Indice dei contenuti per March 2024 in The Simple Things

I love an easy adaptable recipe for those spontaneous moments when you want to bake biscuits without having to go in search of ingredients. This is the basic version, but flours can be swapped (wholemeal or spelt) depending on what you have to hand, syrup changed for honey, a teaspoon of cinnamon added or raisins stirred into the mix, too. In the ‘70s, my mum used to make oat cookies and push half a glacé cherry or a chocolate button into the biscuits before baking them. Preheat the oven to 180C/Fan 160C/Gas 4. Sift 100g flour into a bowl and add 100g porridge oats, 1 tsp baking powder and 50g caster sugar. Heat 100g butter, 1 generous tbsp golden syrup and 2 tbsp milk in a small pan until the…

Morning! Where are you and what’s happening? I live just off Penny Lane in Liverpool with my husband, Adam, our toddler, Constance, and Marceline the dog. I have a strong cup of Clipper Breakfast Tea first thing, before heading to my studio, flask of tea in hand. What does your work involve? I’m an analogue film and darkroom photographer, an educator, and I run my own small business, Little Vintage Photography. I love seeing someone develop their first print. I work mostly from my studio, but I’ve also run workshops in places including bunkers, basements and bank vaults! How did you end up doing that? I lost my mum 12 years ago, which led to a lot of soul-searching. I eventually came back to the slower, physical nature of analogue…

Forced rhubarb is grown in complete darkness, usually in heated greenhouses or forcing sheds. The process involves the use of warm temperatures and a lack of light to stimulate its growth before it has had a chance to develop chlorophyll, which gives plants their green colour. As a result, forced rhubarb has a distinctive pink or pale red colour, tender texture, and a sweeter taste. Forced rhubarb is often more expensive and available for a shorter period, typically between January and March. You can grow forced rhubarb if you have an established plant. It’s generally forced in December or January, although you can do it until the end of March. To force the plant, clear around the base and add compost. Cover with a forcing jar, tall bucket or a…

CAMPAIGN Regular readers will know that here at The Simple Things we’re big fans of cake. At the top of our manifesto is that ‘there should always be cake in the house’. Aversatile edible, cake canbe eaten almost any time of day; for elevenses, afternoon tea, supper, midnight feasts - even for breakfast on occasion, too. We seek out at least one recipe for a homemade cake to include in every issue but now we’d like to share a few of yours, too. Think of it as a cake swap! We’re looking for those hand-me-down recipes that are passed on through family and friends, when often the original source is lost or forgotten. Amended, tweaked and altered over the years, they take on a life of their own and the…

Some people have nightmares about sharks, or their teeth falling out. My nightmares are about moths: specifically, moths chomping away on my favourite jumpers. It was a real-life tale of horror when my beloved Slits jumper fell victim to the munchers. I’d saved up to buy this jumper, which pays tribute to one of my favourite punk bands. Since then, its lovely wool kept me cosy over winter months but it also holds some favourite summer memories, pulled on over flimsy dresses to warm up at festivals. The damage was as if the moths had had their own festival on it - and I couldn’t even try to pass it off as a kind of holey punk tribute. Too beloved to let go of, too derelict to wear, a possible…

GROWING Citrus trees, and in particular orange trees, bring to mind romance. Their fragrance and fruit conjure up memories of sunny holidays, ambling along the avenues of some southern city, thick with the scent of orange blossom. Or perhaps they remind you of your favourite period drama, where lovestruck ladies take a turn around the orangery in empire-line dresses, casting longing glances at the handsome gentleman through the glossy foliage? Indeed, according to Google data, there was a clear spike in searches for ‘orangery’ and whether or not an orangery extension would require planning permission after Bridgerton aired in 2020. The orange trees first imported into Britain in the late 16th century were Seville oranges, the bitter fruit a key ingredient in the eponymous marmalade. As time and technology moved…

