Degustabox Family Sharing & Cooking (September) Box

 Degustabox is a monthly food and drink subscription box. It's an excellent way of discovering new products which have only just appeared in the shops, or those which have been around for a while, but you haven't had a chance to try them yet.

Thanks to Degustabox, I have found new favourites to add to our shopping list, including some products which I otherwise wouldn't have tried.

Each time a monthly box arrives, its contents are a total surprise. You get a good selection of foods and drinks.

If you haven't tried Degustabox subscription box yet, and would like to have a go, I have a £3off discount from your first box (and you can unsubscribe any time), just use code DKRLN when placing an order. 

What did we get in the Family Sharing & Cooking/ September Box?

Paxo Golden Breadcrumbs (£1.70) is the Product of the Month. This product from Paxo is a really handy cupboard staple.

The golden breadcrumbs give a lovely crisp, crunchy coating and are especially good for adding texture to meals. Use with chicken, fish or veggies - cover in flour, dip into a beaten egg and then coat in golden breadcrumbs.

My son who's been recently cooking for us more often, used Paxo breadcrumbs to cook chicken fillets to serve in brioche buns with salad, mayo, crispy bacon and ranch sauce. 

I wondered if I might also use them in an apple strudel, as we have a big harvest in the garden (since I first wrote it, I actually cooked an apple and plum strudel and used Paxo breadcrumbs mixed in the filling, it worked very well). Have you tried cooking sweet dishes with these breadcrumbs?

The resealable tub makes them easy to keep on hand. Simple, versatile and very useful.

Nutritional information: 0.36g of salt and 86kcal per 24g portion; no artificial colours.

Available in Tesco, Morrisons, ASDA and Ocado.

Homepride Marry Me Chicken Pasta Bake Sauce (£2.65) is a really convenient way to make a comforting pasta bake without lots of prep. This is a new addition to the Homepride range..

The creamy sauce has a lovely rich flavour, with the sundried tomato and herbs adding plenty of character.

Great for a quick midweek dinner when you want something tasty with minimal effort.

Nutritional values: 0.97g of salt and 87kcal per 121g portion (1/4 jar); no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives.

Available in Tesco, ASDA, Morrisons, Iceland and B&M.

Ko-Lee Thai Sensation Instant Noodles (£0.70 each) are surprisingly tasty instant noodle options with lots of Thai-inspired flavour.

The fragrant curry seasoning gives them a lovely aromatic kick, and they are incredibly quick and easy to prepare (super for teens who seem to be hungry as soon as they come home from school, or just an hour later after an evening meal).

You should receive 3 flavours: Thai Massaman Curry, Thai Red Curry and Thai Chicken Green Curry.

Thai Massaman Curry is a meal of noodles in a mildly spiced coconut curry with a medley of vegetables and warm, aromatic flavours. Nutritional values; 3.6g of salt, 12g of sugar and 460kcal.

Thai Chicken Green Curry is a pack of noodles in a spiced broth with the aroma of green curry, flagrant lemongrass and a hint of coconut. Nutritional values: 4.88g of salt, 5g of sugar and 424kcal per 100g.

Thai Red Curry is a pack of noodles in a lightly spiced coconut curry with the heat of chilli and fragrant herbs. Nutritional values: 4.5g of salt, 6.6g of sugar and 461kcal per 100g.

Great for a speedy lunch, or a little fakeaway, when you don't want to spend ages in the kitchen.

Ready in minutes with just hot water. Add a sprinkling of fresh herbs, like chopped parsley, coriander or spring onions for an extra flavour and texture.

Available in Amazon and major supermarket chains.

Maggi Global Kitchen Teriyaki Noodles with Chicken & Mushroom Risotto with Chicken (£3 each) are new products in the Maggi range.

You should receive 1 item of two. We got Global Kitchen Mushroom Risotto with Chicken, made with brown rice. 

Ready in just 2 minutes, it is a source of protein, and is low in saturated fat. Easy and convenient to use, it is a good kitchen staple. Saying that, the consistency of this risotto is more of a thick soup. 

Nutritional values: 1.5g of salt and 245kcal per 260g serving.

Available in Tesco and Morrisons.

Fruit Bowl Peelers (£2.95) are made with real fruit, 1 of your 5 a day, a source of fibre, gluten free and plant based.

A lovely snack for the whole family, they are ideal for lunch boxes. Peelers are made by squashing juicy apples and sweet strawberries together with a little fruit juice.

Nutritional values: 5.8g of sugar and 31kcal per 1 peeler (there are 5 in a box).

Available in all major supermarkets.

Jacob's Bites Salt & Vinegar Flavour (£2) is a new addition to Jacob's range (by now we have tried other flavours as well).

