RecipeBridge Blog

What is Ginger?

You may have tried gingerbread men, or you may have added ginger to your curries or sprinkled it over your desserts. You may have tasted it without even realising it! With the ability to (literally) spice up any dull recipe, there’s no doubt about it; ginger is a great cooking ingredient.

Ginger is basically a spice that is made from the stem of a plant, also known as a ‘rhizome’. It can come in many different forms and is used as an ingredient in cooking, cosmetics and also medicines.

What makes Ginger so great?

The fact that it is so versatile makes ginger a great spice. Not only is it a fantastic ingredient for so many recipes, but it also has many health benefits too. It is widely used for medicinal purposes in many cultures across the world and acts to stimulate the circulation, treat burns, ease spinal and joint pains plus many others. By adding ginger to your meals, you too can reap the benefits of this fantastic sassy spice.

When it comes to using fresh ginger in recipes, there are many options for those who want to try it. Ginger can be added to lamb tagine, Thai fish cakes, shrimp stir-fry plus many other dishes – just look on Recipe Bridge if you want to give any of these recipes a go or find any other recipe that you might want to try. Of course, ginger isn’t just used for culinary purposes; it is also used in a many beverages too. Ginger ale isn’t called ginger ale for nothing you know!

There are so many different forms of ginger that it really can be used in any recipe; it can be fresh, dried, pickled, ground, crystallised, preserved or candied. With each form comes a different use. For example, candied ginger can be used in baking recipes. Even for those that don’t like ginger, you will love the taste candied ginger adds to simple dessert recipes.

Powdered ginger is also a great ingredient when baking decadent sweet treats, and the spice of the ginger really does add to the flavour of the dish too. Cinnamon and ginger can especially complement each other when making gingerbread people – and it’s also a great way to get your kids enthusiastic about cooking with new ingredients and trying something new. Find more ginger recipes on Recipebridge.

Are green peas legumes?

Green peas can be the oddest of things and have been surrounded in debate by all food lovers who want them placed in specific categories – and so begins the question: Are green peas fruit, vegetables, or legumes?

Traditionally eaten alongside meat dishes and thrown in with casseroles, pies and stews, it is simple enough to presume that the green pea is a vegetable. If we are getting technical, green peas are in fact legumes. A legume is an edible seed or pod, and seeing as green peas can be eaten either in or out of their pods, it can technically be classed as a legume.

So now all the technicalities are out of the way, you are probably wondering what is so great about green peas anyway, right? Well, eating green peas can have fantastic health benefits. They are low in calories, high in protein and packed full of nutrients including iron. Not only this, but they are also a great source of vitamin C, and thanks to the fibre that they contain, they can also help reduce cholesterol levels.

Getting kids to eat green peas can be something of a challenge, especially if your children don’t like the look of anything remotely colourful on their plates. This is where a little creativity comes in – mixing mushy peas into sandwich fillings could be a good way to start. You can find some very creative recipes to combat this on Recipebridge.

Fresh or frozen green peas?

Fresh green peas are great additions to many meals, however we realise that buying frozen vegetables can be a lot more convenient. In fact, frozen green peas retain their taste, colour and texture even after being frozen. Freezing your green peas can not only be a fantastic way of locking in flavour, it is also a great way for saving money too. By using the peas that you want and replacing the bag back in freezer holding the remaining peas, you can save yourself throwing away fresh peas that you may not end up using.

So what is there not to like about green peas? They are great for your health, and frozen peas can also benefit your pocket as well and can stop you spending ridiculous amounts on fresh produce. Green peas are for everyone, and are also great when included in gourmet recipes. Find some of your favorite green peas recipes on Recipebridge.

Unusual Sandwiches for The National Sandwich Day

The sandwich is one of the most versatile foods known to mankind. So we celebrate this ethereal food on this National Sandwich Day. Sandwiches have been around for years, and can be traced back to well before the middle ages. In fact, it has been around for so long that sandwiches have adapted greatly over the centuries, and each country has developed their own style of sandwich, making it a delectable global success.

