WW24 2022

Picture This GET IN TOUCH
Find out what Woman’s
Way readers have been This is Daisy. She ran
up to recently… away and never came
back. We really miss her.
From: Rachael Carroll,
Co Dublin

Honey’s birthday cake. She’s licking her lips.
From: Joan Keating, Co Dublin

Didn’t know ‘witch’
way to go.
From: Mary Condon,
Co Tipperary
Beautiful blooms.
From: Sarah Casey,
Co Waterford

Girl's night out.
From: Marie O’Neill, Co Wicklow

Do you have photos you’d like to share?
Send them to [email protected]

WOMANSWAY.IE 51

CELEB PIXELS PRIZE CROSSWORD 24

I’m an English actress I’m an aussie actress who’s
and first got the taste of probably best known for my
stardom at just four years roles in the Pitch Perfect
of age when I appeared in a movies. I sing, as well as act
television advert for Birds and over the last couple of
Eye frozen peas. I’m going years I’ve undergone a bit
to be making my appearance of a body transformation. I
on Albert Square soon. I’m recently welcomed my first
no stranger to the world of daughter, Royce Lillian, via
soaps and have previously surrogate and I’m thrilled.
starred in Emmerdale and
Holby City. ACROSS: 7. CULTURED (13); 8. RUSTIC (8); 9. NOBLEMAN (4);
10. BOIL (6); 12. SICKLY (6); 14. HAPPEN (6); 16. INERT (6); 18.
ANSWERS: 1 SCOTT JOPLIN; EUROPEAN; MIAMI, FLORIDA; 1389. 2 CAROL VORDERMAN; AWHO AM I? BLEMISH (4); 20. HUGE (8); 22. CONSISTENCY (13). DOWN: 1.
LIGHT YEAR; PERU; 1959. CHANGEABLE (8); 2. METRE (6); 3. EMPLOYER (4); 4. TACTICIAN
1>> I was an actor, director and producer. Probably best known (8); 5. ROAM (6); 6. BILL (4); 11. DEMOTE (8); 13. START (8); 15.
ANSWER: RICHARD ATTENBOROUGH; KELLY ROWLAND.for my roles in Brighton Rock, Miracle on 34th Street andSUDDEN (6); 17. FESTER (6); 19. SATIATE (4); 21. TAUNT (4).
Jurassic Park. I also directed Gandhi in 1982. I passed away in
ANSWER: PATSY KENSIT; REBEL WILSON.2014 aged 90. My brother is a famous naturalist.QUICK CROSSWORD SOLUTION ISSUE 23
ACROSS: 1 JUST; 8 WATERTIGHT; 9 BURGLARY; 10 ANEW; 12 STROVE;
2>> I was born in 1981 in Atlanta, Georgia. My real name is 14 RAIDER; 15 OBJECT; 17 SHEATH; 18 PEEL; 19 FOREWARN; 21
Kelendria. I moved in with my childhood friend and together we INCOHERENT; 22 TIER. DOWN: 2 UNSUITABLE; 3 TWIG; 4 ETHANE;
found fame in the group Destiny’s Child. I’m a solo artist now and 5 PRAYER; 6 FINALISE; 7 STOW; 11 ELECTORATE; 13 OVERLOOK; 16
have also appeared as a judge on the X Factor and The Voice. TOFFEE; 17 SCREEN; 18 PAIN; 20 WATT.

THE 4 Ws 2 ENTER TO WIN W€O7R0TH

1 WHO… le Tomorrow’s A CHRISTMAS
World following a row over PAMPER BUNDLE
WHO… wrote Maple Leaf advertising?
Rag, the first instrumental One lucky reader will receive a customized
sheet music to allegedly sell a WHAT… unit of distance Christmas bundle from Beauty Belle, featuring a
million copies? represents roughly 5.88 selection of their best-selling products to give you the ultimate pampering treat
WHAT… does the E stand million million miles? this Christmas. Prize includes Silcare So Rose So Gold Body Set, Celebration
for in food additive code Moments set, QUIN Deep Sea Mud Mask (Face and Body) and 2 premium anti-
numbers? WHERE… Where would you ageing Timeless Truth face masks. Visit beautybelle.ie
WHERE… in the US did find the Machu Picchu ruins?
Labour MP John Stonehouse HOW TO ENTER
stage his disappearance? WHEN… did Russia’s Lunik Please send a picture of your completed crossword grid to
WHEN… did Margaret I III first send back pictures of [email protected]. No postal entries please.
became Queen of Denmark, the dark side of the moon? The closing date for entries is December 5, 2022.
Norway and Sweden?
This Woman’s Way competition is open to anyone resident in NI and the Republic of Ireland,
aged 18 and over, except employees and their families of Harmonia Publishing, its printers and
anyone else connected with the competition. No purchase is necessary. We will only accept
one competition entry per reader. Prizes are awarded by drawing entries a er the closing date.
Winners will be notified by email. The editor’s decision is final.

52 WOMANSWAY.IE

THE BIG QUIZ TIME OUT

2
39

1>> Mars has announced 10
which chocolate will
be absent from some 6
of its Celebrations
tubs in limited edition
alternatives?
A Milky Way
B Mars
C Bounty
D Snickers

2>> Who has been announced bioluminescent, glow-in-the- B Tom Brady
as the host of the Oscars for dark, animal in the deep sea? C Jim Brown
2022? A Kitefin shark D Peyton Manning
A Jimmy Kimmel B Luminous jellyfish
B Jimmy Fallon C Sea firefly 10>> Leslie Phillips passed 13
C James Corden D Lantern fish away this month. A highly
D Stephen Colbert decorated British actor for film
7>> People have fallen seriously and TV, he was also known for
3>> A member of the Garda ill with E coli-related diseases voicing the Sorting Hat in the
Anti-Corruption Unit handed across the UK due to what? Harry Potter films. What age
back his Dublin Marathon medal A Too many people eating fast was he when he passed?
recently a er it emerged, he did food
what mid-race? B Raw sewage being pumped A 89 13>> What is the name of the
A Jumped in a squad car into seas and rivers B 98 new Jamie Oliver restaurant in
B Got on a bicycle C People ignoring boil water C 79 Dublin?
C Got on the Luas notices D 85 A Country Lane
D Hopped on a garda horse D Farmed chickens B Chequer Lane
11>> Which Irish retailer C Oliver Lane
4>> Gra ti artist Banksy 8>> There was a bird flu is opening a new store in D Jools Lane
unveiled a new work in the outbreak in Co Monaghan Dundrum Shopping Centre in
war torn city of Borodyanka, recently. What animals did it Dublin? 14>> Senator Lynn Ruane went
Ukraine. What was the mural hit? A Lidl on a road trip around Ireland
portraying? A Chickens B Supervalu this year with which famous UK
A A girl with a balloon B Turkeys C Dunnes Stores personality?
B A horse standing on a tank C Ducks D Aldi A Dawn French
C A little boy sliding down the D Cows B Joanna Lumley
side of a damaged building 12>> Which iconic Irish boyband C Patsy Kensit
D A female gymnast balancing on 9>> An American football are heading up Dublin’s New D Miriam Margolyes
a damaged building player who inspired the film, Year’s Eve festival this year?
The Blind Side, married his A Westlife ANSWERS: 1C, 2A, 3C, 4D, 5C, 6A, 7B
5>> At what age did Anabel partner of 17 years this week. B U2 THAT WE KNOW OF, 8B, 9A, 10B, 11C, 12A,
Graetz manage to clear her Who was it? C The Script 13B, 14D
debts, thanks to her newfound A Michael Oher D Boyzone
career in acting?
A 60
B 70
C 80
D 90

6>> What is the largest

WOMANSWAY.IE 53

Neven’s
WINTER
WARMERS

Cover Star Neven Maguire shares some of the
recipes from his latest collection.

