Whizzing Up Something Nutritious For The House of Fraser Smoothie Challenge

The House of Fraser is on a mission to get us all fitter for summer and enjoying the benefits of a healthy smoothie - one you make yourself, not a shop-bought one packed with sugar and other unhealthy things.

They threw down the gauntlet to the Hobbis Household and sent us a Kenwood Smoothie To Go Blender to create a House of Fraser themed smoothie.

Now as you know I am a complete whizz in the kitchen and resisting the urge to do something creative with strawberries and banana, my eye fell on my latest cookery tome "Eat Well For Less" from the BBC TV series of the same name.

How is this relevant you cry?  Well, if you want to get maximum value for your budget in all departments, House of Fraser is a very good place to look.  Their focus has always been on accessible quality for families.

Our Kenwood Smoothie To Go Blender is a real workhorse of a gadget.  It is sturdily built and everything assembles easily with just one click. It can grind spices and quickly create smoothies, soups and sauces with its 350W motor which has 2 blending speeds and a pulse function.

It comes with a 1 litre plastic goblet, a separate mill for spices, herbs, nuts and coffee beans and a smoothie to go goblet ideal for fresh smoothies on the go. The plastic parts are dishwasher safe and the blender comes with a 1 year guarantee.  It currently retails at £39.99.

We chose to make Gregg and Chris's Breakfast Smoothie.

Ingredients

500 ml semi-skimmed milk
2 tbsp mixed frozen fruit (just choose your favourite)
2 tbsp blanched almonds
2 tbsp rolled oats
1 tsp runny honey

Combine ingredients in the blending goblet and whizz until smooth.

Makes enough for 2 smoothies.

The Smoothie To Go Goblet comfortably took the full amount of smoothie and fits nicely in the fridge so you could just prepare the night before and grab it on your way out of the door in the morning.

House of Fraser have a wide range of blenders and kitchen gadgets to choose from but I'm sticking with my Kenwood.  Simple to use, easy to clean and even I can work out how to put it together!

Now to create my stawberry and banana special....

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Reinventing Family Favourites With Branston Pickles & Sauces

Most of us know the name Branston and the saying "Bring Out The Branston".  The original Branston Pickle was always on our table to liven up ploughman's lunches and sandwiches.  My dad was a particular fan and in fact, his pet name for me was Pickle - which may, or may not be linked.

Branston Pickle was first made by Crosse & Blackwell in 1922 and is named after the small village near Burton in Staffordshire. Over 17 million jars of pickle are sold every year and the range now includes relishes and table sauces.

But did you know that you can use Branston products to liven up a whole range of dishes, including family favourites such as lasagne or beef stew with dumplings?

There is a great selection of Branston products to choose from such as the new Branston Sweet Chilli Pickle, Spicy Tomato Relish, Caramelised Onion Chutney, Orchard Fruit Chutney and Tomato & Red Pepper Relish.

You can use these to jazz up your leftovers - for example, you could use up leftover cheese in a Cheese, Spinach & Caramelised Onion Chutney Quiche or how about some Mediterranean Bubble & Squeak Cakes - a great way to use up leftover potato and veg.

Branston's website has a comprehensive range of recipes to try, including five created by Andy Bates, the star of Food Network’s Street Feasts which are tasty takes on the hot sandwich. Andy, who is known for his modern twists on classic dishes, fuelled by his international travels and passion for street food, has created a recipe to complement each flavour in the Branston Relish range.

How about Cider & Fennel Braised Pulled Pork, Mango Salsa Roll with Branston Sweet & Spicy Brazilian Relish or Mushroom & Grilled Cheese ‘Burger’ Muffin With Branston Caramelised Red Onion Relish?

It's a very long way from the humble Ploughman's!

If you would like to try Branston's recipes for yourself, you'll find them at www.bringoutthebranston.co.uk.

We tried Sticky Pork Chops but substituted the Branston Orchard Chutney for the Branston Sweet Chilli Chutney.

Simply make a marinade with 4 generous tablespoons of Branston.

Coat the chops with the marinade and chill for 30 minutes.

The Marinade at work

Then whack in the oven for half an hour while you prepare some rice with the broccoli and courgette.

The tomatoes are added to the chops about 10 minutes before serving.

The result was pork chops with quite a kick and the added veg are great for the kids.

You're sure to find a way to add some extra taste to your meals with the Branston range.

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Afternoon Tea Goes Glam Rock At The K West Hotel & Spa, London

It's National Afternoon Tea Week from Monday 8th August to Sunday 14th August 2016 and, should you be looking to indulge in the drink that refreshes, I've found something really different that might suit if you are in London.
  

K West Hotel & Spa in Shepherd's Bush is trading its traditional Tea Rex tea for a perfectly prepared Pimm’s jelly cup.

