Category Archives: food

The April (2016) Degustabox + discount

06th May 2016
Over a month has passed us by and it’s time to bring you the next round of Degustabox reviews. The April box was full of exciting treats- the team have been on the ball lately and picked out some super products most of which I’d probably ignore if I saw them on the shelves as I’m very much a creature of habit. It’s always a joy to receive one of these boxes every month, I still get them delivered to my parents’ address so my Mum and I can stick with our tradition of opening them together…it’s the little things in life and something we really enjoy even if it does mean I sometimes have to share the goods!
The first product I pulled out of the box was these fruit strings by Bebeto (£1.99). These are an award winning product thanks to their innovative use of fruit juice and reduction in processed sugars. Suitable for vegetarians AND vegans these are probably targeted as kids but I’ve really been enjoying them myself and have a couple stashed in my handbag for a boost on the go.
This is the second time products from Parle have been included in the Degustabox and despite apparently being the largest selling biscuit brand in the world this is only the second time I have encountered them. The rusk biscuits were a revelation, enriched with cardamom and wonderfully crunchy I wasn’t expecting much from something that sounds so simple but they are dangerously addictive and really tasty! At 89p for a pack they are a bargain too! The little pack of biscuits (29p) are also really yummy and Parle is a brand I’ll be keeping a closer eye out for in the future.
I’ve been a big fan of Popchips ever since they first launched in the UK so I was excited to see some new flavours. I received the limited edition sea salt, garlic and rosemary flavour which taste amazing. I wasn’t convinced about rosemary as it isn’t my favourite herb but it works very well with the garlic and despite my intention to share this bag, it just didn’t happen and I found myself hiding it in my cupboard for purely selfish purposes. At £1.99 they aren’t cheap but a great healthy alternative for TV snacking or to serve with dips when entertaining.
CHOCOLATE! Who doesn’t love it? When I was younger I was obsessed with these smarties chocolate blocks- I fondly remember smaller size bars in both milk and white chocolate and I’m still not over their disappearance. I did actually surrender this bar to my Mum who is equally taken with this chocolate and I don’t think sharing even came in to it. Something new from Milkybar also provided great excitement from me as I just can’t resist the lure of creamy white chocolate. The Milk & Crunchy is a little snack sized bar in the shape of a cow with a crispy textured centre that provides a lovely contrast to the well known and loved creamy taste. A hit from me! (£1.00 for these and £1.99 for the Smarties block)
The drinks selection in the Degustabox is always the most hit and miss area for me due to being incredibly fussy about which liquids I’ll consume. As such I can’t claim to have tried all of the products included this month and have instead passed them on to willing volunteers. I did try the dry apple spritz from Thor though (£1.80 each) which was rather delicious- I love a dry apple drink and this would be perfect for tee-totallers at a party. I couldn’t face the apple/mint flavour but I’m sure if you like that kind of thing it’s lovely.
I know many people these days think artificial sweeteners are the devils’ work but I still use them and try not to think too much about it! Sugarly from Canderel (£3.00) is a new offering which is said to be the closest thing to sugar other than sugar itself. I wouldn’t disagree. This is the most sugar like sweetener I’ve tried both in terms of taste, and texture. I also found a little goes a long way, which with some products isn’t the case. It’s a hit from me!
These trays of rice from Veetee are such a cupboard staple for a quick and easy dinner. The wholegrain brown rice and quinoa tray was right up my street and was a lovely addition to a lunch time chicken salad. I gave the Levi Roots marinade (£1.00) to my dad to try out and as far as I’m aware he hasn’t yet, but I shall report back on that one.
If you’re persuaded to give Degustabox a go (and really, you should) you can claim a brilliant £6 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 2 Comments

Cake in a Can- it’s a thing!

08th April 2016
It was thanks to the power of twitter (do you follow me?) that I discovered the concept of Cake in a Can. I was having a bad day at the time and the idea of this bought a smile to my face so I was in luck when The Cake Man offered to send me his wares to sample.

Designed to be a unique gift idea Cake in a Can is a fun and quirky way to let someone know you care for any occasion you can think of. All the recipient needs do is “just add water”…it really is that simple!

The cakes come in a choice of flavours including and not limited to lemon and poppyseed, red velvet and good old chocolate. I was sent the cocoa-filled classic as well as a mocha variety which I’m saving for someone special and couldn’t wait to get stuck in!

This is a product that really does do what it says on the tin! Peel off the lid, tip the dry ingredients in to a mug and add some water, pop back in to the (now oiled) tin and bake.

Of course what everyone is wondering is how does it taste? Well, pretty damn good! I think it’s an art to make a product with a novelty appeal that actually tastes great too and Cake in a Can delivers! The cake was moist and chocolatey and light as air and just the right size for one- no sharing here! I suppose it could be split and served with ice cream but then, why not throw caution to the wind and plop a scoop of vanilla on top of your solo sponge?

