Sponsored post | Retreat and Heal

Embrace a Soul Breeze yoga retreat in the Greek sunshine to escape life’s stresses and rediscover
inner peace and empowerment

When the stresses and strains of daily life are starting to take their toll and it’s time to recalibrate, look to a Soulbreeze yoga retreat in Greece in order to reconnect with the real you.

Soulbreeze founder and spiritual guide Sofia Athanasiadi crafts each retreat with the sole aim of enabling her guests to find inner peace and empowerment – and the number of returning participants year on year is testimony to its success.

Each break has a unique theme that’ll see guests swimming in clear waters, enjoying flavour-packed plant-based meals, all the while relaxing and recharging the batteries. Morning rituals include yoga, meditation and pranayama breathing practices, while journaling and healing circles will help to cement to the progress made each day.

Like-minded attendees help to create an environment of sisterhood, openness and trust, while Sofia infuses Vinyasa with Kundalini Yoga elements to create a connection with your Higher Self.

Set in the stunning surroundings of the Athens Riviera or the Aegean island of Antiparos, the combination of nature and yoga help to accelerate the healing process, sparking real transformation. Suitable for all levels, a Soulbreeze yoga retreat may well be the first step on your journey to a rediscovered you.

For more information on Soulbreeze’s upcoming retreats and to book, visit soulbreeze.org or follow on Instagram: @soulbreeze.greece

Soul Breeze retreats 2022

The Art of Slow Living: 29 May – 3 June 2022, Athens Riviera

Wild Woman: 13-18 June 2022, Athens Riviera

The Goddess Within: 24-29 September 2022, Antiparos Island

Nature & Soulbreeze: 30 September – 5 October 2022, Antiparos Island

The Gift of Self Love: 18-23 October 2022, Antiparos Island

Dream divination | What bees mean

If your dreams are filled with the buzzing of bees, here’s what it might mean

Bees are heavy in symbolism, appearing in myths and folklore in many cultures, from the Mayans to the Celts to the Native Americans. No wonder, really, that they turn up in our dreams from time to time. If you’ve had a dream about a bee, or even a swarm of them, here’s what it might mean. 

In general, dreaming about bees indicates something positive, according to dream psychology. Bees in dreams are generally linked to hard work, or efficiency. Perhaps you are busy with a new project at work or have a personal project on the boil such as moving house. 

More specifically, if your dream involves honey, it’s said to be a portent of wealth to come, or of a reward for hard work. A full hive is, unsurprisingly, a good omen of riches, whereas an empty hive might be a sign of imminent failure, particularly financial. A beehive on fire, also unsurprisingly, is an omen of very bad news. Particularly for the bees, we imagine. 

A swarm of bees may symbolise your fears of responsibility to a group, whether that’s work colleagues or family. 

Being stung by a bee is apparently a symbol of running away from pain. Again, no surprises there.

Meanwhile, being chased by bees suggests you are too invested in the future above the present (presumably invested in a future in which you are not being chased by bees). 

Or perhaps, you’ve simply got a wasps’ nest in your attic that’s disturbing your peaceful sleep. Who knows?  You can find out more about your dreams and the signs from universe by reading your natal chart.

The beautiful garden bumblebee pictured above is one of the buzzy chaps featured in our Bee Identifier from our May Miscellany pages. They’re from a print by Kate Broughton. You can buy a copy of her bee print from her shop.

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Magic | Do the Tablecloth Trick

Always harboured a secret desire to whip a tablecloth out from under a fully laid table? Us too. We’ve got good news… Anyone can do it!

Surprise your family and delight your friends with this impressive trick. And you don’t need to be Paul Daniels to have a go. Here’s how to do The Tablecloth Magic Trick…

1. You need a table with straight sides, not curved - that messes with the physics.

2. Choose the right cloth. It should have as little traction as possible on the table, so smooth, slightly silky material is great. The table should be clean and dry, too. You want that cloth to slide across it easily. Also, your cloth should have no hem. 

3. Place the cloth on the table with most of the ‘overhang’ on the side you’re going to pull from. 

4. Carefully lay your table with crockery and cutlery. You can start with unbreakable crockery if you’re nervous. It actually helps for the items on the table to be heavy, so you can weight glasses down, for example, by filling them with water, which also adds to the effect. Pop a red rose in a glass of water if you’re feeling showy. 

