Degustabox April 2023 review : All Around The World

I don't know if it's due to the Easter holiday putting a spring in my step or if the seasons have truly shifted from winter to spring, but as I glance out of my window, I can see sunshine, a blue sky dotted with fluffy clouds, birds chirping away in the hedges and splashes of colour in the garden from the bluebells and daffodils putting in an appearance. Bring it on, I say ! I'm ready to start spending more time outside and putting aside my thick winter jumpers in favour of some lighter and brighter floaty tops and blouses. Even my foodie choices are changing, moving away from casseroles and winter warmers towards salads, sandwiches and lighter options. When the postie dropped off this month's Degustabox, I was pleased to see that the contents fit in nicely with this warmer weather plan. Here's what was hiding in the All Around The World box.

Chupa Chups Mini Bag (RRP £1.86) offers the favourite flavours of this well-known and well-loved brand - if you're wondering, that's Cola, Strawberry, Orange and Apple - in half-sized lollipops. Just enough for a reasonable sized sweet treat (or, if the Madhouse kids are anything to go by, they'll just eat two lollipops one after the other to double up the flavours !) They contain vitamin C and use natural flavourings. They also use paper sticks which are better for the environment than the plastic sticks. Very tasty. Available at ASDA, Home Bargains, WHSmiths and on Ocado.

 

Double Dutch Cranberry & Ginger Tonic Water (RRP 90p) is a tangy, complex and spicy mixer that is perfect for accompanying dark spirits. (Other subscribers got Double Dutch Ginger Beer.) It can also be used to add a kick of heat to orange juice or non-alcoholic cocktail options. Available at Waitrose, Tesco, Ocado and Amazon.

Punchy Cucumber, Yuzu & Rosemary (RRP £1.60) is one of a range of low calorie, all-natural soft drinks, blended with decadent ingredients and bursting with flavour. (Other subscribers received Blood Orange, Bitters & Cardamom or Peach, Ginger & Chai.) It makes a nice change to the usual soft drink flavours and offers a real taste of summer. It is lightly sparkling and very refreshing. As an added bonus, each can contains 50% of your vitamin D requirements. Available at WHSmiths, Planet Organic, Selfridges, Fortnum & Mason, Clean Kitchen, Ole & Steen, Ocado, Amazon and online at Punchydrinks.com.

Mission Mini Wraps (RRP 2 x £1.20), in both Original and Wheat & White, are perfect for kid-sized packed lunches or grown-up snacks. They can be filled with hot or cold fillings, with everything from ham or chicken and salad to taco filling. The soft wraps taste lovely whether hot or cold. We enjoyed ours with leftover chilli con carne and the kids finished them off with cream cheese and cucumber. Available in ASDA, Tesco and Sainsbury's.

 

Idahoan Cheddar Cheese Flavoured Perfect Mash (RRP £1.65) is a quick and simple accompaniment that can be knocked up in one minute so it's perfect when you have hungry bellies to fill in a rush ! Milk, butter and seasoning is already included so you just need to boil the kettle and add water. It has a lovely soft, smooth texture and the taste is lovely too. Available in ASDA, Morrisons, Tesco, Sainsburys, Waitrose, Coop, Spar, Ocado and Amazon.

Kellogg's Coco Pops Chocos (RRP £3.29) are a new addition to the Coco Pops range, offering the same chocolatey flavour in a new curved, crunchy shell shape. Delicious in a bowl with milk or just by the handful straight from the box, according to the Madhouse kids ! They can also be made into tasty fridge cakes, stirred into melted chocolate then chilled, if you want a simple "baking" project to make with the kids.

Maggi So Juicy Butter Chicken and Sweet Chilli Halloumi (RRP 2 x 99p) are simple sachets to keep in the cupboard for when you need dinner in a hurry and are lacking in inspiration ! Alongside the seasoning, you get a cooking bag to dump the ingredients in for a simple but tasty meal. With enough seasoning for four people, these are perfect for introducing new flavours to the dinner table with minimum stress.

 

Serious Pig Crunchy Snacking Cheese (RRP £1.60) is made from mature Italian Quattrocento cheese (very similar to parmesan) which is crumbled and baked in a special high temperature oven. The result is unique and offers a snack made from 100% cheese. We got the Truffle variety, while other subscribers got Caramelized Onion. I've never heard of these before but they are lovely. Made from just cheese, they are high in protein and carb-free, as well as keto and gluten-free. They have a crunchy, light, bubbly texture and aren't at all greasy, as I expected. They have a rich flavour of mature cheese and are very moreish. Available at Sainsbury's, on amazon and the Serious Pig website.

