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Five reasons why the Dairy Diary Set makes a fabulous Christmas gift

The perfect Christmas Gift

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Five reasons why the Dairy Diary Set makes a fabulous Christmas gift

 

1 It’s not just one moment in time – this gift gives its recipient pleasure all year round.

2 SO much for under a tenner – this set contains the 2015 Dairy Diary and also a pocket diary for the handbag AND a gorgeous notebook complete with pocket, elastic tie and pen.

3 Weekly foodie inspiration – each week, there’s a delicious new recipe to try.

4 Stress-busting – being organised and having everything written down in one place is a guaranteed stress reliever. In the Dairy Diary there is plenty of space to write and there’s also a handy pocket for storing all those bits of paper, vouchers and cards.

5 It’s packed full handy tips – from stain removal to home budgeting to metric conversions, you’ll find everything you need in the Dairy Diary.

 

If you order today, the Dairy Diary Set will arrive in time for Christmas.

Gone on, treat your friends and family to a gift they’ll remember – for only £9.25!

 

The Perfect Christmas Gift for Parents & Grandparents

The Perfect Christmas Gift
for Parents & Grandparents

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The perfect Christmas gifts for parents & grandparents

They may be friends, or family or neighbours, but people over a certain age can be very tricky to buy for (my own parents present a challenge each and every Christmas!)

Invest a little time in creating
something special and the
thought will be truly appreciated..

Why not bake two recipes from the Dairy Diary and present them (in beautiful wrapping of course) with the 2015 Dairy Diary? The edible gifts will be an instant delicious treat and then the Dairy Diary will provide a daily source of information and inspiration throughout the following year.

Win win win!

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Mincemeat Bakewell Squares

Mincemeat Bakewell Squares 

With a crisp pastry base, juicy mincemeat and almondy Bakewell topping, this festive treat is perfect to accompany a mid-morning cuppa. Or present these delicious treats as an edible gift to someone else! These Mincemeat Bakewell Squares are a Dairy Diary recipe. For more delicious recipes visit the Dairy Diary Recipe Collection.

CLICK HERE FOR RECIPE

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Luxury Coffee Truffles

Rich Chocolate Guinness Cupcakes 

Truly decadent and luxurious, chocolate lovers will delights in these little treats. (Remind the gift recipients to store these in the fridge when they receive them.)

Time 1 hr
Makes 16
Calories 373
Fat 24g of which 13.6g is saturated
Suitable for vegetarians

Cocoa powder 60g (2½oz)
Guinness 200ml (7fl oz)
Butter 250g (9oz), softened
Caster sugar 300g (11oz)
Eggs 2 large, beaten
Self-raising flour 225g (8oz), sifted
Baking powder 1 tsp
Buttermilk 75ml (2½fl oz)
Double cream 150ml (¼ pint)
Cook’s dark chocolate 150g (5oz), finely chopped
Green sugar and grated white chocolate to decorate, optional

1 Preheat oven to 180°C/Gas 4. Line 16 muffin tin holes with paper muffin cases.

2 Sift cocoa into a pan, add Guinness and bring up to boil, stirring. Cool for 10 minutes.

3 Using an electric mixer, cream 225g (8oz) butter with sugar until light and fluffy. Gradually beat in eggs, beating well after each addition. Fold in flour, baking powder, buttermilk and cocoa. Mix until blended. Divide mixture between cases, then bake for 25-30 minutes until firm. Leave to cool in tins for a few minutes, then cool completely on a wire rack.

4 Heat cream until almost boiling, then pour onto chocolate and remaining butter. Mix well. Spread onto each muffin and decorate if wished.

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Dairy Diary 2015Recipes taken from 2015 Dairy Diary

To order a copy of the Dairy Diary
visit http://www.dairydiary.co.uk
or call 0845 0948 128.

You can have the diary delivered
to you or delivered to a different
address with a gift message.

Read the blogs on the Dairy Diary website.

A Clever Halloween Recipe. Is it a treat or is it a trick?

Halloween-dressing-up

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Is it a treat or is it a trick? 
A Clever Halloween Recipe.

Having deprived my children for the past six years (a goulish excuse to beg for Enumber-laden sweets!), I have finally succumbed to Halloween.

My fellow villagers know which residents welcome trick or treaters and, as the children all go together in one group, it’s not an evening-long intrusion. So, I have decided to allow my little ones to dress up (in cute non gory costumes of course!) and participate.

We have stocked up on goodies and I
plan to make some of this wicked popcorn –
which will give the little spooks either a
trick (one is spiced with chilli) or a treat!

I think the youngsters will love this Russian-roulette chance to giggle at their friends who choose chilli.

Don’t worry though, we’ll have glasses of water at the ready!

Have fun and stay safe everyone!

