Friday 27 July 2018

Hula Hoops Puft Sweet Chilli review

Hula Hoops Puft's initially came out around a year or so ago with the intention of being a lighter and healthier version of the original snack. I tried a few different flavours when they were released and thought that they were a fairly decent snack but I wasn't overly impressed and I cant say that I found them particularly filling. Having said that, when I saw the new sweet chilli flavour was released I was more than happy to give them a try seeing as each bag contains only 71 calories, contain no artificial flavours, colours or MSG and are cooked with sunflower oil.


I opened the bag and saw that like the other varieties there were "pufft" up hoops inside. There wasn't a massive amount in the 15g bag but then again for only 71 calories I didn't expect there to be. They had a light slightly red dusting from the sweet chilli flavour and there was a subtly spicy smell.


Onto the flavour, to be fair these tasted pretty good. Like the other flavours, these are probably the wrong snack to reach for if your feeling a bit hungry, however if your just fancying the taste of a savoury snack then these are pretty ideal. The sweet chilli flavour was fairly prominent and although these were far from spicy there was a gentle heat that I enjoyed. Although I'm not racing out to buy these again, I cant say that I wouldn't be tempted to pick them up again in the future, especially if they were on offer! If you're a hula hoop fan who likes sweet chilli flavour and are keen to try out a slightly healthier snack then I would recommend trying these out. These would probably also be an ideal snack for kids if they don't mind a slight bit of heat. Overall I was fairly impressed with these and they are a nice addition to the Hula Hoops brand.

Thursday 28 June 2018

Kaspa's UK Banoffee Cookie Dough review

Banoffee and cookie dough.... 2 desserts that make me salivate at the mouth and so just the thought of the combination of these treats got me more than a little excited. Kaspa's is an American themed dessert diner serving ice creams, crepes, waffles, milkshakes and more. Their large menu is the stuff of dreams for anyone with a sweet tooth like mine, however as I previously mentioned a Banoffee cookie dough sounded just too good to pass up!


Served with fresh vanilla ice cream, this dessert cost £5.50 and although it did take a little while to arrive, when it came it looked well worth the wait. The portion was very generous and my cookie dough was topped with plenty of toffee sauce and milk chocolate curls. I took a bite and it was just warm and gooey with melted chocolate chips throughout. The bottom of the dessert had sliced banana pieces that went well with the sweet and gooey chocolate chipped cookie dough. This wasn't boiling hot but just warm enough that I could tuck straight in without burning my mouth. The whippy vanilla ice cream that came alongside it was also light and tasty, complimenting the rich cookie dough flavour and heavy, gooey texture. This dessert could easily be split between 2 but I have to admit I polished it off myself quite happily! My only complaint is that there wasn't really that much of a banoffee flavour. It was basically a standard cookie dough with a few pieces of sliced banana at the bottom. Although delicious, I think the cookie dough itself could have done with a little banoffee or toffee flavour to truly make this an amazing dessert. Having said that, I will certainly be returning to Kaspa's to try out some of their other very tempting sounding goodies!

Sunday 24 June 2018

Propercorn Chocolate review

I am  a massive fan of the entire Propercorn range and so couldn't wait to try out this new chocolate variety. With only 1wy calories per 26g bag, these are also a pretty guilt free snack. This fairtrade opcorn is gluten free, suitable for vegetarians, made from all natural seasonings and dusted with cocoa and demerara sugar.


I opened the bag to see plenty of dark brown popcorn pieces. There was a slightly earthy cocoa smell which wasn't what I expected but then again having never tasted chocolate popcorn, I didn't really know what to expect! This bag of popcorn had the usual crunchiness that I know i can always count on Peppercorn for. The flavour however was quite surprising because it was nowhere near as sweet as I imagined a chocolate flavoured popcorn would be. The flavour was more of a raw cocoa and so although not unpleasant, it just wasn't the sweet chocolatey snack that I imagined this would be.


