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Enjoy National Picnic Week

Perfect picnics

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Enjoy National Picnic Week

When it comes to memorable meals, it’s not just about what you eat but where you eat.

I have enjoyed some amazing meals at fabulous restaurant, where the food quality is just astonishing, but the pleasure of eating alfresco in a beautiful setting equals (and sometimes beats) this.

In the right place,
with the right weather,
there’s nothing more
special than a picnic.

Mewslade-BeachOne particularly memorable picnic was at the top of Catbells in the Lake District. The view was just beautiful and a couple of fellow fell walkers kindly shared their homemade flapjack with us. We have also enjoyed hotdogs cooked over the fire at Mewslade beach on the Gower peninsular.

Most of my childhood holidays featured British picnics, so we often had to take a camping stove or make a fire in order to create something to warm us up!

Forget stale old cheese sandwiches, pack a feast of portable delights for a truly memorable experience. We usually shop for some ready-made couscous and falafel, take a bag of hand-cooked crisps, a punnet of strawberries and some home baked goodies, such as cheese scones, fruit cake and these fabulous muffins.

Don’t forget the flask of coffee to warm you up as well!

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Parma-Ham,-Spinach-and-Basil-MuffinsTry this yummy
Parma Ham, Spinach & Basil Muffins
recipe from the Dairy Diary 2014.

There is more picnic inspiration
in the next Dairy Diary.

Reserve yours online next month and
receive one of the very first copies.

 

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Win a Picnic HamperWin a Polka Dot Picnic Hamper

Like to picnic in style?

Who wouldn’t want to win this gorgeous picnic basket?

Enter the prize draw and you could be the most stylish picnicker in the park.

Father’s Day Makes and Bakes

Father's Day Gifts

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Father’s Day Makes and Bakes

When you become a mum you realise that Father’s Day becomes even more fun and yet requires a LOT more planning.

My dad has had a very challenging year this year and so I want to spoil him with something really special. Despite being in the latter part of his sixties, my Harley-riding dad is a bit ‘rock’ and so I have commissioned this gorgeous leather bracelet from Etsy with ‘Coolest Grandad’ and the names of his grandchildren.

Etsy is a fantastic place to find unusual gifts at affordable prices and often features up-and-coming artists and craftspeople. I’ve also ordered a really cool Vespa photographic print for my scooter-loving better half from the twinettes.

For a Father’s day card with impact
you can’t beat a create-your-own-card
website such as Snapfish.

I have created three lovely cards with pictures of the children for my Dad and my little people’s daddy.

I’ve also begun (a little late) a lino print for Dad of a hare, his favourite animal, which I am desperately hoping is finished by Sunday. Lino-printing is a much neglected hobby as it is so difficult to find time with a busy full-time job and three children. I do, however, find it so therapeutic and it gives me such very valuable ‘me’ time. All of this little lot have not cost the earth, but because everything is so personal to each dad I think it will make them feel special (that’s the idea anyway!)

 

Steak Ciabatta & Lemon Tart recipes

I’m also planning a delicious family lunch for the three generations.

I think these two recipes from our next cookbook, Clever One Pot, should be a big hit! Steak Ciabatta with Caramelised Onions and Lemon Tart.

Secrets of Food Photography

irish soda bread recipe

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Secrets of Food Photography

I love a train journey. As soon as I step on board and settle into my seat it evokes nostalgic feelings from childhood, even now.

I am lucky enough to be able to experience train travel on a fairly regular basis with work and last week I enjoyed a trip down to London for the first 2015 Dairy Diary photo shoot. As the Pendolino whizzes its way through the countryside, it’s a great opportunity to escape from the distractions in the office and have some quality thinking time, to plan new projects and marketing strategies.

Photo shoots are some of my favourite work days. It’s lovely to get the chance to spend a day in such a creative environment.

I also get to sample some rather delectable food,
which last week included pancakes for breakfast,
a very tasty steak pie for lunch and a cheeky little
champagne cocktail.

Many believe that food photography is faked but at our shoots, every recipe is made exactly as per its instructions. We just happen to have a very clever food stylist, Sara, who makes everything look so appetising. The only minor cheat was the addition of a tiny amount of sugar to the champagne cocktails to make them fizz for longer.

By far the most fun (and challenging) shot was a gorgeous chocolate torte topped with sparklers. It looked fantastic but took a few attempts to get it right without looking like a bonfire!

The props room is like an Aladdin’s Cave and gives me the chance to look through all the props selected by our stylist for the book. I think she has particularly excelled herself this year with some beautiful cloths, crockery and glassware.

Irish Soda bread recipeIrish Soda Bread with Rosemary

It will be a while before you get to see these fabulous images but I can share this recipe with you. I had this for the first time at last year’s photo shoot and it tastes just divine. We (actually not me but my former-baker fiancé) usually bake bread in the breadmaker but after sampling this we have made bread ‘properly’ a number of times. Irish Soda Bread with Rosemary is delicious with soup and so easy to make.

