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Web Release
11 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Web Release
INTERCONTINENTAL MALDIVES CONFIRMS FESTIVE RESIDENCY WITH TWO-MICHELIN-STARRED BRITISH CHEF AND FORMER DUBAI RESTAURATEUR TOM AIKENS
InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort has announced an exclusive festive season residency with — Chef Tom Aikens — one of Britain's most acclaimed culinary talents and the former Dubai-based restaurateur behind Pots, Pans & Boards. The two-Michelin-starred chef will bring his signature culinary artistry to the Indian Ocean from 26 December 2025 to 6 January 2026. This exclusive collaboration marks a milestone for the luxury resort as it continues to elevate its gastronomic credentials with globally renowned talent. Supported by the expert team of chefs at the resort, Tom Aikens will take over The Lighthouse, InterContinental Maldives' signature and iconic overwater restaurant, for a series of fine-dining experiences curated especially for the festive season, alongside masterclasses and a once-in-a-lifetime private yacht dining event. The guest programme, available to all guests booking for this festive season, includes: 28 & 29 December – Tasting Menu at The Lighthouse crafted by Chef Aikens, showcasing his devotion to seasonality and modern European finesse 29 December – Interactive Cooking Class at The Collective where guests can join Tom for an exclusive hands-on session to learn professional techniques and prepare one of his signature dishes 1 January – Private Yacht Dining Experience available for two guests to welcome the New Year in unforgettable style with an intimate dinner hosted by Tom on the resort's private yacht, featuring specially curated menus beneath the stars 2 & 3 January – Tasting Menu at The Lighthouse – a brand-new selection for returning guests and new diners 6 January – Island-style Buffet Dinner at Café Umi with Live Stations featuring a special dish created and presented by Tom for the occasion When asked about the residency, Tom Aikens said: 'I am excited to be partnering with InterContinental Maldives for what promises to be one of my most exciting collaborations to date and can't wait to share some of my signature dishes with guests. 'It's so important to me that both the staff and guests receive just as much out of this experience as I will. I'm looking forward to working with the talented team there, teaching them new techniques and sharing my preparation methods. 'Cooking and working in such a breathtaking, idyllic Maldivian setting is always going to be an incredible experience, and I have no doubt this will be an unforgettable trip.'
The Irish Sun
01-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
I saved hundreds of pounds by DIY-ing my daughter's birthday cake – it only cost me £18 and people think it's ‘genius'
IF your child's birthday is coming up and the thought of splashing the cash on a lavish cake sends shivers down your spine, fear not, you've come to the right place. Many parents will know that ordering a Advertisement 3 A mother has revealed that rather than forking out hundreds of pounds for a personalised cake for her daughter's birthday, she DIY-ed a supermarket buy Credit: TikTok/@mummyandmylaa 3 For less than £20, Amy was able to celebrate her child's birthday in style Credit: TikTok/@mummyandmylaa 3 Amy nabbed the Pretty in Pink Lambeth Cake from Waitrose Credit: Waitrose But in a bid to save cash, one savvy mum took matters into her own hands and was able to cut costs by DIY-ing her little darling's birthday dessert. Posting on social media, a mother named Amy shared a step-by-step tutorial of how she DIY-ed her daughter Myla's pink birthday cake - and it cost her less than £20. So if you're on a budget and your purse is feeling tighter than ever before, then you'll need to listen up. The UGC content creator explained that to celebrate her daughter turning one, she decorated the Advertisement Read more Fabulous stories The pink coloured golden Then, using some pink icing and ribbons she already had, she was able to personalise the Alongside a short clip shared online, the influencer penned: 'Making my daughter's first Showing off the box-fresh vintage-style cake, which is decorated with whirls and swirls of piping, Amy beamed: 'Come with me to DIY my daughter's first birthday cake for only £18!' Advertisement Most read in Fabulous Amy confirmed that she used letter cutters to cut out 'Myla is one' in pink icing, which she placed on top of the cake. Following this, she attached pretty pink