Product Spotlight: STAUB La Cocotte Dutch Oven
We currently have a range of the cast iron STAUB La Cocotte vegetable Dutch ovens and we love them! Not only do they look beautiful, they are just a treat to cook with. We can’t decide if the tomato, artichoke or the pumpkin is our favourite! A cocotte is traditionally used for stewing and frying. It originated in France where this casserole dish was designed to cook chicken dishes: in fact, the word “cocotte” itself is the French word for “little hen”.
Comparable in quality and price with the well-known Le Creuset, these STAUB La Cocotte bring just that little extra something with their unique look. One of the most popular questions we get is, are they worth the price tag? We think so but starting at £175 we can understand why people ask. They are definitely an investment and with just a little care (just wash with warm water and washing up liquid, no harsh abrasives), they will truly last you a lifetime. This type of cookware has been passed down from generation to generation and will always be in style.
You’ll be surprised at how often you use your Dutch oven – it goes from stove top (including induction hobs) to oven to table top – and the cast iron material ensures gentle and natural cooking to retain the full flavour of your food. The vegetable range is particularly good for stews, casseroles and soups, but you can do your Sunday roast in them and even bake bread. They really are an all-rounder pan that you reach for again and again. You can learn more on how to use and how to care for your STAUB cookware here.
Stop by the shop to appreciate these beauties in person and to ask any questions on how best to use them.
STAUB La Cocotte Tomato £175
Diameter 25cm, height 21cm, capacity 2.5L
STAUB La Cocotte Artichoke £175
Diameter 22cm, height 14.5cm, capacity 2.6L
STAUB La Cocotte Pumpkin £185
Diameter 24cm, height 15cm, capacity 3.45L
You can find us in Framlingham, Suffolk Monday to Saturday, 9am – 4:00pm. Or give us a call on 01728 723757 or email chris@krcookshop.com.
Product Spotlight: bamix® Hand Blenders
We think the bamix® tag line sums up their products perfectly – “Brilliantly Simple. Simply Brilliant.”
This Swiss brand has been producing their top notch “kitchen robot” for over 60 years and they really are one of (if not, the) smallest and most versatile hand held food processors out there. One appliance can be used for a multitude of tasks, can be safely used in small containers and fragile glassware as well as in hot saucepans on the hob and has a fully sealed housing for deep immersion into hot and cold liquids.
We have a good selection of bamix® products on our website and in the shop, so we thought we’d share some of those with you here.
bamix® Classic Hand Blender with multi-purpose blade.
Thanks to the various bamix® accessories, the appliance is the ideal helper for a huge range of tasks. It can be used to chop, mince, purée, emulsify, mix, blend, froth, grind, pulverise, grate and whip food! At the same time, the bamix® is extremely easy to operate and clean. Available in black, white or red.
- 160W heavy duty AC motor.
- Two-fold insulation.
- Twin safety switch.
- 2 speed settings:
setting 1: 10000 – 11000 rpm
setting 2: 15000 – 16000 rpm - Includes: multi-purpose blade, 5 ⅜” shaft length.
bamix® DeLuxe blender
The all in one kitchen machine bamix® DeLuxe blender, featuring a powerful motor will always give you fast blending performance. Whether you’re making cakes, blending soups and sauces, or mixing up a smoothie, this good looking blender always gets first class results and is easy to clean. Included with the DeLuxe:
- Multi-purpose blade – minces, shreds, chops and mashesWhisk – for mixing and blending everything from cocktails to mayonnaise
- Beater – for all things light such as whipped cream, sauces, egg whites and foams
- Grinder – for all dry ingredients like nuts, almonds, sugar, chocolate, poppy seeds, peas, beans, lentils or spices.
- DeLuxe stand.
bamix® Gastro 200
Like all the other appliances, the Gastro 200 can be used to chop, mince, purée, emulsify, mix, blend, froth, grind, pulverise, grate and whip food…you name it, it probably does it! This model is larger and slightly more powerful than the Classic or DeLuxe blenders with a 7 ⅜” shaft length and a 200W heavy duty AC motor. The Gastro 200 includes multi-purpose blade, whisk blade, beater blade and wall bracket.
But wait, there’s more…
Along side the various appliances we also have a great selection of accessories including extra blades, blender jugs, stands and the fantastic bamix® Slicesy – great name! The Slicesy is a neat little tool that works alongside the bamix® unit and is driven by the bamix®. Use in the same way as a food processor for doing those extra little jobs that blenders are not designed for, like grating and slicing, an ideal way of turning the bamix® into a complete Food Processing unit. It comes with a main blade for larger amounts of chopping. Multi-functional blades cut to the perfect size when you like it cooked or baked quickly (such as when preparing vegetables for soup). Grates potatoes and beetroot and other vegetables, fruits and cheese for gratin. Slices vegetables, fruits, cheese and other items such as boiled eggs. Chops vegetables (onions & chillies), fruits, meat and nuts.
