Latest posts: All categories

House Proud ‘Innovator’ Review – Who’s The Mummy, Age UK Heated Reversible Throw

By Janelle Hardacre | 10.01.2012 | Posted in Age UK, Heated Blankets, Uncategorized

Top mummy blogger Sally Whittle of Who’s The Mummy has drafted in some tough critics to test out the Morphy Richards Age UK Heated Reversible Throw. See what her Mum and Dad thought of the electric blanket and how to win one of your own. Click here to see the original post.

Over the past few months, I’ve tested a few new products from Morphy Richards, and just before Christmas I got another email from their PR agency. Would my parents like to test a new product?

Apparently, Morphy Richards has put together a range of new and existing products designed to make life more comfortable and easier for older people. For example, the One Cup dispenser is great for people with arthritis as it’s possible to make a hot drink without lifting a kettle.

There’s also a luxury reversible heated throw (£89.99) – a soft, reversible throw with 6 separate heat settings – perfect for people who feel the cold, or who don’t want to turn the heating on too often. My Dad is in his late 60s and really feels the cold – he has circulation problems in his legs that mean he tends to use blankets to keep his legs warm while he’s watching TV. This means my poor Mum is usually sweltering for the evening while listening to her other half grumbling about some imagined draught.

So a heated throw was dispatched to my parents for testing. After a couple of weeks, the results are in.

My parents love the throw. My Mum turns it on for my Dad at about 7pm and by 7.30pm, without fail, he’s dozed off. The blanket has a safety trip and does turn itself off so Dad doesn’t roast himself alive, but it’s safe to say he’s kept nice and cosy under there and Mum’s free to do her knitting in comfort. It can be machine washed and tumble dried, and it’s reversible so you can choose which colour you prefer (brown or cream).

You can’t over-state the importance of being warm, can you? So I know you won’t blame me, or judge me too harshly when I tell you, reader, I stole the blanket.

Seriously, I live in a Victorian house with more draughts than a hay barn, and those original sash windows laugh in the face of my archaic boiler, which is clinging on to life by its rusty fingernails. My need is greater than a couple of old people. They have double glazing, after all. And I’ll probably give it back if it snows. I’m not THAT evil.

Anyway, I’ve a feeling you’d love the reversible throw just as much as me, which is why I asked the nice people at Morphy Richards if I could have another heated throw to give away. So, if you’d like to win a luxury reversible heated throw, then all you have to do is leave a blog comment telling me the normal body temperature of a human being. And for a second, optional entry, you can like my Facebook page (just leave your Facebook user name in your blog comment and let me know you’ve liked).

Terms

  • The competition is open to any UK resident leaving a comment below before 5pm on January 21st 2012.
  • A winner will be chosen at random from all correct entries received before the closing date
  • If you are having problems leaving a comment, please email me
  • Prizes will be dispatched by Morphy Richards UK. No cash alternative available
  • Winner will be notified by email. In the event the winner cannot be reached, after 7 days, another winner will be selected
[del.icio.us] [Digg] [Facebook] [LinkedIn] [Reddit] [StumbleUpon] [Twitter] [Email]

1 Comment | Make a comment | Tags: , , , , ,

Home Made Cook of the Year winner: Sue Wynn

By Tom Craik | 24.12.2011 | Posted in Home Made Cook of the Year, Kitchen

In the final of our series of posts about the Home Made Cook of the Year finalists, we profile the proud winner of the competition, Sue Wynn.

Sue Wynn with Brian Turner at the final

Sue Wynne, who lives in Glasson Dock in Lancaster, entered Home Made Cook of the Year with a fabulous recipe for Andalucian Chicken. A tasty combination of tender chicken thighs, legs and a Spanish olive sauce, the dish was inspired by the food that Sue and her family have enjoyed holidaying in the Adalucian region.

Sue concentrating hard as she prepares her dish

Although it was a tough decision, Brian Turner and Helen Best-Shaw both deemed Sue’s dish to be the best on taste, texture and value for money.

Sue's winning dish

As well as the coveted crown, Sue walked away with a host of foodie prizes including a complete kitchen makeover and cooking course for her and a friend.

This is what Sue said:

“I’m absolutely thrilled to be crowned Home Made Cook of the year. The standard of the other two dishes was absolutely phenomenal, so I was genuinely surprised when my name was announced on the day.

“It was amazing to meet Brian Turner, Helen and the other two finalists and enjoy such a spectacular venue. I’d like to thank Denman College and Morphy Richards for putting on such a fantastic day.”

If you fancy trying out Sue’s winning recipe, check it out below:

Andalucian Chicken

Cost: £6.20

Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 large onion, sliced
  • 2 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 1 red pepper, de-seeded and sliced
  • 1 kilo skinless chicken thighs & legs
  • 25g plain flour, seasoned with a little salt and pepper and 1 teaspoon paprika 300ml chicken stock
  • 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
  • Grated zest & juice of 1 orange
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 100g chorizo, chopped
  • 75g mixed black and green olives
  • 150g button mushrooms, halved
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Method

  1. Heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil in a large heavy pan, then add the onions and garlic and sauté for 8 minutes.
  2. Add the sliced pepper and sauté for a further 2 minutes until the onions are lightly browned and soft. Transfer all of the contents of the pan to a plate.
  3. Toss the chicken in the flour seasoned with the salt, pepper and paprika.
  4. Heat the remaining oil in the pan, then add the chicken and fry until evenly browned, remove chicken from pan.
  5. Add any of the flour mixture left to the juices in the pan and then add the chicken stock and deglaze the pan.
  6. Add the onion mixture and their juices, orange juice and zest, sherry and Worcestershire sauce, chorizo and chicken.
  7. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 25 – 30 minutes until the chicken is tender.
  8. Stir in the mushrooms and olives and cook for 5 minutes.
  9. Taste and season with salt and black pepper if necessary.
  10. Just before serving, sprinkle over the chopped parsley and serve with boiled rice, potatoes or noodles.
[del.icio.us] [Digg] [Facebook] [LinkedIn] [Reddit] [StumbleUpon] [Twitter] [Email]

No Comments | Make a comment | Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Home Made Cook of the Year finalists: Maria Kuehn

By Tom Craik | 23.12.2011 | Posted in Home Made Cook of the Year, Kitchen

Here’s the second in our series of blog posts about the Home Made Cook of the Year. This time we profile yet another talented home cook, Maria Kuehn.

Maria Kuehn with Brian Turner

Maria, who lives on Greenhill Road in London, entered Home Made Cook of the Year with a recipe for Chicken and coriander meatballs with saffron and courgette rice and impressed the panel of judges so much that she was picked as one of the final three.