These cracker bites are lovely on their own, or with a dip of your choice. Generously seasoned with sea salt and with a tangy flavour of the malt vinegar, they are baked to perfection.

Each 25g serving contains 0.4g of salt and 119kcal. No added palm oil, artificial colours or flavours, suitable for vegetarians.

A sharing box won't last long.

Available in the major supermarket chains.

Rubicon Cherry Burst (£1.29) is a refreshing fruit-flavoured sparkling drink.

Made with real fruit juice, Cherry Burst tastes like summer in a glass, with a mix of ripe cherry and juicy peach.

Best served chilled over ice.

Nutritional values: 11g of sugar and 48kcal per 250ml.

Available in Sainsbury's, ASDA, Morrisons, WHSmith and Co-Op.

Voss Lime & Mint Sparkling (£1.59) is a flavoured water in a can. 

I buy Voss still water in glass bottles, but this was the first time we've tried flavoured Voss. The flavours are subtle, and the taste is crisp. Very refreshing.

With zero calories, and none of the artificial sweeteners, this drink is a lovely alternative to traditional fizzy drinks.

You should receive 2 items in your box.

Available in Holland & Barrett, Ocado and Amazon.

What's your favourite product from the latest box?

The Queen of Bushy House by Molly Gartland (review + giveaway)

"Our stories are intertwined, even with my body deep in the grave".

"This house - meant for a duchess, never for the likes of me - was once our haven, our secluded hideaway."

The Queen of Bushy House by Molly Gartland is a compelling and engaging historical novel set in the 19th C, with a supernatural Gothic narrative.

Blurb

The Queen of Bushy House

One house. Two women. Both determined to endure.

July 1818. Dorothea Jordan - celebrated actress and long-time companion of the Duke of Clarence - has returned. Not in flesh, but in spirit. For fifteen years Bushy House was her sanctuary, filled with laughter and her ten children - the FitzClarences. Now she watches as her portraits are taken down and her daughters sent away, in preparation for the duke's new bride.

Princess Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen arrives in England with duty pressing upon her shoulders. At twenty-five she has accepted a proposal no other princess would take. She must tame the duke's debits, win over his unruly children and - above all - produce an heir to secure the British throne.

But Adelaide soon senses a presence in Bushy House.

As she struggles to find her place in a household shaped by another woman's love, the restless spirit of Mrs Jordan lingers - watchful, wounded and unwilling to be forgotten.

Inspired by the true story of Queen Adelaide and the actress Dorothea Jordan, The Queen of Bushy House explores grief and ambition, motherhood and legacy - and the enduring power of a love that refuses to fade.

Dorothea Jordan, the famous and much admired actress and long time partner of Duke of Clarence, is gone. Once she has ruled Bushy House with laughter, music and ten children at her side. 

She is gone, but her ghost refuses to leave. 

"Dust and darkness do not trouble me; there is comfort amongst the cast-offs. I curl up on a tatty chair as the men bring up all of the portraits and stack them, one against the other. they drape the sheet over them and retreat. 

I remain, a shadow in the wings".

The duke who once promised Mrs Jordan a lifetime is bringing a new bride to Bushy House.

Princess Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen is twenty five and quite plain. Her matrimonial prospects are not inspiring. Bound by duty to a marriage few would have dared accept, she is a stranger in England. She is shocked to see her future husband, considerably older than her and not exactly a catch. He is deep in debt, his household is unruly. Adelaide feels pressured to win the trust of Duke's children. Can she restore her husband's fortunes and give the British throne a much-needed heir?

Bushy House might have been cleared of the remnants of Mrs Jordan's occupancy for Adelaide's arrival, yet the house does not feel empty of her lingering spirit. Vulnerable and anxious to please, Adelaide is aware that something or someone is haunting the spacious rooms. It is definitely a woman's presence. 

"My children and William were blind to me but this newcomer saw. In that moment, I knew we shared a bond".

Despite the nature of the otherwordly feeling, Adelaide is not alarmed. If anything, she is comforted by the ghost of Dorothea. 

The duchess struggles to adapt to her new role of the wife and stepmother. The house where she resides has been moulded by another woman's tastes and ambitions. "A crow calls, swooping past the window. I do not belong in this house - oh, to be free and fly away".

Their relationship is borderline companionship and rivalry. The previous mistress of Bushy House has lost everything and is not willing to surrender her home and children to the care of her successor. The duchess finds herself drawn into a silent battle with the ghost.

Bushy House acquires a prominent role of its own, almost becoming a living character. "Bushy House - elegant and graceful, yet not grand; a jewel set within wild parkland". Descriptions of the house itself and the grounds provide a perfect setting for the Gothic drama.

Mrs Jordan is not a typical mistress or a kept woman, it's her earnings that have financially supported her family. Without her successful career on stage, her children would have been destitute. 

