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The Art of the Antipasto Platter

Gone are the days of soggy spring rolls and hot-on-the-outside, cold-on-the-inside party pies when it comes to hosting a party.

That was so early 2000s.

Thanks to the resurgence of the coolness of Italian culture, the antipasto platter has now become the party food of the moment.

Antipasto means “before the meal” and is traditionally served as the first meal of a formal Italian meal.

Traditional antipasto platters include cold meats, olives, mushrooms, anchovies, artichoke hearts, various cheeses, pickled vegetables and some form of bread to serve with.

However, when antipasto platters are done well they can be the pièce de résistance of an entire party.

Ask any Italian and they will tell you that creating the perfect antipasto platter is an art form, certain foods work well together, certain flavors clash and it is all about high quality ingredients.

At Peaches, we have all of the ingredients necessary to create the perfect platter for your guests.

And tag us in any photos of any of your antipasto creations.

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La Fondazione (The Foundation)

When you’re building a house, it is important to have a solid foundation to build the rest of the house upon.

The same is true for an antipasto platter.

Start with a great wooden serving board, or if you are looking to be really on trend, find a marble or colored serving board to serve as a base.

Once you have selected your base, you must then focus on the next most important level – the meats.

The cold meats will serve as a base for the whole platter.

Try some fresh prosciutto, mortadella and some Italian sausage – or if you want to get really fancy, find some beautiful bresaola (air-dried, salted beef) to complement these flavors.

 

Il Secondo Livello (The Second Level)

Once you have your meat, move on to the second level of your perfect antipasto board.

Add some beautiful cheeses in a variety of textures – pair your creamy Camembert with flavored cheddar.

If you are opting for something more traditional, stick with mozzarella or provolone.

When it comes to olives, go for a garlic flavor in a mix of brown and green.

Add in some pickled vegetables in a small bowl on the side – you don’t want these flavors mixing with the meats

Artichoke hearts are the next layer and should also be served in a small bowl because of the oil. The flavors of these artichokes are perfect when paired with the meats, so give it a try.

Another fantastic edition is eggplants and zucchini in oil. You can make these yourself with fresh vegetables, or you can buy them ready made.

 

Gli Ultimi Ritocchi (The Finishing Touches)

An antipasto platter is made in the final stages – these are the elements that pull all of the rest together.

Toast some beautiful Turkish bread covered in salt. This should be served warm so that your guests can pile on the cheese and cured meats.

An alternative to this is some fresh pita, cooked in the oven for about 10 minutes. It creates a great “cracker” style of bread.

For a sweeter touch, add in some fresh or dried figs. You could also add in a dip with some bread sticks.

The most important thing at this point is to look for the balance in your platter. And remember: people eat with their eyes, so presentation is everything.

Peaches Product of the Month: Ansko’s Muesli

We all know the importance of starting your day with a well-balanced breakfast but sometimes, the morning has other plans along the lines of missed alarms and an empty fridge. Luckily the brilliant solution to all our missed breakfast woes is right here at Peaches! Ansko’s Muesli is made with only fresh local produce and a whole lot of natural goodness that will keep you going throughout the day. Partners Romesh Fernando and Anna-Marie Pitkanen started this company having a passion for fitness and living a healthy, fulfilling lifestyle embodying their wonderful products. Their muesli has even gained attention from celebrities such as Mel B and her husband Stephen Belafonte who have now joined forces with Ansko’s as partners. For all these great reasons (and many more still to come) we’ve decided to make Ansko’s Muesli our May product of the month.

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Ansko’s Muesli is currently available in four different varieties all available at Peaches now! From Gluten Free, Pistachio, Peach and Pecan and Original, you’ll be really enjoying the luxury that is a delightful and healthy breakfast. If you’re looking to bring some extra fibre into your diet, Pistachio and Peach and Pecan are definitely the right choices for you. Gluten free is the perfect option for all those celiac disease sufferers out there, made with brown rice, fruit, nuts and Australia. And you simply can’t go wrong with the Original, filled with only the best, making it both dairy and cholesterol free. Ansko’s recommends mixing your favourite variety with either milk or plain yoghurt and then its ready to be enjoyed.

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There’s never been a better time to get excited about breakfast! Not only does having a proper breakfast in the morning means a greater level of cognitive function throughout the day including improved mood and concentration levels and reduced stress. There are also some amazing long term benefits that come from a regular breakfast routine such as reduced obesity, heart disease and diabetes.

If you’re looking to lead that healthy lifestyle you’ve always wanted, it all starts in the morning! Ansko’s Muesli is the perfect way to start your day. Stop by Peaches and pick up your new favourite breakfast today.

