Thursday 5 February 2009

There IS such a thing as a free lunch!



And here it is, in the form of a free Organic Fruit & Veg Box from Abel & Cole, who have kindly sent me a sample of their supplies to test out.

Having been too busy to get to the market this week or indeed my local farm shop recently, it was fabulous timing to have this arrive on my doorstep this week. And with some freshly-made chicken stock in the fridge, I've now got all the ingredients to make a tasty vegetable soup, including leeks, carrots and potatoes.

Now I'm not known to normally welcome veg boxes. I have tried them before, but the problem I've had in the past is particularly at this time of year, they're usually full of all the vegetables Mr A doesn't like. So I end up giving the damn things away, which means they can be as useful as a chocolate teapot! However, I don't think I'll have such a problem with Abel & Cole's offer because you can simply choose what you want to leave in and what you'd prefer to leave out. So if a Swede's not your cup of tea, you don't have to drink it....if you get what I mean!

And as for reduced packaging, getting the produce delivered loose in the box is great! That's another tick in The Rubbish Diet list of requirements. The only thing that doesn't quite make the mark is the little punnet of cherry tomatoes which you can see poking up in the photo. However, in my neck of the woods I can recycle the plastic punnet and the wrapper too, so in the great scheme of things it doesn't matter.

So, as well as making the soup, I'm going to have a delve around the Abel & Cole recipe section for some cheap and cheerful ideas on how to make this free box of goodies last. But I musn't forget the Love Food Hate Waste site too, which is full of great ideas on using up all the leftovers.

Now I quite like the idea of a free lunch, especially during the credit crunch. So if you fancy a veg box yourself and sign up to Abel & Cole in February, just mention The Rubbish Diet and you'll get a Free Abel & Cole cookbook and I'll get some credit to my account too. Just call 08452 626262 or for more information, visit their website at www.abelandcole.co.uk.

Now where was I....ah yes celebrating the fact that there IS such a thing as a free lunch. The only problem is...you have to make it yourself. But if I play my cards right and get myself organised, I can see I'm going to have quite a lot of fun with this Veg Box...that's if I can tear myself away from the blog!

Right then...better stop blogging and start that cooking. See you soon x

______________________________________________________

11 comments:

Tim Atkinson said...

You're going to post the recipes next, right? All this talk of food - plus a WV almost 'bacon' - is making me hungry!

Anonymous said...

We use Abel & Cole - they're great! It seems expensive but actually I think its really good value, great quality and the choice is great! They also take away all the packaging (boxes, polystyrene and cool bags from cold boxes) and deliver before we get up so its all waiting before breakfast!! Enjoy! X

Ruth said...

Suede is not a veggiebittle

Almost Mrs Average said...

Hi Dotterel - LOL Shame someone couldn't invent internet scent technology we could have lovely smells wafting all over the place...then again...go to the wrong website and it might not be that pleasant. :-D

Hi Baba - great praise for Abel and Cole there. They should be pleased with that review. Thank you :-D x

Hi Ruth - you are so right and thank you. I don't know what came over me. I just wonder what other material you'd find in a veg box... off to sort that now :-D

Strawberry Jam Anne said...

I'm really interested in veg boxes, great idea. Will look on their web site right now to see if they deliver in our area. A x

lunarossa said...

Thanks for the advice, Mrs A. I've got another organic veg site. It's called www.graze.com. Sign up and you'll get a free box [small but good for a snack] of fruit and veg delivered to your door. You also get your second box for half price. Good for me that I don't like shopping for groceries! Have a nice weekend. Ciao. Antonella

Layla said...

Vegboxes sound fun! (for when you can't grow your own, or get some on the way to get other stuff..)

I do wonder about this: "They also take away all the packaging (boxes, polystyrene and cool bags from cold boxes) and deliver before we get up so its all waiting before breakfast!" - Does that mean they end up with lots of waste at their place, and what do they do with it?

Happy cooking & eating, otherwise!! :)

Almost Mrs Average said...

Hi Anne - lovely to see you and I really hope that works out...of course you could try the tip from Lunarossa aka Antonella :-D x

Hee hee Antonella - I feel the cheeky imp in me thinking that sounds like another free lunch. Thanks for the recommendation. I'll check it out. :-D

Hi Layla - good point. But as far as I'm aware, everything that goes back to the site is reused and if that's not possible, it is then recycled. If I find out anything to the contrary I will be sure to let you know.

P.S. So pleased you've got in touch with Danda by the way. She's fabulous. I can feel an international convention on the way. I'm off to Switzerland in the summer, wouldn't that be fab if it were possible...:-D

Strawberry Jam Anne said...

Hi Mrs A - me again. Checked with Abel & Cole, not in our area at the moment but will email me when they start. Will now try the one recommended by Antonella - thanks.

BTW - have left a tip at your earlier post. A x

Gill - That British Woman said...

that's a good idea too.....will have to see what's what in our area.

Gill in Canada

Almost Mrs Average said...

Hi Anne - good luck with Antonella's recommendation. Could save you a shopping trip there. Thanks for the tip by the way...much appreciated. :-D

Hi Gill - Do let me know if there is something similar. It's at times like these you discover whether it's just a British thing. :-D

Related Posts Widget for Blogs by LinkWithin