I confess I am a great fan of Swedish Design.   I love everything about it.  I love the colours, the simplicity, the fact that everything they do is meant to not only look good, but have great function.  That's why I was really excited to have been asked to tell you about these new Wildo Camp-A-Box's!  I have to say . . .  I am very impressed.

Newby Teas presents two luxury options for adding romance and a touch of health to your Valentine’s Day this year, both available in Harrods and online at Newby’s e-boutique for busy lovers.

I've recently been sent some tasty savory nibbles which would be fabuous to serve with drinks at any Open House Parties or Get-togethers you might be throwing over the upcoming Holiday period.  I am running out of time and with my recent illness I have decided to tell you all about them at once.  I hope you will all forgive me!  I just want to tell you about them before you finish up all of your holiday food shopping!

 

Dell'Ugo Focaccia Italiana in two flavours . . .  Cherry Tomatoes & Basil Pesto, and Goat's Cheese & Red Onion.  These light and airy breads are like nothing currently on the market, definitely NOT dense, stodgy or greasy, they even have the traditional baker’s thumb impression on the top!

These are lovely warmed and then cut into little squares, just the perfect size for nibbles with drinks or on finger food tables or appetizer trays.

 Dell'Ugo is the longest established fresh pasta brand in the UK, creating delicious and innovative pastas since 1929. These amazing Focaccia Italiana come in three flavours Goats’ Cheese & Red Onion, Mixed Olive & Tomato and Cherry Tomatoes & Basil Pesto.

Dell'Ugo products are available in Waitrose, Wholefoods, Costco, and online at Ocado.




Wonderful Pistachios from California are perfectly seasoned for a delicious flavour with a satisfying crunch. Sun-ripened and 100% naturally opened, Wonderful only offer the largest available nuts that are equally roasted, without added oil.  This is due to their unique rotary roasting technique.


Wonderful Pistachios not only taste delicious, they are also a great all-natural, healthy snack alternative to fully enjoy while relaxing with friends and family or just by yourself. And above all, they are great fun to crack open!



Wonderful Pistachios are available in four tasty flavours:  Roasted Unsalted, Roasted Salted, Salt and Pepper, and Sweet Chili.  I am awfully fond of the Salt and Pepper ones myself and I have to say our Mitzie is just fond of Pistachios full stop!

 

Wonderful Amonds are a delicious bite sized snack.  Harvested exclusively in their California Orchards they also come in several flavours.  Roasted and Salted, Blanched and Roasted Natural.   I was sent the Roasted and Salted, which make the perfect drinks nibble.

These products are available at grocery shops throughout the UK.



 
Indulge in some Christmas magic with this new sweet and spicy Limited Edition Gingerbread popcorn from Butterkist. Perfectly popped with a deliciously warming flavour they're the perfect way to share the festive spirit.  I really like this, and at 103 calories per delicious 25g serving, it's not a bad snack.  High in fibre and whole grain.  Deliciously gingery this would make the perfect snack for all your holiday movie viewing.  (Let me say, that it can pack a bit of a wallop as some of the pieces are quite, quite gingery.)

 

 Why not treat the children to a Candyland Sweet Champions Tin over the holidays?  This 500g tin contains an assortment of some thirteen different children's favourite sweeties, and I sare say a few adults love them as well. There is a little something here for everyone and every sweet taste.  Available all over the country at a variety of retailers.



While you are at it why not pick up some stocking stuffers.  Candyland  Fruit Salad Chews and Wham Originals in 108g and 105g packets, perfectly sized for stuffing into stockings.  I have seen them in all the shops selling for about £1 each.   Made with natural flavours and colourings.

I was recently sent some tea to review from the people at Bellevue Tea.  I had specified that I only drink herbal blends, however I was sent both Green and black Breakfast Teas, so I have been unable to try them myself, but I am able to tell you about them.  (As a Latter Day Saint, we don't drink regular tea or coffee, but only herbal blends.  It's a tenant of the Word of Wisdom which is a health law we live by.)

Bellevue Tea is an independent, expert tea company based in London, bringing thirty years' expertise and exerience at the heart of the tea trade to deliver first class products and service.

Bellevue Tea know virtually everything there is to know about the tea business, from plantations around the world, via producers, brokers and tasters to the current trends and tastes of tea drinkers here in the UK.  They know how to source the very best teas and infusions an their carefully packatged tea bags and carefully sourced leaf teas will add value to any retain environment, caterer or cafe.

