Looking for a good gift idea? Nip down to Lidl!

My wife is a gardener, RHA trained, so she knows her stuff.

She has been sorting out our gardens, front and back, and has decided that the gardens required some new bulbs.

She had decided that the garden requires some new bulbs for the spring and she looked at several nearby garden centres and on line and could not find quite what she wanted.

After several days of searching, visiting and thinking, she suddenly said: "I think a trip to our local Lidl branch is called for to see what they have available as someone told me they have some bulbs available."

This morning my wife visited our nearest Lidl branch and returned with a whole shopping bag filled with a wide variety of bulbs.

There are Iris hollandica mixes, Narcissus mixes, Black Parrot Tulipia (which look awesome!) some Tulipa Triumph 'Seadov", some lovely alliums, some Tulipa Crispa Mix and so on.

Available bulbs include Crocus, Narcissus and Hyacinths and cost £1.29 per bag of bulbs. Others cost £1.49 a packet. "A vast difference to the £16 a packet other places are charging!" she has just informed me. 

My wife points out that the bulbs are all of very good appearance and cost a fraction of the price of bulbs from places where she would usually buy bulbs from.

Which set me to thinking. If you have someone with a small garden, or who has a flat with a balcony, why not get yourself off to Lidl, buy some bulbs and plant them in suitable compost (also available in Lidl) and give them out as unique and very acceptable Christmas presents?

If you want to learn more about what's available at your nearest branch of Lidl you can check out where your nearest branch is at https://www.lidl.co.uk.

They also have, at the moment, a special range of indoor and outdoor plants which are on a "when it's gone, it's gone" basis, so worth while hurrying down there ASAP!

It's also worth checking out Lidl's rival retailer, Aldi, to see what they have. You can visit Aldi here https://www.aldi.co.uk.

Incidentally this isn't a feature officially sanctioned by Lidl or Aldi, I saw the large bag of bulbs bought at a very decent price and thought they'd make nifty Christmas presents!

Just in time for Christmas! Double Dutch New Pink Grapefruit Soda Launches in Waitrose

Double Dutch, the skilled, expert producers of award-winning premium tonics and mixers, have announced that its new Pink Grapefruit soda is now available in Waitrose stores around the UK. 

The brand-new utterly zesty flavour is now available instore and online via Waitrose, with the 150ml cans ready to be paired with Tequila, which has been dominating the spirits sector throughout this year, as well as with Mezcal or other white spirits, allowing you to level up at-home cocktail creations, just in time for Christmas and the New Year. 

(That's Christmas suggests you buy some spirits along with the Double Dutch Pink Grapefruit soda from Waitrose to run some cocktail making experiments before you unleash your newly developed cocktail making skills on friends and family this Christmas!)

Double Dutch's Pink Grapefruit soda follows the distinctive dual flavour style of the Double Dutch range, making for a flamboyant, fresh drink. 

It was developed in response to the burgeoning consumer-led demand for citrus-flavoured non-alcoholic beverages, attracting the attention of Waitrose, which has seen online searches for grapefruit soda increase by an astonishing 400%! 

The Pink Grapefruit soda begins with an intensely rich grapefruit flavour which then slides beautifully into the luscious tastes of Persian lime (yum!) creating a well-rounded mixer that offers a blend of sweetness and depth that's utterly delicious on its own, or paired with white spirits. 

For the signature Paloma serve, you can pair the Pink Grapefruit mixer with tequila, and fresh lime, and serve in a Pink Himalayan salt-rimmed highball glass. The new mixer is a simple, yet effective way to crack the perfect Paloma at home, a rising cocktail trend set to rival the popularity of the classic margarita this year. 

The Pink Grapefruit soda joins the Double Dutch portfolio of innovative and flavourful mixers like Cucumber & Watermelon, Pomegranate & Basil, Cranberry & Ginger Tonic as well as a premium Skinny Tonic Water, Ginger Ale and Ginger Beer. 

