Recipe: Creamy Tarragon Chicken

This is a nice dish, that both me and my brother enjoy very much. My brother (17 years old now) has always been fairly anti-alchohol, most likely due to me drinking from a young age and from occasionally seeing his big sister drunk/ hungover. He never liked the taste of booze, buuuut he has now disovered cider. Oh dear. He likes cider now. Well at least he's a proper west country lad! And you can use the 200ml of cider in the recipe, and then drink the rest of the bottle whilst your'e cooking!! Y'know it's funny seeing my little broher turn into an adult- he's learning how to drive now as well. I think it is impressive how quickly he is learning how to drive, but seriously I am not getting in a car with him again until he's fully qualified, i think my life flashed before me a couple of times last time he drove me to work, Lol!



Creamy Tarragon Chicken (serves 2)



2 tbsp butter

1 white onion, finely diced

2 garlic cloves, crushed

1 carrot, peeled and diced

2 chicken breasts, diced

200ml dry cider

60g diced sugar snap peas

200ml chicken stock

60g Philadelphia

Handful chopped fresh tarragon

Salt and pepper to taste



1. Fry the onions, garlic and carrot in the butter, covered, for 5 minutes. Add the chicken, and fry for a further 5 minutes, uncovered.

2. Add the cider, and cook for a further 5 minutes. Add all the other ingredients, and cook for a further 20 minutes. Season to taste and serve!

Making 2020 Zero Waste Work: UK Conference 9th September

Wherever you are in the country, if you're interested in how the UK can develop an effective Zero Waste economy, you should try and get to Coventry on Friday 9th September for the conference Making 2020 Zero Waste Work: Achieving a low carbon resource efficient future.

With a keynote speech from the Rt Hon Caroline Spelman MP, Secretary for State for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs, the event pulls together some of the country's key thinkers and international change-makers in the zero waste sector, including policy makers, retail representatives, local authority services and waste management companies.

Workshops will offer opportunities to explore topics that include:

• Best practice for business resource efficiency


• Closed loop recycling of food waste


• Accelerating the pace of industrial design


• How local authorities can drive zero waste


• Community engagement & eco parks.

The event promises to offer an exciting programme, which will see plenty of opportunity for networking with the thought-leaders from the Zero Waste sector.

For more information and to register, please visit:
http://www.climate-change-solutions.co.uk/Making2020ZeroWasteWork.php

Recipe: Damson Jam

Not sure whether you can even call this a recipe, but after making a few recipes using different amounts of damsons/sugar/water, with different times of cooking, i think i've got this pretty darn nailed. Takes a very very long time to get two kilograms of stoned damsons (about 1hr and a half/ two hours) but it's worth it- they make a very tasty pretty looking jam. The only weird thing i found with damsons is that unlike other fruit, when I jam them, they produce a copious amount of pink foam/scum, that you have to skim off before you pot it. I'm not really sure why- maybe plums do this as well? Anyway, wish i had some more of them really, only made a couple of presentable batches (after a few practices) and i've only got 5 jars left!



Damson Jam (makes 10 jars)



2kg stoned damsons

1800g sugar

800ml water



1. Boil everything in a large pan for around 1 hour 15 minutes. Be sure to watch it constantly, to avoid boiling over.

2. 15 minutes before potting, start spooning as much of the pink scum off the surface of the jam, removing as little of the liquid along with it as possible.

3. Remove from the boil and pot.

National Zero Waste Week 2011. Just one week to go.

Just like the kids starting a new school year, I can't believe that Zero Waste Week has come around so quickly or indeed that it's in its fourth year.  It doesn't seem that long since Mrs Green at myzerowaste.com held the very first National Zero Waste Week back in 2008.

Back then, it felt like a huge challenge and I thought I'd take a walk down memory lane to the preparations that Mrs Green was making for her very first ZWW three years ago.  I remember packaging being one of the key problems, as it still is for many people who'd want to have a go today.  However, undeterred, Mrs' Green's Zero Waste Week saw over 160 people pledge to increase their commitment to reducing waste, reusing, recycling or composting, providing a great platform for her Myzerowaste site to host its second National Zero Waste Week in 2009, encouraging supporters this time to tackle their food waste.

Last year's Zero Waste Week returned with an even greater emphasis on food waste, with Mrs Green's campaign week gaining official support from celebrity chef Brian Turner CBE, who shared tips on how he uses up ingredients and how he composts while he cooks.   For me it was a great excuse to find my own local chef and hang out at one of my favourite eateries, picking up tips on how good food can go a lot further with some extra imagination and fabulous recipes.

