MAY 2021
STAY FIT STAY STRONG Staying fit has never been so easy, or cheap. With thanks to the lockdowns a new breed of fitness instructors took to the web to give away workouts left, right and centre. You can now find these everywhere, so start taking advantage.
ARE YOUR FEET REDAY FOR FLIP FLOPS? The weather is improving, and it is nearly time so start letting our feet out of their trainer, boot and welly jails but are they camera ready?
COOKING CLUB WITH YVONNE We’ve launched a new cooking feature this month, with excellent chef Yvonne Cobb.
Grow it
BE SELF SUFFICIENT AND
f l e s r u o y
powered by
WEDDINGS | BIRTHDAYS | CELEBRATIONS | PARTIES
AWARD WINNING CAKES IN THE COTSWOLDS Creating beautiful bespoke cakes which taste divine and are every bit as memorable as the celebration itself. If you have an up coming celebration, get in touch with Anna and watch your ideas come to life! sugarbowlbakes@hotmail.com | 07769948487
See more creations at
SUGARBOWLBAKES.CO.UK
WE OFFER
CHIMNEY SWEEPING
It is important that you get your chimney swept on a regular basis. It ensures that your chimney flues remain clear and are safe to use, helping to guard against chimney fires and carbon monoxide poisoning.
NEST AND BLOCKAGE REMOVAL
Have you noticed twigs in your fireplace? That is one of the first signs that something is making a home in your chimney. Be sure to get in touch to talk about a safe removal.
CAGES, CAPS AND COWLS These are items placed on chimneys to protect against rain, down draughts, blockages which can cause carbon monoxide problems. If you require this service, please get in touch.
GULL CAGES
FOR OUR FULL LIST OF SERVICES, HEAD TO
WWW.WILKINSCHIMNEYSWEEP.CO.UK
We make bespoke gull protection to prevent gulls nesting between pots. Give us a call to discuss the requirements and we can give an indication of the costs subject to size and access.
INissue THIS 4
HOW TO STAY FIT AT HOME
Going back to, or deciding to start going to a gym can be daunting, why not try some of our home workout ideas first.
6
11
GET YOUR FEET SUMMER READY Summer is around the corner so time to get your feet looking their best for their 2021 sandle debut!!
10
14
COOKING WITH YVONNE Two top notch recipes from well renowned cook for to give a try, and wow at all your garden summer parties.
16
THE PERFECT VEGETABLE GARDEN Attention fair weather gardeners, the time has come to pick up your tools and why not start with your very own vegetable garden. Read our tips to get started.
DECLUTTER YOUR LIFE Declutter your life = declutter in your mind. Transitioning from Autumn/Spring to Summer can be a great time to give your home a clean and a throw out!
MADE WITH LOVE This month on made with love we are looking at some great recipes that use some of your favourite summer fruits. Give them a try.
No material may be reproduced in any way, or translated, without written permission of the publishers.
COPYRIGHT © 2021 IPLUS MEDIA
Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to ensure that adverts and articles appear correctly, but Home and Garden cannot accept responsibility for any loss or damage caused directly or indirectly by the contents of the publication.
Home and Garden is published by iPlus Media. Editorial: hello@iplusgroup.co.uk Telephone: 01242 312121 | Website: iplusmedia.co.uk Head office: Suite 2, 14 Union Street, Stroud, Glos, GL5 2HE
The views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of its publisher or editor.
HOW TO
STAY AT HOME
YOGA: Whether you practised yoga before the pandemic or not, an at home practise proves essential for many of you that want to continue it long-term. Doing yoga at home will allow for you to really immerse yourself and not become dependent on a particular teacher or setting in order to concentrate. Yoga is such an inclusive fitness routine that really caters for beginners, experts and anywhere in between! There are so many benefits of incorporating yoga into your everyday routine. It has a proven record of reducing stress and anxiety when practised regularly. General body awareness, posture, strength and flexibility are also benefits of a good yoga routine. Yoga may also help your concentration at work and improve the quality of your sleep. It is so easy to begin a yoga routine, there are so many yoga teachers
doing video call sessions for their clients at home. Even if cost is a restriction for you there are still plenty of videos online to follow along for free, making yoga the perfect at home activity for you or your whole family. HOME WORKOUTS: Similar to yoga, home workouts can be so simple and quick but are still super effective and make you feel so accomplished straight after! Granted, some types of workout are easier than others, for example, cardio will require much less equipment than weight training. However, there are always ways to combat this; it might be wise to invest in some weights if you’re really keen on them, otherwise plyometric workouts work just as well! YouTube is a fantastic resource when looking into a guided at home workout, there are so many videos
out there that you’re guaranteed to find something to suit you. From intense high intensity training to family activity workouts, there’s always a way to stay active.
