Quality Standard Presents �Medal Winning� Beef Mince Recipes to Raise Funds for Charity

The English Beef and Lamb Executive (EBLEX) has created a book of �medal winning� Quality Standard beef mince recipes from an array of sporting stars lending their support to the Be A Sport Appeal, which aims to raise funds for SportsAid, the charity for sportspeople.

Sporting greats including, Sir Steve Redgrave, Roger Black, Dame Tanni Grey-Thompson, Tessa Sanderson and Linford Christie have teamed up to supply their most sumptuous Quality Standard beef mince recipes in a stylish limited edition book, named Mince Magic. The recipe book will support the Be A Sport Appeal Share A Supper initiative which aims to draw friends and family members together to share a Quality Standard beef mince meal over a fundraising fortnight week 10th to 23rd April with all donations for their meal going to the Be A Sport Appeal.

The 48 page cookery book includes creative delicious meals including: Linford Christie�s Chunky Chilli Pasta Bake, Darren Campbell�s Beefy Beef Tomatoes and James Cracknell�s Mini Hotpots with Stout.

Members of the public interested in hosting Share A Supper events can request a registration pack and receive a free Mince Magic recipe book by logging on to www.beasportappeal.co.uk or calling 0207 861 3129. After hosting dinner parties, donations collected can be made online at www.beasportappeal.co.uk or by sending cheques, (payable to SportsAid � Be A Sport Appeal) to Be A Sport Appeal, Victoria House, Bloomsbury Square, London, WC1B 4SE.

The Be A Sport Mince Magic cookery book is part of a national campaign that will also offer consumers: the chance to attend SportsAid�s 30th Anniversary Sports Ball, attended by over 30 Olympians through instant win promotions on packs of Quality Standard beef mince in supermarkets; and the chance to �share a supper� with a sports star through scratchcards distributed at independent butchers.

SportsAid alumni, Linford Christie, says �The Be A Sport Quality Standard beef mince recipe book gives great innovative ideas to raise the bar for meals served to family and friends whilst helping raise the standard of our next generation of sports men and women. I hope people will show their support for such a positive campaign.�

Brand Manager, Jane Ritchie-Smith says, �The Be A Sport Appeal is a fantastic way of encouraging communities to get together and support their local sporting hopefuls and gives some �medal winning� recipe ideas from our sporting greats.�

Quality Standard beef mince sports a striking patchwork fields logo and indicates that it is made from farm assured beef that is processed in accordance with strict quality assurance standards that are above the legal minimum and independently audited at every stage. The label also assures shoppers that the mince they are buying is 100% beef with no added water, additives or fillers. The Quality Standard label can be found on standard, lean and extra lean mince but not on any mince with a fat content over 20%. Quality Standard beef mince carrying Be A Sport promotional labels can be found in supermarkets and 1,600 independent butchers around the country.

Katherine Merry�s Beef and Rhubarb tarts �The Be A Sport Appeal is such a great initiative and I am proud to get involved in a campaign to support SportsAid to highlight all of the help that they give to sports people in England.

�Everyone can get involved by hosting their own Share A Supper night and cooking up great new dishes such as these Beef and Rhubarb tarts.�

Serves 4-6

Preparation time: Approximately 25 minutes plus 10 minutes chilling time Cooking time: 25-30 minutes

Ingredients: 450g/1lb Quality Standard beef mince 1 x 500g pack shortcrust pastry 100g/4oz fresh rhubarb, roughly sliced 25g/1oz sultanas 60ml/4tbsp cold water 30ml/2tbsp good balsamic vinegar Salt and freshly milled black pepper Large pinch allspice powder 60ml/4tbsp good, hot beef stock 30ml/2tbsp freshly chopped chives Extra long fresh chives, to garnish

Method:

1.Preheat the oven to Gas mark 6, 220�C/425�F.

2.Roll out the pastry to 5mm/�inch thickness on a lightly floured surface and use to line four to six 11cm (4�inch) loose-based tartlet tins. Prick the bases with a fork. If time allows, cover and leave to rest in the fridge for 10 minutes.

