Recipe | Midsommartårta

A Midsommartårta (Midsummer Strawberry Cake) is always enjoyed at midsummer festivities in Sweden – this light version is moreishly bite-sized, so don't expect any left at the end of the party...

Makes 8-12 cakes

You will need

6 egg whites
A pinch of sea salt
150g golden caster sugar
2 tsp rose water (or 1 tbsp ground dried rose petals)
150g ground almonds
A little olive or coconut oil, to grease the pan
300ml double cream
1kg strawberries, hulled
4 tbsp strawberry, raspberry or rhubarb jam
To serve: Edible flowers and wild berries

To make

1 Preheat oven to 180C/Fan 160C/Gas 4. Whip the egg whites with a pinch of sea salt until glossy and meringuelike then gradually add the sugar, whipping until it holds a medium peak. Whisk in the rose water.

2 Shake in the ground almonds slowly, whisking to keep the air in the whites.

3 Brush the inside of a muffin tin or a mini bundt tin with a little oil. Divide the batter between the holes in the tin, filling each just to the top – you should have 8-12 cakes.

4 Slide into the centre of the oven and bake for 12 mins, or until lightly browned. Allow to cool for 5-10 mins before removing from the tin.

5 While the cakes cool, trim the green tops from the strawberries, halve or quarter any larger berries. Mix with the jam and set aside. Whip the cream until just thickened.

6 Once the cakes have cooled, run a knife around the edges to help release them from the tin. If the cakes are a little pale on top, you can flash them in the oven. Upturn to lightly toast them on the top or until lightly golden.

Serve with the strawberries and cream and garnish with edible flowers (and/or wild berries, if you can find some). Cook’s note: The cakes are best served on the day of making but they’ll keep in an airtight tin (once fully cooled) for 1–2 days. You can also freeze, defrost in the fridge and flash in a warm oven to take the chill off, before serving.

This recipe, by Rachel de Thample, is part of our ‘Midsummer Feast’ ‘gathering menu. It features Scandi dishes including Cold Cucumber Soup with Summer Flowers, Roast Beetroot Salad with Crispy Capers, Home Pickled Herring with Fennel, Pommes Anna with Dill Sour Cream and Ryeknäckebröd with Caraway. There’s also an idea for a Meadowsweet and Strawberry Schnapps to wash it all down. Midsummer Feast, it may be, but we think you can enjoy it any day this summer. If you’re making a day of it you may also like to try your hand at the Floral Crowns or some of the other Midsummer traditions on the pages. All in the June issue.

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Flowers | The Meaning of Posies

A posy always gives us a little boost, whether we’re giving or receiving. Who doesn’t love a little bunch of blooms, after all?

Next time you tie up a little bunch of garden flowers for a friend, spare a thought for people of Medieval times, who carried ‘nosegays’ (a small posy to make the nose happy) of flowers and herbs, to combat the natural stench of the medieval street. It was also believed that posies might ward off plague and other diseases. 

Thankfully, for posies and for humanity, life in general was to become gradually more sweet smelling.  By Victorian times, posies were enormously popular, both for covering up bad Victorian odours (it took them a while to get the sewers sorted) and also as a decorative item. They were often known as ‘tussie mussies’, a ‘tussie’ being a nosegay and a ‘mussie’ being the moss packed around the flowers to keep them moist. Posy holders also became popular, allowing the small, fragrant bunches of flowers to be easily portable. They could then be held, modestly, in a young lady’s hand or pinned to a lapel to allow for easy inhalation at infragrant moments. 

At the same time, ‘the language of flowers was evolving. What with the Victorians' aversion to wearing their hearts on their sleeves, being able to say it with flowers rather than words, made things a bit easier. They would send particular flowers, or colours of flowers, in posies in order to convey certain messages. 

If you’d like to send someone a message in a posy, too, here are a few ideas. 

1. Sweet peas - thank you for a lovely time. 

2. Daffodil - the sun is always shining when I’m with you. 

3. Chrysanthemum - you’re a wonderful friend.

4. Azalea - take care of yourself for me. 

5. Daisy - I’ll never tell.

6. Hydrangea - thank you for understanding.

7. Narcissus - stay as sweet as you are. 

8. Zinnia - thinking of an absent friend. 

9. Violet - let’s take a chance on happiness.

10. Monkshood - beware; a deadly foe is here. (Well, you never know). 

If you’re feeling inspired to work with flowers, you might like to create a midsummer floral crown, like the one pictured below. There are instructions for making one on the Gathering feature in our June issue, which is in shops now. The ‘Gathering’,  a Swedish-inspired Midsummer Feast by Rachel de Thample,  also contains recipes for Cold Cucumber Soup with Summer Flowers, Roast Beetroot Salad with Crispy Capers, Meadowsweet and Strawberry Snaps, Homemade Pickled Herring with Fennel, Pommes Anna with Dill Sour Cream, Rye Knӓckerbröd with Caraway and a Swedish Midsummer Strawberry Cake. If working with flowers truly captures your imagination, you may even want to explore florist jobs, where creativity and nature combine beautifully. Or for more floral fun, turn to our Almanac pages, where we have an idea for making an indoor or outdoor flower wall hanging for a summer supper with friends.