And while William often appears as an incompetent baffoon and an old rogue, he is not a one-dimensional character. He is genuinely affectionate to all his children, and can be gentle and compassionate towards his young wife. 

Dorothea has been his love for many years. He has abandoned and betrayed her, like many men in his position by simply refusing to acknowledge the truth, yet he is not a total scoundrel.

As Mrs Jordan ponders herself, "There was never a question of marriage: under the Royal Marriages Act, William was required to wed an aristocrat. Although I was the undisputed queen of comedy, such a title would not have satisfied Parliament".

She is well aware that, "I was the queen of Drury Lane and a ghost at court. Applauded on stage, but never deemed worthy of their company".

Adelaide has the role which was coveted by Dorothea, she is a legitimate wife and an acknowledged companion of Duke of Clarence, if only she could give him an heir to the throne (I don't think it is a spoiler, since we do know who becomes King William's successor to the throne).

The Queen of Bushy House is an opulent historical novel with a brilliant storyline and colourful characters.

I loved Molly Gartland's first book, The Girl from the Hermitage, and was thrilled to read Molly's second novel. Though the setting couldn't be more different, both books explore the themes of the passing of time, loss and grief, vulnerability and resilience. And then there's an undisputed talent in blending personal stories with the authentic historical background. Moving and emotionally charged.

Potential triggers: stillbirth, loss of a child.

This review is part of the blog tour for The Queen of Bushy House.

Many thanks to Molly Gartland and Rachel's Random Resources for my e-copy of the book!

Purchase Links

www.mollygartland.com or https://www.mollygartland.com/category/all-products (goes directly to the bookshop)

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Queen-Bushy-House-inspired-Adelaide-ebook/dp/B0H8SBSRJY

https://www.amazon.com/Queen-Bushy-House-inspired-Adelaide-ebook/dp/B0H8SBSRJY

 

Author Bio – Originally from Michigan, Molly Gartland has lived overseas since 1994, including six years in Moscow and stints in Cairo, Cape Town and Dakar. A boomerang Brit whose ancestors arrived in America on the Mayflower, she now lives in south-west London.

​

A lifelong lover of books, theatre, art and urban wildlife, she is also a devoted supporter of Brentford FC and can often be found wandering through Bushy Park.

 

Social Media Links – https://www.facebook.com/mollygartlandauthor/

https://www.instagram.com/mollygartland_author/

https://mollygartland.substack.com

 

Giveaway to Win a signed copy of The Queen of Bushy House (Open to UK Only)

*Terms and Conditions –UK entries welcome.  

Please enter using the Gleam box below.  

The winner will be selected at random via Gleam from all valid entries and will be notified by Twitter and/or email. 

If no response is received within 7 days then Rachel’s Random Resources reserves the right to select an alternative winner. 

Open to all entrants aged 18 or over.  

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. 

This will passed to the giveaway organiser and used only for fulfilment of the prize, after which time Rachel’s Random Resources will delete the data.  

Please not that Chez Maximka is hosting the Gleam gadget for the purposes of the book promotion for free.

I am not responsible for the selection of the winner or the dispatch of the prize.

Win a signed copy of The Queen of Bushy House (Open to UK Only)

Degustabox August Box

 Degustabox is a monthly food and drink subscription box. It's an excellent way of discovering new products which have only just appeared in the shops, or those which have been around for a while, but you haven't had a chance to try them yet.

Thanks to Degustabox, I have found new favourites to add to our shopping list, including some products which I otherwise wouldn't have tried.

Each time a monthly box arrives, its contents are a total surprise. You get a good selection of foods and drinks.

If you haven't tried Degustabox subscription box yet, and would like to have a go, I have a £3off discount from your first box (and you can unsubscribe any time), just use code DKRLN when placing an order. 

What did we get in the August Box?

Tilda Tomato and Basil (£1.25) is the Product of the Month. This is a tasty combination of natural basmati rice with juicy tomatoes and fragrant basil.

Always pleased to have another product from Tilda. I buy Tilda pouches regularly for quick and easy meals, as a side dish for chicken, fish or tofu. Perfect with stuffed peppers (as any of Tilda's rice products).

Nutritional information: 153kcal and 0.53g of salt per 125g serving; gluten free; nothing artificial; vegetarian and vegan.

Available in all major retailers and on tilda.com.

UFIT Protein Granola Toasted Oats & Chocolate (£3) is a "quick, easy and tasty way to start your morning strong".

Made with soya protein to maintain muscles and bones. 

Nutritional values: 302kcal and 13g of sugar per 70g serving. It promises High Protein - 15g per serving. Serve with 125ml of semi-skimmed milk for 20g protein. A source of fibre, wholegrain, natural flavours and low in salt for healthy blood pressure. Suitable for vegetarians.

