Alpro Custard

Alpro Custard... not much to say about it except "Yum". I gave it a try and was pleased. It tastes very much like custard, which is good, it doesn't have any sort of 'funny' taste like I always expect soya products to have. I enjoyed it on a nice piece of apple pie.

You can enjoy it hot or cold and it's full of vitamins and calcium. It's low in fat. It comes in a convenient carton.

You can find Alpro custard in most supermarkets and many other shops:

• Tesco
• Sainsburys
• Asda
• Waitrose
• Morrisons
• Co-Op
• E H Booth
• Supervalu
• Dunnes
• Irish Independent stores

Alpro custard can be used in all your favourite recipes, how about trying these fantastic Individual Sherry Trifles:

Ingredients

• 260 g Madeira cake, cut into 2cm cubes
• 450 g pack raspberries
• 6 tbsp sherry
• 2 x Alpro soya raspberry and vanilla alternative to yogurt
• Alpro soya dairy free custard

Preparation

Place the madeira cake cubes into the bottom of 6 individual serving dishes, scatter over the raspberries and sherry. 
To make the custard, pour the Alpro soya alternative to milk into a heavy-based saucepan. Split the vanilla pot in half, scrape out the seeds and add the seeds and pod to the pan. Heat gently to just below boiling point. 
Combine the egg yolks, caster sugar and cornflour into a smooth paste. Add the hot Alpro soya alternative to milk, stirring constantly, then pour back into the saucepan and bring to the boil, stirring, until the custard has thickened. 
Allow to cool completely, then remove the vanilla pod and pour the custard over the base of the trifle. 
Cool and place in the fridge to chill for approximately 1 hour. 
Spoon the Alpro soya yogurt alternative over the custard and serve.

Shloer Berry Punch

I've given the limited edition Berry Punch flavour from Shloer a try.



The colour is an appealing red, like Rosé wine. Straight after opening the bottle you are hit by the fantastic aroma; a combination of blackberries and spices. The taste is amazing, it's not too sweet and certainly not sour.

They recommend serving it with pieces of pear and blackberries or raspberries but I had it just by itself and was very pleased.

Like all the other schoer drinks you will find no preservatives, artificial colours, sweeteners or flavourings. All flavours are suitable for vegetarians and are best served chilled.

But you'll have to hurry up if you want to give this one a try as Berry Punch with its berry flavours and a warming hint of spice is only on the shelves for a limited time - until March 2012.

It's all in the serve
Whether it's enjoyed after returning from a beautiful woodland walk or sitting around the fireplace on a crisp winter evening, Shloer's Berry Punch is best served over ice and quintessentially English fruits. For the taste of the English countryside, pour over slices of pear and blackberries for a sparkling and fruity autumnal drink, perfect for sharing.

The natural alcohol alternative
Shloer uses only the best ingredients to create a delicious non-alcoholic sparkling juice drink. All varieties make a tasty-grape based alternative to alcohol, suitable for the family - including those who want to enjoy the winter months without drinking alcohol. Shloer contains no preservatives, artificial colours, sweeteners or flavourings and is available from all supermarkets.

Best-served shared
Shloer's new Berry Punch will add a little sparkle to any social gathering, planned or impromptu. Whether it's huddled around a bonfire, or enjoyed with a long lazy Sunday lunch, Shloer is here to provide a new taste of winter.

Entertaining inspiration
As the weather turns cold we're looking forward to nights in together with a good movie and having the family around for long lazy Sunday lunches. If, like us, you enjoy entertaining but sometimes need a little extra inspiration for your menus then check out the Shloer Sunday Cookbook by simply visiting the official Shloer Facebook page at www.facebook.com/shloer

The recipes you'll find here are created by devoted Shloer fans themselves, around a 'simple and sharing' principle - no one wants to slave over a hot stove for hours on a well-deserved weekend.

Share recipes and win
It's easy to contribute your own tasty dishes, or vote for your favourites on our Shloer Sunday Cookbook, either way you have the chance to win some fabulous prizes.

A flavour for everyone
Shloer is available in White Grape, Red Grape, Rosé, Apple & White Grape, White Grape, Raspberry & Cranberry, White Grape & Elderflower and new Berry Punch and is priced at about £2.29

Alpro Soya Cream

I've given Alpro Soya Single Cream alternative a try. I'm not vegan, but all Alpro's soya products are suitable for a vegan diet.

