Table of contents for 44 - 2017 in Best

I love my dog, Fred, and I know I spoil him.But, apparently, not enough. The Americans – who usually, ahem, lead the way in barkingly brilliant crazes – have just come up with the next big thing… Dog Bars that serve mocktails, such as the Pincher Colada and Terrier Sunrise. Oh, yes, no more sitting on the cold pavement outside Costa Coffee for these pampered pooches. In fact, the more discerning dog bowl palates are even being served a Sauvignon Bark from Bark Vineyards. This is a grape-free, (if you didn’t know already, grapes are poisonous to pets) alcohol-free white with an irresistible chicken aroma. Chin, chin, Fred!. • Please let me know your thoughts, siobhan. wykes@hearst.co.uk EXECUTIVE EDITOR…

If Prince Harry proposes to American actress Meghan Markle, a new clan will be rubbing shoulders with the world’s most famous family at the wedding. And just like when Prince William married Kate Middleton, they won’t come from the British aristocracy. Meghan has mixed-race heritage, a yoga-loving social worker mum and a former TV lighting director dad who lives in Mexico, and she shuns the limelight. But, like Kate, 36-year-old Meghan is well-prepared for life in the public eye, thanks to the woman she describes as her best friend – her mum. So, if Carole Middleton and Doria Radlan do meet, they can compare notes on how they set their respective daughters up for success, and sympathise about the rotten apples in their family trees. Carole, 62, met husband Michael,…

Statement skirt A print on the bottom half draws the eye downwards. TAP THE APP With the Oasis app, you can nab new arrivals the minute they land. Happy shopping! Saved by the bell This sleeve shape will slim your arms. Blooming blouse A loose-fitting style is great for hiding a tummy. Ready to ruffle Frills in the right places will show off a slim figure.…

HOW IT WORKS 1 Eating foods rich in the amino acid tryptophan, including turkey, eggs, salmon and seeds, triggers the production of serotonin – the mood-boosting hormone that can help ease tension and prevent cravings. Avoiding foods that are natural stressers, such as caffeine, sugar and salt, can help the body stay balanced. 2 Suzie Sawyer (from nutritionlifestyle.co.uk) explains that fibre is also important for keeping everything moving – you can find it in all kinds of beans, quinoa, lentils, oats, fresh vegetables and rye. 3 Start the day with home-made muesli – mix oat flakes, wheat germ, pumpkin seeds, sultanas and apricots – to balance hormone levels. Add fresh berries and swap regular milk for almond or coconut. 4 Tempted by chocolate when you’re struggling with PMS? Sugar can…

FREEZE IT When cold, wrap in greaseproof paper, then foil or cling film, and freeze for up to three months. Drizzle the caramel sauce over once it’s defrosted. UTTER INDULGENCE Toffee & ginger cheesecake These flavours work well together – hits of ginger cut through the indulgent toffee Serves 8 Prep: 20 mins Cook: 1 hr Per serving: kcals 544; fat 35g; sat fat 20g; carbs 45g 25g butter 200g digestive biscuits (whizzed in food processor or bashed into crumbs in a plastic bag) 4 eggs 175g golden caster sugar 200g cream cheese 200g carton mascarpone 3-4 balls stem ginger, finely chopped 100g pack fudge pieces for baking 2tbsp plain flour 2-3tbsp thick caramel sauce (dulce de leche) Icing sugar for dusting (optional) You will need A 20.5cm round, deep,…

MasterChef finalist and dad-of-three Theo Michaels knows time’s short in the kitchen. Every week, he shares a simple and delicious recipe... £2.47 PER PIZZA Chilli lamb pizzas Making pizzas at home is great fun and a good way to get everyone involved in creating their own. Sometimes I like to cheat by using pre-made pizza dough or even pre-made pizza bases. PER SERVING CALS 900 FAT 41g Makes 2 large pizzas 250g lamb mince 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped Seasoning 1tbsp dried oregano 100g passata (about 5tbsp) 2 ready-made pizza bases 100g feta cheese (½ pack) 1 red chilli, sliced Sprig of mint 1 Mix together the lamb mince, garlic, seasoning and oregano. 2 Spread the passata over the pizza bases using the back of a spoon. 3 Crumble the…

