To help you eat and live well, we’re giving you 7 days worth of fresh, delicious and healthy FREE recipes that are guaranteed to have you whipping up new dinners in no time. The guide has a specific recipe for each day of the week to keep you at your best. We promise you’ll feel amazing by the end!

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World Health Day 2017

Every year, World Health Day aims to bring awareness to a specific health concern, while marking the start of the World Health Organization. The theme for World Health Day 2017 is depression, a condition that isn’t discussed nearly as much as it should be. 

Chances are depression has affected you in some way already, as it can affect people of every age, gender and nationality. According to the NHS, most people go through periods of feeling down, but when you’re depressed you feel persistently sad for weeks or months, rather than just a few days.

Eating and living better through cooking

There is a light at the end of the tunnel- depression can be prevented and treated. The goal of World Health Day 2017 is to shed light and help others have a better understanding of what depression is, therefore reducing the negative stigma that is often associated with the condition.

World Health Day 2017 is a day that is near and dear to our hearts, as we aim to create and deliver delicious recipes that make it easy to eat healthy. Did you know that poor mental health is often linked to increased rates of smoking, drug use, obesity and future mental ill health?

Many people suggest that there is a positive link between cooking and depression. Some psychologists claim that cooking helps “ease depression by increasing positive activities, goal-oriented behaviour and curbing procrastination and passivity”. While clinical studies on cooking’s therapeutic effects are hard to come by, many occupational therapists say “cooking classes are particularly widely used in their profession, which seeks to help people with mental or physical disorders maintain their daily living and working skills.”

Week of Wellness: World Health Day 2017

Cue, our Week of Wellness! In a bid to keep you eating well, we’ve released 7 days worth of fresh, delicious and healthy recipes that are guaranteed to have you whipping up new dinners and maybe even finding a new favourite meal. In the guide, you’ll find a new recipe for every day of the week and we promise you’ll feel your best by the end of it.

Here’s your sneak preview to the guide. Suddenly Monday doesn’t sound so bad…

Monday: Warm Fig Salad

Tuesday: Parsnip Fritters with Shredded Sprouts

Wednesday: Pasta Verde

Thursday: Aromatic Coconut Curry

Friday: Kale and Sweet Potato Tacos

Saturday: Red Lentil Stew

Sunday: Caramelised Leek, Tomato & Herb Tart

Download your free “Week of Wellness” and help celebrate World Health Day 2017 by eating better and living better with us. Every THUD box includes all of the freshest veg, herbs and spices you need to make the tasty recipes included in the box. Our ingredients are sourced from top suppliers to London chefs and are hand picked to ensure you get the freshest, most fragrant and delicious ingredients for your meals.

Order your own THUD box from as little as £2.50 per meal and have fresh veg, herbs and spices delivered straight through your letterbox.

Download your free “Ultimate Guide to Roast Veg” and find out the perfect cooking times for broccoli, radishes, beetroot, courgettes, garlic, aubergine, cauliflower and many more! 

Roasted veggies are fabulously versatile and perfect for any meal of the day. Breakfast? Delicious in an omelette to get you started in the morning. Lunch? A lovely addition to an otherwise boring salad. Dinner? Superb alongside roast chicken for a quick supper. Need we say more?

Send me my free “Ultimate Guide to Roast Veg”

Find out the perfect cooking times for broccoli, radishes, beetroot, courgettes, garlic, aubergine, cauliflower and many more!

But how long should you be roasting your veg to achieve perfectly crispy and amazingly delicious vegetables? Different varieties of veg require different roasting times. Download our free guide to help you keep track of roasting times for your favourite vegetables.

Once you’ve entered your email, you’ll receive the full, free guide with various cooking times and temperatures for various types of veg. Eat more veggies and have more fun!

You’ll look like an absolute pro when incorporating roasted veg into your regular meals and there will be no extra effort required. But how long does it take to roast veg? Well, different varieties of vegetables require different cooking times. Print off the guide and keep it in your kitchen for quick reference.

 

 

Mushrooms can often get a bad rep. In our latest blog post, we decided that it’s time to give mushrooms the love they deserve! There are so many different varieties, textures and tastes that mushrooms can add to any type of dish. If you’re not a mushroom lover just yet, get ready to be converted with our wonderfully fresh and new recipes that are quick and delicious, in true THUD fashion!

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Here’s a sneak peak for one of next week’s recipes, delivered in your THUD box with fresh ingredients, herbs and spices.

Swiss Chard and Mushroom Beanotto

While risotto may be one of your staple recipes, we promise you’ll enjoy this fresh take on the classic dish. Try our delicious remake of traditional risotto for THUD’s own beanotto! An interesting and tasty twist on risotto, this delicious beanotto is made with beans, swiss chard and a variety mushrooms.

Forget your typical mushrooms, this dish includes a trifecta of button mushrooms, oyster mushrooms and pied de mouton mushrooms. The creamy texture of this dish makes it very similiar to a risotto but promises a fresh take on an old favourite!

Order a THUD box and try your hand at cooking our swiss chard and mushroom beanotto from just £2.50 per portion. Orders must be placed before midnight on Sunday. Don’t forget THUD boxes are delivered right through your letterbox and include free shipping!

Spinach and Mushroom and Lychee Pancakes

A delightfully fresh take on a savoury pancake with the option for sweetness! Our spinach and mushroom pancake is a yummy dish, perfect for midweek dinners. The dish includes chervil and crème fraîche, plus the option for sweet toppings of lychee and brown sugar.

