Want pulled pork? Then turn to Santa Maria

It has been said that patience was the secret ingredient for perfect pulled meat.

Well, that's not necessarily the case, because now Santa Maria’s Pulled Pork Dinner Kit and Pulled Chicken Dinner Kit create tender and fully-flavoured delicious  meat in just 90 minutes. And now there's no need for overnight marinating or lengthy slow-cooking.

Santa Maria’s Taste Developers, who are renowned experts in world flavours, have taken inspiration from the highly popular US trend for sweet, smoky and sticky meats and have crafted a meal kit with all the essential ingredients for this US street food sensation. So we now no longer have to take a flight over to the USA to taste this truly awesome speciality dish.

Both kits, the Santa Maria Pulled Pork Dinner Kit and Santa Maria Pulled Chicken Dinner Kit, come complete with a special seasoning mix sachet created (it's a different but equally special blend for pork or chicken, a special oven proof cookery bag for the infusion of all of the flavours, a sachet of barbecue sauce, a sachet of red onion seasoning and a pack of eight mini flour tortillas, too!

You need only five minutes of preparation time to season a pork joint like a shoulder cut or a whole chicken.

Put your selected piece of meat inside the special cooking bag and 90 minutes later the meat will be juicy and jam packed full of authentic barbecue flavours.

But not only that, the meat will be so tender it will be easily shredded with a fork.

Pile taco shells or seeded brioche buns with pulled meat and serve with homemade red onion slaw, fries (or chips!) and grilled corn on the cob.

Or for an extra special treat, use the kit’s mini tortillas to make Mexican canapés for dinner party entertaining or just because you want to!

Are you a seasoned grill-pro looking to bring the BBQ indoors for a winter treat? Or perhaps you are a novice chef with a real jones for some American-style cooking, Santa Maria Pulled Pork Dinner Kit and Santa Maria Pulled Chicken Dinner Kit guarantee the flavours of the U.S.A., but free of any fuss.

Santa Maria Pulled Pork Dinner Kit and Santa Maria Pulled Chicken Dinner Kit should be available from Morrisons at a price of £3.99.

Visit http://www.santamariaworld.co.uk for details

Hari Ghotra’s Curry Kits for authentic cooking by you

You can spice up your life and the lives of your loved ones with a Hari Ghotra’s Curry Kit.

You can find these on sale at www.harighotra.co.uk for what Hari describes as: "a 'bargainous' £3.50!"

These tantalising and tasty kits make it easier to cook authentic Indian food providing exact quantities of the handpicked spices from the expert herself.

Each kit includes special individually numbered bags for every stage of cooking and easy to follow instructions. In addition, the kits include a video link to cook along with Hari.

Experience exciting spices, unique ingredients and different cooking styles by selecting from curry classics such as Korma, Tikka Masala and Biryani. Or lesser known dishes from the creamy yet spicy Makhani and the South Indian Xacuti, which incorporates coconut and Kashmiri chillies.

(EDITOR: You get the joy of knowing that you have cooked a delicious and authentic meal yourself, under the expert guidance of top chef Hari Ghotra.)

Information:

Hari Ghotra’s Curry Kits £3.50

Hari Ghotra’s Curry Kit set of six £18.00

Hari Ghotra’s Curry Kit set of twelve £36.00

Hari Ghotra’s Spice Tin – Six Spices £25.00

Hari specialises in North Indian cuisine with the aim to simplify recipes without losing authenticity. As well her upcoming appointment as Chef of Tamarind's new restaurant, Tamarind Kitchen, she is a regular contributor to Great British Chefs http://www.greatbritishchefs.com/contributors/hari-ghotra.

Check out Hari’s new and improved website to find recipes, videos and the online shop to purchase curry kits.

Please check out see the summer recipe links below:

Asparagus with Indian Spices (Asparagus season is April-June)

http://www.harighotra.co.uk/asparagus-with-indian-spices-recipe

Kedgeree (Spicy Smoked Fish Rice)

http://www.harighotra.co.uk/kedgeree-recipe

Lamb Burgers

http://www.harighotra.co.uk/lamb-burgers-recipe

Chicken Tikka Skewers

http://www.harighotra.co.uk/chicken-tikka-recipe

Tandoori prawns Skewers

http://www.harighotra.co.uk/tandoori-prawn-skewers-recipe

Almondy cakes. They tate so good, who knew they were gluten free?

Yes it is perfectly true. One of the best exports from Sweden has to be the Almondy Cake.

But did you know that they are gluten free?

Well, they most certainly are! Almondy Cakes are gluten free Swedish cakes.

They come in two utterly decadent and utterly delicious flavours, Toblerone topped and Daim topped.

Almondy cakes are baked in the company’s bakery which is just  outside Gothenburg, Sweden.

The trademark almond bases are made to an original Swedish recipe that dates back from the 1890s.

You'll locate them in the freezer aisle of many of the UK's major supermarkets.

They offer a simple, yet very effective solution to your dessert needs.

They are great as an after dinner desert, but equally good as an afternoon treat with a pot of tea or coffee.

You can serve them plain or why not try serving them with fresh cream or some whipped Greek Yoghurt or ice cream? Perhaps topped off with some fresh berries? Perfection every time!

The Almondy Daim combines the irresistible signature almond base with a golden cream and crunchy almond caramel, deliciously coated with smooth milk chocolate.

