Hello, Spring Degustabox (March' 21)

March is a busy and exciting month. We're enjoying spending more time in the garden and having longer walks around town. It was over 20C yesterday, and let's hope Easter holidays will bring more sunshine so that we might see our friends outdoors, now that lockdown is easing. 

Hello, Spring is the theme of the latest Degustabox.

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 probably wouldn't have tried otherwise.

Each time the 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 £3 off discount from your first box (and you can unsubscribe any time), just use code DKRLN when placing an order.

What did we get in Hello, Spring (March) Degustabox?

Kelloggs' Crunchy Nut Peanut Butter (£2.50) is promoted as a product of the month. Ingredients include roasted peanuts (65%), honey coated roasted peanuts (26%), sugar, sunflower oil, honey, salt, palm oil, salt etc. It's a tasty combination of smooth peanut butter with crunchy peanuts for that unique Crunchy Nut taste. Lovely on toast with jam or banana slices.

It will also make a great ingredient for peanut butter oat cookies.

Available at Sainsbury's, Morrisons, Iceland, One Stop and periodically at Aldi.

SMARTIES Milk Chocolate Sharing Block/Orange Chocolate Sharing Block  (£1) is a new addition to Nestle Smarties range. It comes in a brand-new recyclable paper packaging. This chocolate sharing block contains no artifical colours, flavours or preservatives. Each row (one serving) contains 9.9g of sugar and 87 kcal.

We received an Orange Chocolate bar - a milk chocolate with orange mini Smarties. Not recommended for children under 4 due to small sweets inside the chocolate. Chocolate is made with Rainforest Alliance Certified cocoa, which is a move in the right direction (let's hope they will also begin to fulfil their PR promises of sustainable palm oil).

It is very sweet, and will appeal to Smarties fans.

You will get one bar in the box. Available in all major supermarket chains.

Maynards Bassetts Fruit Smoothie Jellies (£1.32) are a delicious candy treat. Each candy contains one of four fruity combinations: Banana & strawberry, Mango & passionfruit, Pineapple & lemon and Pomegranate & Berry. They contain natural colours and flavours, are made with real fruit puree and are - surprisingly - a source of Vitamins C & E.

Fruit jellies typically don't last long in our household, as my sons love them.

Nutritional information: 76kcal and 14g of sugar per 6 sweets.

Available in all major supermarket chains.

PITCH Bloc'O'Choc (£1.40) is a sweet soft brioche roll with a smooth solid chocolate bar inside. All brioches are individually wrapped, which makes them a convenient snack to add to the lunch box, or to take on a picnic, car journey and more.

We're fans of Pasquier Pitch products. I buy brioche with chocolate chips or plain brioche when I fancy making a bread and butter pudding. Just lovely.

Available at Co-Op.

Enervit Protein (£2.50) is a low sugar energy bar made in Italy. It is gluten-free and palm oil-free, fitting the main free-from trends.

I haven't had a chance to sample even a little bite, as my older son got hold of it first and gobbled it up.

Subscribers will receive one of two flavours. Available at WHS, Morrisons, and at independent stores.

Mallow & Marsh Vanilla Marshmallow bar coated in milk chocolate (£1.35) is a lovely, moreish treat. Mallow & Marsh's name means treats galore, if you love marshmallows. You get a fluffy soft centre, coated in a smooth creamy Belgian milk chocolate.

At 134kcal per bar, the marshmallow bar is made with no artificial colours, flavourings or palm oil. As it's made with beef gelatine, it's not suitable for vegetarians or vegans.

Available at Sainsbury's, BP, Boots, WHSmith and Waitrose.

Brynmor Flapjacks - Caramel Fudge/Apple & Raspberry/Dark Chocolate & Ginger Multipacks (£2). You will get one of 3 flavours. Lovingly baked in Wales, Brynmor flapjacks are made using only high quality, natural ingredients. Now in convenient 40g size, they are great as a midmorning snack.

Gluten-free, wheat-free, source of fibre, vegan friendly, no artificial colours or flavours.

Brynmor Flapjacks Dark Chocolate & Ginger - this is one of my top favourite flavour combinations. Ingredients include British rolled oats, ginger, golden syrup, dark chocolate flavoured coating, sustainably sourced palm oil etc. Nutritional information: 178kcal and 14g of sugar per bar.

