Merry Christmas From BCS!

So, it's only 5 days until Christmas and as of midday on Christmas Eve the BCS team are on holiday until Wednesday 2nd January 2013!

It's been an incredibly busy Christmas for us, and we're all looking forward to a well earned break so that we can come back refreshed and ready for (hopefully) an even busier year in 2013.

If you have had enough of Christmas and want to crack on with buying your British food for 2013, you can still do this while we are away, however your order will not be processed on the 2nd January 2013.

We have lots of exciting plans for the New Year and we'll also have plenty more recipes from our resident chef Hannah, so keep an eye out for those.

So wherever you are in the world we hope you have a fantastic Christmas and we look forward to seeing you in the New Year!

Merry Christmas

Most Popular British Christmas Food

With Christmas just around the corner the majority of us will now have our food ordered or bought ready for the big day.

At BCS we’ve had an incredibly busy Christmas period, which we think only solidifies the evidence that when living abroad the desire for a traditional British Christmas is stronger than ever.

There are a few key items that spring to mind when you think of a British Christmas, so we thought we’d list our top 10 most popular Christmas items;

1. Walkers Luxury Mincemeat Pies
2. Robertsons Traditional Mincemeat
3. Bisto Gravy Granules
4. Mr Kipling Mince Pies
5. Paxo Sage and Onion Stuffing
6. Nestle Quality Street Tin
7. Cadbury Magical Elves
8. Cadbury Roses Tin
9. Tom Smith Traditional Tree Gold and Red Crackers
10. Mattew Walker Classic Christmas Pudding

On our Facebook page we asked our fans to send us pictures of their homemade Christmas treats, and we received some great photos of homemade mince pies. This combined with our top ten list proves that mince pies in particular are still a solid Christmas favourite among us Brits!

If you think an important item is missing from this top ten, why not leave a comment and let us know?

 

Happy Christmas!

Sticky Toffee Pudding - The Perfect Christmas Dessert

With less than two weeks to go until Christmas, now is the time to start finalising your menu for the big day. So the latest recipe from our resident chef Hannah; Sticky Toffee Christmas Pudding, has come at the perfect time!

Although there are plenty of good shop-bought Christmas puddings to choose from, there really is nothing better than a proper home cooked dessert. Not only does it create a heavenly Christmas aroma throughout the house, but it also gives you the opportunity to tweak a recipe to suit you and your family's tastes.

If you're not a huge fan of the traditional Christmas pudding then you're sure to love this adapted version, as it combines two of the most popular British desserts; Sticky Toffee Pudding and Christmas pudding.

Combining these two desserts allows for a much lighter sponge, and will therefore make a more appealing dessert for children and those of us who find the traditional Christmas pudding a little too heavy.

Hannah has also detailed how to make a deliciously sweet toffee sauce and homemade Irish cream to go with it.

We now have 3 festive recipes on the website, all of which will help you on your way to creating an array of home cooked Christmas treats; so take a look at our recipe page for all the details.


Happy baking!

Stock Up On Your Favourite Tea For 2013

There are many things about Britian that I love; such as country pubs, Sunday newspapers and proper bacon, but one of my personal favourite things about Britian is our nationwide love of tea.

There really is nothing like a steaming cup of PG Tips to kick start my day, nor is there a more perfect beverage to enjoy while having a chat with a good friend. 

At British Corner Shop we know and understand this love of tea, and from personal experience have discovered that it really doesn't taste the same anywhere else in the world.

This is why we've made sure our tea collection is as substantial as possible, to ensure all our customers are able to have access to the tea that gets them through their day.

We currently have 14 different tea categories;

Typhoo
Tetley
Pukka
Twinings Green Tea
Twinings Infusions
Twinings Tea
New English Tea
Bewleys
Clipper
Yorkshire/Taylors
PG Tips
In Nature Tea
Darvilles of Windsor
Other

So, if you're a British expat don't feel you have to go without your morning mug of tea. You can order your favourite in individual boxes, or if you prefer you can use our bulk buy option and get your annual supply in one go!

If there is a particular tea that you want but can't see on our list, just let us know and we'll do our best to source it for you.

