Degustabox: BBQ & Garden Party

 BBQ & Garden Party 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 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 BBQ & Garden Party Degustabox box? 

Free From Fellows Vegan Vanilla Mallows (£1.99) are available in three flavours: Strawberry, Vanilla and Mini Pink & White. These mallows are super soft, fluffy and squidgy. Though you cannot mistake them for the dairy marshmallows, as the aftertaste is rather powdery, they are a decent substitute.

Egg & dairy free, gluten and gelatine free, soy and GMO free, nut and tree nut free, no artificial flavourings, colours.

Suitable for everyone, including vegetarians and vegans.

Available at Sainsbury's, Ocado, H&B and Waitrose.

Pea Pops Cheddar and Onion (£1.85 for 80g) are flavourful chickpea crisps, quite similar to popchips.

They are gluten free, vegetarian, high in fibre, contain 19% protein, no MSG, no artificial colour or flavouring. Because they are popped, these crisps are 60% less fat than regular fried chips, 99kcal per 23g serving, and are made with real chickpeas.

Winner of Great Taste Award. They were certainly the winner in our house.

Available at ASDA, Ocado, Amazon, www.peapops.co.uk.

New York Delhi ViPnuts Hot Chilli/Classic Sea Salt/Hot Honey & Mustard (£1.50 for 63g) are the gourmet brand of peanuts. They are gluten free, high-protein and vegan.

You will receive one of three flavours. We got Hot Chilli, with quite a fiery bite to them from the spices.

Ingredients include: peanuts, rapeseed oil, hot chilli flavour seasoning (chilli, salt, spices, dried herbs, black pepper, ground ginger).

Nutritional values: 622kcal per 100g.

Eat Water Ready Meal Slim Noodles Pad Thai (£4.99) is an authentic Pad Thai curry with noodle shaped konjac. 

Gluten free, vegan, low saturated fat, low sugar, low salt, no artiticial colours, flavours & preservatives. Scientifically proven weight loss. Konjac is an ancient plant grown in Asia. Flour is made from it and used in making low calorie noodles.

208kcal per meal.

I confess, that it doesn't look appetising when you open the sachet inside the box, with the glutinous sauce, but it tastes all right, especially if you add it to the vegetable and/chicken stir fry.

There are three other meals for weigh loss available in Eat Water range: Slim Rice Tarka Dal, Slim Noodles Panang Curry and Slim Pasta Arrabiata. You should receive one of 4 items in your box.

Available at Holland & Barrett.

SlooOW Crispy Rustic Rolls with Honey (£1.65) was one of my favourite products from the latest box.

These rolls 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.

Available at Tesco and ASDA.

Carr's Italian Herbs Flavour Melts (£1.69) will make a welcome addition to a cheese board. Suggestions on the box are to serve these melts with burrata, sun-dried tomatoes and basil. How delicious!

These biscuits are delicate, crispy, light and crumbly, and melting in the mouth, just as the name suggests.

Nutritional information: 21kcal and 0.3g of sugar per biscuit.

Available in Tesco.

The Sweet Botanist Mellow Mint CBD Peppermint Gum (£3.99) is a product from a range of plant-based sweets which are meant to improve your mood and well-being thanks to CBD.

You would receive one of two products (either gum or Spearmint Sweets). There is 45MG of CBD in a pack of peppermint gum. It is meant to be naturally calming. The gum base is plastic free.

The Sweet Botanist ensure they only source CBO from their trusted partner, as well as the process to remove THC from the cannabis plant compiles with novel food regulations (so it's safe).

For over 18s only. Recommended serving: 1 piece of gum up to 3 times a day.

Available on www.wholesalesweets.co.uk.

LoveRaw Salted Caramel Cre&m wafer bars (£1.89) are vegan wafers. You get soft salted caramel inside crunchy wafers, coated with LoveRaw's iconic Caramel chocolate. No palm oil used.

Taste-wise, I found them rather underwhelming. I prefer LoveRaw vegan milk wafers.

Available at Holland & Barrett, Boots, Wholefoods, ASDA, Booths, Waitrose, Co-Op and Spar.

Geo Watkins Mushroom Ketchup (£2) is one of the classic condiments, which some people consider to be a must for any BBQ. It has a distinct, recognisable deep flavour. And it is naturally vegan. Add a splash of umami flavour to any dish - pies, gravy, stew, soup, ramen, pizza etc. This rich cooking ingredient was the secret of success for many Victorian cooks.