Yogi Tea Stomach Ease (RRP £2.75) is one of a range of organic and ayurvedic teas from Yogi Tea. Adding to the benefits of drinking the tea, each tea tag offers words of yogic wisdom and the yoga exercises explained on the pack offer another moment of mindfulness. The Stomach Ease variety contains cardamom, fennel and ginger and is described as spicy, sweet and easy on the stomach. 

Finally, this month's Product of the Month, Plantastic Protein Boost (RRP 2 x £1.15) are great as a quick lunch or after-school snack for the kids. Whether you opt for Satay Noodles with Sweet Red Pepper or Cajun Rice with Tomato & Pepper, just add boiling water and wait for 15 minutes. They're so tasty, you'll totally forget that they are a veggie option (which is pretty good going for Pierre !). I was actually surprised at how good these taste so they're well worth a try.  Available at Tesco.

 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.

Cheers ! ISH non-alcoholic drinks for nights out without the hangover ! (review)

Whatever your reasons - whether you're pregnant or breastfeeding, on medication, volunteered as the designated driver for the night or just trying to cut back on your alcohol intake - giving up alcohol is often a decision that is taken with a certain degree of frustration. You can of course opt for fruit juice or coke, but they can be pretty uninspiring when you're watching all your friends drinking exciting cocktails and delicious alcoholic drinks. Well, if you're in this situation, I have some exciting news for you ... Danish non-alcoholic drinks brand ISH have returned to the UK market with a whole line up of alcohol-free wines, spirits and pre-mixed cocktails. We received a selection to try out and have been putting them through their paces.

 

First up, Non-alcoholic Mojito. The can says : "Non-alcoholic cocktail with ISH Caribbean spiced spirit, mint and lime. It's like a fresh Caribbean breeze for your mouth." Both Pierre and Sophie love mojitos - Pierre the non-alcoholic version and Sophie the regular alcoholic one - since discovering them on our holiday to the Dominican Republic last year, so they were both excited to try this one out. The Caribbean spiced spirit adds a subtle note of rum flavour which they both loved and Sophie even checked the can because she was sure it couldn't be alcohol-free ! This can be enjoyed straight from the can after chilling it in the fridge, or you can go the whole hog and serve it in a glass with fresh lime and mint. Totally del-ISH -ous !

Next we tried Non-alcoholic Spritz. ISH say : "Balanced bitterness and fresh citrus is what makes a good Italian Spritz. This is also what you can expect from our non-alcoholic Spritz. French gentian root and quassia bark add bitterness while Italian mandarins, orange and lemon provide the tangy freshness." I have tried an alcoholic version of Spritz in a bar and this alcohol-free version certainly offers the same flavours, with zesty fruity flavours backed up with a pleasant bitterness. This can be enjoyed straight from the can or served in a glass with a slice of orange.

De-alcoholized Sparkling Rosé from Château del ISH offers a "pale salmon colour [that] hints at the plum, strawberry, and raspberry flavours derived from our blend of Merlot and Pinot Noir grapes. Moderate acidity and medium flavour intensity give you that classic rosé experience." It has a soft pink colour and a light prickly carbonation that really help you get the feeling you are drinking regular wine. It's perfect if you want to enjoy a glass on a girlie night out with friends without feeling left out.

GinISH & tonic really does deliver the taste of a regular G&T. "To create ISH G&T, our non-alcoholic Gin & Tonic, we source our botanicals such as sun-dried juniper berries from Southern Europe and coriander seeds mainly from Provence, France. They come together with a fresh citrus symphony consisting of lemon, lime, mandarin and bitter orange." It is a complex flavour that can be further enhanced by serving it dressed up in a glass with fresh rosemary, cracked black pepper and dried juniper berries. Or just go for the simple option and serve it straight from the fridge in a can, even spiking it with a dash of full strength gin, for a lower-alcohol cocktail option.

Non-alcoholic Lime Daiquiri Premixed Cocktail is an attempt to "to honour the original Daiquiri, a timeless classic cocktail that dates back to 1898 in the eponymous mining town of Daiquiri on the south-eastern tip of Cuba. The taste of dark Rum is balanced with the sour limes, mainly sourced from Mexico and raw sugar. Simple, delicious and alcohol-free." Once again, I had the impression that I was drinking a regular Daiquiri cocktail, with the sharpness of the limes mellowed by the sugar providing a delicious and satisfying drink. I'd definitely drink this again. According to ISH, the Daiquiri is typically a short drink, so each can contains two servings, perfect for sharing with a friend.

