Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2021 i Woman&Home Feel Good You

Welcome to the first-ever issue of Simply Woman & Home. Brought to you by the Woman & Home experts you trust, each issue will be packed with seasonal advice and inspiration. This month, our food and home experts are bringing a little spring into your life. And while we might not know how we’ll be celebrating Easter this year, we’ve got all you need to make it special. Our Easter recipes include something for every size of gathering, plus we’ve got tasty bakes to enjoy by yourself, or to share with loved ones you may not be seeing as much of at the moment. Our food team have also been hard at work testing the best new products – check out our Easter egg edit on p116. I think we…

SPRING CENTREPIECE Cover polystyrene eggs with washi tape, then pop each egg onto a stick. Fill a wire basket with mini pots containing daffodils, and add the coloured eggs. EGGS-TRA SPECIAL Go all out and decorate shelves and surfaces with pretty ornaments and spring greenery, whether fresh or faux. Fill bowls with candy-coloured eggs and dress the mantel with an Easter garland or two. Add LED candles dotted here and there to cast a soft glow after dark. COLOUR HAPPY Make rooms sing with cheery colours and pretty patterns. Refresh a tired sofa with a line-up of new cushions and throws in soft pastels and country prints and put down a bright rug as a colourful pick-me-up. EASTER PARADE Decorate a twiggy tree as your centrepiece – use long twigs…

Chocolate simnel cake We’ve added dark chocolate to this fruity classic to make it even more indulgent. Make it for the chocoholic in your life. Serves 12 • Ready in 2 hrs 30 mins, plus soaking 125g dried figs, in 1cm chunks75ml brandy or port150g dark chocolate, in chunks50g treacle100g golden syrup150g plain flour1tsp ground cinnamon1tsp baking powder150g butter, softened125g light muscovado sugar 3 large free-range eggs for the decoration: 454g pack ready-to-roll marzipan 3tbsp apricot jam 11 or 12 chocolate eggs (we used Galaxy Golden Eggs) you will need: 20cm round cake tin, greased and lined with baking parchment, ribbons and edible glitter (optional) 1 Put the fruit and alcohol in a bowl, cover and leave to soak for 2 hrs or overnight. 2 Heat the oven to 140C/Gas…

Roasted cauliflower with lentils This great veggie dish stands on its own, but also makes a great side dish to serve with roast chicken. Serves 4 •Ready in 1 hr 2tbsp oil2 onions, thickly sliced2 garlic cloves250g pouch-cooked puy lentils (from Merchant Gourmet)400g can chopped tomatoes2tbsp smoked paprika500ml vegetable stock1 cauliflower50g Cheddar, finely grated 1 Heat the oil in a sauté pan then cook the onions until softened, for about 20 mins. Add the garlic and cook for a few mins. Add the lentils, tomatoes, 1tbsp paprika and stock with seasoning. Bring to the boil then simmer uncovered for 20 mins so the sauce reduces and thickens. 2 Meanwhile, trim the cauliflower and steam it until just tender, for about 15-20 mins. Drain it upside down on kitchen paper to…

Sultana & Rosemary Hot Cross Buns, 4-pack, £1.50, Booths These plump buns are bigger than the others. The rosemary is just a delightful, subtle hint, which lifts the flavour of the raisins and gives these buns a little something special. Best Hot Cross Buns The Best Extra Fruity Hot Cross Buns, 4-pack, £1.50, Morrisons These hot cross buns are fruity to the max. They are a little denser than some others we tested, but are generously filled with plump, vine fruit. A pleasant subtle spice – just how we like it! Irresistible Belgian Chocolate Brioche Hot Cross Buns, 4-pack, 2 packs for £2.50, Co-op For something a little different, these buns from the Co-op are delicious. They are a buttery brioche speckled with rich chocolate pieces. Best Easter Meat Taste…

Tomato and goat’s cheese pizza Try to track down different-coloured, in-season heritage tomatoes, to make this look and taste even better! Serves 4 • Ready in 20 mins, plus rising ½ x 500g pack ciabatta bread mix (we used Wright’s)3tbsp extra virgin olive oil strong bread flour, to dust450g tomatoes, seeds removed and cut into thick slices and wedges3 thick slices of soft goat’s cheese fresh basil leaves, to garnish 1 Make half the quantity of the bread, according to the pack instructions. Shape into a ball before leaving to rise (until doubled in size) in a bowl covered with oiled cling film in the fridge for up to a day. 2 Heat the oven to 230C/Gas 8. Roll the dough into a 30cm round on a floured work surface.…

SIMPLE CENTREPIECE Make an Easter table centrepiece full of rustic charm. Turn the dome of a large glass bell jar upside down and fill it with strands of raffia and speckled eggs in pastel hues. Place the base on top and turn the right way up. Similar glass dome bell jar duo, £19.99, lights4fun.co.uk; similar Easter egg decorations, £4, tch.net SO SIMPLE All you need is a napkin and contrasting ring, search ‘bunny napkin’ on YouTube for how-to videos. BLOWN EGG VASES Prettify your Easter table with delicate eggshell vases. Carefully poke a small hole in the top of an egg, then peel away small sections of shell until you have a medium-sized hole. Empty the yolk into a container for later, then rinse out your shell. Fill with water…