Maria enjoying the cook-off

A keen cook, Maria had the good fortune of being a winner at the The Observer Food Awards this year, bagging the award for best readers’ recipe.

Th dish as presented to the judges

Maria was also pipped to the post at the final hurdle after cooking for Brian Turner and Helen Best-Shaw, but walked away with her head held high for making it that far.

Brian Turner enjoying Maria's dish

If Maria’s recipe makes your mouth water, check it out below and give it a try.

Chicken and Coriander Meatballs with Saffron and Courgette Rice

Ingredients

  • 500gr boneless and skinless chicken thighs (halal if possible)
  • 1 medium onion
  • 4 large cloves of garlic, crushed
  • 1tbs mashed potato
  • 2tbs white breadcrumbs
  • a handful of coriander leaves
  • 1 tin of chopped tomatoes
  • 1 tsp white sugar
  • 250gr basmati rice
  • 1/2 flat tsp turmeric
  • 1 large courgette finely chopped
  • 1 litre of veg stock
  • 1 tbs vegetable oil

Method

  1. In a food processor place the chicken, potato, half an onion, half the coriander leaves, two cloves of garlic and the breadcrumbs. Add a small sprinkling of salt. Blend for about a minute till thoroughly combined
  2. Wet your hands and form the chicken mixture into 12 meatballs. Bring the vegetable stock to a boil, add the meatballs and simmer for 10 minutes.
  3. In the meantime, chop the other half of the onion, fry in a tbs of vegetable oil for two minutes. Add the garlic, fry for about thirty seconds and throw in the tomatoes.  Add a sprinkling of salt and a good grinding of pepper and the sugar. Cook for about five minutes. Add the meatballs to the tomato sauce with 2 tbs of cooking liquid
  4. Turn down and simmer for a further five minutes.
  5. Wash the rice thoroughly in cold running water till the water runs clear. Place the rice in a pan and cover with salted water, about two centimeters above the rice and add the turmeric. Bring to the boil and cook the rice for about eight minutes. To make it extra fluffy, empty into a sieve and pour over a kettle full of boiling water
  6. Fry the courgette till golden in a tsp of vegetable oil and add the rice to the pan. Mix thoroughly. Place the chicken and sauce in the middle of a serving dish, surround by the rice and sprinkle over the rest of the finely chopped coriander
[del.icio.us] [Digg] [Facebook] [LinkedIn] [Reddit] [StumbleUpon] [Twitter] [Email]

No Comments | Make a comment | Tags: , , , , ,

Home Made Cook of the Year finalists: Yvonne Bailey

By Tom Craik | 22.12.2011 | Posted in Home Made Cook of the Year, Kitchen

Following our hugely successful Home Made Cook of the Year competition, we thought it would be nice to profile each of the finalists on the blog. Here’s Yvonne Bailey’s story…

Yvonne’s recipe for Pork with Orange and Ginger impressed our panel of judges, beating off hundreds of entries to reach the final of the competition, held at the WI’s Denman College.

Yvonne Bailey with Brian Turner

A tasty combination of boneless shoulder chops and a sweet orange sauce, Yvonne perfected the recipe over 30 years ago when she was in her first job as a cook.

She decided the recipe would be a perfect entry to the competition as it  combines taste with value for money, using cheaper cuts of meat while mainstaining a delicious flavour.

Yvonne hard at work preparing her dish

Yvonne narrowly missed out on the top prize following a tense cook off judged by celeb chef Brian Turner and top food blogger Helen Best-Shaw, but was delighted to be part of the experience.

How the dish was presented to the judges

Brian Turner tasting Yvonne's dish

If you’re interested in trying out Yvonne’s recipe, you can check it out below.

Yvonne Bailey – Pork with Orange and Ginger

Cost: £7.20

Ingredients:

  • 4 Pork Boneless Shoulder Chops
  • 1/2 ounce of butter
  • 3 tbspns of white wine vinegar
  • 2 oz soft brown sugar
  • 1/2 tsp ground ginger
  • Salt and Pepper
  • 1 small orange
  • 1/4 pint of orange juice
  • 2 tbspns cornflower

Method:

  1. Fry chops in butter until browned on each side
  2. Put in oven proof dish
  3. Mix sugar, vinegar, ginger and some salt and pepper and pour over the chops
  4. Slice the orange thinly into 4 slices and place a slice onto each chop
  5. Squeeze over any extra juice from the ends of the oranges and the remaining orange juice
  6. Cover with either a lid or foil and bake in an oven at 180 degrees for approximately 30-40 mins.
  7. Remove from the oven and pour off the juice, returning the chops to the oven to brown a bit more and thicken the liquid with the cornflower mixed with a little water.
  8. Stir until thickened and pour over the chops
  9. Serve with new potatoes and vegetables
[del.icio.us] [Digg] [Facebook] [LinkedIn] [Reddit] [StumbleUpon] [Twitter] [Email]

No Comments | Make a comment | Tags: , , , , , ,

Helen Best-Shaw Judges ‘Home Made Cook of the Year 2011′

By Chris Bennett | 21.12.2011 | Posted in Home Made Cook of the Year, Kitchen

Earlier this month, we held the final of our ‘Home Made Cook of the Year’ competition at the WI’s Denman College in Oxfordshire. Along with celebrity chef Brian Turner, we invited our ‘House Proud Innovator’ Helen Best-Shaw (Fuss Free Flavours) to join the judging panel. Helen has since blogged about her time spent at Denman and her role as one of our judges. To read the original post, click here.

Judging Morphy Richard’s Home Made Cook of the Year

As well as being a Morphy Richards Innovator, I was recently asked to help judge their Home Made Cook of the year alongside Brian Turner. The aim was to find Britain’s best homemade dish, that was also bank account friendly costing no more than £7.50 for 4. I am a huge fan of good – and fuss free and affordable – home cooking so I was delighted to be asked.

Denman College

The event was held at the really rather beautiful Denman College, the home of the WI training college, where they run excellent, but eye wateringly expensive training courses. Apparently the college was bought many years ago by the WI, a shrewd investment I am told for a mere £60K.

Having met the finalists and Brian, I embarrassingly managed to fall over my own feet, and ended up in an inelegant sprawled heap on the floor – all this in front of a room full of WI members who were waiting for Brian’s Christmas demonstrations! Having suitably established my credentials for being a judge, the finalists and I departed to the cookery school for them to cook up their dishes.

Yvonne, Sue, Brian and Maria

The finalists were Sue Wynn with a holiday inspired Andalusian Chicken, Yvonne Bailey with Pork in orange and ginger, and Maria Keuhn with Chicken and Coriander Meatballs with Saffron and Courgette Rice.

