Outdoor & BBQ Degustabox

 Summer, the warmest season of the year, is now in full swing. I love spending evenings outside in the garden. It is also a time for picnics and BBQs. I'm not the biggest fan of BBQs, as they can be pretty anti-social. Nobody likes the smell of burnt burgers wafting in their bedroom windows in the hot weather. Saying that, when I see the locals enjoying the BBQs on the beach when we visit Cornwall, I think that's a perfect location, and looks like great fun.

Outdoor & BBQ 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 Outdoor & BBQ Degustabox?

Rowntree's Dessert Pastilles (£1.29)  are new vegan-friendly dessert flavoured fruit pastilles, inspired by classic desserts Mango Sorbet, Cherry Bakewell, Apple Crumble and Blueberry Pie. Every sharing bags contains a selection of these four flavours. They are very chewy, pretty and sweet, and will make a lovely decoration for cupcakes or cakes.

Nutritional information: 16.5g of sugar and 95kcal per serving of 7 sweets; contains no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives.

Available in all major supermarkets.

Hershey's Cookies'n'Creme bar (£0.89 for a 40g bar) is a white chocolate candy with cookie bits. This chocolate bar is one of the classic American flavours. 

Nutritional information: 524kcal and 48g of sugar per 100g.

Available in all major supermarkets.

Not Too Naughty/Telstar Cookies (£0.50 per single or £10 for 25) are delicious mini cookies, produced in Yorkshire. These lovely nibbles are a great accompaniment to a cup of tea or coffee.

Nutritional information: 30% less sugar, no artificial sweterners, colours or preservatives and 88kcal per mini pack.

Available on Amazon.

My personal favourite was the chocolate flavour. Don't they look pretty?!

Brioche Pasquier Brioche Rolls (£1.50) is a traditional French product, well-known and much loved since 1936, when Gabriel Pasquier first opened his boulangerie.

They are soft and light, and rather lovely. Eat them with a bit of butter and jam, or make a delicious bread and butter pudding.

Available in Tesco, Ocado, Sainsbury's, Co-Op and Budgens.

Graze Cocoa Vanilla Protein Oat Bite (£1 for a single 30g bite or £2.49 for a multipack of 4). If you're looking for a healthier sweet treat, this bite contains 45% less sugar. Very handy to carry in a bag for when you're out and about and are feeling peckish.

Find more information at graze.com/nutrition.

Available in all major supermarkets.

Graze Smoky Barbecue Crunch (£1 for a 31g punnet or £2.99 for a 104g sharing bag) is a tasty snack of BBQ-flavoured peas, crunchy corn chips and chilli corn. I love savoury Graze snacks, and buy them often as a little treat for myself. 

Nutritional information: 139kcal and 1.9g of sugar per punnet.

Available in all major supermarkets.

More savoury snacks - Hippeas Chickpea Tortilla Snacks (£1) - are a brand new addition to the range. They are made from chickpeas and packed with plant-based protein. They are vegan, gluten free and contain nothing artificial. No MSG, palm oil free, a source of fibre.

We received a packet of Chilli Kicks flavour, which gives just the right amount of heat.

If you like your tortilla chips extra spicy, add a spoonful of pickled jalapenos ( we love Santa Maria's jalapenos with pineapple).

Average values: 202kcal per 40g serving and 1.5g of sugar.

Available at hippeas.com and Amazon, Booths, Boots, H&B, Planet Orgaic, Sainsbury's and Waitrose.

Bertolli Extra Virgin Olive Oil Spray (£3) adds a delicious flavour and fruity aroma to a big variety of dishes, from salads to marinades, from pasta to baking. I use spray oil for greasing the cake tins.

Made using only 100% extra virgin olive oil and no additives, this spray is propellant free, using only pure air to dispense evently the right amount of oil. 

Available in Ocado and Amazon.

Knorr Rosemary & Onion/Tomato & Garlic seasoning (£1.80 for 30-35g) is another product, handy for BBQs and oven bakes. Use it for a tasty, no added salt dish. It will enhance roast potatoes or sweet potatoes, aubergine slices and many other vegetables. Add to a stew, soup or pasta for an extra delicious flavour.

You should receive one of 2 items in the box.

Available in 4 different flavours at Tesco.