Double Dutch is committed to continually innovating in the category, identifying flavourful spirit mixers which make for easy and consistent cocktails at home, as well as being a bartenders' favourite and the exclusive tonic brand for Soho House globally. True to their mission, the brand launched two Cocktail Sodas in 2020, the unique Bloody Mary Soda and spicy Margarita Soda.

Co-founder of Double Dutch Raissa de Haas said on the launch, “We couldn't be more excited to launch our Pink Grapefruit soda to make every Double Dutch party that bit better! 

"A Paloma is one of mine and Joyce's favourite cocktails and we've developed a delicious, zesty recipe to ensure each, and every Paloma made with our Pink Grapefruit soda is the quintessential taste for every season!” 

Double Dutch is the award-winning producer of premium tonics and mixers that are first-class, fabulous and flavoursome. Led by twin founders, Raissa and Joyce de Haas the brand's range of refreshing soft drinks are the perfect pair to any event, or sister serve to any spirit.

The range now contains thirteen delicious flavour variations, bringing the energy to any event, at any time, in any place – whether that's Sunday brunch or a Tuesday evening. All the products are naturally vegan and gluten free, and as part of the twin founders mission to do business the right way, the brand is now proudly Carbon Neutral. 

Double Dutch Pink Grapefruit soda is now available exclusively at Waitrose or the Double Dutch website, £3.50 for 6 x 150ml cans. 

To stock Double Dutch Pink Grapefruit soda, email sales@doubledutchdrinks.com 

To order online visit www.doubledutchdrinks.com.

Mince Pie Bundt Cake

Mince Pie Bundt Cake, using Cottage Delight's delicious Luxury Tipsy Mincemeat

Prep: 20 minutes Cook: 1 hour Serves: 10

Ingredients

• 250g unsalted butter

• 220g golden caster sugar

• 200g light muscovado sugar

• 4 large eggs

• 350g plain yoghurt

• 2tsp mixed spice

• 1 jar Cottage Delight Luxury Tipsy Mincemeat 

• 320g plain flour

• 2tsp bicarbonate of soda

• Tiny pinch of salt

• 1tsp ground cinnamon

For decoration

• 170g icing sugar 

• 1 egg white at room temperature

1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice 

• Thinly sliced orange or frozen berries (preference)

Method

• Preheat the oven to 175ºC/150ºC fan/gas 3.

• Grease the bundt pan with melted butter and dust with flour.

• In a stand mixer, mix the butter and sugars until pale and fluffy.

• Add the eggs one at a time and mix together.

• Mix the plain yoghurt and Luxury Tipsy Mincemeat together and add to the mixer.

• In a separate bowl, measure and sieve out the flour, bicarbonate of soda, salt and all the ground spices.

• Sieve in the flour gradually and stop when the flour is evenly mixed in.

• Pour the mix into a greased and floured tin and bake for 1 hour or until a skewer comes out clean.

• The cake will pull away from the edge of the tin when it is ready.

• Leave the cake to cool fully before removing from the tin. While waiting to cool, make your icing sugar drip. Place icing sugar, egg white and lemon juice into your mixer. Beat on med-high for around 5-7 minutes until it forms soft peaks and is loose enough to drizzle. Pour over and allow to cool/set. Finish with sliced oranges or frozen festive berries (your own preference!).

To learn more about Cottage Delight and to put in some pre-Christmas orders please visit them on https://www.cottagedelight.co.uk.

That's Books and Entertainment: Failed Redemption

That's Books and Entertainment: Failed Redemption: Failed Redemption is a new novel from author R. A. Jordan's John England  series of books. At the beginning of the story we find John En...

Uh Oh Milo! The Excited Elf

In Uh Oh Milo! The Excited Elf Kate Wogan and Helen Faulkner have produced a very good Christmas present for the little ones in your life.

They will learn all about The Excited Elf. The Excited Elf has a very important job. Before Santa arrives and glides down the family's chimney, the children of the house must be sound asleep. 

But who helps them fall asleep on Christmas Eve? The Excited Elf, that's who!

But unfortunately The Excited Elf is far too excited about his exciting job to be able to perform his elfly duties to make certain the children are asleep.