How was going into prison? I was nervous. I had to go in as a prisoner, so I actually had to strip naked. You felt the slight humiliation and the removal of your life – you hand over your credit card, your watch, your mobile phone… Who was the most shocking prisoner you met? I met a former school teacher who had downloaded sexual images of children. He didn’t think there was anything wrong with that, or that he should be in prison, and he said he would never stop being attracted to children. I couldn’t stay impartial. I didn’t shake his hand. Were there lighter moments? No, it’s me. I don’t do lighter moments! Although I was helping make sandwiches with a guy who was in for attempted murder.…

EXCLUSIVE best columnist Carol McGiffin, 57, is sitting in her new house reading the headlines about herself. Suddenly, she screeches, ‘It’s bloody outrageous!’ Then she laughs. ‘Apparently, my wedding is on hold and my career is over – have you sacked me? I’m also back on the booze. I was never off it, was I?’ Here, she catches up with best Executive Editor Siobhan Wykes to tell you the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth about her life… Let’s be fair, Carol, 2017 hasn’t been your best year. You lost your lovely sister, Tracey, for one thing… Yes. Mark and I were due to get married in January. We were going to tie the knot in a register office, but then my sister got sick and died.…

Once hormone production slows down to a halt, say goodbye to plump, problem-free skin, and say hello to the menopause. Here’s how to face up to ‘the change’. TIGHTEN UP WITH HIFU In the first five years after menopause, 30 per cent of your collagen is lost, causing the deepest layers of your skin to thin and sag. HiFu –a revolutionary non-invasive treatment, which has been safely used in medicine for over 50 years – can treat brows, neck and jowls. A small handpiece is used, and one session will stimulate collagen for firmer, lifted skin. There’s no downtime, and you’ll see improvements over six months. Results last up to one year. Three sessions a year are suggested to keep skin firm. From £500 a treatment. CHECK YOUR HORMONES Hormone…

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10 to give a wa y! ✶ best birthday giveaway ✶ It’s time to treat yourself to that new winter wardrobe, and £50 worth of Debenhams vouchers on us is the perfect way to do it. We’re giving 10 lucky readers to the chance to win a mid-season pick-me-up, so find out how to enter below. HOW TO ENTER POST Send a postcard with your name, address, phone number and email address to: Debenhams Giveaway, GVBSTN17756, Hearst Magazines UK, The Data Solutions Centre, Worksop S80 2RT. Closing date for postal entries is 17 November 2017. PHONE Call 0901 027 2711 by midnight on 14 November 2017. Calls cost 30p per minute, plus your telephone company’s network access charge, and will last no longer than two minutes. Calls from mobiles may…

Got a bathroom cabinet stacked with creams and serums, but feel like you’re not getting results? It’s no secret that, as we get older, we’re faced with more skin concerns than ever. Yet, these days, your answer could be in one pot. Products packed with hard-working ingredients will kick-start your regime to nurture a gorgeous complexion come the winter months. 1 Smoothly does it Traditionally, shops would be stocked with ‘anti-wrinkle’ creams, but brands are recognising that skin tone, in the form of dullness and pigmentation, is a common complaint, too. Avon ANEW Reversalist Infinite Effects Night Treatment Cream, £28, deals with them all with a dual-ended, retinol-packed formula. Use one end for a week, then switch to the other end for the next week. Continue to rotate for glowing,…

Best ON Test Fancy flavours Aldi Specially Selected Caramelised Onion Pork Sausages, £1.95 Simple with a sweet taste. They keep together well but they’re a little soft. Simon Howie Low Fat Piri Piri Chicken Sausages, £2.80 A guilt-free sausage that tastes great, too. And they’re gluten free! Co-op Irresistible Pork & Caramelised Onion Sausages, £2.99 Deliciously juicy with a slightly spicy kick. Full marks! Posh puppies M&S Posh Dogs, £4.50 These big bangers don’t lose their stocky size and the skin crisps to perfection. Iceland Luxury Outdoor Bred Premium Sausages, £2 There’s virtually no fat with these, but they do need more seasoning. Tesco Finest* Outdoor Bred British Pork Sausages, £2.50 Thick, slightly peppery and packed with juicy flavour. Well done, Tesco! Skinny style Heck Smoky Paprika Chicken Chipolatas, £2.99…

