Retaste Spain - Bringing The Food Home

You are sitting at a restaurant by the beach in Spain eating a local version of the legendary paella and you are wishing you could eat this next week after you return home to the UK!

Well now you can! Retaste Spain have come up with the perfect solution.  Packs of everything you will need (including paella pan with the paella) to create that exact tapas meal at home.  They have 13 different tapas for you to make at home. The list includes Paella, Gazpacho, Patas Bravas and Tortilla Espanola to name a few.

You can order from their web site but there will be postage.  The main idea is that you would purchase these kits in especially selected shops in Spain (like the local airport) and bring them home with you.

You will need to purchase the fresh ingredients such as a lemon or a couple of potatoes but everything else is provided. (I have always wanted a paella pan!)

 

How easy does this look? This is all you need to make a genuine Spanish paella.  You can decide to serve with lemon wedges if you want. My Paella pack included the Paellera Valenciana pan, large can of broth, Spanish rice, a special wooden spoon for paellas and a recipe.  The pack did not include a lemon (optional).

At first I was a bit worried because the contents of the can was quite a watery stock, however, adding the rice and letting it start to bubble and it soon started to thicken as the rice absorbed the liquid.

There were only two pieces of chicken per person i8n the can and large green beans but plenty of rice.  The pack stated it would serve 2-3 persons and providing one was a child it would for a meal.  It would perfectly serve 3-4 as part of a selection of tapas with some chunky bread.

All set to serve with a mixed salad. I was pleasantly surprised that it tasted so good and very authentic. Next time I am in Spain I will look out for more in the range.

Clearly there was nothing wrong with this meal - Mr R cleaned his plate!

 

 

(I was given this pack to take home and try at The Speciality Fine Food Fair in September.  I did not receive payment to write this review and all opinions are my own.)

Christmas Means Quality Street - A Green Triangle Pudding

The supermarkets have started offering the big tins of chocolates in readiness for Christmas and that includes Quality Street.

Their green triangle has proved to be one of the UK's favourites and is echoed in the single large green triangle just made to be dropped into each Christmas stocking!

I was recently sent Quality Street's new innovation - a creamy chocolate and hazlenut dessert inspired by the green triangle sweet. This pudding has been made for them by Nestle.

I am not usually in the habit of having a pudding after dinner during the week but had to have a go at these.

They really are creamy and chocolaty and the hazlenut is not overpowering. In fact I like them better than the original green triangle sweet!

I am tempted to have one of these for breakfast too!!

This product has just launched in Asda, Morrison’s, Sainsbury’s and Tesco at a RRP of £1.19 for a twin pack and RRP of £1.98 for a four pack.  The family will thank you if you pop some of these into your shopping trolley for the weekend!

(I was sent samples of the new Quality Street green triangle dessert to try, I did not receive any payment to review these and all opinions are my own.)

PG Tips - Royal-Tea Cup - To Welcome The New Prince

PG Tips tea wanted to celebrate the arrival of the new royal family member, Prince George, the son of HRH The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in July 2013.  Plus with Prince George's christening imminent I thought you might like to try this delightful punch. Great for any special occasion.

Working with a drinks expert from Channel 4's Sunday Brunch, Rebecca Seal, PG Tips developed a recipe for a 'Royal Tea Cup' with all the ingredients having a link back to  the very Englishness of our new royal member.

For me to try to re-create this 'Royal-tea-cup' this they sent me a selection of products that I would need to make their Royal Tea Cup and whilst toasting the arrival of the new prince to also share the punch with friends.

 

I felt that a great event to share this drink was the first birthday of my 3rd grandchild, Riley.  Riley is our little prince and had a very traumatic early start in his life, giving us even more cause for celebration on his first birthday.

We had a lovely, sunny day and upon arrival at my daughter and son-in-law's I prepared the punch as we waited for the arrival of the rest of the family and friends.

