Olé, olé, olives!

These days we are more conscious about the origins of the foods we consume. Reading the stories of the products makes them more special. I have a soft spot for olives, and typically have a couple of jars in the pantry, as well as some plastic containers with olives in the fridge. Fragata offers a wide selection of Spanish olives and other Mediterranean products.
Fragata was founded in 1897 by Don Santiago Camacho Roman in Seville. Since then, Fragata has conquered the hearts and stomachs of the Spanish and has remained a family favourite for more than a hundred years. Their products are now sold across the world, and are widely available in the UK as well.

Olives are such a versatile ingredient in cooking, from snacks to soups, from salads to stews. Pick your preferred choice of olives and ready, steady, cook. A plain chicken and potato soup will be much improved by an addition of a handful of pitted green olives.

Pitted Green Olives are a staple food in Spain. They are eaten both in cold and hot tapas and are a great ingredient for many Mediterranean dishes, not just the Spanish cuisine. I am happy to dig in the cold jar of olives straight from the fridge.

They are lovely in easy and quick chicken dishes like this tomato and sweet pepper chicken recipe. Just pan fry mini chicken fillets in the olive oil, with the sliced sweet pepper, a few tomatoes, finely sliced garlic. Add one tin of chopped tomatoes or a jar of plain tomato and herb sauce, a good handful of olives, and cook on low until the chicken is done. Colourful and bursting with flavours, it is an easy dish for a midweek dinner.

Garlic stuffed olives are lovely on their own, and equally fab in cooking. I used them in a chicken bake, with the olive oil, carrots, celery, herbs and lemon zest. These juicy flavourful olives will enhance many a meat dish, and will work well in lots of salads.

Another suggestion for using green olives is to bake them in a focaccia (buy a focaccia bread mix, just follow the instructions, then add a good amount of olives on top, sprinkle with herbs like rosemary and thyme and bake). Absolutely delicious!

Fragata Pimiento Piquillo are sweet Spanish peppers. If you manage not to eat the whole lot straight from a jar, make a super-sandwich with cream cheese and pimiento piquillo.
I have mentioned these lush sweet peppers earlier in summer, when I posted a recipe for Mediterranean Salad.

I have seen on Fragata site that they suggest stuffing the peppers with prawns, cucumber and onions and roasting for an authentic Spanish tapas dish. Sounds very exciting, and I must try this recipe soon.

Anchovies are like Marmite, love them or hate them. While I enjoy eating anchovies, all my guys don't like them, and there is no convincing them in how tasty they are. I tried and failed.
Spanish olives stuffed with anchovies are Manzanilla olives, stuffed with anchovy puree. They make a lovely snack on their own. For a slightly more sophisticated twist you can also serve them drizzled with good olive oil and sprinkled with freshly grated lemon or orange zest.
If my family showed some enthusiasm, I would have added them to the homemade focaccia or ciabatta bread, or topped a pizza with. Alas, they don't share my passion for anchovies, so I eat them in salads made just for myself.

A simple bean salad makes a lovely lunch or dinner, just assemble the ingredients together, pour the dressing and enjoy. Just the other day I made a big plate of bean salad with 70g rocket leaves, one thinly sliced apple, a handful of baby tomatoes from our garden, a handful of olives stuffed with anchovies and dressing made of the olive oil and balsamic vinegar. Add some parmesan shavings on top. For a budget version, buy an economy supermarket own tin of mixed beans, and rinse it well.

Four products which I mentioned today are just a few of Fragata range of foods which is more varied (apart from a wide selection of olives you will find capers and pickled garlic).

For more Fragata news and recipe suggestions, visit Fragata on Facebook.

Disclosure: I received a selection of Fragata products for the purposes of reviewing. All opinions are mine.

Sudocrem goodie bag giveaway (c/d 26 September 2014)

Many parents with young children are familiar with Sudocrem. This brand creates skin care products suitable for the whole family, not just babies in nappies. Over a week ago Sudocrem Care & Protect has created an exciting new game online, and is asking people to take on the digital ready, steady, change challenge.
The challenge consists of 3 mini games. The user is encouraged to play a game under 50 seconds to enter a competition and be in with a chance of winning an ipad Air. You can also get money off coupons. If you enjoy entering competitions, visit Ready, Steady, Change Challenge of Facebook.

