Natures Path Nice and Nobbly Granola Review

I find a good test of a good cereal for me is if I can eat it without milk, I put very little on my cereal anyway, often opt for yogurt and fruit. 

So when I was sent the new Nature's Path Granola to try, I dived straight into the packets first to have a munch. I love the name Nice and Nobbly, clever names always leap out on the shelves and the bright packaging helps.

Munching the 'nobbles' is very pleasant, my particular favourite are the Raspberries, Strawberries and blueberries with yogurt. 

For those who like their granola with milk, I did behave and try the Pumpkin Seeds, Almonds and Raisins with a light dash of cinnamon. The clusters are large in part and lovely and crunchy, the smaller oats are nice at the end of the breakfast still firm even in milk.  The raisins plump up a bit more and are satisfyingly sweet and juicy.

Oh I should mention this is gluten free granola, so good for those with any allergies or dietary needs.

Sorry but the Raspberry Granola remained a snack, it did spend a short time with some raspberry yogurt this morning, now that was a pleasure.

Other Serving Suggestions:

 Add a dollop of natural yogurt and a drizzle of honey.

Sprinkle on top of some cold stewed fruits for a quick and easy pudding.

Mix with a little melted butter for a uniquely ‘nobbly’ crumble topping.

 Keep some in a small plastic bag/container and eat as a snack at the office, or when out and about/exercising.

Fancy tucking in to some for yourself? Thought so! Nature's Path have kindly offered a nice and nobbly prize of two, yes two cases of the new Granolas for one lucky reader! 

Since 1985, Nature’s Path has been a ‘free-from’ breakfast pioneer and already makes the UK’s top-selling free-from cereal, ‘Mesa Sunrise’. It’s worked hard at ensuring its products pack a tasty punch – in contrast to the often bland free-from alternatives on the market.

‘Nice and Nobbly’ Granolas are available from Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Waitrose and Ocado, plus independent health food stores at £3.49 RRP (312g pouch size – serving suggestion of 30g).  All Nature’s Path products are endorsed by Coeliac UK. www.naturespath.co.uk.

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Disclosure - I was sent the two new Nature's Path Granola, my views are my own.

Sharwoods Indian Sauce range

I was sent the Sharwood's delicious new range of cooking sauces to try and the whole family were catered for.

They include some Indian restaurant favourites, Paige often chooses the Butter Chicken, she likes a mild curry on occasion if we are out, she eats hot at home but some restaurants do go a bit fiery on the medium range dishes.

I like a Balti or a Dopiaza as the onion flavour if cooked well is lovely.Plus if you have read my blog previously and saw that Chris did a hottest curry in the world and has eaten some very fierce chilli sauces,you will know he loves a Vindaloo, 

At only £1.69 per jar a meal for the family they area fraction of the price of a take-away!

They are simplicity itself to make, its a case of frying chicken or veg and adding the sauce. I added mushrooms to the chicken to bulk it out a bit and to use up leftovers.

Its far too hot weather wise at the moment so we ate without rice adding samosa and onion bhajis that were already in the fridge.

I like Sharwood's sauces, I can rely on them to be good tasting if its a favourite meal.

Chris said the Vindaloo was 'top' and I'm afraid to say we passed up on it, I will be trying when the weather has cooled down a little.

Butter Chicken is a mild, creamy curry mixed with the perfect blend of spices to please any palate; Dopiaza is a dark, savoury curry characterised by spicy onions in a rich tomato base; and Vindaloo, a traditional fiery dish, blends tomatoes and onions with chillies for a spicy sauce that is not for the faint of heart.

The new Sharwood’s sauces are available in all major supermarkets from April with an RRP of £1.69.

Disclosure I was sent the new Sharwood range to try, my views are my own, I did not receive any payment.

Persil, Dermot Flynn and Wow cleaning!

While review blogging I've been lucky to get involved in many challenges and events, I do remember the celebrity moments above many.

, 

Highlights cooking in London with Ed Baines and Philadelphia, he has since gone on to cook for Prince Charles, hobnobbing with me can take you far!! 

Interviewing Bear Grylls here and a huge tick on the wow list talking to Sophie Ellis Bextor at Camp Bestival see here last year,this was for her  ‘Getting Messy with Music’ for Persil.

