The December 2020 Degustabox review : Sainsbury's

Just in time for Christmas, the December Degustabox arrived last week. The November box had had a festive and gourmet theme, so I knew that this month's box wouldn't have Christmassy products, but I didn't know what to expect, especially as we had been told that it would be something a little bit different this month : a Sainsbury's box, featuring new and interesting brands that Sainsbury's have discovered and launched in their stores. Sounds exciting !

Unpacking the box, I saw lots of things that I knew would get a warm reception. It actually reminded me of a selection of products that would be great for a picnic in the summer, but the kids would definitely have no problem trying them out in winter either ! There are lots of things that are great as part of a snacky party tea or to help use up the oodles of Christmas turkey. Time for a closer look.

Brave Roasted Chickpeas (RRP £1) are a new snack option that are high in protein and fibre, contain less calories than popcorn and are vegan-friendly. We got the Sweet Chilli flavour, which are a great savoury snack, but they are also available in Sea Salt or Dark Choc varieties. We loved the crunchy texture and the spicy flavour and would definitely buy these again. They also get bonus points for their green ethics as chickpeas are one of the most sustainable protein sources on the planet and the packaging is recyclable.

The Curators Cocoa Caramel Peanuts (RRP  £1.20) are a premium, plant-based, British-made snack, made with just four ingredients. Food-loving friends Max and Ed seek inspiration from around the globe for their snacks and I have to say, we were impressed. The peanuts are lightly caramelised then dusted with cocoa and a pinch of salt - very tasty. They are gluten-free, high in fibre and protein and contain 191 calories per pack. 

Capsicana Mexican Tomato & Chipotle Tinga Cooking Paste (RRP £1.30) is perfect with chicken, beef, pork, vegetables ... and I'd add leftover turkey to that list, as it sounds great for using up the post-Christmas leftovers. It is based on the Chicken Tinga dish from the state of Puebla. It has a mild spice rating and a smoky flavour that makes it a great option for a family-friendly dish. Dinner can be on the table in fifteen minutes - absolutely perfect !

Tiny Rebel CLWB Tropica (RRP £2) is a tropical IPA, made with pineapples, mangos, passion fruit and peaches. It reminded me slightly of pina colada so if you don't like beer, this would be a good choice for you ! I was intrigued about the name - it turns out that clwb is Welsh for club .... ahhh Club Tropicana, it makes sense now ! It has 5.5% ABV. Could be good for seeing in the New Year !

Good Earth Ginger, Turmeric & Lemon Tea (RRP £2.75 for 15 sachets) offers a zingy, zesty, fragrant cuppa, ready in just three minutes. If you want something to cheer you up when the coronavirus news is getting too much for you or to add a dash of colour to a bleak lockdown day, this could hit the spot ! 

DASH Water (RRP £1.25) is a fabulous idea. It's a British sparkling water infused with wonky peaches. That is, bent, crushed, curved, knobbly, misshapen fruit that isn't pretty enough to be served for eating. I think it's a great step for reducing food waste and, obviously, it makes no difference to the taste. Do you want some more good news? Zero calories, zero sweeteners, zero sugars ! Yes please !

Nexba Pineapple Soft Drink (RRP £1.25 for 1 litre) looks and tastes like a regular fizzy drink, except it has a sneaky trick up its sleeve - it's sugar free. It's also free from artificial sweeteners, fructose, caffeine, GMO and hidden nasties. It's vegan friendly and 100% natural. Even better, the kids loved it !

Leon Aioli (RRP £2.50) is a lovely garlic mayonnaise that has a rich flavour and can be used to liven up leftovers, sandwiches and salads. You could even try dipping carrot sticks or chips in it - they're both delicious options ! This has been available in Leon restaurants since 2004 and uses aquafaba, a chickpea stock, instead of eggs so it just happens to be vegan. Your Christmas turkey leftovers will love this in sandwiches and salads !

Peter's Yard West Country Sour Cream & Chive Sourdough Bites (RRP £2) are made using their signature sourdough starter, slowly fermented for 16 hours. Crafted from Shipton Mill flour, they are hand baked and richly flavoured with sour cream from West Country farms and British grown chives. They are made with natural ingredients, are suitable for vegetarians and are low in saturated fat, as well as being a source of fibre. They have a lovely crunchy texture and are very tasty.

