including one from the queen, to mark the occasion. The cards are being opened by volunteers and are on display at Bedford School, where his grandson, Benjie Ingram-Moore, is a pupil. Other birthday celebrations for the new national icon included a military flypast with three loops of Captain Tom’s home, and a train named in his honour by Great Western Trains, which made its first journey today.
It’s Cinco de Mayo today but sadly there will be no tacos at your favourite Mexican restaurant – nor will you be heading to the best bar that will be doing buy-one-get-one-free margaritas. Alas. But fear, not. We have got you covered on how to celebrate appropriately in isolation, ensuring the day is just as fun as any regular year.
So this year is a double whammy; not only is it Cinco de Mayo but it’s also Taco Tuesday. Triple whammy: it’s Tequila Tuesday too. We know that this holiday is to commemorate the Mexican Army’s 1862 victory during the Franco Mexican War but the food and drink elements that make up this celebratory day make it one of our favourites.
Margaritas
Potentially our favourite cocktail, margaritas are fun, quick and easy to make (they’re also fun, quick and easy to drink too but more of that later). Get yourself some quality tequila – we love Casamigos – as the base to your Mexican cocktail. Online drinks retailer 31DOVER is delivering the drink straight to your door. Casamigos literally translates to ‘House of Friends’ which could be quite apt if you’re isolating with friends or family this lockdown. But even if you’re not, jump on a Zoom call or House Party and have your own Cinco de Mayo party.
Make your margarita with the classic mix of tequila, Cointreau (or any orange liqueur), sugar and lime juice. If you’re a budding bartender, you might already have a cocktail shaker at home; otherwise, just stick it all in a blender with some ice. Garnish with a lime wedge. Obviously it’s not as easy to run out to the shops so Casamigos has also created a Pineapple Margarita recipe, should orange liqueur be a struggle for you to find (it was for us!)
50 ml Casamigos Reposada Tequila 25ml pineapple juice 15ml fresh lime juice 15ml simple syrup (or 2 1/2 teaspoons of sugar) 8-10 coriander leaves Salt to line the rim of your glass
TacoTuesday
We celebrate Taco Tuesday most weeks, to be fair, but the fact that Cinco de Mayo falls on Taco Tuesday this year has got us extra excited. Anyone else? It can’t be just us…
One of our favourite taco spots in London might be closed currently but if there was ever a time to attempt recreating a Mexican meal at home, isolation would be it. Thanks to Aldi, we’ve got our hands on a simple taco recipe to DIY.
Ingredients 6 mini tortilla wraps 400g white fish or salmon 4 tsp cajun seasoning 2 tsp dried oregano 200g salsa 150g pack of mini peppers 100g washed spinach leaves 1 red onion 2 avocados 100g Greek yoghurt 50g mayonnaise 1 tsp chilli powder 1/2 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp paprika 6g fresh coriander 3 limes 50ml olive oil
Method
Pre-heat the oven to 180°C/Gas Mark 4. Cut the fish into strips and toss with the Cajun seasoning and the oregano in a bowl – or, if using leftover fish, break into chunks and toss with the above seasonings.
Cut the peppers in half, remove the seeds and white pith and slice thinly. Shred the spinach leaves. Peel, halve and thinly slice the red onion. Cut the avocados in half, discarding the stones, then remove the flesh and chop finely. Squeeze the juice from 1 lime over the chopped flesh.
In a bowl, add the yogurt, mayo, chilli powder, cumin and paprika and mix well. Chop the coriander. Cut the limes into quarters. Put the salsa into a small bowl.
In a large frying pan, heat the olive oil. Fry the fish for 8 minutes until crispy and cooked through. If using the leftover fish, cook for about 5 minutes.
Dry fry the wraps in a large frying pan on both sides for a few minutes to warm through, or griddle them. Serve the wraps alongside the rest of the ingredients and serve for guests to assemble.
Quarantine Quesadillas
Get your quesadilla fix this Cinco de Mayo – thanks to Holy Moly. These avocado-based dips have the best of the best ingredients all the way from Mexico and they are vegan, dairy-free and gluten-free. There are also 100 free ‘chip and dip’ packs available on Holy Moly’s website – all it will cost you is postage and packaging.
Ingredients Olive Oil 1 red onion, finely chopped 1 pot of Holy Moly Guacamole 1 garlic clove, crushed 1 red pepper, chopped 1 yellow pepper, chopped 3 large plum tomatoes, chopped 4 green jalapeños, chopped 1 1/2 teaspoons fajita seasoning 4-5 wraps 100g grated dairy-free/normal cheese
Method Heat up some olive oil in a large wok.
