We’re lucky enough to have a guest blog from her this week…

“We’re gradually regaining some level of normality here at The Nightjar; though since Jean Christophe Novelli and Noel Edmond first paid us a visit, it’s fair to say some things will never be the same!

“We still welcome members of our community in to the pub every Wednesday to eat a hearty home cooked meal (although its difficult to cater to Jean Christophe’s standards, maybe he’d like to come back sometime?!) and meet new people.

Thanks to the fantastic work of the Magnet team who created an astounding amount of space in my previously cramped and cluttered kitchen, I’m able to easily cater for our new friends who have joined us since watching the programme!

“The kitchen has also had it’s own steady stream of visitors who’d seen the programme and wanted a guided tour!

“All the worktop space and new appliances have made lunch club so much easier and less stressful. This truly has been a gift that will keep on giving!”

You May Be Ready For Christmas, But Is Your Kitchen…?

With only a few weeks left before the big day arrives, you may have completed all your Christmas shopping, bought all your key ingredients to get you through the festive season, but have you kitted out your kitchen with all these Christmas kitchen essentials?

Cooking is fun, but as we all know, it can get messy, so make sure you get yourself an over-the-top festive apron – a must-have for getting through the cooking without leaving a spec of flour down your front.

Moving onto the most important guest, the turkey! To keep the turkey as flavoursome and succulent as possible, a glazed terracotta roaster is not to be done without this Christmas Day, and a stainless steel spiked meat dish to display it proudly in the middle of the table.

Although stuffed to the brim with turkey and all the trimmings, no dinner finishes without a freshly made Christmas Pudding, which is where Christmas pudding moulds come in, making it so easy to perfect the rounded Christmas Pudding.

And no house is complete without the smell of mulled wine diffusing throughout the rooms, so if you are not a wine making whizz, investing in a mulled wine Reed Diffusers may be the answer you are looking for.

We have all been glued to our screens, starring at the brave celebrities in the jungle over the past five days, watching them cook, clean and live in the wild – but could you do it?

Far away from the kitchen facilities we are used to, contestants are surviving by cooking animals and produce they find around the camp, on the awkward and unpredictable gas stoves and pans.

There are no steam ovens or microwaves in sight, no oven gloves or pan stands, even the smallest cooking task can become a nuisance.

So it got us thinking, what kitchen item could you not live without?

We’ve already told you how excited we are about the new recipe book that is being published to celebrate the 150^th anniversary of Mrs Beeton’s first publication.

Mrs Beeton How to Cook* is packed full of modern advice on how to source good food plus delicious recipes – you’ll be whipping up British classics in your kitchen in no time!

And what’s even more exciting, is that we’ve teamed up with Mrs Beeton and Waterstone’s to offer one lucky winner a brand new, dream kitchen! Whether shaker style is your thing, or you prefer more of an Urban Gloss look, you’ll be able to find a range that you love.

You do have to be a Waterstone’s cardholder to enter the competition. Visit http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/pages/waterstones-card/200001512/ and find out how to enter!

*Available at Waterstone’s

We all enjoy a good gossip while we’re cooking, but now you can talk directly to your kitchen… in French!

A ‘talking kitchen’ has been created that gives cooking instructions in French to help students learn the language.

A computer is fitted into the kitchen which allows the cooks to select any French recipes they want to follow. Digital sensors are built into the utensils, containers and other kitchen equipment to communicate with the computer and make sure the right instructions are given at the right time.

The kitchen tracks the French-learning-chef’s movements and actions using Wii-like sensors and apparently speaks in a similar way to a car sat-nav.

Portable versions of the technology are being installed at Newcastle College, where the technology was trialled, and at the Institut Francais, a London-based charity dedicated to teaching French.

The user can ask for an instruction to be repeated or translated into English at any time so it’s easy to use and makes sure the French is easy to learn – it certainly makes learning more fun and easy to put the language into practice!