To coincide with the launch of this new challenge, lovely people at Sudocrem have offered 3 goodie bags for my blog readers.

Each Sudocrem goodie bag will include Sudocrem Care & Protect, Sudocrem Skin Care Cream, Sudocrem Moisturising Mousse and a cuddly moose toy.

For a chance to win please follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter widget below.
As usual, you have a choice of options to enter: by leaving a comment (this is the only mandatory step), following the brand on Twitter etc.


T&Cs:
Only the first step is mandatory: all you need to do is answer my question and leave a comment below. If you login as Anonymous, please leave your Twitter name or Facebook name so that I can find you if you win.

All the other steps are optional, you don't have to do them all. All it takes to win is just one entry.
Only one entry per person is allowed (however, you can tweet daily to increase your chances).
The giveaway is open to the UK residents only.
Once the Rafflecopter picks the winners, I will check if the winners have done what was requested. I will contact the winners, if they do not reply within 28 days, the prize will be allocated to another person.
Please don't forget to leave a comment, as it is the only mandatory step, I will make sure the winner selected by Rafflecopter has complied with T&Cs. 

The giveaway will close on 26 September 2014 (at midnight, the night from the 25th to the 26th)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Ben de Lisi Limited Edition Ryvita tin giveaway (c/d 29 September 2014)

What is your favourite Ryvita? Is it Fruit Crunch Crispbread or Mediterranean Herb? Pumpkin Seeds & Oats or Sweet Onion? And how do you keep your Ryvita crispy and crunchy? Do you have a special tin for your snacks?
I am very partial to tins, and have quite a collection, so I was very excited to read that Ryvita has teamed up with a renowned fashion designer Ben de Lisi to create a limited edition tin for the nation's favourite crispbread.

I am pleased to say that lovely people at Ryvita have kindly offered a prize for my blog readers. Now you have a chance to win a colourful modern art piece that will spruce up your kitchen! Ben de Lisi label is a synonym of chic and trendy, as this cheerful tin proves yet again.

Ben's bright and bold tin design reflects the exciting new changes occurring at Ryvita as the brand moves into a fresh and dynamic new era.
Ryvita and Ben de Lisi have teamed up to create this stylish new limited edition tin this autumn to celebrate the endless tasty combinations you can enjoy with Ryvita - anything goes!

One of my lucky blog readers will win an irresistible limited edition Ryvita tin that has been created by Ben.

For your chance to win this lovely tin, please answer the question and leave a comment below:
What renowned fashion designer has Ryvita teamed up with to create a limited edition tin?
- Matthew Williamson
- Ben de Lisi
- John Rocha

If you cannot wait to get your hands on your very own limited edition Ryvita tin (£7.49 including postage and packaging) please visit Ryvita tin shop page.

Terms & Conditions:
This giveaway is open to UK residents only.

All the names (who gave a correct answer) will go in the Raffleking widget, which will pick a winner's name.
The giveaway will end on the 29th of September at midnight.
If you login as Anonymous, please leave your Twitter name or Facebook name so that I have ways of contacting you if you're the winner.
I will contact the winner, if they don't reply in 28 days, the prize will be allocated to another person.
Good luck!

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Thank you all for your entries! All the names went to the Raffleking widget, and the winner is...
jacquelinec. Well done Jacqueline! Please let me know your full name & address details.

And watch this space for more giveaways, starting tomorrow, 1 October 2014, as I am celebrating my 4th blogversary this month.

Equip: a range of waterless hygiene products

Over four years ago I spent four long days in the hospital, giving birth to my younger son and recovering after a c-section. Washing oneself was out of question, I had to take a little cot on wheels with Eddie everywhere I went, even to the toilet. I understand the nurses are busy (well, most of the time, when they are not chatting idly and looking through you when you need them), and there was nobody to ask to look after my son if I wanted to have a quick shower. When my husband was able to visit (he was working, plus our older son needed looking after), I tried to at least have an uninterrupted meal in the evening and talked to him, trying to catch up on the news at home. I wish in those days I knew about Equip, a range of waterless hygiene products. It would have been very handy to use them in the hospital.

