Monthly Archives: January 2013

British Yorkshire Pudding Day

How to make the perfect Yorkshire pudding

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British Yorkshire Pudding Day

Dairy Diary has such a loyal following and heritage that I think it can easily be called a British classic. There’s nothing else like it after all! Another British classic is, of course, the Yorkshire and Sunday is British Yorkshire Pudding day.

It may be a little bit naughty, but proper homemade Yorkshires are one of my all-time favourites. Particularly the huge ones filled with something delicious and old fashioned like beef stew or braised sausages with gravy.

The first of our modern Dairy Cookbooks
had a giant Yorkshire pudding on its cover.

I am sure that contributed to its success (as well as being a fantastic cookbook of course.)

Yorkshire Pudding is one of the most iconic of British dishes, famous not only in the UK but also abroad. It is also a recipe that has stood the test of time, with its present form boasting a history dating back to the 1700s and its predecessor, Batter Pudding, having been eaten perhaps centuries before that throughout Great Britain. Click here for our Yorkshire Pudding Recipe

Visit British Yorkshire Pudding day  for more info.

 

Mini Yorkshire Pudding SaladsWhy not try a modern
twist on Yorkshire pud?

Here is a fun and impressive starter.

Mini Yorkshire Salads

How to find Dairy Diary recipes

How to find Dairy Diary recipes

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How do I find an old Dairy Diary recipe?

This is probably the question I hear most from our customers.

There is usually an elaborate story attached to the question as people seem to be mortified that their precious Dairy Diaries have somehow gone astray.

Even though I live and breathe Dairy Diary, I confess that I don’t keep them all – I just cut out the recipes and keep them in ‘Mummy’s Recipe Folder’ – so I wouldn’t be at all offended if people admit that they throw away their old copies!

To find Dairy Diary and Dairy Cookbook recipes search the Dairy Diary recipe library  where you will find hundreds of fabulous recipes at your fingertips and don’t forget to subscribe to the Dairy Diary Chat blog for weekly recipes (some of which are from previous diaries).

There are one or two recipe requests that crop up
time and again. In fact, they have been so
popular that we have re-photographed them
and published them again in recent diaries.

Two of the cakes are listed below. Give them a try – they may become your firm family favourites too.

Yogurt Cake and Boiled Fruit Cake from the Dairy Diary

Dairy Diary Yogurt Cake and Dairy Diary Boiled Fruit Cake.

Both recipe can be found in the Dairy Diary recipe library.

 

 

Fifteen Feel-Good Tips for 2013

Fifteen Feel-Good Tips for 2013

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Fifteen Feel-Good Tips for 2013

Post-Christmas, gloomy January is the time of year when people seem to struggle and feel pretty low.

I am a natural optimist and tend to be quite a smiley person but weeks of over indulgence and rubbish weather, being cooped up indoors, have taken their toll.

I have decided to take stock and put in place a few things to make myself feel (and hopefully look) better. Here’s how:

  • Swap my dinner plate for one of the children’s smaller plates. I will eat less without having to resort to ‘diet’ food.
  • Stop moaning!
  • Every lunch hour when it’s fine, take a 30 minute power walk (trainers in my bag ready!) When it’s rainy, STOP, leave my desk for half an hour and read a book or magazine.
  • When I get a spare couple of minutes send my love-ones a text telling them why they are so special.
  • Make soup with leftover veg and take to work for lunch.
  • Do crafts while watching TV – creating something beautiful is so rewarding.
  • Display my jewellery on hooks in the bedroom so I can enjoy it all the time and wear it more often.
  • Compliment people when I think they look good or do something kind.
  • Once a week give myself a proper manicure.
  • Declutter and give-away/sell any unwanted clothes and toys etc.
  • Keep a stash of healthy snacks in my desk and eat less chocolate.
  • Treat myself to my favourite face cream.
  • Drink one glass of water with and between every meal.
  • Reorganise my wardrobe, placing clothes in ’outfits’ that co-ordinate with one another. Mornings should be a lot easier!
  • Place a note inside someone’s lunch bag from time-to-time to brighten their day. (My family members, not random strangers!)

 

Some of these suggestions are personal to me, but it is so useful to stop for ten minutes and think about your lifestyle and how it may be better or happier.

Try it today and make your own
feel-good list for 2013. I would
love to read yours too!

And here are this week’s healthy snacks. Not quite as delicious as chocolate but still tasty and much healthier.

Spiced bread pudding recipeSpiced bread pudding
Deliciously moist, this bread pudding tastes truly
scrumptious but in actual fact only contains
133 calories and 0.8g of saturated fat per slice.
With its wholemeal bread, it is a good source of
fibre and the dried fruits supply the body with
magnesium and iron.

Strawberry Cream Tea recipeStrawberry cream tea
Cream tea, what a decadent delight! This version
is low in fat and sugar and so can be eaten guilt-free.
The rice cakes make the perfect, crispy base for a
fruity topping, creating a light, yet scrumptious snack.

 

 

Both recipes are taken from the Hearty & Healthy Dairy Cookbook.

 

Farmhouse Breakfast Week & Our Favourite Dairy Diary Breakfast Recipes

Dairy Diary favourite breakfast dishes

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Farmhouse Breakfast Week & Our Favourite Dairy Diary Breakfast Recipes

I don’t know how people can skip breakfast. I am hungry from the moment I wake up!

In fact, I think breakfast is
my favourite meal of the day.

I love pretty much all breakfast goodies (though a full fry-up can make me feel a little queasy unless followed by a hike) from fresh fruit, to cereals to toast with preserves and pastries. Yum!

