A feast of fun and entertainment to make the most of half-term

FEBRUARY half-term is upon us already and parents are on the hunt for things to keep their little ones entertained. Here is our guide to what's on across the North East.

Family ticket pounds 17, children under three go free. www.sevenstories.org.uk Great North Museum, Newcastle ONE of the region's newest attractions, Great North Museum joins together exciting collections from a number of museums.The Woodland Garden blooms until the end of May with magnolias, camellias and rhododendrons.Pygmy marmosets are the world's smallest monkey species and measure less than 30cms including their tails. They are found in the tropical rainforests of Central and South America.The Amazon rainforest is under threat due to rapid deforestation, this is the process where forested areas are cleared for land development such as farming.Traditional Sunday carvery is served every week. There is a pub on site with home cooked food and live bands playing great music.Here are some interesting facts about The Dunes: Its indoor soft play area is the largest in the UK. There is a12-lane, ten pin bowling alley.Howick Hall Gardens and Arboretum THE gardens at Howick are peaceful and tranquil and deliberately aimed at garden lovers.The grounds are also home to rare red squirrels, and staff at Belsay Hall are doing all they can to ensure the population flourishes.www.beamish.org.uk Woodhorn Museum, Northumberland WOODHORN'S fantastic entrance has to be seen to be believed. The recently opened museum tells the story of Northumberland and its coal mining heritage.org.uk/belsayTamarins are among the smallest of the primates, often weighing no more than half-a-kilogramme and with a total length of just 30cms.GREAT OUTDOORS Howick Hall Gardens are delightful all season whether full of summer's lavender or the snowdrops of early spring HOLIDAY FUN Young visitors at the Blue Reef Aquarium, Tynemouth, above and rightYoung and old adults share in the care of the young. Unusually for primates the female nearly always gives birth to non identical twins which the male then carries on his back.For more information visit www.dunesadventureisland.com or contact 0191 455 5255.The elegant and ever popular Earl Grey Tea House - so named since Howick was the home of the second Earl Grey for whom the tea was specially blended - offers light lunches and afternoon teas. The earl was also the Prime Minister responsible for the passing of the Great Reform Bill of 1832 and his monument stands at the top of Grey Street in Newcastle. Howick Hall Garden is six miles north east of Alnwick, off the B1339 between Craster and Longhoughton.Highlights of the new museum include a large-scale, interactive model of Hadrian's Wall, major new displays showing the wonder and diversity of the animal and plant kingdoms, spectacular objects from the Ancient Greeks and mummies from Ancient Egypt, a planetarium, a lifesize T-Rex dinosaur skeleton.CAPTION(S):Plus there is a magical mix of special events, story times and workshops.Summer brings colourful borders with the famous agapanthus in August and the Bog Garden has been planted with many unusual plants. The season ends with brilliant autumn colour.Common marmosets live in social family groups and have a strict hierarchy ranking.The arboretum covers 65 acres of woodland walks and many of the trees were grown from seed collected by Lord Howick and the head gardener on plant hunting expeditions abroad. The Howick Family Explorer Challenge takes visitors on a nature trail through the arboretum. Look out for red squirrels, herons, swans and ducks.But as well as reliving life down the pit there's also the chance to dress up in the unique shoe lounge.As well as Amazing Amazon, Blue Reef is also home to the spectacular outdoor Seal Cove display, a family of Asian short claw otters and hundreds of tropical and native marine and freshwater species including tropical sharks and stingrays, poison dart frogs and giant lobsters.At Blue Reef their spacious, naturally-themed enclosures