Our son is a fan of this granola, and enjoys different favours of UFIT for breakfast.

Available in Tesco, ASDA (we also buy it in Ocado).

Sharwoods Medium Ready to Wok Noodles (£1.95) comes handy, when you want to prepare a quick and easy noodle dish, either a stir fry or a ramen (could  be meat-based or vegetarian).

There's no need to pre-boil the noodles, just add them straight to your wok, and they will be ready in a couple of minutes.

Made from quality wheat flour, these noodles are soft and springy, and don't stick together.

Nutritional values: 207kcal and 5.5g of protein per portion (150g); no artificial colours, flavours and preservatives.

I used them in a gyoza ramen dish, with a few green vegetables and miso broth, one of the meals my family enjoys often (usually I add udon noodles).

Available in Tesco.

Bisto Herby Parsley Sauce (£2.95) is a lovely accompaniment to a steamed fish (cod or salmon), or as an ingredient in the fish pie.

Simply add 4 level tablespoons of Bisto herby parsley sauce granules to 250ml boiling water and stir until thickened. One tub gives you 19 individual servings.

Nutritional values: 42kcal and 0.47g of salt per 50ml portion; no artificial colours or preservatives.

Available in the major supermarket chains.

Seabrook Garlic & Herb Crinkle Cut Crisp (£1.50) is a new addition to the popular Seabrook range.

Crafted in Yorkshire since 1945, Seabrook Crisps are famous for their iconic crinkle cut texture combined with bold flavours. There are several lovely flavours to choose from, though we prefer the classic one, with sea salt. This bag of crisps didn't last long.

Garlic & Herb offers a punchy garlic favour, well balanced with fragrant herbs. Each 25g bag contains 126kcal and 0.16g of salt.

Available in ASDA.

Carr's Roasted Garlic & Herb Water Crackers (£1.70) are delicious savoury crackers, perfect for cheese and dips.

My favourite kind of lunch is a cheeseboard with cheese, fresh grapes or figs, crackers and chilli jam. These crackers are just wonderful with soft cheese, like brie or camembert, or spreadable goat's cheese.

"Carr's have been baking pioneers since 1831, proudly bearing the crown of Carlisle as a symbol of our enduring quality". 

Carr's crackers are baked in the iconic brick ovens. Roasted garlic and herb crackers are crispy, light and full of flavour.

Nutritional values: 14kcal and 0.1g of salt per cracker.

Available in Sainsbury's and Waitrose.

Jam Shed Jammy Red Wine & Cola (£2.50) is a refreshing cocktail in a tin, inspired by the Spanish classic, Calimocho. A blend of wine and cola flavouring. 

It was the first time I've tried this drink. Not bad at all, with lots of ice. Perfect for summer. It is rich, jammy and smooth with a pop of fizz.

Enjoy chilled or over ice.

Nutritional information: 74kcal per 100ml; alc.7% vol.

Available in B&M, Home Bargains, Savers and Tesco.

Starbucks Rich Black & Signature Caramel Flavour Coffee Craft (£3.99) is an iced coffee concentrated, which allows you to have your coffee exactly how you like it. 

You should receive 1 item of two, ours was the Rich Black flavour.

Crafted from the finest Latin American Arabica beans, this is an unsweetened black liquid coffee concentrate. Add milk of your choice (dairy or plant-based) or water and ice for a smooth iced drink.

In the last summer I drank gallons of iced coffee. I made mine with pistachio milk and lots of ice, and it was just right for the hot weather we endured in the last three months.

Nutritional information: 43kcal and 4.1g of sugar per 100ml prepared coffee.

Available in all major supermarkets.

And finally, Rubicon Twist Mango Mist (£1.15) - a refreshing spring water with natural flavours and real fruit extract.

Each serving contains 0g sugar and only 3 calories. Enjoy chilled or served with ice.

Also available in Peach Punch, Berry Blast and Tropical Burst.

Available in Tesco, Sainsbury's, WHSmith and independent retailers.

What is your favourite product from the latest Degustabox?

I also wanted to bring your attention to the limited edition Degustabox Advent Calendar at £39.99 (worth £60 of products) and Cook & Bake Advent Calendar at £49.99 (worth £100). 

I haven't decided yet which one I will be ordering, as they both look good. 

The Secret Dressmaker by Jenny O'Brien

 

"My loyalties will first and foremost always be to my daughters... followed closely to my country. If I can combine them, so much the better".

The Secret Dressmaker by Jenny O'Brien is a vivid and suspensul historical fiction set in France during the WWII. It is a moving story of loss and tragedy, lies and deception, and the strength of the human spirit.

This is the second book in Threads of Resistance series, and can be read as a standalone.

The Secret Dressmaker

Shelves of sequins in a kaleidoscope of colours. Bolts of silk and tulle against the back wall. The sewing room was the last place anyone had seen her daughter alive.