A Great Christmas Day Starter

As we approach the end of November Christmas preparations (for most of us) are in full swing, and as the majority of our preperation involves food, we thought we would share another great recipe from our resident chef Hannah.

If you were a fan of Hannah's mincemeat and mulled wine then you're sure to love her Easy Christmas Chutney and Hot Breaded Goat's Cheese!

The chutney is appropriately named as it really couldn't be easier to make. All you need to do is place all the ingredients into a heavy based saucepan, simmer gently for 1 hour and pack into a decoartive jar.You could then serve it alongside a cheese board of all your favourite local cheeses, or give it to friends and family as a gift.

This combined with with the mincemeat and mulled wine will help you on your way to creating a whole hamper of homemade goodies!

If you fancy making a completely homemade starter for your Christmas dinner, then why not use your chutney as an accompaniment to Hannah's Hot Breaded Goat's Cheese. It's sure to impress your friends yet leave you plenty of time to concentrate on the main course.

You could then of course let yourself off an buy in a pre made Christmas pudding!

The majority of ingredients you need for this recipe; such as Whitworths Sultanas and Warburtons White Bread are available on the British Corner Shop website, although some things may need to be sourced locally.

Top 10 Most Popular Breakfast Foods

It's a well known saying that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and according to our 'most popular products' group on our website, breakfast foods are certainly some of the most missed products among expats.

So we've decide to write up the top 10 most missed British breakfast foods.

Number one on this list is Warburtons Crumpets, and I've got to say I completely agree with this being at the top. There really is nothing like a warm crumpet smothered in proper English butter, especially if it's accompanied by a large mug of PG Tips, which is in fact second on our list.

These two taking the number 1 and 2 slots doesn't do much to dispel the generalisation that we Brits like our tea and crumpets, but who cares when they taste as good as they do! Tetley and Yorkshire Tea also make an appearance at numbers 8 and 10.

The number 4 and 5 slots go to Warburtons Premium Brown Bread and Blue Pig Company Dry Cured Back Bacon. This will come as no surprise to those of you who live abroad or travel outside of the UK for your holidays, as it's a well known fact that bacon from outside the UK just doesn't taste the same, and it is probably one of the most missed British products.

Bread can also vary a lot depending on the country you're in. France for example; do great baguettes and rolls but can't quite seem to master the simplicity of a loaf of sliced brown bread. So, perhaps we just have to face the fact that you can't make a proper bacon butty without proper English bread and bacon!

If there is a favourite breakfast product of yours that you think should be in the top ten, why not leave a comment and let us know!

 Top Ten Breakfast Foods

1. Warburtons Crumpets

2. PG Tips

3. Marmite

4. Warburtons Premium Brown Bread

5. Blue Pig Company Dry Cured Back Bacon

6. Heniz Beanz

7. Nestle Shreddies

8. Yorkshire Tea

9. Shredded Wheat

10. Tetley Tea

Homemade Mincemeat and Mulled Syrup Recipe

It's now less than 6 weeks until Christmas and (according to the local news) this is the time when the majority of us kick start our planning for the big day.

I think we'd all agree that the two major tasks we all have to undertake in the lead up to Christmas are; preparing the food and doing our gift shopping. So this is why I think you'll find this new recipe by our resident chef Hannah, extremely useful.

Hannah has provided us with two recipes this week, the first being homemade pear and chocolate mincemeat and the other mulled syrup.

Both of these recipes are quick and simple and can be used to help you make your mince pies and mulled wine for Christmas day. Alternatively you could simply pour the contents into two decorative jars, add a rustic tag and you've got a perfect Christmas gift!

You do of course have the option of making some for yourself and some as a gift, this way you've tackled a small part of both major Christmas tasks in one go!

If you'd like more Christmas food inspiration in the run up to Christmas, be sure to check out the recipes section of our website regularly, as Hannah will be adding more recipes over the coming weeks.

Love it or Hate it, Christmas is on its Way!

So fireworks night is over, de-icing the car is a regular morning task, and it’s now dark by 5pm; this can only mean one thing….Christmas is coming!

Love it or hate it Christmas is fast approaching, and one of the best ways you can avoid a stressful festive season this year, is to utilise the fact that some foods can be bought and prepared way in advance of the big day itself.