This is good to do with a friend or alone to help you observe plants and trust your instincts and impressions. • Before looking it up, choose a herb - perhaps a dry herb that you’ve bought like camomile from a tea bag, or pick something you’re confident to identify, like the tip of a nettle. • Steep in hot water for five minutes, covering the cup with a saucer. • Once brewed, smell the tea, noticing what comes to mind. What does it remind you of and how does it make you feel? Does your stomach gurgle? Do you feel more awake or tired? • Take a first sip and notice the same. Is there anywhere in your body that responds? • Drink your cup and take note of…

DOWN TO A TEA TOWEL Ain’t nothin’ like a puffin! This handsome number is based on an illustration by Cherith Harrison, one of many designs inspired by the beauty of the natural world. £12.50, from cherithharrison.com BRICK IN THE WALL How many five-letter words can you find reading down the face of our wall? The letters of each word can only read downwards on touching bricks, taking just one from each line. (answers on page 124) “He that plants trees loves others besides himself” Dr Thomas Fuller A centuries-old symbol of Irish culture. The coat of Arms of Ireland since the 1920s, it’s based on the medieval Brian Boru harp, as is the Guinness logo. Though they face in opposite ways: Guinness patented its design first. WHAT TO DO WITH...…

DULL AS DISHWATER Commonly confused phrases and linguistic muddles Dishwater is pretty dull, isn’t it? You stare into it, wondering whether you could have gotten away with putting the frying pan in the dishwasher, or if it really would have ruined the non-stick surface, as they always warn you... If you think that’s dull, try staring into a ditch. It’s probably not big enough to contain something as interesting as a shopping trolley, and it hasn’t even had an injection of washing-up liquid to hide its dark-souled dankness with light-hearted bubbles. We can agree that both are dull, but back in the mists of time someone decided that one was duller than the other. So, throw out the dishwater and use the right phrase, which is ‘dull as ditchwater’. Taken…

Thirty-five year-old Juan Pablo Culasso could well be considered an avian polyglot. Born blind, the Uruguayan has never seen a bird, yet has learnt to recognise 3,000 bird calls and can differentiate 720 species. As Culasso knows, learning the language of our feathered friends takes practice, but while you might not reach his level of fluency, these prompts from Jon Young’s What The Robin Knows will get you started. Adopt a sit spot. Visit the same location regularly so you get to know your local birds. Focus on five species, tuning into their ‘baseline behaviour’, when they’re relaxed and going about their day, so you can recognise any calls that fall outside of this. Next, learn five vocalisations. Most avian chatter can be categorised as alarm calls, territorial aggression, juvenile begging,…

Subscribe through your podcast app so you don’t miss an episode. Early spring can be a false dawn, with many of us still struggling to shrug off winter. If this sounds like you, do have a listen to Season 1: The Hibernacle*, still available to download on your podcast app. There are six episodes, each offering a different take on thriving until lighter evenings and warmer days arrive. *A hibernacle is a winter retreat where you can pretend for a while that the outside world doesn’t exist. It’s about easing into the year at a slower pace.…

THINGS TO NOTE AND NOTICE MARCH'S STAR SIGN PISHES: 19 February to 20 March Pisces lies in the northern sky and means ‘the fish’ in Latin. The two fish that make up the constellation represent Venus and Cupid, who turned themselves into fish to escape a monster called Typhon. Piscean attributes Pisceans are emotional and sensitive, but often in a very wise way. As the last sign of the zodiac, they have learned the lessons of the other signs, making them more empathetic than most. Local Lore PENNY LOAF DAY In Newark, Nottinghamshire, locals celebrate Penny Loaf Day each 11 March (or the Sunday nearest) by handing out small loaves of bread to charities. The tradition dates back to the Civil War, when Newark resident Hercules Clay had a dream, three…