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Wellbeing | How to Get Up Early

Mornings are special in summer. Experiencing the dawn, or simply making the most of the quiet at this time to stretch or catch up on a book, starts your day on a positive note.

There’s something quite exciting about creeping out of bed and padding quietly about the house, guarding your precious time before anyone or anything can disturb you. Kerry Sutton is co-founder of Into the Wilds (intothewilds.co.uk) which organises group microadventures in the early morning and evening around the Bath area. “There’s something about being in the outside world when it’s waking up that’s really special,” she says. “All your senses are heightened because you haven’t yet been exposed to noise and stimulation – the grass and trees looks greener in the dew, the birdsong sounds louder and clearer, and you notice animals that you might not see at other times of the day.” Of course, you don’t need to go outside to enjoy the stillness and opportunity of the early morning. You could curl up in a chair and read a few chapters of a book by an open window, do some yoga or writing as the day slowly awakens. “By getting up early and having this time for yourself, you’re coming into the world and starting the day calmly and on your terms rather than launching straight into the demands of the day,” says Kerry.

How to get out of bed earlier

• Gradually bring your waking up time and going to bed time back by 15 minutes a day.

• Plan to do something you really enjoy and that you’ll want to wake up for.

• Sleep with your curtains open and allow the daylight to wake you naturally.

• Spend a night under canvas or in a hammock and wake up with the sunrise and dawn chorus.

• If you’re really tired, go back to sleep – no pressure!

These ideas are part of our feature ‘The Joy of the 5-9’ by Rebecca Frank, in our June issue. It’s all about making more of the daylight hours at the beginning and end of the day (5-9am and 5-9pm).

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Sponsored Post | National School Sports Week

Join in to Play For Fun, Play For 60!

This year’s, National School Sports Week intends to empower children to unleash their potential through play and sport. From 19-25 June, the initiative, powered by Sports Direct, invites schools, families and organisations to embark on a journey of active participation and collective impact.

Research commissioned by the Youth Sport Trust reveals a significant underestimate among parents regarding the recommended levels of daily physical activity for children. While the UK Chief Medical Officer recommends 60 minutes of elevated heart rate activity for children aged 5 to 18 each day, many parents believe merely 30 minutes is enough. This discrepancy highlights the urgent need to raise awareness and inspire children to lead active lives.

Amidst a prevailing wellbeing crisis among young people, studies conducted by Sport England demonstrate that less than half of all children (47%) meet the recommended 60 minutes of daily activity a day, with nearly one third (30%) falling below the 30-minute mark. These statistics underscore the crucial importance of fostering a culture of physical activity and prioritising the wellbeing of children.

National School Sports Week hopes to make a change by amplifying the benefits of play, sport and physical education. By making a #PledgeToPlay for 60 minutes every day during the campaign, schools, families and organisations can make a tangible difference in children's lives. Once you’ve pledged, you’ll be given access to a range of supporting materials and resources to help you achieve your active minutes with your children. Our resources are tailored to suit all age ranges, with separate resources to support schools and families.”

Joining the movement is simple. Visit www.youthsporttrust.org/join-us/nssw to learn more about National School Sports Week and how you can actively contribute. By taking part you become an advocate for change, encouraging children to embrace an active lifestyle, both inside and outside the classroom.

Together, we can ensure that play and sport become an integral part of every child's life. National School Sports Week is an inspiring call to action, inviting the nation to champion the wellbeing, development and happiness of our future generation.

For disabled young people, the Chief Medical Officers’ recommendation is for 20 minutes of physical activity every day and strength and balance activity 3 times a week. You can find out more about the guidelines for disabled young people here.

Wellbeing | How To Hang Out

Hanging out is the new meeting up - and it’s good for your wellbeing, too. Here’s how to embrace an easier, unfussier way to connect.

Meeting with friends doesn’t need to require a committee meeting, weeks of planning and great expense. Rather than co-ordinated gatherings, try simply ‘hanging out’. Here are our favourite ideas for ways to hang out without making it a big deal.

