Strong Roots Cauliflower Hash Browns

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Does a hash brown belong on the Christmas dinner plate? Well we think so, and after trying Strong Roots Cauliflower Hash Browns you probably will too!

Made mostly with cauliflower (42%) and with potato (13%) and onion, these delicious hash browns retain the hash brown flavour, but are lighter thanks to the cauliflower being the main ingredient. The structure is very similar to a hash brown so you can still use it for your fry-up or at dinner time.  It’s just as tasty as your potato hash brown, and I preferred it thanks to the seasoning and added flavour of the cauliflower as well as potato and onions. They’re also low in sugar and low in saturated fat, and vegan friendly.

Strong Roots Cauliflower Hash Browns aren’t just breakfast or as a side dish.  You can substitute them for break in beans on toast, east them with soup or simply with poached egg on top as a meal or as a snack.  They don’t go soggy like some hash browns do, and we found that they cooked brilliantly in the air fryer, which is an added bonus when you don’t have much time.

As for Christmas, why not try them as a side dish? They’re vegan too, so you can have them as a starter with cranberry sauce or for vegetarians you can melt some Brie on top with some cranberries to make them extra Christmassy!

Available from £6 at Ocado, Sainsburys, Morrisons and other outlets: https://www.ocado.com/products/strong-roots-cauliflower-hash-browns/657936011?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=21042674809&utm_content=non-brand&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21032609502&gbraid=0AAAAADi6iHkPhWiZzLIoqmBKPVJYctUk5&gclid=Cj0KCQjw9JLHBhC-ARIsAK4PhcqlutvZ_zPVk4NezrS5E73-X5JuNIXsGkLe3I1kubbFCGCbrFQvrDUaAoA-EALw_wcB

PLAYinCHOC

Disclaimer: We received these products free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.

It can be hard to find delicious tasting chocolate that is suitable for people with different dietary needs so PLAYinCHOC is such a great find as it is vegan, organic, dairy free, nut free, and gluten free.

The PLAYinCHOC Christmas collection includes all six of the fun ToyChoc boxes and inside every box are two individually wrapped 10g organic chocolates, a festive 3D puzzle to build and a fun fact card to read. The 3D puzzles are all Christmassy – a snowman,  cheeky elf,  friendly ginger-bread figure, Christmas tree, reindeer and of course Father Christmas. Simply pop out the sturdy cardboard pieces and slot them together. The leftover pieces can also be used as stencils which are perfect for keeping little hands busy over the holidays.

The chocolate is smooth and creamy and is made from just three simple organic ingredients – cacao, vanilla and coconut. It also has a third less sugar than other leading brands and importantly, it tastes delicious – no bitter aftertaste, just pure chocolate deliciousness. Our mini-reviewers happily nibbled while tackling their puzzles, awarding it a resounding thumbs-up.

With its award-winning credentials – from a Great Taste Award in 2022 to Gold at the Free From Food Awards – this is a lovely stocking filler or table gift for both children and adults.

RRP £15

Peppersmith Taster Box featuring Gum, Mints and Pastilles

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

We can’t make up our minds whether this is a stocking filler, Secret Santa, gift for teenagers or a subscription box for the whole family, but Peppersmith surprised us with this tasty variety box of gum, mints and pastilles so we thought we’d try them and find out!

Featuring two boxes of six varieties (that’s 12 boxes in all), there’s both Peppermint and Spearmint gum, Extra Strong Mints, Peppermint Mints, and Strawberry and Lemon Pastilles.  Made in Britain with the mint sourced from a Hampshire farm, all the products contain no sugar, just Xylitol which is lower in calories and approved by the Oral Health Foundation. They’re also gluten free, vegan, nut oil free and free from palm oil and the boxes are made of cardboard so there’s very little litter from them, totally recyclable.

I started with the mints, which is not something I usually eat unless it’s after a posh meal at a restaurant. The Peppermint Mints (In the green box) were very strong with a peppermint taste. I crunched mine to release the flavour which I find is the best way!  On the back of the Peppermint Mints, I then tried the Extra Strong Mints (blue packet). I think both of them are particularly strong, and I only had one of each. Each time, they left my mouth unbelievably minty fresh and the freshness lasted quite some time. There’s about 25 mints in each packet, so great for a pocket or a handbag.

The Strawberry and Lemon Pastilles aren’t what I would usually buy but they were lovely none the less. The same size as the mints, they’re round gems of flavour with the lemon variety being my favourite. As the pastilles don’t contain sugar, they don’t coat your teeth after eating them and the lemon one is especially refreshing. 

Although I don’t chew gum much these days, I would only chew sugar free, so the Peppermint and Spearmint Gums were a nice change. Again, you can taste that there isn’t any sugar in them and all-natural flavours. The only downside to the gums was that the flavour and texture didn’t last that long and I found myself disposing of them after about 10 minutes. With commercial gum, I find that I can chew it for about an hour and it loses only some of its elasticity. Peppersmith’s gums had that lovely initial crunch as I bit into it, then there’s the flavour that hits you and finally the texture. It was the texture that I found particularly difficult after 10 minutes, although I don’t know how long chewing gum is meant to last – maybe 10 minutes is it’s maximum! Still, there’s plenty of pieces in the pack and there’s two packs of each flavour.

I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this Taster Box as much as I did, but I found that I was popping a mint or chewing some gum each time I sat down to work or after a meal. It could totally become addictive and a subscription in our house, especially as there are even more flavours to try that I haven’t even looked at yet!

Peppersmith Taster Box available from £17.99 at: https://peppersmith.co.uk/collections/bestsellers/products/taster-pack-12-x-15g-mixed-pocket-packs-2

Freddie’s Farm Fruit Snacks

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

For an alternative to chocolate this Easter, Freddie’s Farm have some delicious snacks made of fruit and vegetables.  We were sent some to try in flavours Apple, Raspberry and Blueberry.

