April 2023 - Wine Lovers Box

Creamy Fish Pie Recipe

April 6, 2023 Elsie_B

www.wineloversbox.co.uk – dinner recipes

Rich and creamy fish pie recipe, perfect for a family midweek meal. Opies Cocktail Gherkins add a distinct crunch whilst the salty, flavourful Capers are the perfect foil to the creamy fish.

Serves 4
Preparation time: 20 minutes
Cooking time: 1 hour 20 minutes
Allergens: Fish, Dairy, Seafood, Gluten,

Ingredients:

For the filling:

2 tablespoon Opies capers, chopped
10 Opies Cocktail Gherkins, chopped
350g Haddock fillets
400ml Milk
1 Bay Leaf
5 Black Peppercorns
1 blade of Mace
25g Butter
75g Frozen Prawns
75g Frozen Peas
2 tablespoons Plain Flour
2 tablespoons chopped Parsley
For the topping:
900g floury Potatoes, peeled and chopped
85g low-fat Soft Cheese
4 tablespoons Milk
55g Cheddar Cheese, grated

Method

Heat the oven to 180°C.
Cook the potatoes in boiling water for 20-25 minutes or until tender.
Meanwhile, place the fish in a large saucepan with the milk, bay leaf, peppercorns and mace, bring to the boil. Cover and simmer gently for 10 minutes.
Remove the fish and set aside to cool. Strain the milk into a jug, discarding the bay leaf, peppercorns and mace.
Melt the butter in the saucepan, stir in the flour and continue cooking for 2-3 minutes over a medium heat.
Gradually add the reserved milk, stirring to give a smooth sauce. Bring to the boil, reduce the heat and simmer, stirring often, for 10-12 minutes. Remove from the heat.
Flake the fish into chunks, discarding any remaining bone and skin and add to the sauce. Stir in the peas, prawns, capers, gherkins, parsley and lemon juice. Season to taste and transfer to an ovenproof dish.
Drain the potatoes, return them to the pan and mash thoroughly. Beat in the soft cheese and milk until light and fluffy. Season to taste.
Top the dish with the mashed potato and sprinkle with grated cheese.
Bake for 25 minutes until golden. Serve with a watercress salad.

Tip: Substitute the haddock for your preferred fish or cheaper cuts like Pollock.

Enjoy with Chardonnay or Chenin Blanc.

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Courgette, spinach & ricotta lasagne recipe

April 6, 2023 Elsie_B

A delicious lasagne recipe that’s comforting in winter and perfect for veganuary.

www.wineloversbox.co.uk – winter recipes

Preparation time:30 minutes
Cooking time:60 minutes
Total time: 1 hour 30 minutes

Serves: 6 – 8
Calories: 452

Ingredients

55g butter
40g plain flour
750ml semi-skimmed milk
2 x 260g bag essential Waitrose spinach, washed
1 tbsp chopped fresh oregano
½ tsp grated nutmeg
250g essential Waitrose Ricotta Cheese
1 tbsp olive oil
4 medium courgettes, coarsely grated
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
25g pack fresh basil, chopped
50g pecorino cheese, freshly grated
300g pack fresh lasagne sheets
50g toasted pine nuts

Method

Preheat the oven to 200ºC, gas mark 6. Melt 40g butter in a medium pan, add the flour and cook for a minute, then whisk in the milk. Bring to the boil stirring, and simmer for 5 minutes, stirring, to give a thin white sauce. Season well.
Heat the remaining butter in a pan, add the spinach and toss it in the melted butter. Cover the pan and cook until wilted. Boil the spinach quickly to reduce any liquid. Season and add the oregano and nutmeg. Cool and stir in the ricotta.
Heat the olive oil in a non-stick frying pan, add the grated courgettes and cook for 5 minutes until golden. Add the garlic and cook for a minute then season well. Stir in the basil and half the pecorino. Season to taste.
Layer up the ingredients in a buttered ovenproof dish starting with a layer of white sauce then lasagne then spinach and courgette then pine nuts. Continue until all the ingredients are used up finishing with white sauce. Sprinkle with the remaining pecorino and bake for about 40 to 45 minutes until golden and bubbling. Serve on warmed plates with a tomato and onion salad.

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Unboxing: January 2021 Wine Box

April 6, 2023 Elsie_B

www.wineloversbox.co.uk – January 2021 Wine Box

Happy New Year! We are so excited because after a long break, the first Wine Lovers Box of 2021 is here and it takes us to Portugal’s best known wine region – Douro!

We know Lockdown 3.0 has put a damper on the new year but we promise this first Wine Lovers Box of 2021 will cheer you up. We guarantee you’ll find joy in the full-bodied flavours and yummy treats.

Here’s what’s inside the box…

We bring you two amazing premium wines by Casa Ferreirinha that don’t disappoint. Think fruity, full-bodied freshness with lovely texture and depth.

