Sunday 14 July 2024

What's Cooking At The Madhouse ? menu plan week 29


Our first week on holiday wasn't all that chilled out as we dashed about doing lots of random errands, like picking up a cheque book, buying new saucepans and frying pans, arranging dogsitting for the holiday and sorting out Sophie's taxes. (She got a huge tax bill but luckily it was an error.) Pierre got his exam results through and did brilliantly so he's moving on to a lycée now (upper secondary). It's his birthday this week and he wants a punching ball (a proper grown up one rather than the little kids' one that he had when he was smaller !) so that's our mission for this week. We had fun trying out lots of new recipes last week so we'll go for the same again, picking off a random cookery book from my shelves. Here's our menu plan for the week. I'm using the book Gino D'Acampo Ultimo! and various recipes sourced from online this week.

Monday

lunchcrispy shredded chicken with rice

dinner - Italian-style Cottage Pie with Crushed Potatoes (p130)

Tuesday

lunch- chicken and chorizo salad with beans and rocket leaves (p36)


Wednesday

lunch- leftovers


Thursday



Friday


dinner - smokehouse bbq wraps with rice & salad

Saturday

lunch- chicken korma melts with rice

dinner- leftovers

Sunday

lunch- Tuscan chicken with pasta

dinner - bacon cheeseburger pie with potato wedges

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

Saturday 13 July 2024

Degustabox July 2024 review

 

Summer's here and the time is right for dancing in the streets ! Well, maybe not, but I am on holiday now and school's out for the summer so we're all in a good mood. Being home all day and packing up lunches for day trips out and about does mean that the kids are on a constant search for snacks and drinks though so would this month's Degustabox help us out? Let's find out !


First out of the box was this Bio & Me Cocoa Hazelnut Oat Bar (RRP £1.50 - other subscribers got Toffee Apple or Superberry). These tasty bars are packed with at least 9 different types of plant goodness and contain no added sugar or artificial sweeteners. They are all natural and high in fibre. They are actually quite filling and taste lovely, as well as helping to look after your gut. That means you can feel good about chomping on a tasty snack which is a definite win-win in my book ! Available at Waitrose, Sainsbury's (Free From aisle), Tesco (Free From aisle) and in bulk on the Bio & Me website.

 

Dr Will's All Natural Tomato Ketchup (RRP £4.50) is a healthier take on the usual red sauce, made with vine ripened tomatoes and sweetened naturally with dates so it is full of flavour without the sugar. We tried out their Sweet Mango Sriracha in the December 2023 Degustabox and found the flavour of the ketchup to be more to our tastes (basically we're wimps when it comes to spice !). The ketchup has a rich flavour and can be dolloped on the side of the plate, used as a pizza base, added to a marinade or squirted inside a bacon sandwich. We love the richer and less sweet flavour compared to many other ketchups. Available at Waitrose, Co-op, Ocado, Amazon and Dr Will's website.

Joyfull Millets Choco & Nut Crunchy Muesli (RRP £4.20) is a breakfast option that tastes as good as it sounds. Millet is a super grain that is full of natural goodness and also stays crunchy in the bowl rather than going soggy. Add in jumbo oats, brown rice flakes, flax seeds, cranberries, sliced almonds and raisins, all coated in choco, and you're on to a good thing, both in terms of taste and healthiness. Available at Tesco.

  

Mahou 5 Estrellas (RRP £2.50) is Madrid's favourite beer. Created in 1890, it is the result of six generations of family ownership and brewing passion. Today, it is the most awarded Spanish beer thanks to its balanced, intense but refreshing five star taste. Perfect fresh from the fridge on a hot summer's afternoon or maybe in front of the football ! ABV 4.5%. Available at Sainsbury's and Morrisons.

Moth : Aperitivo Spritz (RRP £3.99) is a great option for the summer offering a tasty cocktail premixed and ready to serve in a can so you can enjoy it with minimal fuss. The can displays the list of ingredients : bitter orange, gin, fizz, soda and bliss. What more could you ask for?! Every MOTH serve is created with award-winning spirits and absolute precision – for the taste and strength you get at your favourite bar. They are also ideal for packing in the picnic basket for grown-up alfresco lunches or summertime barbecues. Other cocktails available include Mojito, Paloma, Margarita, Old Fashioned, Espresso Martini, Cosmopolitan, Pink Gin, Pina Colada and Negroni. Available at all major supermarket chains.

Naked Natural Energy Red (RRP £1.25) is a new take on energy drinks, crafted from real fruit and infused with natural caffeine. Bursting with five essential vitamins and no added sugar, a light sparkle and no artificial additives, it offers you a plant-based energy boost without the crash. We got to try Red which is a blend of apple, raspberry and goji berry, while other subscribers received Gold (orange, pineapple and mango). They appeal to me much more than regular energy drinks. Available at WH Smith's and other independent retailers.


 

Nescafe Gold Blend (RRP £5.99) is the same, popular product in a new paper refill pouch, giving you the same great flavour in fully recyclable paper packaging. Good for your taste buds and now also good for the planet. Available at Tesco's.