I had no problems with the cream and overall I'm very impressed with it. I was a little worried it may have a slightly different taste to regular cream, but I can honestly say I didn't notice one. I used it in coffee and as a ingredient to make korma curry with. It mixed in just fine and tasted fine.

Try a healthier alternative to single cream. With 45% less fat than single cream you can enjoy your healthier indulgence poured over fruit or desserts or use it in cooking to create delicious soups and sauces.



The Chinese have been using soya as an excellent source of protein and for its many nutritional benefits for thousands of years.

Several hundred varieties of soya plant exist, the most common being the one that provides yellow soya beans. These take between 150 and 200 days to develop in hot and humid climates. The plant itself reaches about 80 centimetres in height, growing small white or purple flowers that create pods that yield between 1 and 4 beans. These beans are one of the best plant sources of protein.

Alpro soya products have a wide range of health benefits.  Your needs and priorities may change as you move through life but our products will help you along the way to a healthier diet for yourself and your family.

Whether you are 18 or 80, good nutrition can have a positive impact on the way you feel, which in turn affects the way you live your life and, more significantly, how much you may get out of it.

Because plant proteins use less of the Earth’s resources than animal proteins, it’s great for the planet as well as for you!

The soya protein found in soya foods can also help to naturally lower cholesterol levels, another great reason to incorporate soya into your daily diet

In 2002 the Joint Health Claims Initiative stated that the inclusion of at least 25g of soya protein a day as part of a diet low in saturated fat can help to reduce cholesterol in the blood.

All of Alpro soya products are suitable for people who are lactose intolerant.  They are naturally dairy and lactose free.

Snapfish

I gave Snapfish online digital photo printing service a go. They have been around since 2000 and are owned by Hewlett Packard.

I've got 100s of digital photos from various trips we've been on and they sit around on my computer rarely seen, so it's nice to have photos and other things like posters, coasters and more with pictures on around the house to actually see.

Signing up to the website took a few seconds and only asks for email address, password and name.

As soon as you enter the site you are told about special offers that are available, for example you can get 20 free 6"x4" prints when you first upload your photos.

Uploading photos is very simple and quick. You can upload multiple photos at once, just select the ones you want to upload, you can select lots all at once. It has the option to automatically do red-eye reduction as they upload which seemed handy. You also have the option of selecting your Facebook photos or even from Flickr, both of which save time on uploading and is very handy if you have them uploaded to one of these services already.

The photos you upload are arranged into albums so you can group particular ones together, maybe you will have one album for last year's holiday and another from Christmas. This makes finding the photos very easy.

They sell a wide variety of products, all can be personalised with photos and some with text as well. You can get anything from acrylic blocks, calendars, posters, t-shirts and even stamps. In general you browse the site to find what you are after, then you are given the opportunity to browse your albums and pick out a photo or some allow you to have many photos, the collage mugs for example.

You can add any number of items to your basket and you can keep shopping or adjusting the basket items until you are happy with them. One thing I did find frustrating was that the P&P doesn't show up straight away, not until the next step after you checkout.

You can pay with your credit or debit card or even with Paypal. You can have your goodies sent to yourself or straight to someone else if they are a present.

I ordered quite a selection of things and I will tell you more about them when they arrive.

Kelburn Castle, Country Centre and Estate

Oops, wrote this a while back and forgot to publish it! This was from our holiday to Scotland.

The only other thing we went to was Kelburn Castle. It was very good. When we got there they were doing a Viking reenactment which was quite fun to watch. They battled with swords and axes.

Again there were lots of animals. We mistakenly followed a sign to the castle and it took us on a rather long route across the river and back round past the castle. Its not a  good big stoney castle but they have painted the sides of it graffiti style :-\ it looks quite good but a little strange.

They had a nicely tended garden bit I imagine you'd have liked. We never did see how to get in to the castle but we looked at the leaflet when we got back and it would've cost extra anyway. The kids wandered off and we lost them for a couple of mins it turned out they wandered off into a no-entry bit :-( but unfortunately we found them again. There was also a "secret forest " which was rather fun. It was a big maze with various buildings and crazy stuff all in a forest. It was big and took ages to walk around and I don't know if we saw it all. The kids always picked opposite directions so they had to take turns to lead.

