Table of contents for June 2017 - Issue 60 in The Simple Things

Cardamom and rose water lassi A sultry midsummer’s eve calls out for an exotic dessert. Enter sweet, iced lassi with a mix of fruitily spiced cardamom and delicate rose water that transforms the traditional Indian drink into a grown-up after-dinner treat. For the recipe, turn to page 126.* * Dream team cardamom and rose water also feature in our afternoon tea, on page 24.…

Cloudy weather seems appropriate for a trip to meet Gavin Pretor-Pinney. On the approach to his house in deepest Somerset, which is surrounded by fields, the broad sky above hosts a rolling cloudscape, propelled by a light breeze. There are fluffy cumulus and, beyond them, wispy stretches of cirrus on high – Gavin’s Cloud Spotter app has all the names you need to sound a bit Michael Fish. C It’s a fitting backdrop for the man who has become known as ‘the cloud guy’. He founded the Cloud Appreciation Society 12 years ago on a whim, and it has now grown to over 43,000 members in 110 countries. Along with the app, his books – The Cloudspotter’s Guide and The Cloud Collector’s Handbook (plus another on wave watching) – have…

‘Fairy-tale logic’ Fairy tales are full of impossible tasks: Gather the chin hairs of a man-eating goat, Or cross a sulphuric lake in a leaky boat, Select the prince from a row of identical masks, Tiptoe up to a dragon where it basks And snatch its bone; count dust specks, mote by mote, Or learn the phone directory by rote. Always it’s impossible what someone asks— You have to fight magic with magic. You have to believe That you have something impossible up your sleeve, The language of snakes, perhaps, an invisible cloak, An army of ants at your beck, or a lethal joke, The will to do whatever must be done: Marry a monster. Hand over your firstborn son. About the author AE Stallings is an American poet who…

‘Wishing on a star’ Rose Royce ‘Wishin’ and Hopin’ Dusty Springfield ‘Little Fluffy Clouds’ The Orb ‘I Wonder’ The Crystals ‘Dream Lover’ Bobby Darin ‘I Wish’ Skee-Lo ‘I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to be Free’ Nina Simone ‘Helplessly Hoping’ Crosby, Stills & Nash ‘Wishing and Hoping’ Billy Keene ‘Dreamers’ Rizzle Kicks ‘Dreaming of You’ The Coral ‘I Wish’ Stevie Wonder ‘Crying, Waiting, Hoping’ Buddy Holly ‘Blue Bayou’ Roy Orbison ‘Somewhere’ Tom Waits Listen at thesimplethings.com/blog/wishesplaylist stop listen look Songs to trigger your imagination and let you ponder…

PROUDLY HOMEMADE Bright table linens STENCILLING TO CREATE PRETTY NAPKINS AND A MATCHING TABLE RUNNER YOU WILL NEED: Design template Adhesive stencil film 2.5m white medium-weight linen or cotton, at least 1m wide, prewashed Textile paints in three colours of your choice (this uses Jacquard Textile Colour in yellow ochre, black, and white) 2 foam daubers, each 2cm wide Sewing machine and related supplies, including matching thread Iron Utility knife or sharp scissors Self-healing cutting mat Sharp pencil Ruler Plastic or paper cups for mixing ink Acrylic artist palette Artist transfer paper 1 To transfer the designs from your templates (opposite) to the stencil film, photocopy the design onto paper. Using scissors or a utility knife, cut a piece of film to the same dimensions as the photocopy. Gently tape…

Waiters looming towards unsuspecting diners wielding over-sized pepper mills are, alas, still a common sight in many trattorias. As soon as a plate of carbonara is placed before you – before you even have chance to taste your food – the mill hovers into your eyeline, poised to grind. The size and shape of these restaurant pepper mills and the way they are flourished, has led, inevitably, to them being the topic of bawdy jokes (Samantha in Sex and the City had much to say on the topic). The purpose of their enormity is, actually, to prevent them from being pocketed. In the 50s and 60s, grinding pepper was seen as an indicator of sophistication, so much so that diners slipped the desirable mills into their handbags as they exited.…