Odysea Aubergine Meze (RRP £2.15) is a smooth blend of roasted aubergines that can be used as a dip or a spread - perfect for nibbling over Christmas and New Year. Besides aubergines, it contains extra virgin olive oil, garlic and parsley - no hidden nasties and it is suitable for vegans and vegetarians. It's beautifully thick with a smooth texture and smoky flavour, great on crackers or with breadsticks, carrot sticks or anything else you can think of to dunk in it ! This can be kept in the cupboard and only needs refrigerating once it's open, which may be handy when fridge space is tight over Christmas !

Pipers Crisps (RRP £1.20 for a 40g bag, £2.50 for a 150g bag) are a brand that we have previously sampled and we love the crunchy texture and the strong flavours. We really loved the Lye Cross Cheddar and Onion variety, but we appreciated the Atlas Mountains Wild Thyme & Rosemary crisps too, as they offer something a bit different. They're made with British potatoes, which is a definite plus point. Perfect for sampling in front of the telly over Christmas !

Finally, Tony's Choco Lonely Milk Caramel Sea Salt Bar (RRP £1.35) has the perfect name for this year's Coronavirus Christmas celebrations ! As chocolate makers on a mission to make all chocolate 100% slave free, they lead by example and show the world that chocolate can be made differently: in taste, packaging and the way they do business with cocoa farmers. They promise that the more people who join their mission and share their story, the sooner 100% slave free becomes the norm in chocolate. Sounds good to me ! The chocolate is very tasty too.

This box, packed full of things to put a smile on people's faces over Christmas and New Year, arrived at just the right time, as the new Tier 4 lockdown came into effect. 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 £9.99 - enter code PKUFE at the checkout. 

for more information :

http://bit.ly/DBhomepage - website

http://bit.ly/DBUKfacebook - Facebook

http://bit.ly/DBUKTwitter - twitter

Also now on Instagram @DegustaboxUK

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.

Giveaway #744 : Win a Grumbalina bundle - closing 8/1

I have partnered up with children’s author Karina Frederiks, who has recently launched the first in a series of new books: The Tales of Grumbalina and Friends. The six-part series looks at a young fairy growing up and dealing with the delights and stresses of innocence. 

Together we are excited to be able to provide you the opportunity to win one of the very first exclusive copies of the book, alongside a range of exciting and fun merchandise. The bundle includes a jumper of your choice, a children's t-shirt, a fairy tote bag and a copy of the book. There will also be a runner-up prize of just the book.

The series centres around the magical world of Pufftown, where the fairies live. It is a place of spells and magic where anything is possible and yet there are hurdles along the way that they must face: lack of motivation, jealousy and sometimes failure. However, together, the fairies learn valuable life lessons in facing these hurdles and discover the true meaning of friendship, perspective and rooting for the underdog. 

In the first book, Grumbalina and the Day Everything Changed, now available to buy online, readers meet Grumbalina and the other fairies and learn about their world of spells and magic. The school year has just started again after summer and Grumbalina doesn't want to go back. Not only does she struggle with her spells, she doesn't have any friends at school. But everything is about to change very quickly.

 This new series will take your children on a magical adventure and will resonate with readers young and old, with valuable lessons of friendship and growing up. 

 For more information head over to: 

www.grumbalina.com #grumbalinaandfriends

 *Sizes of merchandise are dependent on stocks at the time of drawing 

For your chance to win this exclusive bundle, check the instructions over on rafflecopter and hop on the next cloud and float into Pufftown. There is also a runner-up prize of the book.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

UK only. Closing date : 8/1

T & C's : Entries close at midnight on the closing date. Winners will be selected with a random number generator and announced on facebook and in the giveaway post subject line. Please note, you will be contacted by email and/or twitter and if I haven't heard from you after 28 days, I'll have to pick another winner. Prizes will be sent out by the companies or their PR directly to winners. Madhouse Family Reviews cannot be held responsible for any prizes that go astray. Any personal data given as part of the competition entry is used for this purpose only and will not be shared with third parties, with the exception of the winners’ information. The winners' personal contact information will be passed on to the PR/brand responsible and used only for delivery of their prize.