bows, which she already had from Shein, and was able to stick these to the cake with cocktail sticks. The simple chocolate cake recipe using only TWO ingredients - it's sweet and you won't even need to put it in the oven We think Amy's DIY cake looks brilliant and is a great way for those strapped for cash to save money, without having to scrimp on the celebrations. The TikTok clip, which was posted under the username @ Advertisement Not only this, but it's also amassed 2,782 likes, 31 comments and 780 saves. Social media users were impressed with the jaw-dropping cake and many eagerly raced to the comments to express this. Time-saving mum hacks Morning Routine Nighttime Preparation: Set out clothes for yourself and the kids, pack lunches, and organise backpacks before bed. Effortless Breakfasts: Keep simple, healthy breakfast options on hand, such as overnight oats, smoothie packs, or pre-made breakfast burritos. Meal Planning Weekly Meal Prep: Dedicate time each week to plan your meals to eliminate daily decision-making. Bulk Cooking: Prepare larger quantities and freeze portions for future use. Hands-Off Cooking: Make use of slow cookers or Instant Pots for easy, unattended meal prep. Ready-to-Use Veggies: Purchase pre-chopped vegetables or chop them all at once to save time during the week. Household Chores Daily Laundry: Do a load of laundry every day to prevent a buildup of dirty clothes. Continuous Cleaning: Encourage kids to clean up after themselves and perform small cleaning tasks throughout the day. Efficient Multitasking: Fold laundry while watching TV or listen to audiobooks/podcasts while cleaning. Organisation Family Command Centre: Set up a central hub with a calendar, to-do lists, and important documents. Daily Decluttering: Spend a few minutes each day decluttering to maintain an organised home. Organised Storage: Use bins and baskets to keep items neat and easy to locate. Kid Management Prepared Activity Bags: Have bags packed with essentials for various activities (e.g., swimming, sports). Routine Visuals: Implement visual charts to help kids follow their routines independently. Task Delegation: Assign age-appropriate chores to children to foster responsibility and reduce your workload. One person said: 'Love that. Wish I hadn't already ordered a cake almost the exact same.' Advertisement Another added: 'This is genius!' A third commented: 'Super cute!' Not only this, but another parent beamed: 'Omg that cake is adorable, I wish I knew about it before!' This is genius! TikTok user At the same time, one user wondered: 'What it nice? I worry that supermarket cakes can be dry inside as they are sat on the aisle for a while.' Advertisement To this, the content creator replied and confirmed: 'Not dry at all!!! 'Honestly, it tasted AMAZING, no regrets!!!' Unlock even more award-winning articles as The Sun launches brand new membership programme - Sun Club
The Sun
24-04-2025
- General
- The Sun
‘This is neglect!' people rage as pregnant mum cleans underneath her bed & finds a pile of HAIR her daughter cut herself
A MUM has been accused of "neglect" after sharing a look at the amount of dirt and filth that was underneath her bed. Nicole Austin has four children with her husband and is expecting her fifth. 7 7 But ahead of the new baby making their entrance into the world, the family are trying to do their best in getting their home clean and ready for the new arrival. The next step on the mission was to clean underneath the bed she and her husband share in the master bedroom. And while Nicole said she had been attempting to keep beneath the bed clean by using a broom to "scoop" the muck out, she admitted the plan hadn't been working as she saw the amount of trash that had been collected. That also included a large pile of hair, which her daughter had left there after deciding to give herself a pixie cut - breaking Nicole's "heart into pieces". But she had to "get over it" quickly, as she got to work clearing the rubbish away. She and her other half had to lift up the frame to get underneath it as the bed is too big to pull out in the room - and has to be lifted and then rotated instead. "The hardest part so far of this changing the room around has been to move the bed because it's too big for the room so you couldn't even turn it," Nicole said. "We had to lift it up in the air, rotate it and then put it back down. "And then reattach the headboard and put the mattress back on." The next step was for Nicole to have to "scrub all the floors, get rid of all the rubbish and dirt, clean all the skirting boards and put the drawers