Photo diary: week 3, 12 - 18 January, Project 365

 January continues to be riddled with sickness and bad health. While my back pain has improved (though I still try to take it easy), my husband has had a flu, and my little great nephew has been so poorly, he stayed in hospital with his Mum. 

Last weekend we did a double-night movie session of The Godfather and The Godfather-II. I haven't seen either for more than twenty years, and enjoyed watching them again, especially the first film. Still brilliant on many levels. A true classic. Perhaps I should also re-read the book?

It was the full Moon, and I tried to take a few snaps. The iphone camera is not good to take long-distance images. The Moon is rather blurry, and is lacking the precision.

On the way to do some grocery shopping, I spotted some mimosa bunches outside the florist's. I would love to buy some mimosa, as it reminds me of my childhood, and my late Dad bringing in home bunches of mimosa for my Mum in spring. I'll wait until they have a new delivery of fresher flowers.

Eddie has hooked me on Squid Game. I saw Bibigo limited edition Squid Game products online, but when they were delivered, they were in plain packaging. Talk about being disappointed, as I so wanted to surprise my son. 

We don't have a Korean store nearby, the nearest one is on the other side of Oxford, which would be a two-bus trip. You can also get Bibigo in some Sainsbury's stores, but when I try to place an order online, these products don't appear in search.

We've tried the Japchae flavour, they were not bad at all.

If you like stationery, I'm currently running a giveaway on my Insta (until the 26th). It includes some of the bits which I bought in Paris, as well as the British Museum, and some book shops (a notebook, bookmarks, postcards and a badge).

I haven't been drawing much in January, as it was rather uncomfortable to sit at the table with my bad back, but I'm slowly getting there. Yesterday's drawing is that of Eddie when he was 3-years-old. We were in Penzance on his 3rd birthday, he was utterly thrilled with a balloon, and proudly announced to everyone on the way that it was his birthday. 

I remember it as a moment of pure joy, which probably happens only in childhood, when you are little and unburdened with worries and anxieties, and a simple balloon can make you deliriously happy.

I'm currently reading two books about the Sun King. Versailles is based on the BBC series, and is completely historically inaccurate (which I knew, since I watched the Tv series and laughed at it). Saying that, it is quite entertaining, as long as you don't expect to learn much about history.

The Sun King by Nancy Mitford was published in the 1960s, and it shows. It reads as a gossip column. Mitford is also concentrating mostly on the King's love affairs and building of Versailles. She is very non-PC, and nowadays this book would have been heavily edited to remove some of her xenophobic remarks. 

What are you currently reading? 

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First week and a half of January'25: Project 365

 Last year has been a struggle from start to finish, with our older son's anxiety reaching such high levels, that the college discharged him, saying they couldn't cope with his challenging behaviour. It's nearly one year exactly since he went to college for the last time.

We've been with the disability team all this time, adjusting and changing doses and trialling different meds, trying to find the possible triggers and rule out any possible cause of the spike in anxiety. It was truly one hell of a year. 

If I didn't dye my hair, it would be completely white by now from all the worries. I'm Sasha's main carer, and feeling totally wiped out. 

I stopped taking part in Project 365 over two (or is it three?) years ago for several personal reasons, but I kept  thinking of going back, as I missed it. 

2025 didn't start too well for me. I managed to hurt my back on the new year's eve, and have been in pain for the last ten days. Most of the photos taken during this week and a half are mostly food and everyday objects around the house, as I spent a lot of time at home.

New Year's eve was stressful and fun in equal measure. We had friends over for dinner and watched the TV until early hours. 

On the 1st of January we kept eating the leftovers. I cooked a big risotto layer cake (with chestnut puree, mascarpone and butternut squash) as the vegetarian main. Our friends brought the lamb.

As nobody in particular fancied risotto the next day, I made a variation of arancini (risotto balls) and baked them in the oven.

The first book of the year which I started reading at the end of December was A Book for Christmas by Selma Lagerlöf. It's a collecton of winter-themed stories, based on Swedish folklore and Christian fables. It is properly old-fashioned in style, and rather moralistic, in a dated way. 

It's a lovely edition, and I did pick it up because of the author's name and an elegant book cover, but I won't be re-reading it ever again.