This time I am thrilled to have an art piece made for me, by artist Dermot Flynn, perhaps  you will be familiar with the Marmite ads, maybe his work on  book covers including the Penguin copies of  Captain Corelli's Mandolin and Norah Ephron's Heartburn.

Dermot has been working with Persil  as they have just launched the new Small and Mighty.It has an innovative Triple Cleaning System formulation and Stain Eraser Ball that can also be used as a pre-treater – so it’s really been specially developed with Mums in mind,with the amount of stains a Mum has to deal with its a great new product.

Dermot's art work for me is truly personal, he took a photograph I chose of Chris and I, and on a white 
t-shirt recreated it using common food stains.

I am pretty amazed by the image, to work with food and recreate a brilliant likeness I am impressed.

Now there is no way I would ever wash it, but using the Persil Small and Mighty in the last week it has certainly cleaned all of our clothes. 

However  Persil also sent me my own painting kit with food stains to try out on a white t-shirt, Chris was still offering his up, but I wanted a proper go. It's a bit scary, I am a bit of a clean freak when it comes to washing,I always use a stain remover first if there are stains,I use a lot of natural remedies for certain stains and  take quite a bit of pride in have a line full of white washing, coloured clothes never get mixed in and the whole family know its a big black mark if any washing gets mixed.
So to take a new white t-shirt and deliberately stain it was a tad strange for me. However Paige and I had a go.

Ink, juice, paint and chocolate all were applied,plus grass stains on the back as we got arty outdoors!

Now bear in mind I have no artistic skills whatsoever,so my tee was a message,thanking Dermot and a big ink message, I really thought this would still be there. I used the Stain Eraser ball to rub over the marks, popped it in the machine (on its own I might add, I was dubious that the ink may not come out but also may transfer) and set it going.

Well what do you think??

I was so amazed, I would previously used a Stain Devil ink remover before, I have never just put it in the machine. 

Thank you Persil,saved me some money on stain removal products for the future and thank you to Dermot for my T-shirt
xx

Disclosure : I received Persil Small and Mighty, as well as a personalised T-shirt from Dermot Flynn

www.persil.co.uk 

Cadbury Crunchums Review

Ooh Cadbury are really rolling out the new products  just lately and the latest is a little different. Crunchums are a cereal covered in the famous chocolate,Paige actually debated whether they would be good with milk on!! 

The girl is mad, these are perfect in a bowl, no milk in sight.The chocolate is nice and thick,the crunch of the cereal,(maize) is light and sweet. 

Hard to believe these started out as sweetcorn, does that mean its a healthy snack?

We did laugh at the packet, there is no way the option to close the bag will happen here!

Cadbury launches curious, crunchy, chocolatey combinations, made in Joyville

Cadbury, renowned for its great tasting chocolate, has launched a new product set to tantalise the nation’s taste buds in an unexpected way.

The deliciously different new Cadbury Crunchums are a one-of-a-kind, wonderfully moreish snack of crunchy cereal bites, coated in delicious Cadbury milk chocolate.

Unleashing an entirely new taste experience, bags of Cadbury Crunchums are the perfect way to bring something new to the party: they’re a unique way to enjoy delicious-tasting Cadbury chocolate and a crunchy snack all in the same mouthful.

Delivering all you need for a tasty treat, new Cadbury Crunchums deliver an unpredictable chocolate taste that unexpectedly works.

Tyrrells Beach Barbecue,Pork Crackling review

Tyrrells known as 'posh crisps' have launched a new crisp and some pork crackling for summer and sent me some to try. 

Now in keeping with the upper class snacks, we took ours posh camping or glamping to Manor Farm near Alton, its a Feather Down Farm and the perfect surrounds for trying the new Tyrrells.

Barbecue crisps are not my favourite, but I had to try and actually kept dipping in to the bowl for more. Chris the barbecue flavour fanatic,its usually his first choice loved them. These will be great for picnics and barbecues, a very light natural taste.

But his eye was on the crackling bags and so were mine. We had no electricity for the week, without TV,radio and laptops, conversation was the main enjoyment.

Chance to really discuss the important questions. 

