Summer & Get Outdoors 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 the Summer & Get Outdoors Degustabox box?

Muscle Moose The Dinky Protein Bar Salted Caramel Pretzel (35g/£1.50) is a Product of the Month. This is a caramel flavour protein bar, with a low sugar caramel layer, with soya nuggets, and topped with pretzel pieces.

Handy to carry with you for the times when you are feeling peckish, or craving a bit of a sweet treat.

Nutritional values: 130kcal and 1.6g of sugar per bar (written in tiny fonts, it's hard to read).

Available at ASDA.

Plantastic Millionaire Flapjacks Choc & Caramel (£2.25) are flapjacks with a vegan caramel and chocolate flavour topping.

While I enjoyed Plantastic Sweet Apricot and Ginger flapjacks from the New Year Degustabox selection very much, I'm less enthusiastic about the new flavour. It has an exceedingly sweet chocolate caramel topping over a dry base of oat flakes. In fact, I couldn't even finish one. Saying that, my older son polished off the whole box later.

This product is 100% plant-based, contains no artificial colours or flavours.

Typical values: 138kcal and 13.5g of sugar per flapjack.

Available at Tesco & ASDA.

Mentos Gum Pure Cherry Chewing Gum (£2.50) is a well-known chewing gum, in a new recyclable paper-based container. 

We took it with us on a long car trip to Cornwall (and back), and enjoyed its fruity refreshing taste. The chewing gum has a crispy shell with a delicious liquid filled centre, and provides a long lasting fruity taste. This is a sugar-free treat.

Available in all major supermarket chains.

KIND Snacks Thins Dark Chocolate Nuts and Sea Salt Multipack/ Thins Dark Caramel Nuts and Sea Salt Multipack (£2.50) are thin and chewy bars which are both tasty and nutritious.

You should receive 1 item in your box. We got the Dark Chocolate flavour (ingredients include almond pieces, dark chocolate, peanut pieces, glucose syrup, chicory root fibre, brown rice crisps, honey, sugar etc.

KIND THINS are a source of high fibre, gluten free and have no artiificial colours, flavours or preservatives.

Under 95kcal per bar, these are lovely snacks.

Available at ASDA.

Jordan's Country Crisp Limited Edition Red Velvet (£3.80) is the latest granola from Jordan's, a combination of light and crispy golden oat clusters with chocolate brownie pieces and cream cheese frosting flavoured red oat clusters.

Source of fibre, wholegrain oats. Suitable for vegetarians. It doesn't say vegan on the box, but I don't see any dairy or honey among the ingredients.

Nutritional values: 192kcal and 9.7g of sugar per 45g portion.

Available at Waitrose and on Ocado.

Sauce Shop Honey Chipotle BBQ Sauce (£2.75) is a sweet smoky sauce, perfect for chicken, or corn.

Sauce Shop sauces and seasonings are made in the UK, using natural ingredients. If it's been raining non-stop, and the BBQ is not possible, this sauce will make a lovely pizza dip for a movie night.

Ingredients include tomato puree, sugar, white grape vinegar, honey, onion, garlic, salt, smoked paprika, chipotle pepper.

Typical values: 153kcal and 33.7g of sugar per 100g. 

Available at Sainsbury's, Morrisons, ASDA and Booths.

Very Lazy Cajun Paste (£2, see above) will bring an authentic taste of Louisiana to your kitchen. It tastes delicious, marinated over chicken. For a vegetarian feast, mix a selection of vegetables (courgettes, sweet peppers, sweet tomatoes etc) with a tablespoon of Cajun paste and roast them in the oven.

Ingredients include: red pepper, rapeseed oil, onion puree, tomato paste, muscovado sugar, garlic puree, smoked paprika, green pepper, lime juice, coriander leaf, salt, ground cumin, thyme, basil, oregano, onion powder, chipotle chilli powder etc.

Typical values: 39kcal and 2.6g of sugar per 20g serving.

Very Lazy's motto is "Maximum flavour, minimum fuss!"

Available at Tesco, ASDA and Morrisons.

We love Kettle Chips, and are always excited to try new flavours. KETTLE Chips Sriracha Mayo (£1.50) take inspiration from street food markets around the world. If you like your savoury snacks with a bit of spice, you will enjoy the flavoursome Sriracha Mayo flavour.

These crunchy chips are vegetarian and gluten free.

Typical values: 501kcal and 1.04g of salt per 100g.

Available at Waitrose and Tesco.

SXOLLIE xider Cripps Pink xider (£1.80 for 330ml bottle) is a delicious cider that bursts with flavour. It's a refreshing fusion of chilled floral sweetness and light bubbles. Very enjoyable.

Made purely with "Cripps Pink apples and sunshine". No added sugar, no concentrate. Vegan friendly, B Corp certified.

Available at Sainsbury's, Morrisons, on Amazon Prime and www.sxollie.com.

Dalston's Soda: Peach Soda and Rhubarb Soda (£2 each) is a full flavour fizz crafted with real fruit and no nasties. No added sugar, no sweeteners and no artificial ingredients.

Lovely refreshing drinks - perfect for a picnic or BBQ.

You should receive two items in your box.

Available at Waitrose, Sainsbury's, ASDA and on Ocado.

And the final product in the latest box: Boost Iced Coffee: Cafe Latte or Caramel Latte (£1.19).

You should receive one item. We got a Caramel Latte, smooth and mellow. A tad too sweet for me, but someone who has a sweet tooth, will love it.

Typical values: 125kcal and 23g of sugar per 250ml can.

Available in convenience stores and on Amazon.

What is your favourite product from the latest Degustabox box?

A Secret Cornish Summer by Phillipa Ashley

 

Summer for me always means a batch of new books, set in Cornwall. And if you're looking for a delightful summery read, A Secret Cornish Summer by Phillipa Ashley will bring the Cornish seaside to wherever you are.

Blurb:

This beautiful Cornish summer, there'll be sun, sea, sand - and secrets...