In all honesty this is probably my least favourite flavour from the Peppercorn range bit even so I happily finished off the bag. It wasn't sweet but it also wasn't savoury so I'm just not sure where this fits. Although slightly more-ish I can't say that I am rushing to pick this up again. Having said that, I think that anyone who is a fan of rich and authentic cocoa flavours would love this and even though it wasn't my favourite variety, I'm still glad I tried it and it made for a bit of a novelty treat!

Tuesday 12 June 2018

Marks & Spencer's Coconut Chicken & Mango Sunshine Wrap review

Around this time of year, M&S always release a new range of summer themed wraps and I have been keeping my eye out for them. This year, one of the new additions is this coconut chicken and mango wrap. Although I'm not the biggest fan of mango, my love for both coconut and M&S meant that I had no hesitation on picking this up when I needed an easy on the go lunch. Consisting of a pumpkin tortilla, chicken, coconut chutney, spinach and a coconut & lime mayonnaise it didn't even sound like the mango was a dominant flavour in this wrap and I was looking forward to trying it.


Opening the packaging up I think the mixture of bright, vibrant colours explains why this is labelled a "sunshine" wrap. It was also filled with mixed beans, some mango salsa and couscous. Its fair to say that M&S did not scrimp on the filling as the wrap was packed and I was impressed by the large chunks of juicy chicken. The best way to describe the flavour of this wrap, is to liken it to a Thai green curry. It didn't taste as I expected it to but it was still delicious and the more I ate, the more I realised it tasted exactly like a Thai green curry in a wrap.


I loved the combination of all of the different ingredients from the beans and chicken which provided a little heat, to the cool coconut lime mayonnaise and sweet mango chutney. All of the ingredients tasted fresh and this even count towards one of your five a day! The ingredients are also all sourced from Great Britain but even with all of these extra bonus's aside, this was a filling and tasty lunch that I cant wait to have again. I highly recommend trying this whilst its around and it is an ideal flavoursome lunch for a hot (and rare) summers day.

Sunday 27 May 2018

Prezzo Monte Bianco Black Pizza review

Having seen this Black base pizza advertised on all the Prezzo posters, it's fair to say that I was more than curious to try it. Made from activated charcal dough, thus pizza is topped with a bechamel sauce base, mozzrella and truffle oil. It is supposed to come with rocket on top too but I asked for it without since I am not a big rocket fan.


The pizza cane promptly and I was impressed with how large it Was. It was very strange to see the black base but I was interested to see how it would taste. I took my first bite and didn' really know what to make of it. It wasn't massively different to a standard pizza base but it did have a slightly more earth-y flavour. It was really crispy and far from un-enjoyable but I don' know if I would order it again. The mozzrella and bechamel sauce made for a slightly overwhelmingly cheesy flavour so I did feel slightly queasy by the end of it however I'm still really glad I got to try it. It's a bit of a novelty but it did have a slightly deeper and more interesting flavour. This is also definitely one for any cheese lovers out there and I only wish that I did like rocket because I think the sharp, peppery flavour of the rocket was needed against the strong and creamy cheese toppings.

Thursday 24 May 2018

Costa UK Vanilla Milk Whip review

I never thought I would see the day that I went into Costa and ordered a non-coffee related drink, however after already having 2 latte's and the blazing sun beating down on me, this did indeed happen over the hot weekend! I opted for a vanilla milk whip which sounds essentially like a vanilla milkshake. I didn't realise when I ordered this drink that it is made from whipping skimmed milk into a mousse like texture and so is a lower calorie option. I'm not sure if these drinks are aimed at children or not but who doesn't love a milkshake!


The drink came and I took my first sip and am happy to say that I really enjoyed it. It was sweet with a strong vanilla flavour and the foam-y, mousse-y texture that topped the drink made for a nice change to a standard milk drink. I would never have known that this was made from skimmed milk or that it was a lower calorie option. If I'm honest this would probably have stopped me trying it since I normally avoid skimmed milk at all costs so I'm really glad that I tried it without knowing. I would happily order this again if I fancied a sweet milky drink over summer and this drink is one to be enjoyed by both children as well as any adults with a sweet tooth like myself.