The Freddie’s Farm snacks are dehydrated, 100% British fruit made which have no added sugar but all of the benefits of fruit. There’s no concentrate or puree and are made on Freddie’s Farm, packaged in paper packets.  Each pack is part of your 1-A-Day quota, and is both Dairy Free and Gluten Free. They contain more than just their fruit flavours though, with added beetroot, carrot and spinach to not only make the shapes work, but to add extra nutrition. You can’t taste the flavour of the vegetables though!

I think my favourite was the Apple flavour. Each one tastes of the fruit though, with the raspberry being the sweetest, apple being the most recognisable and the blueberry had a fruity taste at first then the flavour of the berry came through after a few seconds.  I like the idea of having these as snacks for little hands because it helps with motor skills as well to have them pick up the little shapes, which look (and taste) a lot like sweets, but are more wholesome, and of course, have no unnatural sugars.

Each pack weighs 20 grams and can fit into pockets, or are great for picnics or lunchboxes and they make great baking ingredients, especially if you’re looking for some ideas over the Easter holidays of nutritious snacks to cook with.  How about using the snacks for an Easter Egg hunt instead of chocolate? 

A box of 12 packets can be bought online for £8.49 at: https://freddiesfarmsnacks.co.uk/product/mixed-fruit-shapes-12/

PLAY in CHOC

Disclaimer: we received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.

Mother’s Day is all about treating Mum, but what if she can’t have regular chocolate? Don’t worry, PLAY in CHOC has got her covered –  and trust us, this isn’t some bland alternative. It’s creamy, dreamy, and perfect for anyone who needs to dodge dairy, gluten, or nuts. Plus, it’s vegan and organic, so you can feel extra good about gifting it!

Now, we all know that finding “free-from” chocolate that actually tastes nice can be a bit of a mission. Sometimes you bite into it and, well… it just isn’t the same. But PLAY in CHOC has cracked it. This chocolate is smooth, not bitter, and made with only three natural ingredients: cacao, vanilla, and coconut. Simple and scrumptious.

The other bonus is it has a third less sugar than your usual chocolate bars. So, if Mum likes to keep things a bit lighter, this is right up her street. The packaging is eco-friendly too, with compostable wrappers, which we absolutely love.

There’s three different sized boxes available – 30g, 60g and 100g and they all contain individually wrapped 10g pieces, making them perfect for popping in a handbag for a cheeky afternoon treat.

So, if your Mum can’t have standard chocolate, or she just fancies trying something a bit different, PLAY in CHOC is the perfect gift.

RRP From £2.49

Lamb Weston Chips

Disclaimer: we received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.

When I was a child, both Mum and Grandma used to make proper chips in an old-fashioned chip pan, and they were always golden, crispy, and unbelievably tasty. As much as I love chips, I’ve never been a fan of the frozen ones as they always seem to come out of the oven soggy and a bit disappointing. But everything changed when I got an air fryer, suddenly frozen chips were back on the menu! The air fryer manages to make them a lot crispier, and while they’ll never quite match up to the real deal, they’re not a bad option for a quick midweek snack or sneaky late night nibble.

Lamb Weston chips are a new brand that’s been making waves in the freezer aisle so when we got the chance to try some we didn’t need asking twice!

Frozen chips might not have the nostalgia of Mum’s fried ones, but they’re certainly more convenient and a lot healthier than fried chips. Lamb Weston have catered for all tastes with eight different varieties to choose from. So far, we’ve tried the Twister Fries, Grill Fries, and Potato Dippers, and they’ve all passed The Review Studio’s taste tests with flying colours.

The Twister Fries have a brilliant spiral shape that gets even crispier in the air fryer. Each fry is cut from a whole potato, so you get unique curly shapes that are golden and crunchy on the outside but soft and fluffy on the inside. They’re dangerously moreish and taste even better dipped in a bit of BBQ sauce!  

The Grill Fries Salt & Pepper are thick, steakhouse-style chips with rugged ridges that hold loads of flavour. Every bite is a perfect mix of crunchy outside and fluffy inside, with just the right hit of salt and pepper. We ate them with fish and mushy peas but they would work just as well with a burger.

But the real stars of the show this week have been the Potato Dippers. No two are the same and the skin has been left on for a bit more flavour and less waste. They’ve got a deliciously crispy skin and soft, fluffy inside, making them perfect for scooping up dips without falling apart. Pair them with a bit of garlic mayo or spicy ketchup, and you’re in chip heaven.

While Lamb Weston’s chips can be cooked in both the oven and air fryer, we found they’re definitely at their crispiest when air fried. With this kind of crunch and flavour, I might just need a bigger freezer!

PLAYin CHOC

Disclaimer – We have received this item for free or on a loan basis for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Easter is big business now, or for the children expecting chocolate it is at least!  PLAYin CHOC accommodate all children with their Great Taste Award Winning (2019) chocolate toy boxes which are all dairy, nut, gluten and plastic free.

There’s a whole range of PLAYin CHOC toys.  Most of them are boxes of self-assembly, cardboard toys that are part of a range of animals, dinosaurs or a seasonal range which children can collect and put together themselves.  With no small moving parts (unlike other toys) they are great for travelling or sitting quietly to play with.  There’s the whole box of PLAYin CHOC Organic Chocolate and Surprise Toys which comprises of 6 box toys, in this case, rabbits for Easter!  Perfect as part of an Easter Egg Hunt or to give as gifts at an Easter party or birthday favours around Easter.

We also had one each of the Dinosaur and Endangered Animals toy boxes. Inside there’s the toys, set in parts in a cardboard pop-out, an information card and two PLAYin CHOC chocolate nuggets, individual wrapped.  The boxes themselves make great building boxes to collect and play with!

Grown-ups aren’t left out with the dairy, nut and gluten free chocolates.  We were also sent some boxes of organic dark and ‘milk’ chocolate, all which are made with the same high quality ingredients as the toys.  The chocolates are individually wrapped inside the boxes so can be eaten as one big snack or as tiny mid-afternoon treats as a pick-me-up.  Can you tell I’m enjoying both types of chocolate on a rainy afternoon?  