SNAP IT FOR LATER FAVOURITE CAFÉS MASSMinors I love the ambience and their freshly brewed coffee. In the morning, it operates as a coffee shop and after 7pm, it transforms into a bar. Hua Cheng Cultural Coffee Shop This bookstore café is located inside Yuexiu Park. They serve excellent coffee and pasta! You can relax, read a book, and just take your time. FAVOURITE RESTAURANTS Haidilao Hotpot They have many outlets around the city. I love their tomato and mala soup bases. The service is top-notch, and the food is consistently fresh. TAI ER Famous for its Chinese hot and sour fish (Suan cai yu), these restaurants are a must-try if you love fish, sour vegetables and spicy flavours. Man Tung Ice Room These outlets serve Hong Kong-style char chaan…

Trust your instincts The composer “I am the orchestrator. And the performer. And the composer. And the music!” says Amy McKnight, taking a break from wrangling with the score of BBC teen drama Phoenix Rise’s third series. Born into a musical household, the wearer of multiple professional hats has finally found her calling after a lifetime of trials and tribulations: a party DJ career started at 15, a Music Technology course left a month before graduation, a touring band dropped by a major label, and a fledgling stint as a pop song writer. However, after one of her tunes was picked for an advertising campaign, something clicked: “Oh, that’s where the money is.” Amy’s lesson from these years in the musical wilderness? “Find a space for yourself through creating your…

John Clare (1793-1864) was a poet of the hedgerows and hillside, who celebrated the English countryside - and mourned its loss as the Industrial Revolution uprooted old ways of living. Here, Clare hones in on the thrush’s home, which seems to encapsulate the fragility and strength of nature. You can find this, and other works, in John Clare: Selected Poems, edited by Jonathan Bate (Faber & Faber). Things to ponder: How does Clare capture his sense of kinship with the bird? What atmosphere is created through his depiction of colour and the description of the nest?…

Easter tree Osterbaums have a long history in Germany. Sometimes trees outside are decorated for Easter, but more often, branches are brought into the home. Blossoming boughs - perhaps cherry or blackthorn are particularly pretty, or those with catkins such as pussy willow or hazel. It’s traditional to adorn them with painted or dyed eggs, though you could also use feathers or ribbons - anything colourful that captures that feeling of spring.…

I love sitting here with a cuppa first thing in the morning before anyone else is up. I feel at peace here. It’s at one end of our kitchen/diner/family room, so even when the room is busy with teens, I sit here just watching and taking it all in. I’ve had the sofa - and cushions - for years. It’s faded and on its last legs now but it holds so many memories, especially of when the kids were younger, so I love it! Sharon Hornsby, Brighton @hornsby_style I’ve been embracing the art of wintering in my cosy cottage cocoon. There’s nothing better than reading by the fire, snuggled in blankets. It’s just as lovely on a summer’s evening, sitting here in my favourite chair. Jane Dowthwaite, East Sussex @malthousecottage…

FRIED EGG CRISPS Savoury snacking with these Spanish-made crisps, flavoured just like a fried egg. Best for: Giving your palate a break from all the chocolate. £4.89, souschef.co.uk LOVE BIRD EGGS Confectionery eggs, in a combo of salted caramel ganache and hazelnut praline. Best for: Looking like the real deal: other breeds available. £13, thehambledon.com HAPPY SOCKS Cotton socks in some cracking colour combinations. Best for: Making yourself smile, every time you look down at your feet. £12, happysocks.com/uk WAYS TO MAKE ART Take your cue from famous artists with a creative challenge Go to a local patch of land and walk up and down in a line until your path becomes visible. Don’t pull up flowers or use force to alter the landscape to make your mark, your impact…

SHARING March is a mercurial month, switching between winter and spring as if it hasn’t quite made up its mind what it wants to be. One minute I’m in the garden without a coat, the next there is snow on the ground. As an eager but amateur grower, this causes me all sorts of consternation. I watch the long-awaited tulips coming up, see the cheery daffodils and relish the lengthening of the days, but I’m cautious about how much I can do in the veg patch. When is the last frost the last frost?! The greenhouse we inherited with the cottage was a serious health risk as glass would dislodge and crash down without warning, so we had to dismantle it. I have mourned its loss every year since. Particularly…