Shallow fry the onion and garlic on a low heat until golden, then add in the red and yellow peppers.
Cook for a few minutes until softened, then add in tomato, jalapeños and seasoning. Cook for 5 to 10 minutes until soft. Keep stirring to prevent sticking!
Line baking trays with baking paper and lay down the tortilla wraps.
Divide the filling onto half of each wrap and follow with grated cheese and Holy Moly Guacamole. Fold over the tortilla wrap.
Bake in a preheated 200 C / Gas 6 oven for around 5 minutes or until lightly brown and the cheese has melted! Cut the quesadillas in half, and serve whilst warm with a drizzle of soured cream, salsa, Holy Moly Guacamole, lime juice and fresh coriander. Enjoy!
Now that we’ve got your attention, let’s get onto the subject matter straight away – hot drinks and soft drinks! If you are a hot drink fan and a soft drink fan, then this lockdown feature is for you. #TeamCoco has put together a great selection of drinkable beauties for you to enjoy in the comfort of your own home.
It’s all about hot tea with our first three choices, we’ve opted for a tea packed with chocolatey honeycomb, a fabulous peppermint infused tea, and a super herbal tea. Then we move across to quaffable soft drinks with a cold brew coffee, a tasty nutty milk, a flavoursome sparking water, and a unique kombucha.
Hot Tea
Bird & Blend, Honey, I’m Comb Tea
This Ceylon black tea is a blend of chocolate-y honeycomb goodness, perfect for biscuit dunking tea fans! Comb on, try me… and it’s vegan too.
You can order this gorgeous tea in a 50g pouch, 150g refill, 150g tin, or a 300g fan stash.
Priced from £5.55, available from www.birdandblendtea.com
East India Tea Company, Peppermint Infusion Pyramid Sachets
Officers and sailors in The East India Company would famously brew peppermint leaf as an herbal digestive on long voyages. Made from the finest English Mitcham dark peppermint, this Peppermint Infusion has a pleasant and invigorating taste. Wonderfully refreshing no matter the time of day.
Loose peppermint leaves packed in silken pyramid bags, individually wrapped in soft touch sachets.
Priced at £12 (10 x pyramid sachets), available from www.theeastindiacompany.com
THEENK TEA, Herbal Tea
THEENK TEA is a 21-day herbal program designed to support your brain function and mental wellbeing, naturally. Each box is packed with 12 herbal nootropics, adaptogens and stimulants divided into 3 functional blends for mornings, afternoons and evenings.
Blends include:
Morning Glory This special blend is focusing on giving you energy for the morning. It’s designed to make you experience a gentle energy boost, improved mood and focused mind. Ingredients: Yerba Mate; Tulsi; Gotu Kola; Rosemary; Gynostemma; Ginkgo Biloba.
Afternoon Madness We know that the midday crash is something that many people experience during their regular day. This blend uses plants which will help you recover the energy and get ready to tackle the next task. Ingredients: Lemon grass; Ginkgo Biloba; Gotu Kola; Bacopa Monnieri; Gynostemma; Schisandra.
Evening Delight This particular blend is focused on relaxation and helping to fall asleep more easily. Ingredients: Hibiscus; Passiflora; Gotu Kola; Chamomile; Tulsi.
Priced at £39 per box, or £33.90 per monthly subscription, available from www.theenk-tea.com
Soft Drinks
Bottleshot Cold Brew, Oat M*lk
In keeping with authentic New Orleans recipes, Bottleshot brews their premium, ethically sourced Arabica beans in chilled water for 18 hours with chicory to make a tastier, irresistibly smooth coffee that’s high in caffeine and has 60% less acidity compared to regular coffee. Not to be confused with iced coffee which is simply ‘hot’ coffee poured over ice, cold brew is a healthier option that has taken the US by storm and due to the steeping process results in a naturally sweet beverage that is easy on the gut.
Bottleshot Cold Brew’s Oat M*lk is a light dairy-free option as we see a growing demand for milk alternatives due to rising lifestyle and diet trends such as veganism and plant-based diets.
Priced at £14.99 (6 cans), available from www.bottleshotbrew.com, Amazon, Whole Foods Market, and Soho House.
Nutty Bruce, Almond Milk
Nutty Bruce helps to add health and wellness into your busy life by creating nutritious, delicious and convenient range of plant-based milks – and we are loving the Nutty Bruce Almond Milk.