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LOUISE GORROD Our Wishlist Editor blogs, bakes and photographs at Buttercup Days: buttercupdays.com. On Instagram: louise_buttercupdays WHOA, NELLY! Catherine Blyth’s timely book, On Time: Finding Your Pace in a World Addicted to Fast We have more time on our hands than ever – we live longer, can use more hours in the day than our ancestors, and have any amount of time-saving digital devices. So, in theory, we have plenty of time to get done all the things that need doing, before kicking back and watching the sunset. In practice, we’re stressed-out clock-watchers, struggling to keep up with the pace of modern life, scurrying to get anything done at all. Catherine Blyth’s timely, wise and witty book describes how we have become trapped by time; she shows how technology, bright…

There are times in everyone’s life when the need to look smart arrives. Smart but not contrived. Not female-politician-in-boxyjacket- constricting-skirt-and-court-shoes smart, but effortlessly so. Which is where the shirt dress steps up. If ever there was an item of clothing that said ‘smart casual’, the shirt dress is it. You could trot along to a meeting feeling utterly in control and managerial wearing one, then swish out again, undo a couple of buttons and meet friends in a hotel bar for a glass of something chilled, the epitome of chic sexiness. With its combination of masculine tailoring (it is basically a long, man’s shirt) and feminine detailing (waisted shape, cinched belt), the shirt dress is demure but not frumpy. A good option for summer workwear, it can be worn with…

The craft spirits range by J.J. Whitley owes much of its inspiration to the British countryside. Its lovingly crafted gins encapsulate the many natural flavours and aromas found in rural England. The brand is steeped in Britishness, too – originating with the Whitley family of distillers, who began producing spirits in rural Cheshire in 1762. You can trace the family’s legacy right up to the current generation: Johnny Whitley Neill is the man behind prized modern spirit, Whitley Neill Gin. Other members of the family include J.J. Whitley London Dry Gin. This fragrant blend of eight botanicals – which makes a wonderful G&T (see opposite) – contains liquorice, coriander seed and sweet citrus peel, with notes of juniper, spice and Parma violets. A fitting seasonal blend – especially for June,…

Parties and celebrations, summer and fun – jelly and ice-cream are two foods that are all about pleasure. We’re used to making gaudy coloured jellies from packets, but in fact any liquid can be turned into a jelly with a sheet of gelatine and a little maths. Pair homemade jelly with ice-cream made from scratch to lift this fun treat into a summer pud to be proud of. A BASE FOR ALL ICE-CREAMS This vanilla custard can be ‘customised’ with whatever flavours you choose; to transform it into the hard stuff, you’ll need an ice-cream maker (and a freezer, of course). This recipe is based on Nigella’s ‘Egg-custard ice-cream’ from Nigella Summer (Chatto & Windus). Makes just under a litre of ice-cream 500ml full-fat milk 1 vanilla pod 6 egg…

GOOSEBERRY CAKE 200g very soft unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing 200g golden caster sugar 4 large eggs 200g plain flour 75g soured cream or natural yogurt 100g oat flour (see below) 1 tsp baking powder 1 tsp vanilla bean paste 300g gooseberries 5 tbsp demerara sugar 1 To make the oat flour, put the oats into a food processor and blitz on a high-speed setting for 5 mins or until you have a fine flour. Use on the day of making. 2 Preheat oven to 180C/Fan 160F/ 350F. Grease a 20cm round, loose-bottomed cake tin and line it with baking parchment. 3 In a bowl, beat the butter and caster sugar together until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, adding 2 tbsp of the…

