Smag31 There’s nothing artificial about new Light at Heart from Tate & Lyle Sugars. It’s as versatile as regular sugar – why not try it in your favorite recipes As the UK’s first blend of pure cane sugar and sweet Stevia leaf extract, Light at Heart is the natural choice for the whole family. You can … Read more
This Christmas Day Simple Menu Plan summarises a basic Christmas lunch we prepared one year. It catered for 13 adults and six kids. When I’m hosting Christmas Day lunch at our home, I set aside time in the weeks leading up to it for making a dedicated menu plan for the big day. Planning the food … Read more
I’ve mentioned before how one of my favourite aspects of planning is that once you’ve detailed a plan you can run on autopilot, just checking in on the plan to tick off a completed task and look at the next one. For me, this works particularly well in the lead-up to Christmas. With so many … Read more
Christmas preparation in July Over the past couple of years I’ve started doing some initial planning for Christmas in July, and this has helped me stay sane and get some sleep in the lead-up to Christmas. Previously, without kick starting my Christmas planning in July, at times December look a bit like this: • I … Read more
He wrote bad poetry – to his ex “He was a hot posh-boy rugby player who wrote (bad) poetry on the sly. (The signs were all there, I know…) When he begged me to come on his annual family holiday to their house in France, I agreed, despite a niggling feeling that it was a … Read more
Forget ‘it’s not you, it’s me’ – there’s a whole world of mad, bad and just plain crazy reasons why relationships end Why did your last relationship end? Was he cheating with the cute receptionist at the gym? Were you doing long-distance, which meant more Skype time than real time? Maybe he was a teacher-slash-secret-p*rn-star … Read more
Parties away from home As much as I love traditional at-home parties (which is how we normally celebrate birthdays), there have been times when we’ve chosen different options. When we were living in the inner city, we had a courtyard the size of a car-parking space and our house was quite small. When my eldest … Read more
When planning a kid’s birthday party I find the simplest option is usually the best. To streamline the party organisation and keep it simple, I use a 10-point birthday party plan. A 10-point plan might sound complex and work-heavy, but all it does is define the work involved and put it into manageable chunks. Part of … Read more
If you’re partying through the summer and feeding lots of friends and family, it could be time to invest in alfresco cooking equipment that’s up to the job! At last… barbecue time is here! Charcoal or gas which is best? For impromptu outdoor dining, gas is the winner (52% of homeowner agree), but you can’t … Read more
Sumptuous fruit, super snacks and luscious ice cream The best vanilla ice cream Is it worth spending more on this delightful accompaniment? We put big brands and supermarkets’ own to the test… Winner 43/50 Tesco Finest Madagascan Vanilla Ice Cream Slow-melting, sinfully creamy with a powerful hit of vanilla, this is ice cream perfection. $5.99 … Read more
1. Flying with kids Since growing our family to five children, we’ve only had a couple of holidays where we’ve flown to our destination. Each time, to make it easy on the finances, we flew with budget airlines. Taking the cheaper option is doable, but it requires extra planning, especially with kids. I’d like to … Read more
For us, it makes sense to go on a family holiday by car due to travel costs and the volume of luggage we have to take with us. I have family in Mildura (550 kilometres north-west of Melbourne) so we’ve driven the Calder Highway to Mildura countless times. Each time, we find some way of … Read more
Spicy kedgeree A flavour-packed recipe that’s so satisfying. Serve 4 Easy/Prepare ahead/Freeze. Preparation: 5 minutes. Cook: 35 minutes Ingredients · 500g (1lb 2oz) undyed smoked haddock · 1/2tsp dried chilli flakes · 400ml (14fl oz) · Semi-skimmed milk · 2tbsp vegetable oil · 2 medium onions, chopped · 300g (10oz) basmatic rice · 1tbsp curry … Read more
Harissa chicken Any leftovers will make a great lunch the next day. Serve 2. Easy/Prepare ahead. Preparation: 5 minutes. Cook 15 minutes For the couscous · 200g (7oz) couscous · 200g (7oz) pomegranate seeds · 50g (2oz) toasted flaked almonds · Juice 1 lemon · 2tbsp extra virgin olive oil For the chicken · 2 … Read more
Fragrant ratatouille A deliciously healthy supper that’s great served with crusty bread. Serves 4 Easy/Prepare Ahead; Preparation: 20 minutes; Cook: 40 minutes Ingredients · 6tbsp olive oil · 2 large aubergines, cut into 2.5cm (1in) chunks · 4 small courgettes, sliced into 2.5cm (1in) chunks · 1 red and 1 yellow pepper, deseeded and cut … Read more
Beetroot and broad bean salad Sweet and earthy roasted beetroot mixed with slightly nutty broad beans – both storehouses of nutrients – is a match made in heaven. Serves 2 Easy/Prepare ahead; Preparation: 15 minutes; Cook: 45 minutes Ingredients · 500g (1lb 2oz) raw beetroot, peeled and sliced into small wedges 2tbsp olive oil … Read more
You can teach your baby to swim when he/she reaches 6 months old. Swimming is a necessary skill for life, whether your baby likes it or not. You can teach your baby how to swim when he/she reaches 6 months old. There’re kids born to learn swimming quickly though there’re some who are really afraid … Read more
From the white stuff in your tea to the man-made stuff hidden in your favourite foods, sugar is a multifaceted beast. White and granular like cane sugar, xylitol occurs naturally in many trees, fruit and vegetables. Xylitol was discovered as far back as the 19th century, but today it’s most commonly added to chewing gum … Read more
The fetus in the womb gets nutrients and oxygen through the placenta connected to the skin inside the uterus. The umbilical cord is the life line helping the child get things he needs to develop in the womb. Once the baby is born, the umbilical cord will be held tightly and cut closely to his … Read more
We have news, know-how and meals in minutes Myth-buster Myth Granola is a healthy breakfast option Fact Granola may appear healthy with its rolled oats, nuts and dried fruits but one bowl can often serve up a whopping 500 calories or more, and some even have more sugar than a can of Coke! It’s important … Read more