5. When you’re ready, grasp the tablecloth edge firmly with both hands and pull downwards towards your feet, quickly. Hesitate, or pull straight out to the side and you’ll mess it up. 

6. Take a bow. 

How does it work?

It’s more a feat of physics than a magic trick. There’s no sleight of hand involved. The tablecloth trick is an illustration of Newton’s theory of inertia in action. If an object is at rest, it stays at rest unless acted on by another force. So the tablecloth, when pulled, leaves the table and the items on it where they are because the force of it moving is not enough to move the items at rest on it. 

If you’d like to have a go at this trick and are in the market for a new tablecloth, you might like to read our Looking Back feature on the history of tablecloths in our May issue, which is adapted from The Elements of a Home: Curious Histories Behind Everyday Household Objects From Pillows to Forks by Amy Azzarito (Chronicle Books).

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Sponsored post | Celebrate Great Taste with Maldon Salt

Maldon salt is celebrating 140 years of craftsmanship with some extra-special events

As the nation celebrates the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, it’s worth noting that another household favourite is also ringing in a very special anniversary. This summer marks 140 years of salt craftsmanship at Maldon Salt, and the culinary brand has some very exciting plans afoot to mark the festivities.

A special birthday requires a special outfit and, from this month, its Original Sea Salt is available in limited edition packaging with a golden ‘140 years of craftsmanship’ logo – designed to look as good in your kitchen as it tastes in your food.

Despite much changing over the past 140 years, the distinctive pyramid-shaped flakes – loved by chefs and home cooks the world over – continue to be hand-harvested in Essex using the same techniques that were employed back in 1882, and all under the watchful eye of four generations of the Osborne family.

A sprinkling of salt flakes can elevate a dish to something extra special, so with that in mind, Maldon Salt has created a series of Jubilee-inspired pudding recipes that are available online. All classics with a modern and contemporary twist, such as Eton Mess, Orange and Pistachio Battenburg and Chai Chelsea Buns, and guaranteed to be a delicious addition to any Jubilee party or picnic.

However, sharing a special anniversary isn’t the only connection between Maldon Salt and Her Majesty. Back in 2010 the Queen visited Maldon’s salt works and two years later granted the brand a Royal Warrant, which still stands to this day. Maldon Salt even makes an appearance in a new book featuring 250 royal images – Her Majesty the Queen: Inside the Official Platinum Jubilee Pageant Commemorative Album.

So as you get into the party spirit, keep an eye out for Maldon Salt’s socials and the exciting events, recipes and competitions to come. And in the meantime, grab your limited edition anniversary pack and seize the seasoning.

For more information, visit maldonsalt.com or follow on social media: @maldonsalt

Playlist | Midsummer magic

Let her dance…
Music to enjoy late into the evening

Take a listen here
Or search ‘simplethingsmag’ on Spotify to find all of our monthly playlists.

Sponsored post | Setting the Standard

The international B Corp certification highlights those companies operating at the highest social and environmental standards

What is B Corp?

We all want to do our bit when it comes to making choices, so rest assured that when you see a business with B Corp Certification it’s a clear sign that that company is meeting high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability. Verified by B Lab, B Corp Certification covers all areas of business from employee benefits and charitable giving to supply chain practices and input materials. With over 700 B Corps in the UK, across 56 industries, the UK B Corp community is growing faster than ever. And the benefits speak for themselves with those meeting the standards able to build trust with consumers, communities and suppliers, while attracting and retaining a like-minded workforce, as these companies attest… bcorporation.uk

Coaltown

In 2019, Coaltown became the first B Corp Certified specialty coffee company in the UK. Focussing on ethical coffee sourcing and sustainable production, they work to develop new and innovative green practices that benefit not just the consumer, but the industry as a whole. With ambitions to transform post-industrial towns and cities into sustainable and thriving communities, Coaltown is providing skilled jobs and paying above the Real Living Wage, all thanks to a new form of Black Gold… coffee. coaltowncoffee.co.uk

Weleda

Last year Weleda celebrated its centenary year by gaining B Corp Certification. Working sustainably and in harmony with nature comes naturally to Weleda, but it takes determination and investment, something that’s resulted in its range of natural and organic cosmetics being NATRUEcertified, its cosmetic supply chains being UEBT-certified sustainable, and its plant gardens being Demeter-certified. Weleda is a Living Wage Employer in the UK, and helped found the British Sustainable Beauty Coalition. Having recently joined the Board of the International B Corp Beauty Coalition, it’s now working to improve social and environmental impacts of business in the beauty industry. weleda.co.uk