I slightly mashed the sliced strawberries with the mint leaves. Then mixed with the hot water, PG Tips The Rich One teabag, sugar, lemon juice and rind.  This was then left for 10 minutes to infuse and strained into a clean bowl.

In this large bowl I added the elderflower cordial, apple juice and gin (At this point you can pop into the fridge till you are ready to drink) and then added the ice, soda water and sparkling wine.

Thin slices of cucumber and strawberies ready to go into the punch before serving.

The punch went down extremely well with the family (adults only of course!) and looked great in my punch bowl which I have had for years and never used!

You could of course make this an alcohol free drink by substituting Ginger Ale instead of the sparkling wine.

Mr R really enjoyed the special drink.

Although Riley wasn't allowed to try the punch he thoroughly enjoyed his special day and being the centre of attention.  All of Riley's friends and family were so pleased to be celebrating his special first birthday!

(I was sent the ingredients to make this special PG Tips Royal Punch Cup but received no payment and all opinions are my own.)

I found my Rumtopf - Fruit and Rum Yum

Many years ago I bought a Rumtopf which is a German rum pot.  I used it for a few years making some really nice fruit soaked in rum for the respective festive seasons but then it got put in a box and when I moved it sort of left my memory.

A recent garage clear out and guess what I found? My old Rumtopf!  A Rumtopf is a posh jar for making fruit soaked in rum but if you don't have one a 1.5lt Le Parfais jar will do just as well.

This week I came across some small yellow plums (which I have been told might be Mirabel plums)growing wild and immediately thought how nice they would be soaked in rum for three months.

Today I mentioned my plan to my father-in-law and true to form he produced a couple of bottles each about 1/3 full of rum.  He also gave me some grapes to use that needed using up so we were ready to go!

Firstly you weigh the fruit and measure the same weight in sugar.  Put the sugar and the fruit together in a bowl and leave for an hour.

 

Pop this in the Rumtopf and cover with dark rum preferably but white rum will work too.  You could also try it with Brandy if you prefer.

Stretch a piece of cling film over the opening of the jar to stop evaporation and pop the lid on top.

Pop the whole thing away somewhere cool for about three months then in the depths of winter, nights drawing in and only ice cream in the freezer, you can turn it into a magical pudding. The fruit will be very boozy and the liquid will be a nice fruity syrup to pour over the top.

 

Of course you can add more fruit as you go and you only need to add sugar to half the weight of the fruit.

Asda Meals for the Little People

I was recently invited to visit Asda Head Office in Leeds with my daughter-in-law and 5 year old granddaughter.

Asda wanted some real little people as 'taste testers' for their new children's range of food.  This range is called 'Chosen by Kids' and is a good tasting range with out additives, salt etc. but food that mothers can have confidence in giving their child.  There are 180 products in this range and they help make sure the child get some of their '5 A Day'.

On arrival we were greeted with loads of bright colours, ballons and funny colourful monsters.  MissLizzie was a bit shy with her first monster but relaxed as she met more of the colourful characters who adorn the packaging of the new range.

We were walked through different set tables and shown the range.

 

Following a quick chat about the new products we ventured into a tasting room.  MissLizzie was feeling very important to be a 'taste tester'.

One by one the different foods were brought out and using the paddles we had (green for yum and red for yuck) MissLizzie voted for them.

And it seemed everything got a green 'yum' from our little VIP for the session.

I liked the new range as a Grandmother. When the little people come to visit I like to have some 'kiddie' food in the fridge for convenience and wouldn't have any hesitation buying this range knowing their parents would approve.  I like to offer little treats and they wouldn't know I had chosen some healthy ones either.

It was a long journey to Leeds for this session and MissLizzie was quite tired but a balloon in the colour of her favourite monster colour put a smile on her face!

Here is what Asda had to say about their new range and the blogger event ...
http://youtu.be/S6HZ2Rut3vg

I didn't receive any payment from Asda to write this post and all opinions are my own.

