Last year’s sold out!

We were so overwhelmed with joy at how quickly you snapped up the Notecard Set last year that we had to bring it back!

We are proud to present the beautiful new Notecard Set which contains:

• 20 stunning notecards
• four uplifting nature-inspired designs
• envelopes and pretty co-ordinated stickers to seal your notes
• pretty presentation box,  featuring the Dairy Diary 2022 cover image, with magnetic closure and ribbon

Your recipient will be delighted to open their card if you choose to buy them for yourself.

And maybe treat a friend to a whole set – it makes a lovely gift.

Discover what else is new for 2022 and browse through our amazing deals page!

Emily Davenport

I post regular blogs featuring food, family and fun. Ideas for days out, crafty makes, health and home, plus giveaways and, of course, delicious recipes that I think you will find irresistible

Two delicious vegan recipes

A couple of years ago, when we were exhibiting at the London Stationery Show, we met a colleague at an Islington vegan restaurant, I think it was called The Gate.

I love veggie food, but my former boss Nick – an avid fish and cheese-lover – was especially sceptical about the flavour of what he was going to eat. Apart from the dessert, which was quite strange, his scepticism was misplaced, and the main course, Miso Aubergine, was AMAZING.

Memorable meals out often inspire recipe writing
and that’s the story behind the recipe below.

I could never become vegan – I love cheese and milk chocolate too much – as well as working on Dairy Diary of course! But vegan meals can be delicious as part of a varied diet.

We often get requests for vegan alternatives from people who are cooking for vegan guests and have no idea where to start. Try the Miso Aubergine below, or the Vegan Sausage Roll recipe; vegan visitors (or you) won’t be disappointed.

Both recipes are featured in the 2022 Dairy Diary and the Dairy Diary Set – available to buy now!

Miso & Sesame Aubergine

Vegan Sausage Rolls

Emily Davenport

I post regular blogs featuring food, family and fun. Ideas for days out, crafty makes, health and home, plus giveaways and, of course, delicious recipes that I think you will find irresistible.

Autumn Wellness Routine

Each year, Sunday 10 October is recognised as World Mental Health Day, and it has given us the inspiration to share a few of our suggestions for winding down, taking a step back from busy life and improving our mental health.

Call a loved one to chat

Talking to someone about your feelings or even just having a conversation regarding the weather can have excellent benefits to your mental health. It can change your perspective on things you might be worried about, or simply make you feel valued and confident.

Light your favourite candle, put on some music or read a book

Take time to just sit and relax – you know the best way to do this. It could be the above or it could be going for a bike ride. One of our favourites is imagining we’re somewhere else (we’ve had a lot of practice at this over the past year or so). Get comfortable, close your eyes and picture your happy place, imagine the smells and the sounds that you can remember and focus on each detail as you unwind.

Cook your favourite meal

We all have recipes that take us back to a simpler time, perhaps a childhood memory? Gather the ingredients and take a few moments to prepare all the ingredients mindfully. Clean up as you cook so there isn’t an overwhelming mess to tidy afterwards. Take a look at the recipe section for inspiration.

Last, but certainly not least – spend some time with your Dairy Diary.

It is proven that those who write their plans in a diary boost their memory, mindfulness and communication skills. Read through the fantastic features and browse the delicious recipes too.

Read more about maintaining good mental health, and order free resources from Mentalhealth.org

Emily Davenport

I post regular blogs featuring food, family and fun. Ideas for days out, crafty makes, health and home, plus giveaways and, of course, delicious recipes that I think you will find irresistible.

No kitchen is complete without one

I’ve no idea how many we have distributed – millions and millions – but the product that I see EVERWHERE is the Dairy Diary Wall Planner.

My wall planner is the perfect size for listing school/work activities. Quick notes referencing who has packed lunch/PE/dentist etc that I can read at a glance when barely awake first thing in the morning.

This iconic planner has been delivered by milkmen and women since the 1980s and has been a valuable tool in planning millions of families’ lives ever since.

This year’s wall planner features two gorgeous recipe images, including the Strawberry Waffles recipe below, and has 6-months to view on each side.

Two of these must-have planners can be yours for just £2.00 plus P&P!

Strawberry Waffles

They taste as good as they look!

This stunning recipe is available in the new cookbook, More Taste & Less Waste.

Emily Davenport
I post regular blogs featuring food, family and fun. Ideas for days out, crafty makes, health and home, plus giveaways and, of course, delicious recipes that I think you will find irresistible.

October is one of our favourite months

There are lots going on and the weather is getting colder, so it is a great time to look up all the fab ingredients that are in season this month – to use in some comforting, scrumptious recipes!

We’ve given you a long list of which fruit and vegetables are in season in October.

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Vegetables
Beetroot. Cabbage. Broccoli. Celeriac. Celery. Carrots. Cauliflower. Chard. Chillies. Jerusalem artichokes. Kale. Leeks. Marrow. Mushrooms. Onions and shallots. Pak choi. Parsnips. Potatoes. Rocket. Spinach. Swede and turnip. Winter squash and pumpkins.

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Fruit
Apples. Pears. Quince. Autumn-fruiting raspberries.

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Don’t forget to jot some of your favourites down in your Dairy Diary Set notebook which is back-by-popular-demand! And look out for them in your local farm shop or supermarket…

Of course, Apple Day is the most popular seasonal ‘foodie day’ on our calendar this month

Visit our When Is Apple Day? page for more information on this historical day and a delicious apple recipe.

And here are some more of our favourites using delicious seasonal produce.

Leek Bacon Roly Poly and Pinkerton Pear Sponge are from the spectacular Around Britain cookbook, which allows you to travel though the British Isles and explore many of its regional culinary delights!

Comprising not just triple-tested recipes, but local information and interesting facts.

Why not take a look and discover the perfect gift!

You can also browse more seasonal ideas in our current collection: Gorgeous Autumn Recipes

5 Gorgeous Autumn Recipes

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Emily Davenport

I post regular blogs featuring food, family and fun. Ideas for days out, crafty makes, health and home, plus giveaways and, of course, delicious recipes that I think you will find irresistible.

Aiming for a colourful plate can be a simple way to get the full range of vitamins and minerals your body needs.

 

And your meals will be beautiful, too!

Below, is a handy portion chart to help you ‘eat the rainbow’ – each 80g portion of fresh, canned or frozen fruit or veg equals one of your 5 A Day (or more if you like!)

 

 

Mixing fruits or vegetables (e.g. 40g banana and 40g strawberries) still counts towards your total as long as each portion adds up to 80g.

Fruit juices and smoothies only count as one portion, no matter how many glasses you drink. The NHS recommends no more than 150ml a day.

Pulses, beans and legumes, like lentils, kidney beans or chickpeas, only count as one portion of your 5 a day, regardless of how many 80g portions you eat.

Potatoes don’t count towards your 5 a day because of their high starch content, but they are still a great source of fibre, potassium, and B vitamins. However, sweet potatoes do count.

Find lots more, tips and advice, as well as delicious recipes packed with fruit and veg, in your 2022 Dairy Diary – available now!

 

 

 

 

 

DAIRY DIARY BLOG

Emily Davenport

I post a blog every week featuring food, family and fun. There are lots of useful household tips, crafty ideas, giveaways and delicious recipes that I think you will find irresistible.