Cully & Sully

Famed for its soups, risottos and pies, Cully & Sully became the first Irish food brand to become B Corp Certified in 2020. Launched in 2004, this award-winning business is committed to producing good, honest and tasty food, whilst prioritising community and environmental projects. Honoured to sit alongside other big B Corp Certified names, Cully & Sully now has its sights set on far more than just profit as it continues to cherish and protect both people and the planet. cullyandsully.com

Birdwatch | The Skylark

Known for their spring song as they soar high into the sky, skylarks just say ‘spring’ and have captivated many a poet, from William Wordsworth to Ted Hughes

Look for: A small, light brown bird, streaked with darker brown and a dark brown tail with a white side tail and white undercarriage. They also have a crest that stands up when they are excited.

Spot them: In open fields and grassland, and nesting on the ground between April and August.

Listen for: A fast, chirruping ‘Preet, preet, preet’ sound. Skylarks are also excellent mimics so you may hear them making a noise reminiscent of other farmland birds and waders.

We visit the Simple Things bird hide each month on our Almanac pages, where we also have lots more seasonal things to note and notice, plan and do. Buy this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

Outing | Nights at the Museum

Ever fancied getting ‘accidentally’ locked in the museum after hours? Now could be your chance

A sleepover is always exciting, but the idea of camping out underneath dinosaur bones, or among dusty artefacts thousands of years old, is the stuff nights away dreams are made of. The good news is that lots of the UK’s museums are encouraging us to do just that. The even <better> news is that this isn’t just for kids; adults are more than welcome st many of them, too. Dust off your sleeping bag and torch - the museums are waiting for you…

Dino Snores, The Natural History Museum, London

Dino Snores, in which you set up camp in one of NHM’s iconic galleries for the night and take part in a raft of activities, before settling down to sleep at midnight, is probably the most famous of the museum sleepovers. The one snag is that you have to source a child to take with you in order to attend. But breakfast is included and it sounds amazing. What price, getting to sleep under a blue whale. Plus, there are occasional Dino Snores for Grown Ups events, too - no kids required!

nhm.ac.uk/events/dino-snores-for-kids.html 

The Deep Group Sleepovers, Hull

If Blue Whale skeletons aren’t enough for you, fall into a (Deep) Sleep, with a stopover at Hull’s The Deep. Get a gang together and park your sleeping bags next to sharks, rays, turtles and more, drifting off to the sight of huge sea monsters, swooshing past your pillow. This one is kids only (though you could sneak in if you’re perhaps a Cub Scout leader or similar) but it’s also available - albeit at quite a price - for individual families of up to six people.  

thedeep.co.uk/deep-experiences/sleepovers 

British Museum Sleepovers

Snooze in good company, among kings and pharaohs, at a British Museum overnight stay. Again, you will need to borrow a child, but a few stories about cursed mummies and we don’t think they’ll give you any trouble, leaving you free to enjoy your evening and experience one of the world’s best museums after hours. 

britishmuseum.org/membership/sleepovers

Data After Dark, National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh

Take the chance to explore the museum without having to politely wait for the kids to step aside from the buttons and give you a turn. Not quite a sleepover, but this event is open from 7pm to 10pm and lets the grown-ups get their hands on all kinds of fascinating exhibits, from virtual reality light sabre duels and Lego to items in the interactive gallery, including getting up close and personal with Dolly the Sheep. Ticket includes a drink from the Belfield Brewery and there’s plenty of fun for adults from DJs to food stands and photobooths. 

nms.ac.uk/exhibitions-events/events/national-museum-of-scotland/data-after-dark/

Kip on a Ship, HMS Belfast

Have hot chocolate from a real ‘mess mug’, learn semaphore and make your own flag pole aboard the HMS Belfast on the River Thames, before sleeping over on this historical ‘floating village’. Groups of children (and responsible adults) can stay for up to three nights. 

iwm.org.uk/kip

Themed sleepovers, The Novium Museum, Chichester

Learn about smugglers, space and much more with treasure hunts and hands-on activities by night at The Novium, Chichester’s Roman specialist museum and then settle down for sleep among the Roman Baths. 

thenovium.org/sleepover  

Soane Lates, Sir John Soane’s Museum, London

Another ‘lates’ event that’s a bit special and just for the grown-ups. Visit the atmospheric Sir John Soane museum (pictured above) after hours and see the exhibits by candlelight on 90 minute tours that run up 9.30pm. Soak up the atmosphere of the museum when no one else is around before heading out for dinner and drinks. 

soane.org/whats-on/soane-lates-spotlight-soane-april-2022 

Enjoy more unusual outings with our feature Sneak Peek in our May issue, in which we discover places where you can tour behind the scenes, from theatres and museums to hidden farms and secret gardens.

