December 2021 Degustabox review : Winter Warmers & New Year

So how was Christmas? I hope you all had a good one, whatever the circumstances. We had a quiet Christmas with just the four of us, as things have got trickier for travelling to meet up with the family and I had visions of us getting stuck and not being able to get home ! We ordered in lots of tasty things to eat and, just before the big day, our December Degustabox arrived, providing more food discoveries that the whole family enjoyed sampling.

   

First up, a very healthy sounding product from Amy's Kitchen, Hearty Organic Quinoa, Kale & Red Lentil Soup (RRP £2.15), which sounds perfect for kicking off the traditional New Year's healthy eating resolution. It is packed with plant power from organic red lentils, quinoa, kale and veggies and is gluten free, vegan and low in fat. This sounds like just the kind of thing Sophie would love, so I've put it aside for her. It's perfect for a quick lunch when she's home alone. Available in major supermarkets.

Vita Coco Choc-o-lot (RRP £3.75) sounds like another product that Sophie will love, as she's dairy-intolerant. It's a chocolate and coconut drink that is dairy-free, vegan and not made from concentrate. This is another healthy option, perfect for the New Year, as it is bursting with vitamin C and contains only 25 calories per 100ml. Available from Sainsbury's, Co op, Holland & Barrett and Waitrose.

Vahdam India Maharaja English Breakfast Black Tea (RRP £1) offers a curated combination of robust, full-bodied and flavourful Assam black teas, packed in a convenient pyramid tea bag. I'm not a tea drinker but ... I can sense a theme beginning here ! ... Sophie will enjoy trying them out.

Aha, this one's not for Sophie, it's for me ! Well, OK, I'll share with everyone ! McVitie's Digestives Seasonal Edition Mince Pie (RRP £1.59) are a lovely festive version of the classic chocolate biscuit. We've enjoyed sampling several of the limited edition versions and it's always nice to detect a new, unusual or surprising flavour coming through. This has a mild mince pie flavour that is perfect for a Yuletide nibble !

Aspall Draught Cyder (RRP £2.20) is a crisp, medium-dry cyder (now I'm wondering what the difference between a cider and a cyder is !), crafted at the original Cyder House, Suffolk. It is a refreshing drink with a definite taste of fresh pressed apples. The "draught" label confused me as I always thought this was applied to cider or beer served from the pumps at a bar, rather than in a bottle, but what do I know ?! I really liked this and I'd definitely buy it again.

Curiously Cinnamon (RRP £2.80) is perfect for the winter, with a festive cinnamon flavour that gives a gentle warming feeling when you eat it. The tongue-tingling crunchy whole grain squares are a great way to start the day ! The kids love the flavour and I love the fact that they're 33% whole grain, a source of calcium and they contain seven vitamins and iron.

Nick's Crunchy Caramel (RRP £1.50) is a tasty snack, made of caramel and almond, covered in smooth milk chocolate. It tastes great, despite being sugar free. It also contains no gluten and no palm oil. I've never seen this brand before but I'll be looking out for it, to see what else they have in the range. (The write-up in the Degustabox mentions sweets and ice cream.) Available at WHSmiths, selected Sainsbury's and on Amazon.

 

Bertolli Extra Virgin Olive Oil Originale (RRP £5 - other Degustabox subscribers got Classico, which is ideal for grilling, baking or frying) offers a taste of Italy. It is made using 100% olive oil and no additives so you get to appreciate the genuine fruity olive taste. Available on Ocado and Amazon.

Cheddar Cheesies (RRP £1.19 - other Degustaboxers got Gouda Cheesies) are an interesting concept - just cheese, baked until crunchy. They're naturally protein-packed, have no carbs or sugar and are only around 120 calories per serving. The Great Taste Awards 2021 described them as "the very definition of moreish" and I agree - they're very tasty !