Is there anything these magic blenders can’t do, you ask?? The washing up, unfortunately.
Any questions? Stop by the shop in Framlingham (3 Well Close Square, IP13 9DT Suffolk), Monday to Friday, 9am – 4:30pm, call 01728 723757 or email Chris@krcookshop.com. The range of bamix® products can be found on our website here.
Product Spotlight: Emma Bridgewater
Emma Bridgewater is always such a popular choice and for good reason. Her designs are beautiful, classically whimsical, and the quality is always top notch. Founded in 1984 by Emma Bridgewater (now Emma Rice) when Emma was looking for a cup and saucer as a birthday present for her Mum but couldn’t find any she liked so she created her own. What a smart move that was…Emma Bridgewater is now one of the most successful and internationally known pottery houses. Based in Stock-on-Trent, the factory produces 1.7 million pieces of cream coloured earthenware a year. And that infamous polka dot design? Still applied by hand with a dabbing sponge technique.
Collectors Paradise
It all started with that cup and saucer but now of course there are many, many different products available – trays, biscuit tins, tea towels, glassware – and much more. Not only have their range of products grown but so have the designs. The classic polka dot, the Toast & Marmalade bold lettering, flowers, animals, people and places have all been given the Emma Bridgewater touch. Avid collectors will hunt down every last piece of each collection striving for the complete set…be warned, once you get going it’s hard to stop!
We have a large selection of Emma Bridgewater in the shop and it’s always a big seller. Some of our favourites are from the tray collection in particular the sunflower tray and the garden birds design. Not only are these trays beautiful to look at, they are also sturdy and practical, with a large surface of 39cm x 6cm so you can do less trips back and forth from the kitchen. Lunch in the garden, breakfast in bed, drinks by the fire – just pop it all on the tray, sit back and relax. You can have a look at our available collection on our website here.
Visit us in Framlingham, Suffolk
Don’t see what you’re looking for online or in our shop? Please just let us know and we will be happy to source that item for you. Stop by the shop Monday to Saturday, 9am – 4:00pm, give us a call on 01728 723757 or email chris@krcookshop.com.
Product Spotlight: ESSE 500 EL Range Cooker
Introducing the 500 EL – a compact electric ESSE range cooker that fits comfortably into any size of kitchen. The 500 EL slots easily into the space reserved for a standard cooker, providing the beauty of a cast-iron stove with the amazing roasting and baking qualities of an ESSE range.
Comprising separate top and bottom ovens, a full-width grill and a generous cast iron hotplate accommodating up to three pans, the 500 EL delivers the plug and play flexibility of a modern cooker with all the style and elegance of an ESSE. Both ovens have moisture control vents that can retain moisture for baking or create dry heat for crisping roast potatoes.
The dials for ovens, grill and hob are neatly housed in a standalone external control panel which can be wall-mounted or freestanding. And, of course, with no flue needed, your 500 EL can be positioned wherever there’s a 13AMP power supply.
Both the generous ovens – designed to be deep rather than wide to retain heat – can be used independently and incorporate ESSE’s patented surround heat engineering for even baking results every time. The grill and hotplate are also independently controlled. Suitable for use with all pans, the powerful heat of the 33cm hotplate is perfect for direct to cast iron hob cooking while the bolster lid creates a ‘steam and sizzle’ environment.
ESSE 500 EL Range Cooker
Like most ESSE range cookers, the 500 EL can usually be placed on a kitchen floor without additional support or concrete base and is compatible with a fitted kitchen or as a standalone appliance. The vented ovens do not need connecting through an external wall giving you more freedom to position your ESSE.
The slimline (W: 350mm x H: 110mm x D: 65mm) external control panel can either be mounted on a wall or standalone on an adjacent worktop thanks to optional feet, maximising the heated space available on the hob. Both top and bottom ovens feature patented 3kW wraparound elements and a 3kW ‘wall-to-wall’ grill element provides even temperatures and consistent performance all the way across the top oven.
In standby/slumber mode, the entire hob heats up – ideal for keeping dishes warm. From energy-saving standby/slumber mode (the 500 EL consumes 0.32kW in standby/slumber mode at a room temperature of 18°C), the hotplate takes just 38 minutes to get from 150⁰Centigrade to 400⁰Centigrade. The 500 EL’s individual ovens, grill and hotplate elements work together in harmony thanks to ESSE’s Powershare system, which continuously optimises performance whether a single oven or the whole cooker is being used.
