Innholdsfortegnelse for 11-Jul-2023 i Woman's Weekly

A shaggy dog story Our dog Albie unites our family, even when we are apart. My grown-up children live together in a flat in London, and they adore the dog so much, he’s with them almost more often than he is down here in Devon. So Albie has become a seasoned commuter, happily snoozing on the train, or in the car, as one or other of us ferry him between homes. And whoever doesn’t have him, misses him terribly! Not all of us are dog lovers, but those who are understand the unifying power they have. See page 69 for a story about exactly that. And look out for the latest Woman’s Weekly Healthy Living, in the shops now.…

CelebrityINTERVIEW Ross Kemp has spent 30 years as a TV hardman, first as EastEnders’ Grant Mitchell, then making documentaries in some of the scariest corners of the planet. At home in Berkshire, however, Ross is just ‘Dad’ to his four children – son Oliver, 12, from a previous relationship, son Leo, eight, and five-year-old twins Ava and Kitty with his wife Renee O’Brien. ‘The girls have me wrapped around their little finger,’ says Ross, 58, with a chuckle when we meet to discuss his latest TV role in Channel 5’s thriller Blind Spot. ‘And my sons don’t watch anything I’ve done. Obviously, I wouldn’t let them watch most of it, but they could watch the game show [Bridge of Lies] or my diving series [Ross Kemp: Shipwreck Treasure Hunter]. ‘I…

It never ceases to amaze me what we value above the things that actually, fundamentally support us. Like nature. We keep ploughing it up, pumping smoke into the air and chucking sewage into our rivers, and nature just keeps saying, ‘Don’t worry, I’ll still keep you alive.’ It seems we have lost our connection with nature. And it’s not just about enjoying how lovely it is – it’s a life-support system. Without it, the human, financial and business cost is enormous. Bees won’t be able to pollinate, crops will start failing, and land will begin to flood. So, it feels to me like we’ve got ourselves to a very topsy-turvy place where the things that keep us alive, we push to the margins and don’t value. I support environmental and…

When Dr Tina Blaber had a breakdown in 2005, partly due to having a hysterectomy at 30, which triggered an early menopause, she knew she had to make changes. She looked back to her childhood and realised that her early love of music had lain dormant for many years. Tina began a journey that would not only transform her life, but would lead to her helping many others in the most unexpected way, through the not-for-profit community group Playing for Cake. ‘In the 1990s, no one talked about the menopause’ ‘I left home at 17, married at 18 and had my daughter at 19,’ says Tina, 56, from Norfolk. ‘I basically kept treading the same pathways through administration and IT-based jobs to pay the bills and keep a home together.…

3 WAYS TO... Ease sunburn 1 COOL DOWN Get out of the sun as soon as possible and take a cool shower or bath, or cover the area with a damp towel. Make sure you protect your burnt skin from direct sunlight by covering it when out in the sun until your skin has healed. 2 DRINK LOTS OF WATER It will help hydrate you, as well as cool you down. Take painkillers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, to help you deal with any pain. Apply aftersun cream and ask your pharmacist for advice if you need to. 3 KNOW THE DON’TS Several things can make sunburn worse: don’t pop blisters or pick at any peeling skin; and never apply ice – it can cause blood vessels to narrow and…

These days, we’ve all become better at understanding our health – what’s good, and what’s not so good, in terms of our lifestyle. I suppose the reason we live, on average, much longer than our grandparents’ generation is largely down to the extra knowledge that’s now available. But it’s not always completely understood how what we eat can directly affect our wellbeing. So we’ve put together a great set of recipes that we hope can really help you address any health issues you have, while making mealtimes something to look forward to! On behalf of everyone at Woman’s Weekly, I’d like to wish you the best of health!…