WALKING: Any form of exercise outdoors is such a brilliant way to boost your overall health. Walking is such an achievable goal that can be done with families, solo, with pets and as far or as short as you want! Walking burns calories whilst increasing cardiovascular health and mental health dramatically. It can be so beneficial to people of all ages and exercise abilities. It can result in a boost of energy even more effective than your daily morning coffee! The increased flow of oxygen to the brain helps for better functioning throughout your body for the entire day and if walking purely for aesthetic purposes, hugely improves tone in your lower body. Make walking more interesting by changing up your route to explore new places or listen to music and podcasts to pass the time.
STRETCHING: Intense physical exercise isn’t for everyone. Everyone is different and will be comfortable with different levels of daily exercise. If running and yoga isn’t for you, consider implementing a good morning and evening stretch into your schedule. Stretching is such a good practise for body awareness and can help with posture, flexibility and any aches and pains you might have. It is important to assess any targeted stretching you might want to do and do the relevant research to ensure you don’t injure yourself in doing so (the same goes for all the above activities too!). DANCING: Dancing is such an underrated form of exercise and might be seen as a bit cringe by the proudest among us. However, putting on a few of your favourite songs during your lunch break and just getting up and moving not only is guaranteed to make you laugh but also increases blood flow to the brain, the release of endorphins and helps concentration post dance. This is perfect for anyone with children and means you’re always guaranteed a dance partner should you want one. If you find this works for you then there are hundreds of videos online of dance workouts to follow along to. It doesn’t even feel like exercise!
GET YOUR
FEET
summer ready
As I sit to write this the rain is pounding the window, trees are being blown
sideways, the heating is on and I have a steaming cup of tea in front of me, not exactly sandals weather but stick with me because now is the perfect time to start prepping your feet for sandals and flipflops…honest! Our feet put up with a lot and having been tucked away in socks and slippers all winter they can be in need of some tlc to
look their best on the beach.
WHAT IS A PEDICURE? Booking in for a pedicure treatment is the easiest way to achieving healthy feet and painted toenails, the word pedicure is derived from the Latin word pedis which means foot and cura meaning care, but what is a pedicure service? A pedicure service aims to improve and maintain the health of feet, nails and skin are checked and treated and a service typically includes a soak,
exfoliation, relaxing massage, masque and toenail paint to leaving you and your feet feeling refreshed. Whilst hard and callused skin is treated with a foot file and exfoliation products, add on services such as callus peel or microdermabrasion can be carried out for feet with a build-up of hard skin. Callus peel uses chemical exfoliation whilst Microdermabrasion is mechanical exfoliation with crystals or a diamond head used by the therapist. However, it is worth noting if you have a significant build-up of callused skin or problem feet it is best to seek the services of a podiatrist. If you are suffering from dry skin or arthritis in the joints of your feet then a paraffin wax treatment can be beneficial, the wax is applied warm and the heating effect stimulates blood and lymphatic circulation, soothes nerve
endings, softens the skin and provides comfort from arthritic conditions. There are many treatments a beauty therapist can carry out as part of the pedicure service to improve the appearance of your feet and regular maintenance services will keep your feet in tip top condition ready for sunny days. WHAT CAN I DO AT HOME? To look after your feet in between pedicure services there are a number of things you can do at home, one of the simplest ways is to
ensure you eat a healthy balanced diet, what we eat affects the appearance and functioning of our skin and nails. If you run, swim or exercise regularly ensure feet are washed and dried thoroughly after workouts. Ensure you wear clean socks or tights daily.