back". I'm a mum-of-12, I swear by £1.15 bathroom cleaner and £3.25 mould cleaner in our busy house "And then start rearranging and organising all of the stuff that was in our room," she added. "We've already collected 5 bags of clothing for donation and 2 whole bin bags of rubbish!" Nicole is hoping that as she completes the transformations room by room, she and her family will be able to live a "minimalist" lifestyle. "This will make the world of difference," she added. But people in the comments section once again used the video to take aim at Nicole, with many accusing her of "neglect" - particularly as her child had been left alone for long enough to get scissors and cut her own hair. "Just shows how neglectful you are," one wrote. Time-saving mum hacks Morning Routine Nighttime Preparation: Set out clothes for yourself and the kids, pack lunches, and organise backpacks before bed. Effortless Breakfasts: Keep simple, healthy breakfast options on hand, such as overnight oats, smoothie packs, or pre-made breakfast burritos. Meal Planning Weekly Meal Prep: Dedicate time each week to plan your meals to eliminate daily decision-making. Bulk Cooking: Prepare larger quantities and freeze portions for future use. Hands-Off Cooking: Make use of slow cookers or Instant Pots for easy, unattended meal prep. Ready-to-Use Veggies: Purchase pre-chopped vegetables or chop them all at once to save time during the week. Household Chores Daily Laundry: Do a load of laundry every day to prevent a buildup of dirty clothes. Continuous Cleaning: Encourage kids to clean up after themselves and perform small cleaning tasks throughout the day. Efficient Multitasking: Fold laundry while watching TV or listen to audiobooks/podcasts while cleaning. Organisation Family Command Centre: Set up a central hub with a calendar, to-do lists, and important documents. Daily Decluttering: Spend a few minutes each day decluttering to maintain an organised home. Organised Storage: Use bins and baskets to keep items neat and easy to locate. Kid Management Prepared Activity Bags: Have bags packed with essentials for various activities (e.g., swimming, sports). Routine Visuals: Implement visual charts to help kids follow their routines independently. Task Delegation: Assign age-appropriate chores to children to foster responsibility and reduce your workload. "Where the f**k were you when your kid had scissors? "God forbid it could have been worse. "Bringing another child to this environment though!" "This is neglect," another agreed. "And how did she get hold of the scissors?" a third asked. With Nicole replying: "God knows!" "You're lucky that it was only the hair," someone else said. "This could have been worse. "Leaving children unattended with sharp items is dangerous." Others took aim at Nicole and her other half for how "absolutely disgusting" their house had become, with one insisting: "Animals keep their living space cleaner than this!" "GET FLOORING FFS, gutter behaviour," another raged. "What a joke," a third commented. "I've got severe mental health problems and can't work and my house is never ever filthy. "Lived in, yes, but this is full on filth, and it is absolutely vile. "Get a grip!" There were some who defended the family though - although the comments were few and far between. "The thing that p**ses me off with the comments is, she's trying, she admits it's bad but she's made changes for her kids," one wrote. "Well done lovely, none of us are perfect - we can only try." "People hate on this family but don't realise they're actually trying!" another said. "Here's a question is your house/flat spotless like a show home? No there's probs a spec of dust somewhere." 7 7 7
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- General
- Yahoo
9 foods to avoid cooking in your Instant Pot, according to a pro chef
If you've finally treated yourself to an Instant Pot, you're probably itching to use it as much as possible — especially if you're looking to cut down on the time you spend in the kitchen. We can't blame you: Instant Pots are super convenient, with loads of functions for turning out soups, meats, rice, slow-cooked dinners and more. But while it might seem like you can throw anything into one of these magical pots, some foods just don't belong. I spoke with Christopher Tanner, chef and executive director of the American Culinary Federation, to find out what you should avoid cooking in your Instant Pot. And don't worry: The list isn't long. You'll start making delicious meals in no time — just pay attention if you plan to cook these foods. And while you're