Now that the calendar has rolled over into December, I don't feel guilty at all about sharing Christmas recipes with you!  It's full steam ahead now for the holidays, and with that in mind I wanted to share with you today a tasty recipe from the people at Schwartz which is perfect for holiday meal celebrations!  Braised Red Cabbage is a delicious side dish that goes wonderfully with your holiday roasts, be it turkey, beef, pork, gammon, bacon . . .  whatever!

 The people at Rachel's sent me over some fresh new Autumn/Winter recipes for me to try.  Boy do they ever look delicious.  With my diabetes I have to be a bit careful what I eat at the moment, so the first one I tried was the Avocado on Sour Dough Toast with Chilli Scrambled Egg & Bacon.  (I used sausage instead of bacon.)  There is also a recipe for A Salted Caramel Malt Cake and Lemon, Coconut and White Truffles.  Sooooo delicious!

I was recently sent some samples of the new Limited J2O Midnight Editions juice drinks!  Delicious!



 Midnight Forest - an enchanting blend of real orange and cherry fruit juices with a hint of chocolate flavour to excite the senses. The inviting flavours and unique bottle design will transport you to an ethereal world of fantasy, providing a sense of release from the boundaries of normality.  J2O Midnight Forest is available at all major supermarkets.



Midnight Amber - a fabulous blend of orange, lemon and mandarin flavours. Iignite your senses with a magical burst of orange and lemon fruit juices blended with winter spice flavour. Delve into your subconscious this party season, and find J2O Midnight Amber available exclusively in Marstons, Greene King and Fullers pubs.

These are fabulous soft drinks for grown ups, and would make a fab addition to your holiday festivities when out and about with your friends and family over the holidays or when celebrating in the comforts of your own home.


 

I have to say I am really enjoying my healthier eating lifestyle these days.  I have not had a piece of chocolate in over three weeks now, nor have I had any cookies, cakes, candy bars, wine gums, etc.  I have banned sugar from my life along with white flour . . . it's been a bit of a challenge, but it can be done and putting on a pair of trousers today that is two sizes smaller than I was wearing a month ago feels good.

Along with the cooling autumnal like temperatures comes the desire to eat more comfort types of foods.  I don't know why that is, but whereas in the Summer, I want salads and BBQ, once the thermometer begins to drop my heart screams out for meat and potatoes, soups and stews!    As a consumer, I really want to buy my meat from someone who can assure me of the quality of the meat I am purchasing as well as offering me complete transparency as to where it has come from and how it has been produced etc. Animal welfare is a really big deal for me.  I also don't want to have to pay an arm and a leg for it, especially with my budgetary concerns and belt tightening economy of today's financial climate.



Westin Gourmet is an online butchers srvice who offers great gourmet meats, often at supermarket beating prices.  You can buy meat online at Westin Gourmet with the Farm Tractor standard and at a price which is the equivalent of, if not better than the standard you could expect from most supermarkets.  Westin Gourmet source the majority of their meat from the UK. They will only work with farmers who treat their livestock ethically, and all their meat is labelled and code marked so they can retrace its entire history.  Animal Welfare is high on their list of priorities when it comes to sourcing their meat. To me that is one of the most important factors I look for when buying meat for consumption.


 


All of their incoming packaging is recycled off site and their boxes and liners are made from recycled materials. With a reputation for excellent service and a quality guarantee, plus award winning meats and poultry (Great Taste Award 2015 for Maple Cured Bacon, Corn fed Chicken, Wild Venison Haunch Steaks plus more, and England's Best Sirloin Steak Award 2015)  and production transparency you really can't go wrong with this service! 

I was recently invited to use some Creamy Leerdammer Toastie & Burger slices on a Pulled Pork Burger!  I love Leedammer Cheese.  Nobody had to twist my arm!

With thicker slices and a richer, creamier recipe for better melting, LEERDAMMER® Toastie & Burger is the perfect filling for a deliciously melty toasted cheese sandwich or cheese burger.

