Christmas Gift Ideas 2013 - Part Four

Campo Viejo Reserva Rioja - the perfect Christmas wine gift
Presented in an attractive gift box ready for giving to friends and family. This rich fruity wine will go well with red meats and game, and is the perfect partner for the cheeseboard. Aged for 24 months in French oak barrels and 36 months in the bottle cellar.
RRP: £12 Stockist: Sainsbury’s

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Jacob's Creek Chardonnay Pinot Noir Cuvee - for every occasion
A wonderful sparkling drink for Christmas and the New Year. An Australian sparkling wine with crisp fruity flavours. It can be served with turkey and will go equally well with smoked salmon.

I served mine as a Buck's Fizz!

RRP:  £10.39   Stockist:  ASDA, Sainsbury's, The Co-operative

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Delicious chocolate

Seed&Bean Chocolate - limited edition chocolate bars made especially for Glastonbury Festival 2013 with organic ingredients.

Milk Chocolate with Cornish Sea Salt and West Indies Lime - tangy, zesty and salty.

White Chocolate Raspberry and Vanilla - tangy raspberries poured into a creamy white chocolate with a hint of vanilla.
Dark Chocolate with Sicilian Hazelnut - dark chocolate with a smooth nutty flavour.

Seed and Bean are UK's only 100% ethically accredited chocolate company.

All the bars are Fairtrade and Soil Association approved.

85g bars Price £2.29 each Stockists: nationwide

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Filippo Berio - limited edition Commemorative tin
Featuring “The Lady of Viareggio” from one of Italy’s most stylish Tuscan resorts and home to Filippo Berio. A must-have for lovers of the Cucina Italiana and a beautiful present for the foodie or hard-to-buy for.  Extra Virgin Olive Oil is wonderful for drizzling over focaccia or bruschetta, for marinades and dipping bread into.
1L tins from Waitrose, Sainsbury’s and Tesco, RRP £7.49.

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Harveys Bristol Cream - the UK's favourite sherry
Holder of a Royal Warrant and enjoyed by the Queen's household - sherry is the perfect occasion drink for toasting.

Mix up some special drinks over the festive holiday using Harveys Bristol Cream Sherry - take a glass, fill with ice, pour sherry over and top with a slice of frozen or fresh orange.  A longer drink - pour some sherry into a long glass, top up with lemonade and add slices of fresh fruit.  Toast the Queen on Christmas Day with a glass of Harveys.
RRP £9.41 Stockists: nationwide

Thank you everyone for the samples

illy University of Coffee

Marco Arrigo, illy Head of Quality

We were invited to the illy University of Coffee at the Business Design Centre in Islington to attend a Coffee Tasting and Training Experience with Marco Arrigo, illy Head of Quality.

Marco started the day by allowing the air to be released from a huge canister of coffee. We were yet to have our first coffee of the day and couldn't have asked for a better introduction to the world of illy.

Priding themselves on high quality coffee derived from a single blend of 100% Arabica beans and by using nine different beans from across the world, the parameters of each bean can be quantified and qualified to ensure the blend is consistent in its quality, very much like a premium champagne. This ensures the user will always enjoy the same coffee experience.

Using a commercial coffee machine, handling the porter filter, learning about tamping coffee and how to make the perfect milk for cappuccino, latte, flat white and macchiato. It's all a bit daunting and manic when you've only experienced the 'other side of the counter' in a coffee shop.

One cappuccino, one latte and two macchiatos demanded Marco, this was a call which we were to hear repeatedly until we were achieving a good result for these types of coffee.

Two single espresso coming up Marco

Our steamed milk

We were taught how to steam milk using full fat milk and how to place the steam wand into the milk correctly to froth and texture.  To get rid of bubbles in the milk you have to bang the jug down onto the counter top and swirl the milk constantly to keep it on the move and make it shiny ready for pouring.

Cappuccino made by Marco

Leaf design for latte and making a flat white

Getting the espresso ready for the macchiato

Macchiato is made using the very last foamed milk from the jug

Coffee cup envy

illy coffee experience

Francis Francis X7.1 Espresso Machine using iperEspresso Capsules

This fabulous coffee machine has been designed by architect Luca Trazzi and comes in red, white or black. I chose this eye catching red machine and with its sleek lines it looks stunning in my kitchen. It is extremely easy to use and all you have to do is insert an iperEspresso capsule, press the cup symbol and you have the perfect espresso with an excellent crema. Milk is easily frothed to make latte and cappuccino for the coffee shop experience. The coffee is outstanding in quality and I'm enjoying working my way through Classic, Dark Roast and Decaf.  This clever coffee machine is a crowd pleaser, doesn't make a mess and delivers consistently great coffee every time.

