Latest news with #PaulHollywood
BBC News
2 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Kent big cat sanctuary welcomes new snow leopard cub
An animal sanctuary has announced the birth of a snow leopard cub after months of dedicated cub, nicknamed Little Lady, was born at The Big Cat Sanctuary in Smarden, Kent, on 10 successful birth follows months of work by primary trainer Simon Jackaman, who built the trust necessary for mother Laila to voluntarily participate in ultrasound chef and charity ambassador Paul Hollywood said: "Laila has had a special place in my heart for many years and to see her become a mum for the fourth time is truly heart-warming." Little Lady weighed 630g (1.4lb) at her first health check when she was five days is just the second female snow leopard to be born at the centre, after her sister Zaya in Laila has had three previous litters with breeding partner Yarko as part of the sanctuary's breeding leopards are listed as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature red list, with an estimated 2,700 to 3,300 mature adults remaining in the wild. They are predicted to lose 30% of their habitat because of climate change in the next 50 to 100 years and they also face threats from poaching and the illegal wildlife trade."This birth is a testament to our commitment to the participation in the endangered species breeding programme and the conservation of this vulnerable species," said Cam Whitnall, managing director of The Big Cat Sanctuary. Additional reporting from PA Media.
Irish Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
‘What can I bring?' Paul Hollywood, Clodagh McKenna and Rory O'Connell's showstopper party dishes
Summer is upon us and that means one thing: entertaining. Whether it's a barbecue in the sunshine, picnics beside the sea or a long, lazy lunch, summer is about get-togethers centred on food. Often, the occasions that end up being the most fun are pot luck, where everyone mucks in and brings a dish. But the question is, what to bring? Catering for different tastes and occasions can be a challenge, especially when your only directive from the host is 'a side dish' or 'a dessert' – or, the worst option of all, 'just bring yourself'. Hosting a gathering can be a lot of work, even when it's meant to be low-key, so the least we can do is to arrive bearing something that our fellow guests will enjoy and our hosts appreciate. Since 'What can I bring?' can be an awkward question for a gracious host to answer, we asked three culinary experts for their fail-safe contributions. Paul Hollywood Dubbed 'the king of bread', Paul Hollywood will be familiar to many from his years as a judge on The Great British Bake Off. He has made a career out of all things food related, but says that when it comes to gatherings he takes a far more chilled-out approach than his sometimes steely on-screen persona might lead you to expect. READ MORE 'I'm often asked to bring along bread or a cake when I'm invited to a party, so I've written a new book, Celebrate, which will be released on June 5th. It includes recipes for celebrating the special moments in your life,' says Hollywood. 'There are some favourites that I always come back to when I'm asked to bring a dish, like fraisier cake and Key lime pie.' What he finds usually goes down best is chocolate fudge cake. He is associated with it due to The Great British Bake Off, which is about to begin recording its 17th season. 'Because of Bake Off, I'm often asked to bring chocolate fudge cake as a dessert, so I've included a recipe for it in the book. I top it with raspberries sometimes but I always take one off, just like the cake in the show's opening credits.' 'It's a great birthday gift too. Whether they're turning 60 or six, everyone loves chocolate cake and that's the point of that particular recipe.' Celebrate, by Paul Hollywood As we head into summer, Hollywood says that when considering what dishes to bring, think about how easy it will be for people to eat and for you to make. For him, that often means traybakes. 'Traybakes are amazing for a party because you can cut them up into whatever size you like and then everyone can have a little nibble. Rocky Road is a great one because it's really more about setting than baking,' he says. 'Coming into the summer, cupcakes are great too. Eton mess is another good option, because it's literally just thrown together. You just need to get everything ready to go then put it all together and enjoy.' As for savoury dishes, Hollywood says good bread is always a winner. Acting as an accompaniment, he recommends focaccia as a fail-safe choice. 