Remember we told you about the bluebell walk on Sunday 6 May – well, a little (little) bit of rain didn’t put people off, and it went ahead and raised £800 for Canine Partners, a charity that provides highly trained assistance dogs to people with disabilities.

Over 100 people donned wellies and brollies, and walked the walk – many with their dogs in tow, with bluebells in abundance.  Walkers covered a distance of two miles and were given the chance to meet some of the charity’s partnerships and see a demonstration about the amazing abilities of a canine partner and how they change the life of a person with disabilities.  The team was joined on the day by some of the puppy parents and their pups in training.

Essex Community Fundraiser Lindsay Hurrell said “It really is great that the local community support this event every year and I would like to thank them personally.  We raised around £800, and this money will go towards our puppy training satellite in Essex.  The Essex Fundraising Team is always looking for volunteer puppy parents and other volunteers to help strengthen our activity throughout Essex.”

The funds raised will help the team in Essex train more dogs to change the lives of people with disabilities like Alison Wyatt from Colchester who has multiple sclerosis.  “Prior to having canine partner Maddy, it was difficult to bend, pick things up and reach far away objects due to being in a wheelchair.  As soon as I met Maddy I felt happiness and love, especially when she came home with me last year.  Day to day she helps me with jobs and moving about that I cannot do.  Life has become so much easier and Maddy has allowed me to be more confident and start to socialise again.”

To contact the Essex team please call 0845 209 0750.

Smoked Trout Cannelloni

One of the most popular pasta dishes, cannelloni usually has a meat and tomato
filling, or one based on spinach and ricotta cheese. Smoked trout makes a delicious change in this low-fat version

Serves 4–6

INGREDIENTS
1 large onion, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, crushed
60ml/4 tbsp vegetable stock
2 x 400g/14oz cans chopped tomatoes
2.5ml/1⁄2 tsp dried mixed herbs
1 smoked trout, about 400g/14oz, or 225g/8oz fillets
75g/3oz/1⁄2 cup frozen peas, thawed
75g/3oz/11⁄2 cups fresh breadcrumbs
16 no pre-cook cannelloni tubes
salt and ground black pepper

For the sauce
25g/1oz/2 tbsp butter
25g/1oz/1⁄4 cup plain (all-purpose) flour
350ml/12fl oz/11⁄2 cups skimmed milk
freshly grated nutmeg
25ml/11⁄2 tbsp freshly grated Parmesan cheese

1 Put the onion, garlic clove and stock in a large pan. Cover and simmer for 3 minutes. Remove the lid and cook until the stock has reduced entirely.

2 Stir in the tomatoes and dried herbs. Simmer uncovered for 10 minutes, or until the mixture is very thick.

3 Skin the trout with a sharp knife. Flake the flesh, discarding any bones. Put the fish in a bowl and add the tomato mixture, peas and breadcrumbs. Mix well, then season with salt and pepper.

4 Spoon the filling generously into the cannelloni tubes and arrange them in an ovenproof dish. Preheat the oven to 190˚C/375˚F/Gas 5.5

5 Make the sauce. Put the butter, flour and milk into a pan and cook over a medium heat, whisking constantly, until the sauce boils and thickens. Simmer for 2–3 minutes, stirring all the time. Season to taste with salt, freshly ground black pepper and grated nutmeg.

6 Pour the sauce over the stuffed cannelloni and sprinkle with the grated Parmesan cheese. Bake for 30–45 minutes, or until the top is golden and bubbling. Serve immediately.

Cook’s Tip
Smoked trout can be bought as fillets or as whole fish. Look for them in the chiller cabinet of the supermarket.

I’m a late convert to Ms Marina Diamandis, better known as Marina and the Diamonds, and have only recently got into first album ‘The Family Jewels’ despite it having been around a couple of years already.

Interviews with Marina hint at a poppier offering this time around, and also calls it a ‘concept album’ – the concept being that somewhere along the line, she’s most certainly had her heart broken! Electra Heart has been produced and co-written with Dr Luke and Greg Kurstin, and features various characters, or sides of a personality in tracks like Bubblegum Bitch and Homewrecker, as well as some bona fide break-up songs like Fear and Loathing or Lies.

On the down side, the first single, Primadonna, has been reviewed by the NME as ‘a giant guff of saccharine nothing’ so when it comes to writing about heartbreak, we can hazard a guess that she’s no Adele or Lana Del Rey. Still, if you like a bit of electronic pop with your broken heart, and you liked ‘The Family Jewels’ it’s probably worth a listen…

Listen for yourself…what do you think?

