Microplane® Premium Classic Zester – No Bitterness Today – by Award Winning Author Dr Kathleen Thompson

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I’ve been making fruit vodkas recently. It’s such a fabulous way to preserve the taste of summer, not to mention an excuse for a rather pleasant alcoholic treat. My method is super lazy – simply pop some fruit in a jam jar with vodka, screw on the lid and leave it – for weeks, months – I’m not sure yet, but my research involves copious tastings and may take a while.

My favourite project is lemon vodka. It’s made with the lemon rind – which pleases me as I hate throwing it away. You can add a sugar solution, creating limoncello, or, which I prefer, just leave it au naturel. But this is the rub. Try as I might to slice the thin rind off the lemon, it’s almost impossible not to end up with some pith. The oils in the rind provide the fabulous aroma, smell and taste of fresh lemons, but too much pith adds an unwelcome bitterness. Traditional graters are no better – bulky and awkward and the odd sliced skin incident detracting from the fun.

So how thrilled was I to discover The Microplane® Premium Classic Zester? Who knew someone would invent such a perfect tool for zesting lemons?

It was inspired by a Canadian housewife in the early 90s, who, fed up, like me, struggling with her traditional grater, borrowed one of her husband’s wood-working tools. The current Microplane® Premium Classic Zester is a distinct improvement on a wood plane – so ladies, hide it from your husbands or you may find it’s been relocated to his workshop.

What I love about this zester is firstly it’s long and slim – so much more convenient and easy to use. The stainless steel blade has perfectly regular photo-etched micro-teeth – in fact 400 of them. So sharp that they make zesting completely effortless, but tiny for precision and with a protective cover for safety. I just had to rub the blade very gently against the lemon and in seconds I had a pile of perfect zest, leaving the pith intact on the lemon, meaning I don’t have to use the lemon immediately. The zester was firm and solid with a pretty-coloured soft-touch handle. It also has tiny anti-scratch ‘feet’ on the end so you can stand it in a pan or bowl for more stability. Because the micro-teeth are so tiny and all in the same direction, it’s really easy to wipe clean, but you can also put it in the dishwasher.

So, now my lemon vodka production is taking off with the help of my new toy, I just need to worry about where to put all those lovely bottles.

Of course if you don’t share my addiction for limoncello, you can use the zester for other things too – zest any citrus rind for a pretty and tasty cake topping, or you can use it to grate ginger root, chocolate, spices such as nutmeg and cinnamon – and if you’re really cooking something special, how about truffle? It’s easy to grate tiny or larger amounts.

The Microplane® Premium Classic Zester is available in a choice of attractive colours to suit any kitchen. It’s available from hartsofstur.com for the special price of £21.50 (RRP £23.95). Take a look – you’ll love it.

By Dr K Thompson, award-winning author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows


http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A7DM42Q http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A7DM42Q
http://faitobooks.co.uk


Note: These articles express personal views. No warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information given and you should always consult a doctor if you need medical advice.

Puressentiel’s Anti-Pest fabric spray kills house pests the natural way

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KILL PESKY HOUSE PESTS AND BEAT ANNOYING ALLERGIES WITH PLANT DERIVED SPRAY

From bed bugs to dust mites, relieve your home of allergens with Puressentiel Anti-Pest fabric Spray

www.uk.puressentiel.com

 Improving the health of your home is now a spray away thanks to Puressentiel, the brains behind the evidence backed plant-based health products for everyday wellness needs. New Puressentiel’s Anti-Pest Fabric Spray kills and staves off house pests, the natural way.

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Containing the power of Palmarosa essential oil, this spray can be used on textiles in the home, such as bedding, mattresses, sofas, and cuddly toys, as well as indoor furniture.

Dust mites, bed bugs, fleas and moths are all common in UK homes and can be the cause of infuriating and often painful symptoms such as rashes, bumps, itching and even skin swelling and blisters. Those who are allergic to the pests may also suffer from coughs, runny nose, and sneezing.

In fact for many, these symptoms can wreak havoc on their day-to-day lives. The Puressentiel Anti-Pest Fabric Spray kills and prevents reinfestation with itch mites and dust mites including Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus, the main dust mite responsible for allergies. It also helps kill other common house pests such as clothes moths, fleas, and bed bugs.

Natural health specialist and chemist, from Puressentiel, Dr Tim Bond, explains that; “The Palmarosa oil comes from the Palmarosa plant, which is native to India, however it now grows in various countries around the world.

“The essential oil, Palmarosa, has been used traditionally for thousands of years, and also goes by the name of Indian Geranium, Rosha or Gingergrass.

