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  • RECIPE | Gluten & Dairy Free Coconut Muffins

    I encourage you even if you’re able to live a non-restrictive diet, to try these little fluffy cups of coconut gold! My friend was amazed that these are both gluten and dairy free and said it was the best “free from” cake she had ever had. They are delicate and lovely. Get involved!

    These muffins are packed full of coconut which are a good source of; copper, calcium, iron, manganese, magnesium, and zinc. The Koko dairy free alternative that I use is also a great source of calcium and has added vitamin D2, and B12!

     

    Decoration Tip!

    I love using the Parisian company My Little Day (INSERT WEB LINK: http://en.mylittleday.fr/ ) for baking accessories like the cups you can see in the pictures. They also have a fantastic range of straws and other party accessories that bring the je ne sais quoi that the Parisians’ do oh so very well.

     

    Ingredients.

    300ml milk alternative (I used Koko dairy free milk which is made from coconuts to reinforce the coconut flavour here)

    290g gluten-free self raising flour (I used Doves)

    160g desiccated coconut

    130g caster sugar

    2 tsp gluten-free baking powder

    5 tbsp melted butter alternative (I used Pure sunflower spread), melted

    1 tbsp vanilla extract

    ½ tsp salt

    2 eggs

     

    Method.

    Preheat your oven to 180c / 160c (fan) / Gas Mark 4

     

    1. In your mixing bowl pop in your flour, sugar, coconut, baking powder and salt and mix well to combine thoroughly.
    2. In another bowl, whisk up your eggs along with the milk and vanilla extract.
    3. Make a dip or a well in your coconut flour mix, and now pour in your eggy milk.
    4. Stir the ingredients to mix well.
    5. Now add your melted butter into the cake batter and mix well again.
    6. Your cake mix is now ready to be decanted into muffin cases. Don’t overfill them otherwise they will just explode up out of the sides. ¾ full is usually best.
    7. Place in the oven 25 minutes. You can test if your cakes are ready if a skewer comes out clean after being inserted into the centre of one.

     

     

  • GARDEN | August. Time To Reap Your Rewards

    The month of plenty. You can literally wander around your garden at this time of year filling baskets, buckets and bags with all the goodies you’ve been growing. It’s okay to be a little smug – if you’ve worked hard you’ll have loads to show for it – but remember pride comes before a fall – sneaky pests and simply having too much veg to know what to do with can easily catch you with your pants down.

    Reap your rewards!

    Too. Much. To. Carry. Forget the gym this month your arms will be straining under the weight of all your produce. The list of what will be ready is endless so keep an eye on everything. Courgettes will literally double in size while your back is turned. Lifting a few leaves will unveil massive cucumbers that weren’t there yesterday. If you’ve been reading up on what you’ve been growing you’ll have an idea of the optimum time to harvest but use your eyes and your instincts to decide when something is ready for plucking – be confident – you got them this far.

    There is nothing worse when growing your own food than discovering something has begun to rot in the kitchen because you haven’t had time to use it or didn’t know how. So with so much food finding it’s way into your kitchen this month you better find a way to use it all up…

    Pickles, preserves and soups – oh my!

    Don’t waste a thing. If you’ve got some food in front of you that you’re not sure you’re going to eat almost immediately, Google ways to preserve it now! There are many ways to preserve your home-grown produce – in most cases these techniques actually elevate your crops into delicious delights.

    Pickling – If you have childhood memories of sharp, unpleasant pickled vegetables banish those thoughts now. Vinegar has been used for generations and with the right combination of spices can make your produce a pleasure. Slice up a cucumber chuck it in a jar with some white wine vinegar, grated ginger and some stem ginger and you’ve got the most delicious zingy accompaniment to burgers and salads. Yum!

    Blanching – Basically flash boiling your veg. The idea is to kill any bacteria that causes the veg to rot, without actually cooking it. Different foods have different boiling times so just look it up. Once done plunge into cold water to stop the cooking process and freeze. Simple.

    Soups – My favourite way of dealing with excess veg. The only limit to the soups you make is your imagination. Experiment with spices, flavours, textures and have a ball. Then once you’ve created the perfect soup, freeze it in portions and Bob’s your uncle.

    Jam’s, jellies and chutneys – The possibilities are endless…

    Let the overwintering begin!

    Overwintering is the practice of planting seeds now in order to produce crops after the winter has passed. Many vegetables have varieties that can be ‘overwintered’. Do some research and get planting. By doing this you can be harvesting crops as early as next March!

    So as September begins you should be drowning in home-grown food and home made products. It’s been a busy month so perhaps it’s time for a holiday. Now the school holidays are over it’s just the right time to snap up some great deals – just make sure you’ve got someone lined up to look after the garden!

