Latest news with #corgis
The Guardian
09-08-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Meera Sodha's recipe for chocolate, mascarpone and cherry cake
This cake is dedicated to two Charlies: Charlie McCormick, whom I follow on Instagram for photos of the beautiful dahlias he grows, as well as for his extravagant Christmas tree-decorating, his pet corgis and his outrageously proportioned homemade cakes (a ratio of 1:1 cream to cake), which inspired this one. The other Charlie is my daughter's sweet little friend who turned eight recently and, in need of a cake, asked if this could be his birthday cake. To the two Charlies! Prep 10 minCook 50 min plus cooling time Makes 1 cake, to serve 12125ml extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra for greasing250g plain flour 250g caster sugar 65g cocoa powder 1¼ tsp baking powder ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda ¼ tsp fine sea salt 250g full-fat greek yoghurt3 large eggs 60ml whole milk For the cream and cherry jam450g frozen cherries 3½ tbsp caster sugar 300ml double cream 250g mascarpone¾ tsp ground cardamom Icing sugar, to decorate200g fresh cherries Heat the oven to 200C (180C fan)/390F/gas 6, and grease and line two 20cm cake tins. In a large bowl, whisk the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, bicarb and salt. In a medium bowl, whisk the yoghurt, oil, eggs and milk until smooth. Pour the wet mixture into the dry and whisk until just smooth. Divide the cake batter between the tins (ie, put 600g in each), then bake for 25 minutes, or until the cakes bounce back like stress balls when gently prodded with a clean finger. Remove and leave to cool completely in the tins. While the cakes are baking, put the frozen cherries in a medium saucepan with two tablespoons of the sugar and put over a medium heat for 15 minutes, stirring every now and then, until syrupy but still a bit juicy (ie, not jam). Using an electric whisk, whip the double cream, mascarpone, cardamom and the remaining tablespoon and a half of the sugar to soft peaks, then cover and put in the fridge until needed. When the cakes have cooled down, assemble by placing one cake upside down on a plate, so the domed bit is on the bottom. Top with the cardamom cream, then spoon over the cherry compote. Add the second layer of cake, dust with icing sugar and try to balance as many cherries on top as you can; if any roll off, eat them on the side.
The Guardian
09-08-2025
- General
- The Guardian
Meera Sodha's recipe for chocolate, mascarpone and cherry cake
This cake is dedicated to two Charlies: Charlie McCormick, whom I follow on Instagram for photos of the beautiful dahlias he grows, as well as for his extravagant Christmas tree-decorating, his pet corgis and his outrageously proportioned homemade cakes (a ratio of 1:1 cream to cake), which inspired this one. The other Charlie is my daughter's sweet little friend who turned eight recently and, in need of a cake, asked if this could be his birthday cake. To the two Charlies! Prep 10 minCook 50 min plus cooling time Makes 1 cake, to serve 12125ml extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra for greasing250g plain flour 250g caster sugar 65g cocoa powder 1¼ tsp baking powder ½ tsp bicarbonate of soda ¼ tsp fine sea salt 250g full-fat greek yoghurt3 large eggs 60ml whole milk For the cream and cherry jam450g frozen cherries 3½ tbsp caster sugar 300ml double cream 250g mascarpone¾ tsp ground cardamom Icing sugar, to decorate200g fresh cherries Heat the oven to 200C (180C fan)/390F/gas 6, and grease and line two 20cm cake tins. In a large bowl, whisk the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, bicarb and salt. In a medium bowl, whisk the yoghurt, oil, eggs and milk until smooth. Pour the wet mixture into the dry and whisk until just smooth. Divide the cake batter between the tins (ie, put 600g in each), then bake for 25 minutes, or until the cakes bounce back like stress balls when gently prodded with a clean finger. Remove and leave to cool completely in the tins. While the cakes are baking, put the frozen cherries in a medium saucepan with two tablespoons of the sugar and put over a medium heat for 15 minutes, stirring every now and then, until syrupy but still a bit juicy (ie, not jam). Using an electric whisk, whip the double cream, mascarpone, cardamom and the remaining tablespoon and a half of the sugar to soft peaks, then cover and put in the fridge until needed. When the cakes have cooled down, assemble by placing one cake upside down on a plate, so the domed bit is on the bottom. Top with the cardamom cream, then spoon over the cherry compote. Add the second layer of cake, dust with icing sugar and try to balance as many cherries on top as you can; if any roll off, eat them on the side.
