ilove manchester - winter edition

ISSUE ONE:Layout 1 14/12/2011 13:02 Page 2

As well as its obvious appeal for adults, Manchester has many hidden gems that make great days out for children. Steve Leigh, father of Georgia (10) and Ava (8), shares some of his familys favourites.

Dinosaurs, Tornados and Matchsticks

Manchesters museums and galleries do a great job at making their exhibits come to life for children.

What 8 year old doesnt want to stand underneath the giant dinosaur skeletons at the Manchester Museum (part of

the University of Manchester on Oxford Road) or see whether theyre brave enough to peer into a sarcophagus and get a glimpse of the mummy inside.

Whats more its free always a bonus for long school holidays.

As is the always excellent Manchester Museum of Science and Industry on Liverpool Road (with the exception of the occasional paid-for temporary exhibition). This has something to suit most kids especially if theyre entertained by planes, trains and automobiles.

Our favourite has always been the experiments zone where you can create tornados and see your skeleton riding a bike.

It has a great caf too.


Most of the museums and galleries will also work hard to put on extra entertainment in school holidays, with the Lowry out by MediaCity deserving a mention for its art and drama workshops which are particularly suited to the under 5s.

Chopsticks at the Ready

Manchesters restaurants are a great way to introduce kids to tastes and flavours from around the world.

We always head to China Town where the Little Yang Sing has just the right atmosphere for a family meal out including custard hedgehogs for desert.

Snow and Wind

For unbeatable family experiences, Trafford has the Chill Factore (offering snow activities suitable for very young children up to teenagers) and Airkix (indoor skydiving from 4 years and up) within a snowballs throw of each other.

An extreme family day out, with the lure of the Trafford Centre next door.

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Tea break time...Tea breaks are a tradition that have been with us for approximately 200 years.

Everyone's favourite... By the middle of the 18th Century tea had replaced ale and gin as the drink of the masses and had become Britain's most popular beverage.

A long time ago... Tea was created more than 5000 years ago in China.

A cup of tea to keep the dentist away... Tea is a natural source of fluoride that can help protect against tooth decay and gum disease.

And the doctor away... Tea has potential health maintainence benefits in cardiovascular disease and cancer prevention.

Bag it up... 96% of all cups of tea drunk daily in the UK are brewed from tea bags.

Big in India... Apart from tourism, tea is the biggest industrial activity in India.

As you like it... 98% of people take their tea with milk, but only 30% take sugar in tea.

Top Tea Trivia


Green Tea Macaroons


Ingredients:

Servings: 12

1 & 1/4 cups icing sugar

1 cup ground almonds

1 teaspoon green tea powder (matcha)

2 large egg whites

1/4 cup granulated sugar

Directions:

Sift the icing sugar, ground almonds and matcha

Beat the egg whites until just stiff.

Beat in the sugar until just stiff.

Fold the almond mixture into the egg white mixture.

Pour the batter into small discs on parchment paper on a

baking sheet.

Let sit for an hour so that a thin layer forms on the outside.

Bake in a preheated 170C oven for 10-11 minutes.

Let cool and then fill with something yummy like jam,

cream, buttercream or ganache.


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words: Sarah Mitchellimages: Arbonne International

I have recently been introduced to an amazing company called Arbonne... Heard of it? Well I was none the wiser until I met one of their independent consultants earlier this year.

Arbonne has been around in the USA for over 30 years and launched in the UK just 3 years ago. Arbonne has a network of independent consultants across the UK, the key is in the title... They are all independents, spreading the word via network marketing and getting paid for it! When was the last time the local cinema paid you for recommending a film to a friend? The Arbonne business opportunity pays its consultants for recommending the products to others and offers a great discount to use the products themselves.

Arbonne prides itself on being botanically based and mixing the best things found in nature with the most advanced breakthroughs in science. It is certified Vegan and does not contain things like talc or mineral oil, but what's really getting people talking are the results. I have been using the FC5 range, focused on hydrating the skin to reduce those tell tale signs of ageing and I must report that my skin has a real glow to it and Im getting lots of compliments. Not wanting my family to miss out, I bought my Mum the RE9 ADVANCED SET, an anti-ageing skin care regime for a youthful appearance! (now Im in the good books!) - I know what to get all my girlfriends for Christmas.

The products are all available through Arbonne Independent Consultants, so to find out more about the products and the amazing business opportunities, visit; www.arbonneinternational.co.uk

If youd like to speak to an independent consultantplease email: [email protected]


Boots are essential winter warmers and I always love this time of year, when, I can get my boot boxes out and start wearing my favourite pieces. Most of my boots are quite a few years old, but, no matter, as I think a lot of boot styles are timeless, and, if looked after properly can be worn year after year.

This season two boot styles in particular seem very popular..The heeled knee high boot and the slouchy ankle boot. I am a big fan of the heeled knee high boot as for the slouchy ankle bootI have jumped on the band wagon and bought a pair, and, I must say I am delighted with my purchase!

When buying a heeled knee high boot, pay attention to the fit around your calf and the boot lengththe fit should be snug, but, not too tight, and the length should come up to the knee, and not in no mans land between your knee and calf. Find the perfect fit and perfect length et voilayou have one sexy look going on!!

Heeled knee high boots and bright winter coats, what a gorgeous combination. Alternatively, add a bit of 1970s nostalgia and tuck your skinny jeans or skinny cords into your boots, wear with knee length wool dresses and skirts or experiment with the new season midi length skirt. What ever your style, have some fun!