Bottle Green and Limited Edition Bottle Pink

Today I've been enjoying the yummy drinks from Bottle Green.

I tried the Cox's Apple & Plum cordial, which is delicious. This is one of their new enjoy hot cordial flavours. This fruity, full-bodied cordial is bursting with the natural goodness of ripe red plums, orchard-picked Cox’s apples and spring water. It’s deliciously refreshing when diluted with cold still or sparkling water. Or for a warming, autumnal alternative to tea or coffee, just pour in hot water.

I also tried the limited edition Bottlepink Sparkling. Bottlegreen believe in the work that Breakthrough Breast Cancer does so much that in October 2011, they are turning bottlegreen into bottlepink for the second year running. For the entire month they are donating 10% of all sales of their pink bottle to Breakthrough Breast Cancer and help raise awareness of this important charity.

Warm up this winter with bottlegreen's

Enjoy hot cordials! The crisp winter days are finally upon us, which means evenings in front of the fire with loved ones, weekend walks through snow covered countryside and a whole host of fantastic seasonal parties. This year, embrace the winter spirit with bottlegreen's range of enjoy hot cordials , gorgeous fruity flavours, guaranteed to keep you warm right through until spring.

With five delicious flavours to choose from, bottlegreen's enjoy hot cordial range is perfect for every winter occasion. For the ultimate winter warmer, dilute the fragrant ginger & lemongrass cordial with hot water. With its distinct aroma and fiery taste it's ideal for keeping toasty on bonfire night. Alternatively, try lime cordial, the zesty flavours of fresh limes blended with rare aromatic bitters creates a zingy winter combination, and is perfect as a warming treat after a festive night out with the girls. While to bring back the memories of summer, the delicate flavours of elderflower cordial work together beautifully with hot water to create a warming and soft drink that's perfect for adding a sophisticated touch to cosy winter social gatherings. Other winter warmer flavours include cox's apple & plum cordial, with its mouth watering flavours of ripe red plums and crispy orchard picked apples, and the rich and succulent spiced berry cordial, which conjures up festive thoughts and feelings. bottlegreen cordials are also a great option for fruit tea lovers looking for a caffeine free alternative, perfect to brighten up a winter's day. So for a delicious hot drink with a difference, try the range of bottlegreen enjoy hot cordials for the ultimate in winter treat.

Bottlegreen (and pink) drinks can be found in most supermarkets from about £2.99

You can find more information about Bottlegreen on Twitter and Facebook.

Competition Winner

Comgratulations to "Piper and Daisy" (@piperanddaisy on twitter) for winning the Comic Heroes #8

I've contacted them via Twitter and the prize will be out to them soon. Thanks to everyone who took part. Keep checking back for future competitions and prizes.

Nākd Infused Raisins

Nākd have released two new flavours in their Infused Raisin range - Tangy Lime and Crazy Cola. Each raisin is infused with natural flavouring to create a healthy and delicious alternative to processed and sugar laden sweets and chocolate. The Nākd Infused Raisins are fat free, contain only 68 calories and count as one of your five a day, and are available from www.eatnakd.com and Asda, priced 39p.

The lime raisins have a nice strong flavour, very tangy. The smell was really nice as I first opened the bag. I'm certain my son would be happy with these instead of a packet of sweets. And as one of your five a day they do make an ideal substitute to the sugary treats most kids usually get.

The cola ones reminded me of cola bottle sweets and I was surprised to learn that they only had 100% natural ingredients and no added sugar.

They come in handy little bagsand make Nākd Infused Raisins perfect for lunchboxes, mid-afternoon nibbling as a pick me up, baking and sprinkling over your favourite foods.

Both flavours of raisins were delicious and I'd recommend them to parents who want to give their kids less unhealthy snacks. I'd also recommend them to the parents themselves as they are delicious.


Nākd also make Cherry, Lemon, Pineapple and Orange flavoured raisins, all sugar free and great value.

Tefal One Egg Wonder

I gave the Tefal One Egg Wonder frying pan a go.

