theWI Adderbury & District WI – Our Excellent Visit to Denman College, Monday, 9th May 2016
Gill, Pat and I enjoyed our Starter Day at Denman College on Monday of this week and had an excellent day. Denman College for door-opening opportunities for fun, friendship and dedicated education and learning, in a beautiful Georgian House. Can’t wait to visit again, soon! This is my FB post on NFWI FB Page today, 11th May…. Three members of Adderbury & District WI enjoyed a Starter Day at Denman Residental College on Monday 9th May, having a wonderful time meeting WI members from Kent, Wiltshire and other Oxfordshire groups Our guides were well-informed and most helpful, we viewed many of the comfortable bedrooms, the high-tec. teaching kitchen, had coffee and chatter in the lovely drawing room and feasted on a delicious lunch and scrummy cream tea before our departure. A visit to Denman’s shop was an absolute-must followed by a stroll around the garden, before our sad departure. Can”t wait to visit again xxx My FB post on our own FB page today… Three members from Adderbury & District WI went to Denman College at Marcham on Monday for one of their Starter Days. We had a most enjoyable day and met up with WI members from Kent and Wiltshire and other Oxfordshire members. An excellent look around delightful, door-opening, dedicated Denman residential College – can’t wait to visit for a day course or perhaps even longer, thus making it imperative I stay over-night in one of their beautiful bedrooms. Thank you Denman – what an excellent venue for door-openings for fun, friendship and dedicated educational courses. Here’s a few of my photos xxx 6 people reached ...
Read MoretheWI Adderbury & District WI – Our Facebook Posting – Sunday, 8th May 2016
Adderbury & District WI Facebook Post this morning at 9.40am Our GWS garden at Katharine House Hospice is doing rather well right now…! xxx Margaret Halstead...
Read MoretheWI Adderbury & District WI – NFWI News – The WI at 100 Report Unveils Members’ Views on Britain’s Biggest Issues – Thursday, 17th September 2015
Dear Ladies, I thought you might like to read the following NFWI Report. The WI at 100 report unveils members’ views on Britain’s biggest issues 70% disagree that women are equal to men 59% agree that women are penalised in the workplace for having children 84% say it is difficult to balance family responsibilities with work 83% agree world leaders must urgently agree a deal to tackle climate change 78% agree that there are not enough positive role models for girls The National Federation of Women’s Institutes (NFWI) has unveiled a report that delves into the views and opinions of its current members, and highlights some of the achievements from its 100-year history. The WI at 100 report was devised to mark the organisation’s centenary. The research, which was presented at a special WI-style meeting at the Houses of Parliament, reports WI members’ attitudes around the key areas of home and families, work and society, health and wellbeing, the natural world, and our global society. The research showed that whilst life has changed significantly for women over the past 100 years, both old and new challenges are faced by WI members. Members raised concerns about the pressures of modern family life with 84% agreeing that it is difficult for women to balance family responsibilities with work. Almost four in five members (79%) said they believed that staying home to raise children is not valued in today’s society, despite 95% saying women are still expected to be the primary care giver. Home skills, a traditional preserve of the WI, remains an area of importance for members, with 88% of respondents saying they believe that traditional domestic skills like being able to cook a meal from scratch are being lost, despite them being important for healthy and sustainable living. The research suggests that despite campaigning for equal pay as early as 1929, 70% of WI members do not think that women are yet equal to men, and 82% of members think that women and men are still judged to different standards. When asked about women in the workplace, 59% of members said they believed that women were penalised for having children and 59% disagreed that women have the same opportunities as men. The research also shows a concern for future generations, with 78% of members saying there are not enough positive female role models for girls. When looking at global and environmental issues a large majority (83%) called for world leaders to agree a deal to tackle climate change and 58% said they were concerned at the challenges that future generations would face because of climate change. Looking to our global society the report suggests members feel a responsibility to stand up for the rights of women and girls overseas, with 81% of members saying they said they believe that issues facing women in the developing world will be overlooked if women in wealthier countries don’t stand up for them. Almost three in five members (59%) said that access to education was the biggest challenge facing women in developing countries. The report also highlights the important and sometimes surprising achievements of the WI including campaigning to raise the age of consent in 1922 and 1926, calling for fathers to take responsibility for children born outside wedlock in 1920 and supporting a change in the legal definition of rape in 1975. In more recent years, the WI has campaigned for more midwives to help improve maternal health and has lobbied against cuts to Legal Aid. The report paints an interesting picture on the visibility of women in society despite the WI’s...
