Octopus

Effortless entertaining the Scandinavian way.

Relaxed celebrations of food and friends, smörgåsbords - of which cripsbreads are always a part - are served throughout the year. This collection of seasonal menus and recipes includes classics such as skagen (prawn salad) and citrus and spice cured gravadlax, but also modern, more informal dishes such as fried chanterelles on toasted sourdough, barbecued zesty cod burgers and orange and ginger waffles with rhubarb compote.

For spring, there are ideas for a bonfire party and for celebrating Easter; for summer a midsummer gathering. Autumn has a feast supper and foraged dinner and Winter a Christmas drinks and New Year's brunch. With the emphasis always on simplicity, but also quality, seasonal ingredients, these are dishes to share and enjoy with those you love.

Easy. Everyday. Simple.

Sabrina Ghayour's new collection of unmissable dishes in her signature style, influenced by her love of fabulous flavours, is full of delicious food that can be enjoyed with a minimum of fuss. With sections ranging from Effortless Eating to Traditions With a Twist, Simply provides over 100 bold and exciting recipes that can be enjoyed every day of the week.

Recipes include:
Baked sweet potato & za'atar chips
Pomegranate molasses & honey glazed meatballs
Kabab koobideh
Marinated steak with labneh, pul biber butter & onions
Chilled pistachio & cucumber soup
Chorizo, goats' cheese & cumin borek
Goats' cheese, vegetable & za'atar filo tart
Albaloo polow (lamb & sour cherry rice)
Harissa chicken noodle lettuce cups
Tahini, almond & orange brownies
Saffron & sesame shortbreads
Turmeric, orange & coconut rice pudding

Shinrin Yoku or 'forest bathing' was developed in Japan in the 1980s and brings together ancient ways and wisdom with cutting edge environmental health science. There are now forest bathing stations and walkways scattered throughout Japan, although the good news is that we can all benefit from this simple practice.

Simply put, forest bathing is the practice of walking slowly through the woods, in no hurry, for a morning, an afternoon or a day. It is a practice that involves all the senses and as you gently walk and breathe deeply, the essential oils of the trees are absorbed by your body and have an extraordinary effect on positive feelings, stress hormone levels, parasympathetic nervous activity, sympathetic nervous activity, blood pressure, heart rate and brain activity.

In this wonderful book, by the leading expert in the field, science meets nature and mindfulness, as we are encouraged to bathe in the trees and become observers of both the nature around us and the goings on of our own minds.