Pipers Pitta Chips (RRP 2 x £1.10) are a great new snack, made by farmers, from the company known for their crisps. These crunchy pitta chips combine local, great tasting ingredients with a bespoke baking process. The resulting snack is very tasty. Our favourites were the Cawdor Hills Garlic & Herbs, but the Biggleswade Sweet Chilli & Sour Cream ones were happily munched on too. Available at local farm shops, pubs, Ocado, Waitrose and Sainsbury's.

Rhythm 108 Vegan Hazelnut Chocolate Praline Cookie (RRP £1.49) is a "consciously crafted, deliciously Swiss" moment of pure indulgence. You get a soft blonde Swiss chocolate chip cookie, filled with a creamy hazelnut chocolate praline, then topped with a sprinkle of toasted hazelnuts and even more chocolate chips. It tastes as good as it sounds, but there's more - it's vegan, organic, gluten-free and 27% less sugar. It even comes in home compostable packaging. What's not to like ?! Available at Morrisons, Booths, Planet Organic, on Amazon, Ocado and Rhythm 108.

This month's Product of the Month is Nissin Cup Noodles Soba Japanese Curry (RRP £1.49), which is great if you're looking for a quick meal or for something the kids can prepare by themselves. Ready in just three minutes, it's like a combination of a classic Japanese curry and a vegetarian wok-style dish. You get the sweet taste of aromatic vegetables, the subtle heat of traditional Asian herbs and spices and the incredible aroma of roasted onions. This goes against the idea of it being a vegetarian dish, but it's also perfect for mixing with leftover turkey and vegetables, if you're still using up the remains of Christmas dinner !

The final product in this month's box is Swizzels Chocolate Drumstick (RRP £1). I couldn't get my head around a combination of these two sweets - would the flavour of raspberry and milk lollies work with chocolate? Well, it does actually and I think the addition of real raspberry pieces helps. You get a smooth chocolate bar filled with milk and raspberry fondant and raspberry pieces. Definitely worth a try and it only costs a pound ! Available at Morrisons, Boots, Booths, Planet Organic, Amazon, Ocado and Rhythm 108. 

 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 52

So we made it through Christmas and now we're ready to hit the New Year. Not quite sure what the New Year will bring though as there are some people (scientists) who want to keep kids off a bit longer, while others (politicians) are saying they don't want to prolong the holidays. We'll see ! I'm guessing I'll get a message from our headmistress some time this week so we know what we're doing. Either way, me and Sophie have our third jabs in the first week of January. I'm using up lots of odds and ends from the fridge and freezer and the page numbers relate to the November Sainsbury's Magazine and various other foodie magazine pages that I sat down and worked through. We did a big shop of frozen stuff just before Christmas so we have lots of exciting things to eat for New Year too.

Monday

lunch- Mediterranean chicken (seasoning sachet in the cupboard) with rice (& red pepper, courgette, onion in the dish)

dinner - Scalloped potatoes (p90) with added bacon and a side salad

Tuesday

lunch- enchiladas

dinner- Beef & ale stew with rice (or leftover scalloped potatoes)

Wednesday

lunch- Probably leftovers from last night

dinner- meatloaf with pasta (& tomato sauce?)

Thursday

lunch - Juliette had the idea of heading to a restaurant - well, why not ?! Maybe Buffalo Grill (US classics)

dinner- If anyone's hungry, there should be plenty of leftovers to use up

Friday - New Year's Eve

lunch- hasselback potatoes with steak or beefburgers and coleslaw (yep, Pierre and Sophie will opt for beefburgers, given the choice ! Blooming nutters !)

dinner - we have more nibbly bits in the freezer, followed by ice cream yule log

Saturday - New Year's Day 

lunch- bacon and egg fried rice (for me and Sophie - the others will probably prefer leftovers)

dinner- pork & chorizo stew

Sunday 

lunch- Gremolata smashties (p89 - think extra crispy crushed roast potatoes) with leftover stew if there is some, if not I'll see what meat is in the freezer)

dinner- leftovers or sandwiches or leftover nibbly bits from the freezer

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

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

We're on holiday at last - woohoo ! Time to sort out oodles of Christmas shopping (food, not presents !), work out what to watch on Netflix and where to go to soak up some last minute Christmassy atmosphere (maybe one or two of the local Christmas markets ? - not sure yet). I'm currently sat on the sofa, flicking through the November Sainbury's Magazine, deciding which recipes sound good to try. I'm also delving into the kitchen cupboard to see what seasoning sachets have built up in there. This week's plan may be completely ignored as we'll probably buy loads of extras when we hit Picard (a frozen food shop, like the French equivalent of Iceland) but it's better to have a plan to fall back on just in case.

