It's official! Christmas is sorted with Christmas Dinner in a Box!

Masterchef winner Steven Wallis has partnered with recipe box specialists Chefs For Foodies to launch the ultimate Christmas Recipe box.

Supplying all the ingredients you will need to make a chef-quality Christmas dinner, the recipe kit feeds six people and is £139, the equivalent of a mere £23.16 per head.

The kit includes highest quality ingredients sourced solely from British suppliers and family-run butchers including a quality turkey breast fillet with prosciutto ham. The trimmings include, sage and onion stuffing, roasted parsnips with polenta and parmesan, bacon pangritata brussel sprout, roast potatoes, pigs in blankets and luxurious gravy.

Chef Steven has also provided a special video Masterclass with a seasonal, entertaining step-by-step guide crammed to the brim with Christmas tips to perfect the year's most important home cooked dinner.

The Masterchef winner and judge commented: “The ubiquitous Christmas dinner is the most important meal of the year, but unfortunately it's also the most stressful to prepare and, unfortunately it's the easiest to get wrong." 

He went on to say: This special pre-prepared Christmas menu contains recipes which not only bring something special to your table but are also crucially, easy to prepare. The Chefs For Foodies recipe box is the perfect solution for taking the stress out of Christmas day, while also wowing your dinner guests.”

And vegan families are catered for, too! Because Chefs For Foodies have also created a Vegan Christmas recipe box which includes a premium Portobello Mushroom Wellington, and four sides including a delicious Butternut Squash and a Blue Cheese Crumble.

To ensure quality, fresh ingredients, the food boxes are delivered a few days prior to Christmas. Chefs For Foodies ensure minimum waste by supplying pre-portioned ingredients and recyclable packaging.

For a Boxing Day treat, Chefs For Foodies has also designed a Beef Wellington meal kit which includes a recipe for maple roasted carrots and a swede and celeriac mash with nutmeg brown butter.

For any festive occasion with guests there's also the ultimate Indian platter & drinks party box created by renowned chef DIpna Anand. The spicy recipes include Prawn Pakoras, Lamb Tikki Pitta Pockets, Turkey Malai Tikka, Onion, Spinach & Potato Bhajis all served with Traklemans cranberry & mint sauces.

Recipe Kits can be pre-ordered from the 20th end of October from the Chefs For Foodies website: https://chefsforfoodies.com/pages/christmas-dinner-2-more-box.

Looking for a new managerial role for Christmas time? Check out Aldi

Employer of the Year Aldi has opened applications for its latest Area Manager scheme intake.

The supermarket is looking to fill up to 100 roles on its Area Manager Programme.  

Those enrolled on the scheme will participate in a year-long training programme, helping to provide candidates with all the skills they need to run a collection of stores successfully. 

Salaries start from £44,000 for successful applicants in the first year, with permanent contracts offered after this point and pay rising to more than £81,000 by the fifth year.

Kelly Stokes, Recruitment Director at Aldi UK, said: “We’re on the lookout for some of the most hardworking and ambitious individuals to join our team as part of the Area Manager programme.

“The scheme gives individuals the chance to learn the ins and outs of the sector at one of the fastest-growing retailers in the country, while also receiving in-depth training along the way.

“At Aldi, our colleagues are central to everything we do and we’re constantly searching for amazing individuals of all ages, roles and backgrounds to join our team.”

Those interested in applying for the Area Manager scheme with Aldi can visit: https://www.aldirecruitment.co.uk/area-manager-programme.

This would make an ideal Christmas gift to yourself.

Customers rush to buy energy-saving products as discretionary income continues to fall

With household bills continuing to rise sharply, the latest Asda Income Tracker shows families were £141 per month worse off in September compared to the previous year, primarily due to soaring utility bills, with gas prices up an eye-watering 95.7% and electricity prices up by 54% year on year.

In response, customers are increasingly turning to energy-saving products to try and keep their bills in check. 

Asda has seen a 320% increase in air fryer sales year-on-year, sales of slow cookers have more than doubled and sales of heated airers are 90% up compared to last September.

Regionally, those living in the south east saw the sharpest drop in discretionary income, with families in that region £212 a month worse off compared to this time last year, whilst the East Midlands showed the most resilience. However, they still saw an annual decrease of £116 per month, meaning no region saw an uptick in discretionary income compared to September last year.

To help customers during the cost of living crisis, Asda is introducing a new ‘winter warmer’ initiative offering those aged 60 and over the chance to enjoy soup, a roll and unlimited tea and coffees for just £1 in any of its 205 cafes all day and every day throughout November and December. This will run alongside the current ‘Kids eat for £1’ offer which continues to be hugely popular, with more than 630,000 meals served since the launch in late June.

The Asda Foundation has also launched new ‘cost of living’ funding pot worth £500k to help keep community groups running and the supermarket is also running a ‘Community Cuppa’ campaign in its cafes by creating space for community groups, who may otherwise struggle to meet due to rising energy costs.

We at That's Christmas feel buying energy saving devices for potentially vulnerable family members as stocking fillers for them this Christmas. So, please check out Asda www.asda.com.

Make their Christmas a Lush Christmas

At times our world can feel a bit darker and heavy at times. Even more so over the last few years.

So, what to do? This winter, Lush is encouraging a culture of kindness, giving and community.  

Lush’s 2022 Christmas range is designed with kindness in mind, being kind to yourself, others and the planet.   

Lush wants to spark moments of joy, with beautiful beneficial products for every need that have had a positive impact at every stage, and encourage not only gracious giving but opportune moments of self-care.  

You’ll see the rebellious return of Snow Fairy, whilst an extended collection of Lord of Misrule aims to unleash the mischievous side in us all! 

Available in Lush shops and online from now on here https://www.lush.com/uk/en.

More Christmas Products Available at Live Laugh Love

Good news! Live Laugh Love has just increased their range of wonderful Christmas Products.

A spokesman said: "Our Shabby Chic and Vintage Christmas decorations are a wonderful way to create a unique look and ambiance in your home, and certain to bring years and years of eclectic and festive charm, magic and joy."

Bring festive cheer into your home, and onto your Christmas tree this year, with our joyful, unique, handpicked, shabby chic and vintage décor from Live Laugh Love. 

From their Porcelain House Tealight Holders, Rustic Bells, snowy, Freestanding Twiggy Tree Decorations, tree hanging mice with fur coats or our woolly Nordic Gonks, your home is sure to heart-warmingly overflow with the charm, magic and enchantment of Christmas.

You can purchase these products from www.livelaughlove.co.uk.

That's Gardening: Dobbies can help you prepare your garden for the y...

That's Gardening: Dobbies can help you prepare your garden for the y...: Dobbies’ Horticultural Director, Marcus Eyles  Garden centre highlights winter gardening tips to prepare for a blooming good 2023 As tempera...

New funny cards and gifts for Christmas

Brainbox Candy have just launched new funny cards, gifts and wrapping paper, just in time for Christmas.

All their products are made in the UK and their cards and other paper goods including notebooks, wrap etc are printed on FSC accredited paper, sourced from sustainable sources.

They sell online at brainboxcandy.com and also stock great retailers including John Lewis, Waterstones, Urban Outfitters, Selfridges, Waitrose, Fenwick and many others.

They are also suppliers to galleries and museums like the Tate Modern, Turner Gallery, MOMA, Saatchi Gallery, Warhol museum and many others, besides.

Brainbox Candy is an award-winning, family owned and operated business that has been designing funny cards and gifts for over 14 years.