Available at Holland & Barrett, Ocado, NISA, WHSmith Travel and Grapetree. The full range can be also found online at www.brynmorfoods.com

Organic Cheerios Honey & Chocolate (£3) is Cheerios UK's entrance into the UK's organic market. This certified organic cereal is made using organic honey hoops from five whole grains (wheat, oat, barley, maize and rice), and chocolate cereal pieces. It is high in fibre and doesn't contain any artificial colours or flavours.

Both my sons loved Cheerios when they were little, and it's lovely to discover a new flavour.

Nutritional information: 119kcal and 6.5g of sugar per 30g serving.

It's not the first time we find Hippeas in the Degustabox delivery, but they are always a welcome sight.

Hippeas Chickpea Puff Snacks Salt & Vinegar Vibes (£0.99) are vegan snacks. They are a good source of fibre and protein, are vegan, fluten-free, palm oil free, contain no MSG or anything artificial. At 91kcal per serving, they are a tasty plant protein-based treat. Salt & Vinegar is one of our favourite flavours, so this little bag didn't last long.

Available in all major supermarkets and at hippeas.com

Mug Shot Might Chicken & Mushroom Noodles (£1.49) is amde with natural flavours, no artificial colours and despite its name, is suitable for vegetarians. Nutritional information: less than 440kcal and 2% fat per pot. It is ready in 5 minutes, just add boiling water, stir and leave.

Pretty handy for office lunches, or when you just can't be bothered with cooking.

Available in all major supermarket chains.

I was very pleased to see two small bottles of Filippo Berio. This is my favourite brand of olive oil, which I regularly buy. Filippo Berio has been the UK's favourite olive oil for over 40 years.

Filippo Berio Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar (£1.29) is an ideal ingredient for a great variety of meals, from salads and dips to marinades, from roast to cakes.

For a delicious starter, serve crusty bread with two little bowls for dipping - oil and vinegar.

Available in all major supermarkets.

Lucozade Zero Sugar Tropical (£1.49) is a carbonated water with fruit juice from concentrate (pineapple, mango). Tropical is the latest flavour added to the range. This refreshing drink is avaialble in all major supermarkets.

Nutritional information: 0.6g of sugar and 5kcal per 250ml.

Esprala Apple & Red Plum (£1.09 per single unit or £12.57 per pack of 12) is a refreshing and lightly sparkling vegan fruit drink, with no added sugar and only 43 kcal per serving.

Drink with ice on its own, or use as a base for a fancy cocktail.

Available on Amazon.

And that's it for March! What was your favourite product of this month's selection? 

Geomag Supercolor Panels Recycled 35 (337)

 

Easter holidays start in a couple of days, and we're hoping for a fair weather, games in the garden and long walks, maybe even a picnic outdoors (or am I too optimistic?!). However, it being Britain, there will always be rainy days. Minecraft and Roblox are fine in moderate measures, and so is the rabbit hole of YouTube, but we also enjoy playing with construction sets.

Geomag has a vast range of educational construction sets which promote hand-coordination skills, creativity and imagination. You might remember our last year's review of Geomag 769 Magnetics Challenge Goal set.

Today I would like to highlight a different set from Geomag - Supercolor Panels Recycled 35 (337) (£36).

Geomag Supercolor is made from 100% recycled plastic. Geomag's slogan is Playing together for a healthy planet. That is a commendable motto.

Geomag makes toys which encourage STEM learning (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) and fun!

The sturdy box contains everything you need for a creative construction session - magnetic rods, steel balls and various panel shapes.

Geomag Supercolor is a wonderful creative game. Take simple Geomag elements and you can build endless 3d combinations. A short instructions leaflet shows you how to discover and play with polarity.

You can start with basic shapes like triangles, squares and pentagons, use them as bases to build more complex constructions

Let me show you the easy models you can build. The model below is built with 17 pieces.

You move onto a slightly more intricate design. The recycled plastic pieces are colourful and fun.

Model 3 is more elaborate.

Model 4 is a colourful little pyramid.

Model 5 is a bit more tricky than the previous four.

This set is suitable for children aged 5+. Younger children (but not under 3) would need adult supervision (due to the size of steel balls). The illustrated instructions are clear and straight-forward (there is no text, just step-by-step pictures).

As a parent of a child with autism, I believe that with adult supervision this set would work well for children with special needs and help with hand eye coordination. When my older son was little, he needed help with fine motor skills, he couldn't do buttons, or twist jar tops, and Lego was too challenging for him. Geomag Supercolor Panels contains elements which are light and easy to handle. The models are easy enough to build, and won't take too much time. 