Next week is Farmhouse Breakfast Week, which encourages everyone to enjoy a healthy breakfast every day and reap the rewards, such as:

  • Breakfast eaters tend to be slimmer than breakfast skippers.
  • Eating breakfast can aid concentration and mental performance at work and at school.
  • It provides you with the nutrients and energy needed for an active lifestyle.
  • Research shows that breakfast eaters are less depressed and have lower levels of stress than breakfast skippers.

 

So here’s a round-up of my favourite breakfast dishes from Dairy Diary. Enjoy!

Dairy Diary A-Z of Saving Money

The Dairy Diary A-Z of Saving Money

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Dairy Diary A-Z of Saving Money

I usually pride myself in my (mortgage aside) debt-free existence, but following a hefty garage bill, Christmas and family birthdays, I’m afraid to say that my bank account is the wrong hue at the moment, looking decidedly scarlett and not very noir at all! 

SO! I am now on a determined mission to return it to a beautiful black as soon as possible.

As well as having a good stint
on Ebay selling our unused or
unloved items, I have consulted
the Dairy Diary saving money tips.

See for yourself, there are some great ideas here. By the middle of Feb, I hope to have mission accomplished.

Dairy Diary A-Z of Saving Money

Avoid buying new if you can get great quality second-hand

Visit www.uk.freecycle.org for free items local to you or search on Ebay (sort by nearest distance) for low cost articles you can collect.

Buy more plants!

It is often cheaper to buy three small plants than one large one. They will establish themselves quicker and cost less.

Contact your utility supplier if you are over 60

If one member in your household is over 60, check if there are any offers available from your utility company.

Direct debit

You can often save money on bills by opting to pay by direct debit. Most phone and utility companies offer this form of payment.

Energy saving

Only boil the water you need to make a drink or cook your vegetables and put a lid on pans. Rather than leave electrical goods on standby, switch off at the plug. Visitwww.energysavingtrust.org.uk or call 0300 123 1234 for more details on how to save energy.

Fabric remnants

Visit a local market or jumble sale for pieces of pretty fabric. Use these to cover cushions, produce a trendy patchwork throw, or wrap around a plain canvas for stylish artwork. An instant uplift for any room! Visit www.makeitandmendit.com/how-to-make-fabulous-cushions-from-old-clothes for more great ideas.

Get a water meter

You may be able to save money on your water bills by installing a water meter. Visitwww.moneysavingexpert.com/utilities/cut-water-bills to find out if it is a suitable option for your household.

Have a day out

Check out local press or websites for free local events.

ISA

Make the most of your savings with a cash ISA (Individual Savings Account). Visitwww.money.co.uk/savings-accounts/tax-free-savings-accounts.htm to compare the best available.

Join a club

Garden enthusiasts, consider joining the Royal Horticultural Society www.rhs.org.ukAfter your initial membership fee you will enjoy free entry into gardens and reduced prices for shows. If you love parks and historical buildings, consider becoming a National Trust member www.nationaltrust.org.uk

Kick the habit

If you are a smoker, consider giving up. Apart from the obvious health benefits you will save lots of money too. Visit http://smokefree.nhs.uk for help and to find out how much you will save.

Lower your phone bill

Visit www.uswitch.com to find out about cheaper call costs. There may be some cheap companies not listed. Check out www.moneysavingexpert.com for up-to-date information.

Mobile phones

If your mobile phone account gives you free ‘cross network’ minutes, it is often cheaper to call another mobile phone from your mobile phone than from your landline, which can be very expensive. If you use your mobile phone infrequently, it may actually be cheaper to swap to a Pay as You Go account. Visit www.uswitch.comto compare.

New car

When thinking about buying a brand new car visit www.which.co.uk/cars/choosing-a-car/buying-a-car/hot-car-deals to find the very best of the current deals available.

Open a store card

If you plan on spending a significant amount in one shop, it is worth applying for a store card. Various shops offer 10 per cent off the total amount spent when you open an account with them. Cut it up straight away, though, to avoid further temptation and pay off the balance immediately!

Paint

Time for a change? Revamp tiles, kitchen cupboards or shabby furniture with a lick of paint. Much cheaper than new ones!

Qualify for points or cashback

If you pay your credit card balance in full at the end of each month, consider switching to a credit card that offers cashback or other benefits such as airmiles or vouchers. Visit www.moneysavingexpert.com/cards/cashback-credit-cards

Review your life insurance

It’s worth shopping around for a better deal on your life insurance. Call 0800 316 3166 or visit www.lifesearch.co.uk

Switch your gas and electricity supplier

Visit www.energyhelpline.com or call 0800 074 0745 to find out which is the best deal for you. Simply give your address and energy usage (refer to an old bill) to discover which supplier is the cheapest.

Treat yourself to a weekend break

Shop around travel agents or visit websites such as www.lastminute.com for bargain breaks one or two weeks before you plan to depart.

Use loyalty cards

Ensure that you hand over loyalty cards every time you shop. Most stores, including Boots, Homebase and Tesco, offer points when you spend with them. Save up your points for a treat or to use in the run up to Christmas.

Visit the Citizens Advice Bureau

For information on what credits and benefits you may be entitled to visit your local Citizens Advice Bureau or go to www.adviceguide.org.uk

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For money-saving advice, visit www.moneysavingexpert.com

X high street stores

Scour your local charity shop for new or nearly new clothes. Look out for your favourite brands – many shops sell clothes that are so new the labels are still intact.

Yahoo

Visit www.yahoo.co.uk to send an email to a long-distance friend. It’s cheaper than sending a letter. www.123greetings.com to send a greetings card.

Zero % interest

It’s best to pay off your balance every month, but if you do owe money on your credit card switch to a company who offer zero per cent interest.

Visit the Dairy Diary website for more information.

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