Finally, Alcohol-removed Light Sparkling Blanc de Blancs from Château del ISH is a refreshing, tasty drink that can be enjoyed with a meal or on its own. ISH say : "With a honey-forward nose and notes of citrus, green apple, pear, and peach, our [...] blend of Pinot Blanc and Silvaner grapes delivers an initial sweetness that transforms on the palate to a wonderful, refreshing acidity." It offers the same flavours and slight acidity of normal wine and is very pleasant.

I was very impressed with all of the drinks, especially as they have managed to encapsulate the distinct flavours of the original cocktails and wines. You really don't feel like you are giving anything up by opting for the alcohol-free versions, so I would definitely keep some of these in the cupboard for times you want a drink without the headaches or alcohol content.

for more information : https://ishspirits.com/

Disclosure : I received the products in order to share my honest opinion.

What's Cooking At The Madhouse ? menu plan week 16

We made it to the holidays - woohoo ! I'm looking forward to a couple of weeks of chilling out and also catching up with the endless jobs that need doing around the house - putting away all of the books and ornaments that are still boxed up after painting the walls in the passage and on the landings, jettisoning the ones that nobody wants any more, alongside about a dozen binbags of clothes that everyone has grown out of (so I need to chat up the local thrift store, plus make a few trips to charity bins and a book recycling centre in a (fairly) local town hall to try and drop all those off). I also need to change dentists (or finally manage to get a hold of our regular dentist) and try to find a doctor taking on new patients. I'm sure there was loads more that needed doing, but that will do for now ! This week, I fancy having a go at clearing all the odds and ends out of the kitchen cupboard (many packets leftover from Degustaboxes) and things that have been long forgotten in the freezer so I have no idea where this week will take us food-wise !

Monday

lunch- grilled ham, mash & green beans

dinner - chicken fajitas

Tuesday

lunch- chicken burgers, rice & ratatouille

dinner- pasta carbonara

Wednesday

lunch- beef tacos

dinner- chicken casserole (with mushrooms, onions, carrots, tomatoes) & rice

Thursday

lunch - freezer diving (not sure what's in there but I know there are some hidden surprises !)

dinner- freezer diving  / leftovers

Friday

lunch- macaroni cheese

dinner - pizza (or the kids might twist my arm for deliveroo !)

Saturday

lunch- grilled chicken with baked potatoes & coleslaw

dinner- fridge clearout (or cheese on toast)

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

What's Cooking At The Madhouse ? menu plan week 15

One more week to the holidays and this week starts with a bank holiday - perfect ! Last week, we stuck to plan until Thursday/Friday as I wasn't feeling great so I talked Juliette into rustling up a pasta dish, then worked with what was in the fridge rather than going shopping. Hopefully I'll feel better by Tuesday when I go back to work. I have a few ideas using what is left in the fridge but the other dishes will depend on whether I manage to find everything at the supermarket. We'll see ! If the worst comes to the worst, I'll go freezer diving :)

Monday

lunch- grilled ham, rice & beans

dinner - pork casserole & pasta

Tuesday

lunch- canteen for me, leftovers/canteen for the kids

dinner- chicken fajitas 

Wednesday

lunch- pork chops & chips

dinner- cauliflower cheese, baked potatoes & beefburgers

Thursday

lunch - leftovers

dinner- sausages with tomatoes, onions, peppers, pasta

Friday

lunch- canteen for me, leftovers/canteen for the kids

dinner - pasta carbonara

Saturday

lunch- probably lots of leftovers to use up

dinner- I can see me giving in to the kids' request for a takeaway !

Sunday 

lunch- roast dinner (chicken?)

dinner- leftovers or sandwiches

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

What's Cooking At The Madhouse ? menu plan week 14

This week was pretty calm, after the hectic past few weeks at work, so I actually managed to catch up on washing and tidying the house - phew ! Only two weeks to the holidays - can't wait ! The supermarket has switched over to their summertime meat selection with lots of marinated chicken products that taste lovely and are great time savers. That also means I'm getting into the sunshiney/warm weather frame of mind - it might be a bit early but that's good news too. Bring it on !