Nairn's Spicy Oatcakes Cheese & Smoky Chipotle (£1.50) - No cheese board is complete without Nairn's oatcakes. If you like your snacks on the spicy side, give these oatcakes a go. Delicious with a generous piece of crumbly Cheddar or soft Brie. Don't forget some grapes or fresh figs, and your lunch is sorted!

Hellmann's Fat Free Vinaigrette Salad Dressing (£1.65 for 210ml bottle) is a healthy salad dressing with only 7kcal per tbsp. Add a dash of zingy flavour to any vegetable salad. It's made with a classic combination of herbs, garlic and red pepper.

I used it with roasted sweet peppers and beet, it was delicious. 

Available at ASDA, Tesco, Sainsbury's, Waitrose, Co-Op and Morrisons.

Whitworths Protein by Nature Mexican Spicy Grains (£2) is a new vegan product. These spicy grains are naturally nutritious, 100% vegan and packed full of 20g plant protein. Containing all 9 essential amino acids, the pouch is ready under 2 minutes. It contains no added flavourings or preservatives.

Ingredients include cooked grains with soya protein, red pepper, tomato and chilli.

If you're not sure what to make with it, how about a fajita with guacamole, or chilli non carne?

Available at Tesco, Morrisons and Ocado.

And now it's the turn of the drinks, presented this month by Pip Organic Sparkling Lemon (£1.50) - a refreshing blend, not from concentrate organic fruit juices and sparkling water, containing no added sugar or sweeteners. At under 75kcal, this drink counts as one of you five-a-day. 

It is a very zingy drink.

It will make a lovely base for a lemonade-based cocktail as well.

Available from Abel & Cole, Amazon and Ocado.

And finally, Echo Falls Strawberry & Pink Pepper Rose Seltzer (or Blueberry & Hibiscus Rose Seltzer) (£1.80). The new Echo Fall rose seltzers (4.5% ABV) come in at 69kcal per can and are available in 3 flavours. A great summery drink.

Available at ASDA and independent stores.

May BBQ & Snacking Degustabox

Sun's out, BBQs are out. A couple of weeks ago it was a National BBQ week, and many households have enjoyed their meals al fresco. 

While I like the taste of BBQed dishes, I am not a fan of smoke and smell of burnt food, so we just don't bother with it. Having meals in the garden, on the other hand, is really lovely, especially in the shade of a big tree, or a parasol. 

May BBQ & Snacking Degustabox was brimming full of snacks and condiments to enjoy, whether you're keen on BBQs or avoid them.

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 you place an order.

What did we receive in May BBQ & Snacking Degustabox?

There was a lot of excitement about the chocolate and jelly.
Hartley's Juicy Jelly Pouches (£2.79) are pouches of wobbly jelly. Super convenient for kids (and less messy to eat). Made with real fruit juice and under 100kcal, it's a lovely sweet snack on the go, or a lunchbox treat.
Available in the major supermarkets.

Lindt Lindor Milk Bar (£0.85) is the ultimate milk chocolate bar, smooth, creamy and moreish. It's the perfect combination of the finest Lindt milk chocolate with a smooth melting filling, crafted with expertise and passion by master chocolatiers.
This bar is also available in Orange and Mint.
Available in all major retailers, and online at www.lindt.co.uk

Barebells Hazelnut & Nougat Protein Bar (£2.50) is a milk chocolate coated protein enriched bar with hazelnuts and nougat. A tasty snack, to have after gym or with a cup of tea.
It contains 20g of protein per bar. No added sugar, 205kcal per bar.
Available at Sainsbury's, Holland & Barrett and Amazon.

YES! snack bars (£2.99) are wholesome snacks, a mix of fruit and nuts and chocolate. They are wrapped in recyclable paper packaging.
A good source of protein and fibre, these tasty bars are a handy snack to carry in a bag for when you're feeling peckish or as an addition to a lunchbox.
Multipacks are available at ASDA and Morrisons.

Mission Street Tacos (£1.20) are soft tacos in the signature recipe, ready to fill and fold for street style eating.
These wheat flour tortillas are ready to enjoy, and are also suitable for home freezing to eat at a later date. Typical values: 68kcal per taco.
We received two packs in the box - Original and Mex Chilli and Lime.
Available now in Morrisons and Sainsbury's.

For my younger son I made soft tacos with meatballs, sweet peppers, BBQ sauce and cheese.
I also made some vegetarian tacos with grilled vegetables and grated cheese.
I still haven't used the second pack, it's in the freezer, but have an idea of making taco chips (baked in the oven with oil and spices).

