There are lots of new seasonal foods making an appearance now including Lettuces and Leaves – Asparagus –New Potatoes – Watercress – Cauliflower – Radishes – Beetroots –Courgetttes – Peas and even some early Samphire.
Mint, Tarragon, Dill, Chives and Sage are just a few of the summer herbs around now too. Adding fresh herbs can turn simple foods into something very special indeed. If you can grow some at home, even on a windowsill, you can save money too.
Crab, Plaice and Sea Trout are also available now, as are Strawberries – Blueberries and Raspberries – Gooseberries – Rhubarb and Redcurrants.
Click on the green highlights to see relevant Sherbhert recipes in these pages or use the search facility above right to find recipes for particular ingredients.
Yet another mention here for Coombe Farm Organics, the online organic butcher – the meat is outstanding. You can also buy bones and other bits and pieces to make delicious stocks.
And another mention also for Sole of Discretion which supplies excellent fish caught in sustainable quantities and in a way that limits damage to the marine environment.
Regular readers will know that Sherbhert is no fan of ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and so it is good to see there is a lot of recent noise on this subject in the media This is not before time. But don’t wait for any legislation on UPFs, it will take ages, act now to help yourselves and others, there is no time to waste. Good food must be an important part of our lives and especially those of our children. A recently published book on this subject, Ultra-Processed People by Chris van Tulleken is a must read if you are yet to be convinced.
See also Sherbhert Food Updates May 2022 and February 2023.
The Daily Telegraph of 6th June contained an extract, Seven Home Conveniences You Should try to Live Without from Fatal Conveniences a book by Darin Olien. The extract is an interesting and perhaps a surprising read. The part on non-stick surface cookware is of particular interest to cooks to reduce health risks including some cancers and so it is highlighted below.
“To be safest, don’t use nonstick surface cookware. There are great alternatives. Ceramic nonstick pots and pans are coated with silica manufactured using a process that creates a nontoxic nonstick surface. The only downside is that the coating lasts only one to three years before losing its slipperiness.
Cast-iron pans are a great choice, and they can actually improve your health since some of the iron makes its way into the food.
They are inexpensive, and with proper care, they can be passed down for generations. You can put cast-iron pans into the oven, too, so they’re versatile. You can also use stainless-steel cookware, which heats evenly and lasts a long time. It’s what pro cooks use.
But how will you keep the food from sticking? The same way it’s been done for centuries: by using a little oil or water. If something sticks while cooking, you can unstick it by adding water and stirring the food to loosen the sticky parts. It takes but a few moments of time. In any case, you’ll figure it out.”
And remember, If you want a healthier and more environmentally friendly diet, a good start would be to cook from scratch, avoid buying ready-processed meals, and so avoid foods with a high sugar and salt content. Have a look at food labels, you will likely be amazed by how much salt and sugar is included and, worse, how many of the ingredients are not recognisable as food.
Sherbhert champions delicious, healthy and sustainable food where its production minimises environmental damage, exploitation, animal suffering and subsequent processing. Sherbhert’s recipes are simple and use mainly UK seasonal produce sourced as locally as possible.
Sherbhert occasionally recommends suppliers entirely on the basis of their good produce and ethos.