Peaches Product of the Month: Mango

Mango is known as the “King of Fruits” and with good reason! Nothing says summer in Australia like the enticing tropical scent of mango floating through the home. Juicy, vibrant and tangy, it’s no wonder that we’ve decided to make mango the product of the month here at Peaches! From the incredible health benefits, versatility and of course that refreshing taste, we feel that mango definitely deserves to be celebrated!

There are so many reasons to love mangoes, starting with the amazing things that they can do for your body! Mangoes contain antioxidant compounds that help protect against prostate, colon, breast and leukemia cancers. They can also help improve eye sight, digestion, lower cholesterol, boost immunity and even clear your skin! In fact, if you’re looking to get your skin that healthy glow; why not check out this recipe for a nourishing mango mud face mask? Honestly, is there anything that mangoes can’t do?facemask

 

Now let’s get down to the real reason everyone is crazy about mangoes: their taste! So refreshing and deliciously addicting, there are many different ways to use mango in your cooking! We’ve found some great recipes for mango in salads, chutneys, smoothies, salsa, pancakes and curries, perfect for diner time.

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If you’re looking for something sweeter, mango can make your dessert stand out! Cakes, puddings, sorbets, cookies and tarts are just some of the ways you use mango in dessert! So versatile, just another reason to love them!

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But there’s one way to eat mango that we haven’t talked about yet: raw! Sometimes it’s the simplest things in life that are the best! If you’re looking to eat mango just the way it is, you have to know how to cut it. Take a look at this helpful video to guide you through the delicate art of cutting up mango.

Embrace our passion by stopping by Peaches and getting some mango into your basket. When selecting the perfectly ripe mango, use your nose! Ripe mangoes will be the ones that have a fruit aroma around their stems.

Join us in celebrating mango as the Peaches product of the month; after all it takes two to mango!

Peaches Reinday Offers!

To celebrate the season of giving, the Peaches Team have decided to reward their fantastic customers for a year full of smiling faces, encouraging feedback and lots and lots of fresh produce!

Throughout December we will have many specials and great deals available as a little Christmas gift from us!

Like Santa and his Reindeer though, they always appear when you’re not looking – so keep your eyes peeled to our Facebook Page, your wish list up-to date, but most of all, enjoy all that this coming Festive Season may bring.

Remember that gifts of time and love are the basic ingredients of a truly Merry Christmas – although, panettone, fresh cherries and delicious cheese helps too!

Happy Holidays, from the Peaches Family!

You’re Sweet Enough Already

Lately, we sure have been noticing the recent trend towards low sugar diets! There are so many different reasons to try out a low sugar diet; maybe you’re trying to lose weight, or need to cut out sugar due to health reasons like hyperglycemia, or maybe you just don’t have a sweet tooth. It can be pretty hard to avoid sugar in everyday life, especially when it’s hidden in some of your favourite foods and treats! So we’ve decided to help you out by checking out some of the foods you should be eating and the ones you should be avoiding!

Foods You Need

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  • Non-Starchy Vegetables- Rich in nutrients and full of vitamins, non-starchy vegetables are your best option for keeping you fuller for longer. Some of these vegetables include leafy greens, kale, mushrooms, onions, cauliflower, capsicums, peas, corn and eggplant. It’s also important to incorporate some mildly starchy vegetables such as potatoes for a more balanced diet.
  • Low Sugar Fruits- Depending if you’re looking to cut out just refined sugars or all sugars too, fruit is a relatively safe option for you. Low sugar fruits such as apples, berries, limes and lemons are full of nutrients, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. So remember these fruits for next time you’re reaching for that pack of biscuits!
  • Dairy Products- Cheese, milk and natural yoghurt are great snacks options as they’re full of calcium and healthy carbohydrates.
  • Proteins- Proteins keep you feeling full, and help reduce your cravings for those bad sugary snacks! Focus on foods like fish, poultry, eggs, meat and some nuts to keep both you and your stomach happy!

Foods To Avoid

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  •  Sugar- We’ll just start off with the obvious! Anything from lollies, cakes and other sugary snacks which don’t contain any necessary nutrients should be avoided. Also make sure to look out on the ingredients lists on your favourite cereals, sauces and marinades which may contain some hidden sugars for you to avoid.
  • Flours- Avoiding foods containing flour like donuts, fried food, pasta, pizza, cereals and white bread to make your sugar free diet much more effective!

Cutting out some of the sugar in your diet can bring some amazing benefits such as weight loss, clearer, skin, increased energy and motivation, health teeth and improved digestion and mental health. Ultimately you need to decide on the diet that fits best for you and remember not to be too hard on yourself if you have a few lollies one night. But just remember that you don’t need to eat sugar all the time, after all you’re sweet enough already!

WIN 1 of 2 Family Passes to Adventure World!