When Eden steps out of her idyllic coastal cottage to find a Speedo-wearing, suntanned stranger doing yoga in next door's garden, she is immediately on her guard. Since her ex-husband betrayed her in the worst possible way, she has kept her distance from all men, taking refuge in her start-up coffee business.

But as she gets to know Levan, Eden begins to wonder if he might be different - until she discovers he's not quite what he seems. And when a long-buried family secret surfaces, her faith in those she loves most is shaken to the core.

As the secrets spill out, relationships old and new ill be tested like never before.

Can Eden learn to trust again, and move past all the secrets of this Cornish summer?

Eden lives in one of the old lighthouse cottages, which enjoy a dramatic vista over the Cornish coast. One day she is busy roasting coffee beans for her cafe, the Lighthouse Coffee Container, when her grandma Iris demands her attention. 

She's been "discreetly" spying on the strange young man doing yoga in the garden next door. "Eden had never, ever seen one of its occupants standing on his head, wearing only a pair of orange Speedos".

As it happens, Levan is not a guest at the rented cottage but a new owner of the Longships. This is a big surprise for Eden and Iris, as the sale has been done very hush-hush.

Eden's cottage has been in the family for several generations. Both her grandafther and father worked on the Hartstone Lighthouse.

"At the age of thirty-three, she'd never meant to return to Lighthouse Cottages - not permanently. Anyway. She'd never thought she'd have to return, in order to have a roof over her head and be able to feed herself.

But that was where Simon had left her: homeless, broke and heartbroken".

Her con-man of a husband has left her high and dry, having drained her account. Simon is a narcissist who goes through life, unconcerned about anyone he hurts. Emotionally abusive, he is a serial liar and a fraudster.

When after a two-years-long absence, Eden receives a letter from her obnoxious ex, it upsets and infuriates her in equal measure. She doesn't know whether she can trust a word of what he says.

In the meantime, Levan has charmed both Iris and Sally (Eden's Mum). He is quite reluctant to talk about himself though. All they learn about Levan is that he is involved in the "boring IT stuff", being economical with the truth that he is working for the security services.

There is another, bigger secret in his life, that could change everything. His "other secret was different. It was one he felt compelled to keep, just to try and rebuild his life after a moment of madness that had brought it crashing down".

Eden and Levan are drawn to each other, but for both of them their past is holding them back. For Eden, her experience with Simon has left her suspicious about everyone, paranoid even.

When Eden discovers the truth about Levan, she is shaken. And then further revelations from people she holds dearest unsettles her even more. 

Will Eden be able to re-assess her trust issues, accept the past secrets and learn to love again?

Levan is a compelling character, albeit with a penchant for taking his clothes off whenever he's working outdoors, going all Poldark-esque. His backstory is gripping, but also poignant (relationships with his stiff-upper-lip parents, his big secret etc).

I am totally "Camp Levan" and think he had a full right to keep his past to himself, as you don't just open your soul to people whom you hardly know. Eden has totally over-reacted. She has being badly hurt by her ex, but that doesn't make everyone around an untrustworthy person unless they bare their soul at the first meeting. We all have our secrets that we don't want to share even with those that we love, and sometimes never share with anyone. For a variety of reasons. 

A Secret Cornish Summer is an uplifting romantic novel, full of secrets, passion, humour and warmth.

I loved the light-hearted humour, not of the LOL variety, but more subtle, and with astute observations of human nature. Take Eden's grandma. "When necessary, her Granny Iris had a voice that could penetrate a nuclear bunker". Just one sentence to introduce the character, and she immediately comes to life on page 1. In fact, Iris doesn't ever disappoint, throughout the book she shines like a lighhouse beacon.

Cornwall provides a beautiful setting for the developing romance story. I loved seeing the familiar geographical names, recognising so many of them, as we tend to stay every summer in a small village outside Penzance. 

There is a mention of Le Carré's house too, which brings back some wonderful memories of visiting David and Jane in their beautiful home, with its sprawling tiered garden, and the most amazing sea views. Years ago we stayed in their guest cottage, and for years have been visiting them when we had holidays in Cornwall. Both my boys loved running in their garden. So many memories! 

P.S. This book is currently on 3 for £6 offer at The Works. If you plan to take a stash of books on holidays with you, that's a pretty good offer.

We just came back from a week in Cornwall. I left my copy of A Secret Cornish Summer on the book shelf for someone else to enjoy. That's my own little tradition, to leave books read on holidays for someone else to discover them.

I'll end this review with a description of Penzance that makes me all nostalgic about Cornwall.

"Iris and Levan had bagged a table with a parasol on the front of the terrace, from where they could admire the great sweep of Mount's Bay. The panorama from Lizard, almost to Land's End, was spectacular enough; add in the fairy tale castle of St Michael's Mount and there could be few better views in England".

Amen to that!

Turning the World to Stone: The Life of Caterina Sforza Part One 1472-1488 by Kelly Evans

 

"I'm no man's pawn. And anyone who cares to challenge my position from now on will find themselves dealing with a Sforza".

Blurb:

Vilified by history, Caterina Sforza learned early that her life was not her own. Married at age ten, she was a pawn in the ever-changing political environment of Renaissance Italy.

Resigned to her life as a fifteenth-century wife, Caterina adapted to the role she was expected to play: raising and educating her children, helping the poor in her new home, and turning a blind eye to her husband's increasingly shameful behaviour. But Fate had other plans for her, and soon Caterina's path would be plagued by murder, betrayal, and heartbreak.

"Could I write all, the world would turn to stone"

Caterina Sforza is credited with having confided to a monk during the later years of her life, "Se io potessi scrivere tutto, farie stupire il mondo", which translates as "If I could write everything that happened, I would shock the world".

Her life story still has the power to appal and repel in equal measure.

Turning the World to Stone: The Life of Caterina Sforza Part One 1472-1488 by Kelly Evans is an enthralling historical novel set in the Renaissance Italy. It paints a rich picture of the Italian Renaissance Courts of Milan, Rome, Imola and Forli, as well as multifarious deeds of the higher echelons of power.

