Etta's Corner

When I was about fourteen, my younger brother and I decided to experiment cooking. We tried all sorts, some more and some less successfully. But one thing that ended up being our favourite go-to dish was baked feta. If you’ve not tried it yet. Well, what are you waiting for?!

I love cooking meat free dishes that are comforting, nutritious and versatile. That aren’t difficult to put together, feed lots and don’t break the bank. [We’re currently 7 around a table so big pots and multiplied ingredients it is] Throw in three toddlers who all have different favourites and only unite over pasta and tomato sauce and you have a little conundrum.

Who else has stockpiled bags and bags of flour with the aim of going back to basics and baking their own bread? And who else is looking at those bags of flour and thinking - where do I even start? Or have you tried and failed miserably because you just can't face the whole kneading and proofing business? Don’t worry - I’ve got you!

This recipe makes the moistest and fluffiest loaf with the most divine crust. There are hardly any ingredients and in comparison to the £1.50 you would usually spend on a shop bought loaf (or lots more on organic loafs from your local bakery) this bread will only cost you pennies.

Using white flour gives you an airy consistency with a thin, crispy crust, similar to the bread you get at your favourite Italian, whereas using wholemeal flour will create a slightly denser, more substantial dough with more bite and stronger flavours, similar to an Irish soda bread (without the soda flavour). I’ve used a mixture of both and really like the consistency but feel free to experiment.

An absolute fool proof must try! 

Makes an approx. 700g loaf Preparation 5mins Resting 12-18hrs Cooks 45mins

Ingredients: – 400g plain or strong white bread flour – 120g wholemeal four  – 1 tsp instant dry yeast – 1 tsp salt – 350ml tepid water

Preparation method:

01. In a large bowl mix together the dry ingredients. Add the water and roughly combine everything with a wooden spoon until the mix resembles a dough. 02. Cover the bowl or place in a clean plastic bag and place in a warm-ish place for 12-18 hours but don't worry if it rests longer. You can mix it in the evening and then bake it the next morning or even leave it until you come back from work in the evening. 03. Heavily flour a clean work surface (I mean a very generous handful of flour). Place your dough in the middle of the surface and form a ball by tucking the dough under itself. Make sure your dough is covered in flour. If it sticks to the surface add a little more flour. Cover the dough with a large bowl or your plastic bag and leave to rest for 30 minutes. 04. Pre-heat the oven to 450˚F (230˚C) and place a good size cast iron pot in it to heat up. If you don't own one of these beauties a large stainless steel pot with a lid or even an enamel pot will do the job beautifully. 05. Once your bread has rested for 30 minutes, take out the hot pot from the oven and carefully place the bread into it. You don't need to grease the pot, the bread won't stick and will come out no problem at all. Put the lid on the pot and place the bread in the hot oven. Bake for 30 minutes. 06. After 30 minutes take the lid off and bake the bread for a further 15 minutes. Depending on your oven your bread might need a little more or less. Have a look at the crust if it's a beautiful golden brown and not too springy to the touch it should be done. 07. Take the bread out of the oven and leave to rest on a cooling rack or just cut into it, smother in butter and devour!

Sometimes you just need a comforting meal that is made from your store cupboard, that doesn’t take hours, that’s comforting and healthy. We stumbled upon this idea last summer and have evolved it into a weekly favourite. It’s super versatile and can be eaten as a traditional chili with rice, cheddar, spring onions, avocado and coriander or as fancy beans on toast, served on German rye bread with vintage cheddar, jammy eggs and spring onions. So good! (See below for recipe)

Today I am moving out of realm of the kitchen and taking you into our bathroom. While I still feel that our plastic waste is way beyond what it should be I am also proud of the small steps we have taken to reduce our single plastic use while supporting independent UK businesses. I feel that as long as a swap doesn't break the bank, does the same/better job as your previous off the shelf product and doesn't inconvenience you ridiculously - there is no excuse.

So here's a little breakdown of the swaps I've made and am so happy with.