Formerly the BBC Building Kensington House in the 60s, an endless list of Rock ‘n’ Roll royalty has stayed, played and misbehaved at K West – Bob Marley and the Wailers, Bowie, The Kinks and Roxy Music to name a few.

The hotel has given the traditional Afternoon Tea a glam-rock makeover where guests can swap traditional hot drinks for tea-infused cocktails, and even enjoy the treat late at night like a true rock star from 10pm until midnight. Who doesn’t love cocktails and cake at midnight? 

The Glam Rock Afternoon Tea is served everyday from 2pm to 6pm, with The Rock ‘n’ Cocktails Midnight Tea being served Sunday to Thursday, 10pm-12pm. 

With Wimbledon fever having propelled Pimm’s to peak popularity, K West’s Afternoon Tea will feature an exclusive Pimm’s jelly cup accompanied by a marvelous mint sorbet, available throughout the week.

Priced at £24.50, The Glam Rock Afternoon Tea pays tribute to the hotel’s music heritage in a playful, fun and stylish way. The tea is served on vintage record covers, with electric blue and pink teapots and teacups, adding some glam to the rock.

A Glam Rock Prosecco Afternoon Tea is available for £31.50 and the Rock ‘n’ Cocktails Midnight Tea is priced at £36.50. This cocktail tea includes a selection of five shots of cocktails, or one cocktail each.

All of the Rock Teas will include fresh blueberry ‘rolling scones’ with clotted cream & homemade jams, as well as a selection of summer themed treats such as Summer berries panna cotta, White chocolate truffle lollies, Roasted peppers & sundried tomatoes on focaccia, Savoury sliders and Chocolate cherry apples. 

The Glam Rock Afternoon Teas will be served in the contemporary Studio Bar & Kitchen, which has also been designed to reflect the hotel’s rich music heritage.

This throws down the gauntlet nicely to other hotels to come up with a quirky, celebratory and sumptuous afternoon tea.  If I hear of any, you'll be the first to know.

K West Hotel & Spa is situated at Richmond Way, London W14 0AX.  For reservations, please call: 020 8008 6600 or visit www.k-west.co.uk

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Win A Heavenly Chocolate Hamper From Lily O'Briens

Lily O'Brien's, the luxury Irish chocolatier, has introduced its first ever range of indulgent chocolate bars and I have been testing them on your behalf.

After extensive research among chocolate lovers, the brand found that we are nation who love to treat ourselves and so they have come up with an 80g bar which is just the perfect size to accompany the latest Netflix box set.

The flavours are a lot more adventurous which should also keep the bakers among you happy.  As you know I am highly gifted in that department so I will probably just stick to eating the chocolate ....

There are 7 new unique recipes including the classic Sea Salted Caramel and Malted Chocolate Crunch, to the foodie-inspired recipes of Orange & Bergamot and Peppermint Crunch with Basil.

Each bar retails at £2.00 and I can vouch for all of them.  My favourite is the Sea Salted Caramel which has just the right amount of a salty tang whilst the Husband has coveted the Dulche de Leche.

Here's how Lily O'Briens describe their new bars and it's enough to make your mouth water.

* Foodies will love the scrumptiously delicious Lily O’Brien’s Irresistibly Milk Salted Caramel. Crack the mouth-watering chocolate shell to unleash a rush of luscious, slow-cooked caramel seasoned with Himalayan salt.

* Sink into deep waves of dark chocolate rippled with silk ribbons of creamy, caramel infused white chocolate with the marbled Dulce de Leche, as beautiful as it is delicious.

* Slip into the luxurious silk of creamy milk chocolate that slowly melts into the sweetness of mellow malt crisp with the all new Malted Chocolate Crunch.

* Dissolve into intensely dark chocolate and unleash a burst of refreshing peppermint crisp with a twist of fragrant basil with the delectable Peppermint Crunch.

* Melt into intensely creamy milk chocolate and surrender to a savoury-sweet burst of golden caramel crunch scattered with Atlantic salt crystals with an outright crowd pleaser, Caramel Crunch.

* Surrender to intensely rich chocolate with a smooth velvet heart of chocolate and orange ganache infused with Italian Bergamot. The firm foodie favourite Orange & Bergamot Ganache is available in Delectably Dark or Irresistibly Milk Chocolate.

Three of the new Lily O'Brien's premium bars recipes (Salted Caramel / Caramel Crunch / Malted Chocolate Crunch) are available exclusively from Asda stores in the UK, while the entire range can be ordered online at www.lilyobriens.com

You can find out more by following them on Facebook or Twitter

I have a fabulous hamper of Lily O'Brien's new chocolate bars to give away to one lucky winner.

The prize includes 4 x 80g bars (Dulce De Leche,  Orange & Bergamot Ganache Milk,  Peppermint Crunch, Malted Chocolate Crunch), 1 x Peppermint pouch,  1 x Cocoa Cookie Crunch pouch,  1 x Stem Ginger Batons,  1 x Zesty Orange Chocolate, 1 x Crispy Hearts, 1 x Sticky Toffee box – 12 choc and 1 x Ultimate Chocolate Collection – 14 chocolates.