What's Cooking At The Madhouse ? menu plan week 51

 

I haven't been shopping yet so this plan may well switch around a fair bit, depending on what they have (or haven't) got in the local shops, but it's better to have a plan all the same ! 

Monday

lunch- pork chops with rice & frozen veg

dinner -sausages & mash 

Tuesday

lunch- beefburgers (maybe in buns), chips & coleslaw

dinner- slow-cooker Spanish chicken with couscous

Wednesday

lunch- spaghetti bolognese

dinner- fish, rice & coleslaw

Thursday

lunch - chicken & mushroom pies, boiled potatoes & veg (or maybe coleslaw, if there's any  left to use up)

dinner- I'm thinking a nibbly "party tea" - crisps, peanuts, mini quiches and other nibbles, olives, chorizo, carrot sticks, chicken wings ... as tonight would be the traditional Christmas meal here in France, but we're doing things the English way !

Friday

lunch- Christmas dinner ... hopefully of the turkey variety but we will see !

dinner - turkey sandwich, or any other leftovers/nibbly bits, if anyone is hungry !

Saturday

lunch- turkey & veg pie with mash

dinner- leftovers? or maybe pizza, for something non-turkey related !

Sunday 

lunch- Chicken (or maybe turkey, if there's any left), bacon and potato stew

dinner- sandwiches or toast

***Click on my Menu Plans tag to see all my other weekly menu plan blogposts.***

Project 366 : Photo diary week 51

 That's it, we made it to the holidays - woohoo ! I need to chill out, sort the house out (lots of cleaning, dejunking and tidying planned) and manage to put on a UK-style Christmas in a country that doesn't do turkey, pigs in blankets and Christmas pudding. This could be interesting ! I think I've got all the presents covered (a few are still awaiting delivery) and the tree is up, so I think I'm doing pretty well so far ! 

Sunday 13th December - As Christmas is nearly here and I'm still not entirely sure what will happen shops-wise (I have fears the new Covid virus will head over to us ... people were saying at our school this week that they wouldn't be at all surprised if the schools shut down again in January or February), I decided to head into town with the kids to grab the final few Christmas presents. Whatever hasn't been bought can be picked up after Christmas now, as the kids are too old to believe in Santa anyway !

Monday - Pierre had to do an art project for school using nothing but different kinds of paper. Juliette helped him out and he created a Christmas scene using tissue paper, card, foil wrapping paper and a couple of little pictures (of a lion and a star). I emailed it to his teacher (who is working from home) and he got 15/20 so he was well chuffed !

Tuesday - It is dark when I go to school in the morning (I'm at the bus stop by 7am) and it is already getting dark by the time I come home at the end of the day, but Juliette took this picture of the cool sunset (or it could be sunrise? I can't remember !)

Wednesday - After a morning at school, I headed back into town, this time to drop off some paperwork at the insurance company's office and to put in a cheque at the bank. There were big queues outside all the shops so I guess I'm not the only one to have left my Christmas shopping until the last minute this year !

Thursday - The French government announced last night that schools will remain open for the last two days of term, but any pupils who want to stay at home in confinement for a week before Christmas were entitled to do so. Pierre informed me that all of his class except for 4 pupils were staying at home. It didn't really seem worth going in in that case so he stayed at home. Juliette did go in, but only because she wanted to go and have fun in PE - strange child !! This is a picture of the sunset, which means that the other one was sunrise. It doesn't really look like winter, does it ?!

Friday - The final day at school - phew, I definitely need two weeks off to unwind ! An arty photo taken through the trees at the bus stop for today. That was as good as it got. I got home from work at 5pm and fell straight asleep on the settee !

Saturday - We wrapped up all the presents that had arrived by post during the week and the tree is totally surrounded by gifts now. Next job - working out what we're eating and grabbing all the festive food. I don't know if you remember that our freezer defrosted when we were on holiday the summer before last and totally stank afterwards. I haven't plugged it in since, using just the freezer box of the fridge and buying fresh meat on a weekly basis. Well, we went to investigate and it didn't smell anywhere near as bad so we plugged it in to see how it went. It actually seems useable so we bought a few bits to try it out. That would definitely make things easier, especially over Christmas.