The political, social and economic machinations of the Italian Renaissance courts are brought vividly to light.

When we first meet Caterina, she is but a child of ten, playing with a ball. She hides under the table, and inadvertently listens to the conversation between her father, Galeazzo Sforza, and her stepmother, Bona of Savoy. The Pope's nephew Girolamo Riario is visiting Milan, hoping to wed Caterina's 11-year-old cousin, but her parents don't want the marriage to take place. Caterina is offered by her father as a substitute. He knows well, what awaits his innocent child. The future husband-to-be insists on consummating marriage there and then. This legitimised rape is blessed by the church and her family, so as to gain new political influence and money thanks to strenghtened relations with the Pope.

Caterina stays in Milan until she is fourteen, being instructed by Bona how to be a perfect wife. Bona teaches her stepdaughter the lore of herbal medicine. This is the passion two women share.

Caterina also enjoys learning sword fighting. "Descended from a long line of condottieri, elite mercenary captains who served Popes and kings alike, Caterina was as encouraged as her male siblings to learn to protect herself with both sword and dagger".

When it's time to leave Milan, Caterina is sad. "Her new life was a blank page waiting to be filled, and her stomach lurched at the thought of entering that unknown without the support of her family".

Being married to the Pope's nephiew, she is plunged straight into the centre of politics. 

"Money. All the world's woes seemed to come down to money. Who had it, who didn't, and who wanted more and more... When she had dreamed of adult life as a child, never had Caterina imagined the confusing and ever-changing tangle of families and loyalties she had encountered so far in this city. And here she was at the centre of it".

Riario is extremely greedy, unscrupulous and merciless towards anyone standing in his path. He has no redeeming qualities, yet Caterina is loyal to him. She has to, in order to survive. When children come, one after another, she acquires a new purpose in life.

"But what choice did any woman have? She could decide to disobey and fight with him and risk repudiation, or act the part of a supportive wife for the sake of her children and herself."

Caterina has to fight for her family, since her husband has acquired too many enemies. She knows that Girolamo is not a man who would defend his family and wants to ensure her children and their future is protected. 

"Caterina had realised that she thought more strategically than most men. She was learning from their mistakes, so many to choose from, and she was an eager student".

From a passive spouse, accepting her husband's shameful behaviour, Caterina grows into a woman who builds her own destiny. As the saying goes, it you live among the wolves, you have to act like a wolf.

Under the meek god-fearing exterior, there is an interior of steel. The world will be shocked indeed.

This is a sympathetic portrait of young Caterina Sforza, before she would become a figure of hate. It's difficult to sympathise with someone who is known to be an unhinged psycopath in her later life (one of her crimes: killing not just the male conspirators who assassinated her husbands, but their pregnant wives and little children). 

Coming from a family of sadistic rulers and fratricides, she is married at a tender age of ten to a repugnant, totally immoral man, and becomes part of another horrid family. It's impossible to survive unless you become one of them.

This account provides some understanding of how she would become so detestable, from being a child bride and living through the assassination of her father, constant conspiracies surrounding the courts of Milan and Rome, further murders in her family, persistent fear for her children and herself, eternal wars for power and land.

Turning the World to Stone is a thought-provoking, thoroughly engrossing read, a sweeping tale of fate, obsession and ambitions, and one woman's resolve to rule her own destiny.

Potential triggers: rape, murder, torture.

P.S. Though it does not interfere with the story, the portrait attribution on the cover design is not correct. This is not a portrait of Caterina Sforza, but of Simonetta Vespucci (by Botticelli). The portrait below is a presumed portrait of Caterina by Lorenzo di Credi.

Purchase Link - https://mybook.to/Caterina

Author Bio –

Born in Canada of Scottish extraction, Kelly Evans graduated in History and English then moved to England where she worked in the financial sector. While in London Kelly continued her studies in history, concentrating on Medieval History, and travelled extensively through Eastern and Western Europe.

 

Kelly is now back in Canada with her husband Max and a rescue cat. She writes full-time, focussing on illuminating little-known women in history with fascinating stories. When not working on her novels, Kelly writes Described Video scripts for visually impaired individuals, plays oboe, and enjoys old sci-fi movies.

 

Social Media Links –

Website: https://www.kellyaevans.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChaucerBabe

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kellyevansauthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellyevansauthor/

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Kelly-Evans/author/B0187JGTOQ

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14335541.Kelly_Evans

 

The Piper's Children by Iain Henn

 

"And then he remembered. Fragmented images resurfacing, coming together. Something his mind had been blocking. He gasped at the memory, icy shivers radiating up his spine. 

Der Rattenfänger."

"Someone out there is playing mind games. Testing us."

"Okay. But who?"

"Someone who is far more dangerous than we thought".

The Piper's Children by Iain Henn is a riveting, suspensful mystery. This standalone thriller is the first book in an exciting new series about a special FBI unit, focused on seemingly unsolvable crimes.

Blurb:

A baffling mystery sets an FBI agent on a dangerous path...

Park rangers are puzzled when a child is found wandering alone in the middle of a forest near Seattle.

Stranger still, he speaks a peculiar language that sounds a little like German, and is dressed in clothes people wore in the Middle Ages.

With no one having reported him missing, FBI Special Agent Will McCord assembles a dedicated unit to investigate the case, placing Detective Ilona Farris at its head.

Their relationship is edgy. They used to be an item. But McCord knows Farris is the best person for the job. Especially when more children turn up in similar circumstances.

Farris isn't convinced that she is in fact the right person. Memories of a traumatic incident in her own childhood begin to emerge, and threaten to cloud her judgement.

Can she bury her demons and solve the mystery of these children, seemingly lost in time?

Ilona Ferris is an FBI agent, following in the footsteps of her late father. One morning she is jolted awake by the shrill ring of her phone. She is needed as early as possible in an unusual case, where her expertise could be used. The chopper is taking her from Seattle to Poulsbo.