3.Line the tartlet tins with greaseproof paper and baking beans and bake for 10-15 minutes. Remove the paper and the beans and return to the oven for a further 5 minutes or until the pastry is dry. Remove and set aside to cool.

4.Meanwhile, place the rhubarb in a shallow pan with the sultanas and water. Cover and simmer gently for 3-4 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside.

5.Heat a large, shallow, non-stick frying pan until hot and dry fry the mince for 5-7 minutes until brown. Stir in the balsamic vinegar, seasoning, allspice powder and stock and reduce the heat, cover and cook for a further 5 minutes. Add the chives.

6.Combine the mince and rhubarb mixture and spoon equally into each tartlet. Cover lightly and bake for 10-15 minutes until the pastry is golden brown.

7.Serve with salad leaves.

-Ends-

Notes to Editors �SportsAid is a registered charity, number 1111612 and has been helping young British sportsmen and women since 1976. At the Athens Olympiad in 2004, SportsAid had helped 15 of the 17 British Gold Medallists and just over half of Team GB.

�The Quality Standard Mark was introduced in March 2005 to help consumers easily identify meat that has chosen through a strict selection process, independently assured at every stage to ensure its eating quality. The Quality Standard beef specification for prime cuts excludes animals of certain age and type that are know to produce tough or dry meat. The Quality Standard specification for beef mince differs in that it does not include any age restrictions as it does not affect the eating quality of the product. Quality Standard beef mince is farm assured, quality assured and assures shoppers that the mince they are buying is 100% beef i.e. no added water, additives, fillers or any other ingredients. Although the specification for Quality Standard beef mince does not have a prescribed fat content it does have a maximum fat content of 20%* to ensure a better product performance in cooking. Mince containing more than 20%* fat cannot carry the Quality Standard Mark even if it meets all the other selection criteria. * 20% fat by chemical analysis or other measuring equivalent method

�SportsAid alumni supporting the Be A Sport Appeal include: - Sir Steve Redgrave Five times Olympic gold medallist - Rowing - Roger Black, MBE Olympic silver medallist � 400m - Jonathon Edwards, CBE Olympic gold medallist � Tripe Jump - Tessa Sanderson, CBE Olympic gold medallist - Javelin - Linford Christie, OBE Olympic gold Medallist � 100m - Darren Campbell Olympic gold Medallist - Relay - James Cracknell, OBE Double Olympic gold medallist - Rowing - Dame Tanni Grey-ThompsonMultiple Paralympic Gold Medallist - Ed Coode, MBE Olympic gold medallist - rowing - Kate Allenby Olympic bronze medallist - pentathlon - Sarah Bailey, MBE Paralympic silver medallist - swimming - Nathan Douglas GB Olympic Triple Jumper Team - Ashia Hansen, MBE Commonwealth champion � Triple Jump - Ben Hunt Davies, MBE Olympic gold medallist - rowing - Steve Parry Olympic bronze medallist - swimming - Karen Pickering, MBE 2001 Swimming World Championships gold medallist, Olympic Bronze Medallist - Greg Searle MBE Olympic gold medallist - rowing - Kelly Sotherton Olympic bronze medallist - hepthalon - Katherine Merry Olympic bronze medallist � 400m - Kate Howey, MBE Olympic silver medallist - judo - Karen Pickering MBE Olympic bronze medallist

�Share A Supper Fundraising Week Fortnight runs from 10th to 23rd April consumers are able to make donations to the campaign via www.beasportappeal.co.uk

�Consumers hosting Share A Supper Nights can receive a Quality Standard beef mince recipe book by calling 0207 861 3129 or logging onto www.beasportappeal.co.uk

For further information: EBLEX Christine Morgan/Nicola Formoy/Hannah Kenward Good Relations 0207 861 3130/ 3189/3145 nformoy@goodrelations.co.uk

SportsAid Graham Dandy, SportsAid 0207 273 1977 graham@sportsaid.org.uk

www.sportsaid.org.uk