How much do you know about the town you’re from or now live in? Maybe there’s more interesting things to learn than you realise.

Traveling back in time through the archives of your local authority or by searching online can be a hugely interesting and rewarding experience.

Maybe your town was a pioneering industrial hub of the great industrial revolution of the 19th Century; or perhaps your village was the birthplace of someone rich or famous.

Why not spend a morning finding out about the milestones and events that made your local town what it is today? You could even combine this activity with a look into your family genealogy – you never know what gems of the past you might uncover.

Websites worth a look:

http://www.local-history.co.uk/

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/

http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/

Enjoy a more natural fragrance in your home.

The thing with aerosol and other shop-bought room fresheners is that they can have a rather ‘chemical’ aroma.

For a more natural and much more subtle way to add fragrance to your room, make and display your own pot pourri.

It’s incredibly simple to make, and you can chose your own petals and spices depending on the aromas that you prefer.

And the really great thing is you’ll know that no one else’s home will have exactly the same fragrance as yours.

Use the website inks below to get started:

Make Stuff

Save On Crafts

DIY Life

If you’re a dedicated meat eater, it’s worth trying a week of vegetarianism, your colon will thank you for it!

Why not spend the morning investigating recipes and ideas using the websites below, or get started with our delicious Cauliflower & Asparagus Tart, which includes Quaker Oats for an even healthier veggie meal.   

Ingredients

For the pastry:
300g self-raising wholemeal flour
1 tsp vegan bouillon powder
125ml rapeseed oil
125ml rice milk or Soya milk

For the filling:
olive oil, for oiling and frying
1 medium cauliflower, broken into florets
125g asparagus, trimmed and washed
2 red onions, chopped
50g shiitake mushrooms, sliced
125g frozen sweet corn, mashed
250ml sweetened Soya milk
250ml rapeseed oil
1 lime, juice only
2 tbsp Quaker Porridge Oats
2 dessertspoons vegan bouillon powder
2 tbsp vegan tomato sauce
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
smoked paprika
freshly ground black pepper

Method

1. Oil a 30cm/12in flan or pie dish. Preheat the oven to 180C/350F/Gas mark 4.
2. To make the pastry, place the flour and bouillon powder in a bowl and rub in the oil, then mix in the milk. Knead the pastry gently for a few moments, then roll out on a floured surface and use it to line the prepared dish. Bake for 10-15 minutes, until just cooked through.
3. Meanwhile, steam the cauliflower and asparagus until hot but not cooked – about 4-5 minutes.
4. Heat a little olive oil in a frying pan and fry the onions and mushrooms until soft. Add the mashed sweet corn and stir until hot.
5. Heat the soya milk in a saucepan until hot but not boiling. Transfer to a food processor or liquidiser, add the rapeseed oil, season with pepper and mix well. With the machine still running, add the lime juice and mix thoroughly to prevent curdling.
6. Add the oats, bouillon powder, tomato sauce and mustard to the milk mixture and blend again.
7. Oil the inner base of the pie crust, then spread a thin layer of the oat mixture over it. Place a layer of the mushroom mixture on top, then a layer of the cauliflower, followed by the remaining oat mixture.
8. Arrange the asparagus spears on top and sprinkle with smoked paprika. Return the tart to the oven and cook for a further 20 minutes. Serve with a green salad.

Enjoy!!

Technology has its place…

…but it can never outshine old fashioned writing and/or receiving hand written letters via snail-mail.

Next time you reach for the computer to knock out an email to a friend of family member, stop, reach instead for a piece of paper and an envelope and write it by hand instead.

You’ll be surprised how rewarding it can be.

Pack up a weekend bag and head off for a weekend away.

Whether you’re looking to spend more quality time with a partner, sample local food and drink, do some sightseeing or hit the nightlife, getting away for a long weekend has never been cheaper or easier. 

And the UK has so many great places to visit, there’s no excuse not to get out there and experience some of them.

Websites to visit:

Vacation Inspiration

Lastminute.com

All you need is a scanner and a piece of software to create your own unique screensaver full of your favourite photos.

There is lots of photo screensaver software that you can download – many of which are free.

Use the websites below to find one that suits you and start your own personal screensaver this morning.

Websites:

My Photos Screensaver

Google Photos Screensaver

Round up some friends or neighbours and have a good old natter over a pot of coffee and these delicious chewy cherry and sultana flapjacks.

Ingredients

200g unsalted butter
200g Demerara sugar
200g honey
400g Quaker oats
50g glacé cherries
50g sultanas

You will also need a 20cm x 30cm (8in x 12in) cake tin, greased.

Method

1. Put the butter, sugar and honey in a saucepan and heat, stirring occasionally, until the butter has melted and the sugar has dissolved. Add the oats, cherries and sultanas and mix well.

2. Transfer the oat mixture to the prepared cake tin and spread to about 2cm (¾in) thick. Smooth the surface with the back of a spoon. Bake in a preheated oven at 180C/350F/Gas 4 for 15-20 minutes, until lightly golden around the edges, but still slightly soft in the middle.

3. Let cool in the tin, then turn out and cut into squares.

4. Enjoy!!

It’s fascinating to discover why we do some of the things we do, and what a great way to spend a morning.

There really is loads you can discover online, or you could nip to the library and browse some of the books on cultural traditions.

For example, have you ever wondered why you’re supposed to throw salt over your shoulder when you spill it?

One explanation is that in ancient times salt was very expensive and to spill it was likened to squandering money. By throwing it over your left shoulder it was thought to go into the devils eyes and blind him from seeing your stupidity and taking your soul.

Oh those were the days….

Websites to visit:

www.oldsuperstitions.com

…with these delicious Hot Cross Biscuits!

What you will need:

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup Quaker Oats
2 tablespoons firmly packed brown sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt (optional)
5 tablespoons stick margarine or butter, chilled
1/4 cup currants or raisins
1 teaspoon grated orange peel
3/4 cup buttermilk
1 tablespoon stick margarine or butter, melted
1/3 cup powdered sugar
1 to 2 teaspoons buttermilk

Method:

   1. Heat oven to 450°F. Lightly grease cookie sheet.
   2. In large bowl, combine flour, oats, brown sugar, baking powder, pie spice, baking soda and salt; mix well. Cut in 5 tablespoons margarine with pastry blender or two knives until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
   3. Stir in currants and peel. Add buttermilk; mix with fork just until dry ingredients are moistened.
   4. Turn out dough onto lightly floured surface; knead gently 6 to 8 times. Pat dough into circle 1/2-inch thick. Cut with floured 2 1/2-inch biscuit cutter. Place on prepared cookie sheet. Brush tops with melted margarine; sprinkle with additional oats, if desired.
   5. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until light golden brown. Remove to wire rack; cool 5 minutes.
   6. For icing, mix together 1/3 cup powdered sugar and enough buttermilk to make a thick icing; drizzle in a cross shape over each biscuit. Serve warm.

Makes 1 dozen biscuits.

Nutrition Information: 1 biscuit. Calories 180, Calories From Fat 60, Total Fat 7g, Saturated Fat 1.5g, Cholesterol 0mg, Sodium 170mg, Total Carbohydrates 26g, Dietary Fibre 1g, Protein 4g, Total Sugars 8g.

Add a really personal touch to Easter this year by making and decorating your own chocolate eggs.

All you need are some plastic moulds, a cooking thermometer, greaseproof paper and plenty of good quality chocolate.   

Jane Asher’s website below supplies moulds and chocolate direct.

Jane Asher

Imaginative Icing

Home Chocolate Factory