Tag: 2020

wine clock advent calendar

The best wine Advent calendars for 2020

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Check out our latest list of wine advent calendars here   The big attraction for gifting someone one of the best wine Advent calendars for 2020, is that for those who love a drop they get to discover delicious new wines and vineyards. So, these Advent calendars are educational for the wine lover in your life! And with so much choice available this year, there are great options for finding the best wine Advent calendar for the person who will enjoy most. There’s also a growing number of prosecco and sparkling wine alternatives and we list some of them here. Find new, quality wines For wine lovers, an Advent calendar is an excellent way to enjoy a daily treat in the run-up to Christmas Day and the recipient gets to find new, quality wines. From robust reds, to fantastic fizz and elegant whites, there’s a wine Advent calendar to meet most tastes. And if you are interested in a wine Advent calendar, then now is the best time to organise by buying one in time for starting the delicious wine countdown on December 1. Don’t forget too that part of the enjoyment that comes from a wine Advent calendar is to discover great new grape varieties, brands and also potential vineyards. However, some of these wine Advent calendars come in large boxes so they can take up space but they all have a fetching festive design to help deliver that extra bit of Christmas cheer. Best Christmas wine Advent calendars Let’s begin the Christmas.co.uk round-up of the best Christmas wine Advent calendars for 2020. Virgin Wines Advent calendar We really do rate the Virgin Wines Advent calendar 2020 very highly. We also thought the wines on offer were interesting and helped to promote lesser-known varieties – and wine lovers not only get popular styles, but also the excellent Virgin Wines Black Pig offerings. Most wine aficionados will know that Virgin wines introduced the first wine Advent calendar in 2016 and this year’s offering is a good mixture of red and white wines, plus some sparkling choices. There are 24 small bottles of wine – a great way to begin a countdown to Christmas Day! It helps too that the Virgin Wines Advent calendar for 2020 has a choice of three calendars: there’s a choice of all white, all red or a mixture of the two. And this year, Virgin Wines not only offers 24 miniature bottles, but there is an award-winning full-size bottle of wine to enjoy on Christmas Day. This wine is worth £19.99. As a result, the Virgin Wines Advent calendar comes in a heavy box so you will need to make some space for it under the Christmas tree. The Virgin Wines Advent calendar for 2020 costs £89.99.   The John Lewis Wine Advent calendar One of the front runners for the title of best wine Advent calendar 2020, usually sees the offering from John Lewis making the cut. Firstly, there’s no doubt that John Lewis understands how to deliver Christmas style for those who enjoy a tipple, and their latest wine Advent calendar is exceptional. It costs £75 with wines including Pinot Grigio, Shiraz, Malbec and fruity merlots. The Advent holiday is a rather cheerful Christmas red design, and the selection is really hard to beat. John Lewis is also offering a ‘Prosecco & Bubbly Advent Calendar’ for £130. Fizz lovers get to enjoy sparkling wine and prosecco from the likes of Bottega, Freixenet and Laurent Perrier. It’s more of a comprehensive wine tasting offering for those who want to explore worldwide wines at a great price. The John Lewis wine Advent calendar will certainly cheer up the wine lover in your life.   The Tipsy Tree Wine Advent calendar Perhaps the most stunning wine Advent calendar for 2020, is this excellent creation from First4Hampers – the Tipsy Tree Wine Advent Calendar. There are 24 miniature bottles that have been carefully selected and the unusual Advent calendar also works as a Christmas decoration. For us here at Christmas.co.uk, we think this Advent calendar makes for an ideal early Christmas present for the wine drinker in your life. One of the big attractions for the Tipsy Tree Advent calendar is that it can be used year after year so may be of interest to those wanting an eco-conscious Christmas option. The offering from First4Hampers also includes an all sparkly version for those who want to enjoy fizz at £125. Indeed, along with sparkling wine, there’s a nice selection of prosecco and the last offering is a Laurent Perrier Champagne to open on Christmas Eve. The bottles deliver enough to fill a champagne flute. Every order also comes with a personalised gift card. The First4Hampers Tipsy Tree advent calendar costs £85.   Laithwaite’s Wine Advent calendar 2020 For those who enjoy quality wine, the Laithwaite’s name is synonymous with delivering great wines and this year their wine Advent calendar is exceptional. Wine lovers will be offered an Advent calendar that has been designed to look like a French château with 23 windows containing mini bottles of wine. The Laithwaite’s offering includes red and white wines, plus rose options. The recipient also gets to enjoy a treat on Christmas Eve! That’s when they get to open a 1/2 bottle of Didier Chopin Brut Champagne – it’s hidden in the calendar’s roof! One of the big attractions for the Laithwaite’s wine Advent calendar is that they are offering an interesting mix of wine. So, if you’re wanting to try something new in the world of wines, from Chardonnay, Rioja and Merlot, then this Advent calendar is certainly worth considering. You will need to act quickly, since the Laithwaite’s Advent calendar, which costs £69.99 usually sells out quickly.   Search for the best wine Advent calendars In our search for the best wine Advent calendars for 2020, we also need to mention: The Aldi wine Advent calendar which proved to be very popular in 2019. It’s available from November 1 and is packed with an interesting mix of white, red or rose from some of the best wine growing regions in the world. Aldi is also offering a Prosecco & Sparkling Wine Advent Calendar for those who enjoy fizz. More importantly, the Aldi wine Advent calendar costs just £49.99 which is a cracking deal for those who love wine. Wine Advent calendar clock We were also taken by this Wine Advent calendar clock which is an unusual centrepiece and can be used around the year. With some nice slogans, such as ‘time to wine down’ and ‘wine past nine’, this is a fun and attractive Advent wine calendar. The ingenious design containing a lovely selection of wines in small bottles. It costs £89.95 from Not on the High Street and Amazon. There’s also a wine and sparkling Advent calendar from Amazon with a nice mix of festive wines in a red Christmas design. The lines are collected from vineyards around the world with some very tasty offerings including for JP Chenet, Calvet and Brut Dargent. The Amazon wine sparkling Advent calendar …

greggs festive bake returns 2020

Greggs Festive Bake is back!

