Unusual Father’s Day Gift Ideas

So it’s nearly June and our minds turn to what to get Dad for Father’s Day.  You try to get hints of anything he wants but he’s noncommittal as usual so you need ideas.  Something that tells him how much you love him without being useless.  Here’s a few suggestions.

Father’s Day history

Did you know that Father’s Day was actually first celebrated in the United States at the beginning of the 20^th century to complement the existing Mother’s Day celebration.  The first Father’s Day celebration was held on July 5^th 1908 in Fairmont, Virginia and was inspired by Grace Golden Clayton.  She had lost her father in the 1907 Monongah Mining Disaster along with 360 other men, 250 of them being dads.  She suggested that their local pastor honour these fathers.

The celebration took off properly in 1910 when it was held in Spokane, Washington on June 19^th to celebrate a single father who was raising six children.  Word spread and other people began to think that honour fathers was a good idea.  It became a nationally recognised holiday in 1966, confirming it was the third Sunday in June.  Here in the UK this is the date that we now celebrate the occasion also.

Picking the gift

Picking a gift for Father’s Day can be a challenge and we often end up with a ‘predictable’ gift such as a new pint glass, a mug or even a picture frame with a family shot in.  But a new trend in personalisedgifts means that even if these traditional gifts are still the right choice for your Dad, you can add something to them to make them special.

If you are buying for a young child to give to their Dad, then a mug showing I Love My Daddy is a good place to start.  You can also get the wording changed if the kids don’t use Daddy to ensure that the message means something to the recipient.

Similarly, shot glasses and beer mugs are a great gift that can have a truly personal message added to them.  From adding ‘best dad in the world’ after his name or other special messages, you can ensure that your Dad knows that the gift is all about him, not just a general shelf item.

For dad’s with a sweet tooth, a personalised sweet jar is a great present and gives them an excuse to refill it when it is empty.  For younger kids, there are some available with the familiar cuteness of the Tatty Teddy on it while messages To My Daddy and Lots of Love from X are just ideas of what can be printed into the label.

Finally, if Dad has a shed or a man cave, then a door plaque is a great fun way of showing him you love him and personalising his little space.  Slate is a great material for this purpose as it withstands being outside and a wide range of messages can be added to it.

Why Chillies are good for You

Chillies are one of those things that people seem to either love or hate – some people can eat them like they were a banana while others pull faces at the mere mention of their existence.  Yet there is plenty of evidence to show that even if you aren’t in the chilli fan club, it’s worth trying to add them into your diet in one way or another.

What is a chilli?

So let’s start with the basics – a chilli pepper really is a member of the pepper family, called capsicums.  They are given their powerful kick by the same substance found in other peppers, called capsaicin as well as other chemicals grouped together and called capsaicinoids.  Chilli peppers came originally from the Americas and were spread around the world by the Portuguese navigators in the 16^th century.  It is now a central part in a number of world cuisines including from America right around the world to India, Turkey and even into Japan and Korean foods.

There are actually five species of chilli peppers that include all the ones we have heard of and a few we don’t hear about so often.  There is the Capsicum annuum species that contains the most common chillies such as bell peppers, cayenne and jalapenos while the Capsicum frutenscens has the tabasco, Thai and piri piri chillies.  The Capsicum chinense contains the naga, habanero and scotch bonnet varieties while the remaining two families are mostly seen in South America.  Despite these families, chillies are normally grouped into three types; bell peppers, sweet peppers and hot peppers.

Why is chilli so good?

The substance capsaicin that gives the chilli most of its kick is also responsible for the main health benefits to be gained from eating them.  Capsaicin is being studied in connection with a host of conditions because it works as an anti-inflammatory so can help conditions such as arthritis and psoriasis.  There is also evidence that it has natural pain relieving abilities, particularly for osteoarthritis. 

Red chilli peppers such as cayenne has been shown to help reduce cholesterol levels within the blood along with clearing up a substance called fibrin that is integral in the formation of blood clots.  Spicing meals with powdered chilli can also help protect the body against free radicals, those harmful little things that can contribute to heart conditions.