One task that’s great to tick off the list in November is the making of the Christmas cake. Of course making a cake this early does have its downfalls, as the chances of it surviving until Christmas day without a few slices taken out of it are quite small (well in my house anyway)!

However; if you can manage to restrain yourself and you do decide to give the home made variety a go, then take a look at our home baking category. It’s full of useful products such as; flour, treacle and dried fried, that will help you on your way to making a cracking Christmas cake.

If you’d rather someone else did the hard work for you we also have a wide range of pre-made cakes in our Christmas Collection, such as Walkers Luxury Christmas Cake with Brandy; delicious and at your doorstep in the click of a button!

If you like all your Christmas treats to be home made, then be sure to keep an eye on the website over the next few weeks, as our resident chef Hannah will be providing us with some simple and quick festive food ideas!

Summer Sale and 10% off Shipping for August!

With the weather in the UK being unpredictable at best this summer, we thought we’d help brighten up your August with not only a sale on hundreds of British Corner Shop products, but also 10% off shipping for the middle two weeks of the month.

We constantly get great feedback from our customers, both on our social media pages and via email, and so we have taken this feedback into account when creating these offers.

 When we asked our fans on Facebook what products they missed the most now they live abroad, store cupboard essentials such as Bisto Gravy Granules, Oxo Cubes and sauces were top of the list, so we have responded to this by adding many of these items to the sale.

For those of you with a sweet tooth I’m sure you’d be interested to know that we also decided to discount some all time favourite British treats such as; Jaffa Cakes, Cadbury Dairy Milk and Toberlone, as well as some of our best sellers such as Fray Bentos pies, Heniz Beanz and PG Tips. To see if your favourite product has been added, check out the website for the full list.

Both of these offers are limited to this month so make sure you take advantage while you can.

Start your British food shopping now!

Olympic Games to Showcase the Best British Food Has to Offer!

With the countdown to the London 2012 Olympic Games well and truly under way, all eyes are on London and how it will fair in comparison to other cities who have hosted. Although food obviously isn’t the main talking point of visitors to the Games, it is an important aspect to get right, and according to the official London 2012 Olympic Games website, the food is something that they are taking very seriously.

On 30th May 2012 the London 2012 Organising Committee (LOCOG) revealed their plans to showcase the diversity and quality of British food, and glad to hear it too!

What an opportunity the UK has to finally dispel the myths surrounding British food! London might still be renowned for its jellied eels (and proudly so), however; dishes like this no longer truly represent what British food is all about. With such a diverse population there’s more to British cuisine than this.

I’m therefore happy to see they have decided to fit the food into two main themes: British Food and International Food. The British themed food will include regional products and recipes, as well as all the classics such as; fish and chips, pie and mash and toasted tea cakes with Yorkshire butter. The International themed food will see recipe ideas from every continent at the Games, from Asian to Mediterranean such as Lamb Rogan Josh with Pilaf or Saffron rice.

LOCOG have also promised that all fruits, vegetables, cereals, dairy and meat will be Red Tractor Accredited, British and seasonal where available. As well as this they have made a point of stating that affordability is a major priority, so let’s hope the days of hugely over-priced food at sporting events is coming to an end!

All in all I’m impressed that such effort is being made in regards to the food, as it could easily have been over looked. If these promises are upheld then the Olympic Games can only help to raise the profile of the wonderful food we have to offer in the UK, and this will hopefully bring tourists coming back for more!

Links

London 2012 Official Website

British Corner Shop - British food supermarket with worldwide delivery.

Diamond Jubilee Celebrations For Expats

So,Will and Kate celebrate their first wedding anniversary this weekend on 29th April. Where did the last year go...?!

Not long now until the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations which will take place over an extended weekend in the UK from Saturday 2nd until Tuesday 5th June 2012.

As with the Royal Wedding last year, no doubt lots of British expats and people of other nationalities all over the world will be joining in the celebrations too. Maybe a concert or a street party? Are you organising or attending anything?

At British Corner Shop, you will find an array of British gifts and accessories including bunting and flags to get the party started...! There is also a wide range of Diamond Jubilee commemorative souvenirs including tea towels, mugs and plates to mark this very special occasion.