Friday 11 May 2018

ASK Italian Pea & Prosciutto Risotto Special review

Risotto is one of my favourite meals and I order it regularly when I go out for an Italian. The only downside is there are usually the same varieties wherever you go i.e mushroom, chicken or seafood, meaning that they can often get a bit same-y. However, on my recent visit to ASK I was delighted to see this pea and prosciutto risotto appear on the menu as one of their spring specials. I knew instantly that I had to order this dish described as a vibrant pea and asparagus risotto, topped with crispy smoked prosciutto and baby watercress. This can be ordered without the prosciutto making it an option for vegetarians too.


Wow, they weren't joking when they said "vibrant". The risotto came and was a bright green colour with the deep pink prosciutto standing out on top. The portion was a decent size and I was eager to tuck in. I took my first bite excitedly and .... it was decent. In al honesty I was a little disappointed. I think that it could have used a little more seasoning because all in all the risotto itself was a little land. There were only a few pieces of prosciutto which was as described crispy and it had a lovely smoky flavour but there just wasn't enough of it to add a lot of flavour to the meal. The risotto was the perfect texture and the watercress on top was a lovely touch but in all honesty I doubt that I will e ordering this again. I love that ASK have ventured out and added some new risotto options to their menu but this one still needs a bit of work. A little more seasoning could have completely changed this dish and made it amazing and like I said it was decent enough, I just think that there are much better options on the menu than this new spring special.

Thursday 3 May 2018

Danone Light And Free Pomaberry Yogurt review

I have tried other varieties of these light and free Greek style yogurts from Danone before and generally I have been really impressed. I have always found these to be thick, creamy and flavourful. As a matter of fact, I usually find it very hard to believe that these are a fat free yogurt. The blueberry variety are probably my favourite and so when I saw this new addition to the range made from pomegranate, blackberries and raspberries I was pretty sure that I would enjoy them. These contain 0% fat as well as having no added sugar and are suitable for vegetarians. They come in a pack of four and this variety is an Orla Kiely edition. Not only do the pots come with a pretty design on but they also provide the opportunity to win a £5000 shopping experience simply by entering the codes on the tops of the lids online.


I was excited to try these and I have to be honest I was a little disappointed. They weren't unpleasant however they are probably my least favourite from the light and free range. They had a mild berry flavour however I think there is a reason that pomegranate, despite being the main reason that I wanted to try these, is not a common yogurt flavour. There was a tartness that I didn't really like and I think that pomegranate is just not a sweet enough fruit to be a dominant yogurt flavour.
All in all these were a decent enough yogurt and I did finish them all but I wont be buying them again. The pots are very pretty and they have a fair mixed berry flavour but there was a lack of dominant sweet berry flavour that you get with other fruits such as a strawberry or cherry that ended up making these a little bland. I am still a fan of the range and even these had the usual thickness and small pieces of fruit that I always enjoy but in my opinion this flavour is a bit of a let down.

Tuesday 24 April 2018

Marks & Spencer's Wood Fired Pizza - Abergavenny Goats Cheese & Balsamic Onion review

I have tried a few of these ultra thin wood fired pizzas from M&S before and have always really enjoyed them. They are perfectly sized for one and they are generally slightly more unusual flavours. Being a massive goats cheese lover, I had to try this new addition to the range made from welsh goats cheese with balsamic onions and a sticky fig chutney.


This pizza only requires 15-20 minutes in the oven and came out looking as followed. This pizza does not have a standard tomato base like most pizza's do so the dominant flavour was definitely the creamy goats cheese. Although it did lack the sharpness of a standard pizza because of the cheesy base it was still delicious. There was a generous amount of cheesy topping and also plenty of flavoursome balsamic onions that added a strong and rich burst of sweet mouthful every time I ate one.


This is a great addition to the wood fired pizza range and the slow rising sourdough was thin and crispy as promised. Not being a big fan of figs I was worried that the fig chutney would out me off this pizza but in all honesty I didn't even notice it, I think it just added a sweetness to the large chunks of balsamic onion. The size f this pizza means that it isn't a ridiculous portion and so is pretty guilt free and due to the richness of the flavours I didn't feel like I wanted more at all when I had finished. M&S have impressed me yet again and any goats cheese lovers like myself are bound to find themselves returning to the shop to buy this again after trying out.