1. Takeaway (or homemade) pizzas in the park. Everyone brings their own.

2. Coffee at your kitchen table while you unpack the weekly shop. 

3. A chat over the Sunday papers and a pot of tea.

4. Sharing a bag of chips on the beach.

5. A joint dog walk. 

6. A cuppa over the fence with a neighbour. 

7. Phone a friend while you cook dinner.

8. Invite someone over for a ‘leftovers’ supper.

9. Saturday morning video chat with someone long-distance. 

10. Watch your favourite TV programme with a mate. 

11. Get together to help someone declutter their wardrobe. 

12. Enjoy the sun in a friend’s garden. 

Our ways to hang out are inspired by our feature The Joy of Hanging Out by Frances Ambler in our May issue. You can find it on page 14.

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Sponsored post | Soak in the Tranquility

Bring simplistic beauty into your outdoor space this summer with the Hikki Bohemen wood-fired hot tub from Bushgear

With longer summer evenings on the horizon, many of us are embracing al fresco living and reconnecting with our outdoor spaces, creating a serene environment in which to relax and escape the hubbub of daily life. We all know the importance of taking time to pause and reset, and how spending time in the open air can soothe even the most frazzled of souls.

So when it comes to unwinding, what could be more relaxing than an outdoor bath? Submerse yourself and soak away life’s stresses. Being virtually silent, wood-fired baths are crafted for peace and tranquillity, creating harmony with nature. No sound pollution here, meaning it’s kinder to both the environment and your neighbours!

Swedish Design

Hikki’s original design combines a saltwater resistant aluminium body with a solid oak frame and interior, making the Bohemen as durable as it is beautiful. Lightweight and easily manoeuvrable, this tub works in locations that are unsuitable for more traditional hot tubs – plus it can be stored away when not in use, allowing you to make the most of your space.

Its simplistic design means that it’s incredibly straightforward to set up, with no need for chemicals or electricity. Using kiln-dried wood to fuel the stove means that your environmental impact is low, too, with the Bohemen being much more sustainable than its counterparts. You can even recycle the water on your veg patch afterwards.

The Hikki Bohemen is available from Bushgear – an independent online retailer specialising in skilfully-crafted products designed with outdoor living in mind. So linger a little longer and start making plans to jump into summer with both feet.

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Playlist | The best of the festivals

Image: Shutterstock

In our June LINGER issue we take a look back at the history of the music festival. Pop this playlist on as you have a listen to really immerse yourself in the moment – and take a read of the stories behind our selection below.

Listen to the playlist on Spotify here.

DJ: Julian Owen

The Wailing Boat by Ted Heath

Recorded at the Beaulieu Jazz Festival (1959)

Up Jumped the Devil by The New York City Ramblers

Recorded at the Newport Folk Festival (1961)

It’s All Over Now by The Rolling Stones

Studio version of a song they played at the National Jazz & Blues Festival in 1964

Light my Fire by The Doors

Their first hit, heading up the charts as they played the Fantasy Fair and Magic Mountain Music Festival in 1967

Shake by Otis Redding

Live at Monterey (1967). Has there ever been a better festival set opener? Look up Monterey Pop, filmmaker D. A. Pennebaker’s magisterial overview of the pioneering Californian gathering.

Woodstock by Matthews Southern Comfort

With a respectful nod to the Joni Mitchell original, which isn’t available on Spotify

Oh Happy Day by The Edwin Hawkins Singers

On the same June weekend that Woodstock rocked upstate New York, Stevie Wonder, Mahalia Jackson and Nina Simone headed a stupendous line up of funk, gospel and soul as the Harlem Cultural Festival hit the city – this is a live recording from that event (aka the Summer of Soul) in 1969.

So Long, Marianne by Leonard Cohen

Live at the Isle of Wight in 1970.

54-56 Was my Number by Toots & The Maytals

One of the stars of the 1970 Caribbean Music Festival at Wembley. As featured in Reggae, an evocative look at reggae’s impact on Britain

I’ll Take You There by The Staple Singers

Recorded at Wattstax in 1972 – in 1972, the celebrated Stax label put on a Los Angeles benefit concert to commemorate the Watts riots, showcasing its stellar soul roster.

