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Real people are at the heart of The Simple Things so we decided to put them on the cover, and to celebrate our new look we're giving away 10 (yes 10!) annual subscriptions to the magazine. Click here to enter.
Top tips for growing tomatoes not seen in Issue 8
We all know how disappointing the British summer can be. Ideally we'd all have greenhouses or poly tunnels, but if you have neither don't despair. Last year I grew one single cherry tomato plant in a pot on a sunny windowsill - it turned into a vast plant and produced more fruit than I believed possible. All I did was water regularly and feed it. The poor tomato suffers more than most outside in the rain, and is more likely to get tomato blight and an array of other viruses, most of which end up killing the plants.
There are a few things you can do to improve your chances of getting a decent crop.
1. Be prepared to cosset them a little, feeding regularly and keeping them sheltered from cold wind.
2. Grow those varieties that suit your location. If they have to be outside choose cherry types such as Gardener's Delight, Sungold and Black Krim, all of which will ripen outside given some sun.
3. Try growing cherry tomato variety 'Tumbling Tom' in a hanging basket with basil for company. These will tolerate outside conditions in the summer, and are either red or yellow fruits.
4. Grow several varieties - that way you'll soon learn which grow best in your garden or which you prefer to eat. And you're more likely to produce a crop from a variety of different plants.
5. Be prepared to ripen fruit indoors on a sunny windowsill. Put them in a paper bag with a banana and this will help to ripen them. But any green tomatoes do make great chutney.
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Exclusive! Behind the scenes on our new cover shoot
People are at the heart of The Simple Things, so we decided to put them on the cover...
The urbanite who takes the time to show us round their city, the expert who shares their wisdom on specialist foods, the writer who helps send us off to bed, it is stories of life and people which fill our pages and make The Simple Things what it is.
Meet Teyha, Laura and John. Parents, friends, cooks, and the cover stars of this month's issue of The Simple Things.
Teyha lives with her daughter Isa (pictured below) in Nevada City California, where John works as a chef and lives with his girlfriend Laura and their son Desmond (also pictured below). The friends recently got together to share and enjoy a tasty Mexican buffet, a gathering we share inside Issue 8.
"It's always a pleasure to get together a bunch of friends for a lazy afternoon of cooking..."
"Mexican food for me is all about enjoying family..."
We use real people in our mag not models because The Simple Things is about life, and we wanted to celebrate that on the cover. What do you think?
Free Recipe! Baking biscotti with Elephantine
To celebrate the release of Issue 8 today Rachel Ball from Elephantine has stopped by the blog to share her recipe for almond biscotti. We suggest you enjoy these biccies with a foamy latte and the newest issue of The Simple Things.
Almond Biscotti with Maple Glaze (makes a dozen)
1 1/8 cups all-purpose flour 2/3 cups white sugar 1 tsp baking powder a pinch of salt 1/4 cup chopped almonds 1 tsp orange zest 2 eggs, beaten 1/2 Tbsp vegetable oil 1/4 tsp vanilla extract (or almond extract)
1/2 cup powdered sugar 1 Tbsp maple syrup 1 tsp milk
Preheat oven to 350˚F. In a large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, almonds, and orange zest. Add the eggs, oil, and vanilla extract. Mix well with a spoon (or your hands). Dump the dough onto a baking sheet (optionally lined with parchment paper). The dough will be very, very sticky. Form it into a rectangle about 3/4 inch thick. Bake for 20-25 minutes.
Remove from the oven, cool slightly, then slice into 1/2 inch wide pieces. Set the biscotti back onto the baking sheet, laying them on their sides. Bake for 10 to 20 more minutes, turning over halfway through. Finished cookies should be hard & crunchy. For the glaze*, combine the powdered sugar, maple syrup, and milk. Mix well. Add more milk if it's too thick to easily pour. Drizzle over the cookies and let dry.
*Alternatively, you could make a lemon glaze instead. Or dip them in chocolate!
Don't miss: Rachel Ball showing us round her home town of Seattle in Issue 8 of The Simple Things.
