Christmas with Riverford Organic Vegetables

Christmas is all about relaxing and spending time with friends and family. But with presents to buy, menus to plan and extra chairs to find, it can end up being far from peaceful!

This year, Riverford Organic Vegetables has taken matters into its own hands. As well as its award-winning veg, the farm can deliver everything else for your Christmas dinner free to your door. Think organic turkeys, chipolatas and smoked salmon � and save some room for Christmas pudding, mince pies and cream. And there�s no need to cart heavy bottles back from the supermarket either � the farm can deliver wine, beer and port.

Looking for a present for a foodie friend? Try a cheese or chutney selection. If you�re visiting friends this year, a box of Booja Booja truffles or Heron Valley mulling spices will go down a storm. Or brighten up your kitchen wall with seasonal recipes and views from the farm in Riverford�s 2009 calendar.

Of course Christmas goes hand-in-hand with British vegetables. Traditionally, brussels sprouts, parsnips and carrots will all find their way onto our plates. But it�s easy to get fed up with soggy sprouts and flavourless carrots. Try some alternative cooking methods this year and it won�t be just roast potatoes that are in demand.

Convert the sprout-haters. Quarter Brussels sprouts and fry in olive oil and garlic until they start to brown and keep their crunch. For a new take on parsnips, parboil then roll in flour and parmesan before roasting. Or try sweet and warming honey-glazed carrots. Put chopped carrots into a pan with a knob of butter, a tablespoon or two of honey and some water. Simmer until tender then add a splash of balsamic vinegar and some freshly chopped parsley. Or for a new way to serve red cabbage, try Jane Baxter�s Warm Red Cabbage Salad with Toasted Walnuts and Blue Cheese recipe, from the Riverford Farm Cook Book. Simple and stress-free!

For more seasonal recipe ideas and information about Riverford�s Christmas produce, see www.riverford.co.uk or call 0845 600 2311.

Warm Red Cabbage Salad with Toasted Walnuts and Blue Cheese By Jane Baxter, Riverford Field Kitchen Taken from the Riverford Farm Cook Book Serves 8 Ingredients: 75g walnut pieces 2 tbsp walnut oil 2 crisp red apples 1 garlic clove, finely chopped 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar 2� tbsp olive oil 1 red onion, quartered and thinly sliced 1 small red cabbage, shredded 100g blue cheese, crumbled 1 tbsp chopped parsley 1 tsp chopped marjoram sea salt and freshly ground black pepper Toss the walnuts with the walnut oil and some black pepper. Spread them out on a baking tray and toast in an oven preheated to 180�C/Gas Mark 4 for 5-7 minutes. Remove from the oven and leave to cool. Core the apples and cut into small pieces. Put the garlic, balsamic vinegar and olive oil in a frying pan and saut� over a medium heat for 3 minutes. Add the red onion and cook for 30 seconds, then add the cabbage and cook for a couple of minutes, until it begins to turn from red to pink. Season with salt and pepper. Finally add the cheese, apples, herbs and toasted walnuts. Toss well and serve.

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NOTES TO EDITORS

Recipe and photography attached Warm Red Cabbage Salad with Toasted Walnuts and Blue Cheese. By Jane Baxter, Riverford Field Kitchen.

Background information Established in 1986, Riverford Organic Vegetables is an independent producer of organic vegetables in the UK and delivers over 30,000 vegetable boxes a week throughout the South, West and North West of England and across London. The company has won several Soil Associations awards including Organic Business Person of the Year for its founder Guy Watson. Watson was also acclaimed the BBC Radio Four Farmer of the Year award in the Food and Farming Awards.

Riverford Organic Vegetables set up its first sister farm, River Nene Organic Vegetables, in order to deliver fresh organic vegetables to even more UK households, keeping food miles down without compromising on quality; to allow local growers to reap the benefits of scale, sharing knowledge and equipment; and to give growers a fair return for their crops. River Nene Organic Vegetables now delivers vegetable boxes to 9,000 homes across the East Midlands. River Swale Organic Vegetables delivers vegetable boxes across the North and North East of England. Following the success of the first two sister farms, Riverford on Upper Norton Farm now grows and delivers to customers in the Hampshire area.

Media enquiries about Riverford Organic Vegetables For more information on this story and Riverford Organic Vegetables, contact Vitha Shepard on 0845 600 2311 or visit the website www.riverford.co.uk. Email: vithashepard@riverford.co.uk