Out 30^th April

If you’re looking for ideas for a fun day out, why not take the whole family to Adventure Island for a wealth of FREE entertainment throughout the park; including including Bugbeez Stilt Walkers, the hilarious Granny Turismo and Musical Ruth, plus stage shows from the jaw dropping Bedlam Oz.

Roving face painters and balloon modellers, plus loads of giveaways all add up to a perfect day out for all the family.

Wacky Weekend is the second in a series of themed weekends taking place throughout summer and autumn at the UK’s Number 1 free admission fun park (the first was St George’s Weekend, 21/22 April 2012).

Adventure Island Head of PR & Marketing Gemma Warrilow says: “We are constantly striving to give people fun new reasons to visit Adventure Island, and these free events are a key part of our commitment to do just that. Wacky Weekend is a superb opportunity for visitors to come to Southend and love the fun – and because admission is free, you don’t have to pay a penny to watch all the very unusual entertainers we’ve lined up.”

Find out more at www.adventureisland.co.uk

Programme:

Adventure Island Main Stage
Bedlam Oz – 12.15pm / 1.15pm / 2.15pm / 3.15pm / 4.15pm

Around Adventure Island
Granny Turismo -12.30pm / 2.30pm / 4.30pm
Musical Ruth -1.30pm / 3.30pm / 5.15pm
Bugbeez Stilt Walkers – 12.15pm / 2.15pm / 4.15pm

From 17th to 19th May, there will be seven sensational catwalk shows each day featuring new men’s, women’s and children’s fashion. With brands including Superdry, Jack & Jones and Monsoon all ready to take to the stage, there’ll be something to suit everyone’s style and budget.

This year there’s something extra special happening, too, as Lakeside reveals top tips for the season with free fashion workshops from the models and stylists on Sunday 20th May.

More information about Lakeside’s Spring/Summer Fashion Shows and style workshops can be found online at www.lakeside.uk.com.

The fete runs from midday until 4pm and kicks off with Brentwood School Big Band performing for the first half hour. Other performances include Billericay Dog Training School (12.30pm), Brentwood School Big Band (1.30pm), Kayzar Dance Group (2.00pm) and Infant School Country Dancing (2.30pm).

All the usual favourite stalls will be there including the Coconut Shy, Crazy Kitchen, Inflatable’s & Pony Rides. Various refreshments will be available including Burgers & Hot Dogs at the BBQ, Drinks, Ice Creams, Strawberries, Cakes, Tea & Coffee.

The Grand Prize Draw takes place at 3.30pm with a top prize of £400 of Mayflower Travel Vouchers and many other excellent prizes.

Actor Russell Tovey from Gavin & Stacey and Sherlock Holmes will be with us at the fete and will be drawing the winners.

Admission is free for children and just £1 for adults, so come and join us for an excellent afternoon’s entertainment to help raise money for the children of South Green Schools.

FOUR PAWS…

Four paws dog grooming salon in Lindsell, near Dunmow, has been established since Oct 2009 and has built up a fantastic reputation. The salon offers bathing, blow drying, brush outs, de-shedding, clipping, trimming, Handstripping, ear cleaning/plucking, anal gland expression, claw clipping and even nail painting with specialised canine nail paints.

Salon owner and manager, Emma Gooding has 17 years dog grooming experience and loves her job. She says, “Dog grooming is such a rewarding job which makes it so much more enjoyable. I just love ensuring that customers are having their requirements met and to see both the dog and owner happy with the end result. I have had customers ask me to cut a Mohican on the dogs head and paint nails”.

Discount for Model Pooches

Four Paws has recently been joined by voluntary trainee Wendy Hunt, who needs more model dogs to train on – if you’re interested, the salon gives a 25% discount on all grooming services she carries out.

Four paws also works with the Danaher Animal Home in Wethersfield, Essex, keeping their Facebook page updated regularly with details of animals that need a home. Just click on the Facebook icon at www.4pawsdogsalon.co.uk.

“We recently helped to rehome a beautiful mastiff called Tyra from Tendering Council. Tyra was found walking around Jaywick and seemed as though she had been used as a breeding machine. Luckily for Tyra she was rehomed after we sent out an urgent appeal to friends and customers as Tyra was due to be put to sleep by 5:10pm that evening if she was not rehomed.