The person calling her is her ex, FBI Special Agent Will McCord "Ambitious and impatient. Pushy. A special agent when we'd been together and now an SSA". They parted two years earlier, and not on good terms. Ilona is apprehensive, the sound of Will's voice brings back some unpleasant memories.

When Ilona arrives to Poulsbo, she finds out that the "agency received a call from the local sheriff. Park rangers found a kid lost in the forest yesterday, dressed like something out of the Middle Ages and speaking German. The local chief contacted head office for assistance, requesting linguists and child handlers".

The analyst and translator from the Linguist Division Marcia Kendall believes the boy is speaking Middle High German, a variant spoken for two hundred years during the Middle Ages, around 1050 to 1350.

Marcia learned that the boy is named Dietmar, he is ten years old, and was with other children, in a cave. According to the interpreter, Dietmar comes from Hameln in North Germany, where the story of the Pied Piper originates from. He says the other children and he were following an evil man playing a pipe.

Dietmar wants to go home. Who is this child, and where is his home? Nobody has reported him missing.

McCord assembles a new unit to tackle this case, and any other seemingly baffling cases.

Ilona wonders why she's been invited to the new unit. Will explains that she has a track record that fits the profile. Apparently, the big boys have had their eyes on her for a while

"The concept is to identify, early on, those cases likely to fit the long-term, difficult to solve, risk-of-becoming-high-profile cases. We'd assign the special unit to act before any of that develops".

The unusual case has made it into the media almost immediately. There's the danger of it being sensationalized by the media, and the community is most likely going to panic. The answers to the mystery are needed to be obtained fast.

Ilona appreciates that part of the reason she was brought in is that she understood childhood trauma, being kidnapped at the age of 14 and held hostage, and emerging from her ordeal a different girl from the one she'd been before. Yet she is wondering if she is in fact the right person for the job, as her past might in fact leave her unable to process the facts.

As the investigation progresses, the case acquires a more sinister aspect. Ilona and Will have to move fast to solve the mystery of the evil Piper.

The Piper's Children is an atmosperic, gripping tale. A genuine page-turner, with a propulsive plot and complex characters.

The twists and turns are deftly plotted. The premises for the intriguing mystery, using the legend of the Pied Piper, was absolutely fantastic, yet the solution didn't quite work for me, and I have more questions which I cannot discuss here as not to give any spoilers.

The elements of the folk story, and the historical research, are skilfully interwoven with the modern day investigation. 

Iain Henn has launched an intriguing mystery series. Can't wait for the next book in the series!

This post is part of the blog tour for The Piper's Children. Many thanks to Iain Henn and Polly from The Book Folks for my e-copy of the book!

Purchasing links:

https://geni.us/ppBS

UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0C5XNK6W8

US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/ B0C5XNK6W8

CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0C5XNK6W8

AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0C5XNK6W8

Author bio:

Born in Sydney, Australia, Iain worked for many years in print media production

for newspapers, magazines, and direct marketing agencies, and as a writer for

small business websites.

He has written fiction from a young age. Somewhere in his house, there is still a

framed copy of his first published story, a ‘5-minute fiction’ tale in Woman’s Day.

Since then, he has never looked back, having short stories published in various

magazines worldwide, and now his suspenseful thrillers and mysteries.

Commenting on what influenced his writing journey, he describes a moment that

has stayed with him. On his first day in his first job, as a teenage messenger

boy, he left the office via a back exit into a narrow alleyway where he saw the

body of a man crumpled on the ground. He had just jumped out of a window

from the neighbouring building. The paramedics were already approaching.

When Iain returned an hour or so later, the body and the surrounding activity

were gone, there was just a chalk outline on the ground where the body had

been. Ever since he has wondered who that man was, what led him to suicide,

and what his future might have been had he lived. Decades later, that chalk

outline is often on the writer’s mind when telling the stories of his characters’

lives.

Authors who have inspired Iain include Daphne Du Maurier, Ken Follett, Michael

Crichton, Tess Gerritsen, Michael Robotham, and Harlen Coben. He lives on the

New South Wales coast with his wife.

Social Media links

Website: https://thebookfolks.com

Insta: @the_book_folks

Twitter: @thebookfolks

Facebook: http://facebook.com/thebookfolks

Blog: https://thebookfolks.com/blog/

Iain Henn Twitter: @IainHenn

Iain Henn Insta: @iainhennauthor

Picnic & On the Go 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 the Picnic & On the Go Degustabox box?

Forest Feast Salt & Vinegar Nut Mix (£1.25) is a tasty snack. It's a mix of Colossal Cashews, Almonds, Peanuts, Pecans and Jumbo Pumpkin seeds, all slow roasted with hand-harvested sea salt and cider vinegar. Lovely as part of the buffet or picnic spread, or with a glass of aperitif.

Nutritional values: 557kcal and 21g of protein per 100g (the pack is 40g). Gluten free, vegan.

Available from Sainsbury's, Amazon and Costco.

Nakd Peanut Butter Protein Bar and Cocoa Hazelnut Protein Bar (£1.25 each, see above) are plant-based protein bars, made with 100% natural ingredients. Pop one or two in your backpack for long walks to keep you going.

No added sugar, raw cold pressed, gluten free, dairy free, vegan, they contain 7g of protein.

Nutritional values: 200/190kcal and 17.7/11.3g of sugar (peanut butter/cocoa hazelnut).

Available in all major supermarket chains.

You should receive two items in your box.

Hellmann's Real Caesar Dressing/ Real Garlic & Herb Dressing/ Fat Free Vinaigrette/ Real Tousand Island Dressing or Real Honey & Mustard Dressing (£2.60): jazz up a summer salad or picnic spread (burgers, sandwiches) with a range of Hellmann's dressings.

You should receive 1 item in your box. We got Real Garlic & Herb Dressing. Made with real garlic and herbs, it also includes such ingredients as rapeseed oil, yoghurt, spirit vinegar, sour cream, egg yolk, lemon juice and more.