There are many components that can make a sandwich either a delicious treat or a dismal snack, but the right combination of bread, fillings and additional ingredients really can make or break a sandwich. Different varieties of bread can totally change the taste and presentations of sandwiches. Varieties may include white, wholemeal, rye, ciabatta, and pita.

A sandwich sometimes doesn’t even have to be a filling between two slices of bread – take a look at the open-face sandwich recipes on Recipe Bridge. There are some great recipes for any vegetarians or for anyone who likes a lovely fresh tasting snack with an abundance of flavours (the black pepper and the Tabasco also give it that extra ‘zing’ factor!).

The sandwich varieties around the world

From a hot veggie treat to a French delight, the pan bagnat is a specialty dish made famous in the south of France. Usually sold in quaint little cafes in Nice and other southern French towns, this sandwich is a light and yet filling snack which is usually placed on a plain bread roll and can come with many different fillings, however tuna, tomato and olive are almost always in there somewhere! Find a pan bagnat recipe on Recipebridge.

Over 6000 miles from France, we come to Vietnam where the banh mi is one of their favoured varieties of sandwiches. Normally made on a sub roll and with different meat fillings such as chicken, oyster, and meatball, the banh mi is one of the most tantalising sandwiches out there – admittedly, they do contain a lot of additional ingredients, but if you are willing to take the time to prepare it, every single ingredient will totally enhance your tasting experience. You can find some easy banh mi recipes on Recipebridge.

If we now hop over to Louisiana, North America, we can get an idea of the types of sandwiches made famous by the southern states of the USA – poboys and muffalettas. The New Orleans Muffaletta is a hearty meal, normally served on Italian (mainly Sicilian) bread and stuffed with many fillings and ingredients. These sandwiches are not for the faint hearted and are constructed on this type of bread mainly due to the fact no other loaf could hold all the ingredients!

The great thing about sandwiches is that they are portable, and are a great ‘on-the-go’ meal. Street food served in China often includes sandwiches like the rou jia mo which is a meaty sandwich that is rich in flavour. If you’d like to try this unusual sandwich, Recipebridge has just the recipe for you!

So I hope you are inspired by the variety of sandwiches that you see here; why not seek out the recipes and give them a go yourself. Or perhaps you have a favourite sandwich of yours that you want to share with us? What do you think makes the perfect sandwich?

Need I say more about Bacon?

Bacon is possibly is the most loved cured meat, often called the candy apple of charcuterie. A processed meat taken from a pig, bacon is usually treated by adding a lot of salt for preservation and tasting purposes. The bacon can then be cooked, smoked or boiled – whichever suits your taste buds.

Bacon has always been seen as a breakfast food, and although you are of course free to eat it at other times of the day as well, it really does make a great accompaniment to your breakfast. Find more bacon breakfast recipes on Recipebridge.

Bacon in desserts!

Be adventurous, and you’ll love bacon in amazing hors d’oeuvres, and even delectable desserts. Find your favorite bacon recipes on Recipebridge.

Black Pudding to mark the start of British Sausage Week

You heard right – British Sausage Week is back to celebrate its 14^th anniversary. Whether you love a nice and tasty chipolata, a hearty Cumberland, or a homely pork and apple, sausage lovers from all over the world are invited to unite in their love for ‘bangers’.

We can’t celebrate British Sausage Week without mentioning one of the ultimate sausages – the black pudding. The black pudding is iconic in Britain in particular due to the fact that it usually accompanies a Full English Breakfast – bacon, sausage, egg, hash brown, tomato, mushrooms, baked beans, and…black pudding!

The black pudding is a rich tasting sausage that has been around for centuries, dating back even further than Tudor times. The way it has been cooked has obviously been adapted over the years, and different European nations have altered certain recipes of the black pudding to make it a more unique dish for their country. Now with British Sausage Week approaching, it really is time to celebrate each type of sausage, no matter what their origin.