here, check out our list of the year's best multicookers (yes, the Instant Pot made the list, multiple times). Tanner says that while you can technically put nearly any food in your Instant Pot, some simply will do better on the stove. There are a couple of dairy products that don't do so well when they're cooked in an Instant Pot, and milk is chief among them. Tanner says you should avoid putting milk into the device unless it's ultra-homogenized because it will separate — which is as gross as it sounds. Hold off on adding hard cheese to your Instant Pot meals too, he says, because these can also separate once they come to a boil. Instead, use dry cheese like parmesan. If your recipe does call for a hard cheese, Tanner says to add 8 ounces of Velveeta to the mix to prevent separation. You can also wait to add the cheese after the meal has already cooked. They say a watched pot never boils, but an Instant Pot may have the opposite problem. "Pasta can quickly get mushy in an Instant Pot," Tanner says. Why is that? For one thing, the pressure-release knob makes it harder to check on it. You either have to throw on some oven mitts to avoid getting burned by the steam or let the machine naturally release it. Either way, you could be left with overcooked noodles. This rule doesn't necessarily apply to all pasta, though — avoid fresh pasta and any long pasta like spaghetti or capellini because it cooks super fast. But something like bowtie pasta usually comes out great, Tanner says. If you don't have time to keep an eye on the stove as your pasta boils the traditional way, try using a no-boil-over cover on your pots. They're an easy way to save yourself from a potential mess. If you're like me, you want your green veggies like broccoli, zucchini and Brussels sprouts super tender. But if you add them to an Instant Pot, they can turn gray and mushy, Tanner says. If you do decide to cook them in the Instant Pot, pay attention to the amount of time they're in there. Tanner says zucchini should be in there for around 10 minutes max — the same goes for broccoli, while Brussels sprouts need only a few minutes. Still, consider using the oven to avoid a gray mess. Your Instant Pot isn't a deep fryer, so making fried foods is out of the question. Tanner says not to try this one at all, because most deep-fried recipes require too much oil, and the last thing you want to do is add a ton of oil into your Instant Pot. We'll explain why below, but it's for your safety. Now, if it's fried chicken you're craving, you can use a multicooker to tenderize the chicken and allow it to absorb all the flavors before you fry it in a skillet. About 10-15 minutes should suffice so the chicken doesn't over-cook before you take it to the next phase. Leaner cuts of meat like chicken breasts and beef tenderloin can come out of an Instant Pot too dry. If you want to stick with leaner meats, Tanner recommends going for larger chicken breasts and making sure there's a lot of sauce for them to stew in to help lock in and preserve their juices. It doesn't take long for shrimp or fish to cook. For the most part, an Instant Pot is a bad move for seafood and can leave you with a rubbery, mushy mess. "There's no reason to put [fish] in there unless it's the only cooking device you have," Tanner says. If that's the case, try 5-10 minutes max, he recommends — otherwise fish can even disintegrate if left in for too long. The best practice is to cook your seafood pretty much anywhere else, like in an air fryer or, my personal favorite, on a grill. Instant Pot says to avoid recipes that call for more than ¼ cup of oil or fat — this includes oil, oil-based sauces, condensed cream-based soups and thick sauces — as it could result in a scalding or scorching injury, or even property damage. That's a nope for me. Stick to the stovetop for any creamy or oil-based recipes. If the recipe includes these ingredients, feel free to experiment. Tanner advises, however, that you follow the recipe exactly as it's written and be extra vigilant about checking comments for potential issues. A recipe may sound great, but the comments will alert you to any potential problems. This one's especially for your safety: Instant Pot temperatures fluctuate too much to properly seal canned foods. Since improper canning can leave you at risk of botulism or other foodborne illnesses, this isn't something you'll want to experiment with. It's best to stick to pressure canners designed for this exact job. They're one of only two USDA-approved methods for canning foods — the other, of course, is using boiling water.