“It’s extremely popular in skincare products and works well for helping to treat skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema. Interestingly, it has also been proven to help beat itch mite infections in humans too as well as control the mites within the environment]”

Dr Tim Bond adds that although these mites are typically more common between the months of May and October, symptoms can actually be felt all year round.

“Most of these mites die during the winter, but heating systems can cause the particles to be essentially ‘swirled’ around the home.”

The Puressentiel Anti-Pest Fabric Spray’s formula contains 0% Propellant Gas and leaves a fresh fragrance when used. Plus, a multi-directional pump means the spray can be used in any direction, making application even easier.

Puressentiel Anti-Pest Fabric Spray can be used on all textiles that are machine-washable at temperatures over 60°C, as well as non-washable textiles such as furniture, curtains, and car seats, at risk of infestation. It’s best however to treat one textile at a time.

To use, spray the surface you wish to treat for 16 seconds per metre² from 30 cm away. One 150ml spray will cover the equivalent of around four standard double mattresses. Leave the spray for 4 hours and then air and vacuum or, if you’re working on textiles that come into contact with skin, opt for a machine wash.

Dr Bond adds that the power of Palmarosa in Puressentiel Anti-Pest Fabric Spray helps us to avoid chemicals and unnatural ingredients in our homes.

“In the Western world, we’re quickly coming round to the fact that these natural, essential oils, have a myriad of helpful healing properties, and Puressentiel is paving the way with their natural range of products.”

SUNDAY SCENE: RACHEL BRIMBLE ON THE SETTING FOR HER LADIES OF CARSON STREET TRILOGY

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There are two reasons I have set all my historical romances in the wonderful city of Bath, England – one) I live just a short 30 minute drive away and 2) it is filled with the most beautiful Roman, Georgian and Victorian architecture, the most amazing side streets as well as a plethora of grand (and not so grand) buildings that I pretty much use as my imagination dictates.

As Bath is obviously a real place, you might be wondering how I can use some of its buildings however I see fit. The explanation is simple – I don’t tell readers which buildings are imaginary! Thankfully, unless I use famous Bath buildings like the Abbey, the Pump Room or Royal Crescent, my audience seem to be happy to follow my lead.

For my latest series, the Ladies of Carson Street, I once again return to Bath.

However, rather than spending time enjoying high tea in the Pump Room or dancing in the Assembly Rooms, you will find the heroines of the trilogy, Louisa, Nancy and Octavia, either living and working from their house on Carson Street, frequenting the backstreet taverns or watching an act at the Theatre Royal.

In book 1, A Widow’s Vow, Louisa and Nancy arrive in Bath from Bristol to start anew after Louisa is unexpected widowed and left with nothing more than the keys to a Bath property she had no idea existed…

They walked along the sweeping curved wall surrounding the gushing waters of the River Avon and a beautifully landscaped area known as, according to Louisa’s map, the Parade Gardens. The barren trees were interspersed with evergreens, the soil beds empty of flowers in winter but imaginings of how the gardens might look in the summer months gave Louisa a flicker of optimism.

Continuing to walk along the cobbled street, she and Nancy neared the row of terrace houses.

‘Carson Street.’ Nancy pointed to a sign bolted to one of the corner houses adjacent to a busy thoroughfare filled with carriages, horses and pedestrians. ‘This is it.’

Locating the right house wasn’t difficult as Louisa had memorised the deeds so often and so intensely, the pencilled sketch of Anthony’s property was clearly drawn in her mind. ‘Anthony’s house is—’

‘Ahem, your house.’ Nancy grinned.

‘My house is about halfway along the street.’ Louisa inhaled a shaky breath. ‘Come on. I want this over with.’

She marched ahead of Nancy, pulling a brass front door key from her purse. Purposefully, Louisa drew forth her anger at Anthony’s lies, betrayal and cowardice. Lord knew, she would have to take strength from somewhere if she was ever to believe such a property was now hers to do with as she would. Lifting her chin, she shrouded herself in an invisible layer of protection against whatever further hurts were to come in her uncertain future.

But once she was standing outside the residence, her bravado floundered.

The house was beautiful. Built in a butter-coloured stone, its sash windows were flanked with velvet drapery, the front door painted a dark grass-green, complete with brass knocker and a stone ornament decorating its step. The longer Louisa stared, the more strongly inevitability enveloped her. She had survived this long and she would continue to survive, come what may.

 

This extract perfectly introduces you to the tone of the series and to two of the main three characters in the trilogy. Gritty, sometimes tough, sometimes hilarious, the Ladies of Carson Street are an unforgettable trio!