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You know the countdown to Christmas Day has begun when the Greggs Festive Bake makes a reappearance. The bakery chain has confirmed that the much-loved festive delight will be re-released for 2020. The Festive Bake is among several Christmas favourites that will be returning to the High Street this year. Festive Bake will be back on the shelves Greggs made the announcement on their Twitter feed – and fans have estimated that the Festive Bake will be back on their shelves from November 5. The popular treat is made with pieces of chicken breast with bacon in a cranberry sauce along with a sage and onion stuffing – which is then stuffed inside a crispy pastry shell for everyone to enjoy. There’s no confirmation of how much the treat will cost, but 2019’s version was just £1.50. The teasing of the Festive Bake has also led to calls that the firm should create a vegan version. Greggs already makes vegan versions of their excellent steak bakes and sausage rolls which have also proved to be popular. Greggs festive food items We are also still waiting to hear from Greggs what other festive food items they have planned for their Christmas menu. A spokesman for Greggs said: “To say the least, 2020 has been strange. We want to bring a little taste of normal – one bake at a time. “The much-anticipated Festive Bake will be back on the menu for November, and aside from uncertainty, we are pleased that customers will have something to look forward to.” And since the autumnal weather has begun, the bakers have also reintroduced their tasty pumpkin spice latte. This is a seasonal coffee made with sweet pumpkin flavoured syrup, topped with sprinkles and cream. Costa Christmas range for 2020 Other High Street favourites to unveil their festive delights is the Costa Christmas range for 2020. They are offering new items from savoury to sweet, along with gluten-free treats. The new menu will appear on November 3 and a lobster toastie – featuring lobster that has been responsibly sourced – that is topped with cheese and a rich bechamel sauce, and then wrapped in a malted bloomer with a parsley crumb. Costa is also offering pork and Bramley apple sausage rolls and a British turkey with the trimmings toasted sandwich – a Christmas classic of turkey breast, maple-cured bacon, cranberry sauce and sage and onion stuffing. There’s also a vegan ‘ham and cheeze’ toastie, as well as ‘Vegan Turkee’ toasties. Costa also have a new rich chocolate and hazelnut shimmer cake for chocolate lovers containing three layers of dark chocolate sponge, hazelnut and chocolate frosting with hazelnut and dark chocolate curls with a dusting of ‘gold’. However, we love the sound of their new After Eight Muffin which is a chocolate muffin stuffed with a peppermint-flavoured sauce and topped with white icing and an After Eight wafer. A spokeswoman from Costa told Christmas.co.uk: “Christmas is a magical time and we know that our customers this year are looking to us to help make the festivities that extra bit special. “We are launching a limited edition Christmas food menu for 2020, which we believe is the best …

beer advent calendar Beerhawk

The BEST 5 beer advent calendars for 2020

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Check out our latest list of beer advent calendars here   For those who enjoy a tipple, then the beer advent calendars for 2020 are worth buying but which one is the best for you? There’s no doubt that a quality beer advent calendar will deliver a very merry Christmas in the run-up to the big day for beer lovers everywhere. And this is an opportunity to try new brews and breweries to broaden a drinker’s taste. In addition, this year also sees the appearance of vegan and low alcohol beers as advent calendar – or as special festive offerings. So, whether you enjoy a pale ale or craft beer, a beer advent calendar will help you get into the festive spirit. However, you need to be quick because lots of alcoholic advent calendars to tend to sell out quickly. Thankfully, most beer advent calendars have a pre-order option for online deals. This is the Christmas.co.uk rundown of the best beer advent calendars for 2020. The Beer Hawk 2020 advent calendar For us, the Beer Hawk 2020 advent calendar really did tickle our tastebuds with an interesting range of beers. There are 24 bottles and cans to enjoy from 14 countries. This means you can effectively travel the world on a beer tasting journey – from the comfort of your home. The Beer Hawk 2020 advent beer calendar costs £75.   The pork crackling and beer advent calendar We really enjoyed the offering from the Snaffling Pig Company last year, and in 2020, their beer advent calendar is a cracker. We all know that beer will go with a lot of different foods, and pork crackling will be either at the top of that list – or close to it. So, why not combine the two with excellent beers and range of pork crackling to enjoy? There are 12 beers to enjoy which are Wild Hog Pilsner, Mighty Swine lager and Twisted Tail pale ale. The 12 pork crackling bags include marvellous maple, low & slow BBQ and Perfectly Salted flavours. The Pork Crackling and Beer advent calendar from the Snaffling Pig Company costs £65.   The John Lewis beer advent calendar For those who like a good range of beers from the UK, the John Lewis beer advent calendar could be for you. There 24 beers from UK breweries including stouts, IPAs, pilsners and lagers as well as ales. Recipients get to enjoy beers from breweries as diverse as Thornbridge, Cold Bath Brewing Co., Harviestoun Brewer, The Wild Beer Co. and Alechemy Brewery. The John Lewis beer advent calendar for 2020 costs £75.   The Beer52 beer advent calendar We really enjoyed the Beer52 advent calendar because the first door to open reveals a lovely limited edition tasting glass. A real beer drinker’s treat! There are 24 beers from 14 countries, and they cover 16 different beer styles. The breweries include La Trappe, Tempest and De Molen. Altogether, the beer is worth more than £100 and another incentive for this offering is a scratch card with the winner picking up more free beer from Beer52. Apparently, thousands of craft beer fans really enjoy this annual offering so if it appeals to you as a hoppy Christmas present, then you need to act quickly. At £59.99, the Beer52 advent calendar is one of the cheapest advent calendars we have found this year. Highly recommended.   The HonestBrew beer calendar One of the most popular beer advent calendars is that produced by HonestBrew. This year’s offering sees beer coming from breweries across Europe, and the advent calendar is cheaper for HonestBrew members. The beers come from breweries such as Whiplash, Brew By Numbers and Siren. HonestBrew says their calendar is the perfect Christmas present for a beer lover wanting to discover new favourite beers. The HonestBrew advent beer calendar costs £64.90 (and is £10 cheaper for members).   Best of the rest beer advent calendars for 2020 As mentioned, vegan and low alcohol beers are making an appearance, and we really enjoyed the Vegan Brews offering from HonestBrew. While not strictly speaking a true beer advent calendar, there are 12 vegan-friendly beers with a range of strengths and flavours to explore. These are a crafty way for beer-loving vegans to enjoy the Christmas countdown, and if you know a vegan who loves craft beers, then this will be the ideal surprise Christmas present. It’s on sale from HonestBrew at £32.90. Another popular choice as a beer advent calendar is from BrewDog. While the beers are not to everyone tastes – though marshmallow chocolate stout may appeal – their calendar is one of the cheapest. It costs £49.95 and with 24 craft beers, drinkers can enjoy two beers that are only available in the calendar, along with 15 new beer launches from this year and six online exclusive beers. Another unusual offering is worth taking note of, and that is the Beerwulf advent calendar costing £61.99. Drinkers get to enjoy 24 exclusive beers from some of the world’s leading breweries, but the calendar also includes invitations to virtual tastings and events – plus exclusive festive content. There’s a mix of beers from breweries from the US and Belgium, so expect an interesting mix of white beer, lager and IPA. There’s certainly no shortage of choice when it comes to choosing quality beer advent …

