Tag: 2019

Christmas cake christmas.co.uk

The best Christmas cake to buy

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Forget boring mince pies! Dismiss plastic-covered chocolate selection boxes! The festivities are ALL about enjoying the best Christmas cake. This is your VERY well researched guide to the best ones available. A scrummy Christmas cake, with a delicious cup of tea, is something to savour. And this year, there are cakes available to suit every taste and whether you prefer your Christmas cake with a twist or the traditional offering, then this Christmas.co.uk taste guide is for you. The best Christmas cake 2019 Let’s start with the best Christmas cake. It’s a luxurious taste experience from Fortnum and Mason. Their £30 creation is nothing short of epic! A decadent indulgence with lots of gorgeous fruit that has been soaked in alcohol. There’s also an excellent topping of white icing and a stylish tree decoration so it can double up as a great gift if you’re visiting family this year. Runner-up: Christmas cake Many of us won’t want to splash out £30 on a cake so we can highly recommend the richly fruited Christmas cake from Waitrose. It’s an impressive show-stopper adorned with a white and gold snowflake covering a cake with marzipan fondant. The cake is laced with brandy and comes complete with fat vine fruits, glace cherries and a warming cinnamon taste. The cake weighs in at 1.3 kg and costs £16. It really is a worthy runner-up. If you’re still not sure you want to spend that much, then we can also highly recommend the Luxury Christmas cake from Iceland. This £8 creation delivers a 1 kg cake that has a thick layer of marzipan and soft icing and plenty of fruit. There’s a decent alcohol flavour in what is a very moist spiced cake. While the Iceland offering is a value for money creation, we were also impressed with the Specially Selected luxury Christmas cake from Aldi. This fruity, sweet and delicious creation costs £11.99 and weighs 4.5 kg. This is also the point to mention the Marks & Spencer’s Six Month Matured Rich Fruitcake. The retailer really does push the boat out at Christmas and this 1.54 kg cake costs £20. It’s a fruity and delicious creation that is full of flavour but is not too swamped in icing, it’s certainly a cake that is worth considering for its rich taste – some on the team thought this cake is too old fashioned for younger cake-lovers. Most disappointing Christmas cake The Christmas.co.uk team LOVE a moist Christmas cake, so we were underwhelmed by the Finest rich fruitcake from Tesco. The cake was a tad dry and there’s a too strong taste of alcohol. However, the marzipan is excellent and it’s a nicely designed cake. It costs £10 and the fruitcake weighs 907 g. We had the same issues with the Taste the Difference Christmas fruitcake from Sainsbury’s. It really does look like a deliciously fantastic creation and we liked the fact it is a lightly spiced option. But as festive cakes go, this one just missed the spot. Others may well enjoy what is more of a traditional fruitcake rather than an alcoholic Christmas treat. The Sainsbury’s iced fruitcake costs £10 and weighs 900 g. Another disappointing creation is the shimmering iced Christmas cake from Co-op. It costs £7 for a 907g cake and it simply misses the point. It’s too dry, lacks fruit and feels like it’s been repackaged from another purpose. Sadly, not everyone likes fruitcake which is why retailers are offering a better and wider range of alternative Christmas cakes to meet different tastes. Here we’ll get to try some of them. Best of the rest Christmas cakes It’s as far from a traditional Christmas cake as you can possibly get, and the Marks & Spencer’s Rainbow Christmas cake is an excellent sponge cake delight. With rainbow coloured sponge and sprinkles, there’s plenty of buttercream, along with frosting and trees for the festive touch. It really is a great choice for those who may not like a traditional Christmas cake. It’s also very large, for £15 you can serve eight people a ‘standard’ portion. (The cake lovers at Christmas.co.uk aren’t sure what that it is!). Panettone This is also the time of year when people across the UK tuck into Christmas panettone, as this makes for a delicious and stylish alternative. The best ones offer a fluffy and sweet panettone and our favourite this year is the Chiostro di Saronno panettone which comes with a chocolate cream filling plus chocolate chips. The tin that the panettone comes in is also an excellent addition. The panettone costs £13 from Amazon. If panettone is your thing at Christmas, then we happily recommend the Best Classic panettone from Morrisons. Costing £7 for a 750 g product, the cake is buttery and moist with lots of fruit and delivers a very enjoyable eating experience. Disappointing panettone creations There are also some disappointing panettone creations and this Christmas includes the Classic Fruited panettone from Tesco. It costs £3.34 for a 750 g offering and though it has got plenty of fruit, it is just too dry with an odour and it simply lacks that special something you want to impress guests with. However, even though we weren’t fans of the Tesco one, it was still much better than the Number 1 Nocciolato panettone from Waitrose. This has nice fruit, but again it is quite dry and certainly not worth the £15 price tag for 750 g. Best bake your own Christmas cake For a lot of people, creating, baking and ensuring your cake remains moist is an undertaking too far. Thankfully, there are Christmas cake mixes available and we particularly like the Sattina fruitcake mix because it’s easy to make, you simply add water and then bake it to deliver a delicious cake result. It costs £6.60 for a 1 kg delivery of rich fruitcake mix – an ideal cheat’s Christmas cake. No one will know! Other Christmas cakes Not everyone wants to buy Christmas cakes from the big supermarket chains or well-known stores and it’s at this time of year we may decide to shop around to find other cake creations to satisfy our need for a tasty Christmas treat. This brings us to the soft iced Christmas cake from Betty’s which costs £30. Like the winner from Fortnum and Mason, this Betty’s creation has a very fruity flavour. Some found it too sweet, but it is also moist and lovely. In fact, it tastes more like gingerbread with nice fruits rather than a traditional Christmas cake. Another unusual creation is a cake with distinct black treacle undertones and lots of colour as well as flaked almonds and glace cherries on top. It’s from the Original Cake Company and is their brandy fruit cake. It’s available from Booths supermarket at £6 for a cake weighing 350 g and the black treacle delivers a nice aroma but a bitter aftertaste. If you have guests that are wheat intolerant and you need a gluten-free Christmas cake alternative, then head to Lakeland for their fruit brandy cake. This cake costs £16.99 and has a tasty filling that is as good as traditional recipes. Christmas cake alternatives While some people may enjoy a sponge cake as a Christmas cake alternative, we were taken by a yule log from Patisserie Valerie. The £25.95 creation includes edible figurines and is a chocolate-covered sponge cake that will hit the right taste buds. And if you really want to stand out from the crowd with a cake alternative, then perhaps the £10 Christmas Colin the Caterpillar is for you. Colin is a Marks & Spencer’s creation that is a year-round popular bestseller, but now it’s got a festive makeover. It features holly, candy canes, snowflakes and Colin in a Santa hat. It’s a proper festive cake for everyone …

