Air Fryers are the new ‘must have’ aren’t they? I admit to having resisted them until very recently, when a colleague made me an offer I couldn’t refuse, but now I’m a convert. They really do produce tasty food quickly, and, importantly, use less oil. In my incessant battle with a waistline bent on emulating Mr Blobby, this has to be a plus.

But air fryer meals have just become even easier thanks to the brainchild of Noel Davis, a British food manufacturer and distributor with over 30 years’ experience. He spotted the one thing missing in the Air Fryer landscape, and that’s Ready Meals. Yes, the Air Fryer cooks meals quickly, but how great to just take a bag from freezer to fryer, and 15 minutes later have a delicious meal on your plate? One which tastes just as good as if you’d spent hours peeling potatoes and battering fish or chicken.

Noel’s company, MJ’s Diner, majors on chip shop favourites and ‘fake-aways’ – cheaper, healthier and less-calorific versions of takeaway meals. Did you realise that 30-50% of people in the UK admit to having takeaways up to 4 x per week, according to surveys^1,2? I must admit I was shocked. Did you also know that one portion of takeaway chicken katsu and chips comes in at around 1150 calories – this is serious news for both waistlines and arteries.

In contrast, MJ’s Diner Katsu Chicken Curry With Chips has less than half those calories and with just 15 minutes total preparation time its’s actually quicker and easier than grabbing a takeaway. Even without an air fryer, you can bung it in the oven for 30 minutes.

But of course the million dollar question is – does MJ’s Diner taste good? A resounding YES. You can see in the photo below the freshly cooked Fish Fillet With Chips, a generous fillet of soft flaky fish, crispy batter and chips which I can confirm taste as good as they look.

However the acid test is my grandchildren – they’re delightful, but quick to vote with their feet if grandma’s evening meal doesn’t come up to scratch. I tried the Chicken Goujons With Chips and the Beef Meatballs With Chips And Gravy this evening and they demanded ‘seconds’, which is a first. Did I tell them it wasn’t actually my cooking? Absolutely not – I just basked in the unaccustomed glory and will continue to make frequent trips to my local Farmfoods for more supplies.

So where can you get these wonderful (grand)mother’s helpers? Besides Farmfoods, MJ’s Diner air fryer-ready meals are available at Poundland, Oops Food Clearance in St Helens, and over 300 independent retailers nationwide. Many of the meals cost £2.49 – significantly cheaper than any takeaway, and the Battered Fish Fillet With Chips is just £1.99. What are you waiting for?

By Dr K Thompson, author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A7DM42Q http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A7DM42Q

http://faitobooks.co.uk

Note: These articles express personal views. No warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information given and you should always consult a doctor if you need medical advice.

The winner of the highly anticipated Specsavers Debut Crime Novel Award, and £1,000 prize, is Stig Abell for Death Under a Little Sky published by Hemlock Press (HarperCollins).

The gripping crime debut from the Times Radio journalist features London detective Jake Jackson, who discovers that murder lurks even in the most idyllic English locations when a village treasure hunt turns deadly. Bestselling crime authors have heaped praise on the debut including Lee Child, who described it as “truly excellent,” Ann Cleeves who found it “totally immersive” and Vaseem Khan who described it as “beautifully written.”

Dame Mary Perkins, co-founder of Specsavers who sponsors the award, said: “It was an incredibly strong shortlist for the judging panel this year, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading all nominated titles. Stig Abell’s debut clinched the top spot. It offers a different slant to the usual detective mysteries, and I was compelled to finish the book and get to the end, which I didn’t guess. His mesmerising prose and deft plot made Death Under a Little Sky unputdownable.”

The eDunnit Award for the best e-book goes to Laura Lippman for Prom Mom, published by Faber & Faber. The acclaimed Baltimore author is a two-time CrimeFest eDunnit Award winner for Wild Lake (2017) and Sunburn (2019) and has won the Agatha, Anthony, and Edgar awards. Prom Mom tells the story of Amber Glass, desperately trying to get away from her tabloid past but compulsively drawn back to the prom date who destroyed everything. The LA Times described it as “one of Lippman’s most seductively mesmerising novels.”

