Aldi is selling an electric plate warmer just in time for Christmas

Dec 4, 2019

‘Tis the season to create a festive and soothing atmosphere in your home, and where better to start than at Aldi, where a range of fantastic gifts for the home will go on sale in 140 stores nationwide from Thursday, December 12. From candles and cutlery to cake stands and trifle dishes, there’s something for everyone.

One thing we must buy before we invite our entire family around for Christmas is the Electric Plate Warmer.

This life saviour is only €19.99 so there’s no doubt it’ll be swiped up.

The device heats up to 12 plates in minutes to approx. 70°C. Suitable for plates up to 30cm diameter. Overheat protection. Removable washable cover.

It is available in red, black or cream.

Check out our top picks below:

Cake Stand €14.99 and Trifle Stand €15.99

Snack Serveware €8.99 each or per 2 pack

The above products and more will be on sale in 140 Aldi stores nationwide from Thursday, 12 December.

For more information see www.aldi.ie

Ever wonder what the royals eat for Christmas? There’s a LOT of grub

Dec 22, 2016

by Amber Saunders

We all have our own special Christmas traditions with family and friends, and it looks like the royal family is no different.

The former chef of the Queen has opened up about what Christmas is like with the family, and how from year to year, everything basically stays the same.

On the 19 or 20 December, the Queen will travel to Sandringham House in Norfolk, with the rest of her family travelling up to meet her on Christmas Eve.

Darren McGrady was former chef to Queen Elizabeth, Diana, William and Harry, and according to Delish, this is exactly how they spend the day.

"All the Christmas gifts get placed on trestle tables for each member of the royal family. Christmas morning, the family eats a hardy breakfast before heading off to church.

"After church, that's when they have a big lunch that includes salad with shrimp or lobster, and a roasted turkey, and all of your traditional side dishes like parsnips, carrots, Brussels sprouts and Christmas pudding with brandy butter for dessert.

"They stick with the same meal year after year. Once they've eaten, everyone sits down and watches the Queen's Christmas speech. Afterward, they all go their own way before coming together again for afternoon tea and traditional Christmas fruitcake, then they gather again in the evening, where a buffet dinner with 15-20 different items awaits them.

"It's always a buffet with the chefs at the table carving. They don't do appetisers on Christmas, instead, appetisers and canapes are reserved for New Year's Eve."

Well there you have it. Do you have any traditions that are the similar?

YES! So Milanos has just put a full Christmas dinner… on a pizza

Nov 21, 2016

by Amber Saunders

When it comes to the food of kings, we reckon that pizza, and Christmas dinner with all the trimmings are right up there among the very best.

And now, praise the taste gods, Milanos has decided to combine both to create what ultimately amounts to a Christmas roast on a pizza.

Dubbed the fancy-pants Porchetta Natale Romana, it boasts pulled hog roast along with a soft herb stuffing, pancetta, mozzarella, rosemary, oregano and pine kernels, and fresh parsley and costs €16.90.

Excited to share our Xmas specials with you. First up, Porchetta Natale Romana. Or a hog roast pizza, if you will #HappyPizzaExpressmas pic.twitter.com/L1iFfP15Xe

— PizzaExpress (@PizzaExpress) November 21, 2016

If that's not your cup of tea, the Pannetone Cheesecake (€6.85) – chocolate chip and orange marmalade panettone pieces in a creamy vanilla cheesecake, topped on a thick and buttery biscuit base – might be.

Otherwise, Snowball Dough Balls (€4.45) are a safe bet: Milano’s famous Dough Balls sprinkled with icing sugar and cinnamon and served with a vanilla cream dip.

New kale-Brussels sprout hybrid on track to DESTROY Christmas dinner

Nov 9, 2016

by Amber Saunders

We’ve been online long enough to know that kale is exceptionally good for you.

But just because its famed curly leaves are filled with iron, bursting with antioxidants and seem ideal for detoxifying the body, doesn’t mean we can be forced to consume them on the world’s most official day of indulgence.

A new kale-Brussels sprout hybrid looks set to invade dinner tables around the world this Christmas by offering itself up as a more palatable alternative to the traditional miniature festive cabbage.

According to the Kalettes website, this peculiar combination is versatile to cook, “sweet and nutty” to taste and looks “great”.

Last year, Kalettes were declared “the hippest vegetable of 2015” as they made their way across the UK, continental Europe, Australia and the US.

While we have yet to find stockists of this unusual veggie in Ireland, if the Kalettes' popularity continues to grow, they're bound to appear on dinner tables here soon.

10 things that WILL happen at an Irish family’s Christmas dinner

Dec 25, 2015

by Amber Saunders

Christmas dinner is one of those joyous and rare occasions where your whole family come together to eat a good bit of grub.

And as wonderful as that sounds, there will always be a few things that happen each and every year that makes us roll our eyes up to baby Jesus and sigh with embarrassment/frustration/anger/all three.

As bad (and funny) as these things are, you really wouldn't have it any other way (kinda):

1. Your teen sister will not stop texting under the dinner table.

And as much as that annoys you (she's SO rude), that was you only five years ago. Ah, how times change.

2. Your aunty will sneak in a few too many glasses of red wine.

And start talking absolute nonsense to you.

