Welcome the return of spring light with our playlist. Take a listen on Spotify here.
DJ: Frances Ambler
Image: Anneliese Klos
Sponsored post | Salzburg - the best of two worlds
Tradition meets zeitgeist in this small Austrian city with big cultural cachet and
breathtaking scenery, too
As your thoughts shift towards longer days and getaways, now’s the time to turn that city break you’ve been dreaming of all winter into reality. And if the prospect of culture and concerts makes your heart sing, then grab your passport and book a short flight to Salzburg, a cosmopolitan destination to delight all your senses.
As you might expect from the birthplace of Mozart, Austria’s fourth-largest city is renowned for its musical heritage and outstanding live events. For more than 100 years, the Salzburg Festival has transformed the city into a cultural centre, with the old streets and squares becoming a stage for top-class orchestras and classic theatre.
Discover the city’s unique beauty for yourself with several themed walking tours, exploring the Historic Centre of the City of Salzburg – a UNESCO World Heritage Site – as well as other off-the-beaten-track options. Or simply wander around the many charming shops, where old traditions meet new creativity, from bakeries to breweries. (Often dubbed the beer capital of Austria, with a legacy dating back more than 600 years, the city is currently home to an impressive 11 breweries!)
To really make the most of your stay, consider buying the Salzburg Card, which offers a range of benefits. These include one-time admission to the city’s tourist attractions and museums, discounts on cultural events and concerts, plus free travel on some modes of public transport. You can get a card for 24, 48 or 72 hours, and they’re now available digitally as well (meaning no more rummaging around in your wallet).
So book that break today and experience for yourself the true magic of Salzburg – where the whole city becomes a stage.
For further information, visit austria.info
Photography: A. Hechenberger; GÜnter Breitegger, all © Tourismus Salzburg GmbH
Competition | Win a Year's Supply of Scented Blooms from Scilly Flowers
Make each month special with a fragrant delivery, from the Isles of Scilly to your front door
There’s nothing quite like the joy of receiving a beautiful bunch of flowers. Which is why we’re giving one lucky reader the chance to enjoy 40 scented blooms straight to your doorstep every month for a whole year.
Each delivery comes from the picturesque Isles of Scilly, which on a clear day are just visible on the horizon from the far-west tip of Cornwall. This small archipelago of granite islands juts out into the Atlantic, and in the warmer months attracts a steady stream of visitors who come to explore the natural beauty and plethora of beaches.
But it’s not all sea and sand: the Scillies are also famous for growing quality flowers outdoors, all year round. In early spring – as daffodils bloom in parks and gardens across the UK mainland – the Islands’ farmers have been busy picking the daffodil’s scented cousin, ‘Tazetta’ type narcissi, since late October. In March, the local flower farms step up a gear to meet the demand for traditional spring flowers ahead of Mother’s Day. Scillonian narcissi make the ideal gift: scented and sustainable British flowers, delivered direct from where they’re grown.
At Scilly Flowers on the island of St Martin’s, Zoe and Ben Julian send gift boxes all year round. Once the narcissi season comes to an end, attention switches to scented pinks, which are closely related to carnations but have been bred to retain their fragrance. On an island, fresh water is a particularly precious resource, and the pinks are grown in coir-filled tubs that reduce the need for irrigation. Once on display, these blooms are sure to brighten any room and remind you of the joy that’s home-grown in Scilly.
For more info, visit scillyflowers.co.uk or follow on Instagram: @scillyflowers and enter the competition below…
How to enter
For your chance to win a year’s supply of scented flowers (one box of 40 flowers every month), enter our competition by clicking the button below and answering the following question by the closing date of 5 April 2023.
Q: The Isles of Scilly are located off the far west tip of which UK county?
Terms & Conditions
The competition closes at 11.59pm on 5 April 2023. One winner will be selected at random from all correct entries received and notified soon after. Flower substitutions may be made depending on availability. The winner cannot transfer the prize or swap it for cash. Details of our full terms and conditions are on p125 and online at icebergpress.co.uk/comprules.
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Sponsored post: Graz - a feast for the body and soul
This year combine culture with cuisine for a delectable city break you’ll never forget
With spring almost here – not to mention the Easter and May bank holidays – now’s a great time to book yourself that well-earned city break. And if it’s a gastronomic getaway you’re after, look no further than the foodie’s paradise of Graz, a destination dishing up culinary highlights and culture in a stunning historical setting.
Austria’s second-biggest city, located in the south, Graz is known as the Capital of Culinary Delights – and it isn’t hard to see why. Partner restaurants serve high-quality seasonal fare from the region, washed down with the finest Styrian beer, wine and soft drinks.
You can also potter around the farmers’ markets, picking up a wide range of foods direct from the producer. From fresh fruit and veg to homemade bread and local specialities, you’ll find something here to whet every appetite. When you’ve finally managed to choose from the many temptations on offer, you can tuck in alfresco at one of the charming picnic spots.
