Cooking & Lifestyle Blog

The East of England was taken over by the Tour de France in July as crowds gathered in their thousands (millions if you count those watching on TV) to see the cyclists compete. Cycling has become increasingly popular since the London 2012 Olympics which saw Chris Hoy, Jason Kenny and Philip Hindes win gold and set new world records on the track. Lizzie Armitstead also won a silver medal for her road race event with a great time. Not forgetting the men's road events as well, with Chris Froome getting bronze and Bradley Wiggins nabbing gold. A fantastic time for British cycling!

In the fast paced world of the twenty-first century, more and more people can’t (or won’t) find time to read in the conventional sense. Luckily, more authors are responding to that with some imaginative new mediums. Now reading a story can be as easy as checking your Twitter newsfeed, the latest being David Mitchell’s 280-tweet short story, ‘The Right Sort’ currently being posted on his Twitter page.

In case you'd forgotten, I thought I would use this blog to remind you all that this Sunday is Father's Day. Whilst it's great that there is a day entirely dedicated to those excellent men who spend so much of their lives giving their children lifts, fixing things, teaching them how to ride bikes and generally being an invaluable source of both practical and emotional reassurance, I personally find Father's Day a bit of a challenge.

We all know and have probably loved a cat or two, but have you stopped to think of the cats on the streets lately? News items about the growing population of feral cats are becoming more and more frequent. This is being seen from rural Pennsylvania and the busy streets of New York City all the way to Australia. Either posing a threat to other wildlife or causing political controversy, these feral cats are becoming the norm. Some live short, dangerous lives in deplorable conditions. Others are welcomed as working cats around factories and farms. Because of the perceived dangers to humans, other species, and the cats themselves, and out of compassion for the animals, many people campaign to encourage people to spay and neuter their pets and support the humane control of feral cats. The great debate of what to do with them shouldn’t be approached without first knowing them.

When the sun comes out, so do the people and their produce. Summer is a great time to get fresh food at great prices, side-stepping busy supermarkets and disgruntled shop assistants. We're proud of our quick and easy recipes, and simple recipes books, but great food also goes hand in hand with great produce. So here are some of the best food markets in the UK that offer great food and a fun environment. 

As this week is National Vegetarian Week I had veggie delights in mind as I scoured simple recipes to share with you. In the end I settled for a hearty and flavoursome Pumpkin & Chickpea Curry, which is a great meat-free alternative to a chicken curry, with a tangy Caribbean kick.

For this week's simple recipe, I thought we would jet off to the sunny climes of South-East Asia. Reputed for its use of fresh ingredients and wealth of incredible flavour combinations, cuisine from this part of the word is both distinctive and delicious. What's more, the use of fresh ingredients helps ensure that recipes are often rich in varied nutrients, boosting their health credentials.

Picture ivory-white sandy beaches, palm trees dipping their fronds into crystalline turquoise waters and sailboats lazily drifting to shore….yes, you've just conjured up a Caribbean paradise. To wish yourself even closer to this idyllic scene, cook up some authentic Caribbean cuisine. The sight, aroma and heady taste sensations are sure to give you an experience of the local flavour that makes this region so special.

To grow your own food has got to be one of the most satisfying things you can do. Once you've chosen what you're going to grow, it's time to obtain the seeds or plants and get on with it! So here's some advice for growing vegetables in pots and containers.