Whether you’re planning on making hot cross buns, brownies, cookies or cupcakes this Easter, as a keen baker you’ll know that the whole process will go far more smoothly if you use the right tools. That’s why Maltesers® is offering one lucky winner the opportunity to get their hands on an iconic KitchenAid stand mixer.
If you win, you’ll receive a 4.8l KitchenAid Artisan Tilt-Head Mixer, complete with a large stainless-steel bowl, a wire whisk, a dough hook and a paddle. Perfect for all your stirring, beating, whipping and kneading needs, this versatile appliance is also available in a choice of five stylish colours: Empire Red, Almond Cream, Onyx Black, Milkshake or Contour Silver.
To be in with a chance of winning this fantastic prize, simply answer the following question correctly by 23:59 on 24th April 2024.
]]>Summer is fast approaching, and you know what that means: barbecues.
While many will take part in the quintessential summer ritual of grilling, the word “enjoy” might not always fit the bill. Far too often, gatherings are marred by undercooked or incinerated meats, insufficient sides, and the unfortunate aftermath of foodborne illnesses.
But we are here to guide you through – our top 10 tips will help to elevate your barbecue. From managing your menu expectations to savvy preparation techniques that allow for more leisurely time, we’ve got the helpful hints you need.
Check out our helpful guide on how to barbecue safely.
If you need some inspiration for what to serve at your shindig, check out our BBQ ideas, vegetarian barbecue recipes and vegan barbecue recipes.
Hosting the ultimate barbecue doesn’t mean you need a mountain of specialised equipment. Chances are, your kitchen is already stocked with most of the essentials.
Make you’ve got the right equipment to cater to your party size. For instance, with a 25cm diameter grill, aim to comfortably entertain a maximum of six individuals. Simplify your menu to focus on a few offerings rather than overwhelming yourself with many options. A cluttered grill breeds uncertainty and challenges in effectively timing cooking. Opt for quality over quantity, mastering some standout dishes.
We highly recommend completing as much prep work as possible the night before your barbecue to alleviate any last-minute stress on the big day. Prepare your salads in advance, but refrain from dressing them until serving time to maintain their crispness and vitality. See our comprehensive guide on how to make vinaigrettes and dressings, as well as our array of colourful salad recipes. For those aiming for peak organisation, consider pre-chopping your fruits and vegetables, and storing them in bowls ready for use. Elevate the flavour profile of your meats by marinating them. Allowing your cuts to soak in marinade overnight guarantees that the flavours deeply penetrate the meat. Check out our expert advice on how to marinate chicken, and our marinade recipes to spark your creativity.
Start the barbecue well in advance, allowing it to reach the ideal cooking temperature gradually. This gives you lots of time to get everything else ready and will have the meat prepared in good time.
A burger station is an effortless way to elevate your barbecue. Designate a table where guests can customise their patties with an array of toppings like cheese, pickles, lettuce, and sauces. By including essentials such as salads, plates and cutlery at the station, guests can serve themselves easily.
Check out our beef burger recipes, chicken burger recipes and vegetarian burger recipes for more inspiration on building the perfect bite.
Embrace vibrant barbcue halloumi, succulent grilled aubergines and creamy avocados to satisfy all palates. Elevate your offerings with tantalising grain salads, charred vegetable creations and an assortment of homemade breads. These flavourful options are sure to delight meat-eaters as well, making your barbecue spread a feast for everyone to enjoy.
For more plant-based inspiration, check out our top vegetarian barbecue recipes and the best vegan barbecue recipes.
Make sure you’re topped up ahead of time with plenty of ice. Check out our jug cocktail recipes which are great for serving a crowd. Given the limited fridge space, troughs of iced water where people can easily immerse their bottles are a handy solution to keep drinks refreshingly cool. Whether it’s cool boxes, buckets, or even cleaned-out wheelbarrows, any receptacle will suffice.
For more cocktail recipes perfect for the sun, check out our summer cocktail recipes and summer mocktail recipes.
Selecting the right charcoal can significantly impact your grilling experience. Lump charcoal is a swift lighting option, boasting an approximate burn time of one hour. It’s an excellent choice for cooking a diverse array of meats, ensuring efficient and even cooking throughout. Conversely, briquettes offer a prolonged burn time of up to three hours at a steady temperature, making them perfect for grilling larger cuts or roasting joints with precision.
The type of wood used to create the charcoal can impart distinct flavours to your meats. Charcoal derived from oak trees lends a subtle smokiness with caramel notes, enhancing your dishes’ flavour profile. On the other hand, charcoal sourced from orange wood infuses a rich marmalade essence, complementing poultry such as duck, chicken and turkey.