Kama K’iwacu by The Drummers of Burundi

Recorded at the first WOMAD in 1982

It’s Like That by Run-D.M.C. Vs. Jason Nevins

The old school rappers headlined the first Creamfields in 1998, the year after Jason Nevins’ remixed their 1983 debut single

If It Makes You Happy by Sheryl Crow

Recorded at the notorious Woodstock 99 and thereby drenching the “… it can’t be that bad” payoff in irony

Ziggy Stardust by David Bowie

Recorded at Glastonbury 2000

The Best of the Festivals playlist on Spotify

Competition | Win £200 to spend at Gudrun Sjödén

Celebrate Gudrun Sjödén’s latest offerings and be in with a chance of winning a spending spree to add some colourful classics to your wardrobe

Summer has arrived and with it, a vibrant medley of hues. Inspired by the rich palettes of Morocco and Gotland, an island off the Swedish coast, Gudrun Sjödén has released its latest collection, which it describes as a love letter to colour.

Key to the summer collection are shimmering jewel-like blues and greens, complemented by spicy reds and yellows, all with a smattering of Gudrun Sjödén’s iconic embroidered details that stem from traditional folk art and handicrafts. If this fills you with joy, then we have two £200 vouchers up for grabs to spend in store or online at Gudrun Sjödén.

Designed to become lifelong wardrobe staples, Gudrun Sjödén’s classic items transcend all ages and can be lovingly cherished and passed from generation to generation, making them sustainable heirloom pieces of the future.

Kind to people and the planet, the company continuously works to minimise its carbon footprint in all areas, from design to production and freight. It has also supported its manufacturers to achieve organic status and to create water recycling systems on their production lines as part of its ongoing commitment to environmentally friendly fashion.

With a loyal following of women of all ages, shapes and sizes, it’s easy to see why Gudrun Sjödén’s designs are so beloved by so many. So enter our competition for your chance to win and join the ever-growing community of colour lovers.

For more info, visit gudrunsjoden.com or follow on Instagram: @gudrunsjoden.ldn and Facebook: @Gudrun Sjödén English.

How to enter

For your chance to win one of two £200 Gudrun Sjödén vouchers*, click on the button below and answer the folloring question by the closing date of 12 July 2023. 

Q: How does Gudrun Sjödén describe its latest collection?

Terms and conditions:

The competition closes at 11.59pm on 12 July 2023. Two winners will be selected at random from all correct entries received and notified soon after. Subject to availability. The winners cannot transfer the prize or swap it for cash. *Vouchers are not valid for carpets and rugs. Details of our full terms and conditions are on p125 and online at icebergpress.co.uk/comprules.

Competition | Win a Weleda Face Care Bundle worth £58.50

Beloved for almost a century, green beauty brand Weleda has recently added the Skin Food Face Care collection to its line-up – and The Simple Things has five Skin Food Face Care bundles up for grabs, worth £58.80 each.

Weleda has extended its iconic range with some ultra nourishing additions

Nourishing and vegan-friendly, the Skin Food Face Care range combines Weleda’s signature botanicals – rosemary, calendula, viola tricolor, chamomile and sunflower – together with antioxidant-rich plant actives.

Included in the prize is the Nourishing Cleansing Balm, which easily removes dirt and impurities for clean, soft, glowing skin. The Nourishing Day Cream protects and moisturises, while the Nourishing Night Cream will see you wake to a nourished, silky-soft complexion. The Skin Food Ultra-Light Dry Oil completes the bundle and works to boost hydration and skin radiance, all in a simple spritz.

All Weleda products are NATRUE-certified natural and made without synthetic ingredients or additives. Weleda’s supply chains are UEBT-certified sustainable to verify that biodiversity is conserved, ingredients are sourced ethically, and that all partners along the chain are treated equitably and paid fairly.

So linger a while as you apply and enjoy the glow that Skin Food gives… to both your skin and the world around you.

For more information, visit weleda.co.uk or follow on Instagram: @weledauk.

How to enter

For your chance to win one of five Weleda Skin Food Face Care bundles, click the button below and answer the following question by the closing date of 12 July 2023.
Q What are Weleda’s signature botanicals?

Terms and conditions

The competition closes at 11.59pm on 12 July 2023. Five winners will be selected at random from all correct entries received and notified soon after. Subject to availability. The winners cannot transfer their prize or swap it for cash. Details of our full terms and conditions are on p125 and online at icebergpress.co.uk/comprules.

Outing | Railway Rambles

Old railway lines are accessible, easy to follow and a pleasure to roam

The UK has more than 4,000 miles of ex railway lines, criss-crossing the country, that are there to be used by walkers. Most came about as a result of the Beeching Report in 1963, which closed down swathes of the rail network. Many of the routes eventually were reclaimed for public use by walkers and cyclists and remain so to this day. 

