Archive For September 2022
The Feel-Good Factor. It will soon be the season for gift-giving. One might contemplate a grand piano for Jimmy, a racehorse for Sue, or a new super-yacht for dad. Along with those treats it’s always nice to have a little stocking-filler, and chocolate will always hit the spot. The Divine Chunky Chocolate Gift Set offers…
Easy Meals for You and Your Baby Prepped in 10 Minutes. Rebecca Wilson an award-winning Sunday Times bestselling author, a successful Instagram contributor. She is also a busy mum who knows the value of less time in the kitchen. Fast Family Food: Easy Meals for You and Your Baby Prepped in 10 Minutes is her…
The legacy of Geoff Hamilton Barnsdale Gardens in Rutland, in the East Midlands, has been enthralling garden fans since 1983, when Geoff Hamilton, the much-loved presenter of BBC Gardeners World, bought a Victorian farmhouse with over 5 acres of land. Barnsdale was Geoff’s ‘great experiment’ in peat-free and chemical-free growing, and so this continues today….
Tastefully Beautiful. Buying a bottle of spirits is often a bit like going to the library and choosing a book. You don’t know much about the content, but the cover is very nice. Santa Ana Gin is the equivalent of that volume on the shelf which catches the eye. It’s the spirit version of that…
This fully updated special edition of the complete guide to the edible species that grow around us includes a new foreword from the author, and a colour-plate illustration section with identification guides for all major varieties. Food for Free: 50th Anniversary Edition is already a classic. Originally published in 1972, Richard Mabey’s iconic foraging guide…
The Power of Sweet Heat. Charity Haynes founded Haynes Gourmet in the UK back in 2017 with her husband Robert and Dad, also called Robert. The company was small and producing tiny batches of Candied Jalapeños in their home kitchen, selling them at local food events and farmers markets. The company has grown but the…
Using vegan-organic techniques for a planet-friendly, wildlife-abundant, beautiful and productive garden. It’s been a strange few years, but these taxing times have offered new opportunities and a chance to ‘reset our lives’. Some of us have taken up painting, others have dusted off long-forgotten musical instruments and many have rediscovered the joys of gardening to…
Fizz with Flavour. I confess that these well-crafted mixers are new to me – and what a delightful surprise! The perfectly named company was founded on the banks of the Thames in 1896, where they began by developing striking essences for the city’s finest perfume houses. Sounds like a long way from drinks, but it’s…
50 Years on Isle of Skye. I have been reviewing books for almost two decades and I am almost sure that this is the first time reading a book that celebrates anything that has been in existence for five decades. Kinloch Lodge Isle of Skye has been around for half a century, but the eponymous…
Coffee and apples in a cocktail Here is a delicious take on a classic cocktail. Calvados Espresso Martini Recipe: 30ml Sassy Calvados Fine 40ml Coffee liqueur Double Espresso Method: Shake vigorously and strain, garnish with coffee beans. Visit Maison Sassy here
Eccentric Spirit Co Welsh Inspiration. Eccentric Spirits has a range of Welsh gin and spirits with individuality in taste and shelf appeal. The collection celebrates the uniqueness of Wales, from thriving cities to the grandeur of its unspoilt coastline. Known for its gins, the Eccentric Spirit Co. has a new offering. It is called Cardi Bay…
Spain’s Best-Selling Cava. The Codorníu estate has more than 450 years of history. They are the oldest wine and cava producer in Spain – and that is quite the accolade. They obviously do what they do do well to last that long in such a competitive market. Anna de Codorníu Brut Cava is a solid…
Cookies like homemade. Who doesn’t love a good cookie? But how many of us have either the time or the inclination to find the kitchen (it’s that other room that came with the house) and actually make our own? Blondies Kitchen comes to the rescue with sweet cookies that are far from, well, cookie-cutter. Blondies…