Priced at £2.25 (1ltr), available from www.planetorganic.com and Whole Foods Market.
DASH Water, Peach
Dash Water is getting ready for a summer full of sweetness with the launch of its brand new flavour, Dash Peach. Dash Peach uses wonky and surplus peaches which are deemed unfit to be sold in UK supermarkets. The savoured peaches which, have a little bump here or mark there, have been infused with naturally sparkling British spring water, creating that taste of summer in can – a zero calorie ‘guilt free’ drink.
The blush-coloured Dash Peach is set to refresh and revitalise the nation this summer, the irresistible sparkling drink has the perfect ‘dash’ of juicy peachy delight in every sip.
Priced at £1.29 (330ml can), available from www.dash-water.com, Ocado, Sainsbury’s, and Amazon.
Lo Bros, Kombucha in Ginger & Lemon
Drinking healthily as possible is important not only for our physical health, but our psychological well-being, too. During these crazy times, Lo Bros is the perfect drink to keep your immune system up, giving you the right dose of sugar for your body and your gut.
Unlike many other kombucha drinks, Lo Bros Organic Kombucha is naturally low in sugar, containing just 1.6g per 100ml. Sugar is an important part of the kombucha brewing process and Lo Bros leaves just a small amount of sugar in each bottle to ensure that it feeds the beneficial bacteria, keeping them healthy.
Priced at £1.50 (330ml bottle), available from www.lobros.co.uk
We have just about all got used to our new norm of lockdown, and we’re baking, eating, and enjoying home comforts more than ever, so #TeamCoco has put together a few foodie home comforts for you to check out.
You’ll find hearty sausages and burgers (meat and veggie), savoury treats, flour (for all your bread and baking needs), something sweet for those with a sweet tooth, and much loved seasoning of salt!
HECK
We have added the all-important sausage into our comfort foods because, who doesn’t love a sausage, whether it be pork, chicken, chorizo, veggie or vegan, we’re all partial to a sausage or two.
HECK has got some great new lines for summer, including a versatile frozen range launching in May that’s perfect for these unusual times when we’re relying more on store cupboard essentials, cutting waste and turning to our freezers for good food. The frozen range is gluten-free, additive-free and is aiming to cut food waste and plastic packaging with its 100% recyclable cardboard boxes.
In fresh and chilled, they’ve got new Pork Chorizo sausages coming to Tesco soon, plus they’re expanding distribution of some of their popular recipes this summer.
So for all your BBQ needs, toad in the whole specials, sausage butty fillings, classic sausage and mash, chicken Italia burgers, or vegfurters, look no further than HECK.
HECK FRESH HECK Chicken Chorizo, £3 HECK Meat-Free Chipolatas, £2.50 HECK Chicken Italia Burgers, £2.50 HECK Chicken Italia Sausages, £2.50
HECK FROZEN HECK Simply Chicken Sausages HECK Family Favourite Sausages HECK Reduced Fat Pork Sausages HECK Vegfurters HECK Meat-Free Sausages HECK Vegan Breakfast All £4.50 each (600g), available from a selection of supermarkets across the UK.
Karma Bites
We have added Karma Bites into the comfort food mix, because we’re always up for trying new and improved savoury treats.
Super tasty and healthy, Karma Bites are crispy spheres of wholesome goodness! They are gluten-free, vegan friendly, low in fat, low in calories and a great source of protein.
For thousands of years, Chinese physicians and Indian practitioners of Ayurveda have used the nutritious super seeds of the Lotus flower, and Karma Bites use the same seeds from the Water Lily family to make a delicious wholesome snack with a taste like no other! Carefully harvested and lovingly prepared, they’re gently dried in the sun and popped in a low heat to preserve the goodness, before being flavoured to perfection.
Priced at £1.59 per packet, 100-125 calories per pack, available in Peri-Peri, Wasabi, and Himalayan Pink Salt – and for those with a penchant for sweet treats, then you’re lucky because Karma Bites are also available in Caramel or Coconut & Vanilla. From www.karmabites.co.uk
Tobia Teff Flour
Did you know that flourmills are working around the clock, struggling to meet demand, triggered by the recent baking frenzy during lockdown. And, flour sales are up by 92% compared to the same period last year! So, we absolutely have to include flour into our comfort food must-haves for 2020.
You can’t escape the flurry of banana cake and sourdough posts on Instagram as we become a nation of at-home bakers! While the supermarket shelves are now fully stocked with eggs and toilet rolls again, the shelves in the baking aisle are bare. Alternative flours were predicted to be a big food trend for this year by Whole foods, so get trendy and get baking with this batch of alternative flours!