Railway routes are wonderful for walking on. They’re largely straight, often smooth and raised up a little, so they drain well, meaning no muddy boots. Because they’re such easy terrain, they’re accessible to all, regardless of age or ability. They’re also easy to navigate and hard to get lost on so you don’t even need to take a map. Next time you’re thinking of a good walk, maybe consider a railway ramble instead. Here are a few spots around the country where you can do just that. 

The Camel Trail, Cornwall

This railway once ran between Padstow and Wendfordbridge along the Camel Estuary and was used to transport sand from the estuary to inland farms. It’s great for bird watchers and passes through beautiful countryside. Poet John Betjeman called it “the most beautiful railway journey I know” and it’s still pretty lovely today. 

Parkland Walk, London

This path was once the Finsbury Park to Alexandra Palace rail route and passes through the former Crouch End station (pictured above). It has wonderful views over London from the top of the hill at Ally Pally. 

The Mawddach Trail, Wales

Following the southern edge of the Mawddach estuary, this route runs from Barmouth to Dolgellau through Snowdonia National Park. One of the most accessible railway rambles, it’s largely wheelchair friendly - you can also hire a ‘tramper’ - and the North Wales Society for the Blind has produced a free audio guide to download that accompanies the trail. 

Innocent Railway Path, Scotland

Running from Newington, under Holyrood Park out to Brunstane. A highlight of the path is the 517 metre Innocent Tunnel, one of the UK’s oldest railway tunnels and pleasingly eerie!

Monsal Trail, The Peak District

One of the newer railway walks, this stretch from Buxton to Bakewell was only rescued in 1981 and some of the amazing 400-metre tunnels have only been reopened in the last decades, so there’s novelty factor to this stretch of railway. It also has some amazing views to enjoy. Don’t miss the cafe in the old station ticket office at Millers Dale.

Find more railway routes to walk on the OS website.

The picture above is of the abandoned platform along Parkland Walk in London. It’s part of our feature all about nature reserves in the May issue of The Simple Things, which is on sale now. 
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Learn | Leaf identifier

Our May back cover seemed so fitting for our ‘Leaf’ theme this month, we put it on the front cover, too. Here are a few more things to learn about leaves this month

Now the trees are in leaf, wouldn’t it be lovely to actually know what you’re looking at on a woodland wander? The Woodland Trust has some good advice on learning to identify trees by their leaves. It suggests first looking at whether the leaves are broadleaf (simple leaves in one part like oak leaves) or compound (made up of several different leaflets such as rowan or horse chestnut). Other things to look at are the shape and size of leaves as well as the colour. Check to see if the edges are toothed or smooth, too. Count the veins on the bottom of the leaf and note whether they are straight or curved. The Trust has a free Tree ID app to download on their website (woodlandtrust.org.uk) which is very useful for when you’re out and about, and you can buy a leaf swatch book from their shop, too. If you want more detailed information, Collins’ Complete Guide to British Trees means you will never again bark up the wrong tree.

The leaf identifier is taken from our Almanac pages, which provide inspiration each month on things to note and notice, plan and do. The nature table image above was taken by Alice Tatham of The Wildwood Moth. She also runs workshops on seasonal photography and publishes seasonal journal stories from her home in Dorset.

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Recipe | Spring Slaw

This Spring Slaw of mange tout, fennel, radishes, seeds and apple is delicious with dark rye toast and also goes well with something fatty like duck legs for a crisp, tart contrast. Take your time cutting matchstick-thin batons while you listen to the radio.

Serves 4 as a starter or side

Ingredients

2 tbsp pumpkin seeds
2 tbsp sunflower seeds
2 tbsp hemp seeds
150g mange tout or sugar snaps
2 small green kohl rabi
1 small fennel bulb
1 apple
3 spring onions
¼ spring cabbage
3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
1 lemon, juiced
1 tsp honey
Handful pea shoots, to serve

How to make

1 Put the seeds in a dry frying pan set over a medium heat and toast them for 3-4 mins, or until just golden. Set aside to cool.

2 Finely shred or mandoline all the fruit and veg and toss in a large bowl.

3 Whisk together the extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice and honey with a pinch of salt and pour over the raw veg, add the cooled seeds and mix thoroughly, but gently.

4 Pile onto plates and finish with a few fronds of pea shoots.

This slaw is just one of the recipes from our monthly feature ‘Veg Patch Pantry’, in which Kathy Slack show us how to enjoy the fruits (and veg) of your May garden plot, allotment or veg box.

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More ways with veg…

Playlist | Eurovision

It’s Eurovision week! Time for camp costumes and ridiculous sets, at-home score cards and barefaced political voting.To get you in the spirit, our resident Eurovision enthusiast Fiona has put together a playlist of some favourites from over the years. You can have a listen on Spotify here, or see the full track listing below. Have we included your favourites?

