After yesterday's rather sombre post, we thought we would give you two things to cheer you all up in today's blog: food, and novelty aprons! We'll be sharing a few fun, festive recipes for you to try over the holiday season, based on the 'chef' stereotype you fit best!


Cookie Monster: The Dessert Expert 

If your cookies, crumbles and creme brulee all put Mary Berry to shame, then why not try making your own festive dessert this Christmas?

Why not try this Peppermint Bark Cheesecake from Cooking Classy, or these delicious Rolo Christmas Cookies from Living Locurto:                                     
                                            

The Impatient Cook  

If you're looking for something quick and easy to whip up in the kitchen, then why not try out these simple 3 Ingredient Candy Cane Lollipops from BBC Good Food, or these Pan Roasted Brussel Sprouts With Bacon if you're after something savoury.

Kitchen Hero 

If you're a bit of a wiz in the kitchen, you'll want to try something extra special this Christmas to wow your dinner guests.  Why not try out this incredible Roast Duck recipe from Jamie Oliver, or this incredible Chocolate Cake With Homemade Marshmallows for dessert! 

Batman (The Dark Knight) Adult Apron
(Buy Apron here)

Foodie Frankenstein

If you like to try something a little different in the kitchen, then what better time of year is there than Christmas to test out some new and interesting recipes?

If you're looking for some interesting combinations to have a crack at, then take a look at this Brussels Sprouts, Chilli and Thyme Jam, or these Pork and Cranberry Sausage Rolls, both from bakingmad.com.


Danger - Man Cooking (Apron and Hat Set)
(Buy Apron here)

Boozy Baker

For a flashy fish dish with an added kick, have a go at this Beetroot and Vodka-Cured Salmon from Woman and Home. If delicious bakes are more your speed, take a look at this fantastic Hazelnut Liquor pastry dish from Half Baked Harvest.

6 Pack Apron
(Buy Apron here)
Christmas is a time for love, happiness and smiles all round, but sadly, the same can't be said for Christmas films . In fact, Christmas movies can be pretty darn depressing at times, as illustrated by some of the examples below. 

I should warn you that there will be spoilers below, so if you're planning on watching some of these and haven't already, it's probably a good idea not to read the descriptions....


The Snowman - Snowman melts:

This film broke our hearts as children, and it still does to this day. It sets about fulfilling a childhood dream, then goes and completely destroys it! A boy is led by his snowman companion, flies to the North Pole with him to meet Father Christmas, only to discover that he's a melted puddle by the next day! Traumatic to say the least...


A Christmas Carol (2009) - Christmas Past:

Don't let the combination of animation and Jim Carey fool you, this version of Dickens' classic is pretty dark and depressing at times, particularly during the 'Christmas past' section. Not only do we see Scrooge as a sad and lonely little boy at boarding school, we then have to watch as he endures the death of his sister, and loses the woman he loves due to his developing fixation with wealth.


A Muppet Christmas Carol - Tiny Tim prophecy: 

Although this version is far more light-hearted than the 2009 adaptation, it still has a few moments that leave us feeling rather emotional. Once such moment comes later in the film, as the silent and creepy Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come reveals that adorable Tiny Tim will not be alive next Christmas.


Jack Frost - Jack is put to rest:

Okay, so a few people may have commented that the snowman looks a little creepy, but there's still no denying that this is a heart-warming family film. At the very end of the movie, Jack has to part ways with his son Charlie, this time, getting a chance to say the goodbye he never got the first time round. This makes for a sad and bitter-sweet ending to a story of second chances, giving us all the feels, all at once.


Love Actually - Too many moments to count:

Love Actually has to be the best, British Christmas film, with a stellar cast and a host of both hilarious and sad moments. From Colin Firth's sad goodbye to his Portuguese housekeeper, to Andrew Lincoln's confession of love to Keira Knightly (his best friend's wife) on her doorstep, this film is filled with emotional moments to get those tears flowing. The award for saddest moment of all goes to Emma Thompson, however, for that emotional realization scene when she discovers her husband has bought a necklace for another woman. We can't even listen to that Joni Mitchell song without sobbing.

Edward Scissorhands- Hold me 

Although this film is pretty melancholy throughout, the part that hits us right where it hurts is when Kim lovingly asks Edward to hold her, to which the replies 'I can't'. Burdened by difference and doomed to a life without normality, Edward is forced to endure a reclusive existence once more, free from the judgement of humanity. 

For more Christmas Posts, follow us on Twitter. We promise they're a lot more cheerful that this one!
Do you love a challenge? Do you enjoy a good puzzle to get your brain working? If so, this Maze Cube - Large is perfect for you! 

