Jack Daniel's BBQ marinades

I'll level with you, my wife is not a natural Bourbon drinker (her spirit of choice is Ardbeg Scotch or Bombay Sapphire Gin and that's about it, for her, as far as spirits are concerned!) so she was a little unsure about the Jack Daniels marinades that we were due to review.

But she gamely stepped up to the plate (see what I did, there?) and decided to check them out in our (I beg her pardon, her) kitchen and introduce them to some steaks, some chicken breasts and some pork over a period of several days.

What happened was that my wife is now a compete convert to the Jack Daniels marinades!

And I think they'll be the flavour to make our meats savour throughout this BBQ season and well beyond, too. Will we have Jack Daniels marinades with our turkey next Christmas? Well, let's just say if that happened, I would not be all that surprised!

What really excited my wife was the new Jack Daniel’s® Tennessee Honey™ Barbecue Glaze.

According to the chefs who created this epic product: "It combines with the soft flavours of the popular Jack Daniel’s® Tennessee Honey™ Liqueur, the Tennessee Honey™ Barbecue Glaze has a delicious hint of honey and a smooth flavour, perfect for luxuriously sticky, sweet ribs and glistening chicken wings or simply to use as a dip with a difference for wedges or veggies."

My wife was not too keen on the Extra Hot Habanero Barbecue Sauce, but as I liked that, I guess that's going to be my bottle of choice this BBQ season!

The new Jack Daniel’s® Tennessee Honey™ Barbecue Glaze joins the existing range that includes the Jack Daniel’s® Hot Pepper Steak Sauce, Extra Hot Habanero Barbecue Sauce, Smokey Sweet Barbecue Glaze, Smooth Original Barbecue Sauce and Full Flavor Smokey Barbecue Sauce.

The Jack Daniel’s® Tennessee Honey™ Barbecue Glaze is available now in Tesco stores at a nifty £1.99. The Jack Daniel’s® Extra Hot Habanero is available in Nisa Stores; the Hot Pepper Steak Sauce is available in Tesco, Booths and Nisa stores; the Smokey Sweet Barbecue Glaze is available in Tesco and Nisa stores and the Jack Daniel’s® Smooth Original and Full Flavor Smokey Barbecue Sauces can be found in most major supermarkets across the UK, RRP £2.19.

To learn more just visit http://jackdanielsbbqsauces.com.

Walter and Monty a new charcoal grilling experience in London

There's an absolutely stunning new charcoal restaurant that has opened in the heart of  the City of London.

Walter and Monty is its name, and it is a joint enterprise between Alex Kaye and Nick Ross.

It has its origins and roots in the highly acclaimed Night Tales and Summer Tales in East London, with Alex Kaye's highly acclaimed street food.

This is a perfect way for people to get into the BBQ season, even in the heart of London!

It's open from Monday to Friday 11.30am — 2.30pm, though you should keep an eye open for their great plans to include breakfast and dinner opening times, too!

Look out for the justifiably famed BBQ boneless butterflied leg of lamb, which is one of Alex's best known dishes.

To learn more visit http://www.walterandmonty.com/

You'll find them (next to the Gherkin) in the City of London, in Bury Court, EC3A 7BA, call 020 7283 6666 for details.

You should eat In the Nood!

Yes, you really should eat In The Nood!

Because In the Nood is an absolutely fantastic and incredibly innovative food for those of us who care about what we are consuming.

What is In the Nood? It's a special pouch of absolutely delicious goodness.

The pouch is filled with highly tasty raw ingredients that together combine to create something that's good for everyone, but especially for those who have dietary restrictions.

You can take the mix out and roll it into balls which you can chill, and then eat at your leisure.

These are new products and That's Food and Drink are proud to be amongst the first people to taste test them.

They are created by two incredibly clever people, Alex and Sam Lai.

They are designed to allow you to roll your own energy ball food snack.

The idea is to enable people who need an energy boost, especially if you have an energy deficiency in the mid-afternoon period.