And so to this year.  As ever, National Zero Waste Week 2011 comes with another waste-busting topic, with this year's challenge "Reducing waste while away from home".   This theme holds a special significance for me as it was the same unexpected twist that came with the local council's ZWW challenge back in March 2008, where any waste that I created "on-the-go" had to be brought home and added to my rubbish bin's booty, which would be declared later that week.   With such a personal challenge back then, is it any wonder that I get excited about the "recycle-on-the-go bins" that feature in the 1000 bins campaign.

So, what are we asking you to do this year?

That's simple. Whilst getting on with reducing waste on the home front, Mrs Green and I would love you to become more aware of the rubbish that can be created whilst you're out and about and take measures to reduce such waste that would ordinarily end up in landfill.

From tackling disposable cutlery to recycling drinks containers, there are loads of tips over at the National Zero Waste Week 2011 information page, where you can also share your own ideas in the comments section.  If you're on Facebook and want to receive further news, there's also an event page, which already has 190 people attending.

Don't forget, National Zero Waste Week is also the finale of the 1000 bins photo\video challenge.  Thanks to all who have submitted photos and videos this far.  There are now only two weeks to go to submit your entries and be in with a chance of winning a gorgeous Luciana clutch bag from Bottletop.org, or a fabulous waste-busting goodie bag from Onya Bags, which includes an Onya Back, Onya Bag, Onya Lunch, Onya Weigh, H2O Bottle and a People Towel.

So please send in your entries by Midnight (GMT) 11 September, either at www.facebook.com/1000bins or email me directly at standup@therubbishdiet.co.uk.  Mrs Green and I will then get cracking on voting for the most interesting bin photo as well as the one that made us smile the most and will announce the winners as soon as we've stopped laughing.

Here's one of my own photos taken whilst out and about at a festival in Staffordshire....go on, surely you can do better...............

Competition: Good To Know's Strawberry Recipe Competition

Hey guys. So I entered this recipe competition about a month ago, which was held by recipe Magazine/ website "Good To Know" to raise money for Breast Cancer Care, and I was one of the runners up! The only rules were that it had to be a sweet dish, and that it had to contain strawberries. There was 1 winner and 4 runners up, and my goodness, the standard of the entries that were sent in were phenomeonal!!! That's why i'm kinda proud that I even got a runner up prize actually, because although i've only won a recipe book, most of the other entries in this competition look absolutely stunning- literally as if they were created by professional food photgraphers.



The winner (winning a rather scrumptious looking set of Le Creuset bakeware- jealous muchly!) was Lucy Clark's "Strawberry Cupshakes". Funky looking isn't it?



The runners up are here, and my one is the one on the bottom right and displayed in a larger picture below- my "Strawberry, pistachio and custard tart" (recipe on site). In my opinion, my dish doesnt look nearly as nice or professional as some of the entries that werent chosen- but I reckon my recipe and a few of the others were chosen because they were a little bit unique. We used some quite interesting flavour combinations, like my combination of strawberries and pistachios, or one of the other's ideas of combining strawberries and basil. Slightly unusual I guess, so they stood out a bit more.





Anyway, so I won a copy of the new book "Bake and Decorate" by Fiona Cairns (who is the same woman who made the cake for "The Royal Wedding") and it looks very nice! Ok Ok, so most of the decoration section is completely beyond me, but there are some very nice, tasty looking, simple baked dishes for me to have a go at some point.

Recipe: Massaman Quorn + Vegetable Curry

Hello guys, sorry I havent updated in a while, but i've had a few things on my mind. I won't go into it, but i've had a rather traumatic week, and my life's suddenly been flipped upside down again. Ah well, i'm a tough girl, i've just got to soldier on with it all, like i've done with all my problems in the past.



Anyway, this is a nice thai style curry I made about a week ago, with my first harvest of french beans! Very proud of what i have grown this year, the courgettes are doing very well (like normal!) and the french beans, despite being my first attempt at growing them, have blossomed! Mum really liked this recipe- it's a bit of a mish mash of ingredients but together the flavours and textures work really well. I have used Sainsburys massaman paste, but you are welcome to try any other brand.



Massaman Quorn and Vegetable curry (serves 3-4)



2 tbsp olive oil

1 red onion, diced

2 cloves garlic, crushed or finely chopped

Large Handful fresh coriander, roughly chopped (plus extra for garnish)

140g pack of Quorn Roast Style sliced chicken fillets

100g Sainsbury’s Taste the Difference Massaman Curry Paste

75g split peas

1 tin coconut milk

400ml vegetable stock

2 peppers, diced

150g French beans, chopped

100g chopped true spinach, or baby spinach

1 tsp sugar

100ml semi skim milk

Salt and pepper to taste



1. Fry the red onions, garlic, and coriander in the olive oil for 5 minutes, covered, until softened. Add the Quorn pieces and curry paste, and cook for a couple more minutes.