This 3D Tetris-like puzzle has 19000 possible solutions, so it should keep you busy up until Christmas next year! It consists of 13 different pieces in red, blue and yellow, which make a thousand different configurations. When put together correctly, you can make a perfect cube.


If this Maze Cube interests you, then you'll be happy to know that it is our Deal Of The Week, and it is now reduced to £4.50! That's more than 50% off, what a bargain!

If you're looking for the ultimate brain teaser that will challenge you this Christmas, then look no further than our Maze Cube - Large! With over 19000 different solutions, you won't be getting bored of this in a hurry! 

Click Here to check out our other puzzles!
Below are some of the most popular and well-loved gifts of Christmases past, but looking back, it's rather difficult to understand the appeal of some of them... Just goes to show what great marketing can do for you.

Lava Lamp

You knew you'd reached the peak of maturity when you had one of these in your room! It almost felt like living in your own Nickelodeon TV show!

lava lamp

Nintendo 64

If you want to know JUST how awesome getting one of these for Christmas was, watch this video. With games like Super Mario 64 and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, it's still considered to be one of the greatest consoles of all time.
Nintendo 64 console

Baby Born

Because apparently, having a doll which could pee itself on demand was what every little girl in the 90's really wanted. And people think that the 'period Barbie' idea is strange....

Bop It

This frustrating, reflex-testing game was a must-have item at all your childhood sleepovers, before it was thrown across the room in frustration of course. When they came out with the 'Extreme' version, it all got a bit much for us.

Furby

Was it an owl, an alien? No one really knew, but everyone wanted one! If you think about it, this was probably a far better test of your parenting skills than Baby Born or Tamagotchi ever was, as you prayed every waking moment that it would finally stop begging for food and Go.To.Sleep!

furby toy

Mr Frosty 

We're pretty sure that everyone still has one of those ice moulds lying in the back of their kitchen cupboard somewhere.


Chemistry Set

What could be a more wholesome and innocent gift for your child than a box of flammable chemicals? Most of these had 12+ ratings on the box, but you ignored that because you were such a rebel! You soon got tired of it once you'd realized that just about the only fun thing you could do with it was to burn magnesium.

Mouse Trap

This game seemed like the best idea ever, but once you'd realized how long it took to set up, the rare chance of being able to set off the chain reaction soon lost its shine. Plus, if you ever lost a single, tiny part, the entire game was left totally redundant. 

mouse trap

For more fun posts about gadgets, gifts and pop culture, follow us on Twitter!

Christmas is a time to eat, drink and be merry, so we thought we'd share some festive drinkspiration with you, to enjoy with friends at parties and get-togethers this year. 

Cranberry Jelly Shots

All you'll need for this recipe is a pack of jelly mix, some cranberry juice and orange vodka.

Heat 2 1/4 cups of cranberry juice on the stove until it comes to the boil, then add in the jelly mix until dissolved. Add 3/4 cup of orange vodka before leaving them to set overnight. If you can't find the original ingredients, you could sub them to suit your needs, for example; using orange jelly and regular vodka. See the original recipe here.

Santa Shot

This awesome 2 colour shot is made with 1 part grenadine syrup, 1 part green creme de menthe, and 1 part peppermint schnapps.

First add some grenadine so it fills 1/3 of your glass. Then, add equal parts of the creme de menthe, and then the peppermint schnapps. If you've done it right, it should produce a lovely layered, look. See the full recipe here.

Eggnog

This one is pretty indulgent, so you'll need 1 litre of milk, 475ml of double cream, 12(yes you read that right) egg yolks, a tsp of vanilla extract, 475ml of whiskey, 12 egg whites, 200g of cater sugar and a pinch of ground nutmeg. 

Click here for full instructions on how to make this creamy Christmas cocktail.

Icy Holiday Margaritas


For this you'll need 1/2 cup of thawed frozen cranberry juice, 1/2 cup of tequila, 1/4 cup of orange liqueur, 3 tbsp of melon liqueur and 5 cups of ice cubes. If you're feeling creative, you can also add some decorative sugar and/or berries for extra flair.

Blend all ingredients but the ice cubes, then, with the blender running (carefully) add the ice cubes one at the time through the lid opening. Blend until slushy. For more details, click here.

To give your drinks an additional impact, we also have some great glasses and drink accessories:


Ice Shot Glasses

Ice Shot Glasses 4 Pack

Conundrum Wine Glasses

Conundrum Red Wine Glasses (Set of 4)

Mixology Mason Jars 

Mason Pint Jar (Set of 4)

Ice Ball Moulds

Ice Ball Moulds: Make Your Own Ice Balls
Mason Jar Shots

Mason Jar Shot Glass - Set of 4
For more festive inspiration follow us on Twitter and Facebook.