They are also ideal for breakfast, for a picnic snack or for a tasty desert after a BBQ. And kids and adults just love them.

I am a Type 2 Diabetic and rather than gulping down sugar I much prefer to be able to use something like In the Nood, which, although it can give me a carb boost, has no added sugar.

They are also pretty keen as snacks before or after a good work out session.

 ihave created a 'roll your own energy ball' (yes, there's the USP!) to stop those mid-week, mid-afternoon cravings and add a healthy dose of the good stuff, instead of the usual sweet treats - great for summer picnics, BBS, to keep the kids and adults happy!

They come in three delicious flavours: Orange and Cacao, Simpy Cacao, and Crunchy Cacao.

They say: "In the Nood are healthy snacks with nothing to hide. They come in a pack with fully mixed dates, coconut, cacao and other amazing ingredients so you can roll your own energy ball. With three flavours available we've created something that's nutritious and customisable for folks' own recipes, and with NO ADDED SUGAR, they are a great pre or post work out snack, or a snack on the run, or, if you fancy it you can eat it from the bag! Kids will love them too - a whole host of creativity at their fingertips with them making their own recipes and creating fun cookie cutter shapes!"

"The In the Nood energy ball mix is just full of good stuff such as antioxidants, fibre and minerals and no added nasties. It's all about being able to 'roll your own energy ball' to stop those cravings and add a healthy dose of what's great, instead of reaching for the usual naughty sweet treats."

To learn more please visit http://www.inthenood.com.

Each 175g pack costs £7.99.

Yushoi tastes great and is good for you, too

Yushoi tastes great and is good for you, too.

The That's Food and Drink testing team were introduced to the joys of a snack that, despite being one of the most tasty we have tried in a very long time, is actually rather good for you, too!

The recipe of Yushoi Snapea rice sticks calls for them to be made out of green peas and rice.

It's not fried, but rather it is properly baked to seal all those delicious flavours in.

Each 21g serving contains a very pleasing 96 calories and, if that weren't enough, it's high in fibre and is a good protein source, too.

Looking out for someone who has a nut or dairy allergy? Then this product is ideal for them as it is not only nut and dairy free, it is produced in a bakery where nut products are never used.

It's also great for vegans and vegetarians and it has no artificial nasties or MSG.

Flavours that are available are Soy and Balsamic Vinegar, Smoked Salt and Szechuan Pepper and Sweet Chilli and Lemon, plus Lightly Salted.

My wife's favourite is the Smoked Salt and Szechuan Pepper, whilst my favourite was the Soy and Balsamic Vinegar. Other testers preferred the Light Salted variety and the Sweet Chilli and Lemon which carries a heck of a potent punch!

They come in a variety of pack sizes, 21g single serving, 6 x 21g multipacks or a 105g re-sealable sharing bag, so they are idea for whatever you have in mind, be it as part of a healthy lunch, a mid-morning snack, or nibbles for a party.

You should be able to find them in The Cooperative, WH Smith, Whole Foods Market, Selfridge's and Morrisons. You can also buy them on line at either Amazon or Ocado.

The price of a 105g sharing pack is an amazingly low £1.99.

They are produced by Calbee UK, a subsidiary of Calbee Inc., the largest producer of savoury snack foods in Japan.

The product has been designed by top nutritionists working with health experts to make certain that these snacks comply with government criteria to encourage better eating habits and reduce obesity.

www.yushoi.co.uk

There's a new Sauvignon Blanc available. It's from Eisberg

Need to reduce your calorific intake or you can't or won't drink alcohol?

Miss your favourite white wine, miss the taste of Sauvignon Blanc wine?

You do not have to miss it any longer, as Eisberg has introduced a very taste-filled Sauvignon Blanc wine, which has no alcohol and reduced calories.

The alcohol content is never more than 0.05% and one 125ml serving contains only 28 calories. Whilst a standard glass of Sauvignon Blanc wine has something on the order of 104 calories. That's quite a saving.

