Wednesday 29 January 2014

Top Ten Kitchen Gadgets - All Under £10

Making a "proper" meal can be chore-some task to say the least, it can be so daunting simply due to the amount of preparation that needs to be put into some meals, and for me, when it comes to creating new and exciting meals in the kitchen, its all about the gadgets! I love anything that will make peeling, chopping, stirring and carving a whole lot easier.

I've listed below my top ten favourite kitchen gadgets, and the great news is that they are all under £10!
Top Ten Kitchen Gadgets - All Under £10
  1. This Super Stirrer is fantastic, it stirs automatically, making stirring soups, stews and thick sauces quicker and easier. The Super Stirrer has 3 prongs with silicone feet to make sure that nothing sticks to the bottom of the pan while also protecting the bottom of the pan from potential scratches. Now Only £3.99
  2. This Lime Green Pasta Magic is a pretty funky contraption, you simply fill the Pasta Magic with pasta and boiling water, secure the thermal wrap to preserve the heat and then leave until ready. Once cooked simply drain the excess water away through the lid! This is going to revolutionise my work day lunches and at only £5.99 it's tempting to buy 2 of them.
  3. Chopping has never been so easy! This Morphy Richards Mini Chopper is super stylish, easy to use and parts are dishwasher safe, and is pretty stylish too, available in a choice of red and cream for only £9.99.
  4. This Multi Chopper is probably the most versatile chopper you will have in your kitchen. It's ideal for a whole host of vegetables and fruit, just place and press, it's that simple! Now Only £6.99
  5. Carve away with this Russell Hobbs Electric carving Knife, it'll make light work of bread, meat, and anything else food related that you'd want to carve. There's a whopping 83% off the original selling price too, it's only £9.99
  6. I find opening cans and tins the conventional way so difficult, it may be because i'm left handed, or it might be that i'm not that strong, but this Pifco Battery Operated Can Opener solves that problem, it's so simple to use, you just place the can opener on top of the can, press the button and round it goes. It's now only £7.99 too.
  7. Chopping up a pineapple can be a nightmare, but with this Pineapple Corer you'll be able to peel, core and slice a pineapple in seconds, and with so much less mess! Only £4.99.
  8. Cook rice the easy way with this 1 Litre Rice Cooker It's now only £9.99 too, saving you an impressive 75%
  9. Get in the party mood with this Elgento Cocktail Maker! it comes with 20 cocktail recipes, so you'll be able to make your favourite cocktail and a few new ones too. Only £9.99
  10. I could not go back to conventional salt and petter pots after using Electric Salt & Pepper Grinders, they are so, so simple to use and make grinding salt and pepper on your meal effortless! Once you try them you won't want to go back! Now Only £5.99

Looking for even more Kitchen Gadgets and Gizmo's? Take a look at our Kitchen Clearance at 24ace.co.uk

Friday 24 January 2014

Burns Night: How to Celebrate

Every year on January 25th, millions of people (mainly in Scotland and Northern Ireland) join together to celebrate the life and work of the Scottish poet, Robert Burns. Born in Alloway in 1759, Robert Burns is regarded as not just the national poet of a Scotland, but a national treasure too. He wrote literally hundreds of poems and songs in the Scottish dialect, the most famous of which are Tam O’ Shanter, To A Mouse, and of course, Auld Lang Syne.

Robert Burns: 1759-1796
Robert Burns: 1759-1796

Burns Supper

The Burns supper is a gathering of friends which can be either formal or informal. Celebrations begin by piping in the guests to the sound of bagpipes. This music usually comes from live musicians at larger, more formal ceremonies, but a CD is more than adequate for smaller gatherings with a few friends.
When the food is ready, it is ushered in to a recital of The Selkirk Grace, usually given by the host. It goes as follows:

Some hae meat and canna eat,
And some wad eat that want it,
But we hae meat and we can eat,
And sae the Lord be thankit.

The Address To The Haggis

Before the eating begins, the host then recites Address To A Haggis

When reading the line, ‘His knife see Rustic-labour dight’ the host cuts the haggis open along its length, making sure they spill out some of the insides.

