Costa UK Clementine Drizzle Loaf Cake review

In amongst all of the last minute Christmas shopping chaos, I was in dire need of a festive pick me up and so I headed towards the bright any shiny Costa sign in the hopes of a sugary treat. Having already over indulged in chocolate this year, I decided to try something a little more delicate sounding so I opted for this clementine drizzle loaf. This sponge is made with a clementine compote and is topped with cream cheese and orange curd frosting as well as chopped pistachio's.

I find Costa's cakes can be a bit hit and miss in terms of freshness and on this occasion it was a definite miss. The sponge was incredible dry and actually inedible. I hate making a fuss or taking things back but on this occasion I had to and it was replaced with another loaf which in all honesty wasn't much better. The sponge itself had a tangy clementine flavour that made for an interesting change but I couldn't get past the dry texture. The sharp orange curd frosting worked really well against the sweet cream cheese and I liked the addition of the crunchy pistachio's and so it is a real shame about the dry sponge. Had I had this cake on a different occasion I may have felt differently as I liked a lot of elements about it, however this visit has put me off trying this clementine loaf again.

Iceland Stonebaked Ultra Thin BBQ Pulled Pork & Pineapple Pizza review

It is very rare that I buy a bake at home pizza and this is purely because as a general rule they are no where near as good as a proper take-away pizza. Having said that this ultra thin pizza from Iceland caught my eye due to the combination of pulled pork, BBQ sauce and pineapple which is a pretty interesting combination. Seeing as I love all elements of this pizza I thought that I would give it a go and I also enjoy a very thin pizza so this was an added bonus. At only £1.59 and taking only 12-16 minutes to cook, this is also a pretty cheap and easy dinner choice.

I cooked the pizza for the recommended time and this was the result. The pizza wasn't the largest in size but I would say that it is perfect for just one. The pizza was indeed ultra thin and it was very crispy in parts and even though I turned it throughout cooking, some parts seemed almost burnt in places whereas other parts were only just cooked. There was a tang from the BBQ sauce but all in all the BBQ flavour was very mild. There was plenty of pineapple and I was impressed with the amount of tender chunks of pulled pork however I personally would have liked a little more cheese on top.

This was a decent enough meal, especially considering the price and I was more than happy to finish it off. Having said that however, this is far from the best pizza that I have ever and I wont be rushing out to get it again, in fact I think I will stick with a takeaway and splurge out a little more next time that pizza craving hits!

Shaken Udder Salted Caramel Milkshake review

Salted caramel is probably the new go-to flavour for most companies and I for one have no objection to this! I love the sharp edge that salt adds to the sweet and sugary flavour of caramel and so this milkshake from the shaken udder company was something I have had my eye on for a while. Made from Maldon sea salt and containing no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives, with less than 5% fat, I picked this up when I had a craving for something sweet. This can also be enjoyed by vegetarians and those with a gluten intolerance.

I was worried that this would be a little too sickly since caramel flavoured milk can often have a slightly artificial taste but I took a sip never the less. I soon learnt that there was no need to be concerned and this was absolutely delicious! The main thing that I noticed is that this was genuinely a "salted" caramel and I could taste the tang from the Maldon sea salt. The overall flavour was still very sweet but I didn't find it too sickly by any means. This was a creamy and refreshing drink that I would definitely recommend trying if you enjoy salted caramel as much as me.

Revolution de Cuba Baked Fish review.

Having recently moved house, there have been a serious lack of posts recently but now that things are settling down, I decided to start back up with this new dish from Revolution de Cuba. I cant say that this Latin American bar is somewhere that I would typically go for food, however after a few cocktails I was pretty easily persuaded. I opted for this baked hake served with spinach, paella rice and asparagus topped with pico de gallo and lemon wrapped up in a banana leaf.

I will start by saying that I am not into this recent trend of serving food in banana leafs as it just gets in the way and I end up making a mess when trying to get at my food! Putting this aside, I tucked into the dish and was very pleasantly surprised. The hake was cooked perfectly meaning that is was soft, flaky and fell apart in my mouth. It also had a lovely flavour which was really enhanced by the lemon. The paella rice was also cooked well and was very flavoursome without being too heavily spiced and therefore overwhelming the fish. The tangy and sharp flavour of the pico de gallo also added to the spice level and so I was glad that the hake and paella rice had not been too heavily seasoned.The portion size was also just right and so filling without being so large that you cant manage a few cheeky drinks afterwards. The spinach and asparagus were a nice addition to the dish and I am happy to say that I really enjoyed this meal and would definitely consider eating here again in the future.

Ambrosia Deluxe Rice With Spiced Apple review.

Ambrosia rice's are one of those desserts that are handy to have in the back of the cupboard for when you fancy a little treat. I have tasted the standard apple Ambrosia rice plenty of times and it is a fairly decent dessert but nothing spectacular. However, the deluxe custards from Ambrosia are absolutely delicious and so I was keen to see if the deluxe spiced apple rice would be on the same level.