I have recently received a range of Equip products for testing and reviewing... I tested all of them, and here are the results.

I always carry with me a packet of baby wipes, for all kinds of accidents. Just recently, when we travelled to Cornwall by car, and my little man kept being sick, they were very handy, and I used half a packet for sure, to clean him and wipe the seat. Yet again, I wish I had a packet of Equip with us for a more durable sturdy cleansing product.


Equip Waterless Wash 24 oversized wipes are 30cm long wipes, for cleansing, moisturising and deorodrising. They are pretty big, and thus convenient for grown-ups to get cleaner faster. It contains a blend of coconut extract, aloe vera and Karanja nut for a soothing fresh feeling. They are mild and kind to skin, being dermatologically tested and PH balanced. The fragrance is mild, not overwhelming. In a way, it is like a small wet towel. I bet these wipes would be super handy in many situations where you cannot get access to a shower, like during camping, festivals or after sports.

Equip Waterless Wash 24 protective wipes are pre-moistened protective hygiene wipes, designed for your most intimate places. Specially formulated with Canadian Willow herb, which is known for its anti-itch properties, these wipes are perfect for cleansing, refreshing and protecting the skin. I can think of quite a few situations when you might need to use them, like when going to the dreaded smear test, and some other unpleasant invasive medical appointments, or again, camping etc, where washing facilities are limited.

Equip Waterless Wash Super-thick wash mitts are strong and durable. After using this product, you are feeling clean and refreshed. These super-thick mitts are spun-lace, they keep moisture well, and one mitt is enough to clean large areas.

All the wipes are really moist, the sealed packets prevent them from drying. And because they are bigger than standard baby wipes, you can clean yourself (or someone else) much faster. They are dermatologically tested, pH balanced, and formulated to be kind to skin.



I have also tried a waterless wash shampoo cap, which I confess I did with a slight hesitation. Though I have used dry shampoo like Batiste in the past, I am not very keen on it. I wear my hair pretty long, and it needs a good rinse. But I was brave and opened the sealed packed. It contained a wet shower cap, with a plastic outside layer and a very moist inside layer.

Instructions say: Place the cap on the head, covering all the hair and gently massage thoroughly for 2-3 minutes, as massaging activates the shampoo and conditioner.
First impressions? It feels quite odd to have a wet cap on the head, but it's not unpleasant. While you massage the shampoo in, the scalp feels refreshed. After working the solution through my hair, I used the towel to dry it. My hair, though washed, wasn't quite what I expected. Once it dried, it was quite dull-looking, and I felt it still needed a good rinse. I couldn't wait to wash my hair again, this time with water, the next day. I don't know if it is because my hair is long. I would like to know if someone else with shorter hair tried it, and if they liked it.

To be fair, I think it is a great concept, but it still needs working on. It might be a good idea to have two shower caps perhaps, one with shampoo/conditioner, another just like a giant wet wipe for "rinsing"?!

Apart from the shampoo cap which is not perfect, the range of wipes is excellent, and could be very handy during long trips, camping or a stay in the hospital.

Plum, sloe and vanilla jam

The Indian summer is here, and it's a perfect time for foraging. Wild berries and fruit are now out in abundance, and who doesn't like free food?! Sloes are quite ripe already, much earlier this year than usual. I know people tend to pick them after the first frosts for making sloe gin. But I am not a fan of gin. I know it is trendy nowadays, but in my mind it is forever associated with the Hogarth's Gin Lane. Sloes' main claim to fame is it use in sloe gin, but surely there are other ways of using this tart fruit with shiny dark blue skin. Walking yesterday into town, my son Eddie and I went through the fields near our house and I have picked a punnet of sloes.

Plum, sloe and vanilla jam (makes 4+ assorted jars)
Ingredients:
400g sloes
1200g plums
1400g sugar (I used 1kg of preserving sugar and 400g of granulated sugar)
4 Vanilla extract Spice Drops
a blob of butter.