Tesco Christmas food

Tesco Christmas food range 2020

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If giant pigs in blankets, and huge sausage roll logs are your kind of festive dishes, then the Tesco Christmas food range for 2020 is for you. For many shoppers, the unveiling of the Tesco range in the run-up to Christmas generates lots of excitement. This year is no different and their food range for the festivities really does deliver something for everyone. Along with the giant pigs in blankets, at £2 for a pack that weighs in at 274 g, each of the lovely big porkers has been seasoned with pepper and then wrapped in bacon. The Christmas.co.uk team reckon they may for the ideal side dish for Christmas dinner, or even as a canapé. As with other supermarkets offering Christmas food choices, Tesco is also serving up a delicious Christmas feast for vegans this year with a range of tasty plant-based dishes. The Tesco sausage roll log If you’ve ever fancied a giant sausage roll, then the sausage roll log from Tesco at £5 is a tasty and impressive dish. The seasoned pork filling has been wrapped in pastry and topped with decorations of festive pastry leaves. Tesco reckons that the sausage roll log will serve up to 10, which makes it an ideal choice for a Christmas gathering, but we think it will make a tasty meal or a popular buffet choice before and after Christmas Day. Chocolate orange and maple bauble cake We have already highlighted this tasty delight from the Tesco Finest range, and this chocolate orange and maple cake is a tasty £13 treat. As a dessert after a Christmas dinner, it is certainly an attractive option with moist orange sponge cake layered between a chocolate orange brownie and completed with a Belgian chocolate and orange ganache. The topping consists of a maple-flavoured buttercream and a white chocolate bauble decoration. The cake also contains chocolate balls and will delight guests. While it’s a tasty treat, it’s also an option for a Christmas buffet or for those festive gatherings that you want to impress at. Giant pigs in blankets Several supermarkets are offering giant pigs in blankets, and Tesco’s tasty creation is 10 for £2. Everyone loves pigs in blankets, and the giant ones are certainly eye-catching. They will also be a popular choice on Christmas Day when they are dished up for hungry guests as a tasty and conversation-starting side dish. Meat-free festive vegan roast Tesco says that is vegan roast is a plant-based Turkey crown and is the first of its kind and stands proudly as part of its Christmas food offering in 2020. The centrepiece is created using pea protein and is shaped into a log with caramelised red onions and served with a sweet red wine glaze. The festive vegan roast costs £6. For those who want to serve up something tasty and different, then Tesco is also offering 10 pigless blankets for just £2. Again, they are made from pea protein, onions and mushrooms and just like the real thing, they are hand-rolled in a vegan pastry. They look like the real thing! Another great idea is the Wicked Kitchen Wellington which is a vegan alternative to the beef wellington and is a seasoned pea protein with a roasted garlic herb and mushroom duxelles and then wrapped in flaky pastry. Free Range Heritage Narragansett Whole Turkey For the big event, the Free Range Heritage Narragansett Whole Turkey from the Tesco Finest range is a British bird that is packed with flavour. It’s also self-basting so will remain succulent while being cooked and will dominate the dinner table when served up. It’s available from 14 December in stores with the price yet to be confirmed. There’s no doubt that if you want best fresh turkey, then this turkey offering from Tesco is one of the best currently available. Also, Tesco is offering a juicy range of frozen turkeys in the run-up to Christmas. Easy carve duck Among the options this year for those who are thinking of serving up something other than turkey, then the easy carve duck with a maple and orange glaze from the Tesco Finest range is worth considering. This is a tender and rich offering and finished with a sweet orange and maple glaze. It’s been filled with a British pork, maple and orange stuffing. Crackling pork loin Another alternative to turkey this year, is a crackling pork loin. This tasty creation from the Tesco Finest range is a French-trimmed offering with a succulent porcini and black truffle butter. The joint has a truffle-flavoured salt rub to deliver a crispy and golden crackling. Again, this is an eye-catching and great looking meat dish to serve up. A salmon joint with stuffing Continuing with the same theme of alternative meat for Christmas dinner ideas, the Tesco Finest range also serves up a salmon joint with stuffing and cranberry glaze. This will only be available from December 21 and is the perfect choice for fish lovers. They will get succulent Scottish salmon fillets that have been stuffed with a caramelised red onion and roasted chestnut mushroom filling, and then topped with a delicious, sweet cranberry glaze. Christmas dinner side dishes The Tesco Christmas food range for 2020 also includes a range of a number of tasty side dishes including red cabbage with a cranberry glaze, though we really like their roasted roots rainbow carrots and parsnips. No-one wants to spend their Christmas Day having to peel carrots and parsnips, and this is a ready to cook offering that really does impress. There are pre-prepared orange, red, purple and yellow carrots and parsnip wedges with a sprinkling of thyme to create the perfect timesaver. The dish also offers a conversation point with its colourful place at the table. Alternative Christmas dinner desserts While the showstopping chocolate orange and maple bauble cake mentioned earlier will definitely impress, the Tesco food range for Christmas 2020 offers other tasty delights. There’s the opera dessert, from the Tesco Finest range which has been inspired by the French opera cake, a classic of its kind. The elegant dessert combines layers of chocolate toffee cheesecake, a chocolate sponge with a chocolate biscuit base and a toffee flavoured mousse. And if that is not enough, the opera dessert is finished with a black coat glaze and then finished with a gold dusting and chocolate decorations. Other choices include a passionfruit sleigh which is an eye-catching dessert which shows a sleigh made from a baked orange cheesecake, being pulled by two reindeer. There’s also the Wicked Kitchen ginger chai cake which is a creation that vegans and non-vegans alike will enjoy. This offering consists of a chai tea-soaked and ginger spiced cake that has been hand frosted and then topped with caramelised ginger pieces and dusted with cinnamon sugar. It’s a very tasty plant-based dessert that deserves to be a centrepiece on any Christmas dinner table. Tesco is also offering a chocolate Tiffin star made with Belgian chocolate ganache and white chocolate chunks. The star also contains chewy fudge, shortcake balls and sultanas and has been finished with a sprinkling of gold. There’s a lot to like about the Tesco Christmas food range for 2020 – and guests visiting for dinner will be well fed with tasty …