This rice pot can be eaten hot or cold, is suitable for vegetarians, contains no artificial colours or preservatives. It is described as being Ambrosia's most luxurious thick and creamy rice pudding made from west country cream and being a lover of cinnamon I was excited to see the addition of spiced apple. I lifted the lid and expected to see a layer of spiced apple compote at the bottom of the pot but after stirring, I realised the flavour must be throughout the ice since there was no layer of apple. I took my first bite and if I'm completely honest, this wasn't any better than the standard apple rice. In fact, I think I actually prefer the stand version since I could barely taste any apple in this. The focus of this rice has clearly been put on the thickness and creaminess which is great but does mean that the spicy apple flavour was barely even noticeable.

This was slightly thicker and creamier than the standard ambrosia rice and I think it might have been better if I had heated it up but even so, it was still no where near as creamy as say a Muller rice and so Ambrosia really missed a trick here not emphasizing the spiced apple. I would definitely recommend buying the deluxe custards over this rice if I'm being completely honest, because even though this wasn't an unpleasant dessert, there are much better varieties of rice pudding available. I did finish off the rice and if one appeared in the cupboard again I would probably tuck in to it when I had a craving for something a bit sweet, this just isn't a product that I would go out of my way for to buy again.

Marks & Spencer's Chestnut Roast Wrap review

I often buy wraps from M&S when I fancy a slightly fancier lunch than a standard cheese sandwich and I have to admit that I am always impressed with how tasty they are. I saw that M&S had released their festive sandwich range and I saw this slightly more unusual chestnut wrap. 5% of the money of this wrap is also donated to homeless shelters and so you can also give to charity just by eating! Made up of mixed grains, grape and cranberry chutney on a red pepper tortilla wrap, I don't think that I have tried a sandwich like this before and so wasn't sure what to expect.

I opened up the wrap and it was... well.... disappointing. It wasn't unpleasant by any means but it just tasted pretty. There was a nutty flavour and the wrap was well filled but I cant help but feel it would have benefitted from a more flavoursome chutney because I couldn't really taste any grape or cranberry. The tortilla was soft and I liked the ever so subtle red pepper flavour but if I am honest there are much better options from the M&S wrap range. This is one of your 5 a day and a vegan product, so its great that M&S are increasing their vegan range, however I personally wouldn't buy this again.

Costa UK Salted Caramel Cappuccino review

It's that time of year again and the Christmas coffee's are officially out! With so many to get through while they are available its hard to know where to start but the salted caramel cappuccino from Costa seemed as good as place as any! Made with salted caramel syrup and a salted caramel fudge crumb, this sounded like the perfect little pick me up now that the weather has started to get a bit chilly.

This cappuccino was perfectly frothy and I really did enjoy it. It definitely had a bit of a tang to it but I liked that it was noticeably "salted" caramel rather than just the regular syrup. The fudge crumb on top was my favourite part, adding a sweet, salty and chewy element to this coffee. This isn't the most exciting coffee that I have ever had but it was tasty and made for a nice change. This is ideal for anyone who is a fan of salted caramel, or those who don't quite feel up to trying some of the more unusual flavoured coffees available at the moment.

Off The Eaten Path Caramelised Onion & Balsamic Vinegar Pea & Pinto Bean Sticks review

Okay so that's a pretty long title for what seems to be just a bag of crisps and so I will get into the make up of these snacks a little more. These are a bag of Pinto Bean, Green Pea and White Bean Sticks with a caramelised onion and balsamic vinegar flavour. Being a lover of caramelised onion I decided to give these slightly more unusual snacks a try. These are made from real vegetables, are high in fibre and don't contain any preservatives and so sounded like a relatively good choice.

The sticks themselves basically look like crunchy tubes that differ slightly in colour to each other between white, orange and green colours. They were pretty chunky but also really light in texture. They had a great crunch and the flavour was tasty. I cant say I particularly noticed any caramelised onion but they had a slightly milder salt and vinegar taste. There were plenty of sticks in the bag and in all honesty I had already munched through a few by the time I thought to take this picture.

These sticks from Off The Eaten Path certainly made for a nice change and I would happily finish off another bag in the future. I would recommend these to anyone who is a fan of salt ad vinegar snacks, or even someone more like myself who just likes to try something a little more unusual now and again.

Muller Rice Limited Edition Chocolate Orange review

It has been a while since I have last had a Muller rice and I'm not sure why considering how much I always enjoy them. Considering that these are a low fat and a source of calcium, they are definitely one of the healthier options when choosing a dessert. This limited edition version is a chocolate orange flavour. I was hesitant to try this variety since I don't usually enjoy the chocolate Muller rice's very much. I find they are often not quite sweet enough for my personal taste, with the exception of the recent limited edition chocolate hazelnut flavour which I absolutely loved.