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Fab freebies of the week 19/12

 

This time last week, I thought I was heading into a calm, peaceful week at work. Time to unwind, catch up on blogging, chill out with the kids, ... I still have no idea why but that just didn't happen. I was absolutely shattered by the end of the week ! At least now, I'm on holiday and I can take advantage of some much needed me-time ... although I still need to finish off Christmas shopping, sort out the festive food and give the house a long-overdue tidy-up ! How are you all doing? Ready for Christmas or having a mad panic ?! Well, give yourself a few minutes to check out this week's freebies :)

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Caboodle Firsts: Read one of 100 copies of Catherine Alliott's Behind Closed Doors before anyone else

Over on Mumsnet : Have a DC aged 3 months to 6 years that suffers from dry, rough skin or nappy rash? Sign up to test La Roche-Posay’s Cicaplast balm - £100 voucher to be won 

We’re looking for 600 Mumsnet users with at least one child interested in testing Homepride Slow Cooker concentrated sauces. The sauces are available in Chilli Con Carne, Chicken Curry, Beef & Ale or Pulled Pork flavours and selected testers will be sent a coupon to purchase them in their preferred supermarket.

 We are offering a limited amount of subscribers the chance of getting a full week of our popular On The Go Granola, absolutely FREE of charge!

Over at Gregg's on facebook: It’s beginning to taste a lot like breakfast. 🎄 We’re teaming up with Heinz so you can grab a free coffee and breakfast roll, with Heinz UK Tomato ketchup or HP brown sauce, when you download the Greggs Rewards app and register an account with us. *first 50,000 new downloads only, from 17th Dec to 31st Dec

 1,000 Redbull sample packs to be claimed each week! 

I don't usually share the ones that need online shopping but I know a lot of people do an online shop for Christmas, so here's one at Sainsbury's - 5000 free Winalot to giveaway

Don't miss Pink Lady Apples Trolls giveaway- alongside the top prize, they're giving 100 runners-up a Trolls World Tour DVD.

 We are giving away FREE Mystery Prizes Each Day! (It does say at the bottom it may not be a physical product but they have chocolate bars that look like a safe bet !)

You can see previous weeks' freebie roundups by clicking here but be warned, many of the offers are only valid for a short time. Let me know if any have expired and I'll remove them from the roundup.

You may also be interested in my current giveaways :

coming soon !

What's Cooking At The Madhouse ? menu plan week 50

I have a few things in the fridge and the cupboard, but we're pretty much out of food, so much of this week will depend on what's available in the shop tomorrow. (Well, today, by the time you're reading this !) They're clearing out a lot of their fridge and freezer space at the moment for special festive food so I don't know what we'll find this week ! Here's the plan though.  

Monday

lunch- fish, rice & courgettes for me and Sophie/leftover spaghetti carbonara for Pierre (and Juliette's eating at school)

dinner - smoked sausage risotto (with peppers, onions, mushrooms)

Tuesday

dinner- chicken stir fry with noodles & veg

Wednesday

lunch- battered fish with rice (or homemade chips if Sophie starts them off before I get home)

dinner- couscous with chicken, courgettes, tomatoes, onions, mushrooms

Thursday

lunch - probably leftovers, if not spaghetti bolognese

dinner- creamy chicken/bacon/mushroom vol au vents with mash & peas

Friday

dinner - pizza

Saturday

lunch- I'm thinking takeaway - maybe a kebab as it's the closest ?

dinner- I'm thinking there will be plenty of leftovers from lunchtime

Sunday 

lunch- tartiflette (baked potatoes, onions, bacon lardons topped with reblochon cheese)

dinner- "bits and crisps" - basically time to clear out the fridge ! Olives, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, hot dog sausages, cheese, ... whatever else they can find lurking in there ! I ay be able to get Pierre to make up some garlic bread too !