Another of the city’s star attractions is the Long Table of Graz (pictured above), where the historic centre transforms into an open-air restaurant for around 750 guests. Imagine feasting on a five-course meal paired with wines beneath the sky, while musical entertainment stirs your senses. (The next event is expected to take place in 2024.)
But it’s not just amazing food on the menu: Graz also serves up a smorgasbord of cultural treasures. It’s a city with many different faces: the historic centre and Eggenberg Palace (above left) have been granted UNESCO World Heritage status, yet it’s also a hub for young and vibrant art. This is a place that cherishes tradition, such as dirndl and lederhosen clothing, but also encourages new things to grow.
So if you’re searching for a deliciously different city break this year, why not discover the many charms of Graz for yourself? It truly is an enchanting city to fall in love with.
For further information, visit austria.info.
Photography: Harry Schiffer, Graz Tourismus Werner Krug
Photography: Alamy
Primer | Ocean Waves
Watching winter waves on a blustery beach is a surefire way to feel both calm and invigorated (and a little bit small in the universe). Let’s get to know them better.
Whether we’re jumping over them, trouser legs rolled up, or scuttling away from them up the beach, we all love a wave. If you’ve ever found yourself saying something like “Goodness! That’s a big splashy one!” and would like to sound like more of a Wave Afficionado, however, here are a few scientific Wave Terms you can employ. There won’t be a vocab test but they are rather fun.
Crest The high point of a wave
Trough The low point of a wave
Height The distance between crest and trough
Amplitude The distance from either the crest or the trough to the still water line
Attenuation A reduction in amplitude
Frequency The number of waves occurring at a single point in a given period of time
Period The time between swell crests
Fetch How far the wave has travelled
Swash The movement of a wave up the beach
Backwash The movement of a wave down the beach
Shoaling The change in wave height as the wave moves up the beach
If this has inspired you to take more coastal winter walks, you might like to read our feature, ‘A Shore Thing’ in our February issue, which is in shops now.
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Recipe | Coconut Kisses (Beijinhos de Coco)
Photography and Styling by Catherine Frawley
Their name means ‘coconut kisses’ in Portuguese. They’re typical party sweets, but this version has plenty of coconut
Makes about 20
1 can condensed milk
150g desiccated coconut (plus 50g extra to coat the outside)
30g butter
1 Melt the butter, condensed milk and coconut in a large pan over a low heat.
2 Stirring continuously, the mixture will thicken after about 5 mins. It’s ready when you can drag your spoon along the bottom and it takes a 2–3 secs to reform. Pour onto a plate lined with greaseproof paper and chill for 1 hr.
3Using a teaspoon, form into small balls and roll in the extra coconut.
Their name means ‘coconut kisses’ in Portuguese – and just like the brigadeiros, they’re typical party sweets, but this version has plenty of coconut
Cook’s note: These truffles will keep in the fridge for 5 days.
The Coconut Kisses are just one of the recipes from our February ‘Gathering’ feature which is a fiesta style Brazilian feast. It also includes recipes for Brazilian Cheese Bread, Chicken Croquettes, Brazilian Barbecue Steak with Salt, Sauce a Vinagrete and, of course, Caipirinhas. The issue is in shops now.
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Sponsored post | Top six campsites for grown-ups
Camping is a fantastic way to escape the bustle of everyday life, but peace and serenity aren’t always guaranteed. Here are a few adult-only campsites, that welcome caravans and motorhomes up and down the country, selected by Insure My.
Our top six adult only picks
1. Colemere Caravan Park , Shropshire
A beautiful campsite nestled beside Colemere Lake; this is the perfect place to come for tranquillity. The woods and fields are full of wildlife and you may even see otters swimming in the lake.
The site itself is dog- and BBQ-friendly, and has an indoor social space with sofas, a long table and kitted-out kitchen for guests to use. To add a touch of luxury to your getaway, you can hire a wood-fired hot tub with lilypond views for the ultimate peaceful retreat.
2. Parkland Caravan and Camping Site, South Devon
For the eco-conscious motorhomer or caravanner, this campsite has a strong focus on sustainability, with recycling points, energy-saving lights and solar-heated hot water. There’s also a disabled access wet room and a well-stocked shop onsite selling fresh local produce as well as the usual essentials, so you can feast on the finest Devon has to offer.
Parkland is close to the idyllic beaches of south Devon, attracting keen walkers, swimmers and surfers all year round. From nearby Bigbury-on-Sea at low tide, you can reach Burgh Island, the inspiration for Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None.
3. Barley Meadow Touring Park , Devon
Discover Dartmoor from your doorstep at this campsite – bring your bikes to hit mountain trails or set out on foot into the wild hills. The nearest pub is a mere mile away, with plenty more not much further.
This campsite has its own small information centre and a shop, as well as an off-leash dog area for your dog to run off any excess energy. Other than the odd over-enthusiastic pooch, this site is calm and peaceful, making it a great destination for active and laid-back visitors alike.
