From the outbreak through to the end of the First World War the North Staffordshire Regiment saw service on the Western Front. In the first phase of the war up to January 1915 battalion casualties were horrific with a lost of 489 lives.
There is often told an almost mythical tale …

The Bible tells us that shepherds were staying out in the fields overnight when Jesus was born (Luke 2:8), but in that part of the world it would have been far too cold at night to do so in December. What is more likely is that He was born in …

In the Western world, the birthday of Jesus Christ has been celebrated on December 25th since AD 354, replacing an earlier date of January 6th. The Christians had by then appropriated many pagan festivals and traditions of the season, that were practiced in many parts of the Middle East and …

Mix the dry ingredients in bowl. Warm the butter in a pan with treacle (don’t let it bubble too much). Add this to the dry ingredients and mix well. Turn into a prepared tin, smooth the surface if necessary. Bake for approximately 35/40 minutes, but watch it carefully. It needs …

Place all the ingredients in a small pie dish or other heat resistant container, cover with a lid or foil, place in the oven at Gas Mark 2 (310°) and allow to cook until all the cranberry skins are broken. Serve hot, plain or colds, sprinkled lightly with chopped fresh …

Place all the fruit in a roomy bowl. Cover with wine and leave overnight. The following morning, strain off the wine thoroughly. Mix the cream and custard together, fold in the fruit and freeze until required; either in a deep-freeze compartment, or in the ice-cube tray of a small refrigerator.

Whip the eggs with the brandy, orange and lemon juice. Mix all the dried fruits, suet, flour, breadcrumbs, apple, sugar, ginger, spice and almonds together in a large container. Add the liquid mixture and then the old ale, beating well with a scrubbed hand until a loose batter consistency is …

Sift the salt and flour together, then mix with all the remaining dry ingredients. Add the figs, lemon rind and juice, milk and beaten eggs, and beat them well. The mixture should have a soft, dropping consistency. Put into a greased 2 pint pudding basin, cover securely and steam for …

1. In large bowl with mixer at low speed, beat egg yolks with sugar. At high speed, beat until thick and lemon colored, about 15 minutes, frequently scraping bowl.
2. Beat in bourbon and brandy, one tablespoon at a time to prevent curdling. Cover and chill.
3. About 20 minutes before serving, …

2 cups cranberry juice
2 cups pineapple juice
1 cup orange juice
3/4 cup triple sec (optional)
1 pint strawberries, hulled and sliced
1 lime, thinly sliced
4 cups ginger ale, chilled