Review & Q&A With Tamzin Outhwaite: Cherry Good Juice Drink

Cherry Good is a refreshing and fruity drink made from Montmorency cherry Juice.  

There is also Cherry Good Light which has only 32 calories per serving and Cherry Good Select which has a higher percentage of Montmorency Cherry juice than the original.

Their cherries are grown along the shores of Lake Michigan in North America, where the lake plays a crucial role in preventing temperatures from getting too cold in the autumn and too hot in the summer. 

Just like vineyards, Montmorency cherry orchards require the right combination of weather and rich soil, to provide ideal fruit-growing conditions, and many people think that the best fruit in the world is grown there.

Cherry Good recently interviewed Tamzin Outhwaite to ask for her advice to busy working mums.

Here's what she had to say:-

What are you working on at the moment?

I’m about to begin filming a new series of New Tricks as well as rehearsing for a new play called Di and Viv and Rose, which opens in the West End in January. 

It will be the busiest I have ever been, so I’m about to start a fitness regime to ensure I’m on top form! 

It must be difficult when filming to juggle work and family life. 

What advice do you have for busy working mums?

My advice would be to not feel guilty; we all know we’re working hard for our kids as well as for ourselves.

It’s important to enjoy the time you have with them as it’s very precious. 

For instance, when I have time off I will hang out with the kids and make sure we do lots of different things.

I also really treasure our time together in the mornings before they head off to school.

How has your diet and exercise regime changed since becoming a mum?

I don’t worry about what everybody says as much. 

I just do what’s right for my body, so I don’t run as much as I did as I find it can affect my knees.

I do much more yoga now (particularly hot yoga) and it feels like it works better for my body. 

My body has changed a lot over the years and I have been all different shapes and sizes. 

I was probably in the best shape ever on my 40th birthday!

How do you try and promote a healthy lifestyle to your children?

I try extremely hard to make sure we have good, healthy food in the house and marry up what they both like without having too much sugar. 

My fridge is quite healthy so I do allow a Friday treat because if it’s once a week it doesn’t feel so bad. 

When I grew up we didn’t have sweets, crisps or chocolate as they simply weren’t in the house- my lunch box was the one with the peeled carrots and cucumbers!

What three tips would you give to a new mum who wants to make healthier choices?

Don’t give yourself a hard time; we can all get very stressed as a new mum and I think when we stress ourselves out, our kids can pick up on it. 

Try and let it happen naturally, but if you have good food in the fridge and not too much rubbish around the house then it helps a lot.

How do you start your day?

My kids wake at 6am and that’s always a really lovely time with them. 

Often, I will put on some music and the three of us will dance around the kitchen as they really love music and dancing. 

Then we will have some porridge and Cherry Good juice for breakfast. I like Cherry Good Light but the kids will have Cherry Good Original as it’s a little sweeter.

What advice did your mum give you when it comes to looking after yourself that you will pass on to your own children?

My mum is very good at eating non-processed, fresh food. 

She also juices her vegetables, which I think is a lovely thing to do and she eats a lot of pulses. 

My mum also avoids eating white bread, white pasta or white rice. 

She’s extremely healthy and almost completely organic so I try and follow her example and adapt it to fit in with my lifestyle.

Very sensible advice, as I'm sure you'll agree.  So what did we think of Cherry Good drink?

It's a really refreshing, if slightly tangy juice drink which makes a great change from some of the overly sweet fruit juices out there. And definitely a more exciting non-alcoholic option for an after hours drink.

You can follow Cherry Good on Twitter @CherryGoodJuice or visit their website at www.cherrygood.com.

*Samples were sent for the purposes of this review.

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Review: A Star Is Quorn

Being a regular reader of the Daily Mail online, I have the opportunity to enjoy a positive cornucopia of health related scare stories which demonise a food group (or, more usually alcohol) one week and then sing its praises the next.  

Like most of us, I have what can best be described as a rather 'pick 'n' mix' approach to health and nutrition. 

That said though, there are some simple common-sense ideas which even the Daily Mail would struggle to turn into five paragraphs of hysteria and a picture of a journalist writing from a Boden-covered semi in Primrose Hill.  

One of these rules is to eat less meat on the basis that it is better for us, better for our animal friends and ultimately better for the planet.