Why were they called scratchings in some counties, what were the origins? Lack of Google prevented us finding out until now.

Who had the rights to try the pork crackling more?

Him being a Yorkshire man, apparently home of the pork scratching,he felt it was up to him to try them and fully realise their value!

I pointed out they were called Aristo- Crackling, not what I would necessarily put with his northern roots, he then said as an Irish girl, I was a fine one to talk!! Before it became a race riot,we settled on another question.

I offered that being the reviewer, so I had more right, he pointed out he was as much a reviewer, so we then decided we would share.

Oh and it is believed that pork crackling originated in the  Black Country where they were widely consumed by the working classes. The pork crackling (pork scratchings) date back to the 1800s, when families kept their own pigs as a source of food. 
 In order to not waste any element of the pig, due to the scarcity of food, even the off cuts of fat and skin were fried for food. Thanks Wikipedia!

The crackling are gorgeous,melt in the mouth tasty, just the right crunch, soft and bacony. I liked the original flavour, Chris loved the crackling with mustard, it has a real kick.

This was our debate concluded, I suggest if you love pork crackling you grab some bags.

A TASTE OF SUMMER WITH TYRRELLS

BEACH HUTS, DONKEYS AND DECKCHAIRS

Tyrrells crisps, the premium English crisp brand is taking consumers on a nostalgic trip of donkey rides and deck chairs with their new limited edition Beach Barbecue crisp.  Smoked paprika, tomato, cumin, cayenne and garlic combine as a smoky tribute to the jolly optimism of the English seaside barbecue - without a burnt sausage in sight. Available from Waitrose, Sainsbury’s and independent retailers, Tyrrells Beach Barbecue will have an RRP of £1.99 for 150g and 69p for 40g.

The English can always be counted upon to brave the blustery beach, bathe in the freezing sea and indulge in a cornet or two of ice cream, so to celebrate these great seaside traditions, Tyrrells is using the Beach Barbecue pack to showcase its latest social media competition; Win a Beach Hut- For Your Garden  The prize will engage and entertain Tyrrells’ followers through Facebook and Twitter and weekly winners will also be in with the chance of winning some covetable Cornishware prizes.

Oliver Rudgard, Marketing Director of Tyrrells says “The beach hut giveaway is a fabulous prize and reflects the peculiarly English character of our brand.  As an additional nod to the nostalgia of English seaside traditions, we've designed the pack to resemble a beach hut, with wind-blasted paint and all. Facebook is such an important communication channel for us and we're confident our Beach Hut campaign will entertain and recruit new followers over the summer months'.

'A CRACKLING NEW LAUNCH FROM TYRRELLS'

Tyrrells, the premium English crisp brand, is broadening its premium snacks range with the introduction of new Aristo-Crackling hand-cooked pork crackling. The double-barrelled 'corker of a porker' launches this week in two flavours - Traditional and English Mustard. Tyrrells Aristo-crackling packs are available in 50g Clip Strip and SRP formats and on pre-filled 30g backing boards.

Distinguishing itself from other pork crackling snacks, Tyrrells Aristo-Crackling is double cooked to give a lighter, crunchier texture and only uses pork from the poshest British reared pigs such as Hampshire, Duroc and Large White.  Each bite is reminiscent of proper home-cooked Sunday roast pork crackling.

Oliver Rudgard, Tyrrells Marketing Director commented; "With the launch of Aristo-Crackling we have built a more discerning tier above the humble pork scratching. By only selecting crackling made from the finest British pork, double cooking it to give a light crunchy texture, applying quintessentially English seasonings, such as a fiery English Mustard, and supporting it with our signature black and white packshot photos to add a 'posh pigs' twist, we have arrived at the most deliciously indulgent snack."

Tyrrells Aristo-Crackling launches end of May with independent retailers across the country and in Sainsbury and Waitrose in June. RRP: £1.19 for 50g and £0.99p for 30g

Disclosure - Tyrrells sent me a pack of each to try,I was not offered any payment to review,my opinions are my own.

Fairy Non Bio Free Timmy Time Books

The Bedtime remains Mum's Domain survey results below ring true, although Chris had an active role in preparing Paige and Conor for bed when they were little, I was the one who read to them mostly. 

