Category Archives: food

The Bake-Off Effect: Gin and Tonic Cake

21st September 2016
Like what appears to be most of the UK (and beyond) population I’m currently swept up in Great British Bake-Off mania. Wednesday evening between 8pm and 9pm is sacred time and I resent anything that gets in my way, even a stag do of sorts. Ever since we viewed the first episode and saw one of contestants make a gin and tonic drizzle cake I’ve been informed by Mum that one just had to be made, being the dutiful daughter that I am I googled away and found this Good Housekeeping recipe and got baking.
I’m no food photographer so the photos really don’t do this justice but I was really pleased with how it turned out. It wasn’t the trickiest of cakes to make but it was time consuming thanks to several elements to the decorating process but it was worth it. This vanished in record time and has already been requested again as a birthday cake. I’ve popped the link to the recipe above but for those who can’t be faffed with clicking (guilty of this) here it is:

Cake Ingredients

200 g (7oz) unsalted butter, softened, plus extra to grease
200 g (7oz) caster sugar
4 medium eggs, beaten
200 g (7oz) self-raising flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
finely grated zest 1 lime
75 ml (3 fl oz) gin

For the Syrup and Topping

25 g (4oz) caster sugar, plus extra to sprinkle
125 ml (4 fl oz) tonic water
31/2 tbsp gin
2 limes, cut in half through their length and sliced into 3mm (1/8in) half moons
100 g (3 ½oz) icing sugar, sifted

Method

Preheat oven to 180°C (160°C fan) mark 4. Grease and line base and sides of a 900g (2lb) loaf tin with baking parchment. In a large bowl beat butter and sugar with a handheld electric whisk until light and fluffy – about 5min. Gradually add eggs, beating well after each addition.

Fold in flour, baking powder and lime zest, followed by the gin. Spoon into prepared tin and bake for 55min-1hr or until a skewer inserted into the centre comes out clean.

Meanwhile, make sugar syrup: gently heat the caster sugar and tonic water in a small pan, stirring often, until the sugar dissolves. Turn up heat and boil for 1min. Spoon 2tbsp of the syrup into a small bowl and mix in 2tbsp of the gin (this mixture will be used to soak the loaf later). Set pan of remaining syrup aside.

As soon as the loaf comes out of the oven, poke holes into the top with a skewer and drizzle over the reserved syrup/gin mixture. Cool loaf in tin on a wire rack.

Meanwhile, make the candied lime slices. Reheat the remaining sugar syrup in its pan until boiling, then add the lime slices. Simmer for 10-12min until the slices are translucent. Lift out slices with a slotted spoon on to baking parchment, then sprinkle both sides of the lime slices liberally with caster sugar. Leave to dry.
Make icing by mixing together icing sugar with remaining 1½tbsp gin. Remove cooled loaf from tin, transfer to a board and peel off parchment. Pour over icing and decorate with the dried candied lime slices. Leave the cake to set before serving.

Let me know what you think if you make this…and fellow GBBO obsessives, what have you been inspired to make?