2. Add the split peas, coconut milk, vegetable stock and cook on a medium/high heat, covered, for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

3. Add the peppers and French beans and cook covered for a further 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the spinach, milk and sugar and cook for 5 minutes, stirring often. Season to taste, garnish with fresh coriander and serve!

Home Remedies for Dull Skin

Dull Skin is one of the skin problems. It is usually caused by improper skin care and intake of unhealthy diet. Frequent usage of cosmetic products also cause this problem because they contain chemicals that can irritate and damage your skin.

Get Rid of Dull Looking Skin:

Cleansing is the first step. Make sure you use a face wash at least twice a day to keep your skin free of excess oil and dirt. While cleansing, use gentle movements as this relax your skin and refrain from rubbing too hard. Gently dab the skin with a soft towel to dry it.

Do not use cosmetic facial scrubs, since they contain more chemicals which can damage your skin.

Moisturizer is the key to healthy looking skin. Use a moisturizer after you wash your face to keep your skin soft and smooth.

Home Remedies for Dull looking Skin:

Make a paste of walnut shell powder, lemon and papaya. Apply it on your face. After 10 minutes rub it like a scrub. This will remove the dead skin of the face and your skin will glow.

Mix a little rice flour, cucumber juice and orange juice and scrub your face with this paste. Juices are really good for your skin, since they contain Vitamin C.

The regular intake of pure aloe Vera juice (1/2 cup) in the morning on an empty stomach will help you a lot. As mentioned here, Aloe Vera is great for everything.

Face mask which brightens dull skin can be made with apricots and olive oil. Apricots contain vitamin A which helps to keep the skin moist and soft. Apricot also works well in exfoliating the skin. Place some dried apricots in water overnight and mash them into a paste the next morning. Add some olive oil, mix well and apply to the skin.

Apply rosewater on your skin. Rose water stimulates the skin, increasing the flow of blood to the skin and making you look radiant.

Yogurt is one of the poplar product in skin care. It cleans the skin and acts as a sun block. Some special types of bacterias present in yoghurt makes the skin soft and silky.

Almond is another Best Ingredient to treat Dull Skin. Almond paste is used to treat dull skin. Soak some almonds in water for one night. The next morning, peel and grind them into a paste with a couple of tablespoons of milk. Apply this on your face and leave it on for 30 minutes.

Messy Bun

 Messy Bun in Fashion

Buns are always in fashion, weather it's summer or winter time. Buns are common in all age of females. Usually, girls make buns to look more trendy and cool. There are many kind of Hair Buns. But, the most common of all is Messy Bun. Which is easy to make and looks very cool.

How To Make A Messy Bun

Find below step by step guide of how to make a Messy Bun:

1- Start with the clean hair. Apply a mousse or hair gel. Remember not to use too much and start at the ends.

2- Take a wide comb and comb all your hair backwards. Smoothen your hair with your hands and apply a hair spray on the crown. Again, brush your hair and smoothen it.

3- Bend down so that all your hair is flipped forward. Get all your hair in hands and make a high ponytail.

4- For a low bun secure the ponytail at the nape of your neck. For a higher bun secure the ponytail higher on the back of your head.

5- Smooth out any bumps by running your fingers in hair.

6- Use an elastic that matches your hair color.

7- In the last flip, don't let all your hair go down ponytail. Instead, leave it there and make a high bun.

8- Secure the sides of the bun with hair pins, tucking them into the back of the bun to pull it closer to your head.

9- Pull out some small strands of hair from around the bun with your fingers.

10- Lastly, spray the bun lightly with hairspray to make it stay in shape for long time.

Shedwyn goes to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival

Shedwyn posing with the lads from Jam Jar'd Off the Top Of Our Heads.

Of course I could tell you what happened in this latest chapter of the 1000 Bins Challenge, but it's much more fun to watch the video:

Thanks to all the performers who have supported the campaign to raise awareness of recycling on the go.  You can find more details of their shows at the following links: Squirrel Party, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, The World of Shrimpology, Off the top of our heads, No Pants Thursday,  Me Myself & Iona, and The Chris & Paul Show.  Shedwyn & I had a great time and after such a whirlwind of a visit, I can't wait to go next year.

In the meantime, more information about the 1000 Bins challenge can be found at www.1000bins.com.   Also, there are lots more photos of Edinburgh's bins now available at www.facebook.com/1000bins. Further news about the tie-in with My Zero Waste's annual Zero Waste Week will also be announced soon at www.myzerowaste.com, including details of this year's very exciting competition. Please enter if you can, because not only is it a great cause, there will be some wonderful prizes too.

Competition: Mission's "Best of British Wrap" Caterer's Competition

Hello everyone, this has been the biggest win out of the competitions so far! I entered this competition, held by Mission Food Services (who make tortilla wraps, naan bread, nachos, those sort of things) to find a great "british wrap recipe". This wasnt open to the general public I suppose, because you had to be in the catering industry to enter (I enetered as Chef De Partie at my new job- The Cosy Club), and i entered my "Chicken, Cheddar and Sweet Chilli Tortillas" (recipe on this site) using good quality british chicken and cheddar, sweet chilli sauce made locally by "The Wiltshire Chilli Farm" and homegrown coriander.