 

It’s time to dig out your best set of coloured pencils and get your sharpeners ready because we have a great competition ready for all those little artists out there!

We’re giving away two family day passes to Adventure World! Imagine spending the day enjoying quality time with your family, checking out the exciting rides and attractions that Adventure World has to offer! Why not make a whole day of it and take some time out for lunch too? You could even bring a picnic packed with your favourites from Peaches!

All you have to do to win this amazing prize is show off some of your artistic skills! We’re calling on all our Peaches Kids to unleash their talent and creativity through this awesome rollercoaster colouring in sheet. We’re looking for a whole lot of colour and a whole lot of imagination! Our two favourite artists could be scoring them and their family a trip to Adventure World.

Make sure to have your entries back in store by Friday October 9.

Best of luck to everyone! We can’t wait to see what you all come up with!

You can download our colouring in sheet here. 

See the terms and conditions here.

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The Time is Ripe

Quite often when you think of organics, you think of fresh fruit and vegetables, but there are so many other products and ranges, from pasta, sauces, oils and more!

As the largest supplier of organic products in WA, we felt that it was about time that we showcased the amazing ranges that we have at Peaches!

That’s why every week over the next 6 weeks, we will be highlighting a different organic product. Week One is organic Pasta from La Domenica!

If you purchase that product that week, you will go in the draw to WIN an amazing organic gourmet hamper from us, valued at $500!

Plus, there are more chances to win on our Facebook page! Just find the weekly competition post and answer the question to go in the draw to win a $100 Peaches voucher that you can spend on anything in store.

Week 1                                                                                  Week 2
Week 1 - La DomenicaGarden of Eatin Organic Corn Chips

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Week3                                                                                   Week 4

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Is Organic Food REALLY better?

You will be hard pressed to find a consumer, manufacturer or farmer who will argue with the benefits of organic food. Looking at a variety of studies from the last few years, the research clearly demonstrates that organics promotes good health.

Researchers from the Newcastle University in England recently analysed 343 peer reviewed publications on organic food research to find a definitive answer to the age old question: is organic food REALLY better for you? Their answer is yes!

After gathering this research, they found that organic food contains 20-40% more antioxidants than food grown with pesticides. Antioxidants fight free radicals in your body – a nasty by product of oxidation in the body that has been linked to DNA mutations that can cause certain disease like Parkinson’s. So what does a 40% antioxidant boost mean? Well, that’s essentially like eating two extra pieces of fruit or vegetables each day but without the extra calories!

There are some who argue that the extra cost of organic food isn’t really worth it. But when you look at the statistics, you’re buying more nutritional value for less servings so if you’re comparing nutrition to servings, you could potentially be spending the same or even less on organics than you would on regularly grown food!

 

Potat-no!

Potatoes are a winter staple, with their warm, starchy goodness to keep you content during the cold nights. But it’s all too easy to get stuck in a potato rut. What many people don’t realise is that there are so many alternative vegetables to use in place of potato to change up your winter dinners!

1. Zucchini

Everyone loves a hearty breakfast on a chilly morning and a big breakfast is nothing without a golden hash brown. Substitute your potatoes with zucchini for a spin on a breakfast classic! With Food and Love have a tasty recipe for your mornings. See the recipe here.

Zucchini Hash

2. Cauliflower

There’s something very comforting about a helping of mash potatoes – although too much can leave you in a carbohydrate coma! Mashed cauliflower is a delicious alternative. You couldn’t tell the difference, plus it’s got more of all the good stuff, like antioxidants and vitamins and less carbs! Dashing Dish have this scrumptious Whipped Cauliflower recipe for you to try tonight for dinner!

Whipped Cauliflower

3. Parsnips

Some crunchy chips is a guilty pleasure we all indulge in from time to time. Parsnip chips roasted in the oven are a much healthier alternative! Check out Bon Appetit’s tasty treats here.

Parsnip chips

If you have any other winter warmer veggie treats, share them with us on Facebook!

Spoil your Mum with a $200 Benny’s Bar & Grill Voucher!

Mother’s Day is a celebration of love for your mum, a special maternal figure in your life and the influence of mother’s in the world. There’s no better feeling in the world than showing your mum that you appreciate everything that she has done for you.

The one thing that springs to mind when we think about our mum is food! Nothing is better than a meal cooked with love by mum and there’s always a special dish she’ll make that you know is just for you!

We want to spread the love this year by giving one lucky person the chance to spoil their mum with a meal valued at $200 at Benny’s Bar & Grill on Mother’s Day, Sunday May 10.

Share your mum’s signature dish with us on Facebook to be in the draw.

One lucky runner up will win a Uccello Kettle valued at $69!

Enter here now!

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