  • FILM REVIEW | Begin Again

    ★★ | Begin Again

    When I sat watching writer/director John Carney’s latest movie that was hoping to follow on with the surprise success of his last hit…

    Instead of being enthralled by the warbling tones of singer/songwriter Gretta on screen, I just couldn’t get a certain Sondheim lyric out of my head. ‘Once, yes, once for a lark, Twice, though, loses the spark’ which so summed up my feelings about the sickly sweet story unravelling in front of me.

    Like his first movie ‘Once’ (which spawned the Tony Award winning Musical of the same name) this is the tale of a troubadour. In this instance Gretta who had accompanied Dave her budding rock star boyfriend to New York where he was being treated like royalty as he recorded his first album. Up to this point they had written songs together but the record company just wanted his music and they gave him anything and everything he wanted to ensure he produced a hit. It included a pretty assistant who stepped into his bed when Dave went off to LA without Gretta.

    When she discovers this she storms off in a huff and lands on the doorstep of Steve a fellow Brit and ex-college mate from Bristol, whilst she plans to fly back home to the UK. He’s also a musician, a pretty bad one though, and he persuades her to accompany him to an open mic night at a small local bar. He forces her to perform and her wispy willowy lament goes down like a lead balloon except in the ears and eyes of Dan a drunk recently-fired record company executive who thinks she is a star in the making.

    However no-one else does and as he cannot get her signed up with a record label, Dan sets out to make an album with her to prove that they are all wrong. As he is penniless and cannot shell out for a studio he hits on the idea of recording it all live on different locations on the streets of the city with the help of a few other hippie musicians willing to work for free. It makes for a pretty travelogue for the some of the scenic and hip places of New York that actually end up with a starring role in the movie.

    As this unlikely pair of singer and manager/producer make music Gretta has to deal with the fact that Dave is getting famous but wants her back, whilst Dan is trying to re-connect to both his teenage daughter and his ex-wife whom he is estranged from. Hence the title of the movie, although only one of the two chooses to go it alone whilst the other decides to begin again by re-visiting their past.

    The essential ingredients of making a movie about a singer/songwriter are that you need someone with a good voice and give them some good material to sing. This sadly has neither. The irritating and somewhat awkward Gretta as played by the oh-so-British Keira Knightly can limp through her songs but they sadly lack the energy and lasting power of the ones in ‘Once’. Mark Ruffalo energetically throws himself into the role of music genius Dan but there is the uncomfortable frisson between him and his protege who are never sure if they should have a romantic connection as well. I’m glad they don’t as they are so worlds apart that it would almost seem creepy.

    Kudos though to young Hailee Steinfeld who was perfect as Dan’s daughter Violet, and also to handsome Adam Levine (ex Lead Singer of Maroon 5) making his acting debut as Dave for at least giving some real musicality to the piece.

    I’m sure that despite all that it lacks it will still find an audience especially amongst aficionados of all those TV talent shows. I however can simply summarise it up with the same word that I counted Gretta used at least four time in the movie: it’s just cheesy.

    Begin Again is in cinemas now.

  • Barbra Streisand Gipsy To Get The Go Ahead?

    Everything may still be coming up roses after all for Barbra Streisand as after years ‘in development’ which is Hollywood politesse for ‘sitting on the shelf in some studio head’s office gathering dust’, she may get to film her version of the famous musical Gypsy after all.

    Downton Abbey’s creator Julian Fellows was commissioned to write a script for Barbra back in 2012 but then that was put on hold after the death of Arthur Laurents the co-creator of the original show/movie. Now Stephen Sondheim who composed the songs for the musical has sole approval of the director and star of any re-make and evidently he has approved Babs who wants to do both.

    Now Universal Studios have hired Richard LaGravenese to write a new script and as he had penned ‘The Mirror has Two Faces’ for La Streisand he obviously knows how to keep the Diva happy. (Incidentally he also wrote HBO’s award-winning Liberace biopic ‘Behind the Candelabra).

    One tiny (?) possible drawback is the fact that it has been 31 years since Babs last directed and starred in a musical namely YENTL, and now she’s reached the grand old age of 72 years, so they may need to think about changing her character from Mama Rose to Grandma Rose.

    Watch this space…

  • WATCH: Sam Smith I’m Not The Only One Video

    Sam Smith has revealed the video for his forthcoming single ‘I’m Not The Only One’ which features guest stars Dianna Agron (Glee) and Chris Messina (The Mindy Project) acting out Sam’s heart wrenching pop-ballad.