The Simple Things Book Club: April
Refreshing reads to help you pause, plan, and make an early night essential.
Turned Out Nice Again - Richard Mabey
Why we love it: Mabey explores our weather obsession in a fascinating mix of the scientific, historial, literary and mythological.
Hand Quilted With Love - Sarah Fielke
Why we love it: Fielke gives a whislte-stop yet informative tour of everything novice and advanced stitchers need to know, including guides to fabrics, equipment and sewing techniques.
Why we love it: after realising her dream of keeping back-garden chickens, Taylor shares advice on how a garden and 'the girls' moods changes throughout the year, this lovely book is also packed full of tempting recipes which will leave you earning for a coop too.
Why we love it: Chrissy introduces 12 ancient 'supergrains' with historical background and nutritional values. With over 100 recipes to bring these forgotten grains back to life in the kitchen.
An explosive tale of faith, sex and power.
Petite Mort - Beatrice Hitchman
Fans of silent films and historical fiction will delight in this chocolate box of a novel, which mixes love, lust, amd scandel with the stardust of 1900s Paris.
Frances and Bernard Carlene Bauer
Inspired by the relationship between Flannery O'Connor and Robert Lowell, Frances and Bernard is warm, intelligent and addictive.
The Banner of the Passing Clouds - Anthea Nicholson
Nicholson brings to life the drab, oppressive towerblock landscape of a crumbling state of USSR-ruled Georgia, but also the songs, humour and passions of its people in this tense, gritty novel.
Have you read any of these books? Join the conversation in the comments below.
Miscellany: pillow talk
Do you prefer your pillows chopped or tugged? A nicely plumped cushion makes a room look all the more comfy and inviting, but which is your preferred method for perking up your pillows?
Cushions from Chocolate Creative
Let's look at the main contenders....
THE SHAKE - a method preferred by the likes of Buddy Holly, James Bond and the people of Harlem.
THE TUG - highly satisfying when applied to smaller pillows and cushions.
THE KARATE CHOP - love it or hate it? This technique divides opinion better than marmite.
THE DROP-'N'-HOP - one for poho enthusiasts and amateur trampoliners.
| Which technique do you use to plump your cushions? |
Don't miss: old wives' gardening tales, making the perfect sponge, 5 ways with asparagus and more in this month's Miscellany!
Five things for the weekend: St Paddy's Day
A collection of makes and gifts inspired by St Patrick's Day...
Feta and thyme soda bread The Little Loaf | Irish cream brownies Butter Cream Blondie | Guinness soap All Things Herbal | Irish Manhattan Bon Appetit (photo by Tim Mazurek) | 4 leaf clover necklace Sevgl Charms
Two BIG reasons to sign up to our newsletter
We've got some exclusive and exciting news to reveal to all the readers of our newsletter this week plus 10 annual subscriptions to The Simple Things magazine to giveaway - so make sure you're signed up to receive The Simple Things weekly! That's right folks, to say thank you for signing up to our newsletter we're giving away annual subscriptions to 10 lucky readers of our weekly newsletter. We're also going to be sharing some exciting news which you can only find out about if you're signed up in time to receive the newsletter on Thursday. What will it be? Find out later in the week!
Psssst! Don't forget to tell your friends, sign up on the right.
Five things for the weekend: bottles
Five DIYs to try this weekend that make better use of an empty bottle.
1. Plastic bottle terraniums | 2. DIY geode bottle tops, Cupcakes and Cashmere | 3. Wine bottle bird feeder | 4. Bracelet stands | 5. Bottle chime from creationdesigns
Celebrate International Women's Day with Gudrun Sjoden
Head down to their London store for an afternoon of festivities and celebration for International Women's Day
Gudrun Sjoden are celebrating IWD in style at their London store today with colourful offers, exciting surprises and, of course, something tasty to eat and drink. There will be a special appearance from Alys Fowler, who will be at the store from 4pm sharing her tips on planting for spring. Plus a free goody bags for those who attend with free copies of The Simple Things inside. An event not to be missed so stop by and say hey!
