Posts tagged Pasta

Degustabox May 2014

7 years

by Naomi in Degustabox, Food

I’m a little bit late with it this month, but here is my review of the May Degustabox, which unlike this post arrived on time towards the end of last month! The May box was a lot more savoury than April’s, but it contained some really lovely stuff, most of which I’d never tried before.

May’s Degustabox contains ten brands, and thirteen individual items, with a total value of £21.46. However, the box costs just £12.99, so you’re making a pretty big saving whilst getting to try some new, exciting foods! Here are my thoughts on each item…

Cawston Press Cloudy Apple Drink (RRP £1.00)

Cawston Press featured in April’s Degustabox with their Rhubarb and Apple drink, which was absolutely gorgeous, so I was happy to find another offering from them in the May box. Like the Rhubarb drink, this Cloudy Apple version contains no preservatives, additives or artificial sweeteners, and is made from fruit juice combined with sparkling water. The drink isn’t overly sweet, rather, it has a slightly sour tang, but it’s nice. I don’t like it as much as the rhubarb flavour, but I’d still have it again as it’s lovely and refreshing when chilled.

Taylors of Harrogate Blackberry & Elderflower Tea (RRP £2.99)

I really enjoy trying new teas and infusions, so this was another addition to the box that I was happy to see. Taylors of Harrogate have a range of teas created in partnership with experts at Kew Gardens in London, and this Blackberry & Elderflower blend is one of them. The box contains twenty individually wrapped tea bags, so they’re ideal for popping in your bag when travelling, or going to work. The flavour mix is really pleasant, offering a kick of blackberry with a subtle aftertaste of elderflower. Perfect for summer when you fancy something light, rather than a big mug of breakfast tea with milk.

Raw Energy Chewing Gum (RRP £0.99 per box)

Raw is a sugar-free gum, which contains taurine and vitamin B, to give you a boost of energy on the go. I absolutely hate energy drinks, especially those containing taurine as it makes me feel funny, so when I saw that these were basically a condensed version of an energy drink I was quite worried. However, I decided to give them a go anyway. They smell like Red Bull (yuck), but they taste slightly fruity (although that energy drink flavour is there too…), but to be honest they’re not that bad. They keep their chewy consistency for a long time, and they didn’t make me feel any different despite the taurine. That, for me, is a bonus, but if you actually want an energy boost from them you may struggle to get it.

Hornsby’s Crisp Apple Cider and Strawberry & Lime Cider (RRP £5.00 for 4)

I haven’t yet tried these ciders, but I’m looking forward to enjoying them one evening with a nice meal. Hornsby’s is one of the leading ciders in the USA, and according to the bottle is an ‘American Classic’, best enjoyed straight from a chilled bottle. The Degustabox contained two flavours – Crisp Apple, and Strawberry & Lime, which I imagine will be my favourite. If I like these I’ll definitely repurchase them, as at £5.00 for 4 bottles they’re really affordable.

Kettle Sweet Chilli Sweet Potato Chips (RRP £2.49)

Kettle crisps are fab, and root vegetable crisps are fab, so combine the two and they’re a winner from the start. Kettle’s Sweet Chilli Sweet Potato Chips contain 50% less fat than their usual potato crisps, and are free of MSG, and artificial flavourings and colours. Sweet chilli happens to be my favourite crisp flavour, and combined with the sweetness of the sweet potato it works really well. The chips are thin and crispy, and very moreish, and are a great alternative to potato crisps if you fancy something healthier and different.

Finn Crisp Original Sourdough Rye Crispbread (RRP £1.29)

I wasn’t exceptionally excited by these when I first discovered them in the box, but they’re surprisingly tasty. Finn Crisp are a Nordic brand who use only natural ingredients to create healthy snacks. Their sourdough rye crispbreads contain wholegrain, are low in fat, are packed full of vitamins and minerals, and are only 22 calories each, so they’re guilt-free and healthy (depending on what you top them with!) Unlike a lot of rye crackers, these aren’t at all dry, and are satisfyingly thin and crispy. I’ve been eating these as a snack topped with Lotus caramelised biscuit spread (yum), or soft cheese and cucumber, but they can also be used in baking and cooking to make crispy crusts. I would 100% buy these again!