Whilst, here at Downton Shabby, we have not quite managed to adopt "meat free Monday", I have flirted with vegetarian cookbooks and when we were given the opportunity to try out some Quorn, it seemed like the ideal time to test Mo Farah's rocket fuel.

 

Quorn is meat free and made with mycoprotein.  

It is also low in fat and a source of fibre.  

We need protein to maintain normal bones and muscle mass and consuming less saturated fat helps to maintain normal blood cholesterol levels.  

Quorn is now the leading meat free substitute in the UK and Ireland and, since its launch in 1985, is now sold in over 16 countries.  

We tried the mince which is cooked from frozen in either 12 minutes on the hob or 9 minutes in a microwave - extremely quick and easy.

There is a range of products made from Quorn and the website contains a number of easy to follow recipes.  

Whether you fancy burgers, sausages, chicken pieces, a hearty chilli, shepherd's pie or spaghetti bolognese, there is a recipe for every taste - these being also available on a free ios app for your mobile.

Just some of the products in the Quorn meat-free range 

We tried Quorn spaghetti bolognese using the recipe on the website and despite my rather limited lack of cooking skills, I found the recipe simplicity itself.  

The true test, of course, would be to serve my meat free dish to the rest of the family to see if they would notice.

Quorn, straight from the freezer

The Quorn itself does not have a strong taste but is easy to cook with and so it is easy to add flavour using herbs and even a dash of red wine.

A tasty meat-free spaghetti bolognese

So easy, even I can make it

Both the kids and the husband cleared their plates expressing surprise at how tasty it was.  I have to say that I noticed very little difference between a meat and a non meat bolognese.

No complaints here!

We are now looking forward to trying the sausages and burgers and plan to make Meat Free Monday a regular event in the Hobbis Household.    

I will certainly be keeping a bag or two of Quorn mince available for those days when a speedy nutritious tea is needed.  

A 350g bag of frozen Quorn mince retails at around the £3 mark making it a comparable price to minced beef.

Further information is available at www.quorn.co.uk.

*Vouchers were received for the purchase of the products featured in this review.

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Giveaway: A Selection of Goodies From Good Hemp

I always thought that Hemp was something rather New Age and used for knitting sandals but actually it seems that hemp oil and seeds are good for us, containing half the saturated fat of olive oil and with 25 times more Omega 3 - particularly important for kids.

The lovely people at GOOD Hemp grow their hemp on their Devon farm from which they produce Good Oil, a 100% cold-pressed hemp seed oil, GOOD SEED shelled hemp seeds and GOOD HEMP Milk alternative. 

They tell me that GOOD Oil is great for festive cooking as it has a delicious nutty flavour and makes excellent roast potatoes - and Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall is a fan. 

GOOD products are also approved by the Vegetarian Society

So, if you would like to try this healthy alternative to cooking oil, GOOD Hemp Food have kindly given me a selection of their delicious hemp products to give away. 

The prize includes a 250ml bottle of original GOOD Oil, a selection of 4 flavours of GOOD SEED shelled hemp seeds, rich in protein and Omega 3,which you can eat as a snack or sprinkle on cereals, soups and salads, and a carton of GOOD HEMP Milk, a dairy free alternative to milk and soya containing 50% of the recommended daily intake of Omega 3 per glass and with no cholesterol.

Entry is via the rafflecopter below and the usual terms and conditions apply. 

The giveaway ends at midnight on December 31st 2013 so you can embrace a healthier you in the New Year (well, that's always my intention!).

Further information at www.goodwebsite.co.uk.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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We Made A Hash Of The Princes Corned Beef 20 Minute Challenge

Somethings are indisputably British. Afternoon tea, bad weather, being rude about all the other entrants to the Eurovision Song Contest and dancing around castles and stately homes (the latter may just apply to my relatives).

We are very fond of anything involving pastry or custard and cope with all national emergencies by putting the kettle on.

A firm family favourite is corned beef hash. Easy and quick to make, nicely warming and filling and popular with young and old alike.

A British Classic - Princes Corned Beef In Three New Varieties

Princes, the Nation's favourite corned beef brand has done something jolly daring and launched a new range of corned beef with three new flavour combinations - with chilli, with mustard and with onion and dared us to create something inspirational with the new flavours in just twenty minutes.

So it was over to The Husband to do his best Jamie Oliver impersonation in the kitchen and he chose to prepare corned beef hash with onion.

