Monday, 11 September 2023

Make Christmas Christmas for everyone

Christmas has many different meanings to many different people. Obviously, there's the celebration of the birth of Christ, obviously. But for many people Christmas has become a time to not only mark the birthday of Christ (even though the decision to use December 25th was fairly arbitrary and involved politics to an extent) but to celebrate family togetherness.

However, the COVID-inspired global recession means that for many people they still really cannot afford the type of traditional family Christmas that they were used to in the good old pre-COVID days.

But! There are ways to try to make sure that everyone gets the type of Christmas that they would like to have, the type of Christmas that they deserve.

Many supermarkets have schemes whereby shoppers can help to provide foods and gifts for families who are in need of help obtaining Christmas foods, gifts and the like.

Supermarkets such as Morrisons and Tesco have a system where their customers can go into the store and donate food. Morrisons and Tesco both have a different scheme when customers pick up a plain brown or white paper bag which contains foods, toiletries, etc which they will buy with their regular shopping and then place in a special colleting point behind the checkouts. In conjunction with a local charity the branch will ensure the donations go where they are most needed.

Also in the months running up to Christmas stores like Asda, Morrisons, Tesco, etc, collect new toys and other gifts to distribute to families in need of help. 

One organise that provides special help at Christmas time is Crisis at Christmas 

https://www.crisis.org.uk/crisis-at-christmas/what-is-crisis-at-christmas

There are also food bank charities which you can get involved with 

https://www.givefood.org.uk

https://www.yourlocalpantry.co.uk/pantry-listings

https://foodcycle.org.uk

https://www.trusselltrust.org

https://www.salvationarmy.org.uk/foodbanks

https://www.feastwithus.org.uk

https://www.bankuet.co.uk/find-a-foodbank

https://www.stgilestrust.org.uk

https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-and-money/using-a-food-bank

https://feedingbritain.org

https://fareshare.org.uk

You can check for food banks and church operated food pantries and charities involved with providing support to those in need during Christmas in your own local area by searching with Google, Bing, etc.

Imaged used courtesy of JaymzArt from Pixabay)

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Connected BBQs for Christmas

With more and more people firing up the BBQ for their festive feasts at Christmas time, Masterbuilt has everything you could possibly need for a BBQ party your guests will be talking about for years, as well as being the perfect gift for BBQ enthusiasts and tech lovers alike.

Masterbuilt proudly sits in the 'connected' category of BBQing. Its Gravity Series range of digitally enabled charcoal grills incorporate advanced technology to enhance the BBQ experience. But best of all, they deliver the unmistakable smoky flavour that only comes from using a charcoal BBQ.

So, exactly what is a 'connected' charcoal BBQ?

Smart temperature control: Having precise temperature control is the best way to up your BBQing game. Users can monitor and adjust the grill's temperature either by the press of a button, or remotely using their smartphone app.

Digital display: A clear digital display provides real-time information about the temperature, cooking time and any other relevant data. There's no need to guess, wave your hands over the grill or peer at a temperature gauge. 

WiFi enabled: You don't have to choose between staying at home to BBQ or going out to enjoy the day. The ability to check your BBQ status from your smartphone or tablet and control the heat means you can leave the grill to get on with it from wherever you are.

Ignition button: Just like switching on a gas grill, you can fire up a Masterbuilt BBQ by pressing a button. 

What makes Masterbuilt BBQs unique?

The special gravity-fed hopper: This is the utterly genius part. The hopper holds up to eight hours of charcoal and it's simply a case of letting gravity do all the hard work and constantly toppong up the fire. As the hoppers are external, you won't lose smoke and temperature each time you open the barbecue lid.

Rapidly comes up to temperature: The BBQ gets up to searing temperature in no time; just give it 10 minutes and you're cooking. Literally!

Gifts for BBQ enthusiasts

Masterbuilt Portable Grill Uk.masterbuilt.com RRP: from £279

Made for adventurers, this suitcase-sized grill comes with an easy to transport collapsible cart, for effortless grilling on the move. 

With a tough shell, it is durable enough to withstand expeditions and is designed to be hauled into the back of a car, wheeled across moors, carried across beaches and set up next to lakes and rivers. Like all Masterbuilt grills, it's designed for convenience. 

Simply light a firelighter under your charcoal, then turn a dial to control a fan for a consistent temperature. The charcoal hopper can burn briquettes or lump wood for up to 4 hours from 130c - 260c. 

Masterbuilt Gravity Series range: available in 3 sizes from £649

The ultimate all-rounders, you can smoke, grill, sear, bake, roast and much more in these BBQs. They're huge inside - the reversible smoke and sear cast-iron grates and its own patented fold-away warming and smoking racks add up to a total of 1050 square inches of cooking space.  

Masterbuilt Pizza Oven insert RRP £179

You simply slot it into your BBQ (works in any brand that's the correct size) and it provides 360 degrees airflow and cooks your pizza in no time at all. A handy 'plug in and play' accessory so you can swap between BBQ and pizza parties very easily. 

For more information, head to uk.masterbuilt.com, or follow Masterbuilt on Instagram @masterbuilteu.