This newest limited edition flavour has a chocolate orange flavoured sauce which sits at the bottom of the pot as with all Muller rice's. I mixed the sauce in with the rice turning the creamy rice a chocolatey brown colour. There was a strong scent of both orange and chocolate that really made me want to tuck in. I took my first mouthful and am happy to say that it was actually pretty delicious. The orange added the sweetness that the plain chocolate variety normally lacks, resulting in a rich and creamy chocolate orange flavour.

This was a welcome addition to the Muller rice range that I really enjoyed and would highly recommend trying whilst they are available. There were plenty of pieces of rice throughout the dessert and I really think that this is one of the best tasting limited edition flavours that has been released for a while.

Yo Sushi Albacore Tuna Nigiri review

Being a massive sushi lover, its hard to believe that I have never visited Yo Sushi seeing as it is one of the most popular sushi restaurant chains around. You take a seat and can either pick an item off the conveyer belt or ask for it to be made fresh in front of you. The dished are all on different coloured plated symbolising the prices of the item. This Tuna Nigiri is just an item I chose to ease myself in with to figure our how the whole system worked. This is one of the smallest and cheapest  items available from Yo Sushi and consists of quick seared Albacore tuna served on sushi rice and topped with truffle ponzu and spring onions.

The dish came perfectly presented and so I picked up my chopsticks to take a bite. The tuna was soft and flaky, practically falling apart in my mouth. The rice was soft with a slight stickiness just as sushi rice should be. This is far from the most exciting dish on the menu but it was still pretty delicious and is a good base to start on. This dish allowed me to see that the sushi was of a good quality and all tasted pretty fresh and it was even nicer seeing it be made fresh in front of me. I tried some other dishes after this that were absolutely great and more unusual than this Nigiri but based on this experience of Yo Sushi, I would definitely return.

Caffe Nero Ginger Loaf Cake review

As I continue to work through all of the Autumn inspired products around at the moment, tis ginger loaf cake from Caffe Nero was next on my list. Ginger cake is something that I have only recently started to like and so I was hoping that this wasn't going to put me off. This is a wheat free cake that is made with stem ginger pieces, topped with candied peel, cranberries and icing. It was a dark, golden brown colour and had a strong ginger and mixed spice smell. The friendly staff offered me the option of having this loaf toasted with butter but I opted to try it how it came.

I took my first bite and decided that this loaf cakes makes for a perfect autumn pick me up when you need a break from festive shopping. It was soft yet filling and I loved the mixture of sweet and spicy flavours. The candied peel and cranberries on top were welcome treat adding a lovely chew to the texture and a burst of sharp flavour every time I ate one. The drizzle of icing was a great finishing touch and added a little extra sweetness to the spiced loaf. I cant imagine any ginger fan having any problems with this cake and I would happily tuck into one of these again on a dull, grey day. Maybe next time I will try it toasted with a little butter!

MOMA Coconut & Chai Porridge Pot review

I have only tried Moma porridge on a couple of occasions and have never rushed out to buy it again. This is mainly because I find it a little bland and often have to add sugar or some kind of sweet ingredient to it. Having said that, my newly found love of coconut as well as seeded textured porridge made me cave in and purchase this coconut and chai porridge pot made with jumbo oats and coconut milk powder. This pot is therefore dairy free, gluten free and has no added sugar and is a new addition to the Moma range.

I added boiling water, stirred and waited as I would with any other form of breakfast pot. Now in all honesty, the porridge did thicken up a lot more than it looks like in the picture so don't let that put you off. There was an intense coconut smell and after another good stir I dug my spoon in. The coconut flavour was not as strong as the smell but definitely still present. The chai seeds added a lovely chew to the texture which for me personally was great. This still wasn't the sweetest of porridges but it did have a nice coconut and almost nut like flavour which I really enjoyed.

This is my favourite of the Moma porridges that I have so far tried and I would actually pick this one up again. This came in a 60 gram pot and was actually very filling and kept me going all morning without any problems. This is worth trying for any coconut fans out there especially if your looking for something lower in sugar and as an added bonus this can be enjoyed by anyone with a dairy intolerance. This porridge has also won a great taste award and so I am not alone in my enjoyment of this product and it has actually tempted me to start trying more from the Moma brand.

Costa UK Cakesplosion review

I have started to see new autumn inspired items in local restaurants and cafes and  I always get excited to start tasting them because it means that Christmas is on the way! Costa Coffee have released a few new items including this Cakesplosion which is described as a sticky toffee sponge with  dark chocolate brownie pieces, cream cheese frosting and dulche leche caramel. Wow! All of this is one cake sounded too good to be true so I rushed out to try it almost immediately after finding out about it.