DEODORANT – We swapped from the usual Doves and Sures out there to a Salt of The Earth stone years ago and were super happy with it. I loved the fact that I wasn't clogging up my arm pits with chemicals and artificial scents. Did you know that Aluminium-based complexes in regular deodorants react with the electrolytes in the sweat to form a gel plug in the duct of the sweat gland? Yup. Grim. BUT unfortunately this lovely product comes in a plastic holder. So after some research I ordered Carr Greens sample set of cream deodorants and was converted. Our favourite scent is Lemon and Geranium and it works soooo well. We've signed up to their subscription and get a new tin every 3 months. This costs £10 and lasts two adults (one of which has a very active job) perfectly.

SHAMPOO BAR – this is a difficult one and I have tried quite a few in the past with little success. While I didn't find the process of using the bar as complex as I thought I would the earlier products I purchased left my hair with a thin layer of grease on them. But I persevered and finally came across Wild Sage + Co. Their Rosemary + Lavender shampoo bar is to die for. It leaves my hair nourished, soft and clean. I even had people comment on my hair looking healthier post bubba! And for £6 a bar (or £5.40 if you buy a multi pack) it’s not extortionate. Love love love. BODY + FACE – I've got a little thing for Wild Sage + Co and am a real sucker for the way they present their brand, the way they create their products and their ethos in general. I have combination skin and since having a child my skin has behaved in all sorts of weird ways. Wild Sage's Charcoal Detox soap is amazing. It leaves my face nice and clean as well as moisturised at the same time. I've also recently purchased their Pink Himalayan Soap which we use as a body wash and is exfoliating and invigorating all at the same time.

SHAVE – I've been talking about this for ages but for some reason never took the plunge... until Mat finally got me a safety razor for Christmas. Aaaaand I am a convert. It honestly is so easy to use. Your initial investment may be a little higher but the blades going forward are super affordable. My one is by Edwin Jagger and is so well made.

PERIOD – I am still in the testing stage of this but a few of my friends recommended I try a mooncup. I am so aware of the amount of waste period products produce and am determined to find a routine that works for me. So far I am liking it but haven't dared venture out on longer trips yet. So the only products I still haven't managed to swap/find are: Toothpaste/Toothbrush – I have tricky gums and have to be careful what products I use. An electric toothbrush is an absolute MUST and so is a good toothpaste. I just worry that the natural tabs out there won't cut it.

Facecream – This feels like a never ending journey. I have tried quite a few eco friendly products but still haven't found one that suits my temperamental skin.

Body Lotion – as with the facecream I still haven't found a good body lotion. I tried using coconut oil after showers and although it absorbs into my skin ok I still feel it't too greasy :-(

So here you have it - a little list of our swaps + challenges. What sustainable beauty products do you love to use?

• J O O K (or as you probably know it - Congee) •  (Chinese food series 01)

I feel like every culture has its ultimate comfort food / cold / sickness remedy. The one my dad swears by is jook or congee or rice soup. The basis of it is plain but once you add your favourite toppings it’s the tastiest natural remedy and feels like a hug in a bowl. I usually make a big pot of it and keep it in the fridge for lunches/quick dinners. So, so yummy!

Below is one of the types of toppings I use but go wild. You can use leftover meat from your Sunday roast, prawns, stir fried veggies, poached chicken, smoked mackerel etc. –– Makes 4-6 portions Preparation < 15mins Cooks 45mins – 1.5hrs

Ingredients:

The soup: – 250g Jasmine or Basmati rice – 2.5l bone broth or water – large piece of ginger (approx 10cm) peeled and chopped into chunks – half a bunch of coriander tied together (optional)

Topping: – 200g Tofu – 200g tender stem broccoli – 1tbsp sriracha – 1tbsp soy sauce – 1tbsp sesame oil ... – 2 garlic cloves, minced – 5cm piece of ginger, peeled + minced – 2tbsps heat resistant oil (like rapeseed or similar) ... – drizzle of soy sauce – drizzle of sesame oil – chopped spring onions + sesame seeds (optional garnish) Method: