Charity awareness month is in full swing, and one of the most fun ways to get involved is by baking and making a cuppa. Whether you’re a master baker or a novice, there are many ways to support your favourite causes. Here are some ideas to get you started.

Make It

There’s nothing quite like a freshly baked cake to bring people together. If you’re feeling adventurous, try out a new recipe from a trusted source like BBC Good Food. We recommend their Tray Bake collection, which includes crowd-pleasers like lemon drizzle cake and chocolate brownies. Don’t worry if you’re not a Bake Off star – with a little practice and patience, anyone can whip up a delicious treat.

Fake It

If you’re short on time or baking skills, don’t despair. Many cafes and bakeries, like our very own Plaza Cafe, offer whole cakes and slices for sale. It’s a great way to treat your friends and family while supporting a good cause. Plus, no one has to know that you didn’t make it yourself! Set the Scene

If you’re hosting a tea party at home, why not go all out with decorations? Visit your local party store or supermarket and stock up on tablecloths, napkins, and festive bunting. Ask your friends and family to bring their favourite cake trays and cutting knives, and set up a collection box for donations. It’s a great way to show your support while having fun with your loved ones.

Show Your Support

If you’re not a fan of hosting, there are plenty of other ways to get involved. Visit the websites of your favourite charities, to learn about local events in your area. Whether it’s a sponsored walk, a bake sale, or a concert, there are many opportunities to make a difference and raise awareness.

Baking and making a cuppa may seem like a small gesture, but it can have a big impact on those in need. So why not get involved in charity awareness month and make a difference today?

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Pancake Day is one of the best occasions of the year. What better excuse do you need to have these perfect pieces of food?

To get them as tasty as possible, follow these flippin’ marvellous tips… ?

Have the right tools 

No-one likes a pancake that they have to scrape off the bottom of the pan, so make sure you’ve got a non-stick pan and soft spatula to hand. TOP TIP: Before you add anything, make sure the pan is nice and hot!

…and ingredients

Many people use butter to line the pan before they put in their batter. However, this can burn and cause even more sticking. Our tip, swap this out for olive oil, lightly coated into the pan with kitchen roll.

A pancake for every mealtime

If you’ve decided to go the full way and enjoy pancakes all day long, make sure include some variety! We love the idea of fruit compote pancakes for breakfast, followed by a savoury snack at lunch – think tomato and cheese – and then dinner can be anything you fancy! You could even embrace your inner child and have chocolate pancakes for dinner, we won’t tell!

Mix the flavours

We all know that lemon and sugar or Nutella and banana are go-to flavours when it comes to pancakes. However, there are so many combos just waiting to be tried out. Be brave and give it different ones a try. On our list this year… peanut butter and jelly. If it works in a sandwich, it’ll definitely work in a pancake, that’s our logic!

Find everything you need including ingredients and the essential pancake day equipment in the centre at Sainsburys & Argos! 

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Hosting family and friends over the festive season can be intimidating and exhausting, but good planning can make the process smoother. There are a few steps you can follow to make the party planning process easier. We break down everything you’ll need to do in order to plan your perfect party this festive season, whether it’s a family Christmas function or a New Year’s Eve extravaganza.

PLANNING IS KEY

For little kids, there are several popular fun and interactive toys to choose from this Christmas. You can’t go wrong with Paw Patrol and this Christmas the Paw Patrol Sea Patroller Vehicle is one of this year’s must-have toys, so put it on your list along with the Paw Patrol My Size Lookout Tower.

No matter the event you are hosting, planning is the key to ensuring everything goes off without a hitch. These are the basic points to keep in mind:

• The theme – A theme does not have to mean costumes, but having a universal colour palette for your party will help to create the perfect party atmosphere.
• Who are you inviting? – If children will be coming, you need to accommodate for their tastes and entertainment. Have child appropriate movies on hand and maybe a separate table for the children to eat at.
• The menu – Are you organising a sit-down meal or will it be canapes and finger foods? And don’t forget to include vegetarian and vegan options for those who don’t eat meat.
• Buy everything in advance – If the food and décor you are planning to have can be bought ahead of time, this will ensure you don’t struggle to find what you need in a last-minute dash to the shops.

While everything you have to achieve could be overwhelming, creating a check list is a great way to keep on top of it all, and you will also enjoy a sense of accomplishment when you check things off the list.

GO FOR GOLD WITH DÉCOR

The colour of the season is gold, adding elegance and sparkle to your Christmas. There are great offers on Christmas décor, from baubles for the Christmas tree and garlands to adorn the house, to tableware and napkins. Pick a theme and let it run through all your décor to create maximum impact and wow your guests.

Home 100 piece Christmas decorations pack in gold £8.99 at Argos
12 pack of shaped baubles £2.00 at Poundworld
36 pack of mixed gold baubles £5.00 at Adsa
Rustic glow Christmas beadchain in gold (4m) £0.80 at Wilko
Gold glitter sparkly star Christmas tree topper £8.00 at Tesco

And don’t just keep the decorations for the tree. There are gorgeous lights and garlands on offer that will add extra pizazz to your festive decorating so your party will sparkle with style.

3D light up static reindeer £59.99 at Argos
Jute sack £3.00 at Poundworld
4 pack of glitter Christmas tree tealights £4.00 at Asda
Pre-lit snowy garland with cones and berries £16.99 at B&M
Nordic Country Christmas musical wooden village (battery operated) £12.00 at Wilko

A FEAST FOR THE EYES

When it comes to decorating your table, you don’t want to go overboard so people can’t see each other, and your food gets lost in the decorations. Keep it simple and elegant, with small decorations that will add festive spirit to your table without overshadowing the food, which should be the real star of your Christmas table.

Reindeer table decoration £4.00 at Poundworld
Glitter Noel table decoration £8.00 at Asda
Christmas metallic jacquard table runner – gold snowflakes on cream £4.99 at B&M
Cut out charger plates (4 pack) in gold £4.99 at B&M

And when dressing your table, don’t forget the Christmas crackers. There is a broad selection on offer in a range of stores, so you’ll certainly find beautiful festive Christmas crackers to match your colour scheme and your budget.

Christmas gold family crackers (12 pack) £4.00 at Sainsbury’s
Luxury gift crackers in gold (10 pack) £4.99 at B&M
Gold confetti spot dinner party Christmas crackers (12 pack) £10.00 at Tesco
George Home gold luxury crackers (6 pack) £8.00 at Asda

Another item not to forget when layout out your table and the food is napkins. There are different festive designs on offer, or go for something simple in plain colour to match your décor.

Christmas tree napkins (25 pack) £1.49 at Poundstretcher
Joyful snowman napkins (16 pack) £1.29 at Card Factory
Holly Christmas scalloped 33cm napkin (20 pack) £1.75 at Tesco

DON’T FORGET THE CHRISTMAS TREATS

And what Christmas or New Year’s Eve party would be complete without enduring seasonal favourites like mince pies, or toasting in the New Year with a glass of Prosecco?

Asda Extra Special 6 luxury all-butter mince pies £1.85 at Asda
Tesco Finest mince pies (6 pack) £2.00 at Tesco
Sainsbury’s deep filled mince pies (6 pack) £1.00 at Sainsbury’s

Prosecco Extra Dry £6.00 at Asda
Plaza Centro Prosecco £7.00 at Tesco
Sainsbury’s Conegliano Prosecco, Taste the Difference £7.50 at Sainsbury’s

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