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Delaware State Fair 2025 entertainment preview: Racing Corgis, Fluffy comedian & more
Watch out, little racing pigs – because cute corgis are coming to the Delaware State Fair, ready to debut their own furry races and prove they're fast as fluff. After all, a bit of weirdness is tradition at the state fair, which returns to Harrington from July 17 to 26. This year the fair will have a bunch of family-friendly entertainment, attractions and festivities to get your paws on, including a new food competition. But the star of the show is the mainstage concert lineup that includes a stand-up performance by comedian Gabriel "Fluffy" Iglesias. This year will mark his third time at the fair. Carly Callahan, spokesperson of the Delaware State Fair, said they love bringing Fluffy back because he's "able to appeal to the masses." The comedian's new Netflix comedy special, "Legend of Fluffy," also helped. Maximize summer fun: Welcome to our 2025 Delaware Summer Guide That Netflix special, which dropped in January, "definitely made him even more popular than he was before," Callahan told Delaware Online/The News Journal on June 24. "So, even though we've had him, this would be his third time, he hasn't gone by the wayside. He's definitely still relevant, regardless of the fact that he's been here." Here's a preview of this year's entertainment for the 106th Delaware State Fair. A highlight of the fair is jumping on your favorite amusement rides. Each carnival ride costs between three and six tickets. There are multiple ways to pay for rides and attractions. You can use the Fair Pass, a digital ticketing app that allows you to pay for rides. You can buy the card at the on-site kiosks or skip the kiosks line and buy units on the FunTagg mobile app (available at the Apple and Google stores; although the link to the Google Play version was down recently). Carnival fans also can purchase an Unlimited Wristband, which is good for one day. A Flash Friday special for the unlimited band is available for $20 until midnight on June 27 and gate admission is $6; service fees apply. The Advanced Wristband is $27 (now through July 16 at 11:59 p.m.). The Regular Wristband is $42 after July 17. Unless otherwise stated, Gate admission into the fair is an extra fee. Seeing red! Inside the wacky Running of the Bull 2025 in Dewey Beach No stranger to offering unique foods like pizza on a stick, doughnut cheeseburgers or fried Oreos, this year's Delaware State Fair will dish up a new food competition. This one-day event is sort of like a pub crawl and takes fairgoers from vendor to vendor where they'll sample food from various participating stands. Guests will fill out a sheet for the vendor they love the most. "I think it will be an exciting way for people to maybe test new food vendors that they've never tried before," Callahan told The News Journal. "And it also is making our food vendors, who've been coming for a long time, maybe step outside of their comfort zone and not always bring the usual, but bring more people to their spot to try something that they've never [served at the fair] before." Callahan said soon she plans to reveal the date and more information about the food competition once things get finalized. Racing Corgis: Another new attraction are these galloping pups. Similar to the beloved Hollywood Racing Pigs, you'll watch corgis run their hearts out in adorable fashion at the Sponsor Court. Callahan said details about showtimes for the Racing Corgis will be announced on the State Fair's website soon. Hollywood Racing Pigs: These fine baby swine will huff it across the finish line as they battle it out in the return of this popular contest (at 2, 4 and 7:30 p.m.), located at Arena Avenue. Disc-Connected K9's: It's been a while since they've been to the fair, now they're back this summer to show off impressive canine flips, tricks and Frisbee catches with world-class trainers (at 1, 4 and 7 p.m.), located at the Machinery Lot. Circus Hollywood: The Coronas Family will have an encore with their circus attraction, featuring acrobats, wild stunts, clowns and more in an open-air environment (from 5 and 8:30 p.m. July 17 to 26; extra shows are at noon: July 18, 19, 20, 22, 25-26.) Wild About Animals Show: Animal lovers should check out this show by the Coronas Family, which offers camels and new animals in an event that's funny and educational (at 3 and 6:30 p.m.). While this is a concert lineup, the state fair has a