Minced Rump 6). Heat a large are tender. Drain, leave to
Wellington non-stick frying pan steam-dry for a few minutes,
over a high heat. then tip back into the pan and
I wanted this to be cooked in an hour so Add the butter and mash with the butter, cream
have taken a short cut by using some frozen frozen vegetables or butter and season to taste. Keep warm
vegetables. The classic vegetable base mix used and quickly saute until ready to serve. Once cool this can be
here has finely diced celery, carrot and onion for 2-3 minutes wrapped in clingfilm and kept in the fridge
but there’s all sorts of variations depending until just tender. or frozen.
on where you shop. It’s freezer friendly and Season generously. 6 Heat the rest of the beef gravy in a small
includes lots of veg. 2 Meanwhile, remove pan or in the microwave, then pour into
the beef sausages a gravy boat. Tip the turnip mash into a
SERVES 4-6 from their cases serving bowl and scatter over a little parsley.
and put in a large Transfer the minced beef Wellington on to
Prep time: 15 minutes Cooking time: 1 ¼ bowl with the a chopping board still on the parchment to
hours minced beef. Add slice into portions at the table.
the tomato relish
INGREDIENTS and one of the Mango Glazed Gammon
∂ knob of butter eggs, then tip in & Pineapple
∂ 350g classic vegetable base mix the vegetables and add four tablespoons
∂ 300g beef sausages (good quality) of the gravy. Check that the mix is sturdy A twist on an old favourite that I’ve served with
∂ 400g lean minced rump steak enough. Season generously and mix until some creamy colcannon – the combination
∂ 4 tbsp tomato country relish (Ballymaloe or evenly combined. works very well.
3 Unroll one of the pastry sheets onto a baking
similar) sheet lined with parchment paper. Break the SERVES 4
∂ 2 tbsp chopped fresh-flat leaf parsley, plus remaining egg into a small bowl and beat
with a pinch of salt, then brush all over the
extra to garnish pastry. Shape the minced beef mixture into a
∂ 2 large eggs long sausage shape on top, leaving plenty of
∂ 1 x 300ml readymade beef gravy room to make a border.
∂ 1 x 640g packet 2 pu pastry sheets, thawed 4 Unroll the second sheet of pastry and
carefully lay on top, then using a sharp knife
if frozen trim around to make a neat oblong shape.
Decorate the top with any o cuts and
FOR THE MASH scallop the edges with a table knife. Brush
∂ 2 large potatoes, cut into chunks with the rest of the beaten egg. This can be
∂ 2 carrots, peeled and cut into chunks wrapped in clingfilm and kept in the fridge or
∂ 1 small turnip, peeled and cut into chunks frozen. Bake for 1 hour until cooked through
∂ knob of butter and golden brown.
∂ 4 tbsp cream or milk 5 Meanwhile, put the potatoes and turnip
∂ Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper into a pan of cold salted water and bring to
the boil. Reduce the heat, cover and cook
METHOD for 15-20 minutes until all the vegetables
1 Preheat the oven to 200ºC (400ºF/gas mark

54 WOMANSWAY.IE

RECIPES

another 3-4 minutes or until the gammon
steaks are cooked through and the pineapple
looks sticky and golden. Leave to rest for a
few minutes while you finish the colcannon.
4 Add the cabbage or spring greens to the
potatoes and cook for another 3 minutes
until the potatoes are tender and the greens
are nicely wilted. Drain into a colander in the
sink. Pour the milk into the same pan and
tip in the scallions. Bring to quick simmer,
then return the potatoes and greens with
the butter and crush to make a rough mash.
Season with salt and pepper.
5 Arrange the gammon steaks on plates with
the pineapple rings and the colcannon. Any
le over glaze can be put into a small dish for
dipping.

ornhill Duck with
Sage & Onion Roasties

Prep time: 20 minutes Cooking time: 25 Thornhill is about a mile down the road from METHOD
minutes where I live, and I’ve been using it in the 1 Preheat the oven to 180ºC (350ºF/gas mark
restaurant for over 30 years. My good friends
Ken and Sorcha Mo tt breed ducks that are 4). Keep the duck in the foil tray it comes
a cross between Peking and Aylesbury making in and remove all other packaging. Stu the
them incredibly succulent and delicious. Ken cavity with the orange and thyme and smear
is now supplying oven ready ducks to selected all over with the oil. Pour 100ml of water into
supermarkets and butchers and they are so the tray which will help create steam in the
worth tracking down. This recipe is also freezer oven as the duck cooks. Season with pepper
friendly and includes lots of veg. and roast for 1 ½ hours.
2 Meanwhile, cook the potatoes in a pan of
SERVES 4-6 boiling salted water until they are beginning
to so en around the edges, then let them
INGREDIENTS Prep time: 20 mins + 20 mins resting steam dry for a minute or so. Mix the
∂ 675g potatoes, cut into small pieces Cooking time: 2 ½ hours semolina, onion granules and sage and
∂ 6 tbsp spiced mango chutney season generously. Tip the potatoes into a
∂ 2 tbsp lemon juice INGREDIENTS roasting tin. Remove the duck from the oven
∂ 4 x 200g dry cured gammon steaks ∂ 1 oven ready Irish whole duck, at room and carefully drain about three tablespoons of
∂ 300g spring greens or green cabbage, the fat and juices from the tin, then pop the
temperature (preferably Thornhill) duck back in to finish cooking.
roughly chopped (any tough stalks removed) ∂ 1 orange, cut into quarters 3 Brush the potatoes all over with the duck fat
∂ 1 bunch scallions, thinly sliced ∂ 5g bunch of fresh thyme juices and then sprinkle over the semolina
∂ 8 ready-prepared fresh pineapple rings ∂ 1 tbsp rapeseed oil mixture, turning to coat. Roast for 1 hour,
∂ 120ml milk ∂ 1kg potatoes, cut into large chunks turning once until crisp and golden brown.
∂ 25g butter ∂ 1 tbsp semolina 4 To make the sauce, heat a saute pan over
∂ sea salt and freshly ground black pepper ∂ 2 tsp onion granules a medium heat and pour in the balsamic
∂ 1 ½ tsp dried sage vinegar and allow to bubble down, then whisk
METHOD in the soy & ginger sauce, honey, sugar and
1 Put the potatoes in a pan of boiling salted FOR THE SAUCE ketchup. Add the cloves and then pour in the
∂ 3 tbsp balsamic vinegar stock. Simmer until reduced by half and then
water and return to the boil, then reduce the ∂ 1 tbsp soy & ginger sauce season to taste, strain into a clean pan and
heat and simmer for 12 minutes until almost ∂ 3 tbsp orange blossom honey reheat when ready to use.
tender. ∂ 1 tbsp light brown sugar 5 The duck needs 2 ¼ hours in total or until
2 Meanwhile, preheat the grill to high. Put ∂ 2 tbsp tomato ketchup the duck is golden brown and tender. The
the mango chutney in a small bowl with the ∂ 6 whole cloves drumsticks should feel nice and loose if you
lemon juice, stirring to combine. Arrange the ∂ 500ml fresh beef stock
gammon steaks and pineapple on a baking tin ∂ sea salt and freshly ground black pepper Continued overleaf >>
with tin foil. Grill for 6 minutes, turning once. ∂ steamed purple sprouting broccoli, to serve
3 Turn everything in the baking tin over again
and brush with most of the glaze. Grill for

WOMANSWAY.IE 55

RECIPES

want to make sure it is properly cooked. of beans is perfect. Cut into wedges to serve tin for 3-4 minutes until toasted.
6 Transfer the duck to a warm platter to rest with some crisps alongside. Any le overs can 2 Unroll one roll of the pu pastry sheets
be kept according to guidelines.
while you finish cooking the potatoes. Help and cut into quarters. Divide the goat’s
this along by increasing the oven temperature Goat’s Cheese & Sticky cheese slices among them, leaving a 2.5cm
to 200ºC (400ºF/gas mark 6). Fig Relish Puffs border around the edges and add a heaped
7 Strain the sauce into a jug and pile the sage tablespoon of the sticky fig relish to each one.
& onion roasties around the duck. Serve We are so lucky to have so many excellent goat’s Crack the egg into a small bowl and whisk
straight to the table with the purple sprouting cheese producers in Ireland and here I’m using with a pinch of salt, then brush around the
broccoli family style. Any le overs can be kept a fresh goat’s cheese like St. Tola which has no edges.
according to guidelines. rind. I just adore this combination, so I’ve played 3 Unroll the second pu pastry sheet and cut
around with the ingredients and come up with into quarters. Place a second rectangle of pu
Christmas Muffuletta this recipe. It uses my sticky fig relish that is pastry on top of the filling and carefully seal
Sandwich now available under the Simply Better range in and crimp around the edges. Score some lines
Dunnes Stores. on the top of each one and brush with the
A traditional style mu uletta sandwich consists rest of the egg wash. Scatter over the sesame
of a round loaf split horizontally and filled with SERVES 4 seeds and transfer to a baking sheet lined
layers of delicious Italian ingredients. This with parchment paper. Chill for 20 minutes
version makes for the perfect festive inspired Prep time: 20 minutes Cooking time: 30 to rest or can be kept in the fridge or frozen
sandwich but is just too good to only have once minutes (guidelines p.00).
a year. 4 Preheat the oven to 200ºC (400ºF/gas mark
INGREDIENTS 6). Bake the goat’s cheese pu s for 20-25
SERVES 4 ∂ 2 x 320g packets pu pastry, thawed if frozen minutes until the pastry is cooked and looks
∂ 675g fresh goat’s cheese, cut into 2cm slices pu ed up and golden.
Prep time: 15 minutes + chilling time ∂ 4 heaped tbsp sticky fig relish 5 Meanwhile, heat a non-stick frying pan over
∂ 1 egg a medium heat. Add the toasted pecan nuts
INGREDIENTS ∂ 2 tsp sesame seeds and then drizzle over the apple syrup or honey
∂ 1 round sourdough loaf and add the butter. Cook for a minute or two
∂ 2 tbsp red onion chutney FOR THE SALAD until glazed and sticky. Tip out on to a piece
∂ 4 slices Swiss cheese ∂ 50g pecan nuts of parchment paper and leave to cool.
∂ 200g thinly sliced cooked turkey ∂ knob of butter 6 Trim down the chicory and break into leaves,
∂ 3 tbsp honey & mustard mayonnaise ∂ 1 tbsp Highbank apple syrup (or use honey) then gently toss in a bowl with the salad.
∂ 6 cooked pork sausages, halved lengthways ∂ 1 chicory Arrange on plates with the beetroot and
∂ 1 x 100g bag watercress, rocket & rocket drizzle over the balsamic and rapeseed oil.
(or 200g sausage stu ng) Scatter over the caramelised pecan nuts and
∂ 3 slices applewood smoked Cheddar salad add a goat’s cheese & sticky fig relish pu to
∂ 3 tbsp cranberry sauce ∂ 100g vac-packed baby beetroot, cut into serve. WW
∂ 25g baby spinach leaves
∂ 4 tbsp crispy onions quarters More Midweek Meals by Neven
∂ salt & vinegar crisps, to serve (good quality) ∂ 2 tsp balsamic vinegar Maguire is published by Gill Books and
∂ 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil available now.
METHOD ∂ sea salt and freshly ground black
1 Slice a 3cm lid o the top of the loaf. Scoop
pepper
out most of the bread from the loaf and
the lid leaving a 1cm layer (blitz these into METHOD
breadcrumbs and use another time). 1 Cook the pecan nuts in a small baking
2 Spread the red onion chutney all over the
inside of the loaf and then add a layer of
Swiss cheese followed by a layer of turkey.
Spread half the mayonnaise on top and add
a layer of the cooked sausages or use the
sausage stu ng. Add the applewood smoked
Cheddar and a layer of roast gammon or ham.
Add a good smear of the cranberry sauce and
finish with the spinach. Scatter the crispy
onions on top and smear the top with the rest
of the mayonnaise.
3 Press the top down lightly then tightly wrap
in clingfilm. Now the most important part
you need to press and apply some weight. A
small chopping board with a couple of tins

