Why not go Splat this Christmas?

Splat Cooking has added to its range of foodie gift ideas for Christmas, Christmas gingerbread kits and Christmas cookery workshops for both adults and children.

Gifts include novel and eye-catching baking paraphernalia such as cake cases, cake tins and cookie cutters, 1950s-inspired kitchen textiles and Splat gift certificates, as well as gingerbread kits in a range of fun and exciting designs.

New gingerbread kits for this Christmas include a snow-covered Snow White Cottage, complete with Snow White figure and decorative sweets and sparkle, and a gingerbread Santa's grotto. All gingerbread kits are made with fresh, natural ingredients and are free from additives and hydrogenated fats.

Splat Cooking is running a number of Christmas cookery workshops this year. This includes a workshop on Christmas cupcakes especially for adults, gingerbread house workshops for all ages, two different workshops for making edible Christmas presents - for both adults and children - as well as a 'stir-up Friday' workshop focusing on Christmas cake, pudding and mincemeat goodies, and one on Christmas cake decorating for adults.

All workshops can be booked through the Splat Cooking website.

For more information, please contact Splat Cooking on 0870 766 8290 or visit the website at www.splatcooking.net

Shloer goes Rose

Shloer, the sparkling juice drink has launched its fantastic new Rosé flavour just in time for Christmas. Whether you are entertaining friends and family at home or going to a party, a bottle of Shloer adds sparkle to every occasion.

Created from a blend of red and white grapes, Shloer has used only the best ingredients to create a delicious non alcoholic sparkling drink which is the ideal drink for all the family. Shloer Rosé joins the existing collection, and with seven delicious flavours from classic Red Grape or White Grape, to Apple or Raspberry and Cranberry, there is a flavour for everyone.

Don’t worry about indulging in a glass or two either, with no more than 47 kcals per 100ml and no fat, you can sip away without feeling guilty, allowing you to have an extra helping of Christmas pudding or another mince pie.

This Christmas Shloer is sporting a stylish new look, the eye catching bottle will not look out of place on any table during the festive season.

Serve over ice for the ideal refreshment to make any Christmas meal sparkle, or if you want to be more adventurous use Shloer to make delicious non alcoholic cocktails ideal for sharing this Christmas, for recipes go to www.shloer.com.

Shloer contains no preservatives, artificial colours, sweeteners or flavours and is available from all major supermarkets.

For further information visit www.shloer.com

(EDITOR: It's ideal for your non-drinking guests or for designated drivers, too)

A Danish Christmas with Paula, House of Farnell

May old King Christmas come to you.....

With Christmas around the corner and winter on our doorstep, thoughts turn away from lengthy summer days and turn towards warming and wintry days of Christmas past.

‘Paula, House of Farnell’ began life in a Victorian village hall in 1999 and this year will celebrate its 10th anniversary. Originally from Denmark, Paula and her husband moved to Scotland in 1996. Keen to meet people and with a passion for all things Christmas, Paula started to import Christmas decorations and gifts from Denmark, launching her first Christmas Fair in December 1999.

With exposed stone walls and painted wooden floors, customers at Paula's Danish Christmas Fair enter into a slower, more relaxed environment, leaving the hustle and bustle of Christmas shopping on the doormat. With the scent of real Danish pastries and the comfort of the crackling wood burners, ‘Paula of Farnell’ envelopes its visitors in to the warmth and wonder of Christmas.

Over the festive period, Paula Nissen, proprietor of Paula, House of Farnell, invites her visitors to celebrate the spirit of Christmas with mirth and joviality on this their 10th anniversary! As well as offering a wonderfully unique selection of Danish Christmas decorations, scented candles and gifts, visitors can also choose from an enticing array of real Danish pastries and scrumptious sandwiches in the shops café, ensuring all tastes and appetites are catered for - at all times of the day.

Complete with traditional Scandinavian decorations and all the trappings of a truly charming Christmas, a trip to ‘Paula at House of Farnell’ is the perfect accompaniment to the coming winter months.

FACT FILE:

PAULA, HOUSE OF FARNELL LTD

Farnell by Brechin

Angus

DD9 6UH

01674 820 717

www.paulaoffarnell.co.uk

Open Friday 25th September – Sunday 20th December, everyday 10am - 4.30pm

ALSO Home Introduces Sweet Scented Cinnamon Boxes

ALSO Home has introduced delightfully scented Cinnamon Boxes to its collection of ethically sourced, hand crafted home and lifestyle products. The fragrant cinnamon bark used to make these boxes lightly fragrances the contents over time, making them perfect for storing sugar for use in coffee, baking or desserts, or simply placing on a mantelpiece or shelf to allow the gentle, spiced aroma to fragrance a room or cupboard.