tradition of throwing non-concerts into the mix. Harness Racing, an event that's been held several times on the fairgrounds, will get things started. This event is presented by Harrington Casino. This free event starts at 5 p.m. You can expect some crash-out moments at the Demolition Derby, a popular event in Harrington that promises to get the audience revved up for a different type of heavy metal. The event is presented by Taylor and Messick. The show starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $27 to $29. Country star Riley Green is popular for tunes like "There Was This Girl," "If It Wasn't for Trucks" and "I Wish Grandpas Never Died." He'll be joined by the opener Preston Cooper. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $83 to $108. Gabriel "Fluffy" Iglesias is arguably the cuddliest comedian in the world. This jolly giant is coming back to Harrington this summer with more shenanigans. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $48 to $84. Folks will have a blast with the Blues Traveler, Gin Blossoms and Spin Doctors, three bands that will take you back in time to the '90s. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $58 to $93. CeCe Winans is recognized as the best-selling and most award-winning female gospel artist of all time. She has won 17 Grammy Awards. For context, that's three more than superstar Taylor Swift. Where to dance: Summer's hottest party spots in Delaware The show starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $38 to $73. Adding more country vibes to this concert lineup is Gavin Adcock, the man behind notable songs like "Run Your Mouth, "Deep End" and "A Cigarette." His opener is Austin Snell. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $43 to $78. Country star Russell Dickerson has a deep song bag of favorites such as "Yours," "Blue Tacoma" and "Love You Like I Used To." His opener is Niko Moon. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $38.50 to $73.50. After Atlanta rapper Ludacris headlined the State Fair last year, organizers are following that up with another ATL legend who some consider the rap king of the south: T.I. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $58 to $93. The duo Big & Rich will paint the town red, white and blue when they close out the final night of the State Fair. The duo has served up country jams like "Save a Horse (Ride a Cowboy)" and "Fake ID." The opener is Bryan Martin. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $59 to $94. History of the Orange Crush: And 7 fun Delaware beach bars to get one in 2025 The cost of gate admission is: $10 for adults (ages 13 or older) or $10.50 (online) $5 for youth (ages 6-12) or $5.50 (online) Free for kids (ages 5 or younger). Please be aware that purchasing a ticket to the headlining concert series does not cover gate admission into the State Fair. The 106th Delaware State Fair (18500 S. Dupont Highway, Harrington) spans 10 summer days, starting July 17 to July 26. For more updates, visit If you have an interesting story idea, email lifestyle reporter Andre Lamar at alamar@ Consider signing up for his weekly newsletter, DO Delaware, at This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Delaware State Fair 2025 preview: Racing Corgis, 'Fluffy,' & more fun
Times
16-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Times
Ukraine's corgi dog festival is fit for a Queen
The dog days of summer may not yet have arrived in Kyiv, but on a hot, humid Sunday at a beach club on the Dnipro river, canines are all that can be seen: corgis, specifically — the adorably short-legged dogs beloved of the late Queen Elizabeth, and now the people of Ukraine. Everywhere you look, there they are: jumping gleefully into the river; competing on a miniature agility course; sporting little sunhats with holes for their ears and generally spreading their furry brand of joy amid a gathering of Kyivans exhausted by the relentless night-time bombardment by missiles and drones. This is the third 'Corgy' — or 'orgy of corgis' — organised by Katernya Shekshnova, a breeder and pioneer of canine therapy. She was inspired by the comfort that her corgi puppies brought her son when the Russian invasion began. Air raids triggered compulsive behaviour in the young boy, including biting his fingers until they bled. 'They are a key that opens hearts,' Shekshnova says as her tiny charges walk alongside her, recalling Princess Diana's memorable description of the 'moving carpet' that accompanied her mother-in-law everywhere. 