The dark chocolate is made with Peruvian Cacao and has that dark, intense taste but unusually, isn’t bitter like other chocolates. It doesn’t have any added refined sugar, just the 70% cocoa solids, coconut sugar, creamed coconut and vanilla pods. I think it’s the vanilla pods that make it feel like it’s sweeter and the creamed coconut which gives it the creamy texture. The ‘milk’ chocolates (and the word milk is highlighted here because it doesn’t contain any milk as it’s dairy-free) is a softer chocolate flavour but sweeter than the dark chocolate. The coconut sugar really comes through in this flavour, with both the sweetness and the coconut taste. It’s also nut free and gluten free plus soy free too but has the added vanilla pods and creamed coconut to add the familiar texture and taste of chocolate.

The PLAYin CHOC range is not only great for every day treats, but the more adult selections are fabulous for those of us who like a treat as a grown-up, and even better for those with allergies.

NOMO Ultimate Choco Advent Calendar

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

You won’t miss out on Christmas advent calendars this year if you don’t or can’t eat chocolate.  The NOMO Ultimate Choco Advent Calendar is dairy free, nut free, gluten free and egg free, plus their chocolate has no palm oil!

This bumper advent calendar measures nearly 40 centimetres tall and includes 24 mini NOMO chocolate bars in flavours Mint, Creamy Choc, Caramel and Orange each of 11.8 grams. On Christmas Eve, there’s also a 38 gram Caramel bar to celebrate Christmas.

All of the NOMO chocolate flavours are gluten free, egg free, nut free and most especially, dairy free. They contain sugar, rice flour and cocoa butter but no palm oil, which also lends the whole chocolate company to being Rainforest Alliance Certified.

The NOMO Ultimate Choco Advent lends itself to adults as well as children, with the variety of flavours and at just £12 for the whole 24-day calendar, it’s a great gift too!

Available from shops and online for £12 at: https://nomochoc.com/products/ultimate-advent-calendar

Lakrids by Bülow Classic Chocolate Coated Liquorice

Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.

Christmas is the time of year when we put diets on hold and indulge in delicious food and sweet treats. Stores are brimming with boxes of chocolates, which not only make for a lovely treat but also make delightful gifts too. Premium chocolates, in particular, are a wonderful choice because they offer a touch of luxury without being overly expensive. Even in small quantities, they provide the recipient with a taste of decadence. Plus, sweet treats are a stress-free gift option and you can be confident that they’ll be appreciated and won’t feel impersonal.

Lakrids by Bülow, the brainchild of Scandinavian entrepreneur Johan Bülow, was born out of his belief that liquorice deserved more recognition. He opened his first shop in 2007, and it was an instant success, selling out of all its liquorice in just two hours! Building on that success, Johan opened a factory the following year, and by 2009, he had the brilliant idea to coat his liquorice in chocolate. They kindly sent me a tub of their Classic Caramel flavoured liquorice and these chocolate-coated liquorice balls, with their festive golden sheen, are perfect for Christmas as they look incredibly festive and sophisticated.

Whilst I enjoy both chocolate and liquorice, I’ve never thought of combining the two so I was curious to see how this fusion would taste – and I have to say I wasn’t disappointed. One bite into these treats reveals a winning combination of sweet liquorice, smooth chocolate, and a subtle hint of sea salt that truly excites the taste buds. The sweetness of the chocolate is perfectly balanced by the salty touch, making them incredibly addictive. Even the members of my family who aren’t usually fans of liquorice fans were pleasantly surprised and quickly reached for more!

Perfect for lovers of chocolate and liquorice, they are a great choice this Christmas.

RRP £14.95

PLAYin CHOC Christmas Collection Chocolate Toys

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Buying gifts at Christmas for other people’s children can be tricky but the PLAYin CHOC makes that much easier! A present that is both chocolate and has a self-assembly element to the toy before children can play with it, there’s the added bonus that the chocolate is plant based. It’s vegan, dairy free, nut free and gluten free, so there’s no reason any child couldn’t receive it!

The PLAYin CHOC Christmas Collection is a suite of 6 boxes which are also sold separately.  Each of the boxes contains a toy to be put together, but they’re easy enough for a child. The toys included in the Christmas collection are a snowman, an elf, Father Christmas, a Gingerbread Man, a reindeer and a Christmas tree along with a fun fact card. Inside each box there are 2x 10 gram pieces of chocolate, individually wrapped. They’re made with no dairy, using coconut sugar and creamed coconut instead. The chocolate flavour is from the cocoa solids and the sweetness is from vanilla pods. It tastes just like milk chocolate and has none of the fake sweetener.

Why not add them to a Christmas Stocking this year?

PLAYin CHOC has won numerous awards including the Global Travel Retail Award 2024, the Great Taste Award 2022, Gold at the Free From Food Award 2023 and a Gold Vegan Chocolate Award 2023 and is certified Organic Soil Association.

Available from £2.25 at:

Mixtons Forbidden Zest Cocktail

Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.

Halloween is all about fun – from eerie costumes to spooky décor and tasty treats, but when it comes to hosting the ultimate Halloween party, the last thing you want is to be stuck behind the bar, shaking up cocktails all night. This is where canned cocktails come in, the perfect party hack for anyone looking to serve up a wide variety of drinks without the hassle. These pre-mixed gems are perfect for parties as there is no need for complicated recipes or endless bottles of spirits and mixers – simply chill the cans, open, and enjoy!

I’ve recently discovered Mixtons cocktails and have become quite partial to their Forbidden Zest cocktail, a delicious blend of gin, blood orange, grapefruit, and yuzu that screams Halloween in every way. With its vibrant, blood-red hue, this cocktail adds a dramatic touch to any Halloween party, perfectly complementing the eerie atmosphere of the night.

As for the taste? It’s a refreshing, citrus-based cocktail with the natural sweetness of blood orange beautifully balanced by the tangy kick of grapefruit and yuzu, creating a cocktail that’s both fruity and zingy. The gin adds a smooth and sophisticated undertone, balancing the bold citrus notes with a crisp finish. It’s the kind of drink that’s light and invigorating, perfect for sipping throughout a lively Halloween evening.