A versatile grain the size of a poppy seed being hailed as the new quinoa, Teff is naturally gluten-free and packs a nutritional punch. Native to Ethiopia, Teff is vegan, nutrient-rich, super-tasty and has been called a Hollywood superfood.
Despite being the smallest in the world, this super tiny grain with not-so-tiny power is protein and fibre rich and boasts a range of health benefits. Not only does Teff contain more calcium and vitamin C than almost any other grain, it also provides a great combination of essential amino acids needed for the body’s growth and repair. Rich in magnesium, naturally low in fat and sodium, abundant in easily absorbed iron and much of its fibre is a type known as resistant starch, which has been linked in studies to health benefits such as improved blood sugar.
Tobia Teff Flour is Priced at £7.30 (for Organic Brown Teff Flour or Organic White Teff Flour), £6.10 (for Brown or White Teff Flour). Available from www.tobiateff.co.uk
Gregory’s Tree
Gregory’s Tree is a tasty fruit twist snack bar free from dairy, gluten, and wheat and made with 100% organic ingredients. We have included it in a selection of comfort foods because it is both a sweet treat and is part of your five-a-day!
Each Gregory’s Tree Blueberry and Raspberry Double Twist and new Strawberry Fruit Twist bar bursts with fruity flavour as each is made from pure organic fruit, which is gently heated and pulped to give it that extra tasty twist.
They’re naturally great tasting being only 60 calories a pack and one of your recommended five a day portions of fruit and veg. Gregory’s Tree is also, 100% vegan-friendly.
Priced from £2.80 (5 x 18g), available from Morrisons, Whole Foods, and As Nature Intended.
Maldon Sea Salt
We couldn’t put a list of comfort foods together without including Maldon Sea Salt and their gourmet salt flakes. Sea salt is just one of those simple pleasures in life that gives a subtle enhancement to most dishes.
With an increase in need for store cupboard essentials right now there is one thing which is a must have to add flavour to your cooking. Maldon Salt traditional sea salt flakes and their brand new grinder style is a perfect staple to add to savoury (and some sweet!) dishes.
Priced at around £3.50 (55g), available from Tesco, Ocado, Morrisons, and more.
Accessibility of freshwater is a nature’s blessing. It controls the significant and significant parts of the world, and the major part of the world economy is also based on the availability of water. The adequate and proper supplies of water are vital for farming, human utilization, and industry, just as a diversion. Amusingly, once in a while, healthy or included contaminations deny us of the blessing and causing us to stand up to much all the more testing world.
Freshwater is a significant need for our wellbeing and stable human life. One-6th of the total populace experiences the freshwater inaccessibility circumstance. It is seen creating nations from agrarian sources is a way to create a stable economy.
Polluted water makes issues for humans and prompts waterborne ailments and containments, which can be forestalled by taking measures even at the family level. Giving safe water to everything is a difficult errand. Proceeded to look into endeavors right now over hardly any decades brings about numerous procedures/advances. In the process of water treatment, the cabin air filter ensures that clean, purified water is delivered to consumers.
Water Contamination as a worldly issue:
Water contamination is a typical issue everywhere throughout the world. These might be geographical or anthropogenic (human-made). More significant levels of contaminants in drinking water are only from time to time to cause intense human impacts. It relies upon singular powerlessness and method of contact with the body and reviewing softeners.
The sorts and groupings of common chemicals and containments rely upon the idea of the land materials through which the groundwater streams and nature of the energized water. Groundwater traveling through sedimentary shakes and soils may get a broad scope of mixes, for example, magnesium, calcium, and chloride, arsenate, fluoride, nitrate, and iron; accordingly, the impact of these characteristic contaminations relies upon their sorts and focuses. The standard happening components present at unacceptable levels can taint water too, that is why many have considered using saltless water softener.
Kinds of containments:
Different contaminants are human-made results of the industry, and farming, including substantial metals like mercury, copper, chromium, lead, and risky synthetic compounds, colors, and mixes like bug sprays and manures.
Inappropriate putting away or discarding family unit synthetic substances, for example, paints, manufactured cleansers, solvents, oils, prescriptions, disinfectants, pool synthetic compounds, pesticides, batteries, gas, and diesel fuel can prompt groundwater contamination consistently 2 million tons of sewage, mechanical and horticultural waste is released into the world’s water.