As with all ESSE products, the ESSE 500 EL is designed and hand built in Britain by dedicated engineers drawing on the knowledge of more than 160 years of ESSE stove design, and comes with a choice of 20 colours. For more information check out our website here.
5 Year Guarantee
We are an authorised specialist retailer so your ESSE comes with a 5yr guarantee if you purchase through us. We have the 500 EL model in the shop, so please stop by to take a look and we’ll be happy to answer questions and show you around this great little cooker. We’re open Monday to Saturday, 9am – 4:30pm or you can call 01728 723757 or email Chris@krcookshop.com. We look forward to seeing you soon!
Cooking With Chris – Marinated Tomato Pasta Salad
Hair Today…
After a recent trip to the barbers in Framlingham, it set me thinking about all the different hair styles that were around when I was growing up and into adulthood. When I was young it was always ‘short back and sides’, usually carried out by Mr. Knights in Saxmundham High Street. There were no electric clippers then, just two handled implements that looked like mini chrome lawn mowers. With all the cut throat razors and strops, his shop could have been a set for Sweeny Todd. After Mr. Knights closed, mum would take me to ‘Hacker’ Houston in Sax market place, and it was downhill after then! When I first started Secondary school in 1970, boys had long hair with a fringe, and for some reason girls would have a streak of blonde in the front of a head of black hair. My sister fancied herself as a skinhead and cut her hair accordingly, short on top with curly wispy bits at the side. In the late seventies perms became the fashion, even for some boys, but I didn’t succumb, I always kept with long straight hair. In the eighties I dabbled with a mullet, Billy Ray Cyrus style, much to the amusement of my nephews, and later on the full pony tail, which thinking back must have looked hideous! Luckily I still have a good head of hair, and I keep threatening Mrs. P. I will revive the mullet, but I don’t think I would be able to get a leather waistcoat to fit my ample figure, to complete the Billy Ray look.
Hopefully this year bring some hot days, so try this lovely salad as a side for a BBQ.
Marinated Tomato Pasta Salad
Ingredients
225g penne or other short pasta
450g red and yellow cherry tomatoes, halved
¼ small onion, finely chopped
2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
2 tsp red wine vinegar
sea salt
freshly ground black pepper
small hand full of flat leafed parsley, roughly chopped
100g feta cheese
Method
Bring a large pan of water to the boil and cook the pasta according to the pack directions. Rinse under cold water to cool. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, toss together tomatoes, onion, oil, vinegar and ½ teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Stand, tossing occasionally, for at least 15 minutes. Fold in parsley. Toss pasta with the tomatoes and fold in crumbled feta.
Here’s to sunny days, good food and good times ~ Chris
Product Spotlight: ESSE 990EL Range Cooker
The big brother to the ESSE EL13AMP (which we covered in an earlier blog post here) the ESSE 990EL is a great choice if you have the luxury of a larger kitchen and for those who have to feed the masses on a regular basis. Both ranges have many similarities, like their traditional cast iron solidity, combined with innovative electric flexibility and neither of them need a flue so can be positioned wherever you want (you just need a 2 x 13amp power supply).
ESSE 990EL
The obvious difference is the size, the 990EL is 900(h) x 994(w) x 600(d)mm but this is what gives you the extra cooking space we so often need. The top oven is a whooping 42 ltrs and the two bottom ovens offer another 30 ltrs each which gives you plenty of room for Sunday roasts or when you need to cater to vegetarians, meat eaters, gluten free guests all at the same time – you can have three different meals cooking all at once! Hopefully someone else will be on washing up duty.
On the flat hob top we have a cast iron hotplate for griddle cooking, as well as a large induction hob for instant boiling temperatures. The hobs are large and, depending on the size of your pans of course, can fit 2-3 pans on each.
The slumber control allows you to have the stove on standby so it will heat up to your desired temperatures a little quicker. For example:
HEAT UP TIMES (FROM OFF)
Top oven to 240°C 41 mins
Bottom oven to 175°C 30 mins
Cast iron plate to 400°C 40 mins
Induction instant
HEAT UP TIMES (FROM SLUMBER SETTINGS)
Top oven from 155°C to 240°C 16 mins
Bottom oven from 70°C to 175°C 14 mins
Cast iron plate from 150°C to 400°C 31 mins
In slumber setting EL will use 2/3 or 0.66Kw/h
ESSE began back in 1854 with a simple mission: to create the cleanest-burning, highest quality stoves and range cookers. And this remains true today. They can be found in the kitchens of the Savoy and royal residences, and they’re still built here in the UK. Each model is individually made to order and with 20 colour options you are spoilt for choice.