At just 12cm diameter its dinky dimensions are just right for frying a perfectly round, individual egg, but rest assured, this pan is no one-trick pony... toast pine nuts, fry off spices, sauté mushrooms and more.

With a durable Resist Plus non-stick coating inside and out, hardly any oil is needed and cleaning is easy too. An aluminium base delivers even heat distribution, and the comfy handle will stay cool during cooking.
 

The pan looked a bit silly sitting on the cooker due to it's size. On my first use of the pan, I found I'd used way too much oil, I also found the spatula I usually use was way too big. I found in the end just a teaspoon to scoop the hot oil onto the yoke was ample as the egg didn't stick and didn't need help being tipped onto my plate. It was really easy to clean after use.

The RRP is just £8 and for the features it has it is great value. It has a non-stick coating and a Thermo-Spot heat indicator to tell you when your pan has reached the right temperature. It is made from aluminium, this pan is scratch-resistant and will distribute heat evenly. It is oven safe up to 180C and is suitable for most hob types.

Part of the Ideal range, the One Egg Wonder boasts a lifetime guarantee non-stick coating and is one of a number of specialist frying pans designed to help you create your favourite dishes at home with ease.

Trufas de chocolate y aceitunas espanolas (Chocolate and Spanish olive truffles)

How about trying these fantastic Trufas de chocolate y aceitunas espanolas, courtesy of Olives from Spain and Omar Allibhoy.

It'll take approximately 6 hours, but most of that is leaving them in the fridge.

Ingredients:

• 150g double cream
• 220g of 70% dark chocolate
• 1 orange zest
• 50g of black pitted Spanish olives
• 40g of butter

Directions:

1. Take 150g of black olives and blend them into a rough paste with a food processor.
2. Place a medium sized pot with the double cream over a low heat. When this is almost at boiling point, turn off the heat and add the chopped dark chocolate, orange zest and the olive pate.
3. Mix the truffle mixture well with a spatula until you have a smooth texture.
4. The mix should still be warm, now add the chopped butter to give extra shine and silkiness to the truffles mix.
5. Cover the pot with cling film and cool down in the fridge for 5-7 hours for the mix to harden so that you can shape it into balls later on.
6. Once cool and hard, it's time to make little balls with your hands, shape the mixture and then coat them with cocoa powder.

Tip:
Place them back in the fridge to enjoy them cold, as they take longer to melt in your mouth!

Chocy Munchy Seeds

I've been eating these delicious flavoured and coated seeds from Munchy Seeds. They do a variety of fantastic flavours with various additions.

Munchy Seeds spend hours carefully blending and gently roasting premium quality seeds to make the perfect healthy snack. They have created seven moreish varieties, Some are sweet, some are savoury and some are hot! All are free from artificial colourings and preservatives and are packed with masses of flavour and goodness.
 

I very much enjoyed the Choccy Seeds with Chilli & Ginger: luxurious dark Belgian chocolate to give you a nutritious nibble with a choccy fix! Sunflower & pumpkin seeds with pieces of Crystallised ginger coated in luxury dark chilli chocolate.

Choccy Munchy Seeds: Belgian Chocolate Mix with Apricot. Sunflower & pumpkin seeds with pieces of dried apricot coated in luxury Belgium milk & dark chocolate.

Seeds are an excellent natural source of essential vitamins, minerals, oils and fibre so enjoy them as a healthy snack or sprinkle them on just about everything! They also make a perfect healthy gift.

The seeds come in a variety of sizes; from 50g snack packs to 500g tubs and even variety and combo packs to get a good variety all in one go.