Made in central Vietnam by skilled craftspeople, using sustainably harvested cinnamon bark of the region, the lidded boxes are available in two shapes; square and round.

Round measures 9 x 8cm, £10
Square measures 9 x 8cm, £10

www.alsohome.com.

An extra special Christmas gift

Make Christmas count this year by choosing a heart warming gift from the British Heart Foundation (BHF). With a wide range of gifts to suit all ages, getting into the festive spirit couldn’t be easier and all sales will continue the BHF’s fight against heart disease. Visit one of our 600 BHF Shops or go online bhf.org.uk/gifts and discover how you can make a real difference this Christmas.

GIFTS UNDER £20

Become a chocolate connoisseur this Christmas. This Chocolatier gift set allows you to explore the history of chocolate, the skill of making it and the art of tasting it. £19.99 (Available from bhf.org.uk/gifts and in our Shops on the high street)

An unforgettable gift! Be different this Christmas by giving a loved one their very own star. £19.99 (Available from bhf.org.uk/gifts and in our Shops on the high street)

Add a splash of colour and a lovely aroma to your home with some lavender plants. The ideal way to unwind after weeks of Christmas mayhem. £12.99 (Available from bhf.org.uk/gifts and in our Shops on the high street)

GIFTS UNDER £10

This delicious white chocolate snowman is the perfect indulgent stocking filler this Christmas. £6.95 (Available from bhf.org.uk/gifts and in our Shops on the high street)

A pretty place to store all your spare change. This heart shaped money jar is a fun addition to any room. Also available in pink. £6.99 (Available in BHF Shops on the high street)

Be a trend setter in 2010. This Shopping for Vintage book is the ideal stocking filler for any fashionista. £9.99 (Available in BHF Shops on the high street)

Featuring 12 striking images from one of the world’s greatest aviation acrobatic teams, this Red Arrows calendar is a must for any man’s study wall this Christmas. £9.99 (Available from bhf.org.uk/gifts)

A great distraction when there’s nothing on the telly, this brain fitness training kit includes over 120 of the best logic and lateral thinking puzzle questions. £10 (Available from bhf.org.uk/gifts)

Cuddle up this winter with this pretty heart covered water bottle. £9.99 (Available from bhf.org.uk/gifts)

The perfect gift for all budding gardeners this Christmas. Get your garden off to a fantastic start next year with this grow your own veggies box. £7.99 (Available from bhf.org.uk/gifts and in our Shops on the high street)

These lovely embroidered heart-shaped lavender bags will keep your clothes smelling fresh throughout the festive season. £5.99 for a pair (Available from bhf.org.uk/gifts)

‘What do you know about wine?’ The ultimate test this Christmas, these entertaining question and answer cards will quickly fortify your wine IQ. £6.95 (Available from bhf.org.uk/gifts)
Treat your favourite bookworm to fancy book light this Christmas. Available in an array of colours. £6.99 (Available from bhf.org.uk/gifts and in our Shops on the high street)

GIFTS UNDER £5

Kimmidoll key ring. Based on the Japanese Kekoshi doll dating back to the 19th century, Kimmidoll is an exciting range of stylish and elegant dolls for you to collect and cherish. £4.50 (Available from bhf.org.uk/gifts)

These prettily designed pocket Sudoku books are a Sudoku fan’s dream. £4.99 each (Available from bhf.org.uk/gifts and in our Shops on the high street)

An indulgent treat for any stocking this Christmas. Relax and unwind with this festive spicy apple bath bomb. £4.99 (Available from bhf.org.uk/gifts and in our Shops on the high street)

These pretty ceramic decoration balls will brighten up any home all year round. £2.99 (Available in BHF Shops on the high street)

Spice up your dining table this Christmas with these quirky salt and pepper shakers. Available in a variety of colours. £4.99 (Available in BHF Shops on the high street)

Brighten up your Christmas tree with these cuddly festive decorations, available at Barnsley Building Society and Yorkshire Building Society branches this December. There are 5 cute characters to collect for a suggested donation of £1.50 each.