Remember, some Eurovision songs should only be experienced in all their bizarre staged glory: see Finland’s monstrous 2006 hit, Hard Rock Hallelujah, Ukraine’s fabulous 2007 drag act Verka Serduchka and Moldova’s ‘epic sax guy’ from 2010.

Download at-home score cards here, or just make your own by scoring Song, Performance, Staging and Surprise factor out of 10.

The Eurovision playlist track listing
DJ: Fiona Hamilton

Nel Blu Dipinto Del Blu by Domenico Modugno
Italy, 1958

Boom Bang A Bang by Lulu
UK, 1969: WINNER!

Puppet On A String by Sandie Shaw
UK, 1967: WINNER!

Waterloo by ABBA
Sweden, 1974: WINNER!

Save Your Kisses For Me by Brotherhood of Man
UK, 1976: WINNER!

Making Your Mind Up by Bucks Fizz
UK, 1981: WINNER!

Love Shine A Light by Katrina & The Waves
UK, 1997: WINNER!

Fly on the Wings of Love by The Olsen Brothers
Denmark, 2000: WINNER!

Divine by Sébastian Tellier
France, 2008

Fairytale by Alexander Rybak
Norway, 2009: WINNER!

Amar Pelos Dois by Salvador Sobrai
Portugal, 2017

Sebi by Zala Kralj & Gašper Šantl
Slovenia, 2019

Think About Things by Daði Freyr
Iceland, 2020: Eurovision cancelled due to Covid

Voilá by Barbara Pravi
France, 2021

Set Me Free by Eden Alene
Israel, 2021

Love Is On My Side by The Black Mamba
Portugal, 2021

Stefania by Kalush Orchestra
Ukraine, 2022: WINNER!

I Wrote A Song by Mae Muller
UK, 2023: WINNER?

Royal Recipes | Battenberg Cake

A right royal retro treat for street parties and home scoffing alike.

Battenberg cake was first baked in 1884 to celebrate Princess Victoria’s (Queen Victoria’s granddaughter and Prince Philip’s grandmother – making her King Charles’ great-grandmother) marriage to Prince Louis of Battenberg. Early cakes could have as many as 25 squares!

Serves 6

You will need

125g butter, softened
125g caster sugar
2 eggs
½ tsp almond extract
100g self-raising flour
50g ground almonds
2 tbsp milk
Red food colouring (this uses Dr Oetker’s gel food colouring, nearly the whole tube)
Pinch of salt
100g apricot jam
350g marzipan
Icing sugar, for dusting

To make

1 Heat oven to 180C/Fan 160C/Gas 4. Using a triple layer of foil, make a barrier down the centre of a 20cm square tin, then line each compartment with two pieces of baking paper.

2 To make the sponge, cream the butter then whisk in the sugar a couple of tablespoons at a time.

3 Whisk the eggs and add the almond extract. Gradually beat this into the butter mixture.

4 Sift the flour, salt and ground almonds into the bowl. Finally, add the milk and carefully fold everything together with a metal spoon. Measure half the mixture and place that into another bowl. Add the food colouring a drop at a time into one of the bowls until you get a really vibrant pink batter. Carefully spoon the uncoloured mixture into one half of the tin and level the top, then spoon the pink portion into the other half and do the same. Bake for 20 to 25 mins, or until a skewer comes out clean. Allow the cakes to cool for a couple of minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack.

5 Cut each sponge in half lengthways, so that you end up with two pink and two yellow strips.

6 Warm the apricot jam in a saucepan with a tablespoon of water, then press it through a sieve. Take a pink cake strip and brush one side with the jam. Place a yellow piece next to it, jam sides facing, and push the two gently together. Brush the top surface with jam and place a piece of yellow cake atop the pink piece and vice versa with the yellow. Brush all the outside edges with yet more jam glaze.

7 On a surface dusted with icing sugar, knead, then roll out your marzipan into a 30cm x 20cm rectangle, large enough to wrap the cake.

8 Roll the cakes tightly in the marzipan, gently smoothing the marzipan with your hands to neaten it. Turn the cake back over with the seam underneath, trim a slice off each end and serve.

Taken from The Hebridean Baker: My Scottish Island Kitchen by Coinneach Macleod (Black and White Publishing). Photography: Susie Lowe

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Having a Coronation gathering yourself? As well as serving up this Battenberg Cake, you could take inspiration from Royal Knees Ups of years gone by…

A Tarragon, Spinach and Broad Bean Quiche has been chosen as the official dish to celebrate for King Charles III’s coronation, but that’s the ‘official dish’ for those of us celebrating at home. The coronation banquet on the day is likely to be much more fancy.