4. The Paddocks Caravan and Camping, Gwynedd
If you want to explore North Wales, The Paddocks, a small but well-connected campsite, is the perfect base. Raised fires and BBQs are permitted and there’s even a fridge and freezer for guests, as well as bathroom and washing up facilities. Local bus routes are within easy reach, the beach is just a five-minute drive away and, most importantly perhaps, the pub isn’t far.
For hikers and history buffs, Snowdonia National Park and Caernarfon, home to a spectacular castle, are a short drive away and the long, once smuggler-plagued sands of Pwllheli are a mere 10 minutes from your door.
5. Ashton Hall Caravan Park, Lancashire
Located on the Ashton Hall Estate near Lancaster, this adult-only site boasts forest walks, fishing in the river Lune and an 11-hole golf course with sea views. You can wander along the estate’s footways or branch out to the foot and cycle paths that wind through the surrounding woods.
The Lune Estuary footpath and Lancashire Coastal Way are both on your doorstep. The nearby Forest of Bowland, a protected Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, offers open stretches of moorland and lush green lowlands dotted with farms. If you prefer something more urban, Lancaster is less than six miles from the estate.
This dog-friendly site on the Jurassic coast has great views to the sea and is only 10 minutes’ drive from the striking landmark Durdle Door. The Southwest Coast Path is yours to enjoy as well as fossil-hunting at Ringstead Bay or Chesil Beach, just up the coast.
Just be aware that there’s no hot water during the winter but the multiple local fish and chip shops five minutes’ drive away more than make up for it.
Protection for both the journey and destination
Sadly, camping kid-free doesn’t completely shield you from unwanted interruptions but specialist campervan or motorhome insurance can.
With InsureMy, you can compare quotes from a panel of trusted specialist insurers in minutes and get the best deal at the lowest price – guaranteed. So, do the adult thing and get covered for accidental damage, theft and more, no matter where you are and who you’re with.
Photography: Ben Evans-Fecci
Recipe | Rainbow Carrot & Beetroot Tart
Add colour to your plate with a slice of flaky pastry, topped with sweet carrots and
creamy beetroot
Serves 4
8 coloured carrots
4 tbsp honey
2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
1 sheet of ready-rolled puff pastry
100g cooked beetroot
180g cream cheese
Fresh rosemary and thyme, chopped
1 Preheat the oven to 180C/ Fan 160C/Gas 4. Lightly scrub the carrots then place whole in a baking dish along with the honey and balsamic vinegar and toss well.
2 Roast for 30–40 mins, or until the carrots are tender but still have their colour. Leave to cool, then cut the carrots in half lengthways.
3 Preheat the oven to 220C/Fan 200C/Gas 7. Unroll the pastry onto a baking sheet lined with baking paper. Score a border around the edge of the pastry approximately 2.5cm in, being careful not to cut all the way through.
4 Prick the centre with a fork and bake for 8–10 mins, or until lightly golden, pushing the middle down with the back of a spoon. Reduce the oven heat to 200C/Fan 180C/Gas 6.
5 Meanwhile, blitz the cooked beetroot in a food processor then transfer to a bowl and mix well with the cream cheese. Spread the creamy beetroot mix over the base and lay the carrots on top. Scatter with chopped rosemary and thyme and bake for a further 12–15 mins, or until golden brown.
Cook’s note: To make this vegan, simply swap the pastry and cream cheese for dairy-free alternatives
Taken from The Seasonal Baker: Baking All Year Round by Michelle Evans-Fecci (Robinson) Photography: Ben Evans-Fecci
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Outing | Quirky Cinemas
Cinemas from every corner of Britain, who make movie night a little more quirky
A Sunday afternoon film is a wonderful, escapist way to spend a few hours, but what if the cinema was an escape from reality in itself? All over the country there are film fans making the cinema experience a little smaller, a bit quirkier and a lot more special - you just have to know where to find them.
A 1930s cinema hall on the edge of the National Trust Slindon Estate, showing a classic film each month, with everything done on traditional 35mm film. It’s one of the very last cinemas in the world to show nothing but celluloid - no digital to be seen.
The Horse Hospital, Bloomsbury, London
The only remaining example of a two-storey stable the public are able to access in London. And its showings are as unique as the building itself. The Horse Hospital bills itself as “championing the outsider, the unfashionable, the other.” Whatever you see there, you can guarantee it will be a little different.
Located in a former 1930s showroom, this is now a workspace, cafe… and a cinema. Take your laptop, grab a bite to eat, then slip into the screens for a film when your working day is done.
Sol Cinema, catch them everywhere
Lots of indie cinemas claim to be the smallest in the world. This one reckons it’s the smallest in the solar system! Sol is a cinema in a caravan that runs off solar energy and shows short films in a space seating eight adults. They even roll out their own mini red carpet.
