Cooking

In case you haven’t noticed, veganism is quite big these days. According to a study conducted by Smart-Pig, 575,000 people around the world pledged to go vegan in January, or “Veganuary”, in 2021 alone – a 43% rise from January 2020 and a 130% rise from January 2019. With around 3% of the UK currently vegan, and that figure rapidly expanding, perhaps it’s time we started thinking about getting on board.

There are plenty of perks with veganism. It’s healthy, it’s sustainable and it’s great for our sentient animal friends out there, but one thing that those resistant to the cause often fall back on is the increased cost of a vegan diet – but just how costly is it to be a vegan today?

The answer is roughly “a bit more”, but with a growing vegan population and an ever-increasing market behind it, there’s probably never been a better time to get involved.

The cost of veganism

Smart-Pig’s research found that the average person can expect to pay around £450 more per year to support a vegan diet. This is down to a few things – vegan food equivalents costing around 31% more than non-vegan contemporaries and vegan fast food and takeaways usually around 5% more expensive are just a couple of price factors to bear in mind.

Across the UK, the average person spends about £38.50 on food per week. Those on a vegan diet can expect a rise to £47.13 a week. This is down to staples like non-dairy milk and Quorn offering significant mark ups against more traditional contemporaries.

Of course, £9 extra a week or £450 a year might not seem like a mammoth amount, but things start to add up when you think about a vegan family. A fully vegan family of four will have an extra £1,795 of food costs to cover over the year, making the commitment for groups a much bigger deal than an individual one.

 It’s a better time than ever to be vegan

There is no denying that veganism is the more expensive route today, but with the tide seemingly turning in terms of cultural opinions on veganism, animal rights and healthy eating, every day we move forward is likely to become an easier one as a vegan.

In the last five to ten years in particular, food choices for vegans have exploded, with supermarkets heavily invested in plant-based menus as well as the rise of vegan cafes, takeaways and junk food culture. Just like any market once it becomes more saturated, the more vegans there are and the more the food industry caters to them, the lower production costs will get and the closer the gap will become between non-vegan and vegan food bills.

So, is now a good time to become vegan? The answer is becoming more of a ‘yes’ every single day. Any consumer thinking of shifting to a vegan diet needs to be cognisant of that extra annual cost, but with the industry currently in the process of reshaping to accommodate a significant vegan and green buyer base, hopefully that financial disparity won’t be around for too much longer at all.

 

If you’re starting to work on your cooking skills, you may not realise what a big difference your kitchen makes. It should be a space that lends itself to practicality, alongside making you feel comfortable. There are ways you can effectively improve your kitchen, which will improve your cooking experience. So where should you get started?

Deep Clean

Let’s start with the basics: cleaning. What does your kitchen currently look like? If you’re trying to cook next to a pile of dirty dishes, or are constantly having to scramble to find a clean pan these are sure signs you need to get cleaning. Even if you keep things pretty neat, a deep clean can help refresh your kitchen and make it feel brand new. Cleaning your oven, microwave, and even your cupboards can help create a better environment for you to cook in.

Equipment

Next up, let’s have a look at what kind of equipment you’re using to cook. Perhaps your non-stick pans can no longer claim that title. Or perhaps your wok has been so used it’s now prone to burning foods. Getting a new set of pans for your kitchen will improve your cooking and it’s also worth looking at your utensils. If you’re beginning to improve your cooking skills, you want to make sure you’ve got everything you need to cook some delicious meals.

Basic Supplies

So you’ve got the equipment to cook, but what about the ingredients? There are staples that every kitchen cupboard should have. These include tinned tomatoes, pasta, plain flour, potatoes and tinned pulses. Plus, you should have herbs and spices to add flavour to your food.

Storage

Sorting out your kitchen storage for your supplies and equipment will make cooking so much easier. You can have your everyday essentials close to hand and easily find everything you need. There are lots of kitchen storage ideas you can try to help make your space more effective. From open shelves to create easy access for those essentials, to display jars for your favourite foods. You should be aiming to create a space you feel comfortable cooking in.

