Innholdsfortegnelse for 26-Mar-2024 i Woman's Weekly

I should cocoa! "We all love chocolate in our family. Some are especially partial to white chocolate, some to milk, and for some, one or two squares of high-cocoa-content dark chocolate really hits the spot. I’m very happy to fall into any of those camps if there’s some going, although I admit to a particular fondness for the well-known Swiss variety that comes in triangular shapes – I’m sure you know the one I mean – which seems to be oddly popular among dads. There’s also a lot of cocoa-related baking that goes on in our house, and the results seem to disappear in seconds, so as you can imagine, I was particularly interested in our feature on page 34!"…

"I can’t quite believe that my twin daughters Natalie and Kyla are turning 30 this year. I was doing a lot of presenting when they were young, so they assumed that all mums were on telly. They didn’t know any better until they went to primary school, aged four. They came home and said to me, ‘Mummy, you lied to us. We know your real name is Cheryl Baker!’ I said, ‘No, my real name is Rita!’ – which it is. I then had to explain it all to them. They didn’t know anything about Bucks Fizz because I didn’t ever sit down and say, ‘Look, this is what Mummy did in the 80s.’ I had to go through the whole thing, and show them videos and interviews. When they…

Ever since Steph Calam can remember, her mother Patsy would receive a special blue envelope in the post every few months. ‘It was exciting whenever I spotted one come through the letter box and plop onto the mat,’ says the 58-year-old from Hoghton, Lancashire. ‘I was around six years old when I began to understand who all those letters were from, and it only made me more curious.’ Then, Patsy, now 80, told her daughter all about the friend she had more than 3,000 miles away in New York. ‘Mum explained she had a pen pal called Carol Ann, and that they had been writing letters to each other since they were 12 years old!’ Steph remembers. ‘They’d both been Girl Guides and it was part of the programme. Mum…

3 BUYS TO... Help you sleep 1 RECYCLED LEATHER FLAMINGO NOTEBOOK, £10, DUNELM Keep a pad by your bed to record any worries. Writing a to-do list for next day can get thoughts off your mind and help you nod off. 2 LUMI NIGHT LIGHT & WHITE NOISE MACHINE, £29.99, JOHN LEWIS & PARTNERS With 24 soothing sounds and a night light with seven colour options and five brightness levels, you can create the perfect bedtime ambience. 3 GOLDEN GOOSE PILLOW, £39, SLEEP8.UK This anatomical padded pillow keeps its shape to offer support and comfort throughout the night. MY HEALTHY LIFE Clare Connolly is a yoga and meditation teacher My fail-safe remedy I never miss my morning meditation practice. Just a few minutes each morning in quiet contemplation, breathing into my…

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: Film-like. Average = 15 More than 25 = well done 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 make a word. CLUE: Secondlargest city in Egypt. Crossword Try the easy or cryptic clues, then rearrange the letters in the shaded squares for the answer.…

"Do you know what I really want?’ said my daughter Rachel, thoughtfully. ‘Don’t tell me – let me guess. Is it peace on earth, a stable economy with the prospect of steady growth, and a cure for cellulite?’ Rachel gave me an old-fashioned look. ‘No,’ she said. ‘What I really fancy is a chocolate crêpe with streaks of chocolate on the top, and plenty of sugar. You know, like you used to make us on Pancake Day.’ Rachel has come over for lunch, and I was thinking more of a mushroom omelette. Still, she seems to need cheering up so what could I do but rustle up a chocolate crepe like I used to make. Not that I remember making chocolate crêpes on Pancake Day, but as the late Queen…