56 WOMANSWAY.IE

GRRHOUWBAINRGB FOOD

It’s expensive in the
shops, yet so easy to
grow your own.

I f you love rhubarb in crumbles, upturned dustbin in late January to block Rhubarb crown
pies, compotes, jams and gin, out the light. is will give you tender
now’s the time to start growing it stems by early spring, about eight weeks it in the dark, and after a month or two
yourself. after covering, but don’t force the same you should be picking slender stems.
While shop-bought stems are plant two years in a row as it will become
often astronomical in price, if you’re exhausted. How do I store it?
prepared to be a little patient, you’ll be Pick the stems, holding the stalk near
rewarded with more than you can eat of If you want early rhubarb, choose a the base and twisting until it detaches.
this delicious vegetable. ‘forcing’ type such as Timperley Early, Washed and dried stems can be stored
but you’ll need to wait several years for in the vegetable section of the fridge for
What’s the cheapest way to grow the crowns to be well established. en around two weeks. If you have a glut, you
rhubarb? you can dig up a crown in November, can always freeze it after cooking.
Growing from seed is the cheapest leave it on top of the ground for two
method, but it can take a lot of trial and weeks to allow it to be exposed to frost, How can I expand my crop for free?
effort. Beginners may be better off buying pot it up and move it to a warm, dark place You can create new plants by dividing
dormant crowns or pot-grown plants indoors, such as a cupboard under the rhubarb crowns when they’re three
when starting out. stairs. e most important thing is to keep to four years old, before they become
overcrowded and weak. Do this in late
By Hannah Stephenson, PA You’ll only need a couple of dormant autumn, digging up the base to expose the
crowns to keep a family in rhubarb for rhizome (root), then divide it into healthy,
months. ese should be planted in late good-sized sections with a spade and
autumn with the buds above the soil and replant immediately.
kept well watered. Pot-grown plants can
also be planted in spring or autumn, but You can also do this in early spring, just
they’ll be more expensive than crowns and as the buds are coming out of dormancy.
there’s a limited choice of variety. Once you’ve replanted the pieces in
enriched soil, with emerging buds just
Where should I plant it? above the ground, don’t pick any stems in
Rhubarb is best planted in full sun in rich the first year and remove flowering spikes
soil enhanced with well-rotted manure or as they appear. Your rhubarb will repay
compost. Leave 90 centimetres (three feet) your care for years to come. WW
between plants, and water well in their
first season. e stems should be ready to
harvest from early to mid-summer – but
don’t pick them until the second year
after planting. Stop picking in July – the
stems become tougher later in the season.
Leaving the plant to recover its strength
ensures a good crop the following year.

Don’t have much outdoor space? No
problem – you can grow rhubarb in a
pot. e Ace of Spades variety is ideal for
containers.

How do I save more money on rhubarb?
You can force rhubarb over winter to
harvest in early spring, when it’s at its
most expensive in shops. Do this by
covering the plant with a large pot or

WOMANSWAY.IE 57

EXPLODING

AUBERGINES

As the Ottolenghi Test Kitchen releases its
latest cookbook, the duo talk about kitchen

mishaps and cooking for their families.

Ottolenghi’s Test Kitchen meals,” says Murad. “For me, I feel like few more ingredients than just cheese
– a buzzing hub of food extra things are super relevant right now. and pickle, and his style is so distinct that
creativity, brought together his name has even become a verb: ‘to
by Yotam Ottolenghi – “It’s a way of bringing luxury to your Ottolenghify’.
sounds like some kind of table at home. So you can have beans on
culinary utopia. toast or scrambled eggs, or something really “It’s funny, because I knew it was used in
simple, but then you can elevate it with all a particular way – ‘Oh, let’s do Ottolenghi’
e OTK, as it’s lovingly known, headed these little flavour bombs. at’s really the – but when Noor wrote the introduction
up by fellow chef Noor Murad, 32, is where way we in the Test Kitchen love to eat.” to this book and she used the verb ‘to
the new Ottolenghi recipes are dreamed Ottolenghify’… I understood what she
up – and a few kitchen mishaps are And they certainly love to eat in the Test meant as soon as I read it.
encountered. Kitchen – which sounds like a dream job,
although it can come with its pitfalls, says “In some way, that means to inject
“Exploding aubergines” are not Murad. something which is delicious but familiar
unfamiliar in the OTK, shares Ottolenghi. with something which is a bit unfamiliar,
“Working in the Test Kitchen is the most and a bit of excitement,” he says. “I never
“When you cook an aubergine without amazing thing, but the hardest thing is quite understood it until she used it, but
cutting it, there is a chance you’re going to being surrounded by so much food all the now I totally get it.”
get steam inside the skin, and then it kind time – and trying not to eat all of it, and not
of pops,” says the Israeli-born British chef. feel completely sick at the end of the day.” So what would it mean if you were ‘to
“And if it’s further down the line, it is a big Noorify’ a dish?
pop. Personally at home, and I think one or Despite being around food and cooking
two times in the Test Kitchen, we have had all day, Murad still tries to make time for it Ottolenghi is best placed to answer this
this. after work. “I do still cook at home, because question: “ ere’s a lot of zing in the way
I’m quite health conscious – it’s really, Noor cooks, with acidity and with herbs.
“It’s fine if it’s in the oven, because you really simple food, something like a frittata For me, that’s very Noor – to take herbs and
just need to clean the oven. But if it’s on or a soup,” she says. “Your palate is being zinginess to the extreme, [with] extreme
the stovetop, it’s the whole kitchen that’s assaulted all day with all these amazing
covered in bits of aubergine.” flavours, then you almost need to calm it
back down.”
e moral of the story? “It’s really
important to pierce your aubergines before Ottolenghi agrees entirely with this,
you start cooking them, if you cook them although he’s even less inclined to cook
whole,” the 53-year-old urges. after coming home from work.