Esteva Douro Tinto 2018

Composition: 40% Tinta Roriz, 35% Tinta Barroca, 15% Touriga
Franca, 10% Touriga Nacional.

This delightful red is bright ruby in colour with aromas of ripe strawberries, juicy cherries, and floral hints. It’s smooth on the palate, with polished tannins and a well-integrated acidity that gives lovely freshness and vivacity with an elegant finish.

It pairs beautifully with beef, lamb, pork, and also spicy chicken.
Veggie dishes with mushrooms and strong cheese will also work.

Planalto Douro Branco 2019

Composition: Viosinho, Arinto/Pedernã, Códega, Gouveio
(Verdelho), Malvasia fina, Moscatel, Rabigato.

There’s so much variety in this bottle that you’ll love! It’s lemon yellow in colour with citrus and tropical fruit notes that stand out alongside subtle floral nuances and a touch of minerality. On the palate, this wine is crisp with a lively acidity balancing the concentrated fruit flavours and a clean, fresh finish.

It pairs beautifully with fish and seafood, as well as squids. It also works with chicken, veggies dishes, salads, and any cheese.

Yummy treats!

Enjoy the wines with assorted gourmet peanuts from Filberts and Crambrooks fine foods. The spiciness and nuttiness take the wine’s flavours to a whole new level. Enjoy x

Don’t forget if you’re gifting a Wine Lovers Box, you can add a FREE personal message via e-Card. Yes, we’ve gone environmentally friendly this year. There are more changes coming – we’ll keep you posted.

We also offer FREE shipping!

This quarter’s Wine Box is available till the end of March. Subscribe to get this box.

Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram for discounts and special offers.

Mini blueberry cheesecakes Recipe

April 5, 2023 Elsie_B

www.wineloversbox.co.uk – Valentine’s day recipe

Easy to make, no-cook heart-shaped mini cheesecakes that make the perfect dessert for Valentine’s Day dinner. Make them the night before and leave in the fridge.

Recipe makes 8
Preparation time: 25 minutes
Cooking time: 4-5 minutes
Chilling time: 5 hours or overnight

Ingredients

Biscuit base

75g (3oz) digestive biscuits
25g (1oz) butter
2 teaspoons golden syrup

Cheesecake
300g (11oz) full fat cream cheese
65g (21/2oz) caster sugar
1 lemon, grated rind and juice
200ml (7fl oz) double cream

Topping
1 teaspoon cornflour
Juice of ½ lemon
2 tablespoons water
40g (11/2oz) caster sugar
200g (7oz) blueberries

Method

Add the biscuits to a small plastic bag, seal the top then crush the biscuits with a rolling pin. Heat the butter and golden syrup in a small saucepan until melted, stir in the biscuit crumbs and mix together. Divide between 8, 75ml (3fl oz) heart shaped sections in a flexible silicone cake mould. Press the biscuits into a thin layer with the back of a teaspoon. Chill while making the filling.
Add the cream cheese, caster sugar and lemon rind to a bowl and whisk together briefly until just mixed. Gradually whisk in the lemon juice and the cream until smooth and thick.
Spoon the cheesecake mixture into crumb lined moulds then spread into an even layer and swirl the tops with the back of a spoon. Chill for 5 hours or overnight.
To make the blueberry topping, add the cornflour to a small saucepan, stir in the lemon juice and mix until smooth then add the water, sugar and blueberries. Cook over a medium heat for 2-3 minutes, stirring until the blueberries are just beginning to soften and the sauce has thickened to become a rich blueberry colour. Leave to cool, cover and chill until ready to serve.
To serve, loosen the edges of the heart moulds and press up from the base, removing the cheesecakes with a small spatula. Transfer to serving plates and spoon the blueberries on top.

Tip
If you find the cheesecakes a little tricky to remove from the moulds or haven’t had much time to chill them, freeze for 30 minutes to firm up then try again.

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4 ways to reduce your beauty footprint

April 5, 2023 Elsie_B

wineloversbox.co.uk - ways to reduce beauty footprint

For those of us wanting to make sustainable changes to our lifestyle, it can seem incredibly daunting to know where to start, especially when it comes to our precious beauty routines. But it’s easier than you think! We’ve rounded up the top five ways you can reduce your beauty footprint…

Replace tampons with a menstrual cup

Rather than most single-use period products that contain loads of plastic packaging, Menstrual Cups can be emptied, rinsed and re-inserted. Each cup lasts for up to 10 years, meaning the use of one Cup stops thousands of tampons and pads from clogging up landfills and oceans.

Ditch the face wipes

Though they seem incredibly handy when you’re too tired to take off your makeup, face wipes are as good for your skin as they are for the planet – aka terrible! They don’t actually cleanse your skin properly, simply moving the makeup, oil and dirt around on your face. Wipes often contain ingredients that can cause inflammation or irritation, so do yourself a favour and use a nourishing cleansing balm or oil instead.