Monday

lunch- homemade sausage rolls (p82) with mash & baked beans

dinner - raclette (melted cheese poured over boiled potatoes, salad/tomatoes/gherkins and ham/salami)

Tuesday

lunch- Chicken & chorizo one pot (p112)

dinner- Spiced sweet potato, tomato & coconut curry with rice (p67) (or leftover raclette, probably for Pierre & Juliette)

Wednesday

lunch- spaghetti carbonara

dinner- Creamy mustard chicken & leeks with rice (p72)

Thursday

lunch - Sticky & sweet BBQ chicken drumsticks (a sachet from the cupboard) with ebly & homemade coleslaw

dinner- Sausages with parsnip & apple mash and cider/onion gravy (p109)

Friday - Christmas Eve

lunch- twice baked potatoes (stuffed with bacon, onion, cheese, mushrooms, tomatoes)

dinner - tonight's the big night for Christmas dinner in France, but we'll stick to the UK tradition and have ours tomorrow. Tonight we'll do a selection of festive party snacks & nibbles to eat in front of the telly :)

Saturday - Christmas Day 

lunch- Christmas lunch - not sure if we're having turkey or chicken yet. It will probably be chicken, as turkeys are not a big thing here and it's hard to find them.

dinner- Crunchy apple, fruit & nut salad (p62) maybe with leftover chicken/turkey if anyone wants it

Sunday 

lunch- Quite probably leftovers - if not chicken (or pork?) fajitas (I have a sachet of Mexican Tomato & Chipotle Tinga in the cupboard, which might make a nice change)

dinner- I think the fridge will probably have lots of nibbly things to munch on and maybe even some turkey

Extra baking projects - Herb & Parmesan Shortbread (p55)

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

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

We're heading into the last week at school and I'm really looking forward to a chance to chill out for a couple of weeks. Last week, Sophie did a great job of keeping everyone fed while I was in after-school meetings. This week is the same but only on Monday luckily. Some of the meals from last week's plan got bumped in favour of takeaway or alternative dishes, so a couple of things are being relisted on this week's menu. I'm not feeling at all festive yet - the tree and the decorations are up but I just haven't had a chance to take time out and enjoy it all. We have Christmas dinner at school this week (on Thursday) so hopefully that will kick things off. It's Santa hat day on Thursday and Christmas jumper day on Friday at school too, so it's definitely time to start getting into the spirit of things ! Right, here's what's planned for this week.

Monday

lunch- canteen for me (leftovers for the kids)

dinner - there will probably be leftovers from yesterday (roast gammon/roast potatoes/carrots/gravy - unless they all got munched at lunchtime) so they can be chopped up and added to pasta or rice for a quick dish

Tuesday

lunch- canteen for me (leftovers for the kids)

dinner- mince & mushrooms/onions with carrots and mash (basically a deconstructed shepherd's pie !)

Wednesday

lunch- chicken burgers, coleslaw (to use up the end of the white cabbage) and rice

dinner- chicken & veg stir fry with noodles

Thursday

lunch - Christmas lunch at the school canteen (leftovers for the kids)

dinner- pork chops with ebly and ratatouille

Friday

lunch- something veggie from the freezer with Sophie

dinner - pasta bake (with tomato, bacon, mushrooms, onions, cheese)