The microbial contaminants incorporate pathogens like microorganisms, infections, and parasites, for example, minute protozoa and worms. Humans and creatures can spread these living creatures, squander knowing, or unwittingly.
A few contaminants can be effectively recognized by evaluating shading, smell, turbidity, and the flavor of the water. Nonetheless, most can’t be effectively distinguished and expect testing to uncover whether water is debased or not. A good water softener for in The Villages, Florida can solve this issue. In this manner, the contaminants may bring about unappealing taste or scent and recolor just as wellbeing impacts.
5 stages of Water Treatment:
There are 5 Steps of Water Purification treatment. Water shortage is the main problem, with billions of individuals around the globe lacking access to clean and safe water. Water cleansing assumes a significant job in guaranteeing access to safe drinking water and, in this way, can improve instruction, wellbeing, nourishment security, and destitution in creating nations.
In any case, it’s not simply creating nations that can benefit from outside intervention. In essence, the requirement for water cleaning likewise emerges in Sydney and remote Australian people groups like Adelaide River, where, once in a while, both iron and manganese fixation levels make the water dangerous to drink. We’ll clarify the five stages associated with the way toward refining water.
Filtration
Filtration Whatever is as yet swimming in the water will be expelled in the filtration organize, where watercourses through layers of material like rock, sand, and charcoal. These layers are frequently very profound to guarantee the ideal degree of filtration. The more layers utilized, and the better the sand, the better the filtration. combo water filter softener system can be proved best in this process.
Collection/screening
Screening expels the greatest hindrances from water originating from lakes or streams, similar to wood, plants, fish, and waste. It guarantees that the system can run at its best without large items meddling or blocking passages.
Coagulation
Coagulation By adding synthetics to the water, the supplements and remaining solids can be expelled. The synthetic compounds make what is called floc, clingy particles that pull in earth, and the water streams on to a sedimentation bowl
Sedimentation
Sedimentation In the sedimentation bowl, the water sits still, and the floc aggregates soil, which in the end gets sufficiently substantial to sink to the base of the tank, thus permitting it to be expelled from the water before it moves through to filtration.
Disinfection
Disinfection once the water has gone through the entirety of the above mentioned, the main outstanding advance is sanitization. This makes the water drinkable, by expelling all poisons. Right now is regularly added to expel microbes, infections, and parasites. The expansion of sodium bisulfate later kills the chlorine.
I need comfort food to get through this lockdown. Before I went vegan, I would be running to the nutella jar, spoon in hand.
The last few weeks have given me an excuse to explore vegan alternatives to Nutella. My mission: to discover spreads which are just as delicious without any of the cruelty.
Some little-known facts about Nutella: Ferrero faced a lawsuit a few years back for claiming, falsely, that Nutella was nutricious and the first two ingredients are sugar and palm oil, NOT hazelnuts.
After a lengthy search, let me give you my top three delicious, slightly more healthy, and vegan Nutella alternatives.
1 – Grecious Tahini with Cocoa
If you like nuts then this one is for you. It is delicious creamy yet totally dairy-free.
Tahini is made from ground sesame seeds, without preservatives or additives. Only 13% of a nutella jar is hazelnuts while a whopping 62% of this Grecious spread is ground sesame seeds.
I love this one on porridge or in a cake – it is a bit too thick and overpowering on toast. A bonus: all the products from Grecious are ethically and sustainably sourced.
Get it delivered from www.harveynichols.com
2 – Vego Chocolate Spread
Vegan, organic and palm-oil free, the Vego spread is the closest thing to nutella I have tasted.
22% hazelnuts, plenty of raw cane sugar and shea butter, this is not necessarily the healthiest option. But it sure is yummy.
Get it delivered from www.hollandandbarrett.com.
3 – Raw Cacao Brazilnut Bliss
Just four superfood ingredients: 78% Brazil nuts with agave nectar, cacao powder and hemp oil. This one has a hell of a lot more protein per g than Nutella and raw Brazil nuts come with tons of good-for-you nutrients like selenium and copper.
As well as scoring top marks on the health front, this spread is flavourful and delicious on toast, in puddings or even in homemade ice cream. Only one downside: the oil tends to separate so stir it before you dig in.
Get it delivered from your local stockist – all the details at www.rawvibrantliving.co.uk.
Elevate your vegan journey with expert advice on essential supplements. Check out House of Coco for invaluable insights into maximizing your nutrition.
Life can be trying right now. So we are here to recommend three luxurious things to give you that little lift. Self-care is vital so let’s take the things we can do and make them as wonderful as possible.