Masterbuilt has American roots, a country justifiably renowned for its excellent barbecue and pizza.  Masterbuilt has been around for Five decades. 

Where did it start? When the McLemore family built their own backyard fish cooker. After decades of innovation, Masterbuilt specialises in building high quality, powerful charcoal grills and smokers that make outdoor cooking a breeze, giving you more time to spend entertaining friends and family,

That's Christmas is thinking that BBQ turkey breasts and BBQ-cooked potatoes could be on trend for Christmas 2023, with Masterbuilt!

Opies Fruits With Alcohol. Make them part of your Christmas feasting and gifting

Opies Fruits with Alcohol are genuinely vital kitchen cupboard ingredients, which according to leading chefs, pack a real punch in home styled puddings.

NEW Opies Forest Fruits with Mulled Gin provides next-level flavouring to meringues, roulades, sparkling cocktails and more, besides. An abundance of forest fruits preserved in syrup flavoured with delicately spiced Mulled Gin.

And there are some marvellous inspirational on-pack Festive recipes for flavour-filled puddings to make at home.

It's also the ideal Christmas gift solution: It makes an attractive yet affordable stocking filler gift, an addition to a home-made hamper or a festive treat for hard-to-buy for family and friends who love food and who love to cook.

Whether you're a complete novice in the kitchen or your culinary efforts can rival those of a MasterChef champ, ingredients that easily transform home-styled dishes from zero to hero are surely an absolute must-have for your pantry?

Opies collection of Fruits steeped in syrup infused with alcohol can single-handedly revolutionise your menu: changing up the simple to the sublime and the mainstream to the moreish in a matter of mere minutes! 

Opies is working with internationally respected liqueur manufacturer and trader Luxardo®, whose legacy has been enjoyed by royalty and the world's foremost bartenders and cocktail wizards. Their high-quality spirits have been impeccably paired to perfectly balance the soft, succulent fruits that Opies carefully selects from top fruit suppliers.

With a host of recipe ideas available on-line and also on the pack, these flavoursome treats can be used in recipes to replace canned or even fresh fruits to significantly raise the flavour intensity of a favourite fruity dish. 

As they have incomparable quality, it's easy to transform roulades, strudels, pavlovas, even cakes and tray bakes, with a simple switch, or enjoy simply, with a good scoop of ice-cream or a generous glug of cream. (EDITOR: That tends to be the go-to method here at That's Christmas, to be honest. Well, in the spirit of honesty it's a generous glug-glug of cream! Though you can also use vegan cream alternatives should you wish.)

This precious Luxardo® syrup can be mixed with a little bit of water to make boozy ice cubes for cocktails, warmed and combined with gelatine and champagne to create grown-up festive jellies or drizzled over meats to make an absolutely extraordinary glaze.

Not only is the collection ideal for an impromptu need to cater for unexpected but very welcome festive guests (EDITOR: That's Christmas thinks Santa might like some with his traditional mince pies?) they also offer you the perfect gifting scenario and a welcome change from the more predictable bottle of wine or a box of chocs. From teachers and neighbours to friends and family and even that last-minute overlooked gift.

Opies Fruits with Alcohol collection includes:

Decadent whole Black Cherries steeped in syrup infused with Luxardo® Kirsch, ideal for the iconic Black Forest Gateau, but also sa urprisingly tasty accompaniment to goats' cheese. Available from Sainsbury's, Morrisons, Waitrose, Booths, Nisa, and high-quality independent retail stores. MRSP is £7.50

Succulent Peaches steeped in syrup infused with Luxardo® 12 Year Aged Brandy, ideal for Peach Melba or a lavish twist on a prawn salad. Available from Sainsbury's, Morrisons, Waitrose, Booths, Nisa, and high-quality independent retail stores. MRSP £7.50

New for 2023 Forest Fruits steeped in syrup infused with Luxardo® Mulled Gin. A fine mix of redcurrants, blackberries, blackcurrants and sour cherries. With a sharpness from the fruit balanced with the warming cinnamon, nutmeg, and notes of mulled gin, they are absolutely ideal in an Eton mess or to add intensity and depth of flavour to fruit tart or a fruit pie.  Available from Sainsbury's, Booths and high-quality independent retailers. MRSP £7.50

Delightful Baby Pears steeped in syrup infused with Luxardo® Amaretto will add a very welcome twist to a traditional Tarte Tartin or dazzle in Chocolate Espresso Meringues. Available from Morrisons, Booths, Nisa and independent retail stores. MRSP £7.50

Vibrant Pineapple steeped in syrup infused with Luxardo® Spiced Rum will boost Pineapple Upside Down cake and add a welcome refreshing twist to Tiramisu. Available from independent retail stores. MRSP £7.50

Rich and opulent Baby Figs steeped in syrup infused with Luxardo® 12-year aged brandy are fantastic in Figgy Pudding and utterly tantalising in truffles. Available from independent retail stores. MRSP £7.50

The entire range can also be purchased online from www.bennettopie.com

Saturday, 9 September 2023