Emergency Contacts

Council Emergencies (Out of Hours) Telephone: 0161 912 2020

Household Emergencies National Grid Gas (if you smell gas) - 0800 111 999 United Utilities (leaks) - 0800 330 033 United Utilities (water supply) - 0845 746 2200 Electricity North West - 0800 195 4141

Police Greater Manchester Police (Non-emergencies) – Dial 101 Greater Manchester Police - 0161 872 5050

Health North West Ambulance Service - 01204 498 400 NHS Direct - 111 Trafford General Hospital - 0161 748 4022 Altrincham General Hospital - 0161 928 6111

Fire Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Ser-vice - 0161 736 5866

Age UK Trafford - 0161 746 9754

CarringtonCarrington

February 2019February 2019

Your To Do List

In FocusIn Focus

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February 2019

Variety of Conference/Meeting room types available, including:

Full multimedia Facilities - Wireless Internet - Hearing Loop - Presentation Materials

Refreshments - Free Parking 7 days a week - Rooms catering from 2 - 100 people

On site catering in the Carrington Lounge which is open to the public.

Breakfast: 7.15 - 10.00am - Lunch: 11.30am - 1.45pm. Available Monday - Friday.

We also provide a full catering service for any buffets you may require when using our

conference rooms.

For further details contact

Lynn McCabe

0161 776 4140

E mai l : i n fo@ carr ing tonpar i shcounc i l . o rg .uk

Twi t te r : @ carr i ng ton_pc

FaceBook: www. facebook.com/carr ingtonv i l l age

We bs i te : ww w.c arr ingtonpar i shcounc i l . o rg .uk

Welcome to the February edition of

Carrington in Focus. We hope you all

coped with the recent cold snap. Like us,

I am sure you are all looking forward to

the warmer weather in spring.

2019 is the Chinese year of the Pig. We‟ve waded through the

mire to bring you some interesting facts about of porky

friends.

How healthy is your heart? The North West has one of the

highest rates of heart disease in the UK, so we look at some

ways of keeping your ticker in tip top condition.

How many of us could do with an extra £70 a month? This is

how much many households are wasting on food every month.

See how you could save money and food in our Love Food

Hate Waste article.

Has your boiler been energy efficient over the winter months?

These can be costly to repair, so we look at some ways of

keeping these costs down by servicing your boiler.

We also have our regular features including News from the

Council, the puzzle page, seasonal food and great tips for your

garden.

If there is something that you would like to see in the

magazine, then please get in touch. Its great to hear your

feedback and we look forward to adding your ideas.

Chinese Lion Dance at intu Trafford Centre. Friday 16 February.

Visit the Orient and be transported to the East with an energetic, traditional lion

dance, famous Chinese pangu drumming and elegant dancers. The free show brings

noise and colour to ward off evil and celebrate Chinese New Year.

The Chinese lion dance will take place on Friday 16 February at the following times:

2.15pm – 2.30pm

3.15pm – 3.30pm

4.15pm – 4.30pm

5.15pm – 5.30pm.

Telephone: 0161 749 1718

E-mail: marketing.trafford@intu.co.uk

Website: https://intu.co.uk/traffordcentre/events/chinese-new-year-1

Man With A Pan (cookery course for older men)

Age UK Trafford 1 - 3 Church Road, Urmston M41 9EH.

Saturday mornings 10am - 1pm, from 26 January to 23 February

This is a new project starting in January 2019 aimed at teaching older men to

learn how to cook healthy nutritious meals. There will be 5 weekly sessions on a Saturday morning from 10am - 1pm where the participants will learn

how to cook a variety of dishes. The meals will be prepared, cooked and

served for lunch for the men to eat as a group. it is aimed at older men

who:

may have been recently bereaved

may be caring for someone ( ie with dementia, or other illness)

may be lonely or isolated and have never learned how to cook

may live alone and don't have the skills to cook a healthy nutritious meal

from scratch

It will be a fun, friendly, 5 week course where participants will learn how to cook in an informal relaxed atmosphere and gain essential cookery skills

while meeting new people. There will also be health related information on

Healthy eating, quitting smoking. alcohol limits, NHS checks and cancer

screening. Booking essential by ringing 0161 746 9752.

