Organic Riverford brisket and ale roast with parsnip chips

It’s onto the penultimate item from my Riverford meat box, and what better for the weekend than an old school roasting joint. Only this joint was brisket – and I don’t know about you, but I’ve rarely tasted brisket, let alone cooked it. It’s a rather cheap cut from below the beef shoulder, and from my internet research it seems to be something Jewish grandmothers know how to cook!

Riverford Organic video: what’s the alternative to battery chicken farming?

This video from Riverford Organic illustrates really well that there can be and should be an alternative to battery chicken farming. It’s obvious that these farmers care so much about their animals – from the consideration of flowers that the chickens might like to eat, to building outdoor shelters so they can avoid circling birds of prey.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to eat something that’s led this kind of life…

Rosemary and lemon roasted Riverford chicken

It’s always welcome respite to get chicken in a meat box. I’ve looked at a ridiculous amount of meat boxes online, and I’ve always found that light white meat is under-represented. Most boxes you get online are heavy on the beef, lamb and pork and I’m not sure why that is. That’s why it’s great that a few suppliers are starting to allow customers to choose their own box contents.

Ma-po tofu with Riverford organic minced beef

Apologies for the lack of posts – I’ve been away for a week. But I’m back with a vengeance, and racing through the remaining four items from my Riverford meat box to make up for lost time. I started this week with a recipe I’ve always wanted to cook – ma-po tofu, which requires minced beef or pork. I’ve never tried this Szechuan dish; my knowledge of Szechuan food is limited, but I did pass through the Szechuan province once and recall a very spicy cuisine where everything was literally swimming in red chilli oil.

Slow cooked pork belly adobo – a Filipino recipe

I was so excited that one of the items from my Riverford meat box was pork belly. I think for many of us meat lovers, pork belly holds a special place in our hearts [and bellies]. It’s one of those cuts that is affordable, versatile, TASTY and fun to eat. People tend to make funny noises when they eat a well cooked pork belly. My favourite pork belly styles are slow cooked with a crispy crackling, or braised until it melts in your mouth.