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Summer of fun?

As we all nervously await announcements on the much longed for easing of restrictions with plans for the summer still on the back burner, many are planning small get togethers and a tentative return to some fun over the summer. As a result, I’m excited to say that my diary is already pretty full with bookings for lunches, dinners, parties and picnics. Therefore, please do get in touch soon if you would like me to quote for an event over the summer.

…. and don’t forget to place your order for you summer freezer full of Just Add Parsley delicious ice creams and sorbets. All are £10 per tub and made freshly to order so you choose your your hearts desire when it comes to flavours from frosé (rosé sorbet) to homegrown mint choc chip, cookie dough, honeycomb ….. and near enough anything and everything in between.

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The long road to normality

w/c Monday 26 April 2021

It’s now very quiet in the Just Add Parsley kitchen! The children have gone back to school (again) after a short stint followed by a long Easter holiday. Bliss!

Time to clear the decks, get up to date with admin, plan my menus and my day and to think further than the next meal ahead. It has been such an indulgence to sit with a coffee and browse my favourite recipe books (and some new lockdown purchases). I have been putting together menus for complex dietary requirements, planning occasion menus and researching new ice cream and sorbet recipes – rhubarb and gin sorbet, anyone?

This week’s menu:
For now, I am delighted to continue making my popular picnic grazing platters, date night dinners and filling fridges and freezers all over East Herts with soups and family meals for those occasions when cooking supper is just one too many plate to spin. These are available to order at any time with a minimum of 48 hrs notice.

This week’s soup is cream of tomato (£5.50)
This week’s salad is 2 bean, 2 lime (£4.50/£6.50)
This week’s family supper is my hugely popular chilli con carne (£12 for 2, £22 for 4 or £5 per head for more).

So much has changed over the last year. Very few businesses were doing what I do then but now, pubs, restaurants & cafes have turned to on-line sales and a takeaway & delivery service to keep their businesses alive and afloat during the various periods of restrictions and lockdowns. Now that we are slowly emerging from our bubbles and our homes and re-entering the world, there are few things more exciting than lunch or supper out – even if it really is “out” and we have to enjoy our drinks, supper and company whilst dressed for the Artic!

Soon we shall be able (I fervently hope) to meet friends and family indoors and, in the not too distant future, we shall be able to meet in larger groups. I am really excited about the potential to return to dinners, parties and all manners of social gathering be they formal, informal, indoor, outdoor, planned or spontaneous. When this happens, Just Add Parsley will be there and would love to make hosting such occasions completely stress and hassle free.

For now, please place your order from this week’s menu (above) in your usual way by 8pm on Tuesday 27 April. Orders will be ready for collection or delivery on the afternoon of Thursday 29 April or on Friday 30th. Deliveries to Duncombe School or in the Hertford area will be made on the morning of Friday 30th.

Please notify me of any allergies or dietary requirements at the time of ordering.

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Happy Easter

… from the Just Add Parsley kitchen.

I wish it was a little warmer but that is not going to dampen the pure joy and excitement of seeing friends and family for the first time this year and seeing and hearing the children’s shrieks and laughter as they play with their friends in the garden.

I’m looking forward to getting back in the Just Add Parsley kitchen properly soon but for now it looks as though it is all going to be about chocolate in our house for the some time!

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Picnic season is nearly here

I don’t suppose anyone needs to be reminded that from next Monday 29 March we will be allowed “outdoor gatherings” for 2 households or the Rule of 6. It might not be exactly picnic weather and we may need to layer up but I cannot wait to sit, chat and share a meal with much loved and sorely missed family and friends (even if it does has to be one household at a time).

Whether you are planning a visit to National Trust or English Heritage property, the local park or even the garden, a Just Add Parsley grazing platter is the perfect, delicious, effortless, completely fuss free, portable picnic in a box.

Packed with variety, colour and a stunning array of tasty, tempting treats including delicious cured meats, cheeses, homemade chutney and relish, home baked ham, home made tart and dotted with fresh fruit and nuts or maybe you would prefer a fish and seafood platter with homemade smoked salmon or smoked haddock and horseradish pâté, smoked salmon, prawns.