For a fabulous Christmas Gift there is a promotional code for readers to use MAGGIE20 this will give 20% off Illy coffee and machines at www.espressocrazy.com and expires on 1^st January 2014.

Thank you to illy Coffee and Marco - for a fun and informative day.

Foodie Christmas Gift Ideas 2013 - Part Three

Stylish and easy to clean cafetiere

Oxo Good Grips French Press with GroundsKeeper
A very stylish, clever, easy to clean cafetiere, from the trusted brand Oxo Good Grips - it's just what we have been waiting for. There is a ladle which sits at the base of the glass carafe and catches the ground coffee when it has brewed, after serving the coffee all you need to do is remove the ladle which is full of coffee grounds and dispose in the bin.  Cleaning is easy and I found you don't have to wrestle with the glass carafe to remove it for cleaning. The body of the cafetiere is stainless steel with a silicone non-slip handle, plunger and 'GroundsKeeper'.
Coffee is made in the usual way, add coarsely ground coffee then hot water, using the handy measurement markings.  Stir, leave for four minutes and plunge for a fabulous grounds free cup of coffee. Serves 8 cups (2L).
Price £35. Available from Lakeland

Strawberry Truffle - a very grownup milkshake

Tequila Rose - presented in a beautiful bottle.
Looking for an alternative to your usual festive creme liqueur?  Look no further - Tequila Rose is a unique blend of strawberry-flavoured, cream liqueur and premium Tequila using fresh dairy cream.

                                 Strawberry Split             Mudslide                  Evolution                      

Impress your guests with cocktails, popsicles and desserts, delicious served with fresh strawberries. Fabulous served neat, over ice or in coffee. A great Christmas Gift - Tequila Rose is available from TheDrinkShop.com priced £17.09

Mini Cone

Christmas wouldn't be the same without Ferrero Rocher.
A whole hazelnut is surrounded by crispy wafer, a creamy filling, then coated in smooth milk chocolate and chopped hazelnuts. The Mini Cone makes a special present or will look fabulous as a centrepiece on the Christmas table for sharing after the main event!
Exclusive to Asda with a RRP of £5.99.

Ferrero Collection

Ferrero Collection - for giving and sharing.
This delicious assortment includes Raffaello by Ferrero - a blend of almond and coconut.  Classic Ferrero Rocher, as well as Ferrero Rond Noir which has a new hazelnut centre encased in a dark chocolate pearl - giving a rich and rounded flavour.  A Christmas favourite for giving and sharing.
RRP £4.69 from all major retailers

New! Raffaello by Ferrero - presented in a beautiful mini gift box.
Snowballs of light layers of wafer, with a creamy coconut centre and a toasted almond, finished with a sprinkling of coconut. For something special this Christmas, Raffaello by Ferrero will make a stunning and affordable gift. A fabulous stocking filler.
RRP £2.99 - Available Tesco, Debenhams and Asda.
www.ferrero-range.co.uk

Jelly Belly Beans Gift Set - Be a Jelly Belly Foodie this Christmas!
These original Gourmet Jelly Beans are full of flavour, delicious, cool and very cute.  They are a taste sensation and full of true to life flavour.  Developed for the sophisticated palate, the beans are packed with an intensely juicy taste.  Love their bright coloured shells which go right through to the centre.  An interesting fact is a single jelly bean can take up to 21 days to create.  There are 90 authentic flavours mostly using natural ingredients.  Traditional flavours are Green Apple and Very Cherry which have been popular for over 35 years.

Lots of Jelly Bean fun

Christmas Jelly Belly fun - create tastes such as lemon meringue pie by choosing two lemon and two coconut beans. Try a refreshing fruit salad by taking one jelly bean of kiwi, strawberry jam, blueberry and cantaloupe - you'll be amazed!
All Jelly Belly beans are free from fat, wheat, gluten, dairy and gelatine-free. Each bean contains just 4 calories each, they are suitable for vegetarians and certified OU Kosher. Jelly Belly jelly beans can be purchased at Waitrose, Sainsbury, Tesco’s, Selfridges, John Lewis, Harvey Nichols, House of Fraser, Fenwicks and all the best independent sweet shops. Also available from www.jellybelly-uk.com  -  40 flavour gift box £16.18

ALL BEER Experience - fantastic beer gift
The ALL BEER Experience is a unique, interactive guide to the top 25 styles of beer and their key flavour features, the perfect gift for the beer-loving people in your life.
This must-have guide has won 4 International Awards and is truly innovative, containing taste samples of different malts and the World's first 'scratch 'n' sniff' Hop aroma card to really experience where all those beer flavours come from - and which ones are for you.
It's simple, straightforward, packed with interactive challenges to entertain from Boxing Day into the New Year and is packed with original images.
www.allbeer.co.uk  Available from Amazon price £9.95

Thank you everyone for the wonderful samples.

