Giving you the inspiration to rustle up tasty meals that everyone will find irresistible, Good Food, Fast is packed with delicious, stress-free recipes that can be whipped up in just 30 minutes or less!

With 116 recipes that cleverly use store-cupboard staples as well as combinations of fresh and frozen ingredients, Good Food, Fast ensures you can create something tempting even under pressure. Great if unexpected guests have dropped in or your day has not quite gone to plan.

The book is clearly divided into seven handy sections.

There is always something to suit the occasion or your store-cupboard and each of the 120 recipes is illustrated with striking photography – so even the most impatient of dinner guests know just what’s in store.

The first section covers ‘Speedy Soups’ with recipes such as Tomato Soup with Pesto Cream (see below). Once you have tasted it, you will never reach for a can of Heinz again. The ‘Quick Fixes’ and ‘Everyday Eating’ sections show that even being short of time does mean you have to revert to the same tried and tested meals. With 47 refreshingly different options – you could have something different everyday of week for over a month.

Preparing in advance when you have time is always a winner and the ‘Frozen Assets’ section gives plenty of inspiration for pizza bases, sauces, gravy and even cakes and desserts that can be made ahead ready for when you need them. Finish off with something from scrumptious ‘Desserts’ or ‘Take the Biscuit’ – so easy, there is no need to buy in a pudding ever again.

The new Good Food, Fast Dairy Cookbook is priced at £9.99 (plus £2 P&P).

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Now’s the time to plant up gorgeous displays in time for autumn – you’ll be the envy of your street!

You could use a mix of glorious heathers, teamed with velvety rich pansies or try chrysanthemums as shown below.

Half price offer!

The following project – and many more to give your garden autumn glory – comes from Seasonal Garden Ideas available at half price now online! Wow!

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Not only is it important to keep children amused and ward-off boredom related grumpiness, it can be incredibly rewarding too.

I am lucky enough to be attending a children’s festival at the weekend – my first festival for a long time and no doubt a lot different from the ones I attended pre-children! Just So Festival is a wonderful event with many activities, ranging from art projects, to musical entertainment and story-telling www.justsofestival.org.uk

For those of you not able to visit the festival, look out for lots of family fun tips in next week’s blog. Or buy the 2011 Dairy Diary – on sale now – which has a full feature on keeping kids amused.

Win a set of fun cookie cutters
In my experience, children love cooking. Try out these Gingerbread Clown biscuits and have a go at winning a set of fun cookie cutters by clicking on the following link.  http://dairydiary.co.uk/mailinglist.html

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As I don’t have a huge house, but a bigger than average garden, summer is the perfect time to socialise and enjoy spending stress-free time with loved ones. Or so I thought, so far, we have managed one!

Trying to tie our various groups of friends and relations down to a date that suits everyone is akin to getting the Queen and Prince Phillip over for lunch! And now of course, the weather is very unpredictable (putting it politely!) I am, however, still determined to succeed before the leaves turn golden and we need to barbeque in woolly hats and mittens. For those of you who manage to squeeze some al fresco dining in between showers you may find the tips below useful (taken from bbq.co.uk).

Clean up
Clean your barbecue after each use – this will save any nasty surprises the next time you come to the grill.

Handy tools
Keep all your barbecue tools handy to avoid traipsing back and forth to the kitchen too many times. Place everything on a side table next to the barbecue. This means you won’t have to leave the grill unattended, and you can spend more time with your guests. Always make sure tools are thoroughly cleaned and dried before putting them away.

Meat temperature
To avoid burning and drying your food, remove meat and poultry from the fridge an hour before cooking to bring it back to an ambient temperature. This will result in a more succulent cooked result. Be sure to keep the meat covered, and out of direct sunlight.

Use long handled tools
Protect your hands from the heat – always use long handled tools, such as tongs, for handling the food.

Marinating
Add flavour to your meat and keep it tender by marinating for at least 20 minutes. Some meats are better left overnight, while fish only needs 20-30 minutes – the acid in the marinade will ‘cook’ it if left overnight.

Cook in foil
Save the stress of foods falling apart as you cook them – wrap them in foil. Those foods that easily stick or burn, such as fish, can be wrapped up in foil. Brush the foil with oil before adding the fish, add salt, pepper, a squeeze of lemon and a splash of white wine. Fold the corners together to seal the foil and keep the juices in.