Organisation

By this point, you’ll have spent so much time and energy ensuring you’re using your kitchen space as effectively as possible. So it’s vital you keep things organised. You need to find a system you can realistically keep up with. There are simple ways you can keep your kitchen cabinets organised. For instance, you can use clear containers so you can easily see what’s in your cupboards.

Taking the time to improve your kitchen space will make a difference with your cooking. Rather than you having to work around your kitchen, the space will work for you. What would your perfect kitchen look like?

 

Cooking at home is a great skill to have and will help improve all areas of your home life. You will form deeper connections with family and friends and will be excited to host luncheons and dinner parties. Cooking is also something that you can do together to bond with your spouse or children and you can pass down recipes to future generations!

Some people even enroll in cooking classes to learn basic kitchen skills. But there are lots of small things you can do that will make it easier! Here are 4 things that will help you to become a better home cook.

Get Some Alone Time

While cooking with others can certainly be fun, the kitchen is also a great place to have some alone time, especially while you’re learning, and cooking can be very meditative. Not to mention some people become control freaks when cooking and don’t want anyone else stepping foot in the kitchen! Just put on an apron and some music or your favorite podcast, read your recipe, and get all your ingredients and tools set up and you are definitely going to have a great evening, no matter how your meal turns out.

But sometimes it can be hard to find any alone time at all, especially if you’re a busy parent. If you homeschool your kids, try hiring a private tutor a couple of nights a week so that you have time to cook!

Practice

As with any other skill, the more you practice cooking the better you will get at it. Look up recipes online and try new kitchen skills you’ve never tried before. Even if it’s a recipe you wouldn’t normally think to make, it may be great practice for you.

Break The Rules And Experiment

Breaking rules is not always a good idea with baking because the measurements need to be very precise for things to turn out well, but with cooking all bets are off! Feel free to stray from the recipe you are using and add things or take things out based on yours or your family’s preferences. If something doesn’t turn out the way you want it to, it’s not the end of the world and you shouldn’t beat yourself up over it! Just try again and tweak things the next time.

Make A Mess

Cooking can be messy, so don’t be afraid to make a mess of your kitchen! Wear clothes you aren’t worried about getting stained, and make sure you have some paper towels handy to clean up. Allowing yourself to make a mess can be a freeing and fun part of learning to cook.

Cooking is the passion of millions of people. Moreover, there are many coffee enthusiasts among professional cookers who use coffee grounds for preparing tasty desserts and other dishes. If you would like to know the best foods made from coffee grounds, it’s time to discover the most brilliant recipes offered by professionals in this post.

Before You Start

There is nothing new that delicious dishes can be made when choosing top-quality products only. This rule is working for preparing foods with coffee grounds, too. If you would like to create a true culinary masterpiece, it is vital to pick up high-quality beans. Many experts recommend choosing the best peruvian coffee beans to make fantastic caffeine drinks and dishes containing coffee grounds. If you would like to try several alternatives but don’t know where to start, it might be a good idea to read the reviews of the most popular types of coffee online. For example, feel free to start by exploring this don pablo coffee review. If you choose the best coffee wisely, you will likely prepare the most delicious dish you’ve ever tried. Here is a list of the top easy recipes you can try right now.

Iced Mocha

This drink remains one of the favourites for many professional baristas. The best thing about it is that iced mocha is incredibly easy to make. Even if you are new to the cuisine that contains coffee grounds, you can make the drink in just a couple of moments. However, it requires some preparation beforehand. First of all, you will need to put some coffee left in your pot right into your ice cubes trays. Then feel free to add these frozen cubes to your caffeine drinks.

To make an unforgettable iced mocha, don’t forget to blend the cubes. This simple trick will help you keep your drink cold for a longer time without diluting the flavour. As a result, your iced mocha will have a richer and more powerful taste and aroma. If you are a true caffeine addict, you will definitely enjoy this fantastic drink.

Coffee Icing

It is often good to add a small amount of brewed coffee to various desserts. For example, many culinary gurus often add it to tiramisu and black magic cake. However, Coffee Icing is one of our top recipes for those who want to dive into cooking experiments with coffee grounds.