Pick up a packet of 'Reindeer Food' for a £1 suggested donation at all Argos and Homebase stores, Lloyds TSB, Halifax, Bank of Scotland, Barnsley Building Society and Yorkshire Building Society branches from mid November. This magical mixture of oats and coloured crystals will help Santa’s reindeers carry out their important work.

Something different this Christmas. . .

The perfect centre piece - this arrangement makes you wish it was that festive period all year round with beautiful red roses, cinnamon bundles and dried oranges. £36.99 This includes free posting and packaging (Available from bhf.org.uk/gifts)

Most people know someone affected by heart disease and all purchases this Christmas will help the BHF continue its lifesaving work. For more information on all our gifts available please visit your local BHF Shop, visit bhf.org.uk/gifts or order your own BHF Christmas catalogue by calling 08453 893 863.

This year, why not surprise the man in your life with something really useful for his Christmas stocking?

As an alternative to cluttering up his drawers with terrible ties, comedy socks and more cuff links - Gorilla Glue has some great gift ideas ideally suited to the DIY Dad, home handyman or hobbyist.

Gorilla Glue is a must-have for every household. One of the toughest and most versatile all-purpose adhesives available, it’s ideal for almost any domestic fixes, building repairs and creative projects.

Gorilla Glue fixes things other glues might not be able to, and once something is glued it won’t come undone.

It can be used to repair most material including wood, stone, metal, ceramics, glass and foam. Gorilla Glue is 100% waterproof and temperature resistant, making it the perfect choice for projects and repairs indoors or out.

It's also available in a handy Precision Glue Pen applicator, perfect for smaller jobs, on-the-spot repairs, model building and other creative craft projects requiring pin-point application and control.

If your man likes to venture into the ‘great outdoors’ then Gorilla Tape is the perfect gift to stick in his backpack. The tough, lightweight tape will repair, patch, or stick almost any material while camping, hunting, backpacking, fishing, hiking, boating, surfing or bicycling.

And it’s weatherproof so you can even stick wet surfaces together and use it to stop leaks.

Gorilla Glue’s inexpensive range comes in fun and funky packaging and is bound to be a useful addition to any Christmas stocking or tool-box!

Prices for Gorilla Glue, Precision Glue Pen and Gorilla Tape start at just £5.49, £3.99 and £5.49 respectively. Products are available from all good hardware stores.

ENDS

Healthy Decadence at Christmas?

Vegetarian speciality hamper website, Ripe Gifts (http://www.ripegifts.co.uk), is challenging the way we think about traditional Christmas hampers by creating hampers that allow you indulge without the bulge.

Ripe Gifts' sumptuous hampers, avoid highly-processed, fat-laden traditional hamper fillers and offer an unusual mix of healthier, natural ingredients. Luxury nuts, honeys and dried fruits all feature prominently in their hampers and are perfect for the festive season. Better still, the natural ingredients focus on healthier decadence.

The emphasis at Ripe Gifts is very much on premium vegetarian products, selected for their fine quality and natural benefits. Their Christmas range is no exception (http://www.ripegifts.co.uk/acatalog/ChristmasGift.html. Ripe Gifts' Christmas hamper range includes organic, vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free hampers, all filled with delicious natural ingredients to promote both good taste and healthier eating this Christmas.

The hand-finished, re-usable gift containers deliver a stunning presentation, and ensure that their contents arrive perfectly intact. In addition, each hamper comes with a hand-written message. Many hampers also include drinks - but no alcohol here. Ripe Gifts offer a selection of delicious natural fruit juices and even an alcohol-free spiced mulled fruit punch, as healthy alternatives.

Eddy Harding, MD of Ripe Gifts said, “We believe that right now, with more focus than ever placed on healthy eating, there is a real niche for Ripe Gifts. We offer beautiful gifts that not only look stunning, but also contain an abundance of tasty, yet healthier treats. Our website is a feast for the eyes too and incredibly easy to navigate. Orders can be placed, processed and delivered nationally in 24 hours, a simple, yet fantastic way to Christmas shop for those special health-conscious people in your life’’.

Ripe Gifts Christmas range offers different gift hampers, with prices ranging from £36 - £198 including Next Day delivery (in mainland UK). The hampers are available in an array of styles and sizes – to suit all tastes.

Log onto www.ripegifts.co.uk or call 0845 226 9182 to place an order.