Apply a foot moisturiser daily especially after washing when the skin is soft. Foot sprays with peppermint or citrus oils can be useful to refresh feet during the day. Ensure footwear fits properly, incorrect footwear will aggravate problems such as bunions and increase hard skin formation, as can wearing high heels for long periods of time. When filing your nails at home always file straight
across in one direction to avoid ingrowing nails and weakening the nail. If painting your nails at home always use the base coat to protect the nail and remove polish after 10 – 14 days to avoid damage to the nails and unsightly nail growth. Regular foot exercises can help keep feet healthy too, by increasing blood flow, keeping joints mobile and muscles strong, these are simple exercises which can be carried out whilst sat at a desk or watching tv. If you want to pamper your feet at home, I recommend using either Eve Taylor® foot soak with Spearmint, Teatree and Lavender or Epsom salts. You’ll need a bowl of warm water, a towel, a few pumps of the foot soak or ½ cup of Epsom salts. Swirl the water
to disperse the soak or dissolve the salts and then bathe your feet for 10minutes. Your feet will feel reenergised, and the salts relieve tension and inflammation. Ensure you dry your feet thoroughly including in between toes. To add a spa feel try lighting a candle, listening to spa music (Alexa, Spotify and YouTube have a great selection), diffuse your favourite essential oils or apply a face mask for whilst your feet soak. Do not soak feet that have cuts or abrasions and seek medical advice if you have Diabetes, circulation issues foot disorders or health issues. Finally dust off your favourite sandals ready to showcase your beautiful summer ready feet. For more tips and advice please follow me on social media @hayleykoonerbeauty
Premium window shutters, for less!
For your free consultation, contact Matt, your local Shuttercraft expert:
Gloucestershire: 01242 649 592 Oxford: 01865 389 412 www.shuttercraft.co.uk
PROUD TO FIT S:CRAFT PRODUCTS
yvonne x THIS MONTH ON
SPARKLING & CREAMY RHUBARB PANNACOTTA SERVES 4 (5 HOURS INCLUDING CHILL TIME)
INGREDIENTS For the Pannacotta:
Rhubarb Compote:
- 2 sheets leaf gelatine
- 400g slender pink rhubarb, trimmed 2cm
- 1 tsp vanilla bean paste
- 50g caster sugar
- 200ml double cream
- 3tbsp prosecco
- 200ml semi-skimmed milk
- 1 orange
COOKING WITH
SHORTBREAD BISCUITS If you are giving Yvonne’s Sparkling Pannacotta a go, then we think her shortbread biscuits are a great addition to serve alongside...
- 50g caster sugar MAKES ABOUT 24 (30 MINUTES)
METHOD: The Pannacotta: Half fill a medium bowl with cold water, add the gelatine sheets and leave to soften for 5 minutes. Put the milk and sugar into a medium saucepan. Add the vanilla bean paste. Heat the milk very gently until the sugar dissolves and the milk is almost at simmering point, stirring with a whisk to help break up any clumps of seeds. Do not allow to boil. Turn off the heat. Take the softened gelatine sheets in one hand and squeeze the excess water back into the bowl. Drop the gelatine into the hot milk and stir until fully dissolved. Stir in the cream and pour the mixture carefully through a sieve into a large jug. Put four wide ramekins onto a small tray and set four small glass tumblers at an angle in each one, using blue tac to hold in place. Pour the cream mixture into the tumblers. Cover lightly with cling film and chill for 4 hours, or overnight, until set. Or use freezer for 1 hour to speed up the time. Rhubarb Compote: Cut 150g of slender pink rhubarb into 2.5cm lengths and put the rhubarb in a medium nonstick frying pan. Sprinkle with the sugar and give a small shake. Place on the hob over a medium heat and cover with a lid or heatproof plate. Cook for 5-6 minutes or until the rhubarb is tender but still holding its shape. Sprinkle orange zest and some juices. Tip into a heatproof bowl and leave to cool. Cover and chill if making ahead. Take the pannacotta from the fridge. Stir the prosecco very lightly into the rhubarb compote and spoon on top of the panna cotta immediately before serving.
INGREDIENTS - 150g plain flour - 50g cornflour
- 100g semolina
- 2 pinches of salt
- 200g chilled, unsalted butter
- 100g caster sugar
- 10g caster sugar, for sprinkling
METHOD: Preheat the oven at 170c. Mix the plain flour, cornflour, salt together in food processor. Then add caster sugar and semolina in it, and mix together again. Grate butter (just out from the fridge) with a grater. It will look like grated cheese! Add it into the food processor, and blend well until all combined. It should be quite crumbly but still a bit sticky. Apply immediately onto a small rectangle or square baking tin and press until all even and smooth, it should be about half an inch in length. Poke with a fork to make little holes. Sprinkle the caster sugar and give the tray a little shake. Then bake for about 25 minutes until golden brown. When out of the oven, immediately cut them into squares with lines. Leave to cool, then take out the squares. They taste better after 3rd day! That is if nothing is gone!