Should you choose to push the boat out for your own celebrations, you could do worse than recreate the meal served for Queen Elizabeth II’s Coronation State Banquet on 3 June 1953. 

The feast began with Tortue Claire Sandringham (clear turtle soup). Turtle is most definitely off the menu these days, so you could make it a Mock Turtle Soup instead and use beef mince. The fish course was Delices des Soles Prince Charles - easy enough to recreate, as is the rack of lamb and vegetables that followed. After that was Asparagus with Sauce Mouselline (we’re not posh enough to know why a random vegetable course appears between the main and dessert, but we’re going to assume it is called ‘The Asparagus Course’ and try it at home. Why not?) The Coronation Banquet ended with Boites de Fraises Reine Elizabeth, which we’re hoping was fancier than a punnet of strawberries, alongside assorted ‘friandises’, which we have discovered to be ‘tiny little cakes and things’. 

If you wanted to go properly historical, how about a pheasant platter with pigeon and partridge, which was served at Richard III’s Coronation Banquet in 1483? He rounded it off with baked quinces and oranges for pud.

Feeling ambitious? Vegetarians should definitely look away now: Henry VIII’s coronation banquet of 1509 is said to have included swans and peacocks served with their feathers fanned decoratively, as if they were still alive. (Bet they tasted like chicken…)

Meanwhile, an entirely edible model temple made from sweet meats and marzipans as in George IV’s coronation meal, would definitely get you a Hollywood Handshake from your guests, too. 

Don’t forget the entertainment. Tradition dictates that the King’s champion rides into the banqueting hall on horseback, battle ready and challenge any guests who may want to deny the King his throne to a duel. We’re not saying you need to hire an actual knight for your coronation gathering, but it would be more fun than a round of Monopoly after dinner, wouldn’t it?

You’ll find the Battenberg Cake and more ideas for a royally good gathering in our May issue.
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Folklore | Jack in the Green

This May Day, meet a famous folklore face… Jack in the Green…

Compton Verney in Warwickshire, famed for its folk-art collection, is hosting an exhibition called Making Mischief: Folk Costume in Britain, curated by Simon Costin and Mellany Robinson of the Museum of British Folklore, and Professor Amy de la Haye from the London College of Fashion. It features more than 40 costumes on display, including this ‘Jack in the Green’ get up, the walking embodiment of the Green Man, that emblem of rebirth commonly carved in churches and painted on pub signs.

A Mayday custom first recorded in the 18th century, Jack and his attendant Green Bogies lead merrymakers until, at day’s end, he is stripped of his leaves to unleash the spirit of summer. One of the most notable annual events is the one revived in Hastings in 1983.

Exhibition curator Simon Costin was so enchanted by the spectacle that he co-founded Gay Bogies on Acid (fellow member, Spencer Horne, is pictured above), whose subsequent – and spectacular – impact on proceedings is widely seen as a touchstone for advancing LGBTQ+ inclusion in folk customs.

Making Mischief: Folk Costume in Britain is at Compton Verney until 11 June 2023. comptonverney.org.uk. See more of the costumes in the May issue of The Simple Things, which is on sale now.

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Make | Homemade Yogurt

Rachel de Thample shares a simple and slow recipe for homemade yogurt that is part breakfast prep, part mindful activity. Sprinkle seeds on top, enjoy with fresh fruit or compote or drizzle over spicy main courses for dinner.

Making your own yogurt is incredibly easy, wildly satisfying and completely undeserving of its worthy tag. There are also no by-products. While there are bulky yogurt-making contraptions, you can get the same result by simply using a heavy pot or a Thermos. My favourite vessel is a lidded cast iron pot which you can get surprisingly cheap second-hand if you look online, or if you keep your eyes peeled in local vintage markets.

Makes 1 litre

You will need:

1 ltr whole milk
3 tbsp full-fat natural yogurt with live cultures

You will also need:

A thermometer
A Thermos or a heavy pot with a lid

How to make

1 Gently warm the milk until it reaches 45°C. Whisk in the yogurt and stir well to mix evenly. Incubate by placing the warmed, cultured milk into a cast iron pot with lid and placing it in an oven on its lowest setting (no higher than 45°C). Alternatively, pour into a Thermos and seal. Let it incubate for 10-12 hrs at which stage the yogurt should be set. The key during this period is to keep the temperature between 35°C to 45°C. Do not let the temperature go above 47°C or it could kill the live bacteria.

