 This recipe is from On The Pulse by Georgina Fuggle. I bought the book some years ago, and this is one of my favourites. Fantastic, this time of year, we served it on Christmas Day, and it was a roaring success.
Prep Time 20 minutes ¦ Cook Time 1 hour ¦ Serves 4 INGREDIENTS
METHOD Preheat the oven to 200⁰C/180⁰C fan/gas mark 6. Line a baking sheet with greaseproof paper. Prepare the squash by peeling the skin using a vegetable peeler (I used organic squash and washed it; I didn’t peel it). Slice into 2cm rounds, removing seeds – aim for 5 slices. Brush each round with oil and lay on the prepared baking sheet. Roast for 25 minutes, turning halfway through until soft. Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large, heavy-based frying pan. Add the onions and gently fry over a medium heat for 4-5 minutes until soft and golden. Add the garlic, chilli and ground coriander and fry for a further 3-4 minutes. Add the lentils and combine. Stir through the coconut cream with 3 tablespoons of cold water and season generously. Transfer the mixture to a 2-litre ovenproof dish. Remove the squash from the oven and nestle the rounds into the lentil mixture. Return to the oven and bake for a further 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and scatter over a little fresh coriander. Serve with a little extra drizzle of oil if liked. Enjoy Geraldine Fitzpatrick
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 I picked up the local gluten-free porridge oat bread mix on a whim, and it has become a regular in my kitchen. It could not be easier. I just tip the mix into a bowl, add an egg and buttermilk, then bake it for just under an hour. The result is the loveliest loaf, light and never heavy. The linseeds give it a great texture too.
It is a brilliant option for my busy household because we get fresh bread with almost no effort. I made it recently for a smoked salmon starter, and it was perfect. It also works beautifully with cheese after dinner. For something so simple, it feels like a real treat and will definitely be on our table for Christmas Day. Review by Siobhan Let us know which of our products are your favourites and why Email Geraldine [email protected]  Epsom salts are one of those simple everyday items that do far more than most people realise. They are inexpensive, easy to store, and completely plastic free when bought in bulk or paper packaging. By choosing a product that works in more than one area of your home, you reduce waste and cut down on unnecessary purchases.
Annes is a big fan of Epsom salts baths for her health routine! Not only does it help to give her the benefits of the magnesium support she doesn’t waste the water afterwards but uses to water the house plants inside and outside in the polytunnel! Wait until it cools down first though! Geraldine Fitzpatrick  I was blessed to meet Bob Quinn at the Wise Traditions conference recently. The wisdom of his experience as a grain farmer was inspiring and I have devoured his book Grain by Grain with gusto since. The book will end up on my shelf to be shared but here he is chatting to Hilda about his life and work as an organic farmer in Montana.
https://www.westonaprice.org/podcast/40-years-of-farming-organically-has-it-been-worth-it-with-bob-quinn/#gsc.tab=0 Anne Maher  When I see pannacotta on a dessert menu I am always keen to try it. I wanted to see if I could replicate with raw milk and came across some versions that seemed interesting to try! Have you come across clabbered milk? Take the raw milk and leave out in the kitchen for 3-4 days until it turns to curds and whey. Strain out the curds and you have the basis for this dish.
Mix the clabbered curds with maple syrup, vanilla extract and gelatin. Pour into moulds or ramekin dishes. Set in fridge overnight. Serve with berry compote! A probiotic dessert! Anne Maher  I suffer from a condition that I wonder is common? Though I might be recovering slightly over the years. Perhaps it’s a maturation of sorts and perhaps it is a realisation that has dawned more. We all see the world through different eyes and experience a different world depending on our circumstances. My problem is that I find it difficult to understand when others don’t see what I think is very obvious to the world. Opportunities to share your view of the world are fraught with censorship and self regulation though and our algorithms keep us firmly in our own lanes mostly. So as I learn to understand this reality more I am becoming more accepting that it is vital we keep talking to each other and be open to learn. Especially if the topic challenges your previous beliefs.. Edward De Bono has always appealed to me with his work on lateral thinking. Stretching our thinking to solve problems. The creativity of solutions are appealing. Working upstream on problems to prevent them happening does seem logical though and I cannot help but feel this point is fairly obvious to most..but perhaps it is my own delusion!
