Top Long Vodka Cocktails

Vodka is one of the spirits that just cries out to be included in cocktails as the plain spirit doesn’t have a lot of taste.  However, there are lots of great cocktails recipes available using vodka and many of them are long drinks, using a high ball glass.  This lessens the alcohol content a little and means they are perfect for parties or to enjoy on a summer’s evening in the garden.  Here are a few of the most popular.

Bloody Mary

• 4-5 ice cubes
• Juice ½ lemon
• ½ tsp horseradish sauce
• 2 drops Worcestershire sauce
• 1 drop tabasco sauce
• 2 measures tomato juice
• 2 measures vodka
• Salt & cayenne pepper
• Celery stick to decorate (optional)

Put the ice cubes into a cocktail shaker and add the lemon juice, sauces, tomato juice and vodka then shake until a frost forms.  Add this to a tall glass and add a pinch of salt and pepper.  Decorate with a celery stick if required

Long Island Iced Tea

• 6 ice cubes
• ½ measure vodka
• ½ measure gin
• ½ measure white rum
• ½ tequila
• ½ measure Cointreau
• 1 measure fresh lemon juice
• ½ tsp sugar syrup
• Coca-Cola to top up

Put half of the cube into a mixing glass and add the spirits, lemon juice and sugar syrup.  Stir well then strain to a high ball glass and top up with coca cola to the desired level and add the rest of the ice.  Can be decorated with a lemon wedge

Moscow Mule

• 4 ice cubes
• 2 measures vodka
• Juice from 2 limes
• Ginger beer

Put the ice in a cocktail shaker, add the vodka, and lime juice.  Shake until a frost forms then add to a tall glass.  Top up with ginger beer and stir gentle before decorating with lime or orange slices.

Chi Chi

• 2 measures of vodka
• 1 measure coconut cream
• 4 measures pineapple juice
• 6 crushed ice cubes

Add the vodka, coconut cream, pineapple juice and ice in to a blender and mix until all ingredients are smooth.  Pour into a tall glass and decorate with a cherry and a slice of pineapple.

Blue Moon

• 5 ice cubes
• ¾ measure vodka
• ¾ measure tequila
• 1 measure blue curacao
• Lemonade

Put half the ice into a mixing glass and add the spirits, stirring everything together.  Add the rest of the ice to a tall glass and strain the cocktail into it them top up with lemonade as required (personal favourite!!)

Sex on the Beach

• 3 ice cubes
• ½ measure vodka
• ½ measure peach schnapps such as Archers
• 1 measure cranberry juice
• 1 measure orange juice
• 1 measure pineapple juice (optional)

Put the ice into a cocktail shaker, add the vodka and peach schnapps as well as the juices, and shake until a frost forms.  Pour into a tall glass and add a cherry to decorate.

Conclusion

These are just a few of the many tall vodka cocktail ideas, all of which will have different variations available.  Buying a personalised high ball glass is a great way to remember a special event such as a birthday and a great excuse to then try a few at the party!

Top Herbs to Grow on a Windowsill

Growing your own food in its many forms has appeal to a great variety of people for a multitude of reasons – whether care for the environment, concerns over food origins or just an enjoyment of growing something to name a few.  The great thing about growing herbs is that a plot, garden bed or other outdoor area is a compulsory part of the process because there are a number of herbs that can be grown on a windowsill.

Chives

Chives are a great windowsill herb because they have no specific requirements, don’t need too much sunlight and just keep on producing.  You can grow them from seed but the easiest way to grow them is from an established plant.  You can pick these up anywhere from a garden centre to a supermarket or even just grab a clump from a friend’s established plant.  Place them in a nice pot and cover the roots with potting compost and they will settle in nicely.  When harvesting, cut off around the top one third of each leaf to encourage regrowth. 

One of the easiest ways of using chives is in mashed potato – simply get a nice wooden choppingboard and a sharp knife, dice the chives into pieces of whatever length you prefer then sprinkle them into the cooked and mashed potatoes.

Basil

Basil is the mainstay of Italian cooking, particularly alongside tomatoes and many of the varieties available actually prefer to be in the house.  They need plenty of sunlight and shelter from the worst of the weather so a windowsill is ideal.  Basil is easy to grow from seed, needing only a 5cm pot to plant up five seeds and then tossing the smallest two plants to have a healthy potful.  Alternatively, a small established plant can be bought for instant results, but remember not to remove all leaves from a stalk to allow the plant to keep producing.