2 Once the yogurt is set, spoon into jars and transfer to the fridge. It’ll store nicely for a week and if you save a few spoons back, you can use it to make your next batch. You can also use this homemade yogurt to make labneh.

Things to stir into your yogurt

You can use your homemade yogurt any way you like but it’s excellent as breakfast, or a snack with tasty things stirred into it. Here are a few ideas…

1. Chopped dried apricots and almonds.

2. Honey and dried lavender.

3. Granola and syrup.

4. Mixed seeds and fresh raspberries.

5. Stewed rhubarb and pistachios.

6. Peanut butter and strawberries

7. Chia seeds and coconut flakes.

8. Spiced cooked pears.

9. Chopped apple, cinnamon and sugar.

10. Grated beetroot and toasted walnuts.

This is just one of the recipes from our ‘Home Economics’ feature, ‘Do-it-Yourself Dairy’ by Rachel de Thample, from our May issue. It also includes instructions for making Kefir Labneh, Ricotta, Paneer and Cultured Butter.

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Learn | Hedge Witchery

In our May issue we met modern hedge witch, Willow, in our ‘Know A Thing or Two’ feature about hedgerows. Here, she tells us a bit more about her craft.

How would you define hedge witchery or hedgecraft?

Hedge witchery or hedgecraft is generally a solitary, shamanistic practice in which the witch engages in spirit work and hedge riding, usually with some herbalism thrown in. Hedge riding is the act of using an altered state of consciousness to cross from our realm into the Otherworld to seek guidance from spirit guides, receive messages, and even practise magic.

How do you use hedgerows in your practice?

In hedgecraft, hedgerows act as a barrier between our world and the Otherworld, just as the hedge acts as the dividing line between civilization and the wild. It isn’t so much that the hedge is necessarily used literally in hedgecraft, but more metaphorically to explain the process of crossing between realms. However, there’s many a hedge witch that use hedgerows literally. Like all in-between places, hedgerows are liminal spaces, offering a thin place to easily travel to the Otherworld. Crossing under a bramble arch or other gap in the hedge, if done at the right location, can result in the witch being transported to the Otherworld where they can engage with the beings found there, including the Fae, ancestors, and other spirits.

Tell us about your craft and how these rituals relate to the Wheel of the Year? (What do you do to mark the year's chief solar events)?

A lot of my practice follows the Wheel of the Year, working with the ebb and flow of the Earth’s natural cycles instead of against it. At Imbolc or the Winter Thermstice I perform rituals to call back the light, while at the Summer Solstice I celebrate the Sun’s full return and the blessings the Earth provides us with. I also like to hedge ride during these solar events, especially during Beltane and Samhain when the veil is thinnest between our worlds, and to honour local spirits and give thanks. A lot of what I do centres on being present, thankful, and mindful, allowing the hussle and bustle of everyday life and worries to go. Witchcraft doesn’t have to be constant spells and rituals and shouldn’t. Practising mindfulness and building relationships with the spirits around you is key to being successful, happy and fulfilled. 

What connects your practice with the hedge witches of the past?

There is absolutely no way to fully revive the practices of the past. There is just too much we don’t know, too much that is speculation, and too little well documented from reliable sources, ie people not being tortured for a confession. However, what we do have gives us some ideas of what the cunning folk of the past did, especially things like herbalism and medicine, charm bags, and even cursing. Much of this is found in folklore, which I rely upon heavily and incorporate into my practice through correspondences, spells and simple rituals. I also use flying ointments, some of which are based on historical recipes, have joined the Witch’s Sabbath while hedge riding, and even cast spells documented in the old Grimoires. However, what really connects me with the hedge witches of the past are my ancestors. We all have magic in our family line, and even if they didn’t practise “witchcraft” in the traditional sense, they have knowledge and connection that cannot be found in books.

How can we bring hedgecraft into our everyday lives?

The easiest way to incorporate hedgecraft into your daily life is being aware of the world and spirits around you and the impact you have upon them. Live sustainably, see the magic in all that you do and be mindful and present in the moment.

 Find out more at flyingthehedge.com and read more about hedgerows from page 77 of the May issue.

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April | Nature Table

Here’s our April nature table from our back cover. If you’re foraging for wild garlic or picking a small posy from your garden, do take a picture of the spoils of your own nature table and share it with us. The nature table photograph above is by Alice Tatham, of The Wildwood Moth, who runs workshops on seasonal photography and publishes seasonal journal stories from Dorset.

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Playlist | Kings & Queens

Take a listen to our really royal playlist on Spotify here.
Or browse all our playlists.