    (more…)

  • COMMENT | Why We Need To Lay Off James Arthur

    Scrolling through my Twitter and Facebook timelines earlier this week I kept seeing the same thing over and over again on the various LGBT-related pages I follow; hate comments aimed at James Arthur for daring to want to put right his wrongs. How dare he do such a thing!

    Last year James Arthur caused a bit of outrage among gay people when he used a homophobic slur in a rap aimed at a fellow artist. Since then his career has faltered as the nation turned against him and branded him a monster homophobe.

    Although I do not condone the use of the words “f***ing queer”, I do actually intend to stick up for James here because I do not believe him to be a homophobe. What James is actually guilty of is speaking before thinking it through.

    In my book that makes him human.

    Can anyone honestly say they have never said something hateful or nasty about someone and then regretted it or wished they had thought before speaking?

    I know I can’t.

    That’s because I’m human too. Is that such a crime?

    Stonewall’s newly appointed Chief Executive, Ruth Hunt, tweeted James Arthur to offer him an opportunity to meet some of the organisation’s youth volunteers. Arthur tweeted back to accept that opportunity.

    Whether it’s a cynical move to get his career back on track or not, it’s still a good thing. It demonstrates that the perceived homophobe can’t really be one and that he is willing to go through some form of rehabilitation to right his past wrongs.

    Maybe becoming involved with Stonewall will be a massive wake up call for him, in that he’ll begin to think before speaking and realise the damage that homophobic slurs can cause to gay people. As leader of my own LGBTQ youth support charity I’d also welcome discussion with James Arthur and extend an opportunity to meet some of the young people that the charity works with.

    Sometimes I feel that the LGBT community becomes outraged too easily. There are genuinely awful things happening around the world that we should be angrier about. It was fine to be livid with James Arthur when he made that rap containing the words “f**king queer”, but nearly a year on and with him now trying to do something positive, I think it’s time people climbed down from their soapboxes and left the guy alone.

    Some of the comments aimed at James Arthur on social media sites have been appalling and I believe that makes those people no better than him when he used that homophobic slur.

    What we should be doing is applauding James Arthur for accepting his wrongdoings and trying to make amends. Surely everyone deserves a second chance?

    Opinions expressed in this article may not reflect those of THEGAYUK, its management or editorial teams. If you’d like to comment or write a comment, opinion or blog piece, please click here.

  • The Putin Butt Plug

    Butt plugs come in all shapes and sizes, as individual as their users – as unique as a snowflake – or something like that – but this new Putin Plug, is something that we’re curious about.

    Have you seen the Putin butt plug yet? Putin’s war against gay people in Russia has outraged many, but one designer in Orlando has taken revenge to a whole new level.

    The sex toy was designed by Fernando Sosa, who said, ‘As many of you guys know Russia is bringing an all out war against the civil right of Gay people in Russia. Leading the charge is Mr. Putin and his homophobic leadership.

    ‘I wanted to ridicule Mr Putin so I wanted to make a voodoo-like doll of him so people could do whatever they wanted to him in the privacy of their own home.’

    The current version of the toy is made from sandstone, but Sosa is looking for funding to make the toy a reality.

    He continued, ‘What better way to attack Mr Putin’s shirtless bear wrestling reputation?

    ‘We are looking to make this into an actual usable toy but we need funds and resources to manufacture this. For the meanwhile This is meant as a decorative item and a conversation piece.’

    You can buy Putin sex toys from http://politicalsculptor.com

  • THEATRE REVIEW | Drag King Richard III, Riverside Studios, London

    ★★★★ | Drag King Richard III, Riverside Studios, London

    STANCE Theatre’s highly acclaimed production drags Shakespeare’s Richard III into a black comedy exploration of transgender identity.

    For Laurie, born biologically female, the frustration of living in the wrong body presents disturbing consequences with long-term lesbian friend, La Femme. She identifies with Shakespeare’s deformed anti-hero after auditioning to play him in a school production; seeing parallels with the betrayal she feels within, her from her own body and the play is interspersed with clever interpretations of Shakespearean dialogue that fit perfectly within the context of Laurie/Laurence’s story.

    When Laurence re-enters La Femme’s life after a spell away in the army, she reveals that she’s transitioning. La Femme struggles to understand this, initially and the issue brings into perspective her own thoughts and feelings about gender identity, how others perceive and react to you and what it means to be you.

    I wasn’t sure what to expect from this performance but I definitely got more than I bargained for. Terri Power’s award winning piece is a funny, deftly written play with some genuinely moving moments. The themes of identity are universal and not just applicable to transgender people. Laurie’s story is a fascinating one and one that shouldn’t feel too difficult for anyone to grasp, thanks to Power’s concise yet powerful play. The conceit of the two handed perspective and the humorous touches worked brilliantly. This is much more than a straightforward ‘issues’ play. Well worth seeing with very strong performances from the two leads.