Determining the ‘doneness’ of meat solely by its appearance on the barbecue can be challenging. For optimal safety and quality, it’s advisable to test chicken and pork by slicing into them and checking there’s no pink meat and the juices run clear. Alternatively, investing in a meat thermometer can provide precise readings. Once the meat is cooked, allow it to rest for a few minutes. This crucial step enables the juices to redistribute within the meat, resulting in a more tender and flavourful finish. Remember, the larger the cut of meat, the longer it should rest.
For help checking your meat, check out our guide to the top meat thermometers.
Blazing sunshine can swiftly transform into hail at the flip of a burger. In such unpredictable weather, it’s crucial to be ready to open your home to guests at a moment’s notice. Embrace flexibility and hospitality by offering shelter indoors if the weather takes a turn, so your guests remain cosy and content regardless of the elements outside.
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Pizza ovens have surged in popularity in recent years. Versatile and efficient, they provide an easy, fun way to achieve the wood-fired flavour and mottled crust that makes restaurant pizza taste so good, which can be difficult to achieve in a standard oven.
If you’ve been thinking about getting a pizza oven for a while, now is the perfect time to snap up a saving on some of the top-rated models out there – particularly from big names like Ooni and Sage. If you’re trying to decide between big-name brands, our friends at olive magazine have a guide to Gozney vs Ooni pizza ovens with everything you need to know.
We’ve been busy tracking the latest offers to help you save on some of the best pizza ovens on the market. We’re also updating this page as new deals go live, so keep coming back to ensure you don’t miss out.
Jump to:
When you’re looking for pizza oven offers, don’t forget that a lot of the brands will be competing for your attention, so they’ll be keeping an eye on other retailers’ prices as well as their own.
You’ll also find that some brands, like Currys and John Lewis & Partners, offer a price-match promise. When you’ve found a deal you like the look of, check to see whether there are any extras included, like free delivery or pizza accessories.
Best multi-fuel pizza oven
Star rating: 4.5/5
If you can’t decide between a wood-fired or gas pizza oven, the Ooni Karu 16 is the answer. This model can be heated using wood, charcoal or gas, offering more flexibility than some of the more classic models on this list.
We loved the quick cooking time – we were able to make pizzeria-worthy pizzas in just 60 seconds. Plus, the 16-inch cooking surface is a generous size, perfect for entertaining or feeding a family.
Read our full Ooni Karu 16 review.
Available from:
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Best compact pizza oven
Star rating: 4.5/5
Featuring heatproof handles and folding legs, this simple pizza oven can be fuelled by charcoal, hardwood pellets or hardwood, and comes with a pizza peel, too. It’s safe to use on a standard garden table, and compactly folds away when not in use.
Assembly was simple and quick, and though preheating and cooking took some time, it produced a nicely browned pizza crust with bubbling toppings. The door also has a thermometer, so it’s easy to keep track of the temperature throughout.
Available from:
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Best pizza oven for small spaces
Star rating: 4.5/5
The smaller version of the Ooni Koda 16, this pizza oven is gas-powered with a compact footprint.
It’s lightweight, with collapsible legs which make it super easy to store. It also comes already assembled which we found really useful and means you can start making pizzas straight away, all you need to do is flip out the three legs from the bottom of the oven, fit the stone into it and connect it to a propane gas canister.
Like other Ooni models a single strip of fire around the back of the oven provides the heat source to cook your pizzas. The compact nature of the oven means the opening is also quite small, and we found it took a bit of precision and practise to get a pizza cleanly into the oven.
Read our full Ooni Koda 12 pizza oven review.
Available from:
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Best investment indoor pizza oven
Star rating: 4.5/5
If you’re keen to jump on the pizza oven hype but don’t have any outdoor space, this plug-in Sage model is ideal. It looks and works quite like a microwave oven, and is capable of heating up to 400C in about 20 minutes.
Included in the box are a heavy round pizza stone that slots inside, a long-handled pizza peel, and round metal tin to make deep-dish pizza. We also loved the range of settings available: choose from ‘wood-fired’, pan, New York, crispy, or even frozen.
The results we got were excellent – light crusts and bubbling melted cheese, crisp bases and a leopard-spotted crusts, all in just two minutes.
Read our full Sage the Smart Oven Pizzaiolo review.
Available from:
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Best portable pizza oven
Star rating: 4.5/5
Ooni is a big name in the world of pizza ovens, and this 16-inch portable option produces excellent artisan-style pizzas that were fully cooked in just 60 seconds during our test. We found it incredibly easy to assemble the oven and cook, and hardly needed to refer to the manual at all.
