RECIPES

LET’S EAT.

No Bake Cookie Dough...

If you need a dessert that is quick and easy to make this summer then look no further! Our delicious No Bake Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough is a family favourite that will go down a treat even with the adults.

No Bake Cookie Dough is a great alternative over warm baked Cookies in the hot weather. Served with ice cream or alone they are truly addictive!

THE INGREDIENTS

Serves 12

100g butter at room temperature 175g brown sugar 2 tsp vanilla extract 2 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract 2 tbsp milk (full fat) 145g plain heat treated flour 1 cup of chocolate chips

How to store: To properly store cookie dough, you should use an airtight container and keep it the refrigerator or frozen; you should only leave cookie dough out on display for 2-3 hours. Interesting Fact Flour is actually a raw food and poses the risk of E. coli if not heat treated prior to a no bake recipe! To heat treat your flour simply heat in the microwave for 30 second intervals until the flour is 165°F.

Below are some more ideas for decorating your cookie dough although we think they are just perfect on their own!

Don’t stop there; the possibilities are endless when it comes to Cookie Dough. Follow these tips to jazz things up a little...

For the kids why not add some food colouring or sprinkles; served alongside some ice cream and you are now officially their new favourite person EVER! If you have enough time on your hands you could even mould it into some quirky cute shapes. If you are baking for adults the addition of peanut butter to your Cookie Dough could be a huge hit, or even a splash of rum! Cookie Dough on lolly pop sticks is a thing! If you are hosting a party you can really get creative with these tasty no bake treats.

Method...

Ready in just 7-10 minutes!

Start by prepping a bowl, mixer or whisk and clean surface...

Mix and fold the butter and sugar together in a bowl, preferably using a mixer if you have one available. Then measure out and add the vanilla extract, ½ tablespoon of salt and 145g of heat treated flour, adding this to the mix until it begins to form a crumbly texture. As you add the milk ensure to continually mix your cookie dough mixture until it starts to form dough like consistency. Once you are happy with your mixture add 1 cup of chocolate chips and fold into the cookie dough. Now that you have your cookie dough roll them into bite size balls or you could use a ice cream scoop if you wanted; the possibilities are endless Cookie Dough!

New research has found Britain’s mobile phone coverage ‘black spots’ Rosedale Abbey in North Yorkshire and Isle of Man are the biggest tourist attractions on the list. Three signal black spots found in the Shetland Islands Scottish border town Ettrick and Alwinton in Northumberland also found to have no mobile phone coverage were also an off the grid preferred location. A new study into mobile phone coverage across the UK conducted by Affordable Mobiles, winners of the Uswitch Mobile Reseller of the Year award, has revealed several go-to signal ‘blackspots’ across the country for those who want to fully unwind. The findings, that use data from two of the UK’s largest network providers suggest the ultimate destinations for those who want to spend quality time together as a family, take a break from work or to recharge the human battery by reducing screen time.

OFF THE GRID... Locions! Isle of Canna, Scotland

Rosedale Abbey

Located in the heart of the North Yorkshire Moors, Rosedale Abbey offers stunning views of one of England’s treasured national parks as well as ancient ruins to explore.

Ettrick

Situated on the Scottish border, Ettrick is a peaceful place to escape from the stresses of modern life with many hiking trails, tranquil fishing hotspots and cycling routes to discover on your visit.

Alwinton

Lying just at the head of the Coquet valley, the Northumberland village Alwinton contains beautiful riverside walking trails that historically were frequented by cattle drovers, shepherds, pedlars and whiskey smugglers.

Isle of Man

This Irish sea island is packed with historic castles, rugged coastline walks and a mountainous centre giving tourists tonnes to explore. Douglas (the island’s capital) also contains the Manx Museum which traces the Isle of Man’s Viking and Celtic routes, making for a very educational visit.

Isle of Canna

Under the care of the National Trust for Scotland, the Isle of Canna is one of the most preserved and naturally beautiful places in the UK. The whole island is a mere 4.3 miles long and 1 mile wide, providing an excellent haven to truly switch off.

View from Rosedale Abbey on the North Yorks Moors, UK

Foula

Sticking within the Shetlands islands, Foula (or as the Scots say, Foola) is another extremely remote and small location again providing a great getaway spot. The Island is also famed for being the setting of the 1937 classic British film The Edge of The World.