Finally, chilli peppers can also help to lose weight because eating them takes energy and this uses calories.  In fact, they have been shown to increase heat production and oxygen consumption in the body for around twenty minutes after being eaten, burning nicely through those calories.

Preparing chillies

There are so many dishes that a little chilli can be added to that we would be here forever listing them.  However, the most important point to know is how to prepare them and this is relatively simple.  You can take a wooden board and a sharp knife them cut rings while cutting them into fine shreds by slicing the top off the chilli then removing the seeds with knife or a spoon.  Keep the chilli with the skin side downwards and cut into thin shreds.  Finally, to finely dice, cut these shreds into small cubes.

How to Make the Perfect Cheese Platter

Whether to serve to guests as part of a dinner party, to finish off a buffet or just to enjoy on a summer’s evening in the garden, a cheese platter appeals to nearly everyone.  There are just so many types of cheese that there is always something that every guest will like, even if they end up nibbling the accompaniments!  So how do you make the perfect cheese platter that looks the part as well as tasting great?

Getting organised

The most important part of the cheese platter is obviously the cheese but it isn’t the only part.  However, let’s start with the cheese.  Try to serve a range of textures and flavours in the cheese and the guide for this is that most all fall into one of four basic categories – aged, soft, firm and blue.  So by selecting at least one from each of these four, you have a great starting place and always make sure there is one familiar cheese in there that everyone will know.  Examples of each include:

• Aged – aged cheddar, comte, goat gouda
• Soft – camembert, brillat-savarin
• Firm – manchego, parmesan-reggiano
• Blue – gorgonzola, stilton

Guessing how much cheese you need can be tricky but another guide figure is that you will likely use 3 pounds of cheese for eight people, 6 pounds for sixteen or 9 pounds for twenty-four.  If cheese is only part of what is being served, then aim for 3-4 ounces per person.

Accompaniments

What makes the cheese board a hit is what you serve in addition to the cheese.  One steadfast hit is a selection of breads including sliced baguette and bread sticks in addition to crackers and biscuits.  The different textures and flavours of these will all work differently with the cheeses and mean that every bite is a little different.

You don’t want to go overboard on the accompaniments but a simple pot of condiment will be enjoyed by most people.  Anything from chutneys and mustards to something sweet like preserves or honey can be served and vegetables are also a great accompaniment.  Caramelized onions are a wonderful friend to cheese if you have time to prepare them while roasted red peppers or even artichoke hearts work well.

Contrast sweet and salty items with your cheese by offering cured meats such as salami or prosciutto while nuts and candied items also contrast well.  Dried and seasonal fruits such as apples, pears and grapes are traditionally included in a cheese board and for good reason.

Presentation

Once you have everything together, then presentation is the final element.  I was recently given a beautiful personalisedcheese board with my favourite cheeses on it that swings open and has a selection of cheese knives underneath. 

Once you have your favourite board, remember to keep the strong smelling cheese away from each other, less they gang up on your guests.  Make sure you have a knife for each cheese as well as one for butter and a paring knife for any of the firm cheese.  You can even pop little name tags beside each cheese so guests aren’t constantly asking which one is which.  Finally, remember to take the cheese platter out of the fridge an hour before serving as being too cold spoils the flavour.  Then enjoy!

Who Invented the Teddy Bear?

Everyone loves a teddy bear, whether in the form of a cuddly toy, a cute ornament or even an image on a card.  Teddy bears can even be collectors’ items and sell for vast quantities of money.  But who invented the teddy bear and why was it called that?

Teddy

1954 Teddy Bear

The teddy bear seems to have been created by two people at around about the same time.  One was a toymaker called Morris Michtom in the US and the other is a name still famous today – Richard Steiff in Germany.  Michtom named the bears he created in honour of the US president, Theodore ‘Teddy’ Roosevelt, despite the president hating the nickname.  However, he won him over by sending him one of the bears and getting the president’s permission to use the name.