With lots of time to cook during Brian’s demonstration there was little pressure and lots of time to chat, amazingly I discovered that Yvonne’s Grandfather lived in the house that is now Foodie Bugle HQ, and home to Silvana. It is a very small world indeed.

With all the lovely smells in the kitchen, I was starving when it came for the winning dishes to be presented to Brian and tasted. All were fantastic and it was a very hard choice, but in the end Sue’s Andalusian chicken won, packed with chicken, olives, onion, chorizo and olives. Delicious a perfect winter warmer and crowd pleaser. Definitely one for the Fuss Free kitchen.

Click to download the finalist’s recipes:

Sue’s Andalusian chicken

Yvonne’s Pork with Orange and Ginger

Maria’s Chicken and Coriander Meatballs

Many thanks to Morphy Richards, Brian, Sue, Maria and Yvonne for a fantastic day, and a huge well done to all three finalists!

For another account read here.

[del.icio.us] [Digg] [Facebook] [LinkedIn] [Reddit] [StumbleUpon] [Twitter] [Email]

No Comments | Make a comment | Tags: , , , , , , , ,

House Proud ‘Innovator’ Review – The English Kitchen, Age UK Heated Reversible Throw

By Chris Bennett | 21.12.2011 | Posted in Age UK, Floor Care, Garment Care, Household Cleaning, Ironing, Kitchen, charity partnerships

Last month we brought you news of our Age UK collection – a range of Morphy products designed in partnership with Age UK to help make everyday household tasks easier for the older generations. Over the last month, many of our ‘House Proud Innovators‘ have been working with an older friend or relative to test one of the items from the range. In our latest blog post (below), Marie Rayner at ‘The English Kitchen‘ blogs about her friend’s (Doreen) experience with the Heated Reversible Throw.

Morphy Innovators for December and some Scrummy Whipped Shortbread Cookies

As you know I am a member of the Morphy Richards House Proud Innovators. All year I have been treated to the priviledge of getting to test different Morphy Richards Appliances and it’s been great. I am a big fan of the Morphy Richards products and have enjoyed every single one.

In October Morphy Richards teamed up with Age UK and unveiled a brand new range of stylish kitchen and household products specifically designed to help make daily household tasks that little bit easier for the elderly.

A dedicated team of British designers developed the range especially with people in later life in mind and a portion of the proceeds from all sales will also be donated to provide vital funds to Age UK to help older people.

Age UK is a brilliant organization over here in the UK which works to improve later life for everyone by providing life-enhancing services and vital support.

I think it’s a brilliant combination!

As a member of the Innovators and to help promote their alliance with Age UK, I was offered the chance in December to receive a product from this fantastic range to give to an elderly friend/ family member or neighbour. I was very pleased to do so.

Doreen has always been like a second mom to me. I’ve known her since I first moved over here to the UK and I just love her to bits. She’s quite elderly now at 83 and has not enjoyed very good health over these past few years. She got the shingles several winters ago and has not really been the same since. She’s always in a lot of pain and her mobility has been severely compromised. When I was asked to think of someone I could do this for, Doreen immediately came to mind.

Doreen spends a lot of time sitting in her chair now and I know that she gets very cold in the winter and so I chose for her to receive the Morphy Richards Luxury Heated Throw. It would have been no good to get her a kettle or hoover, because, well . . . she just doesn’t use those things and her carers would have felt the benefit of having those type of things far more than she would have done. I thought this heated throw would be just the ticket.

The Luxury Heated Reversible Throw is ideal for draping over a bed, or for snuggling into on the sofa, or for a lap cover whilst sitting in a chair. With its reversible cream and brown colour in a soft fleece material it offers flexibility and comfort. It feels just like a warm teddy bear. (Doreen loves teddy bears!) It has ultra thin nano wires created specifically to ensure a good night’s rest. When we get older our skin thins and becomes so much more sensitive to things like wires and such. There are 6 heat levels which enables whomever is using it to be able to choose just the right temperature for themselves.

It is also completely machine washable so that it’s very easy to keep it fresh and clean. The electric attachment removes very easily so that you can put it into the wash. (Elderly people often struggle with things like this, so that is a big bonus.) It’s also BEAB approved which means that a person is able to enjoy their heated throw with complete piece of mind, it has been comprehensively tested for all known safety situations. You can relax in the knowledge it conforms to the highest European safety standards. It also has a built in protection system which automatically shut off the power if it reaches a temperature that is higher than considered comfortable. It will also shut off if an unsafe situation should arise. Another bonus!

It arrived last week and I was so happy to be able to bring it over to Doreen, just as happy as she was to receive it. We spoke a few days later and she was really enjoying it, especially as we have gone into a cold snap over here. She is ever so grateful to Morphy Richards and the AgeUK people for this lovely gift. I also feel very grateful as I know that Doreen will be as snug as a bug in a rug this winter! Many thanks to Morphy Richards and AgeUK , and Chris from Finn PR for this most generous gift, and for making my friend Doreen a little bit more comfortable this winter!!! You are all stars! (This is the spirit of Christmas and Giving in action!)

Of course you just know that when I visited her the other night, I also brought her over some Christmas treats . . . I always bring her a goodie or two when I visit and this time I brought her a box of my whipped shortbreads, which are something that I make every Christmas.

I have been making these lovely Christmas Cookies for years. It’s an old recipe from my Big Blue Binder and one that I got from my old friend Leona, a very long time ago. I just love them, and for more than a few reasons!

One, they are very easy to make and we all know I can be rather lazy from time to time. A short bread cookie that can be made without the hassle of chilling and rolling is a big bonus to me!

Two, they turn out perfect every time . . . no fails . . . ever. You can dress them up or down with a variety of sugar sprinkles, or candied cherries or even icing drizzles.

Short and buttery, they are perfect in every way. Everyone always loves them.

Trust me on this.

*Whipped Shortbreads*
Makes about 2 dozen
Printable Recipe

All the yumminess of shortbread cookies without any of the hassle of having to roll them out, etc.

8 ounces of butter (1 cup) room temperature
210g of plain flour (1 1/2 cups)
70g icing sugar (1/2 cup)

Preheat the oven to 180*C/350*F/ gas mark 4. Line several baking sheets with baking parchment. Set aside.

Place all of the ingredients into a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer for 10 minutes until light and fluffy. Drop by the teaspoon onto the baking sheets. (Leave about 2 inches of space in between each to allow for spreading.) Sprinkle the tops with a varieity or sprinkles or coloured sugars, or chopped green and red cherries.

Bake for about 17 minutes until the bottoms are coloured light brown. Allow to cool on the baking sheets. Store in an airtight container.