As summer is a season of salads, this dressing can be used in a variety of salads, from vegetarian to fish and meat-based. Very nice in a potato salad, made with baby potatoes, spring onions and/or fresh dill, thinly sliced radishes and hard boiled eggs.

Nutritional values: 32kcal and 0.7g of sugar per portion. No artificial colours or flavours. Vegetarian.

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

Olly's Garlic & Basil Olives (£1.50, see above) are delicious green olives. These juicy Greek olives come in a garlic and basil dressing. 

Olives don't last long in our house, and Olly's Olives are always welcome.

Nutritional values: At only 75kcal per pouch, they are a good source of fibre. Vegan.

Available at Sainsbury's, Co-Op, Boots and on Amazon, Olly's Shop.

Ryvita Rosemary & Sea Salt Ryvita Thins or Multi-Seed Ryvita Thins (£2.20) are great for a buffet lunch, with lots of dips and salsa. 

You should receive one item in your box. Ours was Rosemary & Sea Salt flavour.

Crunchy and flavourful, the thins are also delicious with a soft cream cheese (try them with Paysan Breton cream cheese and pickled jalapenos, sooo good).

Typical values: 29kcal and 0.12g of salt per 7g slice. They are high in fibre and contain no artificial preservatives.

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

Manomasa Tortilla Chips Manchego & Green Olive and Serrano Chilli & Yucatan Honey (£1 each) are endorsed as tortillas with spirit, and I totally agree with this motto.

These two popular Latin flavours will be a big hit at any picnic.

Manomasa tortilla chips are good to grip and built to dip. They are smooth, with a flaked texture - add them to a traditional tapas spread to munch on their own or with a creamy dip.

Nutritional values: 194kcal and 1g of sugar per Serrano Chilli & Yucatan Honey pack; 189kcal and 2.2g of sugar per Manchego & Green Olive pack.

You should receive two items in your box.

Available at Sainsbury's, Waitrose, Morrisons, Co-Op and on Ocado.

SKITTLES Desserts and Squishy Cloudz Fruits or Squishy Cloudz Crazy Sours (£1.25) are a summery sweet treat. Whether you crave the sweet and creamy, or soft and juicy, you will enjoy the rainbow of colours and flavours.

Nutritional values: 100kcal and 17g of sugar per portion size (31g)

You should receive two items in your box.

Available at all major supermarkets. 

Smint XXL Peppermint Tin (£1.50) will give you a powerful and long-lasting freshness. These sugarfree mints are three times bigger than regular Smints.

Convenient to carry in the pocket or keep in the car.

Available in all major supermarket chains.

Two Brooks Craft Hard Setlzer Passion Star or Mango Hi-Ball (£2) is a range of alcoholic sparkling water.

Founded by three siblings, Two Brooks are refreshing crisp craft drinks. They are fab as they are, or used as a mixer.

You should receive 1 item in your box. We got Mango Hi-Ball, a sparkling water with alcohol (doesn't specify what kind of alcohol) and a twist of natural mango.

Nutritional values: 74kcal, gluten free, vegan friendly, natural ingredients.

Available on Amazon and twobrooks.co.uk.

Rio Tropical (£0.85, see above) is a mix of exotic fruit - orange, guava, apricot, mango and passion fruit - in sparkling water. 

A source of vitamin C, it's made with real fruit and juice.

At 62kcal per portion, drink it on its own, or add a dash of your favourite rum.

Available on Amazon and at local independent stores.

And finally, Cawston Press Sparkling Rhubarb or Elderflower Lemonade (£3.50) are delightful summery drinks.

You will receive 1 item of two in your box. We got Sparkling Rhubarb - it is sharp, sweet and very refreshing. Made with pressed rhubarb, apples and sparkling water. No added sugar, sweeteners, artificial colours or preservatives.

Also available in 330ml cans.

Bottles are available on Ocado, Amazon and cawstonpress.com, while cans are available in all major supermarkets.

That is another corker from Degustabox! What is your favourite product from the latest box?

A Kind of Spark by Ellie McNicoll

"When my hands are restless and I need to stim, I now imagine that they contain magic. That the twitchy feeling is just fire trying to get out. If I spread my fingers and blast my palm, a shot of magic will fly out. Enough to show all those who belittle and mock that there is a kind of power they will never touch".

A Kind of Spark by Ellie McNicoll is a middle grade story with an engaging heroine.

Blurb:

Addie knows exactly who she is. Addie knows that sharks are more interesting than dolphins, she knows her favourite words in the thesaurus, and she knows that her older sisters are opposites.

And when Addie learns about the witch trials that happened in her hometown, she knows there is more to the story of these "witches", just like there is more to her. As Addie tries to get her small town to make a memorial for the "witches", can she challenge the way they see her?

Addie lives with her parents and older twin sisters Keedie and Nina in a small town named Juniper. Eleven-years-old Addie is autistic, and so is one of her older sisters, Keedie, who goes to the university. Nina stays at home and lives a pretend life as an influencer.

There is a special bond between Addie and Keedie, as they understand each other's behaviours and issues. 

Addie's friend from primary school Jenna doesn't want to be friends any longer, and gangs up with a nasty bully Emily to taunt Addie. 

Miss Murphy is a teacher from hell, who has no understanding of Abbie's condition. She's so awful that she's bordering on the caricature.

On the lead up to Hallowe'en the class is studying the topic of witches and witch-hunting. It so happens, that some of the women tried for witchcraft came from their village. 

Addie is feeling angry and upset. "The unfairness of it sits in my stomach like a stone. I imagine women being frightened and alone as they are thrown into the cold water..."

She escapes to the library, her safe place, to find as much as possible about the witch trials in Scotland. A new girl in her class, Audrey, offers her help with the research.

Addie comes up with a plan to create a memorial for all those wronged women. She attends the Juniper village committee meeting to propose a memorial - "a plaque or a statue that commemorates the people that were unjustely sentenced to death". The idea is not met with enthusiasm, as it might tarnish the reputation of the village. Undeterred, Addie doesn't give up, she plans to raise the same issue at the next meeting and keep campaigning around the village.