The materials are durable and sleek, and though it doesn’t come with any additional tools, these are available to buy via Ooni’s website and other retailers. It’s also straightforward to clean, and was cool enough to pack away again in an hour and a half.
Read our full Ooni Koda 16 pizza oven review.
Available from:
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Best compact gas-fired pizza oven
Star rating: 4/5
If the aesthetics of your garden set-up are a priority, this pizza oven from Cozze could be a good option as it’s a real looker. Another major plus for this oven is it’s versatility to run off either propane or butane gas.
The oven is compact, standing at just 29cm tall, which makes it ideal if you’re limited on space, but does mean that it has a very tight opening, making inserting a pizza fairly tricky if you’re not well practised. The design works to provide even flame coverage across the roof of the oven, which makes for an even cook, and we found the minimal pizza turning was required compared to other models we’ve tested.
We love the mottled crust that this oven produced, and think it would be well-suited to the experienced pizza cooker.
Read our full Cozze pizza oven review.
Available from:
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Best entry-level pizza oven for entertaining
Star rating: 4/5
We loved the portion sizes offered by this roomy pizza oven. With space to cook a pizza up to a foot wide, it offers space for both large pizzas and manoeuvring smaller ones.
It sits high off the table, which is a good safety feature to avoid injuries. Despite the size, the legs are foldable and the chimney is removable for easy storage. The handles are long to keep you safe from hot metal, and it also comes with a convenient carry case and pizza peel.
We love that it produces very little smoke, and it made some of the tastiest pizzas on test. It’s just right for a new pizzaiolo looking to entertain.
Available from:
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When looking for deals online, a good rule of thumb to follow is: if a price feels too good to be true, it probably is. You can reduce the risk of being tricked by targeted scams by only buying from retailers you trust. Try to avoid sites you don’t recognise, too, as well as private sellers suggested to you via social media.
Always use recommended secure payment methods when making your purchase, and avoid filling in quizzes that ask for personal information similar to security questions (your mother’s maiden name, for example), as these can be used to guess passwords.
Rest assured, we will only be adding links and deals to this page unless we’re fully comfortable with the retailer. You can find more advice in our guide on how to avoid online scams when shopping.
We look at a variety of retailer sites when looking for pizza oven deals, and make a note of what they’re offering and how the price has changed over the last few months.
Prices often fluctuate a couple of times a day as brands try to compete with each other, so we like to keep an eye on what’s on offer to ensure you’re always getting the best deal – then update this page accordingly.
We don’t just look at larger brands like Amazon, John Lewis and Currys – we look at smaller ones too, as these can sometimes offer deals that bigger ones can’t. We always aim to help you find the best price, as long as we trust the retailer.
As you look for discounts online, you might find there are lots of pizza oven deals around from a range of retailers. However, those that feature in our guide are the best performers from more than 40 of those shortlisted, tested and reviewed by our Good Food reviews team.
When we review products, we rigorously test each model using Good Food recipes to assess the quality of materials, ease of use, performance, value for money and sustainability.
We’ll put each product through its paces during everyday kitchen tasks, and also test additional functions to identify any weak spots. Discover our full guide to the best pizza ovens to see our top-rated models and see which ones achieved the best star ratings.
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All savings percentages have been rounded up or down to the nearest whole number.
]]>We’ve delved into our website stats to discover a hit-list of our 10 most popular 30-minute meals. Have dinner ready in a flash with our speedy ideas, from stuffed chicken fillets to hearty pasta soups and low-fat vegetarian suppers. Made in 30 minutes or less, these recipes are brilliant for students looking for a quick fix or busy families with limited time during the week.
These meals make use of cheap, everyday ingredients, too – for more speedy meal ideas, take a look at our quick recipes, speedy supper recipes and more of our 30-minute meals.
See our top 20 most popular speedy dinners below, ready on the table in just 30 minutes.
This vegetarian curry requires hardly any time to make, and with over 300 star ratings, it’s one of our most popular curries to date. It’s perfect for a healthy weeknight dinner – featuring butternut squash, coconut milk, lentils and spinach.
Check out more vegetarian curry recipes.
A simple mix of sweet chilli, honey, sesame oil, mirin and soy creates a punchy sauce in this teriyaki salmon dish, ready in just 20 minutes. Serve with sesame pak choi for a fast midweek meal.
See more salmon recipes, like this salmon risotto.
Rustle up a high-protein dinner in no time with this easy salmon supper, featuring a nutty sesame dressing, crisp veg and comforting sweet potato mash. It’s healthy, low-calorie, and rich in omega-3, too.