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How to | Find Dyes in Nature

From onion skins to avocados and much more, you can find colour in the most unexpected places

If you’re making your first foray into natural dyeing (do not miss our May issue if so!) you might like to plan your palette. Here are a few natural products you can use for dyeing fabric all colours of the rainbow…

Red

Beetroot, pomegranate and hibiscus

Orange

Onion skins and carrots

Yellow

Dandelions, sunflowers and marigolds

Green

Spinach, nettles and grass

Blue

Red cabbage, blueberries and red grapes

Indigo

Woad plant and elderberries

Violet

Purple basil leaves and sumac berries

If you’re inspired to give natural dyeing a go, don’t miss our May issue, which has in it all the instructions you’ll need for dyeing cotton and linen napkins, tablecloths and more. The projects are taken from Taken from Natural Dyeing: Learn How to Create Colour and Dye Textiles Naturally by Kathryn Davey (Hardie Grant) with photography by Doreen Kilfeather and Kathryn Davey.

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Tipple | Rosemary Rum Spritz

Rosemary and red wine syrup makes this cocktail aromatic and complex rather than sticky and sweet

Makes 1 7.5ml red wine syrup

2 rosemary sprigs, plus one to garnish
45ml three-year-old rum
60ml pink grapefruit juice
Ice cubes
Soda water, to top up

For the red wine syrup:

100ml red wine
100g caster sugar

You will need:

Pan, funnel, cocktail shaker, muddler and strainer

1 To make the red wine syrup, place the wine and sugar in a pan, stir well and heat gently to a simmer (do not boil). Keep stirring until the sugar has fully dissolved then remove from the heat. Leave to cool before using a funnel to pour the mixture into a clean glass bottle (you can store this in the fridge for up to 1 month).

2 Meanwhile, to make the spritz, muddle the rosemary in a cocktail shaker.

3 Add ice, along with the red wine syrup,rum and pink grapefruit juice, then shake vigorously to chill.

4 Strain into a glass with fresh ice and top with soda. Garnish with a rosemary sprig.

Bartender’s note: The structure of red wine is what really adds to the depth of flavour. It goes well with darker spirits, too. Avoid anything too aged and stick to good-value, mellow wines such as rioja joven from Spain, shiraz from Australia or merlot from Chile.

Taken from Home Cocktail Bible by Olly Smith (Quadrille). Photography: Matt Russell. We feature a tipple each month in The Simple Things. Buy our May issue to find more seasonal ways to celebrate late spring.

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Sponsored post | We'll Drink to That

As the nation prepares for Jubilee picnics and street parties galore, toast your celebrations with the finest English wines on offer

 This summer is set to be a special one. After a funny old couple of years, we’ve all learnt to appreciate life’s simplicity and to look for the little things that bring us joy. So the promise of picnics in the sunshine and a summer of Jubilee celebrations is just the ticket to look forward to.

However, when it comes to choosing wines, many of us can feel overwhelmed at the choice on offer or intimidated at what goes with what. In fact, more often than not, we’re reduced to making our selection based on the label alone, rather than its contents. Thankfully, The English Vine is determined to take the snobbishness out of the industry and to make wine approachable, fun and understandable – just as it should be.

Wine lovers at heart, the team behind The English Vine not only produce two wines of their own, but also showcase other English wines, giving them a platform to shine, away from the pressures of the big retail names. And all offerings are grown and made in England – mainly by hand – with immense love and passion for quality.

Also keen to break the so-called rules of wine pairing, The English Vine believes that its NUMBER 1, an easy-drinking Bacchus, is the ideal go-to for almost any situation and dish. Whether it’s a punchy Thai curry, a delicate mushroom risotto or a packed hamper of picnic treats, NUMBER 1 more than fits the bill.

