News
Parents urged to get free sugar app to check products
A chocolate bar contains six cubes of sugar, wowsers. To discover other such gems download Change4Life's new app where you can scan the barcodes of your favourite sweet products to help monitor your intake (or thoroughly depress yourself after finding out you've consumed three times the recommended amount and it's only lunchtime).
WD-40 and microwaved tampons: secrets of food photography revealed
I've heard snippets before of the long hours and secretive techniques that go into getting that perfect picture; this piece reveals the tricks food stylists and photographers use, and yes, the tampons are no joke. No wonder our Foodstagram pics never quite match up.
Ten ways to improve British food and drink in 2016
Tony Naylor takes you through his ideas for improving our food scene in the UK; he's berating the crappy cuisine available at train stations, asking for restaurants to make better websites (or actually have one at all), and pleading for a quality sandwich shop or two to stay open a bit later so we aren't forced to go to the local super after hours. What frustrates you about the British scene, any changes you wish will come in 2016?
Reviews
The 27 best biscuits in the world
Is this article for real? Who in their right mind would place Oreos above Cadbury's Chocolate Fingers? There are some seriously dubious rankings here. I won't give away the 'winner' of this ridiculous countdown but I will say this: it's no winner in my eyes. Number five however, that is the King of Biscuits.
Local News
Top 10 budget restaurants and cafes in Birmingham
There is so much good food in Birmingham right now: from the superb street food at Digbeth Diner, to the independent bakeries and cafes, to the eclectic mix of international restaurants. Next time you head the Brummie way, turn away from the chains in the sparkly new Grand Central and try one of these suggestions for a great value, delicious meal.
Recipes
Leek, butter bean & chorizo rice pot
The recipe you will find through this link is for a gratin which looks lovely but it was the rice pot dish I decided to cook which is a scroll down the page. It is one of those amazing meals that only requires one pan which, for someone without a dishwasher, is a massive bonus point. I halved the ingredients for two people but the recipe actually made enough for three. The only thing I didn't halve was the chorizo as I have a rather large soft spot for the spicy saus; around 75g went in but 100-120g would have worked even better. Oh and I swapped butter beans for cannellinis as they taste better. Fact. Super tasty and easy and quick, tick tick tick.
How to cook perfect chilli con carne
I come back to this Guardian series again and again to find new ways to cook the classics and this chilli is another one to add to the save list. I particularly love the smoky heat that comes from the dried chipotles and the hint of sweetness that the muscovado sugar added. Served up with avocado, rice, sour cream, jalapenos and grated cheese this was our New Year feast, a pretty good way to end the year.
Food for Thought
5 Ways To Be A Climate-Friendly Eater In 2016
I don't think there's any denying the fact that we need to stop eating so much meat. Our planet is not too happy about our ever increasing carnivore ways; in fact it hates it. If you would like to ease our Earth's woes, have a look at this article which will give you achievable ways you can help (and no, you don't have to go vegetarian, at least not permanently).
One week in to 2016 - how's it going so far? Any resolutions broken yet? Anyone doing Veganuary or Dry January? Personally I'm taking part in Chocolatuary which involves shuffling in as much of the Christmas treats as possible. So far, so good. A little Kitchen Crumbs news - the newsletter will now be fortnightly rather than weekly so expect the content to be of a far superior quality with wittier remarks and more beautiful photographs with that extra week of planning. Cough.