A black pudding (also known as blood sausage) can contain a variety of ingredients and usually depends on the type of recipe as to which fillings are used. Black puddings are mainly famous for being cooked in blood, and this can put a lot of people off. However, the beautifully strong flavours that come out of just a single bite of black pudding can leave you wanting more. As with other sausages, they are made up of meat and fat, then other herbs, spices and vegetables are often used as well, such as onion, potato or bread.

Recipes to celebrate British Sausage Week

British Sausage Week is about honouring (and above all, enjoying) the variety of sausage recipes that are available today. Black puddings are no exception, and you can find a wide range of recipes that people use to produce the tastiest black pudding.

There are also many different recipes that contain black pudding. It doesn’t need to be the stodgy sausage that it is made out to be when placed with a greasy fry up breakfast – it can also be used as a delicacy in a variety of recipes such as the Sautéed Black Pudding with Sage and Onion Rosti Rocket, Mustard Dressing and Pan Fried Eggs. Find this and more on Recipebridge.

So if you too want to acknowledge British Sausage Week and celebrate all things meaty, why not tell us about your favourite type of sausage? Or perhaps you have a beautiful black pudding recipe that you want to share? Feel free to Tweet us or post a recipe (or three!) on our Facebook page in celebration of the British Sausage Week.

Liquorice candies for Halloween!

Although April 12^th is National Liquorice Day, the time of year when liquorice is at its most popular is of course Halloween. There are many liquorice candies, and at Halloween, candy is of course one of the most popular things on the menu. Liquorice is made from the extracts of the root from the liquorice plant and has a sweet yet spicy flavour to it, making it a either a lovable or hateable dish to many people.

Not only made of liquorice extract, it also contains a lot of sugar which is why it is considered a candy and not a vegetable! Different flavours and colours of liquorice have dominated many holidays, but Halloween is when liquorice candies really come into their own.

There are many different varieties of liquorice so it is totally down to personal preference as to which type of liquorice you find the best – if you have a sweet tooth there are many extremely sweet liquorice candies that mainly younger people like, however if you prefer a more sharp taste, there are ones that can cater to your needs too! Sticks of liquorice such as the black and red varieties are among the most popular. Sugar free versions have even come onto the market in recent years to satisfy the cravings of diabetics.

Liquorice as a garnish…

Liquorice straws have also gained popularity in recent years with the fact that they make a great accompaniment to various drinks. By placing liquorice straws in your drink you are not only adding to the flavour of the exotic cocktails that you might be sipping but you are also improving the taste and complimenting it with the sweetness of the straws. They’re also great for sucking up sorbets and are a great addition to ice cream dishes.

Liquorice is one of the most popular candy garnishes for Halloween and it makes a fantastic cupcake topping. Despite its medicinal purposes and supposed healing abilities, liquorice isn’t amazingly healthy and some varieties of liquorice are known to be about 50 times sweeter than sugar – and the thought of that kind of makes my eyes water a little!

Use small portions as garnishes for desserts or seasonal cocktails and you will definitely have your guests coming back for more. You can find liquorice recipes to enjoy all year through on Recipebridge.

The National Candy Corn Day

Candy corn – a famous American treat especially popular around Halloween and is fantastically fat free – a feature that probably wouldn’t really impress many children but definitely makes a lot of adults out there feel a lot less guilty about eating it!

National Candy Corn Day is on the 30^th October in the US and has been celebrated for over a century. Just like every other event on the calendar, National Candy Corn Day has become a very big deal amongst many Americans and is a great way of extending the Halloween celebrations over two days as well.

Candy Corn was invented all the way back in 1880 and was created by George Renninger of the Wunderlee Candy Company. Due to its massive popularity, candy corn began to get mass produced by other companies too and today is one of the most popular candies for Halloween.