Any Questions?
Please stop by the shop to learn more about the ESSE 990EL. We also have models of the EL13AMP, the 500EL, a Bakeheart and Ironheart (see our earlier blog post on those here). We have been using ESSE in our own home for many, many years and would love the opportunity to show you just how wonderful these beautiful stoves are to use.
For more news and updates find us here on Facebook and Instagram. Phone 01728 723757 or email Chris@krcookshop.com.
Product Spotlight: Weber Go-Anywhere Barbecue
Summer is coming which means beach days, picnics, el fresco dining and lots of barbecues. What bliss. Wanna up your picnic game? Then may we introduce the Weber Go-Anywhere Barbecue range. Whilst everyone else is unwrapping soggy sandwiches and lukewarm potato salad, you will be dining like kings and the envy of all!
The Go-Anywhere range is lightweight and comes with a carry handle making them easy to transport from home to car to beach/park/campsite…well, they go anywhere. They measure approx. H40cm x W53cm x D31cm and weigh around 7kgs. The porcelain enamelled bowl and lid makes the barbecue weatherproof and easy to clean, the lids also have rust proof vents to provide the perfect air flow for perfect grilling. The legs swivel and raise the barbecue up to avoid scorching of the ground and function as a lid-lock so everything is safe to travel with.
There are two Go-Anywhere barbecues to choose from – either a charcoal or a gas option. Their features are pretty much identical except the gas barbecue comes in slightly heavier at 7.22kgs compared to the charcoal grill at 6.78kgs.
As always with Weber the quality is excellent and they are built to last with most grills coming with a 10 year no rust/burn through warranty.
We have both models in the shop so please feel free to pop in anytime to take a look and ask questions. You can also find more info on our website here or give us a call on 01728 757723.
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Top 3 Knives For Every Kitchen
When you think about all the kitchen gadgets and tools we have the knife is probably the tool we use the most. Veggies, meat, fruit and bread get chopped, diced and sliced on a daily basis so we should invest in the best knives we can. And they really are a sound investment that with a little care will last you a lifetime.
The world of knives is huge and everyone will have their favourites and opinions on which are the best. We have a few different brands in our line up at home but you can’t go wrong with the classic WUSTHOF. They’ve been making knives since 1814 and even after 200 years they are still family run and produce only in Solingen, the City of Blades. They have over 1,200 knives in their range at various price points. We carry a wide selection and always recommend you hold the knife in your hand before you buy to make sure it feels right for you. Something to look forward to when we can open the shop again!
With so much choice it’s sometimes confusing as to which knife you need for the job. If you have a chef’s knife, a paring knife and a serrated knife you will pretty much be covered for all your kitchen prep needs. Yes, there are other types – peeling, butcher, pruning, fillet and many, many more – but for now we’ll look at the most used.
Top 3 knives for every kitchen
Chef’s Knife
This is probably the most useful and most used knife in the kitchen and the ultimate multitasker. You can chop your fruit and veg, slice your meats and fish (but don’t use for peeling, carving or butchery). Depending on what feels comfortable for you an 8 – 10 inch chef’s knife will handle most jobs with ease. This is one we recommend you invest in as much knife as you can afford.
Paring knife
The paring knife is small but mighty! It steps in when the chef’s knife is a bit too big for the job like mincing garlic, peeling fruit and veg, hulling strawberries – all the prep work that is a little more detailed. Try to resist using the paring knife to cut harder vegetables like carrots, potatoes or parsnips as the smaller blade has less weight than the chef’s knife and won’t slice through as easily. You don’t have to spend a huge amount to get a great paring knife, somewhere around the £20 mark will give you a lot to choose from.
Serrated knife
A serrated knife is underrated and often just seen as a bread slicer but they do so much more. Next time you’re slicing tomatoes use your serrated knife. Pineapples, melons, peppers, citrus fruit – get slicing with your serrated knife #lifechanging. Anything that’s a tad more slippery the jagged edge of the serrated knife will grip better, whereas the chef’s or paring knife can slide across the surface. The serrated knife is a slicing tool so use a saw action for best results.
Whichever knife you use, keeping it sharp is key. We offer a knife sharpening service in the shop and can take care of almost any knife. If you want to sharpen at home, there are now many different knife sharpeners on the market and we can help find the right one for you.
Any questions? Please feel free to give us a call on 01728 723757 or email chris@krcookshop.com- we here to help and make sure you get the product that best suits you. We look forward to welcoming you back to the Kitchen Range & Cook Shop soon!