Take a browse through our high-protein dinner collection, like this teriyaki tofu.
Nourishing and balanced, this spicy halloumi rice with cauliflower and spinach is tailor-made for busy weeknights. It’s also high in fibre and gluten-free.
Check out more halloumi recipes, like this creamy tomato & halloumi curry.
Chicken is dressed up in a sticky teriyaki sauce in this speedy weeknight supper – this dish proves you can cook quick meals while packing in punchy flavours. Serve it with sticky rice and steamed greens.
Discover more quick chicken recipe ideas, such as this crispy sesame lemon chicken.
Give your midweek meal a Mexican twist with this meat-free enchilada pie. Packed with nutritious veggies, it offers a whopping four of your five-a-day. Plus it’s freezable, too.
Try more vegetarian Mexican recipes, such as this black bean & tortilla soup.
Plate up this 20-minute salmon pasta for a dinner which the whole family can enjoy. This dish makes brilliant use of frozen peas, plus it packs in fibre and omega-3.
Take a look at more salmon pasta recipes, including this salmon & broccoli pasta.
Make this salmon one-pot in under 20 minutes, with just five minutes of prep. The ingredient list is short and sweet, so you can rustle this one up without the hassle.
Discover more midweek suppers like this spaghetti puttanesca.
Turn a can of mixed beans into this tomato-based veggie stew, topped with halloumi for a tangy finish. Ready on the table in just 25 minutes, it makes a brilliantly quick and easy midweek supper.
Try more vegetarian stews, such as this spicy harissa bean stew.
Making your own soup doesn’t have to be a complicated process, as this speedy carrot and lentil recipe proves. This delicious, spicy blend is packed full of iron, and low in fat. It’s ready in under 25 minutes.
Check out more spicy soup recipes and vegetarian soup recipes.
You can get all five of your five-a-day while making this in this quick, mildly spiced tomato penne dish. With wholewheat penne and topped with avocado and coriander leaves, it’s a dinner that’s rich in iron, fibre and vitamin C.
This penne also makes a great low-fat and law-calorie option – take a browse through more of our low-fat recipes and low-calorie meal ideas.
Seasonal courgette contrasts with cream and pancetta in our super simple carbonara-style tagliatelle, rated five stars by over 300 members. Only a handful of ingredients are required, and chances are you’ll have some of them in your storecupboard already.
Dive into our quick pasta recipe collection for more speedy suppers, including speedy sausage stroganoff tagliatelle, lemon & greens pesto pasta and pea & ham pasta.
We’ve given the classic chicken parmigiana a healthy makeover so you can serve a hearty, healthy dish that’s great for busy weeknights.
Try this healthier chicken parmigiana, then take a look at our classic chicken parmigiana, aubergine parmigiana and beefy melanzane parmigiana.
Try our speedy, low-fat pasta soup for your next meat-free Monday. We’ve used orzo here but you can substitute for other small pasta shapes. Serve with crusty bread to turn it into a filling meal which feeds up to four.
This speedy dish makes brilliant use of everyday ingredients, such as chopped tomatoes and chickpeas, to keep costs low. Find more of our budget recipes for thrifty weeknight meals.
Delicious, quick and easy to make, you can rustle up this pork noodle stir-fry in just half an hour. It’s a nifty way of adding crunchy veg – use any packs of stir-fry veg you can get your hands on.
For more speedy stir-fries, browse our stir-fry recipe collection, featuring spicy mushroom & broccoli noodles, healthy chicken stir-fry and salmon stir-fry.
Stuff chicken breasts with a mustard-cheese mixture, wrap in bacon and roast for 20-25 minutes – it’ll become a firm favourite in no time (and with over 600 five-star ratings, you can be sure that it’s a well-received dish). To make into a filling family dinner, we suggest serving with some mashed potato or sweet potato mash and some seasonal greens, green beans or green salad.
We have plenty more quick chicken dinners for you to recreate at home, including our speedy green chicken curry and chicken tikka masala pizzas.
With over 400 ratings and 200+ comments from our audience, (be sure to check them out to see how community members have tweaked the recipe), this is a family favourite which ticks all the boxes. We’ve made a few clever substitutions to turn this traditional creamy casserole into a low-fat, low-calorie meal, so you’re left satisfied without feeling too full. Also, discover health benefits of mushrooms.
Try our classic vegan mushroom stroganoff for a plant-based twist, or check out our next level beef stroganoff for a dish with wow factor.
In third place is a classic mushroom risotto, a weeknight staple or dinner party go-to. To level up this recipe, we recommend frying pieces of chicken with the onion and garlic, or stirring through chunks of roasted pumpkin or butternut squash towards the end. With over 350 ratings and 200+ comments, it’s also worth checking out the comments to see how our audience have adapted the recipe.
