A pre-Christmas "spring clean" is just the thing, say the experts

Yes, everyone of us is aware of the concept of spring cleaning. In fact, most of us do it. 

But did you know that  but health experts suggest that a deep clean should be carried at least twice a year and that autumn the ideal time to get scrubbing with your second clean of the year, just in time for a clean and sparkling house in time for Christmas.

Geoff Johnson, who is Director at cordless vacuum cleaner brand ROIDMI UK says: "Autumn is a vital time to give your home an essential deep clean as the dropping temperatures and damper, wetter weather outside, combined with windows being closed more often, creates the perfect conditions for carpets to harbour dirt, germs, and harmful allergens.

“It’s worth spending a bit of time in autumn to give the house a post-summer deep clean ready for when the colder spells set in and you will just want to keep warm and watch TV on the settee!”

Geoff has offered his expert autumn cleaning tips: 

For muddy paw prints 

“We love our pets, but they can cause cleaning chaos with muddy paw prints and loose hair covering the house. I recommend waiting for the mud to dry to prevent spreading stains. 

Once the mud is completely dry, use a vacuum cleaner, preferably with a hose attachment so you can really focus on the dirt. Then, you will want to give the area a mopping to leave the floor area sparkling. clean.

"I'd like to point out that our ROIDMI X30 PRO is the ultimate machine for pet owners as it busts through the dirt with a selection of tools like the pet brush and it even has a wet mopping attachment, ideal for moulting pets and those mucky paw moments."

Clean behind everything

"Remember to pull out sofas and large pieces of furniture to get to those hard-to-reach places that aren’t frequently cleaned. You will be shocked how much dirt can build up even in a short time! To give your home a new lease of life, you could even try rearranging some of the furniture, too."

Vacuum up high

"Get the vacuum cleaner out and suck up all the cobwebs and dirt from hard-to-reach corners, such as above door frames, lintels, blinds, curtain rails, ceilings, and walls. Pop on the dust brush attachment to make light work of dusting shelves and ornaments too, while you are at it." 

Give your mattress a freshen up

“When deep cleaning, you want to do more than just change the bedding. You can use your vacuum cleaner attachments to suck up dirt and debris from your mattress. Spritz the mattress with some fabric-safe scent spray for ultimate freshness.”

Clear out the kitchen cabinets

“Take some time to declutter your kitchen cabinets as go about your cleaning. Begin by removing all items and choosing which ones you want to keep. Then, before you put them back, use a vacuum attachment to clean out crumbs and dirt, and wipe the cupboard around with your usual household cleaner.”

ROIDMI is the UK’s fastest-growing cordless vacuum cleaner brand, has recently launched its latest range of cleaners from £99 to £599 in the UK through Euronics local High-Street stores, their online shops, and the Euronics website.

And if you are looking for an ideal Christmas present for the houseproud man or woman in your life, why not consider giving them the gift of "clean" this Christmas with something from the ROIDMI UK range? Because some people actually prefer a good quality vacuum cleaner to yet another bottle of perfume or aftershave!

And a shout out to all fellow parrot owners, a very good quality vacuum cleaner is an absolute necessity especially if they are a "dusty" type of parrot such as an African Grey parrot! And make sure equipment such as desktop computers are regularly cleaned out!

https://www.euronics.co.uk/brands/c/roidmi

https://roidmi.com

Sock it to me! Sock Geeks has great idea for the perfect Christmas gift

Sock subscription retailer Sock Geeks is launching its latest promotion just in time for Christmas. And it’s already proving a big hit with shoppers. 

The well-established e-commerce brand is making its latest sock ranges available as part of a year-long sock subscription service for people within the UK.

A special presentation box is delivered to the lucky recipient every month. And this will include a sock design that represents the wearer’s own unique personality.

Made to an exceptionally high standard and designed for fit, wear and comfort, the socks in the range make ideal gifts for everyone from grandfathers to busy business executives.

Labelled as “The Gift That Keeps Giving”, these unique gift sets are perfect for consumers looking for gifts that are a little unusual and out of the ordinary. And it will remind the fortunate recipient of the person who arranged the gift and of the spirit of Christmas every month of the year. Because as the repentant Scrooge said in A Christmas Carol "I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. I will live in the Past, the Present, and the Future. The Spirits of all Three shall strive within me.’’ And a Sock Geek delivery every month will certainly help to do just that!