The Halloween themed colours of the candy corn are quintessentially autumnal, have yellow, orange and white colours included and are golden to look at. Candy Corn is not only produced at this time of year though, it is so popular that it can be bought for all kinds of occasions throughout the year, and at Christmas, the colours used in the candy corn are usually green, red, and white – very festive colours, and a great treat to have in a small bowl on a coffee table for guests to nibble on! Find some recipes for candy corn nibbles on Recipebridge.

The mellow yet sweet flavours of the candy corn are what make this confectionary an American favourite. Seeing as National Candy Corn Day is the day before Halloween, it is no wonder that it is the official candy for Halloween.

Fun Facts about Candy Corn:

• 35 million pounds of candy corn are produced in one year
• A cup of candy corn has fewer calories than a cup of raisins
• Halloween accounts for 75% of all annual candy corn production
• One piece of candy corn contains 3.57 calories

The creativity of the uses of candy corn means that Americans can enjoy the sweet treat all year round, and Halloween is a great time to celebrate its usage. Making candy corn yourself can be extremely intricate so it is best left to the experts – let them make it and then you can concentrate on enjoying it’s lovely sweet flavours. Find some out the box candy corn recipes on Recipebridge.

Spooky Cocktails for your Halloween party

Who said Halloween just had to be for kids? To me, Halloween is a great time of year for adults to have fun too – and if that means consuming some spooky cocktails at a Halloween party then even better!

It is at this time of year that there are a plethora of Halloween parties taking place so it is just about the right time for all you guys and ghouls to start creating some spooky drink mixes for those haunted get-togethers. Cocktails and dark drinks can really add some spookiness to the occasion.

If you want to add a bit of fun to your cocktails and enjoy handing spooky cocktails to your guests, there are many you can try that look and taste scarily good. By using crème de cassis, vodka, triple sec, pomegranate juice, and lemon juice, you can create a beautifully bloody-looking cocktail – drape laces of black liquorice over the rim of the glass and it will seem as if a spider is trying to crawl its way out!

More recipes for spooky cocktails and mocktails!

Of course non-drinkers of alcohol and children won’t want to miss out on the cocktail drinking fun either, so creating mocktails is a great way of involving everyone in the fun. Cemetery slime punch can be made with root beer, chocolate and vanilla ice cream and topped off with some gummy worms – one of the best slimy and spooky mocktails around. Find recipes for this and more on Recipebridge.

Have any guests at your party that have become a little vampire-obsessed since the release of the Twilight saga? Well you can satisfy their needs with a Blood Drip Vampire Style Martini where they can sip a blood-rimmed glass whilst drinking their favourite martini with blood drippings made of sugar, caro syrup, water and red food colouring.

Spooky cocktails are often served best with different themes, and food colouring can in fact be a great way of giving different drinks the image that you are looking for – green food colouring for example makes certain spooky cocktails look ultra-slimy!

Serving Bloody Apple Cranberry Cocktails in eerie looking goblets are a great way of emphasising the theme of your party. Fill the goblets with lashings of apple cider, cranberry juice, apple vodka and cranberry schnapps and you will soon warm to the concept of drinking ‘blood’. Find this and more Halloween cocktail recipes here.

Do you have any favourite spooky cocktails you want to share with us? Or any scary secret recipes that would bring life to the graveyard? Tell us all about them on Twitter or post them on our Facebook page and let the world know about your fantastic creations of spooky cocktails!

The colorful autumn fruits

Autumn is the time of year where everyone still tries to hold onto the summer, and autumn fruits depict just the same. Before long however, the leaves begin to fall off the trees and crunch under our feet and we all have to accept the fact that autumn has begun once we don our thick coats for the first time in months. Why not embrace autumn and all that it has to offer? It is a wonderful time of year for new recipes – so what if it’s a little bit cold? Let’s enjoy it!