For more risotto recipes see our main collection of risotto recipes, as well as our vegetarian risotto recipes, healthy risotto recipes and summer risotto recipes.
In second place is our winningly easy seafood rice – stir up for a nutritious, aromatic and satisfying family supper. We’ve used pre-prepared mixed seafood, making it easy to put together. Using just one pot makes washing up a breeze, too.
Discover more of our healthy paella recipes, including a spring chicken paella, spicy Spanish rice and artichoke & aubergine rice.
Coming in at number one with 600+ star ratings is our quick and creamy courgette & ricotta lasagne. Recreate and be rewarded with a satisfyingly cheesy, veg-packed dinner. It serves up to four, so it’s perfect for a last-minute family meal, dinner party or freezing for future meals.
Find more recipes in our vegetarian lasagne collection, including aubergine parmigiana lasagne, spinach & ricotta lasagne and butternut squash & spinach lasagne.
]]>Supermarket now sell big ranges of beer and it’s easy to stock up while you’re doing your grocery shop. However, this means you may miss some more unusual beers – the bottles and cans you don’t often see on the shelves.
This is where beer subscription services come in, making sure we can enjoy the craft beer experience from our own front rooms. In the same way as ever popular gin subscriptions or wine deliveries, a beer subscription means your fridge can always stay stocked with an interesting bottle or can.
Branch out from your usual Peroni or Corona and discover a whole new world of independent breweries, unique flavours and new favourite ales, lagers and beyond. Plus, if you’ve got a beer fan in your life, a beer subscription makes a brilliant gift.
As well as the convenience of having beer delivered direct to your door, a beer subscription also helps you find the best beers to suit your tastes. Different subscriptions offer different USPs: whether you’re looking to try new British beers, want IPAs only or support small craft breweries.
Some offer customisable boxes so you can rule out any styles you’re not such a fan of, whilst others offer a real community element to find likeminded beer heads. We’ve even included a cider subscription if that is more your style.
Our drinks expert Brendan Hodrien is a lifestyle writer who specialises in drinks reviews and has tested the best beer subscriptions and deliveries to buy. He has previously written about the best drinks for The Independent, The i and Evening Standard, more often than not waxing lyrical about Islay whiskies.
So whether you’re a fan British ales or new world craft beers, we’ve found a service that works for you. From big boxes of Belgian beer to small deliveries of the weird and wonderful, there’s a whole world of beer subscriptions out there – what are you having?
Read on to discover our pick of the best beer subscriptions and deliveries. For more, visit our reviews section and find reviews of beer dispensers, beer making kits, vodka, rum and more.
Best overall beer subscription
Beer52 is one of the biggest names in the beer delivery game at the moment and deservedly so. It does absolutely everything right. Month to month the theme changes, taking subscribers on journeys to Korea and Estonia, California and Ireland.
Beer52 send experts around the world to discover the best beers each country has to offer. You can choose whether to receive 8 or 10 beers a month and can decide whether you want a mixed box (light and dark beers) or just light. Along with your beers you will also receive a magazine and a quirky snack. Delivery options are easy to personalise and adjust as well. We can’t fault it.
What to expect in a Beer52 box:
Ireland dominated our trial box: there was the Salted Caramel Pastry Stout from White Hag Brewery in Sligo, a bottle of Irish Stout by Heaney and the award winning Knockmealdown Stout by Eight Degrees. Aside from the dark stuff there was O’Hara’s White Haze IPA and Eight Degrees’ Bohemian Pilsner.
Best for small batch beers
Brew Republic (operated through drinks experts Laithwaites) pride themselves on having their eyes, ears and tongues everywhere in the craft beer world.
They’ve got contacts at the best independent craft breweries in the land and as such their boxes are always full of the highest quality small batch beers you can find.
Subscribers have three cases to choose from, each made up of 12 craft beers. The classics case focuses on traditional styles, the discovery option throws up some more adventurous offerings – tangy sours and the like, whilst the premium box is the cream of the crop, featuring the craftiest of craft breweries at the top of their game.
Your first case comes with a free glass, all the packaging is recyclable and each box features helpful tasting notes. It’s also super-easy to amend your order should you want to skip a month or try something new.
It’s a big thumbs up from us for this flexible, straightforward and tasty subscription.