One of my Christmas gifts was this cute little radio so that I could listen to Classic FM in the kitchen. They moved from DAB to DAB+ radio a year ago, and I could only listen to them on my iphone (which I rather hated). Very happy to be re-united with my favourite radio station.

I've been careful, staying at home with my bad back, but had to go out, albeit briefly. My husband was abroad (nothing new), and I needed to get to the pharmacy. Passing by the Teddy bears of Witney shop, I spotted a Snoopy toy in the window, and thought it's a bit symbolic. 

Going out happened to be not such a good idea. That's my "treats" for this week (not all at once).

I ordered a shopping bag on wheels from Amazon, and was aghast at the huge box it was delivered in.

I appreciate it's not exactly an elegant bag, but needs must. 

A friend took Eddie and me to Burford garden centre just before Christmas. I have a mini-tradition of buying one or two Gisela Graham Christmas tree decorations every year. This time I liked the look of those sparkling acorns (and yes, we still have our Christmas tree, and it will stay put until the Russian old new year, the 14th of January).

Cooking pasta e fagioli for dinner - two versions, one with meatballs, and one vegetarian, to suit all diets in the family.

Ventured out again, to the pharmacy and quick food shopping. There was a thin layer of ice in the canal.

Today Eddie and I went into town together, walking through the frozen flood fields. It was cold and foggy, and quite beautiful.

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Degustabox December Box

 

Disclosure: I receive a monthly Degustabox subscription box for free for the purposes of reviewing. I do not receive any payments to write a review. 

You count days until Christmas, then blink, and it's all over. How were your Christmas and New Year's Eve?  

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 December Box Degustabox?

Tilda Sticky Rice (£1.54) is the Product of the Month.

Made with specially selected grains, Tilda Sticky Rice is a great pantry product for quick and easy meals. I'm a big fan of Tilda, and always have a couple of pouches in the kitchen, to use as a side dish for chicken and/or vegetable main course.

Sticky rice will be perfect for any Poke bowl (with salmon marinated in soy sauce, mango cubes, edamame, shredded seaweed, etc) or sushi. For a vegetarian alternative, replace salmon with asparagus or butternut squash.

Ready in 90 seconds in microwave, and you can also heat it up in a small pan on the hob (we don't use a microwave at home).

Nutritional values: 221kcal and 0.03g of salt per 125g serving.

Made with finest rice, Tilda sticky rice is vegetarian and vegan, and has no artificial colours, flavours or preseratives.

Available in Sainsbury's, Waitrose, Ocado and Amazon.

Ryvita Snack It Thins Sour Cream & Chime Flavour (£2.19) are a true gem of the varied Ryvita range. 

Perfect for snacking, these wheat and rye flatbreads with sour cream and chive flavouring are great to eat on their own, or as part of the cheese or mezze board. Try them with cream cheese and sliced cucumber as a tasty snack.

Nutritional values: 38kcal and 0.08g of salr per thin.

Vegetarian friendly, British-baked, no artificial preservatives.

Available at Sainsbury's, Waitrose, Ocado and Amazon.

Human Nature Caramelised Onion flavour pea snacks/or Hot Halapeno/ or Smoky BBQ/ or Cheese Flavour snacks (£2) is a vegetarian brand on a mission to make wholesome foods that positively contribute to social and environmental causes. 

You will receive 1 flavour of four.

Human Nature Caramelised Onion is a Great Taste 2024 award winner. These scrumptious crunchy snacks are made with plant-based ingredients.

Nutritional values: 91kcal and 0.4g of salt per 20g serving; 13g protein per pack; source of fibre; up to 40% less fat; palm oil free; vegan approved.

The tasty snacks disappeared pretty fast, they were so good. Crunchy and melting in the mouth, they have a delicious onion flavour.

Available at https://humannaturefood.com

Dorset Cereals Simply Nutty Muesli is a perfect start to a day. Made with delicious dates, roasted hazelnuts and brazils, this breakfast cereal makes a lovely morning meal.

High in fibre and vegan, with no added sugar (only naturally occurring sugars), no added colours or preservatives, no artificial colours, contains wholegrains.

Nutritional values: 170kcal and 6.4g of sugar per 45g serving.

Lovely with a dairy or plant-based milk of your choice, Dorset Cereals also make a tasty ingredient in cookies ot granola.

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

Forest Feast Salted Dark Chocolate Cashews (£1.50) are delightful moreish snacks.