MEET THE CHEF: Dubbed 'Deaf Nigella', I am Yvonne, the founder of Yumma Food. I am a Deaf cook with a big personality. Love reading cookery books, retail shopping and spending time with my 3 teenagers, supportive husband and my Mum. My favourite food is avocado on homemade bread with sprinkles of sesame seeds and grated cheese, and balsamic vinegar. Discover more at www.yummafood.co.uk
HOW TO:
MAKE THE PERFECT vegetable GARDEN
Have you seen some great potential in your garden? Are you looking to turn it into a successful vegetable plot? If the answer is yes, then look no
further. This is the article for you! The first hurdle is planning where to place your patch. If you have a choice, try and position your plot in some good sunlight with ample shelter from the wind. This can be achieved through placement or fencing. These will give your more delicate plants a better chance of survival from wind burn. If the space
available to you is limited, consider growing your vegetables in window spaces or dotted amongst your existing plants. Once you’ve picked the ideal plot for your vegetable garden, it’s time to decide which fruits or vegetables you want to be growing. If you are just beginning your vegetable growing journey, consider starting out with some hardier veggies such as carrots, potatoes and courgettes. It is also important to not grow more than you need – it’s easier than you think to become overwhelmed
by too many plants in your plot! Now that the plan for your garden is in place, it’s time to get to work. Choose between growing our plants from seeds or seedlings and order accordingly. It is also time to order any equipment you may need including fertiliser, mulch and pest deterrents. Once you’ve gathered everything you need, the soil needs to be prepared. Mark the corners of the garden area with rocks. Clear the area within the borders free of roots, rocks, sticks, weeds, and other large debris. Use the soil tiller, hoe or rake to break up the soil into small pieces, working it to a depth of about 12 inches (30.5 cm), depending on how deep your vegetables need to be planted. Finally, its time to plant your vegetables and begin caring for them. While the seeds are
taking root, you need to keep the topsoil moist. The misting option on many garden hoses is a great tool here to lightly spray your vegetable patch every day. Try to avoid watering at night to reduce chance of fungus growth. As your veggies start to grow, you may notice weeds growing alongside them. Take the time to remove these weeds as they are taking advantage of the perfect growing environment that you have created. Gently grab as close to the root as possible, being careful not to pull out any of your sprouted vegetables. As they start to grow
bigger, make sure to care for each type of vegetable in the way that is best for them. It may be wise to keep note of how often each plant is watered, pruned or fertilised. Also remember to note your harvests for future reference. HAPPY GROWING!
WOULD YOU LIKE TO
OWN A RACEHORSE? The team at Fergal O’Brien Racing are pleased to offer a wide range of ownership options which could see you enjoying race days all across the country. fergalobrienracing.co.uk | 07771 702 829 | admin@fergalobrienracing.com
Declu er
YOUR LIFE
Decluttering a room is often thought of as a gruelling process that will inevitably take up hours of your time and effort.
important to note that they are both deemed very useful depending on differing objectives. Task cleaning seems at its most effective when you need your entire house cleaned but doesn’t involve much decluttering. Zone cleaning is targeted specifically to one room at a time and delivers, what I believe to be, the most rewarding cleaning results in one go. Once you’ve finished and your room looks beautiful, you’ll be more motivated to keep it that way and not get cluttered again so quickly.
It definitely will involve both of these things but removing possessions that are taking up valuable space in your home is such a rewarding experience that will make it all worth it. It has been debated whether or not task cleaning is more effective than zone cleaning, however, it is
It is absolutely vital that before beginning you equip yourself with the right mindset to get rid of everything you don’t need! If it no longer serves any purpose to you – there is no point keeping it. This goes for both possessions and clothing items. Many also find that selling things that are
too good to just be thrown away is a good incentive to clear out a room and earn a little bit of money from doing so. TIME: Allow yourself enough time to completely finish in one go. When starting a complete decluttering process, it is so important to allot yourself plenty of time to complete the entire room. If you don’t have enough time to finish it in one sitting, it is more likely to be forgotten about and continue to gain mess, making your next attempt even more difficult. Additionally, when you start the project knowing you’ll finish the same day, you will be more motivated throughout the process to really get stuck in. START WITH THE FLOOR: Anything that’s on the floor that shouldn’t be needs picking up and putting into its rightful space - this includes all clothes and washing. If it doesn’t have a rightful space, ask yourself if you absolutely need it, if not, throw it away and move on.