Monday

lunch- canteen for me, leftovers/canteen for the kids

dinner - Spanish chicken with rice and ratatouille

Tuesday

lunch- canteen for me, leftovers/canteen for the kids

dinner- pork chops with baked potatoes and baked beans

Wednesday

lunch- Provençal chicken with pasta and courgettes

dinner- pork Somerset stew with cheddar and parsley mash

Thursday

lunch - lunch with a friend

dinner- Cuban chicken with couscous and salad

Friday

lunch- canteen for me, leftovers/canteen for the kids

dinner - crispy sesame beef with noodles

Saturday

lunch- probably lots of leftovers to use up, if not pasta bake

dinner- pizza

Sunday 

lunch- roast chicken dinner

dinner- soup or leftovers or sandwiches

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

Degustabox March 2023 review : Hello Spring

 

Things have been so hectic lately that when the postie arrived with the latest Degustabox, my instant reaction was "Already ?!!". It doesn't seem five minutes ago that we were opening up the last one ! It is indeed time for the March Degustabox though and this month's theme really underlines the passing of time and the change of seasons - welcome to ... Hello Spring. Bye bye winter, time to get out of here. Bring on the sunshine ! So, what's hiding inside this month's box ?

Fruit-tella Strawberry Multipack (RRP £1.50) contains four packs of the iconic strawberry flavoured chews. They are made with real fruit juice and only natural colourings and flavours. They are dairy, gluten and nut free and taste delicious. We haven't eaten these for ages but it's just reminded us how tasty they are so we'll definitely be buying them again ! 

 

Get More Vits (RRP 2 x £1.30) are fruity flavoured sparkling drinks with added benefits. Apple & Raspberry flavour includes B vitamins for supporting energy release, while Mango & Passionfruit provides vitamin D for supporting heathy bones and immune system. As well as being sugar free, low calorie and made with real fruit flavours, the drinks provide 100% of your daily dose of essential vitamins. What's more, they taste lovely and are very refreshing. Available at Sainsbury's, Waitrose, Ocado, Amazon and getmorevits.com.

Good Earth Passionfruit & Orange Tea (RRP £2.99) contains 15 biodegradable teabags of fruity and zesty herbal tea. I passed them on to Sophie who said they were very nice. Use code TRYUS for a free box of tea (with a £1 shipping charge) on their website.

Kelloggs Crunchy Nut Salted Caramel Flavour Twist (RRP £2.99) are a new variety of one of my favourite breakfast cereals. I already love the sweet, crunchy texture of classic Crunchy Nut Cornflakes but the addition of the salted caramel flavour takes it to a higher level. They're sweet, salty, totally moreish and utterly delicious ! Available at ASDA and Iceland, they will be rolled out to other retailers in the first half of 2023.

 

Maille Traditional Dijon Mustard (£2.75) is a classic French condiment, perfect for scooping on the side of the plate, adding to a a ham sandwich, stirring through mash or livening up the leftovers from the Sunday roast. It always makes my nose sting but a tiny amount added to potato salad, chicken salad or pork casserole always gets my taste buds tingling !

This month's Product of the Month, Mutti Rossoro Tomato Pasta Sauce with Parmigiano Reggiano (RRP £3.10) is the perfect sauce for turning leftovers into a quick and satisfying pasta dish. Made with high quality, 100% Italian summer tomatoes and the sharp, complex flavour of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, it is delicious and the perfect time saver when you need dinner on the table quickly. It is also lovely stirred through chicken if you have leftovers after the Sunday roast. Available at Sainsbury's, Tesco, Ocado and Booth's.

Knorr Beef Stock Pots (RRP £1.65) are great for throwing into casseroles or whatever is bubbling away in the slow cooker. They are gluten free and melt into whatever you are cooking, leaving absolutely no lumps, just a lovely, deep, rich, meaty flavour. My favourite part? They avoid the gritty, beefy smelling fingers you always end up with after crumbling a classic stock cube into whatever you're cooking ! 

 

Nescafé Gold Blend Refill (RRP £5.50) uses 97% less packaging than the regular Gold Blend jars and, once empty, can be recycled. You still get the same smooth, rich instant coffee inside and the resealable top helps to preserve the freshness of the coffee. Besides the eco-friendly virtues, I love the fact that it makes the shopping lighter to carry home !

Sxollie Golden Delicious Xider (RRP £2.99) offers the sunshiney taste of apples with zero added sugar and no added flavours or nasties. It is B corps certified which means it prioritises people and the planet over profits. It has a 4.5% ABV and is very tasty and refreshing. Available at WHSmith Travel and on Amazon Prime.