Forest Feast is one of my favourite brands. And these slowly roasted cashews, dipped in dark Belgian chocolate with a sprinkling of sea salt and a dusting of cocoa are truly delicious. I can easily eat more than one pack without sharing (I did share, though).

Nutritional information: 555kcal and 27g of sugar per 100g (one pouch is 40G); vegan, gluten free.

Available in Tesco, forestfeast.com and Fine food independents.

Maggi Masala Noodles (£0.65) is an authentic Indian recipe. 

Ready in just 2 minutes, these noodles are made with a blend of natural spices and are suitable for vegetarians. 

My younger son, who is the king of noodles, is always happy to try a new flavour.

Nutritional values: 301kcal and 2.02g of salt per serving.

Available in major supermarket chains.

Knorr Spicy Stock Pot (£1.90) will help you cook tasty dishes, packed full of flavour.

Medium on Spicy meter (two peppers), vegan, gluten free, made with sustainably sourced vegetables.

Ingredients include: tomato paste, cayenne pepper, jalapeno chilli pepper powder, red bell pepper, paprika powder, vegetable juice concentrate etc.

I haven't used the pots so far, and might pass them on to a friend who enjoys their food pretty spicy.

Nutritional values: 4kcal and 0.99g of salt per 125ml.

Available at Waitrose, ASDA and Ocado.

Garofalo Semi de Melone Soup Pasta or Ditali Soup Pasta (£2.60) offer an authentic Italian experience. If you enjoy hearty Italian soups or light broths, these soup pasta shapes will bring great taste and texture to your meals.

You will receive one product of two. We got Garofalo Ditali, short tube-shaped pasta, which holds sauce and seasoning well.

Both types of pasta are made from high qualiy durum wheat, ensuring an authentic al dente bite. Use ditali to cook a rich hearty soup Pasta e fagioli with ground beef, onions, carrots, tinned tomatoes, celery, kidney beans and herbs.

Nutritional values: 351kcal and 3g of sugar per 100g. 

Available on Ocado and Amazon.

Mentos Fanta Pouch Bag (£2.50) is a playful match of two classic brands - Mentos and Fanta. Mentos chewy dragees are our snack of choice for the longer car trips, but of course, you can munch on them any time of the day. The pouch is a limited edition.

While we prefer the original Mentos, Fanta-flavoured dragees are also bursting with flavour.

Nutritional values: 10kcal per one 2.7g candy.

Available in all major supermarket chains.

Get More Vits Recovery Cranberry Sports Drink (£1.25) and Sparkling Lemon & Lime Multivits Drink (£1.10) are fruity, sugar-free soft drinks with a daily dose of vitamins.

These drinks make it easier to boost your vitamin intake.

Sugar-free, low calorie and made with UK spring water and natural fruit flavours, Get More Vits are refreshing and flavourful.

Get More Vits Recovery is specially formulated to deliver electrolytes to aid hydration, and B vitamins for energy release.

Get More Vits Sparkling Lemon & Lime supports healthy body, with Biotin helping with metabolism and making you feel less tired.

Nutritional values: 5kcal and 0g sugar per 500ml (Cranberry sport drink); 2kcal and 0 sugar per 330ml (Sparkling lemon & lime)

Available in Tesco, Co-Op, Ocado, Amazon and getmorevits.com.

You should receive 2 items in your box (1of each).

Jayfish V Gallery Vodka (£4 for a 5cl bottle, or £20.90 for a 50cl bottle) is a premium flavoured vodka. V Gallery offers a delectable collection of flavoured vodka: Marshmallow, Toffee Fudge, Mango Crush, Cucumber and Very Berry.

You should receive 1 item in your box. We got a Very Berry vodka.

Distilled five times to create a pure crystal clear vodka each time, which flavour would you like to try?

Available a www.vgalleryvodka.com

Get a 20% discount on your first order with the code DEGUSTA20.

And if you're a PLUS member (I'm not), you will also receive a Riso Gallo My Risotto Perfetto Saffron risotto rice. I buy it regularly, and can only sing praises to it.

And that's all, folks. What product do you like the best from this selection?

Degustabox advent calendar

 

Hope you are having a stress-free and heart-warming festive season. I wonder, what advent calendars, if any, did you enjoy? We had a ball with two Degustabox Advent calendars (one I received for free for the purposes of reviewing; another one - an International edition - I bought back in September).

