Recipes From Grantis Gee’s Cabin Fever Cooking Show

RECIPES

IPA BATTER MORAY COASTAL HADDOCK & SCALLOPS WITH CHIPSHOP HOME STYLE HAND CUT CHIPS

APPROX. 4 TO 6 PEOPLE • 900g Washed Or Peeled Local

Potatoes • 4 Good Size Local Skinned & Boned Fillets • 4 Fresh Scallops With Roe • 200g Plain Flour • 60g Cornflour • Good Pinch Turmeric • 250ml Local Ipa ( Ale) • 50ml Warm Water • 1 Good tsp Dried Yeast • Extra 50g Flour For Dusting Good Pinch Salt & Pepper (Mix In To Dusting Flour).

Start off cutting the potatoes in to chips then blanching the chips for approx 10 minutes in boiling water then drain and allow to cool before frying, this will give you a more firmer chip shop style chip and reduce cooking time in oil. Cook the chips till light golden brown and crispy (about 10 minutes). For the batter add the yeast to the warm water to activate for about 5 minutes in

a cup, then in a bowl pour the India Pale Ale or wheat beer in to a bowl gradually add the flour & the turmeric followed by the water/yeast. Cover the bowl with cling film and allow 20 to 30 minutes for the batter to activate (you will see the batter slightly ferment). Dust the haddock & Scallops along with the roe and then in to the batter. Place the haddock or the scallops in to the hot oil till a nice golden brown colour with a good crispy texture. Drain the haddock and scallops then serve along side the hand cut chips with your choice of favourite sauce salt & vinegar.

SEARED FILLET OF BEEF ON HAGGIS TARTLET WITH GARLIC MASH & MUSHROOM GRATIN

THE STEAK

• 4 X 6oz Centre Cut Fillet Beef • 50g Butter • 3 tsp Salt, Cracked Black Pepper & Paprika Mixed

Season steaks by rolling them in the seasoning then in heated pan add the butter let the butter melt then add the steaks to sear each side of the steak. Place pan in pre heated oven at 180c for 6 to 8 minutes then remove and rest on cooker top with lid for a further 6 to 8 minutes before slicing & serving.

THE SAUCE • 250g Sliced

Mushrooms • 35g Salted Butter • 50g Grated

Parmesan Cheese • 50g Finely Chopped

Onion • 100ml Beef Stock • 100ml Double Cream • 2 Cloves Crushed Garlic • Dash Of White Wine • 25g Plain Flour • Pinch Salt & Pepper

Melt butter in sauté pan then when hot add chopped onion, garlic, mushroom, salt & pepper cooking out till soft then gradually add plain flour gently stirring in to form a roux. Make sure your beef stock is hot then slowly stir in to the pan followed by the white wine and allow to cook out for approx. 10 minutes continually stirring the sauce. Lifestyle MAG

Once your sauce has a good thickness finish off with double cream and lastly the parmesan. The gratIn should be a thick consistency to serve.

THE TARTLET

• 4x Slices - Haggis (approx 1cm thick) • 4x Puff Pastry Squares • 2x Egg Yolks Roll out pastry to 10x10cm squares about 0.5 cm thick then brush with the egg yolk 3 to 4 times letting each coat dry then apply the next (this will give a deep golden colour when baked). Place the haggis slice in the centre of the pastry then bake for 10 minutes at 180c remove from oven and rest for 2 minutes before serving.

THE MASH

• 300g Peeled Potatoes • 25g Butter • 50ml Double Cream • 2 Cloves Crushed Garlic • Pinch Salt & Pepper

In to a pan of boiling water add potatoes cook till soft. Then drain and return to cooker top with lid on to steam for about 1 minute. Remove from heat add butter, garlic, cream, salt & pepper then continue to mash till you have a smooth creamy mash finishing off with fresh herbs or parsley.

RECIPES

BUTTERIES

500g Strong Flour 50ml Oil Or 25g Lard 2 tsp Yeast 1tsp Sugar 3tsp Salt 75g Soft Butter 200ml Warm Water Extra Flour For Dusting

In a large bowl add flour and oil and mix together, in jug with 200ml of warm water add yeast & sugar stir together and leave for 10 minutes to activate then pour in to flour mix. Fold together making the dough, knead for about 10 minutes till smooth then cover and allow to prove for a further 10 minutes. Tip out the dough on to your work top sprinkle with the salt and work in the butter tearing it in to the dough, do this till you have quite a rough sticky mixture. Dust with a little flour then place in the fridge for 10minutes (this will firm the mix making it easier to work with). Once it’s chilled cut into approx 8 pieces and press flat then place in warm area to prove for about 20 minutes. Bake in hot oven at 200c for 10 to 15 minutes till the colour you like them, serve warm with more butter. Also if you fancy chuck in a wee hand full of grated cheese to make cheese butteries.