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The best FROZEN turkey this Christmas

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When it comes to finding and then buying the best frozen turkey and turkey crowns, then consumers have an impressive choice. For many sourcing a cheap, frozen turkey is the ideal solution for delivering their Christmas day dinner, though you’ll need to ensure it’s properly defrosted beforehand. And there’s no doubt that it’s always best to shop around to find what various retailers have on offer and if you’re feeling very brave, you could leave the search to closer to the big day when prices will start being reduced. That does mean playing a game of frozen turkey roulette however! Can you hold your nerve as the supermarket freezers empty?! You might be left with either the astronomically expensive or slightly suspect alternatives. So, ideally you need to be organised. We all want to enjoy a crispy-skinned caramel coloured roasted turkey that delivers that incredible savoury smell as it’s being cooked. It’s such an important part of Christmas in 2019, that ensuring that you get the best frozen turkey possible is vital. These birds are a popular choice and in 2018 Brits managed to eat their way through 10 million turkeys, both fresh and frozen. This year, two in three of us will be giving a turkey the pride of place at the dinner table on the big day. What is the difference between a whole turkey and a turkey crown? If you are responsible for buying the turkey this year, then you need to know the difference between a whole turkey and a turkey crown. The answer is very simple! A turkey crown is essentially the breast meat with the dark meat removed – so there are no wings and legs or giblets. Crowns tend to be slightly cheaper than buying a whole turkey and are also quicker to cook. A whole turkey is what we traditionally enjoy in the UK. Some will come with giblets that need to be cooked so you can make a delicious gravy with them. Best frozen small turkey Here, the Christmas.co.uk team have taken time to compare frozen turkeys to find the best on a like-for-like basis, based on a cost per kilogram, wherever possible. We’ll also take a look at the price of crowns, as opposed to whole turkeys and we begin with the best, cheapest frozen small turkey you can buy this year. Aldi are offering a price of £2.64 per kilogram which means that their small British turkey is £8.99, It’s a tasty option, is available now and will serve between four and seven people. Also in the best small British whole frozen turkey category is Morrison’s with their £9 offering, followed by Tesco with small basted whole turkey which feeds between four and seven people and also costs £9. We were also taken by Asda’s small turkey which costs £9.50 and Iceland has a Bernard Matthews small Golden Basted Turkey for £10. While it only feeds between four and five people, it does offer an impressive and tasty small bird to enjoy. The big surprise for us here is that the Aldi offering is not only the cheapest small frozen turkey to buy when compared with its competitors – but it also costs the same as its 2018 offering. Also, frozen turkeys are available now, while those who want fresh turkeys may wait until a few days before Christmas. They are certainly worth considering as a sound alternative to the fresh choices. How to defrost your frozen turkey Buying a frozen turkey or crown is a great way to ensure you get the bird you want for your Christmas dinner. But don’t forget, in the run-up to the festivities, that you need to know how to defrost your turkey thoroughly. Firstly, you should check the guidance that is on the packaging well before you think it needs to be defrosted. Some frozen turkeys can be cooked from frozen if the instructions say they can but it’s better to check while time is still on your side. These are the tips from the Food Standards Agency: Do not defrost a frozen turkey at room temperature Defrost your turkey in a large container to catch juices and avoid cross contamination A large frozen turkey weighing between 6kg and 7 kg could take four days to fully defrost If there are no instructions, allow for up to 12 hours per kilogram to defrost in a fridge. The reason why it’s super important to fully defrost your turkey before cooking is that it may not cook evenly. As a result, harmful bacteria may survive the cooking process, so you and your Christmas dinner guests are at risk of food poisoning. Please don’t take the risk by not fully defrosting your turkey and follow the instructions given on the packing package or use the guidance given here. The best large frozen turkeys Having looked at the best small frozen turkeys, for those who are really pushing the boat out with the entertainment this year, there are large frozen turkeys available as well. These will generally feed more people, though you need to understand that they also take longer to cook. You may also need to start defrosting the day before. It turns out that this category is a slightly tricky one for the Christmas.co.uk team to judge and here’s why. Essentially, topping the list for the cheapest frozen turkey is the Golden Norfolk XX Large basted turkey by Bernard Matthews and available from Iceland. This is undoubtedly a big bird for everyone to tuck into and costs from £2.61 per kilogram. However, while this offers value for money, we thought Tesco’s frozen ‘extra, extra, large’ basted turkey from £2.88 per kilogram had better taste and texture. When properly cooked, the Tesco bird offers a mouth-watering turkey dinner and it is certainly worth considering if you want to pay slightly more and enjoy the better quality turkey. Special mention also goes to the Asda’s extra large basted British turkey at £2.95 per kilogram. We also enjoyed the extra large basted whole frozen turkey from Sainsbury’s, which costs £3.16 per kilogram and the more expensive at £4 per kilogram Essential frozen turkey with giblets from Waitrose. However, if your budget for a large frozen turkey is bigger and you can stretch to a better quality and better tasting bird, then the frozen Oakham turkey from Marks & Spencer is the one for you. While it’s a great tasting and great looking turkey, it costs £4.50 per kilogram – expensive but it’s certainly a frozen turkey to impress your Christmas dinner guests with. There’s a lot to consider when shopping for your big frozen turkey since it is the centrepiece for your Christmas dinner table. You need a tender and juicy turkey delivering tasty and moist flesh for guests to enjoy. Tips for cooking your turkey this year While we have looked at the wide range of frozen turkeys available in 2019, it is still important that you choose the one that will feed all your dinner guests. There are also other tips to consider when selecting and then cooking a frozen turkey including: Ensure your frozen turkey will fit into your oven Understand that cooking times for a frozen bird can vary dramatically Some turkeys may not take as long to cook as you believe Always ensure that you rest your cooked turkey after taking it out of the oven This gives you time to prepare the trimmings and gravy. Slice the turkey, dish up and enjoy! Best frozen turkey crowns in 2019 While many of us still prefer to have a whole frozen turkey, whether small or large, what about frozen turkey crowns? A turkey crown is not only easier and quicker to cook, there’s less waste and no legs or wings to deal with. They also tend to be cheaper and you’ll find retailers will add sage and onion stuffing or place bacon on the top to help deliver a crisp skin and more flavour. For the Christmas.co.uk team, the best frozen turkey crown is the one from Marks & Spencer. With a pork, sage and onion stuffing, their turkey crown costs £14 for a 1.2 kg creation. It delivers a cracking flavoursome turkey that your dinner guests will enjoy – it’s also super easy to cook. Speaking of being easy to cook, we were impressed with Asda’s cook-in-a-bag stuffed turkey crown and the 1.75 kg product costs £13. Since the crown is in the bag, the moisture is retained and if you’re not a confident cook then this turkey crown is highly recommended because it would be very difficult to make a mess of it and not deliver a properly cooked turkey that everyone can enjoy. Competition for the turkey crown category is stiff since not everyone will like stuffing in their crown or have smoked bacon on top of it. However, we were also very impressed with Lidl’s free-range bronze turkey crown that comes with a pork, chestnut and thyme stuffing, as well as a smoked bacon lattice on top. This weighs in at between 1.5 kg to 2.5 kg and costs from £16.99. It’s really tasty and there’s a lot of meat for the money. If you have got lots of people coming for Christmas dinner and want the easy solution, then this is certainly one worth considering. Aldi is also selling a tasty turkey crown with their Oakhurst large crown offering, it is one of two frozen offerings with the smaller ones being priced from £12.49 and the larger ones costing from £13.99. Defrosting and then cooking a frozen turkey Essentially, when it comes to defrosting and then cooking a frozen turkey it can be a nerve-wracking undertaking for even the most experienced of cooks and so it is a good idea to buy the best frozen turkey you can afford. That’s because you will need to avoid the disappointment of serving up a bland tasting bird – or even worse, have a turkey that is too dry. Hopefully, this Christmas.co.uk guide will help you narrow down the wide choice of frozen birds available to find the one that you and your dinner guests will all enjoy. Good luck …