Well, it all came up roses for me, because i won £250 worth of Waitrose Vouchers!!! Amazing!!!! And anyone that knows me knows how much i love Waitrose, it is my favourite supermarket no question.



Well, i'm off to buy loads of posh food, lol! Oh yeah, not only did the vouchers arrive today in the post, but i also found out my A level results too: 2 Bs and a C Baby! I'm going to Uni!!!!

Home Remedies to Straight Your Hair

Straight Hair have become everyone's wish these days. Girls are ready to get it done on higher prices using tons of chemicals and flat irons, which do nothing but damage your hair. I believe straight hair do look good and they give a nice and elegant impression on your face. To help you fulfill your desire without having to waste money on different products, i have written below few Home Remedies To Straight Your Hair At Home.

Straight your Hair at home:

Condition Your Hair:

In order to prevent the hair from becoming frizzy, use a good quality conditioner after you wash your hair. This is something a lot of people don’t think to do. There are many conditioners available in market, go with the one which has natural products. Coconut works the best.

Blow dry:

One of the best tip for straight hair is to blow dry. As hair dries, it tends to curl up. This is a direct result of the water content and the chemical bonds existing in the hair fiber proteins. If you can hold your hair straight with a comb and blow dry it, it will hold that position and get straight.

Home Remedies To Straight Your Hair

-->

Coconut Milk:

Apply fresh coconut milk regularly. Bathing with coconut milk is known to straighten your hair because coconut milk contains nutrients that can straighten your hair. Apply the coconut milk after your last rinsing and leave it on the hair for at least 5 minutes. After this, you may rinse your hair with water only. Do not use shampoo or soap as these can take away the nutrients from coconut milk.

Coconut Milk and Lemon Juice:

Pour eight ounces of coconut milk into a cup or a glass. Add in the juice of one full lemon. Make a mixture and  before getting your hair wet apply the cream to your hair. Wrap your hair in a towel for about an hour and then wash your hair like your normally would. If you use this method three times a week, your hair should straighten gradually over time.

Castor Oil:

Castor oil is another effective substance that you can apply to make your hair straight. After bathing, generously apply castor oil to your hair then dry it with the use of hair dryer.

Milk, Honey and Strawberries:

Use one cup of milk and add in a few drops of honey. Mash up a few strawberries and add them to the mixture. Apply this to your hair making sure you get every piece of hair that you can and wrap your hair in a towel for about two hours. Wash your hair with a mild shampoo as you normally do. Brush your hair using a wide toothed comb and blow dry your hair. This would help you get straight hair.

Soy Bean Oil:

Oil treatment is most effective as it conditions your hair and helps it stay hydrated. You can use one teaspoon of soy bean oil and two teaspoons of castor oil.  You can also combine half a cup of dried rosemary leaves and half a cup of olive oil and heat it over a low flame. Strain and apply on your scalp and hair. Leave on for 30 minutes and wash off with a shampoo and cover with a towel and dry.

Farewell my lovely hens. The end of a chapter!

Speckledy, Snowflake & Chickie meeting their new pals

While everything's been busy on rubbish front, there's been a lot happening in the background too.

A few weeks ago, I took the really difficult decision to rehome our chickens, our three lovely hens which we introduced to the family around two and a half years ago, and which had become well-loved pets.   However, since the spring, coinciding with a lot more bird activity in our garden, the hens had become very lively and loud and I have spent much time trying to calm them down and living on tenterhooks that we'd get compaints from the neighbours.

Then one day we did.  An apologetic appeal from a neighbour asking if we could quieten them, particular at dawn.  Don't get me wrong, she's a lovely lady.  She didn't want to complain, but I understood what she meant. We live in a tightly packed modern housing development.  They probably weren't making any excessive noise for chickens and if the houses were more dispersed I may have felt less conscious, but and that day marked the turning point for a very difficult decision which was to find a better home for them.  I'd been spending months feeling tense, darting into the garden whenever the clucking got louder than normal.

But, geez did I feel that I'd failed.  I'm a person that believes in commitment.  These chickens were our pets and even at the beginning of the year, my expectations were that we would have them until they passed away.  They were good layers, were full of character and brought something special to our lives.  The day I decided to rehome them, I knew I'd miss them, but I also knew that I couldn't continue with neighbourly disturbances either. 