'Communicating with animals triggers hormones associated with happiness. And then the work can begin.' Shekshnova's corgis are regular visitors to a rehabilitation centre for soldiers and veterans, but this event is all about celebrating the breed, with a bit of fundraising on the side. Nadia has brought all four of her corgis: parents Adele and Oscar, and two of their grown-up offspring, Lo and Nicole, all sporting sunhats. 'I don't really know why I chose corgis,' she says. 'I just looked at them and fell in love.' Nadia is not yet sure whether to enter them in one of the many contests at the event. 'I'm not sure if I want to shame them,' she says with a laugh. Corgis have been commonplace in Ukraine for some time but their popularity 'exploded after the death of Queen Elizabeth ', said Maria, another visitor. The Queen's death, six months after the Russian invasion began, was deeply felt in Ukraine, as was the support offered by the royal family and Britain as a whole. Other qualities make corgis the perfect wartime companions. 'Look how calm and sweet they are,' Maria says, noting the absence of barking or growling among dogs that were strangers to one another until today. 'And,' she adds, with emphasis, 'they look like they are smiling all the time.' Kyiv's most recognisable corgi, Loyd, was well known long before the invasion, having fronted a 2019 promotional video for the capital in which he slipped away from his owners to narrate a tour of the city, mostly from a dog's ground-level perspective. The mascot is followed by 45,000 people on Facebook, while 'Corgis of Ukraine' has almost 3,000 fans. Ukraine's most famous dog of war is Patron, a Jack Russell who is the face of the country's canine mine-sniffing force. But one corgi, Elton, has been certified as a search-and-rescue dog with Antares, a volunteer group based in Pavlohrad, near the eastern city of Dnipro. Maria Romanova, Elton's owner, was only 17 when she brought him to join the team. She hoped to contribute to the war effort like her older brother, a soldier fighting on the front line. 'Until recently, we did not take young people on difficult missions,' said Larisa Borysenko, who founded Antares back in 2008 as a volunteer service to locate missing hikers. 'But the rush left us no choice, and if a 17-year-old girl can do something that millions of adults can't, then she is needed now.' The corgi festival, however, is all about fun. Let off their leashes, the corgis bound into the river, some even gamely clambering on to paddleboards for a cruise along the river. Nadia isn't sure whether to let her own four pooches take part. 'I am not sure the water is clean enough for royal dogs,' she says. Misha, a classic white and tan Pembrokeshire corgi, makes do with a paddling pool filled with plastic balls. The day wraps up with an award ceremony for obedience, agility and looks. An interloping chihuahua makes it to the final but neither organiser nor corgi partisans seem bothered. 'It's about love and joy,' Shekshnova says. 'The corgis teach us that.'
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Times Kate Middleton Wore Queen Elizabeth II's Jewelry: Photos
One thing you need to know about the British Royal family: they love their sparkling jewelry. For many decades, the family has gathered a startling amount of jewelry over the years — especially when Queen Elizabeth II was alive. We know two things: Elizabeth loved her corgis, and she loved rocking dazzling jewelry that had jaw-dropping price tags. In fact, her collection of jewelry was so vast, that she was later known for loaning many of her pieces out to members of the Royal Family. Within the last decade of her life, she often gave these pieces to Kate Middleton. Whether it was brooches or multi-million dollar necklaces, Kate has been seen many times wearing jewelry from Elizabeth's collection. Over the years, Kate has put her own spin on it, using this jewelry as a way to honor her beloved grandmother-in-law. While we know many of the jewels were before Elizabeth, and even before the Queen Mother, we're not talking about those. We're going to talk about the times Kate rocked a piece of jewelry that was first owned by Elizabeth. Below, check out every single time Kate honored her late grandmother-in-law by wearing her jewelry to big occasions. A version of this article was originally published on May 2023. More from SheKnows Was Rose Hanbury at the 2025 Trooping the Colour? Here's What We Know Best of SheKnows