Summer's here and the time is right for ... the July Degustabox ! (review)

The kids are on holiday, which means I have three constantly hungry stomachs-on-legs in the house for the next couple of months ! Perfect timing for the postie to deliver the latest box of foodie treats.

Unsurprisingly, there is a definite summer theme going on in this month's box, with lots of picnic friendly snacks and a variety of refreshing cold drinks to sample. The kids were hovering over my shoulder oohing and aahing as we unpacked the contents !

It's been so hot lately that I haven't felt much like slaving over a hot stove and the kids haven't wanted heavy meals, so we've been eating loads of salads and sandwiches. This bottle of Heinz Salad Cream (RRP £1.49) is therefore a welcome addition to the fridge. I used to eat a lot of salad cream when I was a kid, then we switched over to mayonnaise, so this was a bit of a rediscovery for me. I love the tangy flavour and the lighter texture.I thought the name was being changed to Sandwich Cream so I was pleased to see it's still called Salad Cream - it's been around for over a century so it seems a bit pointless to change the name now !

I don't necessarily think of soup as a summer dish, but miso is a light option that could be nice as a quick meal on a hot summer's evening. The box of Miso Tasty Red Miso Soup (RRP £3.75) contains four sachets of miso paste with warming spices, wakame seaweed and spring onions. Just add hot water and stir. It's glute,-free, vegan and only contains 45 calories.

 On to the drinks ...

Those who subscribe the alcohol version of the box received Rosie's Pig Flat Tyre Sparkling Cloudy Cider with Rhubarb (RRP £2). This is brand that I was unfamiliar with but that has featured several times in past Degustaboxes. Sweet but tart, it's a lovely refreshing drink straight from the fridge on a hot sunny Sunday afternoon.

 Ribena blackcurrant cordial has long been a family fave (when I was in a shared student house, I discovered hot Ribena, made with boiling water, but I still prefer it cold) but this was the first time we'd tried Ribena Sparkling (2 x £2.70), in both classic Blackcurrant and Pineapple & Passionfruit. Each bottle contains under 15 calories, which was a pleasant surprise. The kids loved these just as much as I did, but the target audience is adults, as they are sold in pubs.

This month's Product of the Month (or, in fact, Products, as there were two products from the same brand) are from the Capsicana Latin Flavours range. The Brazilian Paprika & Spices for Beef or Chicken (RRP £1) has a medium rating and is lovely as a rub or marinade for summer barbecues. The Mexican Guacamole Mix (RRP 65p) also has a medium rating and just needs to be added to one mashed up avocado. The Madhouse kids love guacamole - in tacos and fajitas, or just with tortilla chips, bread sticks or carrot sticks as a dip - but I usually make mine with mayonnaise, lime juice, garlic salt and the tiniest hint of chilli, as they don't like it when it's too spicy. I'll definitely be giving this a go though.

Percol Iced Coffee (RRP £1.50) is a great way for coffee-lovers to get their caffeine fix in the middle of a heatwave. We got Flat White, made with 100% Organic Arabica, but as nobody at The Madhouse likes coffee, I'll keep it in the fridge for one of our visitors to enjoy.

Pulsin is another brand that I have discovered through past Degustaboxes. This month's box contains a Pulsin Salted Caramel Raw Choc Brownie (RRP £1.59) which is a tasty but healthy treat. Not as decadent as a real brownie but not bad at all !

Rowntrees Fruit Pastilles (RRP £1.29) are one of my favourite sweets - the only thing you can really do with a Rowntrees Fruit Pastille is chew ah ha ha ! - and these ones taste just as good as the originals with 30% less sugar. That means I can eat 30% more than I would have normally eaten ! Unlike chocolate, they won't melt in your bag either. Win-win !

Cadbury's Highlights Milk Choc Drink (£2.99) is a great option for anyone with a sweet tooth who wants to cut the calories. Just add hot water for a guilt-free chocolate fix with only 38 calories per cup. It's not as indulgent as the real thing, but if you're watching your weight in preparation for your summer holiday, it's the next best thing !

London Flavours (2 x 95p) are roughly peeled, handcooked, premium crisps. We love the funky retro packaging with iconic London scenes and the crisps are tasty too. We got Oak Smoked Chilli and Cheddar & Red Onion.

 Finally, Peckish Cheddar Cheese Rice Crackers (RRP £1.59) are a lovely crispy snack that come in at under 100 calories per portion. We love these and they're perfect for picnics, snacks-on-the-go or just nibbling straight out of the pack. They work well with tomato salsa too.

 This month's recipe card provides two tasty-sounding serving suggestions : Lamb & Feta Pittas and Avocado, Spinach & Cherry Tomato Wrap.

A subscription to Degustabox costs £12.99 per month including delivery, with each box having a value of much more than that, but the great news is, I have a discount coupon code for you which means you'll get the first box for just £7.99 - enter code 0BS6T at the checkout.

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Disclosure : We received the box in order to write an honest review. As a Degustabox blogger, I receive all of the products that go into the monthly boxes, but subscribers may not get exactly the same selection.