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Keeping connected to stay well in lockdown

Looking after your mental health by staying connected in new ways has never been more important. At Moray Wellbeing Hub the team of Champions, people who use their experiences of life challenges to support others, have been very busy. The social movement’s membership grew in just one week by an extraordinary 20 new people, which shows that Moray folk of all ages are keen to make a difference.

“It’s been a real boost to my own wellbeing, meeting all these new Champions and giving them a hand to connect up online using our tools like Zoom and Slack,” shares Chris Ritchie, Champion and Director at Moray Wellbeing Hub. “Our online friendly gatherings have so many new faces keen to connect and do more for their community. I’m delighted!”

38 It’s not just new Champions the team have been looking to connect but also those who have been with Moray Wellbeing Hub for some time and those less keen on online tools. Since March, Chris and other volunteers have been phoning each of the 270 Champions individually to see how they are doing and to help connect them in with what is happening. One of the volunteers shares their experience.

“Connecting with Champions has been an inspiring and varied experience. Some conversations are long, some are shorter and ages vary. There are a variety of reasons for people being out of touch with us such as work, study, volunteering, not having information or confidence in using likes of Zoom etc. I usually start with asking how people are, most initial responses say “yeah,

I am good” and a few minutes later a different conversation starts – “I am used to having ME time and I am missing that with everyone being at home” or “we are having a “getting on each other’s nerves” day today”. “Some have been shielded and were delighted to speak to “someone else” and in a good space, doing work done around the house and garden.”

As well at this Champion focused contact, and running courses for community members such as ‘Principles of Mental Health First Aid’, the team have also been supporting those who hold the Community Connector role. Volunteers in this role are matched with people who might be isolated or experiencing more vulnerability at the moment and welcome a 1-2-1 support. Since lockdown Community Connectors have been keeping in contact with the person they support, having virtual versions of the cup of tea and chat they did before the C19 crisis in person.

Whilst online and phone is not the choice for many people to stay connected, it has enabled many to stay well and have hope at a very challenging time. Until we can meet in person again the Champions at Moray Wellbeing Hub will continue to do their best for their own health and for others in Moray. For them it is about the mutuality that sharing experiences can bring, as one volunteer shared;

“The majority of Champions I have contacted have said they are missing social contact with family especially their grandchildren and I can soooo relate to this. Many have also asked me how I am and what I am doing – I think this is in keeping with the ethos of the Moray Wellbeing Hub and being a Champion. We all have mental health and we all need support.”

Anyone of any age is welcome to join Moray Wellbeing Hub as a Champion. Check out their website for details: www.moraywellbeinghub.org.uk

Activity is supported by Moray LEADER ‘Wellbeing Connected Moray’ project until end of June and through the Wellbeing Fund till end of July. A range of courses and events open to all is now live.

Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy Fergus Ewing

This Spring we have overcome extraordinary challenges in the face of a global health pandemic.

The coronavirus crisis has required urgent action and will continue to have a massive impact on all our lives as we gradually and safely move out of lockdown.

What farmers and crofters provide for our nation is now in sharp focus. Throughout the pandemic, farmers, crofters and agricultural businesses across the country, including here in Moray, have kept working, to support the production of food for us all.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank every farmer and crofter in Moray; their families, workers and all the businesses in the agricultural supply chain here for helping us to get through this.

People are realising food security is a basic essential and that a plentiful supply of highquality produce should not be taken for granted. Now more than ever it is vital that we produce our own food and ensure an equitable and regular food supply.

To help all aspects of that supply chain, the Scottish Government introduced over 30 measures in little over eight weeks.

The global pandemic has changed the way many of us work, and will have a lasting impact on businesses going forward. Responding to the limitations of lockdown, a growing number of farm businesses have established online shops and home delivery services – directly linking producers and customers. I would encourage those businesses to consider advertising here in Lifestyle to reach wider audiences – and I would encourage Lifestyle readers to check out what might be locally available “farm to fork” close to home.

Hundreds of businesses are now listed on the new supportlocal.scot online directory created by Scotland Food & Drink. This allows people to source some of Scotland finest food and drink products and I’d encourage any food related business on Moray farms to think about joining the directory.