Cover the sloes with water in a deep pan, bring to boil and cook for 15 minutes on low. Once the sloes are soft and mushy, remove the pan, let it cool a bit and strain through a sieve. Use a wooden spoon to push the sloes around the sieve to get as much juice as possible. I ended up with 350ml sloe juice.
If you like you jam smooth and skin-free, skip this stage altogether, and cook the plums and sloes together before straining them, so that the skins are left in the sieve. I prefer to have a bit of a bite in my plum jam, and love plum skins and pieces.
Place the stoned and quartered plums in the deep pan, pour the sloe liquid over the plums. Bring to boil. Lower the heat and simmer the plums for 15 minutes. Add all the sugar, stir on low heat until all sugar has dissolved. I used a mix of preserving and granulated sugar, by all means use whichever you prefer, just preserving or just granulated.
Bring to boil again, boil rapidly for 10 minutes, stirring regularly and skimming the scum (though it is a shame to call the pink sweet foam scum; in fact don't throw it, is is lovely on toast or in croissants). Add 4 Vanilla Extract Spice Drops if using (or a tbsp of vanilla essence).
 Turn off the heat, add a blob of butter.
Let it rest for 10 minutes before ladling into sterilised jars).

I used Vanilla Extract Spice Drops in this recipe. Spice Drops are a new range of concentrated extracts of natural spices. They are not alcohol based, but are very concentrated extracts of natural spices. You literally need just a few drops to enhance food and drink. I have recently received a couple of spices for testing and reviewing.


Adding my jam recipe to Four Seasons linky hosted by Delicieux and Eat Your Veg.

The Vegetable Palette on Allotment2Kitchen blog this month is everything Purple, so I am adding this recipe too.

Top foodie picks for September

As a foodie blogger and someone who's generally seeking new food products and experiences, I am forever on the lookout for new products. I am most likely a perfect target audience for many new brands, as my curiosity often makes me buy a product which I haven't seen before. Sometimes it is a lovely encounter, sometimes I wish I didn't bother. Some of the products have been on the market for a while but I only recently discovered them, so they are new to me. There is not enough time for me to do a separate review for each and every product I have tried recently, so I will do a list of foodie things worth mentioning.

It might be odd to start with a discontinued product, but I wanted to alert you while you still have a chance to try and find it before it disappears completely. Puerh Mandarin from Whittard of Chelsea is a superior tea. I don't know why they decided not to produce it any longer, I will definitely bemoan its demise and beg Whittard to reconsider. It is still available on offer in our local store, reduced to £3, and I bought several boxes, but obviously once they are gone, I won't be able to restock my supply.

Puerh tea has many health benefits. It has a distinct earthy taste and a strong smell. To put it kindly, it smells like old socks shrimp soup. Yet the addition of orange flavouring (you can actually see the pieces of peel in the teabag) has removed its fishy smell. I love the taste of this rich full-bodied tea. It is also an excellent aid to digestion, and is perfect after heavy meals. I also read that puerh tea is a great hangover cure, but cannot vouch for that (I don't drink enough to get a hangover). Please, Please, Whittard of Chelsea, could we have this tea back?!

Arla Lactofree a blend of lactose free butter and vegetable oil. Contains milk, not suitable for milk allergy sufferers  suitable for cooking, baking, frying and home freezing. I bought it earlier this summer, when I wanted to bake a batch of cupcakes for my son's nursery teacher. It is a good substitute for butter in baking. My cupcakes were well risen and moist. We also tried some in plain butter sandwiches, and my kids didn't notice the difference with their usual brand of butter spread.

Green garlic (I mean fresh bulbs not the scapes or garlic leaves) is very aromatic. My shopping bag had a lingering smell of garlic a few days after I bought it in Waitrose. Lovely in salads, and it's great roasted whole too, drizzled with the olive oil. I also cooked a stuffed chicken with it, by slicing in two halves horizontally and putting in the cavity.

New Muller De Luxe Corner/Irish Cream is a truly luxurious yogurt. Believe me, it is very-very naughty. Not only you get a smooth Irish cream yogurt with real alcohol, there is a layer of chocolate hidden below. And the corner compartment comes with cocoa dusted milk chocolate balls. It is very moreish.