Some interesting facts about Geomag:

Geomag products come under a Swissh Made quality guarantee, and are aligned with the most stringent European and international safety standards.

Geomag is entirely produced in Switzerland and manufactured with the utmost rigor and attention to materials.

Geomag has been recognised as the ideal game to give by the American Scientific magazine, which has conducted research on games that favour the development of children's intelligence.

Geomag lines are winners of numerous awards, with products helping children of all ages develop and train their minds, imagination and curiosity through science of magnetic construction.

If you're looking for a new game set for a rainy day, Geomag Supercolor will make a lovely gift.

Disclosure: We received the set for the purposes of reviewing. All opinions are our own.

Photo diary: week 12, project 365

 I am a not very orderly gardener. I might plant things, and  then completely forget what exactly I have planted. Last autumn, in between the lockdowns, a friend took me to the Burford garden centre, where I bought a bag of tulip bulbs. I have planted them in pots and tubs, and have thrown away the packaging, thinking that, of course, I will remember which tulips I got. Several months later, and I'm losing my mind over what tulips I have planted. The leaves are just beginning to strenghten, but no sign of any flowers yet. 

Tulips below are from two years before, which my Mum bought for me. It is like a little hug from her. They are so pretty, but don't ask me what variety that is. I keep thinking I should keep a little gardening diary and make some notes of what and where grows in our garden. Do you have a gardening diary?

On the way home in the Puck Lane the plums are in full blossom right now. It is a beautiful sight.

I am always fascinated by the shapes of clouds. I told Eddie, "Doesn't this cloud look like a demented elephant?", to which he replied, "Only to you, Mum". Or maybe, an ichthyosaur? 

A surprise visitor in the garden... I was just walking to the summer house, where I keep certain food supplies hidden from my lovely family (aka chocolate eggs for Easter, as they won't survive long, if someone finds them in advance), when I saw the end of the tail moving behind the hedge. My first thought was either a cat, or a fat rat. I carefully peeked behind and saw this beauty.

Whatever was it doing in the walled garden? We did have muntjacks in the past, I saw them jumping over the high stone wall. We regularly have neighbours shitting cats. An overexcited dog leaped a couple of times over the wall here as well, but it's the first time I've seen a pheasant in the garden.

He was moving fast around, and I kept snapping. Couldn't decide which picture I like the best, so here are two of them. I like the one below, with an eye looking at me suspiciously through the branches.

On Friday Eddie wasn't feeling well, and I kept him at home. He helped me to plant some seeds in little pots. We got an Easy Vegetables kit from Story of Seasons, as part of the #PineHoverfly campaign, and I wil be posting updates every Friday on Instagram. The kit contained seeds of carrots, leeks, Cavolo Nero, Swissh chard, tomatoes and spring onions.

Eddie and his Dad finished watching Wonder Woman 1984, while I excused myself, saying I need to cook. 

It has become a tradition in the last year that on Saturdays we watch one of the old films together. This time we picked The legend of Sleepy Hollow with Johnny Depp and Christina Ricci. He used to be such a good actor. 

If I had to choose, I'd say Arizona Dream and What's Eating Gilbert Grape are true masterpieces, where JD is absolutely brilliant. Young Di Caprio is also excellent in Gilbert Grape.

And how was your week?

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The Wherryman (DI Tanner no.6) by David Blake

 

"The Norfolk Herald's started calling whoever's been taking them The Wherryman."

"For God's sake, " Tanner groaned, rolling his eyes. "I suppose they've been saying he'some sort of ghostly apparition who spends the nights wandering the Broads, luring children from their beds with some sort of magic flute."

"This one supposedly sails around in an old wooden boat, with what they describe as having a torn blood-red sail".

DI Tanner is back! Just a week earlier I reviewed Horsey Mere by David Blake. The Wherryman is the latest standalone book in British Detective Tanner Murder Mystery Series. Following the tragic chain of events and the devastating personal loss (read book no.5), Tanner leaves the police and goes travelling.

Two years later, he is back on the Broads. "Having spent the last twenty-one months at sea, drifting aimlessly from port to port, never willing to stay anywhere for more than a few weeks, a large part of him felt as if he was at home". 

Having moored his boat on the Broads, Tanner finds the body of the murdered man in the boat next to his own. Not only that, but the victim's 5-year-old daughter is missing. 