Choose crackers, oatcakes and crispbreads or a home made focaccia to accompany your platter.

You could also choose a sweet platter full of mouthwatering homemade sweets, cakes, biscuits and desserts or even a complete afternoon tea.

Platters can be tailored to your occasion, preference, dietary requirements …. or just to what takes your fancy.

Platters range from £10 to £12.50 per head. Please give 48 hours’ notice and notify me of any dietary requirements at the time of ordering.

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Mothers’ Day breakfast in bed

Sunday 14 March 2021

I’m excited to say that my breakfast in bed boxes are proving very popular so don’t forget to place your order to treat you Mum, yourself or someone special to you (or you could casually leave this post lying around so that your nearest and dearest stumble upon it). The order deadline is 6pm on Thursday 11 March.

How about treating your Mum to breakfast in bed on Mothers’ Day (or dropping subtle hints about a treat for yourself). Just Add Parsley breakfast in bed platters are for 1, 2 or could be brunch for the whole family.

Whatever you size choose, they will be packed full of a selection of delicious goodies and tempting treats including:

  • homemade waffles,
  • homemade pancakes,
  • fresh fruit & berries,
  • homemade berry compote with yoghurt and homemade granola,
  • honey & preserves
  • pastries,
  • honey & peanut butter energy bars
  • bagels with smoked salmon and cream cheese
  • bagels with smashed avocado and crispy bacon
  • continental cheeses
  • cured meats

Just Add ….. fruit juice, coffee, flowers and lots of love.

Platters are £12.50 per head. Place your orders by 6pm on Thursday 11 March for collection or delivery on Saturday 13 March.

Please let me know of any dietary requirements, preferences or specific requests at the time of ordering.

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Lockdown #3 soup (and stay at home Valentine’s suppers)

Unsurprisingly on such a wild and bitterly cold day, this week’s soup choices definitely fall into the category of “comforting”. They are two of my favourites and I am hoping they will also appeal to you. They are:

– Pea, ham & mint (try drizzling a little truffle oil if you want to make this very chef -y); and
– Leek & potato (snip in some chives or grate over some parmesan to raise this soup up a notch).

As ever, I shall be making huge batches of both soups early int he week to sustain us throughout the week as we make the final push towards half term, so if you would like a pot, let me know early before it is all gone.

£5.50 per 700ml pot (enough for 2).

DON’T FORGET that the deadline for ordering your stay at home Valentine’s night grazing platter or desserts platter is Tuesday 9th so. I’m thrilled to say that these platters have proved very popular so there is very limited availability remaining.

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Lockdown Valentine’s Day

Saturday 13th or Sunday 14th February 2021

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and since sadly we still won’t be able to go out for dinner by then, I thought I would offer my indulgent grazing platters for 2 for a zero effort special supper à deux.

Grazing platters are packed full of delicious cured meats, cheeses, homemade chutney and relish, home baked ham, home made tart and dotted with fresh fruit and nuts. Choose between crackers, oatcakes and crispbreads or a home made focaccia to accompany your platter.

In addition, you could finish your meal with an indulgent sharing dessert platter comprising a selection of sweet treats from:

individual white & dark chocolate raspberry swirl cheesecake,

a mini black forest gâteau,

individual sticky toffee pudding with toffee pecan sauce,

brownies,

an individual home made strawberry cheesecake in a jar,

a homemade little lemon meringue tart,

home made honey comb dipped in dark chocolate; to

hand made chocolates
……..

Main course grazing platters are £25 for 2;
Dessert sharing platters are £20 for 2.

If you would like to order a grazing platter or a dessert sharing platter, please contact me in your usual way by Tuesday 9 February to place your order. Orders will be available for collection on Saturday 13th or Sunday 14th February (please specify your preference at the time of ordering). I will be making deliveries on Sunday 14 February for those who are unable to collect. Delivery is free within Much Hadham and the surrounding villages but will be subject to a small charge outside that area.

