The Cystic Fibrosis Trust is linking up with the British Sausage Appreciation Society (BSAS) for British Sausage Week (30 October – 5 November).

This year the sausage sarnie will be taking centre stage! In British Sausage Week’s ninth year, the BSAS team is launching the Search for the Supreme Sausage Sandwich. Carol Thatcher officially launched the search in September, before setting off on the road to visit six cities across the country during British Sausage Week. [Read more...]

Vitamin B3 (niacin)

… is the focus for this weeks Vitamin Rich post (for last week’s post on Vitamin B2 click here).

Niacin, also known as nicotinic acid and vitamin B3, also works as a coenzyme in the release of energy from nutrients. It lowers cholesterol, protects against cardiovascular disease and may be of benefit in diabetes.

Clinical evidence of niacin deficiency includes fatigue, poor appetite, diarrhoea, irritability, headache, emotional instability and possible memory loss. Pellagra is the clinical manifestation of advanced niacin deficiency that is characterized by dermatitis, dementia, and diarrhoea. Niacin deficiency rarely occurs without accompanying riboflavin deficiency. Pyridoxine deficiency may also be present.

The best sources of niacin are… [Read more...]

Here in Britain, the arrival of Autumn heralds the season for chestnuts, sweet chestnuts that is, as well as conkers (horse chestnuts) but you can’t eat them! Chestnuts are another free food just waiting to be collected by us foragers.

Sweet chestnut trees can be found all throughout England (they are common in woods and parks) and scattered areas of Scotland. The nuts are ready to eat in Oct-Nov and fall to the ground in their prickly husks. They can be helped to fall with a few carefully thrown sticks :) Make sure no-one is standing in the way! It’s also best to wear a pair of gardening gloves and a stout pair of shoes. The shoes are to help you use your feet to split the husks open and the gloves are to protect your fingers from the prickles when extracting the nuts from their husks. [Read more...]

Olympia will be the only place to be on 10-12 November as the BBC Good Food Show London opens its doors to the food-loving public. Bringing together a stunning array of produce from some of the country’s most innovative and highly successful food entrepreneurs combined with kitchen gadgets and accessories to solve almost every conceivable kitchen problem.. Where else can you try before you buy, ask questions about the products and ingredients and be entertained all at the same time? [Read more...]

Vitamin B2 (riboflavin)

…is the focus for this weeks Vitamin Rich post (for last week’s post on Vitamin B1 click here).

Riboflavin, or vitamin B2, can help to protect against anemia and cancer. Like thiamine, riboflavin serves as a coenzyme-one that must combine with a portion of another enzyme to be effective-in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and, especially, respiratory proteins. It also serves in the maintenance of mucous membranes.

Riboflavin deficiency may be complicated by a deficiency of other B vitamins; its symptoms, which are not as definite as those of a lack of thiamine, are skin lesions, especially around the nose and lips, and sensitivity to light.
The best sources of riboflavin are… [Read more...]