provide plenty to keep them busy including rope swings, climbing frames and an ever-changing programme of environmental enrichment features.Life Science Centre, NewcastleGateshead LIFE has been selected as one of the venues for Wallace and Gromit's 'World of Invention' roadshow. Inspired by Wallace's love of inventing, you can experience a fun Wallace & Gromit workshop and see original animation sets from the show. Family tickets from pounds 24.10, children under four go free. www.life.org.uk Seven Stories, The Centre for Children's Books, Newcastle SEVEN Stories recently saved Enid Blyton's archive at auction and to celebrate has a whole week dedicated to one of the most famous authors of the 20th Century. The public will be able to view the collection for the first time, which includes The Famous Five, Secret Seven, Malory Towers and Noddy.A number of the monkeys have been rescued after being found living in unsuitable conditions while others have been made homeless after their owners could no longer look after them.History buffs will head for the study, research and storage centre where more than four miles of shelving were built to house the Northumberland archives. www.experiencewoodhorn.com Discovery Museum, Newcastle NORTH East England's most popular free museum. Discover all about life in Newcastle and Tyneside, from the area's renowned maritime history and world-changing science and technology right through to fashion and military history.For more information call the site direct on 01661 881636 or visit the website at www.englishheritage.The Dunes features an arcade with prizes such as Xboxes and plasma televisions.The season starts in February with Snowdrops Walks. Later in the season there are daffodils and tulips aplenty.To help conserve this amazing habitat there are various things you can do such as only purchasing sustainable rainforest products; supporting international charities and raising sponsorship for conservation projects.The cottontop tamarin gets its name from the white crest of hair on its head and chest. In German-speaking countries they are known as 'Liszt monkeys' due to their resemblance to the composer.Snowdrops have been present at Belsay since the 1800s when Lady Middleton, part of Belsay's ancestral family, originally planted them.It is open from Wednesday to Sunday, 10.30am until 4pm. From March 27 to November 13 daily from noon until 6pm. Entrance: Adults pounds 6, Pensioners pounds 5, Children free.Contact 01665 577285/577191 for more information or visit www.howickhallgardens.org.uk Blue Reef Aquarium, Tynemouth AMAZING Amazon is a spectacular new display based on the tropical rainforests. The new feature includes a selection of freshwater rainforest fish species alongside realistic planting and a waterfall and is home to a colony of rescued monkeys including common and pygmy marmosets and cottontop tamarins.The aquarium is currently looking after three different species of New World monkeys.The Dunes, South Shields THE Dunes, is the heart of entertainment in South Shields. It is a family activity centre with something for everyone.www.twmuseums.org.uk/discovery Belsay Hall, Castle and Gardens, Northumberland The Grade I listed garden attraction, in the beautiful Northumberland countryside, is home to thousands of snowdrops that create a magnificent white carpet when in full bloom.Also on-site is Emilio's Italian Restaurant with an authentic stone pizza oven.Entry charges are adults pounds 8, concessions pounds 6.80, children pounds 4 and families pounds 20. English Heritage members and under fives free.www.twmu seums.org.uk Beamish - The Living Museum of the North, County Durham WHILE this is an open-air museum there are many ways you can still enjoy the museum in colder weather, such as by taking a trip down the mine or a ride on the tram to The Village. Beamish open-air museum vividly recreates life in the North East in the 1800s and early 1900s. This winter there's an exciting new addition to the Pit Village - an ice rink. Open at weekends only until February 27.