FAST TALKING Remember The Fast Show? The groundbreaking TV comedy, with its many memorable catchphrases, is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a UK tour that’s on until 14 April. Arabella Weir, Paul Whitehouse, Charlie Higson, Simon Day, John Thomson and Mark Williams reunite to reminisce about favourite characters, bring back classic sketches, and pay tribute to the late Caroline Aherne. ✱ See more tour details at thefastshow.live Bloomin’ lovely With its roots in the ‘flower power’ era of the 1960s, the RHS’s community gardening initiative, Britain in Bloom, is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year. The RHS supports community gardening groups throughout the UK. They’re a great way to meet other people, and the resulting plants and flowers give everyone a lift. That spirit is reflected in this year’s Britain…

Outdoor classroom, green gym, calm de-stressing zone, friendly meeting place… A garden is full of possibilities for people looking to harness new skills, socialise, get fitter and connect with nature. As part of what might be called a ‘Natural Health Service’, lots of green havens have been springing up around the country to help their communities flourish. Here are just three inspiring examples. Wimborne Community Garden, Dorset This quarter-acre garden in Wimborne Minster was set up in 2022 to provide fresh produce for the local food bank. Created on a playing field donated by Beaucroft College, a place for students with special needs, it’s a corner of calm and positivity for all the community, from nursery-age children (who have their own veggie patch) to food bank clients, who can pick…

1 BARGAIN BUY We might be thinking more about the sun than the moon as we move into spring, but this expensive-smelling, long-lasting perfume still has a place in your fragrance collection. It starts with a juicy bite of wild cherry before drying down into something altogether richer and woodier. Avon Far Away Beyond The Moon Parfum, £16 for 50ml, avon.uk.com 2 EVERYDAY SPRITZ If you’re often put off wearing perfume because you find it too heady and intense, this is a good one to try. It’s lovely and light, with fruity top notes of raspberry and mandarin that settle onto floral mid notes and an amber base. Nude Eau Nude Perfume, £16 for 100ml, Next 3 SPICE THINGS UP Perfume oil is more concentrated than liquids, giving it better…

Peanut butter ramen with beef Use leftover or sliced beef from a pack to make this quick, flavourful dinner. SERVES 4 PREP 15 mins COOK 15 mins ✱ 4 medium free-range eggs, at room temperature✱ 1tbsp sesame oil✱ 2tbsp unsalted butter✱ 4 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed✱ 2tsp grated ginger✱ 1.4ltr beef stock (water plus 4 beef stock cubes)✱ 2tbsp smooth peanut butter✱ 2tbsp light soy sauce✱ 1-2tbsp sriracha sauce✱ 1tbsp Chinese rice wine or sherry✱ 1tbsp light brown sugar✱ ¼tsp white pepper✱ 3 x 70g packs instant noodles (noodles only)✱ 100g pack cooked peppered beef slices, sliced into thin strips FOR THE TOPPINGS ✱ 5 spring onions, chopped✱ 1 carrot, peeled and sliced thinly✱ 1tsp black and white sesame seeds✱ Pinch chilli flakes 1 Put the eggs in a…

Coping with FROZEN SHOULDER The condition causes pain and stiffness,making the shoulder hard to move This occurs when the flexible tissue that surrounds the shoulder joint – known as the capsule – becomes inflamed and thickened, affecting one or both shoulders, although it’s not fully understood why. It’s also called adhesive capsulitis, or shoulder contracture. Your risk increases if you have previous shoulder injuries or surgery, diabetes or thyroid problems, Dupuytren’s contracture (hardening of the tissue in your palm), heart disease or stroke. Typically, the shoulder pain becomes more severe over several months, then increasing stiffness occurs. In particularly severe cases, you can’t move your shoulder at all. Symptoms vary from mild, with little difference to daily activities, to severe, with no shoulder movement, making it difficult to do everyday…