As he later finds out, there are other misisng children, all taken off boats, and all late in the evening. Nobody seems to notice much, apart from an old boat with a blood-red sail passing by, and then quietly disappearing from view. The local rag calls the mysterious abductor The Wherryman.

Tanner is running out of money, and hopes to be able to come to some sort of arrangement with his old boss Forrester, maybe to work on a short-term contract. His plans are to pay for his car and put something aside for him to disappear back out.

The Broads Tanner left two years previously has changed - it is now the home of the head of the so-called Camden Crime Syndicate, Frank Clayton, who moved here from London. This orgaised crime boss was once considered one of the most dangerous men in London. Apparently he moved to Norfolk "for no other reason than to enjoy a quiet life running a holiday boat hire business".

We observe Tanner confronting his memories, while trying to solve the murders and find the missing children. "He knew this would happen; that his return would summon the unwanted memories he'd worked so hard to suppress, like long-dead spirits, clawing their way out from the depth of hell. Worse were the all-consuming feelings of loss, guilt and regret, that seemed to pile their way behind... But what choice did he have? To remain in exile from a place he loved, for fear of confronting the grief he'd done his best to forget?"

Blake explores the destructive power of grief (not just Tanner's but the other characters as well). Some find redemption, some live with the shadows.

Set within the vibrant waterways of the Norfolk Broads, The Wherryman is full of corkscrew twists and chilling developments. The shocking ending will take your breath away.

Purchase link at Amazon:

 getbook.at/TheWherryman

Author Bio

Consistently ranked within the top 30 most read authors on Amazon.co.uk, David Blake is a full-time author living in North London. To date he has written eighteen books along with a collection of short stories. He’s currently working on his nineteenth, The Wherryman, which is the next in his series of crime fiction thrillers after Broadland, St. Benet's, Moorings, Three Rivers and Horsey Mere. When not writing, David likes to spend his time mucking about in boats, often in the Norfolk Broads, where his crime fiction books are based.

Social Media Links
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DavidBlakeAuthor
Twitter: @DavidDBlake

This post is part of the blog tour.

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

 

The Spanish Girl by Jules Hayes #Blog Tour

 

"Perhaps not intentionally, querida... but life has a strange way of leading us where we need to be."

The Spanish Girl by Jules Hayes is a gripping and emotionally charged story, set in Spain, in a dual timeline - in 1937 during the Spanish Civil War and in Franco's Spain of 1973, both turbulent and difficult times.

The Spanish Girl

A country torn apart by war.

Two love stories divided by decades.

One chance to discover the truth...

Last year I've reviewed Jules Hayes book The Walls We Build set in the pre-war and war England. Hayes is a master storyteller. I've been reading recently an article on what makes a master storyteller, and one of the points mentioned was that they engage the eyes, i.e. give readers a visual image of what they are talking about. 

Hayes creates a perfectly drawn setting for The Spanish Girl. It is full of gorgeous scenery and historical background (you learn about the Spanish history of the 20C, but not as a dry-facts scenario). 

The novel opens with a heart-breaking scene in 1937, when a young boy witnesses a horrific event, which will be etched in his memory forever.

Thirty six years later, Isabella Adame has been working as a journalist in Franco's Spain for twenty years. She is a strong, free-spirited woman, who is sympathetic to Basque indepenence. But unlike her mother, she is not extreme in her views. She is working on a new dangerous assignment, meeting up with a mysterious Basque nationalist Rafael Daguerre.

Growing up, Isabella has never found out the truth about her family. As a child, she was fed half-truths by her grandparents Calida and Aurelio. All that is left of her mother is a heart-shaped locket with two photos. There is a mystery behind the disappearance of her mother.

When Isabella meets Rafael, she feels confused. On one hand, she finds him arrogant and his manner over-familiar and patronising. On the other hand, she is instantly attracted to him.

Staying with Rafael's comrade Miguel helps Isabella to do a research for her article, but also gives her a unique opportunity to learn about her parents and unravel her identity. Meeting with comrades and friends of Rafael, she is trying to unravel the tangled story of her heritage that goes back to the dark days of the civil war. And what a story that is?! 

Isabella is a skilful journalist, she knows best not to hurry people she's interviewing, waiting for them to confide their secrets in her. "If I'd learnt nothing in twenty years as a journalist, it was not to push a source - not on a first meeting. Time, I was confident, would eventually do my job for me".