Moving Day came two weeks ago.   A good friend of mine, who lives in the countryside, said that she could take them.  She's kept hens for a long time and had plenty of room for more. So with floods of tears to accompany the dismantling of the coop, we set about moving the threesome to their new home....to a chicken run, which was the size of our entire garden, with the opportunity to spend their days foraging in a neighbouring field.  Once the new pecking order would be established, I just knew their new home would be more suited to their needs. However, that didn't stop the tears during the drive back home.

It's certainly quieter around this way since they've left.  The garden still feels empty and my routines haven't quite got used to their absence.  The first time we had leftover scraps, I automatically reached for the kitchen door to take them down to the chicken run.  I know our youngest misses them too, even though the run has since been turned into a den with its own jungle camp and shelter,

In different circumstances we will most definitely return to hen-keeping.  Should we ever move into a house with a bigger garden in a more spacious neighbourhood, we would gladly welcome more feathered characters into our lives.

In the meantime, I've got plenty of opportunity to visit our three lovely girls and can't thank my friend enough for having them and making this possible.

And as for the food scraps, for us, it's back to the art of worm-keeping.  Not quite as much fun, but certainly quieter.  Thank goodness we've got a seven year old who also loves worms!

Recipe: Garlicky Chicken and Spinach Risotto

This is a delicious, sophisticaed risotto dish, that works perfectly as a light lunch or as a sophisticated dinner party dish. I went over to nick's and cooked him a nice meal while he was working upstairs, aren't i lovely girlfriend?? Yes darling you can go and have a drink with your friends at the pub, and i'll call you when dinner's on'table! I feel like a northern housewife without the ring! Hahaha! When cooking risotto, you want the end result to not be too dry (you should never be able to put risotto into a ring and present it- i hate it when restaurants do that- risottos should always have a bit of sauce!) and you want the rice to still retain a little bit of bite to it- we dont want savoury rice puddings now do we? Risottos are easy, but they do involve a little bit of judgement from the cook.



Garlicky Chicken and Spinach risotto (serves 3)



4 tbsp olive oil

9 chicken mini fillets, seasoned with salt and pepper

Knob of butter

1 white onion, finely diced

6 garlic cloves, crushed or finely chopped

½ tsp dried oregano

180g risotto rice

700ml vegetable stock

Zest of 1 lemon and ½ the juice

100g diced true spinach

5g finely grated parmesan

Salt and pepper to taste



1. In a deep frying pan, heat 2 tbsp of the oil and fry the chicken mini fillets for a couple of minutes on each side, until both sides are golden and they are fully cooked all the way through. Transfer the chicken to a plate and cover tightly with tin foil to keep warm

2. Lower the heat of the frying pan to low, and sauté the onion and garlic in the other 2tbsp of oil and the knob of butter until very soft, for about 15 minutes.

3. Add the oregano and rice, and stir around to coat. Begin to gradually add the stock- this process will take about 15 minutes.

4. 10 minutes into this process add the lemon zest, lemon juice, spinach and parmesan. Continue to stir and add the stock.

5. After fifteen minutes the rice should have absorbed all the liquid, the spinach will have been cooked, and the rice will be cooked to perfection (the rice needs to be soft, but it still needs to be “al dente” or “have a little bit of a bite to it”). Season to taste, and serve with the reserved chicken fillets on top.

Home Remedies for Thicker Hair

Thick and Beautiful Hair are woman's beauty. Beautiful and gorgeous hair draws everyone's attention. To help you get Thicker and Healthy looking hair, i have written below few home remedies.

Home Remedies for Thicker Hair:

Massaging the scalp helps increase the blood flow and stimulate the follicles. 

Massage olive oil into your scalp and leave it overnight. In the morning, wash it off with a mild shampoo.Olive oil helps in getting clean hair. 

Brushing the hair often, increases the blood flow.

The most widely used method of thickening hair is rubbing the Aloe Vera Gel onto the scalp. Extract aloe vera gel from a couple of leaves. Mix the gel with an egg. Apply the mixture to your scalp every two weeks.

Mix some almond oil with fresh aloe vera gel and massage it into your scalp. Rinse after sometime for a cool feeling.

A regular scalp massage with warm coconut oil is also supposed to make hair stronger and thicker.

Place flax seed in a container of water and leave for five days. Use a cotton ball to apply the solution directly to the scalp.

Mix water and a spoonful of white vinegar and use this to add volume to your hair.

Wash your hair on a regular basis with a protein based shampoo. Shampoos that have hydrolyzed proteins can make hair look thicker.

Circulation: For about 10 minutes a day, lie with your head down so that more blood comes to your scalp. Comb hair from the back of the neck toward the front to revitalize weakened roots of hair.