The recipe is incredibly easy. You will need to have ¼ cup of butter, 2 cups of confectioner’s sugar, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, and 3 tablespoons of brewed coffee. Beat together all the ingredients until smooth. Add more liquid or confectioners’ sugar if needed. Then put the cake in the fridge and wait for a couple of hours to prepare your Coffee Icing dessert. It will surely amaze you with a great taste and top-notch coffee aroma.

Coffee Date Bread

This recipe is not as easy to cook as the desserts mentioned above. However, we believe it is worth your attention because of its outstanding taste. Moreover, the ingredients for making Coffee Date Bread can be easily found in almost every fridge. So, you need to make sure you have these ingredients:

• 1 cup chopped pitted dates
• 1 cup of coffee
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 ½ cups flour
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup chopped nuts (pecans)
• 1 teaspoon salt

To make this delicious dessert, it is necessary to preheat your oven to 300 degrees F. After that, cover the pan you’ve chosen for cooking the Coffee Date Bread with parchment paper. Put all your dates into the bowl, and add some baking soda. Heat your coffee and pour the drink into the bowl, too.

Mix the egg, sugar, and butter in a separate bowl and blend the substance. Then add vanilla, salt, flour, and the substance you’ve made in the first bowl (date and pecans). Put your batter into the pan. That’s all preparations! Now you will need to wait for about one hour until the top of the bread gets back when lightly touched. Keep your bread for a couple of minutes after you turn off the oven. It is better to peel off the parchment paper right after taking your bread from the oven. Most culinary enthusiasts also recommend leaving your bread cool on a wire rack.

All in all, there are many recipes that allow preparing delicious foods with coffee grounds in them. The reason is that coffee has a unique aroma that can make your dishes have a great odour. Moreover, many pro cooks use coffee as decor for various types of popular desserts. Anyway, you can experiment with this ingredient with no limits and invent your own top-notch recipes to amaze your family and friends. Cooking with coffee is easy!

 

Many challenges come with being the head of the family, such as providing for the needs of the family, investing in good stock, and checking on your Costco earnings to see how much your investments are worth.

Another challenge of being the head of the family is that you will always be looked up to whenever your loved ones lack something in the house, especially if it is food. This means that you will spend money even when you least expect it. Thankfully, there are some hidden ways to reduce monthly expenses.

This article shares how buying farm products in bulk can help you save money.

Buying in Bulk is Much Cheaper Per Unit

This is one of the main reasons many people choose to buy goods in bulk. Each time you buy a product in large quantities, you will get to save money whenever you use that particular product. If this sounds like something you would like to do, then you should consider purchasing groceries in bulk.

It is easier to think that this is only a small difference per use, but try to think of it on a long-term basis. For instance, if these are items that you frequently use, even if you only save a few pennies, after one year, you shall have saved a lot of money.

You Won’t Run Out of Groceries

People only buy things that they don’t have at home. If you have enough groceries, it means you won’t have to spend money to buy more. Instead, you will focus that money on other things or rather save it for future use.

Every home uses groceries during every meal. If you have enough in stock, it means you won’t run out of groceries, which will save you both time and money. Even if you are not a frequent grocery user, you must consider buying bulk to save money in the long run.

You Will Make Fewer Trips to the Store

There are times when we run into emergencies, and we are forced to make trips to grocery stores. If you buy in bulk, the chances are that these emergencies are never going to happen. If you only make fewer trips to the grocery stores, you will get to save a lot of money in the long run.

When you have plenty of supplies at home, you can easily space out the trips you make to grocery stores. Also, you will have fewer situations to waste money on impulse purchases. If you have a personal car, you won’t have to refill the gas now and then.

Buying in Bulk is Environmentally Friendly

Compared to those who buy in small quantities, bulk purchases will always have less packaging per use. Regardless of the type of products you purchase and packaging use, we must always control the items that end up in the landfill.

For instance, if you purchase two small bottles of water, each one of them will come in different packages. But if you buy ten liters of water, you will be given one big container that you can always refill. You shall have saved the environment at the end of the day since the small plastic bottles are highly likely to end up in landfills, but yours will not.