So, with Christmas fast approaching, the team at Sock Geeks is preparing for a veritable avalanche of orders. The concept of a funky sock subscription service is a reasonably new one, so it’s being regarded as an original festive gift idea for people in search of something quirky yet also thoughtful. And that means demand is expected to be pretty massive!

The idea behind this novel approach to sock buying is simple yet a whole load of fun. The recipient starts the subscription by taking a personality quiz. The footwear gurus at Sock Geeks then assess the answers and link the subscriber to a personality profile.

A distinctive, personality-matched pair of high-quality socks is then delivered to the subscriber each and every month.

And because they don’t know exactly what’s coming until it arrives at their door, the lucky recipients get a nice surprise. Each and every time!

Sock Geeks also provide a guarantee with every pair of socks they deliver. If the recipient doesn’t like them, they can send them back and receive a free replacement.

With a selection of unique and eye-catching sock ranges, think of such concepts as “Dots, Dashes and Spaces” and “The Old Tech Collection” to choose from, there’s something for every possible personality type. Myers-Briggs, eat your heart out!

Alina Luiza is the CEO of Sock Geeks, and she believes the Sock Geeks subscription box could be one of the most sought-after Christmas gifts of the year.

She points out: “We believe this is the best socks subscription service in the UK right now. We don’t make ordinary socks. We only send our subscribers the quirkiest, most original of designs. Our wonderful socks have bags of personality, just like the people who'll be wearing them."

She went on to explain: “Socks always make a great Christmas gift. But too many people buy plain generic-looking products that have no flair, no character at all. It's our aim to match the socks with the person, which is why we developed our personality quiz.

“And we want everyone to take participate, be they a buyer or a browser. The initial quiz is completely free of charge, and you can choose whether you’re completing it for yourself or someone you know.

“The customer chooses from a range of images that best represents their personality. We then provide a brief summary of their character traits along with the socks we believe complement their personality.

“This is what makes us unique. The best gifts require deep thought, and they always have an underlying meaning. Because our socks are matched to the recipient’s personality, they mean something extra special when they arrive.”

Sock Geeks are experiencing unprecedented levels of demand for their monthly sock subscription in the UK. As a result, customers are urged to sign up as soon as they can. A pre-Christmas rush is expected, and there are only so many funky socks to go around.

Besides offering a funky sock subscription service, Sock Geeks also sell gift sets, which are also perfect also Christmas gifts. And customers can buy individual pairs from the extensive range already available on the Sock Geeks website. 

All the socks sold by the UK-based firm come in an attractive presentation box or in a special hand-crafted Christmas Cracker, a personality card, a welcome letter, and a (very!) bad joke about socks.

Place your orders here:- https://www.sockgeeks.co.uk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sockgeeks

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sockgeeks

OHSO Good Chocolate. That's really oh so good for you

OHSO Good Chocolate is good for you. Firstly, it's my firm contention that any chocolate that tastes as good as OHSO Good does you a power of God (as we used to say) and there are, actually, scientific reasons why this is the case, but I'm not going to talk about them at this point. (Although a future blogpost about the science behind why chocolate is good for you might be a good idea.)

OHSO Good chocolate is genuinely different because each bar of OHSO Good chocolate is carefully made using high quality Belgian chocolate and absolutely no added sugars. And it's that kind of information that makes diabetics like myself say: "That's interesting!" And there's no milk in them which makes coeliacs like my wife say: "Wow! That's good news!"

Instead of sugar OHSO Good contains maltitol which is OK for diabetics such as myself (I'm Type 2) but there is a warning on the wrapper about excess consumption of maltitol.

Each bar is labelled with the day of the week, so the lucky recipient will know exactly where they are.

But the main point that caught my attention is that Ohso good chocolate comes to you complete with some live cultures. These are in the form of probiotic cultures.

OHSO has over a billion live cultures (commonly known as probiotics), Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, in each bar.

These live cultures are micro-encapsulated within the chocolate, using a special patented process.

As a result, this delivers live cultures to the gut three times more effectively than probiotic yoghurts.

They also contain dietary fibres, too.

But what's the taste like? 