Christmas food - Giant pigs in blankets from Aldi

Aldi Christmas food range 2020

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There’s a lot to like about discount retailers in the UK and the Aldi Christmas food range explains why. That’s because Aldi has unveiled its food range for Christmas and there’s enough choice to meet the needs of even the fussiest of Christmas dinner guests. Among the choice of festive offerings are boozy mince pies stuffed with a slow gin infused mincemeat, as well as frozen or fresh lobster tails. And we are really pleased to see the return of Aldi’s incredible two metre-long pigs in blanket. Aldi says they are better than ever. Yum! Selection of frozen turkey There’s also the usual selection of frozen turkey, including turkey crowns and stuffed chicken. Aldi is also offering its Specially Selected lobster tails with either wild garlic and prosecco butter, or Thermidor butter. The frozen versions are available now and cost £3.53, while the fresh ones cost £4.99 and are available from December 21. And for the gin lover in your family, they will enjoy Aldi’s new Infusionist range at £9.99. Like many other UK retailers, not everything in Aldi’s Christmas food range for 2020 is available straightaway. This means they have Christmas products hitting shelves at different times, so if there’s something you like in the Christmas.co.uk round-up, then you need to check when the items will arrive before heading off to the shops! Prosecco and Sparkling wine advent calendar One date to make a note of is November 1 – that’s when the Aldi Prosecco and Sparkling wine advent calendar at £59.99 is available. We have carried out a separate round-up of wine advent calendars from retailers, and this Aldi offering has received a special mention from the Christmas.co.uk team. This particular booze-filled advent calendar contains 200 ml bottles of fizz to enjoy every day until Christmas Day. For many people, this Advent calendar will be a great way to begin the Christmas countdown. When it comes to Christmas dinner, Aldi is offering a great range of frozen turkey to enjoy but we were also taken by their other festive offerings. For those who may not enjoy turkey for their festive dinner, Aldi is offering a three-fish roast. This striking, if not unusual, offering consists of salmon, cod and haddock. It’s then covered with cheddar cheese, a crisp potato rosti and a Chardonnay and spring onion sauce. It sounds delicious! There’s also Aldi’s Specially Selected British Wagyu joint which will really offer a decadent spread for guests at £19.99 per kilogram. The joint has been topped with a red wine and treacle jus to offer diners something really unusual. We also love the potential of the Aldi Specially Selected Christmas pudding that has been matured for 30 months and costs £9.99. The supermarket chain has had this made by the world’s oldest Christmas pudding maker and it is packed with luxury ingredients including brandy-soaked cherries and Turkish sultanas to make this the ultimate festive dinner showstopper. The Christmas pudding is available in all Aldi UK stores now. Other Christmas desserts worth thinking about include a chocolate orange pudding which is among the top festive food trends for 2020. The pudding is vegan-friendly and has a melt-in-the-middle orange compote that will ooze out when cut open. It’s then topped with a fantastically rich and dark chocolate sauce, as well as a gold shimmer. Gingerbread houses are also a popular choice at Christmas and Aldi is offering theirs at £4.99. It’s ready to decorate with icing and sweets, and there’s also a bake your own version available too. And since the festivities are a great time to entertain friends and families – Christmas lockdown restrictions permitting – Aldi shoppers also get a chance to enjoy their chocolate praline dome at £5.99 – it’s really a bigger version of Ferrero Rocher treats. There’s also a Specially Selected arctic roulade made with slow-baked meringue and filled with a cherry compote, and then topped with a Belgian chocolate drizzle. Aldi is also offering salted caramel crumble mince pies this year, and also Specially Selected millionaire’s mince pies. There’s also an Exquisite Selection Box at £7.99 which will include five award-winning cheeses to enjoy. You don’t have to be on a tight budget to enjoy the Aldi Christmas food range in 2020 – these are well-priced and well-made creations that will help ensure your Christmas Day dinner is the success you hope it will be. Enjoy!   More information If you want to enjoy have Christmas food range in 2020, there’s a page on their site to find where your …