NO-BAKE CHEESECAKE EGGS Serves 2 1 medium Easter egg 75g digestive biscuits 35g unsalted butter, melted 200g full-fat soft cheese, at room temperature 1 tsp vanilla extract 2 tbsp icing sugar 100ml double cream 25g cocoa powder 50g milk chocolate, melted Easter chocolates Sprinkles 1 Carefully split the Easter egg into two halves. 2 In a food processor, blitz the biscuits to a fine crumb. Add the melted butter and pulse a few times until the mixture is well combined. 3 Divide the mixture equally between the two halves of the Easter egg, and very gently press down, without breaking the shell. 4 Meanwhile, in a large bowl, whisk the soft cheese, vanilla extract and icing sugar until smooth. Add the double cream and cocoa powder and whisk again until…

GOOD THINGS TO EAT As the days get lighter, forced rhubarb makes an appearance to help brighten any drizzly spring days. Anyone with a ‘normal’ rhubarb plant in the garden or allotment will have rotated through the endless crumbles, compotes and fools of summer. However, think of forced rhubarb as a different species, and a whole new world of recipes opens up. From cakes to winter salads, plus a cheeky negroni to lift the spirits, these new takes on a classic will keep you in the pink. Pickled rhubarb With such a short season, it makes sense to pickle some forced rhubarb so that you can enjoy its bright colour, crunchiness and flavour for months to come. It’s great with good bread and deli cuts. Makes one large jar 200ml…

WEEKEND PROJECT ORIGAMI CHERRY BLOSSOM* You will need: Pink paper in 15cm × 15cm squares 1 Start with the plain side up. Crease and unfold both diagonals. Turn over. 2 Fold and then unfold in half both horizontally and vertically. 3 Fold the diagonal creases into the centre of the paper, bringing the top point down as you do. 4 Fold upper edges to the vertical centre. 5 Turn over and repeat step 4 on the other side. 6 Fold a single flap from right to left. 7 Turn over and fold a flap on this side, so that both sides of your piece look the same. 8 Fold to the dotted line, crease firmly then unfold. 9 Reverse the point inside so that all layers are symmetrical. 10 Rotate…

Japan has a cherry blossom forecast, however, we also have ways to anticipate blooming events. Take note of the weather cues below, find local flower festivals, and connect with communities sharing their insights into the timing and locations of these displays. CHERRY BLOSSOM Cool winters, mild springs: A period of cold weather followed by gradual warming in spring triggers blossoming. Limited frost during blossom season: Frost can damage delicate blossoms, so mild temperatures are ideal. Sunshine: Sunny days promote photosynthesis and enhance the blossoms’ colour and longevity. Moderate rainfall: Consistent but not excessive rain ensures healthy growth without waterlogging the soil. MAGNOLIAS Mild winters with limited frost: Magnolias thrive in regions with mild winters as their buds can be sensitive to frost. Sunshine in spring: Magnolias benefit from plenty of…

What he was doing, particularly at the time he started doing it, was pretty radical,” says Matt Distel, the exhibitions director at The Carnegie, a gallery in Cincinnati, about American artist Charley Harper. “If you put him in the wildlife art tradition, he’s absolutely insane.” Charley Harper’s career spans six decades, beginning in the late 1940s, and includes, at a best guess, 5,500 original works. Ladybirds, rabbits, otters, koalas, mice, elephants, hermit crabs, spiders, zebras - and just about every species of bird populate this sprawling oeuvre. To see the natural world through Harper’s eyes is to revel in the purity of colour, form and balance. He’s thinking about form and shape, and animating with minimal detail, to bring creatures to life. For many years, Cincinnati-based Harper was not well…