Almondy Toblerone combines the almond base with rich chocolate cream and smooth milk chocolate.  On top is a generous layer of Toblerone pieces all covered with smooth milk chocolate.

A 400g cakes costs around £3.00 from Tesco, Asda, Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons and Budgens.

They defrost in under 30 minutes so are great in a desert emergency!

If you are unsure which type to buy, buy both for a mere £6.00! Who knows? You might be able to keep one in the freezer, or will you get both out at once and really impress your guests?



   

TrueStart Coffee

 What is TrueStart Coffee?

It's probably one of the only genuine innovations in the world of instant coffee in several years. Because it is not sold as a simple coffee.

It's recently been launched and is the world’s only 100% natural caffeine controlled coffee.

It's designed for you to take half an hour before you work out and the results are said to be "really good."

So, what is it for?

TrueStart Coffee, is the world’s only 100% natural caffeine controlled coffee, ensuring that drinkers can optimise their physical and mental performance.

The caffeine content of your normal cup or mug of coffee can vary wildly from 10mg to 250mg but TrueStart offers the world’s only caffeine balanced drink which guarantees 95mg of caffeine per 2g serving.

TrueStart allows people to take caffeine control into their own hands, meaning that you know exactly what’s being put into your body.

TrueStart is a completely natural product made 100% from the finest Columbian Arabica beans, ensuring it’s free from synthetics and sugars. This has the benefit of providing sustained energy release and premium taste, too. (EDITOR: It does taste good, but then it is made from top quality Columbian Arabica coffee beans!)

It retails for £6.99 for a 40 scoop pack (and you must keep in mind the fact that it costs 20 times less per serving than other energy supplements) and is now available in Tescos, Nutri Centres, Holland and Barrett (from 23 March), www.wiggle.com and at http://www.truestartcoffee.com or at http://goo.gl/mhYAG1.

Easter and Summer cocktails at a fraction of the usual price with the magic of Aldi

You will be able to prepare some pretty mean cocktails this year for your Easter and Summer parties and barbecues when you nip down to Aldi and source your requirements from their stupendous range of spirit drinks, wines, fruit juices and the like.

Want to serve Champagne? Using Veuve Monsigny Champagne Brut (£10.99) which is a delicious crisp Champagne embodied with the flavour of baked apples. This is now well within the budget of many people. So long, of course, as they shop in Aldi!

Why not try a delicious Champagne and Amaretto cocktail? Using Aldi's delicious Bellucci Amaretto Liqueur, £ 4.29  a bottle, of course!

1 shot amaretto
2 shots orange juice
Champagne

Or if you wish you could use the very special  floral Belletti Prosecco, instead. That's about £8.00 a bottle.

Or there's the tasty Dry London Gin. You can serve it with a bottle of tonic water some ice cubes an gash of lime juice (stir well!) and a wedge of lime as the garnish. You can use as much or as little gin as you desire, though 50ml is the suggested amount.

And if you like Irish coffee, you'll love it made with some of Aldi's Ballycastle Irish Country Cream (£3.75 – 70cl). Just add a spoonful of coffee, top up with some hot -not boiling!- water and stir well. You can add a bit of Aldi's fresh cream if you want to make it even more special.

There's a great range of wines at Aldi and you can even buy these buy the case for home delivery. https://www.aldi.co.uk and check out the range and their stunning prices.

WELLY A new name for top quality cooked meat

As we head deeper into 2016 and our purses seem to get even tighter, many of us turn our lunchtime attention to boring salads and listless soups.

WELLY, which is a new British made cooked meat brand, has come to the rescue of families and individual mealtimes across the UK as it has launched a tasty new range of premium sliced meats.

Tired of the boring same old same old lunches? Sick of eating a pointless salad made from what your grandparents would have dismissed as a bowl of old weeds? Like a colleague who ended up with a scratched throat when the sharp stem of some weed, sorry, delicious salad ingredient, stabbed her as she swallowed it down?

But now there is a new, classy act that is hitting select chiller counters around the country, WELLY prepared meats.

They offer a range of cooked hams and chicken slices that are like the meats you remember from years ago, but which are available today.

They taste good, but what is the difference between WELLY and other purveyors of cooked meats?

Could it be the fact that WELLY meats are only ever sourced from select farms that WELLY knows and trusts to supply quality meats?

This means that parents can send their children off to school knowing that their lunch is a proper, balanced meal and that the meat is fully traceable, too.

With many cooked meat brands sadly falling short of the mark when it comes to offering us good quality and affordable product, WELLY is launching to provide British ham and chicken to those who care about where their food comes from.

The hams come in a delicious array of flavours. You'll be tempted to try their delicious honey roast ham, cooked or wafer thin. Or perhaps their truly scrumptious British Roast Chicken is more to your liking?

WELLY meats can be found in Waitrose stores and NISA stores.

Prices are:
Honey Roast Ham, 115g, 9 slices.  RRP £1.19
Cooked Ham, 115g, 9 slices.  RRP £1.19
Wafer Thin Honey Roast Ham, 300g, RRP £2.00
Lean Breaded Ham, 300g, 13 slices. RRP £3.00
Wafer Thin Roast Chicken, 300g, RRP £2.00

(EDITOR: In sandwiches, with sandwich thins, on open rolls or even used as the basis for a new and exciting curry dish invented by my wife (roast chicken curry) WELLY will really give your meals some WELLY!)