It won’t just be the wine that’ll have people talking, either, the bottle’s a conversation starter too – as NUMBER 1 is available in a paper bottle. Inspired by the discovery that the UK only recycles 71% of its glass, with much of it ending up in landfill, The English Vine was determined to find a solution. Weighing in at five times lighter than a glass bottle and infinitely kinder to the planet, NUMBER 1’s ingenious paper bottle has a carbon footprint that is 84% lower than the glass alternative and uses four times less water in its production.

Another savvy packaging idea available from The English Vine is the sleek refillable wine bottle. Tough, travel-friendly and dishwasher-proof, it keeps pre-chilled wine cool for up to 24 hours, so you can do away with the added faff of carrying wine coolers on your summer adventures. Throw in the matching metal goblets and you’ll really have a wine pairing to get excited about.

With Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations fast approaching, many of us will be stocking up on bubbles to raise a toast. So why not opt for something as quintessentially English as the Queen herself? High on the team’s list of recommendations are the great value Shotley Sparkling from Suffolk, or the very apt Windsor Great Park Sparkling Rosé, produced on her very doorstep. Now that’s something to drink to. Cheers!

The English Vine is offering The Simple Things readers 10% off all purchases over £60. Simply use the code BUBBLES10 at checkout. Offer valid until 5 June 2022.

For more information and to order online, visit theenglishvine.co.uk and follow on Instagram: @theenglishvine.

How to | Trespass with Good Manners

Why reclaiming the countryside is as much about nurturing a relationship as it is about protest

Ninety years ago, the Kinder Scout Trespass saw 400 ramblers climb the Peak District’s highest point in protest for a greater public access. To tie in with that anniversary, activist, author and all-round countryside guru, Nick Hayes is campaigning to get more people out documenting their trespasses – his new book, The Trespasser’s Companion, serving as a call to action. “I’m putting my faith in the people,” he says. “I think there is power there.” 

There are, of course, important ways in which to be a better trespasser, not least political, “aggression is not good for our campaign,” he says. If you want to stage your own trespass, Nick recommends following the Scottish outdoor access code, where most land and waterways became open access in 2003. It’s also about respecting privacy. 

Confusingly, there’s currently “no distinction in the law between walking among 2,000 acres of deciduous woodland and someone’s urban back yard,” just one of the tensions underlining trespass legislation. Supporting the right to roam can be as simple as researching your local rights of way and making sure they’re not obstructed (visit whoownsengland.org, and slowways.org for routes that link towns and cities). Or using the draft letter on righttoroam.org.uk to write to your MP, or promoting the countryside code. 

To follow in Nick’s footsteps, plan your own, seeking deeper understanding by talking to the people who’ve lived on the land for years. “Ask about the legends and spirits that operate within it,” he suggests. “The stories you don’t find out from history books.” With his emphasis on close relationships to the land, it’s unsurprising that Nick also is infuriated by much-circulated pictures showing litter-strewn nature: not because he doesn’t think it’s an issue, rather he disagrees with it as a basis for limiting access. “It’s only by spending time in the countryside that we develop a connection with it,” he says, pointing to research showing the less litter there is, the less likely people will drop it. 

Rather than setting the wild swimmer against the fisherman, we all need to promote responsibility to the countryside – what better way than by encouraging greater access for all? “If we’re going to stop trashing the planet, we need a collective refalling in love with nature.” 

You can read the whole of our interview with Nick Hayes in our May issue, which is in shops now.

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How to | Keep Hens in Your Garden

Somehow, hens just make a garden. While they require work, the rewards are immense. And we don’t just mean the eggs. Here’s a bit about how to get started from hen guru Rachel Barclay along with some advice on planting for a hen-friendly garden

Part-time teacher and full-time hen expert, Rachel Barclay, appears in our May issue, where you can see pictures of her beautiful garden in a village in Surrey. She has lots of advice for anyone considering investing in hens and has written a beginner’s guide on her blog: thegoodlifeainteasy.com. Here, she shares a few beginner tips.

“Like any pets, chickens are a commitment,” she says. “Sometimes they require just a few minutes of your day, but I’d recommend doing your research so you know what you’re getting into. Speak to other keepers – there are lots of helpful online forums – and see if you can visit someone to see their set up.”

“While I love their company, the hens can eat my seedlings and destroy a flowerbed in record speed. We put in a fence with a gate so when they came into the garden, it’s on our terms, not theirs. We generally let them into the garden when the borders are established, and use netting to divide up areas of the lawn for them throughout the summer. I use protective frames on delicate plants. In the garden we grow greenhouse crops, such as tomatoes and cucumbers, and chard and kale in the flower borders – but veg are particularly delicious to hens, so most are grown at our allotment.”