I am an avid reader which helps, I also read to Chris too,though it tends to be horror so maybe not so good for the 'settling down' I always wanted to do a stint on Jackanory.

Paige and Conor had their favourites through the years and while we were moving home,all the books I had saved for their children were gone through. Who's a Clever Baby then? Their joint favourite. Winnie The Witch was Conors, while Paige loved all my childhood favourites such as Enid Blyton.

Books can really help to relax a child and I found for us, once I started reading they often dropped off.I tended to drop off too,it really is good for winding down!

Its always nice to pickup a book for free and Fairy Non Bio are giving away Timmy Time books. One pack = one free book.

Bedtime remains Mum’s domain!

Fairy Non-Bio, with the help of Timmy Time, have come together to discuss the importance of reading to your little ones at bed time to help them sleep.

83.6% of Mums spend time reading to their children at bed time,

despite studies showing a growing number of Mums returning to work

According to new research commissioned by Fairy, eight out of ten Mums read to their children every night before bedtime.  The survey of 1,000 UK Mums with children aged up to seven took an in-depth look at bedtime routines.  

Whilst it has been widely acknowledged that Dads are playing a bigger role in parenting, this research uncovered that bedtime is still mostly Mum’s domain.

Working Mums Make Bedtime Work

61% of Mums said that, after returning to work, they have to rush through the routine in order to get their child into bed at a decent hour, but that bedtime reading remains a priority for them. In fact, 16% of Mums prefer to shorten bath time in order to make sure that reading to their kids continues to be a regularly observed part of the routine. This forms part of a popular component to children’s bedtime practice with the average amount of time Mum’s spend reading to their children totalling 11 minutes.

Reading is clearly playing a key role in establishing a successful bedtime routine and is seen by many as being helpful when settling down their kids. However, 77% of UK Mums actually stated that the primary reason they read to their children is to aid their development, encourage an interest in reading and to bond with their little ones.

Bedtime Routine: Successful or Stressful?

Many parents seem to have mastered the bedtime routine with 35% agreeing that their child tends to settle down quickly and easily most nights, and 43% say this is the case 3-4 nights of the week.

Unfortunately, bedtime isn’t bliss for everyone and some parents struggle with the nightly routine. One out of ten Mums find this part of the day is a cause of stress and tension, and 2% admit to dreading their child's bedtime.

Chireal Shallow, psychologist and children's sleep and behaviour expert, commented on the findings: “It is reassuring to see how many parents are incorporating reading into a bedtime routine.  However, there are clearly still parents struggling.  I encourage them to continue to search for the right routine and strongly advocate bedtime reading, which is great for helping children settle, as well as the value of bonding time spent snuggling under a soft blanket.’

The on pack promotion

Fairy knows how important reading is - it is an important step in a child’s development and helps them on their journey of discovery into the big wider world. It boosts speech and vocabulary and teaches the skills your child will need to read alone.

To encourage parents to read to their children Fairy has renewed the partnership with Timmy Time, which includes an on-pack promotion offering a free book with every purchase of Fairy Non Bio or Fabric Softner*.

You and your toddler can together share the exciting adventures of Timmy, helping your little lamb discover his new wider world.

For more information on Fairy visit www.softeningyourworld.com or for more information on Fairy’s link up with Timmy Time please visit www.timmytime.tv/fairy

The Fairy range is proud to have been reviewed by Allergy UK and awarded their British Allergy Foundation Seal of Approval.

*On-pack promotion featured on:

• All Fairy Fabric Softeners
• Fairy Non Bio 25 scoop powder
• Fairy Non Bio 10 scoop powder
• Fairy Non Bio 42 scoop powder
• Fairy Non Bio 50 scoop powder
• Fairy Non Bio 20s liquitabs
• Fairy Non Bio 11s liquitabs
• Fairy Non Bio 18 wash gel
• Fairy Non Bio 26 wash gel
• Fairy Non Bio 30s tablets

**Books available while stocks last

Our survey of 1,000 UK mums of children aged to seven was undertaken by One Poll

Disclosure- I was sent a Timmy Time book, Fairy Non Bio gel and fleece blanket. I received no other incentive or payment ,my opinions are my own.

Silent Sunday