Waitrose edible chocolate candles

Waitrose Christmas food range for 2020

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If you fancy having a posh Christmas dinner, then the Waitrose Christmas food range for 2020 should meet your needs. Along with slow cooked beef shin, edible candles and a large bronze Turkey crown, Waitrose is predicting one trend that many of us will be considering. They say that growing numbers of us will opt for alternative meats for their festive dinner this year, rather than the traditional turkey. Waitrose says that in 2019, demand from customers for dishes such as venison soared by 60%, compared to the year before. Lockdown Christmas dinner They also say that a lockdown Christmas dinner may also be reflected in the growing interest in less-known meats, as well as slow cooking recipes. The Waitrose food range for Christmas is available from the end of October and includes breaded vegan cheese melts, duck parfait with a mushroom centre and jewelled stuffing ballotine. There’s no doubt that the upmarket supermarket is offering festive food offering a twist that will delight any dinner table. Among the Christmas dinner mains is a British venison Wellington for £30, a succulent bronze free range Turkey crown complete with thighs for £60. And if you are thinking of enjoying a frozen turkey in 2020, Waitrose is guaranteeing that their Christmas turkeys will stay fresh until Boxing Day – so these Christmas Day (or Boxing Day!) cooking tips may prove to be useful). British woodland pork crackling bone rack There’s also a British woodland free-range pork crackling bone rack £12.99 per kilogram. This particular pork joint will be a welcome addition to the Christmas dinner table as a stunning centrepiece. The skin is coated with sea salt and black pepper to create crackling that is an extra bit crispier. However, we are particularly taken by a Chateaubrand fillet with porcini and truffle butter at £38. And the slow cooked beef shin we mentioned earlier will offer meltingly tender meat with great flavour and is a decadent stand out centrepiece for dinner guests to admire. Waitrose also highlights that the beef shin dish is a sound option for those who are looking for easy hosting food to deliver to guests. We will be spending more time with loved ones this year This is another issue that supermarkets are highlighting this year – they believe that after the events of 2020, we will be wanting to spend more time with loved ones rather than slaving in a hot kitchen creating our Christmas dinners. And this beef shin is worth considering because the slow cooking part of creating it, it takes around nine hours in all, has been done already. Plus, if that’s not enough to tempt you, there’s a classic sauce that is a rich reduction of a smooth Merlot wine, redcurrant jelly and beef stock to help cut through the shin’s deep flavours. There’s also an interesting twist from the supermarket’s tie-up with chef Heston Blumenthal for a citrus gin smoked salmon at £6.99. The Scottish salmon has been cured and smoked over oak before being finished with a gold lustre. It is certainly eye-catching! Vegans have not been forgotten by Waitrose And Waitrose has some tasty vegan meals on offer in 2020. They include vegan filo swirls for £6.99 which have been inspired by Moroccan tastes. It comes complete with raisins, apricots and spiced vegetables in a crisp filo pastry. There’s also an easy carve duck with chestnut, pear and rum for £35. The sticky spiced rum glaze really does help set this dish apart from other offerings. And that jewelled stuffing ballotine we mentioned earlier? It’s another offering from Heston and costs £7 and is a succulent pork loin stuffed with apple, dried cranberries, sultanas, candied orange and apricots. The pork is wrapped in oak smoked bacon and finished with a Calvados and apple glaze. And if that’s not enough, it’s finished with a lovely pork crackling crumb. Yum! Desserts in the Waitrose Christmas food range for 2020 The tempting desserts in the Waitrose Christmas food range for 2020 include a chocolate Rudolph cake at £14. This impressive looking chocolate sponge cake has been smothered with a chocolate buttercream and then decorated with fondant icing. There’s also a raspberry and vanilla panna cotta, and the chocolate candles created by Heston have been previously highlighted here at Christmas.co.uk when we looked at supermarket Christmas food offerings. The white chocolate candles have been filled with a tasty mandarin Buck’s Fizz chocolate ganache. These tasty treats will not, trust us, last long in any home! Indeed, if you like the type of food that is created by Heston Blumenthal, the, Waitrose is your one-stop shop for these delicious treats. The Waitrose range from Heston In addition to the dishes described above, the Waitrose range from Heston also includes ‘the night before Christmas mince pies’ which are made with golden caraway and carrot pastry with a rich vine fruit and carrot filling and a cream sherry. Smoked sugar has been sprinkled on top. He has also created the smoked salmon infused with a citrus sherbet gin which is a refreshing Christmas brunch option. There’s also a fish and seafood platter from Heston, the Lapsang Souchong Tea Smoked Salmon, and a Bloody Mary prawn cocktail. And if you like some of the unusual flavour combination that have been created by Heston, there’s also a sherry and balsamic vinegar Christmas pudding that contains sultanas that have been soaked in aged balsamic and will deliver a very rich flavour. This particular Christmas pudding is not only a tasty delight, but it has also been maturing for a full year to deliver a boozy and yet indulgent finish to any festive dinner table. Waitrose party food Waitrose is also offering an impressive range of party food as part of its Christmas 2020 collection. Among the offerings is cheese nougat, maple and bacon whorls, open cheese croquettes and creamy smoked salmon tarts. Waitrose is also offering ornate £5 chocolate stirrers which can be stirred into a hot milky drink, or even from the stick. There’s also a Christmas tree box of treats that young ones (and the ‘not-so-young-at-heart’) can leave for Santa and Rudolph costing £4. This great idea will see the busy duo receiving a milk carton, carrots and cookies that have all been made from chocolate. ‘Customers love to plan what they will serve on Christmas Day’ A spokeswoman for Waitrose told Christmas.co.uk: “We know our customers love to plan what they will serve on Christmas Day. “Last year, the searches for Christmas on the Waitrose.com site started in August and Christmas mince pies were a popular search, open more than 300% between July and September.” She added: “This year, it’s important to ensure we have a variety of traditional and new dishes and flavours, as well as options for main courses and gatherings and which can be useful leftovers. “We know our customers love our festive food selection and drink, so their Christmas still feels like a special celebration, no matter how many people are sat at the table.” While many us may not yet know how we will be celebrating this year, the Waitrose Christmas food range for 2020 is not only impressive, but there’s a good range of mouth-watering creations for us all to look forward to.   More information If you like the sound of the Waitrose Christmas food range for 2020, and want to know where your nearest branch of this popular supermarket is, then here’s a link to find out which store …

