With the weather suddenly getting beautifully hot and summery a few weeks ago, it was the perfect time for this month's Outdoor and BBQ-themed Degustabox to arrive. So what would be hiding away inside this month's selection ?!
It took a while to set up this photo of the contents because the kids kept going oooh and trying to grab things ! I have to admit, it does look like a really great box this month with loads of new products and flavours to try out from brands that we already know and love.
The first product that I grabbed from the box was Echo Falls Rosé Seltzer (RRP £1.80), which looks like a great product to drink, fresh from the fridge, as the sun goes down. I got Strawberry with a Touch of Pink Pepper, other Degustaboxers got Blueberry and Hibiscus and there is also a Raspberry, Lychee and Rose flavour. They all sound a little bit different and a little bit girlie, not to mention very tasty. The can that I had went down very well. The sweet, fruity taste of strawberry fills your mouth then the hint of pepper comes through, providing a refreshing, surprising flavour. Each can contains 69 calories, is 4.5% ABV and is available at Asda and independent stores.
Another product that screams out "summer is here !" is Hellmann's Fat Free Original Vinaigrette Salad Dressing (RRP £1.65). Its classic recipe combines herbs, garlic and red pepper that add some zing to your summer salads, whether just a few leaves of lettuce on the side of the plate or a full mixed salad as a main meal. One tablespoon of vinaigrette contains just 7 calories, which is great if you're watching your waistline. It is made with
no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives and is suitable for vegans. It's perfect for the summer.
Bertolli Extra Virgin Olive Oil Spray (RRP £3) is another product that can be sprayed on your salad to give it some extra flavour, but that's not all. It can also be used in marinades or on pasta ... whatever you fancy ! For a light summery lunch, just spray some over sliced tomatoes on a slice of toast. Its fruity aroma adds a touch of decadence that really brings out the flavour. Made using only 100% extra virgin olive oil and no additives, the spray is propellant free, using only pure air to
dispense evenly the right amount of oil needed.
Graze Smoky Barbecue Crunch (RRP £1 for a 31g punnet or £2.99 for a 104g sharing bag) is a delicious snack, combining BBQ flavoured peas, crunchy corn chips and chilli corn. As well as tasting great and being packed with veg, it is high in fibre and suitable for vegans. Each punnet provides 139 calories. It's totally moreish and you won't stop until you've eaten the whole pack !
Another option from the same brand is Graze Cocoa Vanilla Protein Oat Bites (RRP £1 for a single 30g bite or £2.49 for a multipack of 4 x 30g). These bars contain 45% less sugar than the average cereal bar but they still taste great. They are made from whole rolled oats, are high in fibre and are a source of protein, as well as being suitable for vegans. I wasn't expecting to like these but they're actually not bad at all.
Hershey's Cookies 'n' Creme (RRP 89p) is bound to be a huge hit with anybody looking for a taste of the States (which includes all three of my kids !). The bar combines the classic flavours of a smooth white creme infused with crunchy cookie pieces. It's not bad and the kids were big fans but I have to admit, I prefer the creaminess of British chocolate !
Hippeas Chickpea Tortilla Snacks (RRP £1) is a new product from the brand, available in three flavours : Chilli Kicks (which was the one we got), Rockin' Ranch & Cheesy Nacho Vibes. They are vegan, gluten free and contain 7g of protein and 2g of fibre
per single serve bag (40g). They taste great and are perfect for scooping up guacamole. I'll definitely give the other flavours a try as they sound really nice too.
Pip Organic Sparkling Lemon (RRP £1.50) is another soft drink option for the summer. It is a blend of organic not-from-concentrate juice and sparkling water with no added sugars or sweeteners. It comes in at under 75 calories and is lovely and refreshing. It even counts as one of your 5-a-day. Can't say fairer than that ! It's available from Abel & Cole, Amazon or Ocado.
Knorr Rosemary & Onion Seasoning (RRP £1.80) (other Degustaboxers got Tomato & Oregano) is a lovely herb mix for sprinkling over your food. Knorr say that it's ideal for a sweet potato, salad, roasted vegetables, vegetable stew, delicious sauce, tasty soup or any other exciting dish you want to try. As it's part of the Knorr Veggie Cook's Essentials range, the focus is on meat-free dishes, but it's also great sprinkled over roast chicken and roast potatoes, added to casseroles or flung over the meat on the barbecue.
Nairn's Cheese & Smoky Chipotle Spicy Oatcakes (RRP £1.50) are a new addition to the range and they're a great way of adding some zingy flavour to your snacks. They're lovely topped with cheese, cheese spread, smoked ham or (our favourite snack for the summer) guacamole. Cheese & Chipotle is an exciting new flavour, but they still have all of the benefits that you expect from Nairn's
Oatcakes. Packed with fibre to keep your gut healthy, full of vitamins and minerals and a great source of slow
releasing energy - plus 125 years of Nairn's expertise!
Brioche Pasquier Brioche Rolls (RRP £1.50) are great as part of a decadent continental breakfast, alongside croissants and pain au chocolat, but they are much more versatile than that. While they are lovely topped with sweet things like jam or Nutella, they can also be filled with savoury options such as ham and cheese. Kids love their slightly sweet flavour and the soft fluffiness of the brioche. They are baked using quality ingredients,
including their original levain, with no added preservatives.
Rowntree's Dessert Pastilles (RRP £1.29) are a fabulous new twist on the classic Fruit Pastilles that we all love. Inspired by delicious fruity desserts, they come in four fantastic flavours: Cherry Bakewell, Blueberry Pie, Apple Crumble and Mango Sorbet.
Just like regular pastilles, they are irresistibly chewy and packed with tasty flavours. They are also vegan friendly for even more people to enjoy!
Not Too Naughty Caramelised Mini Cookies (RRP 50p per single, £10 for 25) are the perfect product for anyone who wants to enjoy a sweet treat without a guilty conscience ! They contain 30% less sugar and come in at 88 calories per pack, as well as being high in fibre. They also have no artificial colours, sweeteners or preservatives in them. They're lovely as something to munch on in front of the telly !
Another snack option from the same company Nibnibs is Telstar Heavenly Cookies (RRP 50p per single, £10 for 25). Just like the Not Too Naughty mini cookies, they have reduced sugar content, are high in fibre and, as the tagline says, offer "all the taste, less of the naughty". In the same blue-coloured packaging as the previous product are the Caramelised Cookies.
But they also have a brown pack of Chocolate Mini Cookie Stars, which are just as tasty.
The final product in this month's box was Whitworth's Protein By Nature Mexican Spicy Grains (RRP £2). This range of beans, pulses and grains is a great alternative when you're fed up of the usual rice, pasta and potatoes. It's vegan-friendly, contains 20g of protein and is ready after being heated in the microwave for 2 minutes. This can be eaten as a side dish or there is a recipe suggesting using it in fajitas - that sounds good to me ! I love the sound of the other dishes in the range too - Indian Lentil Dhal, Brazilian Smoky Beans and Moroccan Grains. I'll definitely keep an eye out for them. They're available in Tesco, Morrisons and Ocado.
This was a fantastic box for us and I love the fact that it's given me some new product ranges to try out when we next go shopping. We're winding down at school now and this has really made me start looking forward to a lazy summer holiday !
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.
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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.
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