As you probably noticed in my earlier post I was recently contacted by Flamingo Gifts and asked if I would like to review a few gifts from their magnificent gift site!   Flamingos stock a varied and unique range of gifts to suit everyone and all occasions. From kitsch to traditional, from adults to children, there is sure to be something on their pages to suit just about every taste. Really, really  lovely things.  I was hard pressed to pick a few items as there were just so many nice items to choose from!  After a couple of days of perusal I managed to narrow my wish list down to a few and within 24hours of my voicing my wish list . . .  a big box arrived on my doorstep.  I have to say that delivery was quick and everything arrived well packed and undamaged in transit.  Perfect packaging and delivery.  Positive number one!



I showed you the lovely Folklore Coffee Pot earlier today.   It's on sale right now at 10% off the regular price.  You can read what I thought about it here.  So cute!




I am a big fan of Orla Kiely anything.  I adore her fresh designs, with their very distinctive patterns, colours and texures.   I fel in love with this set of Three Herb Pots On a Tray.  The patterns used are Flower Stem, Scribble Stem and Daisy Spot.  Ideal for growing herbs, each pot fits comfortably on the tray, which makes it very easy to water them from below.



Mine have been planted and are sitting on the windowsil in the dining room, where I am eagerly awaiting in anticipation of something green showing up.  Oh, I know  . . .  I could have just gone and bought already growing herbs, but experience has taught me that those herbs you can get in the pots at the shops are not meant to last for very long.  Seriously.  Orla Kiely deserves much more than a flash in the pan.  These are also on sale right now at 10% of the regular price.   Check them out!



Another item which I fell in love with was this Sparrow Serving Set, which consists of 4 serving utensils (spaghetti server, Ladle, Slotted Spoon and Solid Spoon) and a unique tree branch holder (which slides apart for flat storage.)  You all know how much I love watching the sparrows at play in my back garden and this caught my eye from the get-go.  The sparrow server set would look great in any kitchen and is ideal to leave on the side.  This pretty set of kitchen utensils looks like 4 sparrows sitting on a tree.  Pretty and fun.



Made completely from recycled materials this set is great for cooking or serving.  Very stylish.  It's out of stock at the moment, but you can ask to be notified for when more stock arrives.   I just love it!  Check out more details here. 



Finally I chose the Abode Egg Cups.  This lovely set of four porcelain egg cups is the result of a collaberation with Mengsel and features Luzelle van der Westhuizens illustrations of 4 animals each on an egg cup of their own.

It's super cute,  and would make a lovely gift for any special occasion or birthday.  It comes in a sturdy and attractive box.  From the abode range, they also have stacking tins, plates and espresso sets. The cups are also dishwasher and microwave safe.  These are also on sale at 10% off at the moment.

I really love all of the items I received and feel that if you are looking for a gift for that special occasion or someone, or even as a treat yourself, you could not find a much nicer site to get it from than Flamingo Gifts.  They cater for every budget and offer the lowest prices possible for extremely high quality goods, with a top class service and a simple mission, which is to provide amazing gifts to you at a great price and quickly, and to deal with any problems even faster so you enjoy your splurge!

Many thanks to them for indulging my wish list.   I really am thrilled with all my goodies.

 

May 26th to the 1st of June is National BBQ Week here in the UK, and with that in mind Newman's Own has put together some quick tips to help you achieve the perfect BBQ!  Getting it right is never easy, but with these handy tips anyone can have a fun, stress-free and smoothly run BBQ!



Stop flipping, leave it be! - If you leave your food to sit on the BBQ for a few minutes before turning, you will get better caramelization and therefore a better flavour.  It also means that the food is less likely to stick to the BBQ.

If you have a lid, use it! - "If you're looking, it ain't cooking!" - a well known phrase in the BBQ world.  With the lid down your food will cook faster and more evenly, which will also prevent food poisoning from under-cooking.  it also means your charcoal lasts longer or you use less gas, which means more BBQ's for the summer!

Wait 30 to 45 minutes to use your charcoal BBQ - The coals should be grey before using which means they are hot and give an even temperature.  Before this, they will flame and burn your food with uneven heat distribution and not cooking in the middle.

Don't stab your sausages -  Pricking the sausage may reduce the chance of it splitting but not by much. However, it will guarantee that all the juice will come out of the sausage leaving it drier and less tasty.  So it's worth not stabbing them and enjoying a tastier sausage!

Don't risk under cooking - Digital thermometers are a genius invention.  For under £10, BBQ-ers can easily check that their meat is cooked by measuring it's temperature.