Recipe: Beetroot Hummus

Wow! Rather purple isnt it?? Haha i loves it! I love the beautiful vibrant colour you get off beetroot dishes, and you cant really get it off any other natural food. This is an interesting take on that common middle eastern dip- using some of my Riverford organic beetroot and blending it together with the traditional hummus ingredients. Cooking the beetroot before you peel it ensures that you retain most of the colour, and also it is much easier to take the skin off beetroot once its cooked- it simply slips off. Makes the whole thing much less messy- a few less purple stained fingers! This dip is delicious served with pitta breads, as part of a greek or middle eastern mezze.



Beetroot Hummus (makes 2 generous bowlfuls)

550g beetroot, ends trimmed off, but unpeeled

1 tin chickpeas, drained and rinsed

2 garlic cloves, crushed

1 tbsp tahini

1 tbsp lemon juice

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

2 tsp salt

Cracked black pepper to taste

Yoghurt and cumin seeds for garnish (optional)



1. Cook the whole beetroot in a pan of boiling water, covered, for 40 minutes. Drain, refresh under cold water, peel, dice and set aside.

2. In a food processor, blend together the beetroot and all the other ingredients (except garnishes) until smooth. Season to taste, spoon into a serving dish, garnish with a swirl of yoghurt and cumin seeds, and serve!

Aloe Vera and Skin Care

Aloe vera is a nature’s gift to human beings.

Aloe Vera is a well known herb that acts on your Skin, Digestive System, Hair and Nail in tremendous ways. 

These four factors play a major role of your physical appearance.

General Skin disorders indicate the problems in Digestive system and this problem is mostly due to the improper life style you are adopted.

Aloevera increases the activity of the fibroblasts in the tissues so it produces more collagen and elastin fibers in the body which reduces wrinkling.

Aloe Vera is used in many skin care products because of its ability to stimulate healthy cell growth and repair damaged tissues.

Use of Aloe Vera:

Aloe Vera gel is used to cure acne, it is enriched with Vitamin E, amino acid, and polyscaahride which reduces inflammation and helps to kill the bacteria.

Aloe Vera is also useful to reduce the acne scars.

Aloe Vera is a great Natural Anti Aging remedy.

Aloe Vera is beneficial for cracked and dry skin.

Aloe Vera makes the skin smooth and glowing.

Aloe Vera is a Natural Moisturizer, it improves the ability of the skin so that it can hydrate itself.

Aloe Vera lightens dark spots on the face and reduces the intensity of pigmentation.

Aloe vera acts as a Good Conditioner for dry hair. Cut aloe vera leaves and squeeze out the liquid out of it. Once enough liquid is extracted from the leaves, apply it on your scalp and hair. Let it remain for half hour before washing under lukewarm water. With continious use you'll notice your hair aren't rough and dry anymore.

Aloe vera gel ( lequid which comes out of that plant ) is used to treat first-degree burns for speedy healing.

Aloe Vera relieves heat on the skin caused by sunburn.

Aloe vera gel is used to shrink warts.

Recipe: Heinz Beef and Lentil Ragu

This is a recipe I wrote for an Allrecipes.co.uk competition, (fingers crossed for winning it, lol). If any of you guys want to have a go at this competition yourself, follow this link: http://allrecipes.co.uk/heinz-midweek-meals.aspx?ft=2 , sign up to allrecipes (if your'e not a member allready, don't worry, its not fussy atall and it's completely free) and send in your recipe!



I think it's rather an American thing I suppose to use tins of ready made soups in dishes- I have seen a lot of recipes on Allrecipes.com that have three ingredients basically, recipes like: "Cook pork chops, tinned mushroom soup, tinned chicken soup in a slowcooker for 1 hour. serve" Nothing wrong with it I suppose but I tend to cook with a few more fresh ingredients. However, this quick and simple ragu is delicious, doesn't take too long to make, and it's quite versatile- serve it with mash, pasta, bread, rice, or simply by itself! You can of course, use less garlic if you want- I just love to use a lot of garlic, particularly in beef dishes.



Heinz Beef and Lentil Ragu (serves 2)



2 tbsp olive oil

1 white onion, finely diced

3 cloves of garlic, crushed

500g lean beef mince

2 tsp Italian herbs (a mix of oregano, marjoram and basil)

1 tin Heinz lentil soup

300ml beef stock

2 bay leaves

Salt and pepper to taste



1. Fry the onion and garlic in the olive oil in a large saucepan, for about 5 minutes, or until softened. Add the minced beef, increase the heat, and fry the beef for about 10 minutes.

2. Once the beef has been broken up and is beginning to brown, add all the other ingredients. Cook for 20 minutes on a medium heat, stirring occasionally. Season to taste and serve!

Sorting rubbish. Things take a new turn with a comedy litter pick

Volunteers gather at the start of the litter pick and councillors Pat & Frank Warby, regular litter pickers themselves, stop by to show their support. Other people joined in throughout the day.  Unfortunately, Claire the event's organiser was unable to make it due to illness.

