Keep your pets safe at Christmas

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For many of us ‘Sammy the Spaniel’ and ‘Toby the Tabby’ are as much a part of the family as the kids and grandma.

While you might think the odd human treat shows your pet just how much you love them, it could actually cause catastrophic damage and spoil the festivities for everyone.

We have some top tips on how to keep your furry friends safe and well this Christmas.

The Christmas tree
This might sound totally OTT but if you have pets then it’s a good idea to go for non-toxic decorations – details should be on the packaging. We don’t want to spoil all the fun but if you can, avoid edible decorations because these will be sniffed out, pulled down and eaten. If you go for a real tree make sure you hoover up any needles from the floor and just check the pot for any pet presents!

Lights
Fairy lights are pretty but they can be harmful, so watch out for anyone getting tangled up and if you aren’t in the room, turn them off to save any electric shocks.

Plants
Yes, Christmas plants look pretty and make the house feel festive but holly, amaryllis, poinsettias, mistletoe and pine sap are all poisonous to cats and dogs but they don’t know this and will have a chew anyway.

Chocolate
Uncle Billy might think a little bit of Dairy Milk won’t hurt Frodo but he is wrong. Chocolate contains theobromine which is dangerous for dogs and other pets, so don’t let them tuck in. Also make sure mince pies, Christmas cake and anything else containing raisins are put out of reach and never leave glasses of wine or beer on the floor or you could be in trouble.

Bones
We know that chicken and turkey bones look perfect for your pooch but the reality is that they can splinter and this can cause serious problems for your pet, so wrap them in newspaper and put in the dustbin as soon as you can.

Routine
While the holidays mean you can take a break from your everyday routine, it is important that life is kept as normal as possible for your pets.

Continue to feed at the same time each day, make sure they have access to water and don’t use this as a time to try out new food – it might make life unpleasant for all. You might not feel like going out in the cold, but dogs still need to be walked and you will actually find that a run around the park will tire them out and stop them from being disruptive and hyper when people come to visit.

Presents
If you don’t want your new boots to be chewed or that cashmere jumper to be used as a new bed, get your pet a present too this Christmas. A dog bone, new toy or bright ball will keep them entertained and out of mischief.

A quiet place
If the house is going to be busier than usual and full of strange people, make sure your pets have a safe retreat. Put their bed in the utility room or spare bedroom with their toys and blankets so they have somewhere safe to retreat to when it gets too much.

The rules
Speaking of guests, it is important they know not to pull your pets around, especially if children are coming to the house. Gently explain your rules and also ask people not to open doors, gates or windows as you don’t want your animals to escape and get injured or lost.

If anything does go wrong, call your vet as soon as possible to the necessary treatment can be carried out.

Team Pure Beauty

Quick and easy BBQ ideas

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10 minutes, apple, baby potatoes, banana, BBQ, boiling water, bold tastes, bread, brown sugar, butter, carrots, cheated, Cinnamon, cook, corn on the cob, creamy coleslaw, culinary experience, drizzle, fiol, fresh cuts, grated, healthy options, lemon juice, marinades, mayonnaise, mixed salad, mushrooms, mustard, olive oil, Organic meats, peeled and grated, pesto, pitta, raisins, saucepan, sauces, spices, teaspoon, white cabbage, wrap

In an age when we are far more aware of what we eat and drink, the days of fatty burgers in cheap white rolls on the BBQ are fading fast.

But don’t worry because it is really easy to create healthy BBQ classics full of bold tastes, so you don’t feel cheated out of an amazing culinary experience.

Organic meats, fresh cuts, spices, sauces and marinades can all be used to make your BBQ food taste great.

Today, as promised, we have so healthy options that will impress your guests, and your taste buds.

Mushroom burgers

2 large mushrooms
2 cloves of garlic
2 sprigs of parsley
35g room temperature butter
Burger buns or pitta
Mustard
Pesto
A mixed salad

Peel and crush the garlic then mix with parsley leaves and the softened butter.
Clean the mushrooms and fill them with the butter mixture.
Wrap the parcels in tin foil and bake place on the BBQ until soft.
Place the cooked mushrooms in the bread and server with lemon juice, pesto and a mixed salad.

BBQ baby potatoes

750g of organic baby potatoes
A generous drizzle of olive oil
Mini corn on the cobs

Put the potatoes in a large saucepan of cold water and bring to the boil, then cook until tender (usually around five minutes). Drain and transfer to a large sheet of foil, then coat in oil and season well. Wrap the potatoes in the foil and create into parcels. Cook the parcels on the BBQ for 10 minutes and enjoy the potatoes with butter and corn on the cob.

