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10 of the wackiest supermarket food specials to try this Christmas

Our list of the maddest supermarket specials is the middle aisle on steroids.

Dolly Busby Dolly Busby - 17th December 2021

Just as the three wise men brought offerings of gold, frankincense and myrrh, British supermarkets bring Christmas dinner pizza, Brussels sprouts chocolate rolls, and Yorkshire pudding wraps.

British supermarkets at this time of year are filled with golden nuggets of weird, wonderful and verging on just-plain-wrong specials.

Stumbling across one is a great feeling, and you have to tell everyone.

Let’s face it, if there’s one thing to guarantee a laugh on Christmas day, it’s pulling out a novelty sweet treat, and this year’s selection of supermarket specials will have the in-laws raving about you until Easter.

Our list of the maddest supermarket specials is the middle aisle on steroids.

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Read on to find some truly shocking and not-quite-right inventions. Make sure you read all the way because we crown the wackiest winner at the bottom… trust us, you’ll want to get your hands on this.

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Tiramisu-flavoured Dessert Sauce

Aldi

We learnt quickly when researching this list, Aldi is the King of crazy supermarket goodies.

Specially-selected by Aldi themselves, you can turn anything into tiramisu – a Christmas miracle.

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Think of all the fun you could have with this little flavour machine you could pour over brownies, dip strawberries but promise us you won’t swap it for gravy.

Giant Éclair

Asda

May be an image of food and indoor
Credit: Facebook (Newfoodsuk)

The Giant Éclair has returned to Asda. It’s back, bigger, creamier and chunkier than ever.

Who wouldn’t want a giant éclair? Not us, that’s for sure.

We can’t wait to get our hands on this wonderful invention. Challenge nan to Eclair eating competition and whip this bad boy out.

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Just like their Christmas advert, Asda have got it just right this year.

Pigs in Blanket Slices

Asda

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Credit: Facebook (Newfoodsuk)

Hold on tight, we’re getting into the slightly darker recesses of Asda here.

A pigs in blanket slice – we’ll leave it for you to decide whether that’s going straight in your basket. Could be good in bread – could not. We’re on the fence about these, but for those who think a cocktail sausage is just not enough, this one’s for you.

We all have needs.

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Sticky Toffee Pudding Bites

Marks and Spencer’s

May be an image of dessert
Credit: Facebook (M&S Tamworth)

Back to the bitesize bits.

Couldn’t think of anything better to go with a cuppa on Christmas day. Marks and Spencer have smashed it out the supermarket with these. Though not weird, they are just really cute and deserve a place on the list because, well, they’re bitesize sticky toffee puddings.

Guaranteed to bring a smile – would you dunk them in the brew though?

Christmas Tinner

GAME

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May be an image of food and text that says 'GAME CHRISTMAS TINNER Scrambled egg and bacon Two mince pies Turkey and potatoes Gravy Bread sauce Cranberry sauce Brussel sprouts with tuffing or broccoli with sluffing Roast corrots and parsnips Christmas pudding'
Credit: Facebook (Grimsby Live)

Christmas Tinner. A force to be reckoned with. Where to begin. At the top seems the only option, which, by the way, is scrambled egg.

Stuff to make your stomach turn, Christmas Tinner defies all culinary laws.

Scrambled egg and bacon is followed by two mince pies. Then turkey and potatoes, gravy, a layer of bread sauce and cranberry sauce. You’ve got your brussels sprouts with stuffing, roasted carrots and parsnips and, if you make it that far, Christmas pudding.

Saves washing up the plates.

Chocolate Squirty Cream

Asda

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May be an image of food, drink, indoor and text that says 'ASDA CHOCOLATE SQUIRTY CREAM Shake hocolate overy yummy Made with real cream New 38kal'
Credit: Facebook (Newfooduk)

Safely back in Asda.

Wow, buy this and you’ll be the cat that got the squirty chocolate cream. Imagine a dollop on your Christmas eve hot chocolate or just straight down the hatch, the right way.

A simple can of goodness – this one’s sure to be a family favourite.

Yorkshire Pudding Wraps

Morrison’s

Can’t get enough of Porky Pig’s Yorkshire pudding wraps at the Christmas markets?

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No fear – Morrison’s mean you make them at home. Cook from frozen and they are a really tasty Christmas treat. Chicken, stuffing and gravy all wrapped up in a Yorkshire pudding just an oven’s cook away.

We’re getting straight down to Morrison’s.

After Eight Vienetta

Co-op

May be an image of food
Credit: Facebook (Live 95)

Winning combination of one of our favorite puddings, the Vienetta, and an after dinner treat, the infamous After Eight.

The two come together to make the King of all after dinner experiences.

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Try and imagine what that would taste like – all we know is that with those two, you can’t go wrong.

Hershey’s Cookies N Cream Ice Cream Cake

Iceland

May be an image of dessert and text that says 'NEW 1894 SINCE HERSHEY'S COOKIES 'Ν' CREME ICE CREAM CAKE SERVES 8 PLEASE KEEP KEEPELAT FLAT'
Credit: Facebook (Daniel Christopher Chubb)

The alternative Christmas pudding.