Saturday

lunch- kids' choice (probably McDonald's)

dinner- spaghetti carbonara

Sunday 

lunch- Hunter's chicken with rice

dinner- leftovers or bacon sandwiches

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

November 2021 Degustabox review : Party & Feeling Festive

Now, I'm not one to panic and it takes a lot to crank up the stress levels here at The Madhouse, but .... it's Christmas in twelve days ! TWELVE DAYS !! That's less than two weeks. Aaaggghhhh ! I suppose it's not too bad - I've got most of the presents organised (I just need to send a box of presents to my mum and dad's and order Sophie's present, but she needs to choose it) and get the Christmas food bought (I will go on a special festive supermarket haul next week). The decorations and the Christmas tree have been up for a couple of weeks already. Yeah, I guess it's under control, we can do this ! The postman dropped off the latest Degustabox a couple of weeks ago, which also helped us to get more organised as it has a Party and Feeling Festive theme. Perfect !

This box contains lots of things that I looked at and thought "ooh, that looks perfect for cooking such and such or for using up the leftovers, perfect for us as a family" but I've never seen any of them in the supermarkets before now. Here's what was in this month's box. Maybe some of them will make their way into your festive cupboards !

 

Hellmann's Sour Cream & Chive Sauce (RRP £1.70) is a new addition to the extensive Hellmann's range and it sounds absolutely perfect for jazzing up the leftover turkey in sandwiches and salads. That's not all it's good for though - Hellmann's suggest using it in fajitas, nachos, jacket potatoes and burgers. It's also been tried and tested mixed into mashed potatoes, which works really well, and the kids lovely using it in sandwiches or as a dip with crisps, veggie sticks and breadsticks.

The English Provender Co Caramelised Red Onion Chutney (RRP £2) is another perfect ally for adding some zing to leftover turkey, alongside a million other things. This is something that we eat from time to time and I just checked on the blog. We received a jar in a Degustabox back in 2017 and I also reviewed a jar all the way back in 2012. During the upcoming festive season, it is perfect served with a cheeseboard or stirred through casseroles and stews. Definitely one to add to the store cupboard !

Mr Filbert's Sea Salt & Herb Mixed Nuts (RRP £1.50) are very tasty, whether you're grabbing a handful as a snack or serving them alongside Christmas or New Year drinks. The crispy, crunchy nuts - a mixture of peanuts, almonds and cashews - are tossed in sweet basil, oregano and sea salt which really enhance the flavour. Very moreish !

Ines Rosales Sweet Olive Oil Tortas (RRP £2.50) are an interesting Mediterranean snack that I'd never heard of before. Each flaky torta is handmade using natural ingredients and these ones have a tasty orange flavour. They have apparently been Spain's favourite pastry snack since 1910. They can be nibbled on their own, served with tea or coffee or, if you fancy something a little different, combined with cheese. As well as containing no artificial colours or flavours, they are dairy-free and vegan, which may be handy if you're hosting a Christmas meal this year.

 

Radnor Infusions Unsweetened Raspberry & Black Cherry (RRP £1.50) sounds like the perfect drink for seeing in the New Year if you have healthy New Year's resolutions on the  cards. It is made using sparkling spring water, delicately infused with all-natural flavours and extracts. It's free from sugar, sweeteners and preservatives and is vegan-friendly. The cherry and raspberry flavour is lovely and even better, it's almost calorie-free. What more could you ask for ?!

Knorr Mushroom & Italian Herbs Seasoning (RRP £1.80) is an interesting way to inject great flavour into your dishes while avoiding any added salt. It contains a blend of chilli, paprika, green pepper, smoked paprika powder and sunflower seed oil and it's great for perking up the leftovers or adding extra depth of flavour to anything from risotto and omelette to stir fries or soup. 

This month's Product of the Month, McVitie's The Fully Coated Ones Digestives / Hobnobs (RRP 2 x £1.79) were, needless to say, gobbled up enthusiastically. The idea is pure genius - take a well loved but basically plain biscuit and smother it in chocolate - what's not to like ?!  Each bite offers the perfect combination of delicious crunchy biscuit and even more of McVitie's signature silky-smooth, milk chocolate. Utter perfection.