Low-Cost Meal Preparation

If you are the type that enjoys making meals ahead of time, you can easily do that when you buy groceries in bulk. For instance, if you intend to prepare pasta, if you have a lot of items at home, you can prepare them in bulk and keep the rest in the fridge for future use. You can save a lot of money in the long run by doing that.

You can still buy products in bulk online when you need to get win voucher codes. Better still, online buying is a great way to save money because the products will be brought to your doorstep, and you won’t have to waste money moving around.

It is easy to think that buying farm products in bulk is just one of the many ways one can waste money. However, by buying goods in large quantities, you will save money in the long run. You should be careful not to waste products because most people are tempted to misuse things when they have them in bulk. If you have some online coupons, then try to save money on groceries by using them to buy products online.

Is there another quick and easy meal that’s more satisfying than a good beef taco? From a quick lunch to a chilled supper, you can eat beef tacos at any time of the day. Thanks to their combination of protein, carbohydrates, and fiber, they can be quite nutritious too.

When it comes to making beef tacos at home, there’s nothing simpler than these three easy griddle beef tacos recipes.

Why Use a Griddle Pan? 

When cooking up some beef tacos, you may automatically reach for the frying pan or grill. However, using a high-quality griddle pan will give you tastier results with a lot less effort.

Much like a hotplate, except with ridges, a griddle has a large metal cooking surface and is placed directly over a heat source. Unlike hotplates, however, griddles are mostly rectangular. They will vary in size according to whether they’re for home or commercial cooking or for indoor or outdoor use. They also vary in quality, ranging from non-stick to cast iron.

The ridges of a griddle pan don’t just create pretty grill marks in the food you’re cooking; they make it more flavorful and ensure that cooking happens above rendered fat, not in it like a frying pan or flat hotplate. If you want tastier food that’s also healthier, a griddle pan should be your number one choice.

The most versatile and inexpensive griddle pans are made from cast-iron, like this example here. Non-stick alternatives are also popular, but a cast iron pan will make food more flavorful and will last for a substantially longer time.

3 Easy Griddle Beef Taco Recipes to Try 

1. Quick n Easy Ground Beef Tacos  

For a quick taco fix, you really can’t go wrong with this classic recipe. Eat as an anytime snack, or add chips, guacamole, and dessert churros for a complete Mexican street food meal.

Ingredients

• 1lb x ground bef
• 1 x cup salsa
• 1 x cup cheese
• 1 x tbsp taco seasoning
• ½ x head shredded cabbage
• 1 ½ x cup sour cream
• 12 x corn tortillas
• 1 x large diced tomato

Instructions 

1. Heat the griddle pan over medium-high heat. Add taco seasoning, ground beef, and salsa, cooking until meat is brown. Remove from the griddle pan.

2. Place corn tortillas on the griddle, using the juices from the beef or a slice of butter for extra crispiness.

3. Dust the top of each tortilla with a small handful of cheese, add the cooked ground beef, and continue to griddle until the tortillas get crispy.

4. Add the tomato, cabbage, and sour cream. Use a spatula to fold tortillas and griddle for a further 1-2 minutes, or until the desired shape is achieved.

2. Easy Blackstone Steak Tacos  

This authentic Blackstone Steak Taco recipe is served daily on the cooking carts of Mexico and Central and South America.

Ingredients 

• 2 x pounds flank steak
• 24 x corn tortillas
• 2 x tbsp cooking oil
• 1 x lime
• 1 x tsp cumin
• ½ x tsp cayenne pepper
• 1 x tsp salt
• 1 x tsp pepper

Instructions 

1. Mix together dry ingredients in a small bowl and set to the side

2. Cutting against the grain, cut the steak into half-inch strips

3. Pour the mixture onto the steak strips in a bowl, mixing until the meat is evenly coated. Cover with plastic wrap then refrigerate for a minimum of 1 hour.

4. Place a griddle pan over a high heat. Cut the lime in half, then place both halves on the griddle, face down.

5. When the desired temperature is reached, pour the oil onto the griddle, quickly followed by the steak. Spread evenly and allow to cook for 2 minutes before flipping.

6. Remove the lime halves from the griddle and squeeze the remaining juice onto the meat. Finish cooking for 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the beef from the griddle.