Planting for hens

“Hens are foragers. Although some plants are toxic, in my experience, most chickens know not to eat them!”
Hen-friendly:

• Lavender – an insect repellent with calming properties

• Nasturtium – great for chicken health with antiseptic properties

• Rosemary – smells lovely when your chickens dust bath nearby

• Sage – a good herb for general health and isn’t eaten too quickly

• Oregano – being studied as a natural antibiotic for poultry (a superfood in the chicken world!)

• Fennel – attracts insects for hens to eat

• Sunflowers – dried seed heads make great boredom busters

• Thyme – good for chickens’ respiratory health

To avoid:

• Bulbs – tulips and daffodils

• Foxgloves – all parts are toxic

• Green parts of the nightshade family – be careful growing potatoes around hens

• Rhubarb leaves – oxalic acid can cause liver damage

• Beans – raw beans are toxic, but cooked are fine l Azaleas and rhododendron – can cause digestive problems

• Apricots – fruit and plant can cause respiratory problems and low blood pressure

Read more from Rachel in our Cluck and Collect feature in our May issue, in shops now. You can read more from Rachel by following her on Instagram @thegoodlifeainteasy.

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Recipe | Wild Garlic Risotto with Griddled Asparagus

Risotto is a wonderful canvas to showcase the first of a new season’s produce and in this instance, the celebratory ingredients are spring’s premium greens: wild garlic and asparagus

SERVES 4 (with enough leftovers for arancini) or 6 (with little to no leftovers)

RISOTTO BASE
Olive oil, plus extra to finish 2 onions or 3 leeks (whites and light green), finely chopped
300g risotto rice
A wine glass of white wine (optional but adds heaps of flavour)
1.5 ltr stock (chicken or veg for a classic risotto), simmering
Half of the wild garlic purée (below), more or less, to taste
1 lemon, zest and a squeeze of juice, to finish

WILD GARLIC PURÉE
300g wild garlic (you can pad it out with baby leaf spinach, if needed)
100g salted butter

GRIDDLED ASPARAGUS
400g asparagus

1 Heat a splash of olive oil in a large pot over a medium heat. Add the onion and gently cook until the onion is glossy and tender.

2 Tip in the rice and let it crackle and pop for a few minutes. Pour in the wine and let the rice guzzle it up.

3 Add a crack of black pepper and cook for a min or 2 before adding the first ladle of stock.

4 Set a timer for 20 mins. Lower heat to a simmer and add the stock to the rice, little by little, until the timer goes.

5 While it cooks, make the wild garlic purée. Bring a pot of water to the boil. Plunge the wild garlic in the water then drain immediately and rinse under really cold water to cool down. Squeeze out excess water, roughly chop and blend with the butter to make a smooth purée – add a little lemon juice and/or more, butter, if needed. Season to taste and set aside.

6 Once the risotto has had 20 mins, take off the heat and griddle your asparagus. Set a large frying pan over a high heat. Snap the woody ends off the asparagus (save them for the Asparagus stalk arrabbiata). Rinse the asparagus then add to the smoking hot pan while it still has a little water clinging to it. Season with a good pinch of salt. Cook for 4-5 mins, turning once or twice, until just tender and slightly charred. Season well.

7 Place the risotto back on the heat just to warm through. Fold in the wild garlic purée. Taste and adjust the seasoning and add a bit more stock, if needed. You want the risotto to have a creamy texture and not be too thick. 8 Scoop the risotto onto warm plates and top with the griddled asparagus, a drizzle of olive oil, grated lemon zest and a squeeze of lemon juice

This risotto was just one of the recipes from our Home Economics pages, which is all about reviving age-old wisdom about household management and deeply valuing all our resources: our time, ingredients and the money we invest in them. As well as the risotto, the feature includes recipes for Rosy Strawberry Crumble, Arancini with Asparagus Stalk Arrabiata, Almond Shortbread with Rose Sugar, Wild Garlic Butter and Strawberry Shrub. They’re all in the May issue, which is in shops now. The recipes are by Rachel de Thample with photography by Ali Allen.

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Sponsored post | We've got the scoop

Mackie’s of Scotland not only produces delicious ice cream, but does so with an impressive environmental ethos, too

When it comes to making a fantastic tub of ice cream, Mackie’s of Scotland knows that it takes far more than just experience and natural ingredients.