These Celebrity Couples Reportedly Sleep in Separate Beds Every Look Kate Middleton Has Worn to Trooping the Colour Since 2011 The Quickest Breakups in 'Bachelor' & 'Bachelorette' History One of Queen Elizabeth's most beloved pieces of jewelry was the Bahrain Pearl Drop Earrings that she was gifted on her wedding day. She wore it many times, and even loaned it to Princess Diana and Kate Middleton. Kate Middleton became the only one to wear them starting in 2016, per Court Jeweller. According to Ch eat Sheet, they are said to be around $10,500. While Kate Middleton has donned the late Queen's beloved Silver Jubilee Pearl Earrings multiple times, it was extra special when she wore them as a tribute on the anniversary of the Queen's death in Sept 2023. Most recently, Kate Middleton paid a subtle tribute to Queen Elizabeth II by donning the George VI Festoon Necklace in her Coronation outfit. For those that don't know, this necklace was commissioned back by King George VI to be gifted to Elizabeth, per Queen's Jewel Vault. She wore it many times before she died, and it's said to be made with 105 loose collet diamonds. Yes, we got another brooch moment! The New Zealand Fern Brooch was gifted to Queen Elizabeth II back in the early 1950s by Lady Allum. As the wife of the Mayor of Auckland, she gifted this to Elizabeth on 'behalf of the women of Auckland,' per Court Jeweller. She often wore the brooch to New Zealand-based or related events. She loaned it to Kate Middleton for the first time back in 2014 during her visit to Australia! We don't see emeralds enough in the British Royal family, so we always love seeing the iconic Emerald Tassel earrings make an appearance! It was part of a set that was suspected to be a gift to Queen Elizabeth II from the Middle East, and she wore it a couple of times before she died, per Queen's Jewel Vault. It was loaned to Kate Middleton during her and Prince William's trip to Jamaica. Queen Elizabeth II was definitely known for her wide brooch collection, with one of the most iconic being the Pearl and Diamond Leaf Brooch that debuted in 1999, per Queen's Jewel Vault. Kate Middleton wore it multiple times, with many believing it was more of a gifted piece of jewelry rather than a loan. She wore it for the first time in 2017 and most recently for Elizabeth's funeral. One of Queen Elizabeth II's most-worn jewelry pieces of all time was her iconic Three Strand Pearl Necklaces. There are many conflicting reports about when and where she originally got this piece of jewelry, but all agree it was gifted to her. Kate Middleton honored Elizabeth by wearing the same necklace during her Platinum Jubilee. Per Market List, it is said to be around $5.7 million. Per the Queen's Jewel Vault, the Nizam of Hyderabad Necklace is part of a set that was a wedding gift to Queen Elizabeth II in 1947, and it is one of the most expensive pieces in the royal vault. It's reportedly worth up to $121 million. Elizabeth wore it many times over the decades, and Kate Middleton wore it twice in 2014 for the National Portrait Gallery Gala and again in Dec 2019. One of Queen Elizabeth II's most iconic necklaces is the Four-Row Japanese Pearl Choker, which she commissioned in the 1970s and to be done with the 'finest cultured pearls presented to her by the Japanese government,' and the first time she wore it in public was in 1982, per the Queen's Jewel Vault. It is said to be valued at around $29,000. Kate Middleton has worn this necklace on multiple occasions, with the most recent time being at Elizabeth's State Funeral. In 1907, Mrs Greville commissioned the Greville Ruby Floral Bandeau Necklace and it was later inherited to Queen Elizabeth in 1942. Elizabeth often wore this necklace in the 1950s, and fast forward to 2017, when Kate Middleton wore it to the Spanish State Visit, per Royal Watcher. Another inherited piece was the Greville Chandelier Earrings, which Queen Elizabeth II wore quite a few times throughout her life. They were renovated many times over the years, and at one point, Elizabeth even had to pierce her ears to wear them, per The Court Jeweller. Kate Middleton has later worn it a couple times, most recently at the Diplomatic Corps at Buckingham Palace on Dec 5, 2023. Queen Elizabeth II famously donned the Silver Jubilee Diamond and Pearl Earrings on her Silver Jubilee in 1977, and a few times after that. However, Kate Middleton has worn these earrings so many times over the years, at least 10 times since 2016, per Town and Country.