Northern Ireland, 1942. Flora Toussaint packs parachutes for the RAF, haunted by the twin daughters she was forced to give up eighteen years ago. When British intelligence shows her photographs of her girls - now young women in occupied Paris - her world shifts. One is safe. One has vanished. And their father, the celebrated couturier Lucien Lumineau, is suspected of collaborating with the Nazis.

Flora agrees to a dangerous mission: parachute into France, pose as a seamstress at the Moulin Rouge, and uncover the truth. Lodging above a brothel where Edith Piaf sings after hours and where Pablo Picasso still holds court, she mends costumes between shows, searches for any trace of her missing daughter between curfews, and circles closer to Lucien.

But Lucien isn't the man she remembers. Neither is their history. And what Flora discovers will unravel everything she thought she knew - about Lucien, about her daughters, and about the night she gave them away.

A sweeping tale of wartime Paris, family secrets and impossible choices. Fans of Kate Quinn, Pam Jenoff and Kristin Hannah will be mesmerised by The Secret Dressmaker.

For eighteen long years Flora Toussaint has carried the guilt of giving up her twin daughters, Violette and Marguerette. Now at last, she knows where they are.

One day, while packing the parachutes at the Taylor's Mill, the military production in Northern Ireland, Flora is approached by someone from the British intelligence service. Tomas Rives is aware of Flora's past. He brings in photos of her twin daughters, now young women. She learns that while one of her girls is safe, the other has disappeared, seemingly without a trace.

Their father is a brilliant and celebrated couturier Lucien Lumineau, who is suspected of collaborating with the Nazis.

What Tomas tells Flora about her girls, shocks her to the core. 

"Flora felt her world shatter. Everything she'd been told by the nuns. Everything she'd thought and hoped for her daughters. Everything Lucien had promised. All lies."

Tomas asks Flora to go to France on a special mission for the War Office.

Flora has no choice but to go back to the city she fled eighteen years ago. Her mission is perilous. She has to parachute into the occupied France, and assume the identity of a seamstress at the Moulin Rouge.

And above all, she has to find her missing daughter before the Gestapo does.

Living above a brothel, Flora mends flamboyant costumes by day and searches the shadows of wartime Paris by night.

Returning to Paris brings back many memories that Flora tried to suppress, of her tragic beginnings and most miserable childhood with a cruel foster family, of the nuns who took her in but also despised her humble origins, and most of all, the day when she lost her daughters and left Paris for good.

And then she meets Lucien, the man she loved all those years ago, the man who betrayed her. 

"A complex man, far more complex than she'd thought when she'd first met him.Then he'd been the handsome atelier with more charm than was good for any woman. Now she didn't know what to think".

As Flora follows the trail of secrets through the dangerous world of occupied Paris, she begins to question everything she believed about the man she loved and the daughters she was forced to leave behind. The truth about that long-ago night might be darker than she remembered and imagined.

Is Lucien truly a traitor, conspiring with the enemy? Will Flora be able to find her missing daughter, and will this quest uncover more devastating secrets that might destroy them all?

The Secret Dressmaker is an emotionally charged, entirely compelling tale of secrets and espionage, and one woman's determination to protect her children.

The author creates a captivating portrait of Paris during the Nazi occupation. Aside from the main plotline, it features some famous people like Edith Piaf and Pablo Picasso. The storyline is moving and heart-breaking. 

Flora is a complex main character. Family bonds and love are more important to her than the idealistic ideas of patriotism. As she declares, her loyalties lie foremost with her daughters.

Many thanks to Jenny O'Brien and Rachel's Random Resources for my e-copy of the book!

Purchase Links

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Secret-Dressmaker-Jenny-OBrien-ebook/dp/B0GSVGSK36

https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Dressmaker-Jenny-OBrien-ebook/dp/B0GSVGSK36

Author Bio – Jenny O’Brien writes complex thrillers and heartbreaking historical fiction, as well as intriguing romances. Silent Cry, initially self published, topped the Amazon kindle chart in both the UK and the USA. Most of her books have followed suit. 

Jenny has over 40 years experience as a qualified nurse. She turned to creative writing as a hobby when her children were born. Now, 20 years later, she's retired from the day job to focus on writing. She's currently working on the third book in the Threads Series. 

Born in Ireland, she now lives in Guernsey with her husband and children.

Social Media Links – https://www.facebook.com/JennyOBrienWriter/

https://www.instagram.com/scribblerjb/

https://x.com/ScribblerJB

Degustabox July Box

 

 Degustabox is a monthly food and drink subscription box. It's an excellent way of discovering new products which have only just appeared in the shops, or those which have been around for a while, but you haven't had a chance to try them yet.