Sainsbury's Christmas food range pigs in blankets

Sainsbury’s Christmas food range for 2020

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As the large supermarkets in the UK unveil their festive offerings, the Sainsbury’s Christmas food range for 2020 is an impressive collection. There’s something for everyone, including party food, ‘Free from’ vegetarian options and good Christmas dinner choices. There is also an unusual pigs in blankets with stuffing (see below) creation which will become a talking point, rather than a dinner table centrepiece. The supermarket is looking to deliver a festive season that will feel magical since it is likely to be one that most of us will not have planned for. Among the tasty choices, which will become available from November and December in-store, the Christmas.co.uk team really enjoyed the items listed below. Sainsbury’s pigs in blankets wreath The Sainsbury’s pigs in blankets wreath is a sage and onion stuffing creation with six cranberries and six pigs in blankets. They say that their wreath should serve six people at the Christmas dinner table, so there should be enough to go around. The offering is from their Taste the Difference range and costs £10. There’s also a Taste the Difference pork and cranberry pigs in blanket which sees the offering being encased in pastry. Layered pork, chicken and stuffing pie And if you don’t fancy turkey for your festive dinner, Sainsbury’s Christmas food range also has a layered pork, chicken and stuffing pie. It costs £12.50 – there’s a similar pie from Waitrose – and could make a sound alternative for those who enjoy a pie. The pie also has a tasty cranberry layer. Festive yule dog Sainsbury’s is offering a festive yule dog, an interesting spin on yule logs for 2020. It’s also a take on the ever-popular Colin the Caterpillar cake that is produced by M&S and is made with chocolate sponge cake, chocolate buttercream and a milk chocolate topping. There are also candy canes running along his back, with festive shimmering sprinkles. The interesting addition to Sainsbury’s Christmas range for 2020, is that they are gearing up for those who want to extend the festive celebrations. For those who will be hosting Christmas dinners or parties, then this supermarket is worth considering. Buy meat-free Christmas products Sainsbury’s says it saw a 54% increase in those customers wanting to buy meat-free Christmas products in 2019. They’ve now moved to meet this growing demand with a range of lovely and tasty offerings. They include their Plant Pioneers range to meet an entire meat-free Christmas dinner range. Puddings include a chocolate salted caramel star, which is a dairy-free panna cotta treat as part of the Plant Pioneers range. There’s also a Plant Pioneers ‘No Turkey Parcel’ which is a good way to treat vegans and this is filled with a rich sage and turkey flavoured seitan – a wheat gluten. Christmas dinner choices for 2020 Other big Christmas dinner choices for 2020 include ‘No beef Wellington’, and ‘No fish and chips’ as party food. We were also taken by the Taste the Difference prawn roses, which are a mix of king prawns in filo pastry with Panang curry spices. However, Sainsbury’s is really focused on delivering great food for the entire Christmas Day, including mince pie filled Wheaties, and gingerbread porridge sachets for breakfast. If they don’t attract your attention, then their Taste the Difference cranberry, cinnamon and white chocolate granola might do. We also love the sound of their Bucks Fizz Marmalade. They all sound delicious and will be a great start to the day’s events. Tasty Christmas dinners When it comes to tasty Christmas Dinners, Sainsbury’s has everything covered. As a first course, there are delicious smoked salmon terrines which contain steamed and honey roast salmon, decorated with Scottish smoked salmon and cream cheese. They also offer a Taste the Difference free range whole bronze Turkey, prices start at £35, and this will be great addition to any Christmas dinner table – though many will still like the supermarket’s frozen turkey range for 2020. For those who don’t fancy a fresh turkey for their Christmas dinner this year, Sainsbury’s is also offering a hand-rolled pork belly joint which is packed with flavour and comes with a lemon, herb and garlic stuffing. There’s also a delicious Taste the Difference beef wellington at £45 which is made with beef fillet with a mushroom and chicken liver pate and wrapped in a butter puff pastry. When it comes to the deserts for Christmas dinner, there’s a lovely mix of profiteroles and tiramasu which Sainsbury’s calls ‘Tiramichoux’. It costs £12 and should serve eight people. Expect guests to ask for seconds! Other desserts include a Belgian white chocolate and raspberry snow dome, a chocolate and salted caramel star and an impressive-looking Christmas tree cheesecake. For those who like unusual treats, there’s a Chilly the Penguin with a fluffy marshmallow belly offering and festive mug hanging gingerbread men. Sainsbury’s is also offering a great range of party food along with drinks including a winter berry and Clementine gin. It all looks very tasty, so tuck in and enjoy!   More information If you like the look of Sainsbury’s Christmas range for 2020, then you can use their handy online store locator to find a shop …

Black Friday sales UK

When is Black Friday in 2020?