***Click on my Menu Plans tag to see all my other weekly menu plan blogposts.***

Project 366 : Photo diary week 50

 It was Sophie's first week back so, on top of a busy week at work, we were mooching about in my free time, checking out the shops in town and picking up Christmas presents. I really can't wait for the holidays - I am in desperate need of a break !

Sunday 6th December - I gave myself a peaceful morning in bed, waking up late then chilling out in my pyjamas, checking emails and just generally having a bit of much needed me-time. The afternoon was spent catching up on marking though - boo !

Monday - I had a morning at work, then it was my afternoon off, but I had to go back into work for a class meeting at 4.45pm. After sorting out lunch, this basically meant that I had time to clear my mountain of washing that needed folding before heading back into work. It's no fun being an adult sometimes !

Tuesday - After a long day at work, I'd planned on sorting out the Christmas decorations and getting the tree up but we were all too tired out, so the tree ended up stuck in the corner with just one set of fairy lights on it. The other one had stopped working and ended up in the bin. It looks very sad ! Didou is being fought over by the girls, who both want to cuddle him and take him to their room to sleep. He's quite happy making the most of all the extra attention !

Wednesday - It was my half day at school but I had a quick (and fairly pointless !) Zoom meeting with the Norway team in the afternoon. Afterwards, we finally made time to sort out the tree and put all our presents underneath it. It's finally starting to look a bit like Christmas !

Thursday - I met up with the girls after work for some more Christmas shopping. Sophie had decided that she wanted her dad's old camera - it's a good idea as it's been in the cupboard ever since he died - but the charger had disappeared for the battery. She had been to the camera shop in town and they'd managed to recharge the battery with a new universal charger, so we bought one of those. I also bought a new camera bag for her as the old one was bulky and outdated - she got a smaller, funkier one. 

Friday - I had another after school class meeting - the final one (except for another meeting on a different topic on Monday *sigh*) then got home and discovered the extra decorations that the kids had put up in my absence. We're getting there !

Saturday - I had to head to the big local supermarket as my Sodastream gas cannister needed replacing, so Sophie came along with me and we looked for more Christmas gifts and inspiration for Christmas food. She saw loads of things she fancied in the frozen section, so we're thinking of trying out the freezer as a temporary affair over Christmas. You may remember that when we came back from our holiday to Alaska the summer before last, there had been a power cut and it absolutely stank. I emptied it and put bicarb in it but I still found that it smelt horrible and we haven't used it since. I might give it another go and see if it can be used over Christmas. It would definitely make my life easier. Sophie has been pining for a good French pain au chocolat since she got back to France but they'd sold out in the baker's, so she had to do make do with a croissant and a chocolat chip bun. Not bad but she's still longing for a pain au chocolat !

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Fab freebies of the week 12/12

 

Wow, I can't believe it's only two weeks to Christmas ! I still have so much to do ! We've finally got the tree up, we've been talking about what we want to eat over Christmas and New Year and we've been to the shops in town to buy as much as we can for each other. The rest will have to be finished off online over the weekend. Can we do this? Yeah, sure we can ! If some of the presents arrive late, it doesn't really matter. This year, I've decided that Christmas is going to be a stress-free zone ! Here's this week's round-up of lovely freebies that you can try your luck at. Have a great weekend ! :)

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Get yourself a free personalised can of coke zero

Over on Shopmium this week, grab a free can of Coca Cola Energy at ASDA, Oykos Extra Creamy Big Pots at ASDA & Morrisons, Hipp Organic Baby Food Jars, Danone Simply Fruit Strawberry Yogurt at Co op, Rockstar Energy Drink, Arla Lacto-free yogurt, Mountain Dew Energy Drink, ...

A bittersweet one as this will be the last Debenhams freebie - you can go along and grab a free Dior mini mascara

Pop into a Lindt Chocolate Shop to receive a FREE LINDOR Orange or Mint bar (38g) while stocks last! ⁠Check out the details on Instagram.