…why people love Robot Wars so much There’s so much passion. The love people pour into these inanimate objects always blows me away. The whole community is so close – they’re part of each other’s weddings, they’re best friends, married, and we even have Robot babies! …the atmosphere on set It’s crazy – so much fun. Lots of kids are wildly wielding foam fingers and teams are hungry for the win – they throw everything at it. Since the show is shot in Glasgow, Dara [Ó Briain, Angela’s co-host] and I tend to shovel teacakes in at an alarming rate. I haven’t looked at a Tunnock’s teacake since. …her favourite food My death row meal is salt-and-chilli squid. There’s a Vietnamese restaurant near my house which does the best squid…

MUSICAL HAIR, THE VAULTS, LONDON Get ready for some flower power! Fifty years after the summer of love, the musical that channelled the spirit of the swinging 60s returns. In a specially decorated underground theatre, the story of a group of hippies trying to carve a different life features incredible songs, amazing energy – and, yes, even some nudity. So dig out your tiedye and get into the groove. Visit thevaults.london/hairthe-musical SHOW JAMES AND OLA – UNCENSORED The couple who fell in love on the dance floor, and went on to become Strictlyfixtures, are celebrating the 18th anniversary of their first meeting with their steamiest show yet. This new show – featuring a full cast of dancers – is full of passion and high-octane routines. To book your tickets, visit…

BEFORE YOU GO Got a question? Tweet @mallofamerica or visit mallofamerica.com. For more info on the area, and to learn about The Big Ticket – the three-day attractions pass – go to bloomingtonmn.org TRAVEL SNAPSHOT We’re not saying this shopping centre is vast, but you can fit 347 Statues of Liberty inside the Mall of America. It’s the largest one in the country, has more than 500 shops (clothes and shoes are tax-free), contains an amusement park with 27 attractions – including an amazing virtual ride across all the States – and is kept at a constant 70 degrees – the perfect shopping temperature for a bargain queen. The Radisson Blu (see Staying There) is just a short taxi or train ride away from the airport and attached to the…

Over the last two weeks on Loose Women, it’s become clear that it wasn’t only the Hollywood stars who felt they couldn’t speak out about predators like Harvey Weinstein - the silent epidemic of sexual abuse was far wider and always much closer to home... After the hashtag #metoo began trending on Twitter, we were shocked by the numbers of UK women coming forward to say they had suffered in silence. Alice Evans, married to Liar star Ioan Gruffudd, was one of the first to claim she downplayed an encounter with Weinstein in 2002. Appearing on GMB, the star said she feared speaking out might scupper her career, and her husband’s, after she rejected Weinstein’s invitation to join him in the bathroom. Hours later, Loose Women’s Lisa Riley revealed she…

TOP TIP! Nail the layering trend – start with slim and smooth for under layers, and work up to chunky knits and wraps! TOP TIP! A long-sleeved T-shirt adds a comfortable layer if you find chunky knits a bit itchy. TOP TIP! Wearing chunky knits with skirts – both long and short – is one of the looks of the season.…

CRAIG DOES BRUNO I loved Craig’s impression of Bruno the other week when he wasn’t on the panel. I think Craig did a very good job! It was nice to see him switch from his usual pantomime villain to being a flamboyant Italian. JOKING JONNIE Paralympian amputee Jonnie Peacock is really blossoming as a dancer. And he’s always cracking jokes. On our Strictly Come Dancing WhatsApp group the other day, he said, ‘Oh man, that was such a tough day I can’t feel my leg!’ He has got a great attitude to life. WATCH OUT, BLACKPOOL! I’m looking forward to the Tower Ballroom show in Blackpool on 18 November. We always have a knees-up afterwards – when I was partnering Sophie Ellis-Bextor, we went to a club and she ended…

We’re about ALL TALKING JOIN THE CONVERSATION We’re fed stories about Prince Charming and Mr Right from tiny tots, so you’d be forgiven for going through life searching for that elusive creature, ‘The One’. But, according to relationship expert Tracey Cox, we may be looking at things all wrong. Tracey believes we should be looking for Mr ‘Good Enough’ and, chances are, we’ve already met him. Brainwashed by Hollywood’s messages of fireworks and drama, we label potential partners who love us to bits and don’t cause problems as ‘just friends’ – a big mistake. Look at supermodel Cindy Crawford, 51, who married one of her best friends, Rande Gerber, 54, after saying there was initially no spark, and is still happily married 19 years on. Drama makes for great film…

