SUE HAYWARD CONSUMER CHAMPION

You can’t beat a bowl of soup this time of year so I’ve road tested a soup maker to see how easy it is to make your own and tracking down Christmas decorations too…

Salter Soup Maker I’m a big soup fan and my daily cuppa soup habit is a running joke in our house. So I’ve been testing Salter’s Electric Jug Soup Maker which is super easy to use. No need to pre-cook anything, unless it’s meat, just chop veggies in small chunks, pop in with stock, switch on, and 25 minutes later, piping hot soup!

Simple to use with settings for smooth or chunky soup, and a blend button for adding cream or making smoothies.

Both my fresh mushroom soup and creamy potato and leek one were a hit with all the family!

Soup Maker Lowdown

I tested the Salter EK1548 1000W 1.6L Jug Electric Soup Maker from Robert Dyas, on offer at £39.99, compared with an RRP of £79.99.

Check the website for recipes, as you need to make a minimum amount, which is around three to four servings. Great for batch cooking as you can freeze it though you can’t reheat in the soup jug. The only downside is it’s a bit fiddly to clean as you can’t pop it in the dishwasher!

M&S Light Up Candle I’m always on the hunt for sparkly Christmas decorations and love candles, so I was super excited to spot this stunning decoration and candle in one in Marks & Spencer.

OK, so at £9.50 it’s not cheap, but looks beautiful as you can see from my snap! The candle’s in a pot inside, so I reckon once it’s burned down you could pop in another one so truly an investment piece to last for years!