Gadget Inspector | Gadgets and Gizmos, Gifts and Novelties
Are you looking for something a little less tacky than your average garden gnome, to brighten up your back garden? Well, we can confidently tell you that your search is over, because we've found just the item for you! 

We understand that this The Butcher Garden Gnome is still of rather questionable taste, but he is a lot more interesting to look at than your bog standard garden ornament! As you can see, he's just finished beheading a Flamingo. Probably because this psychotic little fella didn't want any challenge to his reign of garden terror!


If you're interested in brining home this novelty gnome, you'll be happy to find out that it's our deal of the week, and is now just £14.99! That's £10 off the original price, what a bargain!

So, if you're looking for a bloody twist on the conventional lawn gnome, or if you're just looking for something to give your aunt a fright this Christmas, this gnome is perfect for anyone with a truly sick sense of humour! 
It's Sure to raise a few eyebrows at your next garden party....



Yesterday marked 15 years since the release of The Grinch movie; feel old yet? This adaptation of Dr. Suess' classic tale, tells the story of a grumpy, green guy who decides to ruin Chritmas for everyone, but learns the error of his ways when he is given a taste of human kindness. 

Seeing as we all know someone who isn't as keen on the Christmas cheer that surrounds us at this time of year, we thought we would give you a gift guide that might help you put a smile on their faces. 

Full Wine Bottle Glass

For people who love Christmas, the season of joy and good will can’t come quick enough, but always seems to whiz by too soon. For people who aren't so keen it seems to drag by, leaving them to sulk in the corner only to appear every so often to ask in earnest; ‘Is it over yet?’ Thanks to this genius full bottle glass, the Scrooge in your life can drown their sorrows without having to share their plonk with any merry souls… 


wine bottle glass

Gnome Range

These hilarious gnomes make perfect gifts for your rude, crude and cynical friends and family. Taking innocent, jolly garden gnomes and transforming them into twisted parodies, these ornaments are certainly not for the easily offended.


funny garden gnomes

T**t Mug

Whether this statement is imposed or self-proclaimed, it certainly makes a fitting gift for all the miserable gits you know.

offensive mug
Buy here.


Poo Emoji Pillow

Have you ever asked a person who is anti-Christmas what they would like for Christmas? Have they then responded with any of the following statements: ‘I don’t want s**t all!’, ‘Christmas is Bulls**t’ ‘I don’t know, any old crap’ and so on… Well now you have the perfect response, in the form of this Happy Poo emoji pillow. Subtly suggest that they cheer up, while also fulfilling their request in a creative way.

poo emoji pillow 

Petron Stealth Archery Set

Some people hate Christmas so much, it makes them want to wipe the smiles off the faces of all those happy, Christmas-loving idiots. Now these people can take out all of their frustrations without causing any serious harm, with this Petron Archery Set. Perfect for: silencing carol singers, target practice with pictures of Santa Claus. 

archery set

There you have it, our not-so-cheerful Christmas gift guide. If you're looking for some offensive, funny, alternative Christmas cards, check out these.
Today Steve Jobs will be released in UK cinemas, something we're all pretty excited about here at Gadget Inspector. As we like to keep our gift guides nice and topical, we thought today would be an ideal time to hit you with our top phone-related gadgets and gifts, enjoy! 

3 in 1 Energy Tube

We all love a multi-use product, and this one is perfect for the colder months. Not only does it work as an emergency iPhone charger, it also has a torch and hand warmer function too! This would come in super handy for digging out your keys on cold dark nights, or keeping you nice and toasty if you've left your gloves at home.
multi use phone charger


iPhone 5 Dual Sim Card Case

This phone case is ideal for businesspeople who want to keep their work and personal contacts separate, allowing you to flick between the two at the click of a button. This really saves the hassle of manually switching sims or having two phones, making life much easier for people with a sizeable contacts list.

dual sim phone case

KEEEP Smart Phone Holder & Stand

This clever little gadget is great for all my fellow clumsy chums! We all know a person that is prone to sporting a cracked phone screen, so this would work perfectly as a useful and humorous gift for them. The holder sticks to the back of your phone without leaving any marks, allowing you to slip your fingers through the loops for advanced grip. The loops also double as a stand for you phone, allowing you to prop it up and use hands-free! 