The fabulous prize

Entry is via the Rafflecopter widget below and the giveaway ends at 11:59 pm on Sunday 7th August. UK entrants only. Terms and conditions apply.  Please see my Competitions page.

Good luck!


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Win A 3 Month Subscription To Le Petit Ballon - Fine Wines Without The Fuss

Le Petit Ballon is a unique wine subscription service where, every month, you receive two bottles of fine wine selected by renowned Master Sommelier Jean-Michel Deluc.

The June 2016 Apprentice Subscription Box Selection

Monsieur Deluc certainly has some impressive credentials - from being head sommelier at the Ritz in 1984 to being recognised as one of the best tasters in the world after participating in Starwine in the US, a wine competition that brings together the top 60 tasters in the world.

The Petit Ballon team put together wines from the winemakers they meet at fairs and expos and from wineries who have sent them samples and this tasting panel, presided over by Jean-Michel decide on the monthly wines which subscribers receive.

There are two levels of subscription - Apprentice (£24.90 per month for two bottles inc. delivery) and Master (£39.90 per month for two bottles inc. delivery).  The Master subscription contains slightly more prestigious labels whilst the Apprentice subscription aims to introduce wine lovers to great value wines from vineyards you would never otherwise have discovered.

In addition to your monthly two bottles, you receive the Gazette, a mini magazine which includes all sorts of interesting information about your subscription and tasting notes for your two bottles.

The Gazette contains all sorts of interesting information

We were sent the Apprentice subscription box for June to try.  It contained one red (Le Grand Verdus 2012) and one white (Domaine de Pouilly Clos de la Condemine 2014), together with probably the best tasting notes I've ever seen.

Not only do these include Jean-Michel's views on the wine but there are full tasting notes and recommendations for the food and wine pairings that will work best.  You are advised how long you can lay the wines down for, which temperature the wine should best be served at and the wines are categorised further as to whether they are fruit, spicy or woody for example.

There are many ways to categorise your wines!

So far we have tried the red, Le Grand Verdus and found the tasting notes to be spot on, describing the wine as being supple on the palate and having a nose which is grapey, pleasant and fresh.

What makes Le Petit Ballon different is that the service punctures lots of the pomposity surrounding wine tasting whilst introducing you to the facts you really need to know to help you to make better choices with your wine purchases.

We have been members of a rival wine club for years and find that the Le Petit Ballon's subscription prices are very reasonable, as is the price of extra bottles if you want to buy your favourites.  There is a decent discounted price on each bottle (20%) for subscribers but anyone can buy Le Petit Ballon's wines to try.

You can buy a Le Petit Ballon subscription as a gift and it's ideal for those who want to learn about wine or, with the Master subscription, a great way to introduce wine connoisseurs to new wines and help them to build their own wine cellar.

You can also customise your monthly wines by choosing them in advance on the website so, for example, if you prefer red wine, that's no problem.

Boxes are sent out between the 15th and 20th of each month, just in time to perk you up from any mid month slump.

A Le Petit Ballon subscription is ideal for those of us for whom a date night is a rare occurence - particularly when you think that one large glass of wine tends to start around the £6 mark and rises steadily depending on the restaurant you choose and your location.

And I don't need to say that it would be an ideal gift for some of us mums who need a tipple at the end of a fraught day. (And without sounding like your mum, you will mind your units and drink responsibly, won't you?).

Le Petit Ballon are very kindly offering a 3 month Apprentice subscription to one lucky winner.  Entry is via the Rafflecopter.  UK entrants only and you must be over 18.  Terms and conditions apply. The giveaway ends at 11:59 pm on Saturday 16th July.

Good luck!


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Win Skippy Peanut Butter & Pretzels - 5 Sets To Give Away

I've written before that, when he was much younger, Ieuan went through a serious 'peanut butter' phase when literally the only thing he'd eat was peanut butter and banana sandwiches.

Luckily now he's 7 at the end of June, he will eat foods of a colour other than brown, but his passion for peanut butter hasn't abated - and neither has mine.  I'd happily eat it off the spoon.

Actually, in one of my panic sessions about Ieuan's nutrient free diet, a vegetarian friend of mine pointed out that peanuts are packed with protein - just 1/4 of a cup contains 19% of the recommended daily intake. Plus peanuts are rich in monounsaturated fats which have been shown to decrease the risk of cardiovascular disease. So Ieuan wasn't doing so badly after all!

If you are considering giving peanut butter to your kids, here's the NHS' advice.

"Whole nuts, including peanuts, shouldn't be given to children under five, as they can choke on them. As long as there's no history of food allergies or other allergies in your family, you can give your baby peanuts once they're six months old, as long as they're crushed or ground into peanut butter."