Tel: 0161 286 4201 Website: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/trafford/

In the Garden ... Whatever the weather there are always things to do

Repair or replace broken fences: Now is the perfect time before new growth starts and

quickly covers the fence, putting the structure under even more pressure.

Keep paths clear: When It hardly needs saying but do watch that paths don‟t become lethal in the cold and wet. There are plenty of gadgets for such jobs – pressure hoses and

what not – but a stiff metal brush on a long handle works well and warms the muscles.

Berries and currants: Cut down to the ground autumn fruiting raspberry canes. Blackcurrants should be pruned. On established bushes aim to remove a third of old wood (two years and more) cutting down to the base of the stems. Red and white currants and gooseberries should be

winter pruned if not yet done.

Apples and pears: Apple and pear trees need pruning now if not already done. Plant onions and garlic sets: One of the most satisfying and easy of garden jobs. Plant the sets leaving the tips just showing. Do watch out that the birds don‟t tug some of your freshly sprouting babies out again. Usually, this annoyance is quickly remedied by snipping off any longer tips before planting and by planting before the shoots sprout. But if you find any lifted sets lying on top of the soil simply firm them back into the earth. After the first couple of weeks the roots usually put themselves down and such troubles should be over. Tip If you

garden on heavy clay soil it‟s worth waiting a little longer until the earth warms up.

In the borders: Depending on where you live, what the weather has been like and how much longer you can keep looking at frost scorched skeletons in the border you might want to start giving flower borders a bit of a tidy, cutting down perennials and weeding as you go. If, though, hard frosts and further sharp cold is forecast, you may be better holding off for a

while yet.

Prune shrubs: Prune winter flowering shrubs once they have finished blooming. If you don‟t have any already do consider buying some winter scent. Daphne, viburnum, sarcococca are all wonderful at giving you a bit of a fillip as you walk past and catch a drift of their sweet smell on low,

dark days. Now is also the time to winter prune wisteria.

Snowdrops: Now‟s the time to buy snowdrops in the green, that is when they are in season. Most will be happy planted anywhere that‟s damp and

partly shaded. If you have established clumps that are getting congested it‟s a good idea to dig these up and break apart the bulbs, replanting with space between. This way you can help to avoid disease. After flowering snowdrops can be given a slight boost after their exertions with couple of weekly liquid feeds using a tomato fertiliser. Wildlife: If your soil is workable, prepare beds and borders for sowing wild flower seeds. The soil should be left to settle for 6 weeks before sowing. Put up nest boxes for birds. Melt the ice on bird baths using warm water so they have access to fresh water. Keep putting out food for birds. Blue tits, sparrows and chaffinches will use hanging feeders; blackbirds, thrushes and starlings will take food from the ground. When choosing your plants for this

year try including nectar-rich flowers for bees and butterflies or shrubs for birds.

For February flowers which attract bees and pollinating insects try growing winter aconite, primroses, Viburnum x bodnantense 'Dawn', Clematis cirrhosa and winter honeysuckle. Consider making a pond as this will provide a habitat for aquatic insects, newts and frogs, and attract dragonflies, bats and other wild animals. Plant native hedges using dormant bare-root plants. If the ground is workable, consider planting trees and shrubs to provide shelter and make your garden more

welcoming to birds, hedgehogs, toads, mice and shrews.