Creamy coleslaw

You just can’t have a BBQ without coleslaw. This creamy delicious recipe is easy to make and goes with burgers, fish, kebabs and chicken. For this dish, you will need:

½ a white cabbage, trimmed and shredded
1 small onion, peeled and finely chopped
4 organic carrots, peeled and grated
A handful of raisins
A grated apple
4 tablespoons of mayonnaise
2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon of mustard
Salt and black pepper

Put the mayonnaise, lemon juice and mustard in a mixing bowl, season and mix well. Add the cabbage, onion, apple, raisins and carrots, and stir well. Put in the fridge for two hours before serving and stir again to ensure all the mix is coated in the dressing.

BBQ bananas

The great thing about BBQs is that they aren’t just for creating savory dishes. To finish your BBQ on a high, how about smoky bananas with ice cream? For this you will need:

1 banana per person
Lemon juice
Dark brown soft sugar
Ground cinnamon
Vanilla ice cream to serve

Halve the bananas lengthwise, then widthwise and then sprinkle with lemon juice. Mix together the brown sugar and cinnamon then roll the banana in the mixture until completely coated. Wrap the bananas in foil, place in the coals and cook for around ten minutes. Serve with ice cream and watch the sun go down.

Have a very happy BBQ season and let us know your favourite recipes.

Team Pure-Beauty

Healthy summer snacks

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almonds, baking tray, banana, BBQ, Cinnamon, coconut oil, coconut water, dates, drink, food processor, fridge, fruit, golf ball, honey, ice, iced water, jugs, lemon and cucumber, maple syrup, oats, organic, organic coconut oil, palms, raisins, salt, smoothie, summer, teaspoons, treats, vanilla, vegetables

For many of us the summer is all about alfresco eating, ice cream and BBQs. Whilst these are all fun, the sugar and calories can soon add up especially if you add wine into the mix.

We have put together some great, easy to make recipes for snacks that will keep you fuller for longer and won’t cause a sugar crash that will leave you feeling lethargic and sluggish.

Oat and date cookie balls are easy to make, tasty to eat and make a brilliant alternative to processed biscuits.

Ingredients for 15 balls

• 1 cup organic oats
• ¼ cup of good quality maple syrup
• ½ cup organice raisins
• ½ cup organic pitted dates
• 1 tbsp. melted organic coconut oil
• 1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
• 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
• A pinch of salt

Method

• Place the dates, cinnamon, coconut oil, maple syrup, oats, salt and vanilla into your food processor and mix together. Once you have combined the ingredients add the raisins, gradually, until you have a solid mixture.
• Take the dough out of the blender and put into a bowl.
• Roll tablespoon size balls of dough between your palms into golf-ball-size treats.
• Put the treats into the fridge for one hour to set, then place in a sealed tin and eat within 48 hours.

Banana and Mango Smoothie
Forget sugar ice-lollies and cool down with a vitamin packed, super-easy to make smoothie.

Ingredients:

• 1 medium mango
• 1 banana
• 500ml coconut water
• ice cubes

Method:

• Cut the mango down either side of the stone, then peel and cut the flesh into medium size chunks.
• Peel and chop the banana.
• Put all the ingredients into a blender and process until smooth and thick.
• You don’t have to drink this straight away but if you do place it in the fridge, ensure it is covered and drunk the same day.

Almond Butter
Nuts are packed with goodness and making your own almond butter will give you a snack you can eat with apples and carrots, pitta and rice cakes. It can be added to smoothies or simply eaten from the jar with a spoon (clean one of course)!

Ingredients:

• 300g of good organic almonds with the skin on
• Organic honey – local if you can source it

Method:

• Heat your oven to 190C/170C fan/gas mark 5.
• Spread the almonds across a baking tray and roast for 10 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and allow them to cool for a further 10 minutes.
• Put the almonds into a food processor and blend for around 10 minutes. You will need to stop every so often to scrape the mixture from the sides of the blender.
• Be patient as it takes a few minutes for the oils in the almonds to be released and this can be longer if you have an older blender. To start with, you will get a very dry, almost dust-like consistency. The fibers will eventually break down and once this happens you can add a couple of teaspoons of honey for taste if you want to.
• Place into a sterile jar and keep sealed in the fridge for up to a month, although we doubt it will last this long.

Also remember to keep your fridge stocked with fresh fruit and vegetable and make up jugs of iced water with lemon and cucumber to stay refreshed all day long.

Happy snacking and do let us know about any ideas or recipes you enjoy.