Stonybreck

Stonybreck is the largest settlement on Fair Isle (well known for its bird observatory) located towards the south of the Island. There are some stunning views to be taken in simply by walking around the picturesque settlement and the surrounding island setting. Jessica Canning, mobile expert at Affordable Mobiles commented on the research, “It comes as no surprise that a number of the really rural blackspots are located in the Shetland Islands, with that being the furthest north that the UK spans.

Isle of Man landscape view with wall of Peel Castle “What is interesting is how few blackspots there actually are across the country, which reflects just how much the investment put in by major UK networks is paying off. “I feel that if we were to conduct the same research in 10 years’ time, it wouldn’t come as a shock to find zero blackspots in the UK, as networks are continuously investing time and money into improving their service.”

The full scale analysis of the UK’s major cities signal ratings and coverage also reveals the best and worst cities in the UK based on average phone signal rating. The research looks at both the overall coverage and the coverage for individual devices in various staycation hotspots around the UK. Scoring was based on 4G and 5G signal, as well as the coverage rating on a number of the latest best-selling handsets from two of the nationals largest network providers.

London, Birmingham, Belfast and Cardiff ranked amongst the cities in first place for the best signal rating, all scoring 4.2 out of 5 based on general 5G and 4G signal as well as the coverage rating on a number of the latest best-selling handsets from two of the nation's largest network providers. For a full breakdown of the study, visit:

www.affordablemobiles.co.uk /best-uk-coverage

BlackRockSands B y c h a n

Mor f a

Let’s Go to e Bea!

a We have all missed our days out at the beach,and are looking forward to packing up the boot of the car with snorkels, buckets & spades and a picnic basket full of goodies. But which beaches are the nearest to us? And, more importantly, which are the best to visit? The nearest beaches are (as the crow flies) Prestatyn Beach in North Wales, and Wallasey Beach in The Wirral. Wallasey Beach is a sandy beach situated just west of Liverpool. There is plenty of car parking, and the beach is dog friendly. Barmouth Beach is next, and it’s a firm favourite with Salopians, and has been for a long time, as it is only 65 miles away. Barmouth, or Abermaw or even Y Bermo as it is known in Welsh, is southern Snowdonia's most popular seaside resort with breathtaking views of Cardigan Bay and the picturesque harbour. The town's beach, Abermaw, is west facing with a mixture of sand and some fine shingle and is ideal for bathing and watersports. It can get very busy in the town, a land train runs along the promenade and there are traditional donkey rides, swing boats and amusement arcades. There is good disabled access to the beach. There is also a full range of shops, cafes and pubs are within a short distance. My favourite though is the fresh prawns and crab claws from the Lobster Pot on The Quay (a must on every visit) and Fish & Chips from the local chippy. My top pick is Morfa Bychan, known locally as Black Rock Sands. It’s a sandy beach, with rocky areas - although the rocks aren’t actually black. The beach stretches for about 2 miles and is backed by a dune system which has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest. There are plenty of rockpools to explore here as well as some interesting caves. A river mouth lies at the south-eastern end of the beach, and the village of Morfa Bychan is a few hundred metres away. When the tide is out you can walk around the rocks to Criccieth Beach - which is a pebble beach. The beach has lovely views of the mountains and countryside of Snowdonia National Park. A slipway provides vehicular access to the sands and most visitors park on the beach, making it a popular picnic destination and providing easy access for those with mobility problems. There are designated bathing and boat launching areas. Dogs are banned from the central section of the beach, but are allowed on the eastern and western sections. There are a number of holiday parks in the area surrounding the beach. In the village of Morfa Bychan there are shops, places to eat and a golf club. There are more facilities in the town of Porthmadog, about 2 miles from the beach. Which is your favourite beach to visit? Send us your recommendation and a photo, and we may feature it in any future beach articles! Tell us if it is sandy or stony. Is it beach safe for kids and suitable for famililies with small children? Are there lifeguards on duty? Did it have accessible clean toilets or baby changing facilities? What about parking? Is it was dog friendly? Email: Eileen@deltaecho.co.uk

In the meantime, have fun; enjoy your day out and don't forget your bucket and spade!

u t h Beach&Harbour rm o

B

Beaches to visit from Shropshire: Wallasey Beach Prestatyn Beach Barmouth Beach Morfa Bychan (Black Rock Sands) Pwhelli Marian Y De Beach Criccieth Beach Beach Llandudno Beach Dinas Dinlle Beach