The Simple Things of Life Part.1
A round up of some of some of our favourite little pleasures from the back covers of the last 7 Issues. Enjoy.
Why not share your simple thing with us on our Pinterest board* or leave a comment below.
*To become a contributor to our group board tweet or Facebook us your Pinterest handle
Whip up a tasty tiramisu in time for the weekend
Sukaina from Sips and Spoonfuls has stopped by to share this delicious recipe for a simple tiramisu. Whip this up in less than an hour to share and enjoy with friends and family.
Ingredients: 2 cups whipping cream 3 egg yolks * 3/4 cup sugar 1/2 tsp vanilla extract 1 cup mascarpone cheese 2 cups strong coffee approx. 25 ladyfingers cocoa powder to serve
Directions: Beat the whipping cream until stiff peaks form and set aside. Using the paddle attachment of the stand mixer, beat the the egg yolks and sugar until the sugar has dissolved. Add the vanilla and mascarpone and beat on medium speed till combined. Fold the mascarpone with the whipped cream, taking care not to deflate the mixture.
Dip the ladyfingers quickly into the coffee. Layer glasses with the mascarpone followed by the ladyfingers alternatively starting and ending with the mascarpone. Refrigerate for four hours at least or overnight. Serve with a dusting of cocoa powder.
Makes approximately 8 glasses depending on the size.
A big thank you for Sukaina for taking the time to share this recipe with us, for more visit her at Sips and Spoonfuls
* Make sure you pick the best eggs for this recipe using our notes on eggs guide inside Issue 7
Can you guess the egg?
Using our notes on eggs guide in Issue 7 can you correctly guess these unidentified eggs? Leave your answers in the comments below!
1. Clue: these eggs are quite rare and most commonly found in the spring.
2. Clue: Not for baking, these are best boiled.
3. Clue: Commonly known as the 'American ostrich'
4. Clue: These eggs are known for their tough outer shell.
To read eggs-pert Richard Kempsey's guide to the humble egg download Issue 7 now or order a copy online.
Issue 7 (March 2013) is currently available in UK shops, subscribe here.
** For more eggs-ceedingly eggs check out Clarence Court's website or say hi on Twitter: @ClarenceCourt
Ceilings & Floors | Dublin from top to bottom with Emily Westbrooks
Those who've read Issue 7 will be familiar with Emily Westbrooks, writer, blogger and resident of the wondrous city of Dublin. Today Emily has stopped by on the blog to take us on an extra special tour of her beloved city not seen inside the magazine. Take it away Emily...
I've never been the biggest fan of museums and history exhibitions, but living in Dublin has certainly changed that. The museums here are free (just not open on Mondays), which means you can pop in for a quick visit without feeling like you have to see every inch. But as an added bonus, they offer some of the best examples of Georgian architecture in the city. I've been known to spend more time gazing at the ornate ceilings and snapping photos of my feet on the patterned mosaic tile floors than at the actual exhibits! Now, in each city I visit, I make sure to look up and down to see what the other views have to offer.
Here are some of the best ceilings and floors you'll find in Dublin:
The National Museum of Ireland, Kildare Street The National Museum of Ireland on Kildare Street focuses on Irish history through archeology. It's the home to several "bogmen", people who were found after being preserved in peat bogs. They still have some of their clothing and hair intact! But the big domed ceiling and patterned floor, with mosaics depicting Greek mythology, in the entryway might stop you in your tracks.
Dublin City Hall (This one has a small fee for entry) Dublin City Hall holds an exhibition that shares the history of the capital city from 1170 to today, and the classic Georgian ceiling and mosaic tiled floor filled with flowers, shamrocks and images of Dublin Castle are well worth a visit.
The National Library Technically, you need a reader's card for entry into the National Library, but there are tours available for the public every Saturday at 2:30pm. Inside the main reading room, the domed ceiling is painted in shades of turquoise, which is especially striking against the dark wood bookcases and desks. The grand setting will certainly make you want to crack open a book!