And to eat…
Chicken satay with Indonesian-style salad taken from Good Food, Fast Dairy Cookbook: available online at www.dairydiary.co.uk or order by telephone 08450 948128.

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I know at this point, I should probably advocate real ales – my boss would as many a business trip has involved a brewery ‘drive-by’ – but it’s not something I have ever had the correct palette for.

There is something really homely and loveable about a pub that welcomes dogs. On a recent holiday in the Cotswolds, one local whose dogs had made friends with us commented that it’s one of the best ways of meeting people. His dogs always made friends for him.

One pub chain has not only welcomes four-legged friends, but has gone one step further by offering their canine visttors delicious grub. http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/jul/24/dogs-pubs-food What a fabulous idea! I don’t think I will go as far as taking my two cats out to my local, but if I ever have a dog then I will be seeking out gourmet experiences for both of us.

I’m afraid the Dairy Diary doesn’t offer canine recipes, but I am sure you will be delighted with the Salmon and Ginger Fishcakes from the forthcoming Good Food, Fast: Dairy Cookbook. It is a fabulous 30 minute recipe full of Thai flavours yet is quick and simple to prepare.

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Each had been using the Dairy Book of Home Cookery over the past few weeks and had recorded their thoughts on it in the Dairy Diary.

We were trying to find out how to improve the book for its new launch next year – the overwhelming response was ‘don’t fix it if it aint broke’! Everyone who uses this book – from young to old – loves it! So with a few very minor teaks I think we can make a great book even better. The ‘tweaks’ we agreed on were:

• Modern cover
• New more contemporary recipe shots
• Nutritional information for each recipe
• Better portion sizes (this was its only criticism)
• The addition of some new ‘classics’, such as wraps, tacos and risottos
• Remove fondues!

As a Dairy Book of Home Cookery fan, do you have any suggestions for the new book?

Win a set of muffin cases
Many like to use the book for baking. As a very special treat I have a set of 8 silicone muffin cases to give away.  To win visit http://www.dairydiary.co.uk/mailinglist.html

You will have to wait for a sneak preview of the Dairy Book of Home Cookery, but try these irresistible Orange Iced Cup Cakes from Good Food, Fast – Dairy Cookbook, available from September..

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King William III

Today’s bank holiday commemorates the Battle of the Boyne. For many years I have edited this in the Dairy Diary but I have never really known much about its history. Time to find out…

This year’s bank holiday will mark the 320th anniversary of King William’s victory in Ireland. Interestingly, it is very important to the history of the British Monarchy (I think we should all be entitled to this bank holiday!)

Because of his old church beliefs, in 1688 powerful establishment figures forced King James to abdicate and invited William to take the throne. King William III was the Protestant head of the Dutch royal house of Orange. When James and his wife Mary landed in England, the royal army defected and James fled to France. James was deterrmind to win back his throne and, with the help of the French King, amassed an army of 25,000 (mainly Irish Catholics and French).

He landed in Ireland and fought against King William. William’s 36,000-strong army conisted of protestants from several European countries and both kings led their armies in person. It was a bloody battle at Oldcastle, near the mouth of the river Boyne, which saw a victory for William and it glued William and Mary firmly on the throne. It consolidated the momentous changes in the British way of government known as the Glorious Revolution.

Today’s fabulous Blueberry Crumble recipe comes from Just One Pot, Dairy Cookbook – still available for just £2.99 – and makes the most of this seaon’s delicious blueberries.

Win a copy of Clever Cooking for One or Two
We have 5 to give away http://dairydiary.co.uk/mailinglist.html

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It seems that we have very wide ranging tastes when it comes to that humble of British inventions (introduced by the 4th Earl of Sandwich), the sandwich.

I was most sceptical about the DBoHC’s orange and mackerel, or bacon and banana ensembles but willing to give them a try (the latter, when toasted and drizzled with maple syrup is a bit of a revelation.) However, on browsing the Guardian blogs this morning, I was appalled to see that Tesco have launched a Lasagne Sandwich http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/wordofmouth/2010/jun/16/tesco-lasagne-sandwich-lasandwich-why. Initially, I checked the date of the blog assuming it was an April fool, but no, it was published in June. Surely no one with a tastebud would want it? Is it me?!

I would love to know if you have given it (or something equally bizarre) a try. When looking on Tesco’s website, it doesn’t seem to be there so perhaps it has made a rapid disappearance from their shelves – and no wonder!