“We met up with Tyra and her new family and are pleased to inform everyone that she is settled and like a different dog, so loving and content. We are asking that people do consider rescue dogs from your local rescue centre first; there are so many animal that need new loving homes and have been placed in rescue centres through no fault of their own.”

INSPIRED OFFERS

Four Paws are offering Inspired readers some great deals:

• Receive a £5.00 discount of your first visit to the salon.
• FREE eye and fringe trims. (Appointment not necessary)
• Claw Clipping JUST £5! (Appointment not necessary)
• New Pawlished Paws – Introductory offer £7.00!
• FREE Puppy Baths (Small to medium breeds only – up to the age of 6 months)

SHOW & TELL – Take your dog along with any products or grooming tools that you use at home and show the team exactly how you groom your dog at home. They will watch you and then give you advice about how to best groom your breed of dog. Show and Tell lasts for about an hour.

Orchid, the UK’s male cancer charity and Essex Roads Cycling Club is calling on Essex cyclists of all ages and abilities to sign up to this year’s OrchidCycle Essex on Sunday 10th June.

The route starts and finishes in Billericay, with participants cycling through the beautiful Essex countryside. At the end of the ride, there will be a BBQ, beer tent and family entertainment to. There’s also a children’s GoRide cycling event in the park for bike skills and safety.

With four routes available, the ride is suitable for people of all ages, abilities and fitness levels:

• The 20 and 40 mile routes are fully signposted and marshalled
• The 75 mile route is fully signposted
• The 100 mile ride is a fully signposted and timed Sportive for the experienced distance cyclist

Ben Brewerton who took part last year said: “The OrchidCycle Essex ride is a great day out and the choice of routes means that it is ideal for cyclists and families. All four routes are well planned with lots of quiet country roads and it’s a great way to enjoy the Essex scenery whilst raising money for male cancer.”

Last year, OrchidCycle saw over 640 cyclists raise a total of £37,000.

The 100 and 75 mile rides begin at 8.00am and the 20 and 40 miles at 9.00 a.m. Entrance fees, including booking free are £15 for 20, 40 and 75 mile rides and £6 for children under 16. It is £25 including booking fee for the 100 mile sportive (adults only).

To take part, register at www.orchid-cancer.org.uk ,  contact events@orchid-cancer.org.uk or call 020 34657 197/ 020 34657 293.

 
They’ve come up with a fun checklist for under-12s (and those who are young at heart) including all sorts of things kids can do outside, like running around in the rain and bug hunting, to setting up a snail race, eating an apple from a tree, flying a kite and making a mud pie.

Kids can pick up a free ’50 Things To Do Before You’re 11¾’ scrapbook from https://www.50things.org.uk/ and also from Hatfield Forest, the nearest national trust property taking part in the fun. Children can fill in their completed activities online and earn points towards their very own explorer badge.

Another month, another cupcake recipe in Inspired…I suppose you could say we’re a li’l bit obsessed with cupcakes, but until we no longer love the little fluffy, spongey things, here goes with another recipe!

Ingredients – Makes 12

•    150g Billington’s golden caster sugar
•    150g slightly salted butter
•    2 medium eggs
•    150ml sour cream
•    2 tsp Nielsen Massey Pure lemon extract
•    180g Allinson Nature Friendly White Self Raising Flour
•    40g ground almonds

Icing

•    100g full fat cream cheese
•    80g softened butter
•    120g Silver Spoon icing sugar
•    200g mascarpone cheese
•    1 tsp Nielsen Massey vanilla bean paste

1.    Preheat the oven to 170/Gas mark 3.

2.    Line a muffin tray with 12 paper cases. Cream together the butter and sugar until the mixture looks pale and creamy. Add the eggs one at a time then add the lemon extract. Mix in the sour cream followed by the flour and ground almonds.

3.    Once the ingredients are fully incorporated spoon the mixture into the cake cases.

4.    Bake in the oven for 20-25 minutes. The cakes are ready when you tap the top of one and it springs back. If the top stays dented in then give them another two to three minutes and try again. Alternatively insert a skewer into the centre of one, if it comes out clean then they are ready to be taken out.

5.    Place on a cooling rack and allow to cool.

To make the icing:

Beat the butter and cream cheese together. Add the icing sugar along with the vanilla paste and beat for another two to three minutes. Finally fold in the mascarpone and then use a palette knife to spread the icing over the cooled cupcakes.