Meet the Team - Our Apprentice

In this week's Meet the Team, we talk with Ellie, our office apprentice! Find out what she can do in 30 seconds....!

What is your job title? 
Customer Service Apprentice

What do you do every day at work?
I place regular orders for customers, and speak to customers on the phone or email to solve any isues or queries they may have.

How long have you been with FFTO?
7 months

What is your go-to breakfast? 
Chocolate square bar or Weetabix

What do you do as soon as you get into work?
Turn on my computer and load my emails and necessary admin websites

Lunch at your desk, or lunch out?
Lunch at my desk!

What's your favourite fruit?
Pineapple

Tea all day, or tea never?
Tea in the morning

Tell us one thing no one in the office knows about you (yet!)
I'm scared of the ocean and refuse to go in

What is your party trick?
I can eat 15 breadsticks in 30 seconds

If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
A dog because they get to eat and sleep all day!

If you have any questions for Ellie, get in touch with us @office_fruit! 

Jackfruit - The New Pulled Pork!

Jackfruit is the hottest fruit of 2017, and we can definitely see why! It's a sustainable vegan meat replacement, with a neutral taste that takes on whatever seasoning or sauce you pair it with. It also has a similar consistency to chicken or pork, and works particularly well with BBQ sauce. If you're vegan, vegetarian, or just want to try out a yummy meat-free dish, look no further than our BBQ Pulled Jackfruit Sandwiches! Try out our recipe below (you won't forget it.)

BBQ Pulled Jackfruit Sandwiches

Cook time: 10 minutes
Prep time: 5 minutes
Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 shallot, minced
• 1 cup ketchup
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon chilli powder
• 1 x 10.6-ounce package plain jackfruit, rinsed and drained, and broken up with a spatula
• 4 hamburger burns

Preparation

1. In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the shallow and saute for 3 minutes, until softened.
2. Reduce heat to low and add the ketchup, honey, vinegar, paprika, Worcestershire sauce, and chilli powder. Stir for 3 minutes until well combined. Add the jackfruit and heat through for 5 minutes.
3. Transfer a quarter of the jackfruit to each of the buns, and serve while hot. 

Have you tried pulled jackfruit? Let us know @office_fruit! 

Profile On: Pomegranate

What is it?
It is a shrub that produces a red fruit.

What does it look like?
It has a round shape, like an apple, with a hard, shiny skin blushed with red or yellow. Inside, it contains edible white seeds which are held in jewel-like, ruby-coloured sacs filled with sweet, juicy flesh. The sacs themselves are packed in a bitter, pale yellow pith. The best pomegranates are those with unblemished, shiny skins. Those that feel heavy for their size are the juiciest. Avoid any with soft patches.

Other names?
Their Latin name is Punica granatum.

Where's it from?
Now mainly grown in America, Spain, the Middle East and India, pomegranates originated in the area from Northern India to Iran.

When is it available? 
It is available all year round.

How do I eat it?
Cut the fruit open across its middle, then holding a half over a bowl, cut-side down, bash the skin with a rolling pin. The seeds should pop out. To extract the juice, put the seeds in a sieve and press out the juice with the back of a spoon. Avoid crushing the sac membranes too much as they can taste bitter. Be careful when preparing pomegranates, as the juice stains.

What does it taste like?
The taste depends on the variety of fruit and the degree of ripeness. The seeds can vary from a little sour (similar to ripe cherries) to fairly sharp (similar to uncooked cranberries).


What are the health benefits?
They are among the healthiest fruits around, and they have had a big surge in popularity over the past couple of years, for many reasons. They contain mountains of nutrients, such as fibre, protein, Vitamin C and potassium. They have anti-inflammatory properties, and they may also lower blood pressure. What's not to love!

Do you love pomegranate? Let us know @office_fruit!

Father's Day Gift Ideas

Father's Day is coming up on Sunday 18th June, and while we're sure you're already sorted we decided to give you a few ideas for those *extra* presents....!

For the Posh Dad who loves champagne, why not treat him to a Moet & Chandon basket! We're sure he'll be delighted to tuck in.

£79.99 - Moet & Chandon Basket

For the Geeky Dad who loves to cook, these Star Wars lightsaber BBQ tongs will be everything his inner child could desire!

£29.99 - Star Wars Lightsaber BBQ Tongs

For the Photographer Dad, why not give him the gift of portable coffee while he's out and about taking snaps with this camera lens mug! (Coffee and cookies not included.)

£14.99 - Camera Lens Mug

For the Geeky AND hard-working Dad, this R2 D2 desk hoover will keep his space (get it!?) nice and clean!

£14.99 - R2 D2 Desk Hoover

For the Techy Dad, this Lenco docking station which acts as a speaker, dock and alarm clock will be sure to keep him awake and dancing!

£19.95 - Lenco Docking Station Speaker & Alarm Clock

For the Chef Dad, this spicy curry night subscription package will be sure to make his Friday nights full of flavour!

£22 - Three Month Friday Night Curry Subscription

What have you got your Dad for Father's Day? Let us know @office_fruit

Making the most of your commute

For many of us that work we have to do some kind of commute. For a lot of people that includes trains and buses. We could look at that time as dead time, wasted time, but wouldn't it be great to make the most of that time so that we can make the most of our day? Here are some great ways that you can make the most out of your commuting time, whether it is 10 minutes or 2 hours!

Broaden your mind with podcasts
Podcasts are a great way to catch up on current events, learn things you didn't know (like a new language!) or just have a chuckle along with some funny topics. Our favourites are Stuff You Should Know; The Unlimited Spanish Podcast; The Tony Robbins Podcast; The Documentary; and Money Box. All can be found on iTunes. If you have any great podcasts you would like to share, let us know in the comments!

Chill out with some meditation
There are a few meditation apps on the market that include a travelling option, to help you relax and enjoy your journey. Considering how stressful travelling can become, this is definitely a bonus as it helps you arrive at your destination chilled out and refreshed. Just what we all need! Our favourite app is Calm.

Organise your mind with lists
If you're one of those people that are constantly thinking about what they need to do, where they need to be, and who they need to talk to, why not spend your time making lists? Whether to-do lists, or reminding yourself what you've done that day, by using this spare time to prioritise and organise you will certainly reap the benefits! 

Reply to all those texts!
If you've got a bustling social life, you will know how difficult it can be to juggle all those conversations! Why not take this time to reply to all those people you have left hanging? Even if you are underground, once they are all queued up they will send as soon as you get some signal. Simple!

Catch up with a great book
Why not use your commute to dive into a great book? Whether a physical book, kindle, or audio book, you're sure to find something that you'll enjoy, and believe us when we say the time will whizz by!

What do you do to pass the time on your commute? Let us know @office_fruit