The humble pig is far from 'boaring' - 2019 is the Chinese Year of the Pig, so we’ve compiled a list of ten things you may not know about these remarkable animals. 1. Newborn piglets learn to run to their mothers‟ voices, and can recognise their own names by the time they‟re 2 weeks old. Sows have even been known to 'sing' to their young whilst nursing! 2. Think that pigs are slow and lumbering? As it turns out, they‟re not at all! Adult pigs can run at speeds of up to 11mph, or in other words, they can run a seven-minute mile. Could you do any better? 3. If you‟ve ever suggested that someone was „sweating like a pig‟, then you‟d be wrong. Pigs have hardly any sweat glands, and one of the best ways for them to cool down is to wallow in all of that glorious mud. 4. A pig's squeal can be as loud as 115 decibels – that‟s 3 decibels higher than the sound of a supersonic airliner. 5. And when they‟re not squealing, they‟re talking. Pigs communicate constantly with each other, and more than 20 different vocalisations have been identified; from wooing a mate to saying „I‟m hungry!” 6. And when they‟re not either squealing or talking, pigs will eat almost anything – including human bones. In 2012, a farmer in Oregon, America, was eaten by his pigs after having a heart attack and falling into their enclosure. By the time a concerned relative came looking for him, only his dentures were left. 7. They may be indiscriminate eaters, but pigs are also highly intelligent and incredibly social animals. When kept in a group they will snuggle close to one another, and prefer to sleep nose-to-nose. Studies have also shown that, much like humans, they dream. 8. And dreaming isn‟t the only way in which pigs are similar to humans – their genetic makeup is also very close to our own. Because of this, stem cells from pigs are being used by scientists to research cures for human diseases. To track the cells once they‟ve been injected, Chinese geneticists have crossed a pig with a jellyfish, producing piglets whose tongues and trotters glow fluorescent green in UV light. 9. Aside from their life-saving abilities, the pig is also associated with fertility and virility in China. This has led to statues of pigs being displayed prominently in the bedrooms of Chinese couples who are trying to have children. 10. And finally, we‟ve all seen pigs wallowing in the mud, but how about swimming in a crystal clear sea? On the uninhabit-ed Bahaman Island of Big Major Cay, that‟s exactly what they do. A population of wild aquatic swine rules the island, and many have taken to swimming out to the boats offshore, in

the hope of being rewarded with a tasty snack.

10 Surprising Facts About Pigs

News from your Council

Potholes: It is that time of the year again, and pothole season has arrived.

We have already reported the pothole outside St. George‟s Church and

are waiting for a reply. Trafford Council have advised that residents can

report the potholes on the Trafford website which is:

www.trafford.gov.uk

There you will also find more information about how Trafford assess the

status of the potholes. If you consider the issue to be an immediate hazard

to public safety, then please call immediately on 03330 035865 and they

will arrange for a highway inspector to attend as a matter of emergency.

Future Carrington Project: The latest update that we have received from

Himor is that they are in the process of amending their master plan and

delivery strategy in line with the recently published GMSF consultation

process. We have requested that all updates be sent to us as soon as

possible so that we can update residents accordingly.

Precept on Council Tax: The Parish Council has once again voted against

adding a precept for the 2019/20 Council Tax bill. We at the Council do

not feel that a precept charge is justified in the current financial climate.

Residents Wanted: We are still looking for local residents to join the

Council. Do you have some spare time to help the village? Please contact

us for more information, or why not join us at the next meeting.

Next Council Meeting: March 13th at Carrington Business Park. Meeting

starts at 7.30p.m. (subject to change, please check Facebook for updates).

If you have any issues that you would like to raise, please contact us

on Facebook, Twitter or via the website. Alternatively contact one of

our councillors; Roy Gaskill, Gavin Lees, Tony Marsh or Joanne Neild.

Monthly updates from the Parish Council about issues

important to our village

The Importance of Servicing Your Boiler

The boiler in your home is one of the most important appliances

you own, keeping your house warm all year round. However, if not

maintained and serviced regularly, you could fall foul to a whole

host of problems where in extreme cases of negligence boilers have

actually exploded. Repairs can also be incredibly expensive so it‟s to avoid any issues

when and where you can. Here are a few handy tips to make sure your boiler works

efficiently all year round.

Hire a professional

If you feel you don‟t have the required experience/knowledge to safely service your

boiler it‟s recommended to hire a professional gas engineer. They will be able to

give you an efficient service that will leave you with peace of mind. Have these

checked out annual and it‟s also a good idea to have your boiler serviced in the

summer months, it‟s better to be aware of any problems before the cold weather

kicks in.