Cell B, Blaenau Ffestiniog, Gwynedd
Ever fallen asleep in the cinema? Cell B Cinema has its own rooms so you can catch a film and then roll straight into a comfy bunk. One of the rooms is in an old prison cell beneath the building; ideal if you wanted to watch a cops and robbers style movie and then sleep it off in the cells.
The Swallow Theatre, Whithorn, Dumfries and Galloway
This modest ‘theatre’ is actually a converted cowshed, but it’s such a joy to find, hidden away on the Machars peninsula. It shows theatre, film and other performing arts. Don’t forget to look in on the swallows who used to nest in the ceiling and interrupt performances and have now been gently moved to the passageway on the approach to The Swallows.
The Small Space, Barry, Vale of Glamorgan
The UK’s smallest commercial cinema, with just 16 seats, The Small Space is definitely small but big on glamorous Victorian atmosphere. Each film starts at 7.30pm sharp and includes an interval so you can refresh your drinks halfway through. Very civilised.
The third of our quirky cinemas in Wales, this gorgeous little theatre on land belonging to the Gower Heritage Centre (worth a visit in itself) claims to be the smallest cinema in Wales. The building is a converted train carriage and began life as a cinema in a back garden in Gorseinon. Before closing there, it attracted the attention of Mark Kermode and hosted the world premiere of the film Alien Love Triangle, attended by none other than Kenneth Branagh! It was relocated to the Gower when it became too expensive to keep up but has since been lovingly restored. It has its own red carpet and seats 20 people. Just turn up with your friends and your own DVD or USB stick and watch whatever you please.
Kinema in the Woods, Woodhall Spa, Lincolnshire
Kinema began life as a sports pavilion in the grounds of a hotel, which sadly burned to the ground. After the ruins of the hotel were bought privately by a couple in 1922, the pavilion was restored and turned into a small cinema. The roof is too low for an image to be projected from the back of the cinema so films are projected from behind the screen onto a mirror to flip the image onto the back of the screen. Kinema is thought to be the only full-time cinema in the UK to use ‘rear projection’. Fascinating filmy stuff!
Tom Thumb Theatre, Margate, Kent
A former coach house, and renovated with Alpine and Japanese style, this theatre’s style is as diverse as its programme - a mixture of theatre, film, music and comedy. All in a beautiful location set just back from the sea.
If you’ve been inspired to visit a quirky cinema, and fancy making a weekend of it, we’d also recommend a stay at 36 And The Roxy, a holiday home in Axebridge, Somerset, which comes with its own cinema.
36 and The Roxy. Turn to page 114 of the February issue to read about the weekend Lottie Storey spent there for our Weekend Away pages.
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Sponsored post | Guide to Caravan Cooking
We all love an adventure and discovering new things. If you own a caravan or are thinking of owning one, then it can provide a wonderful way to scratch the adventure itch
One of the best things about holidaying in your caravan is having the freedom to go where you want, when you want, so the last thing you need is for mealtimes to restrict your adventures.
Eating out is great – but it can end up dictating where you go, and if you are away for a week or more, it can really add up
Keep in mind that to make sure you have peace of mind, it’s important to compare caravan insurance before you buy.
Caravan cooking tips
So, with all the above in mind, below are five top tips for cooking in your caravan.
1. Planning
You don’t want to spoil your holiday stressing about what to cook each day, so plan ahead. Think about the meals you will have while away, and pack just the ingredients for those meals, don’t forget things like oil, Oxo cubes, butter, salt and pepper – the stuff that you have on the side at home but might not think of as an ingredient.
2. Equipment
As well as bringing ingredients, you also need to make sure you have all the kitchen essentials to prepare them. For example, pans and a colander or strainer for pasta and rice, saucepans for cooking up sauces and frying pans or a wok if you want to do a stir fry. Ensure you have any utensils you will need – chopping boards, knives, a peeler, grater, a slotted spoon – you may either want to take scales and measuring jugs or you could measure everything out before if you are tight on space - and don’t forget can openers and bottle openers.
3. Storage
Obviously, you need to make sure you have enough room to store everything, so if you’re short on fridge space, maybe think about meals that don’t require too many fresh ingredients, eg pasta with pesto , and stick to meals that don’t require too many pots and pans. It could be worth bringing a slow cooker and thinking of a few different meals you could do in that, which could save time, effort and space, or bringing your microwave from home if you don’t have one in your caravan.
You may also want to bring a few plastic tubs, or some clingfilm or kitchen foil in case you have any leftovers, or cook up a large batch that can be used again
4. Keep it simple
Don’t try anything too complicated. No one wants to be slaving away in a little caravan kitchen so, the quicker and simpler the recipe, the better – and if you can prepare anything before you go, you’ll be grateful you did.
5. Barbecues
Having a nice, easy barbecue meal when staying at a caravan park is one of the easiest ways to cook and, given you can cook on a barbecue for breakfast, lunch and dinner, it is an essential for most caravanners. There are lots of barbecue options - gas, electric, disposable or good old-fashioned charcoal – whichever you use, don’t forget the fuel! Many caravan sites have permanent barbecues set up already, or gas hook-ups you can use – so check before you go, and of course, make sure you are allowed to barbecue before you light up.