 

Rachel’s Website: https://rachelbrimble.com/

 

 

 

 

 

The Bay by Allie Reynolds Book Review

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The Bay by Allie Reynolds is the second novel from the author of the widely acclaimed chiller thriller, Shiver. I LOVED her first novel and was so excited to receive The Bay. Thankfully I wasn’t disappointed. Allie Reynolds has a way of writing a pacy, sporty thriller like no one else. This is a tense and absorbing story about what happens when Type A sporty athletes get thrown together. The Bay is paradise to them, the ultimate surfing spot and they will do anything to protect it.

You are never sure who to trust or what is going to happen. The Bay will have you by the throat until the very last page. I am not sure how Allie Reynolds does it, but I’m glad she does. Her high-octant sporty thrillers are as brilliant as they are unique. Truly stunning. Get a copy now.

 
The Bay, Allie Reynolds, Book review

The Bay is an addictive summer thriller where the waves are to die for at the wild and beautiful Sorrow Bay, a remote surfing spot paradise that a mysterious group of people will do anything to keep a secret.

 

Allie has a trademark ability to pair isolated and dangerous natural landscapes with high-stakes, extreme sports to rewrite the popular locked-room mystery with an elegant, high-octane twist. She has received wide praise from the world of crime writing, including Peter James (‘sensational’), Harriet Tyce (‘a knife-sharp locked room mystery’) and Sarah Pearse (‘nail-bitingly tense’).

 

Ideal for slipping in holiday beach bags, The Bay is filled with sun, sea, suspense and a sinister cast of characters driven by obsession and perfection.

 

THE WILD YEAR – the family who lived in a tent for a year

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The Wild Year immediately caught my attention for it’s originality. This memoir by Jen Benson, who lived with her family for a year in a tent, is a brave book about triumph over hardship. This book is awash with nature and atmosphere. It is inspirational and will fill you with both joy and hope. It will also make you angry about the financial hardships so many are under. Jen writes about struggle with flair and complete honesty. Her talent as a writer is vast, and her love for her family and the world around her is so beautiful. I cannot recommend this book enough. I think everyone should read it for it’s insights into poverty, financial hardship, and the beautiful outdoors. Awash with love, nature and bravery.
The Wild Year by Jen Benson, book, book review,

This is an utterly delightful, eye-opening read, bathed in the natural world. Reminiscent of The Salt Path by Raynor Winn and Homesick by Catriona Davies. Jen and her husband Sim have written a whole host of walking and running guides, and this is her first memoir. You can find out more about their previous books on their website — https://jenandsimbenson.co.uk/books/

The Wild Year is all about Jen and her young family’s decision to live in a tent for a year after suffering severe financial hardship and needing a way to live that retains their freedom but doesn’t cost a lot. Think cooking over fire in the dead of winter in stormy weather with a 3 year old and a 6 month old! Out now with Aurum (Quarto Group).

The Wild Year tells the uplifting true story of a family who left their old life behind to spend a year living wild in a tent around Britain.

With a baby and a toddler, mounting debt, work demands and stress trampling over their desire to spend time together as a family in nature, Jen and Sim Benson move out of their rented accommodation, sell up their possessions and decide to live in a tent for a year as nomads around rural Britain. This is the story of that year – the highs and the lows – the doubts, epiphanies and the weather.

Detailing one family’s search for a life in the wild, away from the screens and stresses of modern life, this captivating memoir is a must read for nature lovers or anyone who has dreamed of a life outdoors. It’s nature writ large with the joys and challenges of each season experienced under canvas, a story of ultimate freedom in the beautiful landscapes of Britain. This is a book that gently steals up on you and captures your heart.

Jen Benson has a passion for wild places and sustainable adventures. A lifelong runner, she is a writer, photographer and part-time PhD researcher exploring the philosophy of running. Jen and her husband Sim live in Wiltshire with their two young children. They have co-written several books including Wild Running, Short Walks in Beautiful Places, Amazing Family Adventures and 100 Great Walks with Kids. Jen writes regularly for the national press. Twitter/Instagram @jenandsim

Did You Miss Me? by Sophia Money-Coutts Book Review

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I have read all of  Sophia Money-Coutts’s books and I am a huge fan of her witty, entertaining novels. She writes wonderful, sparkling characters and I always enjoy the story. As usual, Did You Miss Me?, is clever and funny. Sophia has taken a great premise and executed it with flair. Another wonderful novel. Heartily recommended.