We do love BBQ sauce, and were happy to receive a bottle of Bull's Eye Original BBQ sauce (£2.49). It's sweet and smokey, perfect for all kinds of sandwiches, burgers, chips or even pasta.
I enjoy it with a grilled cheese sandwich, it adds a lovely sweet flavour and spice.
Available in major supermarket chains.

Hellmann's Fat Free Vinaigrette/ Classic House Salad Dressing (£1.65 each) disappeared very fast, as it's a season of salads. These handy bottles could be used in a variety of salads, adding flavour and zing, without the unwanted fat, artificial colours, flavours or preservatives.
Available in all major supermarket chains.

Moving onto the drinks:
Beronia Rioja Crianza 18.75cl (£2.99 for 18.75cl or £11.79 for a 75cl bottle) is made predominantly from Tempranillo, complemented by Granacha and Mazuelo. It's intensely fruity, with blackberry and strawberry notes and hints of vanilla and spice from ageing in mixed French and American oak barrels for 12 months before bottling.
Available at Waitrose & Ocado and Tesco.
I'm planning to make a small batch of red wine jelly with it, to serve with cheese and crackers.

XITE Energy Drink (£1.49) is a healthier alternative to the energy drinks that are currently out there.
Made with natural caffeine and flavours to create a refreshing boost to help you stay focused through the day. These energy drinks are zero sugar and use as little unnecessary ingredients as possible.
Available at Holland & Barrett, WHSmiths.

And finally we got two tins of Skinny Tonic Water (£0.75) - Indian (a Botanical blend of Sicilian lemon, bitter orange and thyme) and Mediterranean (a Botanical blend of fresh citrus, thyme, floral and sweet basil notes).
Available in BOOTHS, Amazon and online.

Potato salad with vegan mayo

This week (27 May- 2 June 2019) is a BBQ week. Many families will be having casual get-togethers and inviting neighbours and friends. Judging by the frequent smell of the burnt meat wafting indoors, our neighbours have already been firing up their BBQs regularly.
We don't have a BBQ that often, in fact we haven't had any this year so far. But as it's a midterm break, I hope we could have friends over for a casual meal at the weekend.
It will be a mix of meat-eaters, pescatarians and vegetarians.

One of my top favourite foods at any BBQ is a humble potato salad. This easy side dish is delicious, and goes well with most BBQed foods.
I don't need an excuse to make a potato salad. It's one of my favourite foods, and I'm happy to eat it, BBQ or not.

In this recipe I'm going to use two of the products which were delivered in the latest Degustabox - Kühne whiskey cornichons and a Hellmann's vegan mayo.
None of us are vegans, but I was very curious to try the vegan mayo.
I'm not a fan of vegan cheese (I tried many varieties and was mostly underwhelmed), but I enjoy some of the vegan milk alternatives.
One of the potato salad recipes that I tend to make has eggs, but since I'm making a vegan salad, they were left out.

Potato salad with vegan mayo
Ingredients:
6 + medium potatoes, peeled and quartered
2 celery stalks, finely chopped
2 tbsp fresh dill
8+ mini cornichons
1 tbsp mustard
1/2 tsp caster sugar
2 tbsp pickle liquid (from cornichons)
4-5+ heaped tbsp mayo

The basic steps for making a potato salad are the same whether it's a vegan or non-vegan version.
Peel and quarter potatoes, and cook them in salted boiling water or steam until soft (but not mushy, don't overcook them). Let them cool down, before chopping into smaller chunks.
Chop the celery stalks and cornichons.
Make the dressing by mixing together mustard, caster sugar, pickle liquid and mayo. If you cooked the potatoes in the steamer, you might want to add salt to the dressing.
Mix the potatoes with celery, cornichons and dressing. Chop some fresh dill and scatter over the top.

What did we think of Hellmann's vegan mayo? I was pleasantly surprised at how creamy and tasty it is.
It's definitely a perfect alternative to a dairy-based mayo.

Kühne whiskey cornichons are crunchy and delicious. A lovely treat for all fans of pickles. I haven't tried them before, but I did buy a jar of Kühne gin cornichons recently in Ocado. Both flavours are great. Any dull cheese sandwich will benefit from this tasty addition.

Have you tried this vegan mayo? What did you think?

