Photo diary: Project 365, week 13

 Happy Easter! I'm feeling quite stuffed after a big meal, and a good chunk of a chocolate egg. Hope you're having a relaxed day.

I mentioned in the last week's post about venturing into the craft fair in town and buying a vintage Scottish brooch/pin shaped like a hunting horn, with a little thistle on it. I put it on my coat the next day.

And by now quite a few people commented on it.

A bit of an upheaval during the start of the Easter holidays week. Sasha's PAs arrived on Monday to take him out, one was a totally new guy who has never worked with Sasha before, the other also only accompanied him once before. They were clueless about what they were supposed to do. So I had to give a quick update before they all left. I was anxious that Sasha might get upset. Thankfully, it went OK. 

We have such a fluctuation of PAs, and are never informed in advance who is coming, which is not helpful. I mean, the new person didn't even know that Sasha is non verbal. Not his fault, as he should have been informed earlier what kind of patient he is working with.

From the original team of PAs who started with us two years ago, there is only one left, and even he is not a regular any longer. It would have been better for our boy to have a continuity of care, so that he gets familiar with his team. They are nice guys, very polite and friendly. Not much older that Sasha. 

One of them keeps calling me Mma, which makes me smile. I feel like my favourite character, Mma Ramotswe from the No.1 Ladies Detective Agency series. 

In fact, right now I am reading In the Time of Five Pumpkins - book no.26 - and enjoying it. By book 26, you know all the characters like your own family. 

Dyed my hair. It had to be done. I'm too lazy to do it more often than once a month. Talked to my Mum, and the first thing she said was, Did you wash your hair? Thanks, Mum, does my hair usually look so bad? 

Ran into town to buy more Easter eggs for Sasha's PAs. I have the chocolate eggs squirreled for my guys, and we've already polished off two boxes of Divine mini eggs (soooo good). 

Treated myself to a Co-Op Neapolitan egg for £3 (it's £7 for non-members, £4.50 for members, plus I had a £1.50 off).

An "exciting" day, as our new recycling wheelie bin was delivered finally on Wednesday. I'm clearly turning into a certain age demographic if the arrival of a wheelie bin makes my day. :)

The previous one was broken by the rubbish collection team four weeks earlier. There must have been something wrong with their equipment, as I noticed a few bins in the neighbourhood with the lids torn off. 

I applied for a replacement, and was told to keep the broken bin outside the front door. Of course, then all the neighbourhood jerks were throing their rubbish in while passing by, including the dog poo bags. How do these people justify putting their dog's mess into someone's recycling bin?! Just want to add, that I love dogs, it's the entitled dog owners that get my goat.

Yesterday I bought a bag of Forest Feast pistachio milk chocolate dates. My darling Sash found it, nibbled all the chocolate and put the dates back in the bag, which made me laugh. I would so love to know what he thinks, "I'll just eat the chocolate, put the dates back, and nobody would notice the difference".

My husband was travelling back from France and asked what to bring for our guys. I told him, anything sweet. And that's the pack of madeleines and macaroons that he brought with him.

When Sasha was out on Thursday with his PAs, we had a quick visit to Huffkins cafe. Eddie's been doing quite a bit of revision during holidays, and we thought he needed a break. 

Our kitchen is built as an extension, and there is a glass dome over the ceiling. I've been looking at the roof and the dome from the bathroom window, thinking it really needs cleaning. One third of the roof was covered with the clematis growing from the neighbour's side, and there was moss too.

I climbed out and did a good clearing, cutting down the branches and sweeping the surface. Good timing, as there was rain in the night. I wouldn't want to walk over the wet roof.

At the moment we have lots and lots of muscari in the garden, as well as some tulips.

Taking Sasha out on Friday. His hair is so long now, but he hates having it cut. I need to find courage and do it. It's going to be stressful for both of us. It's a total sensory overload for him, and quite distressing. He just about allows me to trim his facial hair, so at the moment my big boy looks like Jesus.

What else did I do?

I finished listening to Hart's Ridge by Kay Bratt (free on Audible), which I enjoyed more than I thought I would, and even got the second book in the series, currently on offer.

It's a small town mystery series, with a likable main character, Taylor Gray, who happens to work as a deputy in the local police department. Growing up in poverty, with an alcoholic father, she and her sisters were in and out of foster care. Taylor reaches her dream of working in law enforcement. An only female in the male environment, she is overlooked and jeered at. 