Check the pressure

This is a simple check that you can carry out yourself. All boilers are fitted with a

pressure gauge and these will inform you when the pressure inside your boiler is

too high. For a standard boiler unit, the pressure should be around 12-15 lbs. If the

pressure is too high, most standard boilers have a release valve or pressure valve

which can be turned to release the pressure. However, if you do so and the

pressure immediately increases, contact a professional as this could be a serious

issue.

Here are some other signs to look out:

Loud noises from the boiler

Stains or smoke appears

Burns a yellow flame

Boiler pilot light goes out

Boiler overheats/refills on a regular basis

Maintain yourself

There are many things you can do personally to maintain your boilers high standard

and avoid the need for expensive repairs. On an annual basis, check the water

levels to ensure you‟re not boiling it dry, if the water line is low there may be a

leak, clean around the boiler to avoid any dust settling and drain the water to

ensure a high standard of functioning.

New way to register for an annual pass on Warburton Toll Bridge Trafford Peel Ports has launched a simpler registration method for its Warburton Toll Bridge annual pass. Drivers crossing Warburton Toll Bridge can now purchase passes online. More people purchasing the pass will ease traffic flows by allowing holders to go through the toll without having to pay cash. There are future plans, including new turning areas, road resurfacing, an increase in vehicle weight limit, traffic calming measures, strengthening of HGV restrictions and a free flow tolling system using ANPR technology. The

pass is available from a new dedicated microsite that went live on Monday 28th January.

Mark Whitworth, Chief Executive of Peel Ports said: “It is recognised by all our stake-holders that the more people that have the annual pass, the more it will ease congestion. Therefore, we have launched this new website and a more user-friendly payment system to encourage more

people to take up the pass.”

Cllr Hans Mundry Warrington Borough Council’s executive board member for highways and transportation, said: “We have been working closely with Peel Ports and Trafford Council on solutions to help ease traffic congestion at Warburton Toll Bridge. This new online system aims to give drivers an easier way to purchase the annual pass. Ultimately, a good take-up of the pass will improve traffic flow, so we hope this new way of registering will be appealing to

drivers.”

Cllr James Wright, Trafford Council’s Executive Member for Investment, Regen-eration and Strategic Planning, said: “There have been issues with traffic flow in this area for many years. The new pass is an excellent idea and will help to ease congestion. I would urge

drivers to sign up to the new scheme.”

The microsite will also be used for consultation with local residents and stakeholders via a traffic survey and dialogue around planned improvements on the bridge, and to communicate live information about the bridge so that locals can have easy and reliable access to updates. Due to an Act of Parliament, there is a legal obligation to charge everyone who crosses the bridge, the toll is 12p one-way and 25p for a day ticket. The toll revenue goes towards the maintenance of the bridge, repairs to the carriageway, utilities and services. Trafford Council issues fines to over 2,000 households for littering and fly-tipping Trafford Council is winning the war against environmental crime with its tough stance against those who dump rubbish and drop litter. Kingdom Enforcement, working on behalf of Trafford Council, issued £80 fixed penalty fines to 2,020 households over the last 12 months. The council also caught nine people fly-tipping in Old Trafford thanks to CCTV cameras. One fly-tipper caught on camera has been prosecuted and other cases are under investigation. There are now plans by the council to install more covert CCTV cameras in fly-tipping hotspots like alleyways and park litter bins across the borough. Kingdom, which has been given a six-month contract extension by Trafford Council, issued the 2,020 fines for the following offences: 364 for bags placed next to bins (for example in alleyways or in parks) 1,555 for cigarette litter 10 for small scale fly-tipping 27 for food waste

64 for various other reasons

Cllr Stephen Adshead, Trafford Council Executive Member for the Environment, Air Quality and Climate Change, said: “We have shown by these figures that we will not tolerate littering and fly-tipping of any kind and will come down hard on those who are guilty. Everyone has a duty of care to dispose of their rubbish properly and responsibly. This also means making sure those who offer to get rid of your rubbish have a waste disposal licence. So if you are approached by a „man and a van‟ company you can often be left with a big fine if they are operating without a licence. The council, through its contractor The One Trafford Partnership, is also upping its game by clearing rubbish and fly-tipping across Old Trafford and having a regular barrow person

daily – but if you see anyone fly-tipping, please let us know by calling 0161 912 2000."