At 186kcal, this is not exactly a diet food, but actually I'd rather start a dull day of fasting with a treat than a boring porridge which will come to 130-150kcal anyway. I might as well have an uber-healthy spinach salad later and save on calories then. Simply fabulous, this creamy dessert is pure indulgence in a plastic container. Big round of applause to Muller for creating such a scrumptious yogurt.

As a complete and total chocoholic, I cannot pass the chocolate aisle without studying what new treats have appeared. Our local Waitrose started selling a new brand of chocolate called Madecasse. How could I resist? It's all in the name of research, I tell myself. As a foodie blogger, I must try it. Sea Salt & Nibs looked especially enticing. I do love chocolate with sea salt, and have tried several different varieties. It is on offer at the moment for £1.99 per bar.

The chocolate bar from Madecasse (Madagascar chocolate) contains 63% dark chocolate, cocoa nibs and a touch of salt, promising fruity notes with a savoury crunch. This is not a kiddy chocolate bar, thanks goodness. It has a rather grown up taste. Sea salt works beautifully with dark chocolate, and the cocoa nibs add an interesting texture to the smooth chocolate. I also loved the design of the wrapper. Now I really need to try another variety. Just to compare, you know.

If you are a fan of chewy sweets like Percy Pigs, you might like a new range of sweets called Candy kittens. Again, we discovered them in Waitrose. There are several flavours available, and we picked soft pink Eton Mess, which is one of our favourite desserts. These sweets are a gourmet candy.

Chewy and flavourful, they were a bit hit with my guys. Alas, they are not suitable for vegetarians as they contain beef gelatine. On the plus side, they are gluten free and have natural flavours. And they taste lovely too.

And the last treat worth mentioning is a box of Dark Chocolate Marshmallows from Baru. If you love marshmallows, these are a true joy. Coated in rich chocolate, with the soft chewy fluffy marshmallow inside. There are four pieces in a box, each wrapped individually for freshness. I discovered them in Waitrose but they might be available elsewhere.

Have you tried any of my top foodie picks for this month?

P.S. I bought all these products myself, just wanted to share my discoveries.

Rodda's Cornish Clotted Cream hamper giveaway (c/d 13 September 2014)

Every time we are travelling to Cornwall to stay in "our" cottage in Perranuthnoe, I anticipate our arrival with pleasure, as I know there will be a plate of scones waiting for us, a jar of strawberry jam and a tub of Rodda's Clotted Cream. That means, our holidays start for real, when we sit at the table, tired after the trip and enjoying Cornish hospitality.

I know Cornwall and its foods are not just scones, clotted cream, ice cream and pasties, but in my mind they are national treasures and should be celebrated as such.
Of course, I regularly buy Rodda's clotted cream in our quaint little town in Oxfordshire as well. But that wasn't always the case. If you watch the video above, you'll hear how the clotted cream was delivered to London in the past. I love the video, it brings back memories of our trips to Cornwall, and the majestic views over St Michael's Mount.

Lovely people at Rodda's have offered a delicious hamper as a giveaway prize for my blog readers.
One lucky winner will receive:

Blue Rodda’s cool bag
Rodda’s canvas shopper bag
Rodda’s cotton tea towel
2 x 227g Rodda’s Cornish clotted cream
2 x Rodda’s Cornish butter
2 x Rodda’s Cornish clotted cream custard
1 x Rodda’s clotted cream fudge
1 x Rodda’s clotted cream shortbread

If you haven't yet tried Rodda's butter, you're in for a treat. Sadly I cannot find it anywhere locally. Thanks goodness, we have wonderful Rodda's Cornish clotted cream and creme fraiche which I buy regularly.

For a chance to win watch the video and follow the instructions in the Rafflecopter widget below.
As usual, you have a choice of options to enter: by leaving a comment (this is the only mandatory step), following the brand on Twitter etc.
Please leave your answer in the gadget. All incorrect answers will be removed.

T&Cs:
Only the first step is mandatory: all you need to do is answer my question in the Rafflecopter.

All the other steps are optional, you don't have to do them all. All it takes to win is just one entry.
Only one entry per person is allowed (however, you can tweet daily to increase your chances).
The giveaway is open to the UK residents only.
Once the Rafflecopter picks the winner, I will check if the winner has done what was requested. I will contact the winner, if they do not reply within 28 days, the prize will be allocated to another person.
Please don't forget to leave a comment, as it is the only mandatory step, I will make sure the winner selected by Rafflecopter has complied with T&Cs. 