And over in The Cottage today, some delicious White Chocolate Dipped Gingernuts!

[del.icio.us] [Digg] [Facebook] [LinkedIn] [Reddit] [StumbleUpon] [Twitter] [Email]

No Comments | Make a comment | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Meet the Morphys: Rebecca Holland

By Chris Bennett | 21.12.2011 | Posted in Meet the Morphys

Hey, I’m Becks and I am the new Assistant Category Consumer Manager across the Breakfast Occasions and Work Top Cooking categories at Morphy Richards… so basically working on all things in the kitchen.

My role within the team is to ensure that all our products meet our customers’ expectations in both performance and desirability, so this involves researching consumer insights, having an input on product development and then planning and delivering a marketing plan.

Currently I am getting to grips with all of our products in the range and new up coming product ranges with the help of a great team, I am not much of a culinary expert so I am looking forward to taking lots of Morphy Richards products home to challenge my self (and I will no doubt be expected to provide the boys with their lunch).

I love marketing and my new job is keeping me very busy but once the weekend comes you can’t beat a few cocktails with the girls and a chilled out day with lots of films. I occasionally frequent the gym and dance class, but this tends to results in a gossiping session with one of the girls … so it’s safe to say I don’t often break a sweat!

Once I have settled in I will report back with an update!

To meet more of the wonderful folk at Morphy HQ, click here.

[del.icio.us] [Digg] [Facebook] [LinkedIn] [Reddit] [StumbleUpon] [Twitter] [Email]

No Comments | Make a comment | Tags: , , , ,

Bag a Christmas Bargain from Morphy Richards!

By Chris Bennett | 14.12.2011 | Posted in Kitchen

If you’re still on the lookout for the perfect Christmas gift for a loved one, relative or friend then you may have just come to the right place. Because we get excited about the festive season here at Morphy HQ, we want to share that excitement with our customers and fans and give you the chance to grab a bargain, but be quick, the last time to guarantee Christmas delivery is Monday 19th December!

Between now and 31st December 2011 we’ve got a fantastic offer on our Flavour Savour Slow Cooker (4.5L), Elipta Espresso and Filter Coffee Maker and a Premium Breadmaker:

Save 35% on the Morphy Richards Flavour Savour (4.5L)

Flavour Savour has 3 in 1 cooking functions, meaning you can seal, fast stew and slow cook in one product. The pan heats to around 200 degrees giving you the sealing functionality.

To take advantage of this great offer, simply quote the voucher code: SC8435SM on the Morphy Richards website

Our ‘House Proud Innovators’ have recently been putting the Flavour Savour through its paces, check out a couple of the reviews – Mum in the Madhouse, NotSupermum and Rosie Scribble

Save 55% on the Morphy Richards Premium Manual Breadmaker

Ergonomically designed breadmaker with easy-view front angled display and easy to use button controls. With 17 different settings this breadmaker provides simplicity with functionality.

To take advantage of this great offer, simply quote the voucher code: BM2350SM on the Morphy Richards website

Save £100 on the Morphy Richards Elipta Espresso and Filter Combination Coffee Maker

This premium brushed stainless steel coffee machine delivers great tasting espresso and filter coffee. The Espresso function maintains 19 bar pressure, is compatible with both ground coffee and E.S.E. pods and has a cup warming feature.

To take advantage of this great offer, simply quote the voucher code: CM60100SM on the Morphy Richards website

[del.icio.us] [Digg] [Facebook] [LinkedIn] [Reddit] [StumbleUpon] [Twitter] [Email]

No Comments | Make a comment | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Morphy ‘Innovators’ Review – Mum in the Madhouse, Flavour Savour slow cooker

By Tom Craik | 12.12.2011 | Posted in Kitchen, Morphy 'Innovators'

Veteran slow cooker Jen Walshaw from Mum in the Madhouse was given the task of reviewing our Flavour Savour this month. The question on her lips though, was what could our model bring to the kitchen that her existing one couldn’t? Jen was sceptical, but pleasantly suprised.

Get the lowdown below or click here to read the post on her own blog. And if you’re interesting in reading what other bloggers had to say, click here,  here and here.

Flavor Savour – the best slow cooker in the world ever

Now I do not say the above lightly.  I have had a slow cooker for at least 17 years and use one at least a couple of times a week, so when  Morphy Richards said they were going to send me a Flavour Savor as part of their Innovators scheme I have to admit I thought, oh no, not another slow cooker, but I couldnt have been more wrong.

The Flavor Savor is unique in a couple of ways, firstly it allows you to brown and seal your meat or veg in the pan on the base unit.  This is not only quick, but very effective too.  I have used it to seal sausages, beef and pork and also to brown onions too.  It saves you using a separate pan, but also from even putting the hob on to heat it up.

Another key difference to a standard slow cooker is the fact that the Flavour Savor also has a quick cook function.  So that if like me, who forgot to put the slow cooker on yesterday you can make sure your meal is cooked in less than an hour and a half!

Other points which make this a premium product in my opinion:

  • Glass Lid to make viewing of the food easy
  • The shape, the 4.5 litre Flavor Saver has a round dish and base which means that it takes up much less space than my old slow cooker.
  • The dish can go on the hob or in the oven (perfect if you want to crisp up your dumplings)
  • The handles on the dish are silicone coated, which mean they are cool to touch.
  • The dish which is stainless steel is lighter than my old one, so again easy to carry and looks perfect on the dinning table.
  • It has a keep warm function, so no overcooked mush, it automatically reduces the heat and keeps your food warm.

Top tip. A slow cooker is a perfect place to cook and warm up your Christmas pudding.  You do not have to worry about topping up the water and the pan boiling dry.

The 4.5 litre Flavor Savour usually retails at £89.99, but us currently under £60 on Amazon.

[del.icio.us] [Digg] [Facebook] [LinkedIn] [Reddit] [StumbleUpon] [Twitter] [Email]

No Comments | Make a comment | Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Home Made Cook of the Year: the runners up

By Tom Craik | 09.12.2011 | Posted in Home Made Cook of the Year

We’d like to take this opportunity to thank all the talented cooks that entered Home Made Cook of the Year. It was great to see that creative, cost effective home cooking is alive and well in the UK.

It’s been a tough judging process but we’ve managed to make a decision on nine runners up, which we’ve announced below.

