Latest research from AGA Rangemaster reveals that we are baking more than we did this time last year.

And a huge rise in the sales of bakeware, shows the most popular cake this Christmas is not a traditional cake or pudding, but the mini-muffin.

AGA Rangemaster’s Great British Kitchen survey, reveals that over a third of Britons (36%) are baking more than they did a year ago.

In the first week of December, AGA Cookshop saw a massive 110% increase in sales of mini muffin tins compared to the same week last year

Author, AGA doyenne and baking expert Mary Berry isn’t surprised, saying “mini muffins are so much more practical than the huge American version, which are definitely too much to eat in one go. It’s very important to get the young baking and making smaller versions of tea-time favourites is a great way to get them excited.”

Mary Berry adds: “Baking is huge fun and offers a real sense of well being and achievement and, of course, home-baked treats are delicious. It’s so welcoming for children when they come home from school and are given something home-baked for tea.

The Great British Bake Off really inspired everyone to make their own cakes and bread. And the great news is that there’s a new Great British Bake Off on BBC2 in 2011.”

Cooking is shown to be at the very heart of a family home – the survey revealed that 44% of British cooks learned from their parents, whereas only 6% learned at school and 6% from packet instructions

We are also embracing technology when it comes to finding new recipes – two thirds of us use recipes we have found online, one in seven have used a food blog and one in 12 have downloaded a recipe app to a mobile phone

The AGA Rangemaster Great British Kitchen Survey was conducted online by Next Big Thing/OnePoll with 3,000 respondents interviewed.

For more information about AGA Rangemaster cookers, please visit the website.

There are great savings to be had this summer, on a whole range of items from the AGA Cook Shops.

So, whether you’re looking for high-performance cookware, collectables, or just something to brighten up the kitchen, you’re sure to find just the right thing; with brilliant deals to be had, there’s never been a better time to stock up on kitchen essentials.

In fact, there are more than 40 brilliant bargains to be had this summer. Here are just some of the highlights:

• AGA chef’s pads are hugely popular and multi-functional and the seasonal offers include a tempting buy one-get one half price offer. The same is true of the must-have AGA gauntlets.AGA’s cast-iron cookware in our picture, is brilliant for all sorts of dishes, from casseroles to puddings and pretty much everything in between.
  Right now if you spend more than £75 on AGA cast-iron cookware, you’ll receive a free trivet worth £25.90 in the colour of your choice.
• When you buy a coloured stainless steel saucepan or casserole set, you
  can choose any item from selected AGA textile ranges.
  Pieces in the range come in black or cream and can withstand temperatures of up to 400°C; this cookware performs brilliantly and is able to eliminate hot spots to ensure even heat distribution.
• Buy a kMIX mixer and similarly styled blender together and you’ll save £119.99 – perfect for those who love cooking and have a real sense of style.

AGA’s Sensational Summer Savings run until August 1, with all offers available in AGA shops throughout the UK.

Also £5 off when you spend £50 or more on a transaction (coupon code required) on:

Web: http://www.agacookshop.co.uk

This summer AGA is launching a programme to transform older AGAs everywhere; with a simple upgrade, owners of older cookers will be able to take advantage of new technology, offering considerable savings on both energy use and running costs.

More than half of all AGA cookers sold today are fully programmable, enabling owners to enjoy significant savings on running costs; therefore AGA wants as many owners as possible to take advantage of this new technology.

From July 1st, a nationwide upgrade campaign will begin, offering retro-fit programmable burners to the owners of oil, gas and electric AGA cookers; most AGAs in service today are upgradeable.

These authentic AGA burners, fitted by a qualified engineer, will allow owners to programme their cookers to suit their lifestyle and to save both money and energy.

The upgrade programme will allow AGA owners to keep their beloved cookers, while also enjoying all the benefits of cutting-edge technology and giving them the ability to programme their cookers to suit their routine:

• An upgraded AGA cooker will be able to cook breakfast in the morning, drop to a lower temperature during the day and then return to cooking temperature in time for supper.
• Should the owner of a programmable AGA go on holiday, then the cooker can either stay on at the lowest temperature, or be completely switched off for the duration of the trip and then automatically restart, ready for when its owners return home.

AGA is in tune with modern thinking - so with the environment uppermost on the agenda at the moment, as well as saving money, the company believes it not only makes sense to hang on to an older AGA, but also to ensure that it’s using the very latest technology available.

AGA customers interested in upgrading their AGA should visit:
Web: http://www.aga-web.co.uk
Tel: (0845) 712 5207

An appointment will be made for a visit from a specialist AGA Home Survey Manager to assess the existing AGA and give it a free health check too; then an engineer’s visit can be arranged to carry out the upgrade.

Since the very first Aga cooker was made more than 80 years ago, 70% of each new Aga has been manufactured from previously used material, which shows that Aga have been aware of the importance of recycling from the start.

Car gearboxes, guttering, old m a c h i n e r y, cookers, door fittings, drain covers and lampposts have all gone towards making the famous Aga cooker.

Because of their commitment to recycling, Aga is offering any customer who wishes to change their Aga cooker a £500 discount on a new Aga, when they trade in their old one. The old Agas will then be melted down and made into new ones, thus completing the cycle.

The Aga keeps on cooking for years and is renowned for its longevity, which is why some people say an Aga lasts a lifetime.

The long-lasting Aga is of real benefit to our environment in today’s disposable culture and since they are almost completely recyclable, you’ll probably never find an Aga in a landfill site!

web: http://www.agarayburn.co.uk
tel: (08457) 125 207

If you hanker after an Aga, but your kitchen is just too small, or you like the Aga style, but prefer a more modern cooker, this could be the answer.

The Aga Four Two mini has three burner sizes, conventional and fan ovens, a ceramic grill, and even a timer. Everything you’d expect to find on a state-of-the-art conventional range cooker, plus an Aga badge.

The Four Two mini is also rather more compact than a traditional Aga range cooker at 595mm wide, so it will fit between standard kitchen units. So now you don’t need a huge farmhouse kitchen to have an Aga.

Pictured is the Special Edition (with the chequered flag pattern) - but if that’s not your cup of tea, the Four Two mini range cooker is also available in a wide range of (single) colours.

The Aga Four Two mini special edition costs from around £2,950.

web: http://www.agarayburn.co.uk
tel: (08457) 125 207

Welcome to UK Home Ideas. We’re looking forward to bringing you the latest information on interesting and exciting products for your home. Many will be brand new, some will be classics, and others simply beautiful or inspiring. You can be sure there will be something new to see every single day.

So after months of planning and preparation, this is it - day one, article one. I’m surrounded by information and photos of superb products for the home - the dilemma - what shall I choose for the first ever article on UK Home Ideas…

Actually it’s not that hard. The kitchen is the heart of the home - a family space, warm, comfortable and inviting. Perhaps that’s why even in the technological maelstrom of the twenty-first century, it’s the Aga, a cast-iron range cooker designed more than 80 years ago that’s still says “home” to a lot of people.

Of course the Aga hasn’t stood still - you can now buy an Aga cooker with gas burners, or a halogen hob, and choose from a rainbow of colours. But it’s this, the standard Aga, with the traditional hotplates that thousands of people still aspire to have in their homes.

Pictured is the two oven Aga, in Claret, priced from £5,650.

web: http://www.agarayburn.co.uk
tel: (08457) 125 207