So, what will happen to The Excited Elf? What will happen to the children Milo and Mary if they are too excited to go to sleep?

This has all the hallmarks of turning into a bit of a disaster. But what if their Granny stepped in and offered her expert help and guidance to get The Excited Elf to calm down, just enough, to get his important Christmas task completed and help Milo and Mary to fall asleep before Santa arrives to go down their chimney?

The simple and compelling words of Kate is beautifully complemented by the vibrant and awesome illustrations provided by Helen.

This book, along with the other three books in the Uh Oh Milo! series of books, The Impolite Imps, The Tantrum Trolls and The Beastly Bogels are must haves for the four-year-olds in your life.

They are £7.99 each and, in our opinions, worth every penny.

You can buy them, and other fantastic books and gifts at https://uhohmilo.com.

Pumpkin season - but for your face!

Organic Shop Pumpkin Honey Serum

Organic Shop Pore Minimizing Face Serum for oily skin Pumpkin and Honey (30ml) £4.99

https://amzn.eu/d/59hBtjq

With Organic Pumpkin Oil and Honey for oily skin

This face serum is everything you'll require when it comes to minimising the appearance of pores. It's formulated for all oily skin.

Formula, based on organic pumpkin oil and honey, helps control skin oiliness, and provides it with nourishment.

Made with 99% natural origin ingredients.

Certified COSMOS Natural by BDIH.

Organic Shop Balancing Face Mask for oily skin Pumpkin and Honey (75ml) £4.99

https://amzn.eu/d/bdQUjL7

This mask helps balance out moisture and control excess sebum production.

Formula, based on organic pumpkin oil and honey, helps control skin oiliness, and provides it with nourishment.

Made with 99% natural origin ingredients.

Certified COSMOS Natural by BDIH.

Organic Shop Mattifying Face Cream for oily skin Pumpkin and Honey (50ml) £4.99

https://amzn.eu/d/1fpHpJL

Try this cream to help restore skin natural balance and leave it with a matte finish.

Formula, based on organic pumpkin oil and honey, helps control skin oiliness, and provides it with nourishment.

Made with 99% natural origin ingredients.

Certified COSMOS Natural by BDIH.

These will be ideal Christmas presents for the organic skin care fans in your life.

BiGDUG launches a Ltd Edition ‘Christmas Mega Deal’

What's included in this Christmas Mega Deal? A whole host of items including:- 

Garage Shelving Unit

Garage Corner Shelving Unit

Garage Shed Workbench

15x Plastic Storage Boxes

24x Plastic Parts Bins

If you have a husband, wife, aunt, uncle, cousin or best friend who needs some new stuff for their home workshop, their garden shed or their garage, then BigDUG has exactly what you need to buy them for Christmas 2022.

So, this Christmas, forget the worrying about a stocking filler when you can gift your loved one/s a whole garage filler, thanks to the Christmas Mega Deal from Storage Solutions specialist BiGDUG.

This limited-edition, festive-red bundle includes everything they will ever need to organise their garage or shed – and they’ll love you snow much for it!

The BiGDUG Christmas Mega Deal features two adjustable steel shelving units – with one being a handy corner unit that fits nice and snug while utilising space, a matching powder-coated red workbench, 15 lidded storage boxes and 24 plastic part bins for the ultimate storage solution.

Sleigh the gift-giving game and treat the special person in your life with the Christmas Mega Deal for just £194.46 from Christmas Mega Deal Shelving BiGDUG. Christmas are decorations not included, you'll need to supply them yourself!

BiGDUG saves you time, space and money by offering the best storage solutions, to bring order and efficiency to your space. Or the space of your loved ones!

BIGDUG offers everything from shelving and racking to workplace products and packing and will provide customers with the best quality products at the best prices.

BiGDUG was founded in 2004 and is now part of the global business equipment group, TAKKT. It already sells storage products to over 250,000 customers and continues to welcome them each day to its trust, customer-focused business.

For more information or to make your Christmas purchases, visit: https://www.bigdug.co.uk.