If you’re looking for a novel way to send good thoughts or give a birthday cake to someone far away than you can do far worse than part with £5.99 (including UK delivery) for one of these. Many thanks to The Cake Man for brightening up my day…what’s your favourite flavour cake? As much as I love chocolate my hands down favourite ever is super squidgy gingerbread.

end

Posted in brands I love, food, gifts, review

Permalink 8 Comments

Always Trust the Label?*

31st March 2016

Back in my teenage years when I was on the cusp of developing an eating disorder food labels were an all consuming obsession and spoke only the truth to my mind. If something said it was low fat then I equated that with healthy and serving sizes HAD to be obeyed…even one measly gram over was breaking some kind of food police set law (but actually who can eat just one piddly 30g of cereal?)

These days I’m thankfully no longer obsessed with what’s printed on the packaging and I’m not alone. A recent study conducted by Data Label quizzed 1006 people over the age of 18 in the UK and discovered that 31% don’t have confidence in food labelling on pre-packaged foods, 14% of which stating that they don’t trust them at all.

(image)

The most commonly given reason for this mistrust is that information appears complicated and it’s difficult to interpret. Personally I used to find this the case but since the introduction of the traffic light system in 2012 I’ve found it much easier to determine if a product really is healthy or if the low fat label is masking a ton of hidden sugar and preservatives (which I quickly learnt is very often the case).

There’s been a lot of scaremongering in the media in recent years too which further compounds the issue and fuels the mistrust and this has very much been the case with me (despite my reluctance to admit to it). I find it quite sad really, and to the side of me that is still struggling with anorexic demons quite scary that what I once took to be true might not be the case- from unclear serving sizes to hidden nasties I think better education should be provided and clearer guidelines set on what should and shouldn’t be on a label or in the food we eat.

You can read more on the article on the female first website. If you’ll pardon the pun it’s certainly given me food for thought and as this year is my year for getting healthy and kicking 14 years of eating disorders in to touch and moving on with my life I shall certainly be following this further and educating myself on how to get the best out of the information provided.

I’d love to know your thoughts on food labels, do you trust them or do you too believe there is often more than meets the eye? I think the traffic light system was a great step in making labelling more uniform and easier to understand but there is still a long way to go before there is a standard across the board.

I also refuse to buy in to the media hype any more, one week we’re being told all fats are bad, the next we’re being told that the only yoghurt we should be eating is full fat and that real butter is the way forwards…with such conflicting advice I’m going with balance instead and enjoying what I want, when I want (just all in moderation of course). I’m by no means a health obsessed eater, I might fancy a chicken and avocado salad one day but beans on white bread toast the next- our bodies are well tuned to what we need and if we take a step back and listen to them I personally believe we can regulate ourselves.

end

Posted in food, life, life stuff

Permalink 3 Comments

The March (2016) Degustabox

30th March 2016
Another month has passed us by and it’s time to bring you the next round of Degustabox reviews. The March box was full of new and exciting treats- the team have been on the ball lately and picked out some super products most of which I’d probably ignore if I saw them on the shelves as I’m very much a creature of habit. It’s always a joy to receive one of these boxes every month, I still get them delivered to my parents’ address so my Mum and I can stick with our tradition of opening them together…it’s the little things in life and something we really enjoy!
I’m ahead of the game in getting my review up this month thanks to being on a week off, more time at home = more time to snack away on new treats, especially with Ben around to help out!
It wouldn’t be Easter without a Lindt bunny now would it? It’s become tradition that my best friend buys a mini one each year and if I’m lucky I get some bigger sized ones to keep it company. This white chocolate one was a most welcome addition, white chocolate is one of my favourite things to eat (because inside I’m 5 years old) and Lindt do it better than most! I must stock up on these before the Easter stock disappears for another year.
Theses pains au chocolat from Brioche Pasquier are the perfect indulgent breakfast treat for our week off. A mug of freshly brewed coffee and one of these gently warmed through makes for the perfect start to the day and an indulgent alternative to my usual vat of porridge. At £1.40 for four you can do far worse than give these a go!
Ok so these aren’t a new product in the slightest but as Chewits have always been one of my favourite sweets so I did a little dance of joy when I saw my two favourite flavours in this month’s box. I still very much mourn the loss of the vanilla ice cream flavoured ones (let’s get rid of those funky tasting cola ones in favour of these please…) but these are more than acceptable and the strawberry ones I find especially addictive…they’ve been around for 50 years now which means they are obviously are doing something right!
There was a bit of a breakfast theme to this month’s box and the drinkable contents were some extra protein containing Weetabix on the Go drinks and a carton of Good Hemp coconut. The Weetabix drinks were ok, more Ben’s kind of thing than mine as I just love eating my breakfast too much to not make time for it, but as I often end up packing him off to work with a smoothie these are a good alternative and not too bad on the taste front and ideal for the days where I can’t be bothered to get the blender out! As for the hemp drink, well, I’m going to admit neither of us were brave enough to try that. I’m sure it’s very good for you and all that but we just couldn’t get our heads around it.
Kallo make my kind of snacks, I’m one of those strange creatures that loves rice cakes- it was one of my favourite things to snack in with my Nan when I was a kid- a plain rice cake spread thickly with milky way chocolate spread and I still love them today. The milk chocolate rounds are delicious and great for packing in a tub to take out and about or even to work if they last that long. The Quinoa and Seeds multi grain cakes are also very good, lovely as a savoury snack with some soft cheese or dunked in my usual lunch time soup. Both of these will become regular fixtures in my food shop from now on I think!
Parle aren’t a brand I’m familiar with so I was intrigued to see what they could offer in the way of snacking materials. Turns out they are pretty good, and cheap! The Hide & Seek are India’s best moulded chocolate chip biscuits and I can see why, especially at 59p for the fact. I found these dangerously addictive. Likewise with the Monaco crackers, crispy savoury and delicious and if I see these on the shelves at 39p I’ll be grabbing a packet or six. I love finding new brands to try and that is the beauty of Degustabox.
Snacking in front of the TV is a must when off work and thankfully we’ve had Metcalfe’s skinny popcorn in cinema sweet to keep us going. I’ve long been a big fan of Metcalfe’s popcorn range and this is pretty tasty despite the use of Stevia which I typically cannot stand. Ben was more a fan of Piper’s Crisps in Cheddar and Onion, I let him devour these himself though as I’m not a fan of crisps in this form. The speed in which the bag went down was testament enough to their quality I feel.
Despite cooking my first roast dinner this week I haven’t yet found occasion to use the cranberry and orange stuffing mix from Kent’s Kitchen as it didn’t really fit with my plans for a traditional plate of roast chicken (sage and onion is the only way with this!). Hopefully I’ll find occasion to use this soon though as previous experience with this brand tells me it’s going to be good. I really love the idea of meze to go and this inclusion from Karyatis was super tasty- roasted red pepper and feta cheese dip with crunchy rosemary crackers made for one tasty night on the sofa but would be equally perfect as a quick and unusual lunch for work.
If you’re persuaded to give Degustabox a go (and really, you should) you can claim a brilliant £6 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