Bounce Maple Pecan Cashew Protein Ball (RRP £1.70) is a plant based protein ball packed with a squishy cashew nut butter centre. As Pierre is still trying to up his protein levels and work out his muscles, I donated this to him and he said it was very tasty. 

 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 13

Last week was as hectic as I predicted. This week should be better as I only have one meeting left, on Monday. Thank goodness for that ! The rest of the week is back to normal routine so I should have some time to deal with other problems around the house - fingers crossed ! 

Monday

lunch- canteen for me, leftovers/canteen for the kids

dinner - leftover chicken with pasta or rice (hopefully Juliette will sort out dinner as I'll be late home)

Tuesday

lunch- canteen for me, leftovers/canteen for the kids

dinner- sweet Chinese pork with noodles (or rice if there's some leftovers)

Wednesday

lunch- chicken burgers with ebly (and red peppers in a jar, that need using up)

dinner- Spicy tomato chicken with mash & green beans

Thursday

lunch - lunch with a friend

dinner- Hawaiian shoyu chicken with pasta

Friday

lunch- canteen for me, leftovers/canteen for the kids

dinner - Hawaiian pork chops with rice

Saturday

lunch- pasta bolognese

dinner- baked potatoes (with cheese/bacon/mushrooms/beans)

Sunday 

lunch- roast dinner (probably chicken)

dinner- leftovers or toast

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

What's Cooking At The Madhouse ? menu plan week 12

Last week, I said I should have a pretty calm week coming up. Ha ha ha, best joke I've told in a long time ! It was brutal, combining report filling, after-school meetings at work and rushing about with doctor's appointments. Next week is a week of meetings (Tuesday, Thursday and Friday), so I'm not sure how much cooking I'll be doing (I can see us relying on the kids pitching in or grabbing takeaways if I get in too late and totally knackered !) but in theory, the worst is behind us. At least I've finished the reports ! Now I have to start tackling the problems around the house again (mainly involving dealing with a leak in Sophie's bathroom in the loft leaking into Pierre's room underneath - which may be coming in through the roof but maybe not). Sounds fun (not !)

Monday

lunch- canteen for me, leftovers/canteen for the kids

dinner - savoury mince and veg (either over rice or in pasties with mash)

Tuesday

lunch- canteen for me, leftovers/canteen for the kids

dinner- pasta with sausages/tomatoes/onions/mushrooms

Wednesday

lunch- chicken fajitas

dinner- battered fish, rice & veg

Thursday

lunch - lunch with a friend

dinner- pasta carbonara

Friday

lunch- canteen for me, leftovers/canteen for the kids

dinner - probably a takeaway/Deliveroo

Saturday

lunch- omelettes for me and Juliette, fridge-raiding for Pierre !

dinner- chicken and leeks in a cheesy, creamy sauce with pasta

Sunday 

lunch- roast chicken, roast potatoes, veg and lashings of gravy

dinner- leftovers or toast

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

What's Cooking At The Madhouse ? menu plan week 11

This week was busy, filling in as many school reports as possible on my days off. I got about half of them done so I should be pretty chilled out with no last-minute cramming before the class meetings that kick off at the end of the week. Phew ! That was as exciting as it got this week ! In terms of meals, the chicken pie was a big hit - we used to eat them pretty much every week with the leftovers from our roast chicken, then, after Mike died and Sophie moved out, a whole chicken was too much so we went down to chicken fillets. They're easy to cook and very tasty but there are no leftovers for pie making sadly ! The pork chops received rave reviews too, even though I did absolutely nothing special with them. No complaints from me though - I bought some more for this week !

Monday

lunch- canteen for me, leftovers/canteen for the kids

dinner - pork chops, rice and ratatouille

Tuesday

lunch- canteen for me, leftovers/canteen for the kids

dinner- sweet & sour chicken and noodles

Wednesday

lunch- chicken and chorizo jambalaya

dinner- pasta carbonara

Thursday

lunch - leftovers or cheese/ham (or maybe tuna/mayo) baguettes

dinner- fishfingers, pan-fried potatoes & coleslaw

Friday

lunch- canteen for me, leftovers/canteen for the kids

dinner - after school meeting so probably Deliveroo by the time I get home

Saturday

lunch- salami and goat's cheese tartlets (or they may end up as bacon and cheese ones) with mash & beans

dinner- pork curry & rice

Sunday 

lunch- tartiflette (stinky cheese baked over baked potatoes, bacon and onions)

dinner- leftovers or toast

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

Kelly Loves sushi kits (... and so do we !) (review)

Sophie and Juliette both love eating sushi so they sometimes grab some from the supermarket or our local Japanese restaurant. The problem though is that Sophie doesn't really like fish and Juliette is not a huge fan of vegetables so they are limited in what they can choose. Making your own sushi is a great way of getting around this problem as you can customise it to suit your own tastes. Not only that - it's great fun too !