You can, of course, also cook with peanut butter - peanut chicken satay, peanut butter cookies, even peanut butter fudge!

Our favourite brand of peanut butter is Skippy® which we load up with at our local Costco but you can find it in most supermarkets and I have 5 sets of peanut butter and pretzels to give away so that you can watch the Euros whilst snacking on something nutritious, or if you're avoiding the footie, whilst wading through the box set of your choice.

Each prize contains two 340g jars (one each of the following) and bag of pretzels to dip.

Skippy® Super Chunk® Peanut Butter - every jar is blended with loads of real peanut pieces so you get the fun flavour of SKIPPY® Peanut Butter, plus crazy amounts of crunchiness.

Skippy® Creamy Peanut Butter Spread  - the smooth, creamy cousin of  Skippy® Super Chunk® - and our favourite.

Find out more at www.peanutbutter.com where you can find a great range of snacking suggestions.

To enter the giveaway, simply click on the Rafflecopter below.  UK entrants only. Terms and conditions apply.  The giveaway ends at 11:59 pm on Sunday 10th July 2016.

Good luck.

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Win A Hamper of Garofalo Gluten Free Pasta - 4 To Give Away!

Like many busy parents, we find pasta is a family staple for quick and nutritious meals.  The kids will happily eat it and it's quick to prepare after a long day.

Incredibly versatile, it's just as good in a summer pasta salad as it is in the traditional Italian pasta dishes.  I'm sure Spaghetti Bolognese is a staple meal in houses up and down the UK!

Recently there has been a lot of press about going Gluten free.  Gluten is a mixture of proteins found in wheat and other grains.  It gives elasticity to dough and often gives the final product a chewy texture.

Unfortunately, not everybody can tolerate gluten and it can cause side effects ranging from the mild, for those who are gluten-intolerant to more serious in the case of those with Coeliac Disease.

Coeliac Disease is a disease in which the small intestine is hypersensitive to gluten, leading to difficulty in digesting food.

For suffers, eating gluten can trigger a range of symptoms from bloating and abdominal pain, to weight loss and feeling constantly tired because they are not receiving sufficient nutrients from their food.

A gluten free diet is the obvious solution.

As you might imagine, living without pasta is not an option for many and particularly for Italians. This is why Garofalo has their gluten free pasta range, only launching with a product and shapes that met the high standard of Italians following a gluten free diet.

Garofalo also considered it equally important to produce a healthy product, which in the end might even be better than normal pasta!

They have used corn flour, rice flour and quinoa and shaped the pasta through a traditional bronze die for texture.

Since many on a gluten free diet struggle to consume enough fibre, Garofalo's gluten free pasta contains 7g of fibre per 100g.

The super food quinoa adds even more nutrients to Garofalo’s gluten free pasta; it contains fibre and minerals such as phosphorus, magnesium, iron and zinc. It is also an excellent source of vegetable protein and obviously gluten free.

Garofalo sent me a selection of their gluten free pasta to try and we opted for the linguine which the Husband whipped up in to his Bacon and Parmesan Carbonara in about 15 minutes flat.

We did not notice any difference in taste from 'normal' pasta although there is a slightly different texture so as a gluten free option this is great.

You could happily serve this without anyone suspecting a thing, which is always useful when you have picky eaters in the family and don't want the faff of having to prepare two separate batches of pasta!

If you'd like to try Garofalo's Gluten Free Pasta for yourself, I have 4 hampers to give away, each containing 6 packs of their gluten free pasta.

You can also buy the product from Ocado, Amazon or Gustalia.

Entry is via the Rafflecopter widget.  Terms and conditions apply and UK entrants only.  The giveaway ends at 11:59 pm on Thursday 30th June 2016.

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Michelin Star BBQ Cleaning Tips From Steve Smith @Bohemia Jersey

Michelin Star Chef Steve Smith at the Bohemia Restaurant in Jersey is on a mission to get us all barbecuing safely and cleanly.  (You can find his tips on barbecuing food safely here.)

As it was such a beautiful day yesterday, we cranked up our barbecue, fondly known as "Deep Thought" (due to its resemblance to the Hitchhikers' Guide To The Galaxy Supercomputer when wearing its cover) and The Husband treated us to some lovely chicken kebabs.

I'm sure everyone has much the same conversation after using their barbecue.  "Shall we clean it now?", "um, no let's wait for it to cool down"...... and then many many hours may pass.

This means, of course, that the next time you want to use it, you have to spend 45 minutes cleaning the darn thing first.

I don't need to remind you that it is important to clean your BBQ regularly to prevent food poisoning and to prolong the life of the BBQ, do I?

To make this joyous task a little easier, here are Steve's tips.

Preheat the Grill

Clean the grill just after preheating it, this way the grease and food will scrape off easily.

Grab an Onion

To remove all of the grit, place a half cut onion on the end of a fork and rub onto a hot grill.

