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We Love Veg: Butternut Squash

Christmas is so close you can almost smell it (who’s had brussel sprouts?) and with only two more sleeps to go, you’ve probably started to think about what’s cooking (apart from turkey) on the Big Day itself.

If you don’t know your butternut squash from your borlotti beans then read our occassional series “We Love Veg” and remeber that all Ruby Red products are 100% vegetarian, available here: http://www.rubyredcosmetics.co.uk/shop.php

There are so many squashes, with so many daft names: Sweet Dumpling, Pattypan, Yellow Crookneck. Courgettes, pumpkins, marrows and our good friend the butternut squash (see piccy). They can roughly be divided into winter and summer squashes. How very seasonal!

Summer squashes can be eaten whole, skin and all (like the courgette) whereas winter squashes develop more flavour by being allowed to mature on the vine and thus have a thicker skin, which helps them stay fresher for longer. And you can call them names and they won’t cry. Much.

Butternut squash (from Australia) is a vegetable that can be roasted and toasted or pureed or mashed (poor blighter) into soups, casseroles, breads and muffins. It makes a tasty winter warmer soup and can also be cooked on a BBQ, wrapped in foil with spices such as nutmeg and cinnamon. Mmmm!

They’re a good source of fibre, vitamins C&A (not the 80s clothing outlet), magnesium and potassium. What’s not to love?!

The name “squash” comes from the Massachusett Indian word “askutasquash”, which means ‘eaten raw’. Things are generally better when you don’t boil the life out of them, cos they retain all their nutrients and goodness that way. That’s why we don’t heat any of ingredients at Ruby Red for pure, natural goodness – you are what your skin eats, after all.

our butternut squashes

Our lovely Christmas Tree fairy

The lovely little lady who sits atop our Christmas Tree would like to say hello. We’re not sure if she’s an angel or a fairy, but either way, she’s certainly a looker and doing a splendid job of making the Ruby Red tree look gorgeous.

Ruby Red’s advent update

We were going to do a post every time we opened a door on our splendid Ruby Red advent calendar, but figured you might get a bit bored, as every post would go along the lines off: “We opened another numbered door. There was a chocolate inside! Woo-hoo!”

So instead we drew up a door-opening rota with miltary precision (to avoid a scuffle amongst the resident chocoholics) and we present to you the edited highlights here (look at the joy on our little faces, we’re so easily pleased…)

we're advent calendar-crazy!

 

Joyeux Noel!

 

pure excitement

Big Ruby Red welcome…

We’re very excited as we’ve got another brand new addition to Ruby Red’s small-but-perfectly-formed team. Gill’s in charge of balancing Ruby Red’s books and keeping the VAT man happy.

Our lovely Gill

Gill’s been a book keeper ever since she left school, and is such a natural that she started her own business keeping people’s books tippity-top. We’re as pleased as punch to have her on board.

Three facts about Gill:

1. Her favourite colour is blue (that’s how we feel, when she’s not here, crunching numbers through on her abacus).

2. She takes her tea weak and black. Brewed just like Martine’s, by waving the tea bag once over the steam…

3. She has an adorable doggie called Toto - a cross ‘tween a cairn/scottie/westie / Wizard of Oz cast member, see the resemblence here:

Is that you Toto?

 

Will the real Toto please stand up?

Gill’s also a trustee of 2 charities, the Bone Cancer Research Trust and The Anthony Pilcher Bone Cancer trust. The latter is exceptionally close to Gill’s heart as it was established to continue the fund-raising initiatives started by her son whom she sadly lost to the disease when he was just 15. You can find out more about Anthony’s charity and how it all started out as “Fish Aid” here: http://www.apbonecancertrust.org.uk/ 

Our Gill’s a force to be reckoned with, though, as she’s just headed up a campaign to stop Hampshire Primary Care Trust from closing her local doctors surgery.  She certainly showed them who’s boss as they are now looking for another practice to run it as a branch!

A big Ruby Red welcome to Gill!

Ruby Red’s advent calendar – day 9

We’ve been inundated with requests demanding to know if we’ve put up our Christmas decs yet at Ruby Red HQ. Actually, we’ve had two, and one was my mum so that doesn’t really count. Anyway! For those of you that are interested, we’re slowly dipping our toe into the festivities and we’ve got a wreath on the door (two days now and it hasn’t been nicked); santa hats strategically placed around the grond floor; a nativity scene in The Den area and pride of place is our fabulous Ruby Red calendar, purchased by our Intern, Francesca. It’s great. We’ve been so busy munching the chocolate treats hidden within the drawers that we forgot to post up a picture. So here it is. (I’m the hand model and can be contacted for shoots).

oooh, chocolatey goodness!

Ruby Red at the coal face

We’re as pleased as punch at being on offer in all five Planet Organic stores, and we can often be found in the Health & Beauty department, admiring our gorgeously organic products and rearranging all the displays (before being escorted off the premisis by security….). In fact, we’ve even arranged some in-store events in Planet Organic, where we can meet all our lovely customers and tell everyone about our fabulous range. So far, Martine has been in fifteen times (no wonder she’s always out of the office), Francesca has been to four and Natalie has been to one. Hmmm, you do the math. We’ll keep you posted as to when the next fun-filled event will be – but we can’t decide if it should be on a weekday or a Saturday? Any thoughts anyone?

Top of the Shops – December!

Beyond Beauty buyer, Hannah McInnes, from Harvey Nichols Head Office in London, talks us through a day in her life!

What sort of people do you get through the doors?
The Harvey Nichols customer is very aspirational; one who wants the latest fashion accessory and also those who want to find something niche and exclusive that they couldn’t find anywhere else.
What’s a typical day for you?
Searching for potential brands, analysing current trends and brand sell through, looking at merchandising plans and store layouts – and of course there will always be a project for example a new store opening or Christmas planning to work towards.
Are consumers now coming round to the fact that ‘organic’ is naturally healthier?
We have more customers requesting Organic skincare, they are becoming more conscious but at the same time they still want something of good quality and that they know will work well on their skin.
What are your personal favourites from the Ruby Red range?
I love the Lavender Shea Butter.
What do you like about the Ruby Red range?
I like that you know it has been ethically sourced and that it feels so natural but great on the skin.

Big thanks to Hannah. Ruby Red is available in the Beyond Beauty department of Harvey Nichols, London.

Ruby Red in Harvey Nicks!

Weather update

It must be getting cold outside; not only has our postman stopped wearing shorts (he’s swapped them for long trousers – he’s not just delivering post half naked) but Mike actually had to don his thermals for his stint at Cabbages & Frocks Market in Marylebone this Saturday. He’ll be there next Saturday too – why don’t you pop along and say hi (and bring a warm mug of steaming tea with you – he takes milk but no sugar). Thanks.

Life’s less taxing at Ruby Red…

Unless you’ve been extremely busy, you’ll have spotted that the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a reduction in VAT from 17.5% to 15% from Monday 1st December for 13 months until 1st January 2010.

That means you can now shop online at http://www.rubyredcosmetics.co.uk/shop.php and enjoy the extra savings of the reduced VAT rate on all Ruby Red products. We’ve adjusted all of our prices to reflect the 15% VAT cut, so we hope you enjoy the extra savings. That’s what we call Value Added Treats!