Christmas gift ideas get harder each year. I know for our children the surprises are less and the ideas are more difficult. So. this Christmas I have been looking at what is the new, particularly for fellow foodies. And DIY food kits seem to be o the increase as great gift ideas.
With Christmas 'wish lists' being written I thought it was a great time to talk about one of the larger gadgets in the kitchen – a blender. To mix, mingle, combine, stir, whisk, merge, emulsify, amalgamate there are lots of technical terms for blending!
Having popped along to Islington last week for the Country Living Christmas Fair, I have found a real sense of festive spirit creeping in to the month a little earlier than we usually allow. But having seen so many great gift ideas it seems a shame not to share our top picks in time for everyone who is embarking on present shopping.
This was my first visit to Spirit of Christmas. Being advertised as having Christmas all wrapped up at the UK's biggest high-end Christmas shopping event - and returning to Olympia for its 16th year - it certainly was impressive.
When my son came in this evening asking if he could eat the last slice of our homemade apple pie I did a double take. He loves raw apples and he is partial to pastry but when combined he is less than keen. But Monks Farm apples from Marks & Spencer make the grade, it seems!
This is the fourth year I have attended the Cake and Bake Show in London. It has moved venues over the years but was back at the Excel Centre this weekend. The UK's only live consumer event dedicated to the world of cakes, bakes and the art of baking - it's a date always marked on the calendar.