Jamie Oliver Cast Aluminium Range Grill Pan by Tefal - Review

Tefal Jamie Oliver Cast Aluminium Range Grill Pan
measures 29cm x 25cm

I've just had an induction hob fitted in my kitchen and this grill pan is perfect, although the pan can be used on all other heat sources too.  My old pan can't be used on induction and I've been looking round for some time now to get a replacement.  The options are either cast iron which are very heavy, or a few others which were lighter to handle but I wasn't convinced they would last or cook very evenly. This pan is more lightweight than cast iron and very strong and sturdy. Tefal is a trusted name and a brand I have used before and I knew I was going to be in for a treat when I was offered the pan to review.

Grilled salmon, crushed peas with mint and potatoes boulangere

Grill pans encourage me to cook healthier food, I came back from my annual holiday a couple of weeks ago and now thinking ahead to all the Christmas food I'm about to consume, I'm going to try and plan my meals carefully.

The pan is very roomy and you can easily cook four to six salmon steaks or chicken breast fillets at the same time.  Salmon takes about 3 or 4 minutes each side to cook.  I always oil the food and not the pan and this pan only requires a minimum of oil because it is non-stick. The underside of the handle is silicone for a non-slip grip and it stays cool too.

The pan has the patented Thermospot which is a great feature, simply put the pan on the heat and wait until the red pattern on the spot in the middle of the pan disappears and becomes a solid red spot. The pan will be at the optimum heat to sear and cook.

Parmesan chicken with griddled sweetcorn

Delicious grilled pineapple - simply baste the pineapple with honey 

Chicken marinated in soy sauce, Worcester sauce and brown sugar

The pan is really easy to clean. I cooked the pineapple in the pan first, let the pan cool a little and then gave it a quick wash in soapy water. Afterwards I cooked the chicken - any debris in the pan comes off easily with soapy water.

The base of the pan 

Oven safe to 260ºC - meat can be seared on the pan and then finished cooking in the oven.
Pro-metal hard non-stick interior.
Metal utensils can be safely used, excluding whisks and knives.
Heats quickly.
Even heat distribution.
Food stays beautifully moist.
Hand washing recommended - not a chore though because debris comes off easily.

Available from Debenhams - Price £70

Thank you to Tefal for the grill pan.

Foodie Christmas Gifts 2013 - Part Two

No.3 London Dry Gin
No.3 London Dry Gin is owned by Berry Brothers & Rudd, Britain’s oldest wine and spirit merchants (established in 1698) and the Wine & Spirit Merchants by Appointment to both HM The Queen and The Prince of Wales. It was created with the aid of the holder of the only PhD in gin flavour - and has been crafted to 'taste as gin should' and to be the perfect gin for a G&T or Martini. With an ABV of 46%, it has a heavy 'punch' of juniper and just five other botanicals present (the flavourings which all gins contain) - which is in stark contrast to many other gins which can have ten or more.  A top notch Christmas Gift for someone special.
Available from Waitrose, Sainsbury's, Selfridges £35.00/70cl.

Lindor Collection Gift Box from Lindt
The Lindt Master Chocolatiers have created this beautiful box of luxurious Lindor chocolate truffles. There are 20 smooth truffles in five delicious flavours - milk, hazelnut, white, extra dark and Irish cream. Also included in the box are three heart shaped milk chocolates.  Beautifully presented - the perfect Christmas gift.
Available from lindt.co.uk  - rrp £9.95 - 285g

Lindt Stracciatella Truffles
Especially for Christmas the Lindt Master Chocolatiers have created a limited edition flavour - the Lindor Stracciatella truffles taste just like cookies and cream - they have a smooth creamy white praline centre and there are crunchy cocoa nibs in the chocolate shell.  I would buy two of these, one as a gift and one for me - they will also look fabulous as luxurious cake decorations or as a hidden filling inside cupcakes.
Available from lindt.co.uk - rrp £4.59 - 200g

BAKE
Foodies have gone baking crazy and are always seeking out the next recipe whether this is sweet or savoury. A delicious book for inspiration and encouraging us to get baking. There is something in the book for everyone from beginners to the more experienced cook.  Recipes from around the world including classics such as English Victoria Sandwich from here in the UK to further afield including a Fraisier cake from France, Danube Wave cake from Germany, Maple and Pecan Bundt cake from America and Princess Cake from Scandinavia. There are 384 pages and illustrations for every recipe including step by step photographs.
Price: £25.00 Bake published by Parragon Books is available from Amazon, Debenhams, Sainsbury’s, WH Smiths and other outlets across the UK

