Spiced Pumpkin Flan

Nov 19, 2025

A glistening caramel sauce tops this Spiced Pumpkin Flan.
Full of pumpkin pie flavour, this dessert is perfect for Fall or holiday entertaining.

Prep Time: 10 min •  Cook Time: 1 hour 10 min •  Total Time:  1 hour 20 min  •  Makes: 6-8 servings

INGREDIENTS

  • 3/4 cup sugar
  • 4 eggs
  • 1 (14 oz) can sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 (13.5 oz) canned pumpkin
  • 1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
  • pinch of salt
  • 1-2 tablespoons roasted pumpkin seeds (candied optional – see below recipe)

DIRECTIONS

  1. Preheat oven to 450°F
  2. Add sugar to a medium sauce pan and cook over low-medium heat, about 7 to 10 minutes, stirring continuously to keep it from burning and sticking to the pan.
  3. Carefully pour melted sugar into flan pan.
  4. In a medium mixing bowl, beat eggs until well blended, then pour in sweetened condensed milk, pumpkin, salt, and pumpkin pie spice and mix until all ingredients are well blended.
  5. Pour pumpkin flan mixture into flan pan on top of the melted sugar, then set flan pan into a larger baking pan. Fill larger pan with 1 inch of hot tap water.
  6. Bake uncovered for 55-70 minutes until sharp knife inserted in center comes out clean.
  7. Once flan is done baking, carefully remove it from the oven and let it cool.
  8. Cover and chill in the refrigerator for 4 hours or overnight.
  9. When ready to serve, run a knife around the edge of the flan to loosen it from the side. Invert the pan onto a serving plate and garnish with pumpkin seeds.

Roasted Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Seeds

INGREDIENTS
  • 3 cups dry pumpkin seeds
  • 3 Tablespoons salted butter
  • ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 4 Tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon sea salt
DIRECTIONS
  1. Preheat oven to 325°F.
  2. In a small bowl, mix together sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Set aside.
  3. Melt the butter in a saucepan over low heat.
  4. Once the butter is melted, stir in the vanilla.
  5. Add the pumpkin seeds and stir until they are evenly coated in the butter/vanilla mixture.
  6. Add the sugar, cinnamon, and salt to the pumpkin seed mixture and stir until all they are evenly coated.
  7. Spread pumpkin seeds on a large baking sheet in single layer.
  8. Bake for 25-35 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes, until seeds begin to brown.
  9. Once seeds are done, transfer them to a pan lined with parchment paper to let cool.

 

Roasted Garlic Gravy

Nov 19, 2025

This Roasted Garlic Gravy is creamy and flavourful. Perfect for dressing poultry, mashed potatoes, and other vegetables.

Prep Time: 10 min  •  Cook Time: 55 minutes  •  Total Time: 1 hour 5 mins  •  Makes: 4 servings

INGREDIENTS

  • 2 garlic bulbs
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil, plus up to an additional tablespoon, as needed
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 1 medium shallot, diced
  • ¼ cup all-purpose flour
  • 2 ½ cups vegetable broth
  • 1 (3-inch) sprig fresh rosemary
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • Salt and pepper, to taste

DIRECTIONS

  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.
  2. Cut the tops off the garlic bulbs.
  3. Place each garlic bulb on an aluminum foil sheet. Drizzle the garlic with olive oil, evenly coating the garlic bulbs with oil.
  4. Loosely wrap the garlic bulbs in foil and place them into the oven. Roast the garlic for 30 to 45 minutes, until the cloves are soft, golden brown and caramelized.
  5. Once the bulbs are cool enough to handle, squeeze the bulbs to extract the roasted garlic onto a small plate.
  6. Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat, then add the shallot.
  7. Sweat the shallot for about 10 minutes, stirring frequently, until it becomes very soft and just begins to brown.
  8. Add the flour and stir well to fully mix it with the butter. Cook the mixture for about a minute, stirring constantly.
  9. Stir in the broth and rosemary, along with the roasted garlic. Stir the mixture well to work out any lumps, using a whisk if needed.
  10. Raise the heat and bring the liquid to a boil, then lower the heat so that it is at a low simmer. Allow the mixture to simmer for about 10 minutes, until thickened slightly.
  11. Remove the rosemary sprig from the pot and stir in the soy sauce. Blend the gravy until smooth ether using an immersion blender, or by transferring it to a standard blender.
  12. Season the gravy with salt and pepper to taste.

 

 

Sweet & Salty Caramel Popcorn Pretzel Treats

Nov 19, 2025

These Caramel Popcorn Pretzels are perfect for satisfying your cravings for something sweet and salty.