The 70% Dark Chocolate is delicious! It tastes like the finest milk chocolate you might have previously tried, but without the dairy produce, so it's a perfectly good Christmas gift for the vegans and dairy allergic people in your life.

The 60% Dark Orange Chocolate is every bit as good as as the 70% Dark Chocolate but with a deliciously citrussy tang of genuine Brazilian orange oil, too.

To learn more about OHSO Chocolates please visit https://ohso.com. 

Check out their special gift boxes (with personalisation options) too.

Seven bars will cost £5.10, although some retailers do offer a reduced price of £3.09 for seven bars, so it does pay to shop arround.

Five Parma Ham Recipes Perfect for All Dining Occasions including Christmas

From pumpkin gnocchi to buttermilk pancakes, Parma Ham has tasty and simple recipes for any occasion.

With the Christmas party season rapidly nearing  us, Parma Ham has just the right, perfect recipes to leave your guests full and satisfied. With a range of dishes that suit breakfast gatherings, brunches, and dinner parties alike, events like Halloween and Christmas will be a showstopping success! 

Parma Ham is a versatile ingredient and a healthier and lighter option than traditional pork products such as bacon.

Parma Ham is a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) product and can only be produced in the hills surrounding Parma in a small area of northern Italy. These conditions are regulated by the careful and watchful eye of the Consorzio del Prosciutto di Parma to produce the highest quality product, creating the delicious flavours we all know and love. Characterised by the trusted 5-point Ducal Crown branding and a minimum maturation period of 12 months, only the best quality hams can bear the Prosciutto di Parma name.

The following recipes have something for everyone, combining classic Italian cooking and British cuisine, there is a dish for every occasion.

Pumpkin and ricotta gnocchi with Parma Ham & sage butter sauce

Serves 2

INGREDIENTS

For the gnocchi:

100g Pumpkin puree

75g Ricotta

170g Plain flour

50g Parmesan, grated

A little nutmeg, grated

1 Egg, beaten

For the sage butter sauce:

Drizzle of olive oil

80g Salted butter

20g Fresh sage leaves

To serve:

6 slices Prosciutto di Parma (Parma Ham), torn into small pieces

METHOD

Start by producing the gnocchi. Line a colander with three paper towels and add the pumpkin. Leave to sit for 5-10 minutes to drain out any excess liquid.

Put the pumpkin and remaining gnocchi ingredients in a large bowl and stir well until it comes together in a rough ball. Dust a clean work surface with some flour then tip out the mix. Knead briefly to form a soft dough. Divide into 4 pieces and roll into long sausage shapes. Cut each sausage into bitesize pieces, then use a fork to gently press down to create ridges.

To make the sage butter, melt the butter with the oil in a large non-stick frying pan, until it starts to foam and smell biscuity.

Add the sage leaves and fry until they start to crisp up. Carefully remove the sage to a paper towel to avoid them burning.

Meanwhile, bring some water to the boil and add the gnocchi, cooking for 1 minute.

Drain the gnocchi, then add to the butter and fry for another two minutes. Add the Parma Ham and sage leaves back into the pan and toss to combine. Divide between two plates, season with salt and pepper, and top with more Parmesan

Prosciutto di Parma, brie & cranberry bruschette

Makes 25 bruschette

INGREDIENTS

1 large Baguette

200g Brie, cut into thin slices

Cranberry sauce

12 slices Prosciutto di Parma (Parma Ham),

sliced into small pieces

Thyme sprigs, to serve

METHOD

Preheat the oven to 220°C/200°C fan/Gas mark 7

Start by making the bruschetta. Cut the baguette into diagonal slices about 2cm/1in thick. Drizzle with olive oil, season well, and bake for 7-8 minutes until golden and crisp. Remove from the oven and allow to cool.

To assemble, add the slices of brie to the bruschette, then top with Parma Ham and a dollop of cranberry sauce. Top with sprigs of thyme and serve immediately.

Buttermilk pancakes with Parma Ham, blueberries & maple syrup

Serves 4

INGREDIENTS

For the pancakes:

300ml Buttermilk

100ml Whole milk

1 Large egg

¼ tsp Vanilla extract

60g Melted butter, plus extra butter

for cooking the pancakes

220g Plain flour

1 tbsp. Baking powder

Pinch fine sea salt

To serve:

Olive oil

8 slices Prosciutto di Parma (Parma Ham), torn

Blueberries and maple syrup, to serve

METHOD

Sift the flour, baking powder, and salt together in a large bowl. In another bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, milk, egg, melted butter and vanilla extract. Create a well in the centre of the dry ingredients with the back of your spoon, and slowly pour in the wet ingredients. Whisk well until smooth.