7. Lay tortillas flat to heat up, flipping once and heating 20 seconds per side. Remove from the pan.

8. Layer strips of the cooked meat onto the tortillas, topping with cheese and your favorite taco toppings.

3. Easy Carne Asada Tacos 

Another quick and easy authentic Mexican street food recipe, these mouthwatering carne asada tacos are topped off with cilantro and fresh lime juice for mouthwatering flavor.

Ingredients 

• 1 ½ x lbs skirt steak, cut into ½ inch strips
• 12 x mini flour tortillas
• 2 x tbsp soy sauce
• 2 x tbsp freshly squeezed lime juice
• 2 x tbsp canola oil
• 3 x minced garlic cloves
• 2 x tsp chili powder
• 1 x tsp ground cumin
• 1 x tsp dried oregano
• 1 x lime, cut into wedges
• ¾ x cup diced red onion
• ½ x cup fresh chopped cilantro

Instructions 

1. Combine soy sauce, 1 tbsp canola oil, lime juice, chili powder, garlic, oregano, and cumin in a large bowl.

2. Add the steak strips to the mixture, stirring to ensure even coating. Cover and let marinate for 1 to 4 hours.

3. Heat remaining tbsp canola oil in a griddle pan over a medium-high heat.

4. Add the steak and marinade, stirring often until steak has browned and marinate has reduced – appx. 5-6 minutes. Remove from the pan.

5. Use the remainder of the steak juice and marinade to warm the tortillas, turning once.

6. Place tortillas on a plate, add the steak strips, onion, cilantro, and lime wedges. Serve piping hot.

Good Food Made Easy 

So, there we have it! Three quick, easy, and thoroughly delicious beef taco recipes to try cooking at home with your griddle pan. Once you’ve mastered these, there are plenty of other recipes that you can try out with your griddle,e from pancakes to full English breakfasts, hot sandwiches, and burgers too.

 

If you are a serious foodie, then look no further than these amazing electric smoker brisket recipes.

Brisket can be a real melt in the mouth cut of meat, perfect for any occasion and any time of year! In this article, we have 3 incredible brisket recipes that you can’t afford to miss out on. Read on to get your taste buds tingling!

1. BBQ Smoked Brisket

Is there anything more original than a deep BBQ tasting smoked brisket? Ideal for a games night or having your buddies over for a few beers.

First off you need to make your BBQ rub which can be applied to your chosen cut of brisket up to 24 hours before. The longer you leave it the more intense the flavor will be!

BBQ rub Ingredients:

• Salt
• Garlic Powder
• Cumin
• Brown Sugar
• Cayenne Pepper (a small amount)
• Black Pepper
• Smoked Paprika
• Oregano

Mix all this into a bowl, with generous amounts of everything (apart from the cayenne) with enough to comfortably cover the meat in a crust. Then leave in the fridge until its ready for smoking.

Apply a liberal amount of BBQ sauce over the brisket meat and fire up your electric smoker! Electric smokers are a great way to get an even cook on all sides of your meat. Place your meat into the smoker and the smoking should take between 2-6 hours depending on the temperature.

2. Fire Cracker Brisket

For those that like a bit of spice in their brisket! If you really want a kick to it, you could use scotch bonnet chillis to really feel the burn.

Firecracker rub ingredients:

• Ground-up chili
• Salt
• Pepper
• Cumin
• Lemon juice
• Jalapenos
• Paprika
• Onion Salt
• Garlic Powder

All of this can be mixed into a bowl, the lemon juice will make it more into a paste. Apply to your brisket and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. When its ready to be smoked add some BBQ sauce or even a combination of BBQ and a hot sauce such as sriracha.

After it’s been smoked on your electric smoking over a period of a few hours its ready to serve. Pair it with a creamy potato salad or crunchy homemade slaw for the perfect balance of hot and cold.

3. Panang Curry Brisket

If you love the flavors of Malaysian cooking, why not apply this to your brisket cooking?

This will require a food processer to whip up a paste which can be then spread over your brisket meat.