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If you want to know when Black Friday is in 2020 and to bag the best bargains, then the Christmas.co.uk team is here to help. There will be huge numbers of discounted items ranging from clothes to electrical goods available when UK retailers enter into the fun. Black Friday began in America and has since taken off around the world to become one of the most important shopping events in the run-up to Christmas. This is an ideal time to go shopping for Christmas presents at great prices. However, just because you see something in a Black Friday sale, this does not mean that there are not cheaper or similar products available elsewhere. Always be careful and ensure you shop around to ensure you really are getting the bargain you expect. Black Friday started in America Since Black Friday started in America, it is traditionally held the day after the annual holiday of Thanksgiving. This year, that Friday will fall on 27 November. That’s when stores across America will open their doors to shoppers at midnight, though the usual time for UK retailers to open is 6am. However, there are some great deals available online from just after midnight – so it might be worth staying up! And if you want to know just how big Black Friday is in the UK, the official figures show that online shopping increased by 20% last year. But with the Covid-19 lockdown in operation in parts of the country, more and more of us will be Christmas shopping online so expect websites to be busy this year. Will Black Friday in 2020 be any different? For many people, the prospect of rushing to the shops to enjoy Black Friday deals will fill them with dread because of the coronavirus restrictions. This means that many stores will have social distancing rules introduced, and the number of shoppers being allowed inside will be restricted. This may mean that it may be better to access the deals online to help prevent spreading coronavirus. However, retail experts are also predicting that Black Friday sales could start earlier, and even go on longer than the weekend. Challenge for Black Friday retailers in 2020 One expert from Retail Economics told a national newspaper: “The challenge for Black Friday retailers in 2020 is to deal with capacity issues. It will make sense for them to spread out their Black Friday deals. “We have seen in the past, Black Friday turn from a day to a week to 10 days, but this year it could be a Black November event. “Also, Black Friday is more established as an online event so you could see the UK’s biggest ever online Black Friday.” The Daily Telegraph has also reported that Boots is also already planning to run its Black Friday event all month so more shoppers have the time to shop – and so they can manage the number of shoppers in their stores. Matalan has also revealed that its Black Friday will be online only, and Amazon is predicted to start their event at the beginning of the month. They will be joined by retailers such as The Entertainer who could be launching their discounts on November 9. Best deals and offers for Black Friday bargains Over the coming days and weeks, the Christmas.co.uk team will be keeping you up-to-date with the best deals and offers for Black Friday bargains. It’s also important to appreciate that while Black Friday is meant to be for just one day, you may find that it runs across the following weekend. And that means the deals will be available on what is known as Cyber Monday. That’s when a wide range of online deals are unveiled since Black Friday tends to focus on in-store promotions. Best Black Friday sales in 2020 Here’s our round-up of some of the best Black Friday sales in 2020: JD Sports Black Friday sale If you are on a fitness kick, or you want to buy cheap presents for someone who is, then the JD Sports Black Friday sale is for you. There will be discounted gym gear and athletic wear and in 2019, JD Sports unveiled lots of half-price trainers in its stores. JD Sports is still to confirm which items will be in the sale – and when they do, we will be highlighting them here at christmas.co.uk. Wowcher Black Friday deals Everybody loves a great cheap deal, and Wowcher Black Friday offerings in 2020 mean you can pick them up across a range of categories. That will mean that from technology to toys and beauty, Wowcher deals on Black Friday will be worth making an effort to check out. In 2019, Wowcher offered a range of great deals, so expect to see more of the same in 2020. Currys PC World Black Friday deals One of the biggest participants in Black Friday in the UK, is Currys PC World. If you want to enjoy heavily discounted smartphones, TVs, headphones or even washing machines, then today is your day to strike. Expect to see TVs having their prices slashed by hundreds of pounds, and smartphones being discounted quite heavily too. Don’t forget that laptops and computers will also be available at much lower prices during the Currys PC World Black Friday offerings. Remember, you can have the goods you buy from Currys PC World delivered to …