School life becomes unbearable with the bullying by both the students and Miss Murphy. 

In the meantime, Keedie is having a tough time at the university and experiencing a burnout.

How can Addie help her sister, and make the villagers support her idea of the memorial for the wronged women?

A Kind of Spark was the winner of the Waterstones Best Book for Younger Readers and Overall Winner in 2021, and winner of The Blue Peter Prize for Best Story 2021.

I wanted to love this book, I truly did, but its kind of spark didn't quite put its magic spell on me.

The target audience is possibly lower middle grade, with a very simple language and a lot of explanations of easy words like "acute" or "a curse". I do enjoy reading middle grade/YA fiction, and it just didn't click. I think it might be the cutesy tone that slightly put me off.

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Positive elements: an image of a girl on the spectrum (there are quite a few fictional accounts of boys with autism). Both Addie and Keedie are autistic, they present different grades of the spectrum, with Keedie being able to pass as a neuro-typical in her later years (and finding it very strenuous). 

Addie insists on being called autistic, rather than having autism. But that is Addie. Reading extensively on different forums and social media, many people on the spectrum prefer to be called people with/having autism rather than autistic.

It is important to have books with diverse characters. Learning empathy and standing up against bullying are some of the messages of this book. And most important, being yourself, not trying to mask and being something else which is alien to you.

Addie speaks with a humourless directness, which is endearing and refreshing. Her inability to read social cues makes her awkward and makes her rely on the formalistic rules of behaviour. But empathy is her forte. Reading about the witches, she is able to sympathise with their ordeal and suffer emotional and even physical pain.

This story is a source of behavioural signs and signals of autism that neuro typical people might not be aware of. Ultimately better understanding of the condition might lead to a more universal acceptance. Addie talks of how difficult it is sometimes to cope with everyday stimuli, "Loud noises make my head spin, they feel like a drill against a sensitive nerve".  "Stimming is something I do when I'm overwhelmed. My hands fizz and flap, my limbs become restless... There could be good stimming, there can be bad stimming, but a lot of time I have to hide it".

Children should be aware of what neuro diverse behaviours are in order to understand, empathise and not bully.

For example, while queuing in the cafe last week I observed the following scene. My husband was sitting at one of the tables with our son who's severely autistic (non verbal and easily agitated). A family arrived with three primary school kids, who sat at the table further away. The children were screeching at the top of their voices, and our son started to make distressing sounds. One of the boys saw him, laughed and started copying the sounds in a mocking way. The mother spotted that, left the queue, came up to him and whispered something, thankfully he stopped his taunting. 

Negative: Addie's inner thoughts are often overly didactic. Not sure, if this is intentional, as part of her autistic personality, or inadvertent.

An abundance of ignorant class mates and insensitive unsympathetic adults who are cruel towards the neuro-diverse characters is irrational. Nasty Emily, Addie's class mate, is a poster girl for ableism. Jenna is not much better.

Ms Murphy might not be in the same category as tyrannical Miss Trunchbull from Matilda, but she is getting there. Would a modern day teacher behave like this? ripping a student's work apart in class and mocking their disability?! 

I don't deny that there are ghastly people who should never be allowed to work with vulnerable children. Our son has had some encounters with horrible people in the past, but that was dealt with. Overall, he has been supported and cared for in all school settings by people who genuinely love their job and students. 

Finally, I wasn't keen on the parallel of "othering" people with autism in modern times with those unfortunates who were accused of witchcraft centuries earlier. It didn't work for me as a plot device. 

It's over-simplistic to explain the witch hunt by fear of otherness. There were many factors, from political to social reasons (for example, widowed or single women as a financial burden for the community), greed, women's sexuality (which is not a topic for the children's book) and many more. 

Books like A Kind of Spark spread the message, give an insight and teach compassion and kindness.

The Daughter of Paradiso by Francesca Scanacapra

 

"As we approached Paradiso, Lucia slowed and waited for me. I pulled up beside her. She turned to me and grinned, "I love it here, Mamma." Those were the most wonderful words my daughter could have said".

The Daughter of Paradiso by Francesca Scanacarpa is a moving and poignant historical novel, set in Italy, 1963.

This is the third book in the Paradiso series. It can be read as a standalone (I have read the first book and absolutely loved it, and still need to catch up on the second book).

Blurb:

Italy, 1963. Graziella Bianchi returns to Paradiso, barely able to believe she has been gifted her childhood home by an old friend.

The beautiful house has fallen into a state of disrepair, but Graziella is determined to restore it to its former glory.

Although one dream has come true, life is far from perfect. She and her daughter, Lucia, are nearly penniless and the pair are on the run from Graziella's violent husband.

With divorce not yet legal and the law still giving husbands ultimate control over their wives, Graziella must fight not only to gain her independence, but also to keep her daughter.

The villagers of Pieve Santa Clara, with their long and loyal memories, step in, and gradually a good life becomes a possibility for Graziella and Lucia.

But when her estranged husband turns up, drunk and angry, everything Graziella has worked so hard for is under threat.

Graziella Bianchi flees from her abusive husband to her childhood home in the village of Pieve Santa Clara. When she arrives to Paradiso, Graziella and her daughter Lucia believe it's the beginning of their new life. 

The old house looks forlorn and neglected after being uninhabited for several years, yet the problems appear to be superficial and fixable. The house itself is an unexpected gift from Gianfrancesco Marchesini, Graziella's first love.

Her husband Gino is the epitome of the male-centred entitlement. He is a total waste of space.

While rebuilding her life in her old childhood home, Graziella is struggling. Money worries, endless house repairs, need to find a job, and there is always a threat that Gino will find them in Paradiso.

At the centre of this story is Paradiso. This old farm acquires a personality of its own, and becomes a living, breathing entity. It is a metaphor of love and hope, and a promise of stable life.

I loved all the descriptions of the old farms, the landscapes around the village, food cooked by the locals. The book's strength lies in the evocative portrayal of the old village, and everyday lives of the the villagers, with a cast of wonderful supporting characters, like Rita, a childhood friend and distant relative of Graziella, and Aurelia Grassi, the retired seamstress who loves her cat Alfonsina like her own child.