NB. Please notify me of any allergies or dietary requirements at the time of ordering.

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Christmas treats 2020

DON’T FORGET TO ORDER YOUR JUST ADD PARSLEY CHRISTMAS GOODIES AND TREATS! TIME (AND STOCK) IS RUNNING OUT. PLEASE PLACE YOUR ORDERS BY 8PM ON MONDAY 14 DECEMBER AT THE LATEST. Please get in touch in your usual way to place your order or for more information.

Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without all of the trimmings and so I am delighted to launch my menu of Christmas treats. Suggestions include:

  • Christmas hampers of homemade and artisan goodies
  • Christmas grazing platters perfect for an instant “wow” supper, lunch or brunch
  • Glazed festive ham
  • Deluxe mince pies made with homemade mincemeat and orange pastry
  • Homemade pâtés
  • Homemade chutneys, relishes and jellies
  • Turkey brining mix
  • Sticky toffee puddings & toffee pecan sauce
  • Meringues
  • Ice creams & sorbets
  • Gift vouchers starting from £10

For more information, full details on the range of treats available, prices or to place your order, please get in touch by email to catriona@justaddparsley.co.uk as soon as possible.

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Fill your fridge before lockdown

w/c Monday 2 November 2020

As we head back towards lockdown, I sincerely hope that we are not all heading back to the depressing scenes of the Spring of long queues for the supermarket, empty shelves and panic buying of basic ingredients. Having said that, I thought that now might be the time to fill your fridges and freezers (don’t forget that since everything is cooked from fresh ingredients much of my menu can be popped straight in the freezer to be enjoyed another day) with wholesome and healthy but hearty meals that the whole family can enjoy.

Soup: (£5.50)

(1) Pea, ham & mint;

(2) Curried parsnip & apple

Salads: (£6.50 large/4.50 small)

(1) Couscous with apricots & butternut squash

(2) Roasted sweetcorn slaw

Tart:  (£16 whole/£9 half) Caramelised onion tomato, basil and parmesan

Supper:  (£12 for 2, £22 for 4 or £5 per head for more)

(1) Thai green chicken curry

(2) Stuffed portobello mushrooms (stuffed with halloumi, pine nuts, coriander and garlic)

Pie:  (£6.50 per individual pie) Chickpea, sweet potato & chorizo

Energy bars (£1.50 each)

Please order in your usual way by 8pm on Tuesday 3rd November.  Everything will be ready for collection or delivery on the afternoon of Thursday 5th or on Friday 6th.  Deliveries to Duncombe School or in the Hertford area will be made on the morning of Friday 6th.

Please notify me of any allergies or dietary requirements at the time of ordering.

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Drum roll please …..

After extensive road testing, I am delighted to announce the latest temptation from the Just Add Parsley kitchen:



Grazing platters

£10 per head (or £12 for the deluxe platter).

Just Add Parsley grazing platters are an abundant, fresh, irresistible array of delicious delicacies, stylishly presented.  A complete meal for 2 or 4 making them the easiest, most portable and smartest of picnics, sharing lunches/suppers or gifts.   

A typical platter would include a selection from the following:

  • cured meats,
  • cheeses,
  • scotch egg,
  • a home made savoury tart,
  • hand sliced, home baked ham, 
  • pâté,
  • falafel,
  • sliced fresh & dried fruits
  • salad leaves & tomatoes, sliced pepper, carrot batons, cucumber,
  • hummus, 
  • tzatziki,
  • tabbouleh,
  • home made chutney/relish,
  • skewers (e.g. satay or tomato, basil & mozzarella), 
  • pitta bread, oatcakes, crackers and/or homemade bread.

The possibilities are (almost) endless. You might prefer:
fish & seafood, brunch or even dessert. Entirely up to you.

The platters can, of course, be tailored to suit vegetarian, vegan diets and any dietary requirements or preferences.

Please contact me in your usual way to find out more.