Elizabeth Shaw Dark Chocolate Cocoa Crunch Flutes (RRP £2.59)

Elizabeth Shaw always reminds me of Christmas at my grandma’s house, which is a good thing. These slender flutes consist of rich, dark chocolate, and are studded with tiny nibs of crunchy cocoa. The chocolate is already full of flavour, but the nibs add an extra depth and crunch that make these an extremely luxurious treat. And only 23 delicious calories each! When I eat chocolate, I tend to eat quite a lot of it, but these are so rich I can only manage one or two, which I suppose is a good thing as it means I can savour them.

Dr. Oetker Cake Release Spray (RRP £2.28)

I’m yet to use this Dr. Oetker Cake Release Spray, but it is a genius idea! The spray is oil-based, and can be sprayed on the inside of cake tins and trays to grease them before pouring in the cake mix, making it easier to remove the finished product once it’s baked. For some reason I’ve always disliked rubbing butter around cake tins to grease them, as it can be messy and somewhat time-consuming, so this quick and easy greasing spray is the ideal addition to my baking cupboard.

Cirio Supercirio Tomato Puree (RRP £1.10)

A tube of double concentrated tomato puree… Not that exciting I know, but Cirio’s Supercirio is surprisingly good quality. I’ve used this on homemade pizzas and in pasta so far, and it has a vivid colouring, authentic tomato taste, and it isn’t acidic like some purees. A sound example of a good quality tomato puree.

Cirio La Classica Passata (RRP £1.35)

Passata in a plastic bottle seemed a little strange to me at first, but once I used it, it all became clear. There’s too much passata in this bottle to use all at once, but the plastic bottle makes it easy to pour and store, compared to the usual cardboard cartons that get messy and don’t keep well in the fridge. The passata itself is beautiful – packed full of flavoursome Italian tomatoes with a delicate sweetness. A lot nicer than the watery, bland stuff I’ve tried in the past!

Garofalo Pasta (RRP £1.89)

Yay! Pasta! One of my favourite ingredients to use in hearty evening meals. Garofalo is an Italian brand from near Naples, and have been making pasta since 1789, using durum wheat and bronze dies for shaping. I’m pretty sure these pasta tubes are rigatoni, as they’re large, ridged, and slightly curved tubes, and they are delicious served al dente.

Here’s an easy recipe for a summery pasta dish, using Garofalo pasta and Cirio passata…

Summer Vegetable Pasta

(Serves 2 people)

Ingredients:

200g Garofalo Pasta

250ml Cirio La Classica Passata

1 Courgette

1/2 Red Bell Pepper

1/2 White Onion

1 Garlic Clove

4 or 5 Sundried Tomatoes

1 sachet Oloves Olives

Method:

– Boil the pasta for 10-12 minutes.

– Meanwhile, chop and fry the courgette, pepper, onion and garlic until soft. Add the olives and sundried tomatoes.

– Add the passata to the vegetables to make a sauce, and simmer for a few minutes.

– Stir in the cooked pasta and serve immediately, with a sprinkle of cheese.

This is my third Degustabox so far, and though it isn’t as packed full of sweet treats as the last one, this is still a brilliant box, and once again everything in it is vegetarian! It was a pleasure to try so many new products and brands, and I’m pleased to have discovered a few new items to add to my weekly shopping list.

If you fancy giving Degustabox a go, you can get a £3 discount by entering code MZIIQ at the checkout. You can also follow Degustabox on Twitter and Facebook for more exclusive offers.

Naomi x

PS. You can check out the rest of my Degustabox reviews here.

*This Degustabox was sent to me by Degustabox for review purposes. All opinions expressed are honest and my own.*

Degustabox March 2014

7 years

by Naomi in Degustabox, Food

Last month I was given the chance to receive a Degustabox to review, and as a lover of food and surprises, how could I say no? Degustabox is a monthly subscription box which contains between 10 and 15 surprise food items, some of which are new to the market. Each box costs £12.99 including delivery, and there’s no obligation to keep your subscription.

So, the March box. My box was dispatched during the last week of March, and it arrived a couple of days later. The service I received during the delivery process was really impressive, as I was sent a couple of texts and emails to say that my box was on its way and when it would be delivered, and when it did arrive the items inside were chilled, so you don’t have to worry about anything going off in transit.

The box itself is really quite large, and comes packed full of items – I genuinely don’t think they could’ve squashed anything more in there! In total, I received 15 individual items, none of which are particularly high-end, but pretty much all of them were new to me, which was exciting.