Aubergines are a classic ingredient in “I pick – there are a lot of food leftovers
the Ottolenghi repertoire, joining the likes from the kids, because kids never finish
of kohlrabi and za’atar in the latest book their meal,” he says. “Sometimes around
co-authored with Murad, Ottolenghi Test 9:30pm I often think I’ll go to bed without
Kitchen: Extra Good ings, a follow up to dinner, because I’ve eaten all day – but
the first OTK book in 2021, Shelf Love. there is this moment just before you’re
about to go to bed, 9:30pm, 10pm, when
“Where Shelf Love was all about stripping you’re hungry. en I often get a slice of
your shelves, Extra Good ings is all about cheese and pickle – I love that combination,
filling them back up with all the different maybe a bit of mayo. en I’m happy.”
condiments and sauces, sprinkles and
pickles that you can use to accessorise your Ottolenghi’s recipes tend to involve a

58 WOMANSWAY.IE

RECIPES

FOR THE CARAMEL AND
CLEMENTINE DRESSING:
∂ 85g caster sugar
∂ 30g fresh ginger, peeled and julienned
∂ 2 red chillies, deseeded, halved widthways

and julienned
∂ 3tbsp rice wine vinegar
∂ 3–4 limes: 1 halved, to serve, and the rest

juiced to get 3tbsp
∂ 2tbsp fish sauce
∂ 2–3 clementines, peeled
∂ 5g fresh coriander, roughly chopped, to serve

Noor Murad METHOD
1. Put the chicken thighs, turmeric, chilli
with tahini fudge, saying: “My kids love it, flakes, fish sauce, oil and one teaspoon of salt
even though it’s coffee flavour.” into a large bowl and mix well to combine.
Leave to marinate for an hour, or cover and
He says his children, Max, nine, and refrigerate for longer (up to overnight). If the
Flynn, seven, “Have become adventurous latter, remove the chicken thighs from the
recently – they weren’t always. ey were fridge about 45 minutes before cooking.
always on the good side of the scale rather 2. Place a large cast-iron sauté pan on a
than the very picky side, but there are medium-high heat and ventilate your kitchen
things they wouldn’t touch – that’s changed well. Once hot, add half the chicken thighs,
now. skin side down. Weigh down the thighs with a
large saucepan around the same size, so they
“ ey more or less eat most things, if they are well pressed into the pan. Cook for six
woke up on the right side of the bed – and to eight minutes, or until the skin is charred
not the wrong side.” and blackened. Remove the top pan and set
the chicken thighs aside, then repeat with the
Blackened Chicken remaining thighs. The second batch might
blacken faster, so check them at the five-
with Caramel and Clementine Dressing minute mark. Remove all the chicken, setting
it aside, and let the pan cool for five to 10
By Prudence Wade, PA flavours. e other thing I love about the “Don’t be afraid to really char your chicken minutes.
way Noor cooks is there’s always a nice little thighs here (making sure to ventilate your 3. If needed, drain o all but one-and-a-half
finishing touch that is above and beyond kitchen well!) – this’ll add an intense tablespoons of the fat collected in the pan and
– it’s not just a garnish, it’s a very well flavour alongside the vibrant dressing and return to a medium-high heat. Add the spring
thought out garnish that rhymes with the make for a very punchy eating experience,” onions, using a pair of tongs to coat them in
flavour that is already in there.” say chefs Yotam and Noor. the fat, then put back the chicken thighs, skin
“ at said, you can also grill your chicken side up, and any of their juices, nestling them
He dubs this kind of cooking “to thighs in the oven, or swap them out for into the spring onions, along with 90 millilitres
Noorish” – a play on “nourish”. chicken breasts, if you prefer.” of water. Cook for eight minutes, or until the
Blackened chicken with caramel and chicken is tender and cooked through. Transfer
Both styles are about plentiful portions to clementine dressing the chicken to a cutting board and leave to rest
share with loved ones, and Ottolenghi and for five minutes before slicing each thigh into
Murad have already been cooking recipes (SERVES 4) two-centimetre-wide strips.
from their new book for friends and 4. While the chicken is cooking, make the
family. Murad has made the green frittata INGREDIENTS caramel and clementine dressing. Heat a
with burnt aubergine – a take on two ∂ 6 large chicken thighs (1kg), boneless medium saucepan on a medium-high heat.
Persian dishes – saying it’s simple to cook, Once hot, turn the heat down to medium and
“But it has that wow factor. If you present and skin on (850g) sprinkle in the sugar to coat the base – it
it for brunch, people will be like, ‘Oh wow, ∂ 1½tsp ground turmeric should immediately start to melt and colour
this is amazing’, but it doesn’t really take ∂ 1tsp chilli flakes around the sides. Swirl the pan, without
that long to make. I like those dishes – ∂ 1tbsp fish sauce stirring, so that all the sugar melts and turns
maximum reward with minimal effort.” ∂ 2tbsp olive oil deeply golden, about one-and-a-half to two
∂ 12 spring onions, trimmed, washed minutes. Add the ginger and chillies, and stir
And Ottolenghi has been making confit continuously for 45 seconds, just to take o
leeks with puy lentils and leek cream for well and dried the spicy edge. Quickly add the vinegar, lime
his family, as well as the coffee mousse ∂ Salt
Continued overleaf >>

WOMANSWAY.IE 59

juice and fish sauce, stirring to combine. Cook
for 30 seconds, then remove from the heat.
Leave to cool for 10 minutes.
5. Use a small serrated knife to slice the
clementines into one-centimetre-thick rounds,
then pull at them gently to halve them (don’t
worry if they break apart further). Stir these
into the cooled sauce.
6. To serve, transfer the spring onions to a
large platter and top with the chicken and
any pan juices, using a spatula to keep each
thigh together. Pour the dressing all over, then
sprinkle with the coriander. Lastly, squeeze
over the lime halves.

Turmeric Fried Eggs

with Tamarind Dressing

“ ese are fried eggs but with a very
eccentric wardrobe, thanks to the turmeric
and chilli, which make them as good to eat as
they are to look at,” say Yotam and Noor.

(SERVES 2) “ ese are fried
eggs but with a
INGREDIENTS very eccentric
∂ 1 shallot, peeled and sliced into thin rounds wardrobe, thanks to
∂ 2tsp lime juice
∂ 3½tbsp olive oil the turmeric
∂ 2 garlic cloves, peeled and crushed and chilli”
∂ 200g baby spinach
∂ ½tsp ground turmeric the garlic and cook for 90 seconds, stirring, (fry them for longer if you like your eggs more
∂ 4 large eggs until fragrant and lightly coloured, then stir cooked).
∂ 1 green chilli, finely sliced into rounds, seeds in the spinach and an eighth of a teaspoon of 5. When ready, use a spatula to transfer the
salt and cook until wilted, about four minutes. eggs to the plate of spinach, drizzling with
and all Transfer to a serving plate and wipe out the any extra turmeric oil in the pan. Top with the
∂ Salt pan. pickled shallots and then drizzle with some of
4. Add the remaining two-and-a-half the tamarind dressing, serving any remaining
FOR THE TAMARIND DRESSING: tablespoons of oil plus the turmeric to the alongside.
∂ 30g tamarind paste same pan, stirring to combine, and return it
∂ 1tbsp lime juice to a medium-high heat. Once hot but not Brown Sugar
∂ 1tsp fish sauce smoking, crack in the eggs and quickly sprinkle Meringue Roulade
∂ 2tsp light so brown sugar the whites with the chilli slices. Season the
∂ 5g fresh coriander, roughly chopped eggs all over with a good pinch of salt and with Burnt Honey Apples
use a spatula to separate the whites so the
METHOD: eggs are not joined together. Fry for three to “If the flavours of autumn could be rolled
1. Put the shallot, lime juice and a pinch of four minutes, spooning some of the oil over into one, this meringue roulade would
salt into a small bowl and use your fingers to the whites. You want the whites to be crispy
gently massage everything together. Set aside around the edges and the yolk to be runny
to pickle lightly while you continue with the
rest.
2. Make the tamarind dressing by putting all
the ingredients into a bowl and whisking to
combine and dissolve the sugar. Add between
two to four teaspoons of water to loosen the
mixture (this will vary according to di erent
makes of tamarind paste).
3. Put one tablespoon of oil into a large frying
pan over a medium-high heat. Once hot, add