NEWS

There are around 7 million people living with heart and circulatory diseases in the UK - an ageing and growing population and improved survival rates from heart and circulatory events could see these numbers rise still further. Between 2014 - 17 the North West had one of the highest mortality rates for people under 75. Here’s

how you can help change that and your heart health.

Give up smoking: If you're a smoker, quit. It's the single best thing you can do for your heart health. Smoking is one of the main causes of coronary heart disease. A year after giving up, your risk of a heart attack falls to about half that of a smoker. You're more likely to stop smoking for good if you use NHS stop smoking services. Visit the Smokefree website or ask

your GP for help with quitting.

Get active: Getting – and staying – active can reduce your risk of developing heart disease. It can also be a great mood booster and stress buster. Do 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity every week. One way to achieve this target is by doing 30 minutes of activity

on 5 days a week. Fit it in where you can, such as by cycling to work.

Manage your weight: Being overweight can increase your risk of heart disease. Stick to a healthy, balanced diet low in fat and sugar, with plenty of fruit and vegetables, combined with regular physical activity. If you are overweight, speak to your GP about

a sensible weight loss program.

Eat more fibre: Eat plenty of fibre to help lower your risk of heart disease – aim for at least 30g a day. Eat fibre from a variety of sources, such as wholemeal bread, bran, oats and wholegrain cereals, potatoes

with their skins on, and plenty of fruit and veg.

Cut down on saturated fat: Eating too many foods that are high in saturated fat can raise the level of cholesterol in your blood. This increases your risk of heart disease. Choose leaner cuts of meat

and lower fat dairy products like 1% fat milk over full-fat (or whole) milk.

Get your 5 A Day: Eat at least 5 portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables a day. They're a good source of fibre, vitamins and minerals. There are lots of tasty ways to get your 5 A Day,

like adding chopped fruit to cereal or including vegetables in your pasta sauces and curries.

Cut down on salt: To maintain healthy blood pressure, avoid using salt at the table and try adding less to your cooking. Once you get used to the taste of food without added salt, you can cut it out completely. Watch out for high salt levels in ready-made foods. Most of the salt we eat is already in the foods we buy. Check the food labels – a food is high in salt if it has more than 1.5g salt (or 0.6g sodium) per 100g. Adults should eat less than 6g of salt a day in

total – that's about 1 teaspoon.

Eat fish: Eat fish at least twice a week, including a portion of oily fish. Fish such as pilchards, sardines and salmon are a source of omega-3 fats, which may help protect against heart disease. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should not have more than 2 portions of oily fish a

week.

Drink less alcohol: Do not forget that alcohol contains calories. Regularly drinking more than the NHS recommends can have a noticeable impact on your overall health. Try to keep to the recommended daily alcohol limits to reduce the risk of serious problems with your health,

including risks to your heart health.

Read the food label: When shopping, it's a good idea to look at the label on food and drink packaging to see how many calories and how much fat, salt and sugar the product contains. Understanding what's in food and how it fits in with

the rest of your diet will help you make healthier choices.

Answers in next month’s edition

Across

1. Bicycle for two (6)

3. Legal (6)

8. Metal bar (5)

10. Voter (7)

11. Choices (7)

12. Stingless male bee

(5)

13. Ire (5)

15. Accumulate (5)

20. Entice (5)

22. Recess (7)

24. Let go (7)

25. Automaton (5)

26. Riding seat (6)

27. Repented (6)

Down

1. Sartor (6)

2. Evening (5)

4. Make better (5)

5. Asinine (7)

6. Food store (6)

7. Laconic (5)

9. Fish (5)

14. Wandered (7)

16. Type of musical

scale

5)

17. Begins (6)

18. Bet (5)

19. Combined (6)

21. Path (5)

23. Relating to a city (5)

Answers to last month’s edition

WHAT COULD YOU DO WITH £70 A MONTH?