Prep Time: 5 mins  •  Cook Time: 2 min  •  Makes: 24 servings

INGREDIENTS

  • 24 Hershey’s Milk Chocolate Kisses
  • 24 Mini Salted Pretzels
  • Caramel Popcorn

DIRECTIONS

  1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
  2. Place 24 pretzels on a shallow baking sheet.
  3. Top each pretzel with one Hershey Chocolate Kiss.
  4. Bake in the oven until kisses melt, just 1 to 2 minutes.
  5. Remove from the oven, then gently press a piece of caramel popcorn into the melted chocolate.
  6. Chill in the refrigerator until set.

 

Movember – Men’s Health Awareness Month

Nov 15, 2025

By Stephanie Simons,
Head Pharmacist,
Lindo’s Pharmacy in Devonshire

Have you noticed more moustaches recently? Well, that may be because we are now in Movember (the month formerly known as November) when ‘bros’ around the world are growing moustaches to raise awareness of – and money for – men’s health issues. In particular, prostate cancer, testicular cancer and mental health issues (including suicide prevention, because sadly men are still three times more likely to kill themselves than women, according to the most recent figures from The Samaritans).

The Movember movement started in 2003, in Australia, by accident. Two friends from Melbourne were having a beer when they came up with the idea of resurrecting the ‘Mo’, which they felt was on the way out Down Under. Sad, when you think of some of the great Australian ’tashes over the years – just Google cricket legends Dennis Lillee and Merv Hughes, if you’d like a reminder of a couple of classics.

Buddies Travis Garone and Luke Slattery missed the moustache and wondered if they could bring it back. So, they persuaded 30 friends to stop shaving their upper lip for a month; and though no money was raised, a lot of fun was had. The next year, they decided to try to persuade more men to do the same thing – and use that fun for a good cause. So, they set up a website. And this time, they added a fund-raising element. The slogan was: ‘Grow a Mo, save a Bro.’ November has been Men’s Health Awareness month for even longer than it’s been Movember, so it was a perfect fit.

Gradually, the movement spread – till today, it is a thing in more than 20 countries (including Bermuda). And instead of the 30 Australians who first decided to leave their upper lip alone for a month, there are now more than 290,000 Mo Bro’s and ‘Mo Sisters’ – the supportive womenfolk who are also committed to the campaign – around the world.

Last year, the movement raised more than $90 million for men’s health. In Bermuda, Movember has been active for the past 15 years and has so far raised more than half a million dollars for good causes. In partnership with the Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre, the movement is once again organising competitions for fund-raising – and mo-growing. Visit https://www.cancer.bm to see how you can get involved and give back to the community.

The ‘MO Finale’ will take place on Wednesday, November 26, at Modern Gent, in the Mechanics’ Building on Queen Street. Who will walk off with the title of ‘Ultimate Mo’? If you want it to be you – and if you are just as keen NOT to be the recipient of the ‘Lame Mo’ award – then you should visit our pharmacy corner.

There, you’ll find everything you need to keep your ‘tash (and beard) looking tip-top all year round; not just in November. The Woody’s grooming range includes Stache Wax (for ‘full stache swagger’) and Beard Wash, designed to keep your facial hair soft and manageable.

And if your dreams of the ‘Ultimate Mo’ are dashed when your ‘tash comes in grey, fear not! We also stock Just For Men Moustache & Beard dye. Now get growing!

Stephanie Simons is the head pharmacist at Lindo’s Pharmacy in Devonshire. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and has been practicing for over 20 years. She is a registered pharmacist with the Bermuda Pharmacy Council and is a member of the Bermuda Pharmaceutical Association.

 

Ham & Sweet Corn Ghost Pizza

Oct 20, 2025


Serve up this sweet and savoury boo-licious pizza for Halloween.

Prep time: 5 mins • Cook Time: 15 mins • Makes: 2 servings

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 pkg. premade pizza crust
  • 1/2 cup pizza sauce
  • 2 cups mozzarella, shredded
  • 14 oz. can corn
  • 12 oz. sliced ham, cut into bite-size pieces
  • 1 to 2 tsp pizza seasoning
  • olive oil

PIZZA SEASONING

  • 4 tbsp oregano (dried)
  • 2 tbsp basil (dried)
  • 1 tbsp thyme (dried)
  • 1 tbsp black pepper (ground)
  • 2 tsp paprika
  • 2 tsp parsley (dried)
  • 2 tsp sea salt
  • 1 tsp garlic powder

DIRECTIONS

  1. Grease a baking sheet with a thin coating of olive oil. Place the pizza dough on the baking sheet. Using your hands, spread and shape the dough into a ghost shape and cut openings for eyes.
  2. To build pizza, spread pizza sauce evenly in a circular motion onto pizza crust. Add shredded mozzarella, corn and ham to pizza.
  3. Place in preheated oven of 450˚F for 15 minutes or until cheese is golden and bubbly. Remove pizza from oven and sprinkle pizza seasoning on it.
  4. Slice pizza and serve.

