Home Remedies: Illustrations by Clara Wodny
by Charlotte Deville
Tea and Treats Another home comfort of mine is the concept of “Teas and Treats”. For me, the classic English Breakfast Tea with a couple of biscuit-tin favourites serves as the ultimate reminder of visiting a grandparent or family member at home. When visiting my Nan, I’m sure she usually asks whether I’d like tea and biscuits before I have even sat down. So, whilst away at university, this is a great “pick-me-up” to enjoy.
What is so powerful about teas though is that different infusions provide the comfort and care you may be lacking whilst living away from home.
For me, my mum’s recipe for Honey and Seeded Flapjacks (of course, using the aforementioned Grandad’s honey), or her Dark Chocolate and Raspberry Brownies, which d with a box of For example, a “bedtime blend” of she ironically arrive g this, would writin of day the on help may chamomile and lavender bakes. go-to my be inly a certa whilst ems, probl with sleeping ginger and turmeric-spiced tea is your chosen tea the key to boosting immunity when Enjoyed together, treat makes for baked and on infusi er. weath you are feeling under the the perfect remedy to enjoy whilst away at university by carrying an essence of warmth and comfort reminiscent of home.
Tortilla de patatas When I moved to Barcelona for my year abroad, I had the same thing on my mind that I always do: food. It is impossible not to acknowledge this city as a foodie’s paradise, a central core of gastronomy where restaurants, bars and tavernas are found on every corner. It’s slightly odd, however, when the food I miss the most is something I could find in just about every tapas bar in all of Spain, let alone Barcelona. Tortilla de patatas. The quintessential Spanish dish that I never thought I’d have so much love for. There are as many recipes for this as there are chefs in Spain, with endless variations created with just three ingredients.
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Obviously, my Abuelo’s recipe is the best; it’s the one he gave to my dad, who gave it to me. I find that by being away from home, the food I cook holds universality. It’s a dish that draws me closer to home while simultaneously pulling me to the culture here. But while I do love people-watching with friends at local tapas spots, sometimes I just cannot shake the feeling that I’m trying too hard to “live like a local” and get a slice of “authentic life”.
by Lauren Jimenez It’s grounding to know that my upbringing has always led me to this exact point; I hold the power to make this dish in my tiny, poky kitchen I’ve been taught something that many pay to experience. Ultimately, it’s more “authentic” than any taperia I’ll inhabit. And, as a new resident of Barcelona, I get the feeling my Madrileño Abuelo would be cursing me right now – the rivalry runs deep. Oddly, I can’t help but feel that it makes us closer than ever.
The healing powers of honey
My ultimate ‘home remedy’ would have to be my Grandad’s honey. Having kept bees throughout my entire childhood, I have grown up watching him dressed in his beekeeper suit, using an outhouse in our garden to make both runny and set honey. He sells jars of this alongside boxes of eggs from a stall outside our home. He has developed a popular local reputation as “Uncle Tony The Beekeeper” amongst the many people who regularly pull over outside to purchase a jar and post their coins through the letter box.
Honey also has the propensity to fight infections as an alternative to antibiotics, contribute to diabetes management, and protect us against long-term health issues by supporting a healthy gut and heart. Whilst at university, however, I incorporate this into my daily diet and routines in a variety of ways, with the jar and taste providing a comforting sense of home. In the colder Autumn Semester,
Honey possesses an array of medicinal benefits. It is an all-natural and rich source of a variety of minerals and antioxidants. Honey also has the propensity to fight infections as an alternative to antibiotics, contribute to diabetes management, and protect us against long-term health issues by supporting a healthy gut and heart.
I stir a spoonful of honey into hot lemon water as a health remedy to fight off colds. However, this could also be used as a natural sweetener, and therefore a sugar replacement in other teas, coffees, and smoothies. Similarly, I use honey in baking recipes such as flapjacks and protein bites. A drizzle of honey often provides the finishing touch, in terms of both aesthetics and taste, to my morning oats or yoghurt bowls. Lastly, I use honey as a key ingredient in the making of evening meals, for example, it pairs well with soy, ginger, and chilli in stir-frys. So, for its variety of uses and health benefits, but most importantly the rooted link to my childhood and home, I am very fond of honey as a remedy whilst living away.
Pancakes Growing up, whenever my sister and I spent a night at my grandparents’ house, it was always treated as a special occasion. My grandad believed that it was always a good excuse to eat pancakes for breakfast, which, of course, was never disapproved of by us. We indulged in pancakes with lemon and sugar, or strawberries and Nutella (my personal favourite), eating as many as possible until we were too full. Pancakes have become my go-to breakfast whenever I want a treat – I’ve even made it a tradition to have them for breakfast on my birthday for as long as I can remember.
by Charlotte Deville
Lifestyle
Lifestyle
Regarding teas, I am a sucker for all the different flavours of herbal and fruit blends on offer, boxes and pouches which now take up most of the space in my cupboard.
In terms of treats, spending any spare time you have baking a recipe that reminds you of home can be doubly rewarding. This activity is a soothing opportunity to switch off from your workload and provides the edible reward of a sweet treat.
The recipes & household ingredients that keep us connected
by Charlotte Bowers I particularly love making pancakes for my friends after a night out, which brings everyone comfort and is a favourable breakfast to cure the dreaded hangover blues. It also reminds me of ski holidays with my family, where we would spend evenings walking through a snowy town with a pancake in hand which we watched being made from a local stall. Pancakes are the perfect treat whilst I am at university and craving a home comfort since they only require eggs, flour, and milk. They’re such an easy and affordable option for students. Pancakes can be topped with a variety of sweet and savoury foods, making this breakfast even easier to have at any time.
For these memories, I will always cherish this simple pleasure of mine, because not only are pancakes delicious, but they also remind me of home.
*disclaimer - please note these remedies are simply suggestions from our writers & not medical advicement
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