Check out the health benefits: 

OMEGA MIX – the HEALTHY HEART mix, because the flaxseeds and rapeseeds are packed with omega-3 essential fatty acids (good for your cholesterol levels).
PUMPKIN MIX – the ANTIOXIDANT mix, because the pumpkin and sesame seeds are full of vitamins A and E, which protect your body’s cells from damage, reducing your risk of diseases and even help stave off the ageing process.
VANILLA PUMPKIN – the IMMUNE-BOOSTING mix, because pumpkin seeds are bursting with zinc, the chief mineral for supporting your immune system.
CHILLI MIX – the METABOLISM mix, because chillies contain capsaicin, which helps boost your metabolism and stimulates the circulation, giving you a nice warm glow.
CAJUN MIX – the GET-UP-AND-GO mix, because it’s a great source of iron, helping to stop you from getting anaemic, tired and lethargic.
ORIGINAL MIX – the SUPER-SUSTAINING mix, because it’s the richest of the mixes in protein and fibre, which is the best combination for keeping hunger at bay.
GRANOLA – the ENERGY WEAPON, thanks to the oats, which produce a trickle-feed of slow-release energy, keeping you going until your next meal (whether you’re having it for breakfast or a between meals snack/treat).
CRUNCHY BITES – the ALL PURPOSE MIX. Unsaturated fats including omega-3s for a healthy heart, filling fibre and protein, phytoestrogens for balancing female hormones, plus zinc for male fertility, and healthy immunity for everyone.
Find out more about Munchy Seeds on Twitter.

Munchy Seeds are available from Lakeland Ltd, Ocado, Waitrose and selected Tesco's & Independent stores.

Andechser Organic Lassi Smoothies

Quick! Head to Ocado to benefit from the special offer of 2 for £2 for these fantastic drinks!

These are delicious, truly delicious. I've tried both flavours and enjoyed them both. They come in 250g pots, ready to drink straight from the fridge. They are smooth, creamy, refreshing and filling - a healthy snack and drink all in one. I liked the Chai Spices flavour the best. They have a handy lid so you can have some now and some later. They are organic and vegetarian.

Andechser Organic Lassi Yogurt Smoothies combine the best of a fruit smoothie with natural yogurt to create a deliciously different drink.

Already a huge hit in Europe and set to take the UK by storm, the Lassis are made from all natural ingredients with no nasties, which means the taste comes from real fruit or spices rather than added flavours.

Based on traditional Indian Lassi, they are a blend of natural drinking yogurt, made with authentic Lassi cultures, and fruit puree or spices to create a wonderfully rich and genuinely refreshing drink that is bursting with taste.

Andechser Lassis are a delicious, nutritional alternative to fruit smoothies
and juices. Available in two varieties:

• Mango ­ made with the nutritionally rich superfruit known for its unique taste (14% Alphonso Mango)
• Chai ­ made with a traditional blend of Indian spices including cinnamon, ginger, cardamom and cloves to create a refreshingly different drink

Lassi cultures are often linked to all sorts of health benefits and may aid digestion and boost the immune system. The Lassis are also an excellent source of calcium, suitable for vegetarians and are safe for pregnant women to consume.

They are also available in Whole Foods Market, Planet Organic and selected delicatessens, fine food and health food shops in London

Linwoods Super Foods

Today I sprinkled an ingredient into my curry, mixed it in and was pleased to not notice it at all!


So, what was the point?


Well, what I added was Linwoods milled organic flaxseed. They do 9 varieties of this:

• Milled Flaxseed and Goji Berries
• Milled Flaxseed Sunflower Pumpkin and Sesame Seeds and Goji Berries
• Milled Flaxseed Walnuts Brazil Nuts Almonds and Q10
• Milled Flaxseed, Cocoa, Strawberries and Blueberries
• Milled Organic Flaxseed
• Milled Organic Flaxseed, Sunflower and Pumpkin Seeds
• Milled Organic Sunflower and Pumpkin Seeds
• Shelled Hemp
• Whole Sun-Dried Goji Berries

The one I tried today was the plain flaxseed. They recommend adding it to anything from cereal to scrambled eggs. It has very little, if any, smell and made no difference to the texture or taste of my curry. 

The Linwoods range of delicious, nutritious ‘Super Foods’ is the perfect solution for those who want to ensure that their diet comprises the essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals that can add such quality to life and living. The range of ground seeds, nuts and berries can add that healthy boost to almost everything you eat. Importantly all their products are gluten free and have no added sugar, vegetarian and vegan.

Linwoods can be found on the web, Facebook and Twitter.

How about this Beauty Boosting Strawberry Smoothie:

30g Milled Organic Sunflower and Pumpkin seeds
1 banana
1 cup of low fat milk
1 cup ice
¾ cup non fat yogurt
5-7 strawberries

Place all of the ingredients into a blender and blend for 45 seconds, or until you reach your desired. Simple!