Strawberry and mascarpone tart You can cheat this one by buying a ready-made sweet pastry case if making pastry isn’t your thing. Serves 10 • Ready in 1 hr, plus chilling 300g shortcrust pastry or a shop-bought 20cm pastry case500g mascarpone75ml double cream vanilla bean paste or extract750g strawberries, hulled150g redcurrant jelly you will need: a greased, fluted 20cm loose-based flan tin, foil and baking beans 1 Heat the oven to 180C/Gas 4. Use the pastry to line the tin, leaving an overhang. Chill in the fridge for 15 mins, line with foil and fill with baking beans. Bake blind for 20 mins. Remove the foil and beans, then bake for a further 5-10 mins until lightly browned. Trim the edges and leave to cool. 2 Mix together the mascarpone,…

Free-From Easter Eggs Doisy & Dam Dark Chocolate Good Eggs, 75g, £1.99 hollandandbarrett.com Made from a lovely 70% Colombian chocolate that gives them a rich cocoa flavour, these chocolate eggs are perfect as a sweet treat or to pop on top of your Easter bakes. They’re dairy-free, too, so great for those with a lactose intolerance. Melt Strawberry Easter Egg, 350g, £29.99, meltchocolates.com One of the most exciting and delicious eggs we tasted across all categories. It’s thick, luxurious and delivers punchy flavours, while also being suitable for vegans. Dark Chocolate Deluxe Valencian Orange Milk Chocolate Easter Egg, 210g, £5.99, Lidl This is the perfect egg for the chocolate orange lover in your life. A chocolate egg with an orange lustre that has the perfect citrus flavour. Melt Acorn Egg,…

Silandeiro Albariño, Spain, Aldi, £6.99, 12.5% ABV If you like the light lemon flavour of pinot grigio, try this albariño made from grapes grown from Northwest Spain. It’s got zingy lemon, grapefruit, peach and a light floral aroma. Good with seafood, pastas or on its own. The whites Definition Chardonnay, Limoux, Majestic, £12.99 or £9.99 if you mix six, 13.5% ABV Subtle oak adds vanilla notes to this full and fruity wine from Languedoc. It packs in tropical pineapple and peach and has an underlying creaminess that adds richness and body. Serve it with creamy dishes or a roast. Gunderloch Red stone Riesling, Rheinhessen, Co-op, £8, Germany, 11.5% ABV Riesling thrives in cool climates and this vineyard on the banks of the River Rhine makes a non-oaked wine, full of…

Sourdough Sourdough one-upmanship became abit of an obsession during lockdown. It’s a true labour of love, but worth the effort. Using a large casserole dish will help it to rise and gives the bread a crunchier crust. We had many a failed attempt before using this method! Makes 1 x 900g loaf • Ready in 2 hrs 40 mins, plus proving 200g sourdough starter (see five-day sourdough starter recipe, opposite)500g strong white bread flour, plus extra for dusting10g fine sea salt you will need: a round 25cm (1kg) banneton proving basket, very liberally dusted with flour, Dutch oven or large cast-iron casserole dish 1 In a large bowl, or bowl of a stand mixer, mix the sourdough starter with 300ml water. Add the strong white bread flour and combine. Knead…

Sherry cosmopolitan This pretty-looking, fruity cocktail makes a refreshing and less lethal version of the original. Serves 6 • Ready in 15 mins 350ml cranberry juice60ml fino sherry225ml vodka225ml Cointreau juice of 2 limes, plus 1 lime cut into 6 wedges6-7 ice cubes, plus crushed ice you will need:6 glasses 1 Combine the cranberry juice, sherry, vodka and Cointreau in a large jug. Add the lime juice and stir well, then add ice cubes and set aside until the ice has melted. Keep chilled until ready to serve. 2 Half-fill the glasses with crushed ice. pour in the chilled cocktail and add a lime wedge to each. Give each glass a gentle stir and serve. Per glass: 240 cals, 0g fat, 16g carbs TIP Top with lightly crushed fresh berries…

Quick and easy Bakewell trifle This-fuss option for four can be ready in an hour or made in advance. It can be easily doubled to feed a crowd. Serves 4 • Ready in 30 mins, plus chilling 6 gelatine leaves100ml red fruit cordial8 amaretti biscuits, plus extra to serve200g raspberries a few drops almond extract500ml tub vanilla custard150ml double cream1tbsp icing sugar2tbsp toasted flaked almonds 1 Soak the gelatine sheets in a large bowl of cold water for a few mins until softened. Pick the gelatine up in your hand, squeeze out any water then place in a jug. Pour over 100ml boiling water and stir until it dissolves. Add cordial with 300ml cold water and stir to mix. 2 Place 2 amaretti biscuits in the bottom of 4 glasses,…