What to cook
So, we’ve looked at some tips on how to cook in a caravan, now let’s take a look at what to cook with five easy caravan meals:
1. Salad
The easiest meal to ‘cook’ in a caravan is salad. You can bring all the ingredients you need, and ‘beef’ it up a bit with some cheese or cold meat and bread so it is more like a ploughman’s, or maybe whip up an omelette or frittata on the hob to have with it.
2. Pesto pasta
One of the easiest meals in the world - and tasty to boot – is pesto pasta. Just bring dried pasta and a jar of pesto. Cook up the pasta, stir in the pesto, done! You can always add chicken or prawns or spring veg into the pasta if you want to pad it out a bit.
3. Slow cooker chilli
If you bring your slow cooker, a chilli is a very simple thing to prepare: beef or Quorn mince, kidney beans, tinned tomatoes, chilli powder and paprika. If you’re doing the meat version, fry off the meat first, then chuck in all the other ingredients and leave it for a few hours. If you’re vegetarian, put the tomatoes, beans, chilli and paprika in, leave it for a few hours, then stir in the frozen Quorn about half an hour before you need to eat. Cook up some rice and you’re all done.
4. Hotdogs and burgers
Bring sausages and burgers from home, or buy some when you are out and about, and either fry on the hob, do them in the oven or cook them on the barbecue. Then, all you need to complete your meal are some bread rolls and a bit of salad - don’t forget the ketchup, mustard or brown sauce.
5. Jacket potatoes
If you have a microwave for your caravan, jacket potatoes can be a quick, easy, no fuss meal with very little preparation and hardly any washing up. Just serve with your favourite topping – cheese and baked beans is probably the easiest, but you could always keep a bit of the chilli you had earlier in the week and make two meals out of one.
These are just a few ideas. There are loads of things you can do, especially if you bring a slow cooker, which gives you lots of options, from curries and stews to casseroles and ratatouille to name just a few. It’s also a good idea to bring some back-ups like tins of soup, beans on toast etc. Don’t forget classic staples like bread, cheese, cereal etc, which can be used to whip up a quick meal any time of day.
Photography by Kirstie Young
Veg | In Praise of Kale
Lauded as a superfood, and loved by those who love their greens, we all know now that kale is very good for you indeed. But here are ten more facts about Kale that just make us love it that little bit more…
It’s practically the only vegetable you can pick in abundance right now. While lesser veg are snoozing beneath the surface of the soil, gathering strength, or are still a twinkle in Thompson and Morgan’s eye in February, hardy and stoic kale is still out there, ripe for the picking.
The Ancient Greeks used it as a cure for drunkeness. They boiled up (something like) kale (though it was definitely a green-leafed brassica), and drank the water to sober themselves up. Then coffee came along and spoiled everything.
Shetland has its own weather proverb about kale: “Dry sunny weather was best for maetin the corn and drying the peats; wet, misty or rainy weather grew best kale.”
A serving of kale has more vitamin C than an orange and more calcium than a pint of milk.
Kale is part of the same family as Brussels sprouts and has been cross-bred with sprouts to create kalettes*, a sort of kale sprout. There are more than 50 varieties of kale, too. And yes, there is already a book called ‘Fifty Shades of Kale’.
Kale was so ubiquitous in Scotland at one stage that the word ‘kale’ was used interchangeably with the word ‘food’. There was even a school of ‘rural life’ writing known as ‘Kailyard’.
We’ve been growing kale since the 4th Century BCE but this is far from its first moment in the sun. Your parents and grandparents might remember a surge in its popularity following the Dig for Victory campaign of World War Two.
The Germans have a kale festival, known as Grünkohlfahrt (Curly Kale Hike). They go on a long hike, then feast on kale and beer. Tremendous fun but perhaps avoid any participants the morning after…
Unlike many veg which are ruined by a spell of cold weather, kale actually tastes sweeter when picked after a good frost.
Kale enjoys a bit of pampering me-time, just like we do. If your kale is a bit chewy, give it a little massage before cooking it to relax the fibres and make it a little more tender and chilled out.
For more inspiration on using this month’s veg well, turn to page 56 of the February issue of The Simple Things where Kathy Slack (@gluts_gluttony) shares ideas from her Veg Patch Pantry. *There’s even a recipe for green noodle broth with kalettes.
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Illustration: Sotcksy
Wellbeing | Books to Inspire a Walk
A good walk is good for the soul. Take a hike from the comfort of your armchair with one these great books that will inspire you to put your best foot forward
The Salt Path by Raynor Winn (Penguin)
After Winn and her husband Moth lose their home and business, and he receives a terminal diagnosis, the couple decide to walk the South West Coast path – 630 miles from Somerset to Dorset via Devon and Cornwall – carrying all they have on their backs. It’s a tale of coming to terms with grief and the power of nature to heal.
