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Sneak Peek! Behind the Scenes at a Dairy Cookbook Photo Shoot

Behind the scenes at a Dairy Cookbook photoshoot…

Sneak Peek! Behind the Scenes at a Dairy Cookbook Photo Shoot

Last week we began photography for the NEXT cookbook. Yes, we have only just launched the current book, Clever One Pot, but time doesn’t stand still in Dairydiaryland and we have the press on with the next products.

Although long days, I love going to photo shoots. I am a sucker for beautiful props and love to see the creativity going on all around me. We had a very successful couple of days (with a bonus delicious meal one evening) and have made a fantastic start on the images. Two days done, seven more to go!

I always get positive comments (and those that don’t are rewritten) from my recipe testers – a band of friends and family who happily cook all our recipes to ensure they work – but this year almost every single recipe has been given 9 or 10 out of 10 for taste! High praise indeed. In fact, my other half tested a Spiced Cottage Pie a couple of weeks’ ago that I still dream about now – we will never make the ordinary version again. It was visionary but so incredibly easy! I’m afraid, blogetts, you have another year to wait for this book, but believe me, it will be worth the wait.

Clever One Pot cookbook recipesIn the meantime, why
not treat yourself to
this year’s fantastic book,
Clever One Pot?

It’s beautiful, practical and
contains over one hundred
recipes for fabulous fuss-free food.

Try this seasonal salad from
Clever One Pot Salad Panzanella

Clever One Pot cookbook launched

Clever One Pot cookbook

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Clever One Pot cookbook – on sale now!

Believe it or not, each of our books takes about a year from initial idea to finished product.

So when I get the final printed book in my hand I get very excited! It’s a fantastic accomplishment and this year, I think we have excelled ourselves. This new cookbook – launched today (woohoo) – Clever One Pot looks fabulous.

As the title suggests, this collection of mouthwatering ‘one pot’ recipes has been devised to save time and provide real, home-cooked food throughout the week. Something that many of us struggle to do as we all now juggle so much.

Clever One Pot cookbook

From tasty soups and snacks, to scrumptious stews, exotic curries and heavenly desserts, it brings together some of the best flavours from around the world.

As with all Dairy Cookbooks, all recipes are triple-tested so you KNOW they will work and Clever One Pot provides simple to follow instructions, easy to source ingredients and full nutritional information.

QR codes for ingredients shopping listAND to make life even easier, each recipe has an accompanying QR code, which when scanned with a smartphone provides a handy shopping list of ingredients. If only I could figure out my new smartphone I would be able to utilise it!

If that wasn’t enough, we have also (quite cleverly I think) split each chapter into two – Quick and Easy (on the table in 30 minutes) and Take it Easy (get on with something else while it cooks). So the recipes fit around your lifestyle.

With Clever One Pot everyone can create tasty
meals in a short space of time with little washing
up (or pans cluttering your dishwasher).

So what are you waiting for? It’s on sale now! ORDER HERE

Here’s a little taster and my particular favourites. I’m sure you’ll love them too.

Recipes from Clever One Pot cookbook

Grilled Goat’s Cheese Salad  |   Apricot & Almond Bake  |  Chinese lemon Chicken

Love Parks Week

Love Parks Week

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Love Parks Week


This may sound a bit odd but I love parks, honestly I do LOVE parks.

As a child of the seventies and eighties all we had was a patch of dried up grass, some swings with peeling paint and a roundabout that regularly broke children’s arms. Maybe that was just in my village….

My children however, have access to the most amazing spaces with brilliant equipment. Our local town has a wonderful toddler playground, fabulous swingy things and zip wires for the older kids and even outdoor gym equipment. All just a five-minute drive away.

Love Parks WeekAND excitement in our tiny village has reached fever pitch!

Or what passes for fever pitch here, which is a couple of us saying ‘oooo’ at the school bus stop in a morning. Work has finally begun on our park (I say finally as this park has been in its planning stages for the last ten years!)

What started off as four swings and a goal post is being transformed into playground heaven. Lots of fabulous equipment for our little ones, picnic tables and all complete with a view of the golf course on one side and canal on the other.

So, we will no longer have to drive to the park (smugly feeling green), we can now wander up to road to play and picnic to our hearts’ content.