GREAT OUTDOORS Howick Hall Gardens are delightful all season whether full of summer's lavender or the snowdrops of early spring HOLIDAY FUN Young visitors at the Blue Reef Aquarium, Tynemouth, above and right

All About Pizza

The term pizza covers a lot of territory. If you want to learn all about pizzas, then you should have a bit of a background on pizzas: specifically the history of pizza, pizza origin, pizza facts, and even pizza trivia such as who invented pizza. The subject also delves into the different types and styles of pizzas. The varieties currently existing defy any attempts at enumeration. Thus, most people who attempt such a task stop at a broad categorization of pizza types according to certain attributes such as crust thickness, crust elasticity, crust baking and cooking procedures, toppings, etc. Aside from general, historical or trivial information, other things are of interest to the pizza lovers. For instance, homemade pizza enthusiasts would like to know certain tips and tricks for making pizza. This includes pizza making techniques, the best pizza crust recipes, pizza toppings, homemade pizza sauce, etc. Some other interesting topics will be frozen pizza dough and where best to attain them, what are the criteria for choosing the, what are the methods for preparing them, etc.

Quick pizza crust recipes and easy homemade pizza recipes of all kinds and style are easily available online. There are tips for baking and preparing frozen pizza dough, making your own pizza dough, preparing the ingredients for the best pizza crust recipe, etc. All you need to start making your very own pizza recipe is an internet connection, a good source of basic pizza recipe, great pizza equipment, your imagination, and lots of time and resources for experimentation." The pizza industry is worth more than 30 billion dollars in the United States alone and Americans consume around three billion units of pizza every year.If you want a crisp and firm pizza that retains its structure even when the moist toppings are added, you can bake the pizza crust before you add the toppings and the pizza sauce. However, for thin pizza crusts, baking the crust after the toppings and sauce have been added is sufficient. For uniform baking and crisping of the crust, use a pizza stone or a pizza screen.Pizza types and pizza stylesAccounts of pizza history always begin with the origin of pizza. This one might as well follow the same tack. We have to thank any civilization or race that baked flat bread on hot stones or stone ovens for pizza, for almost certainly, bread like the focaccia was the "mother of the pizza crust." However, the invention of the pizza is more properly attributed to the Neapolitans - the people of Naples, Italy who were baking and making pizza crust topped with tomatoes, oil, and Italian herbs, and spices. This rudimentary and traditional Italian pizza was common peasant fare in Naples. If you want an individual originator and inventor of pizzas, however, then you won't be wrong if you cite Rafaelle Esposito - a native of Naples; he modified the basic Neapolitan pizza recipe and came up with three variants that added mozzarella cheese to the rudimentary Italian pizza toppings." Most people in the United States love pepperoni; the least liked toppings are anchovies.The first step to a great homemade pizza is determining what type of pizza you wish to make. After all, different types of pizza have different attributes and thus call for different types of pizza base, pizza toppings and cooking techniques. Would you like to make an authentic Italian pizza, a New York style pizza, a California style pizza, or a Chicago style pizza?" The first pizzeria in the United States was opened in New York.(New Yorkers must admit, however, that if water is the unique characteristic of New York pizzas, one who uses water adjusted for hardness and acidity to reflect New York water conditions, adds all the usual New York pizza ingredients and toppings, follows all the procedures strictly but makes the pizza in New Jersey can conceivably make an authentic, New York style pizza. But such an assertion, some would say, is just plain cheek.)New York pizza, as abovementioned, is generally plain. The mainstay of New York pizza is mozzarella cheese - fresh mozzarella cheese to be precise. One can add garlic, different types of cheeses, anchovies, shrimp, etc but these are usually optional. The pizza dough recipe for traditional New York pizza, on the other hand, calls for high-gluten flour. The result is firm, usually thin, chewy pizza.Hand tossing will help you minimize the lumps in your pizza dough. However, this should be done only after sufficient pizza dough kneading. This process lets your pizza dough develop into the right kind of consistency - that which is suitable for stretching and hand tossing. Hand tossing, however, is not advisable for thick pizza crust varieties.The California style pizza is generally known for gourmet flavors. You can say the California pizza has countless variations. The pizza crust, in this case, is light, crisp and generally well risen. The toppings can be out of this world - generally California pizza makers experiment a lot with all kinds of meat, sea food, breakfast dishes, and vegetable for the toppings.Some pizza making tips and techniquesNow, if you are looking for some topics for small conversation, then you must remember the following trivia. One note of caution, though; you shouldn't blurt these out just to anybody or you'll sound decidedly corny and geeky. Make sure you're talking to someone interested in pizzas before you use the following trivia as conversational gambits.You can also start by deciding on the flavor you want. Do you want to make a cheese pizza, a vegetarian pizza or a fruit pizza? Perhaps you want to make a low fat pizza, a low carb pizza, a healthy pizza? Sourdough pizza is also another variant.Take your pick among your many options. Once you have decided, choosing the recipe would be much easier. If you have decided on an Italian pizza, for instance, then find your Italian pizza crust recipe, your Italian pizza sauce recipe and the overall Italian pizza recipe that will give you a list of toppings and pizza preparation procedures for making an authentic Italian pizza. For an easier time of it, you can opt to use Italian-style frozen pizza dough then just follow the Italian pizza recipe that you've found.Italian pizza is generally lean, although when you add cheese, its fat level generally rises in proportion. There are various kinds of Italian pizza, too. There are Neapolitan pizzas, of which there are two general types: the marinara and the Margherita. There are various combinations of these as well. Authentic Italian pizza, moreover, is supposedly baked on wood-fired or even coal-fired, stone ovens.The Chicago style pizza, on the other hand, is generally crusty and very filling. They are characterized by their raised edges; imagine a pre-baked apple pie crust where you can place the fillings on top. Chicago pizza is usually meaty (some variants come stuffed with cheeses and meat layers) and it is eaten with a knife and fork.Finally, remember that the protein content of your flour will influence the end product. High-gluten flour will lead to a crisp but chewy crust. Gluten-free flour, however, may lead to very soft dough; additives may have to be used to give the pizza dough strength.It must be obvious that this article is a mite ambitious for wishing to tackle something entitled "all about pizza." However, an attempt is definitely warranted, so here goes." Pizza was called (and is still called) tomato pie and pizza pie in certain parts of the States." New York pizza is traditionally plain. Supposedly, New York pizza is unique because of the acidity and hardness of the water in New York. New Yorkers therefore claim that only in New York can you make real New York Pizza.

