The Hoy Coffee from Artisan Coffee Co

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

Nobody likes bland coffee, so when The Artisan Coffee Co sent us a new blend of coffee to try, we were all for it!  Not only was this a new artisan blend, but it was developed with Sir Chris Hoy, Olympic champion.

Sir Chris discovered artisan coffee during his Olympic training in Melbourne, Australia and has since joined forced with Artisan Coffee Co to create The Hoy No 6 blend.  With a combination of Arabica beans from Sidamo in Ethiopia, Brazil and El Salvador, the distinct flavour is strong, with a smoothness you’ll appreciate as a coffee lover but with a sweetness that makes it ideal for after dinner.  The luxury of this Hoy No 6 from Artisan Coffee Co means it’s ideal for Christmas Day, or for relaxing on Boxing Day without being too strong.

The Hoy No 6 is a limited-edition coffee, designed especially as a flat white, which incidentally is how Chris likes to drink his coffee!  The coffee is a tribute to Hoy’s sporting achievements and as a celebration to the 2024 Olympic season.

The Hoy No 6 Artisan Coffee Co blend is available in whole bean bags of 240 grams. £1.50 of every bag sold will be donated to The Christie Charity, which supports the work of the Christie NHS Foundation Trust in providing world-class cancer care.

Available online for £12.25 at: https://www.artisancoffeeco.com/products/the-hoy-whole-bean-coffee?_pos=1&_sid=b8df84670&_ss=r

Ginsters Butter Chicken Bake

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

We love curry in our house so when we heard Ginsters, had created a Butter Chicken Bake we couldn’t wait to try it. With a recipe crafted by expert chefs, the Butter Chicken Bake is made with 100% British chicken cooked in a rich butter sauce with a blend of spices, coconut and lemon, encased in a light puff pastry.

It can be served hot or cold although we prefer it hot as the pastry crisps up nicely when warm. It’s not too spicy and is the perfect lunchtime treat.

With 1 in 5 people in the UK tucking into a tasty curry on a weekly basis I can see these bakes being very popular, curry isn’t an easy food to eat on the go and these bakes bridge the gap perfectly.  

Pop one in your lunchbox for a tasty lunch or serve with salad and naan bread for a delicious evening meal.

RRP £1.50 available from Asda, Sainsburys and Morrisons

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

KIND Chocolate Chip & Cashew Bars

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

We get through a lot of cereal bars in our house, I often pop them in a rucksack or pocket as a snack to refuel when out hiking or cycling and my teenage sons, who seem to have hollow legs, snack on them at any time – day or night! We do usually stick to stick to the same old brand, so it was nice to have a change and try the new Chocolate Chip Cashew bars from KIND. The bars are packed full of cashews, almonds and peanuts and topped with chocolate chips and I knew my family would enjoy them.

Founded in 2004, KIND believe you shouldn’t have to choose between delicious & nutritious and have created a range of tasty bars that are the perfect choice for those looking for a balanced snack option on the go. The Chocolate Chip Cashew bars are made with over 80% nuts and contain a good balance of protein, healthy fats, and fibre that have helped keep us sustained on our recent hikes and bike rides. The bars easily fit in the pocket of my cycling jersey and really hit the spot when we stop for a quick refuel, the chunks of nuts and chocolate are really tasty and give my energy levels a much needed boost.

Whether you are climbing a mountain, undertaking a gruelling cycle ride or simply want a quick snack then a Chocolate Chip Cashew bar will definitely hit the spot. Made with natural ingredients the bars are high in fibre and are gluten free too.

RRP £1.39 available from Sainsburys, Boots, WHSmith and Tesco

Peperami Pizza Buns

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

It’s National Picnic week this week so the perfect opportunity to grab your picnic blankets and baskets and make the most of the good weather whilst enjoying some delicious food in the great outdoors.

We love a picnic and isn’t it funny how food always tastes much nicer outdoors?  Our current favourite picnic treat is the new Peperami pizza buns from Peperami. Made with a zesty tomato herb sauce, succulent salami with a rich slice of cheese surrounded by a tasty bun they come in two flavours – Original and Hot.

I actually wasn’t expecting these pizza buns to be as nice as they are but after trying one I was hooked – they are surprisingly tasty and being individually wrapped they are so convenient to pop in your bag or lunchbox. The bun wasn’t too doughy and the tomato was tangy and tasty, complementing the thick slice of peperami nicely.

The good thing about these pizza buns are they don’t need to be stored in the fridge and can either be eaten at room temperature or heated up in the microwave if you prefer. They are available in single packs (75g) and multi-packs (4x40G) and are great to keep in the cupboard as a handy snack – but be warned they are incredibly moreish!

Available from supermarkets nationwide.

Joe & Seph’s Gourmet Popcorn

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

With Father’s Day less than a month away we will be sharing some great gift ideas to help you find the perfect Father’s Day gift for your loved ones. First up are some great treats from our favourite popcorn brand Joe & Seph’s

The Budweiser gourmet air popped popcorn is coated in smooth buttery caramel and infused with 17% real Budweiser beer. It is light in colour and incredibly moreish so be warned!! It is best eaten in handfuls to get the full effect of the flavour. If you are polite and only put one piece in your mouth at a time then the main flavour tends to be caramel but once you start eating a few together the Budweiser flavour really starts to come through.  The combination of popcorn, smooth caramel and Budweiser is such a genius idea and this sweet gourmet treat is perfect for anyone who enjoys popcorn and beer.  

Marmite is one of those flavours that you either love or hate – I’m well and truly in the hate camp but as I love popcorn I decided it was worth a try. The Marmite air popped popcorn is darker in colour than the Budweiser one and is coated in smooth caramel and marmite. Despite being covered in caramel it really doesn’t taste sweet, the Marmite gives it a meaty taste which was actually quite a nice change. Like Marmite you’re either going to love or hate this popcorn but if you have a Marmite lover in your family it makes a great quirky gift.

RRP £4

Fox’s Party Rings Choc Minis

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

I have a very sweet tooth so was really pleased when Fox’s Biscuits asked if we would like to try their new Party Rings Choc Minis.

It’s funny how food can stir up memories – whenever I see Party Rings it takes me right back to my childhood, visiting my Grandma, where the biscuit tin in the pantry was always full of Party Rings – well, at least it was when we arrived…….

The thing I like most about Party Rings is the satisfying crunch when you bite into them and these mini Party Rings are just as crunchy as the original biscuits. The choc minis are lovely and chocolatey and great for snacking on.

I love the individual bags of party rings, they contain just the right amount of biscuits for a cheeky afternoon snack and at only 92 calories per mini bag will stave off the hunger without piling on the pounds.

I like to keep a few packets in my bag for emergency snacks, on the pretext they are for the children but in reality I might just keep them all for myself!!!