Unfortunately I have been banned from the kitchen due to the last baked potato farago where the hedgehog I lovingly created for the kids looked like it had already been run over.

But I digress.

Hi tech mulching and hashing bloke style

After much faffing with a potato ricer (no idea why such a gadget was invented) and hiding various mulched vegetables in the vain hope of getting a modicum of nutrition into Ieuan, The Husband proudly presented his corned beef with onion hash.

Is it hash or is it the surface of planet Oki Doki?

No Sunday afternoon being complete without a marital tiff-ette or two, this was the point at which I was designated sous chef and tasked with the onerous challenge of putting the baked beans in the microwave.

Just 7 minutes. I ask you. I'm an artiste for heavens sake.

We then assembled the crack tasting panel who had already half-inched the patriotic box the corned beef came in to fill it with random doll body parts and broken jewellery as per usual.

The Tasting Panel

I'm afraid we didn't quite make the 20 minute challenge - we made it in 25 and the hash was extremely tasty. The addition of the onion definitely perked up the flavour and the kids cleared their plates in record time.

Happy kids.  Note, this is not what Ieuan looks like when given anything green

We really liked the combination of corned beef with onion and are looking forward to trying the other versions in sandwiches this week. For a quick, easy, substantial meal, you can't beat it.

Princes new Corned Beef varieties are available at Sainsburys priced at £1.99, and are currently on offer for £1.50.

Further information at www.princes.co.uk

*PR samples were sent for the purpose of this review.

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Review: Nakd Snack Bars

The arrival of a box of lovely Nakd snack bars for us to try was extremely timely. Having just lapsed in the ways of confectionery over the weekend, viz one Twix and one Kinder Bueno whilst stranded at Hereford Railway Station (don't ask) and having left The Husband in charge of the snack cupboard (or as the Domestic Goddess Nigella herself, would refer to it  "The Gillian McKeith", far too much fat and sugar was consumed by us all.  

A Box of Nakd Gorgeousness

The Nakd range of snack bars (made by Natural Balance Foods) includes Cocoa Mint, Banana Crunch, Cocoa Crunch, Strawberry Crunch, Caffe Mocha, Ginger Bread and Cocoa Orange. Their ingredients are fruit, such as dates, nuts, such as cashews, fruit juice to bind and the odd touch of natural flavouring, e.g. natural mint and chocolate in the Cocoa Mint bar. The bars are 100% natural, gluten, wheat and dairy free and suitable for vegetarians and vegans. They are also an excellent source of protein, as much as 18% in the case of some of the bars, such as the Banana Crunch bar.

In terms of calories, for example, the Banana Crunch bar is 108 calories and the Cocoa Orange bar is 145 calories. Much better than, say a four finger KitKat which weighs in at around 233 calories. This makes a Nakd bar a much healthier choice.

Caitlin & Ieuan tuck in to the Banana Crunch bar and the Cocoa Orange bar

The acid test was to employ the kids as taste testers. As I'm sure you know, kids are brutally honest about what they do and don't like and both of them made short work of their bars. The Husband and I tested Cocoa Mint which was rich with dates and cashews and had a lovely fresh mint flavour.

As Natural Balance Foods say "a typical cereal bar can contain as many as 30 ingredients, many of which are completely unrecognisable and several of which are actually just various types of sugar. Despite what it says on the pack we all know that these heavily processed, syrup-laden and additive-filled cereal bars are not really 'healthy' at all!"

Nakd snack bars are ideal for lunchboxes and keeping at the bottom of your handbag for bribery purposes when your children decide to have a monumental melt-down in the middle of John Lewis, or from keeping you away from the overpriced confectionery stand in your local train station!

Further information about Nakd snack bars and other healthy products can be found at www.naturalbalancefoods.co.uk.

*PR samples were sent for the purposes of this post.

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Review: The Great Fragata Olive Caper

The lovely people at Fragata sent me some of their succulent olives, caperberries and capers to try.

Now, hands up, the intention was that I would get all creative in the kitchen and I did think very seriously about knocking up something with a Mediterranean flavour. This plan was scuppered at the first instance by the fact that, in this house, we love to snack on olives. Caitlin loves them too - possibly slightly odd for a 5 year old but then, that's the Hobbis household for you.