The cake was one of the larger options from Costa and it did look pretty impressive. The sponge felt soft and moist to touch and there were large chunks of brownie on top. The sticky toffee sponge tasted amazing and the sweetness of the flavour worked really well with the rich flavour of the brownies. The cream cheese layer and frosting was thick and delicious. The sticky dulche leche was plentiful and oozed out of the sponge complimenting the creaminess of the frosting really well. I was also pleased to find small pieces of  cookie on top and throughout the sponge which added to the texture. This is quite possibly the sweetest, richest cake I have ever had so be warned a lot of people would probably find this was too sickly but I am absolutely obsessed with it. This Cakesplosion is sticky and any caramel lovers dream and I cant recommend it enough but just bear in mind that this is a diabetics nightmare so only try this if you have a very, VERY sweet tooth.

Nairn's Snackers Smoked Paprika review

I have previously tried and enjoyed other flavours of Nairn's Snackers but was intrigued when I saw these new Paprika variety start appearing on shelves.  These are a small and baked biscuit/cracker like snack which are made from wholegrain oats and so high in fibre. Like the other varieties of the range these are gluten free, suitable for vegans, coeliacs. These Snackers are also free from artificial colours, flavourings or presrvatives, hydrogenate fat, GM, and each bag has only 101 calories! Since I don't actually have any intolerances, its all about the actual taste of these snacks for me so I bought an individual bag to try them out.

This 23g sized bag cost 60 pence and there were plenty of small crackers/biscuits inside which had a faint red dusting from the paprika. They also had quite a strong Smokey smell which made me want to tuck in. They had the same crunchy, yet slightly crumbly texture that the other varieties of Snackers have which I really enjoy. The flavour was also great and these had a strong paprika taste which worked really well with the mild flavour of the oat-y base.

These are a nice addition to the Nairn's range and I would recommend them to anyone whether they have special dietary needs or not. These had a lovely barbeque like paprika  flavour and are a handy little on the go treat that isn't too naughty! The low calorie count is an added bonus, the only downside is that I think that these have replaced the caramelised onion flavour which was my personal favourite! Putting my disappointment of the loss of the caramelised onion flavour aside, I would probably buy these again if I was craving an on the go savoury snack.

Go Ahead Goodness Bar Coconut review

I have never been a massive fan of the Go ahead brand as I personally find the standard Go ahead bars a bit too bland and flimsy. Despite this, something made me buy these new Goodness bars when I saw them on offer and I decided to go for the coconut flavour. These are made from 100% natural ingredients including oats, raisons, coconut, dates and cashew nuts and contain only 115 calories per bar. This bar is also gluten free, suitable for vegetarians and high in fibre so there is no need to worry about any artificial additives included in them.

The bar itself looks like any typical fruit and oat bar..... not the most attractive but it was true to the description and a decent size. It smelt strongly of coconut and I could see flecks of oats and raisins throughout. I took a bite and am pleased to say that I really enjoyed it. It had a slightly chewy texture and although I could taste the raisins and a slight nuttiness, the coconut was indeed the dominant flavour.

All in all I am really impressed with these bars and would definitely recommend trying them, especially if you are health conscious and don't like eating a lot of processed foods. These are a healthy and convenient little treat that are genuinely tasty and I happily finished off the box.... completely guilt free! These goodness bars may even have converted me to the Go ahead range and I would now seriously consider trying more of their products in the future.

TGI Fridays Crunchy Fries Extreme Heat Baked Snacks review

TGI Fridays is one of my go-to restaurants for a good pig out meal and I generally leave there both satisfied and stuffed. In the US TGI Fridays sell some store bought goods which are slowly starting to make their way over to the UK. I found these snacks in the American food isle at my local supermarket and couldn't resist picking them up with the promise of TGI's delicious and naughty flavours from the comfort of my own sofa!

These snacks are actually baked and so not as naughty as I was expecting and actually contain only 210 calories and 1g saturated fat per 42.6g bag. These are both gluten free and kosher as well as containing 0 trans fat. These packet states that these crunchy fries will"set your taste buds ablaze with the sweet burn you crave". That sounded pretty good to me so I opened the bag and tucked in.

The fries were a dark orange colour and I could smell the spice instantly on opening the bag. I tasted the fries and if I'm honest I was disappointed. They were spicy but the flavour itself wasn't particularly tasty. These did fulfil the heat element that I was expecting without completely burning my mouth but I cant say that I really enjoyed the taste. As excited as I am to see TGI Fridays products coming available in the UK I cant say that these are a product that I wold buy again. Overall these are a fun novelty idea but a bit of a let down in terms of the actual product in my opinion.

ASK Italian Calzone Formaggio Di Capra review

I do love an Italian and with ASK Italian being one of the most popular chains around I expect to have a good meal when I visit. Although I love calzone it is something that I very rarely have but on this occasion I decided to go all out with the Calzone Formaggio Di Capra which contains goats cheese, aubergines, roasted peppers, tomatoes, spinach, tomato sauce and mozzarella. This is a vegetarian option on the menu however I am just a little obsessed with goats cheese and so chose this over any of the meatier options.