BFree can help you lead a healthy and tasty lifestyle

Living a healthier lifestyle is something that is more than ever at the forefront of our minds.

There are lifestyle shows and cookery shows that are now starting to emphasise the need for a more health lifestyle.

That's even more important for those of us who struggle to find "free from" style foods that are not only tasty but that will n ot trigger off food allergies and the like.

At one time you had to search through obscure health food in dingy back streets where you would be shown food that looked and tasted ias if it were made from woodchips and old straw. And get dubious advice. One assistant in a health food shop advised me not to use the recipes that were free to take from the counter because she felt sure they had passed their use by date!

But all that is a thing of the past, thanks to BFree Foods, which is Ireland's leading free from brand, as it offers a delicious and nutritious alternative to baked goods, they are ideal for the coeliac and the health-conscious alike.

A growing number of people are taking the decision to avoid gluten food as part of a more healthy diet.

And BFree is catering for their needs, having managed to develop a variety of flavourful baked goods to delight the gluten-free foodies across the UK and Ireland.

BFreee uses ‘must-have’ health ingredients like quinoa, flaxseeds and poppy seeds in their range of products, BFree’s products are a great choice for anyone in search of healthier alternative breads.

You do not have to come to find BFreee poducts, BFree products are coming to you. Or rather, to a shop near you.

You'll find them in Morrisons stores UK-wide (EDITOR: That's where my wife and I get them!) plus Asda, Sainsbury’s Tesco and Ocado,

BFree’s Fajita Kit, Quinoa & Chia Seed Wraps and Multigrain Wraps are available in Morrisons with a RRP of £3.50 for each of the wraps and £5.00 for the Fajita Kit. (EDITOR: We stuffed ours with some delicious homemade chicken in ginger!)

For more information, recipe ideas please visit www.Bfreefoods.com or find them on Facebook or Twitter @BFreeFoods. You can buy some BFreeFoods at http://goo.gl/mhYAG1.

MOMA! that's some real porridge!

MOMA, that's Making Oats More Awesome, do exactly that. They make oats (much) more awesome!

MOMA has introduced a new totally awesome twist to this tasty breakfast treat, the New Coconut and Chia Porridge Pot.

Although it is deliciously creamy, it's gluten free and dairy free and vegan's can eat it safe in the knowledge that it is a truly vegan friendly porridge. That also tastes good, too.

Unusually for something that is this healthy and good for you it is also freshly prepared by you in a matter of mere moments.

The recipe calls for a blend of jumbo and fine oats, chia seeds and coconut milk powder. But there's one ingredient that you will not find that you will not miss, added sugar!

But it is jam-packed with vitamins and minerals, designed to keep you going throughout the day, and whilst it is gluten free, dairy free and vegan friendly, it still has MOMA’s signature creamy taste and chunky texture.

There are three simple stages to the preparation of MOMA Coconut and Chia Porridge Pot.

1) Add hot water

2) Stir

3) Eat!

So, why chia seeds? Why coconut milk?

Chia seeds are full of antioxidants that fight free radicals, give us a well-needed (but vegan friendly!) boost from Omega 3, ideal for healthy heart and nerve function and rich in protein which is important as it helps kick-start your metabolism and staves off hunger cravings after you have eaten.

Coconut milk contains phosphorus which is vital for strengthening bones. It also enjoys a high concentration of fibre which helps keep you feeling fuller for longer.

It's available at £1.30 a pot to buy online from momafoods.co.uk and Ocado from January and in Waitrose stores, now. Or you can purchase the range at http://goo.gl/mhYAG1

MOMA Porridge is available nationwide in pot and sachet format, in five additional flavours - Plain, Plain - no added sugar, Cranberry and Raisin, Golden Syrup and Super Seeds.

Tom Mercer, Founder of MOMA Foods said, “We want everyone to be able to enjoy delicious MOMA porridge for breakfast but we know more and more people are cutting down on dairy in their diets for allergy and health reasons, and turning to plant-based foods instead. 

"That’s why we've launched MOMA’s new Coconut and Chia Porridge Pot - the slow release energy from the oats, and calcium and omega 3 from the chia seeds, make this a really healthy and satisfying breakfast”.

Belvoir Fruit Farms ‘Light’ the Way to healthy drinking

Since I was diagnosed as having Type 2 Diabetes, I have had to be careful about the amount of sugar that I consume.

So you can imagine how pleased I was when I heard about two new ‘Light’ varieties from Belvoir Fruit Farms; zingy Raspberry Lemonade Light and fragrant and very tasteful Elderflower & Rose Pressé Light, welcome companions to the popular Elderflower Pressé Light and already available on supermarket shelves.

The ‘Light’ range contains 30% less sugar than the original versions of the drinks.

 People still love Belvoir’s classic Cordials and Pressés made using only natural ingredients with no artificial preservatives or sweeteners, but there is a new consumer who wants less sugar.  The ‘Light’ range enables this different audience to enjoy the delights of Belvoir’s gently sparkling Pressés too.

Like all Belvoir’s drinks, the Light Range is hand made at Belvoir using real pressed fruit juices and freshly picked flowers so that despite the reduction in sugar there is no reduction in flavour.

Ther'es the new Raspberry Lemonade Light (75cl):  this mouth-watering tipple still has the zingy taste of real raspberries and lemons but is just a little lighter on calories than the original recipe – a 250ml serving has 55 calories compared to 107 calories.   Serve chilled for a naturally lovely taste of summer all year round – listen carefully and you might hear the distant thwack of leather on willow, or is it just the bubbles bursting in the glass?