'I make garlic focaccia and it's quite a wet dough so it can be easy to make. It's all about preparation; you have to think ahead, and that will give you a finished product that's amazing at the end. 'Most people over do it or make too much food, but really you just need one good thing, like good bread or a good cake. Then as long as you have good wine, good beer and good company, you have all you need for a good party.' Paul Hollywood's chocolate fudge cake, from his new book, Celebrate. Photograph: Liz and Max Haarala Hamilton Paul Hollywood's chocolate fudge cake This chocolate cake is simple and elegant – perfect for every day but special enough for a birthday too. Change up the decorations to turn it into a showstopper – it looks great drizzled with melted white chocolate. Ingredients (Makes 10 slices) 175g soft margarine, plus extra to grease 225g soft light brown sugar 200g caster sugar 3 large eggs, at room temperature 1 tsp vanilla extract 250g self-raising flour 125g cocoa powder ½ tsp baking powder ½ tsp fine salt 375ml soured cream 2 tbsp milk For the chocolate icing 200g dark chocolate, broken into small pieces 65g cocoa powder 120ml boiling water 300g unsalted butter, softened 120g icing sugar To finish: Three packets assorted coated chocolate balls (including gold, bronze effect), in different sizes Method 1 Heat your oven to 180 degreed/160 degreed fan/gas 4. Grease three x 20cm loose-bottomed sandwich tins and line the bases with baking paper. 2 Using a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the margarine and both sugars together until the mixture is pale and fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula and whisk again. 3 In a separate bowl, beat the eggs with the vanilla extract. With the mixer still running on a low speed, slowly pour in the beaten egg mix. 4 Sift the flour with the cocoa powder, baking powder and salt. Add a large spoonful to the whisked mixture and stir in, then mix in a large spoonful of the soured cream. Repeat until all the flour and soured cream are incorporated, adding the milk with the final addition. Beat until you have a smooth batter. 5 Divide the mixture equally between the prepared tins. Bake in the oven for 20–25 minutes until the cakes are risen and slightly shrink away from the sides of the tin. 6 Leave the cakes to cool in the tins for five minutes before removing and transferring to wire racks to cool completely. 7 To make the chocolate icing, melt the chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Stir until smooth and set aside to cool. In another bowl, mix the cocoa powder with the boiling water to make a smooth, thick paste. In a large bowl, beat the butter until soft then add the icing sugar and whisk until pale and fluffy. Add the melted chocolate and cocoa paste and beat until smooth. 8 To assemble, place one cake layer on your serving plate or cake stand and spread with one-quarter of the icing. Place a second cake layer on top and spread with another quarter of the icing. Sit the final cake layer on top and cover the top and sides with the remaining icing. 9 Use a serrated-edge cake side scraper around the side of the cake to create a decorative effect. Arrange the assorted chocolate balls on top of the cake to finish. Extract taken from Celebrate by Paul Hollywood (Bloomsbury Publishing, £26, Hardback). Photography © Haarala Hamilton. Clodagh McKenna: 'You don't want to add any unknown stress to your host.' Photograph: Jason Ingram Clodagh McKenna Chef Clodagh McKenna is the ultimate host but also likes to count herself as a good guest. When asked what she recommends bringing to a party, her first suggestion is to remember about the host. 'When I'm going to someone's house, if they haven't asked me to bring a dish, I like to bring a home-made gift. Sometimes I bring fresh eggs from my hens or honey – anything like that is always lovely.' If asked to bring something, McKenna recommends making sure you're all set with your dish before you arrive. Anything that requires additional assembly or oven space is a bit of a no-no as it may just cause hassle for your host. 'I wouldn't recommend anything that needs to be put into a fridge straight away, just in case there isn't space. You don't want to add any unknown stress to your host – you want to take away stress with your help. Something that's ambient is always a good option. No oven space, no extra fridge space.' Often asked for some sort of sweet treat, McKenna says there are certain dishes that will generally please a crowd. 