cheapest supermarket for Christmas dinner

Cheapest supermarket for Christmas dinner

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When you want to find the cheapest supermarket for Christmas dinner, then there are some big festive savings to be enjoyed. Despite fears that the price for Christmas dinner in 2019 would go up, it appears that prices have fallen and the cheapest supermarket to buy all the ingredients for a slap-up feast has been crowned as a worthy winner. If you want to save on your festive dinner, then you need to head to Aldi who, according to one survey, can help you feed a family of eight to a great meal for an incredible £24.78. Aldi is closely followed in the lowest-priced supermarket for Christmas dinner stakes by Iceland on £25.25 and Lidl on £26.22. The likes of Tesco can feed a family of eight for £30.62, while in Asda it will cost just 10p more and Morrisons’ shoppers will be spending £33.54. Christmas dinner providers heading to Sainsbury’s will be paying £35.14 and in the Co-op it is £35.28 for the same menu. However, the priciest supermarket for Christmas dinner this year is, unsurprisingly, Marks & Spencer where the basket of ingredients will cost £38.35 – that’s £13.57 more than Aldi’s offer. The items that were bought by researchers included the cheapest turkey available along with potatoes, stuffing mix, mince pies and Christmas cake. Supermarkets offering the cheapest Christmas dinner ingredients If you really are interested in saving money on your Christmas meal in 2019 and are happy shopping around various stores then this Christmas.co.uk guide will help. We’ve taken a look at what’s available to help you seek out the bargains. So, if you want the cheapest … Turkey – Aldi for £9.49 Carrots – M&S 40p (though in the run-up to Christmas Day most stores will be offering carrots and other fresh produce for 15p a bag) Christmas cake – Aldi and Lidl at £4.29 Christmas pudding – Iceland where it costs £3 Stuffing mix – Lidl and Aldi at 32p If you are looking for brandy butter then Iceland is offering an excellent product for £1.39 and Aldi has quality mince pies for £1.18. The cost of Christmas dinner in 2019 We mentioned that Christmas dinner this year was set to be more expensive, with the average cost in 2018 being £24.90. However, there’s been an 8% drop in prices so the average price of a Christmas dinner will be £22.85 in 2019 – that’s when buying the cheapest individual items from a range of stores. Essentially, the price you pay for Christmas cake this year is the same as last year, whereas carrots have risen by 5p. To help capitalise on growing numbers of us who are shopping around for the best bargains, supermarkets are trying to offer the best all-round deals and encourage you to buy other items using tricks of the trade, such as pricey wines and beers. A spokeswoman for Good Housekeeping magazine said: “When it comes to shopping at one supermarket, consumer loyalty is no longer set in stone. “Consumers want to get as much as possible in a time of economic challenge and the supermarkets know this and it’s why they keep prices low to ensure maximum footfall.” A spokesman for M&S Food said: “M&S food competes on delivering remarkable value, even when our prices are a little higher. Our customers can be confident they will get outstanding quality with industry leading sourcing standards. “We have invested a sharper prices over the last year on hundreds of our most popular products.” Deals on Christmas food There’s no doubt that as Christmas Day gets closer, the supermarkets will begin to offer better deals on Christmas food though that’s a tricky issue for those who like to buy everything as soon as possible so that they are not unprepared. And for those who are looking to throw a big festive celebration with up to eight guests, then some stores are making more of an effort than others. For example, Asda has unveiled a ‘Christmas Day bundle’ that will help whoever is hosting the gathering to deliver a day to remember. However, the supermarket chain highlights that their Christmas Day bundle is not just aimed at those celebrating Christmas but also for those who want to get together with friends in the run-up to the big day. To that end, they point to a study that reveals that the most popular day for celebrating Christmas with friends and family is actually December 21. Cheapest supermarket for Christmas dinner bundles The Christmas Day bundle is available in Asda supermarkets around the country until December 24 and helps feed eight guests that costs just £14.55, that’s less than £2 per person. And what do you get for the money? Well, each bundle has a ready-to-roast turkey joint with pork, stuffing and bacon lettuce. There also stuffing balls, parsnips and roast potatoes. A spokeswoman for Asda said: “We know more people gather with friends for a festive feast in the lead-up to the big day. What with present shopping and hectic work schedules plus everything else means our Christmas Day bundle will help make celebrating with your friends at Christmas that little bit more special.” Not be outdone, Iceland has also unveiled an incredible Christmas party food bundle which contains 150 pieces and costs just £15. If you are hosting a Christmas Day dinner or buffet then it’s certainly worth considering and it’s a great way to provide the tasty food and treats without having to break the bank. The party bundle includes two platters of food worth £5 each, along with party food products, a packet of Pringles and a six pack of Coca-Cola. The best thing is that shoppers can ‘pick and mix’ so they get the products they think their guests will really enjoy. How much a Christmas dinner will cost There is research this year that reveals how much a Christmas dinner will cost when shoppers want 18 of the most popular items that are bought solely for Christmas dinner. An online price tracking site called Alertr has looked at these items to find out which of the big supermarket offers the best and cheapest deals. This means that the discounters such as Lidl and Aldi, as well as convenience and grocery stores, were not included in the firm’s research because shoppers are unable to buy the full