This month's Product of the Month, Peppadew Mild Sweet Piquanté Peppers (RRP £3.25) are perfect for adding a touch of freshness and crunch to summer platters of antipasti, salads, pizza toppings or pasta sauces. They can also be enjoyed straight from the jar, combining a fresh, crisp, tangy flavour with just a hint of spiciness. Each pepper is perfectly de-cored by hand so they can even be stuffed, maybe with cream cheese or a little tuna for some fresh nibbles to serve with drinks. Kept in the fridge, they're perfect as a refreshing snack to get your taste buds tingling too ! Available at all major supermarkets.


Rubicon Spring Pink Grapefruit & Blood Orange (RRP £1.29) is a refreshing new flavour perfect for sipping in the summer sun. The sharpness of the pink grapefruit is perfectly offset by the sweetness of the blood orange, providing a lovely way of quenching your thirst when temperatures soar. Made with sparkling spring water and no sugar, it's low in calories, making it a great option. Available in major supermarkets and independent convenience stores.

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 :

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.

Wednesday 10 July 2024

Ben & Anna Natural Care Bath Salts review


Ben & Anna has a list of credentials that mark it out as a highly green and ethical company, which adds an extra level of loveliness to the feel-good factor that their natural beauty products provide. Set up by a pair of passionate vegans in 2017, they put the focus on creating cruelty-free, vegan, natural and sustainable products and their products are certified by NaTrue as containing natural ingredients which are not only kind to the skin but the planet too. If that's not enough, they support creative projects to make our world more liveable and healthier for everyone too. What more could you ask for? Lovely scents and ingredients that leave you feeling thoroughly pampered? Well, that's a check too ! We've been trying out some of their Natural Care Bath Salts and it's safe to say, we're big fans. 


Firstly, we tried out the Lavender Bath Salts. They are made with salt extracted from the Italian Mediterranean and look chunky and homemade. The lavender fragrance is soothing and relaxing, helping to turn your bathroom into a calming, rejuvenating space to help ease your body and mind. It's not just a holistic experience though as the bath salts cleanse and detoxify the skin, providing intensive moisture and leaving skin supple, while promoting  muscle relaxation and relieving tension. Just a half hour soak in the bathtub will leave you feeling like you've had a relaxing day at the spa. (The official instructions say ten to twenty minutes but who has a ten-minute bath ?!) Perfect for winding down after a stressful day at work or helping ease yourself into the summer holiday vibe.


We also tried the Rose scented Bath Salts which were equally indulgent. There is something about the scent of roses that equates to biting into a gooey, soft double chocolate muffin, minus the calories. It's like giving yourself a big, squeezy hug to make yourself feel better. Stop and smell the roses ! Everything's coming up roses ! When life throws thorns, hunt for roses ! Roses represent the best that life can offer and breathing in their scent is an easy way to access positivity, calmness and harmony. While the salts gently revitalise your skin, the fragrance will reinvigorate your mood. 

Each tub of bath salts contains 300g, which is enough for five full baths. Go on, you know you're worth it !

RRP : £7.95

for more information : Ben & Anna (benandanna.uk)

Disclosure : We received the product in order to share our honest opinion.

Sunday 7 July 2024

What's Cooking At The Madhouse ? menu plan week 28


We have made it to the holidays and I'm really looking forward to chilling out and not having to rush about getting to work every day. We've got a few weeks until we go on holiday (to Iceland this year, which will definitely be different) and I have nothing planned until then so I am looking forward to having a big dejunk in the house. I seem to have a million cardboard boxes to get rid of, which is the first job, then a big declutter in the bathroom and my bedroom. I traditionally have a good look through the kitchen cupboards too and search out all the seasoning sachets and random ingredients that need using up. It would be good to have a clear out in the freezer too. Here's our menu plan for the week. I'm using the book What's For Dinner? by Romilla Arber this week again. We enjoyed last week's menu but didn't make it all as there were more leftovers than I expected. A few meals are therefore reposted.

Monday

lunch-  meat & potato pie with runner beans (p438)

dinner - chicken fricassée with buttered rice and diced courgettes (p326)

Tuesday

lunch- Grilled pork chops à la charcutière with sautéed potatoes (p388)

dinner- Bistro salad (with sausages, new potatoes, cornichons and lettuce) (p369)

Wednesday

lunch- Grilled marinated chicken with orange avocado salad and baked potatoes (p443)

dinner- leftovers

Thursday

lunch- Gratin of potatoes, ham, onions and eggs with salad (p450)

dinner- bacon sandwiches

Friday

lunch- Toad in the hole and corn on the cob (p488)

dinner - chicken chasseur + cabbage + baked potatoes (p490)

Saturday

lunch- leftovers

dinner- Minced beef stew with rice (p508)

Sunday

lunch- Chicken schnitzel and tomato spaghetti (p510)

dinner - Chicken fajitas + pinto beans in tomato sauce + guacamole (p513)

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