And what do these parks cost us?
Nothing! So in the age of austerity
let us celebrate Love Parks Week
and enjoy them.

Look out for events in a park near you at http://loveparksweek.org.uk/

Don’t forget to pack your picnic.Crunchy Peanut Brittle recipe

Take with you some of this moreish
Crunchy Peanut Brittle to nibble on
(just make sure you share it!)

This delicious Crunchy Peanut Brittle is a Dairy Diary recipe. For more delicious recipes visit the Dairy Diary Recipe Collection.

Happy Holiday Checklist

Holiday Checklist | Travel Checklist

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Happy Holiday Checklist

Woohoo holiday season is upon us again. Have you been away yet or do you have a get-away planned soon?

With three children all under six, we have decided to eschew the foreign holiday in favour of a good old British seaside holiday (with grandparents in tow for help!)

Although I am slightly envious of my friends jetting off to sunny shores, I am sure we will have an equally good time….as long as this glorious weather continues.

Holiday Checklist | Travel Checklist

have packed a bumper bag of rainy day activities, just in case.

Packing, that’s the most
stressful bit isn’t it?

Apart from travelling with toddlers. I have found my carefully laminated list from last year in the hope that packing will be a much easier affair.

Here is a handy holiday checklist to keep in your suitcase. It may just help to avoid forgetting that invaluable item!

Download the Holiday Checklist

 

I must admit that I always have a ready-packed toilet bag with lots of miniatures procured from beauty counters or give-aways. It means that I have everything in miniature ready to grab whenever I need to be away for a night or more.

 

Win a Liz Earle Travel Skincare Kit

 

Win-Liz-Earle-KitWhat I would LOVE though is this. Liz Earle’s skincare
is just beautiful and I adore the fresh fragrances.

Enter our comp and you could win this fabulous travel
skincare kit to whisk away with you.

Enter here.

 

The Amazing Four Thousand Dresses Collection

.The Amazing Four Thousand Dresses Collection

 

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The Amazing Four Thousand Dresses Collection

I have two very lucky little girls whose Mummy likes to pick up beautiful bargains in the sales and also have LOTS of gorgeous girlie dresses given to them by their friend Isabelle.

But it’s not just Western girls who love pretty things of course, there are many little girls in other countries who would love something gorgeous to wear but don’t have the means to buy them.

That’s where you (and me) come in!

IMalawi-Dress recently discovered this amazing project run by Louise Horler, who has amassed more than 4,000 beautiful handmade dresses for little girls in the developing world. Isn’t that incredible?

Despite my shoddy sewing skills I shall definitely be having a go at the pillowcase dress, which looks pretty simple to make.

If you would like to have a go, take a look at Louise’s blog for more details and patterns. You can even upcycle a pillowcase (hence the name) or a dress that you no longer wear.

http://www.sewscrumptious.blogspot.co.uk/p/pillowcase-dress-info.html

 

And to nibble on while you’re sewing ….

Cinnamon & Raisin FlapjacksCinnamon & Raisin Flapjacks

These delicious little Cinnamon & Raisin Flapjacks are the perfect nibble for when you fancy a little treat. A Dairy Diary recipe. For more delicious recipes visit the Dairy Diary Recipe Collection.

CLICK HERE FOR RECIPE

Bunting

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Summer Fair Makes and Bakes

Bake sale season is upon us and gives us the perfect excuse to bake and make for good causes.

I haven’t left myself much time and so my creations for this year’s school summer fair will have to be pretty simple. For the craft table, I’m thinking of doing fabric bunting.

As you can see from my pic of my
girls’ room I am a big bunting fan!

With a pair of pinking shears, some pretty fabrics and some speedy stitching, this can be knocked up in no time. To be honest, I did steal the idea from our friends at Buttonbag whose stall you can see here.

Bunting-BarButtonbag have some great craft ideas and kits for things to make and sell.

Check out their website for details on how to make bunting and for lots more inspiration. http://www.buttonbag.co.uk/blog/free-projects/bunting/

For the cake stall, I’ll definitely be making this scrummy Summer Fête Lemon Cake and possibly these Dainty Floral Cupcakes too – I can’t resist something girlie!

cupcakes-and-lemon-cake-recipes

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