See what all the fuss is about here.

(Image via www.schwartz.co.uk)

For many of us though we have the best intentions, we will find a way out helping out with the Christmas meal. Here are some of the most ridiculous justifications I’ve heard.

• “I can’t cook”

• “Got no time”

• “Can’t be bothered”

• “Guests don’t like my taste”

• “It’s cheaper to dine out”

• “My partner will do it”

• “I’m too poor”

• “It’s boring”

• “I have a phobeia”

• “I’m allegic”

• “It’s my day off”

• “Not feeling very well”

• “It’s too cold”

• “My pet just died”

• “I’ll just be a pain round the kitchen”

• “I’ll do it next year”

LOL

(Image via Flickr.com, no copyright intended)

Craft fair shops sells 15p rice crispy marshmallows.

Cupcakes start dressing up charmingly.

And House of Fraser sponsors an entire outdoor ice ring.

Chocolate Cake

You’ll need:

  • coffee mug
  • 4 tablespoons flour
  • 4 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
  • 2 tablespoons whisked egg
  • 3 tablespoons milk
  • 3 tablespoons oil
  • 3 tablespoons chocolate chips
  • splash vanilla or cinnamon
Make here.

Bread Pudding

You’ll need:

  • microwaveable coffee cup or bowl
  • bread
  • 1 egg
  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • 1-2 tablespoons of butter / margarine
Make here.

Fried Pie

You’ll need:

  • Premade pie crust
  • One can filling of your choice
  • 1 1/2 cup oil (or enough to fry in)
Make here.

Chocolate Mousse

You’ll need:

  • 100g dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids)
  • 300ml double cream
  • 50g caster sugar
  • 1 large egg white
  • chocolate shavings
Make here.
(Images & recipes via http://www.instructables.com, no copyright intended)

What’s Mine Is Yours: The Rise of Collaborative Consumption.

An interesting social trend is occurring, web companies are harnessing the power of peer2peer markets known as” collaborative consumption”. This industry revolution started during the recession as a way to save money matching surplus to where it is needed, hence creating a sharing economy.

As our world population reaches 7 billion and money around the globe is rapidly decreasing it makes sense to increasing access instead of ownership. We can now rent anything from cars, to houses, to personal items, to office space, to money, and experiences. The book written by Rachel Botsman and Roo Rogers analysis the model behind this phenomenon and how it will stand up against big corporations, reshifting the balance of power.

Buy the book here.

(Foodhost does not endorse any products or services mentioned in this article; Images via http://www.collaborativeconsumption.com, no copyright intended)