Get familiar with your fridge and friendly with your freezer Understanding food dates and what the „best before‟ and „use by‟ labels really mean is key to making the most of your fridge and freezer. Just by opening the fridge and checking the „use by‟ dates on what‟s inside, you can begin saving money. Meat, fish and ready meals are often the most expensive things we buy – regularly checking the dates on perishables in your fridge can help save them from the bin. Move recently bought items into the freezer if you don‟t think you‟ll have time to eat them or cook them soon. Dairy products are often forgotten at the back of the fridge. Why not grate odd bits of cheddar and mix with breadcrumbs for a savoury topping, or stir into mashed potatoes? You can use up your yogurts in fruit smoothies or as delicious toppings on breakfast cereals. When you get home with your shopping, transfer as much as you can straight into the freezer. If you have large packets of

chicken pieces or fish, divide them up using freezer bags and freeze individual portions.

Store cupboard savvy Try and keep your store cupboard and freezer well-stocked with a variety of canned, dried and frozen goods, rice, pulses, pastas and sauces that you know you, your partner and your family love to eat. With these you can always rustle up a decent

meal or create delicious dinner from leftovers.

Getting your portions right Day after day we serve up basic staples like bread, rice, potatoes and pasta, and quite often what we can't eat ends up going straight in the bin. But

are you getting your portions right? For instance, a mug full of rice will serve four adults.

Lovely leftovers Being crafty with your food is the clever way to save money – and it really boils down to thinking before you throw. With a bit of preparation, your leftovers can create some delicious meals, and they don‟t have to be second best. It‟s amazing how many meals you can get from one chicken. If you enjoy a roast on Sunday, the remains of the joint can make a great curry or a delicious risotto later in the week there may even be enough for a sand-wich or two. With a little time, the carcass can also be boiled up for stock and soups. Sunday roast is the perfect time to do it, when you might have a bit more time. Keep the stock in the fridge or freezer for when you need it. If you have some dinner left in the pan, put it in a freezer bag and pop it in the freezer as a „ready meal‟ for one. Smaller amounts can be pureed up as baby food or served as a kid‟s portion for lunch the next day. The last dregs of wine or beer can be frozen in ice cube trays and popped out into stews and casseroles when cooking. Cut the bruises off old apples and toss into the pan with your sausages. Don‟t throw out those black bananas – mash them up and add cream for a super-quick

pudding everyone will love.

Planning your meals Meal planning is one of the most effective ways you can save on your food bills. Start by checking your fridge, freezer and store cupboard and ask yourself what you really need. Then, before you go shopping, think carefully about what you're going to need for the week and write a list. That way you won't shop for things you already have. Get your partner, friends or the kids to help – ask them to share their favourite meals and what they'd like to have that week. Then you can work out a meal plan for the

week, and make sure you have everything you need.

The average UK family with children throws away £800 worth of food a year, that‟s £70 a month! All that food has to be replaced, meaning more shopping, more cooking and more expense. We‟re sure you‟d like to avoid those extra trips to the supermarket and save money, and so here are a few ideas about how to do both at the same time. Money Saving Expert's Martin Lewis says: “Throwing food away is the purest waste of money possible. I‟ve been banging on about how to beat it for years, so it‟s wonderful to see the Love Food Hate Waste

campaign.” So what‟s the secret to stop throwing food away and save us money?

February Its February and spring is just a few weeks away. Whilst we may have to

wait for the warmer weather, there is still great food available this month.

