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Archives for December 2019

Christmas Champagne and Sparkling Wine

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Christmas Champagne and sparkling wine NelsonWelcome back to our Fresh Choice Nelson wine aficionado, Neil Hodgson. This week Neil has some recommendations for your Christmas Champagne and sparkling wine. Take it away, Neil…

It seems a little strange to me that just as we’re all about to buy our Christmas Champagne wine companies drop their prices. After all, it’s the time of year when people are prepared to pay a little more for special occasion treats; and Champagne and sparkling wine certainly fits that description.

But it’s good news for customers who are in the mood to celebrate when some stunningly good buys from the world’s premier sparkling wine region, Champagne, arrive in store. So, let’s not argue with the decision to discount premium products. Instead, take advantage of the once-a-year generosity shown by these wonderful producers and stock up for the weeks ahead.

Christmas Champagne and Sparkling Wine @ Fresh Choice Nelson:

The Grocer, at Fresh Choice Nelson, certainly takes advantage of the deals offered to him, so, he can pass these on to us. He makes sure he can offer the best possible prices for Christmas Champagne.

Of course, when the big boys drop their prices, others follow. This means there are also some great deals on locally produced sparkling wines. One of my favourites is the Amisfield sparkling wine ($45). This wine has a fine mousse when you pour it. It also exhibits beautiful fruit characters and balanced, fresh acidity in the finish. It’s a delicious wine.

As well as a range of great value New Zealand sparkling wines the Grocer also has some fantastic Champagne brands.

  • Veuve Cliquot – $60
  • Moët & Chandon – $50
  • Bollinger and Tattinger – Between $50 and $150 a bottle

If you want to try something very special, you’ll also discover a range of ultra-premium Champagnes.

Now is the time to add some wonderful wines to your Christmas and New Year celebrations. Pick up some great deals on Christmas Champagnes and sparkling wine at Fresh Choice, Nelson. You can also shop online. Choose to click and collect, or we’ll deliver to your door.

Sugar-Free Christmas Treats

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sugar-free Christmas treatsThis week, our Fresh Choice Nelson guest blogger, Paula, is embracing looking forward to the festive season. She’s also sharing a recipe so you can enjoy a sugar-free Christmas treat!

Christmas is most definitely just around the corner! I know in my family it’s the food that makes up such a huge part of the whole festive season.

You will see cherries in-store and an abundance of strawberries too. Now is a good time to order your ham from Fresh Choice Nelson. The store has a good range of fantastic quality and free-range hams. We usually serve an array of interesting salads with our Christmas ham. Try sprinkling some of the Artisan cheeses, you’ll find in store, over the top of some roasted nuts and pomegranate seeds for a festive salad.

I will always round off the meal with something sweet. The boxes of chocolates are tempting, but if you would like a sugar-free Christmas treat instead, try this recipe. This decadent, creamy, sugar-free fudge is sure to hit the spot.

A Sugar-Free Christmas Treat – Festive Fudge:

Ingredients:

  • 120g butter
  • 120g cream cheese
  • 3 Tbsp dark cocoa powder
  • 2 Tbsp Sweetnz ‘icing not sugar’ powdered sweetener
  • 1 tsp vanilla paste
  • 40g walnut pieces
  • 40g pistachio
  • 1/4 cup crushed ‘Fresh As’ freeze-dried raspberries

Method:

  1. Soften the butter and cream cheese and place in a blender with the cocoa,  sweetener and vanilla paste.
  2. Blend until smooth.
  3. Add the walnuts, pistachios and raspberries.
  4. Place the mixture in a lined dish and sprinkle the top with extra nuts and raspberries.
  5. Place in the fridge until firm.
  6. Finally, slice and serve. Store any leftovers in the fridge.

Don’t forget to get all the ingredients for your sugar-free Christmas treats from Fresh Choice Nelson. You can Click & Collect or shop online, and we’ll deliver to your door! We are now delivering to Nelson, Atawhai, North through to The Ludd Valley, West to Tahunanui, South to Stoke and all points in between. 

Meringues and how to make them

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In this week’s post, local Nelson chef and guest Blogger, Grant Dicker is gearing up for the festive season. In this post he’s sharing his recipe for meringues. Take it away, Grant…

The aisle at Fresh Choice Nelson is brimming with delicious berry fruit, and the season is only just getting started. I love berries and a great festive dessert that is quick and easy to make is Chocolate Berry Meringue.

There are so many great ways to serve meringues. Add freeze-dried fruit powder to the raw mix to make them more interesting. Or swap the berries for fresh cherries. Later in the season meringues are great with passion fruit. You can even crush them up and mix with cream and berries for ‘Eton Mess’.

Making Meringues:

Ingredients:

  • 4 large organic egg whites at room temperature
  • 115g caster sugar
  • 115g icing sugar

Preparation tip: Always use a metal or glass bowl for whipping egg whites. Wipe your bowl with a little lemon juice before preparation to ensure there is no greasy residue on the bowl.

Method:

  1. Heat the oven to 110 degC.
  2. Line two baking sheets with good quality non-stick baking paper.
  3. Tip 4 large egg whites into a large clean metal or glass mixing bowl. Beat them on medium speed with a cake mixer until the mixture resembles a fluffy cloud and stands up in stiff peaks when the blades are lifted.
  4. Now turn the speed up and start to add the caster sugar a sprinkle at a time. Continue beating for 3-4 seconds between each addition. It’s important to add the sugar slowly or the meringues may weep. However, don’t over-beat. When ready the mixture should be thick and glossy.
  5. Sift the icing sugar, and add a third at a time. Again, don’t over-mix. The mixture should now look smooth and like a pillow.
  6. Scoop up a heaped dessertspoonful of the mixture. Using another dessertspoon ease it on to the baking sheet to make an oval shape. Or, just drop them in rough rounds if you prefer.
  7. Bake for 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 hours, until the meringues sound crisp when tapped underneath and are a pale coffee colour.
  8. Leave them to cool on the trays or a cooling rack. The meringues will keep in an airtight container for up to two weeks, or frozen for a month.
  9. Top with whipped cream, fresh berries and shavings of dark chocolate.

Don’t forget to head to Fresh Choice Nelson for all your ingredients, or shop online with our click and collect service!

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