The Simple Things

Taking time to live well
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Photography by Rebecca Lewis

Tipple | Lavender & Raspberry Cocktails

Iona Bower June 15, 2024

A fruity thirst-quencher that’s bursting with summer flavours

Serves 6

You will need

100g honey
Juice of 1 large lemon
100g raspberries
1 tsp lavender flowers
6 shots of vodka (optional)
2ltr sparkling water
6 sprigs of mint, to garnish
6 sprigs of lavender, to garnish
18 fresh raspberries, to garnish


To make

1 In a small pan, gently heat the honey, 100ml of water, the lemon juice, raspberries and lavender flowers over a medium heat, stirring frequently until the honey melts.

2 Simmer for a further 5 mins, stirring constantly to avoid it catching, until it starts to thicken. Leave to cool then blitz to a smooth consistency with a handheld blender.

3 Fill tall glasses with ice and pour in a shot of vodka if using, then fill each glass halfway with sparkling water.

4 Add the lavender and raspberry syrup until the glass is three-quarters full. Garnish each glass with a sprig of mint, a sprig of lavender and three fresh raspberries to serve.

These cocktails are just one of the recipes from our June ‘gathering’ pages, a menu for a picnic by the water, which we’ve called ‘A Shore Thing’. It includes recipes for homemade Dips & Chips, Asparagus, Ricotta & Smoked Pea Tarts, Roast Pepper, Onion & Halloumi Wraps and Berry Crumble Cake. The recipes are by Kay Prestney and the photography is by Rebecca Lewis.

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Image: Annie Spratt, Unsplash

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Give it a grow: Raspberries

Lottie Storey February 6, 2017

WHY WOULD I?

Plant now, and you’ll be enjoying the fruits of your labour by summer – raspberry canes will produce fruit from their first year, and even more the next. They prefer sun, but do well in shade, too. You can also try them in large (60cm diameter) containers.

WHEN DO I PLANT THEM?

Any time from November to March for summer fruiting raspberries, if there’s no frost and the soil isn’t waterlogged. Plant each cane 60cm apart, about 8cm deep. In a container, plant a few cm from the side, equally spaced, and ensure they’re kept well watered. 

HOW DO I KEEP THEM ALIVE?

Make sure soil is never too dry or too waterlogged. In spring, add a layer of manure around the base of the canes and you can water them with tomato feed as they fruit. In late autumn cut every cane that has borne fruit that year to about 25cm from the ground. It’s upsetting now, but will make for a more fruitful bush next summer. 
 

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 MAY ISSUE   Buy  ,   download  or  subscribe   Order a copy of:  Our new Homebird bookazine    Flourish Volume 4 , our wellbeing bookazine  A Year of Celebrations  – our latest  anthology  See the sample of our latest issue  here   Listen to  our po

Get hold of your copy of this month's The Simple Things - buy, download or subscribe

View the sampler here

In Growing, Miscellany Tags issue 56, february, give it a grow, fruit, raspberries, gardening
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Featured
 MAY ISSUE   Buy  ,   download  or  subscribe   Order a copy of:  Our new Homebird bookazine    Flourish Volume 4 , our wellbeing bookazine  A Year of Celebrations  – our latest  anthology  See the sample of our latest issue  here   Listen to  our po
February 27, 2026
February 27, 2026

MAY ISSUE

Buy, download or subscribe

Order a copy of:
Our new Homebird bookazine

Flourish Volume 4, our wellbeing bookazine
A Year of Celebrations – our latest anthology

See the sample of our latest issue here

Listen to our podcast – Small Ways to Live Well

February 27, 2026
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The Simple Things is published by Iceberg Press

The Simple Things

Taking time to live well

We celebrate slowing down, enjoying what you have, making the most of where you live, enjoying the company of of friends and family, and feeding them well. We like to grow some of our own vegetables, visit local markets, rummage for vintage finds, and decorate our home with the plunder. We love being outdoors and enjoy the satisfaction that comes with a job well done.

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