Thursday 19 April 2018

TGI Friday's UK Californian Chicken Club review

TGI Friday's has always been one of my favourite places to go for a big pig out meal and so I always look forward to going there. On my recent visit, this Californian Chicken Club caught my eye. This hot sandwich is served in a brioche bun and consists of a chargrilled chicken breast, cheese, bacon, spicy guacamole and comes with an avocado dipping sauce. Being an avocado lover I knew I had to try this out and I chose to upgrade to sweet potato fries for my side.


The meal came and I have to be honest, it was a lot smaller than TGI Friday's portions generally are in my experience. Gluttony aside, at the end of the day its all about the taste and this left me feeling rather.... flat. It was fine just pretty boring. There was hardly any guacamole on the burger or in the dipping pot and it also didn't have a lot of flavour despite the promise of spice in the description. The chicken breast was well cooked and a decent size but the flavours of the cheese and guacamole blended together so much I couldn't really taste either of them. The brioche bun was soft and light and the bacon was smoky and crispy but all in all I far from loved this meal. In my opinion there are much better options available on TGI Friday's menu and I for one certainly wont be ordering this again.

Wednesday 11 April 2018

Fuel 10K Low Sugar Crunchy Peanut Porridge Pot review

I have tried a few varieties of the Fuel porridge range before and have always found them pretty good. For convenience, I generally buy the potted versions since they just require hot water making these an ideal breakfast to take to work. This is a new addition to the range which claims to have low sugar and is flavoured with crunchy peanut pieces, natural sweeteners, rolled oats and plant proteins. Considering one of the major downfalls of on the go porridges is that they are noticeably high in sugar, Fuel could be on to a real winner with this new addition to the range. This porridge is also dairy free as it is made from coconut milk as well as being suitable for vegetarians and vegans. On closer inspection to the label, this 60g pot contains only 1.3grams of sugar and is also high in protein and so is indeed a lot healthier than the majority of porridge pots available.


I prepared the porridge by adding the boiling water, stirring and waiting for a few minutes. I can honestly say that I was really impressed with this porridge pot and thought it had a delicious and authentic peanut flavour. It was surprisingly sweet which must be down the natural sweeteners and there wasn't that nasty artificial sweetness that a lot of reduced sugar products have. The peanuts were definitely the dominant flavour to this porridge but they also added a lot in terms of texture as the pot was filled with small crunchy peanut pieces. There were plenty of chunky oats and this was not only a very tasty breakfast but it also kept me full throughout the morning. I will definitely be picking up some more of these porridge pots for work and think that they are great for any peanut lovers who are after a convenient, healthy and enjoyable breakfast.

Sunday 1 April 2018

Lounges Granola Breakfast Bowl review

Amongst all the chocolate this Easter, I found myself wanting something a little lighter whilst out for breakfast. The Lounges chain was founded by three friends in 2002 and since then they have opened numerous restaurants all with a very quirky yet cosy interior design. On this visit I opted for the Granola Breakfast Bowl which consists of granola, Greek yogurt and berry compote and is topped with a sprig of mint. It costs £4.25 for the dish, which alongside the rest of the brunch menu is actually served all day!


My breakfast came and there was a fair amount of granola with just the right proportion of yogurt and berry compote to stop the texture from being too dry. It was very well presented and although there are certainly more excited options available on the menu, this was exactly what I needed. It was a light yet satisfying meal that arrived quickly and I would recommend this if your looking for something a bit different to a typical cooked breakfast. My only criticism would be that I would have preferred this breakfast bowl if it had a little extra something sweet such as a drizzle of honey to go alongside the nutty granola and slightly sharp Greek yogurt. The berry compote had decent sized chunks of fruit throughout that added a juiciness as well as the tart berry flavour. The Lounges chain is one that I would definitely recommend trying for brunch if you're at a loose end one morning due to the large variety of options available and the warm feeling interior.