Prevent rusting

Clean your grill with soapy water after cooking, then rinse and dry immediately and rub vegetable oil across the grill to prevent rust.

Don’t throw water

If you are using a charcoal grill, then do not throw cold water over the coals after cooking as this will create a mess!

Crack open a Beer

Pour half a bottle of beer over a heated BBQ then rub with newspaper for a clean grill. Then you enjoy the rest of the beer for yourself!  (I'm assuming wearing protective gloves -for the cleaning not the beer drinking!)

Steve Smith - Head Chef @Bohemia, Jersey

Create a Paste

Mix baking soda and water to make a paste then cover the grill in it with a wire brush. Let it dry for 15 minutes then wipe the grill with a dry cloth and place it over the hot coals for 15 minutes to burn off any remains before cooking the food.

And, as ever, keep children and pets well away.

Have you any cleaning shortcuts you can share?

Bohemia Bar & Restaurant is the only restaurant in the Channel Islands to be listed in The Sunday Times Top 100 Restaurants. Visit www.bohemiajersey.com for more information.

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Miniscoff - Great Organic Ready Meals For Kids aged 1-8+ & Giveway

When I weaned my kids it involved endless hours wrestling with a food processor, fruit and an selection of implausibly small freezer pots. I was a devotee of Annabel Karmel and would blend combinations of fish and spinach or mix up fruit purees to get as much goodness into the kids as possible.

Nowadays, as readers of this blog know, my cooking is a little more, er hit and miss and there are times, particularly when the Husband is away on business, that I'd love to give the kids a proper hot meal with real family favourites.

The reality is that we dash home from school, dash straight out again and then come home to reheat a pizza or when time is really short to yet another round of sandwiches.

I always mean to get something out the freezer and cook something up in the slow cooker in the morning, but now I write full time (and am hopeless at getting side-tracked), I usually remember after lunch that tea is looming.

The kids are too big for baby ready meals and too small for adult ready meals which, being generally stuffed with too much sugar, salt and other additives are often a poor choice anyway.  Ieuan is still resisting baked potatoes, although he will deign to eat roasties so I was happy to find that there is a range of ready meals for kids which cater up to 8+.

Miniscoff is a children's organic food brand founded by Angus Oliphant, who, as a working dad discovered that trying to cook meals from scratch was challenging and that healthy prepared meals suitable for kids were hard to find. He decided to create his own range of organic ready meals for parents that didn’t want convenience to mean compromise.

Ieuan weighing up the Miniscoff Organic Sauces

All Miniscoff dishes are certified organic and made by hand and the brand has recently received awards from Prima Baby & Pregnancy as Best Toddler Food Range and Best Children’s Food Brand from Junior Design Awards.

Miniscof meals are available from Ocado as well as the Miniscoff website and are also available on over 300 menus across the UK if you're travelling.

The meals include 9 organic ready meals and 4 organic sauces:-

The Ready Meals

Ali Baba's Shepherd's Pie (lamb) (GM, Egg & Gluten Free)

Mr MacGregor's Pie (beef) (GM, Egg & Gluten Free)

Curly Wurly Chicken (GM, Egg & Dairy Free)

Broccoli Bill's Pasta Pie (GM & Egg Free)

Salmon Ocean Pie (GM & Egg Free)

Jolly Spag Bolly (GM, Egg & Dairy Free)

Planet Spaghetti (GM, Egg & Dairy Free)

Chilli Yum Yum (GM, Egg, Dairy & Gluten Free)

Creamy Salmon Pasta (GM & Egg Free)

The Organic Sauces

Chicken & Bacon (GM, Egg, Dairy & Gluten Free)

Bolognese (GM, Egg, Dairy & Gluten Free)

West Country Cheddar (GM & Egg Free) 

Cheese & Tomato (GM, Egg & Gluten Free)

We were sent a selection of Miniscoff meals to try and we tried Ali Baba's Shepherd's Pie, Curly Wurly Chicken and Broccoli Bill's Pasta Pie.

Caitlin tries Miniscoff Ali Baba's Shepherd's Pie

Initially I wasn't too convinced about the portion size but they were just right for my two.  You may want to add a side dish or two of extra vegetables if you have time to bulk the meals out.

We did find that, particularly with the Ali Baba's Shepherd's Pie, the omission of seasoning was noticeable, although only to be expected and that a pinch of salt and pepper improved the dish greatly. My kids are 8 and nearly 7 though so you would not want to do that for younger children.

The pasta dishes we tried, (the Curly Wurly Chicken and Broccoli Bill's Pasta Pie) were preferred by my two who adore pasta and they both said the sauce had more flavour.

I found all three dishes to be tasty and with a natural flavour.  You can tell that there are no artificial additives in the dishes.

In fact, Ieuan actually cleared his plate which is practically unheard of in the Hobbis household.

