You will have heard the rumour that parsnips taste better after a frost. This is true: some of the starch is converted into sugar, which explains why parsnips are bland in summer and moreish in winter. As we rediscover the value of seasonal foods, we once again see the parsnip and leek as kitchen pleasures in the dark days. It pays to keep an eye on the ground conditions, as both are all but impossible to lift when the ground is frozen. The deep root comes out with a bit of fork-working, then grasp the crown, wiggle, and out she comes!
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Athena: In the eyes of Government, will the Arts always be last?After a year of Labour rule, life doesn't seem to be getting any better for Britain's cultural institutions.
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A castle that's 'a masterpiece of the baronial revival' with 17 bedrooms, breathtaking gardens and its own miniature railwayMajestic, imposing, graceful, romantic... Ayton Castle is the very picture of