60 WOMANSWAY.IE

RECIPES

∂ 250g mascarpone, fridge cold
∂ 1tbsp finely grated orange zest, plus 1tsp

extra to garnish

Yotam Ottolenghi METHOD invert the whole thing on to a work surface.
1. Preheat the oven to 200°C fan/220°C Li the tin o and peel away the lining.
be the result: warming cinnamon, burnt /gas 7. Spread three-quarters of the cream evenly
honey, sweet apples and tangy orange come all over the meringue. Top with the burnt
together to make a dessert fit for the festive 2. Start making the filling. Put the honey, honey apples (reserving any liquid released
season,” say Yotam and Noor. vanilla seeds and pod, bay leaves, cinnamon from the apples for another use).
“Make sure all your individual components stick, ground cinnamon and salt into a large 9. Starting with the longest side closest to
have completely cooled before assembling ovenproof sauté pan on a medium-high you and using the tea towel to assist you,
– you don’t want to create any excess heat. Bring to a simmer and cook for five to roll the meringue up and over, so that the
moisture in the roulade. Get ahead by six minutes, stirring o en, until the honey edges come together to form a log. Gently
preparing the apples and cream the day is deeply brown (don’t be afraid to take it to pull away the tea towel as you roll, then slide
before, keeping them refrigerated until the edge; you want it to be very dark). O the meringue on to a long tray or platter,
needed.” the heat, whisk in the orange juice. Gently seam side down. Use a serrated knife to trim
pour 65 grams of the burnt honey into a o two centimetres from the sides to create
(SERVES 8) heatproof bowl. Pick out the bay leaves and neat edges (nibble on these if you like!).
vanilla pod and add them to the bowl. Refrigerate to firm up, at least 30 minutes –
INGREDIENTS 3. Stir the apples and olive oil into the sauté or up to three hours if you’re getting ahead.
FOR THE APPLES: pan with the remaining burnt honey, then 10. To serve, spoon the remaining cream
∂ 150g runny honey transfer to the oven for 20 minutes, stirring down the length of the roulade. Top artfully
∂ 1 vanilla pod, halved lengthways, seeds halfway through, until the apples have with the bay leaves, vanilla pod halves and
so ened and caramelised but still retain cinnamon stick. Drizzle with the reserved
scraped out and reserved with the pod their shape. Set aside to cool completely.
∂ 5 fresh bay leaves Pick out the cinnamon stick and add it to burnt honey syrup and sprinkle
∂ 1 cinnamon stick the reserved burnt honey bowl. Keep the with the extra zest. WW
∂ ½tsp ground cinnamon oven on.
∂ ½tsp flaked sea salt Ottolenghi Test Kitchen: Extra Good
∂ 3½tbsp orange juice 4. Make the roulade. Line a large Things by Noor Murad and Yotam
∂ 1.1kg Braeburn apples, peeled, cored and 40-centimetre x 30-centimetre baking tray Ottolenghi is published by Ebury Press.
with baking parchment. Photography by Elena Heatherwick.
each cut into 6 wedges (or 8 if they’re larger) 5. Put the egg whites into the bowl of a Available now.
∂ 1tbsp olive oil stand mixer with the whisk attachment in
place and beat on medium-high speed for
FOR THE ROULADE: one minute, until so peaks form. Combine
∂ 250g egg whites (from 6 large eggs, or from both sugars in a bowl and gradually add
this to the mixer, a tablespoon at a time,
an egg white carton) whisking continuously on high speed for five
∂ 100g light so brown sugar minutes, until the mixture is a thick glossy
∂ 250g caster sugar meringue. Reduce the speed to low and add
∂ 1tbsp vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract the vanilla paste, cinnamon, vinegar and
∂ 1½tsp ground cinnamon cornflour. Turn the speed to medium and
∂ 2tsp white wine vinegar whisk for a minute, to fully combine.
∂ 2tsp cornflour 6. Spoon the meringue on to the prepared
tray and use a spatula to spread it out evenly
FOR THE CREAM: so it’s about 35-centimetre x 25-centimetre.
∂ 150ml whipping cream, fridge cold Transfer to the oven and immediately turn
∂ 20g icing sugar the heat down to 180°C fan/200°C/gas 6.
Bake for 30–32 minutes, until the meringue
is crusty on top and lightly brown. Set aside
to deflate and cool completely.

7. Meanwhile, prepare the cream by putting
the whipping cream, icing sugar
and mascarpone into the cleaned
bowl of the stand mixer with the
whisk attachment in place. Beat
on medium speed for one to two
minutes, until so peaks form. Stir
in the orange zest.
8. Place a clean tea towel on top
of the cooled meringue and quickly

WOMANSWAY.IE 61



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e gardening guru
and broadcaster has
mixed views about the

rewilding trend.

Gardening legend Alan
Titchmarsh has warned that
the trend towards rewilding
– letting nature take care of
itself to encourage wildlife
and biodiversity – should not displace
traditional gardening.

“Rewilding does not mean letting it [the
garden] lie fallow and doing nothing with
it. ere’s a misconception abroad that the
only way to get more wildlife into your
garden is to rewild.”

Titchmarsh, 73 – TV and radio presenter,
chat show host, documentary-maker and
bestselling author – reveals his sentiments
in his latest book e Gardener’s Almanac,
and is keen to elaborate today.

“One friend who has done a survey of
his wildflower meadow and of his garden
found more wildlife in the garden than
in the wildflower meadow. It’s a case
of balance – there’s room for both – but
rewilding is not the answer to making our
country a green and pleasant land.

“ ere are plenty of places where it is
important – headlands and farms, the
countryside in general, woodland and
riverbanks, roadside verges. It should
not and does not need to replace a well
cultivated garden which has a wide range
of species in it, which is equally as good and
in many cases better for wildlife – and it’s
beautiful too.”

TITCHMARSH MENTAL WELLBEING

“One cannot go on, on one hand saying
how important gardens are for mental
wellbeing, and then knocking somebody
for having stripes on their lawn, because
it makes them feel good to have stripes
on their lawn. erefore it’s doing them
good, and it’s also doing the blackbirds, the
thrushes, the starlings good, who can get
worms out of lawns but can’t get them out
of long grass, and solitary bees, who can
burrow into lawns.”

On Rewilding

64 WOMANSWAY.IE

The Rewilding Garden at RHS GARDENING
Chelsea Flower Show in 2022
“ at’s why we call it gardening.
Balance is the key, he insists. “It’s We’ve had plant collectors going
when everybody goes wholesale out and bringing plants back from
into one thing, you know, it’s not foreign countries for centuries. It
quite like that.” enriches our lives – and it enriches
the lives of bees and butterflies. ey
PRETTY DIFFICULT don’t know what they’re taking
nectar and pollen from. I don’t see
Rewilding and keeping things why we should always feel so guilty
now. ere’s this huge tendency to
looking pretty is a very hard thing beat ourselves up all the time.

to do, he agrees. “Yes – we need to be responsible.
Yes – we need to have a sustainable
“I have a wildflower meadow, piece of land. Yes – we need to look
ahead and leave it in better state
which we cut in early September for our children than it is when we
inherit it, but don’t imagine that you
when the seeds have fallen, and have no right to be here. You have a
right to enjoy it as well.”
taken all the hay and clods of grass
What does he think will happen to
off – you have to or it kills what’s the face of our gardens if the trend
continues?
underneath – and it won’t get cut
“You can rewild your garden
again ’til next year. It was seeded for a couple of years if you want,
then you keep looking at it and
as a wildflower meadow with a think, ‘It’s really boring. ere’s
not much colour, I can’t see that
seed mix that’s good for chalk many insects. What I can see is a
lot of cola cans, which people have
downlands, which we’re on,” says
Alan on the job
Titchmarsh.
thrown over the wall, and dog mess bags
“It’s beautiful. We have cowslips because they thought it was just waste
ground’.
in March and it goes through to
“ ere is nothing more useful to life than
moon daisies in April and May, and a well-grown garden,” says Titchmarsh.
“ at little bit of total wilderness in front
then scabious and knapweed and of your house in the suburbs will not be
better for insects. A well grown garden
one or two orchids Rewilding isn't
coming through. always the answer with a diversity of plant material
But it’s a meadow, with greater biodiversity in it will
be much more sustainable for
not a garden. wildlife.” WW

“I get loads of The Gardener’s Almanac by Alan Titchmarsh was
published on October 27 by Hodder & Stoughton.
butterflies, moths,

bees and birds in

my garden as well

as in my wildflower

meadow. It

[rewilding] has

caught on in a way

which I feel a bit sad

about, if people aren’t being realistic. fewer stamens and pollen
in them.
“But what saddens me more than
“But if you want a
anything else is that a well cultivated, double rose bush, I’m
not going to slag you off
well tended, well grown garden is getting for having one beautiful
double-flowered rose in
disparaged – which is a nonsense. To learn the middle of a border that’s awash with
other flowers. [It’s about] proportion and
your craft as a good grower of plants, to moderation in all things.”

produce plants which look beautiful and Titchmarsh, whose Hampshire garden
incorporates a two-acre wildflower
are good for wildlife, is key for me. I’m not meadow filled with native species, adds:
“I’ve been organic for 40 years, there are no
embarrassed about being a gardener.” sprays, I grow plants that are well suited to
my soil, two enormous compost
Can a plot be too manicured? heaps that I pile back into the
ground.”
Titchmarsh adds that he “takes issue”
What about non-native
with the word ‘manicured’. “Because species?

it’s not necessarily manicured, it’s just Gardeners also shouldn’t feel
guilty about planting non-
controlled, it’s cultivated. It’s learning native species, according to
Titchmarsh.
what plants need to grow well and giving

By Hannah Stephenson, PA them it,” he explains. “A well-managed

border, which looks beautiful, will be

awash with animal life, creatures, insects,

invertebrates and birds – every bit as much

as a bit of old weedy ground that you’ve just

left, thinking you’re doing more good.”

Single flowers are key, he believes.