end

Posted in baking, food, recipes

Permalink 2 Comments

The August 2016 Degustabox and Discount

09th September 2016
Another month has somehow slipped past and brings with it a brand new Degustabox review post for you! The August box was a bit of a mixed bag when it came to the contents and as is often the case the majority of the products were brand new to me which is always a plus as I can give my true first impressions…let’s get stuck in!
First up we have some cooking sauces from Geeta’s and Capsicana. I have a feeling the Geeta’s products have been featured in previous boxes but the Capsicana ones were brand new to me. I admit these haven’t fully been tested yet, I’m not a big curry fan so these are in the cupboard waiting for Dad to try. Mexican I can do though and the chilli and honey cook sauce gets a thumbs up!
I expect most people in the UK will have at least heard of Dorset Cereals- I’ve been a big fan of their products for many years! This month’s box included a pack of their bircher muesli (and adorable scoop!) to try out…I don’t really like to stray away from my tried and tested porridge breakfast but I did make up some of this to sample…the flavours are lovely and it did make a nice change but I’m not over keen on the texture (I feel like I needs to be hot!) so I’ve passed this on to my Granddad who is loving it.
These NutriPots are something I’ve not seen before and looked delicious, the Moroccan Couscous did not dissapoint on the flavour front and I like the fact that these pots are high in protein and have no added colours or preservatives. Perfect for lunch at work when I ever get back…at £2.49 they are a bit of an indulgence but as an occasional treat/change from a packed lunch I think that’s not too bad.
Another Geeta’s product was included in the August box in the form of Mango Chutney. As I mentioned earlier I’m not a big curry fan so rather than use this as a traditional accompaniment I’ve been adding it to sandwiches and salads because that’s how I roll. The sweet and sticky BBQ sauce and marinade from Tabasco sauce is still waiting to be used, I’m thinking of adding a dollop to a chicken burger next time I have one as BBQ and chicken are a match made in heaven, right? (Assuming you’re not vegetarian/vegan!)
The green tea from Clipper is something I purchase frequently in various flavours, it’s definitely my favourite brand. This blend with lime and ginger is a great boost at the start of the day. Not quite good enough to make me give up my morning coffee habit but enough to make me feel somewhat virtuous. I’m not sure why I photographed the olives from Oloves right next to the tea because they don’t go together at all, but damn I love olives- after years of being convinced I hated them. I love this handy little snack pouch and the chilli and oregano flavour gives an excellent kick.
At this point in photographing the products Mae decided to gatecrash, she seems to think that anything that comes in a box belongs to her…so wrong kitty, so wrong! As is usual for me the drinks selection from Degustabox got passed along to friends and family with exception of the Get More Vitamin drink which I have tried before and really like. I’d drink this all of the time if it didn’t cost £1.45 per bottle!
It took me a while to work out the difference between these two bags of cracker snacks from Rakusen’s Snackers but eventually sussed that one is an original version and the other is gluten free. Both are deliciously addictive and a great healthy snack. I happily munch them plain as I think they taste great on their own but they are damn tasty dipped in to a tub of houmus as well, especially caramalised red onion flavoured!
Last but by no means least comes this popcorn from Willy Chase, dubbed as fit corn. This is made with local ingredients and comes in four flavours of which I received the salted honey variant. Initially I was disappointed with getting this flavour as I don’t really like honey but the salt helps balance it out and this is actually really rather tasty! I love popcorn so will be seeking out the other flavours ASAP!
If you’re persuaded to give Degustabox a go (and really, you should) you can claim a brilliant £7.00 off of your first box by entering the code BLDEG15 at the checkout. It’s been a pleasure to work with the brand one and off over the last couple of years and it’s without a doubt something that I will continue to purchase long after our partnership ends. I love the monthly surprise and excitement as well as the chance to discover products I’d otherwise pass up on the supermarket shelves.

Posted in food, review

Permalink 4 Comments

Foodie Finds- Mini Jellybeans from Vimto

05th September 2016
When I was a kid there seemed to be two teams when it came to squash- team Ribena vs. team Vimto. I like both but Vimto was always the favourite for me and this has lasted in to my adulthood. During the colder months one of my favourite drinks is hot Vimto so I was super excited when a parcel from the brand landed at my door, celebrating the launch of Vimto mini jelly beans…my favourite sweets combined with my favourite squash? Surely this was going to be a winner!
Inside a large purple box were a whole host of Vimto themed goodies including a smartphone/tablet beanbag holder (so useful!), a squeezy bottle of Vimto, a bag of Vimto mini bon bons (these lasted all of five seconds) and a Vimto fizzy rippa sweet (swiftly devoured) as well as the main event- a bag of the all new Vimto mini jelly beans.
I managed to save these long enough to get my parents involved in the tasting and once opened the bag literally vanished before our eyes. Combining the classic Vimto mixed up fruits there was an original Vimto flavoured bean, a strawberry Vimto flavour and a cherry Vimto too. These are good looking sweets- bright and glossy and the texture is spot on. Flavour wise there is no mistaking what they are meant to be and I’ve been scouring the local shops looking to top up my supply.

The jelly beans are suitable for vegetarians, gluten-free and virtually fat free as well as being dairy free so a great treat for many people to enjoy. I highly recommend these, especially the classic Vimto flavour (I might be guilty of picking most of these out for myself!). So far I’ve only seen them for sale in a local newsagent priced at a very reasonable £1. I fully expect to see them hitting more shelves soon- let me know when and where you spot them and what you think…

Are you on team Vimto?

end

Posted in food, review

Permalink 4 Comments

Foodie Find- Jealous Sweets

22nd August 2016
Have I ever mentioned my sweet tooth and love of sugar on the blog? Oh, only twenty million times by now I’m sure! If there’s one thing I love (and have always loved throughout every stage of my life so far) it’s sweets. Any kind of sweet will do the trick but my real achilles heal is the gummy variety. So, when an e-mail from Jealous Sweets popped in to my inbox offering me a selection of their wares to sample it was really a no brainer as far as I was concerned…expanding my snacking horizons? It was game on!
For those who are yet to come across Jealous Sweets (we’ve had brief encounters in the past) I’ll share a little history. Essentially these are sweets designed for EVERYONE to enjoy- they are 100% vegetarian, gluten free, packed full of natural juices and free from artificial colours and flavours. At least some of their varieties are Vegan too meaning they make the perfect gift for when flowers or chocolate just won’t cut it. I received four different 50g boxes from the range- each of these retail at £2.50 each and are ideal as a little pick me up present (to me, from me of course) or as part of a bigger gift. You can also pick up 200g mixed boxes for £8.99.
As you can see, they are an attractive bunch, if you can look past the fact I might have dropped a couple of the boxes and thus somewhat ruining the effect. Obviously looks aren’t everything and what everyone is dying to know is how they taste, so without further ado…

I really, really like these sweets. Like, REALLY. The Tropical Wonder box held my favourite selection of flavours (mango, pineapple and raspberry) whereas the Fizzy Friends were my overall favourite as I’m a sucker for anything sour. The sour beans made a fun alternative to other brands of jelly beans that don’t tick all of the dietary boxes that Jealous Sweets do- the mango/pineapple flavour of these is incredible! If I had to single out a favourite sweet across all four boxes though it would be the banana flavour gummy in the Fruitilicious box- banana is a seriously underrated flavour for sweets and I’m kind of hoping these may exist in a box all of their own one day.