 

Menier Salted Caramel Finest Swiss Chocolate (RRP £1.99) is an interesting new product from the brand. After over 200 years producing cooking chocolate, they have branched out into eating chocolate, including this Salted Caramel Chocolate, which is their hero product. Sourced with the finest ingredients, it is very tasty and moreish. I'll definitely be looking at what else they have on offer.

Nairn's Cheese Oatcakes (RRP £1.50) are perfect for finishing off all the leftovers from the festive cheeseboard or even the remnants of the turkey. Like all Nairn's products, they are made with wholegrain oats and only the best, very simple ingredients. Sounds perfect as an antidote to all the rich festive food ! Oats are something of a super-food and they're high in fibre, helping to keep our gut healthy. They're very tasty too and perfect for when you want a light meal or something to nibble on.

 

Sweet Piquanté Peppers (RRP £3) are crunchy, sweet and tangy, with a definite burst of heat coming through right afterwards. They're great chopped up and added to sandwiches (especially cream cheese or, you guessed it, turkey) and pizzas. You can also serve them whole with pre-dinner drinks, if you don't mind the heat ! 

Passoa (RRP 13 for a full-sized bottle, £1.60 for the mini bottle) is a drink I've often wanted to try, so I jumped at the chance to sample this one ! I love fruity flavoured liqueurs so this passion fruit option appealed to me and ticked all the right boxes. You might like to try it in a Porn Star Martini - 40ml Passoa, 40ml vanilla vodka, 15ml lime juice. Shake and fine strain into a martini glass. Garnish with passion fruit and prosecco shot optional. It can also be mixed with tonic water or champagne (perfect for Christmas and New Year cocktails). I added some orange juice, as it was what we had in the fridge. Verdict - very nice indeed !

 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

Sophie's back from her week in Italy, which is good news for me (possibly bad news for her !) as she can take over cooking on the three nights this week that I've got after school meetings - boo ! I've just noticed we're into week 49 - blooming heck, that means Christmas is very nearly here ! I think our plans to come over to England will be scuppered by the new COVID rules - boo hiss ! - so I need to start getting organised for Christmas food too. We've booked our third dose of the COVID jab for the first week of January - not a lot else we can do really anyway. Well, here's a rough plan for this week, but I'm handing over control (and creative input) to Sophie !

Monday

lunch- canteen for me (leftovers - probably beef stew - for the kids)

dinner - Sophie's in control - maybe pork chops, rice and veg?

Tuesday

lunch- canteen for me (leftovers for the kids)

dinner- lasagne

Wednesday

lunch- leftover lasagne

dinner- twice baked potatoes (stuffed with onion, mushroom, bacon, beans, cheese)

Thursday

lunch - I'll be eating with friends (leftovers for the kids)

dinner- Sophie's on chef duty - spaghetti carbonara or bolognese ?

Friday

lunch-  leftovers or a Sophie-special :) (only me and her at home)

dinner - Sophie's in the hot seat again - maybe a takeaway? or pizza?

Saturday

lunch- creamy chicken & mushrooms with pasta

dinner- sweet & sour pork & pineapple with stir fried veg & noodles (or rice, if I fail to find any in the supermarket)

Sunday 

lunch- roast dinner - chicken probably

dinner- smoked sausages with pasta (and whatever else is left in the fridge - mushrooms, peppers, onions?)

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

What's Cooking At The Madhouse ? menu plan week 48

After a couple of busy weeks at work, this week is looking slightly calmer. I do have to fill in the end of term reports and prepare the "conseil de classes" meetings on top of regular lessons, but there are no after school meetings for once - phew. Luckily, the eldest kids are off doing a week of work experience so that'll give me some extra time to fill in the reports too. We didn't get snow in the end but it was blooming cold and we had major wind and rain - so much so that Father Christmas abseiling down the belfry was put back until Wednesday ! Sophie's off in Italy this week, catching up with some friends. So what's on the menu this week ?