    I wasn’t sure what to expect from this performance but I definitely got more than I bargained for. Terri Power’s award winning piece is a funny, deftly written play with some genuinely moving moments. The themes of identity are universal and not just applicable to transgender people. Laurie’s story is a fascinating one and one that shouldn’t feel too difficult for anyone to grasp, thanks to Power’s concise yet powerful play. The conceit of the two handed perspective and the humorous touches worked brilliantly. This is much more than a straightforward ‘issues’ play. Well worth seeing with very strong performances from the two leads.

  • BREAKING: Uganda court strikes down anti-gay law

    The BBC is reporting that the Constitutional Court in Uganda has annulled the anti-gay law, which was introduced earlier this year.

    The law, which was introduced this year, has been widely condemned by world leaders, including President Obama, who called it ‘odious.’

    The UK’s deputy PM Nick Clegg, said that the anti-gay law, was ‘abhorrent’.

    The law, which included lesbians for the first time, could see anyone conducting same-sex relationships or promoting homosexuality facing life imprisonment.

    The gay community in Uganda have suffered huge harassment since the introduction of the anti-gay law, which was introduced by MP David Bahati and signed into law by the Country’s President Yoweri Museveni

    Activists reportedly cheered as the law was pronounced ‘null and void’.

    More to follow

  • Uganda Anti-Gay Law Null And Void

    The anti-gay law which was introduced earlier this year has been declared ‘Null and Void.

    Activists in the crowded court room reportedly cheered as the law was pronounced ‘null and void’.

    The BBC is reporting that the Constitutional Court in Uganda has annulled the anti-gay law, which was introduced earlier this year.

    The law, which was introduced this year, has been widely condemned by world leaders, including President Obama, who called it ‘odious.’

    The UK’s deputy PM Nick Clegg, said that the anti-gay law, was ‘abhorrent’. Many overseas aid givers had stopped payments over the laws.

    The law, which included lesbians for the first time, could see anyone conducting same-sex relationships or promoting homosexuality facing life imprisonment.

    The gay community in Uganda have suffered huge harassment since the introduction of the anti-gay law, which was introduced by MP David Bahati and signed into law by the Country’s President Yoweri Museveni

    Commenting on the decision of Ugandan judges in the constitutional court that the Anti-Homosexuality Act is unlawful because it was passed by parliament without a quorum, human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell said, ‘This is a major victory for gay campaigners and their straight allies in Uganda. They fought this law and won, against all odds. Congratulations to the Ugandan gay and straight civil society coalition that brought this legal challenge.

    ‘Human rights and the rule of law have prevailed against a homophobic, tyrannical parliament and president.

    ‘The judges have shown commendable independence and integrity by upholding the law, despite majority government and public support for anti-gay legislation.

    ‘It demonstrates that President Museveni may have nobbled many judges but not these ones,’ said Mr Tatchell.

    Dr. Dimitrina Petrova, Executive Director of the Equal Rights Trust, said, ‘We are delighted that the Supreme Court has struck down this pernicious legislation. The law violated many fundamental human rights of LGBT people in Uganda including the right to a private life, the right to dignity and the right to equality. We note that the legislation was found unconstitutional on procedural grounds rather than for its substance and so urge the government of Uganda not to attempt to re-enact the law.
    ‘As we celebrate this victory, it is important to remember that LGBT people in Uganda continue to suffer profound discrimination and gross inequality, not least through the criminalisation of same-sex sexual activity. We will continue to call for greater protection and respect for the rights of LGBT in Uganda, notwithstanding today’s decision.’

    ERT has been lobbying the Ugandan Parliament and President Museveni on the Anti-Homosexuality Act and Uganda’s treatment of the LGBT community since 2009. After a detailed study of the then Bill, the Equal Rights Trust produced a comprehensive legal analysis of the proposed law concluding that it violated not only a number of Uganda’s obligations under international human rights law but also the human rights protections within the Constitution of Uganda itself. ERT made repeated calls both to the Parliament and to the President calling for the proposed law to be abandoned in 2009, 2011, 2013 and again in January 2014 before the Bill’s assent.

  • Chris Mears and Jack Laugher take gold

    Talented duo Chris Mears and Jack Laugher take gold at the Commonwealth Games

    Unstoppable diving duo Chris Mears and Jack Laugher are the proud owners of a gold medal which they won in the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. The gold medal is the second to be awarded at the games, winning the men’s synchronised 3m springboard final.

    Taking to Instagram Jack said, ‘GOLD WITH MY BEST BUD @mearschris93 😀 Couldn’t be happier!!!!’

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