Winner of the H.R.F Keating Award for best biographical or critical book on crime fiction is The Secret Life of John Le Carré by Adam Sisman, published by Profile Books.

A Financial Times and Spectator Book of the Year, it’s been praised for providing new insights into the author who created George Smiley, revealing a hidden perspective on the life and work of the spy-turned-author.

The Last Laugh Award goes to Mick Herron for The Secret Hours, published by Baskerville. Herron is a multiple CrimeFest Award winner; he received the 2023 CrimeFest Award for Best Adapted TV Crime Drama for Slow Horses; the 2022 CrimeFest Last Laugh Award for Slough House; and the 2018 CrimeFest Last Laugh Award for Spook Street. Praised as ‘pure class,’ by Ian Rankin, The Secret Hours was an instant Sunday Times bestseller. The mesmerising espionage thriller is dripping in wry wit and unexpected twists, as a parliamentary inquiry into the intelligence services turns lethal.

Best Crime Novel for Young Adults, aged 12-16, is awarded to Elizabeth Wein for Stateless, which features a group of young pilots who face intrigue and sabotage in a race around Europe in this thrilling murder mystery, from the bestselling author of Code Name Verity. Stateless was praised by the Guardian for its, “intriguing, page-turning plot.”

Best Crime Novel for Children, aged 8-12, goes to J.T. Williams for The Lizzie and Belle Mysteries: Portraits and Poison published by Farshore. It’s the second book in the middle grade mystery series that’s inspired by real Black British historical figures, which sees two resourceful amateur sleuths become embroiled in a deadly conspiracy stalking the streets of eighteenth-century London.

Waterstone’s Children’s Laureate, Joseph Coelho, praised the series as a “must read” and The Observer praised its “atmospheric setting.”

The Thalia Proctor Memorial Award for Best Adapted TV Crime Drama goes for the second year running to Slow Horses (season 3), based on the Slough House books by Mick Herron. Produced by See-Saw, shown on Apple TV+, the drama, which follows a dysfunctional and disgraced team of MI5 agents, stars Gary Oldman. The award is named in honour of Thalia, a CrimeFest team member and a much-loved figure in the world of crime fiction, and is decided by public vote.

Adrian Muller, Co-host of CrimeFest, said: “Crime fiction is recognised as the biggest selling and most influential genre in publishing. As ever, this year’s nominees reflect the genre’s power, reach and popularity, and it was a hotly contested shortlist. We congratulate all 2024 winners, and would especially like to thank Specsavers for their on-going support in celebrating new talent, with the Debut Award. We’re especially proud too to be one of the few genre awards that recognise children’s and Young Adult authors. They do a vital job in enticing children and young people into reading, offering much-needed escapism, connection, and adventure.”

Hosted in Bristol, CrimeFest is the biggest crime fiction convention in the UK, and one of the most popular dates in the international crime fiction calendar, with circa 60 panel events and 150 authors attending over four days [9-12 May]. 2024 featured guests include the author behind the international hit Murdle – G.T. Karber; Diamond Dagger winners James Lee Burke and Lynda La Plante; the acclaimed American author Laura Lippman; and the seminal Scottish author, Denise Mina. The line up also features Ajay Chowdhury, Cathy Ace, Janice Hallett, Abir Mukherjee, Vaseem Khan, Holly Jackson, Kate Ellis, Ruth Dudley Edwards, and Martin Edwards.

CrimeFest was created following the hugely successful one-off visit to Bristol in 2006 of the American Left Coast Crime convention. Established in 2008, it follows the egalitarian format of most US conventions, making it open to all commercially published authors and readers alike.

All category winners will receive a Bristol Blue Glass commemorative award.