Sign up to Brew Republic (from £15 a month)
Beer Dad aims to take the time out of discovering new craft beers for its beer enthusiast audience – doing the hard work of curating interesting new beer selections for you. There are an impressive six different boxes to choose from depending on the style of beer of you like – whether this is pale and hoppy, sour, dark, strong or gluten-free. There is also a mixed box to try if you like a little bit of everything. At first we weren’t convinced on the brand name, but it comes from the founder Jamie who says it sums up who he is – a father and a lover of beer. Each box contains eight beers, so it is one of the pricier subscriptions we have tried.
What to expect in the Beer Dad box:
We tested out a mixed box and certainly had a variety, covering stout, sour beer, pale ales and IPAs. A dark chocolate cinder toffee stout from New Bristol and a peanut butter-infused milk stout from Brew York were two of the quirkier flavour varieties, but some more classic pale ales were also included in the selection of eight beers. We enjoyed discovering new brewers to investigate further and detailed tasting notes to guide you through the experience were available via a QR code.
Available from:
Beer Dad (£36.75 a month)
Best exclusive craft beer subscription
Hop Burns & Black’s All Killer No Filler box really puts its money where its mouth is. The premise of the subscription service is that the boxes will never be padded out with anything drab or ubiquitous – its all killer, no filler.
Each month you receive 12 beers, the box filled with small batch collaborations, international rarities and beers exclusive to Hop Burns & Black. You are also furnished with reviews, tasting notes and suggested pairings written by expert beer and food writers. Get in there fast, membership is capped in order to ensure they can fulfil their ‘all killer’ promise.
What to expect in the Hop Burns & Black box:
Hop Burns & Black followed through on the no filler promise. There was an elaborate can by Tottenham based Pressure Drop and a Brown Ale by Kernel (suppliers to Yotam Ottolenghi). There was also room given to Polly’s Brew Co from Mold with its well balanced Pines IPA in the box. We were bowled over by the South Coast’s Burning Sky Brewery – its Out of Vogue West Coast Pale is incredibly moreish.
Best beer subscription for homegrown brews
There’s no prizes for guessing what Best of British Beer is all about. However, it does deserve a prize for its variety, as the company offers an array of different subscriptions – but our choice has to be the Beer for a Year edition.
Over the course of 12 months, subscribers are sent four boxes filled with 12 different 500ml bottles, with the odd 330ml can or bottle in there if it’s something extra special. One of the most inviting aspects of this proposition is that subscribers can pick which dates throughout the year they want their deliveries – want some for an anniversary? Pencil it in. A birthday? Sorted.
What to expect in a Best of British beer box:
This offering does what it says on the side of the box. There were treats from Manchester’s Wildside Beers, a full bodied stout by Shrewsbury’s Monty Brewery, a pilsner from Westerham, and a fruity pale from Cornwall based Firebrand Brewing Co.
Best for craft beer purists
One of the nation’s fastest growing beer subscription services, Brewser is making a name for itself fast. The focus here is on deep dives into the very best independent breweries these British Isles have to offer.
Brewser supports more than 120 independent breweries. You simply give your beer preferences (mixed, light or a combination) and a box will be suggested to you. Craft beer enthusiasts will be impressed to know breweries have included celebrated Mancunian brewery Cloudwater and producers of the much beloved Steady Rolling Man, Cheltenham-based DEYA, among other stalwarts and rising stars.
Sure, we’re all here for the beer but there’s a sustainability point to be made for Brewser as well. Beers are sent to subscribers direct from the brewery, meaning there are fewer travel miles involved and no repackaging; something of a unique feature for beer subscription services, so you can feel smug as you sip.
What to expect in a Brewser box
The highest quality independent craft beers in the country. The amount of beers may vary month to month but the value for money does not. This is a no-nonsense subscription for the craft beer purist who doesn’t need snacks, bells, whistles and reading along with their beer. It’s all about trying the very best beers from the nation’s very best breweries – if that’s what you’re after then Brewser is second to none.
Sign up to Brewser (from £29 a month)
Best cider subscription
Life would be boring if we were all the same. If you are one of those people who would rather kick back and relax with a cider rather than an IPA then there’s no better place than Crafty Nectar to get your fix.
Crafty Nectar have a team of experts who curate their craft cider selections, putting together boxes full of different styles and flavours. Subscribers can choose from a Mini Taster Box of three bottles or a Craft Cider Discovery Box of six bottles.
Forget that nasty experience you had with White Lightning when you were a teenager and enjoy the world of craft cider.
What to expect in a Crafty Nectar box:
Crafty Nectar introduced us to a world of cider we never knew existed, from the delectable SASSY Rosé Cider to their very own rhubarb cider. We also couldn’t get enough of the Laidback Lumberjack Cider by Against the Grain.