Let me point you to some topical information… I thought you might be interested in the report out on Sepsis from the HSE. Sepsis is a word we are hearing more commonly now in our language. It is effectively normalised. Organ failure from infection that cannot be controlled is perhaps a simplified story that is understandably a fearful prospect for us all who may need to go to hospital. The report tells a story too of where we are in Ireland. Health reports are not every ones cup of tea. Data can be played with to tell an appropriate story. Page 12 gives an interesting graph if you take the time to look. As more awareness of the condition is raised the more cases are diagnosed. When the definition changes the trend does too. As for 2020, well it looks like a significant drop in numbers but those cases may have been reclassified to covid instead. You might be forgiven for thinking its not so bad. But what I see is a distinct trend upwards. Antibiotics have been a game changer for the health system but we are seeing more and more resistance where our bodies are not as strong to resist the damage. By the time you go to hospital you are relying on the expertise and medical intervention to help you recover. The warnings are there of course and have been for a number of years that the hospital itself is struggling to be the solution. In many cases they accelerate the problem of ill health. Medical errors & intervention are suggested to be a leading cause of death. I often see this quoted but again I wonder about the source of the data and how this is manipulated. But let’s go back a bit shall we? Antibiotic resistance is due to overuse of antibiotics and our bodies getting too used to the effect. How many courses of antibiotics have you had in the last few years? If you are counting your visits to the doctor you probably can remember… If on the other hand you are used to consuming UPF and non organic foods you might be surprised that your antibiotic load will be significant with out you knowing. Roundup (glyphosate) is a registered antibiotic as well as a herbicide. Conventional grain is sprayed liberally with it. At many stages of growth and harvest. Fruits, meats, vegetables all have their dose too. Your daily loaf of bread may be the reason that your immune system takes a battering when you least need it to. How about sugar? It’s the season for sugar from October to December. Don’t think the sugar cane fields escape their dose of glyphosate to manage the yields demanded by addicted consumers… And how about those cosmetic chemicals to add to the mix as well as our house cleaning chemicals.. Our bodies can take so much until they can’t. I am sympathetic to the medical world that is expected to work miracles at the last minute. Time is a great healer they say and time is what we have to use wisely. Build your immune system strength every day with real food! Eat organic foods! Minimise your toxic load. Give your self a chance. Don’t wait until you have to compete for a trolley space! Anne Maher  Sophie Morris is popular! Her posts on supermarket swaps have been a gamechanger for so many people and it is no wonder that people resonate with simpler advice that cuts through the confusion of the choices in the supermarket. I really hope that it makes it easier for older people too as they navigate the maze of shopping. The odd time I do find myself in a large supermarket this is one thing I do notice – how lost the older folk are there. Technology advancements have meant there is less time to chat, ask for help and quite honestly I can not imagine how hellish the environment is if you are suffering mentally. Sophie has made it easier and well done to her! Of course she will have her critics… how qualified is she etc to give advice...we do love to wave the qualification flag when a message doesn’t suit us. The thing is I used to bring people around supermarkets in person to teach them about food in person before social media. But now I think differently. If you have to read labels then there is a process of production involved. Production at scale means quality suffers. The due care along the way can slip up. The accountability and responsibility is diluted. Trust can break down readily along the chain. In the end we are left with a deficit. Of nourishment and connection. Getting food more directly from source is an effort. But the confusion is swapped with confidence. Both body and soul are nourished. Maybe we should be reading the farmer not the labels?!
Anne Maher  Propolis is one of nature’s most powerful protectors — a gift from the beehive that has supported human health for centuries. Often called “bee glue,” propolis is a resinous substance collected by honeybees from tree buds and bark. Bees use it to seal and sterilise their hives, protecting the colony from bacteria, viruses, and fungi. For us, it offers similar benefits — supporting the immune system, fighting infections, and promoting overall wellbeing.
Why Propolis Is So Special Propolis contains a unique mix of natural compounds including flavonoids, phenolic acids, and essential oils — all known for their strong antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties. Scientific studies have linked propolis to:
How to Take It Our Old Cottage Honey Max Strength Extract of Propolis is highly concentrated — a few drops are all you need. For daily wellness, add it to a glass of water, juice, or tea. It can also be taken directly on a spoon or mixed with honey for a smoother taste. During times of seasonal stress or when your immune system needs extra support, you can increase the frequency as needed. Crafted the Old Cottage Honey Way – Alcohol-Free and Full of Goodness Unlike most propolis extracts made with alcohol, our method makes this natural remedy suitable for everyone, including those who avoid alcohol for health or personal reasons. We use a two-step process that begins with a traditional alcohol extraction to fully unlock the beneficial compounds found in raw propolis. Then, the alcohol is gently removed and replaced with pure vegetable glycerin, resulting in a potent, alcohol-free propolis glycerite — gentle yet powerful, preserving all the natural goodness without compromise. Pure. Potent. Irish. Every drop of Old Cottage Honey propolis extract is made from Irish propolis gathered from healthy, thriving hives. It’s crafted in small batches to ensure maximum potency and purity, with no artificial additives, colours, or preservatives — just the natural strength of propolis as the bees made it. If you’re looking for a natural way to support your immune system, soothe your throat, or simply strengthen your everyday wellness, Old Cottage Honey Max Strength Extract of Propolis is nature’s perfect ally. Serg, Old Cottage Honey |
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