Ingredients include water, salt, spirit vinegar, hydrolysed vegetable protein, mushroom powder, barley malt extract and spices.

Nutritional values: 13kcal and 0.1g of sugar per 100ml.

Available at Tesco, Waitrose, Booths and Ocado.

Bull's Eye NY Steakhouse BBQ Sauce (£2) is a historically more contemporary product, which has acquired a status of the iconic condiment , being full of heart and ready to take on any red meat.

Ingredients include tomato puree, sugar, spirit vinegar, bell pepper, salt, mustard, dried onion, modiefied starch, spices, garlic.

Nutritional information: 181kcal and 38g of sugar per 100ml.

Available at all major retailers.

And finally, the drinks:

Gunna Turtle Juice Tropical Lemonade (£1.10) is inspired by a mango daiquiri recipe, discovered in St Lucia. It is full of tropical sunshine, but without the rum.

This combination of flavours, from sweet aromatic mango to zingy zesty limes to coconut, is very enjoyable on its own, or as a base of a cocktail.

Available on Amazon, Ocado, Holland & Barrett, Sainsbury's and many independent retailers.

Echo Falls Merlot (£2 for a small bottle) offers a smooth mix of blackberry and plum flavours, with a woody hint of oak. Echo Falls winemakers are passionate about creating modern and delicious wines.

Food pairing suggestion for Echo Falls Merlot - your favourite pizza, or a cheese board.

Available at ASDA and convenience 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.

Cranberry sauce with Chianti and Aperol

Our kitchen smells wonderfully festive - of cinnamon, cloves and  orange zest - as the cranberry sauce is cooling in a jar for tomorrow's dinner. We have invited friends over to celebrate the new year's eve with us.

In Italy we had a traditional local Christmas meal, with a pasta dish for starter, and the main which included lentils as one of the side dishes for good luck... It was a lovely meal, but later in the evening as I was looking at the photos of Christmas meals posted on Instagram, I was moaning to myself (an ungrateful creature that I am) that I wanted all those delicious roast potatoes, pigs in blankets, cranberry sauce, red cabbage and even brussels sprouts. I didn't miss a Christmas pudding or cake, I think the Italian cakes are superior.
We brought Christmas crackers with us though, as Eddie loves paper crowns and silly jokes.

So, tomorrow I am cooking the whole caboodle, with a turkey crown, a ham in marmalade, roast potatoes, carrots with parsnips, brussels sprouts with chestnuts, pigs in blankets, stuffing etc. Our guests will bring the dessert.
I don't know if Italians eat cranberry sauce. In over 20 years of visiting Italy, I have never come across any cranberry sauce there. Typically we have a mostarda di frutta with a roast or cold meats, which is a beautiful condiment of jewel-like preserved fruit in mustard. It looks gorgeous but has an acquired taste. I can only ever manage a little bit, as it is pretty hot.

I love cranberry sauce, it is fab to jazz up a cheese sandwich, or cold meat cuts.

I have tried cooking it with different types of alcohol - port, white wine and red wine (see my old post for cranberry sauce with white wine). This time I fancied trying a little bit different, and used both Chianti and Aperol.

Cranberry sauce with Chianti and Aperol
Ingredients:
300g fresh cranberries
juice (100ml) and zest of 1 large orange
a 1/3tsp ground cloves
a cinnamon stick
50ml Chianti
50ml Aperol

Place the cranberries in a pan with red wine wine, caster sugar, orange juice and zest, ground cloves (on a tip of a knife) and a cinnamon stick, bring to the boil. Lower the heat, add Aperol. Simmer gently for 10 minutes, remove from the heat and spoon in a sterilised Kilner jar. Once cooled, put the jar in the fridge.
This sauce will keep in the fridge for a week.

If you don't have Chianti or Aperol, use port, or white wine. I think sloe gin might be a lovely alternative too.

There is a big variety of ready-made cranberry preserves of all kinds on the run to Christmas, but making your own cranberry sauce is easy-peasy and the aroma wafting from the kitchen is delightful.
If you make your own cranberry sauce, do you add any alcohol (and which one)?

Tuna stir fry with exotic mushrooms

We don't always eat fish on Fridays. Whenever I cook fish, my dear husband mumbles "Why do we eat fish so often?" The younger men in my family are as obstinate: Sash would only eat fish pate as in tuna pate sandwiches, Eddie is always looking forward to fish and chips meals at school on Fridays, but apparently I serve the "wrong" kind of fish. Sometimes, I wonder: why do I even bother?
I buy tuna steaks maybe once or twice a month, especially when they are on offer. They are delicious with mushrooms.