The calzone came served with a small portion of salad and dusted with parmigiana cheese. It was a fairly big portion although far from the largest calzone I have ever had. The dough itself was deliciously crispy yet chewy with a lovely buttery flavour. I cut it open and the filling itself was a little lacking. There was a decent amount of goats cheese, mozzarella and peppers but there was next to no sauce, aubergine or spinach. In fact, I had to dig around to get a picture that looked as generously filled as this one does.

This was a pretty decent calzone but I wouldn't order it again purely due to the lack of filling. I loved the filling which was tasty, there just wasn't anywhere near enough of it. This hasn't put me off returning to the restaurant and I had an overall nice experience but this was nothing to rave about and I am unlikely to order a calzone again from ASK.

Wall's Minions Bello! Banana & Vanilla Ice Creams review

I am always up for trying a new banana flavoured product and when ice cream is involved I am even more keen to try it! These minions Bello ice creams were released around the same time of the movie release but I am only now getting round to trying them. These come as a pack of 4 ice creams quite small in size but that is probably because they are designed for children, however they were still big enough to satisfy and sweet banana-y cravings. These are the push up style ice creams so come on a plastic stick in a cardboard holder that you slide down the ice cream as you are eating it.

The ice cream itself is a mix of pale yellow and white swirls representing the banana and vanilla flavours. I tasted the ice cream and was actually very pleasantly surprised. Since these are a Wall's product I should have realised that these would taste of a pretty good quality but I didn't realise that these would taste as creamy as they did. The banana flavour was sweet and delicious however it was actually quite mild when mixed with the banana preventing that artificial banana flavour which is noticeable in banana products. These made for a lovely little after dinner treat and although they are not the most sophisticated of products, they are well worth a try if you love banana flavoured goodies as much as me.

Urban Fruit Straight Up Coconut Chips review

Having recently developed a coconut obsession, I knew as soon as I saw these coconut chips in my local supermarket that I had to try them. These chips have been sprinkled in sea salt but are triple toasted rather than fried, are high in fibre with no refined sugars. These are also suitable for both vegans and those who require a gluten free diet and so seem to tick all of the boxes! Urban Fruit are a London based company and this is the first time that I have tried any of their product so I didn't know what to expect.

I opened the bag and the smell of coconut hit me making me think the flavour was going to be too intense. There were plenty of crispy coconut pieces inside of different sizes in a pale yellow like colour and I was impressed with the texture. They were crispy but seemed to be slightly softer than a generic crisp. Now, down to the flavour! I took my first bite and to be honest I didn't know what to think. They definitely tasted of coconut but also like salt! I took another mouthful and came to the decision that I love them! These are a really weird combination of sweet yet salty with an underlying coconut flavour and I found them incredibly moreish.

I think that these are a love them or hate them product and they are certainly unique but I personally haven't stopped craving them since I tried them! They are surprisingly sweet for a salty snack which I can imagine a lot of people would find too weird but any coconut lovers should at least give these a try. I cant stress how much these are a strangely delicious product but I for one am now a huge Urban fruits fan and will be seeking out more of their products in future.

Rude Health Almond Butter With Sea Salt Porridge Pot review

I have heard of the Rude Health brand before but don't think that I have ever bought any of their products. I looked into the brand and it turns out that this is a London based company who focus on clean eating so avoid using any artificial flavourings, preservatives, colourings or additives in their products. This is pretty impressive and with porridge pots being my staple breakfast when I'm working, the sound of the addition of almond butter and sea salt sounded amazing!

As with most porridge pots this required the addition of boiling water and a good stir. I waited a couple of minutes and took a bite. The texture was good and thick with large chewy oats. The flavour was very nutty and I could definitely taste the almond flavour, although if I'm honest I was slightly disappointed that it didn't really resemble almond "butter". The sea salt element was very subtle and mild but it did add a slight tang that I quite enjoyed. This is worth trying if you are after a nutty flavoured porridge with the added bonus of a lack of artificial flavourings. My only warning is that this is more of an almond and sea salt porridge in my opinion as I couldn't detect any almond butter flavour at all. All in all this is a fairly decent pot of porridge.

New Pasta n Sauce Pot Chicken & Mushroom Flavour review

Pasta n sauce is one of those easy go-to meals which generally every British household has at the back of the kitchen cupboard. Although they have a bit of a bad reputation, I have to admit that I actually quite enjoy them and an added bonus is that they are low in fat unlike most packet pasta/noodle snacks. The chicken and mushroom flavour is one of the most popular and these new pot versions are even more convenient since they only require boiling water, a quick stir and a few minutes patience.