Heat a non-stick frying pan over a low-medium heat, and grease lightly with butter, wiping out any excess with kitchen paper. Use a ladle to spoon the batter into the pan. Cook for 1-2 minutes until the edges begin to set and bubbles begin to show, then flip the pancake carefully and cook on the other side for another 1-2 minutes until spongy and cooked.

Remove from the pan and keep warm in the oven while you continue with the rest of the pancakes, greasing the pan with more butter when required.

When all the pancakes are cooked, heat a little olive oil and add the torn Parma Ham. Cook over a medium heat for 1-2 minutes until crispy, turning regularly.

Serve the pancakes topped with the crispy Parma Ham and blueberries, then drizzle over the maple syrup.

Buttery scrambled eggs with Parma Ham and sourdough

Serves two

INGREDIENTS

6 Large eggs

30g Butter, plus extra for spreading

Salt & pepper

2 slices Sourdough bread

4 slices Prosciutto di Parma (Parma Ham)

Handful chives, finely chopped

 

METHOD

Break the eggs into a bowl and beat well with a fork. Add in the milk and a little salt and beat again.

Heat the butter in a heavy based saucepan over a low-medium heat. Once the butter has melted, but before it starts foaming, pour in the beaten egg. Do not stir immediately, instead allow the eggs to start to cook a little before dragging a wooden spoon through them, lifting large flakes. Do not stir vigorously. If it is sticking, turn the heat down.

Continue gently dragging the spoon across, lifting, and folding the eggs. When the eggs are softly set and slightly runny, remove from the heat as they will finish cooking in the residual heat.

While the eggs are cooking, toast and butter the sourdough slices.

Top the slices of sourdough with the salt, pepper, and chopped chives, then finish with the slices of Parma Ham.

Vegetable tart with Parma Ham

INGREDIENTS

1 Sheet ready rolled puff pastry

5 tbsp. Fresh pesto (homemade or shop bought)

½ Courgette

350g Cherry tomatoes

75g Boursin cheese

3 Spring onions

1 Egg, beaten

Olive oil

Salt & pepper

6 slices Prosciutto di Parma (Parma Ham)

METHOD

Preheat oven to 200°C/180°C fan/gas 4

Slice the tomatoes in half and use a peeler to shred the courgette into ribbons. Slice the spring onions into matchsticks.

Unroll the sheet of puff pastry and carefully transfer to a baking tray lined with baking paper. Using a sharp knife, score a border 2cm from the edge all the way round. Spread the pesto over the base, keeping within the scored lines.

Add the courgette ribbons, then scatter over the tomatoes, and spring onions. Top with dollops of Boursin cheese and basil leaves, drizzle with olive oil, and season well with salt and pepper. Brush the sides of the pastry with the beaten egg, then transfer to the heated oven. Bake for 20-25 minutes until golden brown.

Remove from the oven, allow to cool slightly then top with the watercress and torn slices of Parma Ham. Cut into 6 slices and enjoy.

Cook's tip: If you want to make smaller individual tarts instead, cut the pastry into 6 slices before transferring to baking tray, and follow the rest of the steps for each tart.

Give the gift of skincare this Christmas with Visible Youth™

“The name Visible Youth tells you all you need to know about our skincare goal, a radiant, healthy complexion which defies the passage of time," said a spokesperson for the brand.

Visible Youth™ is a revolutionary new skincare system. Discovered during medical research efforts for skin cancer treatments, it's a remarkable example of scientific serendipity. 

A pure molecule of medical grade Hyaluronic Acid (HA) delivers powerful skin regenerating biomaterial with technical precision into the deeper dermis. This complete formula of purity, power and precision behind Visible Youth is patented as Hyoglass™.

The scientific discovery behind Visible Youth was made by Dr. Asculai in the US based Skin Tech Laboratory. Dr. Asculai had already developed one of the world’s bestselling medicines for pre-cancerous skin lesions. While analysing medical results Dr. Asculai discovered his patients’ skin was also smoother, radiant and visibly more youthful. It was reportedly a true Eureka! moment.