*There’s no better way to get to the heart of a city than through the people who live there. Every month, we ask someone, clearly in love with their city, to take us on a personal tour and tell us what makes it so special. You may feel inspired to visit one day or to rediscover the charms of a city closer to you, but for now just sit back, relax and enjoy some armchair travel. How long have you lived in the city? I was born in Geneva and grew up very close to the city in the French countryside in what we call the France- Geneva basin. Although I don’t actually live in Geneva (I live in a small town, a ten-minute walk from the border, which runs…

Living in a house a 30-minute bike ride from the beach has changed Yvonne Bakker and Michiel van der Zee’s lives in ways they hadn’t imagined. They had anticipated packing a picnic and their swimming stuff and pedalling to the shore on summer days, but they hadn’t realised that their coastal lifestyle would change the way they decorated their home. “Although the house is in a city [Haarlem], it’s really close to the sea,” says Yvonne. “On our bike rides to the coast, we fell in love with the colours of the water. The limpid greens and blues are just gorgeous. We introduced them into the house wherever we could.” The couple painted the walls in the kitchen a soft duck-egg blue and chose a washed-out olive green for the…

Kate and Will have been growing organic and biodynamic fruit and veg for 10 years. Kate writes about gardening, foraging, cooking and raising children, and blogs at homegrownkate.com. She is the author of four cookbooks. Will is a professional photographer and feels very lucky to take pictures of food and gardens for a living at willheap.com. The story so far Thirteen years ago, we moved to Sussex and began growing vegetables in our back garden. Just a few things at first, like lettuce, peas and courgettes, which were simple to grow, very tasty and looked impressive. We’d always had a passion for top-notch produce that was full of flavour and packed with nutrients, but the arrival of children, and the responsibility to feed them well, fast-tracked our desire to provide…

Altostratus Gavin Pretor-Pinney (see page 32) describes this as a “Tupperware sky”. Drab, grey and featureless, much like a Tupperware party. Cirrus An airy-fairy type. Found at high altitudes, their ethereal appearance resembles wisps of hair, from which their Latin name is derived. Stratus Featureless, grey and close to the ground, this sounds like something from a horror flick. Another horror: they persist for long periods. Cumulus If there’s going to be a cloud in the sky, you’ll want it to be this one – they’re the cotton wool puffs spottable on sunny days. Stratocumulus Hard to love a cloud that’s low, lumpy, grey and gives us drizzle. But happiness surely lies in learning how, as it’s the most common kind. Altocumulus Good for drama. Mid-level patches of clouds, forming…

Y esterday Agnes buried her stepmother, now she has to pack up her house, a new-built bungalow at the edge of the wood. As she approaches, the mock-Tudor windows glint and there’s a haughty look to the cement portico. A very old neighbour wearing a housecoat arrives and hands her a key. “Take what you want,” she says, “but if you come across any trapped creatures, on no account set them free.” Agnes, who donates to animal charities, is concerned. “Why not?” “Because they are agents of the Woodman, they will rouse him and he will come here with a load of wrath.” The neighbour scratches her beard and eyes Agnes flintily. “He’s a tree herder, a mist gatherer, a land nurturer.” She gestures at the bungalow. “He would not…

Emma Farrarons Illustrations, page 52 @emmafarrarons Zoe McDonald Wisdom, page 32 @zoejanemcdonald Ruth Chandler Outing, page 72 @ourgardenfarm Faith Mason Photographs, page 38 @faithmason Alice Stevenson Ways to See Britain, page 78 @alicestevo Rachel Grant Illustration, page 86 @rachel_grant_art Co-founders David Parker, Guy Foreman, Lisa Sykes icebergpress.co.uk The Simple Things is published by Iceberg Press, printed by William Gibbons and distributed by COMAG. We print on chlorine-free paper from suppliers that have been independently certified by the Forest Stewardship Councill. © Iceberg Press Limited 2017. All rights reserved. No part of this magazine may be used or reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. ISSN 2050-4136 Iceberg Press Limited is registered in England, company no 09051321 with its registered office at Thorne House, Turners Hill Road, Crawley Down, West…