range of items. The cheapest store for an average Christmas dinner shop is Morrisons with a basket costing £52.75. In second place is Asda with a trolley load of Christmas dinner goods costing £56.61 and Iceland is third with £57.16. Coming in fourth and a long way behind Morrisons is the Sainsbury’s trolley which will cost £64.15 and in fifth place is Tesco with their goods costing £65.86. However, they were not the dearest supermarkets – that award goes to Ocado where shoppers can spend £85.30 and Waitrose where the trolley will cost £88.50. The platform’s co-founder, Andy Barr, told us: “It’s easy to over-spend at Christmas, especially on food because you want to ensure there’s enough to go around. “When choosing the best supermarket the research will help give shoppers a rough guide on what they will spend. “If this works out more than they are hoping for, then you can always ask family and friends to help out.” Cheapest supermarket to buy Christmas dinner ingredients While Aldi comes top in a survey for the cheapest supermarket to buy Christmas dinner ingredients in, all Christmas shoppers need to be aware that the major supermarkets will increasingly reduce prices to attract customers to keep the heat on the discounters such as Lidl. For example, Sainsbury says that it has reduced prices on more than 1,000 products and Tesco has revealed that it will price match more than 400 products that are in the ‘Exclusively at Tesco’ range when compared to its nearest competitor. And one industry monitoring service says that since mid-October, the number of promotional items becoming available for Christmas shoppers grew for the first time in nearly five years, led by Sainsbury’s and Tesco. For instance, the data provider says that Sainsbury’s has reduced prices on its Christmas Festival range, including sprouts, parsnips and potatoes, so they are cheaper than they were in 2018. Not to be outdone, Morrisons has also revealed that it will drop the prices on 2,000 products to become a more competitive supermarket. According to Kantor, the discounters Lidl and Aldi have also had to reduce prices in the face of rival promotions. Great festive wines and other drinks While we all enjoy a tasty Christmas dinner, we also have a variety of choice when it comes to washing the gorgeous food down with great festive wines and other drinks. This year, it’s predicted that champagne will see a big resurgence in sales, rather than having people opting for prosecco. Indeed, demand for prosecco in the UK has fallen this year with experts predicting that sales may have dropped by up to 6% over 12 months. That’s a far cry from 2015 when the Italian-produced wine overtook champagne in the popularity stakes to become the UK’s most popular fizz. Now, supermarkets are stacking their shelves high with champagne to be this year’s most popular choice. So much so, that drink experts are now forecasting that champagne sales will grow by 34% this year to become our Christmas drink of choice once again. One reason for this is that champagne has become cheaper to buy and it is among other bargains to be enjoyed in the supermarkets for Christmas 2019. Festive drinks to catch our eye Along with the wine, champagne and beer, supermarkets also produce a range of festive drinks to catch our eye. Among the best in our taste test was the Finest salted caramel cream liqueur from Tesco at £10. There’s a nice mix of caramel, Irish malt whiskey and a nice taste of sea salt – it tastes better than it sounds! If you are shopping in Marks & Spencer’s then there’s an excellent raspberry vodka for £15 which is made from real raspberries and delivers a delicious taste of the fruit. As a refreshing party drink or something to enjoy during Christmas dinner, poor the raspberry vodka over ice and top-up with soda. We also enjoyed Sainsbury’s offering of their Royal Tokaji Late Harvest white wine for £10, which has a nice ripe peach and honey flavour. It really will make for a tasty alternative for white wine lovers – and goes well with turkey. Enjoy a nice glass of port after Christmas dinner For those who enjoy a nice glass of port after Christmas dinner, then Graham’s 10-year-old Tawny Port Portugal from Waitrose at £20.49 is a bargain. It’s a full-bodied port with nice overtones of toasted hazelnut and almonds and is a very deep flavoursome drink. A couple of these will help you into a nice post-Christmas dinner slumber! The Co-op is also offering a tasty port with their Taylor’s Select Reserve. It costs £7 (and goes up to its usual £11 price in the New Year). This is a cracking warmer-upper after a brisk Christmas Day walk it has a fruity flavour and tastes delicious with cheese. Along with this, there’s Madeira which is an excellent choice to have with a big slice of Christmas cake. Morrisons has Blandy’s Rich Madeira for £9.50 with nice fruity overtones and is something of a rewarding drink. In a similar vein, there’s a ‘Sumptuously rich pudding’ wine from Aldi. This Australian delight costs £8.99 and is ideal with Christmas pudding or you may prefer it instead of Christmas pudding. Again, there’s a nice mix of fine fruits and it’s a sound choice for chocolate lovers as well. Lidl has a decent Italian wine that pairs well with Christmas pudding and also sticky toffee pud. Their Passito di Pantelleria costs £11.99 with a nice orange zest and notes of raisins and nuts. It also goes down incredibly well with chocolate. Start a pre-lunch countdown Finally, Christmas dinner is heralded in many UK homes with a nice glass of sherry. There’s no better way to start a pre-lunch countdown with a snifter or two of sherry and we love the offering from Booth’s and their Lustau Palo Cortado Peninsula. Full of nutty flavours, it’s a dry and smooth offering that also works with a mince pie and the afternoon movie. All of the drinks we mention here are specially priced for the festivities – to entice you so you enjoy your delicious Christmas dinner even more – though you should buy ahead of time before stocks run out! Otherwise, investing in quality food and drink with a hard to beat offering from one of the cheapest supermarkets detailed in this article will deliver a festive cheer – and a …