Degusta Box Advent Calendar 2024 contains 24 festive surprise food and drink items. Contents value of this calendar is £55. 

Let's recap what we found inside, day by day.

Day 1:

Filippo Berio Classic Balsamic Glaze (£2.99) is a true Italian classic. 

Rich, thick, sweet tangy syru is a perfect accompaniment for a big variety of meals, from sandwiches and bruschetta to grilled meats and vegetables, from pizza to salad. You can also use it in sweet recipes like a fruit salad or an ice cream sundae.

Available in ASDA, Morrisons, Ocado and at www.filippoberio.co.uk.

Nutritional values: 189kcal and 45g of sugar per 100ml, or 10kcal and 2.2g of sugar per 5ml spoon.

A great start to the culinary advent!

Day 2:

Clara's Selections Wafer Rolls Hazelnut & Cocoa (£1.25) - are indulgent light crispy rolls with a cocoa and hazelnut filling.

Eat them as a snack with or without a hot beverage or ice cream. What a delectable treat (and not just for Christmas).

Nutritional values: 495kcal and 44.3g of sugar per 100g.

Available in Home Bargains and One Beyond.

Day 3:

Cypressa Rose Harissa Paste (£3.25) is an aromatic blend of spices featuring paprika, red peppers and rose water.

Used widely in Middle Eastern and North African cuisine, this product will jazz up your mealtimes with its vibrant colours and bold flavours.

Use it as a marinade for chicken, fish, meat or vegetables; stir into soups and stews; brush it over a chicken before roasting; or spread over halloumi before frying.

Nutritional values: 355kcal and 0.5g of sugar per 100g.

Available at Ocado.com.

Day 4:

Rock Stone Confection Taste of the Caribbean Rock Sweets (£2.99) could be found in both Degustabox advent calendar and Degustabox advent calendar International edition.

Celebrating different cultures and diversity, these candies come in eye catching colours and offer bold flavours  The Caribbean selection comes in sweet flavours of Pineapple/coconut, Caribbean crush and Pink lemonade. 

My sons were very happy with these candies.

Gluten free and vegan friendly. Made in England.

Nutritional information: 374kcal and 75g of sugar per 100g (lots of sugar, but it is a SUGAR confectionery).

Day 5:

Rubis Wine Chocolate Wine (£4.10) is an award winning combination of Spanish Tempranillo wine and cacao, which is blended and bottled in the UK.

The taste is very special, velvety, with a subtle chocolate flavour. Serve it either at a room temperature or over ice. Very festive taste. A real treat!

Available at www.rubiswine.com (and Ocado). Suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

Day 6:

Ryvita Rosemary and sea salt thins (£2.20) are a crunchy and crisp baked Ryvita snacks. Use them as scoops for dips, dunk them in soup, spread with toppings of your choice.

British baked, high in fibre, low in saturated fat, with no artificial preservaties.

Nutritional information: 27kcal and 0.2g of sugar per thin.

Available in all major supermarkets.

Day 7:

Ballymaloe Foods Ballymaloe Relish (£2.20) is a delicious relish that brings an extra oomph to your sandwiches, cheese boards and burgers.

A Great Taste award winner in 2023, this relish was created by Myrtle Allen, Ireland's first female Michelin-starred chef. Her daughter Yasmin now produces this legendary relish for the markets worldwide.

Ingredients include: tomatoes, vinegar, sugar, onions, sultanas, tomato puree, sea salt, mustard seed, spices. Gluten free. Guaranteed Irish. Made with natural ingredients, fat free, suitable for vegans.

Available in Tesco.

Day 8:

Explore Cuisine Organic Green Lentil Penne (£3.50) is pasta made with plant protein.

Loaded with 21g of protein and 6g of fibre per 100g serving, and made with clean, organic and gluten free ingredients. 

Easy to prepare in just 7-9 minutes, this colour-infused pasta will make a great midweek meal. Serve with pesto or fresh basil leaves and pine nuts.

Nutritional values: 347kcal and 1.3g of sugar per 100g.

Available online on Amazon and Health Food Store.

Day 9:

Truly Nuts Milk chocolate or Dark Chocolate (£1.35) are made from hand-picked, wild-harvested Brazil nuts. You will get one pack of two.