Did You Miss Me? is Sophia’s 4th novel and explores whether you really can rekindle your first love, and is of course written with Sophia’s trademark humour, wit and gloriously steamy romance scenes. Nell, the main character, is effortlessly likeable and features alongside her barmy mother (who falls for an eccentric Italian barista), the divine Arthur Drummond and Wilma the wolfhound.

You never forget the one that got away, do you?

Nell Mason is extremely happy with her life – or at least, that’s what she tells herself. She’s lucky to have a high-powered job as a lawyer, even if it does come with an eccentric set of billionaire divorce clients. And she’s absolutely fine living with her sweet, if slightly dull, boyfriend Gus in their London flat where they have very sensible sex once (OK, sometimes twice) a week. She’s definitely not stuck in a rut.

But when Nell bumps into childhood friend and first love Arthur Drummond who broke her heart fifteen years ago, she’s more than a little shaken. The seemingly perfect life she’s worked so hard for starts to feel, well, less perfect. Maybe Nell’s been kidding herself all these years. Can she ever get over her first love?

Sophia Money-Coutts is a journalist and author who spent five years studying the British aristocracy while working as Features Director at Tatler. Prior to that she worked as a writer and an editor for the Evening Standard and the Daily Mail in London, and The National in Abu Dhabi. She writes a column for The Sunday Telegraph called Modern Manners and often appears on radio and television channels talking about important topics such as Prince Harry’s wedding and the etiquette of the threesome.

The stylish, must-have essential for parents – Stokke Limas Carriers

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Getting around as a parent can be hard, if not impossible. In fact, even doing things around your house can be hard with a baby. This is why I could not live without a baby sling. I have tried many over the years so I thought I would review the Stokke Limas Carriers.

Stokke® Limas™ Carrier,

Stokke® Limas™ Carrier, Espresso Brown.

Featuring three hero products, Stokke® Limas™ Carrier, Stokke® Limas™ Carrier Plus and Stokke® Limas™ Carrier Flex, the range delivers stylish, must-have essentials that allow parents and caregivers to go completely hands-free when on the go or at home with their baby. Helping to facilitate closeness and bonding as well as providing optimal comfort and support from birth and beyond, the carriers enable both parent and child to grow confident together, every step of the way.

Not only does the new collection adjust to accommodate infants, but it supports the child’s physical and physiological development along the way. The carrier expands as your baby grows, to support the growth of the hips, spinal column and muscles; as well as providing them with a whole new sensory experience, helping to stimulate the brain.

I found the Stokke Limas Carrier to be comfortable and stylish. It looks great and is easy-to-use. Highly recommended. 

Strategies for Growing Your Business

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Every business owner would like to be in a situation where they are overwhelmed by demand for their product or services. In this scenario, the growth of your business is organic. You don’t have to do anything to make it happen. Unfortunately, growth is something that may need to be pushed by you to some extent. The strategies below can help you make it happen.

Have the Resources You Need

Growth can actually be a negative thing if you can’t keep up. In fact, a lack of preparation for the expansion can sink what would otherwise be a successful expansion. This can be tricky in terms of timing and predictions. You don’t want to hire a lot of staff that you won’t need, but you also don’t want to miss out because you don’t have the necessary people and equipment to keep up with customer expectations. This is also a good time to look at your processes and consider what you may need. If you are going to be selling more products and you have a fleet, you may need to expand that fleet. You also need to make sure it is running as efficiently as possible. GPS fleet tracking software can use real-time data to track your fleet and can be an excellent solution to issues that may arise as your fleet grows.

Find a Niche or Diversify

Two strategies you could employ are actually opposite in nature, but depending on the type of business you run and your circumstances, each of them could be the right direction. It might sound strange to say that you can expand your business by shrinking what it is you do, but if you identify the right nicheand there aren’t many other organizations who offer who you do, this can be much more lucrative than a more generalist approach. Alternately, you could diversify, expanding the products and services that you offer. A common example of this is a bookstore that adds a coffee shop.

Market to More Customers

You could also try marketing to a wider base of customers. If you have a retail storefront, you could consider setting up an online shop as well or vice versa. If you offer services instead of products, think about what similar services or add-ons you could offer. You could try to find a different demographic from the one that commonly uses your products or services and figure out a new marketing strategy that would appeal to them. Attending a trade show is another way to potentially expand your market. If it doesn’t do so directly, it can help you make connections that may facilitate that expansion.

Follow the Money

It may sound like a contradiction, but getting rid of some of your products and services–even if you are not going the niche route–could also lead to growth. Take a hard look at your revenue and see what is not earning its keep. Freeing up the resources that you are putting toward products or services that are not particularly profitable allows you to make better use of those resources.