Quick pizza crust recipes and easy homemade pizza recipes of all kinds and style are easily available online. There are tips for baking and preparing frozen pizza dough, making your own pizza dough, preparing the ingredients for the best pizza crust recipe, etc. All you need to start making your very own pizza recipe is an internet connection, a good source of basic pizza recipe, great pizza equipment, your imagination, and lots of time and resources for experimentation.

Heart Shaped Pizza was a Popular Theme on Twitter, Says Stone Bake Oven Company

As the saying goes, a way to a man's heart is through his stomach. So it's not surprising that on Valentine's Day, the number one trend was Heart Shaped Pizza. Couples love to display their affection on Valentine's Day, and a special meal is one way to do so. As the dough can be formed into shapes prior to cooking in a wood burning pizza oven , the dish lends itself to the heart shaped phenomena surrounding the holiday. Couples can even create a meal using heart shaped iron cookware for side dishes and desserts for added effect.

Contacts: Punch Communications James Ryder 01858 411 600 info@punchcomms.comFrom starters to desserts a stone bake oven is a versatile way to create impressive meals no matter what the occasion. In addition to pizzas, stone bake ovens are ideal for baking bread, grilling meats or fish, sweets, snacks or roasting vegetables and can be used all year-round. For more information on wood fired stone bake ovens for outdoor garden use or indoor kitchen use, contact www.thestonebakeovencompany.co.uk .Pizza is one food that is very popular across the globe. Originating in Naples, Italy, and then making a debut in America in 1905, it has had many incarnations. From thin crust, large slice New York style to thick and full of toppings Chicago style pizza pie. The original, Italian thin crust style is still a global favourite, especially in restaurants with stone bake ovens .

Contacts: Punch Communications James Ryder 01858 411 600 info@punchcomms.com

The Start of British Summer Time Sees an Increase in Outdoor Cooking, Says The Stone Bake Oven Company

As the British summer begins to set in with longer days and warmer weather, a wood burning pizza oven is an ideal addition to any garden, says The Stone Bake Oven Company.

The Stone Bake Oven Company sell stone bake ovens to help enhance customers' gardens and cooking options. To find out more, or to look at their unique meat, fish and pizza recipes , visit www.thestonebakeovencompany.co.ukTom Gozney, owner of The Stone Bake Oven Company, said: "With the summer fast approaching, this is a better time than any to invest in a stone bake oven. These ovens are perfect for the summer, allowing the owner to cook a variety of different foods within their oven to complement the warm summer weather. What's more, for those hosting a party in their garden, the oven can continue to act as a patio heater to ensure guests stay warm and can remain in the garden into the night."Contacts: Punch Communications James Ryder 01858 411 600 info@punchcomms.comWith the summertime approaching, a stone bake oven is a great investment for those looking to use their garden more often. These ovens allow people to cook outside during the summer months so they can spend more time enjoying the evening sun. Stone bake ovens are ideal for entertaining and preparing an intimate meal for two or catering for a large party.

Contacts: Punch Communications James Ryder 01858 411 600 info@punchcomms.com

The Easter Holiday Is the Perfect Time to Install an Indoor Wood Fired Oven, Says The Stone Bake Oven Company

Easter Holidays are the busiest time in the UK for household DIY improvements and renovations. This is the perfect time to install an indoor wood fired oven, says The Stone Bake Oven Company. Households looking to update their kitchens can use the extra days off around Easter to complete these home improvement tasks.