Truly Nuts! Brazil nuts sweet talk milk chocolate are milk chocolate coated Brazil nuts, crunchy and sweet.

Gluten free, vegetarian friendly, sustainably sourced, these nuts make a delicious treat.

Nutritional values: 571kcal and 33g sugar per 100g (one pouch is 30g).

Available in WHSmith, Amazon and on the Truly Nuts! website.

Day 10:

Teapigs Spiced Winter Red & Everyday Brew (£2) come in cute small boxes, and look like Christmas tree decorations. Tea is welcome any season, and Teapigs make a great cuppa.

Teapigs English Breakfast is their signature blend: robust, rich and flavourful, perfect as morning cup to wake you up properly.

Teapigs Spiced Winter Red tea is a soothing rooibos with orange, cloves and spices, so very Christmasy.

Available in Waitrose, Sainsbury's, Tesco, Morrisons, on Ocado and Amazon.

You will receive two items.

Day 11:

Pringles Hot Kickin' Sour Cream (£2.25) is a hot twist on a classic Pringles flavour. 

These sharing crisps are great for a movie night. Eat them straight from the tub, or serve with cooling dips. 

Nutritional values: 523kcal and 0.61g of salt per 100g.

Available in the major supermarket chains.

Day 12:

Lavazza Iced Ready to drink cappuccino (£2.50) is a new iced coffee from the iconic Italian brand.

Iced cappuccino is a combination of 100% Arabica with semi-skimmed milk and delicious cocoa.

The balance between chocolate and coffee is just right. This is a smooth, creamy velvety refreshment, best served cold.

Available on Lavazza.co.uk.

Nutritional information: 48kcal and 6.5g of sugar per 100ml (one can is 250ml).

You will receive 1 item (usually sold as a pack of four).

Day 13:

Knorr Chicken Gravy Pot (£2.25) is a handy kitchen staple, which offers a quick and easy way to make a homemade-tasting gravy.

If you are having a roast chicken dinner, it won't be the same without a jug of hot gravy.

Now you can prepare your chicken gravy in a flash - just use one pot of Knorr chicken gravy, made with high quality ingredients. 

Free from artitifical colours or preservatives, these pots will make cooking a family meal easier. Lovely with chicken sausages too.

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

Day 14:

Joyfull Millets Crunchy Muesli fruit & nut (£1)  is a wholesome muesli, high in fibre and a source of calcium and iron. Available in three flavours: Fruit & Nut, Honey & Nut and Choco & Nut.

You will receive two items.

Millet is a nutritious ancient grain, known to humans for 4000 years. 

Nutritional values: 338kcal and 20.7g of sugar per 100g, or 152kcal and 9.3g of sugar per 45g pouch.

If you're more of a cup of tea and a toast for breakfast person, you could use this muesli as an ingredient in baking cookies.

Available in Morrisons.

Day 15:

Leon Tomato Ketchup (£2.65) is inspired by the Mediterranean diet, known for its use of plants and bold flavours.

This sweet and tangy ketchup is gluten free and vegan, and is made with sun-dried tomatoes. Great for all those tasty sandwiches, made with festive leftovers.

Nuritional values: 100kcal and 16.6g of sugar per 100g (one bottle is 280g).

Available in Sainsbury's.

Day 16:

Hilltop Blossom Honey (£2.50) is an award-winning honey, amber in colour. It is sweet and has a mild floral scent. 

Lovely to drizzle over hot crumpets or pancakes, added to porridge or tea. The honey has so many culinary uses, from marinades and salad dressing, to bakes of all kinds.

It has a lovely taste, though I prefer to buy honey of single origin, rather than a blend of non-EU honeys, as sadly it loses a lot of its health qualities when mixed with different honeys. It is still good for eating and cooking.

Nutritional values: 307kcal and 76g of sugar per 100g.

Available in Tesco.

Day 17:

Garner's Sweet Pickled Baby Onions (£3.90) will make a lovely addition to a classic Ploughman's lunch. Eat the pickled baby onions with a chunky cheese sandwich, add to a charcuterie board or a cheeseboard with a selection of robust cheeses and sliced fresh apple.

Baby onions are pickled in a malty vinegar for a well-balanced sweet and sour taste.

Awarded a Great Taste award in 2022.