And the new Elderflower & Rose Pressé Light (75cl): conjuring up images of thatched cottages and white picket fences, this classic British drink has the same delicately floral taste as the original recipe by virtue of the freshly picked flowers, fresh lemon juice and hint of rose petal extract, but 30 percent less sugar and 28 fewer calories (when compared like for like in a 250ml glass serving).  A lightly refreshing, fragrant drink which is delicious served over ice – close your eyes and you could hear the buzz of summer bumble bees too!

They join Elderflower Pressé Light (75cl):  launched in January 2014 this lighter version of Belvoir’s regular Elderflower Pressé has proved hugely popular in its own right.  It is more delicate in taste than the original Pressé but has the same heady, floral aromas of freshly picked Elderflowers from the Belvoir plantations, tangy citrus from pressed lemon juice and gentle bubbles – just a little lighter on calories.

(EDITOR: In my case my main concern is not os much calories, but the amount of sugar. Which, at 30% less, is certainly a step in the right direction for me to keep my over all sugar intake down.)

Belvoir’s Light Range shows that lower calorie doesn’t have to mean less taste, or style!

All three varieties in the Belvoir Light range are available from Tesco and Ocado for around £2.39 per 75cl bottle.

James White introduces his unique Organic Ginger Zinger

James White's Organic Ginger Zinger is a really unique ginger drink.

Each 7cl bottle is stuffed full of ginger goodness. 26% crushed ginger juice, 57% apple juice and 17% water and that's it!

It's great for ginger lovers -there's a real ginger kick right there, in each bottle.

It gives you a tasty, gingery, fruity boost, but without the annoying caffeine you find in the vast majority of so-called energy drinks.

It has no artificial preservatives, no artificial colours and no mystery flavourings, so it is guaranteed to be 100% natural.

And better still, it receives the Soil Association certification proving that it is, indeed, fully organic.

It is safe, there's nothing harmful or nasty in it and it's organic.

But what does it taste like?

It has a refreshing taste of apple juice, but there's a pungent and earthy aroma that you only get with real ginger.

But the real bonus is the hot and punchy ginger flavour that wows your senses and really ensures that you are awake and ready for whatever life intends to throw your way!

Or you can take it with you for a boost later on in the day.

You can expect to pay £1.49 for a bottle at Planet Organic or it can be purchased at  this online retailer http://goo.gl/ZxiswR.

For more details please visit http://www.jameswhite.co.uk/ginger_zinger.

And for an article on the general benefits of ginger in one's diet, please visit http://healthnfitnesshops.com/health-benefits-of-ginger.html.

Charlie Bigham's meals. Once tried, never forgotten

My wife and I had a plan for Valentine's Day, just gone.

We would have a meal at home with a bottle of wine and something tasty served with vegetables and mashed potatoes.

We chose two Charlie Bigham's Steak and Ale Pies. And we both promptly fell ill with a rather nasty flu bug that really knocked us for six. Even though we had both had the flu shot!

So the two Charlie Bigham's Steak and Ale Pies languished in the freezer until such time as we actually felt like eating a substantial meal.

The first thing that we noticed was that the pies come in nice individual ceramic ramekins. (Which Charlie wants you to donate to a charity shop as they can easily get a couple of Pounds for them.)

The second thing that we noticed is that they actually looked like real, proper pies. (Those of you who have seen some pies on sale in the local supermarket will understand that some pies on sale do not look like proper pies. At all.)

We cooked the pies in our convection oven and soon were overcome by the absolutely delicious aroma that began to waft from the oven.

When it came time to serve the pies we found the to be utterly delicious. The vegetables were just right and the meat was absolutely perfect. Melt in the mouth is the nearest description to the perfection of each piece of carefully selected beef.

And the ale gravy? This was the best ale gravy that I had tasted in, well, ever, really.

The vast majority of steak and ale pies it is not possible to notice any ale in the gravy at all.

But with Charlie Bigham's Steak and Ale Pies you can enjoy a delicious flavouring of the good, high quality ale that is used in the recipe.

And as for the pastry? My wife is an expert pastry cook and she described it as faultless and utterly delicious.

You should be able to find them in Waitrose, Sainsbury's, Tesco, Ocado, Booths and Budgens.

They should cost £7.00 for two pies.

Introducing Cauli Rice

Cauli Rice is not rice, but, made from cauliflowers, it is a pretty good replacement for rice.

Why would you need to replace rice in your diet? Rice is a carb rich food and Cauli Rice contains an amazing 75% less calories than ordinary rice, so using Cauli Rice in place ordinary rice can certainly help reduce the overall calorie count in our diets.

And a high carb diet is certainly something that diabetics need to guard against. So low carb Cauli Rice is something that every diabetic should look at introducing into their diet to replace normal rice.

There are no potentially harmful additives in Caulie rice and the clever folks who developed Cauli Rice and who prepare and cook it for you have, quite rightly, eschewed the use of preservatives, so Cauli Rice is a wholesome and entirely natural product.

There are four delicious flavours for you to choose from: Original, Lemongrass and Chilli, Indian Pilau (EDITOR: My favourite!) and Mediterranean, so whether you are, for example, preparing an Indian meal from scratch, grilling some sausages or putting together a tasty salad, Cauli Rice will serve as the ideal accompaniment for your meal.