 

The Four ‘W’s of Breast Cancer Detection

Oct 14, 2025

By Stephanie Simons,
Head Pharmacist,
Lindo’s Pharmacy in Devonshire

Ladies! When was the last time you took a good long look at your breasts?

Forgive me if that sounds a bit rude. But October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. And no matter what your relationship is with your body – and let’s face it, most of us do not consider the mirror our friend – if you don’t already have a routine in place to check for lumps and bumps, you need to start now.

In 2022, the last year for comprehensive global cancer statistics, there were 2.3 million new cases of breast cancer detected around the world. And according to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, in that same year, 670,000 women died from the disease. (It’s worth noting that men can get it too; and it’s believed that between 0.5 and 1 per cent of all breast cancer cases occur in men.)

The most recent figures in Bermuda – from 2019 – show that if you’re a woman, and if you get cancer, it’s most likely going to be breast cancer. Thirty-eight per cent of all cases recorded between 2010-2019 (excluding non-melanoma skin cancer) were breast cancer. The silver lining is that we have a very high rate of early detection. More than two-thirds of Bermudian women (67 per cent) diagnosed with breast cancer between 2010-2012 had it picked up at Stage 1. Seven years later, that figure rose to 77 per cent.

At the risk of stating the obvious, spotting cancer early gives you and your doctors a much better chance of defeating this dreadful disease. In the UK, almost 100 per cent of women whose breast cancer is detected at Stage 1 will now survive for at least five years. At Stage 4, that rate plummets to 25 per cent. So early detection is incredibly important. But it requires YOU to be vigilant. You are your own best early warning system – after all, nobody knows your breasts like you do.

WHEN…

The trick is to make your breast self-exam part of your routine. Do it once a month. When your breasts are not sore – the week after your period has finished, say.

If you’re post-menopausal, pick a date you’ll remember (the first of the month, maybe), and make that The Day.

Even women who are breastfeeding (which research indicates may slightly reduce the risk of breast cancer) should do it. Though there’s so much going on at this exciting time it does make detecting the ‘unusual’ trickier. Checking monthly means if something DOES change, you’ll be more likely to spot it.

WHERE…

Somewhere you feel comfortable – and where there’s a mirror. The bathroom is a good idea (because you can do some of the check in the shower).

HOW…

It’s easy! Stand in front of the mirror with your arms at your side and have a good long look at your chest. Notice anything different? A change in the texture of your skin – a sort of ‘orange peel dimpling’?

What about size? Most of us are not symmetrical, worse luck. But what you’re looking for is a lopsided look that’s new for you.

Don’t forget the nipples. Any warning bells here? Any indentation? If you’re not nursing, is there a discharge?

Then, put your palms on your hips – with attitude! – and stick your chest out. Look again for anything untoward.

Of course, the number one sign of breast cancer is a lump. To check for that, lift your right arm up, and rest your palm on the back of your head or neck, so your elbow is pointing up at the ceiling).

Then, using the three middle fingers of your left hand like a paddle, and moving in little circles, press gently but firmly around your right breast and nipple. You need to cover the whole right side… along the ribs, right into your armpit and up to the collarbone. Finally, give your nipple a little squeeze – not too hard! – to check for discharge.

When you’re done, repeat on the other side.

You can do this hands-on bit of the check in the shower, if that feels better. You can also do it while lying on your back in bed (if you go for this option, place a pillow under your shoulder on the side you’re checking).

WHAT TO DO…

…if you find something that worries you? Well, if you have a lump or swelling in your breast, chest or armpit; if you see any change that you’re not happy with – or if you have pain in your breast or armpit that does not go away – call your doctor!

There are MANY completely normal explanations for all of the above. Cysts, for instance. But your GP would much rather see you, and be able to put your mind at ease, than have you suffer in silence – and risk missing something.

AND ANOTHER THING…

Home breast checks are a great idea – but they’re not a replacement for a mammogram. The Bermuda Cancer and Health Centre has two digital mammography units, and their experts recommend that women aged 40 and over should have a mammogram once a year (you can book one yourself, over the phone or online).

The good news is that if you are insured, 100 per cent of the cost is covered. If you’re not, the cost may still be covered by the Centre’s Equal Access Fund. So, check it out.

If you have any other questions, feel free to come and ask us at the Pharmacy at Lindo’s!

Stephanie Simons is the head pharmacist at Lindo’s Pharmacy in Devonshire. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and has been practicing for over 20 years. She is a registered pharmacist with the Bermuda Pharmacy Council and is a member of the Bermuda Pharmaceutical Association.