Aubergines in tomato sauce

Last time we had a BBQ on May Bank Holiday, it was raining, and we had our meal indoors. We enjoyed it a lot nevertheless and promised each other to have another BBQ on the next Bank Holiday.
As it typically happens, it was raining again. I wonder if there are Bank holidays in this country when it doesn't rain? I imagine there are, but the impression is that as soon as we plan a BBQ, it's ought to rain.
For me a good BBQ needs to come with a lot of vegetable side dishes. A simple potato salad with soured cream and chives or dill is one of my summer staples. It goes well with any meat or fish.
A slaw is another classic choice. Yesterday, our friends brought with them a big dish of homemade babaganoush and fennel slaw.
Jay, being Australian, is the king of BBQs. Alas, due to the incessant rain we had to change all our plans, so he prepared a roast pork at home.
To go with the sausages and roast pork, I decided to make a side dish of aubergines in tomato sauce. This is a recipe which my Mum used to make often in summer and early autumn. It is a Southern Russian recipe, unheard of many years ago in my home town in the North East, where my parents came to live as young specialists. My Mum still has her Southern accent, even after living for almost 50 years in the North. The locals have their own peculiar accent, which is known as "lazy jaw".
But I digress.
I also remember cooking this dish for my in-laws in Italy, and they said it is very similar to some Southern Italian dishes. Anyway, you can vary it, and use just fresh tomatoes and fresh, uncooked garlic (just don't go on a date afterwards, as your breath will be very garlicky). The authentic Russian recipe would be made with a sunflower oil rather than olive oil.

Aubergines in tomato sauce
Ingredients:
3 medium aubergines
80+ml olive oil (or vegetable oil)
4 medium sized tomatoes, skinned and chopped
2 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
1 bottle of passata (540g)
1 pack of chopped tomatoes with chilli (390g)
a glug of good quality balsamic vinegar

This aubergine dish can be used as an accompaniment to the meat, or eaten on its own. It's tasty on a chunk of crusty bread, cold from a jar in the fridge. But it's lovely piping hot as well.

My Mum usually slices the aubergines, and puts them in a big dish under the heavy lid for a couple of hours with a sprinkle of salt.
I use a different variety of aubergines, which don't have a bitter note to them, so I don't bother with the prep.
Cook them in batches in the deep frying pan with plenty of oil until brown and soft. Season with sea salt.
Skin the tomatoes by first plunging them in a pan of boiling hot water for a minute, then in the cold water. I don't always skin tomatoes, but some people are funny about eating tomato skins, and since we had guests coming over, I thought I'b better do it. Chop them finely and set aside.
Chop the garlic and give it a quick fry, add the passata and chopped tomatoes with chilli (from a pack). Bring the sauce to boil and cook simmering for a couple of minutes with a glug of balsamic vinegar.
Layer the aubergines in a deep dish, then a bit of chopped tomatoes, then add the tomato sauce, then aubergines and tomatoes and sauce again. If you have fresh parsley chop it and add on top.

That's how you start the first layer before the sauce is added

In this recipe I used two products from Cirio. They often send me a selection of their products for testing in recipes.
Cirio La Passata is an authentic Italian product, made with ripe tomatoes which were crushed and bottled to season all dishes. It is a versatile ingredient for many dishes, from different cuisines.

Cirio Polpa Fine Finely Chopped Tomatoes with chilli is made with chopped tomatoes, tomato paste, red peppers, garlic, salt, sugar, chilli. It has just the right amount of heat, a good chilli flavour without overpowering the tomatoes.

Aubergines in tomato sauce will keep well in a closed container in the fridge for a couple of days.
You could also stir them into any pasta dish.

Swedish-style potato salad

I love potatoes in all guises and disguises, and will happily eat them every day, given a chance. A potato salad is a must for any BBQ, it's a perfect side dish for grilled meat, fish, sweet peppers or mushrooms. There are many versions of potato salad - with mayo, mustard dressing, vinaigrette or oil. Eastern and Northern European recipes often ask for a soured cream as one of the ingredients. In Italy they might add a good glug of extra virgin olive oil and add a handful of capers - that's the way my mother-in-law prepares a potato side dish.

Swedish-style potato salad
Ingrdeients:
3 medium sized potatoes
4tbsp soured cream
1tbsp pickle brine
2tbsp chopped sweet pickled gherkins, + more for decoration
a handful of fresh dill, chopped

Peel and cut potatoes into big chunks, cook in salted boiling water until tender. Drain and add the soured cream and pickle brine, while potatoes are still warm. Chop the dill and gherkins and mix with the salad. Add more gherkins to decorate the salad.