Clearing the floor space will remind you of the rooms size and potential, prompting you to make the most of your space. STORAGE SPACES: Sorting through for things that bring you positivity and removing anything that doesn’t. this is especially important for your bedroom space! The space where you sleep should always be relaxing and clean for you to destress effectively. Finally, try practicing gratitude for the space you occupy! Any space, regardless of size or shape, can be transformed into a beautiful living area with a little bit of effort.
THIS MONTH ON
MADE WITH LOVE
Fruit
LEMON AND ELDERFLOWER CAKE: SERVES 8 (1 HOUR)
INGREDIENTS - 125g unsalted butter, softened - 175g caster sugar - 2 medium eggs - Zest of one lemon - 175g self raising flour
LIME CHEESECAKE:
METHOD
SERVES 8 (30 MINUTES)
Preheat oven to 180 degrees C. Grease a large loaf tin and line the base with baking paper.
INGREDIENTS - 125g unsalted butter, melted
- Pinch of salt - 4tbsp milk - 100g icing sugar - 4 tbsp elderflower cordial - Lemons for garnish (optional)
Drizzle ingredients:
- 250g gingernut biscuits - 600g cream cheese
- 4 gelatine leaves
- 100g icing sugar
- 100g caster sugar
- 3 zested limes
- Juice from 3 limes
- 300ml double cream, whipped
METHOD Crush the biscuits into crumbs by placing in a sealed bag and crumbling with a rolling pin. Mix the crushed biscuits in with the melted butter before pressing into the base of your tin. Place the cream cheese, zest and icing sugar into a large bowl and beat until smooth. Add in the double cream and mix until completely combined. Spoon the cream mixture onto the biscuit base, making sure there are no air bubbles and leave to set in the fridge. Soak the gelatine leaves in cold water whilst placing all the other drizzle ingredients into a saucepan along with 200ml water. Cook gently until the sugar has dissolved. Drain and squeeze gelatine leaves and stir them into the drizzle mixture until dissolved. Let the drizzle cool before pouring over the cheesecake. Place the whole cheesecake in the fridge overnight to set.
Cream together the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Beat in the eggs and lemon zest. Add the flour and salt into the mixture until fully combined. Then the milk. Spoon into the loaf tin and bake for around 45 minutes. Now mix together the icing sugar with elderflower cordial to form a drizzle. Pour over the cake and allow to cool before eating.
PAVLOVA: SERVES 6 (1 HOUR 30 MINUTES)
INGREDIENTS - 4 large egg whites - Pinch of salt - 1 cup fine sugar - 2 tsp white wine vinegar - 1 tsp vanilla extract
To Serve: - 1 & ¼ cups double cream, whipped - 10 passion fruits for serving - 4 bananas for serving - Mixed berries for serving
METHOD Preheat oven to 150 degrees C. Trace a 20cm circle on a sheet of baking paper and place onto a baking sheet. In a large bowl, beat together the egg whites and salt until peaks begin to form. Then add in the sugar in three segments. Sprinkle in the vanilla and vinegar and gently fold. Mound the meringue into the centre of the circle and evenly spread with a spatula. Place in the oven and turn the temperature down to 120 degrees C. Bake for 75 minutes. After this time, turn the oven off and allow the meringue to cool in the warm oven. When cool, remove from oven and decorate with the whipped cream and fruits.
Du inJune EVENING, AND ALL THE BIRDS IN A CHORUS OF SHIMMERING SOUND ARE EASING THEIR HEARTS OF JOY FOR MILES AROUND. THE AIR IS BLUE AND SWEET, THE FEW FIRST STARS ARE WHITE,-OH LET ME LIKE THE BIRDS SING BEFORE NIGHT. SARA TEASDALE
Life yle JUNE 2021