Monday

lunch- canteen for me (leftovers - probably pasta - for the kids)

dinner - battered fish with mash and coleslaw (I have a quarter of a white cabbage to use up)

Tuesday

lunch- canteen for me (leftovers for the kids)

dinner- smoked sausages with lentils and rice

Wednesday

lunch- chipolatas with leftover lentils and rice (only me and Pierre at home)

dinner- beef stew (with carrots, onions, mushrooms) with pasta

Thursday

lunch - I'll be eating with friends (leftovers for the kids)

dinner- chicken casserole with leftover pasta if there's enough, if not boiled potatoes

Friday

lunch-  leftovers or a Sophie-special :)

dinner - chilli con carne with rice (one of our winter favourites)

Saturday

lunch- kids' choice of fast food probably - if not, fishfingers (veggie option for Sophie as she doesn't like fish) with ebly and veg

dinner- something that leaps out at me when I go shopping - or maybe a chicken stir fry if nothing takes my fancy?

Sunday 

lunch- roast dinner - chicken probably

dinner- bacon sandwiches, if I can find bacon - totally failed last week :-/

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

What's Cooking At The Madhouse ? menu plan week 47

Blimey, week 47 ?!! Where is the time going? I need to start getting prepared for Christmas ! But for now, let's just think about next week. Last week was a busy one with parent-teacher evenings on Tuesday and Thursday, then on Saturday I let Sophie convince me to start putting up the Christmas decorations. The tree needs new lights so that has been put to the side for now, until I manage to grab a moment to go and buy new ones. (That'll be Wednesday, unless Sophie does it.) It does look nice and sparkly, just with a few bits of tinsel and dangly things hanging off the ceiling ! This week, I have parent-teacher evenings again, on Monday and Tuesday but as a parent this time- and I have to do both apparently as there are different teachers on both nights. Sigh. Tuesday is going to be a busy day as I'm on a training day all day, including lunch with the team, then I have to dash back to my school for a meeting at 4.30, then I have to head to Juliette's school for 5.30 for the meeting with the teachers. I'll need my Wednesday off to recover ! Snow is possibly on the way this week too, so I'll be looking up winter warmers to cook this week :)

Monday

lunch- canteen for me (fresh pasta for the kids)

dinner - we'll be in late so Sophie may take over - if not, tartiflette (potatoes, bacon, onions and stinky cheese, baked in the oven) (kicked back from last week's menu and the cheese is still festering in the bottom of the fridge !)

Tuesday

lunch- canteen for me (leftovers for the kids)

dinner- we'll be in late again so hopefully Sophie will take over - if not, spaghetti bolognese

Wednesday

lunch- chicken burgers with rice & coleslaw

dinner- veal stew (with potatoes, carrots, leeks, mushrooms) and leftover rice if desired (or just as it is)

Thursday

lunch - I'll be eating with friends (Sophie will probably come along as Pierre and Juliette will be at school canteens)

dinner- chicken curry with rice

Friday

lunch- Sophie will throw something together if there are no leftovers 

dinner - chilli con carne & rice

Saturday

lunch- kids' choice of fast food probably

dinner- probably something picked up when I go shopping - pizza? KFC-style chicken ? Chinese? or something completely unusual if I find it !

Sunday 

lunch- roast dinner - chicken this week, I think

dinner- bacon sandwiches, as we haven't had them for a while :)

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

What's Cooking At The Madhouse ? menu plan week 46

Back into routine this week. I have parent-teacher evenings on Tuesday and Thursday so I'll need quick food or things that can be prepared in advance, unless I can convince Sophie to deal with dinner on those nights ! I did a big shop so there are various options this week, but I'll still make a plan as a basic idea. I used the leftovers from the Sunday dinner to make chicken (and roast potato and vegetable) soup which went down well and saves having too much left over in the fridge. I realised the freezer is pretty much full too so I'll need to make space in there so that I can fill it up ready for Christmas.