The ultimate Father’s Day gift for Bourbon connoisseurs and casual whiskey fans alike must be Elijah Craig Bourbon, one of the fastest growing super premium whiskies in the US, which is happily now available in the UK.

Elijah Craig bears the name of Reverend Elijah Craig who established his distillery in 1789 on the banks of Elkhorn Creek in modern day Georgetown, Kentucky. Interestingly Elijah Craig is credited with being the first distiller to age his whiskey in new charred oak barrels, thereby creating a smooth rich flavour. While tasting this whiskey, Elijah Craig realised he had discovered something great and continued to refine the barrel charring process, imparting this unique flavour to the spirit that would become known as Bourbon. 250 years later, he is still known as the “Father of Bourbon”. Heaven Hill Distillery craft the bourbon today using the same time honoured methods.

Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon is made exclusively from a blend of 200 or less 8 to 12-Year-Old barrels, aged in open air Rickhouses. It is this extra aging and expertise in barrel selection (Level 3 charred oak barrels) that gives Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon its robust body and rich flavour of distinctive warm spice & subtle smoke. In case you are wondering, a Rickhouse is a warehouse, where whiskey barrels can be stored one on top of the other in ventilated conditions, resulting in the uniform aging of the barrels. The stacks of barrels are known as ‘Ricks’.

The Master Distillers at Elijah Craig use malted barley, rye and local corn to produce this burnished copper coloured Bourbon, with a delightfully complex aroma, notes of vanilla bean, sweet fruit and fresh mint. The taste is smooth and warm, woody with accents of smoke and nutmeg and a long, sweet and slightly toasty finish. 

As with all things, there is a knack to tasting spirits and this works well for me when tasting whisky and bourbon.

Lift the glass to a light source and check out the colour; the darker the Bourbon the richer and stronger it tends to be. To appreciate the aroma, you need a glass that can contain it and that can be held under the nose. Inhale gently so that you can pick out the various notes, though I must confess that I was unable to detect the fresh mint mentioned in the tasting notes, hopefully you will be more successful.

Take a sip and allow the bourbon to coat your tongue so that you can pick out the flavours. The more obvious flavours are likely to be vanilla, oak and caramel but read the tasting notes for the Elijah Craig. Finally, the finish: is it long and does it have you smacking your lips? Or perhaps it is shorter and more powerful?

This would be a great present for Father’s Day or any other day for that matter and hopefully he won’t wish to drink alone so you can compare tasting notes -in the interests of research, of course.

Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon RRP: From £42 for 70cl. ABV: 47%. Available from: Waitrose, Tesco, Master of Malt, Amazon, The Whisky Exchange

Such a great read and, good grief, has this copper seen it all. Let’s start with the title: A Bonsai Tree called Geoff … Doesn’t it just make you want to dive in. Really? Geoff, a bonsai Tree? I had to find out. Indeed you must find out… And I have no intention of telling you – so very there. Let me just say that this hilarious and of course readable author, does what he does best, entertains with his bizarre, crazy and funny reminiscences.

This is the latest instalment of Donoghue’s memoirs, his fourth, and it is only now he is out of the force that we can share in the fun of this particular one. However, with all good humourous writing there is a darker underbelly of – I never knew, how very strange, oh how sad, thought provoking… this really happened??? Empathy abounds. Passion for his job too though would John agree about the passion? I don’t know, but I think it’s there.

John Donoghue served for twenty years as a front line police officer, he’s not perfect, which makes him one of us. ‘Having served in police forces in both England and Wales, I have changed names and places to protect the guilty. I have used the imaginary ‘Sandford’ as the station at which I was based. This could be your local station.’

‘With three bestselling books about my adventures in the police to date already published, my books are all imbued with humour, but have opened people’s eyes to what actually goes on behind the scenes but now that I’m retired, I can, and do, really tell it like it is.’

Having served Queen, King & Country over 40 years in the military and Police, John Donoghue has also been awarded the Chief Constable’s Commendation for Bravery after saving a family of seven (and their dog and cat) from a house fire one Christmas Eve… and routinely been castigated for telling it like it is.