I added the hot water and a word of advice.... make sure you wait long enough for the pasta to soften otherwise it remains uncooked and crunchy. This tasted just as you would expect from a chicken and mushroom pasta and sauce. Creamy with a mild chicken and mushroom-y flavour that I was surprised at how much I enjoyed. This new pasta pot surprised me with how much it tasted like the original product but with even more convenience! Its not the most filling of meals and it's not anything spectacular taste wise, however it was tasty and stopped me feeling hungry for a good few hours. These are a handy on the go lunch and if you are a fan of the regular Pasta n Sauce meals then these are definitely worth a try.

Zizzi Ravioli Di Capra review

Zizzi's is one of my favourite Italian chains to visit and I have had quite a lot of options on their menu, however I like to always try something new and so on my most recent visit I ordered the Ravioli Di Capra. Being a little obsessed with both goats cheese and pesto I don't know what has taken me so log to try this dish consisting of spinach and goats cheese ravioli in a tomato sauce and topped with green pesto and pine nuts.

The dish came fairly promptly and there were also a few green and red cherry tomatoes amongst the pasta. I wouldn't normally choose to eat tomatoes but they were well cooked and covered in the pasta sauce and pesto and I actually didn't mind them. The pasta was cooked perfectly, soft yet not soggy and an interesting green colour due to the spinach. The goats cheese made for a creamy filling which worked perfectly against the strong pesto flavour. I was pleased at the amount of pesto that was drizzled on top of the pasta but this sis mean that it was the most dominant flavour of the meal. There were only a few pine nuts but it still added a nice bite to the texture. The overall flavour of this dish was delicious but definitely one for any pesto lovers out there. Although not massively filling I really enjoyed it and its something that I would certainly consider ordering again.

Haagen Dazs Strawberries & Cream Ice cream review

Okay, so we may not be having the hottest of summers here in the UK but that doesn't mean that we should miss out on enjoying as much ice cream as possible! This is especially true when the ice cream is from the Haagen Dazs brand and the product flavour is "strawberries and cream" and so is perfectly themed for the summer season. This is described as being rich, gorgeous strawberry ice cream with sweet summer strawberries. Being a lover of Haagen Dazs strawberry cheesecake ice cream I was eager to try this although I expected it to be a slightly more plain version of this.

I lifted the lid and saw the pale pink coloured ice cream. When I stuck my spoon in and dug around I was impressed with the amount of large frozen strawberry chunks. I don't think that I have actually tasted Haagen Dazs strawberry ice cream before but it was really delicious. Sweet and fruity but somehow the "cream" element of this ice cream really shone through. This really was a creamy strawberry ice cream that tasted incredibly luxurious. The strawberry pieces added a burst of flavour every time that I got a mouthful and added a welcome chew to the texture.

I expected to find this ice cream a little boring but am more than happy to admit that I was wrong. This is a rich, creamy and sweet ice cream that I would highly recommend to any strawberry lovers. This definitely lives up to the high quality standard that Haagen Dazs are known for and makes for an ideal summer time treat.

Marks & Spencer's Valencian Orange & Almond Cupcakes review

After not posting for a little while due to a chaotic couple of weeks I will try my best to make up for it starting with these cupcakes from M&S's spirit of summer range. These "moist orange zest and almond cupcakes come as a pack of 2 and are topped with orange frosting and candied orange peel. Although I am not a massive lover of orange I regularly buy M&S's mandarin and orange pancakes which I think are sweet yet zesty and delicious. I also love almond and so the addition of this flavour in the product name made these too tempting to resist.

These cupcakes looked very pretty and were decorated in a floral like pattern. I took y first bite and the sponge itself was indeed very moist. It had a slightly dense texture which I think works really well for cupcakes and so these were quite filling. The flavour itself did leave me slightly disappointed however. The sponge had a sweet orange flavour but if I'm honest that's all I could really taste... no almond. The frosting was thick and creamy and had a tangy orange flavour and I liked the addiction of the candied orange and the texture worked well against the heavy textured sponge.

These cupcakes weren't bad by any means but I would only recommend these to someone who really is a lover of orange. I think that I was just really disappointed by the promise of the almond flavour which just wasn't noticeable at all. If these had just been labelled as orange cupcakes then I may have been more impressed (although to be honest I probably wouldn't have bought them). These tasted of a high quality as most M&S products do, however these aren't to my personal taste and so I doubt that I will be buying these again.

Pronto Cinnamon Instant Cornmeal Mix review

I have never tasted cornmeal before but have seen people eat it on American television shows. I saw this in the foreign food isle at my local Tesco I decided that it might make a nice change from my usual porridge. This is prepared in the same way as a typical porridge pot and requires just boiling water, a good stir and a few minutes of patience. It can also be made with cold water and a microwave. On reading the label I saw that this product originated from Jamaica and is described as Quick, convenient and nutritious. It also states that this pot is "enriched with vitamins for extra goodness". This surprised me considering it has 24g of sugar per 60g pot.