And preparing the Cauli Rice is simplicity itself. All you do is place it in the microwave for two and a half minutes and it is ready to serve.

And it doesn't need to be stored in a refrigerator, so can simply wait in your pantry until you need to cook it.

For those of you who need to know these things (EDITOR: Like fellow diabetics, for example!) 100g of Original flavour Cauli Rice contains 34 Kcals and 3g of carbohydrates again -for example- 10g of white rice which contains 138Kcal and 31g of carbohydrates.

Obviously, whilst it is not a 100% replacement for rice, it is still well worth buying Cauli Rice as it is a tasty and healthy alternative to rice and at a recommended retail price of £1.99 (it serves two)  it's certainly well worth purchasing for the pantry.

To learn more or to buy online visit www.caulirice.com.

A touch of Italian luxury for Mothering Sunday with Capricci

All of the best elements of the Italian dining experience can be found under one roof with healthy, hearty homemade meals at Capricci.

After indulging in the classic kitchen menu which changes daily you can pick up the finest ingredients and try turning your hand to Italian cooking in the comfort of your own home.

Capricci has also teamed up with Michelin-starred chef Davide Palluda to present an outstanding line of ready to serve recipes that will wow your senses whilst saving you time.

There will also be opportunities to meet all of Capricci’s Italian suppliers and sample their food the way it should be!

It’s the easiest and most rewarding way to get a true taste of Italy without actually being there!

And now Capricci have launched a very exclusive range of hampers that your mother is just certain to love!

Described as "Some of the most amazing hampers and products carefully selected from across Italy" They include:-

“Inclusioni” Chocolate Bars (£42) which includes some really unique and exclusive flavours! Dark Chocolate with Goji Berries and Macha Tea, Milk Chocolate with exotic fruits and Grue, Milk chocolate with raspberry and cardamom and Gianduja Chocolate with salted caramel

Chocolate Temptation (£67) -  a selection of beautifully crunchy chocolate and biscuit, a really indulgent treat

The Milk Chocolate Crus (£43) – some delicious variations of milk chocolate with a carefully selected Grappa to compliment.

To learn more please visit http://www.capricciforlondon.co.uk.

The Prakti Stove. The practical way to cook outdoors!

It's a strange thing to think about, but the summer months of cooking outside will soon be upon us, again!

And The Charcoal Burner Company is on a mission to introduce us to the Indian Prakti Stove in time for the barbecue season.

Many Indian readers will already be familiar with this wonderful Indian design classic and outside cooking staple.

Founder of The Charcoal Burner Company, Alastair, was trying to work out the best way to roast chestnuts outside during the winter months, and after having decided that charcoal stoves beat their gas equivalents hands down in terms of being authentic, easy to use and keeping in the flavour, he then moved on to the wonderful Prakti Stove.

However, soon he was thinking about much more than using them to roast nuts with!

Having ordered a Prakti Stove from India, Alastair was immediately impressed by the cleverness of its design, the speed at which it lit and how clean and efficient it was.

He was also very impressed by the high levels of heat it generated.

Soon he was addicted to cooking all kinds of things on his Prakti Stove.

The Charcoal Burner Company is now the official UK distributor for the Prakti Stove, so you can now easily own one of these classical Indian cooking marvels.

There are a wide range of different stoves available, including:
- Charcoal Stove (Rocket Stove) - which comes in red, blue or yellow
- Single Wood Burning Stove
- Double Wood Burning Stove
- Double Wood Burning Stove With Chimney Bracket
- The Orca Extra-Large Wood Burning Stove

There is also a range of essential accessories available from The Charcoal Burner Company, from the highest quality charcoal to grills, aprons and tote bags to transport all that tasty food you’re about to cook with your Prakti Stove.

For details please visit: www.thecharcoalburnercompany.co.uk.

 

Prestat chocolates. For Mothering Sunday. Always

We believe that Prestat Rose and Violet Crèmes are the perfect present for Mothering Sunday, Sunday 6th March, 2016.

Prestat, chocolatier to Her Majesty The Queen, has launched n utterly new and divine large box of Rose & Violet Crèmes – the ultimate in traditional treats and the perfect way to say thank you on Mothering Sunday.

Rose & Violet Crèmes (245g) £16.50

Prestat, chocolatier to Her Majesty The Queen, has launched a NEW large box of Rose & Violet Crèmes – the ultimate in traditional treats and the perfect way to say thank you on Mother’s Day.

Prestat’s legendary Rose and Violet Crèmes have been one of the company’s bestsellers ever since the 1930s…when it was rumoured that Her Majesty The Queen Mother first started buying the handmade chocolates as a treat for herself as well as for her two young daughters – Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret.

Created using the very finest rose and violet water, Prestat’s Rose and Violet Crèmes are dipped into luxurious dark chocolate before being adorned with a real, crystallised rose or violet petal and carefully packed inside a fabulous Prestat box.

Did you know?
In 1902, 114 years ago, a chocolate shop called Prestat was opened in London by descendants of Louis Dufour, the man who created the world’s first recorded chocolate truffle in Chambery, France in 1896.

Prestat’s reputation for making exquisite handmade chocolates quickly spread and before too long, maharajas, sultans, presidents and stars of the stage and screen had all experienced the delight that only the finest chocolate can bring.

Prestat’s quintessential Mints and their Rose and Violet Crèmes were Her Majesty The Queen Mother’s favourite chocolates.