Panang curry paste:

• 3 types of chili
• Lemongrass stalks
• Roasted peanuts
• Galangal
• Lime leaves
• Shallots
• Garlic cloves
• Salt
• Cumin
• Pepper

The brisket meat needs to be refrigerated for 24 hours and can also rest in coconut milk to tenderize the meat. When the meat is smoked, rub a bit more of the paste and baste in coconut milk.

Serve with a fresh herby salad or as part of a decadent meal with creamy mash, cornbread, or fries.

Electric Smoker Brisket Recipes: What Next?

We hope this article on 3 unmissable electric smoker brisket recipes has made you hungry!

Smoked brisket can be one of the best types of meat out there. Make sure to enjoy it with the right flavors.

If you enjoyed this article, check out our other blog posts!

It only makes sense that there are plenty of fast food outlets that serve fried chicken, if you will. And all of them are probably valid in their own unique ways. But, let’s be real, when you’ve got a craving for some fried chicken killer, your car is basically riding on one drive, especially at KFC. Don’t even try denying that. Moreover, if you order a KFC fried chicken now, you can get it under $40 depending obviously on which Kentucky’s fried chicken combo you choose. It’s a good thing, too, because fried chicken deserves some kind of culinary reverence. The dish ‘s roots in U.S. history are storied and complex, but it remains one of the country’s most beloved delicious meals.

Now Let’s take a look at the various affordable places to buy fried chicken.

1.Kentucky Fried Chicken

Avail the KFC coupons for groups available at just $10, you can get a Chicken Share: either eight extra crispy chicken wings, six pieces of chicken, “a lot of crispy nuggets” or 12 hot wings. Moreover, if you’re a military or veteran, you can receive a 10% discount on the premium chicken fried. But you’re going to need a Security Privilege Card-similar to the Blue Light Card that gives you discounts on your chicken fried meal. They encourage their customers to use stamps to get two free extra hot wings worth $1.49. But our advice is to order any large side, such as fries or beans, instead, because they’re worth $2.16. The app or other delivery services charge a $3.2 delivery fee as well as a $4.80 small order fee if the order is less than $6.36 and a $0.65 service charge, which adds up to $10.

2.Burger King

The Burger king in the place where their mixed meals come in. Combo meals allow you to save a few bucks while you’re enjoying a nice meal complete with fries, drinks, dessert and, of course, finger lickin fried chicken. They have their usual mixed meals, but they also have exclusive deals available on a daily basis. These special combo meals can come with a special dessert or even some free savings coupons, so keep an eye out for them. You can get ten chicken nuggets for $1.69. If a sandwich is faster than your pace, go for $6 Mix or Match for the two. You can choose between a Crispy Sandwich, a Spicy Crisp Sandwich or a chicken burger.

3.McDonald’s

Download McDonald’s app for $4.99 to get 20 Chicken McNuggets. You can also get a $1 sandwich with the app. Many McDonald’s have plenty of options for you to save even more on their food by providing coupons at every turn. You can save a lot of food at McDonald’s if you only know where to look for their coupons! If you buy food from McDonald’s, or at any outlet, Check your savings coupon bags and receipts. You can also find coupons with some fantastic deals by searching through your local paper or going online to visit coupon websites like Zoutons.com.

4.Church’s Chicken

Choose between 2 pieces of the Original or Spicy Bone, chicken plus two sides, and Honey Butter Biscuits for just $5. You can get a one-half original Smokehouse Chicken, some side dish, and a Honey Butter Biscuit for the same price. Even better than $5 chicken choices is that Church’s give $1 to the # ShowLove initiative for every guest who posts a storey about giving back to their community on social networking sites.

5.White Castle

Cheap, simple, and delicious, what else could you ask for? White Castle is a possibility. They ‘re not all sliders, you know that. Get 12 chicken rings at $2.99. If you order online or via the White Castle app, you can get 10 original sliders, 20 chicken wings, and a $12.99 pack of fries. Sign up your account and order to go anywhere, anywhere with the official White Castle app. White Castle coupons and offers are also available to save more money.

