Food Ideas, Healthy Living Tips, Decorating Advice and much more :: All About You

Take 5 recipes: midweek wonders

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:34:00 GMT

Top-notch winter salad Scrub a couple of whole beetroot, each around the size of a cricket ball. Quarter and trim (use clean rubber gloves otherwise your hands will be stained purple for days), then put in a roasting tin with a quartered red onion and a couple each of big carrots, peeled and chopped into large chunks. Drizzle with oil, season and roast at 200°C/180°C fan...

Christmas foods: Good Housekeeping Institute taste tests

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:51:00 GMT

Each essential seasonal eatable, from ready-made mince pies to Christmas pudding has been subjected to blind taste tests, click below for the results: Best smoked salmonBest mince pies and brandy butter Best Christmas puddings and flavoured creamBest luxury biscuits You might also like...Christmas made easy: ready-made party food Our recommendations for Christmas wines...

Smoked salmon: Good Housekeeping Institute Christmas taste test

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:19:00 GMT

Money no object Scutchers of Long Melford, £8.95 for 100g inc p&p (01787 310200; www.smokedsalmonbypost.net) Thin, delicate, brightly coloured slices. Lovely balance of smoke and salt flavours. Mid-range H Forman & Son London Cure Smoked Scottish Salmon, £9.50 for 250g (020 8525 2352; www.formanandfield.com) Thin and...

Mince pies and brandy butter: Good Housekeeping Institute taste test

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:19:00 GMT

Money no object Bettys Twelve Mince Pies, £16 including p&p (01423 814008; www.bettysbypost.com) For the third year running, Bettys' mince pies, with their star-shaped top and buttery pastry, came top in our taste test. Yum! Mid-range Marks & Spencer Classics For Christmas Deep Filled Mince Pies, £1.59 for six...

Christmas puddings and flavoured cream: Good Housekeeping Institute taste test

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:19:00 GMT

Money no object Sainsbury's Luxury Christmas Pudding, £5.99 for 907g Dark, with an excellent moist texture, this pudding is packed with sultanas, mixed peel, cherries and nuts. It has a nice citrus tang and a rich boozy flavour. Strapped for cash Tesco Value Christmas Pudding, £1 for 454g A moist pudding with juicy...

Luxury biscuits: Good Housekeeping Institute taste test

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:19:00 GMT

Money no object Bettys Spiced Christmas Shortbread, £5.75 for 200g plus £7 p&p (01423 814008; www.bettysbypost.com) Buttery biscuits with chewy ginger pieces and a crumbly texture. Testers loved the sweet, delicately spicy taste. Mid-range Waitrose Topiary Biscuit Tin with Butter Biscuit Selection, £5.99 for...

How to: hold a matchmaking dinner party

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:13:00 GMT

Who to inviteChoose your guests wisely. Make sure none of them have issues with each other and keep the party to a manageable number, no more than eight to ten guests. Chances are that all your single friends have already met each other so once you have chosen which three or four friends you wish to invite, ask each one to bring along a single friend of the opposite sex who none...

Party makeup that stays on all night

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:33:00 GMT

Smudged and smeared party makeup is not a good look - and it's never more likely than in hot stuffy venues, crammed to capacity for the festive season. And who wants mascara, eyeliner or eyeshadow sliding off as you try to make a good impression? Follow our makeup guide to party makeup that stays on all night and beat the smudges! Waterproof makeup is perfect for the season. It's...

Our favourite beauty buy for party season

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:35:00 GMT

What is it? Okay, it's not strictly a 'beauty' buy this week, but you won't feel very beautiful hobbling home from the party in high heels and swollen feet. What will it do for me? Allow you to get to the party/back home in comfy shoes - just fold up and pop in your bag when you're done. What else do I need to know? Two years in development, these nifty shoes are super light and fold...

Makeover: restoring confidence post-illness

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:56:00 GMT

Martina, 37, is currently on maternity leave after having her son Taylor, now eight months old. She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer nine weeks after her son's birth and has since had a full hysterectomy, followed by chemotherapy. ‘Losing my hair hasn't been as traumatic as I thought. Other people find it more upsetting than I do,' explains Martina. ‘Although I've become a dab...

Recycled chic: transform old furniture

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:25:00 GMT

Restoring junk-shop finds is both economical and rewarding - a lick of paint, a quick sand and polish or some fresh covers can breathe new life into even the shabbiest piece of furniture. Hunting down bargains in charity shops, at car-boot sales, auctions and on the internet can be half the fun, too. Antiques that are past their best - even modern or retro pieces that might not suit your home...

Recycled chic: half-moon table

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:24:00 GMT

This old half-moon console table (below) was the perfect size for a small hallway, but years of misuse had left it scratched and battered and its dark, treacly varnish made it feel dated. A coat of satin-finish paint has given it a new lease of life, as well as making it resistant to the knocks and bumps of hallway traffic. To paint the tableSand with a medium-grade sandpaper to...