Veg-packed ramen Eggs are rich in omega-3, as well as vitamins B6, B12 and D, while gut-friendly ingredients miso and mushrooms impart oodles of umami flavour. SERVES 4 PREP 20 mins COOK 10 mins ✱ 250g mushrooms, sliced (we used oyster and shiitake)✱ 2 garlic cloves, grated✱ 4cm piece ginger, grated✱ 3tbsp reduced-salt soy sauce✱ 2tbsp miso paste✱ 2ltr vegetable stock✱ 4 pak choi, sliced (or use spinach)✱ 2 x 300g packs quick-cook udon noodles✱ ½-1 red chilli, sliced (reserve some to serve)✱ 6 spring onions, sliced✱ 2 carrots, shredded into matchsticks✱ 4 medium eggs, boiled for 6 mins, peeled and halved OPTIONAL TOPPERS ✱ 4 nori seaweed thins, shredded✱ 1tbsp sesame seed oil, for drizzling✱ Sesame seeds, to sprinkle✱ Crispy onions 1 Add the mushrooms to a large…

Mango and passion fruit parfait A refreshing, reduced-fat ice with no cooking or machine required. SERVES 8 PREP 30 mins, plus freezing ✱ 3 large ripe mangoes, around 1.5kg, plus extra to decorate✱ 4 passion fruit✱ 4 medium egg yolks, plus 1 egg white✱ 150g caster sugar✱ 125g reduced-fat double cream✱ 125g 0% Greek yogurt✱ 1tbsp pomegranate seeds, to serve YOU WILL NEED ✱ 900g loaf tin, oiled, then double-lined with cling film to hang over the sides 1 Cut off the mango flesh (see Cook’s Tip), then puree in a food processor. Put into a bowl. Scoop out the passion fruit. Put into the processor and whizz; this gets most of the juice from the seeds. Pass this through a sieve, reserving some juice, and add to the mango.…

Raspberry thumbprint cookies Ideal for little helping hands, the gluten-free flour imparts a crumbly texture that we love. MAKES 15 PREP 15 mins COOK 20-25 mins ✱ 200g gluten free all-purpose plain flour (we used Doves Farm) ✱ 75g ground almonds✱ ½tsp gluten-free baking powder✱ 85g caster sugar✱ 80g vegan butter, cold, cubed✱ 1tsp vanilla extract✱ 50g frozen raspberries✱ 1tbsp unsweetened plant milk or water✱ 2tbsp seedless raspberry jam, mixed until smooth 1 Heat the oven to 160C Fan/Gas 4. Put the flour, ground almonds, baking powder, sugar, vegan butter, vanilla extract and a pinch of sea salt into a large mixing bowl. Rub in the vegan butter using fingertips until you have a fine, crumb-like texture. 2 Add the frozen raspberries and crush them, mixing into the crumbs while…

Books Kala by Colin Walsh (£16.99, HB, Atlantic) A group of friends reunite in their home town on the west coast of Ireland after avoiding each other for years and are forced to grapple with a dark past. Something terrible happened when they were 15 and now they’re back to reconnect – and finally find out what happened to Kala Lannan, the dazzling leader of their gang, who simply vanished without trace one terrible night. The characters unfold beautifully on the page as the plot builds up to a breakneck speed. A mesmerising debut thriller wrapped in lyrical writing. The Summer Skies by Jenny Colgan (£14.99, HB, Little, Brown) Jenny Colgan’s books are our absolute go-to for escapism, romance and gorgeous destinations. This time, we are in the stunning Scottish…

ARIES 21 MAR – 20 APR Remember to smile and not to take everything too seriously. It’s a time for appreciating the fruits of your efforts. TAURUS 21 APR – 21 MAY Gratitude is your key to happiness. Focus on the abundance you have and watch it grow exponentially. GEMINI 22 MAY – 21 JUN Connect with new people and enlarge your social circle. When you do reach out, you’ll be pleasantly surprised. CANCER 22 JUN – 23 JUL Don’t allow yourself a single negative thought. Practising the habit of positivity will enhance your entire life. LEO 24 JUL – 23 AUG Financially, you may need to make some adjustments. Keep only what you truly need and resolve to release the rest. It will lighten your load. VIRGO 24 AUG…

There were just over 25,000 women farmers in the UK in 2016 – and the number is rising all the time. Female students now outnumber men almost 2:1 on agricultural higher education courses, and more and more are going on to run their own farms. Here, three women farmers describe what makes the job so rewarding. ‘My cows are my pride and joy’ Abi Reader, 41, runs a farm in the Vale of Glamorgan, with her father and uncle. The farm is mainly dairy, but they also rear sheep and have 150 acres of arable crops. My typical day starts with milking the cows at 4.15am. This takes about four hours, including gathering them in from the fields – or sheds if it’s winter – and cleaning up everything afterwards.…