'Pavlova is a good one, so I bring it along with all the cream and berries, ready to be quickly assembled. What you have to be mindful of is that you might not know who the other guests are, so make sure to bring something that's a bit of a crowd-pleaser. Cheesecake, chocolate tart, tiramisu or bread and butter pudding are some other safety ones that I love too,' says McKenna. 'Otherwise, home-made bread is a great option – everyone loves having home-made bread at a table. If you haven't been asked for anything but then arrive with a dessert, that's a bit of a nightmare for the host, but beautiful home-made bread is always well received.' Clodagh McKenna's rosewater pavlova with soft summer berries. Photograph: Jason Ingram Clodagh McKenna's rosewater pavlova with soft summer berries Ingredients For the pavlova 9 egg whites 500g caster sugar 2 tsp cornstarch 1 tsp white wine vinegar 1 tbsp rosewater For the filling 500ml whipping cream 1 tbsp icing sugar 1 tbsp rosewater 200g fresh raspberries/loganberries Sprigs of redcurrants, to decorate Method 1 Preheat the oven to 160 degrees and line a baking tray with greaseproof paper. 2 Use an electric mixer to whisk the egg whites in a clean, dry bowl until firm peaks form. Gradually add the sugar, one tablespoon at a time, whisking constantly until the mixture is thick and glossy and the sugar completely dissolves. Add the cornstarch, vinegar and rosewater and gently fold until just combined. 3 Pour the mixture on to the prepared baking tray in a circle shape and use the back of a wooden spoon to shape the meringue into a nest. Place the meringue in the preheated oven and turn the heat down to 140 degrees and bake for 1.5 hours. Once the meringue is baked, turn off the heat, open the oven door and allow it to cool completely. 4 When the meringue is cooled and ready to serve you can start assembling the filling. You don't want to add the cream too far in advance as it will soak into the meringue. Gently whip the cream until it thickens and then whisk in icing sugar. Fold in the rosewater and then spoon the filling into the centre of the meringue. Add the fresh summer berries on top and decorate with sprigs of redcurrants. Rory O'Connell, co-founder of Ballymaloe Cookery School in Co Cork Rory O'Connell Rory O'Connell, co-founder of Ballymaloe Cookery School, has myriad recipes perfect for get-togethers. But he has one unusual dish recommendation that he says works really well for any occasion. 'If I'm asked for a savoury dish, often I'll make scrambled eggs. When the eggs are ready, I add a little bit of cream, which will stop the cooking and hold the consistency. Then I usually add some cooked lobster – but you could also add chanterelle mushrooms, asparagus or broad beans,' O'Connell says. 'I bring them with a loaf of nice sourdough bread, and all you have to do is toast the bread and put the lobster scrambled eggs on top. It's so delicious as a snack or starter and it's quite practical too.' O'Connell assures us that finishing the eggs with cream means they won't go hard. 'It's a brilliant technique and it's one of those great recipes that works at any time of year with whatever is in season – I made this last week with asparagus and a bit of Parmesan on top. It's the kind of dish that is easy to travel with and relatively easy to put together too,' he says. These eggs work really well as the sort of thing guests can enjoy while their host is putting the finishing touches to the rest of the meal, says O'Connell. Conscious that anything a guest brings shouldn't put the host out, he recommends avoiding anything too creamy, such as a cake with buttery icing, as it might melt during transport. As for other dishes that work, keeping it simple is key. 'Meringues are always good; they're very straightforward. I like to bring them with rhubarb or strawberries, whatever Irish fruit that is in season will work really well with them. Often I might just bring a basket of really good tomatoes or a selection of heritage tomatoes – when they're in season, they're fantastic,' says O'Connell. 