25.08.2011
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’
Tags: bakeware, baking, champagne flutes, cooking, gadgets, kitchenware, Magnet, magnet kitchens, Wedding, wedding gift, wedding present, wine glasses
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09.08.2011
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?
Tags: Cakes, cooking, Lakeland, Magnet, magnet kitchens, Pasta, Recipe, Rice, Stews, SuperChef, Yoghurt
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14.07.2011
Are you celebrating the launch of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2? Well, why leave the excitement at the cinema when you can bring the magic to your kitchen with the Harry Potter Cookbook.
Featuring over 150 recipes, this book contains every food mentioned in Harry Potter, from Pumpkin Pastries and Treacle Fudge to Mrs Weasley’s Homemade Toffee and Rock Cake.
With the holidays approaching, why not get your whisks at the ready and prepare to add a sprinkle of witchcraft and wizardry to your cooking.
For everyone from Potter fans to keen cooks, these recipes are sure to be a magical addition to any cookbook collection.
07.07.2011
With the release of her new book ‘Notes from My Kitchen Table’ Gwyneth Paltrow has been invited to open for Liam Gallagher’s new band at the iTunes festival.
tBut.. she’ll be opening the show with a discussion about the joys of cooking! Paltrow places a lot of importance on family and being a good homemaker through cooking and creating a “life as normal as possible” for her two children and husband Chris Martin.
Paltrow likes nothing more than being in the kitchen – “My life can be so surreal sometimes – to be in the kitchen with things that are routine and mundane make me feel good.”
As we well know, the kitchen is now considered by many Brits to be the hub of the home and we spend more waking hours in the kitchen that any other room in the house.
So everyone, start making the most of your kitchen!
09.12.2010
At Magnet we’re passionate about kitchens and one of the things we love most is cooking a delicious meal while listening to some music.
So when we heard that rocker Sheryl Crow has released her own cookbook we thought we’d hit the jackpot.
To be launched in March the new book is called ‘What Makes You Healthy’ and reflects on the healthy eating-regime Sheryl embarked upon when was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006.
Sheryl says “I really got interested in cooking when I got diagnosed with breast cancer almost five years ago in February.
“I learned a lot about nutrition because I wanted to be proactive in my cancer treatment and part of that for me was to know what I was putting into my body, immune boosting and such.”
All we wanna do is listen to ‘All I wanna Do’ while trying out some of Sheryl’s healthy recipes!
13.08.2010
Kitchen gadgets should be about making your life easier and this one definitely does.
The Click n Cook is a spatula system which ensures that all your cooking utensils are in one place. The set has a storage block that holds five detachable spatula heads – depending on which one you want to use simply attach the handle!
The spatulas include a classic flat spatula, a long, flexible fish spatula, an extra-wide spatula perfect for flipping burgers, a mixer and a spoon – ideal for pasta. There’s a spatula for every need, meaning you can whip up any meal in a flash.
Not only is the Click n Cook handy for cooking but it looks pretty stylish too – each spatula is colour coded and displayed in it’s angled, stainless steel holding block.
So there’s no more messing about trying to find a spare utensil – they’re all in one place and handily displayed for quick and easy access!
04.06.2010
Pop diva Gwen Stefani has confessed that she can’t cook.
The “Rich Girl” singer told In Style magazine that her husband Gavin Rossdale does all the cooking because he’s very “passionate” about food.
“I don’t cook. I can toast in the toaster. I can pour and set the table,” she confessed.
“No, Gavin is the one. It’s not even an option, he is so passionate about it. He cooks every day. He loves to go grocery shopping and find different things. I’m really lucky. It’s actually lucky
and hard at the same time, because sometimes you want to be fit and not eat it, but you have to eat it.”
If only we had someone to do all our cooking!!
03.06.2010
If you’re not a Delia in the kitchen and ready meals are the staple of your diet, then the Smart Fridge might just be the gadget for you.
Imagine a world where your fridge is intelligent enough to invent it’s own recipes based on whatever it stocked with – That’s the idea behind the Smart Fridge, designed by Ashely Legg from ASUSDESIGN.
The design features a multi-touch panel mounted to the door where users can enter ingredients as they are placed inside. The fridge can then use the inventory to generate recipes and serving suggestions that the user may not have thought of. The fridge would also include a voice guide to give step-by-step instructions for preparing the meals.
Sounds pretty impressive to us!
22.04.2010
This week our favourite curvy TV chef Nigella Lawson has launched a new iPhone application called ‘Nigella’s Quick Collection’.
“It’s designed for people who work and have domestic responsibilities. You can choose a recipe according to your food mood, then it translates that into a shopping list so you can just stumble around with your shopping trolley.” Explains Nigella. “I love the idea of sitting on a bus looking at close-up photographs of food.”
A number of recipes are featured including Curry in a Hurry, Coq au Reisling and Cheescake in Glass. It’s even possible to send dinner invitations to friends using Facebook and email.
Videos of Nigella Lawson are featured on the app where she shares tips on a variety of topics including choosing chorizo and how to seed a pomegranate.
“I hope it’s like having a slightly bossy but supportive friend in the kitchen with you” Nigella said.
The app is already beating Jamie Oliver’s “20 Minute Meals” application and Gordon Ramsey has confirmed that he will be launching his own application this summer.
So who will be top of iPhone cookery apps? Only thyme will tell!
14.04.2010
To be honest, I’ve never really been a fan of ready meals – and it turns out that fast-food lovers are now a dying breed.
According to new research by Magnet, British people are turning their backs on ready meals in favour of home-cooked food. You can almost hear the sigh of relief from health fanatics across the UK.
The research has revealed that over half of us now cook more than we ever did before. In fact, nine out of 10 meals we eat at home are home-cooked fresh food instead of packaged meals.
The most popular home-cooked meal is Sheperd’s Pie, followed by roast dinner, egg & chips, Casserole and lamb chops.
The poll also shows that the ratio of home-cooked meals to ready meals is an incredible 9:1.
It’s looks like we’re all using our kitchens more than ever… and not just the microwave!