Both The Queen Mother and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II granted Prestat a Royal Warrant and Prestat chocolates continue to be served at every major state banquet.

Ever since Bill Keeling and his half-brother, Nick Crean, bought the business in 1998, Prestat has enjoyed one of the most exciting chapters in its history.  In 2011, Prestat began selling chocolates in the USA, launching in all Bloomingdales Flagship Stores and throughout Dean & Deluca USA.

Prestat is one of the few British artisan chocolatiers to make all its own chocolates – giving it complete control of recipes and the sourcing of ingredients as well as the opportunity to nurture the traditional skills needed to create its handcrafted chocolates.

Loyal customers have included Roald Dahl, author of ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’. The writer even referred to Prestat in his autobiographical recipe book, ‘Memories of Gypsy Corner’, “I also adore so-called truffles…as Prestat makes them.”

Prestat was the official chocolate sponsor to Walking With The Wounded’s expedition race to the South Pole, whose Patron is Prince Harry.

Prestat's kitchens have won 16 Gold Great Taste Awards in the last three years - Prestat have now collected golds for every truffle entered: the Sea Salt Caramel, the Black Forest Gateau, The Red Velvet and now the Yuzu Sake.

The Rose & Violet Cremes are designed by artist Kitty Arden. She has designed packaging for Prestat for the past 15 years.

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Beanies Flavour Coffee. Make Mothering Sunday really special

Beanies Flavour Coffee will help you make Mothering Sunday really special for your mother.

Beanies Flavour Coffee comes to you for a very modest price of £22.50.

It's perfect and an ideal present for the mother who is a coffee lovers of the 21st Century.

Beanies have revolutionised our nation's love for coffee and innovatively combined it with equally loved flavours to bring an exiting twist to the coffee table.

When you are sleep deprived sometimes the most romantic present really is caffeine!

So, when you present mum with breakfast in bed on Mothering Sunday, don't forget to provide her with Beanies Flavour Coffee along with the Full English or the Continental breakfast that you just know she will love.

Just so long as you do the washing up afterwards, too!

Kids! This is ideal for your mum's cuppa!

Any child would be extremely proud to give mum this on Mothering Sunday!


There are three designs available – SuperMum on her own, with one child and with two children, plus Mother’s Day 2015 is printed on the back.

Priced at just £12.50 and available on this website - https://www.itsyourstory.co.uk/products/106-personalised-supermum-mug-1-child

It's a product from Its Your Story.

Bring a touch of Hercule Poirot to Valentine's Day

Hercule Poirot, the Belgian detective created by Agatha Christie had a passion that the love of your life might share, for only the finest Belgian chocolates.

That's Food and Drink is certain that Hercule Poirot  would just adore the Valentine’s Collection from Belgian chocolate experts, Godiva.

Firstly there is the

Heart Shaped Gift Box 21pc. £37
VALENTINES_HEART_GIFT_BOX_6PC  A heart shaped gift box with an assortment of 21 core and seasonal chocolates, she may end up loving the chocolates more than you!

Valentine’s Round Gift Box 9pc. £20

VALENTINES_ROUND_GIFT_BOX_9PC_ANGLE Melt her heart with an exquisite selection of Godiva’s signature chocolates.

Heart Shaped Token 6pc. £15

VALENTINES_TIN_ANGLE Looking for a subtle token of love? This delicate heart shape box will warm anyone’s heart this Valentine’s Day.

FABRIC_HEART_OPEN Fabric Heart 13pcs. £60

If you are going for the ‘madly in love’ statement this
lavish heart shaped box will get your Valentines heart beating.







Available at  www.godivachocolates.co.uk 

These and other chocolates and other gifts will be available at the That's Food an Drink Store at the following address http://goo.gl/OJAApg

Enjoy Liquid poetry with Lord Byron's personal single malt Scotch on Valentine's Day

Lord Byron was one of the world's best-loved and most influential poets of the Romantic period of world literature.

Now you can share something that undoubtedly helped Lord Byron's poetic endeavours this Valentine's Day.

SPEY, which was Lord Byron single malt whisky.

Lord Byron’s words stole the hearts of women; now the essence of his love poetry has been captured in a bottle with SPEY Lord Byron single malt Scotch whisky.

With its elegant bottle design and smooth, delicate taste – as well as exclusive status – SPEY Lord Byron oozes romance, making it the ideal gift this Valentine’s Day.

The limited edition whisky has been released by Speyside Distillery to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Lord Byron’s marriage to Lady Annabelle Millbanke – and only 1,200 bottles of the rare expression have been produced.

SPEY’s long history with the famous poet began after his 1815 wedding, when Lord Byron was said to have gifted King George III with a cask of his favourite SPEY whisky in celebration of the occasion.

Speyside Distillery CEO John Harvey McDonough reports: “We are immensely proud of our association and history with one of the world’s greatest romantic poets. SPEY Lord Byron is smooth and full of charm – like the man himself – and we truly believe that he would have been overjoyed to have a single malt created in his name.

"And what better day than Valentine’s Day – the day when we are all looking for a little romance – to share this wonderful whisky with someone special.”

SPEY Lord Byron has a warm and nutty flavour which enjoys a soft sweet toffee aftertaste and a fresh, fruity lingering note which soothes the palate like warm honey.