If you were given just one more chance to speak to a lost loved one, what would you say to them? This is the question posed in a powerful new video campaign, #onemoreminute, by charity Child Bereavement UK. Among the famous faces who appear in the tear-jerking clip to share their personal stories is former England footballer Rio Ferdinand, 38. Speaking about his wife and the mother of his three children, Rebecca, who he tragically lost to breast cancer in 2015 when she was just 34, the ex-Manchester United star struggled to control his emotions. ‘If I was able to have one more minute with her, I’d probably, well I’d definitely, ask her about what she wanted for the children growing up, at different stages, poignant moments in their development……

THOUGHT OF THE DAY Happiness never decreases if you share it around I want my daughter back in my life... My 25-year-old daughter has been living with my ex since we split up, when she was 17. I had some personal problems of my own, and just didn’t give her the love she needed. Now I feel I have sorted my own life out, I think I can be the mum she needs – but she clearly hates me for ‘disappearing’ from her life. How do I even begin to make amends with her? Melissa, Manchester You will need to be very, very patient with your daughter. I don’t think you can disappear from her life, even if you had good reason, and then hope to simply pick up where…

They’ve had an ongoing feud for more than eight years - and now it looks as though things have boiled over again between celebrity chefs Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsay. Jamie, 42, has claimed Gordon is ‘jealous’ of him, adding that Gordon’s wife, Tana, is a better cook than he is. Gordon, 50, has in turn called Jamie ‘fat’. Boys, boys… Things have got more serious than name-calling, though, after Gordon claimed Jamie referenced his wife Tana’s miscarriage when he talked about how many kids they both had – and vowed never to speak to Jamie again. Demanding an apology from Jamie, who said, ‘He’s got four kids and I’ve got five,’ Gordon claims Tana was crushed by the comments – she tragically suffered a miscarriage at five months last…

Catch of the day You can’t beat fish fingers, chips and peas for a quick and easy comfort food supper! If you’d like a slightly superior-tasting version, pick up a pack of Chunky Cod Fish Fingers, £2.20, from Asda. Succulent, flaky cod is encased in crisp but meltin- the-mouth breadcrumbs. BIG BANGER! Bangin’ snacks Hosting a firework party this year? Head to Aldi and you’ll find Ashfield Farm Foot Long Hot Dogs, £1.89 for 2. These superlong sausages are made from 100 per cent British meat and are perfect served with lashings of fried onions and topped with mustard or ketchup. In store from 2 November, and available while stocks last. Souper soup... A bowl of soup makes for the perfect nourishing, quick and easy lunch. A new range from…

Tony Cowell BEST’S CELEBRITY INSIDER TALKS TO DAVID JASON He’s been entertaining the masses for nearly half a century. Now, David Jason talks about Only Fools And Horses, how his character Del Boy was based on a real-life person and why, at 77, he has no plans to retire... You were very shy at school. What gave you the confidence to act? I did have low self-esteem as a child. I had no confidence, and didn’t think I would be any good at anything in my life. Then, suddenly, we got a new form teacher called Mr Joy and, because the only thing I was good at was gymnastics, every time we had to climb a rope in the gym, or do a handstand, he’d get me to show the…

Win EVERY WEEK WIN 1 X £200, 2 X £100 OR 3 X £50 PRIZES Both sets of clues lead to the same answers, revealing in the shaded squares a Netflix series starring KJ Apa (9) TO ENTER CALL 0900 100 0922 (UK 65ppm)† / 1550 716 023 (ROI 97cpm) † CODE: PUBSTN17755 STRAIGHT CLUES ACROSS 8 Fragile, lacking strength (8) 9 Argue logically (6) 10 Born here (6) 11 Example (8) 12 Borders, margins (5) 13 Night-time reverie (5) 14 Body part between chest and hips (5) 16 Removed, or stolen (5) 18 Tree fruits (5) 20 Country roads (5) 25 Have different opinion (8) 26 Real, not imaginary (6) 27 Frolics, antics (5) 28 Naturally gifted (8) DOWN 1 Respect, awe (6) 2 Scale-measuring implements (8) 3 Detested…