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A guide to craft beer
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Best non-alcoholic beer
Best whisky subscriptions and clubs
Best cocktail subscriptions and clubs
This guide was last updated in March 2024. If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk.
Do you get a regular beer delivery? We’d love to hear your recommendations below…
]]>Try these dinner party fish recipes, then discover more fish recipes, seafood recipes and dinner party main recipes.
]]>Interested in trying our FREE 7-day Healthy Diet Plan? Click here and choose between our meat eaters, vegetarian or vegan meal plans.
At birth, a baby’s body consists of about 75 per cent fluid. For older children and adults, about 60 per cent of the body is fluid. Fluid is really important for health, as the cells in our bodies depend on it to function normally and flush waste products. Both the amount and type of fluids that adults and children consume can have a significant impact on their health.
The amount a child needs to drink can vary greatly depending on age and gender, as well as weather and physical activity. As a general rule of thumb, children aged four to 13 should aim to drink approximately six to eight glasses of fluid a day, with younger children needing smaller servings – about 150ml for a four-year-old and 250ml for an older child.
This depends on their age and gender, as follows:
These amounts are based on the guidelines set by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA).
In addition to the fluid we get from drinks, many foods contain water, so these will also top up fluid intake. Examples include cucumber and watermelon, which are over 90 per cent water.
Try these child-friendly watermelon lollies or our watermelon & strawberry slushie.
Hydration is particularly important for children, as they have higher water requirements in relation to their body weight. Infants and young children in particular are also less heat-tolerant, so drinking small amounts more often is essential, particularly in hot weather and when they are very active. As children don’t always recognise the early stages of thirst, they are at risk of becoming dehydrated. Even mild dehydration can cause irritability, tiredness, headaches, lack of concentration, reduced mental performance and dry skin in children.
Water is the best choice for children, so it’s good to introduce water as a drink early on to get your child used to the taste. Other drinks such as milk and fruit juice can also provide fluid and other nutrients.
Pure unsweetened fruit juice and smoothies count as one of your five-a-day, contributing useful amounts of vitamin C. However, they are quite acidic and contain natural free sugars, so guidelines suggest drinking no more than one 150ml glass per day, ideally at mealtimes. Other acidic drinks, such as fizzy drinks and squashes, should be limited or avoided altogether, even if they’re sugar-free – the acid can damage tooth enamel, and sugary drinks can lead to dental decay. They also contribute excess calories. It’s recommended that children should not consume caffeine-containing energy drinks.
It’s a good idea for parents to act as role models, drinking water throughout the day, starting at breakfast time. As with fussy eating, if your child doesn’t like drinking, don’t panic. Try these tips to encourage them to drink more:
Babies and children are more at risk of dehydration than older children. Signs and symptoms will depend on the age of your child. However, if your child is passing urine less frequently; feels lightheaded or lethargic; or has sunken eyes or a dry mouth, lips and tongue, refer to your GP or healthcare practitioner. Similarly, speak to your GP if your child complains of a consistent thirst.
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How do you encourage your child to drink more regularly? Share your experience in the comments below.
All health content on bbcgoodfood.com is provided for general information only, and should not be treated as a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other healthcare professional. If you have any concerns about your general health, you should contact your local healthcare provider. See our website terms and conditions for more information.
Frankie is a registered dietitian and public health nutritionist with over 20 years’ experience. With a PhD in nutrition, Frankie has worked in the NHS as well as in academic research and charity sectors and now works as a freelance consultant. Frankie has a wealth of experience in communicating a sensible fad-free approach to healthy eating for all ages, but specialises in maternal and childhood nutrition with practical hands-on experience based on feeding her own four children. Frankie has been writing for BBC Good Food since 2016 and also contributes to news and current affairs programmes across TV and radio as well as online and print media as a spokesperson for the British Dietetic Association.
]]>Try our slow cooker dinner party recipes, then check out our slow cooker recipes, make-ahead dinner party main course recipes and dinner party main recipes.
]]>Try our chicken dinner party recipes, then check out our healthy chicken recipes, freezable chicken recipes and five-ingredient chicken recipes.
]]>Hosting a dinner party doesn’t need to be intimidating. While this cherished tradition has its roots in the early 20th century, it has since shed formalities, embracing a more inclusive approach. Strict rules and dress codes are out (unless that’s your thing), and relaxed family-style dining is in.
We have helpful tips and tricks to guide you through creating a dinner party menu to suit any occasion, whether you want to make someone feel special for their birthday, or you’re just having a casual get-together with friends. You can make this dinner party menu as impressive as you like. We have included recipes to serve between four and six people. Each recipe can be adjusted to your required number of servings, but if you know you will be entertaining a larger crowd, then our feed-a-crowd recipes are a good place to start.