We’re really excited about the new recipe book that is being published to celebrate the 150^th anniversary of Mrs Beeton’s first publication.

The book is full of classic, British recipes, which have been updated for the twenty-first century kitchen.

Mrs Beeton How to Cook is packed full of modern advice on how to source good food, plus a detailed insight into ingredients and equipment.

Featuring family classics such as Leek and Potato Soup and Steak and Kidney Pudding, to dishes that will be sure to put your culinary skills to the test, such as Grilled Lobster with Parsley and Garlic Butter.

With its timeless appeal and variety of dishes, this very special recipe book belongs in every kitchen.

Mrs Beeton How to Cook will be available from Waterstone’s from 13th October!

If you haven’t already seen our news, we are delighted to announce we are sponsoring Good Food’s new daily show MY KITCHEN, which will feature celebrity chefs inviting viewers into their homes.

You can catch our logo on the 30 minute daily show over the next 10 weeks, which started this week. Have you seen it yet?

So for all you food fanatics, get watching the show and see what celebrity chefs cook when they are out of the media spotlight.

]]> http://blog.magnet.co.uk/news/magnet-sponsors-new-good-food-show-my-kitchen/feed/ 0 http://blog.magnet.co.uk/news/pippa-middleton-enjoys-cooking-in-the-kitchen/ http://blog.magnet.co.uk/news/pippa-middleton-enjoys-cooking-in-the-kitchen/#comments Fri, 02 Sep 2011 11:59:52 +0000 Magnet http://blog.magnet.co.uk/?p=1037

Not only has Miss Middleton’s derriere stolen the hearts of millions,  breaking news reports that she will melt your heart in the kitchen.

Having successfully completed an intensive four-week stint at a prestigious cookery school, Pippa was described by her tutors as “an asset to any kitchen”.

Cooking up a storm of saffron scallops with spinach and sweet tomato pickle, pan fried red snapper with mashed potato as well as French beans and red pepper relish. Is it any wonder she is considered a new domestic goddess?

So ladies, now you’ve perfected your booty and styled the swish in your hair, it’s time to master the art of performing in the kitchen.

According to news reports it’s easy to tell what couples with certain names will ask for as wedding presents.

‘The Smiths’ frequently ask for knife sets and other kitchen and dining equipment, while as ‘The Thompsons’ ask for every piece of kitchenware going, from high-tech gadgets to the basics.

Tableware and kitchen accessories are consistently popular but the survey has shown a resurgence in bakeware which suggests that newlyweds are keen to revert to the 1950s trend of home cooking and baking. This would fit in with the Magnet findings earlier in the year that found the kitchen to be the ‘hub of the home’.

‘The Joneses’ apparently throw a good party, as their list consists mainly of wine glasses, champagne flutes and beer glasses, meanwhile ‘The Williams’ enjoy the thought of having completely matching kitchenware.

The survey also showed that a lot of couples are asking for contributions towards their honeymoon rather than traditional presents, usually from couples who already live together and so have the usual household items.

What do you think – was your wedding list predictable by your name or did you break with convention? Let us know on Twitter @MagnetUK or on Facebook ‘Magnet Kitchens’

If you’re inexperienced in the Kitchen and need some help, the innovative SuperChef gadget could be the answer to all your prayers!

If you are bored of recipe books and turned off by TV cookery programmes, the SuperChef could quite literally have your dinner ready and waiting for you.

Described as a ‘one-pot cooker’ it has several pre-set functions and is capable of making rice, pasta, cakes, stews and yoghurt using its steamer, frying, boiling, baking and slow cooker settings.

With eleven cooking functions, this gadget would be perfect for all those inexperienced and lazy chefs who just do not have the time to cook every day.

It comes fully equipped with utensils, measuring cups, steam tray and even a recipe book. It also has one added bonus…  it saves on the washing up at the end of the evening.

What more could you ask for?