Tea by La Duree
If you are anything like me then you have been consuming more tea than usual. While you are stuck indoors, it is high time to try the most luxurious tea out there: La Duree.
While Ladurée is primarily known for its macarons and sweet treats, it has launched a delicious range of black and herbal teas which are available from delivery at Harvey Nichols.
Our favourite is the most decadent tea of all: the Marie-Antoinette with a dash of jasmine, citrus and rose petals. You will never think of a tea break in the same way again.
I light a scented candle every evening as it gets dark while I sink into a good book and a glass of something chilled – bliss!
Most scented candles are bad for our health as they release unwanted chemicals. But you get none of those nasties with Holistic because each candle is made from soy wax, meaning they are completely vegan.
And they smell divine, perfect for a bedroom or bathroom. We tried the neroli + camomile scents as well as the bergamot + wildflower. Close your eyes and you are whisked to a summer garden or an aroma-filled spa.
Visit: thisisholisticlondon.com.
Hendricks Lunar Gin
A G&T from your balcony? A virtual happy hour over houseparty? We are right with you.
To take your gin game to luxury levels, try the Hendrick’s Lunar Gin. Divine with ginger ale and a twist of lemon or your very best tonic and a slice of cucumber, this gin will make your evenings in all the merrier.
A slightly floral, mysterious gin, this one is limited edition so get it delivered to your house ASAP.
GET TO GRIPS WITH THE LOCAL LINGO FOR A HOLIDAY TO PUERTO RICO
This year sees the 500th year anniversary of Old San Juan, the island’s capital. World Heritage listed Old San Juan as one of the oldest cities in the USA and encapsulates the rich cultural identity of Puerto Rico, interweaving Taino, African and Spanish traditions. This distinctive mix makes San Juan a vibrant city, passionate about music and dance and sensational food.
The city’s must-visit neighbourhoods include the charming Old Town with its pastel-coloured colonial Spanish buildings and blue cobblestone streets, cosmopolitan Condado which is home to fashionable boutiques and high-end restaurants; and cool Santurce, a hipster hangout with its speakeasy cocktail bars and street food markets. Puerto Rico is on everyone’s must visit list. To truly feel like a local and to make the most of your future trip, work on mastering the lingo from the comfort of your own home. Spanish is the most common language spoken on the beautiful island and Duolingo is a great way for beginners to learn from scratch or for intermediates to brush up on their skills. Not only is Duolingo useful when learning a new language, it’s fun and addictive. It takes a game-like approach to learning and offers apps for iOS, Windows Phone, and Android. What’s even better is that Duolingo is completely free for users. Alternatively, if you prefer a more dedicated approach in terms of learning a new language, consider taking private Spanish lessons with Preply.
MASTER THE FRENCH LANGUAGE FOR A WINTER TRIP TO QUÉBEC, CANADA
We can think of nothing better than self-isolating in a cosy, snowy cabin right about now. Hibernation is the order of the day. With so much time on our hands, it’s time start dreaming up a winter escape later in the year to beautiful Québec. With just a seven hour flight time from the UK, an Atlantic crossing has never been closer. From poutine in Montréal, wine and cider tasting in Québec’s southern regions, winter carnivals and snug cottages in snowy landscapes, there is so much to start planning. To get ahead of the game, the BBC are offering online courses to study French, the official language of the Canadian province. Voila!
2020 marks the 250 anniversary of Ludwig van Beethoven’s birth – and today, Vienna still sets the tone as the European capital of classical music. Although travel is halted at the moment, we can still sit back, wine in hand and listen to all the amazing music created by the world-famous composer on Spotify. The tunes are also the perfect background music for a calming work space, alongside a strong coffee.
Vienna is not a city in a hurry and will be waiting with open arms, just a short plane journey away for culture vultures. The city is the perfect spot to read books, go to the opera, eat endless plates of sacher torte and linger over a hot chocolate. A whole culture has evolved around the coffee houses to encourage a more relaxed way of life. For the price of a cup of coffee visitors can buy entrance to a club where they can spend the day reading newspapers (still hung on wooden rods), people watching, discussing noels or thinking. To get you’re Viennese coffee order perfected or to converse correctly over scrumptious strudel, it’s time to brush up on the German language, the most widely spoken tongue in Austria. Babbel offers an easy and fun way to learn German with some online language learning platforms focusing primarily on just speaking. Here at House of Coco, we are itching to get back to exploring the world. While we wait we are busy planning and prepping for our next adventure.