Switch to a bar of soap

It’s a simple switch, but will substantially cut down on your plastic consumption, as hand soap is one of the most used products in our households. Make sure to choose soaps without palm oil and uses naturally moisturising ingredients to keep skin soothed and hydrated.

Pick aluminium over black plastic Bottles

If you’re not ready to give up your bottled shampoo and conditioner, don’t fret. However, it’s important to note that black plastic bottles aren’t easily recyclable, if at all, as the near infra-red technology that sorts recycling can’t read the black plastic and thus doesn’t sort it.
An easy way to avoid this issue is to use haircare in aluminium bottles.

Go slowly, you don’t have to become a green machine overnight! Make small changes at first and see how you respond to this change. Gradually, you will come to love natural products that are great for your skin and our environment.

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Summer salad with feta and pickled cherries

April 5, 2023 Elsie_B

wineloversbox.co.uk – summer salad recipe

Cherries are perfect for pickling. They have a sweet note that pairs perfectly with a simple red wine pickle. Throw them together with some melon, courgette, and some salty feta for a surprisingly refreshing summer salad.

Serves 4 as a starter
Preparation time 10 minutes
Cooking time 10 minutes
Cooling time 30 minutes

Ingredients

Pickled cherries
50 ml red wine vinegar
1 tbsp sea salt
150ml water
100g caster sugar
200g cherries, halved and stones removed
1 medium courgette, stalk removed
1/2 firm cantaloupe melon, skin and seeds removed
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
pinch of sea salt
small handful mint leaves
100g feta

Method

Place the red wine vinegar, salt, water and sugar in a small saucepan and bring to a boil.
Boil for 2 minutes, stirring to make sure all the salt and sugar has dissolved. Take off the heat, pour into a bowl or container and leave to cool for 5 minutes.
Add the cherries and leave to cool to room temperature. (if making ahead of time, place in the fridge to chill).
Use a speed peeler or mandolin to make courgette ribbons the length of the courgette. Thinly slice with a knife or use a mandoline to thinly slice the melon into long strips.
Toss the melon in a bowl with the olive oil and a pinch of salt. Spread on a large platter. Sprinkle on the mint, crumble on the feta and scatter over the cherries.
Drizzle a couple of tbsps. of the pickling liquid over the top.

Tips
Feta can be replaced with a creamy burrata or mozzarella.
The pickled cherries make a great accompaniment to a cheese board.

Get ahead
The cherries can be kept in the fridge for a few days. The flavour will intensify.

The Final Wine Lovers Box of 2020 is here!

April 5, 2023 Elsie_B

www.wineloversbox.co.uk – final wine lovers box of 2020

2020 has been long and fraught with a lot of firsts like the pandemic and subsequent lockdown, but we hope we’ve helped a little to lighten your mood and relieved some of the stress with our not so little box of happiness we send out every quarter.

It’s been quite the wine tour! This year, we’ve taken you to Chile to try wines from Santa Lucia in the Valle Central region; then we made a stop in the Rioja and Navarra region of Spain to take the edge off the stress of lockdown with a soft-textured rosado, and a crisp dry well- balanced white.

Then we made it into the rolling hills of the Veneto wine region in the north-east of Italy to enjoy refreshing pinots.

To round off a very long year, the final box takes you to France to enjoy a smooth and warming red wine, perfect for autumn, and a gorgeous Rosé you can pair with spicy dishes.

France is one of the largest wine producers in the world; it produces eight billion bottles every year and 53 litres of wine per capita per year, so there’s a lot to choose from.

We hope you like the two we’ve picked as much as we do.

Baron D’Arignac Cabernet Sauvignon, 2019

From the Languedoc-Roussillon region in the South of France comes this classic Cabernet Sauvignon. It’s smooth and soft with rich cassis and eucalyptus aromas followed by intense blackberries, redcurrants and damsons flavours. It has a beautiful complexity; with aromas of jammy fruit, spice and is slightly minty.

100% Cabernet Sauvignon
It pairs perfectly with meat, game, pasta and cheese.

Rosé d’ Enfer “Devils Rosé” France, 2017

This is a classic blend of Cotes du Saint Mont grapes varieties; Tannat, Pinenc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Pale pink in colour with a bluish tint, ROSE D’ENFER is lively and delicate, with irresistible aromas of fresh berries (red and black currant) and notes of raspberry. It’s wonderfully round and fresh, and works well as an aperitif, or with starters. It pairs beautifully with grilled meat, fish and shellfish, as well as salads and spicy Asian and Indian dishes.

Treats

Luxurious dark chocolates and gourmet popcorn to cosy up with this autumn.

