13 h. ago Spring greens and spicy things: Two knockout recipes to wake up your tastebuds

As the veg aisle goes technicolour again, Ben Boeynaems, executive chef at abc kitchens, leans into the best of the season – with blue corn quesadillas, punchy salsa and a guac that’s greener, sweeter and crunchier than you remember

Politics

5 d. ago The left is rising, and the far right is reeling. Will I finally see the Finland I dreamed of? | Mike Watson

My adopted home has been a dark place of late. But in last week’s local elections, voters turned against cruel politics – and raised hopes of a more progressive futureThe Finns say “spring comes in swinging” – when winter gives way to spring, and green shoots meet the final flurries of snow, often well into April. In Finnish politics, too, some hope is beginning to emerge after a long, dark winter.In municipal, regional and mayoral elections held across the country last week, rightwing populist parties were roundly defeated, while parties on the left gained ground. In particular, the far-right Finns party saw its vote share collapse, from 20% in the general election of 2023 to as low as 7.6% now. This leaves the coalition government of which it forms a part severely weakened and the centre-left Social Democratic party (SDP) with the biggest vote share nationwide (23%). When the Finns party leader, Riikka Purra, admitted defeat on results night, she complained that a punainen aalto, ...

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8 d. ago As a kid I hated Easter because nothing happened – now I treasure its stillness and strange beauty | Paul Daley

The seasonal change brings in me a mellowness and a desire to reflect that feels somehow spiritual, albeit in a secular wayFor Christians, Easter is a remarkable time of new life, of resurrection and spiritual renewal. But those of a more secular persuasion can also find themselves beguiled by the restorative zeitgeist of this celebratory time of year.In the northern hemisphere it’s spring, with its green shoots and brighter light. Down here, deep in the southern hemisphere, the transition is of a gentle autumnal splendour – of softer skies and a flourish of bronze in the deciduous treetops. Continue reading...

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2 w. ago Gardeners urged to sprinkle sugar on their lawns this spring

Green-fingered Brits should sprinkle sugar on their lawn this spring so they can achieve the perfect green grass in time for summer

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2 w. ago How to turn leftover cooked potatoes into dinner | Kitchen aide

Use them up in fishcakes, roll them into balls, use them to thicken soups the possibilities are almost too numerous to mention, but our culinary experts have had a go anywayHow can I turn leftover cooked potatoes – mashed, roasted, boiled – into dinner? This sounds like a job for queen of spuds Poppy O’Toole, whose latest book just so happens to be all about the tuber. We all know that mashed potatoes can cause heated debate, with smooth and buttery making some folk purr, while others prefer a bit of texture, and this also affects what you do with any spares. “It can be difficult to use leftover mash, because many recipes depend on how creamy you like it to begin with,” says the author of The Potato Book, although she says one “surefire way” begins by putting a good splash of olive oil in a frying pan on a medium-low heat. “Fry two chopped spring onions [green bits and all] until soft, add the leftover mash, and fry until hot and almost caramelising.” Season, and you’ve got a great ...

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2 w. ago It’s wild garlic season. Again. But what are you actually meant to do with it?

Wild garlic? You mean that thing chefs go mad for every spring? Hannah Twiggs untangles the annual restaurant frenzy for Britain’s trendiest spring green – and finds out how to actually use the stuff without just making yet another pesto

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