 

Trick or Treat Popcorn

Trick or Treat Popcorn

Time 15 mins
Makes 2 large pans
Per portion: Calories 149
Fat 6g of which 1g is saturated
Suitable for vegetarians

Popcorn 200g (7oz)
Olive oil 4 tbsp
Salt pinch
Chilli powder 1 tsp
Golden caster sugar 1-2 tbsp

1 Cook two panfuls of popcorn one after the other: For the first batch place 100g (3½oz) of popcorn, 2 tablespoons of oil, salt and chilli powder into a pan and stir thoroughly. Cover pan with a tight-fitting lid and heat gently. Shake occasionally to prevent burning, and continue heating until popping subsides.

2 Remove from heat and leave to stand until no more popping can be heard. Stir thoroughly, taste and add a little more chilli powder if necessary.

3 Repeat with remaining popcorn (without salt or chilli) but add sugar at the end of the cooking time when leaving pan to stand. Leave to cool slightly before popping into bowls and serving to your trick or treaters!

A Dairy Diary recipe.

Why classical music is good for the brain

Dairy Diary 2015 brain training article

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Why classical music is good for the brain

Did you know that listening to Mozart can help to boost your brain power, but watching too much television can have the opposite effect?

This is music to my ears (sorry!!) as I have just discovered that my eldest child has a real passion for piano. Our piano has sat forlorn for years as I no longer ever seem to find the time (or talent) to play but now it is regularly favoured over children’s TV, which is wonderful (let’s hope it lasts!)

It’s not just classical music that can improve our
brain power though, in the Brain Training feature
in the 2015 Dairy Diary we reveal lots of tips on
how to keep your brain active.

Anything that engages different parts of the brain at the same time is especially effective. The left side is concerned with logic, sequential thinking and decision making; the right side with creativity, imagination and random ideas.

Here are seven tips for boosting brain power taken from the 2015 Dairy Diary:

  1. Tackle crosswords, sudokus, quizzes and puzzles, or take up bridge. Solving cryptic puzzles involves several parts of your brain – logic, recall, creative thought, analysis, deciding on likely options, dealing with frustration – and the benefits increase if you do it with someone else.
  2. Learn something new and challenging e.g. chess, crochet, a musical instrument. Learning another language may seem ambitious but is especially good because it forces your brain to switch tracks continuously, which is one of the most mentally demanding things you can do. It helps hone the frontal lobes, the brain’s mind managers, which tend to shrink as part of the ageing process.
  3. Study a subject that you find interesting e.g. botany, nutrition, a specific era of history.
  4. Read, and maybe join or start a book club. Discussing books with others hones your critical/analytical skills.
  5. Make up brain games to play with friends e.g. think of an animal or food for every letter of the alphabet. Focusing on simple tasks helps to improve concentration as well as boosting brain power. Include memory games, so that each person has to repeat what has already been said.
  6. Listen to music. Listening to Mozart has been shown to improve spatial and mathematical reasoning.
  7. An exercise to help improve your concentration is to spend a few minutes every day emptying your mind and thinking of nothing but your breathing. Practising focusing on one thing will help you to de-clutter and calm your thoughts, so you can concentrate better the rest of the time.

I think I had better turn our Friday Film Night into a board games and Beethoven evening!

We can tuck in to these absolutely gorgeous Bruchetta instead of the obligatory popcorn.

Gorgonzola Bruschetta with Balsamic Figs recipe

Gorgonzola Bruschetta with Balsamic Figs

Time 20 mins plus standing
Makes 4
Calories 193
Fat 10g of which 2.9g is saturated

Brown sugar 1 tbsp
Balsamic vinegar 2 tbsp, plus extra to serve
Figs 2, cut into eight
Olive oil 2 tbsp
Ciabatta 4 slices
Garlic ½ clove, peeled
Watercress 2 small handfuls
Mint leaves 2 tbsp
Gorgonzola piccante 50g (2oz), crumbled

1 Preheat oven to 200°C/Gas 6. Combine sugar and vinegar and coat figs in this mixture. Leave for 15 minutes and then transfer to a baking tray and roast for 10-12 minutes until soft.

2 Meanwhile, brush oil over ciabatta slices and toast for 1-2 minutes each side. Rub lightly with garlic.

3 Top ciabatta with watercress, mint, figs, a little black pepper and Gorgonzola. Drizzle with a little oil and vinegar before serving.

A Dairy Diary 2015 recipe.

 

 

 

 

Read the blogs on our website.

The Perfect Afternoon Tea

Afternoon Tea with Dairy Diary 2015

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THE Perfect Afternoon Tea

“Under certain circumstances there
are few hours more agreeable than
the hour dedicated to the ceremony
known as afternoon tea.” 
Henry James – The Portrait of a Lady

Beautiful china, tranquil surroundings, fabulous friends and delicious cakes – what more could anyone want on a Saturday afternoon in October?

There was a time when my best friend and I (who was born just two weeks before me) celebrated our birthdays by dancing until the early hours. These days we might not get past ten o’clock and a more sedate celebration is called for! Inspired by the feature on afternoon tea in the 2015 Dairy Diary, I booked us into the Great John Street Hotel in Manchester for a truly decadent afternoon tea.