PROUDLY HOMEMADE PEA, BROCCOLI & MINT SOUP As green and gorgeous as a freshly mown lawn, this creamy soup has a crunchy topping 1 tbsp virgin coconut oil 1 onion, peeled 2 cloves garlic, peeled 2 tbsp fresh ginger, peeled and grated 250g shelled green peas (fresh or frozen is fine) 250g fresh broccoli, stalks included, roughly chopped 500ml vegetable stock 1 x 400g tin coconut milk 20 fresh mint leaves for the puy lentil topping 200g cooked puy lentils 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil Zest of ½ unwaxed lemon TO SERVE Toasted pumpkin seeds Fresh mint or purple shiso leaves Toasted sourdough garlic bread 1 To prepare the lentil topping, add the cooked lentils to a small bowl, stir through the oil and zest and season to taste.…

Universally loved and eaten with glee in all corners of the globe, kebabs are evocative of good times. They’re easy to cook on the barbecue, too. Banish thoughts of seedy late-night takeaways – these delicious recipes, for meat, fish and veggie versions, give kebabs the attention they deserve. Introducing posh kebabs… Lamb shawarma This is the sophisticated version of a takeaway classic. The crisp red cabbage works wonderfully with the rich lamb. Serve with a pile of French fries for a true takeaway feel. Serves 6 1.5kg boneless leg of lamb 4 garlic cloves, crushed 1 tbsp ground cumin 1 tbsp ground coriander 1 bunch coriander, leaves and stems separated 1 tbsp olive oil ½ red cabbage, shredded 1 red onion, thinly sliced Juice of 1 lemon 2 tbsp pomegranate…

Favourite cafés PARADISO Minimalist décor, welcoming atmosphere and delicious avocado toasts. cafeparadiso.ch LIVRESSE In a great spot downtown, this is a sweet, cosy café with a good library. livresse.ch Favourite restaurant OU BIEN ENCORE I love this vegetarian restaurant for lunch. It’s also where I shop for raw food snacks. oubienencore.ch Favourite hotel LA COUR DES AUGUSTINS Stylish and modern boutique hotel that sometimes organises exhibitions. lacourdesaugustins.com Favourite shops CUPPIN’S CONCEPT STORE In this family-friendly concept store, you can eat delicious cakes and find lovely accessories and Swiss-made jewellery. cuppins.ch WOOD BARBIER & VINTAGE SHOP Great for a haircut if you’re a man, but I go for the vintage clothes. wood-geneve.ch Gallery FOOUND CONCEPT STORE AND CULTURAL CENTRE See art, browse Swiss-made clothes, have a haircut, astrology consultation, meditation session,…

After travelling under the River Mersey and through anonymous industrial areas, I have arrived in a spacious land of softly curved greens, whose angles widen and gently distort as your gaze shifts across them. On my left, trees teasingly conceal the grey expanse of the Lady Lever Art Gallery. On the right sit Arts and Crafts cottages – a sweeping crescent of low-roofed dwellings, creating the impression of Disney cottages. Rounded shrubs nestle up to them snugly. I’m exploring Port Sunlight, a ‘model village’ created by the industrialist and philanthropist William Lever (later Viscount Leverhulme), for the workers of the Lever Brothers soap factory, on the other side of the village’s wall. Created between 1894 and 1925, and designed by some of the era’s most prominent architects, including Sir Edward…

BOY, ARE MY ARMS TIRED! Properly staged, tricks like this can transform you from mere magician to something approaching superhuman. EFFECT: Standing in a doorway, the spectator is told by the magician to clear his mind. Next, the volunteer is instructed to press the backs of his hands firmly against the frame of the door for 30–40 seconds. Imagine that strings are tied to your fingers, and that a flock of sparrows is tugging on those strings, the magician chatters. Imagine that you cannot control your arms, that the birds are lifting the arms up, up, and away. When the volunteer steps out of the doorjamb, he will find the magician’s patter to have influenced him significantly – his arms will rise up nearly to shoulder height, seemingly of their own…