A Fun Lunchtime with Warburtons - Sandwich Alternatives

I love sandwiches, for lunch as traditionally eaten but breakfast and supper are great times for a sandwich too.  In fact feeling peckish - pick up a couple slices of bread and put your favourite in the middle and there you go, the perfect snack.

Sandwiches were reported to have first been served to John Montagu, 4th Earl of Sandwich (1718-1792)  by his butler to give him something to eat to avoid him having to leave the gambling table when he was hungry.  They are great to take out with you to eat away from home especially if you don't want to get stung for high food prices in snack bars and restaurants and they can come in all sorts of shapes and sizes.

Warburtons, family bakers, have gone one step further to the traditional loaf and now have a range of Sandwich Alternatives which include Square Thins, Square Wraps and Pitta Pockets, all in wholemeal and white.  These products let you use your imagination at sandwich time. 

I don't like a lot of bread but need something to hold the slices of ham and cheese or peanut butter and jam! For me the Square Thins are perfect.  I have been buying them since they first came out and often pop some in the freezer to have when I need to make a sandwich for work.

Warburtons invited myself and some other bloggers to Food at 52, a great cookery school in London to 'play' sandwich time!  We were greeted with this major ingredient layout

and during our morning with chef James Ramsden we made and ate lots of sandwiches.

The first challeng we were given fa ree range to create our own perfect lunch.  I made a tripple decker with roast beef with horseraddish, roasted peppers and topped with pastrami with pickles.  I needed a step ladder to reach the top! It was certainly delicious.

Next we tackled "British with a Twist".  Some of my fellow sandwich makers came up with outstanding combinations.  Michelle made an open Spam and fried egg on square thin. Genius!  My sandwich was a 'deconstructed' Coronation Chicken. Chicken, mango chutney, lettuce, walnuts and the twist was a slice of mozzarella.

Our third and final session we were tasked with 'International'.  Again there were some really inventive sandwiches made.

Mine was a Caribbean style using the large square wraps.  I made a very tangy and slightly firey mayo, added crab meat and cooked tiger prawns, sliced avacado and chopped corriander.

I folded the wrap over and garnished with slices of mango. How Caribbean is that?

I came away with loads of ideas for future lunches using those great Sandwich Alternatives!  Think I am becoming a 'Lunchonista'! (more about that later).


**I was paid to attend this event and was sent some Warburtons products to try at home prior to the event.  I was not required to blog about this event and all the opinions and photos are my own.**

Mason Triumph - Supporting Women since 1886

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Triumph have the bra for the way you are! That was their slogan for years and now they are giving back to women, those who make things (their passions) and those who inspire other women.

I was recently invited to an event to celebrate London Fashion Week and some very influential women, one of whom was Gizzi Erskine.

Gizzi is a chef, cookbook writer and television personality who has worked her way up in a very male oriented environment. Gizzi grew up in Thailand, which is where her love of exciting, fusion flavour and alternative recipes comes from.

Gizzi cooked her signature spicy chicken wings for us and talked to us about her journey while she cooked.

Gizzi has a new book out called "Skinny Weeks and Weekend Feasts" with a plethora of delicious recipes designed to be easy to re-create at home.  If they are as tasty as her spicy Korean chicken wings then you will not be disappointed!

Gizzi and Paloma Faith are amongst the inspirational women who will be mentoring sucessful applicants in their individual genres.

Triumph have set up a 'pop-up' shop Maison Triumph near Leicester Square in London, which as well as selling some up to the minute lingerie also tells how they are helping and mentoring women.

'Women in Making' champions fantastic women across a variety of creative disciples, their strengths, creativeness and femininity.
 

You can show your support for their campaign here.

Maison Triumph opens on 12th September 2013 at 57/59 Monmouth St, 7 dials,
London WC2H running until the end of December 2013. For further information
please visit www.facebook.com/triumphlingerie<http://www.facebook.com/triumphlingerie>