Wild: A Journey From Lost to Found by Cheryl Strayed (Atlantic Books)
Following the death of her mother, Strayed took on the Pacific Crest Trail – 1,100 miles up the US West Coast, including desert, ice and wild animals. Her account not only deals with her physical challenges (losing her toenails) but her emotional reckoning, too. It’s now a film starring Reese Witherspoon.
I Belong Here: A Journey Along The Backbone of Britain by Anita Sethi (Bloomsbury Wildlife)
When Sethi became the victim of racist abuse on a train, it sparked a period of anxiety. Motivated by claustrophobia to find open spaces, and determined that the crime would not stop her travelling, she hiked the Pennines, reclaiming the landscape and her right to be in it.
The Living Mountain by Nan Shepherd (Canongate)
Shepherd’s short account of walking in the Cairngorms was written in the 1940s, but she chose not to publish it until 1977. It’s been an influence on nature writers such as Robert Macfarlane.
Windswept: Why Women Walk by Annabel Abbs (Two Roads)
Part memoir, part history, Abbs tells the story of trailblazing women, including Daphne du Maurier and Simone de Beauvoir.
OR TRY THESE NEW TITLES…
Between the Chalk and the Sea: A Journey on Foot into the Past by Gail Simmons (Headline)
This follows a long-lost pilgrim route between Southampton and Canterbury.
Sarn Helen: A Journey Through Wales, Past, Present and Future by Tom Bullough (Granta Books)
An evocative account of a journey along the old Roman road that runs from the south of Wales to the north.
Finding Hildasay: How One Man Walked the UK’s Coastline and Found Hope and Happiness by Christian Lewis (Macmillan)
In a bid to counter depression, Lewis sets off around the coast with £10 and two days’ worth of food.
In our February issue, we have a feature on walking in company by Duncan Minshull, author of Where My Feet Fall (William Collins). Turn to page 36 to read it.
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Photography by Kirstie Young
Recipe | Pork and Leek Stew with Thyme Dumplings
A much-needed filling meal for a winter’s day, after a few hours working in the garden
Serves 4
4 tbsp olive oil
1kg diced pork shoulder
1 tbsp plain flour, seasoned with salt and pepper
75g diced pancetta
275g trimmed leeks, finely sliced
500ml dry cider
1 tbsp chopped sage leaves
2 thyme sprigs
500ml chicken stock
For the dumplings:
150g plain flour, plus extra for rolling
1 tsp baking powder
75g suet
½ tsp flaky salt
2 tsp thyme leaves, chopped
120ml cold water
1 Preheat the oven to 170C/Fan 150C/ Gas 3. Heat two tablespoons of oil in a large casserole dish over a high heat. Toss the pork in the seasoned flour then fry half in the hot oil until brown. Transfer to a bowl and repeat with the rest of the pork and the remaining oil, lifting it out once browned and leaving any fatty juices behind.
2 Reduce the heat to medium-low, add the pancetta and fry for 2-3 mins until golden. Add the leeks and a pinch of salt and sweat gently for 10-15 mins, or until very soft. Add the cider and bring to a bubble for a couple of minutes to burn off the alcohol and deglaze the pan.
3 Return the pork to the casserole along with the sage, thyme and chicken stock. Bring to a simmer, put the lid on, then transfer to the oven for 1.5 hrs, or until the pork is falling apart. Check it after an hour – if it looks dry, add a splash more stock; if it’s swimming, leave the lid off for a while.
4 For the dumplings, simply mix all the ingredients together to form a sticky dough, then, with floured hands, roll into 8 balls. When the stew is ready, increase the heat to 200C/ Fan 180C/Gas 6. Sit the dumplings on the surface of the stew, then pop the lid on and return to the oven for a further 25 mins. Serve immediately
This recipe was just one of the ideas from our regular feature, Veg Patch Pantry, in which Kathy Slack (@gluts_gluttony)shows us how to use veg from your garden to make kithen table dishes. This month, she also has recipes for Green Noodle Broth, Chard & Cheese Lasagne and Puy Lentils with Cumin Roast Parsnips & Cauliflower.
Buy this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe
Winter growing and eating…
More from our blog…
Photography: Jonathan Cherry
Modern History | Top Cats
Inspired by our visit to a cat cafe in our January issue, please meet five of our favourite cats from Modern History
Larry
Role: Downing Street, chief Mouser
Best known for: Smirking in the foreground at the scene of various PMs’ demises and lounging in a louche manner on the doorstep of number 10.
Macak
Role: Inventor of the Hybrid Car
Best known for: Inspiring the electric car. Well, kind of… The story goes that as a boy Nicholas Tesla stroked his cat Macak’s back and saw sparks of static flying, which inspired his lifelong fascination with electricity and, by association, the hybrid car, years later when Elon Musk took up the Electricity Pioneer baton. What a cat!