There is a colourful cast of secondary characters, who leave a lasting impression, like the Barcia sisters running the bakery, or the handsome and admirably progressive priest, Don Vincenzo, who cares for his parishioners and parish.

The elderly Pozzetti, Nonna Santina and Nonno Romolo, will hold a special place in the story. Their antique farm is described so vividly, you feel like you've visited it yourself, and sampled the delicious homemade wine brewed by Santina. The tale of how the Pozzetti couple got married is original, and moving. Told in simple words by Santina herself, it is an unsentimental tale.

Francesca is a master storyteller. Her book is a portrait of the social history of the early 1960s in Italy.

The village itself is a mixed entity. There is a sense of community, and most villagers accept Graziella back in their ranks and try to help her. 

"These wonderful people were all my family, even those to whom I was not related by blood or marriage. I loved them all for the mayhem, joy and kindness they brought into my life and for how each of them, in their own unique way, was raising my daughter with me. Paradiso was not just where I belonged; it was where Lucia belonged too".

Yet far from everyone is understanding and supporting, there are enough people whose outlook is often quite parochial and judgmental as well. A woman who has left her husband, even if he is abusive, is judged according to the standards of the patriarchal society. 

There are slow-moving changes observed in attitudes towards women, education, church. It is 1963, but the society is still very much patriarchal, where women are second class citizens. The institution of divorce in Italy was not introduced until 1970, while abortion became legal in 1978.

Some of the injustices of the system, punishing women for daring to claim some kind of freedom from men, will make your blood boil.

Women are not in control of their own bodies. Contraception is only allowed to married women, and only with the permission from their husband. Women's bodies belong to their husbands. A married woman is expected to have babies, whether she wants them or not. Abortion was a criminal offence, for which a woman could be impirsoned. A person helping her, as an accessory, ran an equal risk.

The scene of abortion is harrowing and heart-rending. A woman, putting her life in peril because she has no control. "How dismayed I was by the lack of control that we, as women, were afforded over our own biology".

The Daughter of Paradiso is a beautiful, thought-provoking read. First-rate historical fiction, rich in atmosphere and authentic characters.

This is the third book by Francesca that I've read, she is one of my top favourite authors. Her stories are always spellbinding.

Potential triggers: domestic violence/abuse, a scene of an abortion at home.

Many thanks to Francesca Scanacapra, Silvertail Books and Rachel's Random Resources for my copy of the book!

Purchase Links

https://mybook.to/DaughterofParadiso

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Daughter-Paradiso-Absolutely-beautiful-historical-ebook/dp/B0BWS6S5G6

Author Bio –

Francesca Scanacapra was born in Italy to an English mother and Italian father, and her childhood was spent living between England and Italy. Her adult life has been somewhat nomadic with periods spent living in Italy, England, France, Senegal and Spain. She describes herself as 'unconventional' and has pursued an eclectic mixture of career paths – from working in translation, the fitness industry, education and even several years as a builder. In 2021 she returned to her native country and back to her earliest roots to pursue her writing career full time. Francesca now resides permanently in rural Lombardy in the house built by her great-grandfather which was the inspiration for the Paradiso Novels. The Daughter of Paradiso is the third of the Paradiso Novels, following Paradiso and Return to Paradiso. The Lost Boy of Bologna, was also published by Silvertail Books.

Social Media Links –

Twitter https://twitter.com/FrancescaScana2

Insta @francescascana2

The Cheesemaker's House by Jane Cable

 

The Cheesemaker's House by Jane Cable is a modern day romance with a lavish sprinkling of a paranormal/ghost story.

When Alice Hart discovers her husband had an affair with his secretary, she decides to leave Reading and move to their cottage in Great Fencote, Yorkshire. She brings her spaniel William with her. 

"All I wanted to do was run away. My friends told me I was nuts to cut myself off from them and hide at the other end of the country, but to be honest I was frightened I might need them too much".

Alice's new abode is not as quiet as expected. Through the night she can hear sad eerie crying in the vicinity, but cannot pinpoint where it comes from exactly.

She meets Owen Maltby in the local cafe, and they soon become friends. Owen is a trained pharmacist, who currently works in the cafe.

The old cottage needs a lot of work, and there's the old barn that would make a holiday let after being converted. Owen suggests the name of the local builder to help with the project. 

Richard is single, dark and handsome, and way too overfamiliar. Alice doesn't seem to mind his carefree attitude.

It's not Richard she is drawn to. Owen is an enigma. He is intelligent, thoughtful, religious and quite unusual. Some of the locals call him a weirdo, yet many seek his counsel. It so happens, Owen is a charmer, or a white witch, and people go to him for cures. His gift has been passed down to him by his late grandmother.

 Strange things continue to happen in Great Fencote. Alice is startled to encounter Owen in the most unusual places, which unsettles her.

"Who, or what, have I seen on the village green a total of three times now? The thought it might be a what occurred to me at about three in the morning, but in the bright light of day I remember that I don't believe in ghosts". The facts just don't make sense. 

Alice is finding it hard to accept there are things happending around her that she doesn't understand. "I am not a great believer in the paranormal, but a disappearing Owen and untraceable tears definitely come in that category - if only by definition."

Alice's cottage, The Cheesemaker's House, has secrets of its own. It harbours the tragic past, which threatens to spill over into the present and ruin Alice's chances of a new love.

Could Alice, Owen and Richard discover the painful secrets of the old cottage and lay its ghosts to rest?  

The Cheesemaker's House is an evocative and haunting romance, with time-slip components. It will appeal to the fans of Kate Ryder and Barbara Erskine.

The Cheesemaker's House is a slow-paced and atmospheric narrative. There is a strong supernatural element to the story, but it's not a jump-scare-horror, more of a chilling mystery, melancholic and heartbreaking. The present narrative moves seamlessly into the past, which echoes down through the ages.