What about stirring in a spoonful to your dinner time casserole or lunchtime salad. Start the day off right by stirring in a spoonful to your morning porridge.

So, where can you get this fantastic stuff? Well, the Linwoods range of Healthy Super Foods are available in All Supermarkets, Natures Way, Holland and Barrett, Julian Graves and Independent Health Stores. 

You may be wondering exactly what are the health benefits of these products are?

Omega 3, 6 & 9
Polyunsaturated fatty acids used by the body that may help maintain a healthy heart, health brain function and promote a health immune system. These are essential fatty acids as our body does not produce them and therefore they must be obtained through our food. Flaxseed is one of nature’s richest plant sources of Omega 3, with 7.2g of this essential fatty acid in every 30g/1oz serving.

Dietary Fibre
Their range of nutritious super foods contains Dietary Fibre - both soluble and insoluble. Insoluble Fibre aids digestion and helps maintain regularity and Soluble Fibre is absorbed by the body and helps maintain healthy cholesterol and blood sugar levels.

Antioxidants
The antioxidants found in Linwoods nutritious super foods help to maintain cell integrity within the body. The antioxidant Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant that helps boost the immune system and maintain health hair, skin and nails.

Weight Management
Dietary Fibremay help in maintaining a healthy body weight and normal blood sugar levels. As seeds and nuts are LOW GI (Low Glycemic Index), they release energy slower into the body and therefore keep hunger at bay for longer.

Iron
Iron is an essential part of hemoglobin – a part of the red blood cells that carry oxygen around the body and is therefore necessary for energy. Iron is also necessary for the reproduction of red blood cells and Hemp is a good source of Iron.

Zinc
Zinc supports the immune system and may protect the body’s cells and tissues. Flaxseed, Sunflower, Pumpkin & Sesame Seeds & Goji Berries mix are good sources of Zinc.

Vitamin E
A powerful antioxidant that helps boost the immune system and maintain healthy hair, skin and nails.

Protein
Important for the growth of muscles, bones and skin.

Magnesium
Supports healthy bones, muscles and nerve function and is important for energy metabolism. Hemp is an excellent source of Magnesium with 35% RDI per 30g/1oz serving.

Selenium
Supports the normal function of the immune system and may protect cells and tissues from oxidative damage. Linwoods Flaxseed, Cocoa, Strawberries & Blueberries is an excellent source of Selenium with 25% of your RDI in one 30g/1oz serving.

B Vitamins
These are water soluble vitamins, meaning they are quickly depleted in the body and must be replaced regularly. Complex B vitamins can maintain healthy body metabolism by assisting in breaking carbohydrates down into glucose and converting glucose to energy. They can also maintain a healthy heart function (Vitamin B1) and the normal functioning of the nervous system. Vitamin B deficiency can lead to decreased energy production, lethargy and fatigue.

Co-Enzyme Q10
Co-Q10 occurs naturally in the body but natural production declines with age so dietary sources are important to help maintain adequate levels. Co-Q10 contributes to the production of energy in every cell in the body and improves the way the body functions. It is also a highly effective antioxidant.

Most commonly recognized as a supplement in tablet form and also as an ingredient in some cosmetic products, Linwoods have now added Q10 to Flaxseed, Almonds, Brazil Nuts and Walnuts; making it easier and more convenient for you to get your daily intake of Co-Q10 in your diet.

Cocoa
You can now enjoy the luxurious taste of cocoa knowing you are fortifying your diet with essential fatty acids, vitamins, minerals and nutrients. Cocoa contains Flavanols which are highly effective antioxidants that may help maintain a healthy heart and efficient circulation throughout the body. Just one serving (30g/1oz) of this delicious mix gives you the same antioxidnats as 2 x Grapefruits, 3 x Apples, 10 x Tomatoes, 3 x Brocolli, 1 x Cabbage and 6 x Carrots!

Higher Nature

Today I've been trying some of Higher Nature's Omega Excellence range. They have a variety of products combining superb quality organic oils, butter and seeds.

Higher Nature, renowned in the UK as experts in nutrition and optimal health solutions, is delighted to present, a delicious range of organic, premium-quality oils, vinegars, butters and seeds.