Cooking with Chris – Leek, goat cheese, walnut & lemon tart
I had a little nut tree…♫
There is an old saying that nothing grows under a walnut tree. This is clearly not true, but recently I have found out that a more correct version should be ‘some things won’t grow under a walnut tree’. We have an established bramley apple tree which for the past few years has never failed to produce a heavy crop, until this year, all the apples are misshapen and the leaves are virtually non-existent. A lilac close by also shows signs of distress. In the vicinity of the apple and lilac we have a young black walnut tree, about 10m tall. After some research I have found out that walnut trees, particularly the American black walnut, produce a chemical called juglone. This chemical is poisonous for some plants, especially apples and lilac! Apparently, walnut trees are allelopathic, which means they will try and suppress other plants with chemicals to try to gain an edge on them. Needless to say our black walnut’s days are numbered, I won’t be too sad as it is an alien to this country anyway. So now it is just a matter of catching my chainsaw when it is in the mood to start.
Try this quick and easy tart to use up any leftover walnuts!
Leek, goat’s cheese, walnut and lemon tart.
Ingredients
1 tbsp. olive oil, plus extra for drizzling
25g butter
2 medium leeks
2 tbsps. chopped thyme
zest of 2 lemons and juice of 1 lemon
375g pack ready rolled puff pastry
200g soft spreadable goat’s cheese
50g walnut pieces
little chopped parsley to serve
Method
Heat oven to 220C. Heat the olive oil in a large frying pan, then add the butter. Once sizzling, add the leeks and cook over a medium heat until softened but not coloured. Stir in the thyme and half the lemon zest, then increase the heat. Add the lemon juice and cook for about 30 secs until the lemon juice reduces, then season well. Remove from the heat and cool slightly. Unroll the pastry and lay on a baking sheet lined with baking parchment or equivalent. Lightly mark a 1cm border around the edges with a tip of a sharp knife, then prick the base all over with a fork. Spread the lemony leeks on top of the pastry, within the border. Crumble over the cheese, scatter with walnuts, then season with pepper. Drizzle with some olive oil, brushing the edges with a little oil as well. Put the tart in the oven for 15-20 mins until the pastry puffs up around the edges and is golden brown. Scatter with parsley and the remaining lemon zest. Serve hot, warm or cool.
~ Chris
Weber Smokey Mountain 47cm Smoker
Despite the heavy snowfall we’ve had in Framlingham recently, Spring really is on the way which means summer isn’t far behind and we can once again look forward to warmer days, lighter for longer nights and being outdoors as much as possible. It also means it’s BBQ season and time to get your grill on! Although, being a huge fan of all things smoked and grilled we don’t let the weather stop us and often grill on a cold winters night.
One of our favourites here at The Kitchen Range & Cookshop is the Weber Smokey Mountain 47cm smoker. It’s the perfect all rounder whether you’re new to using a smoker or a seasoned (see what we did there!) pro, you will really enjoy this piece of kit.
The Weber Smokey Mountain has the capacity to cater for about 10 people but performs just as well for smaller needs and even though it can smoke a feast it doesn’t take up too much garden space – H104cm x W48cm x D53cm. It has two triple plated cooking grates which allows you to fit a joint of meat on each level. The bottom water pan sits above the coals and regulates the temperature inside the smoker as well as creating a moist atmosphere within the chamber, making your food perfectly tender and allowing the smoke flavours to penetrate deeper.
Easy to Fuel Up
Adding your fuel source to the chamber is easily done during the cooking process via a handy aluminium fuel door on the front of the smoker, allowing the temperature to remain consistent at all times. There is a mounted thermometer so you don’t have to remove the lid and there is also a silicone sealed hole for the cable of a remote thermometer for you to keep an eye on things from a distance (handy for cooking in the winter!). The Weber Smokey Mountain holds its temperature really well and can be relied upon to be accurate every time, so no second guessing if the food is ready. The heat deflector under the barbecue means the base will not scorch your lawn or decking area.
Being made by Weber the smoker is built to an exemplary standard and the porcelain-enamelled steel is guaranteed to last for years. To help keep your Weber Smokey Mountain in tip-top condition we include a free cover.
For more information on this great smoker please visit our website here.
At home our Weber Smokey Mountain is in frequent use and we have mastered some pretty tasty recipes, so please don’t hesitate to be in touch if you have any questions or need some tips on how to get the best out of your smoker. Give Chris a call on 01728 723757 or email chris@krcookshop.com.
One day we will all be able to gather again and have friends over for barbecues and drinks, and when that day comes you will be ready to wow the masses with your Weber Smokey Mountain delights.