Miniscoff have set themselves a challenge by coming up with organic ready meals for such a comparatively large age range (1 - 8+) but I think they have succeeded. I will be trying the organic sauces during the week and they will be ideal for a quick half-term holiday lunch.

I did find that microwaving two meals together required extra time for the Shepherd's Pie but that is standard with microwaved foods.

As an option I think that the Miniscoff meals give you a hassle free choice of menu options to serve up without having to rely on pizza and fish fingers.

I don't know about you but when the kids are off I find I really have to scratch my head to come up with lunch and dinner options that find favour!

You can find more about Miniscoff on their website, on Facebook or Twitter.  The ready meals retail at £3.50 and the sauces at £3.00.

Giveaway

If you fancy trying Miniscoff organic ready meals, I have a lovely hamper of 6 assorted ready meals and 3 organic sauces for one lucky winner.  Entry is via the Rafflecopter in the usual manner.  Terms and conditions apply.  UK entrants only.  The giveaway ends at 11:59 pm on Friday 17th June 2016.

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Good luck!

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Want Some BBQ Advice From A Michelin Star Chef?

After the glorious weekend weather we've just had, the time is nigh to dust off the barbecue in preparation for (hopefully) lots of alfresco dining in the sunshine.

We all know the risks of undercooked chicken and 'black and white' sausages (burned on the outside and completely raw on the inside!), but it's very easy to throw caution to the wind after a beer or two and forget our food hygiene basics.

There's nothing like a barbecue when the weather's warm

Here are some helpful reminders from Michelin Star Chef Steve Smith who runs the Bohemia Restaurant at The Club Hotel & Spa in Jersey.

Since Bohemia is the only restaurant in the Channel Islands to be listed in The Sunday Times Top 100 Restaurants and is ranked at number 49, I think it's worth paying attention.

Avoid Disasters

It may seem obvious but if you want to avoid any disasters then you need to make sure the BBQ is lit properly and is not in the proximity of anything that is potentially flammable!

Heat the Meat 

Make sure that any poultry or pork items are thoroughly cooked to avoid food poisoning. To know if you have the right temperature to cook with you just need to wait for the flames to die down, and check the colour of the coals. They should glow red underneath and be white on the top or you can buy BBQ thermometers from any good BBQ retailer.

Michelin Star Chef Steve Smith @Bohemia Restaurant, Jersey

Safety First

Generally any type of fish, lamb or beef are the safest items to cook for those concerned about becoming ill at a BBQ, as they are low risk meats. You can cook them rare, medium, well done or as you would normally. Also you should always use separate utensils for cooking and serving.

Don’t Take Risks

Any pork and chicken items are the highest risk food generally cooked on the BBQ and you need to check that they are thoroughly cooked. Also make sure they are consumed immediately. If you leave them outside on a nice day for more than 30 minutes you are running a risk of giving someone food poisoning! Also try not to serve any form of rice salad, as it will likely spend the entire day sat out in warm conditions.

Impress Your Guests

BBQs are not just about meat, any type of vegetable kebabs are great! Be bold and use vegetables such as onions, peppers, aubergines, and kholarbi.

Best to have a fire extinguisher on stand-by

Don’t Leave Leftovers

Many people think that leftovers can be used the following day. This is generally a no no. Cook only what you need for the BBQ or you will just have to eat it all!

How many of these no-no's have you done?  I'm guilty of at least two!

From a general safety point of view, remember that children, pets and barbecues don't mix and make sure you keep your babies, furry or otherwise well away from anything hot.

Let's hope for another sunny weekend and if you do light the barbecue, make sure you stay safe.

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Take Your Toast To The Tropics With My Buko Organic Coconut Jam Giveaway

The humble coconut has been catapaulted into stardom recently thanks to its health-giving properties and lovely taste.

Now there is a new way to enjoy the benefits in coconut jam.

Buko Organic Coconut Jams

Buko have made the UK's first organic coconut jam which is a naturally sweet alternative to other spreads and jams.  Vegan friendly, gluten free and non GMO, the jams contain a blend of vitamins, minerals and amino acids, including Inositol, the 'feel-good' Vitamin B8.

All Buko's coconuts come from organic, GMO free farms in the Philippines. (Buko actually means
a young green coconut in Filipino) and their coconuts are Fair Trade and are grown without pesticides or fertilizers.

Buko is also registered with the Soil Association and the company has teamed up with Cuipo, a lifestyle brand dedicated to preserving prime rainforest around the globe so that for every jar of the jam sold a square meter of rainforest is saved.

You can even enter a code found on the side of each jar on their website to find out where the piece of rainforest you have saved is.

The jam comes in 3 flavours, Original, Sea Salt and Chocolate and, having tested all three, I can tell you they are delicious.

The Original Jam tastes like a velvety caramel.  The Sea Salt Jam has a lovely salty, toffee-like taste and you'd be hard pressed to tell the Chocolate Jam apart from Nutella, save for the coconutty taste of course.