Monday

lunch- canteen for me (leftover chicken soup and/or pesto pasta for the kids)

dinner - meatballs with leftover fried potatoes (and tomato/onion/mushroom sauce)

Tuesday

lunch- canteen for me (leftovers for the kids)

dinner- chicken with American BBQ seasoning, rice & veg

Wednesday

lunch- chicken burgers with pasta & coleslaw

dinner- blanquette de veau (creamy veal & carrot stew) with potatoes

Thursday

lunch - I'll be eating with friends (leftovers for the kids)

dinner- sausages, rice & ratatouille

Friday

lunch- Sophie will throw something together if there are no leftovers left

dinner - tacos

Saturday

lunch- kids' choice of fast food

dinner- tartiflette (baked potatoes, onions, bacon and stinky reblochon cheese)

Sunday 

lunch- roast dinner

dinner- soup with the leftovers from lunch

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

What's Cooking At The Madhouse ? menu plan week 45

We're back ! We disappeared on a last-minute trip to see the family in England, which was lovely. We went over on the ferry as foot passengers and my dad picked us up from Dover which was much easier and cheaper than the Eurostar and train trip that we undertook in the summer. I hope it will all go back to normal soon though as the Day-2 tests are still expensive (about £60 each, despite having a free test in France 2 days before leaving and all being fully vaccinated - grrrr). Back to school this week but we have Thursday off as it's a bank holiday. Definitely into lots of slow cooker casseroles and winter warmers now :)

Monday

lunch- canteen for me (leftovers for the kids)

dinner - chicken in gravy with rice & veg

Tuesday

lunch- canteen for me (leftovers for the kids)

dinner- twice baked potatoes, stuffed with bacon, mushrooms, peppers, onions, beans and cheese)

Wednesday

lunch- sausages and lentils (with carrots and onions mixed in)

dinner- chicken and chorizo empanadas with rice and salsa (and maybe some guacamole too)

Thursday

lunch - Chicken & bacon ranch casserole (already has rice in it)

dinner- spaghetti bolognese

Friday

lunch- Sophie usually rustles something up for when I get home from work - otherwise sandwiches or leftovers will do

dinner - paella (we haven't had it for ages and I'm trying to remember what I used to add - chorizo, chicken, red pepper, onion, maybe some olives sounds good to me)

Saturday

lunch- McDonald's or equivalent

dinner- pizza or leftovers

Sunday 

lunch- roast dinner

dinner- steak sandwiches (leek quiche for Sophie)

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

October 2021 Degustabox review : Movie Night

The clocks have gone back and the weather has completely changed this week, leaving us in no doubt that summer is a distant memory and autumn is definitely here. Luckily, we have Halloween and Bonfire Night to cheer things up a bit. Trick or treat? We were pleased to see that the latest Degustabox was full of treats to share !

This month's box had a Movie Night theme and the contents do fit in perfectly, with sweet and savoury snacks, including cinematastic hot dog buns, plus plenty of extras. Here's a quick peek at the contents of the box. Now let's have a closer look ...

Baker Street Drive Thru Originals 4 Classic Hot Dog Rolls (RRP £1.50) can be eaten straight from the pack or warmed up for a few minutes to make them taste even better apparently. We ate them as they were, stuffed with sizzling sausages, fried onions and tomato ketchup, and they were lovely. I particularly liked the fact that they are pre-cut, meaning that the kids can stuff their own hot dogs with no fuss or sharp knives needed. They benefit from long life so they are great as a simple meal option for Pierre at lunch times, if he wants to just add a couple of microwaved hot dog sausages or use up some leftover meat. The Madhouse kids said that these would be great in the classic French "sandwich américain" too - imagine an upgraded chip butty with a chopped up beefburger or sausage, ketchup or mayonnaise and freshly fried chips stuffed inside. Délicieux ! Available at Tesco's and selected convenience stores.

Nestlé Cheerios Vanilla O's (RRP £2.65) are a great breakfast option that appeal to kids (for the taste) and adults (for the nutrition). They are low in sugar (less than 5%), high in fibre and made with wholegrain but shh, don't tell the kids, they'll never realise ! They also have no artificial colours or flavours. They're tasty with milk for breakfast or just on their own as a snack. Available from Sainsbury's.