The giveaway will close on 13 September 2014 (at midnight, the night from the 12th to the 13th)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: May thanks to Rodda's for the prize! This is a sponsored post.

The Summer of Our Content

And what a splendid summer it was...

We managed to cram a lot in six weeks of holidays, with a staycation in Cornwall, trips to the local farms, museums and pick your own centres. Our week in Perranutnoe was the highlight of the summer, made even more special this year because we took my Mum and niece with us. Children frolicked on the beach, built the sandcastles, climbed in the rock pools, played football, ran away from the waves, got soaked from head to toes in rather cold water and ate numerous cones of ice cream.

On rainy days we baked and played indoor games like Skittles, did puzzles, built Lego and created mosaics from Hama beads, painted and crafted.

You might remember me telling you that I was one of the lucky bloggers invited to take part in Kids in the Kitchen project put together by Betta Living, a well known fitted kitchen retailer. We received a big box of goodies for a Summer holiday bucket list as well as an activity pack of things to do with children during summer holidays.

Now looking back at the list of things suggested, what did we manage to complete and what we haven't done yet?

1. Create a kitchen garden

Yes, we have grown herbs in the kitchen, and also tomatoes and cucumelons in the greenhouse. In fact, tomatoes are still in their full glory, and we pick fresh tomatoes every day. This year I have tried a new variety of a tomato called the Black Russian, and very tasty it was too. But mostly we grow yellow and orange cherry-type tomatoes, which Eddie loves the best.

Black Russian tomato

2. Create Weetabix friends and faces: yes, and it was great fun.

3. Play the memory game: absolutely!

4. Teddy Bear tea party: not exactly a teddy bear tea party but we had a birthday party for Eddie who turned 4 last July. He loved having a picnic in the garden with his friends, and everyone enjoyed a Spiderman cake.

5. Weetabix Jenga (not done)

6. Cut out and decorate paper dolls or robots - this summer was all about Superheroes in the Varese household, so we cut out Spiderman masks.

7. E for experiment, be a kitchen scientist: something we'll do another time.

8. Create wooden spoon characters: tick the box off, we did and we enjoyed it.

9. Create a saucepan band: and very noisy it was.

10. Play dress up and put up a play. This summer Eddie is obsessed with Superheroes. For his birthday he got several Superman, Spiderman outfits and even a Batman t-shirt. Together we did a lot of pretend-play of flying like a Superman and webbing like Spidey.

11. Set up shop and become a kitchen retailer: sounds good, and we could try it on a rainy day in autumn.

12. Make some papier-mache mini-beasts: another project for a rainy day for the future.

13. Play some outdoor games indoor. We did put a tent indoors. Also Eddie couldn't part with his new scooter, and raced indoors. Given a chance, he would have taken it to bed with him.

14. Cool down with homemade ice lollies: Yes, we did, and the lollies were a great success. We made them with Strawberry Ribena, apple juice and cream (separately, not mixed together).

15. Make your own bunting: nobody was over-enthusiastic when I suggested it.

16. Hold your own wacky races: did we, or didn't we?! Can't remember now.

17. Make your own dough: we baked a lot, from cakes to cupcakes, from bread to pizza. To find out our recipe for Banana cupcakes and read what we did at the start of the project, see my post Kids in the Kitchen.

18. Time to scrub and do the washing up: Nope, that was only Mama's job.

19. Build a marshmallow tower: the marshmallows didn't stay long enough untouched, so there wasn't much left for a tower, oups.

20. Make a junk model: we had quite a lot of empty Lego boxes which ended up as models. Big boxes were turned into houses, boats and cars. It never ceases to amaze me, how with all the toys that we have the boxes are usually the most attractive.

We made a full use of our Family pass at Cogges manor farm, and visited it as often as we could. Both boys love the playground there, especially the big slide and the zip wire. Just yesterday we went there again to feed the lovely piggies and jump on the wobbly bridge. It was a sunny, even hot day, a perfect ending to a great summer.

How did you spend your summer?