'Another great savoury option is a bowl of salad leaves and a little jar of vinaigrette. All you have to do is toss them together at the party and it's a beautiful dish that will work with anything else your host might be serving.' Rory O'Connell's scrambled egg with lobster and chive Rory O'Connell's scrambled eggs with lobster and chives This is a delicious combination that can be served as a starter or canapé on grilled bread or Melba toast. Shrimp or crayfish could replace the lobster in the recipe. The addition of cream to the cooked eggs prevents the mixture from solidifying, making it an ideal dish to prepare in advance. I hold the cooked mixture at room temperature for a couple of hours and serve it on hot grilled or toasted bread. The optional chive flowers make a pretty and delicious garnish, but they could be replaced another time with garlic, kale or fennel flowers. Ingredients (Serves 4 as a starter or 30 as a canapé) 225g cooked lobster, chopped into 2cm pieces 4 tbsp cream 8 free-range eggs Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper 25g butter Grilled sourdough bread, to serve Finely grated zest of 1 lemon 2 tbsp finely chopped fresh chives 1 tbsp chive flowers (optional) Method 1 Place the lobster and cream in a small saucepan and gently heat to a bare simmer, then remove from the heat. 2 Beat the eggs with a good pinch of salt and pepper. 3 Melt the butter in a small heavy-bottomed saucepan. Add the beaten eggs and cook over a gentle heat, stirring all the time with a flat-bottomed wooden spoon. When the eggs are just beginning to scramble, add the lobster and cream and keep cooking for a few more minutes, until the eggs are a creamy consistency. Remove from the heat and transfer from the saucepan to a bowl. The eggs will not set hard like cold scrambled eggs, but will retain their lovely softness. The eggs are best served barely warm but are also good at room temperature. 4 When ready to serve, spread the scrambled eggs over the hot grilled bread. Grate over the lemon zest and finish with a sprinkling of chives and chive flowers (if using). Serve immediately. Recipe from Cook Well Eat Well by Rory O'Connell, imagery by Joanne Murphy
The Independent
2 days ago
- General
- The Independent
‘Little Lady' snow leopard cub revealed to the world for first time
A snow leopard cub has been born at The Big Cat Sanctuary in Kent, following months of preparation. The cub, nicknamed "Little Lady", was born on May 10 and weighed 630g at her first health check five days later. Her birth follows months of work by primary trainer Simon Jackaman, who built the trust necessary for the mother, Laila, to voluntarily participate in ultrasound sessions conducted by the sanctuary's veterinarian, Valerie Freeman. Mr Jackaman said snow leopards are naturally shy and elusive, so Leila amazed the sanctuary staff with her "calm nature" during the process. Ambassador for The Big Cat Sanctuary, Paul Hollywood, said he "cannot wait" to meet the new cub. He said: 'Laila has had a special place in my heart for many years and to see her become a mum for the fourth time is truly heartwarming. 'This is an amazing achievement for the sanctuary to be contributing to the captive breeding programme for this endangered species. I cannot wait to meet her.' Little Lady is reportedly thriving under the care of Laila and the Big Cat Sanctuary team. Snow leopards are listed as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, with an estimated 2,700 to 3,300 mature adults remaining in the wild. They are predicted to lose 30 per cent of their habitat because of climate change in the next 50 to 100 years and they also face threats from poaching and the illegal wildlife trade. Laila has had three previous litters with breeding partner Yarko as part of the sanctuary's breeding programme. The first litter in 2019 was of two males, Koshi and Khumbu, with another male cub, Shen, arriving in 2021 before she had twins in 2023 – Attan, a male, and Zaya, which was the first female snow leopard born at the centre. 'This birth is a testament to our commitment to the participation in the endangered species breeding programme and the conservation of this vulnerable species,' said Cam Whitnall, managing director of The Big Cat Sanctuary.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
What a lovely Little Lady! Kent animal sanctuary announces birth of sweet snow leopard cub
