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Taking Time to Live Well
Be afraid. Be very afraid.
This month’s brilliant prize is a £500 shopping spree at Garden Trading. For your chance to win, enter below by the closing date, 7 November 2018.
Discover the full range at gardentrading.co.uk.
Terms & conditions:
The competition closes at 11.59pm on 7 November 2018. A winner will be chosen at random from all correct entries after this time and notified shortly after. Full terms and conditions are at icebergpress.co.uk/comprules.
Photography: Nicki Dowey
Makes about 550g
Butter, for greasing
200g caster sugar
100g golden syrup
100g black treacle
½ tsp cream of tartar
1 liquorice root, pounded
1 tsp powdered liquorice or ½-1 tsp liquorice essence
65g liquid fruit pectin or 12g powdered fruit pectin
½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
1 tsp anise extract
1 Grease a 23cm/9in square cake tin or pan and line with cling film as smoothly as possible.
2 Combine the sugar, syrup, treacle and cream of tartar with 100ml of water in a heavy pan. Stir over a low heat until the sugar has dissolved. Add the liquorice root and liquorice powder or essence, and boil, without stirring, until it reaches 120C.
3 Meanwhile, in a separate bowl, combine the pectin (add 4 tbsp water if using powdered pectin), bicarbonate of soda and ½ tsp salt.
4 Pour the pectin mixture into the syrup and stir to combine. Boil again until the syrup reaches 103C, then stir in the anise extract.
5 Pour the syrup into the prepared tin, discarding the liquorice root, and leave to set for about 4 hours. Turn out on to a chopping board and break into shapes. Serve immediately, or store in an airtight container for up to 3 weeks.
Recipe from Liquorice: A Cookbook by Carol Wilson (Lorenz Books).
Growing your own
Did you know liquorice is easy to grow yourself? Grow young plants (try brandycarrnurseries.co.uk) in a sunny spot in good, moist soil, allowing plenty of space between them – as the roots really like to spread! Roots can be harvested three to four years after planting and eaten raw or dried and used as a flavouring.
We celebrate slowing down, enjoying what you have, making the most of where you live, enjoying the company of of friends and family, and feeding them well. We like to grow some of our own vegetables, visit local markets, rummage for vintage finds, and decorate our home with the plunder. We love being outdoors and enjoy the satisfaction that comes with a job well done.