Nutella chocolate marble bundt A showstopping cake that’s deceptively easy to make. SERVES 12PREP 20 mins COOK 50 mins ✱ 90g Nutella hazelnut and chocolate spread✱ 4tbsp whole milk, plus a splash extra✱ 250g self-raising flour, plus extra to dust✱ ¼tsp bicarbonate of soda✱ ¼tsp fine sea salt✱ 250g unsalted butter, softened✱ 225g golden caster sugar✱ 4 medium free-range eggs, beaten FOR THE TOPPING (OPTIONAL) ✱ 80g icing sugar, sifted✱ 20g cocoa powder, sifted✱ Chocolate flake, to decorate YOU WILL NEED ✱ 20cm bundt tin, well buttered and dusted with flour 1 Heat the oven to 160C Fan/Gas 4. Mix the Nutella with the 4tbsp milk. 2 In a mixing bowl, combine the 250g flour, the bicarbonate of soda and salt. 3 In a separate large bowl, using an electric…

TESTED BY US so they work for you YOU WILL NEED ✱ 18x19cm patterned fabric for exterior ✱ 18x24cm lining fabric ✱ 18cm square of foam batting ✱ Matching thread 1 Stack the lining and exterior fabrics together with right sides facing, then top with the foam batting. Line up the pieces along the bottom 18cm edge, then pin and sew with a 2.5cm seam allowance. 2 Open out the pieces, keeping the foam batting next to the exterior fabric. Fold the fabrics in half with right sides facing, across the just-sewn seam. Line up the edges, then pin and sew all the way around them with a 1cm seam allowance, leaving a small gap in the lining for turning through. 3 Turn right sides out, turn the gap edges…

Timeless teasers This is a photo of my mum’s copy of the first edition of one of your old series of puzzle specials. And she is still doing puzzles, even now, when she is in Portugal on holiday. Gayle Caswell, Stoke-on-Trent This week’s puzzles start on page 54. PAWS FOR THOUGHT Here’s a photo of Gregory, our an 18-month-old French Bulldog. He’s quite a strong-willed, obstinate, greedy, demanding character – and very much loved! Jane Lovell, South Gloucestershire ✱ Got a pet pic that makes you smile? We can give it a good home MADE TO LAST I still have my copy of the Woman’s Weekly dated 14 February 1981, when the cover price was 19p. I kept it because my late stepmother made me the Aran jacket featured on…

COLOUR POP Make a statement by choosing a pinky-red stripe which can be coupled with a hot-pink skirt, and marry up with a navy striped cardigan to break up the tones. LAYER UP A Breton top is a great layering piece, try wearing one under a denim jumpsuit. Pop an oversize striped shirt over the top in place of a light jacket. MIX AND MATCH A pretty, candy-striped top can be worn under a strappy, longline dress to transition into spring. Add accessories to smarten it up for an occasion. PRETTY PASTELS Add a neat, knitted waistcoat for extra warmth and pair with leg-lengthening, wide-leg trousers and on-trend trainers.…

What are UPFs? Ultra-processed foods (or UPFs for short) are foods that have undergone extensive processing, containing ingredients not found in a typical home kitchen. These might include extracted substances like fats and oils, derivatives like hydrogenated fats and modified starches, and laboratory-synthesised additives such as artificial flavours, colours and emulsifiers. Overconsumption of UPFs is linked to a range of diseases including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, inflammatory bowel conditions and certain cancers. But the exact cause is not clear, so it could be the additives in these foods or just the fact they are nutritionally poor, or a combination of the two. Understanding exactly what UPFs are, recognising their presence on supermarket shelves and making mindful choices to replace them with healthier alternatives might significantly improve both your dietary…

Dating woes Q I’ve recently decided to start dating again after a long-term relationship ended. I find myself faced with terminology I just don’t understand. I’ve decided I don’t want to be involved with people who use phrases such as ‘textationship’, ‘slow fade’ or ‘benching’. My friends say I will be limiting the pool of people I connect to – which may be true – but, surely, we need to talk the same language? Nelly, Sheffield A I had to look some of these terms up too! If this is the language being used by the sites and people you’re connecting with, it may be useful to learn some of it, if you’re going to be successful in finding a partner. It might help you to understand what they’re thinking and where the…