BELONGINGS Once a wise friend told me that cake mixture is better than cake. You may disagree but my love for the unbaked version is a lifelong assion, born in my 1960s childhood. I loved nothing more than watching my mum baking a cake. Once the sweet gloop was poured into the tin and popped in the oven, the moment came when Mum said the magic words, “Would you like to lick the spoon?” From watching my mum bake, I moved on to participating. I was too small to reach the kitchen counter so I stood on a short, stumpy stool, painted bright yellow with a top padded with glittery white vinyl. This little step had once been taller but my dad sawed the legs down so it was about…

A PLACE TO STAY There’s nothing like a good weekend away with friends to help you feel rejuvenated. Where you settle into an easy rhythm, good conversations are had, and belly laughs achieved. While the friends are the most important component, it also helps to find somewhere convenient, with room for everyone to have their own space but that lets you gather together, too. The West End, on the Hawarden Estate in Flintshire, Wales, is not only surprisingly accessible (20 minutes in a taxi from Chester station), it seems to be made for this kind of conviviality. Set up to cater for four people (as we were), or up to ten, there’s space to think, to get outdoors, to have proper conversations - and, perhaps most importantly, to have a…

COLLECTIVE NOUNS TALK LIKE ... YOU’RE CORNISH* Dydh da: good day; fatla senes?: how’s it going?; meur ra thank you; dew genes: goodbye; mor: sea: treath: beach; tesen: cake; korev: beer; gwenton: spring. *In honour of St Piran’s Day (the patron saint of Cornwall) on 5 March. Although the Cornish language (Kernewek) became extinct in the 18th century, it was revived in the 20th. In 2002, the language was officially recognised by the Government, giving it the same status as Welsh and Scottish Gaelic.…

Cheviot Hardy specimens hailing from Northumberland and the Scottish Borders. Known for being perky types - their ears that is. Suffolk Black Face Counting sheep? Start with a different breed. The Suffolk left East Anglia in the 19th century, and became one of the most common worldwide. Jacob Named after the Bible's Jacob, and his piebald sheep. While the exact genesis is unknown, their looks were favoured on 18th-century estates. Hebridean The black sheep of the Scottish Highlands and Islands (sometimes brown, with sun). Good nibblers, often used in conservation grazing. Shropshire Say baaah humbug to any Shropshire Scrooges. Christmas tree growers love these woolly-heads for their grazing with minimal arboreal damage. Welsh Mountain Once thought ‘the most despicable of all types’, the wool was pulled from our eyes -…

Chorizo bangers with butterbean mash Serves 4 FOR THE GRAVYPinch of saffron 2 vegetable stock cubes 4 red onions, peeled 3 garlic cloves, peeled and diced 1 tsp paprika ½-1 tsp light brown sugar 2 tsp rose harissa paste 1 tbsp tomato purée 1 tbsp red wine vinegar FOR THE BUTTERBEAN MASH 1 onion, peeled and sliced 2 garlic cloves, peeled and diced 2 x 400g tins butterbeans 2 tsp smoked paprika 50g plant-based butter 175ml plant-based cream 2 tbsp nooch (nutritional yeast) 1 tsp rose harissa paste Juice of 1 lemon FOR THE BANGERS 1 red pepper, thinly sliced 1 yellow pepper, thinly sliced Handful of black olives, halved Juice of ½ lemon 216g plant-based chorizo sausages Handful of parsley, chopped 1 For the gravy, mix the saffron, stock…

We were all given one, on our way out of the memorial service. A tiny little packet of wildflower seeds. And on each one, in her handwriting, was written ‘Sprinkle these in memory of me. Cat xx’. I pushed the packet into my handbag, unable to believe she was gone. Because I could still feel her, and hear her laughing voice in my head. I could still imagine exactly what she would say about every decision I had to make, from what to wear to her funeral (“Not black. It’s draining at our age”) to what to do about the woman at work who was bullying me (“You’re worth ten of her, babe. Go for that promotion. She won’t be able to touch you then.”) The trouble was I didn’t…