So this Halloween, skip the bar setup and stock up on Mixtons Forbidden Zest. With its fruity, zingy flavour, eye catching red hue and handy 200ml cans, it’s the perfect way to keep your party spirits high – no tricks, just treats!

Box of 6 £22.50


Afternoon Tea Week at Brown’s Covent Garden

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

As if we need an excuse for an Afternoon Tea, 12-18 August is Afternoon Tea Week across the UK and Browns Brasserie & Bar invited us to their Champagne Afternoon Tea at their luxurious Covent Garden restaurant to sample their new Moet & Chandon menu. Available now in all Browns Brasserie & Bars, the classic meal is enhanced by a glass of classic or pink Champagne courtesy of Moet & Chandon and set in the fabulous ex-courthouse building in Leicester Square.

Upon arriving, the Judge’s Court room is upstairs (staircase or lift, in case you’re wondering) which is tucked away from the hustle and bustle of downstairs and one of the busiest parts of London. There’s no noise and no passing trade to disturb you or your photos, but the decadent décor, the parquet flooring and almost complete inside of the court from when it was a working court is still there. There’s even the judge’s chair left at the front of the room and ‘TO THE CELLS’ sign on the door! It’s beautifully decorated with plenty of room and no rush to contend with.

The Afternoon Tea Menu is both traditional and delicious. Starting with the Moet & Chandon Champagne, we had a classic glass each, which was slightly dry but totally appropriate with an Afternoon Tea. The sandwiches include an open sandwich of rye bread and salmon pate, lobster brioche, salt beef and horse radish and a lovely mix of cheese, pickle and crunchy apple – a combination which I will be trying at home! Each of the sandwiches was so fresh and so delicious we wanted to have more, but Browns had other ideas, judging by the amount of cake that was also on the stand.

Each of us had a plain and a fruit scone for the second course, with cream and both strawberry and blackcurrant jam to accompany. The crumbly scones were obviously baked that morning and fresh on the plate, as were the four different cakes which we enjoyed. Starting with the Blackcurrant Victoria Sandwich which was light and fluffy and featured the fruity blackcurrant jam which featured with the scones, it was definitely the first one to try before the stronger flavours kicked in.  The Carrot Cake was also fresh and baked with cinnamon to give the tangy yet rich flavour which is so often found in Afternoon Teas.  The Brown’s Black Forest Chocolate Pot also requires a Highly Commended mention because this was the richest of all the rich desserts with a Black Forest centre, chocolate moat and a cream filling on top. This one was definitely one to be eaten slowly!  The final cake was a delicate lemon meringue tart with edible violet flower on top, to remind you that it’s still summer.

All of this was accompanied by a tea of your choice including loose leaf English Breakfast or Earl Grey and teabags of Green Tea, Elderflower & Pear or Ginger, Turmeric & Lemon.  The tea is endless with more pots being brought out whenever you ask for them and the jams and cream are bottomless too.

Browns Brasserie & Bar have put on a super Afternoon Tea this year and not only is it available throughout the summer but there are vegetarian and Gluten Free versions too.  Classic Afternoon tea starts at £30 with Moet & Chandon Champagne costing £40 and Pink champagne at £45. We certainly enjoyed our 2 hours stress free and were more than full from their Afternoon Tea! https://www.browns-restaurants.co.uk/afternoonteamenu#/

Fox Vintage Crisps

Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.

National Picnic Week is here and with warm and sunny weather forecast for the weekend it’s looking like it’s going to be perfect picnic weather.

Crisps are one of my staple picnic snacks, crunchy and packed full of flavour they are great to munch on whilst chatting with friends and are the perfect accompaniment to sandwiches, salads or even a bottle of beer! If you’re looking for an extra special crisp then you really need to try some of the hand cooked Artisan Olive Oil Company crisps – made in Italy they will add a real touch of luxury to any picnic basket.

The Fox Salt and Truffle Vintage Crisps are thickly cut and have a satisfying crunch which you bite them. I’ve never tried a truffle before so I can’t tell you how close the flavour is to a real truffle but the earthy flavour combined with the saltiness of the crisp works really well and you find yourself reaching for more!  

The Fox Italian Vegetable Crisps are made from the finest root vegetables including beetroot, parsnip and carrot. Baked to perfection and lightly salted they are lovely and crispy and incredibly moreish! They’re a reasonable thickness and well-seasoned and the saltiness really enhances the flavour of the root vegetables.

With a RRP of £4.25 they are in the more pricey, premium crisps bracket however for a special treat they are certainly worth the extra money.  

Love Corn

Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own

We love going on picnics as they’re a great way to spend quality time with friends and family away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. When the sun is shining, we’ll pack up a bag with treats and head off to find a picturesque spot to sit and relax and whether we’re on the beach, by a stream or up a hill the food always seems to taste a lot nicer outdoors!

LOVE CORN recently sent us a selection of their tasty snacks to try which went down a treat on our last picnic. Made by roasting corn kernels and by adding a little oil and spices LOVE CORN is incredibly crunchy and full of flavour and very moreish! With no synthetic flavouring the plant based snack is vegan, gluten free, Kosher and Non GMO and with 50% less fat than crisps is a much healthier choice.

Sea Salt is probably my favourite, it is a great alternative to popcorn or crisps and the saltiness works really well with the corn. My sons both love something with a bit more of a kick to it so the habsnero chilli really hit the spot for them.

Eating outdoors has a certain charm, so whether it’s a family day out, catch up with friends or a romantic picnic you won’t go wrong if you include a selection of Love Corn snacks in your picnic basket. Available in 7 different flavours – Sea Salt, Salt & Vinegar, Smoked bbq, Habanero Chilli, Cheese & Onion, Sour Cream & Chive and Milk Chocolate & Sea Salt which one will you try first?

LOVE CORN is also a great addition to salads and grazing boards. Try serving some of the habanero chilli LOVE CORN on a charcuterie board or sprinkle some sea salt LOVE CORN on a green salad to liven it up a little.