Nutritional information: 107kcal and 22.1g of sugar per 100g (drained); suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

Available in Tesco, Sainsbury's and Ocado.

Day 18:

SimplyCook Indian Masala Lamb Chops (£2.95) is a handy recipe kit, which contains 3 flavour pots to create an authentic dish.

Cook 140+ chef-created recipes in 30 minutes or less with SimplyCook unique recipe kits. We had Simply Cook recipe kits in the previous Degustabox deliveries, and it's lovely to try another recipe from their vast range.

Simply Cook Indian Masala Lamb Chops serves 2-4 people. You will need lamb chops to prepare the dish. The ingredients include Masala paste, Spice Blend and Mint Chutney.

Nutritional values: 160kcal and 17.9g of sugar per kit.

Available at www.simplycook.com.

Please note that this kit has a short expiry date. If you don't eat red meat, try with another meat or paneer (I cooked a paneer and cashew curry with this kit). Turkey curry, anyone? 

Day 19:

Sweet Freedom Choc Pot Caramel Chocolate Spread (£3.15) is a Great Taste Award winner.

This vegan spread is made in the UK, has no palm oil or GMOs. It is a source of fibre, and has 61% less fat and 44% fewer calories than the leading chocolate spread.

Spread it on toast or pancakes, add to the brownie batter or cake.

Nutritional values: 302kcal and 38.7g of sugar per 100g, or 15.1kcal and 1.9g of sugar per 5g tsp.

Available at www.sweetfreedom.co.uk and ASDA stores.

Day 20:

Cheez-It Cheese & Chilli 150g (£2) is a thin and crispy snack baked with 100% real cheese, with no artificial colours or flavours. 

Crunchy and well-seasoned, Cheez-It makes a great snack, whether you are feeling peckish or having a movie night. There is a warming kick from chillies.

Nutritional information: 501kcal and 1.5g of salt per 100g, or 150kcal and 0.45g of salt per 30g serving. No artificial colours or flavours. 

Available in the major supermarket chains.

Day 21;

Billington's Dark Brown Soft Sugar (£4.50)  is a must product for the festive baking. Just imagine all your Christmas bakes from gingerbread to cookies, from brownies to cakes. And don't forget all the marinades too.

Crafted with care and ethically sourced, this premium sugar adds a rich, treacle-like depth to your recipes. 

This unrefined natural sugar has been very carefully produced to lock in the natural molasses of the sugar cane, thus adding a distinct unique rich flavour and beautiful colour.

I used some of this sugar to make non-alcoholic mulled wine, with lots of warm spices and oranges.

Available in all major supermarket chains.

Day 22:

Vidas Drinks (£2) are all-natural beverages that fuel your day, without the extras found in conventional drinks. 

Made with 100% natural ingredients, without added sugar or sweeteners. Low calorie, with less than 50kcal per can

If you're looking for a healthier alternative to soft drinks, Vidas is your friend. Drink healthy, anytime, anywhere.

You should recieve 1 item in your box. we got a Pomegranate & Black seed flavour.

Available at www.vidasdrinks.co.uk.

Day 23:

St Dalfour Apricot Fruit Spread (£3.25) is a delicious apricot preserve made near Bordeaux in France.

One of our family favourites, St Dalfour apricot fruit spread is 100% from fruit. No added sugar, it's gently cooked with vine-yard ripened grape juice and fruit juices.

It's sweet, tangy and very tasty. Great with croissants, and other sweet bakes. 

My guys love baked camembert. I usually score the top and add a couple of tablespoons of jam/preserve. We tried it with apple, pear, pineapple and other preserves, but keep coming back to the apricot one, as in our opinion, it works perfectly with gooey melting cheese.

Available in the major supermarkets and on Ocado.

Day 24

Horlicks Chocolate (£3.75) is a traditional malty hot chocolate. 

High in Calcium, Zinc and Vitamins C, D and B12. Just add hot water to make a creamy, malty hot chocolate. Traditionally crafted using malted wheat and barley, this is a warming comforting drink, perfect for the cold winter evenings.

Nutritional values: 119kcal and 15.4g of sugar per 32g serve.

Available in all major supermarket chains.

What a fabulous selection of foods and drinks!

Degustabox Advent Calendar has been stocked full of wonderful surprises. A must advent calendar for a foodie!