Tuna stir fry with exotic mushrooms
Ingredients:
2 Yellowfish tuna steaks
2tbsp black garlic ketchup
2tbsp dark soy sauce
smoked sea salt
1tsp cyder vinegar
5tbsp sesame oil
1 carrot
1tbsp chilli-flavoured oil
200g mixed exotic mushrooms (oyster, shiitake, maitake)
whole wheat noodles

First slice each steak into 3-4 strips. Marinade tuna for at least an hour in a mix of dark soy sauce, black garlic ketchup, smoked sea salt, cyder vinegar and 2tbsp sesame oil. You can substitute black garlic ketchup for a finely chopped clove of garlic.
Peel and slice a carrot. Heat up 1tbsp of sesame oil and fry carrot for about 4-5 minutes, add the tuna and more oil. Cook the fish for about 2 minutes on each side. Add mushrooms and cook for another 2-3 minutes. Serve with hot whole wheat noodles.

In this recipe I used Maldon smoked sea salt. I'm very fond of Maldon sea salt, and regularly buy the original variety. I also often make my own flavoured sea salt, by mixing it with all kinds of dried herbs.
Smoked sea salt flakes are gently smoked over oak to add a rich, sophisticated flavour to any dish.
It was part of the latest Degustabox food box, and I was most excited about trying it.
It's an excellent product, which adds a unique smokiness to cooked meals.

Sea bass with prawns and black garlic ketchup

You would have thought that with over a hundred cook books at home, I would be more organised with the meal planning.
I admire people who plan their dinner menus a week in advance. Though I often have a shopping list with me with ingredients to buy for that evening, there are days when I have no clue as to what I might serve for dinner. I wander around the shop, looking at the ingredients, trying to find inspiration.
Last Friday I stopped by the deli fish counter in Waitrose (they have 20% off promotion each Friday) and decided to buy two sea bass fillets.

Sea bass with prawns and black garlic ketchup
Ingredients:
2 sea bass fillets
3tbsp olive oil
1 medium carrot
a handful of baby tomatoes
a squeeze of lemon juice
3tbsp black garlic ketchup
fresh parsley, chopped
Peel and slice a carrot, and place in the oiled roasting dish. Place the fish fillets on top, scatter the tomatoes around the dish. Spread black garlic ketchup over the fish and squeeze a bit of lemon juice over. Cook in the oven at 180C for about 20+ minutes. Add the prawns in the last five minutes of cooking.
Serve hot, with a bit of fresh parsley sprinkled on the top.

In this recipe I used a Black Garlic Ketchup, an innovative product from Hawkshead Relish. The flavour of black garlic is created with baking whole, fresh garlic bulbs for 40 days at a very low temperature creating an extraordinary flavour.
"Combining the pureed garlic cloves by hand with fresh tomatoes, olive oil & Anglesey sea salt this ketchup sauce is the ultimate addition to cooked meats, tartlets, potato wedges, roast veg, shell fish, stews and glazes".

Image credits: Hawkshead Relish

Maria Whitehead, co-owner of Hawkshead Relish, says: "The flavour of black garlic is exquisite & relatively new to the British palate, although seen on some adventurous menus, we wanted to bring this tremendous innovation to the public in a way that it can be easily appreciated & enjoyed! We've made it in a way that the unadventurous will just love as a dynamic dip for chips, to those who will delight in its versatility in adding luscious flavour in cooking & preparation".
Handmade with optimum quality ingredients & completely natural without any artificial flavouring, colouring or additives, free from gluten & nuts as well as suitable for vegetarians.
It is rich, smooth, sweet, almost treacle-like in appearance and consistency, with a good garlicky punch.

This excellent condiment could be added as an ingredient to a whole variety of dishes.
For example, yesterday I cooked a one-pan chicken and vegetable dish. I have sliced two sweet peppers, a big courgette and drizzled them with the olive oil, before placing a chicken breast joint on top. Drizzle more olive oil over the chicken, season with a bit of salt and pour a mix of 2tbsp of maple syrup, a good squeeze of lemon juice and 2tbsp black garlic ketchup. Cook at 180C for 40+ minutes until the chicken is cooked through. Add more black garlic ketchup on top in the last 10 minutes of cooking. Serve hot with crusty bread.

Have you tried this innovative ketchup?

Disclosure: I received a bottle of ketchup for the purposes of testing and reviewing. All opinions are our own.