The AnswerBank Articles

Why does my sponge cake always collapse

A. There are lots of reasons why a cake doesn't turn out quite right, but remember never to open the oven door until the cake is at least three-quarters way through cooking. Sending in a rush of cold00:00 Sun 01st Jul 2001

Why is bread becoming so expensive

A. The price of bread has risen by 20 per cent in the last few weeks and could get higher over the next few months. The cost of a large 800g Hovis wholemeal loaf has risen by 9p to 54p in many00:00 Sun 01st Jul 2001

Why does alcohol change my mood

A. Booze depresses the nervous system, which is why people lose their inhibitions, making them act out of character. However, alcohol can also depress people and too much shuts off part of the00:00 Mon 25th Jun 2001

Why do I spend twice as I much as I intended in supermarkets

A. According to new research, 80 per cent of decisions are made subconsciously as shoppers walk up and down the aisles. People who intended buying three or four items ended up purchasing twice that00:00 Mon 25th Jun 2001

Is absinthe still banned in France

A. The drink is officially banned in France, although consumption remains high. The high-strength drink - at least double the strength of most spirits - is supposed to engender hallucinations,00:00 Mon 25th Jun 2001

What foods should you avoid in pregnancy

A. There are a number of foods which experts recommend avoiding during pregnancy. Protect yourself against listeriosis by avoiding blue-veined, mould-ripened cheeses, pates, ready-made salads in00:00 Mon 18th Jun 2001

What's the best comfort food

A. Most people turn to stodgy carbohydrate-packed foods such as pasta, baked potato with lots of butter or toasted doorstep sandwiches when they are feeling down or in need of comfort. For others, it00:00 Mon 18th Jun 2001

Which vegetables are in season

A. Asparagus arrived in May and really comes into its own during June. This is also the best time to buy spinach, although you have to buy a lot to get a portion. There was a time when you could only00:00 Mon 18th Jun 2001

What is Calvados

A. It is the apple brandy of Normandy in France and it's very much the region's pride and joy. The first record of Calvados production was in 1533, although it probably started much earlier. Q. 00:00 Mon 11th Jun 2001

How do you make guacamole

A. It's an easy dish to concoct, consisting of avocado, minced onion, lime juice, chopped coriander and tomato, a little chilli sauce and salt and pepper. The key to a successful guacamole, which00:00 Mon 11th Jun 2001

Is the Atkins diet (Atkinson diet) bad for you

A. The Atkins, or Atkinson diet as it sometimes called, can help you lose weight quickly - the downside is the loss of energy while you're on it. Q. How does it work A. You can eat as much00:00 Mon 11th Jun 2001

What is a traditional Japanese drink

A. Green tea is the most popular beverage in Japan. It's made from the tender young leaves of the flowering evergreen called Camellia Sinesis. Pressing determines which kind of tea the leaves become.00:00 Tue 05th Jun 2001

Can too much chocolate give you a headache

A. Dieticians have long believed there is a clear link between nutrition and headaches. Foods which are rich in a substance called tyramine are linked to headaches. Chocolate not only contains00:00 Tue 05th Jun 2001

Can you still buy gold top milk

A. Demand for the milk with the cream at the top has increased steadily over the past two years and the supermarket chain Sainsbury's has started re-stocking it alongside skimmed and semi-skimmed00:00 Tue 05th Jun 2001

Is real peat used to make whisky

A. Peat, technically, is decomposed vegetation that has been carbonised by the water. It's the fuel that is widely available in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, and the black incense that gives00:00 Tue 29th May 2001

What is a balanced diet

A. It basically means plenty of carbohydrates; starchy foods such as bread, pasta, rice and potatoes; with protein from foods such as milk, eggs, fish and meat; a small amount of fats from butter and00:00 Tue 29th May 2001

What is a gurnard

A. It's a fish which is extremely common around the shores of the UK. Sometimes called a sea robin, it's one of the family of Triglidae that live at the bottom of the sea in warm and temperate00:00 Tue 29th May 2001

why is irn bru so popular in scotland

A. This bright orange fizzy soft drink has long been dubbed 'Scotland's Other National Drink'. and has a mythical reputation in Central Scotland as a hangover cure. It has become an emblem of00:00 Mon 21st May 2001

How do you make perfect tiramisu

A. It's a simple puddng of coffee, sponge, cream cheese (marscapone), egg yolks and a bit of booze. It's an Italian trifle of sorts that has become incredibly popular in the UK since it was first00:00 Mon 21st May 2001

Is there still a ban on cod fishing

A. The ban, which was imposed by the European Commission to help revive depleting cod stocks, has been lifted now. The ten-week ban on cod fishing within a 4,000-square mile zone was part of an00:00 Mon 21st May 2001