Snowball
Role: Muse to Ernest Hemingway
Best known for: Having six toes. Snowball was given to Hemingway in the 1930s by a sea captain, and began the author’s love of polydactyl cats. Hemingway collected six-toed cats thereafter and many of Snowball’s ancestors still roam the grounds of Hemingway’s home in Key West.
Felicette
Role: Astronaut
Best known for: Being the first cat in space (and the only one to have survived). Felicette beat 13 other unlucky cats to her place in the mission thanks to her unruffled disposition. One small step for man… four tiny paws for felinekind.
Ollie the Polite Cat
Role: Being Polite
Best known for: Being the star of the 2018 viral meme ‘polite cat’ with his very polite (and quite possibly Photoshopped) smile. We’d probe further but it just wouldn’t be polite. Follow him on Instagram at @Polite_Cat_Olli_Official.
If you’d like to meet some more fabulous cats, don’t miss our Modern Eccentrics feature in which we visit a cat cafe, in the January issue, which is on sale now.
More cats we like…
More from the January issue…
January dauphinoise: recipe and photography by Mark Diacono
Recipe: January dauphinoise
From Mark Diacono’s plot in Devon this month, a recipe to make the most of his favourite blissfully bitter root veg - celeriac
“I’ll eat dauphinoise at any time of year, but this potato/celeriac split in the heart of winter’s cold is probably my favourite. Serve with griddled chicory or sprouting broccoli.”
January dauphinoise
Serves 6
25g unsalted butter, softened
300g waxy potatoes
300g celeriac
300ml double cream
4 bay leaves
2 large garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
1 Preheat oven to 170C/Fan 150C/325F. Rub a gratin dish liberally with butter.
2 Peel the potatoes and celeriac and slice thinly, either with a sharp knife or a mandoline, submerging the celeriac slices in water with a little lemon juice to prevent them discolouring.
3 Whisk together the cream and garlic and season well. Toss the veg in the mixture and layer them in alternate layers in the gratin dish with the bay leaves, then pour over any remaining cream.
4 Bake for 75 mins, pressing down all over with a fish slice or spatula every 20 mins or so, to stop the spuds from drying out. It is ready when the top is bubbling and golden, and the vegetables soft and yielding when pierced with a knife.
Recipe and photograph by Mark Diacono, a green-fingered foodie who grows, cooks and eats the best of the familiar, forgotten and climate-change foods on his Devon smallholding. His book A Year at Otter Farm (Bloomsbury, £25) has inspiring recipes for every season. His latest book is Spice: A Cook’s Companion (Quadrille, £25). This blog was first published in January 2015.
DJ: Frances Ambler; Image: Shutterstock
Playlist | Awake
Songs for mornings… and for late nights.
Take a listen to our playlist on Spotify
And browse our previous playlists here.
Sponsored post | Caring Coffee Culture
Enjoy flavours of the world with Volcano Coffee Works’ ethically traded coffee and a discount on its roaster’s choice subscription
Coffee – it wakes us up and kickstarts our day, but what if that warming cup of coffee could taste all the more sweeter, knowing that from bean to cup it has positively impacted others?
Volcano Coffee Works was established in South London in 2010 with a mission to introduce the World to better coffee – better tasting; better for the environment; and moreover, better for the people who grow it. With ethical trading principles at the core, Volcano Coffee Works strives to help others along every step of the supply chain, from direct initiatives at origin to helping local communities here in the UK. It’s also proud to be both B Corp certified and carbon neutral.
Volcano believes in giving everyone a fair shot, too. Whether it’s the farmers growing the beans or the team working in the roastery, everyone is valued for their ability to enact positive change.
Travel the world from your cup
Quality and taste is also top of Volcano’s agenda. Its coffee is hand roasted in small batches, then dispatched the following day to guarantee freshness and flavour.
For a taster of what’s on offer, there’s the Roaster’s Choice Coffee Subscription, described as a coffee tour guide. Every month, Nick Mabey – Head of Sourcing and also UK Roasting Champion 2018 – presents an exciting new coffee from around the world. Each coffee is hand roasted to its particular sweet spot that releases delicious and exotic flavours for you to enjoy in your own home. The Roaster’s Choice subscription has featured coffees from Honduras, Nicaragua, Uganda, Guatemala and Peru over the past year. Available in 500g or 1kg bags of beans or ground coffee, each month you’ll receive a coffee alongside a postcard with tasting notes and brewing tips.
Did you know… 5 million cups of Volcano Coffee are served every year in the best independent cafes and restaurants?
Treat yourself to Volcano
Volcano is offering 50% off your first month of the Roaster’s Choice subscription, which provides free delivery on a date selected by you each month. Simply enter the code TRYVOLCANO at checkout. For more info and to buy Volcano’s speciality blends, visit volcanocoffeeworks.com or follow on Instagram: @volcanocoffeeworks.
