Tenants in Edinburgh take part in major energy efficiency roll out

Scottish housing provider Bield has rolled out hundreds of air fryers and slow cookers to tenants across the country in a bid to help reduce energy consumption.

The cooking equipment has been gifted to 688 Bield tenants as the provider received £33,000 from the Social Housing Fuel Support Fund – Round Two, funded by the Scottish Government and administered by the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA).

Developments based in Argyll and Bute, Ayrshire, Dundee, East and West Lothian, Edinburgh, Fife, Glasgow, Inverclyde, North Lanarkshire, Perth and Kinross, Renfrewshire and the Scottish Borders participated in the initiative which was led by Ken Greenshields, Customer Engagement Co-ordinator at Bield.

In Edinburgh, tenants at Emily Court, Halmyre Street, Milton Court and Pennywell Gardens received the new appliances.

The roll out is part of an ongoing drive to integrate energy efficient and sustainable measures across Bield’s operations and 5,000+ properties.

Frances Payne, a tenant at Bield’s Halmyre Street development in Edinburgh, said: “I was thinking of buying an air fryer myself and was so pleased when I received the offer letter asking if I wanted one. I’ve been looking forward to getting it and trying out some new recipes.”

As part of the roll out, Bield also created a recipe book with six different meal suggestions that can be made in an air fryer/slow cooker. The book was designed to help inspire tenants to make healthy food choices with their new equipment.

Another Bield resident, Mrs Dowling of the Glen Affric Avenue development in Glasgow, said: “I have been really looking forward to getting my air fryer. It is so quick and easy to use and everything I’ve cooked so far has been delicious.”

Bield’s commitment to sustainability is embedded into all its operations.  The housing and care provider recently revealed it is working to reduce its carbon footprint by 90% in a bid to combat the global environmental crisis.

Tracey Howatt, Director of Customer Experience at Bield said: “It’s very important to us that we make decisions which positively impact the environment whilst simultaneously putting the needs of our tenants at the heart of our operations.

“The roll out of these cooking appliances is just one of the proactive ways we are looking to raise awareness of energy and sustainability issues. We’re delighted to have been able to run this initiative and it’s only been possible thanks to the involvement and funding award from SFHA and a lot of hard work from Ken.

“We will continue to support our tenants in any way we can as we face soaring energy prices and the cost-of-living crisis.”

Bield worked with electrical retailer AO to help deliver the air fryers and slow cookers to its tenants across Scotland.

Anthony Sant, Managing Director at AO Business said “We are so pleased to have worked with Bield on this project and are excited to see the results. We all know that many essential appliances simply can’t be switched off at the plug to save energy, in the same way that we might do with game consoles or TVs when not in use.

“These slow cookers and air fryers will allow the recipients to make delicious, healthy meals at home, using less energy, and we’re thrilled to have been asked to play a part in making it happen.”

Bield is a registered charity dedicated to providing flexible housing solutions and support for older people. Bield Housing and Care has around 180 developments across Scotland, providing independent living for those over 50 years old around the country.

To find out more about Bield, visit https://www.bield.co.uk/housing-and-other-services or follow on Facebook @bieldhousingandcare and Twitter @BieldScotland.

Celebrity chef gives her support to Mary’s Meals campaign

Celebrity chef and food writer Ching He Huang MBE is supporting Mary’s Meals this Mother’s Day

Ching He Huang MBE is just one of the famous faces featured in a special Mother’s Day recipe book which has been created in support of Mary’s Meals.

The celebrity chef and food writer has donated a recipe for her mum’s golden sticky rice cabbage ‘money bag’ parcels to the school feeding charity. It features in an online cookbook, alongside Judy Murray’s mum’s traditional shortbread recipe, and Nadiya Hussain’s mum’s Bengali chicken korma recipe.

Mary’s Meals serves nutritious school meals to more than two million children every school day in 20 of the world’s poorest countries, including South Sudan, Ethiopia and Malawi. The promise of a good meal attracts children into the classroom, giving them the energy and opportunity to learn, and the chance of a brighter future. 

Ching He Huang says: “My mum’s presence can often be felt in my cooking.  Whenever I use sticky glutinous rice it always reminds me of mum – she always says if you eat sticky rice you will always stick with your family.

“I am proud to join Mary’s Meals in celebrating the important role of mothers across the world, delivering food, joy and hope to children living in the world’s poorest communities.”