Each of the runners up have won a Morphy Richards product of their choice up to a recommended retail price of £150, a Roberts DAB Radio and a one day Women’s Institute cooking course for them and a friend

  • Susanna Hall – Slow Cooked Beef Goulash
  • Jill Wade – Grandma Jill’s Turkey and Bacon Past Bake with Roasted Vegetables and Rustic Wholemeal Bread
  • Patricia Kennedy – Carbonnade of Beef with Two Potato Topping
  • Mrs. M Gulliford – Meatball Mania
  • Gillian Fletcher – Chicken, Mushroom and Leek Gougere
  • Kathy Cakebread – Smoked salmon and broccoli frittata
  • Sue Hardy – Best Ever Lasagne
  • Caroline Grant – Winter Warming Beef Cobbler
  • Stephen Davidson – Faux Foie Gras With Roasted Veg and Mushroom Gravy

Congratulations to you all! We’ll get in touch with you all individually to arrange your prizes.

[del.icio.us] [Digg] [Facebook] [LinkedIn] [Reddit] [StumbleUpon] [Twitter] [Email]

No Comments | Make a comment | Tags: , , , , , ,

Morphy ‘Innovators’ review, Not Supermum, Flavour Savour slow cooker

By Tom Craik | 07.12.2011 | Posted in Kitchen, Morphy 'Innovators', Product Reviews

This month, we sent Not Supermum one of our Flavour Savour slow cookers as part of our Innovators scheme.

In the blog post below, she reports on cooking up a delicious meal using a slow cooker mix from our parters in crime Schwarz, and shares her thoughts on the product (Go here to read the post on her own blog).

The Morphy Richards Flavour Savour & Schwartz recipe mixes

This month, as part of my role as a Houseproud Innovator I was sent a slow cooker. Not any old slow cooker though – one of Morphy Richards’ fancy new 4.5L Flavour Savour models.

If I’m honest I wasn’t filled with enthusiasm for the slow cooker. Over the last few years I’ve been given two slow cookers and have eventually given them both away without ever using them.

I think the problem I had with slow cookers is that they always seemed like a bit of a faff. You know what I mean, you have to seal the meats in a pan first and then transfer it to the cooker and then mess around with ingredients when you should be having your breakfast.

Then, by coincidence, I was contacted by Schwartz (the herbs and spices people) who have just developed a range of slow cooker recipe mixes. According to Schwartz  45 per cent of homes across the UK have a slow cooker but only 14 per cent of use them, and I can believe that going by my own track record.

So there really was no excuse for me not to have a try was there? Well, apart from the fact that in between receiving the slow cooker and recipe mixes we moved house, I packed everything up, couldn’t find the box with the slow cooker in and then kept putting it off. Well….it’s all seemed so complicated.

Well I’m happy to report that I’ve used the slow cooker and one of the Schwartz mixes and it really was very easy, both of which came with very easy to follow instuctions. Idiot proof even. Even for this idiot.

The Flavour Savour cooker has fast stew and slow cook modes, as well as a sealing function which means you can seal the meat in the actual slow cooker instead of using a separate pan. I browned the sausages, then added the rest of the ingredients including the Sausage and Bean casserole mix, popped the lid on the cooker and went about my day as normal and unlike other slow cookers I could check the food because of the very handy glass lid, so no need to disturb the cooking process by taking the lid off!

I’ll definitely be using the slow cooker again, and I already have plans to use the Schwartz Beef and Tomato casserole mix later this week. There’s also a Slow Cooker recipe book available too. Bon appetit!

[del.icio.us] [Digg] [Facebook] [LinkedIn] [Reddit] [StumbleUpon] [Twitter] [Email]

No Comments | Make a comment | Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,

Meet the Morphys: Annaliese Curtis

By Chris Bennett | 05.12.2011 | Posted in Garment Care, Ironing, Meet the Morphys

Here at ‘Home of the House Proud’, we like to introduce to you some of the people that work so hard to make sure that the products we bring to market are top quality and really do make your everyday household tasks easier. Today, we’re going to introduce Annaliese.

Hi, I am Annaliese and recently joined the Morphy Richards Marketing Team as a Category Consumer Manager looking after the Garment Care Category. What that means in non-marketing speak is I work on our iron and steam generator product range, making sure that we understand consumers’ needs through research and market trends and develop products that deliver against those needs and then tell people about them!

Morphy Richards is a household name and has been around for 75 years, so there is a lot of heritage and knowledge here. There is a lot of science behind our products too and they are all extensively put through their paces at our on-site testing facility, so the journey of bringing a new iron to market is very thorough and impressive. After 6 months here I have got a good knowledge of how our products are built and what makes them unique. It is a great place to work and you can see why our customers have loved us since the 1930s!

When I am not engrossed in the world of ironing, out of work I am a full time Mummy to my adorable 2 year old daughter and regularly find myself covered in paint or cake mixture as I help her create her next masterpiece! Aside from being a Mummy I love to travel and use my languages where I can. I speak fluent French and near fluent German, but there is not much call for that around the office! My favourite places I have visited are Malaysia, Switzerland and Borneo and next on the wish-list are Russia and New Zealand, although I might need to wait a while! I also enjoy going to gigs and pretty much once a month find myself at the local arena bopping along to some band or other!

[del.icio.us] [Digg] [Facebook] [LinkedIn] [Reddit] [StumbleUpon] [Twitter] [Email]

No Comments | Make a comment | Tags: , , , ,

Home Made Cook of the Year 2011 – The Final, Denman College, 5th December 2011

By Chris Bennett | 05.12.2011 | Posted in Home Made Cook of the Year, Kitchen

A very exciting day was had by all at ‘Home of the House Proud’ today as several of the team made the journey down to the WI’s Denman College in Oxfordshire for the final of our ‘Home Made Cook of the Year’ competition.

As many of our regular visitors will know, over the last couple of months we have been running a competition with the support of the WI, Delia Online and Diabetes UK to find the country’s best ‘Home Made Cooks’ – budding chefs were asked to send us a recipe and picture of a main meal dish big enough to feed a family of four, but costing less that £7.50 (we are celebrating our 75th anniversary this year after all)!

We received loads of great entries, many of which we have shared with you on ‘Home of the House Proud’ and many of which we’ll be sharing with you over the following weeks and months. From the entries, a shortlist of three recipes were selected and the talented cooks behind each were invited to the WI’s Denman College today to cook their dishes for celebrity chef Brian Turner and leading food blogger Helen Best-Shaw (Fuss Free Flavours). The three short-listed winners were (all three will be showcased on ‘Home of the House Proud’ this week):

  • Yvonne Bailey, from Chippenham  who submitted a recipe for a Pork with Orange and Ginger

  • Maria Kuehn, from London who submitted a recipe for Chicken and coriander meatballs with saffron and courgette rice

  • Sue Wynne, from Lancaster who submitted a recipe for Andalucian Chicken

Brian was running a cookery demonstration course ‘A Taste of Christmas’ at Denman College today, which was being sponsored by Morphy Richards and our partner Stoves, so the day started with Brian introducing the three finalists to the 100+ ladies in the audience and then giving each of them two hours to rustle up their creations in the Denman College Cookery School. Once the two hours had passed, Brian invited the finalists back in to the auditorium where he was joined by Helen to taste the meals and decide on an overall winner.