All products are available for delivery all over the world so you don't have to miss out. Get yours now while stocks last.

New Easter Recipe Made With Classic British Favourites

We are lucky enough to be enjoying some beautiful warm weather here in the UK at the moment and it feels like summer is here, not just spring...!

Our clocks went forward at the weekend so we are very much looking forward to the lighter evenings as well.

It's Easter time next week so why not try this wonderful new British recipe by British Corner Shop resident chef Hannah called Easter Tweets?

The recipe may also be known as 'Chicken on a Raft', a fitting reference to the egg on toast dish referred to as such by the British Navy.

Everyone will love this sweet recipe from the very young to the very old. It is quick and simple to follow so anyone can have a go!

The recipe features the traditional chocolate covered Shredded Wheat Easter nests that many of us know so well and love.

In fact, the recipe features many British classics such as Lyle's Golden Syrup, Cadbury Bournville Cocoa, Cadbury Dairy Milk and Cadbury Mini Eggs. Yummy!

Most of the ingredients are available for delivery straight to your door wherever you live in the world from www.britishcornershop.co.uk

Happy Easter!


Note: Find British Corner Shop in the Yahoo Directory for Grocers offering delivery services. We rank top by popularity!

Special Bacon Butty - New British Recipe Perfect For St Patrick's Day

For some inspiration at breakfast time, or even at any other time of the day, why not give this new recipe from British Corner Shop resident chef Hannah a go?

Special Bacon Butty is a delicious twist on a more traditional British bacon butty. This butty is made with homemade soda bread rolls that are incredibly quick and easy to make - and very tasty! There is no need to leave them to rise as the bicarbonate of soda and yoghurt provide leavening.

The fresh rolls are filled with handy bacon grill and a wonderful homemade tomato ketchup. Again, the ketchup doesn't take long to prepare and is made using a lovely mixture of herbs and spices including coriander, cumin and allspice.

The butty is perfect for kicking off St Patrick's Day celebrations - wherever you are in the world!

Most of the ingredients for this tasty dish are available from British Corner Shop for delivery worldwide and can be added to you basket in just one click.

March is here and Easter is on its way!

Today is 1st March and the sun is shining, the days are getting longer... Not only are the early signs of springtime definitely apparent, but Easter is well and truly on its way!

Easter Sunday falls on 8th April this year so make sure you are prepared in good time.

What are your favourite Easter treats?

Do you like mini eggs, filled eggs, hollow eggs, white chocolate, milk chocolate...? And what about Easter cakes and Easter biscuits?

British Corner Shop delivers British food all over the world and has a fantastic selection of Easter goodies now available. You will find all the big British chocolate names including Cadbury Dairy Milk, Mini Eggs and Creme Eggs, Nestle Milkybar, Aero, Smarties and KitKat plus Mars, Galaxy and Malteasers.

There are also some delicious Easter cakes including Cadbury Mini Eggs cakes, classic Simnel cakes and Easter biscuits.

Get your order in today to make sure you and your family can enjoy your British Easter favourites - wherever you live in the world.

For shipping destinations outside of Europe, we recommend that you order by Tuesday 20th March. For destinations within Europe, please order by Monday 26th March for delivery in time for Easter.

Happy Easter to you! Enjoy!

Good Morning Granola - New Recipe by British Corner Shop Chef Hannah

Now that February is coming to a close, there are some strong signs that the springtime is really on its way...!

So getting up in the morning will get easier but, in the meantime, give this Good Morning Granola a try!

Good Morning Granola is the latest recipe by British Corner Shop resident chef, Hannah.

For this recipe, Hannah takes us across the pond but the ingredients, however, are quintessentially British.

This wonderful dish is perfect for a healthy and satisfying start to the day.

The recipe combines jumbo oats, honey, almonds and sultanas, as well as apple sauce and cinnamon, for a delicious breakfast mixture. Serve with yoghurt and the fresh fruit of your choice for a personalised finish!

For the key ingredients and much more, please visit www.BritishCornerShop.co.uk 

 



New British Recipe - Foolproof Fishcakes

It can sometimes be really tricky to know what to cook during the week when you are short of time. Maybe you need some inspiration? Well look no further...