Owen's character is a strange mix of contradicting attributes. He is a kind, caring healer, who gives comfort to the dying, without a thought about the cost to his own health, both physical and mental. He is also socially awkward, quirky and difficult. Some of his actions/behaviours made me think that he might be neuro-diverse.

I have enjoyed Jane Cable's books in the past (The Faerie Tree and The Forgotten Maid), and love her romance stories with the elements of supernatural and mystical. There is an ongoing theme of love and loss and of how fragile we are.

Purchase Links

Amazon: amzn.to/3l68jxq

Apple: https://apple.co/3laPr0h

BBQ and Garden Party 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 the BBQ and Garden Party Degustabox box?

Rubicon Sparkling Rose Lemonade/Sparkling Passion Fruit (£1) are made with real fruit juice. Zingy refreshing drinks with summer flavours are great for a picnic, BBQ or garden party.

Rose lemonade is an inspired blend of zesty lemon and a sweet floral rose extract, while Passion Fruit is a well-balanced combination of sweet and tart.

Nutritional values: 20kcal and 4.5g of sugar per 100ml, suitable for vegans.

You should receive 2 items in your box.

Available: Rubicon Passion at ASDA, Tesco, Morrisons and Co-Op and Rose Lemonade at independent retailers.

Highball Cocktails Italian Spritz (£1.99) is a hand crafted 0% Highball Spritz with Italian bitters and orange. 

If you enjoy the classic Aperol Spritz, get a taste of summer with this sophisticated alcohol free drink. It's deliciously light, and will make you think of leisurely evenings in Venice. A perfect balance of sweet and bitter, this drink will add a touch of glamour to any party.

Nutritional values: 31kcal and 7g of sugar per 100ml.

Available on www.highballcocktails.com, Amazon, Not on the High Street, Yumbles and independent shops.

No garden party should go without a selection of snacks.

HIPPEAS Chickpea Snacks Chickpea Puffs Salt & Vinegar Vibes (£1) are a tasty light snack with lots of flavour. 

Vegan, gluten free,high in fibre, they contain plant protein and no MSG, artificial preservatives or palm oil. 

Nutritional values: 92kcal and 0.25g of salt per 22g serving.

Available at Tesco, Holland & Barrett, Waitrose, Sainsbury's, on Amazon, Ocado and uk.hippeas.com.

Olly's Salted Original Pretzel Thins (£1.20) are another family favorite. These signature oven-baked snacks are light, crispy and healthier than standard crisps. 

Lovely on their own with a glass of cold beer, or used as a perfect scoop for salsa or guacamole.

Nutritional values: 117kcal and 0.5g of salt per 35g pack. Packaging is 100% recyclable..

Available at Waitrose, ASDA, on Ocado, Amazon and Olly's Shop.

CLIF Bar CLIF Bar Minis (£1.19 each) are a lovely wholesome snack on the go, with 4g plant-based protein. Offering you an energy boost when you need it.

Crunchy Peanut Butter is an oat and peanut bar- 111 kcal in a 28g portion.

White Chocolate Macadamia Nut is 109 kcal, and Chocolate Chip is 108kcal per mini bar.

Available at Tesco, sports retail outlets and on Amazon.

You should receive three items in your box.

MENTOS Fanta 4pk multipack (£1.50) is a playful match of two classic brands - Mentos and Fanta. Mentos chewy dragees are our snack of choice for the longer car trips, but of course, you can munch on them any time of the day.

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

Nutriitonal values: 10kcal per one 2.7g candy.

Available in all major supermarket chains.

Jordan's Crunchy Oat Granola Raisin & Almond/ Tropical Fruits/ Simply Granola (£3.60) makes a delicious and nutritious breakfast. Baked with care, this crunchy granola is combined with juicy fruits and nuts. 

If you don't fancy granola for breakfast, use your pack for adding extra crunch to an apple crumble.

You will receive one unit in your box. We've got Crunchy Oat Granola Raisin & Almond, made with wholegrain oats that have been honey-baked. 

A good source of fibre and minerals.

Nutritional information: 188kcal and 9.6g of sugar per 45g portion.

Available in all major supermarekt chains.

Flava It! Smokey BBQ and Piri Piri (£1.10 each) are marinade seasonings to add lots of flavour to family/party meals. This seasoning marinade brand has been loved and trusted for over 25 years.

A handy kitchen cupboard staple - simply sprinkle over your choice of meat, fish or/and vegetables for a meal full of flavour.

Smoky BBQ marinade seasoning  is a mix of spices such as smoked paprika, black pepper, dried red pepper dried garlic, dried onion etc.

Classic Piri Piri is a mix of paprika, cracked red chilli, cayenne, dried tomato, dried garlic, dried onion and more.

Available at Tesco, Morrisons, Home Bargains.

MAGGI Authentic Malaysian Chilli Sauce (£2.15 for 340g bottle) brings an authentic taste of Asian cuisine. Made in Malaysia, this is a pleasantly and slightly sweet hot sauce. 

It's a blend of chillies, tomatoes, vinegar and spices. Use as a dip or in cooking.

Nutritional information: 32kcal and 6.2g of sugar per serving.

Available in the major supermarket chains.

Hellmann's BBQ Sauce (£2) is a rich and smoky condiment that will enhance any variety of meat- or plant-based sausages or burgers. Also very nice with fried haloumi cheese.

Ingredients include tomato paste, molasses, Worcestershire sauce, malt vinegar, anchovies, spices and herbs and more.

Nutritional information: 21kcal and 3.9g of sugar per portion.

And finally, the product of the month - SlooOW Stone Oven Baguette White (£1.60). This is a partially baked bread product, made with the best and 100% natural igredients. 

The bread is given more than 24 hours to rise and then baked in a stone oven for the delicious crispy crust. 

Apologies for not showing the baked bread. I have served it with cheese, pickles and chutney, and it was gone before I remembered that I haven't taken the photo. It was so tasty.

Available at Tesco and Co-Op.

As you can see, this was another fab selection of tasty foods and drinks from Degustabox.