These are the best and affordable places to buy fried chicken to save on any online order of fried chicken, because when you’re using services of these outlets which are listed above, you ‘re going to get a lot and use those services more often. Additionally, to save yourself the time and energy you can hop on to couponic website such as Zouton.com, who also holds a wide range of special offers/coupon code to make great savings on all orders from the menu of many restaurants such as Marco’s, Wingstop, Domino’s, KFC, etc. So, get ready to satiate your cravings for fried chicken and don’t forget to add promo codes if you wish to bag some exceptional savings on all your orders.

Don’t Forget To Try These Secret Chicken Fried Combos

You can combine various items in order to unlock the ‘secret menu’ items listed below.

• Six Hot Wings + supercharger dip
• Original Kentucky Mayo Twister Wrap + fries
• Six Hot Wings + free BBQ sauce
• Fries + popcorn chicken + gravy + corn + supercharger dip + two cheese slices
• Flamin’ wrap + rice

Venison is one of the tastiest and healthiest meats around, but can be difficult to find online. Luckily, help is at hand.

Venison is becoming more and more popular. Waitrose & Partners, the largest game retailer in the UK, recorded a 60% increase in venison sales between 2018 and 2019. And no wonder. Venison is truly the miracle meat. Leaner than beef, fewer calories than chicken, and just as tasty, it ticks all the boxes, making delicious steaks, burgers, and even sausages.

But it’s difficult to be certain where supermarkets get their meat, and how it has been raised. Finding a reliable and ethical online retailer, one who cares about both the quality of their produce and the welfare of the animal, is therefore essential. Easier said than done, you cry, but have no fear. A quality supplier of delicious, ethically sourced local venison is just a click away.

The benefits of venison

But first, let’s go into a little more detail about what makes venison such a sought-after meat.

First and foremost, it’s the diet of the deer itself. While farm animals like cows and chickens are often raised unnaturally fast on a high-energy diet of imported cereals and soybeans, wild deer live exclusively on a natural diet of grass, acorns, fruits and berries to keep them going as they leap freely through the forest. This makes for meat that is very lean and low in saturated fat. Whereas three ounces of lean beef contains 15 grams of total fat, the same amount of venison contains just 3. It is also extremely high in vitamins and minerals, particularly iron and B vitamins, which help keep our energy levels high and our cholesterol level low.

Venison also has more protein than any other red meat. Protein is essential for muscle growth and repair, brain function, hormone production and sleep. It also satiates the appetite, helping you feel fuller for longer, even on a smaller portion. In our age of diet and fitness obsession, this can only be a good thing.

So it’s no wonder that good quality venison is so desirable. But in order to get all the benefits you need to know that the retailer you’re purchasing it from has sourced it in an ethical way. Only animals that live on a natural diet, and who get plenty of fresh air and exercise, produce the best and most nutrious meat. That is true whether they be deer, pig or poultry. But finding such a supplier can be tricky, especially online.

Where to buy venison online

Luckily, there are a number of businesses in the UK now championing wild venison – like the Dorset Meat Company.

The Dorset Meat Company provides its customers with the highest quality, grass-fed, outdoor-reared meat, working alongside 20 small, family-run farms in Dorset and Wiltshire. They believe strongly that small-scale farming is better for everyone: the farmer, the environment, the animal and the customer, and provide homes across the UK with tasty, healthy, ethically reared meat, delivering straight to your front door.

Their wild venison is reared naturally on Dorset lowlands, and sourced by professional deer stalkers who manage 14,000 acres of arable pasture, farmland and woodland. It is then hung on the bone for up to 10 days, to help develop an intense flavour, before being prepared by master butchers.

There are plenty of venison options available on their website, from whole venison haunches to venison mince and chorizo, so whatever your taste, you have a wide range to choose from, and can then follow one of the many recipes available on their website.

Where to buy venison online? There’s nowhere better than the Dorset Meat Company.

 

The grilling season is almost over. So, if you haven’t had your first big summer BBQ, now is the time to fire up the grill and get started. That is unless you don’t have a grill.

If that’s the case, buying a pellet grill is the way to go. What is a pellet grill you may ask? Well, it’s a grill that also acts as a smoker.

It can even bake pies if you want it to. This makes it one of the most versatile tools in your kitchen arsenal.