The story alternates between Isabella's search for truth, and the secrets of Sofia, the passionate Spanish girl who risked everything for her country. Her family past is difficult, and unconventional. Falling in love with a young British rebel makes things even more complicated.

Two stories unfold, moving back and forward in time, as we discover the wartime secrets. The evocation of the Spanish history is expertly drawn and compelling. Hayes explores the politics and individual lives which are intricately interwoven with the power struggles and political designs.

The Spanish Girl is a story of love and loss, family secrets and identity. It is a passionate, original tale, tightly plotted and absorbing. Impeccably researched, it's a historical novel of remarkable storytelling.

Purchase Links 

UK - https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08L7G3M26/

US - https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08L7G3M26/

Author Bio.

I have a degree in modern history and I'm fascinated with events from the first half of the 20th century, which is the time period my historical fiction is set.

My work has been longlisted in the Mslexia Novel Competition, and shortlisted in the prestigious Bridport Short Story Competition.

I live in Berkshire, UK with my partner, daughter and dog. Before writing stories, I was a physiotherapist.

Jules Hayes is a pseudonym for JA Corrigan who writes contemporary thrillers. Falling Suns by JA Corrigan (Headline Accent) was published in 2016. 

 

Website: https://www.jules-hayes.com/

Twitter @JulesHayes6  - http://www.twitter.com/JulesHayes6

Facebook Author Page: JulesHayesAuthor - http://www.facebook.com/JulesHayesAuthor

Instagram: JulesHayes6 - http://www.instagram.com/juleshayes6

This post is part of the blog tour for The Spanish Girl.

Many thanks to Jules Hayes and Rachel's Random Resources for the Netgalley copy of the book!

Photo diary: week 11, project 365

My guys thought that the best Mother's day card for me would be with a jolly cheerful woman sat in a bubbly bath with a glass of wine in hand. Is that a joke? Not amused, as it never happened. 

At least they tried. I had another card on the Mothering Sunday, which brought tears to my eyes. They remembered that it was the 21st anniversary of my Dad's death. Eddie wrote very touching words, and I told him for the 1000th time how much my Dad would have loved him. Sadly he didn't live long enough to meet any of his grandchildren.

The whole week was like that, a mix of joy and sadness. It was my older boy's 19th birthday and my brother's 50th (How did it happen? How can my little bro turn 50? I remember his gorgeous locks and long eyelashes when he was a tot.), and on that same day it was the anniversary of my Dad's funeral. 

The human mind is a complex thing, we can be grieving and celebrating at the same time. 

 It's been a year since the first lockdown was introduced. There is a talk of the third lockdown in Europe, what will happen here, is anyone's guess.

It's always tricky to buy gifts for Sasha, as we don't always get it right. For example, I bought him a bean bag recently for his room, as his previous one was as flat as a pancake. Did he like it? Did he heck! He doesn't even want to try it. I also got a Silent night heavy-weight duvet for him, which is meant to alleviate the stress and help with anxiety. He politely put it off the bed onto the unused bean bag. I tried several times to get it back on his bed, and every time it is folded over the bean bag. Yet he likes his old duvet, and wraps up in it tightly like in a cocoon, even in the hot weather.

Thus I was happy that he loved his new framed poster. He already has a framed poster of St Michael's Mount in his room, as well as three big canvases from our trips to Cornwall. I found this poster online, and hoped it would be a good birthday gift for my Cornwall-obsessed child. 

I was a little bit tearful on the day of his birthday. My baby is 19 years old. He should have been celebrating with his mates, going out with a girl(or boy)-friend, doing all these things 19-year-olds do, and which he will never be able to do, due to his disability.

I tried to take a photo of Sash, but he is ever so elusive these days, and turns away. I wanted to do a snap of us together, but only managed this one, where he kissed me on the head, like politicians kiss babies.

For his birthday I bought two cakes, a big chocolate one to take to school to celebrate in his class, and one for us at home. This is a Neapolitan cake from Waitrose. I'm not a big fan of bought cakes, as they are usually way too  sweet, but this one is really nice. It has three layers, chocolate, vanilla and strawberry.

Last week I snapped a robin with an iPhone, this time I managed to catch it with a camera. I was working in the garden, sawing off some branches, and two robins kept watching me, moving around. They are both red-chested, and sooo cute. They bring me so much joy.

Friday was wet, with an incessant drizzle most of the day. The garden is looking pretty now, with hyacinths, and some of tulips bringing colour to the overall green and grey. 