Sea Salt Multipacks are available from Sainsburys and Ocado for £3.25 and the Grab & Go Boxes containing 24 x 20g bags are available from Amazon at the current price of £18.99

Burns New Sensitive & Grain Free Cat, Duck & Potato Food

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Burns Dog & Cat Food has been producing pet food sine 1993 when Veterinary Surgeon John Burns created a version of Chicken and Brown Rice food for dogs. Since then, he’s gone on to create more flavours for both cats and dogs and maintained his goal of providing foods which have less toxic waste build-up in the system. This holistic approach helps promote healthy skin and digestive system in animals and has been for over 30 years.

We were sent the Burns Sensitive & Grain Free Cat, Duck & Potato food from Burns to try on out on our senior cat. Meet Mickey! Mickey is 12 years old and as mischievous as ever, but as soon as he hears food he’s right at the door, waiting to be fed. Of course, he loves the attention too…

The Burns Sensitive range is new to the family of foods, and the Adult & Senior Cat complex is a complete, hypoallergenic and grain free food. The recipe contains different ingredients compared to other foods which help avoid common food allergies (such as gluten) and naturally maintain your cat’s health.

On the back of the packet, there’s a handy guide of how much to feed your cat depending on its age and weight and whether it’s senior or neutered. The pictorial guide also helps you distinguish whether your cat is under or overweight, obese or the right size.

As Mickey is rather overweight (we try not to mention it around him to spare his feelings) we didn’t give him a whole meal, just a small handful to see if he liked it at first! It’s always best to introduce food slowly to a cat’s diet. He doesn’t normally have food which contains duck let alone potato so it was interesting to see what he did with it. You can see how keen he was though! He ate every little bit of it that he could find on the table and was nudging the bag to look for more, no doubt being able to smell it.  It was a hit with Mickey!

Over time, Burns Sensitive & Grain Free Cat, Duck & Potato Food should improve his digestion and coat, and if Mickey has anything to do with it, it will be part of his staple diet from now on!

From £3.60 for 300g: https://burnspet.co.uk/cat-food/cat-sensitive-grain-free/

Überlube

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

We don’t normally review things like lubricants but when I saw that Überlube can be used for many other uses, I was intrigued! The award winning silicone personal lubricant can be used in sport and for beauty thanks to the added Vitamin E and smooth texture.

Firstly, it can be used as an alternative to moisturiser, but not to moisturise skin, more to keep the moisture in. In the literature we were sent with Überlube it describes how some users find it a great alternative to prescribed medications for dry skin, although it doesn’t work the same way as moisturiser. This could be a bonus if you’re allergic to some prescribed skin medication but might not be as effective, so it’s worth trying it on dry skin first.

I didn’t know that hair salons and photographers use silicone preps such as Überlube for getting shiny, glossy hair.  Überlube works as a relaxant to frizzy hair and smooths down stray strands. Think of the classic low bun with pulled back, wet-look hair and you will find it is achieved with silicone lubricant. It also protects hair from chlorine in the pool but it can be difficult to wash out of your hair because it’s not water based. Try a small amount first to see how easy it is to remove, or if you’re going on holiday, dare I say, try it whilst you’re staying at a hotel!

Überlube is also great for sports. As a runner, I often get chafing when running especially in the summer, so applying Überlube first can make a huge difference. As it’s not water based, it doesn’t absorb or evaporate as easily so keeps the skin free from friction. Again, as there’s no water involved it can be used for swimming or under a wetsuit and the water won’t wash it away.

Überlube is made with cruelty free products and contains no alcohols, no gluten, no glycerine, no scent and no flavourings. It’s paraben free and all vegan so everyone can use it, no matter what use!

Available from £29.99 at: https://www.superdrug.com/health/sexual-health/lube-gel-jelly-oils/uberlube-silicone-lubricant-112ml/p/mp-00057217

Clearspring Japanese Condiments

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Clearspring produce authentic Japanese fine foods and have recently added five new condiments to its offering: Organic Shichimi, Organic Irigoma Whole Sesame and Black Sesame, and Organic Gomashio Whole Sesame and Black Sesame flavour. Of course, we were eager to try them ourselves so the team sent over a batch of them, including some gluten free Soba noodles and Brown Rice noodles to make a proper meal of it!

The box of treats also included some recipe cards, so I had a go at making Zaru Soba with cold dipping broth.  Using the Buckwheat Soba Noodles, Clearspring Organic Irigoma Sesame Seeds, Shichimi Togarashi Seven Spices and Clearspring Sushi Nori and Clearspring Organic Instant Noodle Broth Tsuyu (both not shown) I got to making the quick lunchtime recipe. All it took was boiling the noodles as instructed on the pack, diluting the noodle broth and adding the sesame seeds and the sushi nori with some radish and spring onion. Literally just 10 minutes and you have a lunch, or snack, which you can add to chicken, beef or any other main dish. The noodles themselves were a lovely meal though and I’d happily have them as a snack too.

The different types of sesame seeds can be used for sushi, rice, noodles, salads or tofu. All of the condiments featured here are staples in Japanese kitchens, so why haven’t we seen them before? Clearspring are bringing us these new flavours, and textures, to your cooking to make a difference to every day meals or helping you try something new – have you ever made your own sushi before?  

One example is Shichimi, or Seven Spices.  Containing chilli, citrus notes and complex umami rich flavours of nori and sesame, it’s quintessentially Japanese but also flavoursome enough that you can use it anywhere. This was a great addition to the Soba noodles I made, but actually, it goes well with meats too and I found it to be a lovely addition to salads. It’s ready made with all the mix of flavours so you can add it straight from the bottle with no thinking. Like all the Clearspring ingredients, it’s organic too.

You’ll also find similar uses for the different types of sesame seeds which were included in the pack sent to us; Gomashio and Irigoma in both toasted black and whole sesame seeds.  These are traditionally used in noodles and some are used in sushi and tofu too but mixed with sea salt, they give a different flavour to any dish. Try mixing it in rice to give a different blend, or adding to sushi too.  The noodles are a great cupboard stash for you to go to whenever you need a quick meal, and the Clearspring condiments are your secret power to be able to add an extra flavour element to not only Japanese meals, but to any meals you make.