I added water stirred and waited and was surprised at the result. The texture of this cornmeal was incredibly odd and like nothing that I have had before. It was thick and gloopy with almost a wet sand like texture. I took a bite and it seemed quite gritty although the more I got used to it the more I preferred it. The flavour of the cinnamon was quite mild and it wasn't overall as sweet as I had expected.

This is a really unusual product and at £1.10 per pot I don't think that this would be something that I purchase regularly, however I am glad that I got to try it. It was surprisingly filling with a subtly sweet yet spicy flavour but for me personally the sand like texture was just a little too odd. This is a bit of a novelty product and although I did happily finish it off, I don't know how likely I am to buy it again. Having said that if you like trying new and unusual foods then this is probably worth seeking out.

Starbucks UK Limited Edition White Mocha Cold Brew review

This iced coffee beverage is a limited edition iced drink which was the EMEA Barista Champion 2016. I have not yet tried any of the summer range iced brews as I am not the type pf person that would order a black coffee and so the thought of iced espresso brew sounded too strong for me. Having said that, the promise of the cold brew alongside white mocha with cinnamon topped skimmed milk foam was too tempting to at least try.

The drink looed pretty appealing with each layer clearly visible. There was a thick layer of white mocha syrup on the bottom beneath the espresso brew and then a thick foamy layer and a generous amount of cinnamon. I took a sip and was surprised at how impressed I was. I recommend giving it a good stir otherwise the thick layer of syrup at the bottom is just too sweet (and that is not something that I often say). After I had stirred it the sweetness spread to the brew which although was quite rich was no where near as bitter as I had worried and the addition of the cinnamon flavour was a welcome treat. The foam was light and frothy and also worked really well against the intense coffee flavour. This is a really great drink for any serious coffee fans with a sweet tooth and personally I am disappointed that it is only a limited edition drink. This is only on the menu until the 12/07/17 and so I would seriously recommend trying to get hold of one while you can.

Muller Corner Limited Edition Goes Nuts review

Muller corner's are rarely my pudding of choice because I would generally rather have something more luxurious. Having said that however, Muller corners have a slightly thicker texture than Muller lights and so when I saw this limited edition pistachio flavoured yogurt I thought it was at least worth a try since it is a more unusual flavour that I haven't seen before. The corner of this dessert was caramelised crushed almonds and so the "goes nuts" name seems pretty appropriate.

The yogurt itself had a pale green colour but I have to admit that I was pleasantly surprised with the texture as it was thicker than I was expecting. I tasted the yogurt by itself and it tasted creamy with a subtle pistachio-y flavour. The almonds were sweet, crunchy and there were just the right balance between the amount of almonds in proportion to yogurt. The flavours worked together really well creating an overall sweet and nutty flavour with a creamy yet crunchy texture.

I think that this is probably the best Muller corner that I have ever tried and I am really surprised at how much I enjoyed it. This is definitely one for any nut lovers out there and I loved the slightly more unusual pistachio flavoured yogurt. The caramelised almonds were delicious and I would definitely recommend giving this dessert a try whilst it is around as I don't think that I have had one like it before.

Mr Kipling Summer Trifle Slices review

Mr Kipling is one of the only long standing men in my life and his products are a classic staple of the typical British family home. The Mr Kipling range often release seasonal products depending on the time of year and this summer is no different. Being a lover of the angel slices I decided to give these trifle slices a chance since they are currently on offer in practically every supermarket. Described as a strawberry sponge with raspberry mallow filling topped with custard flavoured icing these sounded pretty unique and I was eager to tuck in.

These come individually wrapped and so are perfect for lunchboxes, as an on the go treat or just to make sure that they maintain their freshness. They looked really cute with the pale pink and pastel yellow colours and the texture was soft, light and spongey. If I'm honest however, these left me feeling a little flat. The strawberry sponge was nice but very sweet so be warned but I cant really say that the raspberry mallow filling was particularly noticeable. The custard flavoured icing was slightly smooth and chewy but again it didn't really add a lot to the flavour.

Don't get me wrong these are a perfectly fine little novelty treat but I cant say that I have any intention of buying them again. They are incredibly sweet so be warned and I imagine that kids would love them so they're great for lunchboxes. I think I was just left disappointed because I didn't really feel that these resembled trifle in any way. These have a very sweet overall strawberry flavour and I did end up finishing them off but more out of convenience and I personally feel that there are much better options out there from the Mr Kipling range.

ASDA Super Sundae Banoffee review

I am in the process of working through the new range of desserts at ASDA and being a banoffee addict my eyes lit up when I saw this super sundae. This dessert comes with 2 long plastic spoons either side so I presume that the idea is that it is shared between 2 ( mine was most definitely not). This sundae included everything naughty and sweet you can imagine including white chocolate mousse, toffee cake, banana mousse, shortcake, toffee pieces, cream, toffee sauce.....I mean wow! It was also an impressively large size (for 1 anyway, if you share its probably just enough to satisfy your sweet tooth.