Saturday was a nice sunny day. Eddie and I walked in town, catching Pokemons. The graveyard around St Mary's Church looks full of colour, with daffodils appearing in full force.

My husband had his jab, and has been very unwell all Sunday. 

Eddie and I began to watch Wonder Woman 1984 on Amazon. It's not the best movie in the DC Extended Universe. Have you seen it? Give me Marvel films any day.

And how was your week?

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Horsey Mere (DI Tanner #5) by David Blake #BlogTour

 

David Blake's Horsey Mere (DI Tanner no.5) kicks off with a Gothic, eerie, grotesque scene.

Three children visit the infamous Hawthorne tree, at the edge of Horsey Mere, on Hallowe'en. Recent torrential rain has washed away the earth by the tree's tangled roots, exposing a broken slab of stone with an engraving dating back to 1637. The kids want to prove that this is the final resting place of Elizabeth Craddock.

The local newspapers are all agog, they are saying that "now Elizabeth Craddock's body has been exhumed, her spirit is free to seek revenge on all those who'd accused her of witchcraft, including their descendants". It so happens that the local MP for Norfolk, named Patrick Hopkins, is one such descendant.

In fact, he is a direct descendant of the self-proclaimed Witchfinder General Matthew Hopkins, the person who has tried and hanged Craddock. "He was responsible for more people being tried and hanged for witchcraft in England than during the previous hundred years".

The local newspaper Norfolk Herald is having a field day, posting stories centred around the witch's revenge.

When the MP is found dead in his office, hanging above a five-pointed star, it sets off a series of dramatic events.

DI Tanner is the senior investigating officer on the case. He is giving orders to his team to look into Patrick Hopkins' life. "He may have been a popular MP, but that doesn't mean he didn't have enemies. We need to know who they might be, and which of them are most likely to have gained from his death".

Other deaths occur in a quick succession, all seemingly related to the old curse and the witches' persecutions. However, a different angle is becoming obvious.

Tanner believes that "with all these recent attacks, the motivation was more likely to have been racial, using witchcraft as an excuse to justify their actions".

While investigating the series of murders, DI Tanner and DS Evans keep postponing their plans for the big day. The murder of the MP is a catalyst for a chain of horrific events, none of which the police are able to stop. 

Horsey Mere is my first introduction to DI Tanner (I'm now reading the next book in the series). I found his policing techniques a bit on the cowboy (i.e. blundering) side. While we are all human and sometimes the drive for revenge is overwhelming, I would expect a policeman to act in a more professional and less arrogant way.

I enjoyed the Norfolk setting. It brings back happy memories of a distant summer many years ago, when we spent a week on the Broads, sailing with friends (well, they did the sailing bit).

This murder mystery is a dark, twisty read, with an atmospheric Norfolk setting and a flawed but fascinating protagonist.

Purchase Link - getbook.at/HorseyMere

Author Bio

Consistently ranked within the top 30 most read authors on Amazon.co.uk, David Blake is a full-time author living in North London. To date he has written eighteen books along with a collection of short stories. He’s currently working on his nineteenth, The Wherryman, which is the next in his series of crime fiction thrillers after Broadland, St. Benet's, Moorings, Three Rivers and Horsey Mere. When not writing, David likes to spend his time mucking about in boats, often in the Norfolk Broads, where his crime fiction books are based.

Social Media Links
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DavidBlakeAuthor
Twitter: @DavidDBlake

This post is part of the blog tour.

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

Home Comforts Degustabox

 There may be cold mornings still this month, but we also have longer daylight and warm, sunny spells. Lovely season to go on long walks and look at all the signs of spring. And after a long walk what could be better than coming home to a comforting cup of tea, a jammy toast and a tangy Jaffa cake or two.

Home Comforts is the theme of the latest Degustabox.

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 probably wouldn't have tried otherwise.

Each time the 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 you place an order.

What did we find in Home Comforts Degustabox?

Jaffa Cakes Passion Fruit/Cherry (£1.20) is the current product of the month. You're invited to take your taste buds on a tangy new adventure with new Jaffa Cakes in two fruitilicious flavours - Passion Fruit and Cherry. You will get the same delectable fruity centres sandwiched between the dark chocolate and a light sponge base. 

Cherry and chocolate, in my opinion, is a heavenly combination, so thumbs up for the latest addition to the range, it's absolutely scrumptious.

