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Shop Locally; Eat Seasonally

Asparagus

Shop Locally; Eat Seasonally

 

St George

Thursday is St George’s Day and is also the start of British asparagus season.

You can find out more about St George here.

British asparagus season may be brief but is worth celebrating. Not only do those little green shoots taste really good, they also contain vitamin K, which is essential for healthy blood clotting. It is a rich source of vitamin C to boost your immune system (particularly helpful right now) and asparagus is also a mild diuretic and is believed to help detoxify the body.

We’re all needing to shop locally right now, and many of us are shopping at farm shops. This makes eating seasonally essential.

 

Here’s our guide to what’s in season in April

 

Plus an Asparagus Recipe for One

This asparagus recipe is perfect for a quick and easy lunch. It serves one but is really easy to scale up to serve 2 or more, if your household is a little bigger.

 

Mozzarella & Asparagus Baguette

Mozzarella & Asparagus Baguette

 

 

Recipe taken from Just for One or Two cookbook.

 

 

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Two Special Recipes to Serve One

If you’re living alone, it can be tempting to stick to the same old meals, day in day out.

As it’s Easter Monday, treat yourself to something a little special.

 

Roast Poussin

Lemon & Thyme Roast Poussin with Potatoes

 

Fresh Fruit with Chocolate Dip

Fresh Fruit with Chocolate Dip

 


 

Steak with Peppercorn SauceJust for One or Two – 20% off!

Inspiration for easy, delicious meals – the ideal cookbook for singles, couples, students and parents. The Just For One Or Two cookbook shows you how to cook delicious meals for one or two people with little effort and minimal waste.

For a limited time only, if you use the code ONETWOAPRIL you can get 20 per cent off the price of this brilliant book.

Just for One or Two £8.25 £6.60

 

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Easter Menu for Two

Easter Menu for Two

As there won’t be large family gatherings for Easter this year, I’m sharing a special menu that serves just two.

 

Happy Easter everyone, keep safe and well.

 

Griddled Lamb with Pesto

Griddled Lamb with Pesto, Celeriac Mash & Ratatouille

 

Apricot Bakewell Tarts

 


 

Steak with Peppercorn SauceSave 20%

 

Recipes taken from Just for One or Two cookbook, our wonderful book packed full of recipes that serve just one or two people.

Now with 20 per cent off, use code ONETWOAPRIL at checkout.

 

 

 

 

 

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What Can You Freeze? Plus 3 ‘Eat & Freeze” Recipes

How to freeze food

What Can You Freeze?

 

As we need to minimise the number of times that we go out to shop, cooking several meals at once (or batch cooking) is a really good idea.

You can also freeze many ingredients to extend their shelf life.

See our useful freezing guide here.

 


 

3 Fabulous ‘Eat & Freeze” Recipes

These three scrummy recipes can be frozen; each gives specific instructions on how to freeze and defrost.

 

Golden Topped Fish Pie

Golden-Topped Fish Pies

These little pots of deliciousness give a modern twist to a traditional fish pie with a creamy sweet potato topping.

 

Moroccan Mince

Moroccan Mince

If you’re looking for comfort food (and we all need some comfort at the moment), look no further. This minced beef dish is packed full of sweet spices, vegetables and pulses. It’s really versatile as you can serve it with couscous, rice or in a wrap.

 

Ginger & Prune Scones

Ginger & Prune Scones

These gorgeous scones can be served warm after just an hour defrosting.

 


SAVE 20%

Just For One Or TwoThere is a whole ‘Eat & Freeze’ chapter in our Just for One or Two cookbook, which now has 20 per cent off!

Use code ONETWOAPRIL and you’ll get the book for just £6.60!

 

 

 

 

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British Regional Specialities

Around Britain regional food guides

Discover new regional dishes

 

For such a small country we have a wealth of different regional dishes. You can read about your region (and others) in our Regional Food Guides.

I’m originally from Stoke-on-Trent, where the most famous regional treat is the Staffordshire oatcake. Sadly, I can’t share the recipe as it’s a closely guarded secret and recipes can be sold for thousands! However, if you ever visit the region, an oatcake, filled with cheese and griddled until crisp is perfect for a Saturday brunch with a cup of tea.

What’s your favourite local dish? We would love to hear about other regional foods.
Share your story on our Facebook or Instagram page with #DairyDiaryMoments

A recipe from Western England that I can share is this gorgeous Malvern Cherry Cake. Malvern, in Worcestershire, is famous for its mineral water, for being the birthplace of Sir Edward Elgar and for this light Madeira-style cake.

I only recently discovered this area of the country but what a find, it’s beautiful. From the Malvern Hills you can enjoy glorious 360-degree views of the surrounding countryside – I highly recommend a visit after this challenging period is over and we are able to travel again.

 

Malvern Cherry Cake

Malvern Cherry Cake

RECIPE

 


 

Around Britain CookbookFor recipes that celebrate all our glorious regions of Great Britain treat yourself to our cookbook; Around Britain.

Use the code ABMARCH for a 20% discount!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Marvellous (and Easy!) Mothering Sunday Menu

Mother's Day Menu

Every year I have the romantic vision of a Mother’s Day walk in the spring sunshine

 

This would be followed by a civilised lunch or afternoon tea enjoying ‘mum’ time with my own mum and my children.

The reality is always monsoon-like weather that almost blows us off a hill/into the sea/over a cliff followed by a long queue for a table in a restaurant whilst looking like drowned rats and the children cry/argue/moan because they’re freezing cold and bored.

Obviously, this year things have to be a lot different and I will have to make-do with a phone call to my mum.

With my children, we plan to cook at home together. I’ve chosen an easy and accessible menu that they can follow and that we can enjoy together stress-free. All recipes come from the Around Britain cookbook (look out for the special offer code on this!)

 

 

 

Mothering Sunday Menu

 

Parsnip & Apple Soup

Starter

This creamy soup originates from East Anglia, where root crops thrive in the fertile soil. The sweet and velvety texture of parsnip combines wonderfully with a hint of tart cooking apple.

Parsnip & Apple Soup 

 

Teviotdale Pie

Main

Teviotdale is a valley in the Scottish borders, whose principal town is Hawick. This border country has a turbulent history, and saw numerous clashes between Scots and English. This tasty pie from the region is a great recipe for making a little meat go a long way.

Teviotdale Pie

 

Knickerbocker Glory

Dessert

This ice cream extravaganza originated in New York and was named after its original Dutch settlers, the ‘Knickerbockers’. However, its popularity here in Britain is due to an Italian named Pacitto, who opened an ice cream parlour in Redcar where he introduced the Knickerbocker Glory to the British.

Knickerbocker Glory

 

 

Around Britain CookbookAll recipes come from the Around Britain cookbook (look out for the special offer code on this!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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