Preparing for the Barbecue with the Weber 721001 Smokey Mountain Cooker

Coming up to the Christmas period, barbecues may not be at the top of your mind as the days get colder and shorter. But you could start planning ahead and start looking forward those hot summer evenings. TheWeber 721001 Smokey Mountain Cooker is perfect for getting that real smokehouse flavor at home and it's unique design ensures perfect results every time.

This is an upgrade on the Weber 2820 and there are a number of great improvements. Firstly there is a larger door for loading the charcoal, which makes it much easier. The addition of an inbuilt thermometer makes temperature so much easier. The door latch is now spring loaded and the handle is now a lever type so you can easily see if it is open or closed. The addition of an ash catch pan helps keep everything tidy.

The Weber 721001 has a system of vents to help you keep the temperature under control and a water pan to add steam to keep the meats moist and juicy. It is large enough to cook a whole turkey and an entire ham at the same time should you want to!

Why not start preparing for your barbecues now and those winter days will fly by!

Read reviews of the Weber 721001 Smokey Mountain Cooker

The Saeco 00347 Aroma Espresso Machine for Coffee Loving Friends

If you have a friend or family member who loves coffee then you might consider the Saeco 00347 Aroma Espresso Machine as an option. If you are like me then instant coffee is OK for grabbing that quick drink, but nothing beats real coffee. The Saeco Aroma makes fantastic tasting espresso, cappucino and latte with no fuss and no mess. Its unique steam and hot water wand with frothing device which dispenses steam in three different directions makes it so easy to froth milk for cappucinos and lattes. It takes prepackaged doses of coffee in a range of grades which makes it much easier and certainly cuts down on the mess. The simple backlit control panel is easy to use too.

I think it looks great too and any kitchen would be enhanced by the look of the Saeco Aroma. It also features a warming plate.

Here's what one reviewer said:

"This machine works great, it is heavy duty metal case and does delicious creamy espresso. This machine does not leak like the gaggia I tryed before and for the price it is far the best I used. If you get it from Amazon you will get the best service ever! The water tank on the back is removable to fill and clean, the water retention tank for the coffee drops below is also removable, easy to clean, big enough and of very good quality. The metal grill does not rust and the portafila is solid. Saeco is the perfect Italian espresso lover's machine and it is so solid that it's like it was German made and not Italian :) I checked a lot of brands, models and review and that's from far the best I found for the bucks. I owned fully automatic machines for 10x the price paid here and that one is doing better espresso than any of them... This machine is a hit!"

Read more reviews of the Saeco 00347 Aroma Espresso Machine

So if your friend or loved one loves coffee then the Saeco 00347 Aroma Espresso Machine could be the one for them!

Countdown to Christmas!

Well it may only be October, but already the shops are starting to fill up with seasonal gifts and products. Christmas may feel a long way away, but it soon creeps up on you. Are you someone who plans ahead and gets organized, or do you leave it all to the last minute, frantically searching on Christmas Eve for those last few gifts. I always start off with good intentions, but then end leaving a few things until the very last minute. There are always so many things to think about - the gifts, cards, decorations, and the food and drink of course.

Perhaps the best place to start is to write a gift list; that way you won't get caught out and have to spend the last few days before Christmas desperately wandering the streets or trawling the internet trying to find that perfect gift. If your time is limited then shopping on the internet is just so much easier, but remember to leave enough time for the gifts to arrive, otherwise you will be giving gifts for the New Year instead.

Anyway, here at Gifts for Christmas, I will be sharing with you some great gift ideas and some fantastic deals, so keep checking back for help with solving those Christmas gift dilemmas.