I honestly don't know where to start when explaining how amazing this dessert tasted! The toffee pieces were chewy and delicious. The toffee sauce was sweet and runny enough to work ell with the texture of the thick yet light mousse. The toffee sponge was moist and flavoursome and I loved the texture of the crumbly, buttery shortcake. The flavour was incredibly. A perfect combination of banana, toffee and creamy flavours but be warned you need an extremely sweet tooth to finish off this sundae.

This sundae had every texture that you could imagine and at only £2 is probably one of the most indulgent desserts that I have ever had. The combination of textures and sweet ingredients have made this my new favourite dessert. This banoffee sundae is an amazing addition to ASDA's dessert range but best avoided if your on a mission for a summer body. This gets a definite 10/0 for me and I am dribbling just thinking about eating it again!

Quaker Overnight Oats Blueberry & Cranberry Pot review

Porridge pots are a popular breakfast choice in the UK as they as filling and convenient. Unfortunately, the hot weather that we have had recently just isn't suited to a meal as hot and stodgy as porridge. Quaker however have come up with a solution to this by introducing their new overnight oat pots. I do often make my own overnight oats and cant say that it is particularly difficult or time consuming, however if I'm particularly tired I often forget to do it. These pots require 25ml milk and need to be left for 2-12 hours and so are pretty convenient if like me you often forget as these only need 2 hours and they are ready to eat.

I left my oats for about 6 hours and this was the result. They had quite a thick texture and when I stirred I could see that there were quite a few small berries throughout. The oats were large,  perfectly chewy and the flavour of the oats was a lot sweeter than I expected. I am not normally a fan of overly sweet porridge so I was surprised that I didn't mind this and I actually found them really tasty.

Although I can understand how a lot of people could be put off by the sweetness of these overnight oats, I was actually pretty impressed and did enjoy them. They still need to be prepared in advance and so aren't really a lot more convenient than making your own (which is actually probably a lot cheaper too), however it does save some time and they did have a lovely flavour. I would buy these again in future for an easy summer breakfast but if you don't have a sweet tooth then these probably aren't for you.

Marks & Spencer's Honey & Ricotta Cheesecakes review

I am continuing to work through the new M&S spirit of summer range and next on my list were these 2 honey and ricotta cheesecakes. These looked pretty luxurious and were a little more pricey than your typical supermarket cheesecake but since M&S products usually are of an exceptionally high quality, I was prepared to fork out. These ricotta cheesecakes have an oatmeal base, are topped with pecans, almonds, pistachios and a honey drizzle.

I took these out of the box and they were ridiculously sticky, I literally could barely get them out of the box. It seemed as though the honey had sort of leaked through the base and these were stuck on the cardboard but at the end of the day, these are about the taste. There was a large cluster of sticky nuts on the top but the oatmeal base was disappointingly thin, almost non existent in places. They were relatively small in size but big enough to fill that sweet craving I often get after meals.

I took a bite and these were really tasty. The honey was noticeable yet not overwhelming and worked really well with the creamy cheesecake filling which had flecks of vanilla right through. The nuts on top were delicious and sticky and I enjoyed the added crunch of the texture. The oatmeal base was also lovely with a sweet and cinnamon-y flavour but it was just a shame that it was so thin. These cheesecakes were really enjoyable but I don't know if I would buy them again purely because I think they were quite overpriced. The oatmeal base was so thin that I was really surprised because I expect a lot more from a brand as highly respected as M&S. A good product that might impress guests but personally I feel that there are better and cheaper options on the market.

Alpro Classic Coconut Soya Dessert review

I regularly buy Alpro soya desserts, not because of any intolerances but because I really like the taste. Alpro have added this new coconut flavoured dessert to their range and having recently been converted to coconut products, I was eager to try it. This 100% plant based dessert is naturally low in
fat, free from colours, preservatives and lactose so is a pretty guilt free choice of puddings! An added bonus is that this dessert also is a source of calcium and contains vitamins B2, B12 and D.

All of this aside, I really just wanted to know if it was tasty! I lifted the lid and saw the thick, white creamy texture of the dessert. There wasn't much of a scent to the dessert so I was surprised as to just how strong the coconut flavour was when I tasted it. I took my first mouthful and didn't know if I was going to find it a little too coconut-y but after another mouthful I decided that I actually really liked it. The coconut taste was strong but the overall flavour was sweet and creamy.

These are a great addition to the Alpro desserts range and great for a slightly different summer time dessert. These desserts are also suitable for those with a gluten free diet but I would highly recommend them to any coconut lovers out there. I enjoyed the tropical flavour of these desserts and the flavour kind of resembled a non alcoholic pina colada so I hope that this new flavour of desserts is a permanent product and not just a summer edition.