EMILY WESTBROOKS writes about life, travel and DIY projects on her blog, From China Village.
Things to wake up and WIN (closed)
We're giving away 8 fantastic prizes from this month's wake up and want wishlist inside Issue 7. Read more about the prizes below or enter here now!
Leaf impression plate | £13 | Yaela Studio
Impressed by hand with a grape leaf before another speckled texture was added, this plate is beautiful to look at.
Cake tins | £25 | Cotswold Trading
How could you say no to a piece of cake delivered by one of these three charming characters? Design by artist Tom Frost.
Pipe lamp | £69 | Bodie and Fou
House Doctor DK's pipe lamp mixes luxe with industrial to create an eye-catching statement piece.
Ceramic mug | £23 | Dawn Dishaw Ceramics
The pattern on this mug is hand-drawn and inspired by the rich patterns of Persian paintings
Harvest mugs | £16 each | Darling Clementine
Make the first drink of the day even more appealing supped from these bone china mugs
Dancers tea tray | £24 | Depeapa
Veronica de Arriba's illustration reminds us to banish the morning blues and get up and dance.
Pure Nature stool | £105 | Idyll Home
Bring a touch of rustic charm to the breakfast table with this wooden stool.
Kuppila tray and greeting cards | £36 | Polkka Jam
Serve up a reviving brew on this tea-themed tray.
CLICK HERE for a chance to win this amazing collection of prizes!
*Our wake up and want wishlist was complied by WILL TAYLOR
*Sponsored: A traditional apple crumble
Our friends from Mornflake have stopped by to share this easy-to-follow video for making a traditional apple crumble, yum!*
For more video recipes visit www.mornflake.com
Inside The Simple Things Issue 7: the Collector
On Facebook and Twitter you've all been telling us how much you enjoy the collector feature inside The Simple Things. We do too. In seven Issues we've looked at all sorts of weird and wonderful collections from radios to valentines cards, and each one has been unique with a special story to tell. This month we take a look inside Michael Tyler's Cuban political poster collection, a series of stunning and powerful images in which artistic freedom meets the struggle for freedom.
1: 'Day of the Heroic Guerrilla', Helena Serrano, 1968 2: 'Day of World Solidarity with Laos', Andres Hernandez, 1972 3: 'Radiant Che', Alfredo Rostgaard, 1969
4: 'America Latina: Week of Solidarity with Latin America', Antonio Perez (Niko), 1968, 5: 'Day of Solidarity with the People of Venezuela', Faustino Perez, 1969 6: 'International Campaign of Solidarity with the People of Korea', Gladys Acosta, 1969.
To read more about Michael Tyler's Cuban poster collection download Issue 7 now or order a copy online.
Issue 7 (March 2013) is currently available in UK shops, subscribe here.
Celebrate Fairtrade Fortnight with our giveaway!
To mark the start of Fair Trade Fortnight we've got a set of Baylis & Harding's new Fair trade range to giveaway to one lucky reader.
Over the next two weeks the Fairtrade foundation is urging us to take an extra step to look after the food we love and the people who grow it. There are plenty of ways to get involved and show your support for this fantastic campaign, whether it's buying products which carry the FAIRTRADE mark, getting involved with a local event, or signing the online petition for fairer food.
To celebrate, we've got a set of Baylis & Harding's new Fair Trade range to giveaway to one lucky person. Enter online now, and don't forget to let us know the ways you're supporting Fair Trade in the comments below.
Visit www.fairtrade.org.uk/gofurther for more on Fairtrade Fortnight.
Get a free trial subscription of The Simple Things for iPad & iPhone! (expired)
Our new Apple Newsstand app is now live! To celebrate we’re offering a free trial subscription to all new subscribers!
To celebrate the launch of our new Apple Newsstand app, we’re offering a free trial subscription of The Simple Things, Mollie Makes and Gathered by Mollie Makes on iPad, iPhone and iPod touch to all new subscribers!
Click below to sign up for your free trial subscriptions