This fifth-generation family business also embraces a ‘sky to scoop’ philosophy, acknowledging that every element of the sky is needed – the wind and sun power the turbines and solar farm (providing more than double the energy needed to run its dairy), while the rain and sun grow the crops, which feed the cows, who in turn produce the fresh milk and cream needed to make its smooth and creamy ice cream.

And Mackie’s doesn’t just create its own energy, it also produces its packaging, fruit compotes and honeycomb on the Aberdeenshire family farm. All of which are essential to delivering that beloved Mackie’s taste.

While its flavour-making expertise has long made it a firm favourite throughout Scotland, until recently it was only its popular Traditional flavour which was widely available south of the border. That’s all set to change as Strawberry Swirl and Honeycomb flavours are now available nationwide in most Sainsbury’s stores, in addition to existing stockists. So as the weather warms and thoughts turn to tasty summer treats, why not reach for a tub of Mackie’s ice cream with the knowledge that those rays of sunshine – and the odd drop of rain – helped to create an ice cream made with a passion for sustainability, fun and great taste.

For more info and offers, visit mackies.co.uk. Learn how Mackie’s makes its Honeycomb ice cream on Inside The Factory, available on BBC iPlayer

Rain | The real Dr Foster

Who was that mysterious man in the puddle?

April is known for its showers of rain, but it doesn’t stop us occasionally forgetting and getting caught out with no umbrella. One man who got very much caught out by the April weather was Dr Foster, of nursery rhyme fame, who went to Gloucester in a shower of rain, stepped in a puddle right up to his middle and never went there again. 

But did you know the tale of Dr Foster was not just a nursery rhyme but an actual historical event? Well, ‘event’ might be a bit strong. Perhaps a historical anecdote. 

Dr Foster was likely to have actually been the Plantagenat king , Edward I. He was apparently on his way to Wales, passing through Gloucester, when he fell into a a large, muddy puddle (or got stuck on his horse in a stream and had to be hauled out). Either way, it was a humiliating moment and as a result he never set foot in the town again. It must have been quite a puddle to have come up to his middle, too, because Edward was fondly known as ‘Longshanks’ and stood 6 foot 2 inches tall, quite a height for that period.

So if you must go to Gloucester this April, take a brolly and some wellies and don’t go puddle-jumping.

If you’d like to know more about April showers, read Right as Rain in our April issue, which is all about the words for rain we use in various parts of the UK. Learn to tell your ‘dinge’ from your ‘henting’ from page 22.

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More from our April issue…

More thougts for rainy days…

Recipe: Chocolate truffles

Make somebody’s Easter with a box of handmade dark chocolate and vanilla truffles. No hidden ingredients or mysterious methods in this simple but delicious recipe.

Chocolate truffles

Makes about 20 truffles

For the ganache:
125ml fresh double cream
2 whole vanilla pods
250g dark chocolate, finely chopped

For the shell:
200g dark chocolate, roughly chopped
200g dark chocolate, grated 50g unsweetened cocoa powder

1. Place the cream in a heavy- based pan and bring to a simmer. Meanwhile, run a very sharp knife along the vanilla pods to open one side, add them to the cream and continue to simmer for 5 mins.
2. Take the pan off the heat and remove the pods. Using your thumbnail, gently push out the seeds from the pods into the cream. Cover with a cloth for a further 5 mins.
3. Put the chocolate in a bowl, pour over the still-hot cream and stir until fully blended. This is your vanilla ganache. Put in the fridge. 
4. Next, prepare the shell. The tempering process is tricky for beginners, so this is our easy version. It takes about 10 mins; time it so the ganache has had 30 mins in the fridge by the time the tempering is complete.
5. Melt two-thirds of the roughly- chopped chocolate and leave for 5 mins. Now add the remaining pieces and stir with a spatula until they are smooth and melted. Test by putting a spot on your lip - when it feels neither hot nor cold it is ready for coating the ganache balls.
6. Remove ganache from fridge and scoop out small amounts for hand-rolling into balls. Do this quickly so it doesn’t soften too much in your hands. Use a fork to dip them into the shell chocolate and then roll in the chocolate gratings, or leave them to harden at room temperature and roll in cocoa powder.
7. Leave the balls to set.