All post-tax profits from Newman's Own products go to the Newman's Own Foundation which donates all profits to charity, with over £1 million already being donated to a wide range of charities in the UK alone and over £250 million donated around the world.

With a selection of sauces, marinades and dressings the Newman's Own products are the perfect BBQ essentials and the all new Smokin' Hot Dog Sauce will add some extra hot flavour to your hotdogs this year!  If you've been inspired to get the BBQ started at home, Newman's Own has come up with some recipes to fire up your imagination.

Newman's Own Smokin' Hot Dog Sauce is available from April 2014 from Morrisins at a suggested RRP of £1.89




This hot dog sauce is a personal favourite of ours. We just love it and we love the Newman's own BBQ sauce too!



 

*Newman's Own Minced Lamb BBQ Skewers with Pita Pockets*
Serves 4
Printable Recipe

If you prefer, the skewers can be placed side by side on a baking sheet and cooked in an 180*C/350*F/ gas 4 oven.

For the skewers:
500g (1lb 2 oz) lean minced lamb
1 shallot, peeled and finely chopped
4 TBS Newman's Own Sticky Original BBQ Sauce
Pita Pockets:
4 pitta bread
2 tomatoes, chopped or sliced
100g (4 oz) feta cheese, crumbled or cut into small cubes
50g (2 oz) piece of cucumber, sliced or chopped
4 to 6 lettuce leaves, depending on size, shredded
a few springs of leaf coriander (cilantro)

Put the minced lamb, chopped shallot and 2 TBS of the BBQ Sauce in a bowl and stir until well mixed.  Shape the mixture into small balls and thread on to 8 medium or 12 small skewers.  Place in a shallow dish, spoon the rest of the BBQ sauce over the meat and cover with cling film.  Chill in the fridge for several hours or overnight until ready to cook.

Lift the skewers from the dish and grill or barbecue for 10 to 15 minutes or until cooked through, turning them over once or twice and basting or brushing with any BBQ Sauce left in the dish.

Toast the Pita bread lightly on each side or warm on the barbecue.  Cut a slit down one side of each pita and carefully open out to make a pocket.   In a bowl, mix together the chopped tomatoes, feta, cucumber, lettuce and coriander leaves and divide between the pockets.  Serve with the lamb skewers and accompany with a bowl of natural yoghurt dusted with paprika and finely chopped coriander.

Tip:  When shaping the meat around the skewers, press it firmly together so it doesn't break up and fall off during cooking.  If using wooden skewers, soak them in cold water for 30 minutes prior to using or cover the exposed ends with small pieces of foil to prevent them from scorching.




*Newman's Own Honey Turkey and Red Pepper Burgers*
Makes 4
Printable Recipe

Turkey mince makes mouthwatering burgers and is far lower in fat than ground beef or lamb.  Add extra salad to the buns such as sliced tomatoes, onion rings or cucumber slices according to pertsonal taste.

500g (1 lb 2 oz)  turkey mince
1 small red onion, peeled and finely chopped
1 large open mushroom, peeled and finely chopped
6 TBS Newman's own Sticky Honey BBQ Sauce
2 red peppers, deseeded and cut into thick wedges
4 sesame seeded burger buns, split in half and lightly toasted
5cm (2 inch) piece of cucumber, sliced
4 lettuce leaves

Put the mince into a bowl, add the chopped onion and mushroom and stir until mixed.  add 3 TBS of the Honey Sauce and stir again until evenly combined.  Shape the mixture into 4 burgers, pressing the meat together to give a firm shape - a round pastry cutter or special burger press makes the task easy.

Put the burgers on a plate, spread over the remaining Honey Sauce and cover with cling film.  Chill in the fridge for several hours or overnight.

Grill or barbecue the burgers over medium heat for 10 to 15 minutes or until they are cooked all the way through, turning over half way and brushing or basting with any of the sauce left in the dish.

Grill the pepper wedges for about 5 minutes or until lightly scorched.

To assemble the burgers, layer up lettuce, pepper wedges, cucumber and burgers in the split buns and serve hot.

Tip:  If you prefer you can make 8 small burgers and serve them in rolls or small buns as finger food.


Follow Newman's Own on Facebook.
Follow Newman's Own on Twitter.