How does it perform such cooking miracles? We’re about to tell you. Check out this guide to more about the pellet smoker grill.

What is a Pellet Grill?

Before we get into why you should buy a wood pellet grill, let’s talk a little more about what it is. Wood pellets are placed in a chamber inside the grill.

These pellets are dispersed and ignited as a system of fans kicks in to regulate the temperature throughout the grill. This system makes it easy to smoke, grill, and bake pretty much anything you want.

If you can cook it using your regular old oven, the pellet grill can handle it too and probably offer a better result.

Benefits of a Pellet Grill

The pellet grill has more benefits to offer besides being super versatile. It’s also simple to use, allows for even cooking, provides delicious flavor, and you can control it using your smartphone.

It’s Simple to Ignite

With many grills, it feels like pulling teeth to get it to ignite enough for you to start cooking your food.

When you buy a pellet grill, you’ll be able to put this chore behind you. With the touch of a button, you can both prime and ignite the grill.

Even Heating

Pellet grills have a fan system and work as a smoke chamber of sorts. It provides nice, even heating throughout the entire grill.

You won’t have to worry about some of your meat being undercooked and some of it being overcooked.

You Can Control It Using Your Phone

Perhaps the coolest part of having a pellet grill is the ability to control it using your smartphone.

Not all of them have this feature but many have WIFI capabilities and an app you can download. You’ll be able to check on the temperature of your grill and turn it up or down from the comfort of your couch.

Delicious Flavor

The wood pellets that work with the grill all come in unique, and delicious flavors like cherry, hickory, and pecan.

You can cook your food using one or even a combination of these pellets to give your food a delicious, one of a kind taste.

It’s Not Hard to Use

Pellet grills are easy to use. You can pretty much put your food on it, close the lid, and not touch it again until it’s ready to come up.

Most pellet grills come complete with whole pre-programmed cooking settings. You’ve only got to pick the setting you like and let the grill do the rest.

Consistency

The main reason why you don’t have to monitor your grill is consistency. The grill is programmed to keep track of the temperature and add wood pellets as needed on its own.

It keeps the heat at a concise temperature so you don’t have to worry about it flaring up and burning your house down. You’ll be able to actually enjoy the BBQ instead of having to stand and cook the entire time.

Large Temperature Range

It’s true that the pellet grill’s specialty is slow smoking. That’s not the only temperature setting it comes in though.

A few of the newer grill models pack a lot of heat. They can even sear if you need them to.

Best Pellet Grills

Now that you know what you can gain from buying a pellet grill, we’re going to help you pick one out. Here are a few of the best ones on the market.

Camp Chef Woodwind Pellet Grill

First up on the list is the Camp Chef Woodwind Pellet Grill. First off, every single Camp Chef pellet grill comes with WIFI connectivity. So, you can monitor your grill’s temperature from anywhere in your house.

They contain a PID controller that allows you to set the temperature and smoke level of your grill precisely where you want it.

If you’re interested in this pellet grill, you can go here to read more now.

Traeger Pro 575 Wood Pellet Grill

Like the Camp Chef, the Traeger comes with WIFI capabilities that will allow you to monitor your grill temperature using your phone.

Older Traeger models had an issue with heating up properly and staying hot. This newer model has fixed the issues.

The pro model comes in two different sizes. We will tell you that the larger version costs a significant amount more but you’ll have more space to work with.

Z Grills 700D Wood Pellet Grill & Smoker

If you want a grill that has the quality of the other two without the expensive price tag, Z Grills has you covered. It comes complete with a storage cabinet that you can use to hold your wood pellets and it offers a ton of cooking space.

You will have to give up the convenience of being able to control your grill using your smartphone but even so, this grill is a fantastic value.

Make the Pellet Grill the Star of All Your BBQs

What is a pellet grill? It’s the star of your next summer BBQ. It can cook pretty much anything you throw at it from a rack of ribs to pies.

With that versatility and all the other benefits we’ve listed, what’s not to love?

What’s a grill without tasty food ideas and recipes? Check out the cooking section of our blog daily for even more tasty articles like this one.