“Double flowers lack the essential floral

parts. ey have much less nectar and far

WOMANSWAY.IE 65

Holly berries are a great source
of food for winter birds

WILADttLrIaFcEtion
Berries, hips and even lawns all do their bit for our wildlife.

As autumn creeps into winter, A Goldfinch snacking rowans, such as Sorbus vilmorinii and
you’ll likely start seeing on a teasel ornamental crab apples, while ivy berries
less wildlife activity in your continue to ripen sequentially through
garden – but it’s a time when winter and are rich in fat.
many visitors, including birds,
small mammals and some insects, need us “In terms of winter nectar and pollen for
most. insects such as bumblebees that may be
on the wing in warm winter spells, winter
“Plants are the bedrock of a wildlife- honeysuckle, winter-flowering cherry and
friendly garden, and that includes mahonia are good choices,” he continues.
throughout the winter, despite many being “And you’d be amazed what titbits birds
reduced to their skeleton,” says Adrian will continue to find in deciduous hedges
and trees, food such as moth eggs, so try to
omas, wildlife gardening expert. delay hedge cutting and tree pruning until
“ ere are two key benefits that plants the tail end of winter.”
offer: cover and food. Getting through
the long, cold nights is challenging for WILDLIFE-FRIENDLY PLANTS As
garden birds, so plants that offer dense safe well as the many plants which produce
cover will allow them to snooze safely out berries for birds, including cotoneaster,
of the elements, saving valuable energy. pyracantha, berberis and yew, make sure
Evergreens such as holly and ivy are ideal.” you plant species where the berries should
When it comes to plants providing food, last beyond Christmas, such as skimmia
omas adds: “An easy starting point are and guelder rose (Viburnum opulus).
the plants that offer food that we can easily Fieldfares and other birds may visit
see, such as berries and winter flowers. gardens to feed on windfall apples when
Garden trees that will often hang on to it’s really cold.
their fruits well into winter include various

66 WOMANSWAY.IE

WILDLIFE

While ivy remains the bane of some Robins are among those birds
gardeners’ lives, its berries are a valuable that need feeding in winter
source of nutrition for birds in late winter
and early spring, when food is scarce. It
has been said that one bundle of ivy berries
has nearly the same amount of calories as a
bar of chocolate, gram for gram.

Adult red admiral butterflies feed
on nectar-rich plants such as Verbena
bonariensis, which is still visibly in flower
in many gardens at this time of year, while
the caterpillars eat leaves of the common
nettle. Native plants including crab apple,
elder and birch also create natural food
supplies for birds over the winter.

SHRUBS Winter shrubs including
Viburnum x bodnantense, Lonicera
fragrantissima and Christmas box
(Sarcococca hookeriana) not only provide
food and shelter for wildlife, but also give
off the most amazing scent.

SEEDHEADS “ ink about the Viburnum x bodnantense winter flowers too hard. You’ll save money by opting for
value that comes from leaving bare-rooted hedging or rootballed trees
the seedheads of herbaceous and shrubs.
plants standing through winter,
everything from lavenders to LAWNS You may think they’ve gone
Verbena bonariensis, rudbeckias out of fashion, but in late autumn and
and sedums. ey’ll look great early winter, lawns can be invaluable
in frost and will harbour insects to blackbirds and song thrushes, who
and seeds,” says omas. venture on to your grass in search of
leatherjackets (the larvae of craneflies),
Leave architectural seedheads earth worms and fallen fruit, the RSPB
such as teasels for seed-eating adds. Longer grass provides shelter and
birds, including chaffinches and egg-laying opportunities for the insects on
goldfinches, which use their thin which birds and other wildlife feed.
beaks to extract ripe seeds from
the spent flowerheads for food. Consider leaving the dandelions in your
lawn, which provide nectar and pollen in
BULBS ere’s still time to late winter and early spring, when queen
plant late winter and early bumblebees are coming out of hibernation.
spring-flowering bulbs
including snowdrops and THINK ABOUT THE FUTURE
crocuses, which may prove a Looking ahead, shrubs like honeysuckle,
magnet for any bees venturing lavender and ivy can all be planted in
out during late winter sunshine. autumn and are ideal for providing food
Other small bulbs which are and coverage for birds, insects and other
tempting for wildlife include wildlife, according to specialists e
scilla and chionodoxa. Greenhouse People.

IN POTS If you have a small Hellebores and snowdrops Some bee varieties can still be seen
around your garden in autumn, as they
garden, pollinating insects prepare to enter their hibernation phase
in winter. Autumn flowering plants which
By Hannah Stephenson, PA will head hungrily to your nectar-rich hardiest of dwarf evergreen shrubs and are provide a great source of pollen when
food supplies are tougher to come by
container plants in late winter and early ideal for brightening up winter containers, include Japanese anemones, red cauli and
crocosmia, which are still blooming in a
spring. e nodding heads of hellebores, as well as being a magnet for early-flying warm autumn. WW

which appear at that time, not only bumble bees

provide a subtle hue to any arrangement, HEDGING Hedges make great shelter
but are also a good food source for

emerging queen bumblebees. and provide food for birds, and now is a

Winter-flowering heathers such as Erica great time to plant species such as yew

carnea ‘Winter Snow’ are among the and hawthorn, before the ground gets

WOMANSWAY.IE 67

Snowy

Stripes

At Woman’s Way, we listen, we
change. We’re so proud to share this
lovely cosy knit pattern, which we
feel better suits our loyal readers.
And we’ve negotiated a €5 discount
voucher on the wool. So, ladies,
knitting needles at the ready...

SWEATER 1st Row (Right side): K1, * P1,
Knitted in king cole wildwood K1, rep from * to end.
chunky 2nd Row: P1, * K1, P1, rep
from * to end.
TENSION 1st and 2nd rows form rib.
15sts and 21 rows to 10cm (4in) Break off B, join in A and
over st-st on 6mm needles. complete with A.
It is important to check your Work 6 rows more in rib.
tension before commencing Change to 6mm needles and
the garment, therefore knit beg with a K row work in st-
a tension square. If there are st until work measures 33cm
less sts or rows to 10cm (4in) (13in) from beg, ending with
than number stated, change a P row. (Adjust length at this
to finer needles. If there are point if required).
more sts or rows to 10cm (4in)
than stated, change to larger Shape Raglan Armholes
needles. Cast off 6sts at beg of next 2
rows. 59[63:67:71:73:77]sts.
ABBREVIATIONS Next Row: K1, K2tog, K to
K = knit; P = purl; st(s) = last 3sts, sl 1, K1, psso, K1.
stitch(es); alt = alternate; beg Next Row: Purl. ****
= begin(ning); cont = continue; Cont to dec 1 st at each end
inc = increase; dec = decrease; of next and every foll alt row
foll = following; psso = pass until 23[25:27:27: 27:29]sts
slipped stitch over; rem = rem, ending with a P row.
remain; rep = repeat; st-st = Sl sts onto a thread.
stocking stitch (right side knit,
wrong side purl); sl = slip; tog FRONT
= together. Work exactly as given for
Circle the size you wish to make. Back to ****.
Cont to dec 1 st at each end
BACK of next and every foll alt row
until 31[33:37:37:39:41]sts
With 5.5mm needles and B rem, ending with a P row.
cast on 71[75:79:83:85:89]sts.

68 WOMANSWAY.IE

KENAISTY KNITTING

Shape Neck in next st, rep from * to last NEEDLES
Complete as given for Striped 1[2:0:0:0:1]st(s), K1[2:0:0:0:1]. One pair each of Knitting
Sweater from ***. 97[102:116:124:129]sts. Needles sizes 5.5mm and 6mm.
Next Row: Purl. NOTES
SLEEVES Join in B. Where only one figure is given
With 5.5mm needles and B Work 38 rows in st-st this applies to all sizes. Where
cast on 33[35:35:37:37:39]sts. working 2 rows B, 2 rows A the figure 0 appears, no sts or
Work 2 rows in rib as given (thus ending with 2 rows B). rows are worked for this size.
for Back. Break off B. A er casting o one stitch will
Break off B, join in A and Work 5 rows in gst. remain on the right hand needle
complete with A. Cast off fairly loosely which is not included in the
Work 6 rows more in rib. knitwise. instructions that follow.
Change to 6mm needles IMPORTANT
and beg with a K row work MAKE UP The yarn amounts are based on
in st-st inc 1 st at each Sew up left back raglan seam average requirements and are
end of 5th and every foll and join Collar, reversing therefore approximate.
7th[7th:6th:5th:5th:5th] row this seam so that seam is To ensure accuracy only
to 55[57:61:65:67:71]sts. underneath when Collar is KING COLE WILDWOOD
Work straight until folded over. CHUNKY yarn is suitable. No
Sleeve measures Sew up side and sleeve responsibility will be taken for
44.5[45.5:45.5:45.5:47:47] seams. WW result of using any other brand
cm (17½[18:18:18:18½:18½] of yarn.
in) from beg, ending with a It is essential to work to the
P row. tension stated.