Read MoretheWI Adderbury & District WI – OFWI Menu of the Week – Monday, 11th April 2016
Dear Ladies, Here’s OFWI Menu of the Week for you to see and maybe sample. I should love to hear how you get on if you do decide to give the recipes a whirl…. Menu of the week Welcome to the WI’s meal ideas for using fresh seasonal British produce. Recipes on our site include new contemporary dishes as well as family favourites making use of the WI’s huge wealth of food talents gained over nearly 100 years. Some recipes are quickly made whereas others will take a bit more time and skill. There is something here for everybody. Tikka Flavoured Turkey Burgers with a Mango Salsa, Parsley, Mint and Bulgar Salad with Lemon Fruits in Ginger Syrup with Cardamom Yoghurt Utilising lots of ingredients from the store-cupboard and refrigerator. These are low fat recipes. Tikka Flavoured Turkey Burgers with a Mango Salsa These burgers can be made in advance and chilled in the refrigerator together with the mango salsa. Perfect to serve for lunch relaxing with friends. Serves 4 large burgers (you could make more by reducing size.) For the Burgers: 1 onion, finely chopped 4 tablespoons Tikka Masala curry paste 2 tablespoons natural yoghurt 1 tablespoon mango chutney 500g turkey mince 3 tablespoons freshly chopped coriander Salt and freshly ground black pepper Oil for brushing. For the Salsa: 1 large ripe mango, peeled and diced 100g cherry tomatoes, quartered ½ small red onion, peeled and finely chopped Zest and juice of 1 lime 2 tablespoons freshly chopped coriander leaves 1cm piece fresh root ginger, peeled and grated Freshly ground black pepper In a large bowl, mix together the finely chopped onion, tikka paste, yoghurt and mango chutney. Stir in the turkey mince, chopped coriander, salt and pepper and mix until well combined. With slightly wet hands, divide the mixture into 4 and shape into burgers. Place the burgers on a plate, brush with a little oil and then cover and chill for about 30 minutes. Meanwhile, make the salsa by combining all the ingredients together in a small bowl and mixing gently to coat with the lime juice. Set aside to allow the flavours to mingle and develop. Preheat the grill and cook the burgers for about 7-8 minutes each side until they are thoroughly cooked through, the juice runs clear and there is no pink meat. Serve the burgers with generous spoonfuls of salsa.Tip:These burgers are quite soft, be careful when turning on the grill. If preferred you could use a frying-pan to cook them. Parsley, Mint and Bulgar Salad with Lemon Bulgar wheat is semi cooked wheat and has a nutty texture, ideal for serving with the burgers. Serves 4 200g bulgar wheat (often called cracked wheat) 200ml boiling chicken stock or vegetable stock Juice of 3 lemons 4 tablespoons olive oil 2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon black pepper 1 teaspoon ground sumac (optional) 4 medium tomatoes, seeded and diced 3 handfuls flat-leaf parsley leaves, roughly chopped 1 handful fresh mint leaves, torn. Place the bulgar wheat in a bowl. Pour over boiling stock. Set aside until swollen and tender, 30 minutes. Drain well, pressing to squeeze out excess water. Return to the bowl. Pour over the lemon juice and oil. Add salt, pepper and sumac (if using.) Add tomatoes, parsley and mint. Mix together until evenly combined. Serve chilled or at room temperature.Tip:Use an old clean tea towel to squeeze the excess water from the bulgar wheat. Any left over salad can be kept in the refrigerator and used with any grilled meats or fish. Fruits in Ginger Syrup with Cardamom Yoghurt Serves 3-4 75g Demerara...
Read MoretheWI Adderbury & District WI – Adderbury Community Food Market – 14th April, 2016 – for Great Food & Social Occasion
Adderbury Community Food Market – Thursday, 14th April 2016 – The Institute – 6pm to 8.15pm “Next Market April 14th The April Food Market promises to offer the most delicious selection of food and drink. The cheese selection from Open Air Foods is a fabulous. Last month Apple Tree Dairy brought along some new products. They are selling their home made bottled apple juice and pickled walnuts, as well as their staple organic yoghurts. There will be fresh vegetables, fine cakes, fresh bread, savoury pies and lots more. Come along and explore our wonderful market.” Dear Ladies, Have you visited Adderbury’s own Community Food Market recently, seen the good food on offer or met up with friends over mouth-watering in-house comestibles and tempting liquid refreshments? Well, Adderbury’s April Market event is on this week on Thursday, 14th April from 6 – 8.15 pm at The Institute thus providing an excellent opportunity to sample its great food and social happenings. Come for delicious supper food by Smart Cookies or occasional guest chef visit and eat in-house in The Institute’s gallery, enjoy market happenings while eating and drinking with friends, be part of the Adderbury evening scene. Arm yourself with shopping basket primed for delicious food buys of homemade preserves, great patisserie and bakes and scrummy nibble food items, fabulous cheeses, great ground coffee, butchery, pates and delicatessen, beautiful bread, fresh eggs, excellent gloriously flavoured gins, hot coffee and chocolate and alcoholic refreshment to devour as you shop and dine and socialise with friends and neighbours. And discover fresh veggies, garden plants and flowers at Mr. Anson’s produce stall The Market hosts a regular Community Stall for various charity people visits from a wide variety of local groups such as scouts, schools, fund-raising groups and occasional visits by our own WI for our 2016 Calendar Competition – all such charity stalls promoting current or forthcoming events, adding to the excitement of the evening with their promotional material and lively presence. I always eat supper at Adderbury’s super Community Food Market with friends and family and come home laden, mostly, with plants and veg from Mr. Anson, delicious Greek food from Ellie’s Kitchen, own delicious fruit yoghurt and apple juice from Sarah of Appletree Farm and scrumptious items from Jo Thompson of Once Bitten. The brilliant thing is that, quite apart from the shopping, eating, quaffing and friendly banter with everyone, is the ongoing friendships which have developed and blossomed over the many months of Adderbury market activity. And the memory of past events – sitting outside on a warm summer’s evening with a plate of delicious food before one while surrounded by friends and visitors, watching swallows and swifts swoop and dive while listening to travellers’ tales, family photo-shoots at all times, autumn and winter occasions for hot delicious comfort food, anniversary events and wonderful festive occasions – it’s the Market with the Most and for my family an absolute-must occasion not to be missed. Here’s a few of my photos from past Market occasions for you to enjoy. Margaret Halstead...
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