Scrummy Sea Salt Coconut Jam

These jams are an ideal alternative to the usual jams and are great spread on toast to give the kids an after school snack with a difference.  They can also be used in baking or in smoothies or, my personal favourite, dolloped on top of some ice cream.

A full set of Buko Coconut Jams retails at £15.75 and I have 3 sets to give away to 3 lucky winners.

Just enter via the Rafflecopter.  UK entrants only and terms and conditions apply.  The giveaway ends at 11:59 pm on Tuesday 31st May 2016.

Good luck!

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Whizz Up Mel's Speedy Recipe For Broccoli & Cauliflower Cheese

Hi, I am Mel!

I blog about my love of food, travel, fashion, and much more over at The Diary Of A Jewellery Lover Blog.

Today I'm guest posting on the lovely Linda's blog with my family friendly recipe for broccoli and cauliflower cheese.

What I love about this recipe is that it is virtually foolproof and most kids seem to love it. So often I find recipes for cauliflower cheese do not add enough cheese - well not in this case! The breadcrumbs also add a lovely crunch.

If you use an electric whisk, the white sauce will be lovely and smooth with no lumps. This will also keep for a couple of days in the fridge prior to cooking, so perfect to make in advance and pop in the oven when you come home at night.

Broccoli & Cauliflower Cheese

Ingredients

1 small cauliflower and 1 broccoli head, cut into florets
500 ml milk
4 tbsp flour
50 g butter or low fat spread
200 g mature cheddar, grated
4 tablespoons of breadcrumbs
black pepper to taste

Serves 4

Method

Heat oven to 200C / Gas 7.
Boil the cauliflower and broccoli for 5 mins.
Drain in a colander.
Make the cheese sauce by the all in one method - put the milk, flour, and butter or low fat spread in a saucepan.
Use an electric or manual whisk and whisk until it comes to the boil and goes thick but smooth.
Stir in grated cheese.
Add the cheese sauce to the cauliflower and broccoli.
Pour into a large dish or 4 individual dishes
Scatter over breadcrumbs.

Cook for 20/25 mins until bubbling and golden

Serve as an accompaniment to your favourite dishes.

Enjoy!

Mellissa Williams
The Diary Of A Jewellery Lover Blog

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Review: Degustabox Monthly Subscription Food Box - The March Box

It's been a while since I reviewed Degustabox, the monthly subscription food box service but they sent me a lovely Easter surprise of their March box.

Each Degustabox contains between 9 and 14 products from well known and / or up-and-coming brands.

It's a fun way to discover new brands and to try food and drink products you may not otherwise discover or add to your supermarket trolley.

So what was in the March box?

The contents of the March Degustabox

Each box costs £12.99 including delivery and the value of the box contents is promised to be far greater than this, based on what you would expect to pay if you bought the items in the shops.

Once you have received your box, you are encouraged to review the products and let the brands know what you thought - whether you liked the item or not.

The March box contained, as per the previous boxes, a lovely mix of sweet and savoury treats. There is a selected list of products for each month published on the website but not everyone receives the same combination. The element of surprise adds to the fun.

Once again, there was a mixture of brands I already knew but quite a few I'd heard of but not got round to trying - which is really the point of Degustabox.

There were 10 products from January's selection and 1 from a selection which Degustabox call their "Db's Discoveries".

This time, instead of Degustabox's products of the month we have two products just right for the breakfast table.

Brioche Pasquier, Weetabix On The Go & Good Hemp Original

The Breakfast Table Products

We are already big fans of Brioche Pasquier and these are new to the range - Pains au Chocolat (£1.40) filled with creme patissiere.  They are individually wrapped and the Husband often grabs a couple to pop in his briefcase on his way out of the door to the station.  You can spend a small fortune on a coffee and a pastry at those station shops, can't you?

Weetabix On The Go (2 x £1.50) is a breakfast drink with extra protein which contains all the energy and fibre of a Weetabix cereal with milk in a smooth, tasty drink.  The Husband has also claimed these for his next trip to London.

Good Hemp Original - a dairy free alternative to milk

Good Hemp Original (£1.49) is a dairy free alternative to milk made from hemp seeds.  Hemp seeds are a natural source of Omega 3 and are completely allergen free.

Metcalfe's Skinny Popcorn - Cinema Sweet (£1.50) and Pipers Crisps - Cheddar & Onion (£2.00)

Ideal movie watching fare!

Cinema Sweet is the newest addition to the Metcalfe's Skinny Popcorn family and it is sweetened with natural stevia leaf extract.  The popcorn has 67% less sugar than all the other sweet varieties on the market and has 97 calories per serving.

Pipers Crisps have won 23 Gold Great Taste Awards and are made from locally sourced potatos cooked in sunflower oil.  I wish I could tell you what these tasted like but the Husband and Ieuan got there first.

