Yes, surprisingly, toothpaste—specifically the minty kind—can act as a natural repellent and minor insecticide against cockroaches and ants. Here’s how and why:  How Toothpaste Affects Cockroaches and Ants Strong Scent (Menthol/Mint Oil) Most commercial toothpastes contain menthol, peppermint oil, or eucalyptus—scents that overwhelm insects’ sensory receptors and repel them. Ants, in particular, rely heavily on scent trails; strong mint odors disrupt these trails and their navigation. Toxic Ingredients (to […]

Corned beef pie with chips and mushy peas with gravy. Ingredients: For the pie: 2 sheets of shortcrust pastry (store-bought or homemade). 1 x 340 g tin of corned beef 3–4 medium potatoes (about 500 g), peeled and cubed 1 medium onion, finely chopped 25 g butter Salt and pepper, to taste 1 beaten egg […]

Homemade Corned Beef Pie Recipe Prep time: 20 minutes Cook time: 40–45 minutes 🍽 Serves: 4–6 Ingredients: For the filling: 1 large onion, finely chopped 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil or butter 1 tin (340–400 g) of corned beef, cubed or mashed 2–3 medium potatoes, peeled and diced Salt and black pepper (to taste). 1 […]

Beef Wellington Beef Wellington recipe: Ingredients (serves 6): For the beef: 1.2–1.5 kg (2.6–3.3 lbs) of centre-cut, trimmed beef fillet 2 tbsp vegetable oil Salt and black pepper, to taste 2 tbsp English or Dijon mustard For the mushroom duxelles: 500 g (1.1 lbs) of finely chopped chestnut mushrooms 2 tbsp unsalted butter 2 shallots, […]

INSTRUCTIONS: Whip the cream: In a large mixing bowl, whip the heavy cream with a hand mixer or stand mixer until stiff peaks form (about 3–4 minutes). Mix in the condensed milk and vanilla: In a separate bowl, mix the sweetened condensed milk with the vanilla extract. Gently fold the whipped cream into the condensed […]

Ingredients 16 chicken drumsticks (or a combination of drumsticks and thighs) 1 1/2 cups buttermilk 1 1/2 tablespoons Tabasco sauce 2 teaspoons salt 2 tablespoons black pepper (divided) 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper Vegetable oil (for frying, about 3 cups) Preparation Step 1: Heat the warming drawer or  oven to 200 F. Step 2: […]

Polish Cabbage Rolls (Gołąbki)  Prep Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 1.5 hours Servings: 6–8 Ingredients FOR THE ROLLS: 1 large head of green cabbage 1 lb (450 g) ground pork (or a mix of pork and beef) 1/2 cup uncooked white rice (or parboiled rice) 1 medium onion, finely chopped 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 […]

A toasted bloomer with cheese and red onion, topped with a splash of Henderson’s Relish and served with a sweet chilli dip. 😋 Ingredients (serves 2): 4 thick slices of bloomer bread 200 g of mature cheddar cheese, grated 1 medium red onion, thinly sliced 2–3 teaspoons of Henderson’s Relish (or Worcestershire sauce if unavailable). […]

Boiled gammon with buttery new potatoes, peas and parsley sauce. 😋 🥩 Ingredients: For the gammon: 1.5–2 kg unsmoked gammon joint 1 onion, halved 2 carrots, chopped 2 celery sticks, chopped 2 bay leaves 8–10 black peppercorns For the potatoes and peas: 800 g of baby new potatoes 50 g butter 300 g of garden […]