The warmer weather and longer hours of sunshine lend themselves for summer parties, and pizza is the ultimate party food. To get their kitchens ready to show off for these gatherings, the Easter holiday is the ideal time to install stone bake ovens . The Stone Bake Oven Company's latest addition to their growing oven range, the Rocca 90, is the perfect indoor pizza oven. As it is a component oven, it lends itself to be installed by the homeowner for a serious DIY project. Alternatively, a Stone Bake Oven Company representative can assist with the installation.The Stone Bake Oven Company's Rocca oven range finish can be designed to suit the decor of the kitchen making it a unique element and could even raise the value of the house. Whether it is for a large party or a small family meal, the Rocca 90 is fuel efficient enough to cater for either. For more information on the Rocca 90, the Primo oven ranges and fantastic pizza recipes , go to www.thestonebakeovencompany.co.uk .Contacts: Punch Communications James Ryder 01858 411 600 info@punchcomms.com

Contacts: Punch Communications James Ryder 01858 411 600 info@punchcomms.com

The Stone Bake Oven Company Announce Two New Ovens in the Rocca Range

The Stone Bake Oven Company has announced two new ovens within its Rocca range, adding to the number of wood pizza ovens available through the Stone Bake Oven Company.

Contacts: Punch Communications James Ryder 01858 411 6 info@punchcomms.comCustomers can also add their own unique design to the wood pizza ovens , allowing them to add their own personal exterior to each oven. With customers allowed to add their own designs to each oven, this can help add to the potential uses of the oven, perhaps designing it as a garden feature or even to be used as a patio heater for parties that last well into the night.Tom Gozney, founder of The Stone Bake Oven Company, said: "Our Rocca range of ovens is perfect for use either indoors or outdoors. The Rocca ovens have allowed us to add two more ovens to our range of available stone bake ovens, and with the ovens serving multiple purposes, we believe our ovens are more than just an investment in another cooking appliance."These two new ovens, alongside the original range of wood fired ovens , are perfect for cooking a variety of different meals, either indoors or outdoors. The ovens are fully insulated and can hold their heat for over 24 hours, great for cooking numerous dishes, from starters and pizzas through to large slow-roasted meals.The Stone Bake Oven Company has released two ovens in the range, the Rocca 90 and the Rocca 120. The two ovens include very similar features to one another, although whilst the Rocca 90 has an internal flooring of 90cm, the latter model is at a larger size of 120cm. This choice allows the customer to decide which oven will be most suitable for them, whether they're expecting to cater for only a few people within the family, or perhaps for many at parties.

Contacts: Punch Communications James Ryder 01858 411 6 info@punchcomms.com

The Stone Bake Oven Company Introduce The Healthy Fast-Food Fix

Fast, cheap, tasty and healthy? These are words you don't expect to see together, let alone describing pizza!

Contact the Stone Bake Oven Company for a range of pizza ovens for sale , as well as Accessories, Tips, Advice and More, visit www.thestonebakeovencompany.co.uk .Wood Fired Ovens can also help get the whole family involved, as pizza is fun and easy to make, it cooks before your eyes in moments.Tom Gozney the company founder believes these ovens may be the future for health conscious families, "they promote the use of fresh ingredients, minus the calorie rich additives including flavour substitutes, colourants, preservatives and more." Due to the high temperatures achieved within the oven you can also expect a third off cooking times and excess fat burnt off, "but the main change you'll notice is in the taste," says Tom.With a healthier diet linked to maintaining a healthy body weight and reducing the incidence of disease, The Stone Bake Oven Company prove there is no need to substitute healthy living over flavourful, delicious foods. The Stone Bake Oven range has something for everyone, to suit every family size and budget, including the compact Primo Oven only GBP 599.With the price of homemade pizza setting you back a fraction of its retail price, you can battle the credit crunch alongside your healthy eating plan. And wood fired ovens aren't just for pizza either, you can cook roasts, desserts, breads, smoke meats and more! Find recipes online with the Stone Bake Oven Company, including their easy to follow guide on Roasting, Grilling, Searing, Baking and cooking pizza's.Contacts: The Stone Bake Oven Company Laura Plastow 0845 834 0252 laura@thestonebakeovencompany.co.uk www.thestonebakeovencompany.co.ukWith the summertime imposing the pressures of skimpy attire, the Stone Bake Oven Company, who specialise in selling a range of wood burning pizza ovens throughout the UK, have revived the age old authentic method of cooking Italian pizza, without the calorific additives.

Contacts: The Stone Bake Oven Company Laura Plastow 0845 834 0252 laura@thestonebakeovencompany.co.uk www.thestonebakeovencompany.co.uk