Shape Raglan Top MEASUREMENTS
Cast off 6sts at beg of next 2
rows. To fit bust sizes 86 91 97 102 107 112 cm
43[45:49:53:55:59]sts. 34 36 38 40 42 44 in
Next Row: K1, K2tog, K to
last 3sts, sl 1, K1, psso, K1. Actual Measurements 93.5 99 104 110 112.5 118 cm
41[43:47:51:53:57]sts. (approximately) 41 43¼ 44¼ 46½ in
Next Row: Purl.
Dec 1 st in this way at each 36¾ 39
end of 3rd and every foll 4th
row until 39[39:4347:47:53] Length from back neck 51 52 53.5 55 56 57 cm
sts rem, then every foll alt
row until 11[11:13:13:15:15]sts (adjustable) 20 20½ 21 21¾ 22 22½ in
rem, ending with a P row.
Sl sts onto a thread. Sleeve seam 44.5 45.5 45.5 45.5 47 47 cm
17½ 18 18 18 18½ 18½ in
COLLAR
Sew up front and right back MATERIALS REQUIRED
raglan seams. KING COLE WILDWOOD CHUNKY 100g balls - 190m/207yds
With 5.5mm needles and approx.
right side facing rejoin A
yarn and K11[11:13:13:15:15] Shade A = 5023 Ice 4 45 5 6 6 balls
sts from left sleeve top, Shade B = 5020 Snow 1 11 1 1 1 ball
K8[8:10:10:12:12]sts evenly
down left side of front neck, Yarn amounts may vary when using other King Cole yarns.
K13[15:15:15:13:15]sts from
centre front, pick up and €5 OFF
K8[8:10:10:12:12]sts evenly
up right side of front neck, Simply present this voucher at your nearest King Cole stockist and
K first 10[10:12:12:14:14]sts you'll receive €5 o your purchase of any King Cole pure wool yarn.
from right sleeve top, K last Voucher can only be redeemed in-store. ROI only.
st from sleeve top with first Limit of 1 voucher per customer. Voucher expires 31/12/2022
st from back neck, K rem
22[24:26:26:26:28]sts from
back neck. 73[77:87:87:93:97]
sts.
Next Row (Inc row): * K2, inc

WOMANSWAY.IE 69

COMPETITION

PVROWIUNICNTHMOEANRKSEEOFROSFRTJAWIRNOIDSHO

Press play on your core memories with the most important moments, from To enter, please answer the following
Soundwaves by Jando celebrations like the sound of wedding question
vows to a song that means the most, the
Jando is giving two lucky readers a thump of a baby’s heart, or even your WHICH JANDO COLLECTION USES QR
chance to win a €250 voucher each. Since best friend’s bark. CODE TECHNOLOGY?
its inception, Irish printmaker Jando
has been connecting people with places Soundwaves can be easily customised HOW TO ENTER
and moments through its collection of from colour scheme to caption and size. Email your answer by December 5 to:
meaningful fine-art prints. This Christmas, Each unique piece is designed and printed [email protected] including your
capture the moments that mean the most in-house on fine art archival paper using name, address and telephone number
with a unique Soundwaves print that is pigment-based inks and is guaranteed
sure to hold a place in your heart and home to retain its vivid colour and striking and labelling your mail ‘The Jando
long a er the celebrations of Christmas aesthetic for a lifetime. Not sure of the Competition’
have passed. song or sound that they’d love to frame?
A Soundwave gi pack gives loved This Woman's Way competition is open to anyone resident in NI
The best-selling Soundwaves collection ones the opportunity to turn their own and the Republic of Ireland, aged 18 and over, except employees and
captures core memories that can take memory into art. Prices begin at €120 for their families of Harmonia Publishing, its printers and anyone else
us back to the most special times in our medium framed pieces. connected with the competition. No purchase is necessary. We will
lives. Using QR code technology, Jando’s Visit jando.ie only accept one competition entry per reader. Prizes are awarded by
custom-made Soundwaves encapsulate
drawing entries a er the closing date. Winners will be notified by
email. The editor’s decision is final.

70 WOMANSWAY.IE

HOROSCOPES

Patrick Arundell reveals what the stars have in store for you.

ARIES Moon can see a key relationship But with the New Moon in is shi ing and positive change is
21 MARCH – 20 APRIL heading in a positive direction. this sector, there’s also an on the way. The New Moon is your
This isn’t the time to limit opportunity to create positive best friend in this respect.
yourself to the CANCER change. Make a start now and
tried and tested. 22 JUNE – 23 JULY the results can delight you. CAPRICORN
This week’s This week, as the Sun joins 22 DECEMBER – 20 JANUARY
exuberant energies Mercury and Venus in your LIBRA As the emphasis shi s to a
encourage you to lifestyle zone, it may be hard 24 SEPTEMBER sensitive sector of your
be adventurous and to to see the wood for the trees. – 23 OCTOBER chart, the coming
expand your horizons. It’s time You’ll be ready to Your social life four weeks are a time
to take on board ideas that expand your sparkles as the to reflect on all you
recently seemed a step too far options and try emphasis shi s to your sector have accomplished and
and even a little exotic. Now new things, but of talk and thought. You’ll have to review your victories
you’ll feel di erently. You’ll knowing where to opportunities to attend events, and mistakes. It’s a chance to deal
be ready to journey into the start could be the liaise with old friends and new, with issues that are hanging over
unknown, and the New Moon hardest part. Stand back and and also to connect with others you. A new phase begins for you
can help you get o to a great take in the bigger picture. This who share your interests. It’s next month and you won’t want
start, Aries. way, you’ll know exactly what time to travel, attend cultural emotional baggage and lingering
you need to do and why. Then events and gather information situations preventing you from
TAURUS there’ll be no stopping you, concerning new opportunities. Is moving forward.
21 APRIL – 21 MAY Cancer. there something you’re keen to
Finances and attempt? Give it a go, Libra. AQUARIUS
business matters LEO 21 JANUARY – 19 FEBRUARY
may be on your 24 JULY – 23 AUGUST SCORPIO This week’s openhearted and
mind, in the You’ll feel the urge to 24 OCTOBER adventurous vibes
sense that you’ll showcase your creative and – 22 NOVEMBER encourage you to
be looking for ways to entrepreneurial skills, It’s time to look embrace life and to
increase both. Who you know and why not, Leo? at the bigger consider taking on
can be a big help in your search You have a lot to picture, especially board a challenge or
for ideas and opportunities to o er, and with where your finances opportunity that pushes
expand your options. The New your natural talent are concerned, Scorpio. You may you out of your comfort zone. If
Moon could see you stepping highlighted, it’s time feel you could do so much better you’ve had a goal in mind that is
o the old path and onto to promote yourself both than you are, which might cause dear to your heart, this week’s New
a new one that looks more online and o . And someone you to look for a better paying Moon encourages you to make it a
promising. And as Jupiter with connections may be job or to dream up a side hustle reality. You may not have any idea
forges ahead, a romance could impressed. Plus, as jovial that gives you more cash. You’ll how you’ll get there, but with the
finally take o . Jupiter turns direct in your also be optimistic that you can help of friends, you will.
finance and business zone, get what you want. And why
GEMINI you’ll soon reap the rewards wouldn’t you? A er all, you are PISCES
for all your hard work. multitalented. 20 FEBRUARY – 20 MARCH
22 MAY – 21 JUNE As the Sun joins Mercury and
VIRGO SAGITTARIUS Venus in a highflying
Co-operation is the name 24 AUGUST 23 NOVEMBER zone, your natural
– 23 SEPTEMBER – 21 DECEMBER desire will be to aim
of the game, so there’s no With the festive It’s time to leave high. Your confidence
season on the the past behind and will soar, so you’ll be
point in pushing others to doorstep, the to create a new future. With happy to pursue a goal
emphasis on the Sun joining Mercury and or opportunity that will test your
follow your lead. As your your family zone heats up. Venus in your sign, your assured skills. As Jupiter pushes ahead
The Sun joins Mercury and mindset and your adventurous in your sign you’ll be ready for
sector of relating is Venus to create a celebratory outlook can see you aiming high. something that encourages
atmosphere at home. You And with Jupiter your guide personal growth and dynamic
emphasized, may enjoy entertaining and planet turning direct, you’ll change. Even so, it helps to be
arranging get-togethers. sense deep down that something aware of your limits. WW
you’ll do better

if you work as

a team rather

than as rivals. And

you might find you enjoy

collaborating, as it allows

you to pool resources and

experiences. Plus, the New

WOMANSWAY.IE 71

COMPETITION OBHNEAAEWMUOTPIFNIEEFRDIVSITE

72 WOMANSWAY.IE BeautiEdit is giving five lucky readers
a chance to win a tanning hamper each,
including their newest launch, Decadence

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To enter, please answer the
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WHICH IRISH BROADCASTER
HAS COLLABORATED WITH

BEAUTIEDIT?