This was first puclished in our April 2015 issue. The recipe is from Montezuma’s Chocolate Cookbook by Simon and Helen Pattinson
(Kyle Books, £16.99.) 

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From our April issue…

More things to make for Easter…

How to | Get a Head for Heights

Be inspired to aim high, even if your stomach doesn’t agree… 

In our April issue, we met three women whose jobs take them high into the sky, including a pilot, stone mason, mountain runner and Isobel Watson (pictured), who is an arborist. Much as she loves her work, she’s the first to admit it can be tough. “Being an arborist can be brutal,” she nods. “Especially when you’re starting out.” Ascending trees, cutting them back and, “as a last resort,” taking them down is physically bruising, and there’s always an element of risk. “You’re suspended in a harness, from a rope, putting all your trust – and weight – on to a branch. You can be up to 100ft off the ground, and of course you’ve got a chainsaw with you.” The flip side is a heady sense of freedom and achievement. “You never go home feeling as if you’ve done nothing, and you never stop learning.”

If you fancy a life in the treetops (or even an afternoon of tree-climbing) but don’t have a head for heights, however, fear not - you may not be ground-bound for ever. 

Fear of heights is called Acoraphobia (not Vertigo, which often seems to confuse people) and there are things you can do to get over it. Anxiety UK says just one of the things you can do is ‘immersion therapy’, that is slowly exposing yourself to the feared situation: “Start by slowly exposing yourself/the person to heights, perhaps start with a first floor balcony or looking over the bannisters of a stair well close to the bottom. Continue by exposing yourself/the person to gradually increasing heights. When you feel ready, perhaps try an experience day, such as a virtual experience… or if you are feeling brave, an Indoor skydiving experience could be a good starting point.”

If you don’t yet feel like facing a fear of heights head on, you could start with other ways to train your brain into accepting situations of discomfort. Try the following ideas from Get Out of Your Comfort Zone: 60 Challenge Cards to Build a Strong Resilient Mindset by Ben Aldridge (Watkins). 

Train your mind to deal with uncomfortable situations 

Take a cold shower This will help you develop a mind-over-matter attitude and it boosts endorphins (the body’s feel-good chemicals). Just turn on the shower, switch it to cold, get in and stay as long as you can, building up the time as you get used to it. Sleep on the floor Spend the night sleeping on the floor without a pillow, mattress or blanket. You’ll have to be strong to tough it out, but it will make you deeply grateful for your bed. Blindfold yourself for an hour. Spending an hour in the dark will enhance your other senses and give you a new set of difficulties to overcome as you try to go about your business (within reason, obviously).

We’ve more ideas for training your brain from Get Out of Your Comfort Zone starting on page 28 of our April issue.

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More from our April issue…

More wellbeing ideas…

Competition | Win a year's coffee for you and a friend

You and a friend could start each day well with a year’s worth of coffee worth more than £300

Taylors of Harrogate have been making flipping decent coffee for over 130 years, all from their home in the heart of Yorkshire.

They take the finest coffee beans from around the world, roast them with a bit of Taylors magic, and get them sent out to the homes of happy customers across the UK and beyond. The coffee is available in both beans and ground, so whether you’re a coffee expert with your own laboratory and grinding machine at home, or you’ve just got five minutes and a cafetière, there’s an option for you.

Despite their obsession with coffee, the people at Taylor’s know that caffeine isn’t everybody’s best friend. That’s why they also make a delicious Decaffé blend. Through careful roasting, they produce delicious flavours of caramel and malt. Their natural decaffeination process uses water instead of solvents and so those lovely flavours aren’t washed away. Decaffé is all the flavour, no caffeine needed. 

Exclusively for The Simple Things readers Taylor’s has a year’s worth of ground coffee for one reader and a friend, worth £336, to give away, too. That is a whole year of rich flavours and undisturbed sleep. What could be better?

To enter simply click the button below and answer the following question:

Q What process do Taylors of Harrogate use for decaffeinating their coffee?

The competition closes at 11.59pm on 21st May 2022. One winner will be selected at random from all correct entries received, and notified soon after. The winners cannot modify or transfer the prize and it cannot be swapped for cash. Details of our full terms and conditions are on p125 of the magazine and online at icebergpress.co.uk/comprules

Playlist | Sing aloud songs

Whether you’re in the shower, the car or a karaoke booth, these are tried-and-tested favourites for belting out.

Take a listen here
Or search ‘simplethingsmag’ on Spotify to find all of our monthly playlists.