The charity is offering a range of lovely Mother’s Day gifts, starting from just £15.90, that will feed a hungry child every school day for a full year. Each gift includes access to the online recipe book – featuring Ching’s recipe and more.

In the countries where Mary’s Meals serves its life-changing meals, it is most often mothers who volunteer to prepare and cook the food. They do this so that their children, and children living in their communities, can have the chance of a better life. Here in Scotland, many mothers volunteer their time to raise funds for the charity and raise awareness of its work.

Emma Hutton, head of grassroots engagement, says: “Mums really do make Mary’s Meals! Without the support of the amazing mums, grandmothers and aunts who volunteer for Mary’s Meals, we simply wouldn’t be able to feed over two million children every school day.

“We are delighted to have Ching’s support for our Mother’s Day campaign, which celebrates the love and work that is involved in preparing and serving Mary’s Meals to children living in the world’s poorest countries.”

To find out more, please visit marysmeals.org.uk

Box out: Ching’s mum’s recipe for Golden Sticky Rice Cabbage ‘Money Bag’ Parcels

Ingredients

  • 300g (10½oz) glutinous rice, washed until the water runs clear
  • 300ml (10fl oz) vegetable stock 1
  • tbsp + 1 tsp toasted sesame oil
  • 1 tbsp rapeseed oil 1 garlic clove, finely chopped
  • 1 tsp finely grated fresh root ginger 1 red chilli, deseeded and finely chopped
  • 1 small carrot, finely diced
  • ¼ tsp ground turmeric
  • 100g (3½oz) smoked tofu, drained, rinsed in cold water and diced into 3mm (1/8in) cubes
  • 50g (1¾oz) long-stem broccoli, finely diced 6 fresh shiitake mushrooms, stems discarded, sliced
  • 2–3 tbsp tamari or low-sodium light soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp brown rice vinegar
  • 1 spring onion, trimmed and finely chopped small handful of coriander, finely chopped

For the ‘money bag’ parcels

  • 6 whole savoy cabbage leaves
  • 6 garlic chives or onion chives

To garnish

  • micro shiso
  • micro coriander
  • edible flowers

Method

  • Put the rice in a saucepan over a medium heat.
  • Add the stock and bring to the boil, then cover with a lid, reduce the heat and simmer for 15 minutes until all the stock has been absorbed.
  • Turn the rice out on to a tray and cool at room temperature for 15 minutes. Once cool, add 1 tbsp sesame oil to stop the rice from sticking together when it’s added to the wok.
  • Meanwhile, prepare the cabbage leaves. Prepare a saucepan of hot water and a bowl of iced water. Blanch the cabbage leaves in the hot water until tender (less than a minute), then rinse, drain, plunge into the iced water and pat dry with kitchen paper. Set aside.
  • Place a wok over a high heat until smoking, and add the rapeseed oil. Once hot, add the garlic, ginger and chilli and stir-fry for 3 seconds, then add the carrot and turmeric and cook, tossing, for 10 seconds.
  • Add the tofu, broccoli and mushrooms and toss for a further 10 seconds. Now add the rice and start to break it down, but don’t stab at it and make it claggy.
  • Season with the tamari or light soy sauce and rice vinegar, pouring them evenly across the rice, followed by 1 tsp toasted sesame oil. Stir-fry for 2 minutes to mix the flavours. The rice should be quite ‘clean’ and golden in colour. Sprinkle over the spring onion and coriander.
  • To create the ‘money bags’, spoon some of the rice mixture into one of the cabbage leaves. Use a chive to tie it into a money bag shape. Repeat with the remaining cabbage leaves and rice, garnish with the micro herbs and flowers and serve immediately.

Everyone Can Cook! recipe book launch tomorrow

Pilton Community Health Project’s Wednesday cooking club have created a new recipe book – and they’re launching it tomorrowI

PCHP Community Development Worker (Food) Joe Jones said: “We are launching our new recipe book Everyone Can Cook! at PCHP on Wednesday (10 May). Similar to the Cook & Taste recipe book that Memes put together a few years back with Muirhouse community shop, it’s a collection of favourite recipes from local participants at our Wednesday cooking club. The recipes are healthy, budget friendly and easy to make for and with the family.”

The launch takes place from 12 – 2pm.