Basil works well in salads with mozzarella cheese and tomato or can be shredded to add to pasta sauce.  It can even be put into food bags in the refrigerator and frozen just after picking to be used at a later date.

Parsley

If you’ve ever tried to grow parsley in the garden, you’ll know the biggest problem is stopping it.  By growing it in the windowsill, it is restrained and doesn’t take over the garden plus is at hand whenever you need it.  Seeds can be a little tricky to get started but established plants are easy to come by and to keep, plus there are a few different varieties such as curly or flat leaf.  It only needs moderate light levels and little maintenance but remember not to harvest too many leaves from a stem or you can kill the plant.

Parsley is used as a garnish for many dishes and is also a great ingredient in garlic butter with its many uses.  It can be dried and frozen to extend its lifespan and keeps for a few days in the fridge after it has been harvest.

Why Shabby Chic Isn’t Shabby

The great thing about shabby chic is that it is an easy style to get into, can be personalised to suit your own tastes and is anything but shabby.  Shabby chic is defined as a style of interior design and furniture that has signs of wear and tear and where a distressed look is used to make items appear antique.  It is soft and opulent combining a cottage-style décor with a sense of period décor to make a uniquely personal look.

Budget friendly

One of the reasons that shabby chic is so popular is that it can be very budget friendly.  It is easy to go to charity shops or second hand sales and pick up pieces of furniture that are either in keeping with the style or can be easily adapted to it.  Vintage textiles are another great way to take a plain piece of furniture and turn it into a shabby chic piece without spending a great deal of money.  Plus it’s fun – who knows what amazing thing you will find during your search!

In the bedroom, white bedding is both cost effective and totally shabby chic.  White on white patterns are very popular for the look and can be quite budget friendly as well as easy to wash.  You can use accessories to add colour to the room or even use coloured paint on the furniture.

Furniture ideas

Taking an old dining room set and stripping it back before whitewashing it is a great way to bring the look to the dining room or kitchen.  Covering the chairs with some vintage fabric adds a touch of softness to the look, especially if the chairs are all straight lines and angles.  Add a faded rug under the table to finish the area.

Nearly any piece of furniture from a sideboard to a chest of drawers can be reborn to coordinate with a shabby chic look in the same way as the table and chairs – sand them down and whitewash them or paint them in a distressed fashion.  Anything that looks weathered and aged will work perfectly in the theme and saves the cost of buying brand new items.

Accessories

Mirrors, picture frames and wall art are all prominent features of the shabby chic style.  Grouping them together as a feature on a fireplace wall, for example, is a great way to combine a random selection of items that you can repaint to look the part.  Or buy the odd new piece to sit amongst the upcycled gear – anything with flowers and birds are popular motifs.  Hanging a similar style metal wreath in front of a window is another way to accessorize the look.

Second hand shops always have plenty of small, dainty fine china tea sets to be bought, often missing a piece here and there.  These delicate little items make a beautiful addition to a living room, dining room or kitchen, bringing a little floral colour to the room.  You can even use them as a basis for the colours in the rest of the room, following their colour theme to paint up and distress the other furniture you have found.

Why Do We Give Eggs at Easter?

There are many associations with Easter, some of which come through the religious side of the festival, others predating even the associations with Christianity while others are more recent.  So why do we give eggs at Easter?  And how did many of the other traditions come about?

Easter egg associations

There are lots of reasons we associated eggs with Easter.  One example is that in Medieval Europe, it was forbidden to eat eggs during Lent so eggs laid during that time were boiled or preserved.  When Easter came around, eggs could once again be enjoyed and were a gift given to children.

Eggs are also associated with fertility and as a symbol of new life dating back much further.  Ancient Egyptians, Romans and Persians all gave eggs as part of their spring festivals, with the Spring Equinox being 21^st March, just before the typical date of Easter.

These associations have developed into the Easter eggs we know today – brightly coloured with dyes or paints and decorated in all manner of ways.  Egg hunts are another traditional part of Easter along with rolling eggs down hills, with the most famous version of the game taking place on the lawn of the White House in Washington DC every year.