smart phone holder

The Wedge: Smartphone Holder

Flicking thorough ebooks and social media on your phone should be easy, but we all know that this is not the case. Trying to find a comfortable chill-out position can be a pain, not to mention the awkward hand-ache you get from trying to hold your phone at the right angle. This nifty little pyramid is like a pillow for your smartphone, allowing you to prop it up and flick through articles and videos with total ease and comfort.

smart phone stand


Touch Screen Gloves

One disadvantage of the smartphone becomes incredibly clear during the cold winter months, as you struggle to pull off your gloves off just to answer a call or reply to a text, longing for the simple days when the buttons on your portable brick went unaffected by your hands being covered. These Touch Screen Gloves come in two colours, and allow you to use your smartphone without exposing your hands to the frosty conditions. 

smartphone gloves

Marvel Phone Cases

These awesome Marvel iPhone 5 cases are essential for any fans of the superhero films and comics, and come in 5 cool, retro designs! With Captain America, the Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, Spider Man and X-Men to choose from, you're sure to find a character that you love!

marvel phone cases

To see our full range of awesome phone accessories and gadgets, click here
Teenagers are notoriously hard to buy for, so to give you a helping hand this Christmas, we've written you a little gift guide to help you get that perfect gift for the teenager (or, heaven forbid, teenagers) in your life.  
£9.99

Teenagers are always on their mobile phones these days - whether they're tweeting or messaging their friends, they never put them down! If they're all fingers and thumbs when typing, there's no better solution than this touch screen stylus. Simply connect it to the headphone socket and you'll be good to go.

The stylus is connected to an elastic cord, so the user can reach any part of their screen with ease. The Pad Writer works with all touch screen devices.
£7.99

What better gift is there for a teenager than a Beer Pong Kit? (Assuming, of course, that the teenager in question is aged 18 years or above.) All their future parties or gatherings will become far more entertaining with this gift - the only thing that isn't included is, sadly, the beer!

£9.99

Teenagers are always taking selfies these days, so help them take the perfect selfie with this IGGI Pocket Selfie Stick. Sadly, human arms aren't always long enough to get that perfect angle, and this is why a selfie stick is the perfect gift for any teenager. They'll now be able to get everyone in for the perfect group photo! 

£7.99

Teenagers everywhere are now using emojis - they're the perfect way to communicate how you're feeling without using any words. Well, now their favourite emojis have come to life in the form these super-comfy plush pillows! They're great for decorating the bedroom or snuggling up with when watching a film. We guarantee your teenager will love these!  
£12.00

Finally, your teen will be more than happy this Christmas if they receive one of our Happy Cables! These charger cables are colourful, fun, and at 1 metre long, extremely handy. So whether they're plugged into the laptop or into the socket, your teenagers will no longer have to deal with a dead battery!

Click here for more great gift ideas.
We at Gadget Inspector know how hard it is to choose the right gift in time for the 25th of December. So, with Christmas now just around the corner, we thought we'd put together a gift guide to help you choose the perfect gifts for the little ones in your life!

£39.99 each

If your kids loved the Minions or Despicable Me films, they'll love these Inflatable Remote Control Talking Minions just as much! The cute, squishy minion is really easy to control and even easier to inflate. It can move in any direction and spin 360 degrees; it even plays 12 original sound effects in an authentic minion voice! It's the perfect gift for any child, although we're fully grown adults and we love playing with him as well. 


£39.99 each

From a galaxy far, far away comes everyone's favourite Star Wars characters in the form of the cute inflatable RC toys. Your little ones will love going on intergalactic adventures with their new inflatable companion; each inflatable comes with its own original sound effects and can move in any direction. They can also spin 360 degrees and can be operated indoors and out, so the adventures can be taken anywhere!


Chunky Wooden Puzzles (4 to choose from)
£2.75 each 

These chunky wooden puzzles are the perfect way to get your children's cogs turning. They may look simple at first but we assure you that they can be quite tricky! They come in small packages, which means they are the perfect stocking fillers. If you're after something that will keep both kids and adults entertained for hours this Christmas then our chunky wooden puzzles are perfect! 


£12.99

Are your children constantly pestering you about getting a pet? Then this Robo Fish is a must-buy! Place your lifelike fish into a bowl of water and watch as the Robo Fish activates and starts moving! It's a great alternative to a pet because you don't have to worry about feeding or cleaning it! It also come with a decorative castle and coral for your fish bowl.


Space Rail Level 3
£29.99

You and the kids will have hours of fun with this glow in the dark rollercoaster! It's really easy to build, and once it's up and running, simply place the steel balls at the start and watch them whiz around the track. At the end of their fun-filled journey, there's a battery powered elevator that automatically returns the heroic steel balls to the start of the track for another ride! It's fun for the whole family!