For an appealing alternative to the ‘lasagndwich’ try this Chicken & Avocado Salad Sandwich from Hearty & Healthy Dairy Cookbook.

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It dates back several millennia, and many stone circles (such as Stone Henge) are aligned to the sunrise on this day.

Midsummer fires would be lit all over the countryside, and it was customary for people to jump through the fires, folklore suggesting that the height reached by the most athletic jumper would be the height of that year’s harvest. After Christianity was adopted in Britain, the festival became known as St John’s Day; the birthday of St John the Baptist. Traditionally St John’s Eve was seen as a time when fairies were thought to be at their most powerful (hence Shakespeare’s Midsummer Night’s Dream).

Back to reality and modern life, I don’t think too many of us will be jumping fires on Thursday, but we can enjoy today’s Summer Solstice. And what a glorious day for it! The sun is shining, and hedgerows and gardens bursting with flowers.

Why not make the most of the extra daylight and make the Foliage Fountain – it’s an elegant hanging basket and it only takes an hour. And for such minimal effort, what a result! The vivid colours will brighten up any porch or doorway.

To celebrate summer, we are giving away two portable gardening sets

Each portable set contains a handy pouch with a fork, trowel, dipper and secateurs. It takes just a few seconds to enter online – so why not do it now? Good luck.

Project taken from Seasonal Garden Ideas now available from the Dairy Diary store.

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It’s not that I don’t feel it – every day I am thankful for such a wonderful dad (who is a fantastic grandad too), I just don’t say it very often!

So, if like me, you are lucky enough have a fabulous dad (and/or your other half is a wonderful dad) spoil him rotten on Sunday. Why not begin the day with this All-in-one-Brunch, an easy but scrumptious breakfast? Then take him somewhere special or do something he really loves (for me, this may involve a ride on a Harley Davidson, or scavenging for fossils somewhere!) Every dad certainly is different!

Just One Pot, Dairy Cookbook sale
For more one pot recipes, try Just One Pot Dairy Cookbook. It’s now only £2.99, for a limited time only at www.dairydiary.co.uk

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That was until Simon King mentioned the huge spiders – the size of the palm of his hand!! We might have to rethink our holiday destination quick.

Take a look at the Springwatch website. There are great ideas about what to make and do, and where to go in the great outdoors http://www.bbc.co.uk/breathingplaces.

Our Favourite Countryside Birds book provides the perfect guide on breeds to look out for. Explore the fascinating facts and charming folklore behind Britain’s best-loved countryside birds, in fields, moorland, woodlands and waterways.

To win a copy visit http://dairydiary.co.uk/mailinglist.html where we have ten to give away. Don’t worry if you have already joined our mailing list – you can still enter every competition!

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Sadly I’m afraid this book is now out of print.

However! Launching in a couple of months’ time is our brand new book Good Food, Fast. It has all the same principles as Quick & Easy: recipes can be prepared in 30 minutes or less; all ingredients are readily available; all are easy, everyday food.

Try this sneak preview recipe Pea & Watercress Soup, which also makes the most of this season’s watercress.

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Yes, last Sunday, we managed to escape the children for a day (don’t worry they weren’t left unattended!) and visit the Derbyshire Food & Drink Festival, held in the grounds of the National Trust’s Kedleston Hall.

For those of you yet to experience the joys of a food fair, I would highly recommend it. There was a huge range of local producers, selling many tempting things. We chose a small selection of finger food for our picnic – beautifully tranquil and warm by the river – and a few treats (we could have bought much more!) to take home. We finished the day with a wander through the scented bluebell woods. Bliss!

Click here for details of food festivals near you.

After sampling all of our purchases, my overall favourite was damson gin, but the small bottle is going down far too fast. So I am going to give our very own Dairy Diary fruity gin a try now I have been inspired by its sweet and subtle taste. Perfect with a splash of cava or tonic; or simply on its own with ice.

Win a Dairy Diary Address & Reminder Book
Fancy a treat? For your chance to win visit the Dairy Diary website. Good luck.

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Well, following the best weekend of the year to date, it may be unrealistic to expect the same for the bank holiday weekend.

But, if it does turn out to be a pleasant weekend, what better way to enjoy it than to get out and enjoy your garden. This weekend we will definitely try the Peppers in a Pot mini-project from Seasonal Garden Ideas. And enjoy a leisurely barbeque with friends – fingers-crossed!