These were extra large olives stuffed with anchovies and very moreish they were too. Plus, I think olives should be classed as a superfood, being a key component of the Mediterranean Diet.

According to Patient.co.uk, if you follow a Mediterranean diet for a number of years, you can reduce your risks of developing heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease.

The Mediterranean Diet is rich in vegetables, fruit, peas, beans,grains and small amounts of chicken and fish. There is little red meat and most fat is unsaturated and comes from olive oil and nuts.  A small amount of red wine has also been shown to increase the health benefits.

We then progressed to the new experience for us that is .... the Caperberry.

A Caperberry is, and I'm sure this will not come as a surprise, a berry from the Caper plant.  They are oblong, semi green fruits about the size of a grape.  They have a slight lemony taste but are much milder than capers, which are actually the immature buds of the same Caper plant. You can use sliced caperberries in recipes which use capers for a milder taste. They taste tangy and have a surprising crunch.  I have seen recipes on t'internet which suggest they could be cut in half and filled with cream cheese which I will bear in mind for canapes at my next candlelight supper (ahem).  To be frank, I suspect their natural home is at the bottom of a Martini glass.

Now, I did promise the folks at Fragata that I'd include a recipe so, since we've eaten the olives and I'm keeping the capers to task the Husband with knocking up something Mediterranean, if he can be lured away from curry, here is a recipe which uses caperberries.

Linda's Martini Recipe

1.  Fill shaker with ice
2.  Add 50 ml Dry Gin
3.  Add 5 ml Dry Vermouth
4.  Shake or stir depending on whether you're a James Bond fan
5.  You may want to strain it at this point.  No.  I thought not.
6.  Stick Caperberry in bottom of glass
7.  Swig elegantly.

Cheers m'dears!

Further information at:  Fragata.co.uk

*PR samples were sent for the writing of this post.

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BritMums "Little Adventures Challenge" in partnership with Barny The Bear-Shaped Snack

It was raining after school so, inspired by the fabulous "We're Going on a Bear Hunt" (by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxbury), we decided to do just that, with the help of a small friendly bear called Barny.

Barny is a delicious sponge bear who comes individually wrapped for freshness as either a chocolate sponge bear with a milk flavoured centre or a plain sponge bear with a chocolate centre. There are no artificial colours or preservatives to worry about either. He's an ideal after school snack at 116 calories per bear. (You wouldn't get that type of information from David Attenborough, now, would you?).

Caitlin and Ieuan (or "Buzz with a Belt" as he is still insisting we call him) were tasked with finding the ferocious bear to get a tasty treat.

First, Caitlin checked "The Cavern of Random Untidiness".  A dank, dismal place where piles of coats lie forlorn as they conceal "Ye Olde Pile of Andrex".  A terrible place and a suitable hiding spot for a ferocious bear like Barny.

It'll take more than Feng Shui to sort this lot.

Next it was time to dodge the rain and actually venture outdoors to the "Forest of Indiscriminate Topiary".  A place where bears may well be hiding, safe in the knowledge that no gardening implement was likely to threaten their haven for many a week.

Yup, absolutely no sign of Alan Titchmarsh

Even "Buzz with a Belt" had serious doubts about this location. By now, the kids were mutinous and extremely peckish. It was time to brave "The Den Thrown Together In The Vague Hope Of Five Minutes' Peace".

The Den.  A Masterpiece of Construction, although possibly a bit small.

Finally, exhausted by their trek and threatening the nine thousandth replay of the entire Toy Story DVD Collection, the children emerged victorious from the camouflage netting their mother frequently used to hide from unwanted sales callers.  

Victory.  Ieuan /Buzz With A Belt has just clocked there are 5 Barnys in a box.

The expedition was over for the day and Barny kept the kids quiet until their mother had had a chance to prepare something Marco Pierre White would doubtless frown at. In the interest of zoology (ahem), their mother can confirm that Barny combined lovely soft sponge with a delicious creamy (or chocolatey) filling. Barny is a snack that makes after school rumbly tummies a little more "bear-able".

This post is an entry for BritMums "Little Adventures Challenge" in partnership with Barny, the bear-shaped snack providing a little discovery in every bite. Find out more about Barny here -www.barnyworld.co.uk.