This quarter’s Wine Box is available till 15th December. Grab a box now

Don’t forget to follow us on Instagram for discounts and special offers.

Beetroot, halloumi & courgette kebabs

April 4, 2023 Elsie_B

www.wineloversbox.co.uk - One-Pot Aubergine & Mozzarella Bake recipe

Cumin and Pomegranate Infused Beetroot, halloumi & courgette kebabs in lime & toasted cumin seed dressing

The infused beetroot in this recipe provides a quick and easy way to add extra flavour and colour, creating a seriously tasty light summer supper or vegetarian option to add to a BBQ spread.

Serves: 2
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 10 minutes

You’ll need:

1 tsp cumin seeds
½ lime juiced
1tbsp olive oil
200g Halloumi, torn into bite sized chunks
4 Cumin & Pomegranate Infused Beetroot, cut into quarters
4 spring onions, cut into 3cm battens
1 small courgette, sliced into disks
4 kebab sticks

What to do:

If using wooden kebab sticks, soak them in water before using so they don’t burn on the bbq.
In a small frying pan, toast the cumin seeds for a minute or two until they become fragrant, take care not to burn them. Remove from the heat and stir in the lime juice and oil and season well.
Tip the veg and halloumi into a large bowl, pour over the dressing and combine well to coat. Thread the veg and cheese onto kebab sticks, reserving any dressing left in the bowl. Cook for 4-5 minutes on each side the BBQ or under the grill, until the cheese is browned and crisp on the outside and the veg is cooked.
Pour the reserved dressing onto a serving plate. Once cooked turn the kebabs on the serving plate to soak up the remaining dressing.

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One-Pot Aubergine & Mozzarella Bake

April 4, 2023 Elsie_B

A great vegetarian one-pot recipe, perfect for a quick and easy mid-week meal this autumn.

Serves 4
Preparation time: 10 minutes
Cooking time: 20 minutes
Allergens: Dairy, Gluten, Sulphites (dependent on white wine used)

Ingredients:

1 jar of Opies Cocktail Onions, rinsed and drained
2 large Aubergines, cut into 3cm slices
5 tbsp Olive Oil
3 Garlic Cloves, sliced
1 tin Chopped Tomatoes
100ml White Wine
2tsp Dried Oregano
1 Mozzarella Ball
25g Parmesan Cheese
75g Breadcrumbs
Chopped Herbs to garnish

Method

Pre-heat the oven to 180°C.
Take a large frying pan, add 1-2tbsp of the olive oil and cook the aubergines slices in batches over a high heat. Ensure the aubergines get nicely browned for maximum flavour.
Transfer the aubergines to a snug oven dish, overlapping the slices.
Add 1tbsp of olive oil to the frying pan and cook the cocktail onions until they start to brown. Add the sliced garlic and cook for 1 minute. Pour in the white wine, tinned tomatoes, dried oregano and season with salt and pepper. Spoon over the aubergines.
Tear the mozzarella and place over the dish. Then sprinkle over the parmesan and finally scatter over the breadcrumbs.
Bake for about 20 minutes until the cheese is hot and bubbling. Serve with crusty bread.

Tip: Ciabatta makes the best breadcrumbs, however, any thick crust bread will work well.

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5 Autumn nail colour trends and the wine to enjoy with them

April 4, 2023 Elsie_B

Glitter

www.wineloversbox.co.uk – 5 Autumn nail colour trends and the wine to enjoy with them

Who doesn’t love a bit of glitter? It’s sparkly and a fun way to change your nails up.
Whether you go for gold or silver glitter nails, make sure you have a glass of ice-cold prosecco nearby because it’s the perfect match for your nails.

Wine pick: Prosecco

Dark Teal

Let’s call this the more sophisticated version of a summer turquoise. Dark Teal nails are an autumn manicure trend. It’s rich and dark just like the season and will look even better on you if you have a pinot grigio in hand because they’re a match made in heaven.

Wine pick: Pinot Grigio

Soft Browns & Chocolate

What will autumn nights be without chocolate? Whether you’re drinking it or painting it on your nails, it’s warming and cosy. And as a manicure, it fits in perfectly with the brown and orangey tones of the season. Just make sure you’re sipping on a delicate rosé while showing off your manicure.

Wine pick: Rosé

Plums & Berry

Plum and berry manicures have been a staple of autumn for years and they are again in 2020. Who can resist the rich dark shades that go so perfectly with autumn colours. They’re also the perfect match for the rich spiciness of a glass of Cabernet.

Wine pick: Cabernet Sauvignon

Light Grey

One of the most refined nail colours of the season is a frosty, washed-out grey. It makes your nails look elegant and it contrasts autumnal colours beautifully, making your hands stand out. Enjoy the statement nails with a statement red wine like a Barolo.

Wine pick: Barolo