The Ladies Afternoon tea began with delicate finger sandwiches filled with smoked salmon, egg, beef, cream cheese and cucumber, served with the pièce de resistance three tier stand with light, crusty scones and rich clotted cream accompanied by a variety of homemade cakes and pastries. This was served with tea and a glass of Perrier Jouet champagne. After all it is a ladies prerogative to enjoy only the finer things in life!

The best afternoon teaThe concept of afternoon tea began with Anna Maria Russell, the 7th duchess and one of Queen Victoria’s ladies in waiting, who, at 4 o’clock would send for a pot of tea and ‘a little something’ to tide her over until dinner. Once she started inviting friends to join her in the privacy of her rooms, society hostesses soon cottoned on to the idea and tea parties progressed from boudoir to drawing room.

Tea consisted of dainty sandwiches with not a crust in sight, pastries and cakes plus bread and butter and biscuits. It was an informal occasion, although informal then is not the same as informal now. Tea gowns were worn and hats – gloves were optional. Tea was poured by the hostess and cups handed round by any menfolk present or the daughters of the house.

I am truly inspired by Duchess Russell (and the Great John Street Hotel) and plan to host my own afternoon tea – tea gowns optional – on a regular basis. All I need is my trusty Dairy Diary for delicious recipes, pretty china and peace and quiet. I think we can manage without any menfolk to pass around the cups!

Win a three-teir china cake standWin a gorgeous
china cake stand

I would also LOVE this fabulous
cake stand (though sadly I am
not allowed to enter).

Enter our prize draw to be in a
chance to win it and a 2015 Dairy Diary.

ENTER NOW

Tempted by afternoon tea?

Add this classic to your repertoire.

Afternoon Tea Iced Lavender Loaf

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Iced Lavender Loaf

Fragrant and very pretty – this cake is irresistible! Try out this Iced Lavender Loaf for an Afternoon Tea or just as a treat. A Dairy Diary recipe. For more delicious recipes visit the Dairy Diary Recipe Collection.

CLICK HERE FOR RECIPE

A Dairy Diary recipe.

 Read the blogs on the Dairy Diary website.

The Dairy Diary: 5 good reasons why it’s still Britain’s favourite

Britain's best-selling 2015 diary

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The Dairy Diary

5 good reasons why it’s still Britain’s favourite

I am delighted to announce that this week sees the much-anticipated official launch of the gorgeous 2015 Dairy Diary.

The Dairy Diary has sold millions of copies since it was first launched in the eighties and is still a firm favourite with its readers today.

But why is it that people love the Dairy Diary so much? Some say it’s about nostalgia or about their loyalty to the milkman, and that may be partly true but I think there are several other very good reasons that make it Britain’s best-loved home diary:

  1. It’s so practical. Each week has plenty of space to write and with its clever spiral binding it lies flat on the table.
  2. Reliable recipes. Everyone who uses the Dairy Diary knows that each and every recipe is triple-tested and works every time.
  3. It moves with the times. Although the Dairy Diary has been around since the early eighties it doesn’t just remain the same every year. Since then it has had new binding, a handy notes pocket, useful dates stickers, design revamps and of course new information every year.
  4. It provides customers with what they want. We really do listen to our customers – every letter and email is read and any suggestions are noted. We also do regular research with our purchasers to find out how we can improve the diary.
  5. It’s still a book! In a digital obsessed world, many see paper products as a thing of the past. We know that our customers love the Dairy Diary as a paper book and find it much more convenient than turning on a tablet or laptop.

To see the Dairy Diary in all its glory click below:

Look inside the Dairy Diary 2015

Play the Dairy Diary 2015 video

 

And here’s a taster of what it has to offer:

Cranberry & Raisin Spotted DickCranberry & Raisin Spotted Dick

Time 1¾ hrs
Serves 6
Calories 442
Fat 19 of which 8.9g is saturated
Suitable for freezing

Self-raising flour 250g (9oz)
Ground cinnamon ¼ tsp
Shredded suet 125g (4½oz)
Orange 1, grated rind only
Milk 175ml-200ml (6-7fl oz)
Dried cranberries 75g (3oz)
Raisins 75g (3oz)
Caster sugar 75g (3oz)
Custard or cream to serve

1 Stir together flour, cinnamon, suet and orange rind in a bowl. Pour in milk, starting with 175ml (6fl oz), and adding a little more at a time until you have a moist but firm dough.

2 On a lightly floured surface roll dough out to a rectangle 20x28cm (8x11in). Mix together remaining ingredients and scatter over dough. Roll up as if making a Swiss roll from narrow end. Push any fruit that falls out back into the ends. Wrap in greaseproof paper and foil, making a pleat in each, twisting the ends to form a seal (like a cracker) and tie with string.

3 Cook in a large steamer set over a pan of boiling water for 1½ hours. Check water level.

4 Allow to cool slightly before unwrapping. Serve in thick slices with custard or cream.

A Dairy Diary recipe.

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