Friday 30 March 2018

Caffe Nero Salted Caramel Cheesecake review

Since its now officially Easter weekend I decided to treat myself on my recent visit to Caffe Nero to this salted caramel cheesecake. I believe it is a new addition to the menu because I don't think that I have seen it in store before. The website describes this as a creamy caramel and white chocolate cheesecake topped with a salted caramel sauce. It looked too tempting to resist with the pretty swirled pattern on top and so I sat down to eat it hoping that it would taste as good as it looked!


It was sweet and creamy but in all honesty it didn't taste particularly of salted caramel and I wouldn't have known that there was any white chocolate flavour in it had I not read the description. It had a sweet caramel flavour but in my opinion it could have done with a little more salt. The base was the ideal proportion to the cream cheese filling and had a good crumbly texture but was still firm enough to put a fork through meaning it wasn't too messy to eat. The cheesecake itself was soft but had that jelly like wobble that you would expect from a typical coffee chain dessert. Overall this made for a tasty little pick me up when I was in need to something sweet but I cant say that it was anything spectacular and I wouldn't rush out to have it again. I polished it off quite happily and did enjoy it however it was a fairly forgettable dessert but one that any caramel lovers will probably enjoy.

Monday 12 March 2018

Itsu Prawn Crackers Mild Wasabi review

Wasabi is a flavour I am only just coming around to liking so I was slightly nervous about trying these new wasabi flavoured prawn crackers. These come from the Itsu brand who specialise in nutritious foods and their tag line is "Eat beautiful". There is a very detailed description of how these are made which includes mixing and then rolling out prawns, flour and water then sliced and dried. The crackers are then flash fried before adding seasoning. It is nice to know how these are made however the important thing is how they taste.


I opened the packet to see plenty of light prawn crackers with a slight green tinge. The crackers were light and crunchy and I was impressed with the amount of crackers in the bag, especially for just 95 calories. These had a distinctive wasabi flavour with a good amount of heat without being overly strong. This means that they are able to maintain a tasty, buttery flavour without burning your mouth off!


I love prawn crackers as a snack and these individual bags from Itsu have definitely converted me to being a wasabi fan. These are a slightly more unusual snack but I really did enjoy them. The heat from the wasabi built up the more crackers I ate but still didn't become too pungent. I would highly recommend these prawn crackers to any wasabi fans and I will be looking out for anymore unique products From the Itsu brand after trying these.

Sunday 11 March 2018

Muller Rice Limited Edition Cherry Bakewell Flavour review

I love a cherry bakewell as an afternoon pick me up and seeing as Muller Rice are possibly my favourite everyday dessert, my eyes lit up when I saw this new limited edition flavour on my supermarket shelf. This low fat dessert is made up of Muller's standard creamy rice pudding with the addition of a cherry bakewell sauce. I was interested to see if this would have a "bakewell" element or if it would just taste like a standard cherry sauce and having made the decision to eat this cold I dug in almost immediately.


On lifting the lid I was surprised and excited at just how much this did smell like a cherry bakewell. There was a mild almond-y scent and when I gave it a stir the cherry sauce was all gathered at the bottom. I took a bite and although the flavour of a cherry bakewell wasn't as strong as the smell, it was still there. The rice itself was exactly what you would expect from the Muller range meaning it was thick and delicious and the cherry bakewell added a lovely sweetness.


Overall Muller have certainly achieved what they set out to do with this flavour. It replicates the cherry bakewell flavour well I just wish the flavour was a little stronger. It is one of the sweeter varieties from the range and although this isn't my favourite limited edition flavour, I really did enjoy it and would happily finish it off again!

Thursday 8 March 2018

ASDA Chocolate Orange Flavoured Milk review

I do love a milkshake, especially when I'm after something sweet but cant face the heaviness of a stodgy dessert. I saw this new chocolate orange flavoured milk when I was passing through ASDA and couldn't wait to try it out. When I got home, I happened to see some negative reviews on their website regarding this product but since I had already bought it I figures I had nothing to loose by at least trying out this once.