Their range:

• Organic Wild Pomegranate Balsamic Vinegar
• Organic Apple Cider Vinegar
• Organic Cold Pressed Walnut Oil
• Organic Cold Milled Flax Seeds
• Organic Raw Walnut Butter
• Organic Sprouted Flax Seeds
• Organic Cold Milled Hemp Protein
• Organic Flax Seed Oil
• Organic 3:6:9 Balance Oil
• Organic Pumpkin Seed Butter
• Organic Coconut Butter
• Organic Hemp Seed Oil
• Organic Virgin Coconut Butter

You can store them all in the cupboard until you open them - no need for refrigeration.They all come in a very distinctive blue PET pot, which exclude 100% light which keeps them in great condition for longer. It's also fully recyclable and non-toxic. All the products are organic as well as vegetarian and vegan so they are suitable for anyone. They are endorsed by Chris Horridge the Michelin starred chef.

The Omega Excellence range is now finding its way into the most revered health food stores, farm shops and kitchens of leading nutritionists and discerning chefs. All of the products are made from premium-quality nuts, seeds and vinegars, are vegan and are certified organic. What’s more, the ingredients are sourced, wherever possible, from the UK and Europe to continue to reduce Higher Nature’s carbon footprint. The packaging is also recyclable and heat- and light-stable, giving the products a much longer shelf life – and there’s no need to refrigerate them before use, either!

I've been using the Organic Coconut Butter. You can use in in place of margarine or butter and it tastes just fine spread on bread, you wouldn't know it was coconut. It is a little awkward to spread as it's 'crumbly' but soon softens up - much easier than butter. You can use it in baking and works great in biscuits, cakes, muffins, pies and pancake batter.

It doesn't contain sugar, salt, starch, soya, yeast, gluten, corn, lactose, dairy products, colours, preservatives or flavourings.

Coconut butter is a safe and healthy cooking oil - it doesn't create toxic trans-fats when warmed and doesn't raise cholesterol levels. It is rich in medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs), which is an excellent source of energy and may also aid in weight management. They also do a version that still has the coconut aroma and flavour.

It's available in 200g or 400g jars.



Organic Wild Pomegranate Balsamic Vinegar is made from the freshly squeezed juice of organically harvested Pomegranates grown wild in Europe.

Try mixing into salad dressings, marinades, sauces, soups, stews, and other savoury dishes. Drizzle on to sliced strawberries, kiwis, raspberries or peaches or for a refreshing drink, add a teaspoon or two to a cup of hot or cold water.
Their Organic Hemp Seed Oil has Omega 3, 6 and 9 oils, it has natural occurring ingredients which are important for healthy hormone balance, skin and joints. 

You can use it in salads, on vegetables and blended into drinks adding a distinct ‘earthy’ flavour. It is 100% organic and is ideal for healthy hormone balance, skin, circulation, nerve function and immunity The Omegas 3 and 9 help you with a healthy heart, arteries, brain and flexible joints, all in perfect balance and is cholesterol-free.

You can follow Higher Nature on twitter: @HigherNatureUK
Or visit their site: www.highernature.co.uk where they offer free 1st class postage on all UK orders.

Olives from Spain

I'd like to tell you about Olives from Spain who are encouraging Brits across the country to shake up lunch and dinner times. They've got Omar Allibhoy, the celeb chef, as seen on This Morning and dubbed the Antonio Banderas of cooking by Gordon Ramsey, on board who has created some great recipes for us all to enjoy at home.

Omar wants to address the misconception that the majority of the world's olives are produced in Greece and Italy, when it is in fact Spain accounts for 40% of the world's total. Spain has a long tradition when it comes to growing olive trees and harvesting their fruit. Generation after generation, Spain produces the highest quality olives - the hours of sunshine, short winters and perfect soils make Spanish olives the most juicy and tasty in the world. Elegant and delicious, simple and sophisticated; olives from Spain are loved by adults and children alike.

Omar has made numerous TV appearances including Market Kitchen, Masterchef and This Morning and has now exclusively developed five delicious recipes, using the finest olives from Spain, to show us Brits how to get creative in the kitchen with this wonderful ingredient.