Popularity for the Christmas pudding is thinning on the ground, so why not make a new tradition with ice cream cake. It’s cold to represent the frosty weather outside, but has cookies for the warm inside which represents, oh we don’t know, some new traditions just don’t need explaining.

The title justifies it all really.

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Night Before Christmas Smash Cake

Marks and Spencer’s

No photo description available.
Credit: Facebook (M&S Tunbridge Wells)

Crowned winner of the most wonderful Christmas specials to grace our humble supermarkets. Marks and Sparks have seriously outdone themselves.

Appearing simply as a domed desert, most people would pass it by as a pretty Christmas cake, but take a hammer to this thing and you unlock Santa’s grotto. Tasty treats lay beneath this dome and it’s only a layer of white chocolate between you and all the sweets you could wish for.

Cracking idea (excuse the pun) and fun for all. Beneath is a creamy Madeira cake filled with buttercream and jam – what’s not to like?

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Featured Image – NewfoodsUK | M&S Tunbridge Wells

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Two North West cities named among the ‘noisiest’ in the UK – including Manchester

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant Salford and MediaCity skyline

A new analysis has revealed a list of the noisiest cities in the UK, and two Greater Manchester locations are in the top five.

From blaring sirens and car horns, to house parties, barking dogs, and loud neighbours, escaping the noise of a city can feel almost impossible – even in your own home.

No matter whether you live in the hustle and bustle, or you’re out in the sleepier suburbs, noise can keep you up at night, disturb your peace, and lead to frustration. But just how loud are Greater Manchester’s cities compared to the rest of the UK? In a bid to get to the bottom of it, Alpine Hearing Protection has done some research to compile a top 10 list.

And both Salford and Manchester have found themselves not just within the top 10, but within the top five… and to make matters worse, Salford has actually claimed the number one spot.

The reason Salford has found itself at the top of the list, according to the research, is because it sits at the intersection of several major transport and urban hubs, with major motorways running through or around the city including the M60, M61, and M62.

Major rail routes also run through the city – including via Salford Crescent – which sees 16 million passengers every year, and also leads to Manchester Airport. 

Top 10 noisiest cities in the UK

  1. Salford
  2. Portsmouth
  3. Manchester
  4. Southampton
  5. London
  6. Leeds
  7. Stoke-on-Trent
  8. Wakefield
  9. Newcastle upon Tyne
  10. Bradford

Parts of Salford are also very built-up, making pockets of the city noisy – especially in the concentrated centre where traffic, construction, nightlife and commercial activity get loud.

And of course, like any growing city, construction noises have been noted as ‘particularly bothersome’ for residents where major developments are springing up.

Manchester is third on the list of noisiest cities, due to many of the same reasons as Salford.

But the difference being that Mancunians are noted as one of the many reasons why the city is so loud – with residents making 5,301 noise complaints across Manchester between January 2024 and January 2025, and Hulme identified the loudest area with 304 complaints.

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As well all know, Manchester is also home to many universities, which brings an active nightlife scene to the region, especially in the city centre, and in recent FOI data, it was revealed that the University of Manchester saw 2,049 noise complaints in the last five years.

Featured Image – James Johnstone (via Flickr)

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Motorists warned of common winter driving habit that could land them with annoying fines

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

With the temperatures drastically dropping now as we head into winter, motorists are being warned against a common driving habit.

On a wintry morning when the windscreens are frozen and your hands are equally as frozen too, it’s pretty common for drivers to start the engine, turn the heater right up, and remain stationary for several minutes to warm the car up before setting off on their journey… but did you know that doing this could see you, inadvertently, fall foul of the law?

That’s right – as ridiculous as it sounds, leaving your car engine running ‘unnecessarily’ while parked on a public road is illegal.

And to make matters worse, the rules on ‘engine idling’, as it’s known, apply regardless of whether the driver is using the heating, waiting for someone, or simply sitting in the vehicle.

Known as a stationary idling offence, Rule 123 of the Highway Code states that drivers must not leave a vehicle’s engine running unnecessarily while it is stationary on a public road, and according to the rule, a fixed penalty of up to £80 can be issued, right there and then.

Motorists are being warned of a common winter driving habit that could land them with annoying fines / Credit: PickPik | Wikimedia Commons

Fines will only be handed out if a motorist is stopped by a police officer who asks them to switch the engine off, and they fail to comply.

“However tempting it might be to sit in a vehicle with the engine running and the heater on to warm up, we strongly advice against it,” commented RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis.

“As well as polluting the air and wasting fuel, drivers who leave their engines idling unnecessarily on a public road also risk an on-the-spot fine of £80. On cold mornings, the best approach is to clear any ice or snow properly and ensure windows are fully de-misted before setting off, then get on your way and let the car warm you up.”

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There are some exceptions to the rule, however, as keeping the engine running is permitted in certain circumstances.

This includes when a vehicle is stationary because of traffic conditions, when the engine needs to run so a mechanical fault can be investigated, or if certain work is being carried out on the side of the road.

Featured Image – Freerange / Unsplash

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