Middle Eastern Orthodox Christians and those in Greece paint their eggs bright red to symbolise the blood of Jesus Christ while hollow eggs were decorated with religious images as part of the celebrations in Armenia.  Many Germans give green eggs on Holy Thursday and hang hollow eggs up onto trees while Austrians put a tiny plant around the egg before boiling it, creating delicate patterns on the eggshell.

While the chocolate Easter egg has taken over the market here in the UK, there are still ways to maintain the traditions in a contemporary way.  One such way is to give the gift of a personalised eggcup to children at Easter.  This encourages them to enjoy eggs and is a bridge between the modern world and ancient traditions.

Other Easter traditions

Everyone recognises the Easter Bunny but rabbits and hares are associated with both spring and fertility.  The root of the Easter Bunny story comes from Germany, where parents told their children that an Easter hare would hide eggs for them to find.  The tradition followed German immigrants to the US, where the story continued to grow and the tradition of baking cakes for the hare began.  It is thought this is where the associations between Easter and chocolate developed – a very clever idea!

Giving cards at Easter is a Victorian tradition.  Stationers at the time added the image of a rabbit to cards and these were sent to loved ones at Easter.  In the US, Easter cards are big business, being the 4^th most popular holiday of the year behind Christmas, Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day.

Easter parades started in Medieval Europe when after Mass, the churchgoers would follow behind a crucifix or an Easter candle.  People would join the parade wear their finest clothing include bonnets they would make particularly for the day.

Top Flowers to Grow and Cut

The only thing nicer than receiving a bunch of flowers is receiving flowers that someone has grown and cut themselves in their own garden.  But many of us think we can’t grow flowers or we don’t have enough room for them.  The good news is that there are some great flowers that are easy to grow, don’t need a lot of room and make beautiful cut flowers.  In fact, growing flowers is a great way to make a unique present for someone.  You can arrange them in a simple vase or glass bottle to make a present that they will treasure.

Sweet pea

Top of any easy to grow list has to be the sweet pea.  These beautiful little flowers come in a vast range of shades, grow easily and once a flower has been cut, more will be along in no time.  Some people choose to grow a single shade but for the best effect, a full-on random selection gets the winning vote.  The tip for cutting it to cut them as the lowest bloom is opening and put them straight into water to give them the longest life.

To grow sweet pea, you will need some form of support, such as a trellis or even a wall with mesh on it.  They can be sown in the spring either into pots or into the ground at a depth of around 1cm and then need a good watering to start them.  Watch out for slugs, as they love the tiny shoots.

Tulips

Tulips often win the race to be among the first flowers to show in spring and come in an even more amazing range of colours than sweet pea.  As cut flowers, tulips need a lot of water and a tip is to submerge the stem in water before cutting them to avoid air escaping.  Also, despite blooming at the same time, never combine tulips and daffodils as the latter stop them from getting the water they need.

Tulips grow from bulbs that need to be planted in the autumn to flower the following spring.  They need sunlight and not too much moisture so a well-drained, sunny spot is ideal.  Sow around 8 inches deep and water well after planting to start their growth.

Dianthus

Dianthus is a wide category of flowers that includes both carnations and pinks as well as Sweet Williams.  As well as traditional whites, red and pinks, they also come in subtle shades and even purple versions.  Pinks also have a strong and very pleasant smell so they will brighten the room and make it smell lovely.  When cut, don’t keep them in direct sunlight as this shortens their lifespan.

Dianthus can be grown from cuttings but for first-time gardeners, seeds are the best bet.  Sown in post around ½ inch from the top they are then covered with moist compost.  Place the pot in sunlight and when the seeds germinate, you can feed them with liquid houseplant fertiliser.  They can be transferred to the garden once the risk of frost is past.

Using Slate Around the Kitchen

Slate has long been associated with the outer construction of a house and has been a material used for roofing for many centuries.  It is known for its durability and also for its attractive appearance but in recent times, slate has made a move into the house and now is popular in a variety of ways around the kitchen.

What is Slate?

Slate is a fine-grained rock that can be made up from clay or volcanic ash and is the finest grained rock in its category, metamorphic rocks.  This graining can be expertly ‘cut’ by striking it parallel to the grains to create the smooth, flat sheets so long used as a roofing material.  Slate is most often grey in colour but slate from different places can vary, being purple, green or cyan, such as the very dark grey slate found in North Wales.