 At 46% ABV, 70c, it has an RRP of £95. Stockists can be found at www.speysidedistillery.co.uk.

Will you be able to write poetry to the same Eternal standard of Lord Byron when you taste this fine drink? Perhaps not. But it will be good fun to try. Either that or read Lordy Byron's works to each other as you sip your SPEY. You can order a copy of the complete works of Lord Byron at the bookshop operated by sister site That's Books and Entertainment http://www.amazon.co.uk/?tag=bookworms05-21&linkCode=w0f

Roses are red, violets are blue, This wine is special, special for you!

Those innovative winemakers at Echo Falls have introduced an exciting Limited Edition Rose infused wine for Valentine’s Day!

‘Cupid’ winemakers at Californian wine brand Echo Falls have been experimenting with innovative flavours to create an Echo Falls Limited Edition Fusion that will perfectly tickle taste buds (and pull heart strings) on the most romantic day of the year.

It's a delicate and delicious fusion, fine wines blended with the real and very genuine natural aroma and flavour of roses, it’s a sophisticated sweet tasting treat with a very unique floral twist that is perfect for loved ones this Valentine’s Day.

It's an exciting addition to the wine aisle, the bottle needs no ribbons or bows, in fact it’s too pretty to wrap!

Oozing whimsical romance, the label is adorned in roses, the ultimate icon of Valentine’s Day. In addition - for the shy among us - a metallic handwritten stamp echoes those three small words so you don’t have to, whilst the back label allows you to finish the classic ‘Roses are Red’ poem with space to write your own sweet nothings to that special someone.

Best serve chilled, over ice, or for those who really know the way to the heart of their Valentine - keep the theme sweet and serve with meringue, strawberries and vanilla ice cream.

It's now on sale in Morrison’s and ASDA stores at a remarkably reasonable RRP of £5.99 a bottle.

(EDITOR: That's Food and Drink recommends purchasing at least two or three bottles of this delicious and delicate romantic wine.)

Take the best in whole leaf teas this winter

There are a whole range of healthy greens, wintery whites and inspiring infusions from We Are Tea.

From immune-boosting green teas to comforting, caffeine-free infusions and teas that will put a twist on traditional lattes, We Are Tea has a host of award-winning choices to explore this winter. Each of these speciality teas is ethically sourced, whole-leaf and tastes top-notch, true to the We Are Tea ethos.

Earl Grey Supreme: This Earl Grey is a blend of the finest whole-leaf black teas scented with oil of bergamot and sprinkled with cornflowers to make it as beautiful on the eye as it is on the palate. This is a light, bright infusion with the distinctive aroma and flavour of citrus bergamot. It’s the ultimate base for a We Are Tea Earl Grey Latte, the perfect pick me up as the days grew colder.   From £4.15

Gunpowder Supreme: This explosive green tea is the perfect way to kick-start Guy Fawkes month and boost antioxidant levels as winter approaches. Low in caffeine, it makes for a deliciously sweet and satisfying cup.  From £4.15

Gunpowder Supreme with Ginger: With a perfect balance of green tea and ginger, this exceptional blend is refreshing, reviving and inspiring. The warmth from the ginger lingers on the palate while the green tea warms the soul, making it a perfect choice for a chilly day.  From £5.88

White peony: A full-bodied white tea to enjoy whilst dreaming of a
white Christmas, this tea is fresh and mellow, with hints of melon. From £6.25. Also try Rose White Peony, which features whole pink rose buds to compliment the white tea, resulting in a superb infusion that soothes and delights.  From £6.82

Rooibos: The South African ‘wonder’ herb delivers that perfect combination of health and flavour. This infusion tea is high in antioxidants and caffeine free, making it a great natural winter remedy. From £5.88

Honeybush: Forget the traditional honey and lemon and try this deliciously sweet Honeybush tea to help fend off colds and boost your immune system this winter. A close relation to rooibos, this honeybush is naturally caffeine-free and packs a vitamin C and antioxidant punch.  From £6.15

We Are Tea has a range of 40 teas available in reusable loose leaf tea caddies or pyramid whole leaf tea bags and classified into six categories to make it easy to select, steep and enjoy.

The company is on a mission to break down the barriers to speciality tea and demystify the often over-complicated world of whole-leaf tea. From devising unique colour-coded categories for their teas to launching the simplest loose-leaf tea infuser on the market, they aim to make it easier than ever for people to explore whole-leaf teas from artisan producers across the world.

Discover more of the award-winning range at www.wearetea.com

All or part of the range is available to purchase online at wearetea.com, ocado.com or in Tesco stores nationwide. And you will soon be drinking teas that taste better than you ever expected possible.

How so? Because We Are Tea know their teas.

Craze for Coconut Yogurts Continues to Sweep the Nation. And it's greener, too!

The Coconut Collaborative has launched a delicious new Coconut and Almond flavour and added coconut water to all of its recipes, making its range of coconut yogurts the healthiest out there.

Free from dairy, soya and gluten, The Coconut Collaborative yogurts are a great choice for vegans and have proved a real hit with shoppers looking to bring a healthy new twist to everyday eating.

Now with the addition of coconut water, fans have even more reasons to rejoice, as the recipes harness all the goodness from this super-drupe. Coconut fat itself is super-healthy, it’s full of medium –chain fatty acids that are broken down immediately for energy and not stored in the body as fat, whilst coconut water is packed full of naturally occurring potassium and essential electrolytes.