As an older sister, she's been looking after her sisters, and even now feels responsible to care for her dysfunctional family, especially Dad and junkie sister Lucy.

Aside from her personal life story, there is a mystery around a little girl Molly who's been found wandering on her own, and her mother is missing. Taylor is called to investigate where she could come from and how she happened to be left alone.

The narrator Mare Trewathen is pretty good overall, except when she tries to speak for men's characters. I rolled my eyes every time she tried to make her voice sound gruff.

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Degustabox Advent Calendar

Do you buy and enjoy food and drink advent calendars? I don't mean just the chocolate varieties. I've seen cheese, beer, wine, gin, spices, chilli sweets, brownies, popcorn and some other tasty and sometimes pretty weird offerings.

I have ordered a Degusta Box Advent Calendar almost as soon as I've seen it being mentioned online, as we have enjoyed it in the past years. Sadly, there was no International edition this year, and I do hope they will bring it back in December'26, for me that was the bees' knees.

Degusta Box Advent Calendar 2025 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:

Truestart Barista Grade Instant coffee (£6.99) is a delicious instant coffee made with smooth Colombian arabica, that's been lab-tested to ensure you get the cleanest cup.

They say, "No moulds, heavy metals or other nasties and packed with antioxidants or clean coffee makes you feel amazing every time with its regulated caffeine content!"

Glad to have tried this coffee, as I've seen it in the Co-Op and kept thinking I should get one. It's a decent instant coffee, though I won't be buying it, as we love Illy much more.

Day 2

Monty Bojangles Chocolatey Truffles come in a distinct colourful box. A Great Taste Award winner, these truffles are very chocolatey, moreish, dusted with cocoa.

Nutritional values: 600kcal and 39g of sugar per 100g; certified sustainable palm oil; suitable for vegetarians.

Available at Sainsbury's, Tesco and Waitrose.

Day 3

Clara's Selections Wafer Rolls Hazelnut & Cocoa (£2) - 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; natural flavourings, suitable for vegetarians, no artificial sweeteners.

Available in Home Bargains and One Beyond.

Day 4

Waterdrop Microdrink Passionfruit (£7.99) will encourage you to drink more water, adding a full-bodied flavour of passionfruit, with a touch of sweetness. This product is made in Germany.

Refreshingly fruity drink, it could be added straight to bottles, allowing cubes to dissolve. My younger son has been enjoying this drink (we had different flavours from the previous Degustabox boxes), taking the bottles with him to school.

This is tasty hydration, made easy. Contains zero sugar. Vegan.

Nutritional values: 4kcal and 0g sugar per 500ml.

Day 5

Divine Orange Milk Chocolate bar (£1.29) is a perfect bite of smooth milk chocolate, infused with zesty orange. A beautiful citrus note. This bar is crafted with Fairtrade cocoa and sugar, 100% pure cocoa butter and free from palm oil or soya. 

These bars are ethically sourced, supporting cocoa farmers and their communities.

Day 6

Ambrosia Gingerbread Devon Custard (£1.95) is a festive twist on a classic custard. Smooth and creamy and full of flavour, it's great with mince pies, puddings, or just on its own.

Tastes delicious hot or cold.

Nutritional values: 126kcal and 13.8g of sugar per 130g portion (1/3 can); made with Red Tractor certified milk; suitable for vegetarians.

What a lovely seasonal treat!

 

Day 7

Mardel Alfajor De Dulce de Leche Negro and Blanco (£1.25) are soft cookies, filled with Mardel dulce de leche (milk caramel) and covered with either dark or white chocolate coating.

My sons enjoyed these cookies a lot. A lovely sweet treat, Alfajor is an iconic product from Argentina.

Nutritional information: 398kcal and 43.5g of sugar per 100g (one package is 50g).

You should receive 2 items, one each.

Available in international Latin shops.

Day 8 is a day of a product surprise, as you will receive one of Tilda rice varieties (choice of 4).

We got Tilda Easy Meals Sundried Tomato & Beans (£2.50). Ready in 2 minutes, no hassle, no stress. It's a flavourful combination of Haricot beans, carrots, red peppers and sundried tomatoes.

One pack is supposed to be a meal for 1. I served it with other side dishes, just a couple of tablespoons for each person.

Nutritional values: 226kcal and 1.54g of salt per pack; A source of protein, fibre and 1 of 5 a day; no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives; suitable for vegetarians.

Day 9

Baxters Large Silverskin Onions (£2.40) are crunchy & tangy, and full of flavour. They are pickled in malt vinegar, with ginger and cinnamon.

