RECIPES

Parmigiano Reggiano The only Paresan... Picnics and outdoor dining

Serves: 4-6 Serve it on char-grilled sourdough with fresh figs, simmered with honey and nutmeg. Parmigiano Reggiano Pâté on Sourdough Toast with Honey and Figs

INGREDIENTS - 200g Parmigiano Reggiano, finely grated - 150g Low fat soft cheese - 2 tbsp. Finely chopped chives - Freshly ground black pepper - 4 Figs, sliced into wedges - 2 tbsp. Clear honey - Pinch ground nutmeg - Slices of sourdough bread - Olive oil, for drizzling - Whole almonds, extra figs, and chunks of Parmigiano Reggiano, to serve

METHOD 1. Put the grated Parmigiano Reggiano into a mixing bowl with the soft cheese and chives and beat with a wooden spoon to combine. Season with a little freshly ground black pepper. Keep chilled until ready to serve.

2. Put the figs into a saucepan with the honey and nutmeg, adding 3tbsp water. Heat and simmer gently for 2-3 minutes, until the figs are syrupy.

3. Preheat a chargrill pan or the grill. Drizzle the slices of sourdough with a little olive oil, then chargrill or grill until lightly browned. Serve spread with the pâté, topped with some of the figs – with salad leaves, whole almonds, extra figs, and chunks of Parmigiano Reggiano on the side. Recipes courtesy of: Parmigiano Reggiano Visit https://www.parmigianoreggiano.com/

Parmigiano Reggiano’s nuanced flavours provide recipe inspiration for plenty of seasonal dishes – from snacks to accompany an aperitivo, to hearty dishes to be enjoyed with the whole family.

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INGREDIENTS • 500g Small potatoes, halved • 2 tbsp. Olive oil • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper • 2 Eggs • 2 tbsp. Capers, rinsed and drained • 2 tbsp. Fresh parsley, chopped • 2 Handfuls mixed salad leaves • 70g Parmigiano Reggiano, half finely grated, half shaved Dressing: • 3 tbsp. Olive oil • 1½ tbsp. White wine vinegar • 2 tsp. Wholegrain mustard • Pinch of sugar

Parmigiano Reggiano with Parsley, Egg, and Caper DressingRoast Potato Salad...

METHOD 1. Preheat the oven to 200°C/Fan oven 180°C/Gas Mark 6. 2. Put the potatoes into a roasting tin and add the olive oil, tossing to coat. Season with sea salt and black pepper, then roast until brown and crispy. 3. Meanwhile, hard-boil the eggs, then cool them in cold water. Shell and chop them finely. Combine them with the capers and parsley. 4. Arrange the mixed salad leaves on two serving plates and share the potatoes between them. Sprinkle with the grated Parmigiano Reggiano, then top with the egg and caper mixture. 5. Mix the olive oil, vinegar and mustard and add a pinch of sugar, salt, and pepper. Drizzle over the salads and finish off with the Parmigiano Reggiano shavings

Cook’s tip: It’s always the best idea to work from a block of Parmigiano Reggiano – you’ll release the finest flavour when you grate or shave it freshly. And the best way to shave it? Use a potato peeler!

A simple dish using simple ingredients, topped with grated and shaved Parmigiano Reggiano for added flavour

Serves: 2 Preparation: 20 minutes Cooking: 50 minutes

Let’s Go to The Beach!

The Summer holidays always mean a day out at the beach with the family. I really look forward to packing up the boot of the car with snorkels, buckets & spades and a picnic basket full of goodies. Even though Telford was recently voted ‘Best Seaside Town’ in a recent poll carried out by TelfordLive - we like to make a day of it and go outof-town. 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 which means your four-legged friend can join in the fun. 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

Canoe... a r o TrySur f i n g

r 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 favourite beach is Morfa Bychan, commonly known 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 country-sideof Snowdonia National Park. A slipway provides vehicular access to the sands and most visitors parkon 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 Sno k e l s at theready... 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 a fabulous summer with some fun in the sun, but don't forget your bucket and spade! 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

How to make the most of your

outdoor space... Ready for summer! As spring blooms, we look forward to spending time outdoors and surrounding ourselves with nature, making the most of our patios, gardens, balconies and outdoor spaces! Emerging from our homes we create laidback alfresco areas where lines between the indoors and out are blurred. Design a space where you can slow down and enjoy the simple pleasures of everyday life, taking a moment to catch up with loved ones and cherish quality time together.

Lights4fun launches their 'Into the Garden' campaign, inspiring customers to make the most of their outdoor space with ambient lighting for every area whether it’s big or small. The campaign centres around the importance of slowing down, spending time outdoors and celebrating the everyday. Lights4fun reveal their expert tips on how to transform your space into a tranquil retreat, making the most of the warmer months ahead. Outdoor living has arrived with an array of garden lanterns, soothing illuminated water features and classic festoon lighting. This launch has everything you'll need to create a serene setting where you can relax and unwind. A display of ambient lighting creates a perfect sense of tranquillity for you to enjoy all summer long. Add festoon lights overhead, accompanied by a variety of TruGlow® candles around your seating of choice makes for the most peaceful retreat.

