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Wonderful weekend weather

Did you enjoy the fabulous weather over the weekend? Many people did, evidenced by the shortage of barbeque fuel in some shops!

Well, following the best weekend of the year to date, it may be unrealistic to expect the same for the bank holiday weekend.

But, if it does turn out to be a pleasant weekend, what better way to enjoy it than to get out and enjoy your garden. This weekend we will definitely try the Peppers in a Pot mini-project from Seasonal Garden Ideas. And enjoy a leisurely barbeque with friends – fingers-crossed!

Are you lucky enough to have tickets to the RHS Chelsea Flower Show this week? I am envious. If you haven’t got tickets the bad news is that the show is sold out. But you can follow the show on BBC – here’s the schedule.

Around Britain Dairy CookbookFancy winning a copy of the fabulous Around Britain Dairy Cookbook? Simply click here to enter. Good luck.

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Dairy Book of Home Cookery

Over the years we have had so many requests for the original cookbook, the Dairy Book of Home Cookery, I am amazed.

Its popularity is unwavering and its fans passionate.

One of our consumers said:

‘A treasure. A friend of mine’s mum had an old version of this book when I was at school (a long time ago). When my husband and I moved into our first flat, there were two cookery books on my kitchen shelf. Delia’s original “Complete Cookery Course” and the Dairy Book of Home Cookery.’

The recipes are clear and simple – and unlike many cookery books these days, all the basics are there, pancakes, white sauce, the stuff your mum used to make. The information sections are also first class. My husband (a chef) takes my copy into work to show his trainees where all the cuts of meat come from, as the illustrations in this book are far superior to most industrial tomes. My daughter is only 12. But when she leaves home, she’s taking a copy of this with her – but not mine!’

I’ve even heard of someone buying her ex-husband a copy when they divorced!

This ‘cookery treasure’ is now an astonishing £2.99 (plus P&P) on the website. Snap it up while stocks last, and look out for the brand new fully updated version next year.

Try this Shepherd’s Pie, just one of the treasured recipes in the  Dairy Book of Home Cookery.

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Inspired by the new gardening book, we managed to dodge the rain and get out in the garden this weekend.

Planting seedsIsaac had lots of fun planting seeds – free from http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/digin/ – which we hope will grow into splendid salad leaves, carrots, courgettes, beans and sunflowers. Hmmm, as complete novices, we will see!

Besides the vegetables I want to try and attract more wildlife to the garden. My parents are lucky enough to enjoy the spectacle of two visiting badgers almost every night; it would be wonderful if we could encourage mammals to our garden too. The Wildlife Trust has a teamed up with the RHS to produce a lovely website with lots of handy tips http://www.wildaboutgardens.org/.

Our first project will be this fantastic Hedgehog Hideaway from Seasonal Garden Ideas. Despite its simplicity, this is definitely one for my other half or I might end of with one or two fewer limbs!


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Spring Bank Holidays

I’ve been caught by surprise by this bank holiday – and what a nice surprise! It has come round so quickly after the Easter long weekend.

A couple of weeks’ ago I had a phone call from one of our consumers asking for us to “give the late May bank holiday its proper name – Whitsun.” As we chatted it made me realise how little many of us (including me) know about the origins of our bank holidays. And so for some research….

The name ‘bank holiday’, quite simply comes from the time when the banks were closed and so no trading could take place. Back in the early 19th century, The Bank of England would observe 33 saints’ days and religious dates as holidays. These were drastically reduced with the official introduction of  the bank holiday in 1871.There were four holidays for England, Wales and Northern Ireland and five for Scotland. Whitsun commemorated one of the three baptismal seasons – baptism candidates would wear ‘white’ on a ‘Sunday’ and would be celebrated the day after Pentecost. Though Whitsun was included in the original bank holiday dates it was later replaced by the spring holiday on the last Monday in May. Further bank holidays were added during the 1970s, with a total of seven for Scotland, eight for England and Wales and ten for Northern Ireland. Let’s hope the 2010s sees the introduction of some more!

It’s asparagus season!
Year Round Dairy CookbookThe season English asparaus is short, so make the most of it and treat your family to this gorgeous seasonal recipe, Asparagus with Poached Eggs from Year Round Dairy Cookbook. And don’t forget the book is on special offer – last chance – at only £2.99. Bargain!

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I’m going to grow my own!

With the launch of our new gardening book – Seasonal Gardening Ideas – I have been totally inspired to ‘grow my own’ this year.

I am not going to try and be too ambitious, as I have never done it before but I am going to start with these fun and quirky Pot Herbs for the Kitchen. They look great and I will have a constant supply of my favourite herbs right next to the kitchen door.

Seasonal Garden Ideas features many more fabulous mini-projects for the whole year and easy enough for anyone to tackle. It’s on sale now just in time for the start of the gardening season

And when the herbs are established try this delicious recipe for Salmon with Minty Salsa taken from Clever Cooking for One or Two.

Win a copy of Clever Cooking for One or Two

Simply enter here before Tuesday 4 May – we have ten to give away. Good luck.

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Win A Dairy Diary Address Book

And now for a little treat……win a Dairy Diary address book.

We have ten up for grabs, so just enter your details at http://www.dairydiary.co.uk/mailinglist.html before Monday 26th April and you could win! Easy!

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