Which Clearspring flavour are you going to experiment with this spring?

Available online from £3.99 at: https://www.clearspring.co.uk/collections/condiments

Love Raw Easter Box

Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review but all thoughts and opinions are our own.

These days there is so much choice when it comes to Easter Eggs and no matter what your taste there is an egg for you. Some of my friends and family are vegan and there’s also a couple with dairy intolerances so it’s fantastic to see such a good selection of plant based chocolate this year, meaning they don’t need to miss out on this chocolately tradition.

Love Raw make the most delicious plant based chocolate and they have just launched a limited edition Easter box, although you’ll need to be quick as it’s only available from the 22nd to 24th March!

Inside the box are the following products

1 x Nutty Choc Ball Box containing 9 individually wrapped balls.

Nutty Choc Balls are a crunchy hazelnut coated in a delicious vegan cream and then covered in a crisp wafer shell and finished with Low Raw’s iconic m:lk choc and hazelnut pieces. They are absolutely scrummy and it’s probably a good job there’s only 9 in the box!!

3 x White Choc Cream Wafer Bar
Each bar contains a deliciously crispy wafer, oozing with Love Raw’s signature cre&m® filling and generously smothered with vegan white chocolate. Whether you’re vegan or not you need to try these!

3 x Milk & 3 x White Choc Peanut Buttercups
Each cup oozes smooth, creamy peanut butter and is covered in Love Raw’s iconic m:lk® and white choc. In my opinion peanuts and chocolate are a winning combination and Love Raw are definitely on to a winner with these.

RRP  £29.99 available here

Easter Eggs and Treats from NOMO

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

NOMO want to ensure that Easter this year is available to everyone, so with their mantra, “No Missing Out” they are ready for anything! The NOMO range this year incudes chocolate which is dairy-free, gluten-free and egg-free plus plant based so there’s no excuses to buy something for everyone. We were sent a yummy selection to test before the big Easter Weekend… did we find something we all liked?

The NOMO Creamy Choc Egg and Mini Bars is a conventional Easter Egg with four mini bars of NOMO chocolates in flavours Choco Orange Crunch, Caramel, Mint and Caramel Sea Salt.  All of them are usual flavours of NOMO chocolate and found in shops, but together they make a package of chocolate and eggs for Easter. The mini bars are just like the creamy chocolate (which is comparable to milk chocolate just without the dairy!) in that they all taste like you expect chocolate to taste, but without the dairy, gluten, nuts or egg and are plant-powered.  They’re also all vegan too!

Next we tried the NOMO Choco Fudge Egg & Bunny. This is probably for older children or even dairy-free adults as the chocolate is much richer, more fudge filled and has tiny fudge pieces in it. The accompanying bunny is also a treat and filled of fudge too! Like the Creamy Choc egg, this too is dairy, gluten, nut and egg free with no palm oil and yes, it’s also vegan. Can you see where the theme, “No Missing Out” comes into play? No matter what you might be intolerable to or what you can’t eat, there’s a flavour of NOMO chocolate waiting for you.

Finally, the snack of grown-ups is the individually wrapped Choc Fudge Bunny. It’s part of the aforementioned Easter Egg combination but for 90 pence you can buy these on their own and enjoy a creamy chocolate hit.  The outside chocolate is creamy choc with a filling of a rich fudge flavoured centre.  At only 30 grams they are a sweet afternoon treat, or something to add to lunch to give you the chocolate hit but without the environmental guilt or having to think about what it might contain.  Also great for friends if you want to get them something for Easter but not something they might be allergic to, or if you’re unsure if they are vegan or vegetarian!

The Choc Fudge Easter Egg and the Bunny are probably my favourite because I love richer chocolate and the fudge makes a nice change. You really can’t tell if they’re conventional chocolate or free-from chocolate because they’re so well made and have all the flavour and sweetness of High Street chocolate.

No matter who you’re buying Easter Eggs for, this year you have a lovely choice from NOMO and no matter what someone’s need, or taste in chocolate, there is no reason for anyone to miss out.

NOMO Creamy Choc Eggs and Mini Bars (154 grams) MRRP £6.50:

NOMO Choc Fudge Bunny (30 grams) MRRP 90p:

NOMO Choc Fudge Egg & Bunny (160 grams) MRRP £6.50:

Joe & Seph’s Valentine’s Day Popcorn

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.

Valentine’s Day falls on a Wednesday this year so instead of going out we’re planning a cosy night in with a good film and plenty of popcorn. Since discovering Joe & Seph’s gourmet popcorn I must admit we’ve become “popcorn snobs” and supermarket popcorn doesn’t get a look in anymore!  Joe & Seph’s have an amazing selection of flavoured popcorn and we eagerly await the limited editions that are launched throughout the year for special occasions. The latest flavours to land on our doorstep were the Valentine’s collection which consists of three delicious flavours, Rose Chocolate, White Chocolate & Strawberry and Caramel Macchiato & Whiskey.

Joe & Seph’s make their popcorn in small batches using only the finest, natural ingredients which means all their popcorn is packed full of flavour. All the popcorn is lovely and crispy and covered in a delicious indulgent coating which makes it the perfect choice for a Valentine’s Day treat.

The White Chocolate & Strawberry air popped popcorn is a real treat for the tastebuds, when you pop it in your mouth you first taste the smooth caramel before getting a white chocolate hit which is then followed by a delicious fruity strawberry taste. It is light in colour with pink flecks and incredibly moreish so be warned!!

The Rose Chocolate popcorn is perfect for chocoholics. The rose flavour works well with the chocolate and reminds me of Turkish Delight. The popcorn is light and crispy and goes incredibly well with a sparkling rose wine!  

The Caramel Macchiato and Whisky Gourmet popcorn isn’t one I would have chosen myself as I’m not a whisky lover, but I was pleasantly surprised with this popcorn, the combination of smooth cream, Columbian coffee and Scotch whisky works incredibly well together and as it’s not as sweet as the other popcorn was my husband’s favourite of the three.