Grilled bream with mustard and tarragon sauce, asparagus and peas

by Nathan Outlaw

Method: To start the sauce, bring a saucepan of salted water to the boil and add the peas. Cook for 1 minute, then lift out with a slotted spoon and refresh in cold water. Set aside to drain. Peel and dice the potato into 1cm cubes and add to the boiling water. Cook until just tender, then drain and set aside to cool. Whisk the egg yolk, vinegar and mustard together in a bowl for 1 minute, then slowly add the olive oil – don't add the oil too quickly, otherwise the mixture will split. Season with a little salt. Gently heat the stock in a saucepan. Stir the cream into the mayonnaise then whisk in the hot fish stock a little at a time until the sauce is a coating consistency. Set aside. To cook the fish, preheat the grill. Season a baking tray with salt, drizzle over a small amount of olive oil and lay the bream fillets on top. Grill for around 6 minutes, then remove from the grill set aside for 2 minutes – the residual heat will finish cooking the fish as it rests. Meanwhile, bring a pan of salted water to the boil. Peel the asparagus spears and blanch them for 2–3 minutes, depending on thickness. Drain and refresh. To finish the sauce, remove the skins from the peas, finely shred the lettuce and chop the gherkins. Place the sauce in a saucepan over a medium heat and stir in the lettuce, peas and potatoes. Allow to heat through for a minute, then stir in the gherkins and tarragon. Season to taste. Ladle the sauce into four warm serving bowls and lay the fish on top. Garnish each portion with four asparagus spears and a

drizzle of olive oil.

Ingredients

4 sea bream fillets, 100g each, salt, 1 dash of oil

Sauce 100g of fresh peas 100g of Maris Piper potatoes 1 egg yolk 1 tsp cider vinegar 1 tsp English mustard powder 250ml of olive oil

100ml of fish stock

The firm flesh of bream is complemented by the sweet flavour of cream-enriched tartare-style

sauce flecked with potatoes, asparagus, lettuce and peas. You can buy two large, whole fish if

you want to fillet them yourself, or ask your fishmonger to do this for you.

50ml of double cream 1 baby gem lettuce 2 gherkins 2 tsp tarragon, chopped salt

freshly ground black pepper

To plate

16 asparagus spears

50ml of olive oil

Winter is, by all accounts, starting to get a bit boring now. We‟ve navigated our way through the toughest month of the year, only to be greeted by the frosty handshake of February, and another barrage of

root vegetables. Brassicas really come into their own this month too, particularly the likes of broccoli, cauliflower and Savoy cabbage. While they may bring up unpleasant sulphurous school dinner

memories for some of us, it doesn‟t have to be that way – there are many recipes out there that show you the best way to cook these vegetables and give them the attention they deserve.

February is also the first month when we can start thinking about good quality fish again. Although farmed sea bass is pretty consistent year-round, February is the perfect time to be looking for wild line-

caught sea bass, which has a beautiful delicate flavour. Sea bass may not be the most affordable fish on the counter, but it‟s often people‟s favourite when they eat out at a good restaurant. Sea bream is a

very similar and cheaper fish to bass. It‟s also easier to find better specimens for sale and more sustainable. Nathan Outlaw serves his with a mustard and tarragon sauce.

Still, it‟s not all that bad. The temperature is warming up a little, which means we get a few early treats before spring arrives in all its splendour next month. Exotic fruits arrive on our shores from far away

– persimmons, pineapples and passion fruits are all fantastic in February. As Pancake Day approaches, Deena Kakaya makes use of passion fruits in her delicious breakfast pancakes. All that makes February a

great month for desserts, as well as more interesting sweet and savoury combinations.

Buckwheat, banana and passion fruit pancakes by Deena Kakaya

Method: Mix together the buckwheat flour, ground cinnamon and baking powder. Add the egg, milk and passion fruit to make a batter and then add the chopped banana pieces to the batter. Add a couple of teaspoons of oil to a non-stick pan and once the oil is hot, place a couple of table-spoons of batter onto the pan and cook them for 3-4 minutes on each side until they are lightly

golden. Serve the pancakes with more passion fruit and a little maple syrup, if you wish.

Ingredients 100g of buckwheat flour 1 large egg 1 tsp baking powder, gluten free if necessary

1 banana, very ripe, chopped into small pieces 2 passion fruits rapeseed oil 200ml of whole milk

1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

Deena shares her great recipe for light, fluffy buckwheat pancakes, served with delicious fresh

fruit as a substitute for a normally sugary breakfast. The perfect start to the day.