Windsor Luxury Fir Tree

The Expert Guide to Decorating a Christmas Tree

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Your tree is the centrepiece of your festivities and there is an endless choice of ornaments and lights to make it sparkle. But where to begin? We’ve got advice from some of the UK’s leading Christmas buyers and experts to help you decorate your best-ever tree. Begin with a theme There’s an overwhelming selection of decorations for your tree, so whether you’re in your first home, or have boxes full of decorations stashed away, it’s a great idea to decide on a theme. Dan Cooper, John Lewis Christmas Buyer, suggests considering the space where your tree will stand to give you inspiration. “Choose a colour or a theme and stick to it. If you are starting from scratch, then start by thinking about the room you are decorating and what would enhance its character over Christmas. Multi-coloured decorations look great in a bright, white space; soft metallics will flatter a room decorated in greyed-off colours. If, like me, you already have lots and lots of decorations don’t be afraid to edit what you use.” Lights that twinkle Lights should always go on your tree first as a backdrop to all of your carefully chosen decorations. You probably need more than you think to make sure your tree has impact. Dobbies’ in-house expert, Craig Roman, recommends plenty for a tree with impact. “The last thing you want is to get home and realise you only have enough lights to dress half the Christmas tree! As a rule of thumb, for medium lighting use around 100 lights per foot (in height) of the tree and double it if you really want to make your tree dazzle.” LED lights are the best choice as they are more efficient, using up to 90% less energy. Perfect placement To get your lights in the right place first time plug them in before you begin. Start by placing the first light at the very top and work down. If only the front of your tree will be seen, drape the lights from side to side going across the width of the tree until you reach the bottom. If you want your tree to be lit from all angles it’s best to divide the tree into sections, from top to bottom. Use a different set of lights for each section and go side to side as before, rather than attempting to wrap them around the tree which is much more difficult. Of course, if wrangling all those wires sounds too difficult there’s a wealth of pre-lit trees you can buy which just plug in and go! Choosing your ornaments When it comes to ornaments it’s all down to personal taste. From baubles and candy canes to the less traditional Christmas flamingo let your tree show your personality. However, one thing you should consider is the size of your decorations. If you have a large tree, particularly one over 6ft, choose appropriately sized ornaments that won’t get lost among the branches. Where to shop Blow the budget If cost isn’t a concern you can choose some really beautiful ornaments that will last year after year. These also make great gifts that the recipient will treasure. Some of our favourites… Liberty of London, Black cab decoration £34.95 Getting Personal, personalised snow globe £19.99 Mid-range Whatever your theme you won’t struggle to find ornaments to match either on the high street or at leading garden centres. Look out for three for two deals and other offers to help your money go further. Some of our favourites… John Lewis, floral gem trellis pink bauble £6 Paperchase, glass dinosaur £8 Low-cost baubles There’s no need to splash the cash. All the supermarkets have extensive ranges of decorations, as do retailers such as Primark. They’re ideal for picking up low-cost packs of baubles to mix in with your stand out pieces. Some of our favourites… George at Asda, Nutcracker bauble £3 Primark, Nine copper star decoration pack, £2 Go home-made Making your own decorations is a fun and festive past-time, and decorations home-made by children often become some of the most precious on the tree. Jo Naughton, Co-Founder of Christmas lighting specialists Lights4Fun, says:  “My favourite decorations are the ones my children have made with me from years gone by.  I cannot bear to part with them once they’ve fallen apart!” You can make decorations from home-made salt dough, pom poms and foliage such as pine cones. Take a look at Pinterest for some fantastic ideas!   Placing your decorations According to Craig, from Dobbies, an easy way to ensure your tree looks beautifully decorated is to start with the biggest decorations first. “When you’re ready to dress the tree, start by selecting the biggest items from your assortment of decorations and display them on the larger branches, then repeat this winning technique by matching smaller decorations to the more petite branches.” You can reserve the best spots on the tree for your favourite decorations and adjust the lights to make sure they’re always in the spotlight.   Top trends for 2019 There’s no need to start from scratch every year, but if you’re keen for your tree to be on-trend there’s some key themes you might like to consider for Christmas 2019. Soft metallics For Louise Lee, Christmas Buyer at Wyevale Garden Centres, metallics in soft rose gold, copper and bronze are the most fashionable colours. “Magical and glamorous, this year’s Christmas trend incorporates all the glitz of vintage looking bronze with rosy pinks and shimmering copper. Accessorise with tea light holders and lanterns in rose gold and copper tones for a modern take on old Hollywood glamour.” This is a trend that has been picked out by John Lewis too, which recommends pairing rose gold with the complementary shades of teal, old rose & cranberry. Retro Nostalgia The other big trend making a comeback this year according to Jo at Lighs4Fun is a return to the Christmas we all remember from childhood. “Think clashing colours and bold shapes!” This trend includes a return to coloured lights and decorations in a full rainbow of colours. It also includes tinsel, which the Christmas experts at John Lewis have picked out as a trend for your 2019 tree. According to their ‘Christmas trend report’, sales of tinsel were up 68% last year and that’s expected to rise even further. To meet that demand they’ve introduced an extensive range of British-made tinsel.   When to decorate your tree This is a topic that divides the nation. Traditionally, trees were brought into the house to celebrate the winter solstice, usually around 21st December, and the slow return of longer days. It’s usually much earlier now of course and even real trees bought after 1st December should last until the New Year as long as they are well looked after. Decorate your tree as soon as you like to help you get into the festive spirit! The top tree-decorating tips from the experts: Don’t scrimp on the lights – Lights are what make your tree so buy plenty, using multiple sets if you need to Choose your theme – Whether the theme is clashing colours and wild and crazy ornaments or refined and elegant be true to whatever you pick Go for soft metallics if you want to be …