Add them to casseroles, serve with fish and chips, cheese platters or grazing boards, and of course, as part of the Ploughman's lunch.

Typical values: 43kcal and 0.31g of salt per 100g.

I wasn't super excited with this window as we still have an unopen jar of pickled onions from the last year's calendar, as my guys are not big fans of pickles.

Day 10

Flawsome! wonky tonic water pumpkin & apple (£1.33) is a smooth blend of crisp, wonky apples and rich flavours of pumpkin. A lovely seasonal drink, refreshing and bursting with taste.

No added sugar or artificial ingredients.

Day 11

Eisberg sparkling white/Schloss Wachenheim (£2) - is an alcohol free sparkling wine based drink in a can.

I made a lemonade spritz with this alcohol free wine, and it was lovely, refreshing and crisp.

Nutritional values: 23kcal and 5g of sugar per 100ml.

Day 12

Wilkin & Sons Ltd/ Tiptree English Damson Gin Liqueur (£4.99) comes in a mini bottle. It's such a vibrant festive colour. Each damson plum is carefully hand-picked, then rested in locally distilled Hayman's gin.

The gin liqueur has a deep sweetness of English damsons, with a hint of almond. Perfection.

Day 13

Bonne Maman Hazelnut Chocolate Spread (£410) is an indulgent spread, carefully crafted from simple ingredients and containing no palm oil. This jar is a limited edition, with Christmas decor.

Excellent with croissants, toast, plain brioche and pancakes/crepes. 

Nutritional values: 551kcal and 51g of sugar per 100g; palm oil free.

The hazelnut chocolate spread is available from most major supermarkets.

Day 14

Indie Bay Pretzel Thins Ligthly Salted (£1 each) are tasty savoury snacks which have a satisfying crunch. They are thin and crispy and absolutely delicious. Great for dunking, dipping and topping, enjoy them on the go or while watching a film. 

They are vegan, a source of fibre and protein, and are made with natural ingredients. Nutritional information: 137kcal and 2.5g of salt per 35g bag.

Available on Amazon, indiebaysnacks.co and good independent shops.

Day 15

Birchall Great Rift Breakfast tea/ or Great Rift Decaf Tea (£3.35) is crafted using the finest tea from across East Africa.

Great Rift Breakfast: It's the UK's most awarded tea, winning a prestigious Great Taste Award for a record 15 consecutive years.

Great Rift Decaf: All tea leaves are hand plucked before they are carefully decaffeinated, which gives tea its golden colour and strong refreshing taste.

We received a Breakfast blend, which is 100% black tea. Enjoy with milk or a slice of lemon (lemon all the way for me, with a spoon of sugar or mint leaves and honey).

Day 16

Skittles Desserts (£1.15) are chewy bit-sized candies, a mix of your favourite dessert flavours: Strawberry Ice Cream, Choco-Orange, Blueberry Tart, Cherry Cheesecake, Lemon pie.

Day 17

Galipette Cidre Brut 4.5% (£2.50) is a superior cider, dry to medium dry.

The balance between acidity and tannins, dry and mild sweet flavours is just right. All cider apples come from traditional orchards near the river Rance in northern Brittany. 

A classic cider, made with 100% pure apple juice, no added sugar.

Available in Waitrose, Tesco, Ocado, Whole Foods and Booths.

Day 18

Filippo Berio Balsamic Vinegar of Modena 250ml is a classic Italian condiment, smooth and full of flavour, tangy and sweet. 

Made from specially selected Modena grapes and aged in oak barrels according to tradition, using the Solera method.

Filippo Berio's balsamic contains 40% grape must, among the highest levels for an everyday balsamic, and double the required minimum of 20%.

For new year eve's party I served a starter of chickory boats with blue cheese and walnuts, drizzled with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, one of my favourite starters. The vinegar enhances the saltiness of the blue cheese and creaminess of walnuts.

Day 19

Mentos Feeling Berry Good (£1) come in a sharing pouch. Packed with three irresistible flavours - Cherry, Blueberry and Raspberry.

Day 20 - Product surprise no.2 (one product from a choice of 5: Forest Feast Honey & Sea Salt cashews and peanuts, or Starbucks premium instant coffee/Pumpkin spice latte, or Kitkat Hazelnut Chocolate sharing bar, or KitKat Salted Caramel Chocolate sharing bar, or KitKat Double Chocolate sharing bar)

KitKat Salted Caramel Sharing Bar 99g (£2) is one of the newer flavours of the classic confectionery. You get crispy wafer fingers covered with caramel flavour milk chocolate and white coating, with a salted caramel flavoured filling.