An endangered snow leopard cub has been welcomed to the world in an animal sanctuary in Kent. Little Lady was born at The Big Cat Sanctuary to mum Laila on May 10 weighing just 630g (1lb 6oz) at her first health check when she was five days old. Her successful birth follows months of work by primary trainer Simon Jackaman, who built the trust necessary for Laila to voluntarily participate in ultrasound sessions conducted by the sanctuary's veterinarian, Valerie Freeman. Snow leopards are naturally shy and elusive, so Leila amazed the sanctuary staff with her 'calm nature' during the process, Mr Jackaman explained. Ambassador for The Big Cat Sanctuary celebrity chef Paul Hollywood has said he 'cannot wait' to meet the new cub. He said: 'Laila has had a special place in my heart for many years and to see her become a mum for the fourth time is truly heartwarming. 'This is an amazing achievement for the sanctuary to be contributing to the captive breeding programme for this endangered species. I cannot wait to meet her.' Little Lady is reportedly thriving under the care of Laila and the Big Cat Sanctuary team. Snow leopards are listed as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list, with an estimated 2,700 to 3,300 mature adults remaining in the wild. They are predicted to lose 30 per cent of their habitat because of climate change in the next 50 to 100 years and they also face threats from poaching and the illegal wildlife trade. Laila has had three previous litters with breeding partner Yarko as part of the sanctuary's breeding programme. The first litter in 2019 was of two males, Koshi and Khumbu, with another male cub, Shen, arriving in 2021 before she had twins in 2023 - Attan, a male, and Zaya, which was the first female snow leopard born at the centre. 'This birth is a testament to our commitment to the participation in the endangered species breeding programme and the conservation of this vulnerable species,' said Cam Whitnall, managing director of The Big Cat Sanctuary.
Edinburgh Live
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Live
GBBO's Paul Hollywood teases new career move as he admits 'I feel guilty'
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Paul Hollywood has confessed to feeling a sense of guilt over his soaring success, and admits he can't quite believe how much he's achieved so far. The Great British Bake Off judge embarked on his career journey at 17, after he left art school to join his father's chain of 12 Breadwinner bakeries as a trainee. After learning on the job, the 59-year-old became head baker at several prestigious British and international hotels. His foray into the media world began with Carlton Food Network and Taste, where he co-hosted two television series alongside fellow chef James Martin. Today, he is most renowned for his role as the longest-serving judge on The Great British Bake Off, including its celebrity editions for Sport Relief, Comic Relief and Stand Up 2 Cancer. Reflecting on his illustrious career in an interview with The Times, he shared: "I never thought that I'd be doing what I'm doing now. "When I go back to Liverpool I still see some of the lads I used to work with in the bakery and they're all very proud, but in a weird way I feel guilty. "It's probably impostor syndrome but I find it difficult. I went on to do what I did when some of these guys are still doing the same job." In addition to his baking success, Paul has also ventured into motorsport, participating in numerous GT races across the UK. In recent years, he has embarked on flying lessons in pursuit of a pilot's licence. "I've done all that racing car c**p but they have always kept me grounded," he added, speaking of his friends. Paul, who turns 60 next year, humorously said that he's "been in a perpetual midlife crisis" since he was 17. Hinting at possible new ventures, he added: "Ask my mates. Now I can afford bigger toys but nothing's changed. Next year I might join a band." Paul shares judging responsibilities on The Great British Bake Off alongside Prue Leith. Shedding light on his persona both on and off-screen, she told Candis magazine: "The nice thing about the show is that we are just ourselves, although Paul is probably a little bit sterner on telly than he is in real life because in reality, he can be caught comforting a weeping baker. "He is a kind person - I absolutely adore Paul. He knows more about baking than I do, that's for sure. "But I've learnt a lot from him, and we do get on really well." In a conversation with The Times last year, Paul said of his television persona: "That's the guy on Bake Off. That's not the guy at home. Very different. "I'm an introvert. All my family will tell you that I'm quite shy. So, it's weird that I'm doing this job, but it found me, I didn't hunt for it."