1 SEASIDE STRIPES You can’t beat a straw bag in the summer and this is roomy enough for all those beach essentials. Bag, £20, George at Asda 2 PINK LADY Embrace relaxed tailoring with this bright-coloured shirt. Layer over T-shirts and swimwear. Shirt, £13, sizes 10-22, Nutmeg at Morrisons 3 SAVVY COSTUME With tummy-control technology and a flattering wrap-around front, this is a serious body booster. Swimsuit, £16, sizes 10-28, George at Asda 4 SUNNY SIDE UP The square neck and puff sleeves on this sweet smock top offer a flattering finish. Top, £16, sizes 8-24, George at Asda 5 JUST THE JACKET Liven up a simple outfit with this striking, mono-print piece. Blazer, £35, sizes 6-22, F&F Clothing 6 BOLD BLOOMS Make a…

White Russian crème brûlée An indulgent, sophisticated way to end a meal. MAKES 8 PREP 25 mins COOK 30 mins, plus chilling ✱ 75ml Kahlúa (coffee liqueur)✱ 30ml espresso coffee granules✱ 100g caster sugar✱ 300ml double cream✱ 200ml whole milk✱ 2tsp cornflour✱ 6 medium egg yolks FOR THE TOPPING ✱ 30g caster sugar YOU WILL NEED ✱ 8 x 100ml ramekins✱ Large, deep roasting tin 1 Reserve 1tbsp Kahlúa and put the remaining 60ml in a pan with the coffee granules and 30g sugar. Bring to the boil and simmer for 5-8 mins, until thick and syrupy. Add the reserved Kahlúa, then decant to cool. 2 Wipe the pan clean and use it to gently warm the cream and milk, until steaming. 3 Heat the oven to 130C Fan/Gas 2.…

ADVICE FROM OUR WOMAN’S WEEKLY DOCTOR Ingrown toenails are quite common, particularly in the big toe, although they can affect any toe. It’s caused by a sharp spike of nail growing into the skin beside it. It can result from various factors, such as not trimming your nails correctly, wearing poorly fitting shoes or tight socks, sweating a lot, or having deformed nails, or trauma to the toe or toenail. It’s more common with fungal nail infections. Usually the reason for it is wearing tight shoes, such as high heels with pointed toes, which force the toes towards each other, pushing the nail into the skin. Very active people may be more prone, as they sweat more. Early on, the skin around the ingrown nail becomes reddened and…

Cauliflower and feta hash browns with smoky baked beans We’ve adapted hash browns to make them more nutritious and served them with our homemade, healthier baked beans. SERVES 4 PREP 10 mins COOK 30 mins ✱ 1tbsp olive oil✱ 1 onion, finely sliced✱ 1 garlic clove, crushed✱ 1tsp smoked paprika✱ 400g tin butter beans, drained✱ 400g tin cannellini beans, drained✱ 500g passata✱ 1tbsp Worcestershire sauce✱ 1 vegetable stock cube✱ ½tsp caster sugar (optional) FOR THE HASH BROWNS ✱ ½ cauliflower, grated (about 270g)✱ 100g feta, crumbled into small pieces✱ 2tbsp capers, roughly chopped✱ Small bunch dill, finely chopped✱ 1 large egg✱ 70g gram flour 1 Heat the oven to 180C Fan/Gas 6. In a medium saucepan, heat the oil over a medium heat. Add the onion and some seasoning and…

Mushroom noodle soup When you’re feeling a little worse for wear, this is such a nourishing and warming bowl. You can make it vegan if you remove the egg! SERVES 2 PREP 20 mins COOK 15 mins ✱ 2 large eggs✱ 1tbsp sesame oil✱ ½ red onion, sliced into strips✱ 2 garlic cloves, crushed✱ 20g fresh ginger, peeled and thinly diced✱ 1 large carrot, grated✱ 150g mushrooms, sliced✱ 2 white cabbage leaves, thinly sliced✱ 100g mangetout✱ 1 pak choi, sliced or leaves left whole✱ 2 rice noodle nests (brown rice, if possible)✱ 800ml hot vegetable stock✱ 300g silken tofu, drained and cut into 4-6 pieces TO SERVE ✱ 1tbsp tamari✱ ½tbsp toasted sesame oil✱ 1tsp chilli oil or pinch chilli flakes (optional)✱ 1 spring onion, thinly sliced✱ 1tsp sesame seeds✱…