Christmas food being carved

The best Christmas food 2020

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Supermarkets in the UK have been highlighting some of their Christmas food ranges for 2020, with Tesco doing the biggest reveal so far. Over the coming days and weeks, the Christmas.co.uk team will be looking at the other supermarket offerings – and carrying out taste tests too. For many of us, a supermarket Christmas range for 2020 will include mince pies, Christmas puddings, sage and onion stuffing, a Turkey crown, and increasingly giant pigs in blankets. If you love festive desserts, you will be enjoying a lot of tasty and intriguing offerings – and there’s a big helping of salted caramel products from all stores. Alternative Christmas dinner choices for 2020 look like including beef Wellington, gluten free offerings, and Chinese food with spring rolls. This year is very much going to be a mixed bag of offerings – though be careful you don’t buy too much and then end up wasting your festive food purchases. 2020 festive food ranges We have already seen Aldi, Tesco, Waitrose and Iceland give us an idea of what their 2020 festive food ranges will be. Their tasty treats include a wide choice of mains plus sides, party foods and puddings. After the turmoil of 2020, supermarkets in the UK are offering festive food ranges that are extra special. And first out of the blocks to reveal their full line-up, is Tesco with a selection of party nibbles, festive and Christmas-themed crisps (think Christmas tree tortillas, mature Cheddar & caramelised chutney on crinkle crisps, and maple and bacon tortilla rolls). Tesco’s Christmas food range Some of Tesco’s Christmas food range is available now, and more will be available in-store in the weeks in the run-up to Christmas. Along with popular choices, Tesco is also catering for everyone wanting plant-based dinners, and their foody twists cover traditional trimmings and puddings. From December 14, Tesco is offering its finest British free-range Heritage Narragansett whole turkey. There’s also their finest easy carve duck with maple and orange glaze. Both the duck and turkey are gluten-free. Stock-up ahead of Christmas Day For those who want to stock-up ahead of Christmas Day, then gammon joints and lamb legs are available already. Jamie Robinson is Tesco’s chief executive, and he said: “We have selected maple and orange this year as our signature flavour combination as it oozes festivity and decadence. “The citrus and sweet elements add a complexity of flavour to a traditional favourite and is a versatile pairing.” He added that the combination works well with a range of meats, snacks and desserts and will deliver ‘Christmas cheer’. Range of new party foods If you’re holding a Christmas party or entertaining regularly, Tesco has a range of new party foods to impress. Their bite-size appetisers include mini ham and cheddar toasties, and mini ham hock and cheddar. They are also offering giant pigs in blankets at £2, with each sausage seasoned with pepper and then hand-wrapped in a tasty, streaky bacon rasher. Most of Tesco’s Christmas classics will be available from November 23, and it is worth keeping an eye out for their festive sausage roll – it will feed up to 10 people so may well be a conversation piece as well! And since Tesco is by far the largest UK grocery store, they really do pull out the stops to deliver what customers will be looking at Christmas. Indeed, they are also offering their Finest chocolate orange and maple bauble cake for £30 with buyers enjoying a layer of chocolate and orange brownie sandwiched between two layers of orange sponge and Belgian chocolate and orange buttercream. The cake is finished with a white chocolate bauble decoration along with a maple flavoured buttercream. While this is a pricey cake, it should serve up to 14 people and is a sound choice for parties or for those entertaining lots of guests on Christmas Day – Covid-19 restrictions permitting, of course. Christmas after-dinner drink And Christmas would not be Christmas without an after-dinner drink, and Tesco’s festive range includes a gingerbread latte Irish cream liqueur that can be added to a coffee or hot chocolate, or even served over ice. There is even, new for 2020, a Christmas pudding in the shape of a ginger-spiced chai tea-soaked cake. There’s also, for those who are looking after their figures, a plant-based version of the mince pie which contains no butter. Aldi’s Christmas range 2020 Aldi has yet to reveal its full range, but we are looking to promised items such as a plum and pink gin, along with truffle pigs in blankets. They too will also be selling giant pigs in blankets with a range of mini Yorkshire puddings loaded with sausage stuffing balls which are topped with a pig blanket. Aldi is also offering roly-poly turkeys, British whole turkeys and roast turkey crowns. For pudding lovers, there will be millionaire mince pies, mini mince pies and flavoured crumble mince pies. Iceland’s Christmas Range 2020 One of the popular Christmas stores is Iceland in the run-up to the festivities, with a wide choice of foods at reasonable prices – and not all of them are frozen. Indeed, their luxury truffle Turkey crown will be making a reappearance in 2020, along with their Luxury Perfect Aberdeen Angus rump joint that has a beef dripping butter. There’s also a pork leg crackling joint, and their classic Turkey Wellington. Iceland also says that it is bringing back one of its big hits from last year’s range – the prawn ring tray and the mini hot dog rolls. Other canapés include many steak bakes, mini fish and chip cones, mozzarella sticks and sweet and sour chicken crispy balls. The Waitrose Christmas food range 2020 Another popular store for its Christmas food offering, is Waitrose. And this year they really have pushed the boat out with a range of delicious desserts and ornate chocolate stirrers that can be stirred into a hot milky drink, or even eaten from the stick – a great choice for a cold winter evening. There are also chocolate candles that have been created by the chef, Heston Blumenthal, as well as British venison Wellington. Essentially, the Christmas supermarket food range for 2020 is likely to be an impressive one, and here at Christmas.co.uk we will be highlighting the choice of products from their …

If you get stressed preparing Christmas dinner, then a new meal box from Morrisons may be the solution.

Christmas dinner box saves on stress

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While many of us enjoy preparing a slap-up Christmas dinner for lots of guests, for others it can be a nightmare. If you do not enjoy cooking or are not confident in putting together a big roast dinner, then Morrisons may have a solution. That’s because they have launched a Christmas dinner box that will feed four people for just £50 – including delivery to your door. The box can be ordered online to help avoid busy supermarkets and includes a turkey with all the trimmings. Quality food to enjoy on Christmas Day The box itself is filled with contents from Morrisons’ ‘The Best’ range so buyers will have quality food to enjoy on Christmas Day. For those who order the meal box, it will arrive at your home in the run-up to Christmas. Morrisons has circled the 22nd and 23rd of December for deliveries. The Christmas treats will be delivered in a specially developed box that will keep them fresh and cold until you put them in your fridge. There are 16 items inside to enjoy, including: A British turkey parcel to feed up to 7 Goose fat potatoes Pigs in blankets Sage and onion stuffing balls Turkey gravy Sprouts with smoked gammon Heritage carrots with butter Honey and mustard baby parsnips Deep filled mince pies A yule log Vintage cheddar Mature Stilton Brix de Meaux Sourdough crackers. The box also contains festive food chutney and cranberry sauce. ‘A hassle-free Christmas dinner’ A Morrisons’ director, Aidan Buckley, said: “We want to offer customers a hassle-free Christmas dinner to enjoy. It’s been a difficult year, and this is a simple way of getting your Christmas meal.” The Christmas dinner box is an extension of Morrisons’ food boxes offering that they began delivering in March at the beginning of the Covid-19 lockdown. With these, shoppers can avoid using supermarkets but have a food box containing essentials such as bread, pasta and toilet roll for just £35. For those who are self-isolating, the food boxes have proved to be extremely popular. Food boxes have grown in popularity in 2020 Indeed, food boxes have grown in popularity so much in 2020, that Asda, M&S, Aldi and Home Bargains have introduced similar offerings. And if you live within the M25, the restaurant chain Leon is also rolling out essential food boxes along with ready meals. Prices for these start at £22.50, plus a …

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