Sponsored post | Pause for a Moment
A monthly subscription box, packed with fun activities, will help you take some time out. And you’ll be supporting the charity Mind, too
How wonderful would it be if you could pause everything, take a deep breath, and give yourself a moment of calm every month? Well now you can – with Pause.
Pause is a subscription box that provides a monthly moment of mindfulness, creativity and calm, delivered straight to your door – and not only does it boost wellbeing, but it helps support Mind, the mental health charity, too. With a range of activities, each tailored to provide something fun and calming, Pause allows you to give back some time to yourself. Each box offers something unique, something you might not have tried before, and is designed to nurture your wellbeing through activities that help you reflect, relax and get creative. It helps you to find the time to acknowledge how you’re feeling, and to check in with yourself.
LEARN SOMETHING NEW
But wellbeing isn’t just about self-reflection. Your Pause box can also help you to learn a fun, new skill and encourage you to try new activities that perhaps you have never previously considered. These new skills, goals or challenges can have a positive impact on your self-esteem and wellbeing. Also, by making time to enjoy your Pause activities with family and friends, perhaps gifting a subscription or teaching loved ones your newfound skill, it can help you to feel more connected with others.
You can gift someone you love a moment of calm for themselves, or simply treat yourself – from just £7.50 a month, Mind will send you or a loved one 12 Pause boxes over the course of a year. We all want to give those that are closest to us a little time to help slow down and focus on themselves and a Pause subscription box encourages just that – time for reflection, for quiet and peace. Now isn’t that a gift?
FAR-REACHING BENEFITS
Every year, one in four of us will experience a mental health problem. By subscribing to Pause, your regular donation will help Mind be there for everyone who needs support. All of your donation goes into Mind, so you can be sure that your money is making a real change and helping those who truly need it. Your donation can help fund Mind’s work in so many ways. It could help someone access lifesaving information through their booklets, website and helplines. Or help support someone through Side by Side, a 24/7 online community. It could also help Mind campaign for better mental health services. All donations help Mind continue their vital work. So pause, take a moment to yourself, and treat yourself or someone you love to a more mindful future. For further information and to subscribe, visit pauseformind.org.uk/simple.
Competition | Win one of 3 GAIA Skincare Sets
With inner-strength and wellbeing in mind, GAIA Skincare has launched a new trio of natural skincare products that are ideal for supporting any fitness and wellness regime.
Featuring a Strengthening Fitness Gel, a Strengthening Pulse Point and an Awakening Cream Deodorant, the new range is created using natural ingredients and the comforting blend of black pepper and stimulating ginger essential oils, which are naturally immune boosting and warming, making them ideal for easing aching muscles.
The new Cream Deodorant combines GAIA’s signature awakening blend of tangerine and peppermint with refreshing tea tree, while the creamy consistency of shea butter will leave underarms feeling fresh and soft.
As well as the new Strengthening trio, GAIA Skincare is also giving away its Cleanse and Conditioning set as part of the prize bundle, featuring its Awakening shampoo, conditioner, body wash and body lotion.
This uplifting set is presented in a stylish GAIA illustrated wash bag, which is useful for taking to the gym or for weekends away. So whether you’re keen to support a healthy fitness regime, or just want some wellbeing time, enter our competition and enjoy the uplifting qualities of GAIA Skincare’s natural products.
For more information and to buy GAIA Skincare products, visit gaiaskincare.com or follow on Instagram: @naturallygaia.
How to enter
For your chance to win one of three GAIA Skincare bundles, worth £128 each, enter our
competition by clicking the button below and answering the following question by the closing
date of 8 March 2023.
Q: Which two essential oils are used in Gaia’s new range?
TERMS & CONDITIONS
The competition closes at 11.59pm on 8 March 2023. Three winners will be selected at random from all correct entries received and notified soon after. The winners cannot transfer the prize or swap for cash. Subject to availability. Details of our full T&Cs are on p125 and at icebergpress.co.uk/comprules.
Illustration by Christina Carpenter
Wild Waters | Dipping Your Toe In
If wild swimming is on your could-do list for 2023, don’t just dive right in. You need to have been going regularly as the waters get colder through autumn, or the temperature may be too much of a shock. If you’re a newbie, instead of taking the plunge, start January by finding a swim buddy. Wild swimming is safer and more fun with two.
For January, a swim at Loughrigg Tarn in the Lake District is a great shout. It’s said to be one of the warmest lakes locally to swim in as no rivers feed into it, and a little path running alongside, plus a car park, make it really accessible for beginners.
Stay at the Three Shires Inn nearby (threeshiresinn.co.uk) or head there for a hot coffee to warm up after your swim.
In January the average sea temperature is 6.5° in Airth, and 10.7° in Torquay.
Wild Waters is a new regular slot on our Almanac pages. Find suggestions for wild swim locations, sea temperatures and more each month, alongside other seasonal things to note and notice,
plan and do.
More wild swimming inspiration…
More from our January issue…
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