Yvonne Bailey, from Chippenham

Maria Kuehn, from London

Sue Wynne, from Lancaster

After deliberations that lasted a good five minutes, we’re pleased to announce that Sue Wynne’s Audalucian Chicken was the overall winner due to its taste, texture and cost (amongst other things), although all three dishes were of a very high standard (hence the five minutes deliberation time!).

Brian Turner and Helen Best-Shaw Judge

Sue has bagged herself a £1,000 Morphy Richards kitchen makeover, a Stoves Mini Range cooker, a Roberts DAB radio and a one day Women’s Institute cooking course for her and a friend – the perfect prize package for any ‘Home Made Hero’!

Sue Wynne, from Lancaster - Winner of 'Home Made Cook of the Year' 2011

The Winning Dish - 'Home Made Cook of the Year' 2011

Over the coming couple of weeks, we’ll be handing out some runners up prizes to nine other entrants that have impressed the judges with their kitchen creations – watch this space!

As well as the pictures above, we’ve also got a load more pictures from today on our Facebook page, click here to have a look.

A huge thanks to everyone that took the time to enter the competition, here’s to ‘Home Made Cook of the Year 2012’!!

[del.icio.us] [Digg] [Facebook] [LinkedIn] [Reddit] [StumbleUpon] [Twitter] [Email]

No Comments | Make a comment | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Home Made Cook of the Year finalists announced!

By Tom Craik | 30.11.2011 | Posted in Home Made Cook of the Year, Kitchen

We’ve had some truly amazing entries to our Home Made Cook of the Year competition, from hearty slow cooked stews to light, mediterranean favourites, so thanks to all who took the time to enter.

Our judges were faced with a tough decision, but in the end, three recipes stood out from the crowd. We’re proud to announce the three lucky finalists as…

  • Yvonne Bailey, from Chippenham – Pork with Orange and Ginger
  • Maria Kuehn, from london – Chicken and coriander meatballs with saffron and courgette rice
  • Sue Wynne, from Lancaster – Andalucian Chicken

These three talented cooks will be battling it out for the coveted Home Made Cook of the Year crown this coming Monday at Denman College. Each will cook and present their dish to celebrity chef Brian Turner, who will make the all important final decision.

We’ll update you with a full report on the final on Monday evening, so stay tuned!

[del.icio.us] [Digg] [Facebook] [LinkedIn] [Reddit] [StumbleUpon] [Twitter] [Email]

1 Comment | Make a comment | Tags: , , , , , ,

Morphy ‘Innovators’ Review (and recipe) – Rosie Scribble, Flavour Savour slow cooker

By Tom Craik | 28.11.2011 | Posted in Morphy 'Innovators', Product Reviews, Recipes

Rosie would be the first to admit she’s not a natural whizz in the kitchen, but she’s been cooking up a storm with our Flavour Savour slow cooker and has even tried out one of the recipes from our slow cooker cook book.

You can check out the recipe she tried out, and her thoughts on the product, below (or click here to read the post on her own blog)

Slow cooker Greek-style butter bean and potato casserole

Butter bean and potato casserole

I’m not known for my cooking skills, but even I have managed to successfully produce this Greek-style butter bean and potato casserole from the new Morphy Richards slow cooker cookbook. It takes just 15 minutes to prepare the ingredients, and then you just leave it to cook for four hours. It’s a great recipe for a cold winter evening and great with a chunky bread roll. (Serves 6).

Ingredients

4 tbsp olive oil
1 mild Spanish onion
4 garlic cloves, crushed
200 ml red wine
400 g white potatoes, diced
2 x 410 g cans butter beans, drained and rinsed
2 x 400 g cans chopped tomatoes
Pinch of paprika
1 bay leaf
2 tbsp chopped flat-leaf parsley

Method

1. Heat half the oil in a large saucepan over a high heat and cook the onions for about 5 minutes. Stir in the garlic and add the red wine. Let it bubble for a few minutes to deglaze the pan. Season and transfer to the slow cooker. Add the potatoes, turnip and butter beans.

2. Add all the remaining ingredients and mix. Season and cook for 4 hours on the high setting and 8 hours on the low.

The recipe is so simple that your children will be able to help, which is an added bonus. We cooked the dish in the Flavour Savour Digital Slow Cooker that we were sent as part of the Morphy Richards Innovators Scheme.

Morphy-Richards-48787-Slow-CookerIt is incredibly easy to use and with a capacity of 4.5 litres it is large enough to cook a meal for the whole family. It has three cooking settings – browning, fast stew and slow cook, which are all accessible via its digital interface. I particularly liked its digital countdown timer plus the fact that it is easy to store, especially as we do not have a large kitchen. I was also impressed with its keep-warm function which keeps food hot in the pan  for up to 2 hours. The pan is also hob-proof so can also be used on gas or electric cookers. It comes with a clear lid with cool-touch handle so you can peer inside and check on your cooking with the minimum of fuss.

I absolutely love the product and simply can’t fault it. It retails at £89.99.

Are you a dab hand in the kitchen? Do your friends compliment you on your home-cooking skills? Can you prepare wholesome, nutritious food on a budget? Then why not enter the Home Made Cook of the Year 2011? Morphy Richards are looking for some ‘Home Made Heroes’ and there are some great prizes on offer. Visit Home Made Cook of the Year 2011 for further details.

[del.icio.us] [Digg] [Facebook] [LinkedIn] [Reddit] [StumbleUpon] [Twitter] [Email]

No Comments | Make a comment | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

25-35% off all Morphy Richards products to celebrate Black Friday

By Tom Craik | 25.11.2011 | Posted in Floor Care, Garment Care, Household Cleaning, Ironing, Kitchen

Source: Bangstyle.com

Calling all Home of the Houseproud readers! It’s Black Friday today!

What’s all that about then!!???

Well, for the good folks over in the US of A, it’s the day after Thanksgiving and the start of the Christmas shopping season. It’s become a bit of a discount shopping day, where millions of Americans are lured by massive savings.

If all that makes you green with envy, then you’re in the right place.

To celebrate this momentus day, we’re giving all Morphy fans the chance to save 25- 35% off all products purchased from our website. Not just for today, but up until 11.00am on Monday 28th November.

Below is a list of voucher codes for different product types. All you have to do is select your product and enter the code at the checkout stage of our website. It’s as easy as that!

Happy Black Friday!