HOW TO ENTER
Email your answer by December
5 to: womansway@harmonia.
ie including your name, address

and telephone number and
labelling your mail ‘The BeautiEdit

Competition’

This Woman's Way competition is open to anyone
resident in NI and the Republic of Ireland, aged 18 and
over, except employees and their families of Harmonia
Publishing, its printers and anyone else connected with the
competition. No purchase is necessary. We will only accept
one competition entry per reader. Prizes are awarded by
drawing entries a er the closing date. Winners will be

notified by email. The editor’s decision is final.

ADVICE

FioDenara Columnistandtrained
counsellor Fiona Caine answers
another set of reader dilemmas.
MY CHILDREN ARE DRIVING the load. Check out some of the online
ME CRAZY forums dedicated to mothers.

I am a single mum and have three MY HUSBAND’S HEARING
children aged 12, 15 and 16. ey have LOSS IS AFFECTING OUR LIVES
always been handful but over the past
year or so, they have been making my My husband is 65 and going deaf. Unlike
life hell. It’s like a constant war zone, most sensible people though, he refuses
one conflict after another, accompanied to accept this and get a hearing aid of
by slammed doors, sulky moods and some sort. Instead, he complains that
loud music. ey ignore or disagree with everybody “mumbles these days” and
everything I say, yet moan that I’m the gets angry or miserable when he can’t
one who doesn’t listen. hear what people are saying. He’s all
but stopped socialising and won’t even
e fact is, I spend far more time go to the cinema. He also complains he
tending to their needs than my parents can never hear the TV, so either puts it
did for me. ey accuse me of being too on so loud that neighbours complain,
strict and, if I ask them to do something, or he wears headphones. In short, he’s
they complain it’s unfair. I just can’t win, becoming a grumpy hermit and I wish I
nothing I say seems to make a blind bit of could shake him out of it.
difference. W. V.

ey also complain their friends get far difficult. ey do it because they can’t FIONA SAYS: TALK HIM ROUND
more freedom than they do, though to help themselves and because they need to By refusing to accept that he has a
my mind, they get far more leeway than develop their own sense of independence problem and seeking help, he is gradually
ever I did. e youngest is proving the as they transition into adulthood. cutting himself off from everyone around
most difficult just now. He seems to think him. I’m sure he must feel isolated, so
he can do everything that my eldest does None of this makes it any easier to deal it’s no wonder he gets grumpy. Please
and refuses to accept that he can’t. with of course and, were you to talk to the continue to try and talk him around.
parents of their friends, you’d probably find Explain he is missing so much and that
I have tried to be patient, but I feel they are having much the same problems it upsets you seeing him so grumpy and
increasingly frustrated and angry as you. Like you, they probably wish they miserable.
towards them. I feel stressed all the time could simply give their teenagers free rein
and feel it’s only a question of time before to do as they please. However, I think deep e sad thing is it’s unnecessary.
I blow my top. Don’t get me wrong, I love down you know it would be a mistake. Modern hearing aids are so much more
them to bits, but at times, I find it really discreet and effective than they used
hard to like them. Sometimes I wonder Young people need to accept that, while to be. Encourage him to get his hearing
if it would be easier to let them do or say they may wish it, they are NOT adults and tested and make it easier for him to do this
whatever they like. Would that be so that life has to have some boundaries, if by leaving contact details around your
terrible? only for their own safety. ey also need to home. Having a professional confirm he
H. A. learn that living with other people involves has a problem may give him the spur he
treating them with respect, as well as needs to do something about it. WW
FIONA SAYS: FIND SUPPORT a willingness to do a fair share of life’s
ONLINE chores. If you have a problem you need help with,
email Fiona by writing to help@askfiona.
It might be easier for a while, but I’m sure I accept that this easier said than done, net for advice. All letters are treated in
they would soon find something else to especially without someone to help share complete confidence and, to protect this
complain or argue about. Let’s face it, privacy, Fiona is unable to pass on your
rebellion is in their job description. eir messages to other readers. Fiona regrets
bodies are undergoing major hormonal that she cannot enter into personal
and physical changes that can create correspondence.
powerful emotions and behaviours. So
please take some consolation from the
fact that they aren’t doing this to upset
you or deliberately make your life more

WOMANSWAY.IE 73

Family Life

’TWAS THE
PREP BEFORE CHRISTMAS…’

is year create a new Christmas story by feeling more prepared
however you wish to spend the big day, says Una Rice.

By the time the big day arrives word ‘countdown’ a wave of panic you just love to pull out the stops and
and you look around the table sweeps across us. e window of time aren’t happy until you have a merry
at your family, it will have all seems to shrink in comparison to our crowd assembled and marry up some
been worth it. Or so the story impossibly high expectations of the grand aunts with some fruity Margaritas.
goes. Why does Christmas perfect day.
prep get us every time? We should be Ultimately, prep shouldn’t mean
well versed by now in coordinating gifts, Whatever Christmas means to you, a pressure. It just means setting the scene
setting tables, keeping bickering relatives corresponding amount of prep will likely to create a Christmas you’ve made in your
apart, and doing all of this without festive have to occur. You might prefer cosy and head. Hopefully a significant portion of
fatigue. intimate with just one or two of you . Or that is about you spending the day the
an informal get together, where everyone way you’d really like to – whether that’s
e trouble is as soon as we hear the brings a spare chair and a dish. Or maybe in heels at the hob, in fluffy socks at a

74 WOMANSWAY.IE

RELATIONSHIPS

selection box, or making it special and Christmas should only be attempted every single thing because this can result
magical for someone else. when all adults (this doesn’t include in festive burnout. Assign all those jobs
children/grandchildren obviously) buy you find tiresome or time-consuming
NO PRESSURE PREP into the spirit of it – that the gifts aren’t such as sorting out and upgrading the
ere’s no doubt that preparing is necessary to have a fun day. lights, making a movie/must watch list,
or doing all the chopping/peeling.
essential, but it goes awry when we try to 4>> CELEBRATE THE SEASON
meet everyone else’s expectations. at’s Make it more about the ‘season’ rather 7>> THE GUESTS
why simplifying the entire season can than the single day. is takes some of e desire to be sociable can create a
be so helpful. Do away with the ‘have to’ the pressure off and instead of rushing to
and invite in more of the ‘would love to’. get things ticked off that to-do list, you pressure to entertain everyone. Many
can luxuriate in getting into the creation families can disagree over who goes
While some are naturally gifted in the where. Resentments occur when someone
prep department and have it all ticked off
six months ago, a little reminder Hand made gi s are special
that it’s not a race does help,
“When we hear the
is is a reflective, poignant and
heartbreaking time of year for and spirit of Christmas word ‘countdown’ feels obliged to entertain
many - when mellow meets as you go, by baking and a wave of panic in the same way each
merry, but sorrow can prevail. cooking or making gifts sweeps across us. year. One solution to this
and wreaths. Time shrinks in is to ‘spread Christmas
Essentially, not everyone out’ across the month
prepares the same for the same 5>> TRY A NEW WAY comparison to our rather than trying to
type of Christmas. But a few
guidelines can be helpful if Break with tradition if it’s expectations” please everyone on one
you’re planning a big family get not serving you. We often day.
together.
get so bogged down in
1>> THE PLAN doing things for the sake of habit that we 8>> LOOK AT WHAT’S LAST
Buy a notebook or planner
and make lists of everything can often be unwilling to try something What do you usually leave till last? Maybe
you need to bring life to
your Christmas day event. new, like inviting an elderly neighbour you’re always short on wine glasses. Or a
Include your budget, gift
ideas, Christmas stocking who lives alone for lunch, or doing a surprise visitor turns up and you haven’t
fillers, Christmas Eve box lists,
decorations for home (tables and charity swim on Christmas morning. bought them a gift. If it helps, do those
general décor), food, drinks and
menus, and craft materials. 6>> DELEGATE things first. Buy some generic gifts so
you’re not stuck, and sort your tableware
2>> FAMILY GROUP CHAT
Set up a family chat group Use your delegation skills like a first. With a month to go there’s still
and add everyone who’s coming for
Christmas lunch, or the day or week professional. You can’t be expected to do plenty of time. WW
before (depending on how you’ve
decided to host). anks to technology
there is no excuse for not communicating
what’s going on. Plus, you can delegate
from the comfort of your sofa.

3>> THE GIFT CONUNDRUM
A family chat group is a good space to
bring up the eternal triangle of confusion
– who gets what gift, and will they
actually like it this year? Save yourself
time, money and cluster headaches
by agreeing on a Secret Santa (where
each adult buys one other a gift within
a certain price range), or shock horror,
no gifts whatsoever. Warning: a no-gift

WOMANSWAY.IE 75