1 TWO-TONE Try a split wall painting technique, using a pale colour on the top and a deep colour on the bottom. The darker tones will help to disguise any scuffs and scrapes, while the lighter tone on top will give the illusion of high ceilings and a bigger space. ✱ Lifestyle paint in Flower Pot, £52 for 2.5ltr, earthbornpaints.co.uk; other items, stylist’s own 2 PICTURE THIS A gallery wall is a fantastic way to add interest to the plain space next to your staircase. Start with an odd number of framed pictures and hang them by eye with command strips for ease, staggering the frames as you ascend the stairs. ✱ Herringbone stair runner, from £129, basket, £15, macramé wall hanging kit, £24, black rattan mirror, £40, wood frames,…

Crochet MEASUREMENTS Approximately 22cm/8¾in wide and 35cm/13¾in long. MATERIALS 2 x 50g (105m) balls of Stylecraft Naturals Organic Cotton (100% cotton) in each of Pink (Blossom 7183) and Blush (7177), and an optional small amount of Flamingo (7179)*. Size 3.5mm crochet hook; 20cm zip fastener; matching sewing thread. Yarn is available from theknittingnetwork.co.uk TENSION 20 stitches and 25 rows, to 10x10cm, over pattern, using 3.5mm hook. ABBREVIATIONS (UK TERMS) Ch, chain; chsp, chain space; dc, double crochet; dc2tog, double crochet 2 sts together thus: [insert hook in next st, yrh and pull through] twice, yrh and pull through all 3 loops on hook; slst, slip stitch; st(s), stitch(es); tr, treble crochet; yrh, yarn round hook. NOTES You can use any double knitting weight yarn in any colours of your choice.…

Wordwise You have 15 minutes to find as many words as possible using the letters in the grid. Each word must contain four or more letters, one of which must be the central square. No proper nouns, plurals or foreign words are allowed. There is one nine-letter word in the grid, for which the clue is: outside grills. Average = 15 More than 35 = well done SUDOKU To solve this puzzle, fill in the grid so that each 3 x 3 box, each row and each column contains the numbers 1-9. LINKWORDS Fit 10 words into the grid so that each links with the end of the word on its left and the beginning of the one on the right. Then unscramble the letters in the shaded squares to…

My sister Debs had barely opened her front door when the words came tumbling out. ‘Have you heard?’ she said. ‘Have I heard what?’ ‘Johnny Depp is buying a house just outside town.’ ‘Who on earth told you that?’ Debs paused on the stairs, turned, and gave me one of those looks which involve much suggestive raising of the eyebrows. ‘Ah yes, we’ll come to that in a minute. Isn’t it exciting, though?’ She then suggested that I was dawdling, wondered if I planned to spend all morning standing on the stairs, and ordered me to get a move on. Little sisters, eh? Over coffee, I poured scorn on the whole Johnny Depp idea. My friend Belinda, for example, once insisted that Johnny was buying a farm in Rutland. Or…

They just don’t understand Q My husband died a few months ago and I’m fed up with people telling me how I should feel, or will feel, and how things will be. They aren’t in this position. It’s made me very angry. My children say I’m in danger of losing some of my friends if I go on being so cross with them. I don’t want to alienate them but I wish they would think before they say things. Lynn, Farnham A It’s very frustrating when the people who you know care about you appear not to be connecting with how you feel. I expect they don’t know what to say, so they offer what they can, and it’s clearly not right for you. I wonder if…

