It’s British Food Fortnight from the 20th September to 2nd October 2022, though the formal start of the event was delayed until after the period of national mourning and the funeral of the late Queen.
The aim of the campaign is simple… to encourage people to discover the diverse and delicious food made in Britain and to actively seek it out on menus and in shopping aisles. In doing so it’s hoped to secure a robust market for British food that makes it viable for farmers and producers to continue to invest in farming and domestic food production because they will feel confident in consumer demand for their product.
British food is produced to the highest environmental and animal welfare standards in the world. With four distinct seasons, a wonderfully varied topography and a vibrant farming community, we have a diverse and delicious range of food, and there is much to discover and enjoy.
Many hospitals and care homes already have British themed menus in place for British Food Fortnight, and you can find out more about how to take part yourself here.
To get you in the mood, here’s a tasty slow cooker recipe for a Hereford Beef Stew which should really stick to your ribs.
Ingredients
- 500g of diced Hereford Beef
- 1 tablespoon of olive oil
- 1 litre of beef stock if you have it, or 1 litre of beef stock made with 2 stock cubes
- 4 of floury potatoes
- 4 carrots
- 2 parsnips
- 4 shallots
- A handful of parsley
- Ground salt and pepper to season
See also: Pick Your British Apples and Pears Early Says Raymond Blanc
Method
- Chop your potatoes, shallots, carrots and parsnips into chunky bite-sized pieces (don’t go too small for the best consistency).
- Season your diced Hereford Beef with salt and pepper before sealing on a hot frying pan with a tablespoon of olive oil for 1-2 minutes. Allow your beef to rest on some kitchen paper for at least 5 minutes before adding to your slow cooker.
- Turn your slow cooker on to its highest setting, adding the potatoes, shallots, carrots and parsnips, followed by a litre of beef stock and rested diced beef.
- Keep your slow cooker on its highest heat for at least 1 hour before turning to the medium heat for a further 3-4 hours. If you want to thicken your gravy sauce, add a sprinkling of gravy granules.
- Once you’re happy with the consistency, serve in bowls for a hearty meal seasoned with salt, pepper and chopped parsley.
See also: Energy Saving With Slow Cooker Recipes
