Enjoy some homemade pastry
A COOKING essential is learning how to make pastry to use in baking pies, tarts and other baked goods that require shortcrust pastry. I learnt this recipe years ago from my Form One Home Economics teacher, Miss Moreblessing Mujuru. Ingredients 225g plain flour; 100g butter, diced; Pinch of salt. Method Sift the flour into a large bowl, add the butter and rub in with your fingertips until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs.
Stir in the salt, then add two to three tablespoons water and mix to a firm dough.
Knead the dough briefly and gently on a floured surface.
Wrap in cling plastic and chill while preparing the filling.
TIP: To make more or less, remember the proportions half fat to flour
and do not add too much water or the pastry will be hard. For best results, make sure the butter is cold. If other dry ingredients are included in the recipe, add them at the same time as the salt.
AQUARIUS (January 20 to February 18): This can be a positive week and something of a rebirth as the Sun dances into your sign after journeying through the more mystical sector of your chart. Clarity may dawn over the coming days, as well as a desire to get cracking on plans that you have been dreaming up over recent weeks. Another lovely line- up could encourage you to explore possibilities connected with a recent encounter. The person’s inspired view on life could act as a catalyst for you.
PISCES (February 19 to March 20): After a hectic start to the month, you may feel like enjoying more time to yourself in the coming four weeks. You will still be busy, and your friends will still be eager for you to join them for evenings out, but you will also recognise the value of reflection and meditation for the insights they can bring. The weekend may have romantic overtones and a sizzling date night to look forward to. A movie could also have quite an impact on you.
ARIES (March 21 to April 19): With Mars in Pisces and a quieter sector of your chart, it could be difficult to feel as motivated as usual.
Tie this in with sobering Saturn and you could decide to stay put and not venture too far out of your comfort zone.
However, other influences may call out to you to do exactly that. Curiosity may be what eventually encourages you to step forward no matter what.
On another note, desire could pave the way to an intense conversation.
TAURUS (April 20 to May 20): You might be surprised by how little has changed. And yet something within you may be urging you to be more adventurous and take the road less travelled. You may also find the company of friends to be a little superficial if it detracts from the thoughts and intense feelings you are having. While peace and quiet can be useful for capturing key insights, getting out and about can take your mind off things, and this can be good for you, too.
GEMINI (May 21 to June 20): While you may be eager to push ahead on an important goal, someone may be urging caution. Should you listen? Perhaps not, as another potent blend of energies suggests that your instincts are at play here, and what you intuitively perceive as being a good move might well be. There are times when certain people in your life have good advice for you, but during the early part of this week it could hem you in rather than help you out.
CANCER (June 21 to July 22): As the Sun enters your sector of shared finances, this can be an opportunity to take stock of your money situation. Simply shining a light on it and getting a sense of what’s working and what is not may encourage you to come up with a plan of action. At the same time, thoughts of faraway places and fun in the sunshine suggest that you may be ready to take a