At the same time I am taking every opportunity to encourage food retailers to do more to ensure more Scottish produce is on the shelves for people to buy. Some of you will have noticed with recent promotions in the supermarkets of Scottish quality beef, pork and lamb, and fresh fruit and vegetables that these efforts are starting to succeed.

As we gradually and safely move out of lockdown, it is important that we are allowed to focus on recovering the rural economy. My hope is that we can continue to work together to create a food industry fit for the future. 41

FEELGOOD FITNESS WITH PETRA PENNINGTON

Let your mind take a stroll, and your feet do the thinking ……

Looking after your mental fitness is just as important as seeing to your physical wellbeing. But whilst your running shoes, training app or bike help you achieve the latter, which tools help you tone your mind? Mindfulness is a fantastically simple technique which has helped countless people manage their state of mind and draw strength and focus with which to face the challenges of their daily lives. Like meditation, mindfulness asks you to stop, clear your mind and be focussed only on the present moment. It’s the ideal mental tonic for a busy modern life, where you are constantly thinking about many things at once or find it hard to ‘switch off’. In this way it’s also a very healthy tool for anyone who worries a lot, is expressing anxiety or depression.

One of the easiest exercises by which to try this technique for yourself is by going for a Mindful Walk. • Walk alone or with a friend, but make sure they are happy to walk in silence with you. Stay at a relaxed pace that feels right for you.

• As you walk, focus your attention on your feet. Feel them make contact with the ground through your shoes, experience the varied surfaces through your soles. Are there lumps and bumps? Is it soft or hard?

• Explore these sensations with a neutral emotion and relaxed but alert mind. Don’t question why anything is the way it is; merely feel it. This way you can fully experience each present moment with no catches, moving smoothly on to experiencing the next.

• Bring your attention up to your legs. Feel your ankle and knee joints articulating and the movement and texture of your clothing on them as they move.

• Feel the swing of your arms; do they brush your body as you walk? Wriggle your fingertips and feel the flow of blood to them.

• Focus on your breathing. Feel the air filling your lungs with every in-breath; the short pause that occurs naturally before you exhale; and the air leaving your body. Breathe deeply and feel your lungs, chest and shoulders relax.

• What do you feel on your skin? Is rain wetting your face or does the wind tousle your hair? Is it cold or can you feel the warmth of the sun?

• Experience the sensation of moving through your surroundings. Are they green? Is the landscape open? Or are you passing through streets and by buildings?

• What sounds do you hear? Listen to the different layers. Are they natural sounds, like birdsong or rain falling on trees; human-made sounds like children playing or the sounds you make as you walk; or machine sounds like tractors or the engine of a far-off plane.

• What can you smell? Freshly cut grass? Old leaves decaying? The river? The sweetness of silage? Are you walking past cooking smells from houses?

• Notice the changing colours as you move through the environment.

Take in all these things and let them wash over you. Let them all go as your mind naturally moves on to experiencing the next moment. You are in the present moment. The next Lifestyle MAG

moment will come along and this one will become the past. A fresh moment will replace it, bringing constant variety and fresh opportunity. Accept that every new moment is different, and that it is not a cause for worry or fear. By mindfully experiencing the present, you are literally living each moment to the full. Enjoy regularly clearing your mind by approaching your normal activities (like this simple walk) more mindfully. I hope it helps you put your thoughts in order, feel mentally lighter and refreshed and strong, ready to deal with your next task with renewed vigour. Go get ‘em, tiger!

For more information on Mindfulness and to find your local practitioners:

mindfulnessscotland.org.uk

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The 5th, 6th & 7th June were the planned dates for the 11th HAAL to take place in Portsoy, the annual The 5 th 6 th & 7 th June was the dates for the 11 th HAAL to take place in Portsoy, this annual music celebration of tradition and culture through fesAval aCracts the best performers from around the regions to take part in a variety of concerts, music, songs and stories which attracts the music sessions, workshops and sing-around for all ages and abiliAes in venues across the town. The best performers from around the regions. HAAL is a celebraAon of tradiAon and culture, through music, songs and stories, aCracAng a large Visitors from across Scotland and beyond audience from across Scotland and beyond. usually gather in the town to enjoy a variety of concerts, music sessions, workshops and sing-arounds for all ages and abilities across various venues. Unfortunately this event was another vicAm of Covid-19 but the organisers are hoping to be able to have a shorter HAAL on 23 rd & 24 th October. Full details will be available in due course on the Folk at the Salmon Bothy website and social media plaRorms. Unfortunately, this year the event has been one of many victims of the current Covid-19 situation, with organisers forced to cancel the event. However, a shorter For your diary next year’s HAAL will be on 4 th 5 th & 6 th June 2021 Full details at www.bothyfolk.org HAAL is planned for 23rd & 24th October if circumstances allow. Full details will be Folk at the Salmon Bothy, which hosts a variety of tradiAonal music events and gatherings, has also available in due course on the Folk at the recently launched weekly online folk music sessions as it joins many others in adapAng its offering Salmon Bothy website and social media due to current restricAons. platforms. Meanwhile, Folk at the Salmon Bothy, which hosts a variety of traditional The weekly music sessions are broadcast via the group’s website and social media channels, allowing music events and gatherings throughout current and new members to join in and enjoy the entertainment from the safety of their own