Cambrook - Brilliantly Caramelised Nuts
Using traditional artisan techniques each nut is coated in a fine golden glaze and has a distinctive crunchy texture with a hint of salt. The recipe was perfected using a French copper roasting pan.  Artisan methods used on the Continent were borrowed and their own distinctive brand of caramelised nuts were created using a fine layer of sugar and honey with a pinch of salt. The new Cambrook caramelised nut range includes Cashews, Sesame Peanuts, Macadamias and Mixed Nuts. The perfect gift for the foodie who has everything.
Prices from £1.79 RRP to £2.99 per 80g bag; available at delis, farm shops and speciality food stores, including Fortnum & Mason, Selfridges, Harvey Nichols and Wholefoods.
For further information, visit www.cambrookfoods.co.uk

Divine After Dinner Ginger Thins and Mint Thins
Delicious 70% dark chocolate Divine After Dinner Ginger Thins are filled with soft ginger jelly. The After Dinner Mint Thins are chocolate squares filled with soft natural mint fondant covered in 70% award winning dark chocolate. Divine is the only fair trade chocolate company which is owned by its cocoa farmers. Both ginger and mint are said to aid digestion and I would happily share these chocolate squares after an indulgent Christmas dinner.
Available at Waitrose, Booths and Ocado RRP £3.50 - 200g boxes

Walkers Shortbread Scottie Dog Tin
Scottie dog shaped butter shortbreads fill this beautiful rectangle tin. The melt in the mouth shortbread is made using just four ingredients, flour, pure butter, sugar and salt.  No additives or preservatives are used. They are baked in the village of Aberlour, Speyside, in the heart of the Scottish Highlands. Christmas wouldn't be the same without a tin of Walkers shortbread.
Available from Cargo Home Shop £10 -220g

Thank you to everyone for the fabulous samples.

Foodie Christmas Gifts 2013 - Part One

Prestat Snowman Christmas Bauble filled with sea salt caramel truffles - this fabulous bauble is definitely one for the grown ups. The luxurious truffle centre is encased in a 70% cocoa chocolate truffle shell.  All Prestat chocolates are made by hand in London. They were awarded a second Royal Warrant by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother in her centenary year.
They can be bought either from their online shop or at selected retailers rrp £6.75

The Glenrothes 'Select Reserve' Malt Whisky - a very special Whisky.
The Glenrothes malt whisky is bottled by 'vintage' and not by age which is the first ever in the whisky industry.  Their master distiller will only bottle the whisky when it has matured and reached its peak of perfection.  The shape of the bottle stands out and many are complete with a handwritten signature from the master distiller. Owned by Berry Bros & Rudd who are Britain's oldest wine and spirit merchants, they are the Wine and Spirit Merchants by Appointment to HM The Queen and The Prince of Wales.
43%ABV - £38.00/70cl.  Stockists: Waitrose, Sainsbury's and Asda.

The Ideal Home Show Cook Book - This is the first recipe book from the Ideal Home Show brand, and features over 100 delicious recipes for all occasions, from starters through to drinks!  Recipes include rich and warming root vegetable soup, roast butternut squash risotto, ginger and ripple ice cream to hot chocolate with a spicy twist. All of the recipes have a photograph showing the finished dish.

The fool proof instructions and clear layout mean that it works for everyone, no matter how experienced a cook they are, and it’s divided by seasons, so you can pick recipes using the freshest seasonal ingredients. There is a very useful section at the end of the book 'Finishing Touches' showing how to give our food the restaurant look. It’s also priced at just £15, making it an affordable gift. The book is only for sale through the Ideal Home Show website and at the Home Shows themselves. The Ideal Home Show at Christmas, Earls Court runs from 13th to 17th November 2013.

Scarlett & Mustard Dazed & Infused Oils in Basil, Truffle and Dill
They have a new range of Dazed & Infused Oils which are all made with English cold-press extra virgin rapeseed oil. Foodies will love these amazing oils for cooking or finishing dishes. I like to use them in bread making, pasta sauces and risottos but please visit their website for more ideas.  Sauces, marinades, dressings and oils are made with only the best stuff they can find.
They have recently won two Great Taste Awards 2013 and are available in Harvey Nichols, Fortnum & Mason, Harrods and Patridges amongst other retailers.
Infused Oil gift sets - rrp £15 for the 100ml bottle set from the Scarlett & Mustard online shop.

