It's cool to love Stokes Sauces

 Mon Garde Manger

‘My larder’ in French is ‘mon garde manger’ and because quality food is so essential to the French way of life, they have a magazine called Mon Garde Manger. The editor recently asked Rick Sheepshanks (founder and MD of Stokes Sauces) for an interview in which he asked Rick what the larder meant to him.

Traditional larders – cool, bricked, aired, storage rooms – are sadly a thing of the past, which is why condiments and preserves rely too much on stabilisers, preservatives, colorants and taste modifiers to extend shelf life in the modern kitchen. 

“We sacrifice great traditional taste for shelf life” said Rick, “but we can have both if we are prepared to pay a little more for quality over pure convenience”.

We now think of the larder in broader terms. Suffolk is a wonderful, natural, largely organic larder itself, producing amazing foodstuffs, ingredients and ideas dedicated to great taste. Perigord in France is a larder for gamey meat, truffles and fine wines. The Rhone-Alpes region is the gastronomic larder for some of the world’s finest cuisine whose heart still beats in Lyons. 

And the sun-drenched hillsides of southern Italy represent one of our own larders, for the sweet, plump tomatoes we use in Stokes AwardWinning Tomato Ketchup.

Saucy Sausages

Your larder could become a veritable treasure chest of flavour with these saucy ketchup twists from Stokes - try something a little different by clicking on the image below:

 Beautiful Bangers

Inspired by mini Cumberland sausages as a starter for lunch on the first visit to my son at Sheffield University, I thought - what could make their honey and grain mustard dipping sauce better ... Stokes Cider & Horseradish Mustard of course.

I just had to try it when I got home. One part runny honey to one part Cider & Horseradish Mustard over a gentle heat to improve the mix - perfect. Give it a go and let us know what you think.

 CoolBrand status again

We are delighted to share the official announcement that Stokes has been awarded 'CoolBrand' status for the second year running - making Stokes Sauces a prestigious addition to the larder, as well as a delicious dollop, pour, spoonful of taste on  the side of your plate.

Stephen Cheliotis, Chairman of the CoolBrands Council, said: "CoolBrands status illustrates that Stokes is rated highly by both influencers and the British public, proof that the brand is considered highly original and innovative."

He went on to say: "Being recognised independently in this is naturally a wonderful affirmation that Stokes is recognised, valued and respected." 

Cool as a cucumber 

  

Cool as a cucumber - perhaps, but Stokes are now also: cool as Apple; cool as a pair of Ray-Ban; cool as Glastonbury; cool as an Aston Martin; cool as a Harley Davidson - just some of the other CoolBrands in this year's selection.


 Cool Relish

Innovation and passion are two of the reasons why Stokes has been declared 'cool'. Here's a trio that illustrate the fact. They will add pure joy to your cheese board this Autumn. 

Fig Relish - this abundance of deep, sweet juicy fig is perfect with smoky cheeses and tangy Cheddars. Chilli Jam - deliciously sweet with a vibrant finish that adds passion to stronger goat and Stilton cheeses. Red Onion Marmalade - the star performer. It’s thick and luscious, with a tangy depth that you’ll want with everything.

Gravy with a twist

Here's a tasty tip to add a delicious twist to your gravy. Whether you make your own from a stock, reduce it from a jus, or - hmmmmm shake it from a jar, try this.

For an earthy sharpness stir in a spoonful of Stokes Brown Sauce; for a sweeter depth of flavour add a spoonful of Stokes Bloody Mary Ketchup; and for a richer hint of eastern spices add a good dollop of Stokes Curry Ketchup.

You'll know how much to add when it tastes ... yummy.


Leftover Chicken ? - give it a cool coronation

 

Before we get to the Coronation Chicken, to make your roast chicken taste better still, add a spoonful or two of Stokes Cider & Horseradish Mustard to your gravy, stir it in to taste and enjoy the combination of sweet cider, hot horseradish and juicy pops of mustard grains running round the plate.

Coronation Chicken

For the perfect, speedy Coronation Chicken, mix two parts of Stokes Coronation Sauce with one part of Philadelphia cream cheese and fold to coat the shreds of cooked, cold chicken. Instant, smooth and oh so full of flavour.

It's great on a jacket potato, with a salad, or in a sandwich for supper.



Two fishy favourites

Whitebait makes a lovely supper starter or a crispy lunchtime snack. A bag in the freezer is essential in or house, just as a jar of Stokes Real Mayonnaise is essential for the larder. Less of an essential though more of a treat is a jar of our Mustard & Dill Sauce. It mixes the sweet dill with warming mustard in a smooth sauce just begging to be spooned beside a piece of baked cod loin.

Simple,  honest,  delicious

 FOOD MADE BETTER 

www.stokessauces.co.uk

01394 462150

It's back to school. Time to stock the larder. And ketchups with a twist.

Well, what a busy summer that was. The weather made it particularly hectic, with sunny days out and about visiting parks, pageants and promenades. But it all comes crashing to a halt now it's September and normality fills the days, weeks and weekends ahead.