Thanks to Degustabox, I have found new favourites to add to our shopping list, including some products which I otherwise wouldn't have tried.

Each time a monthly box arrives, its contents are a total surprise. You get a good selection of foods and drinks.

If you haven't tried Degustabox subscription box yet, and would like to have a go, I have a £3off discount from your first box (and you can unsubscribe any time), just use code DKRLN when placing an order. 

What did we get in July Box?

Kellogg's Crunchy Nut Crunchies Caramelised Biscuit Flavour (£3.50) is the Product of the Month. This is the latest addition to the Kellogg's range.

If you enjoy your cereal crunchy, then you're in for a treat. Crafted from maize, wholegrain oat and wholewheat flour, coated in rich caramelised biscuit flavour. Lovely with milk, or as a little snack on its own.

Nutritional values: 115kcal and 6.9g of sugar per 30g portion; natural grains, no artificial colours or flavours.

Available in the major supermarket chains.

Gaea Kalamata Olive Spread 125g or Sweet Red Pepper 125g (£2.50 each) are preservative-free spreads, inspired by the authentic Greek cuisine.

You should receive one item of two. 

We got Gaea Kalamata Olive Spread. Made with Kalamata olives, dried tomato, extra virgin olive oil, vinegar, apple juice, onion powder, oregano and mustard powder, this spread is full of vibrant flavours.

Lovely as part of a mezze platter, filled with fresh veggies, pitta bread, cheese and dips. 

Nutritional values: 206kcal and 4.5g of sugar per 100g. 

Available in local convenience stores.

Kettle Tortillas Mature Cheddar and Red Onion (£2.65) is a gourmet snack, made from Mexican-inspired white corn and carefully selected natural ingredients (red quinoa, onion and herbs).

They look rustic and authentic, speckled with red quinoa. Tasty on their own. Or place them on a tray, cover with grated Cheddar and mozzarella cheese, sprinkle a bit of Chipotles and put under the grill until the cheese melts. Absolutely heavenly.

Nutritional values: 482kcal  and 2.9g of sugar per 100g; gluten free, vegetarian, high fibre.

Available in Sainsbury's, Waitrose and Morrisons.

Buldak Hot Sauce Original & Hot Sauce Carbonara Flavour (£3.50 each) are Korean condiments.

They are very spicy (says so on the bottle), and rate 4/5 on the heat level. I am not brave enough to try them in cooking, and will try to find a willing friend who might enjoy them. 

However, if you love your food extra hot and spicy, serve these sauces as a dip or drizzle on any dish. The sauces are crafted to perfection, and promise a harmonious balance of spicy and savoury notes. There is even an Extremely Spicy sauce in the range.

Carbonara Hot Sauce is creamy red in colour, its tasting notes are "deep rich flavours and a spicy, creamy finish with a hint of creaminess". Nutritional values: 346kcal and 20g of sugar per 100ml.

Original Hot Sauce is dark red in colour, its tasting notes are "unmatched, addictive heat pungent, intense spiciness with sweet caramel notes". Nutritional values: 270kcal and 26g of sugar per 100ml.

Available in the major supermarket chains.

You should receive 1 item in your box.

For Goodness Shakes White Chocolate 35g (£2.50) is a new protein shake, made with only four ingredients including fresh milk.

Packed with protein, flavour and goodness, this shake is naturally high in calcium, lactose free, fat free and with no added sugar.

My younger son enjoys protein drinks, so this one is definitely for him.

Nutritional values: 211kcal and 16g of sugar per 330ml bottle.

Available in the major supermarket chains, Ocado, Amazon and at forgoodnessshakes.com.

Jimmy's Iced Coffee Original Iced Coffee (£2, see above) is a smooth, balanced, refreshing cold drink. Lovely straight from the fridge, or on the go. 

Planning to travel soon? Pick up some Jimmy's iced coffee to keep you alert and refreshed on the trip.

Ingredients include semi-skimmed milk, single origin Arabica coffee (Rainforest Alliance Certified), unrefined demerara sugar and acidity regulator.

Nutritional information: 39kcal and 4.9g of sugar per 100ml; suitable for vegetarians. 

Available in major supermarkets and online at www.jimmysicedcoffee.com.

If you are a Degusta Box Plus member, you will receive an additional product inside your box.

What product is your favourite from the latest box?

Degustabox June Box

 Degustabox is a monthly food and drink subscription box. It's an excellent way of discovering new products which have only just appeared in the shops, or those which have been around for a while, but you haven't had a chance to try them yet.

Thanks to Degustabox, I have found new favourites to add to our shopping list, including some products which I otherwise wouldn't have tried.

Each time a monthly box arrives, its contents are a total surprise. You get a good selection of foods and drinks.