Nutritional information: 172kcal and 16g of sugar per 3 fingers.

Available in the major supermarket chains.

Day 21

OXO Signature ready to use stock/ Chicken (£2.50) is inspired by homemade stock, using natural ingredients & 100% UK meat. 

This stock has been simmered for up to 15 hours, extracting deep, rich flavours.

I used this pack for making a chicken gravy to go with a roast.

Day 22

KIND white chocolate raspberry - new (£1.40) is a new nutty bar from KIND.

It was gone in 60 seconds, as my older son loves fruit/nut bars, so I presume it was tasty.

Day 23

Filippo Berio Arrabiata pasta sauce (£2.65) is a delicious pasta sauce, made only from finest quality, carefully-selected ingredients: 100% Italian tomatoes, Filippo Berio Extra Virgin olive oil and chili peppers. 

No preservatives, artificial flavourings or ingredients; gluten and lactose free, suitable for vegetarians and vegans.

Day 24

Poppets Wicked toffee  39g (£0.60 each) are milk chocolate coated toffees. Quite a retro candy, but with a modern makeover, as you  can spot characters from Wicked on the box.

Soft and chewy toffee in milk chocolate coating, these are lovely treats to share in the cinema or while watching your favourite show on TV.

Nutritional values: 474kcal and 58g of sugar per 100g (one box is 39g).

Available in Morrisons, B&M, Home Bargains, Farmfoods and The Range.

While lovely as a little candy, Poppets don't quite equate to a Christmas treat in my mind, and I was mildly disappointed to find them in the final window of the calendar. We've just had them in the November food box, and it's not the most exciting way to end the calendar. You would expect something really special for the last day.

And that's all, folks. Would  I buy it again? Yes, I would, especially if they bring back the International edition. 

If you bought this advent calendar, what did you think? What was your favourite product?

Degustabox November 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 November Box Degustabox?

Leon Brazilian Style Black Beans (£2.50) is a microwave meal, inspired by Leon restaurant menu. This tasty dish is made with cooked black beans, carrots, onion, tomato, celery, chipotle seasoning paste and smoked paprika.

Serve with coconut yogurt and spring onions, red chilli and a sprinkle of parsley for a well balanced meal, full of flavour.

Nutritional information:82kcal and 0.6g of salt per 100g; vegan; source of fibre; no artificial ingredients.

Avaiable in Sainsbury's.

Noisy Snacks Chip Shop Curry Coated Chickpeas (£1.50) are crunchy roasted and coated chickpeas, packed with protein and full of fibre. 

These tasty little snacks are made from all natural ingredients.

Nutritional information: 96kcal and 3.2g of sugar per 25g.

Available in Tesco Express.

Silver Spoon Zesty Lemon Flavoured Icing Sugar (£1.80) will come super handy during this festive season, for all the tasty bakes. Think mince pies, lemon drizzle cake, apple turnovers, etc.

Made with all natural ingredients, you simply add butter or water (or even lemon juice, for a more prominent citrus flavour) to create a smooth, ready to use icing.

Available in Tesco and ASDA.

One Living Brain Health Shot/or Beauty Health Shot (£2) is a soft drink, offering health benefits.

You should receive 1 item in your box. We got Brain Health Shot Cherry Apple, a cherry apple shot with vitamins, minerals, chicory root fibre and water kefir, which helps with better mental performance and less fatigue.

Typical values per 100ml: 31kcal and 5.6g of sugar (one small bottle is 100ml); 20+ super ingredients; your daily dose; vitamins B1, B6, B12.

Flavour-wise, you get a sweet and sour note of cherries balanced with the tart flavour of crisp apples. 

Beauty Shot/Real Radiance is a shot of blueberry, pomegranate, hibiscus, with added biotin, vitamin E, zinc, aloe vera and hyaluronic acid to support healthy hair, skin, nails and cell protection.

Available in Tesco Back of Store with the soft drinks.

Hilltop Blossom Honey (£1.85) 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 more than one countries' 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 the major supermarket chains.

Maggi Air Fryer Crispy Southern and Air Fryer Crispy Korean BBQ (£0.99 each) are blends of herbs and spices.

We must be one of a few households who didn't get an air fryer when it has become trendy, and if you don't have one either, don't worry. These blends could be used for cooking in the oven, pan or grill too. Check out www.maggi.co.uk for more information.