Well, I should say so.

Give yourselves a treat, buy it, or ask for A Bonsai Tree called Geoff for a birthday present, or remember Father’s Day is coming up, and then beg steal or borrow – ooops, perhaps not steal – the other three too. Addictive they are. Enjoy them all as much as the Frost team have.

Published by New Moat Press, A Bonsai Tree Called Geoff– Police Stories I Probably Shouldn’t Share is available to purchase in paperback Amazon https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bonsai-Tree-Called-Geoff-Probably-ebook/dp/B0CYF2TNR5

Price £9.99 and Kindle format (priced £2.99) on Amazon. Previous books: Police, Crime & 999 Police, Lies & Alibis. Police, Arrests & Suspects.

Donoghue has also previously written a humorous book about his military service and travels with his dog around the funny places in Great Britain – described as “Bill Bryson on Magic Mushrooms” when it first came out, it has now been updated and republished as ‘Tails of the Unexpected.’

Donoghue also enjoys an X (Twitter) following of over 65k – @johndonoghue64

As a recent retiree, one could be forgiven for thinking that I am enjoying a stress-free lifestyle. One would be wrong, and has certainly not met my wife, who is more than capable of setting targets and deadlines.

However, sometimes the universe intervenes, and the stars duly align. Such was the case with my Banaras Sandal incense sticks which arrived just after we had finished decorating a room transformed into my reading space, a place to relax and dare I say it? A sanctuary.

‘From what?’ my wife asks handing me a list of outstanding jobs (by which she doesn’t mean jobs that I have completed with excellence)

The Temple of Incense story began in 2012, on a little market stall on Portobello Road, where they sold their hand made fresh and diverse vegan and cruelty-free temple-grade incense sticks, resins, oudh and oils for every occasion. Trust me, they are quite something. These hand-made vegan, easy to light sticks surreptitiously scent the room with a relaxing atmosphere. I tested out the Banaras Sandal which was sandalwood with a lift of lemon, and the icing on the cake is that the 20 luxury incense sticks came in an elegant box, so are more than suitable as gifts.

The incense sticks bring a spiritual scent into the room, which I definitely found both soothing and relaxing. What’s more, the beautiful carved wooden leaf incense stick provides an elegant solution to prevent ash from dropping onto furniture.

Lighting incense can transform any living space into a sanctuary of calm, providing an ideal backdrop for relaxation and stress reduction all of which fight feelings of stress. Indeed, during moments of heightened anxiety, the gentle fragrance of the incense can act as a focal point for deep, mindful breathing exercises, which can significantly alleviate feelings of stress.

The Big Cleanse Box, £75 includes White Sage Incense Sticks – all the benefits of sage, with the lift of camphor and mint to cleanse and protect.

Frankincense Incense Sticks – for purification and cleansing.

Amber Incense Sticks – for healing

Dragons Blood Incense Sticks – a powerful fragrance for inward healing, empowering the mind to reach its full spiritual potential.

Big Cleanse Incense Sticks – made from camphor, benzoin, frankincense and a mix of sacred woods and oils.

Sage smudge bundle – ‘smudging’ is well known for its ability to purify and cleanse ideal for new homes and – carved wooden incense holder Sandalwood meditation oil.

Temple of Incense Jasmine Blossom 20 luxury incense sticks @ £10. The sweet, exotic floral scent is a potent stress-reliever encouraging harmony, restful sleep and healing.

Temple of Incense Banaras Sandal 20 luxury incense sticks @ £10. A classic Temple Masala incense with a subtle lift of lemon. The warm, earthy aroma has a calming power creating an atmosphere of comfort and peaceful environment, encouraging mental clarity, focus, and emotional balance.

Available direct to your door from templeofincense.com @templeofincense #templeofincense

If your dad is a would-be chef, and you are wondering what to buy your father this Father’s Day, you could not do much better than an item from the GreenPan collection. Of course, it would make a great gift whatever the occasion and not wishing to be sexist, for any woman who enjoys cooking as a hobby, rather than a chore. It is the gift that goes on giving.

