It is all about the Turkey curry!

Well hello there everyone.

For those of you that regularly follow my blog. You will know we like to follow a cooking theme which is one of my hobbies and today... Let's have a chat about the refreshingly light, post christmas, annual Turkey Curry!

So, every year out come the sprouts, the humungous quantities of roasted meats, the wines flow and the tins get lighter and lighter as they fill with empty wrappers as opposed to scrumptious truffles. Well, naturally... even after bubble and squeak and a treat for the dogs. There is always masses of meat left and gravy, vegetables and winter warming roast dinners can begin to wear a little thin on our increasingly large christmas tummies.

So, upon coming home this monday evening... Christmas is nearly over and after a few christmas drinks in the afternoon with my friends, I'm a little peckish. I start off by slicing the turkey into thin little strips and heat along with some, onions, mushrooms and green pepper. Then comes a long the tomatoes, garlic and cream along with a dash of curry powder and some potatoes. It's starting to smell good guys!

I let it stew for a good 45 minutes so all the flavours in the sauce penetrate the meat and the veg and I am starting to hear rumbles from the bottom of my wine-lined tummy! It is time to start dipping and having a  few of those "little tastes" before it is served and the flavours are incredible, and the meat- so, so tender. A taste EXPLOSION! Like the crackers 2 days before... Everyone loves a good curry!

It is the new meal, It is after Christmas, Its light, Its full of flavour and of course. It's made with love.

It is Ben's Turkey Curry.

Once a year, and I love it

Stay tuned for your favourite consultant's top cooking tips as move into 2011... Next time,

Lamb, with red wine sauce and sweet potato mash!

Goodnight to all and to all... A GOOD NIGHT!

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls. In the words of Noddy Holder

"ITS CHRISSSTTTMASSSS!"

So, it is time to start wrapping... toasting, eating, opening and most definitely celebrating!!!!

I would just like to wish everybody a wonderful christmas, may the chunky man in the red suit bring you everything you wish for and may the festive period make special memories.

To all my customers of 2010, I would like to thank you for your custom and I look forward to welcoming some more lovely cruisers over 2011

Seasons Greetings to you all

Snow Brings A "mini break" to the Allsopp household! mmmm, caramelised onions!

Due to the incredible snow that we have here in north Worcestershire- I havent been home this week as I live about 15 miles from the office here at http://www.cruise.co.uk/  and have spent the last 3 nights at my Dad's house just round the corner from work.

Well, the first night I stayed- Lin (my stepmom) was working until around 7pm and by 6.30pm, myself and my dad began to get particularly hungry after dealing with all the snow and needed a nice winter warmer dinner. Those of you that follow my blog will know one of my real passions in life, besides travel is cooking. I love to cook! So, I said "right then, im starting the cooking... my speciality sausages and mash?" and off i went, empyting the fridge of some beautiful pork and apple sausages and a mountain of root veg.

Whilst I was cooking one of my signature meals which all my friends love, I though- oooh i could have some nice crispy onions on top of those sausages and red wine gravy and this is where the world of cooking changed:

THE NEW PHENOMENON!


It's Ben's special caramelised onions!

I began hastily with some onions which i peeled into rings and began to cook with butter and a little brown sugar which i simmered for about 25 minutes until they wilted and turned a goregeous golden brown. After whipping the mash made up of potatoes, carrot and parsnip and then topping with sausages... the onions just sat on top creating a nice garnish and also some texture, aboslutely lovely. I was popular that evening!

Then, last night- I chose to leave the idea of chancing the train and made the short journey back to number 2 where i walked in to "What are you making tonight then Ben?" so out came the knives, oven on and once again... We're cooking on gas everybody! Tonight, its carbonara with garlic baguettes- this time white wine was key to the sauce along with fresh garlic (added right at the end to prevent it from becoming bitter) and lashings of cream. The chicken and bacon was a nice compliment and this is when Lin says to me

"Ben, I'ts been like a mini break having you here... You can't go home!"

So, everybody- it turns out not only can I answer all your cruise questions. I'll give you some cooking tips too!

For the youngest and multi talented cruise specialist here in the office. It has to be Ben. 0800 408 6156

Where is my Sangria??

Hola!
For those of you that regularly follow my blog, you will know that i have just returned from a wonderful weeks holiday in the winter sunshine of Fuerteventura. We had a great time!

The weather was in the high twenties every single day and the sangria and pina coladas were flowing like the waters of niagra, we couldnt fault our villa, absolutely huge with 2 terraces and the staircase was outside! (beware after a long night, spiral staircases are not friends!) As mentioned, i went wih a group of friends, 2 guys and 2 girls and we were on holiday on an all inlcusive basis, therefore the food wasn't exactly amazing, however for the amount of money I paid i thought it was excellent value. I mean i was eating 3 or 4 courses 3 times a day for a week, and we absolutely made the most of our all inclusive drinks!

On my blog previously, I told you about the beach and i was expecting it to be absolutely beautiful.  Well, it wasn't- It was INCREDIBLE! I can honestly say that the beach was faultless, it is 32km long, really wide, absoluetly peaceful and the sea was just stunning. really shallow, perfect waves and completely turquoise. I would reccomend the Canary Islands to anyone as they really do have something for everyone, and for about 335 days a year, fantastic weather! For example, we were in a really quiet, very chilled and scenic resort on Fuerteventura called Jandia (abolsutely wonderful for sea front walks either on the beach or across the promenade) here there were wild chipmunks you could feed in the sand dunes and lovely little parrots living in the palms across the beach front.

