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Improve your rowing machine technique

Rowing machine
Photo: jaysk / Flickr

A workout on a rowing machine is a great way to improve upper body strength, get an all-round workout, and burn calories without creating harmful impact on your joints. While you’re spending time on this workout, though, do it the right way: read on to find out more about how to improve your rowing machine technique. (more…)


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Brits prefer home cooking to just about everything

Cooking a meal
Photo: joeywan / Flickr

A recent study commissioned by Richmond Sausages has found which meals makes Britons long for home – and has demonstrated that British mums are definitely getting it right in the kitchen. Many of the study’s participants prefer their mum’s home cooking to their own cooking, their partners’ efforts in the kitchen, and even the meals they can get in five-star restaurants. Now, the company has launched a competition to find the recipe that Brits love best. (more…)


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Micro scooter safety

Microscooter
Photo: against the tide / Flickr

The micro scooter is a great option for kids – it’s fun, easily portable, and encourages your children to get active and fit. Make sure that you know how your children should be using their scooters safely to avoid injury and focus on having some outdoor fun. (more…)


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Create a retro look in your kitchen with Smeg fridges

Smeg FAB32QAZ
Photo: Smeg

If you want to create a retro look in your kitchen, you can do it without compromising on all of the modern convenience that comes with the latest in appliances. Retro decorating is easy, and appliances like Smeg fridges are available to recreate an old-fashioned style while providing quality that’s decidedly new. Get some inspiration here, then read on to find out how to create forties and fifties charm in today’s home. (more…)


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Make the perfect tomato sauce from scratch

Tomatoes
Photo: Stock.Xchng

There’s absolutely no excuse for using tomato sauce out of a jar. It just doesn’t taste as good as the real thing, and is also filled with too much salt, sugar and other additives you really don’t need. When it comes to cooking Italian, Jamie Oliver is the next best thing to an Italian. So we’ve taken our inspiration for this recipe, inspired by his friend and mentor Gennaro Contaldo, from Jamie. It’s quick and easy to make, and goes fantastically on a pizza, with fresh pasta, or served with fish or meat. (more…)


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How to make pears poached in wine

Pear-poached-wine-
Photo: Cooking For Geeks / Flickr

Pears poached in wine make a great dessert that’s completely fat free but undoubtedly decadent. The recipe is easy to make and you can poach your pears in red or white wine, or port – the methods are similar but once you’ve tried one, you’ll almost certainly want to try them all. This recipe teaches you how to make pears poached in red wine for a delicious flavour and wonderfully rich colour. (more…)


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Handel’s home hosts Hendrix

Portrait_of_George_Friderick_Handel_
Photo: William_Hogarth / Wikimedia Commons

What do Jimi Hendrix and George Friedrich Handel have in common? No, that’s not the beginning of a joke – and the answer is that the two musicians lived next door to one another – two hundred years apart, of course. Forty years after Hendrix’s death, the two are brought together by an exhibition in Handel’s home about Hendrix’s life. (more…)


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Do you understand food labeling?

Food labels
Photo: marcospozo / Flickr

If you’ve ever felt confused by the food labels you see in supermarkets, you’re not alone. A recent survey shows that many consumers find terms like ‘natural’, ‘fresh’, and ‘real’ misleading. The claims on the labels go largely unregulated, so who’s to blame shoppers for getting the wrong impression as a result of trusting food producers’ claims? (more…)


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Non-emergency number lets users ask medical questions over the phone

Cordless phone Photo by matteopenzo - Flickr
Photo: matteopenzo / Flickr

A new non-emergency number for patients needing to ask medical questions has been launched in some UK counties, and is set to be introduced to more later this year. The service’s main benefit lies in the fact that the contact and location information it provides will be specifically local, allowing patients to find solutions to their problems over the phone as quickly and efficiently as possible when time is an important factor. (more…)


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Delicious food for autumn

Pumpkin soup
Photo: Abstract Gourmet / Flickr

As the days get shorter and colder, everyone feels like food that’s warm and comforting. Pastas, slow-cooked food, soups and stews, and course desserts are autumn favourites, so choose food for a delicious autumn menu and learn how to get it all just right to keep friends and family satisfied during the cooler months. (more…)


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