HEALTHIER TREATS COOK’S TIP You could also make this mixture into carrot muffins and pipe the filling on top No-added sugar, coconut, cashew and apricot oaty cookies You can freeze these cookies in an airtight box for up to a month. They’ll soften as they defrost, so cook for a few mins before serving. Makes 30 • Ready in 40 mins 125g rolled jumbo oats250g packet dried apricots, chopped100g desiccated coconut100g unsalted cashew nuts, chopped100g blanched almonds, chopped50g ground almonds1tsp ground cinnamon2 small very ripe bananas4 tbsp sunflower oil½-1tsp sugar-free vanilla extract you will need: 6.5cm plain round cutter, oiled, 2 large baking sheets lined with baking parchment 1 Heat the oven to 160C/Gas 3. Tip the oats into a bowl, then stir in the apricots, coconut, cashew nuts, both…

SHOWSTOPPING DAHLIAS With their vibrant colours and striking shape, just a handful of cut blooms from the garden are all that you need for a stunning display. Arrange stems in a simple vase or pitcher, though spectacular on their own, adding a few sprigs of zingy greenery will make colours sing brighter. SPRING FRESH Mix spring blooms like daffodils, tulips and hyacinths, packing them fairly tightly into the vase so they won’t flop. Daffodil stems contain a sap that can shorten the life of other flowers – just change the water every couple of days without re-cutting the stems and they’ll be fine. Modular vase, £40, johnlewis.com SHELF LIFE Simple glass vases look pretty when displayed en masse on a shelf. Choose an assortment of sizes to add visual interest…

‘Different plants remove different pollutants from the air, and some, such as the areca palm, produce higher amounts of moisture than others,’ says Hannah. Try these… BEST FOR: THE BEDROOM ? ALOE VERA It releases oxygen from its leaves at night (most plants just do this during the day), purifying the air while you sleep. ? SNAKE PLANT These filter out carbon dioxide. ‘They also help to reduce air temperature,’ says Hannah. BEST FOR: THE KITCHEN ? SPIDER PLANT It’s a great air cleanser, removing formaldehyde, which is found in lots of products. ? GOLDEN POTHOS Good for removing toxins from furniture and floors, but the plant is poisonous if ingested so best avoided around pets or small children. BEST FOR: LIVING AREAS ? CHEESE PLANT (MONSTERA, PICTURED) ‘The large…

Chicken, bacon and mushroom pot pie This makes a comforting family meal and is good served with salad or veg. Serves 6 • Ready in 1 hr 20 mins, plus cooling 300g ready-rolled puff pastry for the filling: 2tbsp light olive oil4 chicken breasts, skinned and cubed6 rashers smoked streakybacon, chopped125g chestnut mushrooms, sliced30g butter30g plain flour150ml milk1 chicken stock cube2tbsp fresh thymebeaten egg, to glaze you will need: 26cm pie dish, and a ceramic pie funnel (optional) 1 Heat the oven to 220C/Gas 7. Heat the oil in a pan, add the chicken and bacon, and cook for 3-4 mins over a medium heat, stirring occasionally. Add the mushrooms and cook for 4-5 mins, until the chicken is cooked through and the mushrooms have softened. Remove the mix from…

Caramel crunch ice cream bar This looks sophisticated, but is really easy to make. A slice is just nice after lunch or supper. Serves 12 • Ready 22 mins, plus freezing 360g Maltesers500ml tub salted caramel ice cream for the chocolate sauce: 200g milk chocolate, broken into squares5tbsp golden syrup4tbsp water 1 Line a 500g loaf tin with cling film. Arrange a layer of Maltesers in the base. Set aside an equal number of Maltesers for decoration later, then crush two-thirds of the remaining Maltesers. 2 Spoon some ice cream over the Maltesers in the base and sprinkle over some crushed and whole Maltesers. Repeat the layers, finishing with the ice cream. Freeze for at least 6 hrs or overnight, until firm. 3 To make the sauce, put the chocolate,…

Flourless chocolate cake Perfect as a dessert, eaten with big scoops of ice cream or classic whipped cream and berries for a teatime treat. Serves 8-10 • Ready in 1 hr, plus cooling 200g dark chocolate175g butter4 eggs, separated200g golden caster sugar100g ground almonds zest of 1 orange½tsp almond extract cocoa, to dust you will need: 20cm springform cake tin, greased and lined with baking parchment 1 Heat the oven to 180C/Gas 4. In a saucepan over a medium-low heat, melt the chocolate with the butter, remove from the heat and allow to cool. 2 In a bowl, beat together the egg yolks with 120g of the caster sugar until pale and creamy. Stir in the ground almonds, orange zest, a pinch of salt, almond extract and the cooled chocolate…