the year, in addition to the annual HAAL, has recently launched weekly online folk music sessions as it joins many others in adapting its offering due to current restrictions.

The weekly music sessions are broadcast via the group’s website and social media channels, allowing current and new members to join in and enjoy the entertainment from the safety of their own homes. Details and joining instructions can be found at www.bothyfolk.org or follow https://www.youtube.com/channel/ UCnDIT1vYZ9ir2SU3inePS7g

For your diary, next year’s HAAL will take place on 4th, 5th & 6th June 2021 .

Full details at:

www.bothyfolk.org

HAAL to take place in Portsoy, this annual music fesAval aCracts the best performers from around the regions to take part in a variety of concerts, music sessions, workshops and sing-around for all ages and abiliAes in venues across the town. The HAAL is a celebraAon of tradiAon and culture, through music, songs and stories, aCracAng a large

Unfortunately this event was another vicAm of Covid-19 but the organisers are hoping to be able to October. Full details will be available in due course on the Folk at

June 2021 Full details at www.bothyfolk.org

Folk at the Salmon Bothy, which hosts a variety of tradiAonal music events and gatherings, has also recently launched weekly online folk music sessions as it joins many others in adapAng its offering

Recognising the current hardships of performers across the traditional music industry, Portsoy’s Folk at the Salmon Bothy, has donated a four figure sum to the Folk in Crisis Support Fund to assist musicians across the north east affected by loss of income due to current restrictions imposed as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

The fund, created in partnership by Stonehaven Folk Club and Hands Up For Trad, has already raised in excess of £8000, which will be distributed to help those unable to work meet ongoing living expenses. Applications for support are invited via the Hands Up For Trad website, www. handsupfortrad.org

Bob Philips, Folk at the Salmon Bothy chairman, commented, “We are all missing the music sessions we enjoy, however more importantly, the current situation has had an adverse impact on the income of many musicians. Scores of performances and events have been cancelled, with no current timescale as to when performers may again take to the stage for live events. As a group of music enthusiast, who very much enjoy the work of our peers and fellow performers, we wanted to help by contributing towards alleviating some of the ongoing hardships and worries they are experiencing.”

This is the second Lifestyle produced in lockdown I hope all the winners from the last issue enjoy their prizes and manage to visit the retailers who provided them as soon as the easing allows.

Once again I am delighted to be offering some amazing prizes from my generous clients.

I certainly wish you luck but would ask you to consider giving them your support if and when you are considering any future purchases. One thing that has changed during lockdown is many more people are shopping local and I certainly hope that is one thing that continues beyond the crisis.

So I look forward to your postcards and emails again and you have the opportunity to win a fantastic £50 voucher from S & D Harper in

COMPETITION CODES

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A free skincare consultation and a £50 voucher for Forever skincare products.

THEMILLHOUSE

Afternoon tea for two. Elgin. Why not put it towards a brilliant new barbeque or choose something from their vast range of leisure products.

The Mill House Hotel has been keeping the locals fed during lockdown with their wonderful takeaways but with lockdown easing they are looking forward to welcoming everyone back.

An afternoon tea for two is the fabulous prize for the lucky winner to enjoy.

I know many have missed their visits to the beauty salons so how about a free skincare consultation and £50 to spend on Forever skincare products? This is the amazing prize on offer from Angie McKenzie of Forever Living Aloe Vera. Good Luck!

Email competitions@lifestylemoray.scot with your name, address and contact number or send a postcard to: Lifestyle Magazine, 5 Green Lane, Newmill, Keith AB55 6NX - Remember your competition codes and please send multiple entries on one card.

Congratulations to our

April/May winners.

We receive hundreds of responses and love your letters and emails...

Keep ‘em coming. 48 Who knows... It could be you next time.

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