Nutritional information: 46kcal and 6.1g of sugar per cake.

Suitable for vegetarians. 

Available in all major supermarkets.

Bounce Almond Plant Protein Ball (£1.69)

Bounce, the number one energy ball brand, has relaunched with a range of nut butter filled, protein packed, energy balls. The new range is high in protein, fibre, is gluten free, vegan friendly and includes less than 160kcal per ball. Handy for long trips when you are feeling peckish.

I'm not the biggest fan of energy balls, I don't like the texture and the aftertaste. I'd be much happier with a handful of nuts for a protein boost. But protein balls are very popular and trendy, and they are certainly a convenient way of getting extra protein.

Available at Waitrose, Holand & Barrettm BP & WHSmith stores.

BelVita Soft Bakes Choc Chips/Blueberry (£0.60 per single bar) are tasty soft bakes, made from five wholegrains - wheat, oats, barley, spelt and buckwheat or rye. A lovely morning snack for breakfast, it is also a good source of fibre, calcium, magnesium and iron. BelVita Soft Bakes have a high content of slowly digestible starch, which is a slow release carb.

We buy BelVita biscuits and soft bars occasionally, and if some of them are broken, I break them into smaller pieces or crumbs and add as a topping to the yogurt.

There are three bars in the box. Available at most grocery stores.

Boka Caramel/Choco Mallow Cereal Bar (£0.75 for a single bar, or £2 for a multipack of 4). These little bars are low in sugar, and big on flavour. They have #4greenlights front of pack, which means not only they are low in sugar, but also in fats and salt. Ideal snacks on the go!

There were two bars in the box. Available at Sainsburys and on Amazon.

If cereal bars are not your snack of choice, how about Milkybar Cookies & Cream Sharing Bag (£1.59). It's a tasty combination of smooth, creamy white chocolate and crunchy chocolate-flavoured cookie pieces. Contain no artificial flavours, colours or preservatives.

You can use these chocolate pieces as an ingredient in a cheesecake, brownies or cookies.

Available in all major supermarket chains.

More sweet treats this month - Hartley's Strawberry Jam (£1.59) is a classic jam, very fruity and full of flavour. Strawberry jam is full of the finest fruit to make the UK's No.1 jam. 

Spread it over a buttered toast, or serve in a peanut butter and jam sandwich. Use as an ingredient in Victoria sponge, or jam tarts. 

Available in all major supermarkets.

Hilltop Blossom Honey (£0.75) is consistent in taste, colour and aroma. There is nothing added and nothing taken away, it's simply pure and natural honey.

Honey is delicious spread over warm crumpets, or pancakes. It also makes a wonderful ingredient in many bakes, and meals, from a honey and mustard dressing for salad to honeyed carrots and parsnips, from spicy bread to honey rolls.

You should get two items in the box. Available at Tesco, Sainsbury's, Morrisons, Ocado, Waitrose and Iceland.

All these sweet treats go nicely with a cup of tea.

How about Eloments Vitamin Tea Ceylon Breakfast (£3.99)? It's a full-bodied, single origin black tea, sourced from organic, family-owned farms in Sri Lankan highlands. Each tea bag also contains 9 essential vitamins including B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9, vitamin C and zinc, all derived from nutrient rich herbs, fruits and botanicals. 

Eloments is 100% natural certified organic and Faitrade.

Available at Holland & Barrett and Ocado online.

Knorr Vegetable Stock Pots and Beef Stock Pots (£0.95) is a concentrated stock. Knorr Vegetable stock pots are a must in my pantry, I regularly buy them, only in bigger packs, and use them a couple of times a week, adding to soups and risotto. They include stock made of carrots, leek, red pepper, celeriac, spices and more.

These stock pots are gluten free and full of flavour.

Very Lazy Chopped Chillies (£1.50) is a quick and easy way of adding a bit (or a lot) of heat in your meals. Very useful to keep in the fridge, for when you want flavour without any fuss.

Available in the major supermarket chains.

Koko Original Milk (£1.50) is amde from coocnuts which are freshly pressed at their plantation.

Koko Original has a fresh and light taste. If you're looking for an alternative to dairy milk, Koko works well on cereals, in smoothies or as an ingredient in baking. In my opinion, it is better with coffee rather than tea, as it changes the taste of tea, while complements coffee nicely.

Available in all major supermarket chains and independent health food stores.

What was your favourite product from Home Comforts Degustabox?