Win one of 2000 Stella Artois glasses

There are 60 prizes up for grabs in the Villeroy & Boch Christmas giveaway

Win one of 50 cooking thermometers

Over on twitter : Sharing biscuits is tricky right now, but our Chocolate Digestives are #TooGoodNotToShare So, just FOLLOW US and RETWEET this tweet and we'll DM you a code so you can send anyone a couple of FREE biscuits! Limited 10K packs so get tweeting! T&Cs apply: http://mcvities.co.uk/TGNTSTC

Enjoy a free trial of our Teeth Whitening Strips today! 😎 Just send us a direct message via our Facebook page and we’ll give you instructions on how to claim. Please let us know which country you are from, as this offer is available in both the US and UK. In exchange for your free strips, all that we ask is you leave us an honest review. 

Southern Comfort are giving 1,000 lucky winners their very own pair of Christmas bauble glasses to recreate their festive serve at home.

We’re looking for 600 Mumsnet users with at least one child interested in testing Homepride Slow Cooker concentrated sauces. The sauces are available in Chilli Con Carne, Chicken Curry, Beef & Ale or Pulled Pork flavours and selected testers will be sent a coupon to purchase them in their preferred supermarket. 

We’re looking for Mumsnet users with a child under 2 to test Pura’s eco nappies and/or plastic free baby wipes.

Look for the brown bags in Morrisons and grab yourself some free wonky "magic carrots for Rudolph" :)

 For a limited time we are offering you the chance to buy and try BONRAW sugar products, and receive full refund when purchased from Waitrose (online or instore). Yes, that´s right! You will get BONRAW for free.

You can see previous weeks' freebie roundups by clicking here but be warned, many of the offers are only valid for a short time. Let me know if any have expired and I'll remove them from the roundup.

You may also be interested in my current giveaways :

coming soon !

The November 2020 Degustabox review : Festive & Gourmet

As soon as I saw the theme of the latest Degustabox, I knew it would be a good box. With a theme of Festive and Gourmet, this one promised to be chock full of tasty treats to munch on, snuggled up on the settee, watching a Christmas movie, and we certainly weren't disappointed when we unpacked the contents !

There's cute shaped chocolate, tasty festive versions of old classics, even crafty sauces for using up the turkey leftovers - everything that will be needed for adding a little sparkle to the final month of the year !

  

First, we discovered a jar of Zest Coriander and Basil Pesto (RRP £2.20). The jar proudly boasts that it contains nothing artificial and it is also vegan. It only uses the leaf of basil and coriander plants, along with cashew nuts for a creamy flavour. This would be great spooned over pasta on its own (one less thing to worry about if you're hosting any vegans or vegetarians this year and need a quick option) or could be a great way of zinging up the leftover turkey, either with pasta or in a sandwich. It's also gluten free and dairy free, so it caters for all options. Available at Ocado, Morrison's, Amazon and independent stores across the UK.

Wolf Blass wines (RRP 2 x £2.25) are available in small 187ml bottles that are perfect if you're drinking on your own. There are red and white options to sample in the box - Yellow Label Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. Yellow Label has delivered exceptional quality for over 50 years and offers wines that are bright, fruit-driven and full of flavour, pairing perfectly with food to help make any meal an occasion. These are selected from the finest South Australian regions and go down very nicely ! 

 

Daelman's Authentic Dutch Stroopwafels Minis (RRP £1.30 for 200g) got the first big "oooh" from the kids, who recognised them from a previous box ! These buttery waffle biscuits are filled with a layer of sweet caramel that can be enjoyed on their own, with a hot drink or even crushed into ice cream. I still think these would be great stuck in the top of cupcakes but the kids always manage to munch the whole lot before I get the chance to try ! Very tasty !

Maille Traditional Dijon Mustard (RRP £1.99) is a French staple, found in the fridge of pretty much any French fridge, just as you'd find a bottle of ketchup in many UK fridges. Created in 1747, it is the French mustard of choice for chefs and families alike, guaranteed to add a gourmet touch to your dish. An ideal accompaniment to red meat and a key ingredient for any French salad dressing, it can also be used to liven up sandwiches, so it's perfect for using up the turkey leftovers !