The Sunday Roast is back

You really can't beat it - but you can make it taste even better with a dollop of this and a spoonful of that. Our Classic English Mustard is full of taste yet without that vinegary edge you get from some. The Creamed Horseradish is just that, made with real horseradish root and cream for that full natural flavour. See the full range of flavoursome traditional condiments by clicking the roast below:

Beetroot Relish that tastes ... of beetroot, only better

The beautiful beetroot is a popular yet still understated vegetable. We have made every culinary effort to capture its rich earthy taste, crisp texture and vibrant colour in this relish.

Refreshing shards of beetroot are steeped in a syrupy red wine sauce to create this jar of true deliciousness. 

Instead of the vinegary tang you get with some relishes, this is just pure, delightful, beetroot. 

Click the image and try some this week.




It's back to school and time to stock the larder.

What do you reach for when you get back from work or the children get back from school? What are your favourite larder offerings to help stem the hometime hunger - here are a few ideas.


For some easy, fun alternatives to bread and standard sandwiches - pop it in a pitta. Warm the pitta in your toaster; put a couple of slices of tomato and a leaf of two of lettuce in the pouch; add a couple of cooked fish fingers with a little Stokes Tomato Ketchup at one end and Stokes Real Mayonnaise at the other and you have - Pitta Pocket Fingers with red & white sauce.

Easier still - tuck it in a taco !

Pitta Pizzas are great on a plate and yummy in the tummy too. Warm in the toaster again; slice it open into two flat ovals and load it. Start with a spread of Stokes Burger Relish (the rich red pepper, tomato and onion salsa makes a great base) and top with grated cheese, shreds of ham, slices of sweet cherry toms; and watch it under the grill until the cheese starts to bubble.

You can make them more grown up with salami, olives and anchovies, or go Hawaiian with pineapple - delicious.

For tasty tortillas, try Ham Tortilla Pinrolls. For the spread, mix some Philadelphia Cream Cheese with a little Stokes Real Mayonnaise and Stokes Beetroot Relish (its rich earthiness, vibrant natural colour and sweet beetroot shards look and taste great); spread the attractive bright mix onto the tortilla; add thinly sliced smoked ham and a leaf or two of lettuce; roll tightly as you might a roulade; then slice into inch wide pinwheels - it's a feast for the eyes and the tummy.

Have you any favourite after school ideas you would like to share, if so we'd love to hear them. Why not post them on Facebook, here.

Fruity Jams and Marmalade

Don't forget the jam. Whoever you are, grown ups or children (or somewhere in between), there's nothing better than a good thick spread of jam on your toast in the morning, or more comforting than a fruity jam sandwhich at night. Stokes have a range of delicious jams and marmalades all packed with extra fruit and natural flavour. I still can't decide which I prefer, the strawberry, blackcurrant or raspberry.

Click Paddington (below) for our answer to a bear's fruity sandwich prayers.
 

  

It's fish for supper

Did you know we have some sauces that add flourish to a flounder, thrill to a brill and scrumptious taste to a lovely plaice.

Stokes Mustard & Dill Sauce adds a classic Gravadlax flavour and texture to smoked salmon steaks. If you are having new potatoes with a lightly grilled fillet of plaice, here's a tasty tip - strain the spuds once cooked, put them in a bowl and add a couple of spoonfulls of Mustard & Dill Sauce. Mix well and serve with the fish. Or, with a baked cod loin, add the sauce to taste, into your buttery mashed potatoes. Fabulous.

If you like a bit of fire in a dish of shells on (or off) prawns, just add a glug or three of our Sweet Chilli Sauce. Add it to any stir fry too for an instant red chilli and red pepper taste of the orient - it's sweet and juicy but it does bite back. I love it.

This is a great idea from one of our members of staff - Jim Fox. It's a 'fancy starter' to add a pleasant surprise to a seafood cocktail. Float your cockail of prawns, crab meat and squid in a little gem lettuce boat on the plate.

Now, in true TV chef style, dot the plate with little teaspoon piles of lumpfish roe and this sercet weapon ... Bloody Mary Rose. To make the sauce, mix one part Stokes Bloody Mary Ketchup to two parts Stokes Real Mayonnaise. Coated in that, it makes the average prawn think its a lobster.

Ketchup - with a twist

In Rick Sheepshank's (the founder of Stokes Sauces) quest to make the best tasting mayonnaise and the best tasting tomato ketchup, he wasn't happy until he and his team created this sustainably wonderful taste. 

Using only the plump, sweet tomatoes ripened in the sun on the slopes of southern Italy Stokes Tomato Ketchup really is different. Unlike most ketchups, the tomatoes are not milled, but gently simmered down to a smooth texture that keeps all of their rich natural Italian flavours.

To this base deliciousness (click the image below) the twists are added.

We've got: Tomato Ketchup, Chipotle Ketchup, Bloody Mary Ketchup, Curry Ketchup and Chilli Ketchup - now that's a lot of ketchup ... and that's a lot of taste - bring on the bangers !

Simple, honest, delicious

 FOOD MADE BETTER 

www.stokessauces.co.uk