This flavoured milk drink is made from 1% fat milk, is a source of calcium, suitable for vegetarians as well as being free from any artificial flavours, colours or hydrogenated fats and so there are certainly a lot more unhealthy treats available. I took my first sip and was instantly glad that I bought this before I saw the negative reviews as I thought it was really tasty. The flavour is almost identical to a Terry's chocolate orange and was a lot thinner than a lot of branded milkshakes which I personally didn't mind as it made it easier and more refreshing to drink. It did have that slight "gloopy" texture that most supermarket milkshakes have but I was honestly pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this drink. For only 60p this is well worth picking up for any chocolate orange fans out there and I personally would happily buy this again.


Thursday 8 February 2018

Halo Top Peanut Butter Cup Ice Cream review

I have seen online that there has been a massive fuss about these new Halo Top ice creams that are available at Tesco. I have been keeping an eye out for them but they have been sold out every time I have tried to buy a tub. On my latest shopping trip however there had been a fresh delivery so I ran to grab a pot and I couldn't resist starting with this peanut butter cup variety. Costing £5 per 473ml tub this is a pretty pricey ice cream but seeing as it contains only 320 calories for the whole tub, I had to see if it was worth it! Ben & Jerry's are infamous for their amazing peanut butter ice cream so I had to see how this would compare.


This ice cream is made with sweeteners and so has only 5.9g sugar per quarter of a tub so a lot less than your standard ice cream. It is also high in protein, gluten free, kosher (dairy), suitable for vegetarians and free from artificial sweeteners, flavours or colours. Is it just me or does this sound too good to be true?!


I lifted the lid and tasted the ice cream and have to admit that it was true to its description. It tasted very similar to my favourite Ben & Jerrys flavour although in all honesty, it isn't quite as good and doesn't taste quite as luxurious! Having said that however, it is still a really tasty peanut butter flavoured ice cream with plenty of chunks of peanut butter chunks throughout. This is well worth trying and I will definitely be seeking out the other flavours but I'm not sure if any ice cream is quite worth £5 per pot if I'm completely honest. This is a great new product and I really did enjoy it so if you're happy to fork out for it, then I can highly recommend it!

Monday 29 January 2018

Costa UK Coconut Vanilla Latte review

With dairy free alternatives becoming increasingly popular in coffee shops, Costa have introduced coconut milk to their menu. For my first taste of coconut milk coffees, I opted for this coconut vanilla latte which is served topped with coconut chips and vanilla seeds. This drink comes standard in a small latte glass and is only 111 calories per drink and so is also great for anyone watching their calorie count.


I have heard that coconut milk is very watery and so was slightly concerned that this drink would lack the creamy flavour and texture of a standard latte. On my first sip, although I did notice that it had a slightly more watery taste than a standard dairy milk latte, it was still really tasty and I really wasn't bothered by it. The coconut flavour was certainly there but was also quite subtle and the vanilla added a nice sweetness. The coconut chips on top were a great little touch and I will definitely be ordering more of these now that all of the festive coffees have left stores. I highly recommend this drink to any coconut lovers and it is great to see more dairy free alternatives available for those with intolerances.

Wednesday 24 January 2018

The Collective Limited Edition Pear 'n' Maple Yogurt review

I have only ever tried one yogurt from The Collective dairy range and although it wasn't unpleasant, the lack of sweetness meant that I haven't been tempted to pick up any other varieties since. Despite this, the unusual flavours of pear and maple in a yogurt resulted in me caving and buying this 150g individual pot. This gourmet yogurt combines The Collective's signature creamy yogurt with a William pear and maple syrup conserve and also contains a pinch of sea salt.


I lifted the lid and the two sections were easily distinguishable. There is a spoon included with the pot and so I tasted each section separately. Maybe its because I knew what to expect this time but I did enjoy the standard yogurt more than I remembered. It was very thick and creamy with a slight vanilla flavour and subtle tang. The conserve was delicious with a sweetness that wasn't overpowering it worked perfectly against that sharpness of the standard yogurt. I cant say that I particularly noticed any maple or salty flavours but the pear definitely had an enhanced sweet flavour. There were small chunks pf fruit throughout the conserve that were also a great addition to the texture.


Trying this limited edition flavour has certainly changed my view of The Collective Dairy company and I am now much more inclined to pick up their products in future! As an added bonus, 5p from every tub goes to  The community Heartbeat Trust who are working to provide defibrillators to local communities. This Yogurt was not only delicious but is also made from natural ingredients, is suitable for vegetarians and is gluten free. This limited edition product is one that is well worth picking up whilst it is around in my opinion.