Ever since the launch of the 1000 Bins Challenge, Shedwyn the campaign's mascot has been a busy bee, not least travelling around the country to find out all she can about recycling on the go.

However, yesterday, she took a break from proceedings and got involved with Bury St Edmunds' first ever Comedy Litter Pick in a manner that was more like recycling on the go-go.

Organised by Claire Lowe of the Bury Fringe Festival team, the litter pick was created under the theme of Soaper Heroes, encouraging people from across all generations to take an interest in keeping the community clean and tidy.  Today was the first event of its kind, with many more planned, the aim of which is to inject a huge dose of fun and comedy into an activity that many find uninteresting, by providing on-tap entertainment and encouraging folk to wear their fancy dress garb and join in..

So equipped with litter picking grabbers and Big Tidy Up bags for sorting rubbish and recycling, Shedwyn and I took it in turns to pick our way through the Abbey Gardens, having a go at the odd hula-hooping and chatting to onlookers while we went about our litter-picking business.  And what an interesting day it was too.  Just check out those hula-hooping skills for starters.

Shedwyn, getting a mini-lesson from Circus Freaks very own Lucia

I was privileged to have the company of Chris Holmes for the day, the local community manager at Bury St Edmunds' Asda store.

It was interesting to hear how Asda stores are working closely with local communities, and having recently been approached by Claire from the Bury Fringe, Chris is particularly keen on exploring ways in which his store can help the local community to reduce litter and recycle more.

The litter pick gave us a great chance to talk through ideas and opportunities and chat to a whole range of visitors, including the older generations and teenagers.   The teenagers were a very interesting group indeed, not least because they have gained a reputation for littering the areas where they regularly hang out, in particular around the Abbey ruins.

Teenagers clearing up their litter following a visit from the park ranger.

Some admitted that they have left litter and the key reason that they gave was that there aren't enough bins and that the bins in the local vicinity were often full.  While some offered self-acknowledgement that they were too lazy to go further afield and hunt out an empty bin, they also understood why adults took a tough stance and why it was their responsibility.  Some people also quoted that they were often told off for leaving litter when it wasn't actually their fault and felt aggrieved at having to clear up other people's mess, wondering why they should then bother themselves. 

This was a particular theme and it was very clear in our discussions that in their experience, many adults and those in authority appear to class all teenagers as the same and assume that they are going to be irresponsible, before even giving them a chance.  They quoted a number of incidents where they were targeted and told off where young families and similar-sized groups of adults would be left alone.

The feelings that were coming over seemed to be a mixture of defeat, ambivalence and a dose of rebellion, all of which I still remember from my own teenage years. There seemed to be no sense of hope amongst the majority of teenagers we spoke with, nor the immediate desire to change attitudes about litter.  However when I posed the question about whether they would welcome the opportunity to banish misconceptions and get involved with the comedy litter picks in some way, whether it be through providing entertainment, taking photographs or recording You Tube videos, there seemed to be a slight glimmer of interest. 

One thing's for sure.  I have learned a lot from today and if there are ways to engage young people in the Comedy Litter Picks in a way that benefits them and opens new opportunities for those involved, I will give it a real chance.  As well as wider concerns I admit to some self-interest.  In just three years time, my eldest son will be come a teenager and all too soon, he will be one of the many kids who'll be chilling out with his friends in the local park.  Having witnessed first-hand how the disparate groups of our community engage in conflict of responsibilities as well as misconceptions, (my opinions included), I think I need to be better prepared.   

The Soaper Heroes day was most certainly a taster event and a case of dipping our toes in the water, raising awareness of what's to come in the near future. The plan is to roll-out regular events throughout the year featuring comedy performances dotted around town and all sorts of entertainment to engage the public and participants.

Thanks to volunteers from the community, Chris Holmes from Asda, entertainers Circus Freaks and some positive role models from the younger generation, we did well on the litter count.  There were only a few of us, but we collected 5 bags of recycling as well as 6 bags of rubbish, with much credit going to Mr & Mrs Mills who targeted the Station Hill area.  Pictured below are some of the participants who joined in the fun in the Abbey Gardens. 

Entertainers & Volunteers, including Chris Holmes from Asda and members of the Circus Freaks performers.

More information about Soaper Heroes can be found at www.soaperheroes.co.uk.  If you would like further details or find out how to get involved in future events, please contact organiser Claire Lowe on 07545 286574.  In the meantime, check out Lucia's amazing circus skills where she shows off how she can pick up litter and hula hoop at the same time.   It will be a long time before I can do that for sure.