Traditional Smoked Salmon from John Ross Jr - one of the last remaining traditional smokers (they use brick kilns dating back to 1857) and are the supplier to the Queen and the Royal Network of Kitchens. They've held the Royal Warrant for 25 years and were one of the key participants in this year's Coronation Festival, which took place in the Royal Gardens of Buckingham Palace. Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without salmon on the table and this one is a winner with a great flavour and texture.
The 200g pack can be found in all Waitrose stores and Ocado priced at £6.49.

Carluccio's Ciottoli Di Torrone - Chocolate Torrone Dragee
Cocoa dusted balls of almond and honey torrone(nougat). The honey is made from a special blend of five varieties including one from the Venetian lagoon which is know for its slightly salty flavour. These will look stunning as a centre piece on top of a special cake. Tastefully packaged and affordable luxury for Christmas - 120g rrp £6.95 available from Carluccio's online shop or restaurants.

Oxfam Carved Antique Leaf Wooden Bowl - Perfect for the dining table.
Oxfam’s Carved Antique Leaf Wooden Bowl is hand carved out of distressed wood by Fair Trade producers in India. Sustainable materials are used to help reduce the environmental impact, supporting small-scale farmers or social enterprises. The money raised is used to help Oxfam’s vital work fighting poverty around the world.
Available at selected high street shops nationwide. To find your nearest shop visit www.oxfam.org.uk/shopfinder  Price: £12.99

Thank you to everyone for sending me samples for the Christmas Gift List.

A Love for Food by Daylesford - Book Review

Carol Bamford, the founder of  Daylesford, came to Gloucestershire in 1992 and the start of the journey was to convert the land to become organic to produce local, seasonal and sustainable foods. A step back in time - I can remember my grandparents having a huge allotment, no pesticides were ever used and the fresh produce meant that there was always good food on the table. There were also a few hens in the garden at the back of the house which meant lots of fresh eggs for eating and baking.

I've spent a good few weeks reading A Love for Food and because it is so much more than recipes it has taken me a while to write a review.....

Throughout the book we are introduced to some of the team who are passionate about their work at Daylesford, reading their stories and how they came to be part of  the journey. Jez Taylor - The Market Gardener,  John Longman - The Cheese Room, Eric Duhamel - The Bakery,  Richard Smith - The Livestock and Andy Wheeler - Black Barn Chef.

I can't resist a great chilli recipe and this one from the book is a winner.

Looking down the ingredients list, using instant coffee in the recipe caught my attention, interestingly it is used for richness and depth of flavour and colour, this was new to me because it is usual for me to add a square of dark chocolate. A small amount of beef marrow is in the ingredients list but I was unable to buy this. Shin of beef is the star of this dish and it is cooked slowly until meltingly tender. I stored my cooked chilli in the fridge for a couple of days before we reheated it and this makes a huge difference because all the strong flavours of coriander, smoked paprika and chilli powder blend together and it's even more delicious - the best recipe ever declared my hubby.

There are many seasonal recipes throughout the book including rhubarb queen of puddings - smashed broad beans with peas - mint, tomato and feta salad with a mint and lemon dressing.

Some of the recipes which caught my eye are roast rib of beef with Dijon mustard and balsamic vinegar, cod with lemon, parsley and tomato butter, Bledington Blue Cheese and brocolli tart, blood orange and polenta cake with orange whipped cream, chicken casserole with a splash of brandy and salted ginger treacle tart. Christmas mince pies and a Christmas Cake recipe from the family of Carol Bamford are also included.

Chapters and notes within the book include from the market garden - salads and vegetables.  The cheese room - savoury tarts and pies.  Meat - with notes on casseroles and notes on roasts with useful guidelines.

I particularly enjoyed the bread chapter with notes on ingredients and technique. There is also a day by day guide outlining how to make natural leavens with grapes and recipes for sourdough once you have made the natural leaven.

The sign of a good cookery book in my house is one that has sticky notes attached to the tops of pages to help me find recipes that have caught my eye - this book has many sticky notes attached.....

There are family recipes and also recipes that will be familiar with foodies who visit the farmshop and cafe, but for those of us who have yet to visit, we can now make these award-winning recipes in our own homes.

This is a substantial book with 424 pages, seasonal recipes and a general mix of recipes from savoury to sweet, not all recipes are accompanied with a photograph of the finished dish. All of the recipes are easy to follow and are written thoughtfully with a guiding hand. A cookery book for foodies, those who grow their own fruit and vegetables and cooks who use local organic produce.

Price £30
Published by Fourth Estate

Thank you for the review copy.