Visible Youth’s Power of Three

Purity Highest Medical Grade HA available

Power Patented skin regenerating biomaterial formula;100% natural to the body’s makeup

Precision The formula is captured in the optimal weight HA molecule and delivered precisely where lines are formed in the deeper areas of the skin, this is the ‘Golden Calculation™’.

The Golden Calculation™

Getting the HA molecule to where lines are actually formed is a scientific breakthrough in itself. After decades of research Dr Asculai discovered the optimal weight (measured in kilodaltons), for precision delivery of the HA molecule, not too shallow, not too deep. This has become known as the ‘Golden Calculation™’.

There’s HA and there’s Visible Youth HA

As the serendipity of science in a medical lab, Visible Youth only uses medical grade Hyaluronic Acid, these are the most precious, purest and most powerful molecules of HA.

The Regenerating Biomaterial

This is the first cosmetic use of the unique skin and bone regenerating biomaterial. It is 100% natural to the body’s make up. It is an anti-oxidant, has moisturising and anti-inflammatory attributes and is medically proven to enhance the appearance of the skin.

The Visible Youth system launches with three products

Multi-Peptide Super Serum; Combines patented Hyoglass™ technology with Glycopeptides, extract of Maca, bio-compatible Peptides and Oat Lipids. This potent and rapidly absorbed Multi-Peptide Super Serum delivers exceptional results.

Moisture Shield; Combines patented Hyoglass™ technology with detoxifying plant extracts of Dandelion and polyphenol-rich White Willow, an innovative anti-stress ingredient. Moisture Shield provides a visibly youthful, refreshed complexion.

Multi-Action Eye Serum; Combines patented Hyoglass™ technology with oligopeptides, Alfalfa Seed and Lupin Seed Extract. Multi-Action Eye Serum is a lightweight, easily absorbed multi-tasker.

Two further products; Replenishing Cleanser and Intensive Night Recovery are scheduled for launch in the Spring 2023 and a moisturising cream with Rosacea treatment will follow.

“The name Visible Youth tells you all you need to know about our skincare goal, a radiant, healthy complexion which defies the passage of time. Achieving this through advanced medical science is at the heart of everything we do,” explained Dr. Asculai, Chief Scientist for Visible Youth.

To learn more or to order as gifts visit their online shop here https://visibleyouth.com.

That's Food and Drink: Surrey Business, Mandira's Kitchen Competes for Sp...

That's Food and Drink: Surrey Business, Mandira's Kitchen Competes for Sp...: Surrey business owner Mandira Sarkar, will appear on Channel 4's 'Aldi's Next Big Thing' on Thursday 20th October. Mandira o...

Soko Patisserie's Mince Pie Bon Bon Advent Calendar

That's Christmas has been running a feature on Advent Calendars and with the assistance of Anna Paganelli we have discovered this Christmas gem!

Soko Patisserie's Advent Calendar Features a Mince Pie Bon Bon! 

It's a veritable Christmas lover's and foodie's delight. You'll begin each day with Soko Patisserie's delicious selection of gastronomical Christmas treats, which will include a delightful Mince Pie bon bon, enrobed chocolates and magical golden Rocher's.

The Mince Pie Bon Bon

Every melt-in-the-mouth bonbons is a sensory explosion, releasing rich flavours and aromas from its crisp chocolate shell.

The Mince Pie bon bon is a very, very special limited edition. It features a delicious infusion of cream, spiced sweet mincemeat and a layer of buttery shortcut pastry enrobed in white chocolate.

Soko chocolatier and patisserie is based in my home city of Birmingham and has the backing and support of Michelin-starred chef Andreas Antona and Bake Off: The Professionals, Bharat Chandegra.

Soko's is always most careful to make certain they obtain their chocolate from reputable sources. 

Cacao Barry prides itself on employing only highest-grade high quality coco beans which are always produced sustainably. It's also promising to become fully deforestation-free and carbon positive by 2025.

The Advent Calendar is priced at a remarkably reasonable £24, delivery is nationwide.

https://www.sokopatisserie.co.uk

@sokopatisserie

(Out of pure nosiness, I have just checked and it's only a stone's throw from where my late grandmother lived!)