Evening Garden Setting in Summer with Lights, Seating and Fire Bucket Black Metal Cut Out Garden Fire Pit Bucket, £19.99, Essential Connect 10m 100 Warm White Connectable Fairy Lights Clear Cable, £12.99

Elevate your soirees this summer and bring your garden to life by brightening subtle areas of your outdoor space. Create an authentic retreat inspired by nature to make the most of your time outdoors. Introduce delicate hints of warm light within surrounding foliage so you can enjoy wholesome evenings outside.

Above: Summer Woodland Front Door with Lavender Wreath £34.99.

Stone Effect Pouring Garden Water Feature, £194.99

Night Time Outdoor Garden Dinning Setting with a Hanging Lantern, Lights and Candles - Rattan Solar Pendant Light, £114.99, White Flower Micro LED Garland, £9.99, Pro Connect 5m 10 Warm White Connectable Festoon Lights Clear Cap Black Cable, £49.99, Black Wire Garden Lantern, £24.99, 34cm Albury Black Garden Lantern with TruGlow® Candle, £37.99, 60cm Fern Spring Wreath Micro Light Bundle, £34.99.

From Pastime to Full Time,

we are a Nation Turning Hobbies Into Hustles UK’s largest craft supplier LoveCrafts reveals how COVID-19 has accelerated the shift to DIY crafters

Amid a turbulent jobs market, repeated lockdowns and restrictions, the pandemic presented a unique opportunity for Brits to dedicate time to passion projects. From updating interiors and gardening, to crafting, textiles and sewing, savvy hobbyists soon turned their pandemic pastimes to monetised hustles, with over 1 million businesses started during 2020 and 2021. Recognising the societal shift in the private sector with Brits transforming their living rooms into workshops, a first-of-its-kind study by LoveCrafts.com - the UK's leading craft supplier - has unveiled that 1 million Brits said the pandemic led them to turn their passion for part-time crafting into a full-time career. Further to this, 4.1 million now craft items to sell with a further 5 million being encouraged by friends and family to sell their homemade makes.

As DIY retail boomed, with Brits turning hobbies into hustles, metrics from the online marketplace Depop reported a 300% increase in sales as the growth of independently made items became ubiquitous, and handmade grew up to 30% on the platform. Now, as the art in artisan is commercially rewarding, LoveCrafts explores a nation that have turned their crafting passion to profit, with 3.5 million now monetising homemade crafts.

Case Studies: Championing indie designers and micro-businesses, LoveCrafts has profiled an array of Britain's most prolific crafting entrepreneurs https://www.lovecrafts.com/en-gb/c/article/indiejune-2021 Paula of @thecraftylass quit her 9-5 to follow her crafty dreams: "When I quit my job people did say to me you're a bit stupid, why have you quit a well paid 95 job to follow what is just your passion? Crafts are not going to make you any money. I had a few people say that, and I think if anything it spurred me on to want to prove them wrong, there is a way."

The national research by LoveCrafts has revealed that hobbyists have turned their pastime into a profitable business on an unprecedented scale, unveiling 4.1 million Brits now craft items as a pastime, while 5 million have been encouraged by friends and family to sell their homemade wares and 1.7 million make a living from selling their crafts. Further to this, the data unveils the 1 million Brits who turned to DIY during the pandemic, and now sell crafts as their main job.

Edward Griffith, CEO and Founder, LoveCrafts comments:

"Coming through such a difficult couple of years, we've seen a rise in hobbyists monetising their crafts and it's been dubbed it "the year of the hobby hustle". We have thousands of independent knitting, crochet and stitching designers who have uploaded hundreds of thousands of patterns to LoveCrafts, and in 2021, there were millions of downloads for indie patterns.

We work with, and promote "indies" at every opportunity and offer help and support with marketing, including yarn and thread support, and the chance to collaborate with our marketing and design

teams. It's so gratifying to see how much the value of handmade crafts has increased, given the endless hours of creativity and skill that goes into them, and it's great to see that handmade items are so sought after."

About LoveCrafts: LoveCrafts.com is the online home for makers. A place to find inspiration, learn new techniques, shop craft supplies, and connect with likeminded people around the world. Yarn, free patterns, needles, threads, fabrics, hooks, craft books and kits can all be found via the site. Whether someone’s a knitter, sewist, quilter or little-bit-of-everything crafter, they can discover the joy of making at LoveCrafts.com.

Key statistics:

• 13% of Brits (4.1 million) have crafted items to then sell • 18% of Brits (5 million) have been encouraged by friends and family to sell their homemade wares • 6% of Brits (1.7 million) make a living from selling their crafts • 5% of Brits (1 million) said the pandemic led them to change their career and now sell crafts as their main job • 13% of Brits (3.5 million) discovered that they are so good at their craft that they can now monetise it