Kelly Loves recently sent us a fabulous selection of products for us to have a play around with. Created by Kelly Choi, a woman who was born in Korea then moved to Japan, immersing herself in their culture, Kelly Loves offers a wide range of ingredients that are a perfect introduction to Asian food. Let's take a closer look at what we received.

 

Kimchi is a classic Korean dish, made principally with fermented cabbage, and this Kimchi sachet (£1.79) is a simple way to enjoy the flavours. It contains Napa cabbage, radish, red pepper powder, salt, onion and garlic, amongst other things, and is suitable for vegans. It can be eaten on its own, served over rice or fried up in a wok with noodles. It's perfect as an introduction to Korean food and makes a refreshing change if you want to try some new flavours.

 Crispy fried onions (£2.75) are great for adding flavour and texture to sushi, as well as offering an impressive finish if you stick them all around the outside (a particularly good idea if you don't like the traditional seaweed sheets). However, they are very versatile and have been sprinkled over everything from cheese on toast and mashed potato to pizza and soup. Whatever they go with, they are delicious and really perk up the most mundane of dishes.

This Bento box (£14.95) is the perfect way of storing your sushi or taking it to work or school for lunch (and showing off to all your friends !). 

It has a unique double layer that is firmly held in place with an elastic band. This is ideal for keeping fruit or cakes/biscuits separate from your sushi if you don't want your whole lunch to smell of fish ! It's a great size and has been instantly adopted by Juliette.

  

Back to the ingredients, soy sauce (£3.95) and spicy mayo (£3.35) are both great ways of adding instant flavour to your sushi. They are also enjoyed by the non-sushi lovers though, with rice or noodles (for the soy sauce) and sandwiches or carrot sticks (for the spicy mayo).

Ramune (£2.55) is the perfect accompaniment to sip along with your sushi. It is a traditional Japanese lemonade, served in a classic glass bottle. As well as the original Ramune flavour that we got, this is also available in lychee or yuzu flavours. The kids love the little glass marble designed to keep the fizz in the drink !

 

A sushi mat (£2.30) is indispensable if you are trying to make sushi. (Well, you probably could make it without one but this makes it all much easier !) It's perfect for rolling up sushi and pressing it into shape so that it doesn't all fall apart. I would suggest buying one mat per person so that you can all make sushi at the same time, without waiting your turn.

Sushi nori (£3.35) is one of the classic sushi ingredients, guaranteed to give your homemade creations an authentic look and taste. They are toasted seaweed sheets that add taste and texture, as well as providing an appealing colour contrast to the rice. Each pack contains seven sheets but we split them in half to make smaller sushi.

 

Sushi rice (£2.50) is the other absolute must-have when making sushi. This fine short-grain rice is perfect for sticking your creations together (but I warn you in advance - it does end up sticking to your fingers like glue when you've made a few!)

Sushi vinegar (£2.10) should be stirred through your cooked sushi rice and this instantly brings it to life, giving it a lovely authentic flavour.

 

Finally, add a hit of authentic flavour and zing to your sushi with sushi ginger (£3.35) or wasabi (£2.35). Now, we are all wimps so we didn't like either of these, but they are a great way of adding a traditional kick to your food.

You won't get perfect looking sushi the first time you try to make a roll but it is great fun and incredibly simple. Just chop up some small strips of fish and vegetables (we used smoked salmon, prawns, carrots, and cucumber) and let your creative juices flow !

Once rolled, chop it into slices and serve on a plate (or stick it straight in your bento box ... or mouth !) Meshiagare !

I have shown you the prices for each individual ingredient but it is cheaper to buy the Ultimate Sushi Kit for £29.99 which contains everything above except the Ramune drink and the kimchi. Whatever you think of sushi, these are great fun to make and you may surprise yourself. I was not keen on the idea at all but by picking my favourite ingredients, they actually came out really nice.

for more information : https://kellyloves.com/products/ultimate-sushi-kit

Disclosure : I received the products in order to share my honest review.