You should receive two items in your box. 

Maggi Air Fryer Crispy Coating Southern Style is a mix of breadcrumbs, sunflower oil, dried onion, white egg powder, dried spices, salt etc.

Simply add chicken fillets, sprinkle with seasoned crumbs and cook.

Nutritional values: 218kcal and 0.59g of salt per serving.

Maggi Air Fryer Crispy Coating Korean BBQ Style is a mix of breacrumbs, sunflower oil, dried spices, sugar, dried garlic, dried onion, etc. Also suggested to use with chicken fillets.

Nutritional values: 220kcal and 2.3g of sugar per serving.

Available in major supermarkets and discounter chains.

Waterdrop Microdrink Berry (£7.99) will encourage you to drink more water, adding a full-bodied flavour of blackberry and bluebbery, with a touch of sweetness from apple. This product is made in Germany.

Refreshingly fruity drink, it could be added straight to bottles, allowing cubes to dissolve. My younger son has been enjoying this drink, taking the bottles with him to school.

This is tasty hydration, made easy. Contains zero sugar. Vegan.

Nutritional values: 5kcal and 0g sugar per 500ml.

Available in the major supermarket chains and online at en.waterdrop.com

Poppets Chewy Toffee 39g (£0.60 each) are milk chocolate coated toffees. Quite a retro candy, but with a modern makeover, as you  can spot characters from Wicked on the box.

Soft and chewy toffee in milk chocolate coating, these are lovely treats to share in the cinema or while watching your favourite show on TV.

Nutritional values: 474kcal and 58g of sugar per 100g (one box is 39g).

Available in Morrisons, B&M, Home Bargains, Farmfoods and The Range.

You should receive 2 items in your box.

For Goodness Shakes GLOW Collage Protein Shake Iced Latte and White Chocolate (£2.50 each) are new shakes, packed with protein, calcium and collagen, helping to support healthy skin, hair and nails.

They are lactose free, fat free, contain no added sugar and are only 150kcal. 

Available in two flavours - Iced Latte and White Chocolate. What a way to give yourself a protein and collagen boost!

Available in Sainsbury's, Tesco and online at forgoodnessshakes.com.

You should receive 2 items in your box.

Degustabox Plus subscribers will also have an extra product in their box - CasaFolino Dark Chocolate and Orange Spreadable Cream (£6.99), which sounds lovely.

If you've ordered Degustabox Advent calendar, I bet you're enjoying the contents as much as we do. 

Degustabox September Box

 There's a chill in the air, and the evenings are crawling in earlier and earlier, and no wonder, as we've said Goodbye to September.

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 September Box Degustabox?

 Tilda Meals - Hearty Meals Madras Bean Curry and Easy Meals Vegetable Paella - are chosen Product of the Month.

These two latest addition to the versatile Tilda range offer tasty and nutritious meals for one, ready in just two minutes.

Tilda Vegetable Paella is a hearty mix of long grain rice and vegetables (24%), such as carrots, red peppers, green beans, white beans, etc. Made in Spain with imported and local ingredients.

Nutritional values: 333kcal and 2.25g of salt per 250g serving.

Tilda Madras Bean Curry with lentils is a tasty combination of lentils, pinto beans, tomato, fried onion, coconut milk, etc. 

Nutritional values: 293kcal and 5.8g of sugar.

Both products contain 1 of your 5 a day; a source of fibre and protein, vegetarian and vegan; no artificial colours, flavours and preservatives.

Available in Sainsbury's and Tilda.com.

You should receive 1 item in your box. 

Indie Bay Pretzel Thins Ligthly Salted (£1 each) are tasty savoury snacks which have a satisfying crunch. They are thin and crispy and absolutely delicious. Great for dunking, dipping and topping, enjoy them on the go or while watching a film. 

They are vegan, a source of fibre and protein, and are made with natural ingredients. Nutritional information: 137kcal and 2.5g of salt per 35g bag.

Available on Amazon, indiebaysnacks.co and good independent shops.

You should receive two in your box.

Slooow Crispy Multigrain Rolls (£2.80) are prepared with the best 100% natural and organic ingredients. 

The bread is given more than a day from start to finish, and that makes the bread extra tasty - crispy on the ouside and soft inside.

Bake at home for 10 minutes to have fresh crispy rolls for your meal. Great with soups, stews or as a sandwich base.

Nutritional values: 244kcal and 0.59g of salt per serving; vegan, organic.