Lindt Lindor Chocolate Bars (RRP 2 x 85p) are the perfect naughty nibble for grown-ups (although the kids would probably love them too, if they could get their hands on them - tee hee hee !). The Lindt Master Chocolatiers combine expertise and the finest ingredients to produce the perfectly smooth chocolate shell with an irresistibly smooth melting filling. Mint or orange ? What's your favourite? I love both of them - it's just too hard to choose !

Another perfect festive nibble is the Kit Kat Christmas Break (RRP Individual Santa 65p, 66g Mini Santa bag £1), which is great for kids and adults alike. I think I may have to buy some more of these to stuff in the kids' stockings ! Smooth creamy chocolate,  filled with a rich chocolatey centre and crunchy wafer pieces. The best bit though is the cute Santa shape. Ho ho ho, merry Christmas !

Another top pick for the festive munchies countdown - Orange & Cranberry Jaffa Cakes (RRP £1.20). You get the same old dark chocolate and light sponge combination, along with the usual orangey centre, except this time, it is enhanced with a warming cranberry flavour. I think these would be perfect left out for Santa Claus on Christmas Eve in place of his usual mince pie this year !

Kind Snack Bars (RRP - Protein Double Dark Chocolate Nut £1.99, Caramel Almond & Sea Salt £1.30 - other Degustaboxers received Peanut Butter Dark Chocolate £1.30) are a nutritious but nevertheless tasty snack. Packed with high quality ingredients and offering 12g of plant protein for the Kind Protein Bar, they are a high fibre snack that you can munch on without feeling guilty !

La Boulangère Brioche Baguettes (RRP £1.50) offer another taste of France that is perfect for a delicious breakfast or snack, filled with jam, chocolate spread or any other sweet filling, but you could also try them with ham and cheese in place of regular bread. The kids are sure to love them for their rich, buttery taste. Give them a try toasted too - just halve them and pop them under the grill for a few minutes to give them a crispy bite to contrast with the softness of the bread beneath. You can even freeze them so that you always have some at hand.

Clipper Advent Calendar of Organic Tea (RRP £4.99) offers 24 cups of organic tea and infusions flavours, to see you through December. Keep them all to yourself or maybe offer one as a Secret Santa gift. This is a great way to try out their best-selling flavours. I've passed this over to Sophie to try out.

I didn't recognise this as a product from Pip's Real Hot Chocolate Co (you may remember that we've tried out their hot chocolate discs in previous Degustaboxes) but this time, the Zero Trace Full Taste Hot Chocolate (RRP £1) comes in a sachet. It's best made with milk (any milk works, dairy or non!) - mix into a paste with the first bit of hot milk (or water if you are using that), and then top up whilst still stirring.  They use cocoa that is ethically grown and traded, along with unrefined Mauritian sugar, and there is no trace of any of the 14 major allergens, so this is a special treat that can be enjoyed by pretty much any chocolate lover.

There is also a voucher for a free pack of Strings & Things Wintershapes Quirkies, that are a limited edition product for any of your cheese-loving kids to get their mitts on !

This is a lovely box, full of both sweet and savoury treats to nibble on and share as a family. 

 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 £9.99 - enter code PKUFE at the checkout. 

for more information :

http://bit.ly/DBhomepage - website

http://bit.ly/DBUKfacebook - Facebook

http://bit.ly/DBUKTwitter - twitter

Also now on Instagram @DegustaboxUK

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.

What's Cooking At The Madhouse ? menu plan week 49

This week, Sophie is back home, so I've no doubt she'll keep requesting things she hasn't eaten for a while ! She can even do the cooking on the nights I have meetings if she likes - definitely not a problem !  

Monday

lunch-  hamburger for Pierre/paprika chicken with ebly

dinner - cannelloni

Tuesday

dinner- sausages with rostis

Wednesday

lunch- spicy chicken with pasta

dinner- omelette

Thursday

lunch - battered fish with mash & veg

dinner- spaghetti carbonara

Friday

dinner - chicken with rice & courgettes

Saturday

lunch- chicken burgers with chips & coleslaw

dinner- spaghetti bolognese & garlic bread

Sunday 

lunch- roast chicken, roast potatoes & veg

dinner- leftovers or toast

***Click on my Menu Plans tag to see all my other weekly menu plan blogposts.***