I was lucky enough to be sent the 28x 28 cm grill pan, with its non-stick coating (PFSA- free), and best of all suitable for all and any hobs, oven and grill safe and even dishwasher safe.

From the moment you open the package, it looks and feels like quality. It is sturdier, better balanced and dare I say that it also looks good.

To quote the makers, ‘the GreenPan Barcelona Pro Collection features the latest PFAS-free Thermolon™ Infinite8 ceramic non-stick coating with ScratchGuard™ for ultimate non-stick performance and amazing durability.The BalancePro™ base, stays perfectly flat when heated which means you can use less fat and the Pro-Tec reinforced rim won’t chip when tapped with a spoon.’

The Barcelona Pro Grill Pan RRP £90 (28cm) is not cheap, but then it doesn’t look or feel cheap, and it will have pride of place in my kitchen for some time. Already, it has become my go to pan, it is called Pro for a reason.

I tried it with vegetarian beef burger, sausages, aubergine, courgettes, carrots and used it under the grill and in the oven. Perfect results and yes, the pan is easier to clean. Although if it is a Father’s day gift, Dad should not be washing up, and as it is dishwasher proof you could slip it into the dishwasher and simply claim the credit.

The GreenPan Première Collection is a professional grade 3-ply stainless steel range.

Also in this range are:-

​Premiere Wok RRP £130 (30cm)

Premiere 2pc Frying Pan Set RRP £170 (20 and 28cm)

GreenPan PFAS-Free Slow Cooker

PFAS-free range is available from John Lewis and www.greenpan.co.uk

I’ve had a busy day off. Up at 6am for new washing machine delivery, then a dash to yoga for a quick relaxation (yes, the irony is not lost) before shooting to the supermarket, followed by intense dance workshop, zoom meeting, urgent lawn-mowing – it had shot up to two feet whilst my back was turned – then a whizz through urgent emails, and before I knew, it was 8pm and my day off had disappeared. Frankly, I’m exhausted.

I’ve prepared something to eat (if taking a ready meal from freezer to microwave counts as food preparation – listen, I was tired) and now I’ve collapsed on the sofa and feeling a desperate need to be kind to myself.

So thank heavens for Northumberland Candle Company. They do an incredible variety of wax melts, covering pretty much any gift theme you could imagine.

I chose the Meditation Melt Selection Box. Even the box is simple, beautiful and calming with a sweet Buddha seal. As I opened the inner wrapping, embossed with buddhas, Aum, lotus and other symbols of Eastern spirituality, I caught the gentle aromas of the wax melts, five different scents. The stress of the day was already melting as I chose Nag Champa, placed it on my burner, sank back and let my mind drift to another place, far away.

My room is still pervaded with that wonderful perfume as I write, sandalwood infused with frankincense, geranium and rosewood, and I can’t wait to try the other fragrances too – Lemongrass & Ginger, Tranquility, White Patchouli and Seawood & Juniper.

Their Spa/Relaxation selection is another fabulous remedy for a stressed lifestyle, with Sweet Pea, Tranquility, Arabian Silk, Lavender Spa and Melon & Cucumber. At just £15 for each selection box of 25 melts these are such thoughtful and welcome gifts, particularly for someone who’s life is going through a few bumps.

But the Northumberland Candle Company doesn’t restrict itself to calm nurturing, lovely though that is – there’s so much more, from Girl Power to Molton B to Cake selections – yes, really. You can even buy a Mystery box reduced from £15 to just £10.

So whatever your mood Northumberland Candle Company have a wax melt selection for you, or a deserving friend, but you first. Do take a look.

By Dr K Thompson, author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows

http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A7DM42Q http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A7DM42Q

http://faitobooks.co.uk

Note: These articles express personal views. No warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information given and you should always consult a doctor if you need medical advice.