Veggie bean stew Raid your cupboard for most of the ingredients to make this hearty dish. SERVES 4 PREP 20 mins COOK 45 mins ✱ 1 onion, finely sliced into rounds✱ 1tbsp olive oil✱ 2 carrots, cut into 5mm-thick rounds✱ 2 parsnips, cut into 5mm-thick rounds✱ 2 garlic cloves, crushed✱ 2tsp ground cumin✱ ¼tsp ground cinnamon✱ 3tsp smoked sweet paprika✱ 400g tin whole plum tomatoes✱ 1 vegetable stock cube✱ 400g tin borlotti beans in salted water✱ 1tbsp tomato puree✱ 40g dried apricots, roughly chopped✱ 150g green beans (runner or Helda beans), sliced at an angle✱ 1 preserved lemon, pulp discarded, skin finely sliced✱ ½tbsp pomegranate molasses✱ Small handful each coriander and parsley, chopped, plus extra to serve 1 Heat the oven to 160C Fan/Gas 4. Add the oil to a…

Prebiotic tabbouleh This salad has been given a revitalising gut-friendly treatment and tastes brilliant, so don’t knock it until you’ve given it a try! SERVES 4 READY IN 20 mins ✱ 125g broccoli florets, grated✱ 125g cauliflower florets, grated✱ 50g fine bulgar wheat, soaked in boiling water for 20 mins✱ 75g finely chopped parsley✱ 15g finely chopped mint leaves✱ 15g finely chopped dill✱ ½ red onion, thinly sliced✱ 1 tomato, finely diced✱ ½tsp ground allspice✱ Juice 1 large lemon✱ 2tbsp extra virgin olive oil✱ 1tsp pomegranate molasses BONUS GUT-FRIENDLY ADDITIONS ✱ 2tbsp nuts and seeds, toasted✱ 1 Granny Smith apple, finely chopped✱ ½ cucumber, deseeded and finely diced✱ Mangetout, celery, or green beans, diced 1 Put the broccoli and cauliflower in a large bowl. 2 Drain the bulgar and place…

Corn, green chilli and coriander buttermilk pancakes While you can use fresh or frozen corn kernels, fresh gives the pancakes a little bit of crunch and more flavour, which I love! MAKES 12 PREP 10 mins COOK 30 mins ✱ 165g gluten-free self-raising flour✱ ¼tsp bicarbonate of soda✱ ½tsp salt✱ ¼tsp cracked black pepper✱ 2 medium eggs✱ 350ml buttermilk✱ 25g unsalted butter, melted, plus extra for cooking✱ 300g sweetcorn, fresh, tinned or frozen and thawed✱ 1 large spring onion, thinly sliced✱ 1 large green chilli, finely chopped✱ ¼ bunch fresh coriander, leaves picked and chopped TO SERVE (OPTIONAL) ✱ Bacon and maple syrup, or chopped tomato, avocado, mixed leaves and a little relish or onion jam 1 Sift the dry ingredients into a large bowl and whisk to combine. In…

Come on, Binky,’ I smiled, as my chocolate Labrador stopped to sniff the neighbour’s hedge. ‘Time for our tea.’ Binky had been my faithful companion for five years now. A friend gave her to me as a gift after my divorce, and the moment I had seen her big brown eyes, I felt an instant connection. If only my neighbour felt the same about Binky. He’d recently moved in and, on his first day, I’d taken round some biscuits. ‘Welcome,’ I’d said, brightly, as Binky sat quietly on his doorstep. ‘I’m Jean.’ He was a young man, all suited and booted, and very polite. ‘Jim. I’m a solicitor. Thought I’d buy this place and do it up.’ ‘Good idea. It could do with a lick of paint.’ ‘And how long…

Craft YOU WILL NEED ✱ 5cm-thick upholstery foam✱ Ruler and pen✱ Serrated knife✱ Spray adhesive for upholstery foam✱ Medium loft wadding✱ Contrasting piping (see below for how to make your own)✱ Striped fabric✱ Two 50cm zippers✱ Sewing machine, with a zipper foot BENCH CUSHIONS 1 Measure and cut the foam into your required dimensions. Our seat cushions measure 50cm square and the back cushions are 35x50cm. Spray them with adhesive and wrap with the wadding. 2 For each square seat cushion, cut two 203cm lengths of piping. From the striped fabric, cut two 53cm squares, one 8x153cm strip and two 5.5x53cm strips – you might need to join a few lengths together to make a long enough strip. For each rectangle back cushion, cut two 173cm lengths of piping. From…