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Best Christmas jumpers for women

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Annnnd it’s THAT time of year. The search for the best Christmas jumpers for women. It’s a strange phenomenon, the festive pullover. They used to be itchy, scratchy and seriously naff. And now? Now, they are EVERYWHERE! From the fantastic Save the Children Christmas Jumper Day on December 13th to your friend turning up to a night out with a flashing reindeer nose attached to her top, and she’s wearing it in an entirely unironic way. Me? I love a sweatshirt with a silver sequin festive slogan across the front. My daughter? She’ll happily wear a big, chunky knit with a bold Christmas trees design and lashings of glitter. Happily, there’s a style of Christmas Jumper out there for all women. You just need to find it! Funnily enough, that’s exactly what we’ve done. Here’s a guide to the best snazzy knits to be found in 2024. You should also check out our Christmas jumpers for kids guide! Chic and tasteful Sequin snowflake sweatshirt £36 from Next This blush pink sweatshirt would work all winter long. The darker pink sequin snowflake is pretty and festive, I love the placement. 100% cotton is breathable and much better if you’ll be at an indoor event. Buy yours here. Personalised Fairy Tale of New York sweater £34 from NotOnTheHighStreet.com Inspired by the classic Christmas song, this sweater is gorgeous. Classic black with metallic silver embroidery depicting the New York skyline. Personalise it with your initials placed under the skyscrapers. Place your order here. Yumi jumper £50.00 from John Lewis (online only) Dog lovers will adore this cute jumper featuring a Jack Russell and Westie in their own Christmas jumpers. It’s a little pricey but it’s a quality piece which will last for years. Follow this link to buy one. Star jumper £79.00 from Mint Velvet Muted, stylish and fantastic quality. This beauty is so tasteful it almost isn’t a Christmas jumper. The white stars light up the black night sky base colour. Made from an fabric mix including luxurious cashmere, this jumper is super warm but still lightweight. Buy yours here. Beautifully over the top Personalised Snow Globe Jumper £34.00 from NotOnTheHighStreet.com SO cool! This marl grey sweater is made fabulous with its ingenious design. Create an elf that looks like you, add your name and ‘Voila!’ she becomes part of the snow globe. It’s made from a cotton mix so is breathable. Do be careful with the generous sizes though. Go down a dress size for a more fitted look. Order here. Aperol Spritz Christmas Cocktail jumper from Etsy.com Christmas is a great excuse for a cocktail or three and this cheeky sweater at £47.51 celebrates that. A cotton mix with a brushed fleece lining makes this a cosy item for sipping mulled wine at a Christmas market. It also comes in four colours, black, green, navy and red. Choose yours here. Robin jumper £35.00 from Yumi This belter from Yumi is one of the few fitted Christmas jumpers we found. It’s made from a slightly shiny, silky material and hugs the figure. In a shade of bright scarlet with two robins sitting on a piece of holly, this says Christmas without being obvious. The silver embellishments really catch the light and will make you stand out in a crowd. Buy yours here. Pom Pom Reindeer jumper £25 from Marks and Spencer The design of this is fun. Bright red Pom Poms create Rudolph nose and add a pop of colour to the muted grey background. With a smattering of gold sequins and an all-over repeating pattern, this is bold without being ridiculous. Head here to invest. Quirky Christmas jumpers for women Attenbrrrrr! £39.99 Christmas jumper from notjustclothing.co.uk Possibly the best Christmas jumper ever created! An absolute must for fans of our National Treasure. This is from a range of gloriously odd festive top that was designed with charity in mind. Buy one and choose which charity you want to donate to as part of your purchase. Get involved here. Harry Potter Christmas Tree jumper £29.99 from IWOOT.com If you’re a Harry Potter geek this sweatshirt is perfect for you. It’s black with a fun print of a cartoon Harry, Ron and Hermione underneath the giant Hogwarts Christmas Tree. They are a small fit so size up if you like your sweaters to be baggy. Order here. ‘Happy Birthday Jesus’ Christmas jumper £51 from FunkyChristmasJumpers.co.uk Let’s not forget whose birthday it is! This jumper will be a talking point wherever you wear it. The fun design and bold colours will turn heads and it’s a welcome change from endless Santa faces and Christmas Trees. Pick yours up here before they sell out. ‘My Xmas Jumper’ sweatshirt £21.99 from Grindstore.com The ultimate Christmas jumper for people who really can’t be bothered with it all. The fit is slouchy and designed for lounging around in. It’s black, the print basic and they couldn’t even be bothered to spell Christmas properly. We love the sentiment. Naughty but nice Short Sleeved Christmas Jumper £15.40 from BooHoo.com Perhaps the ultimate Christmas jumper isn’t a jumper at all? If questioned, you can proudly point out it’s a short sleeved jumper AKA a festive tank top. If the thought of wearing a Christmas jumper, gives you visions of chestnuts roasting on an open fire and you being the chestnut this is a great option to keep cool and look festive. Grab yours here. Nipple tassels jumper £28.00 from Etsy.com Simply awesome! Burlesque at Christmas, what’s not to love?! I especially liked the green sweater as the nipple decorations really stand out. Handmade from 100% cotton by an artisan so you can do your bit for the environment and small business too. Order here. ‘On the Naughty List’ Jumper £36.50 from NotOnTheHighStreet.com Yeah! Us too! This ‘Totally on the Naughty List’ jumper is a fab idea for someone who got a little too drunk at the work’s night out. This soft and snuggly sweater comes in several colours and is tastefully designed. Order yours here. Ugly and obnoxious Christmas jumpers for women Christmas Present Bow £55 from TipsyElves.com A bright green sweater in velour fabric with a gold lame 3D bow across the front? Too much? You bet and it’s amazing! There’s even a plastic pocket for your ‘To/ From’ tag. Make yourself look like you need unwrapping by ordering here. Tinsel and bauble cardigan £55 from TipsyElves.com Ugly beautiful is a thing. Green and red chunky knit, matching baubles and silver tinsel, this is as tacky as it can possibly get. You will turn heads at any Christmas party in this monstrosity! Order here.  ‘Grandma got run over’ by a reindeer jumper £38.81 from ETSY This is an odd theme for a Christmas jumper and is best avoided at a family Christmas dinner. Based on a famous song this is likely to be unique at most parties. Made from a cotton and polyester mix – it’s breathable but will also keep you warm. The knitted-in pattern means it’s easy to wash too (and no ironing too, woohoo!). Buy …