What!’ Hilary gasped as she glanced at her phone. Dave looked up and came to stand behind her. ‘Peter and Pam have announced their engagement!’ ‘The Bradshaws?’ ‘Yes. Is it some kind of joke?’ Hilary asked. ‘Perhaps they just never got around to getting married,’ Dave said, clearly losing interest. ‘But we’ve known them for 20-odd years. Our boys grew up together.’ ‘It’s their business,’ said Dave, picking up his coffee and the paper, and going over to sit by the window. Hilary stared at her phone in disbelief. ‘Have you replied then?’ Dave asked. ‘What should I say? That we’re pleased, or shocked?’ She was doing her best to keep back the tears. ‘You probably think I’m stupid, but it feels like a betrayal.’ ‘I think you’re overreacting, but…

On parade Follow early-spring blooms with a marching band of bulbs that come in striking shapes and colours. First to show up, around April time, are the delightful bells of fritillaries, followed in May and June by spires of camassias and gladioli, along with bauble-headed alliums. Plant handfuls of these beauties and reap the rewards each year as they naturally multiply to make bigger, bolder displays. Ding-dong bells Snake’s head fritillary (Fritillaria meleagris, H30cm) is a native bulb that’s at home in fertile, damp meadows. Yet it also thrives in a container, where its curious, chequer-patterned bells in pink-mauve and white invite you to look closer. At the showy end of the spectrum is the exuberant crown fritillary (Fritillaria imperialis, H1m). The glowing orange bells of this statuesque plant nestle…

Difficulty level TESTED BY US so they work for you MEASUREMENTS To fit ages 3-4 (5-6) (7-8) (9-10) years. Actual chest 69 (73) (77) (80) cm/ 27¼ (28¾) (30½) (31½)in. Length to shoulder 39 (43) (47) (51)cm/15½ (17) (18½) (20)in. Sleeve length 28 (31) (34) (37)cm/11 (12¼) (13½) (14½)in. MATERIALS 3 (3) (4) (4) 50g (150m) balls of Sirdar Snuggly Replay DK (50% acrylic, 50% cotton) in Blue (Blast Off Blue 129), 2 (2) (2) (2) balls each in Grey (Surf’s Up Silver 102) and Orange (Carrot Crush 126), and 1 (1) (1) (1) ball in Green (Hide-out Green 130)*. Pair each of 3.25mm (No. 10), 3.75mm (No. 9) and 4mm (No. 8) knitting needles plus spare 3.25mm (No. 10) needle; stitch holders. Yarn* is available from theknittingnetwork.co.uk TENSION…

Sylvia’s Second Act by Hillary Yablon (£20, HB, Orion) Sylvia may be 63, but she certainly isn’t old. So when she catches her husband in a very compromising position with her arch-enemy, she finally decides that enough is enough. Their dull retirement community has nothing to offer, and it’s high time for a fresh start. Accompanied by her dazzling 70-year-old best friend Evie, Sylvia heads for the big city lights. Can the pair make a new life for themselves in Manhattan? A fabulous, feel-good read. The Book of Secrets by Anna Mazzola (£18.99, HB, Orion) It is 1659, the plague has ravaged Rome, and the city is brimming with inequality. Sanctioned by law and God’s will, men rule over women in terrifying ways. Young and pregnant Anna is after any…

ARIES 21 MAR – 20 APR Many exciting, new changes are on the horizon. If you can release the past, your new life will unfold smoothly and easily. TAURUS 21 APR – 21 MAY Do your best to be gentle and kind to yourself. Give yourself permission to take time out and enjoy plenty of treats. GEMINI 22 MAY – 21 JUN Your energy may be pulled in many different directions now. At the beginning of each day, assess what is most important. CANCER 22 JUN – 23 JUL This is a wonderful time for increasing your strength and stamina. You are ready for new challenges and adventures. LEO 24 JUL – 23 AUG Your creativity is ready to blossom and thrive. Make a commitment to doing something daily to…