Here are my thoughts on each…

Drink Me Chocolate Chai Latte (RRP £2.55) and Earl Grey Tea Latte

I was really excited to see these in the box as I already have Drink Me’s Spiced Chai Latte and it is gorgeous. The Chocolate Chai Latte is better though, and is my favourite thing in the whole box. The chocolate is dark and rich and slightly bitter, and the spices give it a hint of warming sweetness. It actually tastes exactly like Lebkuchen which are my favourite Christmas treat, so this is a definite winner for me.

I haven’t yet tried the Earl Grey Latte so I can’t comment on its flavour, but I have high hopes. Degustabox list these as being £6.50 for a multipack which seems quite expensive, but I checked online and they appear to be 32p per sachet in Sainsbury’s and Waitrose, which is pretty reasonable.

MOMA! Plain and Cranberry and Raisin Porridge (RRP £1.50 each)

These didn’t excite me at first, especially as I’m not keen on porridge made with water, but they’re quite nice. They’re easy to make too and perfect for a quick breakfast on the go – just mix with boiling water, replace the lid, leave for three minutes, and voila! Instant brekkie. The oats are mixed with milk powder so the texture is lovely and creamy, and the overall flavour is comfortingly sweet. The cranberries and raisins in the purple pot add a warm burst of fruitiness too. A thumbs up from me, but at £1.50 each I don’t think I’ll be eating them every day of the week.

Shaken Udder Kids Milkshake (RRP £1.89 for 3)

These little cartons of milkshake are perfect for kids. The packaging is appealing, they come with a chunky straw and they’re just the right size for little hands. I usually prefer thick and creamy milkshakes and these are quite thin in consistency, but they’re actually rather yummy. I haven’t tried the banana one yet, but the other two have a really authentic flavour, probably due to the lack of anything artificial. The chocolate one is my favourite so far. These came with a couple of vouchers for a free pack of three, as well as a free ‘grown up’ bottle, so I’ll definitely be cashing those in.

Schwartz Italian Creamy Herb Tagliatelle and Spanish Paella Flavour Shots (RRP £1.40 each)

A new addition to the Schwartz family, these little pots contain a blend of herbs and spices mixed with oil, to make cooking tasty meals quick and easy. I used the Italian Creamy Herb Tagliatelle shot earlier this week and it was so simple to use. The packaging has a recipe printed on it, and all you have to do is fry chicken (I used Quorn) in the flavour shot before adding sliced mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, creme fraiche and rocket, and mixing with cooked tagliatelle. The meal took about 15 minutes to make in total and was absolutely delicious. I highly recommend these!

Organico Italian Durum Wheat Pasta (RRP £1.49) and Tomato & Basil Pasta Sauce (RRP 1.99)

I’m yet to try these Organico products, but they’re both right up my street. Organico source organic food made with sustainable, good quality ingredients, so there are no hidden nasties to be found. I absolutely *love* brown pasta so I’m looking forward to using this, and the sauce looks fresh and beautiful. These are on my meal list for next week!

Mexican Dave’s Nacho Cheese Tortilla Chips (RRP £1.00) and Tyrrels Sweet and Salty Popcorn (RRP £1.80 for 6)

I’d never heard of Mexican Dave’s before, but after trying these tortilla chips I’ll definitely be looking for them again. They’re not as nice as Doritos in my opinion, but the flavour and crunch are fantastic, and they make excellent nachos! I had these last weekend baked with spicy salsa and cheese and they were scrumptious. In fact, I’ll be having them again this evening!

Tyrrels’ popcorn is a satisfying combination of salty and sweet, which may sound odd but it’s amazing. You get quite a lot of popcorn in the bag, but at less than 70 calories this popcorn is the perfect guilt-free treat. I’d probably grab a bag as part of my lunch or as an afternoon snack.

My only quibble with the March Degustabox is that it’s a bit too savoury. I have a sweet tooth and was hoping for some sweet treats to munch on, but the only sweet things in the box are drinks and porridge. Oh well, maybe next month. Other than that I’m really pleased with the box, and luckily for me everything in it is vegetarian, and all of it is yummy, so nothing will go to waste and everything will be enjoyed! As a current saver I probably wouldn’t buy a box every month, but as an occasional treat when you fancy some food inspiration, £12.99 isn’t bad. I definitely prefer Degustabox over the more costly yet smaller Flavourly box that I’ve tried once before.

If you want to know more about Degustabox and this month’s products, you can visit their website here. You can also find them on Twitter and Facebook.

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