The 80g pouches contain 4 servings and the pouch is resealable, Once opened it’s recommended that the popcorn is eaten within 5 days – I’ve never been able to check out the freshness after 5 days though as it never lasts that long in our house!!

RRP £4

Quenched Drinks

Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.

This year I have decided to take part in Dry January and whilst we’re only a few days in I’m enjoying discovering lots of great new drinks like these delicious sodas from Quenched. New to the market and bursting with flavour, Quenched sodas are available in three lightly sparkling flavours, Lime & Soda, Orange & Soda and Blackcurrant & Soda.

All three are bursting with flavour and are more on the side of sparkling than fizzy, which allows the flavour to develop nicely in your mouth. The sodas all taste incredibly natural, the lime and orange ones are incredibly zingy and the blackcurrant one has a pleasant sharpness. My favourite of the three was the lime, it tasted so fruity and natural, whilst also being nice and refreshing.

All three drinks are 100% natural and have no additives, preservatives or artificial sweeteners and with less than 69 calories per 330ml can, they are a great choice if you have overindulged over the festive period and are now on a New Year diet!

I’m really impressed with these drinks and will definitely be buying them again. Once Dry January is over I think they will be the perfect accompaniment to gin!

A pack of 12 costs £14.99 and if you can’t decide which flavour to go for there is a multipack containing all three flavours. Available from Amazon or Quenched Drinks here.

Joy of Christmas Hamper Gift Box

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

Hampers are such a good idea at Christmas. I remember receiving a few over the years when I was a child as ‘thank you’ gifts at Christmas so that the whole family could enjoy them. I don’t particularly remember what was in them but it was so exciting rummaging through all the ruffled paper to find something else. Then there’s the obvious questions to my Mum, ‘What is this?’ It would turn out to be something like a posh chutney, or a type of Christmas dessert we never had in our house. I remember loose tea being in one hamper and my mind automatically thought you had to assemble your own tea bags from it. What was the point of that?

Hampers have come a long way since then but they’re just as popular as gifts and there’s so many varieties to choose from. The Goodness Project use lots of vegan and gluten free products for their gift boxes, and there are plenty of gift boxes available on their website so you’ll find one within your price range and suitable for any occasion.

We were sent their 2023 Joy of Christmas Gift Box to try out.  This £28.50 box is deceptively full with treats for Christmas!  There’s everything you need including:

  • A bottle of Bottega Gold Prosecco (20cl)
  • Angelic Chocolate and Orange Biscuits (vegan)
  • Love Cocoa Peruvian Dark Chocolate (71%) 
  • English Truffle Potato Crisps
  • Filberts Flavoured Nut Mix
  • Lottie Shaw’s Deep Filled Mince Pie (70g)

The box is enough for one person to eat themselves or two people to share, but the bottle of Prosecco is probably only enough for 1 glass each! The Filberts Flavoured Nut Mix was a surprise with how lovely they were. There was a mixture of different nuts, but they were roasted and flavoured with herbs which made them different to what you can usually buy on supermarket shelves. The English Truffle Potato crisps from English Heritage have won the Great Taste award for 2023 probably due to the quality of the potato and then the delicious truffle flavour. If you’ve never tried truffle crisps before, then if I describe them to you as posh mushroom but not as strong, you’ll know that the taste is pretty tame and even children would enjoy it.  

For the sweeter snacks, there’s the Deep Filled Mince Pie from Lottie Shaw’s.  Bigger than the mine pies you get in the supermarket in packs of 6, this is deep filled and baked in Yorkshire to a family recipe.  It’s great for the mince pie aficionado who loves to compare all the varieties on the market each Christmas! There’s also the Angelic Chocolate Orange Vegan cookies which are also dairy, nut and gluten free. The packaging says they’re safe for the top 14 allergens which is good to know if you’re buying the gift box for a teacher or family you don’t know that well. There’s two packets of biscuits in the box (which is all recyclable) and 4 cookies in each making 8 in all. Plenty for a snack throughout the Christmas period but also great for entertaining!

Lastly there’s the Peruvian Dark Chocolate from Love Cocoa. With a weight of 75 grams it’s about the size of tuckshop confectionary but at 71% it’s a dark chocolate from one of the best chocolate makers around.  It’s very smooth and very strong so even if you’re a dark chocolate lover like me, you probably won’t want to eat all of it in one go.

The final item in the Joy of Christmas Hamper Box is the Bottega Gold Prosecco which is also organic and vegan. A light, sparkling wine which compliments the mix of Christmas flavours in the other items in the box, it’s a welcome alcohol addition to round off Christmas. It is 11% though so best keep it away from the children!

Rather than buy another ever-decreasing size box of chocolates and the dreaded Panettone

 for your neighbours or family friends this Christmas, splash out on a bit more and send a Goodness Project gift box and forget about having to wrap it – their gorgeous ribbon box is sent directly to them for you!

Available online for £28.50 at: https://thegoodnessproject.co.uk/shop/joy-of-christmas-hamper-gift-box

NOMO Christmas Chocolates

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review/feature but all words and opinions are our own.

NOMO (No More Missing Out) have brought out a lovely range of Christmas chocolates for 2023, aimed at anyone who is allergic to the main allergens (dairy, gluten, egg and nuts) or lives a plant based life. We were sent some of the selection to review, and frankly, it’s the best part of our job when we have to force ourselves to eat chocolate!

The selection of NOMO Sharing Boxes contain 140 grams of chocolates, each individually wrapped and there’s about 12 chocolates in each box.  There are three flavours of the sharing boxes; Choc Orange Crunch, Caramel and Mint. All of the sharing boxes are vegan chocolate, plant based and free from eggs, dairy nuts and gluten so are suitable for the whole family.

If you’re familiar with the ‘big brand’ chocolates then you’ll recognise what type of confectionary these flavours are based on. The Caramel flavour is milk chocolate with a soft caramel filling. They’re arranged as two squares for each of the sweets, so you can take your time over eating them and the chocolate is surprisingly thick.  The Choc Orange Crunch isn’t a fondant filling but more of an enriched chocolate filling with piece of – you guessed it – crunchy flavoured orange pieces.  The last box is the Mint flavour which was my favourite. Again, there was generous chocolate but also a lot of the mint fondant filling which was soft at room temperature and reminded me of another famous brand.