But you might be thinking: "Well, that's all well and good. It does you good, but does it taste good, too?"

In this instance, it not only has the potential to do you good, it also tastes pretty good, too.

What, exactly, does it taste like?

It has the classic Sauvignon Blanc wine bouquet. Summer fruits and hedgerow fruits are definitely on the nose.

The taste is interesting. There's none of the bite you might expect -no alcohol- but this raises other points of interest. The nose of this wine also follows through to the taste.

This  Sauvignon Blanc wine has a taste of summer fruits, of preserves lovingly  made from wild hedgerow fruits, but with a more exotic undernote, too. What is it? Peaches? Perhaps a combination of peaches and apples?

It is also mouthwatering  and at only £3.50 from Waitrose or Co-op stores all over the country, this is a wine that you simply can't buy by the single bottle. I'd recommend buying them in multiples of three at the very least!

Freeganism lite, or how to save money safely

For those who do not like the idea of grubbing through bins for free food outside the rear of supermarkets and risk getting arrested as a thief, or perhaps even run the risk of catching an unpleasant disease (food and bins are not a good combination) there is always the option of waiting for the short dated bargains.

Please let me explain. Almost all supermarkets have sections in the store where items are sold off at very cheap prices. They are either items that are remaindered or have cosmetically damaged packaging. They are sometimes known, quaintly, as the "bent bargains" section!

There are also usually a refrigerated bargain section where, towards the end of the day, you can find bargain refrigerated items. For example today my wife and I found four pizzas that were normally £2.00 each for the very reasonable price of 37p each!

These are now safely stowed away in our freezer for later consumption.

You can often obtain bargain cooked meats, bargain fresh meats, cheaply priced cheeses, cut price sandwiches and the like.

Bargain bread and cakes are often nearer to the baked goods section.

There will also be a section devoted to cheaper vegetables and fruits, too.

You need to scope out your favourite supermarket and mark down the location of any likely bargains. And work out the best times to get there,

For example, arrive at spot on 5.30pm and you'll fill your basket or trolley with bargains.

But arrive at 5.40pm and all that is left is a howling wasteland bereft of any bargains whatsoever!

You'll have fun finding the bargains, sometimes staff are very helpful to patient, friendly and chatty regular bargain hunters. And if that's you? You will be quids in, as the saying puts it!

So, happy bargain hunting folks!

Eggs are perfect. Especially the Crackin Eggs!

Yes, eggs are the perfect food.

And here's why!:-

½ Dozen Crackin’ Egg Facts
1. Eggs are a superfood and are rich in vitamins and minerals including Vitamins A, D, B12, B2 (Riboflavin), Folate, Biotin, Pantothenic acid, Phosphorous, Iodine and Selenium

2. Contrary to popular belief, eggs contain HDL cholesterol which is good for you and actually removes excess cholesterol from the rest of the body and transports it back to the liver

3. Eggs have a low energy density so make you feel fuller for longer and are very good for energy levels, metabolism and concentration

4. 12.6% of the edible portion of an egg is protein which is one of the highest you can get and is used as a reference standard against which all other foods are assessed

5. Egg protein is a rich source of the essential amino acid leucine, which is important in modulating the use of glucose by skeletal muscle and in facilitating muscle recovery after exercise

6. Eggs are good for your bones, muscles, liver, eye sight, thyroid gland, immune system, red blood cell formation, nervous system function, hair, skin and nails

So what exactly are "Crackin Eggs?"

 The eggs are free-range hard-boiled eggs which come in twin packs with special seasoning sachets (salt & black pepper, sweet chilli or sour cream & chive).

They are also particularly handy as the eggs last up to 4 weeks outside of the fridge due to their special coloured wax coating – which is also a fun addition to any picnic hamper!

The eggs are really affordable - a twin-pack with seasoning costs just £1.59 at Ocado.

Visit  http://crackineggco.co.uk/ for details.

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?