Get ready for this month's Product of the Month ! ... Mutti Passata (RRP £1.55) is a great product to keep in the kitchen cupboard for throwing together a quick meal with pasta or homemade pizza, as a sauce base with chicken or beef or even for adding depth of flavour to homemade soup. It's made from 100% Italian, perfectly sun-ripened summer tomatoes and its vibrant red colour, deliciously sweet flavour and smooth, velvety texture will keep everyone at the table happy. 

Barebells Double Bite Caramel Crisp (RRP £2.49 - other Degustaboxers got Double Bite Chocolate Crisp) is a high protein bar with no added sugar. Covered in milk chocolate, it is a very tasty snack. Great if you're looking to increase your protein intake, but it's a bit on the pricey side for us to make it a regular snack option.

Maretti Oven-Baked Bruschette Chips (RRP £1.49) are a tasty snack option that make a nice change to crisps and come with a clever marketing ploy. Generously seasoned on one side only, Maretti are giving you a 2-in-1 snack with a choice of intense and mild taste (spices down for intense taste or spices up for mild one). This is great if some people in your family like spicy snacks more than others. We got the Tomato, Olives & Oregano flavour which was a big hit but they come in six different flavour options. Available at Iceland, Lidl, Ocado, Holland & Barrett and various local stores.

Newman's Own Blue Cheese Dressing Dip (RRP £1.75) is great for livening up salads but can also be used as a dip with vegetable sticks or tortilla chips. 100% of royalties and after-tax profits that Newman's Own receives from the sale of products are used for charitable purposes, including key charity partner Over the Wall, which provides free and fun activity camps for children with serious health challenges. Available at Sainsbury's.

 

Indie Bay Pretzel Thins (RRP 2 x 89p) are very tasty snacks and the Madhouse kids absolutely loved them. They are made using spelt flour in their dough, they come in at under 100 calories per bag and they contain 70% less fat and 100% more protein than your average crisp. We tried Lightly Salted and (our favourite) Barbecue flavour, which were both big hits. They are said to be good for dipping, dunking, topping, grabbing, snapping and crunching. We'll definitely be buying them again. Available at Morrisons, Ocado and Amazon.

Poppets (RRP 2 x £1) are a sweet that I remember from long ago trips to the cinema, but alongside the regular Toffee Poppets, we also got to try new Poppets Mix-Ups, featuring chewy toffee, sweet salted caramel fudge, crunchy malt balls and classic chocolate. Which one will you get? Well, it doesn't really matter as they're all very nice ! The classic toffee flavour now has a new softer, chewy texture and both bags were gobbled up by the whole family. 

Pot Noodle Fusions (RRP 2 x £1.39) are great as a quick lunch or after-school snack for the kids. They love the regular instant noodles but were keen to try these latest flavours - we got Thai Green Curry and spicy Chilli Chicken but other Degustaboxers got Katsu. The kids loved the new Asian-inspired flavours and have asked to have some more in the cupboards for when they need a quick lunch. Available at Sainsbury's and Asda.

Reese's Peanut Butter Cups Trio (RRP 99p) are one of Juliette's favourite sweets, so she was very happy to discover that they've made the cups bigger. Sweet milk chocolate and peanut butter - what's not to like ?!

Sempio Korean BBQ Bulgogi Stir Fry Sauce (RRP £1.20) is a tasty cooking sauce, featuring Korea's number one Sempio soy sauce as a base ingredient to provide a robust, umami-rich flavour. Just add to stir-fried vegetables and meat (chicken, pork, beef or whatever you fancy) and you'll have a tasty, exotic dish on your plate in minutes ! Available at H-mart and Oseyo supermarket, which has an online shopping option. We all loved the flavour and I loved the simplicity of the meal preparation.

Last but not least, V.I.Bs Indulgent Chocolate Cherry (RRP £1.79) is another Very Important Biscuit to join the range. Each biscuit is topped with a thin layer of caramel then chocolate and mixed into the flavour is a delicate hint of cherry. Very tasty and very moreish !

This was a very popular box with everything appealing to our taste buds. The kids loved nibbling on the sweet treats and the dinner options were both tasty and convenient. A winning combination ! There are definitely several brands that I can see us buying again.

 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.