Want to experience the true taste of Spain? Enter their fantastic competition to win a trip to the land of the olive, and also a ‘money can’t buy’ session in the kitchen with their olive expert, Omar Allibhoy.

You can find out more about Olives from Spain on twitter: @taste_of_spain or on Facebook.

Live the Life of a premier league footballer with Chang Beer

If there is one thing that I know, it’s that I love a nice cold beer.. Chang Beer that is. What makes it even better is their new on-pack promotion for two lucky winners to win the once in a lifetime chance to Live The Life of a premier league footballer for a whole weekend. Believe me, it’s some prize – check the specifics…

The winners will be shown a life of luxury, starting off with a flight to Liverpool and four night stay at one of city’s top hotels and chauffeur driven transport to a premier league match, where they’ll be wined and dined in a VIP box. Then they’ll take a tour of the famous Everton FC training ground, Finch Farm, and get up close and personal with the players over lunch. Top it all off with a round of golf, personal shopping trip and dinner with the Everton FC legends.

If this didn’t encourage me to buy a six pack, then the added bonus of kicking back with an ice cold Chang certainly did!

To be in with a chance of winning, just grab the code from a pack of Chang at your local supermarket and visit http://www.changbeer.com/live-the-life  to enter the code. Then sit back and cross your fingers, I know I am!

For more information and great giveaways, follow @ChangBeerUK

Today I Received A Free Bottle Of Wine

I got my free bottle of wine from Friends of Glass UK on Facebook today. This was a prize for a game they were doing at the time where you had to pour a drink from a bottle and pass it onto the next person. The person who finished the bottle off won a bottle of wine or a non-alcoholic drink.

Competition Win Comic Heroes #8 (ends 31st October)

 I am pleased to announce that I am running my first competition, for fans of my blog!

I have a great prize for any comic fans: Comic Heroes Issue 8, containing free collctable gifts.

To win this fabulous prize you must:

1. Follow this blog
2. Follow me on twitter @VeggieDadBlog 
3. Leave a comment to tell me you've done this, make sure you leave me a way to contact you. Email address or twitter username are fine.

Up to 3 more additional entries can be gained by:

1. Comment on any other of my posts then comment here to tell me which one
2. Like my Facebook page.
3. Tweet "Want to #win Comic Heroes issue 8: http://bit.ly/ndY0E2 #comp from @VeggieDadBlog"on Twitter

You must be in the UK to be eligible to win. All entries must be completed by 23:59 on Monday the 31st of October 2011

Enjoying Alpro Creamy Vanilla Desserts

I won a pack of Alpro Vanilla Desserts from @Alpro_UK. They are milk free soya desserts and tasted rather like custard in a tub - very nice.

Premier Of Will Film

We went to see the premier of the new film "Will". We stood around for about two and a half hours before the film started to see some of the stars.

 

The film features several LFC players and we were lead to believe that Steven Gerrard was going to be turning up. But he didn't :(

  David had been hoping to get an autograph from him and was rather disappointed. He did, however, get autographs from Perry Eggleton, Roy Evans and Kenny Dalglish.

 We were also disapointed that Bob Hoskins, Damian Lewis and Kristian Kiehling didn't come to it either.

The film itself was quite enjoyable. I wasn't enjoying it to start with but it soon picked up and was rather good and funny at times.

We finished the day off by watching Johnny English Reborn as we had some vouchers for the cinema, Oddly enough we were at exactly the same screen as we were for Will. I'd have to say that £26 for two adults and two children for a film is rather expensive, especially as they try and sell you overpriced snacks, popcorn, sweets and drinks.

Chester Zoo

Over the weekend we also went to Chester Zoo. We had a fabulous day.

There were loads of animals (obviously) and various other things for the kids to enjoy. We were lucky enough to visit while they had a dinosaur exhibition on at the time.

There is a lot of walking to be done and our feet hurt by the end of the day! There are suggested walks of varying lengths marked on the free map they give you. There are signposts all over the place to help you find the animals you are after.

It was very easy to find via road and we had no problems getting there. Overall a thoroughly enjoyable day out. Great value and fun.

We didn't actually manage to get around all the animals so I can say with certainty that you can easily fill in a whole day there!