Retro? Who cares when everyone loves them!
As a prepare-in-advance dessert, they are perfect for serving to family and friends.
This Syllabub Trifles recipe is a twist on the traditional trifle, having a syllabub topping which is utterly delicious.
Can you imagine sausage and mash without peas or a spring evening without pea and mint soup, or a goat’s cheese salad without a scattering of freshly podded peas? Peas are the champions of the vegetable world!
Pea shoots are relative new-comers to our salad bowls. Pea shoots have delectable leaves and tendrils and, unsurprisingly, taste like peas. These lovely little shoots make a delicious salad and work equally served with freshly steamed or pan-fried fish.
And they are very easy to grow.
So easy that my eight-year-old grew (and ate) on her windowsill, a miniature garden full in just a couple of weeks.
They grow very well on the kitchen sill next to your other herbs; simply purchase a packet of pea shoot seeds, soak in water, add to a tray of compost and just watch them grow!
Try this mouthwatering salad from the Dairy Diary.
#greatbritishpeaweek
And the best bit (apart from the taste)? It can be cooked in the microwave in just 4 minutes!
The Aztecs believed that cacao seeds were the gift of Quetzalcoatl, the god of wisdom, and the seeds once had so much value that they were used as a form of currency. Originally prepared only as a drink, chocolate was served as a bitter liquid, mixed with spices or corn puree.
It was believed to be an aphrodisiac and to give the drinker strength.
Today, such drinks are also known as “Chilate” and are made by locals in the South of Mexico. After its arrival to Europe in the sixteenth century, sugar was added to it and it became popular throughout society, first among the ruling classes and then among the common people.
The word “chocolate” comes from the Classical Nahuatl word chocolātl, and entered the English language from the Spanish language.
Before then, chocolate existed as a bitter, foamy drink in Mesoamerica.
So how did we get from a bitter beverage to the chocolate bars of today?
Deanna Pucciarelli traces the fascinating and often cruel history of chocolate in this informative and entertaining video, The History of Chocolate.
#worldchocolateday
#historyofchocolate
The first was from a campaigner who highlighted the damage that the fashion industry does to the environment; it’s the second largest polluter on the planet, after the oil industry.
And the second was with a scientist who is leading the way with research into the affects of plastics breaking down and entering the food chain of marine life. His most interesting point was not to demonise plastic; stating that it can be very useful, but that we should all be using packaging etc multiple times.
The throw-away culture highlighted by both these experts is a sad and worrying symptom of modern times and something that we should all think about.
I’m certainly doing my bit (as follows)
but plan to really think more about how
we can throw away less and re-use more.
Get a milkman/lady! This is not new news to Dairy Diary customers; but nonetheless a no-brainer with re-usable of packaging. The doorstep industry has been re-using glass bottles for decades.
ALWAYS take with you a water bottle and an insulated cup. Then, if you need a drink on-the-go you have no need for throw away items.
Think before you buy: do I REALLY love it or really NEED it. If the answer is no, don’t buy it. My ‘thing’ has always been new clothes but now I really carefully consider every purchase and make sure I buy quality that will last.
If you have pets, buy biodegradable bags for cat and dog ‘poop’ (I use the ones for food compost waste).
Buy bars of soap rather than hand wash and shower gel. You can often buy gorgeous smelling soaps at local markets.
Buy vintage soap dishes (see above). Modern sinks are not great at gripping bars of soap.
Invest in ‘sorting’ bins – ideally one for upstairs as well as downstairs. Bins with two compartments or more make it much easier to recycle as you simply choose the appropriate compartment when you no longer need something.
Keep a reusable shopping bag in your handbag and a few in your car boot. Then you’ll always have some to hand when you need them. And if you would like a really pretty one, take a look at our Dairy Diary shopping bag.
Use sandwich boxes (not bags or cling film) for packed lunches and for storing leftovers.
Rinse and fill old cleaning bottles with solutions of vinegar, essential oils etc. There are loads of recipes online for homemade cleaning products.
READ BLOG ON THE DAIRY DIARY WEBSITE
#recycling
#recycle
The fete season is in full swing and the sun is shining!
This Summer Fete Bake is colourful, very pretty and cuts into 18 – perfect for your village/school/church fair stall.
Juggling work, children (or grandchildren), housework, paperwork; friends and family can be extremely difficult in our fast-paced lifestyle.
The ONLY way I can manage everything is being reliant on my diary.
Receipts, return labels and shopping lists go in the pocket. Stickers are used throughout the diary to remind me of birthdays, appointments for hairdressers, dentists and vets. Plus servicing for cars and boilers.
I note everyone’s meetings, events and appointments on the days, and general ‘to dos’ for that week in the reminders panel at the bottom.
I often meal plan for the week, thereby reducing my stress levels when juggling work with homework and clubs.
In addition to the daily and weekly essentials I jot other reminders down in the notes sections – ideas for birthday or Christmas gifts as they pop into my head, places to visit for future weekends, plus my password clues (never the actual passwords!).
We would love to hear your tips.
And watch out for the new 2020 Dairy Diary; all will be revealed in the summer…….
Ran out of stickers? Simply order more!The Accessories Pack includes two sheets of stickers to customise your diary, eight fab page markers and an elastic closure with pen-pocket. A super present for any Dairy Diary fans.
Available now for just £6.50.
You deserve a treat! Enter the latest competition for your chance to win this gorgeous wicker hamper filled with a yummy selection of goodies for summer, including sparkling Rosé, Macarons de Pauline, Raspberry & Champagne Chocolate, Strawberries with Champagne Conserve, Strawberries & Cream Shortbread and Classic Earl Grey Teabags. Mmmmmmm.
#GetOrganised
#win
#competition
Dairy Diary Chat 