There are five deliciously silky and coconutty recipes to pick from and each is heart healthy, contains zero cholesterol and has no refined sugar:

● NEW! Almond and Coconut: The first yogurt on the market bursting with the life-giving nutrients of both the coconut and the almond
● Blueberry: A recent addition; the sweet, juicy blueberry compote makes a perfect match for the creamy coconut yogurt
● Mango and Passion Fruit: Coconut yogurt with Juicy alphonso mango and passion fruit compote
● Raspberry: Creamy coconut yogurt with tasty, tangy raspberry compote
● Natural: Silky-smooth coconut yogurt, pure and simple

Steve Bessant, Co-Founder says.  “We know people will be on the hunt for tasty snacks that are good for you too come the New Year and we think we've cracked it with these new recipes and delicious additions. Over the last year our sales have more than tripled and we expect the taste for our yogurts to continue to take-off throughout 2016.”

Not only does the The Coconut Collaborative celebrate the amazing properties of the coconut, they are also on a mission to spread the coco-love far and wide.

They have recently launched a new sustainability initiative in collaboration with Pur Projet to give back to local communities by planting coconut trees.  They have already planted 1,000 trees in the Philippines and this little piece of jungle will regenerate soil and provide wildlife habitat and income for local communities, too.

RRP £1.40-£1.69 / 120g Yogurt.  All or part of the range is available from Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Ocado.com and Whole Foods as well as independent retailers nationwide.

Visit: www.coconutco.co.uk for details. Or you can follow then on @coconutcollab.

You'll go nuts for the new Honey Cinnamon Cashew Butter from Pip & Nut!

With the craze for nut butter continuing to sweep the nation, Pip & Nut has added another all-natural, nutritious and utterly delicious flavour to its enticing range.

Available now, Honey Cinnamon Cashew Butter is a delicate blend of sweet flower honey, warming cinnamon spice and wholesome nutty goodness.

Perfect for the cooler winter days, Honey Cinnamon Cashew looks set to be Pip & Nut’s most popular flavour yet. It feels like an indulgent treat that’s delicious slathered on toast or spooned straight from the jar. Like all Pip & Nut’s nut butters this latest addition to the range is made from all-natural, quality ingredients, with no refined sugars, additives or palm oil. Plus, it’s high protein, vegetarian and packed full of vitamin E and magnesium.

In fact, for the first time, shoppers across the UK will be able to discover the nutty goodness of Pip & Nut, as all four of its delectable spreads will launch into Sainsbury’s stores up and down the country. Designed to be enjoyed at any time, not just for breakfast, the range also includes Peanut Butter, Almond Butter and Coconut Almond Butter.

Pip Murray, Founder of Pip & Nut, says, “We've been thrilled with how our inventive nuts butters have caught the imagination of the nation. Not only are they packed full of flavour and top-quality ingredients, they are also a fantastic source of protein and energy, making them a great pre or post exercise snack, a tasty way to breathe new life into breakfast and delicious and nutritious recipe ingredient.”

Hannah Murphy, Preserves buyer for Sainsbury’s adds,, “We’re pleased customers will be able to buy the Pip & Nut range in our stores.  We know our customers are looking for healthy yet delicious tasting spreads and with four delicious nut butter flavours to choose from, we're confident they'll be well received in our stores".

The Pip & Nut range comprises: Peanut Butter (RRP £2.29); Almond Butter (RRP.
£3.99); Almond & Coconut Butter (RRP. £3.99) and now Honey Cinnamon Cashew
Butter. 250g Jars, (RRP £3.99).

You can also find Pip & Nut on social media platforms:
Twitter: www.twitter.com/pipandnut
Facebook: www.facebook.com/pipandnut
Instagram: http://instagram.com/pipandnut

You can find Pip & Nut in over 1200 stores around the UK and Ireland. Including Sainsbury’s, Marks & Spencer, Ocado, Booths, Selfridges, Fortnum & Mason, Fenwick, Revital, As Nature Intended, Partridges, The Grocery, Sourced Market, The People’s Supermarket, 400+ independent cafes, delis, health food stores and gyms

What's the story of Pip & Nut?
Pip & Nut is the brainchild of aspiring entrepreneur and keen marathon runner, Pip Murray. In 2013, whilst on the hunt for a tasty protein hit to support her demanding exercise regime, she discovered there was a real gap in the market for wholesome nut butters with simple yet inventive ingredients.

Taking matters into her own hands, Pip, 27, entered her concept for ‘Pip & Nut’ into a competition titled ‘Escape to the Shed’, run by Escape the City, a company whose mission is to help talented individuals leave their unfulfilling corporate day jobs. After pipping 3000 entrants to the post, she left her day job as a Producer at the Science Museum and spent 3 months living, working and launching her business from a shed in Central London – saving valuable resources whilst concentrating on her business goals.

Using equity crowd-funding platform Crowdcube to source backing to ramp up scale, Pip secured £120k funding round in just nine days. With an original target of £100k she gained 81 investors, giving away 19% equity in the company.

Since it launched into Selfridges in January 2015, the brand has gone from strength to strength gaining a host of listings and industry acclaim. Most recently, Pip & Nut won key industry award, The Grocer New Product Award, for its Coconut Almond Butter and was declared a winner of The Virgin StartUp Foodpreneur Retail Award. In addition, all three launch flavours have been awarded a Great Taste 2015 Star:  a first for a nut butter brand.