Recycled chic: pinboards

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:24:00 GMT

A pair of inexpensive cork pinboards covered in a co-ordinating fresh fabric make a pretty background against which to display arrangements of cards, favourite pictures and selections of quirky memorabilia. To cover pinboardsApply two coats of hardwearing satin-finish...

Recycled chic: side tables

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:24:00 GMT

A nest of tables has been revamped with gift wrap depicting vintage-style maps. Sand back the woodwork with a medium-grade sandpaper, wipe with a cloth, moistened with white spirit to remove any residue. Paint with two coats of eggshell. Measure the top of the tables and cut out map-design gift wrap to fit the exact size. Paint the top of the table with clear-drying PVA glue, right to...

Recycled chic: cane sofa

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:24:00 GMT

The dark stained woodwork of the sofa has been sanded and polished and its tired cushion covers replaced. Remove the varnish from the woodwork, rubbing a piece of medium-grade sandpaper in the direction of the grain. Take care to avoid the canework on either side. Sand down again with a fine-grade paper until you have a smooth finish. Vacuum away dust, then moisten a soft cloth or...

Recycled chic: shelving from scaffolding

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:24:00 GMT

Make sturdy kitchen shelving using old scaffold planks. We found the brackets pictured above encrusted with layers of paint and dirt in a salvage yard, and stripped them back to reveal their elegant shapes. Finish the planks with a hard wax oil which creates an easy-to-clean surface. For the planksRemove any old nails and screws. Prepare the wood with a rough-grade sandpaper and finish...

How to make... a simple Christmas wreath

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:02:00 GMT

I'm using sprigs of rosemary from the garden because l love its herby smell. Other evergreens like ivy and yew, are good too. If you haven't got any outside space, look for winter greenery on a walk in the park or the countryside. What you need: ● A good handful of rosemary ● 120cm of garden wire ● string ● scissors ● ribbon Step 1 Cut the wire...

Find Christmas magic at LaplandUK

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:39:00 GMT

Would a Christmas trip to a forest in Kent ever come close to the thrill of taking a sleigh ride in the Arctic Circle, hanging with huskies and meeting the great man in Lapland? Ups: not having to get up at the crack of dawn to climb on a plane and worry about the carbon footprint. Downs: well, it's not cold enough for snow... The excitement starts in October when...

Olive oil: how to buy it, how it's produced

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:37:00 GMT

1) Just like wine, olive oils are awarded different labels and grades depending on their taste, production methods, origin and chemistry. 2) All olive oils are classified by taste through a blind taste test, which is carried out by a panel of professional tasters. 3) When you buy ‘Extra Virgin' olive oil, this means it is produced without the use of any chemicals,...

Cornish pasties: the ultimate recipe

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:41:00 GMT

There's simply no comparison between a shrink-wrapped ‘pasty' (bland, glutinous and full of additives) bought from, say, a motorway service station, and the real deal, steaming hot out of the oven, preferably made in Cornwall itself. At St Ives Bakery, every pasty is made by hand and cooked on the premises, using only the best ingredients, many of them local. They are, quite simply,...

Dine in style: create the look

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:25:00 GMT

Create a beautifully co-ordinated look for your festive dining table, with these simple ideas for table linen and decorations. Simple slip covers Smarten up your dining chairs with slip covers to sew Table runner and place mats Smarten up your dining table with matching linen to sew ...

Dine in style: simple slip covers

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:24:00 GMT

Transform even the most basic chair by adding comfort and style with a simple slip cover and covered cushion. Cut a piece of foam to fit your chair seat or use a purchased cushion pad. Cut two pieces of fabric, allowing for the thickness of the pad and a 1cm seam allowance all the way round. With right sides together, stitch around outer edge, leaving back seam open. Turn right side out and...

Dine in style: table runner and place mats

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:24:00 GMT

Liven up your dining table for a special meal with a table runner and place mats in a vibrant colour. From linen or cotton fabric, cut a long rectangle for the runner. The length will depend on the size of your table. Ours measured 230cm x 46cm. Cut rectangles 54cm x 39cm for the place mats. Press under 1cm then 2cm on all edges of each piece and stitch in place.Linen, from a selection at...

Dine in style: napkin ties

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:24:00 GMT

It only takes a few minutes to present your napkins with style. Just wrap an ornamental leaf or large grass blade, either from the garden or florist, around the neatly rolled napkin and add a single flower. Choose your flowers wisely and you should have sufficient blooms in a small bunch from the supermarket for both the table arrangement and the napkins. Instead of a leaf, tie napkin...

Dine in style: floral centrepiece

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:24:00 GMT

Make the most of a single bunch of flowers by placing just one or two blooms in a matching collection of small vases or glasses and arranging them down the centre of the table. Keep your display low to ensure you don't block anyone's view. Don't throw away your small glass containers - recycle them instead by spraying with your choice of paint to create a coordinated display....