Are you lucky enough to have tickets to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show this week? I am envious. If you haven’t got tickets the bad news is that the show is sold out. But you can follow the show on BBC – here’s the schedule.

Fancy winning a copy of the fabulous Around Britain Dairy Cookbook? Simply click here to enter. Good luck.

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Its popularity is unwavering and its fans passionate.

One of our consumers said:

‘A treasure. A friend of mine’s mum had an old version of this book when I was at school (a long time ago). When my husband and I moved into our first flat, there were two cookery books on my kitchen shelf. Delia’s original “Complete Cookery Course” and the Dairy Book of Home Cookery.’

The recipes are clear and simple – and unlike many cookery books these days, all the basics are there, pancakes, white sauce, the stuff your mum used to make. The information sections are also first class. My husband (a chef) takes my copy into work to show his trainees where all the cuts of meat come from, as the illustrations in this book are far superior to most industrial tomes. My daughter is only 12. But when she leaves home, she’s taking a copy of this with her – but not mine!’

I’ve even heard of someone buying her ex-husband a copy when they divorced!

This ‘cookery treasure’ is now an astonishing £2.99 (plus P&P) on the website. Snap it up while stocks last, and look out for the brand new fully updated version next year.

Try this Shepherd’s Pie, just one of the treasured recipes in the  Dairy Book of Home Cookery.

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Isaac had lots of fun planting seeds – free from http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/digin/ – which we hope will grow into splendid salad leaves, carrots, courgettes, beans and sunflowers. Hmmm, as complete novices, we will see!

Besides the vegetables I want to try and attract more wildlife to the garden. My parents are lucky enough to enjoy the spectacle of two visiting badgers almost every night; it would be wonderful if we could encourage mammals to our garden too. The Wildlife Trust has a teamed up with the RHS to produce a lovely website with lots of handy tips http://www.wildaboutgardens.org/.

Our first project will be this fantastic Hedgehog Hideaway from Seasonal Garden Ideas. Despite its simplicity, this is definitely one for my other half or I might end of with one or two fewer limbs!

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A couple of weeks’ ago I had a phone call from one of our consumers asking for us to “give the late May bank holiday its proper name – Whitsun.” As we chatted it made me realise how little many of us (including me) know about the origins of our bank holidays. And so for some research….

The name ‘bank holiday’, quite simply comes from the time when the banks were closed and so no trading could take place. Back in the early 19^th century, The Bank of England would observe 33 saints’ days and religious dates as holidays. These were drastically reduced with the official introduction of  the bank holiday in 1871.There were four holidays for England, Wales and Northern Ireland and five for Scotland. Whitsun commemorated one of the three baptismal seasons – baptism candidates would wear ‘white’ on a ‘Sunday’ and would be celebrated the day after Pentecost. Though Whitsun was included in the original bank holiday dates it was later replaced by the spring holiday on the last Monday in May. Further bank holidays were added during the 1970s, with a total of seven for Scotland, eight for England and Wales and ten for Northern Ireland. Let’s hope the 2010s sees the introduction of some more!

It’s asparagus season!
The season English asparaus is short, so make the most of it and treat your family to this gorgeous seasonal recipe, Asparagus with Poached Eggs from Year Round Dairy Cookbook. And don’t forget the book is on special offer – last chance – at only £2.99. Bargain!

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I am not going to try and be too ambitious, as I have never done it before but I am going to start with these fun and quirky Pot Herbs for the Kitchen. They look great and I will have a constant supply of my favourite herbs right next to the kitchen door.

Seasonal Garden Ideas features many more fabulous mini-projects for the whole year and easy enough for anyone to tackle. It’s on sale now just in time for the start of the gardening season

And when the herbs are established try this delicious recipe for Salmon with Minty Salsa taken from Clever Cooking for One or Two.

Win a copy of Clever Cooking for One or Two

Simply enter here before Tuesday 4 May – we have ten to give away. Good luck.

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We have ten up for grabs, so just enter your details at http://www.dairydiary.co.uk/mailinglist.html before Monday 26th April and you could win! Easy!

Let’s hope Nick survives alone in the office all week!

Not only will we be celebrating being on holiday but of course we can celebrate St George’s Day on Friday. http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/saints/george_1.shtml

Regardless of what you think about St George, the myths and legends, it’s the perfect excuse to celebrate fantastic English food. In our cosy cottage we will be indulging in this fabulous traditional roast beef dinner from Around Britain Dairy Cookbook. Always a winner with all the family!