Karyatis Meze To Go & Kent's Kitchen Stuffing in Apricot, Apple & Ginger

Two quirky new finds

Karyatis Meze To Go (£1.99) is a Mediterranean inspired snack containing a sweet and smokey roasted red pepper and feta dip with crunchy rosemary crackers in an easy to carry box.

Kent's Kitchen Apricot, Apple & Ginger Stuffing (£1.85) is designed to spice up your roast dinner. It's made from all natural ingredients with chunky pieces of fruit, herbs and spices. All you have to do is add water, stir and bake.  Each pot serves four.

Parle Hide & Seek and Monaco Biscuits

Sweet & Savoury Biscuits

Parle Hide & Seek biscuits (£0.59) are India's best moulded chocolate chip biscuits.  The jury's out on whether they are, as they claim, the World's best moulded chocolate biscuits.  I have quite a bit of research ahead of me.

Parle Monaco biscuits (£0.39p) are tasty, crispy biscuits sprinkled with salt.

Kallo Quinoa and Seeds Multigrain Cakes & Kallo Milk Chocolate Rice Cake Rounds

Kallo  Multigrain and Chocolate Rice Cakes

Kallo Quinoa and Seeds Multigrain Cakes (£1.89) contain sunflower, sesame and pumpkin seeds whilst Kallo Milk Chocolate Rice Cake Rounds (£1.00) are a combination of  Belgian Chocolate and puffed wholegrain rice with only 78 calories per cake.

Lindt White Chocolate Gold Bunny & Chewits Sweets

My favourite combo!

Two more products from this month's box which have strangely vanished before I could sample them.

Lindt White Chocolate Gold Bunny (£2.99) - you know Easter's arrived when these little fellas start to appear.  They certainly make a regular appearance in our house.

Chewits chewy sweets (4 x £0.35) were a part of my childhood and are an iconic British confectionery brand now loved by my kids as well.

The total retail value of the box is £21.59, good value given the cost of the box was £12.99.

If you like the excitement of a monthly present and enjoy trying out new brands, I think Degustabox is a great scheme. I'd place it firmly in the 'treat' category but the price is low enough to make it attractive. A Degustabox subscription would also make a great gift. You can cancel at any time, as long as you give them sufficient notice to stop next month's box.

Please note, though that Degustabox can only deliver to Mainland UK and not to Northern Ireland, the Scottish Highlands and Islands and you must be over 18 to order.

I also have a discount code for £6 off your first box.  Simply enter BLDEG15 at the checkout.

Further information is available at the Degustabox UK website, or you can talk to them on Facebook or on Twitter. 

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Win Krispy Kreme Doughnuts - Honey Bee & Love Bug Have Arrived For Valentine's Day

Unless you've been living in the Artic tundra knitting your own igloo, I'm sure you have come across the delectable sweet treat - the Krispy Kreme Doughnut.

Actually, the first time I heard about them was when they were mentioned by Miranda in Sex & The City.  But I digress.  As usual.

Now there are Krispy Kreme stores popping up all over the UK, including my hometown of Cardiff and doughnuts are made fresh and delivered each day using the special yeast-raised doughnut recipe which came from a New Orleans French chef back in 1937.

There are 15 varieties of doughnut to choose from (as well as coffee and milkshakes served in their stores) and two of these have arrived just in time for Valentine's Day.

Krispy Kreme Honey Bee

Honey Bee  - filled with a smooth chocolate and hand-dipped in vanilla icing.

Krispy Kreme Love Bug

Love Bug - filled with with Strawberry mousse and hand-dipped in raspberry icing.

You can buy these separately or a part of your favourite Krispy Kreme Dozen - and either in store or online.  Honey Bee and Love Bug are ideal treats for Valentine's Day and can be ordered now online for collection in store on the 13th or 14th February.

Bugs & Bees

We loved the smooth chocolate filling in Honey Bee and the soft strawberry mousse in the Love Bug. and found them to be a real indulgent treat.  The Husband prefers crisps and nuts so there is one Love Bug just waiting to spend some time with me tomorrow. (Hurrah).

They offer a completely different taste from the more traditional doughnut - much lighter - although I suspect that sadly doesn't apply to the calorie content. But who can quibble over something like that when faced with doughnuts named Reese's Peanut Butter (my weakness!), Lotus Caramelised Biscoff or Triple Chocolate Cake? 

Ieuan testing the Honey Bee

Caitlin testing the Love Bug

I have TWO Krispy Kreme giftcards to give away to ONE winner - each card entitles the owner to either one doughnut per month for a year or one dozen doughnuts to take away on the spot.  

Entry is via the Rafflecopter widget and the giveaway ends at 11:59 pm on Friday 19th February. UK entrants only.  Terms and conditions apply.  Please note that this giveaway ends after Valentine's Day.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Like this giveaway?  Please share with your friends by clicking on the social media icons below this post. Thank you!

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