 

 Here is our group and the view from my bedroom with the El Faro de Morro Jable in the centre ( lighthouse)

And below is a photo i took along the beach directly infront of the hotel, see- i told you it was amazing!

One day we took out our hire car and headed for a day (and night out) we called our little VW POLO "Carlos" and he served us well, we past through the very barren, uninspiring secnery across the centre of the island and were bound for Lanzarote! Along the way across the island, we stopped in the national park just outside of Corralejo in the north of the island, Here another AMAZING beach where it is like being in the desert, the sand stretches inland for miles and extends out to sea to make the most incredible beaches, heres a few photos of it, excuse the slight silliness. I was on my holidays...

So after running around the sandunes for a while, we headed into town to find the ferry to take us to our neighbouring, busier island LANZAROTE! So after the vast white sand beaches and chilled out bars of Fuerteventura, we were struck by little coves and busy towns in Lanzarote where we went to act our age for a night and hit the strip across Puerto Del Carmen. It sure was lively but by the next morning, we were definiitely ready to go back to our peacfl and quiet resort with all the holiday makers asking us "What are you four doing down here?" Well, as i repiled to all of them, "We are young, we DO like to have a good time. But we like nice things and have taste, thats why we are not in Faliraki right now." We just wanted a relaxing holiday and it was perfect for that.

So ultimately, I had a great holiday, It is sad to be home, but its nice to come back to work and plan my next one. Im thinking about booking onto P&O Azura on a carribbean cruise in the early summer. We shall see...

But as I said earlier, Where is my Sangria? I can always pretend I am still there.
                                                                          Can't I? 

and I'm off!

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls I am here to report that I am taking a very well earned holiday next week. It's -9°c outside, the ground is glistening in white and the trees are bare. I’m exchanging this for rolling white sand dunes and crashing blue Atlantic waves!

Can you guess what it is yet?

I’m off to Fuerteventura! Myself and a few friends are off for a whole week of sunshine, cocktails and hopefully a bit of luxury. We have booked a 2 bedroom villa near the beach with sea views, fingers and frostbitten toes crossed it should be lovely. So unfortunately I will be out of the office until Tuesday 14th December where I will be back in chatting away to you all about our favourite pastime- Cruises!

Try not to miss me too much, I’ll try and raise a glass for everyone at the office and make sure I have a good old relax ready for a cosy Christmas in the UK. I'm looking forward to brushing up on my holiday-rep Spanish acquired in Majorca and we are going to try and a go karting track for a bit of adrenaline as we're not exactly going to the liveliest place on earth. The beach looks beautiful though, and I do love a good beach. At home I have about 15 bottles of sand that I have collected on my travels, so I’ll be sure to fill report back on the quality of the Playa de Jandia- reputed to be the best beach in Europe. We shall see...

So take care, Don’t miss me too much and let's hope for the most dramatic tan lines the world has ever seen!

Until then,

Adios!

 Whilst i am enjoying that lovely beach pictured above, if you have any questions, please email contactus@cruise.co.uk or call 0800 408 6200.

SHARK ATTACK!! Key Red Sea resort loses it's main attraction

I’m sure many of you have heard about this weeks 3 separate shark attacks in the world famous Egyptian beach resort of Sharm El Sheikh. Having travelled to Egypt myself 5 times for my love of the sea life out there I am very shocked to hear this breaking news. Reports read 3 attacks have occurred in the crystal blue warm waters of the Red Sea, just off the coast of the bustling resort injuring three people whom have lost limbs and hands due to the unexpected attack by what is believed to be White tipped reef shark.

Diving and water sports are the main reason why Red Sea holidays have taken off in such a big way over the past few years, along with almost guaranteed sunshine and great nightlife. These attacks are 3 of only 9 recorded in the whole world by this breed of shark and currently all water sports are out of bounds until the believed culprit shark is captured and returned in deeper, open waters. Surely he's had enough to eat by now? I hear Russian Arm is a delicacy in the world of  sharks!

As the biggest diving destination in the world, this can only come as a shock and the tourist board is really losing out at the moment. If you are cruising across the red sea soon or planning a holiday there, let me assure you Egypt is one of my favourite holiday destinations and even if the water sports are still banned... just enjoy the sun, have another cocktail and think of me in the office gazing out across the increasingly white landscape!

I am sure this will not affect the popularity of Sharm El  Shiekh as the underwater world there is so amazing and it is definitely a great place to go on holiday, also within such close proximity to the majestic pyramids of Giza and the tombs of Luxor. It definitely won't stop me from going there, ill just swim a little more cautiously. This has not been a good year for Sharm with the worst rainfall in 11years bringing down the airport roof in January, the crash of the Costa Europa cruise ship (now Thomson Dream) in March and now this!

I’m sure we can all agree we hope the injured people involved have a successful recovery and that the water sport market can start making the money they so readily rely on.

The amazing sea life in Sharm El Sheikh

Myself in Egypt in 2009