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Where to buy Christmas cards

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Where to buy Christmas cards? While they may not be as popular as they once were, many people still want to know where they should buy their Christmas cards and this guide will help. Firstly, did you know that the Christmas card was invented by British civil servant Henrik Hall in 1843 as a way to get people to use the postal services more regularly? Obviously, he had no idea at the time that he would be creating a tradition that is still going strong nearly two centuries later and lead to millions of cards being bought, written up and delivered in that time. One of his big motivations was that he couldn’t really be bothered writing lots of letters to friends and family and instead wanted to send a card. That sounds very much like the sense of dread many of us have at this time of year when faced with the prospect of writing cards to family and friends, as well as business colleagues and clients. 2019 Christmas posting dates Before we look closely at the types of Christmas cards that are available this year, and why we should buy them, you may need to know what the 2019 Christmas posting dates are to ensure that the recipient receives your card in time. The Royal Mail says these are the UK dates to be aware of: Wednesday 18 December 2nd Class and 2nd Class Signed For Friday 20 December 1st Class and 1st Class Signed For and Royal Mail Tracked 48 Saturday 21 December Royal Mail Tracked 24 Monday 23 December Special Delivery Guaranteed If you are sending Christmas cards to loved ones or business associates overseas, then these are the relevant latest posting dates: Monday 9 December Africa, Asia, Caribbean, Central and South America, Far and Middle East Tuesday 10 December Cyprus, Malta Wednesday 11 December Eastern Europe (except Czech Republic, Poland and Slovakia) Thursday 12 December Australia, Greece, New Zealand and Turkey Saturday 14 December Canada, Czech Republic, Finland, Italy, Poland, Sweden, USA Monday 16 December Austria, Denmark, Germany, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland Wednesday 18 December Belgium, France, Ireland, Luxembourg And for those wanting to send Christmas cards to those serving in the Armed Forces, then these are the posting days for you: Monday 25 November Airmail to Operational HM Forces Friday 13 December Airmail to Static HM Forces Royal Mail also offers a complete list of the last posting dates for each country. Sourcing and buying Christmas cards For many people, the sourcing and buying of Christmas cards really does mark the beginning of the festivities and while they are available in different sizes and designs, they usually create a nice impact with the recipient. It’s also is worth noting that you may struggle to find Christmas cards with glitter being used in the design this year since this is seen as being environmentally unfriendly. One of those organisations that have removed glitter from its Christmas cards is the RSPCA. The head of wildlife at the charity, Adam Grogan, said: “We have removed glitter this year from Christmas cards to reduce our environmental impact. Glitter is a micro plastic and the small pieces can be a problem for the environment and harm wildlife, causing stomach problems if eaten.” Personalise your Christmas card And if you want to make a difference this year, why not personalise your Christmas card by having photographs of you and your family on the front? These really will be a unique offering! There’s also the opportunity of personalising a generic Christmas card with the family name and the cardfactory.co.uk offers a range of well-priced and very attractive cards for this purpose. For those who are looking for good quality, cheap Christmas cards online, then The Works offers a range of well-priced products and this is also the opportunity of sourcing a range of card types at various prices from Amazon. Buy charity Christmas cards Most charities sell Christmas cards at this time of year to raise funds and also to highlight the services they offer. We’ve taken a look at a range of them and can recommend these offerings: John Lewis & Partners has the Museums & Galleries Virgin and Child Christmas cards – a pack of eight costs £5. Not only is this a great choice as a Christmas card, 10% of the price is being split between Shelter, Marie Curie, Mind, the British Heart Foundation and the NSPCC. John Lewis & Partners also offer a Partridge in a Pear Tree Christmas card from Museums & Galleries with the aim of raising money for the same charities. Pack of five will cost £5.50. For those who’d like to make a contribution to the important work of Water Aid in Third World countries, then Paperchase is selling a pack of eight Christmas Pudding charity cards for £3.75. The money raised will help to transform the lives of those who will get access to clean water. The best luxury Christmas cards guide Nothing really makes a statement Christmas than opting for a luxury Christmas card rather than a cheaper mass-produced version. The Christmas.co.uk team recommend: The London bauble Christmas card by Julie Bell from Selfridge’s. £30 for a pack of 10. We also like the luxurious Christmas card offerings from Harrods with the Original Crown Mill Tree with Presents catching our eye. A pack of six costs £22. Best Christmas card for a loved one There’s an incredible range of lovely Christmas cards to celebrate a first Christmas together with a loved one. We rather like ‘I Love You Deerly’ Christmas card from the Scribbler for £3.20. Etsy offers a home for well-designed and stylish cards and the ‘First Christmas Together’ card for £3.75 is worth considering. Best personalised Christmas cards We’ve already mentioned one great way of having lots of personalised Christmas cards being produced, but other firms also offer this facility. We particularly like the offering from Superfumi and their personalised family Christmas card from Not On The High Street at £5. The Christmas Calligraphy creations from Papier are worth a look – including their photo cards which offer a luxury touch – 10 for £18. The best multipack Christmas cards You may have a need for your children to send a Christmas card to every single classmate – or work in a very large office – then you will have a huge choice of cards. However, finding quality and humorous cards can be an issue. On Amazon, you can buy a pack of 34 cards for just £1.45 and the cards are bright and cheerful. However, if you want to make an impression for a reasonable price, then these Father Christmas cards from Paperchase are worth considering. A pack of 10 cost £6. A spokesman for Paperchase told us: “These Christmas cards just scream Christmas carols, roasted walnuts, the pine smell and crinkly wrapping paper.” We tend to agree that of the multipacks, the Paperchase offering is among the best available. Plus, these also have glitter to brighten up the recipient’s day. Before leaving this category of the best of multi-pack Christmas cards, it’s worth noting that Amazon offers a great selection of bumper Christmas card packs. You can buy a box of 44 for £5.99. The cards are of various sizes and designs and will probably meet most needs. That’s particularly impressive at 14p per card. The best humorous Christmas cards While humour is subjective, essentially, you may find what you believe is a hilarious Christmas card but then cause offence and upset to the recipient – so you really do need to tread carefully. The types of funny cards available range from humorous to full-on objectionable black humour, so you need to be aware of who you are sending the card to. For the team at Christmas.co.uk, John Lewis & Partners have come up trumps once again; for £4 there’s a 24-pack charity Christmas cards, called ‘Cutsie Cats’. And for those who like their Christmas humour to be ‘safe’, there’s a Millennial Christmas card offer from Scribbler at £3.20. In addition to shopping online and with high street retailers, there’s a great range of Christmas cards available from various charity shops and a lot of people make the effort to visit one to buy them. Our Top Tip: The best time and opportunity to buy Christmas cards you love at an impressive price is in January when shops are getting rid of their stock and the cards become incredibly cheap. No-one will know when you send your card the following Christmas that you snapped up the bargain in the January sales! What to write in your Christmas card this year Alongside the issue of finding humorous or charity Christmas cards that match your outlook or sense of humour, is the question of what to write in them. We’ve all been faced with a pile of Christmas cards to write and then drawn a blank when it comes to thinking up fresh things to say. It’s hardly a good look when you handwrite a message to two colleagues and they both say the same thing – and you’ll see this when they put their cards on display. Instead, here’s our guide to offer some ideas that you may find useful: How to write funny Christmas card messages We may as well start with humour since most of us want to project a welcome and funny Christmas message, so if you are struggling try these messages for inspiration: They say the real gift of Christmas is the amount of time we get to spend together. (That’s why I haven’t bought you anything else!) Eat, drink and be merry this Christmas – though everything is in moderation. Happy Christmas! It’s at this time of year that we are reminded of what really important: Mother’s cooking! I’m fairly sure that Santa will not be getting you anything this Christmas. So I thought this card would mean you have something to open. Those heartfelt Christmas card messages Sometimes we need to be more sentimental with those we love and these messages may help: I feel so lucky that I will be spending another Christmas with you. Christmas is a magical time of year because I get to spend time with you. With you in my life, that’s the best Christmas present I could ever ask for. You light up my life like a Christmas tree! I know you’ve had a tough year, but I hope Christmas brings you happiness and joy. Wishing you all the best. Messages for work colleagues We spend a lot of time with work colleagues so we may know the boundaries of their fun – however, be careful about ‘banter’ as a message since this can be misconstrued especially when you will have other people read the card. Try these ideas: Thank you for all you have done this year. Enjoy your Christmas break. Best wishes to you and yours this Christmas. See you next year! Thank you for your efforts this year. Have a great Christmas. Hope you enjoy your well-deserved time off – I’m looking forward to working with you again next year! I’ll be seeing you at the Christmas party for more ‘HR-approved’ merriment! General messages for Christmas cards Thankfully, we don’t always have to be so specific with our messages as these general ideas illustrate: May your Christmas be filled with laughter and warmth. Merry Christmas! Wishing you health and happiness this Christmas and for a great New Year. From our family to yours, we wish you a Merry Christmas. Here’s hoping that all of your Christmas wishes all come true. And let’s not forget the most popular general message that matters will tend to write: Merry Christmas and a happy …