If you haven't tried Degustabox subscription box yet, and would like to have a go, I have a £3off discount from your first box (and you can unsubscribe any time), just use code DKRLN when placing an order. 

What did we get in June Box?

Tilda Limited Ediiton Jamaican Spiced Pumpkin Rice (£1.25) is a Product of the Month.

When I saw Tilda on socials promoting a new product in their range, I was hoping Degustabox would have it in one of their boxes, and was pleased to see it in the latest box. 

My family enjoys Tilda, and I buy it regularly. We have our own favourites, and are always glad to try any new flavour.

Tilda Limited Edition Jamaican Spiced Pumpkin Rice is developed in collaboration with Original Flava.

Ingredients include steamed long grain rice with vegetables, like pumpkin, onion, carrot, as well as herbs and spices (Caribbean flavour seasoning), coconut cream and Scotch Bonnet chilli. It is vegetarian and gluten free.

Recommended pairing: Brown Chicken stew, Jerk chicken. 

Available in major supermarkets and tilda.com.

I served this rice with a tuna salad and a fried egg. It is a flavourful rice, not too hot. I would have liked a bit higher pumpkin to rice ratio, but it is tasty.

Fragata Marinated Olives with Olive Oil & Lemon /or Olive Oil & Hot Chilli (£1.70 each) are tasty Spanish snacks with lots of flavour.

You should receive 1 of two items. We got Fragata Marinated Olives with Olive Oil & Lemon, a product I often buy to keep in the pantry. It's very handy for easy and quick meals, salads, picnics, so called picky bits and cheese board. 

These olives are zesty and citrusy.

Nutritional information: 36kcal and 0.1g of sugar per 18g serving.

Available in local conveience stores.

Rio Mare Insalatissime Mexican Style (£2.99) is one of the products from the extensive Rio Mare range.

Rio Mare tuna is widely known for its quality and taste. A lovely product to keep in the pantry, for when you fancy a tuna pasta, or tuna salad. 

Ready to eat any time thanks to the stay-fresh packaging, with no added preservatives.

This salad with a Mexican twist will be enjoyed by those who love bolder flavours. Tuna in this salad comes with red beans, sweetcorn and peppers.

Nutritional information: 196kcal and 1.1g of salt per 100g. Features: Ready to eat. Dolphine safe, traceable fish, no preservatives, MSC certified, responsible quality.

Available in Waitrose, Morrisons, ASDA, Ocado and Amazon.

I added cucumbers, olives and spring onions to the salad.

Mission Wraps High Fibre Tortilla Wraps 4 pack (£1.80) are a healthier choice during any mealtime.

They are packed with flavour and 10g of fibre per wrap. Enjoy them as a breakfast burrito, a quick lunch wrap or dinner fajitas.

Or go decadent. During the recent heatwave, I didn't fancy cooking much, so I served these wraps with caramelised hot banana chunks and vanilla ice cream, like a pocket of deliciousness. It was filling and very satisfying. 

No photos, as the sweet wraps were eaten too fast.

Available in Sainsbury's, ASDA and Ocado.

Mission Wraps Mission Sourdough Tortilla Wraps 4 pack (£1.80) is another great tasting product from the range. 

Wraps make easy and quick meals, and the possibilities are endless, just add your favourite fillings and toppings, either sweet or savoury.

Nutritional information: 188kcal, 4.9g of protein and 0.49g of salt per wrap.

Available in Tesco, Sainsbury's, ASDA and Ocado.

Jacob's Cream Crackers (£1.70) is the original toppable cracker.

A perfect base for any cheese - strong Cheddar, mild Brie, goat's cheese, cream cheese, Stilton, etc. Add a slice of apple or chutney for a sweet note, or a slice of tomato and spring onions for a more savoury version. 

Each cracker contains 35kcal and 0.1g of salt.

Available in all major supermarkets.

Kallo's Beetroot & Balsamic Veggie Cakes (£1.40) are now available in a handy snack pack, for when you're feeling peckish on the go.

Made with wholesome ingredients, these veggie cakes are light, crunchy and flavourful. The smaller portion will fit into your lunch box, so that you can have a balanced snack anywhere.

Lovely with hummus or cream cheese.

Nutritional values: 409kcal and 1.4g of salt per 100g (one pack of 3 veggie cakes is 114kcal).

Available in all major supermarket chains.

Ambrosia Devon Custard Pot 150g & Devon Chocolate Custard Pot 150g (£1 each) could be eaten on their own, or as part of a dessert. Serve with a crumble, or pour over a fruit salad.

Made in Devon Creamery using West Country milk, each creamy pot has no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives.

Nutritional values: 144kcal and 15.9g of sugar per pot (Devon custard) and 150kcal and 17.1g of sugar per pot (Chocolate custard); suitable for vegetarians.

Available in all major supermarket chains.