3. Then said glass of red wine will be spilled all over the dinner table and white table cloth.

*Queue evil stares from your mother*

4. If you're single…

You'll be asked if you have a boyfriend a million and one times.

5. But if you're taken…

It'll be, 'when's the wedding?!'.

6. And if you're married…

'WHERE'S THE BABY?'.

7. When the dinner is over there's the argument about who will make the tea.

You're just too full to even stand up.

8. But then your mam brings over dessert.

Boozy Christmas trifle and even boozier Christmas pudding. Yay!

9. And after that, there's the argument about who will clean away the dishes.

LEG IT.

10. But when all is said and done, you wouldn't have Christmas any other way.

Because Christmas at home is the best feeling in the world.

Feeling fancy this year? Then you have to try this fab food decoration

Dec 10, 2015

by Amber Saunders

We all love Christmas dinner, but sometimes the same old thing every single year can get a bit boring.

If you're having guests over this Christmas and want to spice things up a bit, then try this carrot trick to mind-boggle your friends and family.

Not only will it look super cool on the plate, after a few drinks you can give them the chance to try it themselves.

And believe us, after a second helping of mulled wine, their carrots will end up looking like a dog savagely ate it.

So, now you have a new dinner staple and party trick. Win win!

These dogs perfectly recreate what every festive family dinner is like

Dec 9, 2015

by Amber Saunders

Some of us may save some leftover food for our beloved pets on Christmas, but one animal food company has taken it to the next level.

Freshpet made this video as a spoof on your family's Christmas dinner which includes 13 dogs and one cat, and they just about nailed it.

We see the drunk uncle who is well on his way to getting locked, the bulldog-granddad who sneaks sips from his hidden flask and of course, the unruly teen who won't stop texting during dinner.

If only all Christmas dinners could be as funny as this one:

Christmas dinner in Hogwarts was MORE magical than you’d expect

Dec 8, 2015

by Amber Saunders

It was a very exciting evening for two hundred Harry Potter fans last Thursday as the lucky few got to dine in Hogwarts Great Hall.

The event was hosted by Warner Bros. Studio Tour in London, which was home to all the Harry Potter sets.

A photo posted by Warner Bros. Studio Tour (@wbtourlondon) on Nov 30, 2015 at 10:03am PST

It was a bit pricey though, costing about €310 for the night, but let's be honest, it was probably worth every penny.

The hall itself was decked out in the finest Potter/Christmas decor and one writer from Time magazine was clearly blown away by the dinner:

"The dinner menu was as elaborate as the night itself, beginning with a first course of ham hock and broad bean terrine with pea puree and walnut bread or confit pear, stilton cheese, radicchio and watercress salad.

A photo posted by Warner Bros. Studio Tour (@wbtourlondon) on Nov 22, 2015 at 2:10am PST

"The second course—served as masked Death Eaters entered the hall in clouds of smoke to take pictures with guests—was roast turkey stuffed with cranberry and sausage with cumin carrots, brussels sprouts, crispy potatoes and rich gravy or lasagne with courgette, mozzarella, basil and pepper." YUM.

Many of the guests shared their experiences on social media, and the pictures speak a thousand words:

A photo posted by Warner Bros. Studio Tour (@wbtourlondon) on Dec 3, 2015 at 11:14am PST

A photo posted by Darren Linard (@darrenlinard) on Dec 3, 2015 at 11:00am PST

A photo posted by Lensed London (@lensedlondon) on Dec 3, 2015 at 2:05pm PST

A photo posted by Vikki (@vikkikiely_14) on Dec 4, 2015 at 3:52am PST

A photo posted by Warner Bros. Studio Tour (@wbtourlondon) on Dec 3, 2015 at 12:05pm PST

A photo posted by Megan (@megboats) on Dec 4, 2015 at 2:21pm PST

Muggles can now have Christmas dinner in the Hogwarts great hall

Sep 30, 2015

by Amber Saunders

Potter fans, you'll be delighted with this one!

The Harry Potter Warner Bros. Studio Tour in London is opening up its doors for its first ever Christmas-themed dinner.

Yep, excited yet?!

The event is due to take place on 3 December and is described as a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to feast in this iconic set."

Lucky diners will be greeted on arrival with drinks and canapés before making their way to the Hogwarts dining room which will be all dressed up for the special occasion – including original props like flaming Christmas pudding and ham studded with cherries which were used in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.

The over-18s only event will certainly pull on a few heartstrings of those who grew up reading J.K. Rowling's books and watching the Harry Potter movies.

And you will receive a special little surprise as you sit down for dinner too; your own wand!

Now you can really fit in with past witches and wizards of the great hall!

After a two-course dinner (with ALL the trimmings), fans will be able to drink Butterbeer in the Backlot Café.

Diners will then be able to walk through Diagon Alley (which will be covered in snow!), sneak into the Gryffindor common room and the Weasley's kitchen at The Burrow.

And if that wasn't enough, the next stop is Platform 9 and 3/4 where you will be treated to a selection of desserts while you explore the original Hogwarts Express.

We have no doubt this will be the biggest party of the year, with the night set to end with music, dancing and a bar for those who want to purchase additional drinks.

Tickets are a bit steep though, coming in at €310, however it would make a pretty unforgettable Christmas present!

Here's a look at the festive menu:

christmas dinner