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Review: Garrett Popcorn Shops - The Original Handcrafted Gourmet Popcorn

I have a very simple way to gauge how much I'm enjoying a movie - and it's the rapidity with which my popcorn is consumed. (Anything with Daniel Craig in requires a very large bag of popcorn indeed). Since I had children though, my movie going days have been severely curtailed, so when the lovely people at Garrett Popcorn suggested we try their original handcrafted gourmet popcorn, for once I was happy to sit through re-run 2000 of Toy Story.

Garrett Gourmet Popcorn

Garrett Popcorn hails from the US but will shortly be available in the UK. Garrett Popcorn Shops opened in Chicago in 1949 and today they still handcraft their popcorn in old-fashioned copper kettles. They 'hot air pop' their signature blend of kernels and mix them into secret family recipes. Each batch of popcorn is handmade daily for maximum freshness and served up in Garrett Popcorn Tins with one of several fabulous retro designs.

Garrett Popcorn comes in a range of signature and speciality flavours. We were sent some of their Chicago Mix to try.  Designed to satisfy the tastebuds of those who want sweet and salty flavours together, The Chicago Mix is a combination of "rich CheeseCorn and sweet CaramelCrisp".

The flavoursome connundrum that is "The Chicago Mix"

The CheeseCorn kernels gave a really satisfying 'hit' of Cheddar cheese, whilst the CaramelCrisp tasted like the topping of a Creme Brulee, sweet and buttery. I would never have previously put the two flavours together but the combination just works.

So, before I 'accidentally' chomped through the whole lot, it was over to the family taste testers.

Ieuan, contemplating the wresting manoeuvre required to get the tin off his sister

I had expected that they'd prefer the sweeter CaramelCrisp but both tucked in to the CheeseCorn with equal gusto. The Husband secreted a large bowlful and promptly vanished. Whilst my popcorn stash dwindled, I had a chance to peruse the other flavours available, Signature flavours, Plain, Buttery, CaramelCrisp and Cheesecorn are complemented by speciality flavours, Almond CaramelCrisp, Cashew CaramelCrisp and Macademia CaramelCrisp.

Thankfully, Garrett Popcorn will be coming to London soon, but in the meantime, more information is available at www.garrettpopcorn.com. Now, all I need is a home cinema system.

*PR samples were sent a sample for the purposes of this review.  

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Baker Days Cakes - The Birthday Card You Can Eat

The lovely people at Baker Days, artisan bakers and creators of a clever range of personalised, quality celebration cakes sent me a fabulous treat to review for you - one of their letterbox cakes.

Baker Days produce round cakes which come in 4 sizes, from the 3-4 portion letterbox cake up to the large 55 portion party cake. Simple to order, prices start from £14.99 and if you order before 2 pm your cake can be delivered the next day virtually anywhere in the UK. (Cakes ordered over the weekend will be delivered on Tuesday). Choose your size, flavour and add your special message from the wide range of designs. Best of all, cakes can be personalised using photographs supplied by you.

The letterbox cake which we tried, comes neatly packaged in an airtight tin, together with a gift tag, candles, balloons and even a party blower. It is a 5 inch cake, big enough for 3-4 modest portions (although I could happily have eaten the lot myself), and the cake we were sent was a carrot cake covered in delicious fondant icing. I have to say that it was the lightest carrot cake I have ever tried.



The cake as it arrived, perfectly packaged and protected.

Baker Days pride themselves on hand-making their cakes with natural ingredients and no preservatives. For example their buttercream is made with real butter and you can really taste the difference.

As it was Ieuan's fourth birthday, we took the opportunity to have the cake personalised for him (and created by friendly aliens) and he loved it. Hubby and I, sister Caitlin (5) and the birthday boy made short work of it!

Ieuan's photo - perfectly captured on his birthday cake

I would certainly recommend a Baker Days Letterbox cake as a fresh alternative to a birthday card or flowers. The cake arrived freshly baked and in perfect condition.They are also an ideal standby for those of us who are, ahem, less organised than we occasionally should be and need to send a thoughtful gift to a close friend or relative. You could even send a letterbox cake as a "thank you teacher" gift, instead of a box of chocs or a mug!

A perfectly sized cake for Ieuan

Further information from www.bakerdays.com. Have a look at their website to see how easy it is to create a unique cake to your preferred design.

*sample received for the purpose of this post.

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