Friday 19 January 2018

Walkers Sensations Poppadpms Mango & Red Chilli Chutney review

Walkers Sensations are one of the slightly more sophisticated brands of crisps available and a firm favourite of the majority of people that I know. Being a slight exception, I personally am not massively keen on them but being a poppadom lover, I decided that these mango and red chilli chutney mini poppadoms were at least worth a try. Promising a sweet spicy aroma, a fruity mango flavour and a warmth from the chilli I was eager to taste these. I opted for the multipack variety with 6 bags inside. These poppadom are made from potato, chickpea & rice flour, are suitable for vegetarians, contain no artificial colours and are MSG free so you don't have to worry too much about any naughty hidden ingredients.


I opened the pack and there weren't a lot of mini poppadoms in the 16g bag but then again for only around 70 calories I didn't expect a lot more. Having said that, there were enough in the mini bag to satisfy a savoury craving of one.... as long as your not particularly hungry. I could smell a slightly spicy flavour as promised and so took y first bite. These were light and crispy in texture with that familiar poppadom snap. The flavour had a subtle heat that certainly wont blow your head off but it had just the right amount of heat. The mango flavour isn't strong and instantly noticeable but is lingering there in the background providing a slight sweetness that works really well against the mils chilli.


These are actually quite a nice little snack to have in the cupboard on a cold and dark evening. Although not particularly filling, poppadom's generally aren't a snack that you would turn too when feeling hungry so these certainly do a good job at providing a light savoury snack. Although I am not a sensations fan, I would recommend these and happily pick them up again.

Saturday 13 January 2018

ASK Italian Sausage Cannelloni review

ASK Italian is infamous for its lasagne amongst my friends and family, however I do like to try something new and so I was more than happy to try out this new sausage cannelloni on my recent visit. Filled with sausage ragu, baked with tomato and basil sauce and topped with crème fraiche, this al forno pasta costs £11.95 and is served with a side salad. I don't think that I have ever heard of let alone tasted a sausage cannelloni before and so was interested to see what a sausage ragu would be like. 


This dish came and looked pretty impressive. The tomato and basil sauce was thick and sweet with a slight tang from the basil. The pasta had crisped up perfectly in the oven on the outer layer but remained soft and chewy on the inside. The sausage ragu had a distinctive herby yet meaty flavour that was really tasty, especially when paired with both the tangy sauce and creamy crème fresh. At first I didn't know what to make of the texture of the sausage in a soft ragu form but the more of it I ate the more I enjoyed it. This dish had a rich meaty flavour yet wasn't too heavy to eat due to the light and crispy pasta. I really enjoyed this new addition to the ASK Italian menu and is well worth trying if you are a pasta lover and fancying a change from your standard Italian al forno. 

Thursday 11 January 2018

Tesco Limited Edition Gingerbread Flavour Milk review

Now that Christmas is officially over, all of the festive products are being cleared from the shelves and so I have been determined to get my hands on them all before they disappear for another year. One product that I really wanted to try as this limited edition gingerbread milk from Tesco's which is available in individual sized cartons making it convenient to drink on the go, or in a litre bottle to store in the fridge. This is a 1% fat drink that has no artificial preservatives, flavours or colours and is also a source of calcium and vitamin B12. Being a lover of gingerbread latte's I was eager to try this drink but also slightly nervous that the ginger flavour would be a little overwhelming without the coffee element to balance it out.


I gave the carton a good shake, took my first sip and was slightly taken back by the spiciness of the drink. I then had more of an idea of what to expect so took another sip and actually really liked it. This is exactly like a liquid form of gingerbread and so if you like gingerbread then you will love it, if you don't like gingerbread then this drink definitely isn't for you! It had quite a thick texture but I really enjoyed the spiciness of the drink and although it was still pretty sweet, it is a lot sharper than most milkshakes that are available like your typical caramels and strawberries. This is worth trying while it is still available for any ginger fans and I'm glad that I got round to trying it.