This is my kind of food - potatoes and pickles, and who cares about the grill?! For me that's already a super meal.

In this recipe I have used Swedish sweet pickled Felix gherkins from the latest Degustabox. Unlike many British supermarket varieties of pickles which taste of nothing but vinegar, these gherkins are flavourful and tasty, with a right balance of sweet and salty. They are cooked using a traditional recipe with vinegar, sugar and spices. They are crunchy and crisp, and lovely in sandwiches.

Chicken Satay with black treacle

I know I've been moaning about the rainy summer, but this heatwave is quite unbearable too, why can't we have something in between: not too wet but not too hot?! The BBQs are out, judging by the aromas of the burnt meat wafting from the neighbours' gardens.
It certainly is pleasant to have dinner outside, sitting in the garden and enjoying the birdsong. We are so lucky to have a big long garden, and the birds feel right at home there (even if they're not welcome to demolish our red currants and juneberries).
In this hot weather I'm not too keen to stay longer than necessary by the stove. Something quick and easy is the way to go.

Recently Lyle's has created a series of summer recipes including the recipe for succulent chicken satay skewers.
The addition of the black treacle to the classic peanut butter-based sauce gives it a depth of flavour.

Succulent Chicken Satay (recipe courtesy of Lyle's)
Ingredients:
for the chicken satay -
2tbsp Lyle's Black treacle
100g crunchy peanut butter
4tbsp sweet chilli sauce
1tsbp light soy sauce
1tbsp lemon juice
500g skinless chicken breasts, cut into chunks

To make the satay sauce put the Lyle's black treacle into a large mixing bowl with the peanut butter, chilli sauce, soy sauce and lemon juice. Spoon half this mixture into a small serving bowl, stir in 2tbsp of just-boiled water, then cover and set aside to serve with the meal.
Add the chunks of chicken to the rest of the satay sauce in the bowl. Mix well, then cover and refrigerate for 2-3 hours (or overnight).
When ready to cook, preheat the BBQ or grill. Thread the chicken onto soaked wooden kebab sticks or skewers. Barbecue or grill, turning often, for 8-10 minutes, or until the chicken is done (Test with a sharp knife - there should be no trace of pink juices).
Serve hot with a salad of your choice and extra satay sauce on the side.

Disclosure: I received a couple of tins of treacle, some BBQ utensils and a supermarket gift card to buy the ingredients and recreate the recipe for testing. All opinions are mine.

Schwartz Slow Cookers' BBQ Pulled Pork Recipe Mix

Pulled pork sandwiches make the most satisfying meal for the meat eaters. Just imagine the tender, juicy pieces of pork with the smokey flavour. Simply delicious. Many families have their own favourite marinade for pulled pork. Recently I have tested a new Slow Cookers' BBQ recipe mix from Schwartz, the UK's leading herbs and spices brand.

I don't have a slow cooker (I did win two in the past and gave both away as gifts), and our BBQ is too rusty and decrepit to function, so I cooked the pork shoulder in a ceramic pot in the oven.

Using the Schwartz recipe mix couldn't be easier. For the marinade just mix the contents of the sachet with 125ml tomato ketchup, 2tbsp brown sugar and 3tbsp cider vinegar.
I have also added 1tbsp of molasses for the extra sweetness. There is enough salt in the recipe mix, so I didn't add any.
This is a sweet recipe mix including sugar, smoked paprika, garlic and onion powder, salt, molasses powder, black pepper and more.
You will need about 1.4kg boneless pork shoulder.
Pour the marinade over the pork and cook up to 4 hours on high or up to 8 hours on low until the meat is tender, cooked through and is easily pulled apart with a fork. I cooked the pork without a lid for the 1st hour on high, then covered with the lid and cooked on low for several hours (cannot tell how many exactly, as we went out and I switched the oven off, but it was still inside the hot oven).

The caramelised top of the pork is very dark and sticky. Make a sandwich with the salad leaves of your choice and pour a good amount of sticky sauce over the pulled pork.

Enjoy with a glass of red wine or a beer, with a choice of pickles.

For the full range of Schwartz products and recipes ideas, visit Schwartz.

Disclosure: I received a sachet of a new recipe mix for the purposes of testing and reviewing. All opinions are mine.