The button mushrooms are a unique addition to the dish, giving the dinner a little extra oomph and earthiness.

Find the full recipe here.

 

Shimeji and Mouli Stir-Fry

Feeling adventurous and ready for a change? Spice up your usual stir-fry with shimeji mushrooms. Shimeji is a group of edible mushrooms native to East Asia, but also found in northern Europe. With over 20 species, there are various options when it comes to shimeji mushrooms. However, keep in mind they can be difficult to cultivate.

Try your hand at preparing shimeji mushrooms with our popular stir-fry, including green chilli, garlic and cavo navolo. If you’re ready for a change, this is the recipe to upgrade your dinners with and get your mushroom game up to speed!

Find the full recipe here.

Roasted Squash and Mushroom Pasta

A comforting and easy supper, this dish is perfect on a busy night as you can chop it all up, pop it in the oven and come back to it for the finishing touches before tucking in.

This dish includes button mushrooms and oyster mushrooms. It was first cultivated in Germany as a subsistence measure during World War 2 and is now grown commercially around the world for food. The oyster mushrooms give the dish a unique flavour and bring all of the ingredients together nicely.

Find the full recipe here.

 

Here at THUD, we absolutely love our herbs. We believe that every meal you cook should be packed full of the freshest herbs to really bring out the flavours and textures of the other ingredients. It can be difficult to source truly fresh and unique herbs, as many of us simply don’t have the space to grow our own delicious herbs.

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But have no fear my herb loving friends! Use this blog post as your ultimate herb growing cheatsheet, whether you have ample outdoor space or are confined to city living. We’ve chosen 5 of our favourite herbs that can thrive indoors and 5 perfectly paired recipes that you can make with your newly grown herbs too.

Don’t forget, there are 3 common misconceptions at the end of the blog post to avoid when growing your very own herbs that we thought you should know.

1. Grow your own Basil

Basil is such a versatile herb and the perfect addition to an endless array of dishes. It thrives in soil that is rich and well drained. We find that the best option is to grow basil in a pot, as this allows you to regulate its growth and monitor progress. 

Basil needs full sun, so make sure your pot of basil is in direct sunlight. Think about the best spot in your home that has the most sunlight and consider having your basil outdoors in the warmer months. To promote a bushy and healthy plant, cut the tips regularly. 

Delicious recipe to use basil in: Wild Garlic Leaf Pesto Pasta

2. Grow your own Oregano

Many claim that Oregano is one of the most low-maintenance herbs to grow. That sounds like music to our busy ears! The good news is that oregano performs well both in the garden or indoors.

It thrives in a warm climate and performs best in part to full sun, but you can really taste intense flavours after the herb has had a day full of sun. Make sure your oregano is in a spot in your home that does have regular access to sun (did you hear that British weather?) and is watered regularly.

Delicious recipe to use oregano in: Red Lentil Stew with Hasselback Potatoes

3. Grow your own Coriander 

Coriander is a beautifully fragrant herb that finds itself in many spicy dishes. Unlike our previous two herbs, coriander can actually struggle if it sees the sun all day. Try and find a spot in your home that ensures it can be in the shade during midday.

Coriander grows quite deep, so ensure you have a large enough pot for this one. Finally, make sure that the soil never dries out as coriander does not like drought-like conditions.

Delicious recipe to use coriander in: Kale and Sweet Potato Tacos

4. Grow your own Mint 

Mint is one of the most popular and versatile herbs, because it can be used for both sweet and savoury dishes, not mention in a refreshing mojito!  Many people love the sweet aroma of mint, so it only makes sense to include it on our list. However, you’ve been warned that mint can run wild in gardens, so growing it in a pot is often the best option.

Mint needs rich, moist soils, so make sure you don’t fall behind on your watering duties. Try and find a warm and sun filled spot for the early parts of the day. Mint is less dependent on sunlight than other herbs, but do make sure they are in direct sunlight for a part of the day. 

Delicious recipe to use mint in: Moroccan Couscous

5. Grow your own Parsley

Parsley is a unique herb that actually offers two different varieties: curly leaf and flatleaf. Both varieties can be used interchangeably, however do take note that flatleaf is often stronger in flavour.

Both varieties of parsley love neutral-alkaline soils and thrive in sun or partial shade. In both curly leaf and flat leaf varieties, there is loads of flavour in the stalk as in the leaf. Feel free to use the entirety of the herb in your cooking.

Delicious recipe to use parsley in: ‘Shroom Pasta with Gremolata

3 common mistakes to avoid when growing your own herbs 

• DON’T water your herbs like you do your houseplants. Instead, water herbs a moderate amount every day and make sure not to overwater! 
• DON’T take the leaves from the wrong place on the plant. Pick the leaves from the top and leave the larger leafs at the bottom to sustain future growth.
• DO cut and trim your plants early and often. This helps with regrowth and soon enough your home will be filled with a delicious aroma!

Fresh herbs right through your letterbox

Every THUD box includes all of the freshest herbs you need to make the various recipes included in the box. Our herbs are sourced from top suppliers to London chefs and are hand picked to ensure you get the freshest, most fragrant and delicious herbs for your meals. Order your own THUD box from as little as £2.50 per meal and have fresh veg, herbs and spices delivered straight through your letterbox.