Recipe: Chicken and Chickpea Tagine

Ah, the tagine- that beautiful moroccan spiced dish. It's actually the name of the pot you cook it in, rather than the name of the actual recipe- a tagine is basically like a pointy casserole. I think tagines really appeal to me, because they dont tend to be spicy- they are usually either sweet, cause of the cinnamon and dried fruit, or in some cases tangy (in the ones that use olives and preserved lemons). Whenever someone asks me what a tagine is, i basically say that its a moroccan curry- i figure thats a good explanation. You can get harrissa paste at most big supermarkets these days- its basically a paste made of vegetable, chilli and spices. If you cant find it, don't worry, it's not essential, but i have found that it does give the dish a bit of an oomph.

Chicken and Chickpea Tagine (serves 2)

2 tbsp olive oil
½ white onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, finely chopped
Large Handful of fresh coriander, chopped
2 carrots, peeled and diced
350g diced chicken breast
1 rounde d tsp Harissa paste
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tin chickpeas, drained
10 dried apricots, quartered
450ml vegetable stock
150ml semi skimmed milk
Natural yoghurt and extra coriander as garnishes (optional)

1. Fry the onion, garlic, carrots and a couple of tbsps of the fresh coriander in the olive oil for 4 minutes on a medium heat. Add the chicken and Harissa paste and cook for a further 5 minutes.
2. Add the other spices and chickpeas, and cook for a couple of minutes. Add all the other ingredients (except garnishes) and cook, stirring occasionally for 20-25 minutes.
3. Season to taste and serve, over rice or couscous, with some extra coriander and natural yoghurt on top.

Make Up Tips

Make Up Tips For Summer Time

Summer brings lots of excitements with it, but melting makeup, sliding eyeliner, and supersticky lipstick are not among them. I am going to give some tips to let your make up stay longer and fresh.

TIPS:

Before you start doing make up, Apply ice packs on face it reduces sweating to a larger extent.

Use lighter foundation during summer time. 

Avoid using very heavy eye shadows and mascaras in summer. Instead, you should use lighter shades. 

It's a good idea to use blush and highlight your cheeks a bit. Your cheeks can be more highlighted with the use of pinks or brown.

Keep your lips moisturized and prevent drying and cracking in the summer. Make the maximum use of lip glosses with gentle shades.

Recipe: Spinach and Courgette Lasagne

A wonderful creation made from my veg box offerings! A healthier twist on lasagne- full of vegetables, and (despite having a fair amount of cheese on the top!) it doesn't use a bechamel sauce, so the calorie count is lowered just that little bit! Serve this with a mixed salad, and enjoy on one of these lovely hot summer days! (Even i'm getting a bit of a tan, and I usually look like Dracula's long lost sister!)

Courgette and Spinach Lasagne (serves 6)

Lasagne + filling
Around 12 sheets of dried lasagne
2 tbsp olive oil
½ white onion, diced
3 garlic cloves
450g finely diced courgettes
200g chopped true spinach (or baby spinach)
260g cottage cheese
Salt and pepper
125g grated cheddar

Tomato Sauce
400ml tomato passata
1 tsp dried basil
1 tsp sugar
1 vegetable stock cube
1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
Salt and pepper

1. Put the lasagne sheets in boiling water and boil for 6 minutes. Drain, pour a little oil on top (to stop them sticking) and set aside.
2. In a large frying pan, sauté the onion and garlic in the olive oil for 5 minutes. Add the diced courgettes and cook for a further five minutes. Add the spinach and cook for 2-3 minutes, until wilted and well mixed with the other ingredients.
3. Take the vegetables off the heat, mix with cottage cheese, season to taste and set aside. Preheat the fan oven to 180C (or normal oven to 200C).
4. Meanwhile, make the tomato sauce. Heat up all the sauce ingredients in a pan for 5 minutes, season to taste and set aside.
5. Layer the courgette mixture first, then a few pasta sheets, then tomato sauce. Repeat the process (ending with the tomato sauce), top with grated cheddar, and bake in the oven for 25 minutes. Remove from the oven, allow to cool, and slice into portions. Serve!

Published: Tweet Pie Recipe Book

Yes my lovelies- i am finally a proper published writer!!! O.K so it's only a little (very little- entitled "the shortest recipe book in the world!") charity recipe book, but it's a start. Tweet Pie is a collection of "twecipes" (twitter recipes- recipes written in less than 140 characters) created by the british cookware company Belling, and proceeds of which going to the charity FoodAid, which uses leftover food from massive supermarkets to feed the poor and needy in London. I won a Baby Belling oven from this competition too earlier in the year too.

Two of my twecipes were published, one is a shortened version of my coriander pesto with tagliatelli recipe (which is on this site): "Coriander Pesto-Blend 50g fresh coriander+50g toasted pine nuts+100ml xtra virgin olive oil+1tsp lemon juice+50g feta+ s+p.Stir into pasta"

And the other is a Pimms recipe "Mix 200ml Pimms No1+800ml lemonade.Add 100g sliced strawberries, nectarine,orange,lemon,cucumber+handful fresh mint. Serve."