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Doctor Who breaks with tradition

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For the first time in 13 years, there will not be a Doctor Who episode being broadcast on Christmas Day. Instead, the festive special edition will be shown on New Year’s Day instead. The popular BBC sci-fi show, which stars Jodie Whittaker as The Doctor was a ratings success when she made her first appearance with more than 8 million people. The show on New Year’s Day will be the first to be broadcast since David Tennant left the series in 2010. However, sci-fi fans will be able to enjoy the Doctor facing a terrifying alien threat, the show’s executive producer Chris Chibnall says. Series will conclude on 9 December The current series of Doctor Who will conclude on 9 December and producers say that the New Year’s Day show will be an hour-long, action-packed special adventure for all the family. The move has been seen by TV industry watchers as a brave step since BBC One tends to regard the Christmas Day shows as something of a festive crown jewel. The move also follows the switch from Saturday to Sunday night broadcast which has delivered bigger audiences for the new Doctor. Also, the trend is to move big shows to New Year’s Day which tend to deliver bigger ratings than for shows broadcast on Christmas Day, for example, Sherlock. The other issue for fans who love their Christmas Day instalment is that with the show being broadcast on 1 January, it appears that 2019 will not be a Doctor Who-free year since the second series starring Jodie Whittaker will not be broadcast before 2020. The Doctor Who show on Christmas Day There’s no doubt that the Doctor Who show on Christmas Day has been a popular TV fixture, particularly since Christopher Ecclestone ushered in the current revamped era and there probably won’t be another show broadcast on Christmas Day in 2019 either. The festive specials have also featured Kylie Minogue, Katherine Jenkins, David Morrisey and Sir Michael Gambon as stars in the …