If you want inspiration for throwing a summer dinner party, check out our summer dinner party recipes. Or, if you would like to enjoy an evening with friends without sacrificing your health goals, check out our healthy dinner party recipes.
Aim for deliciousness over impressiveness.
Casual or elegant? Are you sticking to one cuisine? Use that as a guide.
Buffet or plated? Seated or standing? Opt for dishes suited to the setup.
Politely enquire in advance and accommodate accordingly.
Include starters, mains, sides and dessert.
It’s unlikely that people will have any room, but it’s a nice touch to have some small after-dinner treats to go with a coffee.
Vary colours and textures for visual and sensory appeal.
Pair complementary tastes and avoid ingredient overload.
Strive for a menu that allows for advanced preparation to enjoy the party.
Avoid repeating the same menu too often to keep things exciting for your guests. Track preferences and past menus for future reference.
Whip up this hearty vegetable soup with ease, utilising storecupboard staples. Quick and straightforward, this recipe is keto-friendly and elevated with the addition of savoury halloumi ‘croutons’. The halloumi imparts a sophisticated saltiness, perfect for both casual weekday dinners and elegant dinner party starters.
Discover more vegetarian starter recipes.
This effortless smoked mackerel starter requires just 15 minutes of preparation and can be made well in advance, allowing you to chill it until your guests arrive. When the time comes, simply toast the crumpets, layer on your filling, and garnish with crisp cucumber, radish slices and chives for a burst of flavour.
Check out more smoked mackerel recipes.
Enjoy these Chinese-style dumplings brimming with succulent pork and fragrant chives. Surprisingly simple to prepare, they are fun to assemble, so are great for a relaxed dinner gathering.
For more starters that are great for dinner party entertaining, check out our dinner party starter recipes.
Transport yourself to the Middle East with our veggie harissa cauliflower pilaf, boasting a rich fusion of fruits, nuts and aromatic spices. Baked in the oven, it yields irresistibly fluffy rice. It’s a versatile and flavourful dish that shines as the centrepiece of any meal or as an addition to a lavish feast alongside favourites like tabbouleh salad, zeljanica, and fatteh makdous.
For more vegetarian recipes ideal for a dinner party, check out our vegetarian dinner party recipes.
Relish the epitome of vegan comfort food with this dish. Stack layers of aubergine with spicy coconut milk and tomato sauce for a deeply satisfying meal. It’s a perfect vegan dinner party main as it generously serves up to six guests and can be prepared in advance and frozen.
For more vegan recipes perfect for serving at a dinner party, check out our vegan dinner party recipes.
This French bistro classic is easy to make at home and fabulous with creamy mash or crusty bread. It requires only 10 ingredients, so it won’t break the bank, and one-pot so there won’t be a tonne of washing for after your guests leave.
For more mains to make while entertaining, check out our dinner party mains recipes.
Our dairy-free, egg-free, soy-free, and gluten-free butterscotch pie is a delight that everyone can relish without worry. Add extra crunch with a generous sprinkle of nuts. For an indulgent treat, serve alongside a scoop of vegan vanilla ice cream. Plus, this will keep chilled for up to two days, so you can make ahead for less work on the day.
Discover our best-ever, triple-tested, vegan dessert recipes.
Indulge in the timeless delight of a classic lemon meringue pie—where a tangy lemon filling meets soft, billowy meringue peaks, creating the perfect harmony of flavours. Despite its stunning presentation, our recipe is surprisingly simple, though it does require a bit of time. To streamline your preparation, consider making the base a day before your dinner party, allowing you to focus on enjoying the festivities on the day.
For more centrepiece desserts, check out our dinner party dessert recipes.
Discover the refreshing twist of a non-alcoholic mojito cocktail, perfect for gatherings where alcohol is optional. This vibrant blend retains all the zesty flavour of the classic mojito, minus the rum.
Try our mocktail recipes if you’re entertaining without alcohol.
Craft a batch of our simple homemade limoncello – a boozy lemon-infused treat perfect as a digestif after your dinner. You could also decant into mini bottles to give as a parting gift. While it only takes 15 minutes to prepare, patience is key as it requires two weeks to develop its full depth of flavour.
Discover more of our cocktail recipes to get your party started.
Extend the evening’s enjoyment with a sophisticated touch – treat your guests to an espresso paired with delicate sweets such as our after-dinner mint cream, chocolate fudge crinkle biscuits, or timeless classic fudge. For those seeking a savoury option, try a curated cheeseboard or grazing platter.
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