Toast to the haggis

Once the recital has finished, everybody raises their glass and shouts ‘To the Haggis!’

The haggis is traditionally served with neeps and tatties, which is mashed swede and potatoes to non-Scottish people. For dessert, Clootie Dumpling or Tipsy Laird are usually the preferred choices. And to wash everything down, guests generally drink whisky and wine (not in the same glass of course!)

Auld Sang Syne

A Burns Supper traditionally ends with the singing of Burns’ famous song about parting, Auld Lang Syne. Everyone joins hands in a large circle and sings the words together and at the line 'And here's a hand', you cross each of your hands over to rejoin those standing on either side of you.

Monday 20 January 2014

5 Diets to Avoid in 2014

Every year, millions of us make New Year’s resolutions, and according to a recent survey, around 40% of those resolutions relate to weight loss. Getting in shape not only enhances our appearance, but makes us healthier and feel better about ourselves too, so it’s not surprise that losing weight is the most common resolution. However, with so many diets available nowadays, it’s important to make sure you don’t get roped in by some Mickey Mouse diet that may be completely ineffective and actually quite dangerous for your health.

So, to give you a heads up, we've listed below 5 of the most useless diets that you’re likely to come across in 2014.

1. The Fast Diet/The 5:2 Diet

Basically, with this diet you fast for 2 days of the week and eat what you like for the other 5. Sounds good, right? On the 2 fasting days you can only consume a maximum of 500 calories if you’re female and 600 calories if you’re male, which you can eat in one meal or spread out between breakfast in the morning and dinner in the evening. The problem with this approach to dieting is that it encourages people to eat more junk on their non-fasting days and doesn’t promote portion control. It has also been suggested that this diet may have a negative effective on fertility and can mess with a person’s blood sugar levels, therefore increasing their risk of developing diabetes.

2. Paleo Diet (Caveman Diet)

Described as the hunter-gather diet, the Paleo Diet cuts out all foods sourced from farming, and puts a large emphasis on lean meat and eggs. The problem many professionals have with this diet is that it completely restricts the intake of dairy and grains, which are 2 major food groups. Not getting an adequate intake of these 2 key groups could lead to a calcium deficiency. Plus, the extra intake of meat means you’re putting more saturated fat into your body, which could lead to obesity and heart disease.

3. Atkins Diet

The Atkins Diet is simple; cut out all carbohydrates and eat lots of meat and fats. There’s no denying the short-term benefits of such an approach to dieting and weight loss, however, the long-term benefits and overall safety of the Atkins Diet leaves a lot to be desired. Studies show that over a long period of time, weight loss becomes increasingly more difficult to maintain, and blood cholesterol levels begin to rise, which could lead to serious cardiovascular disease.

4. Raw Food Diet

Unlike the other diets mentioned in this post, the Raw Food Diet promotes both short and long term weight loss. The problem lies in its difficulty to follow and commit to, and its overall nutritional effect. With a raw food diet, you cannot eat any cooked food, and must eat much more fresh fruit, vegetables and nuts. This is not only an expensive approach to dieting, but requires you to sacrifice a lot of the foods you enjoy too. There are plenty of other diets out there that are better for your health and require much less sacrifice, so go for one of those instead. Such an increased consumption of raw foods can put stress on the digestive system too, especially in people who already have digestive problems.

5. Acid Alkaline Diet

Much like The Raw Food Diet, The Acid Alkaline diet requires a lot of sacrifices and is difficult to commit to. The theory behind this approach to dieting is that sugar and processed foods produce acid in the body, which is bad for you. Instead, the diet states that you should eat foods that make your body more alkaline, such as fruits, vegetables and water to balance out the acid-alkaline ratio. The diet also restricts you from eating meat, eggs and most grains too, which doesn’t promote a healthy, balanced diet.

Remember, we stock tonnes of great products to help you with your new dieting and fitness programme. Including Blenders, Home Gyms and Health Supplements.