Unaware of the American’s creation, Steiff had begun to make stuffed toys from his own designs and exhibited them at the Leipzig Toy Fair of 1903 when a buyer for a New York company named George Borgfeldt & Co saw the toys and bought 3000 to import to the US.  Legend has it that these bears, with the designation 55PB never completed their journey and were shipwrecked at sea, with none ever being seen again.

Neither men knew of the others creations at the time, as transatlantic communication was virtually non-existent.  But by 1906, more manufacturers were getting involved in the teddy bear craze and books were being written with teddies as the central character.  The famous instrumental ‘The Teddy Bear’s Picnic’ was first written in 1907, with lyrics being added in 1932.

Making a teddy bear

The art of making a teddy bear is still done by hand around the world but mass production has taken over most of the bears available.  These are the bears aimed as toys for kids and comply with exacting safety standards around the world, such as securely fastened eyes and safe joint attachments.  Steiff still sell handmade collectible bears both in shops and over the internet while there are small, handmade teddy companies in the US.  Merrythought is one such company in the UK who were founded in 1930 who continue to make handmade bears.

Teddy bears from those first inventors are among the antiques of the teddy bear world and are very collectible.  Some of Michtom’s original bears still come up for auction while other collectible bears include those from the Knickerbocker Toy Co from New York and the Gund Manufacturing Co as well as Steiff bears.

Modern bears

Tatty Teddy

The teddy bear remains as popular today as ever and there are many famous teddy bears.  From Paddington Bear, the famous bear from Peru, to the bright yellow Pudsey of Children in Need, teddies are an everyday part of life.  Other bears such as the Forever Friends teddies and the blue-nosed Tatty Teddy have travelled from the realm of toys into a huge array of gifts and greetings cards.  And of course, one cannot mentioned teddy bears without mentioning the adorable Winnie the Pooh and his friends, subject of so many children’s books and cartons.

So it seems in its many forms, the teddy is as popular today as it was back in the 1900s when Mr Michtom and Mr Steiff first came across the idea for a cute stuffed bear toy!

Applying for a Passport

As the sun starts to sneak out from behind the clouds a little more frequently and the temperatures start to creep upwards, many people turn their mind to summer holidays and begin cruising the internet in search of the best deals.  But many people forget one crucial element of their trip until the last minute and then panic sets in – their passport.

Children’s passports

Children need a passport to travel just as adults so and as long as they are under 16 and you have parental responsibility for them, you call apply on their behalf.  These passports take around three weeks to issue and require supporting documents such as birth certificates and that of one of the parents as well as two photos of the child, countersigned. 

Getting a first adult passport

When a person turns 16, they are eligible for their first adult passport and many parents buy it for their kids as part of their birthday presents, particularly if they plan to travel in the coming year.  In fact, it can be made into something a bit more fun than a simple legal document with the range of personalised passport holders now available. 

It takes around 6 weeks to get a first adult passport, so ensure there is enough time before the trip.  The standard 32-page passport currently costs £72.50 when applied for online or £82.25 when applied for using the passport check service through the Post Office.  There are supporting documents needed such as birth certificate and, if born after January 1983, a copy of a parent’s birth certificate or their passport.

Two photos are still needed that are identical and have been counter signed by someone to prove your identify – there is exact details online about who can sign.  If you are applying online, these will all be sent with the forms you fill in then print off.

Renewing an adult passport

If you already have a passport but it is out of date, you can renew it and the charges are the same as for a new passport.  It normally takes around three weeks to issue a renewal passport and can be applied for online or using the Post Office service.   Two new photos will need to be provided, again countersigned by someone applicable.

If you have changed your name then you will also need to provide the documents to support this, such as marriage certificate.

Passport Check and Send service

If you aren’t very confident completing the online application form or want the documents to be checked, you can use a service through the Post Office called the Passport Check and Send service.  This is offered in many Post Offices around the country and involves taking all of the documentation and photos to the shop to be checked.  You pay the applicable fees to the Post Office and they send the application to the Passport Office.  It is normally faster than posting it yourself and should eliminate returns for incorrect filling in of the forms.  Currently the fees for using this service mean that a standard 32-page passport will cost £82.25 and a child’s passport will cost £55.75.

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.