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Delicious Sticky Slow Roast Belly Pork What youll need - This should serve 6, but if your like me and love your food then possibly only 4 people...

1.3kg piece pork belly, boned, rind left on and scored (ask your butcher to do this) 2 tsp sunflower oil 1 tsp white peppercorns, crushed 3 large onions , sliced 2-3 tbsp clear honey 2 tsp ground cumin 1 red chilli, deseeded and chopped

Prep 10 mins cooking 3hrs 30 mins


This is so easy to doHeat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4. Lay the pork, skin-side up, on a rack in a roasting tin. Trickle with a little oil, then lightly press on the crushed peppercorns and a sprinkling of coarse sea salt.

Place in the oven, then cook for 1 hr. (At this point treat yourself to a nice glass of something) Remove from the oven and baste with the juices. Continue to cook for a further 1 hrs, basting every 20 mins. (this is a bit of a pain, but well worth the effort)

Put the sliced onions in the roasting tin under the pork.

Mix the honey together with the cumin and chilli, brush it over the pork, then increase the oven to 200C/fan 180C/ gas 6.

Cook for a further 30-40 mins, basting occasionally, until caramelised with a rich, golden glaze over the pork.

Once cooked and tender (this can be easily tested by piercing the flesh with a knife), remove pork from the oven, then leave to rest for 10-15 mins. (I find it really hard not to cut myself a sneaky slice at this point)

While the pork is resting, heat the tin on the stove with the onions, adding 2 tbsp water. This will lift any residue from the pan, creating a moist cooking liquor.

Season the onions with salt and pepper, then divide between 6 plates. Carve pork into 6 portions, then serve on top of the onions. Pour any remaining liquor over and serve with mash of your choice.. (Mine is Colcannon Mash)


Mincemeat and Pear Crumble CakeWith a hint of spice and little pockets of mincemeat, this is a lovely post-Christmas cake, great with Clotted cream, warm custard. Cuts into 12 pieces or 10 if you are greedy like me.

The Pears You could also use Apples if you prefer 4 firm pears peeled, cored and cut into thumb-size pieces 3 tbsp golden caster sugar 1 tsp mixed spice

FOR THE CAKE RECIPE

250g pack salted butter softened (use a tiny bit for greasing) 250g golden caster sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract or vanilla paste 5 large eggs 200g self-raising flour (Add the SR flour in first)100g ground almonds 7 tbsp plain flour 6 tbsp mincemeat

Prep 20 mins Cooking time approx. 1hr 40 mins this is so easy to make


Method Put pears into a non-stick frying pan with 2 tbsp sugar and 2 tbsp water. Cover, then cook over a medium heat for 10 mins until just tender, stirring every so often. There shouldn't be juices once the pears are cooked. Add the spice, leave to cool.

Heat oven to 160C/140C fan/gas 3. Butter then line the base and sides of a 20cm (8 inch) round, deep cake tin. Put butter, sugar, vanilla and tsp salt into a large bowl. Beat with an electric hand whisk until pale and fluffy. Add eggs and S.R flour at this point beat until smooth, then fold in almonds with a spoon. Remove 85g batter and put into a small bowl. Into this add the plain flour and chop into the mix with a cutlery knife to make a soft, crumbly-looking mix.

Spoon half the cake mix into the tin, top with half the pears, dot over half the mincemeat, then dollop the rest of the cake mix on top. Scatter with remaining pears, mincemeat, then the crumble mix. Sprinkle with final 1 tbsp sugar. Bake for approx. 1 hrs, covering with foil after 1 hr, until golden, risen, when a skewer is inserted into the middle & it comes out clean its done.

Cool in the tin for 10 mins then cool on a rack. Keep it in the lining paper, as this will help it stay moist.This tasty cake will keep, well wrapped in an airtight tin, for 5 days. Freeze for 1 month.


Tyres The legal requirement relating to tread depth is "a minimum of 1.6mm in a continuous band throughout the central three-quarters of the tread width, throughout the whole of the circumfer-ence". Failure to adhere to this can seriously increase the possibility of having an accident and drivers could face a hefty fine.

However, that said, the 'blue light services' (Police, Ambulance & Fire Service) strongly recommend that tyres are change at between 2mm & 3mm.

A cut in a tyre in excess of 25mm or 10% of the section width of the tyre , whichever is the greater, measured in any direction on the outside of the tyre and deep enough to reach the ply or cord would be a safety hazard and deem the tyre illegal. In addition, if there is any cut in the tyre no matter how small which exposes cords, then the tyre is also illegal.

If a tyre has any lump, bulge or tear caused by separation or partial failure of its structure, it's good practice, wherever possible, when assessing damage that the tyre is removed from the rim/wheel and systematically inspected both internally and externally.

Please note, tyres marked "Temporary Use Only" are restricted to a maximum of 50mph.

Don't reduce tyre pressures to get more grip it doesn't work, and reduces stability.

It's rare to need snow chains unless you live in an isolated area hit with heavy snow, and where the roads are not cleared. They must be removed to drive on a metalled road without a reasonable covering of snow.

Consider changing to winter or all season tyres these have a higher silica content in the tread which prevents it hardening at lower temperatures, and therefore gives better grip in cold wet conditions.


ilove manchester - winter edition

Documents

cup of tea

tea breaks

century tea

tea bags

tea triviaissue

green tea macaroonsissue

tea break time

cups of tea drunk