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Photo: multikulinaria / Flickr

How can anybody resist having a rich ruby-red dollop of home-made raspberry jam on a slice of just buttered toast? Or with cream on a scone, fresh from the oven? This raspberry jam recipe requires nothing more than raspberries and sugar. The appeal of raspberry jam is not only its taste but its colour, so the trick is not to overcook it because you can end up with an unappealing brown raspberry jam if you’re not paying close attention. (more…)

Photo: seetefl / Flickr

For some people, there is no such a thing as ‘life after TEFL’, because teaching English as a foreign language can easily become a career in itself. Committed teachers constantly travel the globe, clocking up their teachings hours while experiencing different cultures and ways of life. It’s not difficult to spend a good few years in the East, for example – think Japan, South Korea, China, Vietnam and Thailand. But what to do next if one wants to come home? (more…)

Photo: Shana Lee / Flickr

Gazpacho soup was originally made in an earthenware pot in Andalusia. The ingredients were pounded together using a pestle and mortar but this recipe is much easier – and lighter. You will need tomatoes, vinegar, peppers, breadcrumbs, garlic, bread, hard boiled eggs, spring onions and cucumber, as well as a generous amount of ice cubes as this is a cool soup. This no-cook summer soup recipe will take half an hour to prepare and an hour to chill. (more…)

Photo: Credit / Flickr

Many people reach a stage in their lives where they want to pass on their stories ‑ or their family’s stories. If you are such a person, you should possibly consider writing your memoirs. Besides producing an heirloom for your loved ones, the act of writing about yourself is extremely therapeutic and also a way to prepare yourself for further writing projects. Here we share a few pertinent tips on how to plan and prepare for your memoirs. (more…)

Photo: Jutta @ flickr / Flickr

This almond nut tart is a rich one. Serve it at the end of a meal as a dessert or simply have a slice with coffee or tea during the course of the day. The recipe requires 250 grams of almonds but you could replace them with a variety of chopped mixed nuts. Allow for a preparation time of one hour – the reason being that the base of this tart is made of pastry. (more…)

Photo: practicalowl / Flickr

Furniture and decorations can be expensive buys that really put a dent in your savings, while old household items gain little on the second-hand market and simply clutter up your home. Now you can kill two birds with one stone by simply transforming your old, unused household items into new and improved decorations that you will absolutely adore. So get recycling, restoring and reusing those old household items into something new and start saving. (more…)

Photo: A Siegel / Flickr

As the joys of summer slowly start slipping out of our grasp and the days become colder, the time for a warm winter fire is drawing nearer. Unless you have an endless supply of wood, making a fire every night can become an expensive undertaking. On the other hand, there are so many new and modern fireplace designs that it makes it difficult to choose the right one. Figure out which fireplace will not only be the most economical but also the most efficient. (more…)

Photo: Mags_cat / Flickr

Sure you walk but how often do you walk seriously, like it matters, to get a good and proper aerobic workout? Casually walking your dog, stopping to smell the roses or having a coffee on the way there or back doesn’t quite do it. You’ve got to walk at a serious pace without stopping for at least 20 minutes to start getting the benefits. To continue reaping the returns, you’ll have to increase your speed and intensity as you get fitter. (more…)

Photo: estherase / Flickr

The main ingredient in this well known Greek appetiser is smoked fish roe, called tarama. The fish roe, which mostly comes from cod or from grey mullet, is orange in colour. Because it is salty, the fish roe is mixed with other ingredients, including milk, white bread, olive oil and lemon juice, with some garlic (which adds a certain zip to the dip). You could use cream cheese and cream instead of the white bread and milk for a thinner dip. (more…)

Photo: uccsbiology / Flickr

In the UK almost one in every two families has a pet. Research by the Pet Food Manufacturer’s Association (PFMA) has found that 60 per cent of pet owners say their furry friends make them feel happier and more relaxed and 81 per cent of people agree that ‘Pets are the antidote to a bad mood’. Of the people surveyed, almost a third said their pets make them healthier. It turns out they were right. Here are five ways your pet can help your health. (more…)