CB35E:         35% off all Cooking and Baking Products

COFF35E        35% off all Coffee products

IRON35E        35% off all Ironing products

FLOOR35E:      35% off all Floor Care products

TOAST25E:      25% off all Toasters

KET25E:        25% off all Kettles

Terms and conditions

  • Offer ends 11pm 28th November 2011
  • eVouchers cannot be used in conjunction with any other evoucher or offer
  • Offer excludes products with existing discounts such as those featured in the special offer and discounts area of www.morphyrichards.co.uk
  • Subject to stock availability
  • Morphy Richards reserves the right to withdraw these offers at any time.
  • Discount codes are available to use on www.morphyrichards.co.uk only
[del.icio.us] [Digg] [Facebook] [LinkedIn] [Reddit] [StumbleUpon] [Twitter] [Email]

1 Comment | Make a comment | Tags: , , , , , , , , ,

Morphy ‘Innovators’ Review, Flavour Savour Slow Cooker, Are we nearly there yet mummy?

By Tom Craik | 25.11.2011 | Posted in Kitchen, Morphy 'Innovators', Product Reviews

This month, our Innovators have been going slow cooking mad, trying out all sorts of wonderfully warm winter recipes to feed up their families.

We sent Laura (Are we nearly there yet mummy?) a Flavour Savour slow cooker and a slow cooker recipe book for some inspiration and we’ve managed to change her opinion of slow cooking. Yes…that’s right, it’s not just for stews, there’s a whole world of recipe possibilities out there!

You can read her thoughts below or click here to read her the original post.

We were sent a Morphy Richards Slow Cooker. I’ve always thought that slow cookers were only useful for big hearty stews.

The ingenious Tom at Morphy Richards knew that I needed inspiration. He sent me The Ultimate Slow Cooker Cookbook which has totally changed my view of the versatility of slooooow cooking.

The Flavour Savour slow cooker has 3 functions, which means you can seal, fast stew and slow cook.  Do you know you can cook a whole chicken in it?  A WHOLE chicken, with nothing else in there, for hours … for the most tender and juicy chicken.

I made a bolognese on Sunday for a family meal.  I am convinced it was one of my better bolognese sauces as were the family.   It was packed full of flavour and the meat just melted, it was so tender.  Delicious.

I am a lazy cook so the slow cooker is perfect.  Bung all the ingredients in, leave to cook and go out (for up to 8 hours!), return and dish up.

Next week we’ll be dining on szechuan braised belly of pork! You can get the 4.5 litre Flavour Savour here for £89.99 … for another £10.00 you can get the 6.5 litre version which is great for family meals and/or if you want to freeze batches.

[del.icio.us] [Digg] [Facebook] [LinkedIn] [Reddit] [StumbleUpon] [Twitter] [Email]

No Comments | Make a comment | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

Morphy ‘Innovators’ Review – The Ultimate Slow Cooker Cook Book, Reviewed by the English Kitchen

By Chris Bennett | 24.11.2011 | Posted in Morphy 'Innovators'

At Morphy HQ, we live and breathe slow cooking; after all, we have to as the country’s favourite slow cooker manufacturer. Recently we brought you news of a brand new cook book that we’ve had commissioned – The Ultimate Slow Cooker Cook Book. It is packed with over 100 tasty slow cooker recipes, perfect as the cold winter sets in! Last month, we sent our ‘House Proud Innovators’ a copy of the cook book to review – check out Marie Rayner’s (The English Kitchen) thoughts in the blog post below:

Butter Roasted Whole Chicken with Lemon and Thyme and a darn good cookery book!

I was surprised and quite pleased the other day to get a package in the post and find inside this lovely little cookery book. Chris (my Morphy Richard’s friend) had sent me this as I had so enjoyed the slow cooker that I was sent last month. He thought I would enjoy using it along with my new Flavour Savour Slow Cooker.

He was right!! I could not wait to get stuck in! Today was my chance. I just happened to have a chicken and we were going to be in church all morning. We are always starving when we get home, so I like to use my slow cooker on Sundays. It’s my slow cooking day of choice!

At Morphy Richards, they’re passionate about their products, and quite rightly so. I have always been more than happy with everything I have ever gotten of theirs, and I can assure you that I have had Morphy Richards products in my home since I first moved over here some 11 years ago now. This cookery book, The Ultimate Slow Cooker Cook Book (published by Ebury Press and written by Cara Hobday) is the perfect companion to their slow cookers and features over 100 delicious fuss-free recipes from family favourites, to dishes for a dinner party.

It’s filled with tips and advice for using your slow cooker as well as several tasty chapters, including:

  • Soups (Moroccan Chickpea Soup, Midweek Chunky Vegetable Soup etc.)
  • Chicken, Duck and Fish (Jerk Chicken Casserole, Sweet and Sour Chicken, Salmon and Tararind Curry, Duck with Orange, Cranberry and Thyme, etc.)
  • Pork and Lamb (Sausage, Red Onion and Bean Casserole, Lancashire Hot Pot, etc.)
  • Beef and Game (Beef Provencal with Olives and Anchovies, Beef and Cashews with Coconut and Chilli, Venison Braised with Blueberry and Juniper, etc.)
  • Vegetarian and Vegetable Dishes (White Bean and Tomato Cassoulet, Pine Nut Fennel and Parmesan Risotto, etc.)
  • Desserts (Sticky Toffee Pudding, Baked Cherry Cheesecake, etc.)
  • Preserves (Orange Marmalade, Spiced Tomato Chutney, etc.)

Today I cooked the Butter Basted Chicken with Lemon and Thyme. It went together very easily with little or no effort. That is important to me on Sunday mornings as I have about a bazillion other things to do.

When we got home we could smell it as soon as we opened the door. It smelled heavenly. Poor Mitzi, who loves chicken so much must have been tortured by the lovely smell while we were out!

In no time at all I had a delicious dinner on the table for Todd and myself and I can tell you it was truly lovely. The chicken was moist and had a wonderful flavour. The sauce was delicious and perfectly flavoured as well, with just a hint of lemon and butter and herbs. I would and will make this again. It has truly become a favourite recipe!

Please do check out the Morphy Richards Innovater Site where you can buy this lovely book for yourselves. They will also be bringing you extracts from this book throughout the winter months to tempt your palates! If you like what you read and you want a copy for yourself; the book can be purchased from the Morphy Richards website for a mere £5.99, and I for one think it is very good value for money!

Many thanks to Chris and to Morphy Richards for sending me this lovely cookbook. Next on my to make list for sure is the Cherry Cheesecake!

*Butter Based Whole Chicken with Lemon and Thyme*
Serves 6
Printable Recipe

Succulently moist and full of flavour. We really enjoyed this.