The February (2016) Degustabox

11th March 2016
Another month has passed us by and it’s time to bring you the next installment in my Degustabox reviews. The February box was full of excellent treats, the team have been on the ball lately and picked out some super products. It’s always a joy to receive one of these boxes every month, I still get them delivered to my parents’ address so my Mum and I can stick with our tradition of opening them together…it’s the little things in life!
Anyway, on with the big un-boxing!
Kicking off with the best! I’ve been a fan of Divine chocolate for a long time so to get two of their caramel filled bars was a major treat! I think out of the two the dark version had the winning edge for me as I just love dark chocolate and caramel together but I’d happily eat both of these again, bonus points for it being Fairtrade, natural and free from palm oil!
I’m definitely more of a sweet toothed girl at the moment but do still enjoy some savoury snack action from time to time. I’m a big fan of the Ritz crisp & thin- equally good for eating plain as they are for dipping in whatever takes your fancy. The sweet chilli crisps from The London Crisp Company were also very nice, super crunchy and the flavour is spot on.
I can’t profess to be a massive fan of vegetable juices and actually I can’t yet bring myself to try the carrot juice from James White Drinks. I’m sure for lovers of that kind of thing it’s delicious but I just can’t get my head round the idea. The VitHit drink was lovely though, really refreshing and full of vitamins and flavour. A little expensive with an RRP of £1.80 but something I’d repurchase on some kind of promotion.
Sugar free jelly and I have a complicated history and as such it’s been a long time since I last had some and I’d forgotten just how tasty something so low in calories can be; ideal for people on something like the 5:2 diet. It’s not something I allow myself to buy but I did enjoy these pots from Hartley’s and the pots of fruit in jelly were a really nice dessert one evening and took me back to my childhood- just add vanilla ice cream!
I’m a creature of habit at breakfast time and love my big bowl of porridge but these Nutribix might just persuade me to change things up from time to time! I love how tasty these are with their combination of coconut and honey, they also make a really nice pre-bed snack with warm milk…yum!
I think we’ve long since established that I am rubbish with drinks and this palm juice from Nari Juice is still sat untouched waiting for me to brave it! Apple and mint alone doesn’t sound like much of a hit to me and combined with coconut palm juice…I don’t know, maybe I’ll try it and become a convert but I’m just not sure.
Now this is much more my thing! The new exceedingly good slices from Mr Kipling are really good, the chocolate and coconut variety would have been my flavour of choice BUT I was pleasantly surprised by the fruity cranberry and oat slices. The Beloved Dates snack bars were a new one on me and a real winner. 100% natural, no added sugar and bound together with natural date nectar these are really scrummy and perfect for a boost at work.
Obviously there’s new about Sarsons vinegar but I do love the new and limited edition packaging designed by artist Paul Thurlby with the traditional seaside fish and chips characters!
If you’re persuaded to give Degustabox a go (and really, you should) you can claim a brilliant £6 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 5 Comments