Jealous Sweets has a variety of stockists which you can find on their website and you can also order online. I’d definitely recommend these both as a gift or a treat for yourself and I’m going to treat myself to a few more boxes (Tangy Worms and Grizzly Bears) come pay day!

Let me know if you’ve tried Jealous Sweets before and what you thought. Also let’s talk sweets in general- what’s your favourite?

end

*sweets sent to me for consideration, I genuinely loved them so much I had to go off on a mad ramble about them!*

Posted in food, gifts, review

Permalink 1 Comment

The July (2016) Degustabox Review & epic discount code.

08th August 2016
Apologies for the unplanned hiatus. Life of late has been rather…challenging? I think that’s the most appropriate word and there have been some big changes which those who follow me on social media will probably be aware of. But I’m back now with my monthly review of Degustabox. Now this was a very drinks heavy box which meant I didn’t actually sample all of the products myself as I’m too much a creature of habit with the fluids I consume, but the goods were shared around family and colleagues so I have feedback on everything as usual.
Kicking off with some condiments the first products I pulled out of the box were a jar of Felix Gerkhins and some Balsamic Vinegar from Sarson’s. I think gherkins are one of those marmite foods that you either love or hate. I’m in the love camp and these ones are great! The perfect balance of sweet and spice with a good crunch. I’ve been chucking them in salads and sandwiches as well as sneaking the odd one straight from the jar. I’m not overly experienced in the world of Balsamic Vinegar but I’ve been enjoying Sarson’s version on summer salads.
Drinks wise I did try the Rejuvination Water in Spanish Orange and it was nice. I balk at paying £1.99 for a bottle of drink but with added amino acids to boost your immune system, stress reactions and protein digestion for some people it may be worth it. The pineapple, coconut and lime drink from Cracker Drinks was taken in to work for my colleagues to enjoy and enjoy they did. With no added sugar or artificial sweeteners and a unique flavour that’s perfect for Summer this was a hit. No one has actually been brave enough to try the ALO Drink yet but when someone takes the plunge I’ll report back.
Muesli is great and Jordans has long been one of my favourite brands. A handful of this reduced sugar variety in a bowl with some natural yoghurt and fruit compote makes a delicious, healthy treat at any time of day.
How cute are these little snack packs of Bahlsen Choco Leibniz? Now available in little packs of two biscuits these are perfect for on the go snacking, whether it’s at work when you don’t want to share or on a Summer picnic. Genius idea!
My Dad is the crisp connoisseur in this house so the food heros lattice crisps from Seabrooks were tested out by him. He really enjoyed the meaty chorizo flavour and the design of the sharing bag although we did spend some time pondering the “suitable for vegetarians” claim, wondering how many vegetarians would want chorizo flavoured crisps! The seaweed crispy thins from Itsu were left to me alone to sample. At only 13 calories per pack I failed to see them as a suitable snacking option but very much enjoyed sprinkling them over a chicken salad as some added texture and flavour.
Three more drinks were hidden away in the box this month too, the sparkling lemon and ginger & cranberry and guava from Berrywhite organic were passed in my Grandad’s direction and he gave a glowing feedback of the lemon and ginger especially. Much like the aloe drink I believe the cucumber one is yet to be sampled but I’d love to know thoughts from those who have tried it.
The new infusions fruit pastilles from Rowntree’s were the stand out product for me this month. They come in three flavours- orange & grapefruit, raspberry & pomegranate and apple & elderflower and they are all delicious. I love the combination of apple and & elderflower and think it’s not used enough so I was especially delighted with these! And finally comes the acai and blueberry flavoured dark chocolates from Brookside Chocolates which I didn’t expect to love much. It’s hard to describe these accurately as they are truly unique but they are a super tasty and satisfying treat that doesn’t feel too naughty either!
If you’re persuaded to give Degustabox a go (and really, you should) you can claim a brilliant £7.00 off of your first box by entering the code BLDEG15 at the checkout. It’s been a pleasure to work with the brand one and off over the last couple of years and it’s without a doubt something that I will continue to purchase long after our partnership ends. I love the monthly surprise and excitement as well as the chance to discover products I’d otherwise pass up on the supermarket shelves.

end

Posted in food, review

Permalink 3 Comments