Harry Brompton's Iced Tea/Peach (£1.80) is a premium British black tea infused with natural peach flavours. Very flavourful and super refreshing, especially in hot weather.

Brewed with the finest organic Kenyan tea ethically sourced from the Great Rift Valley and infused with the juice of ripe peaches.

Only 70kcal, vegan, gluten free, and a Great Taste Award winner.

Available in the major supermarket chains.

Nescafe Espresso Concentrated Iced Mocha & Iced Decaf (£5 each) is a must for those of us who enjoy iced coffee.

With one heat wave after another, I am quite obsessed with an iced coffee, which I make with pistachio milk, lots of ice and Nescafe Espresso Concentrated. Depending on the time of the day, I vary, whether to have a caf/decaf version. This drink is so good. You can play with different types of milk, from dairy to plant-based. I like unsweetened pistachio milk, but almond milk is pretty good too.

Each bottle offers 16 servings of instant, barista-style iced coffee (latte or Americano) at home, without the machines.

Available in a range of flavours, from Classic to Caramel and Vanilla. 

Nutritional information: 57kcal and 7.4g of sugar per 100ml prepared (Iced Mocha); 43kcal and 4.1g of sugar per 100ml prepared (Iced Decaf).

Available in the coffee aisle.

You should receive 1 item in your box.

What product is your favourite from the June box?

The Catalyst by Andrea Goyan

 

"The game had a life of its own, a path to follow, and there was little he could do to control the outcome. It was just how things worked. He simply needed to remain flexible".

"...even though I fought it and hated the game with every cell in my body, I too felt its tug. The strange euphoria of living inside another's skin, of being part of a club whose membership all resided within me".

The Catalyst by Andrea Goyan is a gripping, dynamic sci fi, biotech horror thriller.

Blurb:

When human bodies are found with scales and tails, DNA specialist Kat Crocker is assigned to uncover the cause of the mutations and stop them before they spread. But the growing visibility makes her a target. As attacks escalate, the trail leads her to a newly released VR game powered by impossible genetics - and the one man: the mentor who taught her everything, the father she buried years ago.

DNA specialist Kat Crocker aka Double-D works with the police on a trial basis. She dreams of being a "crime scene, DNA identifying, one-woman superhero". In reality she has to deal with mundane tasks, evaluating trivial misdemeanours. That is until there appears a threat of a deadly mutation.

When human bodies are discovered covered in fur, or bearing scales, tails and other impossible genetic changes, Kat Crocker is called in to investigate. Her mission is to identify the possible cause and stop it before humanity could be changed forever.

But trying to solve the case paints a target on her back.

As violent attacks escalate, Kat uncovers a chilling link to a sold-out new VR game driven by forbidden genetic ingeneering. And behind it is the person who young Kat worshipped in the past, and who's been dead for years.

How does this game work? What or who is the Catalyst, and is it possible to stop or reverse the mutations?

The Catalyst has an enticing, disquieting premise: genetics, body horror, VR, and the past interfering with the present. It is in the similar vein to The Fly and Existenz - a biotech horror with a personal emotional backstory.

Just like Existenz, it involves an immersive virtual reality game which blurs the boundary between simulation and reality, where the game's disturbing side effects seep through into the real world, and change the gamer's personality and physical build. It is also highly addictive. 

I found the concept of the new game intriguing and exciting. The story starts strong, and keeps the narrative fast-paced and immersive.

Ambitious, visual and unsettling, The Catalyst raises a lot of thought-provoking questions about the possible use and abuse of DNA. It would make a perfect read for book clubs, and discussions on the future of DNA-safeguarding.

Things that didn't sit well with me:

When one of the female characters is injected with the DNA of a former stripper, her behaviour starts to change. She has an urge to be provocative and perform a pole dance. This episode somehow grates. How is a DNA of a stripper different from a DNA of a housewife or a teacher? A stripper doesn't do what she does due to their DNA. These are mostly exploited people who work in this business to earn money, and not because of their genetics. 

This post is part of the blog tour. Many thanks to Andrea Goyan and Rachel's Random Resources for my e-copy of the book!

Purchase Link

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Catalyst-Kat-Crocker-Book-ebook/dp/B0H67WYZ8N/

https://www.amazon.com/Catalyst-Kat-Crocker-Book-ebook/dp/B0H67WYZ8N/ 

About Andrea Goyan:

Andrea Goyan is an award-winning author and an avid animal person who grew up being called Goat-Girl and Raccoon-Mama. She is a grateful part of a flock of collaborative Magpie Poets whose first collection, An Illegal Feast, was released in 2025.

Andrea also co-hosts MetaStellar Magazine's Long-Lost Friends and Storytime. In her spare time, she walks her dogs and loves to paint, especially animal portraits. Many of her stories are available for free on her website.