Apples

Autumn fruits are a great way of easing yourself into the leafy season, where a simple ingredient such as an apple can really enhance so many recipes. Halloween in particular is famous for its candy apples, a beautifully crispy apple coated in sugared candy. As apples are harvested around this time of year, it makes sense to include them in your recipes, and if that recipe is making your homemade candy apples or apples pies, so be it.

Plums

With regards to autumn fruits, it is towards the end of Autumn that plums begin to go out of season, so what better way to see them off in style than to get them involved in creating a spicy plum chutney? It’s great as a side sauce to a meal, or is great when used as pie, cake or crumble fillings. The sweetness of the plums within the recipe plus the sharpness of the vinegar make this autumnal treat a delight to eat. Find your favorite plum recipes on Recipebridge.

Pears

Another of the classical autumn fruits is the pear. One of the top twenty popular fruits in the USA, they are not only tasty but are also a fantastic fruity addition to many seasonal recipes such as pear and ginger muffins, or pear and walnut bread which has a gorgeously earthy taste to it and goes well with a little light cheese spread on top. It is a fantastically warming snack, especially when served hot. Recipebridge features an array of pear recipes you’ll love to try.

Raspberries

As with many autumn fruits, raspberries swell to perfection in the autumn sun, so it is at this time that they taste their best.  They are a great addition to many autumnal dessert recipes and go really well in cakes, either within the ingredients or on top as a decoration.

Quinces

You can’t mention autumn fruits without talking about the quince. A quince comes from the pear family but has a sharp taste to the flesh until after it has been baked. Similar to a squash, its exterior is pretty solid but its flesh is beautifully soft once cooked. They are a great addition to apple pies of you want to increase the tartness of the recipe; however quinces in jams and jellies are absolutely to die for. I made a beautifully delectable quince jam at the weekend and it tasted delicious spread on a hot buttered crumpet – if that doesn’t get your taste buds tingling I don’t know what will!

So embrace the autumn and make the most of the fact that our autumn fruits are here and are at our disposal. There are so many autumnal recipes available for these autumn fruits – just have fun experimenting!

The Halloween Pumpkin

Pumpkins are usually associated with Halloween and the delicious pumpkin pie. But the pumpkin is so much more, with a rich history and so many uses, this fleshy fruit is the reason for so many events, and is the core ingredient to so many delightful recipes too.

Where the pumpkin came from has always been a bit of a mystery, but it is thought to have originated in North America where the Native Americans used them in cooking, medicines and even for furniture uses where they used the pumpkin rinds to make mats.

Today, pumpkins pop up everywhere and are the main focus of so many pumpkin festivals. Pumpkin patches all over the US also lure in kids and adults alike where families often visit to pick out their pumpkin for Halloween. The pumpkin patches have become more than just a place to choose a pumpkin though; they have become great traditional events. At the patches parents and children are free to feed and pet farm animals, take rides in hay carts, or take part in a load of other fun activities.

Pumpkins have been a massive part of traditional recipes over the years, and the sweet side to the pumpkin pie is that there are so many recipes that contain the delicious fruit. Recipes include the famous pumpkin pie, soups, tarts, cheesecake, scones and many other lovely treats too.

The wonderfully versatile pumpkin

Over the years, chefs have become more and more experimental with their uses of fruit and vegetables, and the use of the pumpkin is no exception. Pumpkin chutney in particular is a very popular side dish to go with seasonal cheese boards, where the sweetness of the pumpkin complements the strength of the cheeses beautifully.

Pumpkin cheese spreads have also grown in popularity recently and the cream cheese mixed in with sweet pureed pumpkin has become another great way to enjoy pumpkin during the winter months.

A lot of cooks are a fan of using every part of the fruit, so don’t discard the pumpkin seeds – not only are they nicely nutritious, they are completely delicious when toasted as well and make a great autumnal pre-dinner appetiser – perfect for winter munching!

So make sure you don’t throw out the flesh of your pumpkin this Halloween. Leave the Jack-o-lantern making to the kids and then you can make the most out of enjoying some wonderfully versatile pumpkin recipes.