Happy baking everyone!

 

Will we get a chance to celebrate National Barbecue Week?

National Barbecue Week recipes

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Will we get a chance to celebrate National Barbecue Week?

I’ve just had a peep at this week’s weather forecast (with eyes half closed in hope) and it seems that we may, may have some sunshine.

We built a new patio last autumn and we are desperate to get out and enjoy our first barbecue of the year.

The children love barbecues too. They are happy with a slightly charred chipolata and a huge dollop of ketchup as long as they are outside enjoying the novelty of having a barbecue.

We however, like to be just a little
more adventurous than that and
try a few more interesting dishes.

As it’s National Barbecue week and also half term, there’s no better excuse than to dust down the barbecue, invite a few friends over and get cooking (or cremating if we’re not careful!)

We have a lovely Thai chicken recipe to test for the 2015 Dairy Diary, so that’ll definitely be on the menu. I think we will also make these fabulous recipes (plus the obligatory sausages of course) – all will feature in the 2014 Dairy Diary, so watch this space!

Happy barbecuing everyone and don’t forget to dampen down the coals before putting them in the bin. This warning comes from a pretty scary experience!

Celebrate St George’s Day

Celebrate St George's Day with this marvellous bread pudding recipe.

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Celebrate St George’s Day with this

clever Bread Pudding Recipe

When I commission a home economist to write recipes for the Dairy Diary they first supply me with a recipe ideas list. And oh what a treat!

This is one of my favourite elements of my job – choosing a final recipe selection from this list.

It’s never a good idea to read
through it before lunch though,
as it makes me ravenous.

I plan the recipes according to the season and to reflect any special events. That is why St George’s Day Bread Pudding caught my eye. I thought it would be perfect for this week in 2014.

However, I also felt a little baffled by its title. How was a bread pud related to St George’s Day? Obviously bread pudding is a very traditional recipe and it does originate here but that was the only link to St George I could discern. That is until I saw the pic (above).

How clever is that? It looks like lots of little St George’s Cross flags. And you won’t believe just how divine it tastes too. It’s actually ended up more like a bread and butter pudding, but who cares about that…..just enjoy it. I have and I will be enjoying it again this week to celebrate St George’s Day.

St George’s Day Bread Pudding

Triple-Tested Recipes | Summer Herb & Smoked Salmon Pasta

Summer Herb & Smoked Salmon Pasta recipe

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Triple-Tested Recipes

It’s been a frantic fortnight here in the DD office. The print deadline for our cookbook is looming and we are busy finalising its design, editing, doing nutritional analysis and reading tester comment sheets.

We have had a superb band of testers this year who have cooked every single recipe and given it marks out of 10 as well as checking everything is correct and the ingredients are easy to find.

There’s nothing worse than going to the trouble (and expense) of cooking a recipe only to find that it doesn’t work or that the results are disappointing. This is why I insist that everything is triple-tested – once by the writer, then by an amateur tester and finally by the stylist at the photo shoot.

Result? Tasty recipes that
work and happy customers!

(Drum roll)

Here’s the VERY first sneak preview of one of our cookbook recipes.

And this one got 10/10 from its tester, Kirstin! Enjoy folks……you’ll have to wait for the book for the rest.

Summer Herb & Smoked Salmon Pasta

Summer Herb & Smoked Salmon Pasta recipeServes 2
Time 15 mins

Fusilli pasta twists 200g (7oz)
Olive oil 1 tbsp
Spring onions 4, trimmed and sliced
Smoked salmon 120g packet, cut into strips
Lemon juice of 1
Chopped coriander 2 tbsp
Chopped parsley 1 tbsp
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Rocket leaves about 15g (½oz), to garnish

Cook the pasta in a large pan of salted boiling water according to packet’s instructions, which usually takes 10–12 minutes. Drain the pasta and set it aside.

Heat the olive oil in the pan over a medium heat. Add the spring onions and salmon and stir-fry the mixture for about 1 minute until the smoked salmon turns pink.

Add the remaining ingredients (except the rocket), including the drained pasta and salt and pepper to taste, and mix well.

Serve on warm plates, garnished with a spiral of rocket leaves.

Recipe taken from Clever One Pot… coming soon!

 

Don’t forget to enter our latest competition

Dairy Diary is giving you the chance to win a £25 National Garden Gift Voucher.

Celebrate the start of spring with something special for your home or garden; treat yourself to a stunning bouquet or plant up a glamorous hanging basket.
National Garden Gift Vouchers are accepted at over 2000 leading garden centres, shops and nurseries across the UK.

Simply complete the form by 31 March and you will be entered into the prize draw. Good luck.

Enter here http://a.pgtb.me/7s6SkX

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