We were also sent the NOMO Reindeers in Choc Fudge and Cookie Dough flavours. These individually wrapped chocolates weigh 33 grams and 30 grams respectively and are also vegan and free from eggs, nuts, gluten and dairy. They’re perfect for adding to children’s stockings or for Christmas parties where you don’t know if the kids are all able to tolerate conventional milk chocolate.  The Cookie Dough flavour is soft with slightly crunchy pieces covered in NOMO milk chocolate.  The child in me insisted on eating the reindeer ears first but there’s no obligation! The Choc Fudge flavour was my favourite though as it was rich, deep fudge that was slightly gooey and very indulgent. It’s a real chocolate lover’s treat.

The sharing boxes are an excellent idea no matter what time of year and are just the right portion size to be eaten after dinner over the Christmas period. They’re also great for school lunchboxes or for anyone who’s never tried plant-based chocolates before.  For those of us who are always scrambling for last minute gifts for the neighbours, these NOMO sharing boxes mean you don’t have to worry about offending anyone with an allergy by giving them something they can’t enjoy!  The NOMO Reindeers are a great pick-me-up for the supermarket too, or to enjoy on car journeys throughout the festive period.

NOMO are continuing to make great fun chocolate that’s appealing to everyone and more importantly, more accessible. There is indeed No Missing Out anymore when it comes to chocolate.

Joe & Seph’s Halloween Popcorn

Disclaimer – We received this item free for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own.

There’s no tricks just treats at our house this Halloween and I’m looking forward to curling up in front of the fire with these delicious treats from Joe & Seph’s.

Known for their amazing selection of flavoured gourmet popcorn, Joe & Seph’s make their popcorn in small batches using only the finest, natural ingredients which means all their popcorn is packed full of flavour. I’m gradually working my way through the flavours and as it is almost Halloween the Toffee Apple and Cinnamon and the Pumpkin Spice popcorn seemed the obvious ones to try next!

The Toffee Apple & Cinnamon gourmet popcorn is coated in smooth buttery caramel and tastes absolutely delicious. After the initial caramel you get the apple coming through followed by the cinnamon. It’s all the flavour of a toffee apple without the mess! The combination of autumnal flavours works incredibly well and is a perfect treat for witches, ghouls and monsters young and old.

The pumpkin spice air popped popcorn is darker in colour than the toffee apple & cinnamon one and just as moreish – think pumpkin pie in popcorn form. This deliciously aromatic popcorn is satisfyingly crunchy and is one of Joe & Seph’s tastiest creations yet –winning a 1-Star Gold 2020 Great Taste Award before even launching!

The Chocolate Popcorn Pumpkins are perfect for any chocoholic – delicious Pumpkin Spice flavoured popcorn is encased in a creamy milk chocolate pumpkin – complete with pumpkin faces! The creaminess of the chocolate combined with the tasty popcorn makes it a real decadent treat and despite having 4 servings in the 63g bag this is one treat I won’t be sharing!!

RRP Toffee Apple & Cinnamon and Pumpkin Spice Gourmet Popcorn £4

Chocolate Popcorn Pumpkins £3.50

Flapjackery Advent Calendar Box

Disclaimer: We received this product free of charge for the purpose of this review and all thoughts and opinions are our own

I know we’re still in September but we’re already thinking about the countdown to Christmas and the traditional way to do that is with an Advent calendar.  Retailers have really upped their game when it comes to advent calendars, these days you can buy Advent calendars containing a plethora of treats including toys, beauty products, alcohol and my favourite of all – food!

Flapjacks are one of my favourite treats so the Flapjackery advent calendar box is top of my Advent Calendar list this year – as well as counting down the days to Christmas it gives me the perfect excuse to indulge in a piece of delicious flapjack every day.

Flapjackery’s luxurious and decadent Advent Calendar Box contains 24 individually wrapped delicious gluten free flapjacks so you will discover a new flavour every day. There’s Chrismassy flapjacks, chocolate topped flapjacks as well as some more unusual versions and is a great way to sample a selection of Flapjackery flapjacks. The flapjacks in the Advent Calendar box aren’t numbered but for an additional £13 you can have velvet or jute numbered pouches to put your flapjacks in which makes it feel more like a traditional advent calendar.

I’m looking forward to trying the Mince Pie Flapjack and the Dark Chocolate Orange Flapjack whilst my husband likes the sound of the Creamy Hazelnut Chocolate Flapjack with Caramel drizzle and the  Florentine Flapjack.

The other flavours are Golden Caramel Flapjack, Caramel Latte Flapjack, Chocolate Fudge Flapjack, Granola Flapjack, Clotted Cream Fudge Flapjack, Ginger & Dark Chocolate Flapjack, Millionaires Flapjack, Christmas Millionaires Flapjack, with white choc drizzle, Salted Caramel Fudge Flapjack, Traditional Flapjack, Raspberry Millionaire’s Flapjack, Rocky Road Flapjack, Burnt Caramel & Sea Salt Flapjack, Mint Fudge Flapjack, Milk Chocolate Orange Flapjack, Rum & Raisin flapjack, Peanut Butter Fudge, Billionaires Flapjack, Christmas Orange Flapjack and Dark Chocolate Salted Caramel.

The flapjacks are handmade in Devon on the edge of Dartmoor using only British oats, locally-sourced West Country ingredients, fair-trade brown sugar and real butter. 

The advent calendar box can be ordered for delivery from the middle of October and unless an earlier date is specified will be dispatched the week commencing November 1 so will be with you in plenty of time for the start of Advent. The flapjacks are packaged in recyclable cardboard boxes and have a shelf life of three months – although I would be very surprised if there were any left by Christmas! 

Advent Calendar Box £52 

Advent Calendar with Velvet Advent Pouch £65.00 

Advent Calendar with Jute Advent Pouch £65.00