Available in Ocado, Dunnes Stores and Booths.

Rice Krispies Squares Honeycomb & Chocolate (£0.79) are cereal snack bars, made of Rice Krispies with a honeycomb flavour coating and a chocolate drizzle. 

I buy Rice Krispies Squares cereal bars for my sons, and they enjoy the texture and flavour of this treat. Each bar contains appr. 134kcal.

Available in the major supermarket chains.

Mutti Peeled (£1.60) is a versatile Italian tomato product. 

Mutti tomatoes are known to be processed within 24 hours of harvesting to capture the taste of freshly picked 100% Italian sun-ripened tomatoes.

Excellent product for a great variety of recipes, from pasta to stew, from soup to chilli. 

It has an intense fresh flavour and rich texture, the colour is a beautiful bright red. Mutti peeled tomatoes are fleshy and firm, immersed in a velvety passata.

Nutritional information: 22kcal and 2.9g of sugar per 100g.

If your family enjoys a Bolognese (whether meat-based or vegetarian), Mutti Peeled will make a good tomato base for the ragu.

Our family are big fans of Mutti products. I use Mutti in vegetarian stews, vegetable ragu with okra, sweet peppers and butter beans, curries and pasta dishes. 

Available in the major supermarket chains.

Cheez-It Snap'd Cheese & Chilli baked snacks (£1 for 40g bag) are baked with 100% real cheese.

Thin and crispy, and very moreish, these snacks are a big hit with my guys. I buy them pretty regularly.

Crunchy and well-seasoned, Cheez-It makes a great snack, whether you are feeling peckish or having a movie night. 

Nutritional information: 501kcal and per 100g, or 200kcal and 1.4g of salt per 40g pouch. No artificial colours or flavours. Suitable for vegetarians.

Available in the major supermarket chains.

BrewDog Elvis Juice Hot Sauce (£2.50) is an award-winning sauce, inspired by an iconic headline beer and the undisputed King of Citrus. 

Infused with lime juice, it offers bold flavours. Just right for grilled halloumi sandwich, a chicken sub or tacos. 

Spicy and citrusy at the same time, it is hot hot hot. A bit too hot for me personally, while my guys enjoyed it.

Nutritional values: 112kcal and 1.8g of salt per 100ml.

Available in Tesco, Sainsbury's and Ocado.

Sunfly Sunflower Seed Butter Crunchy and Sweet & Salty (£0.90 each) are nut-free, top 14 allergen-free squeeze pouches.

Made with sunflower seeds, and offering a 7g protein boost, you can add them to your smoothies or porridge, spread on toast or eat straight from the pouch.

Nutirional values: 208kcal and 6.8g of protein for Crunchy and 211kcal and 6.8g of protein for sweet & salty. Rich in Vitamin E, magnesium & iron.

Available on Amazon and Ocado.

You should receive two items in your box.

Munchies Sharing bag (£1.65) is another lovely treat, offering a rich caramel and a crunchy biscuit centre, all ensconsed in a smooth milk chocolate. It's a winning combination of crunchy, chewy and creamy.

The sharing bag includes approximately 6 servings of 7 sweets. 

Nutritional values: 156kcal and 18.4g of sugar per serving.

Is it your on-the-go kind of snack, or will you share the bag, while watching a new episode of Slow Horses?

Available in the major supermarket chains.

Fruitbowl Yogurt Fruit Goals (£2.45) are juicy raisins in yogurt flavoured coating in pretty pastel colours. 

These fruity snacks will appeal to children or grown ups with a sweet tooth (a tad too sweet for me). Made with real fruit and using natural colours & flavours, they are just right for a lunchbox or as a sweet treat after school.

Nutritional information: 87kcal and 11.8g of sugar per serving/pouch; suitable for vegetarians, gluten free.

Available in the major supermarket chains.

Goodrays CBD Elderflower & Yuzu (£2.29) is a refreshing drink, infused with 30mg of premium sun-grown CBD, and high in Vitamin D.

The flavours are a combination of zesty citrus of the Japanese Yuzu and the sweet floral notes of the British Elderflower.

No added sugar. No artificial sweeteners. 100% vegan.

Available in the major supermarket chains.

If you're a Degusta Box Plus member, you will also receive an extra product - Spice Kitchen Tandoori Masala Spice Blend (£6.50).

What product is your favourite?

And don't forget to order an XXL Advent Calendar. We've had it for several years in a row, and it's always fabulous.