50g of butter (4 TBS)
the juice and zest of one unwaxed lemon
2 TBS thyme leaves
1 X 1.4kg chicken (free range, organic, about 3 pounds in weight)
150ml of chicken stock (about 2/3 cup)
3 TBS cornflour (cornstarch)
2 TBS chopped fresh parsley (optional)
salt and freshly groune black pepper
various cooked vegetables to serve (they suggest sugar snap peas, baby carrots, mangetout. I used
stuffing, roasted potatoes and baby carrots)

Mash together the butter, lemon juice and zest. (this works best if your butter is somewhat softened) Add salt and pepper to taste. Using your fingers, loosen the skin from the breast of the chicken, carefully so as not to tear. Push the butter mixture in between the skin and the breast of the chicken. Replace the skin and then massage the breast all over to spread it out.

Place the chicken into the slow cooker and pour the stock into the bottom. Cover and cook for 5 hours on the high setting, or 10 hours on low.

Remove the chicken from the cooker. Set aside and keep warm while you make the sauce.

To make the sauce, spoon off all of the excess fat from the cooking liquid. Whisk the remaining juices in a pan over medium heat, along with the cornstarch which you have mixed together with a bit of water. Whisk constantly until the mixture comes to a simmer and thickens. Simmer for 3 to 4 minutes before serving.

Carve the chicken and place servings on heated plates along with some vegetables and spooning some of the sauce over top. Delicious!

[del.icio.us] [Digg] [Facebook] [LinkedIn] [Reddit] [StumbleUpon] [Twitter] [Email]

No Comments | Make a comment | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

New Morphy Richards espresso machines for caffeine-loving Brits

By Janelle Hardacre | 24.11.2011 | Posted in Kitchen, new products

Copyright Alamy

Whilst we might assume that a cup of tea is the hot beverage of choice for Brits, new research has revealed that a cup of coffee is fast becoming the nation’s favourite. For the first time, sales of espresso cups have overtaken the traditional mug and coffee machines are fast becoming a kitchen essential for sophisticated Brits.

So what better time to unveil our shiny, new range of Morphy Richards Elipta espresso machines? Here’s a bit of a flavour of what you can expect from the new Mophy Richards coffee range. The new Morphy Richards Elipta Espresso Machine (£169.99) is a premium brushed stainless steel coffee machine that delivers great tasting coffee with minimum effort.

The 15 bar pressure machine has a 1.5L capacity and is compatible with both ground coffee and espresso pods and also has a cup warming feature.

Also in the range is Morphy Richards Automatic Elipta Espresso (£199.99), with built in automatic function to ensure your espresso comes out just the way you like it. Finally in the new range is the Morphy Richards Combination filter and Espresso Machine (£249.99). Take your pick from the range by visiting the Morphy Richards website.

Why not treat somebody you love to a new espresso machines this Christmas?

[del.icio.us] [Digg] [Facebook] [LinkedIn] [Reddit] [StumbleUpon] [Twitter] [Email]

No Comments | Make a comment | Tags: , , , , , , , ,

Morphy ‘Innovators’ Review – Accents One Cup and Kettle and Toaster, Meemalee’s Kitchen

By Chris Bennett | 22.11.2011 | Posted in Kitchen, Morphy 'Innovators', Product Reviews

Since we launched our ‘House Proud Innovators’ initiative in April of this year, we have been working closely with 15 influential bloggers in both the foodie and mummy communities.

Each month we send a blogger a product from our range and ask them to critique it i.e. tell us what they like, but more importantly, tell us what they don’t like to help us ‘be more innovative’ and help make peoples everyday lives easier. In our latest ‘Innovator’ review, MiMi (who blogs at ‘Meemalee’s Kitchen’) has put the Accents One Cup and Accents Kettle and Toaster through their paces – check out her thoughts below. You can read the original blog post here.

Morphy Richards One Cup Review

DSC04135

So you may remember that Morphy Richards asked me to be one of their Home of the Houseproud reviewers. The way it works is they ask me if I’m interested in the gadget of the month and I say yea or nay depending on caprice.

Most recently, they offered to send me the One Cup. Now, I have the brain of a guttersnipe and clearly spend too much time on the internet, so of course I accepted this offer with glee.

In fact, I was this close to getting my sister-in-law to pose with me and the machine, purely so I could post a photo with an appropriate caption, but then I thought that might be going too far for a family-friendly site.

If you have no idea what I’m talking about, that’s a good thing.

DSC04277

In direct contrast to the beast they sent me last time, the Morphy Richards One Cup is relatively petite and rather curvaceous.

Its concept is simple – it heats and dispenses one cup of water for you in about 30 seconds – so a bit like the long-lost Tefal Quick Cup which I nearly bought before I saw the decidedly mixed reviews.

From the colourful Accents range, the One Cup comes in two parts – the machine proper, and a drip tray which for some unearthly reason doesn’t actually slot into the main part. This bugs me.

So you get your mug of water (I don’t have a cup), and you chuck it into the reservoir at the top. If you’re cack-handed like me, you chuck half the water over the machine and then freak out about short-circuits.

DSC04279

Then you put your teabag etc in the same mug, place it on the stupid drip tray and you press the button.

30 seconds later, after a noise like the one they used to make in the Brook Bond Red Mountain ads, a steaming jet of water fills your mug and your hot beverage is ready. And that’s it.

DSC04281

Does it work? Yes, it does.

But to be honest, I can only think of six reasons why you’d want to buy this:

  1. you work in an office where people don’t want to make tea for their colleagues;
  2. you’re the little old lady who lived opposite my parents and who only ate biscuits;
  3. you have weak wrists;
  4. you lack patience;
  5. you’re amused by gimmicks;
  6. you like pretty gadgets.

Because otherwise a kettle is better. A KETTLE IS BETTER.

Sorry Morphy Richards, but it’s true.

Talking of kettles, since then I’ve been sent a gorgeous red toaster and and kettle, also from their Accents range.

I have little to say about them except just staring at them makes me happy – oh and they work exactly as they should, so I recommend them both completely in terms of both form and function.

DSC04275DSC04276

The Accents Pyramid Kettle and Accents 4 Slice Toaster are currently on special offer on Amazon for £39.99 each, and also come in other desirable hues.

Or the One Cup is £34.99 if you don’t know me and want one for yourself (you can get it in black for the arbitrary price of £29.74).

@LoveYourMorphy on Twitter
www.facebook.com/morphyrichardsuk

[del.icio.us] [Digg] [Facebook] [LinkedIn] [Reddit] [StumbleUpon] [Twitter] [Email]

No Comments | Make a comment | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,

< Older Entries
Newer Entries >