These Foolproof Fishcakes by British Corner Shop resident chef Hannah could be the answer! They are perfect for a simple midweek supper and are delicious served with some homemade tartare sauce - the recipe includes instructions on how to make the sauce too.

The simple recipe makes 6 fishcakes. You could accompany yours with some salad leaves for a light option, or alternatively some chunky handcut chips if you are really hungry!

Most of the ingredients can be bought with one click from the Foolproof Fishcakes recipe page itself on the British Corner Shop website.

Please get in touch and let us know how you get on!

British Food Inspired Valentine's Day Menu

Have you started thinking about Valentine's Day on 14th February yet?

This is a delicious Valentine's Day Menu for you to try by British Corner Shop resident chef, Hannah. Perfect for impressing your other half!

Firstly, tasty savoury heart-shaped Love-ly Pies made with steak, oysters and Guinness. These pies are quick and easy to make and will really look the part on Valentine's Day. Serve with fresh seasonal vegetables.

Finish with Frisky Fondant. This yummy chocolate dessert is made with Green and Black's Maya Gold Chocolate which is a rich blend of dark chocolate and orange spices.

The fondant recipe also contains chilli powder! It is made in advance to be baked just before serving.

The full recipe complete with an easy to follow video of Hannah preparing the menu is available now at www.BritishCornerShop.co.uk where you will also find a collection of other British recipes for you to enjoy.

Many of the British ingredients are available from British Corner Shop for delivery all over the world.

Happy Valentine's Day!

 

 



A Lovely, Warming Homemade British Recipe - Mulligatawny Soup

What better way to warm yourself up - as well as cheer yourself up! - at this time of year than a lovely bowl of warm, hearty homemade soup?

This delicious new British recipe from British Corner Shop resident chef, Hannah Freeman, is the answer! A simple Mulligatawny Soup.

The Anglo-Indian dish actually dates back to the 19th century when it was also very popular. The tikka masala of the time!

Mulligatawny is a substantial, tasty dish with lentil dahl as well as apple and this version is very quick and easy to prepare. It will serve 6 -8 people.

You can now watch Hannah preparing this week's recipe to inspire you to get started via the British Corner Shop website.

For more British recipes, please click here.

Many of the ingredients for each recipe are available from www.BritishCornerShop.co.uk for delivery all over the world.

Get cooking!

Save Money This January With Our Delivery Offer

January can be a really tough month, not least of all financially, after the busy - and expensive! - festive period.

To help ease the pain, British Corner Shop is offering customers a generous 20% off ALL delivery costs worldwide for the rest of the month.

There are some very big savings to be made, particularly for those further afield destinations such as America and Australia. Delivery prices at British Corner Shop are already very competitive but now you can save even more.

It is very easy to take advantage of this fantastic offer - just simply visit
www.BritishCornerShop.co.uk and start shopping! The discount will automatically be deducted for you. It's that simple!

Choose from over 8,000 British products from food and drink to toiletries and household products all for delivery straight to your door wherever you live in the world.

What are your favourites?

Don't forget your Haggis for Burns Night!

Now that the Christmas decorations are coming down, it is time to turn your thoughts to another celebration...

Burns Night is on Wednesday 25th January this year - and is fast approaching!

This event celebrates the life and work of the famous Scottish bard (poet) Robert Burns as well as Scottish Culture in general.

One of Burns' most well-known works is 'Auld Lang Syne' which is often sung at the end of a Burns Night celebration gathering. Celebrations take place all over the world and are often popular with Scottish expats too.

Haggis is an important culinary part of the evening and traditionally makes an entrance to the sound of bagpipes followed by the recital of Burns' 'Address to a Haggis'. The haggis forms the main course of the meal and is usually served with 'neeps' (mashed turnip) and 'tatties' (mashed potatoes).

If you live abroad and can't get hold of fresh haggis locally, then you may be pleased to hear that you can buy tinned haggis. Grants' Haggis is available for worldwide delivery to your door from British Corner Shop.

For lots more British food delivered worldwide, please visit www.BritishCornerShop.co.uk