Slate was first used as a roofing material back in the 1870s and remained popular for this use because it is very resistant to water absorption, being virtually waterproof. Added with its appearance, longevity and the fact that little maintenance is required has retained it as a popular roof tile option.

Uses of slate

As well as roofing materials, slate has traditionally been used for both tombstones and commemorative tablets.  The Maya of Central American used slate to make stelae, their version of a commemorative stone and it was highly prized.  Slate is fireproof and a good electrical insulator so has been used throughout the 20^th century in switchboards and in large electrical motors.

Two famous uses of slate is as the table tops on billiards and snooker tables and in the 19^th century for school blackboards, as well as the individual writing slates given to children to work with using chalk pencils.  Fine slate is also used as a whetstone to hone knives.

In the kitchen

Two of the main uses of slate in the kitchen are for flooring tiles and for worktops where its waterproof abilities come to the fore, along with its durability and general toughness.  This means that it is resistant to stains and can handle almost anything a busy household throws at it.  The same low maintenance that makes it appealing for roofing materials also makes it appealing to put on the floors or worktops of a kitchen and it offers a natural finish to the room.

Slate has also found its way into the accessories of the kitchen, bringing its enduring qualities to the job.  One of the most popular uses is as a chopping board, where fear of markings the material is almost non-existent and particularly helpful to the heavy-handed chef.  Placemats for the dining table is another popular use, where the fireproof heat resistance of slate protects the table beneath from the heat of serving dishes.

Another popular use for slate is for decorative items.  Due to its ease of use, it can be formed into decorative wall hangings that are often personalised to make an ideal present and cut into a variety of different shapes.

Basic Baking Ideas with the Kids

Whether it is with your children, grandchildren or even just your friends’ kids, there is something memorable about baking together.  When they get older, they will always remember the times spent in the kitchen making a cake or muffins with you and it can even aspire them to something more – maybe even the next celebrity chef!

One great way to start their interest in baking is to buy a children’s baking set.  These will normally contain a few staple items such as muffin tins or a loaf tin as well as cutters and a whisk as well as the important apron to help save their clothes a little.

So once they have their basic gear ready, what kind of baking can they do?  One of the simplest, and tastiest, start up baking projects are muffins and here is an idea of a classic recipe.

Basic Muffin Recipe

Ingredients:

• ·         2 medium eggs
• ·         200g caster sugar
• ·         250ml milk
• ·         125ml vegetable oil
• ·         400g self raising flour

If you want to make chocolate flavoured muffins, substitute 100g of the flour for cocoa powder but not drinking chocolate

Preheat the oven to Gas Mark 6 and line the muffin tray with paper muffin cases.  In a mixing bowl, beat the eggs and mix in the oil and milk.  Add the sugar and whisk until dissolved.

Sift the flour into the wet mixture and mix until it is smooth and if making chocolate muffins, add the chocolate powder at this point.

Fill each muffin case until it is around two-third full to allow the muffins to rise and not spill over the top of the cases.  Bake in the oven for around 25 minutes then leave to cool or enjoy warm.

Lemon and Almond Drizzle Cake

Ingredients:

• ·         250g margarine
• ·         250g golden caster sugar
• ·         4 large eggs
• ·         Zest of two lemons
• ·         Juice of one lemon
• ·         200g self raising flour
• ·         50g ground almonds

For the decoration:

• ·         Juice of two lemons
• ·         250g fondant icing sugar
• ·         20 sugared lemon decorations

Heat the oven to 180 degrees or gas mark 4 and line the loaf tin.  Cream together the margarine and sugar until pale and fluffy before beating in the eggs, juice and zest.  Fold in the flour and the almond.

Spoon the mixture into the lined loaf tin then bake for around 20 minutes until golden brown then leave to cool.

Combine the syrup ingredients and pour into a few holes made in the cake with a skewer.  Drizzle the remainder of the mixture over the top of the cakes and add the sugared lemon decorations on top.

Conclusion

The great thing about both muffin and loaf tins is that there is a huge range of cakes that can be made in both.  As well as sweet options, there are also savoury recipes that can be ideal for a special breakfast treat or to cool down and take as part of a packed lunch the next day.  Plus once the kids get the baking bug, it may quickly become their favourite thing to do on a weekend or whenever they visit!