Blenders, Home Gyms and Health Supplements At 24Ace

Shop today at 24ace.co.uk

Tuesday 14 January 2014

World Day of the Snowman – 18th January

Marshmallow Snowman
It may be World Day of the Snowman on the 18th January, but according to theweatheroutlook.com there will be little chance of snow away from the high ground in the north, which is great for people in the North of Scotland, but not so much so for the rest of the country who may want to celebrate World Day of the Snowman by building a Snowman.

World Day of the Snowman It is observed for several reasons, if you look at the figure 18 it looks like a snowman with a broomstick. Also, the snowman is a universal symbol of all of the fun you have during winter! So don’t sit and dread the cold season, celebrate it with World Snowman Day (not to mention the fact that it falls on a Saturday)!

If there is no chance of you being able to build a snowman on World Day of the Snowman then why not plan a snowman centred activity.

Here are my top ten ideas of how to truly celebrate World Day of the Snowman:

  1. Watch Raymond Brigg’s The Snowman, a beautiful 26 minute animated film that is wordless, like the book, apart from the song “Walking in the Air”.

  2. Watch the Snowman and the SnowDog, which was created to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of the original.


  3. Listen to Walking in the Air
  4. Create your own Snowman comic strip using Bitstrips or a Comic Creator App.
  5. If you bought a snowman t-shirt or Jumper at Christmas why not dig it out and wear it on World Day of the Snowman (I know I will be doing).
  6. Activity Village have a whole range of Snowman themed activities to keep you and the kids entertained, from snowman colouring pages, snowman crafts, snowman printables, snowman games and snowman puzzles.
  7. Build a snowman online
  8. Play a snowman game
  9. Make a marshmallow Snowman
  10. If you are lucky enough and it has snowed here’s a great video on how to build the perfect snowman.

For all your craft needs, take a look at 24ace.co.uk today.

Friday 10 January 2014

January Joiners

It'll come as no surprise to regular gym-goers that "getting fit" and “losing weight” are two of the most common goals among those who set New Year’s Resolutions every year.

Membership sales have been known to spike as much as 100 per cent in some places at the beginning of January, bringing an influx of new members into weight rooms, fitness classes and the gym!

These “January Joiners” as they've come to be known and keen, motivated and ready to burn off those selection boxes and Turkey Dinners, but to some regular gym users they are simply a nuisance and it sends them fleeing for their home gyms!

Which category do you fit in? Are you a gym regular? A January joiner? Will you be a “February failer” (even though you might not really want to admit it) or are you more of a home gym goer?

If your plan is to join a gym this January, don’t forget the all essential fitness wear! Feeling good in what you are wearing and looking the part, to a lot of gym-goers is just as important for them as actually going to the gym. If you fall in this camp then 24ace have a fantastic new range of sports and fitness wear to help you achieve those goals. Prices are from only £7.99

Clothing and Fitness

If you’re more of a home gym goer and have lost interest in the kit you’ve got already, or are simply looking for something new to add to your home gym or workout routine, then take a look at the new fitness equipment on offer, from simple additions to such as a leg magic machine to weight benches and home gyms there’s sure to be something that takes your fancy at 24ace. Spreading the cost is a great option too, especially in January when purse strings can be tight.

Wednesday 8 January 2014

Today is Bubble Bath Day!

Bubble Bath Day

People have been enjoying warm baths for thousands of years. In Ancient Rome, bathing at a public facility was part of the daily routine for most citizens. A trip to the Roman baths might include a dip in the caldarium (hot tub), a brief break in the laconicum (sauna), and a refreshing swim in the frigidarium (cold pool).

Up until the late 1940s, the average person bathed once a week for personal hygiene. Today, a daily shower is standard, but it’s important to indulge in a luxurious soak every once in a while. A bubble bath can help open up your pores, cleanse your skin, and relax muscles.

Pick up a bottle of your favourite bubble bath product and fill your bath tonight to celebrate Bubble Bath Day! Create a calming spa atmosphere with background music, candles, and a towel to cushion your neck. Enjoy!

Shop our range of Bubble Bath Products today! These include a range of baby bubble bath, Character Bubble Bath, gift sets and more. All at 24ace.co.uk