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

Breville Aurora Stainless Steel 4 Slice Toaster - Review

Foodies love practical presents and this fabulous retro Breville Aurora Stainless Steel 4 Slice Toaster will look stylish in all kitchens and bring a welcome splash of colour. The toaster has some fabulous features - a lift and look to view progress of toast without cancelling, variable browning and width slots, defrost, reheat and mid-cycle cancel functions, and illuminated buttons. This is a large toaster and will be a great help at breakfast time for busy families trying to get out of the house on time for the school run. I'm not sure whether all sliced bread will fit perfectly into the toaster, it's just a case of trying different brands.
Breville is a trusted name and the brand has been around since the 1980's.
Available in Candy Red, Shimmer Cream or a Twilight Black and matching kettles are also available.
RRP £49.99 from Asda and Tesco

Thank you for the review sample.

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.

Pyramid Pan Silicone Baking Mat - Review

Image Courtesy of Find Me A Gift

The Pyramid Pan Silicone Baking Mat is a very useful piece of kitchen kit.  The pyramids are there to catch any fatty deposits and ensure the food stays crisp.

                                                       The mat measures 29cm x 40cm

The mat fits snugly inside a large oven tray.

The mat is multifunctional - it can be used as an oven baking mat up to conventional 220ºC, on the work surface as a trivet for hot pans, or used as a sink drainer which is useful for those delicate glasses. Dishwasher and microwave safe.

Crispy chicken and jacket potatoes

Tried and Tested:

• I tested the mat by cooking crispy Cajun chicken and jacket potatoes.  The chicken and potatoes sit on top of the pyramids which allows hot air to circulate underneath the food and any fat from the chicken is caught at the base of the pyramids which ensures food stays crisp and doesn't sit in a pool of fat. 
• Food doesn't stick to the mat
• Easy to wash by hand, simply place into a bowl of soapy washing up water and any debris comes off easily
• Rolls up for storage and after unrolling it will sit flat

Price £18.99 from Find Me A Gift - visit their website for lots more great gift ideas.

Thank you to Find Me A Gift for the review sample.

C'est Ca Vintage Bird Cage Kitchen Oven Gloves - Review

Made in Britain

These quality kitchen oven gloves with a Victorian bird cage design are vintage chic and are made and designed in Norfolk. The gloves are part of a range which includes a choice of three aprons, tea towel, tea cosy and a gauntlet oven glove.

The gloves will look great in all kitchens

• Cream and white design
• Long loop for hanging
• Glove area sits well above the wrist
• Tested to British Standard BS6526 for heat protection and insulation
• Made from cotton
• Reverse is 100% towelling
• Washable 
• Available from Quality Independent Stores
• Price £16.75

Thank you to C'est Ca's and www.ictc.co.uk for the lovely oven gloves

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.

Dine In Contemporary Bread and Oil Board Set by Sabichi - Review

Board measures 485 x 115 mm

One of the things I enjoy most when I go out for a meal is dipping into the oil and balsamic vinegar bowl which has been brought to the table with lots of fresh bread.

The new dining out is dining in and these days we all try and take dining in to another level, it's not just about the food we serve but the serve ware we use too.  We all like to have a smart look to the dining table and the Dine In range from Sabichi is contemporary in style and the white porcelain set against rich Acacia wood is truly stunning.  This set is a great gift idea too.

The ceramic bowl is dishwasher and microwave safe.

Dine In Bread and Oil Board Set £14.00 - is part of the Dine In Collection.  Available from Sabichi Stores and www.sabichi.co.uk

Many thanks to Pam and Sabichi for the review sample.

Joseph Joseph Elevate Spatula Set: Review

Presented in a gift box

I have been sent this fabulous Joseph Joseph Spatula Set to review from the online retailer Find Me A Gift.  This is a very useful kitchen set, they all have weighted handles and a built in tool rest which elevates the spoon off the kitchen work surface to prevent the spoon messing the surfaces up.

They are made of polypropylene and the spoon/spatulas have flexible silicone heads. Easy to wash up but they will go into the dishwasher and are heat resistant to 340C. If you have lots of non-stick pans these are perfect for stirring.

Useful for stirring, mixing and serving.

The middle size spatula is perfect for removing all the cake batter from the mixing bowl.

The small spatula is useful for spreading out cake batter.

Great serving up spoon

The Review:

Pros:
Trendy colours
Excellent Quality Product
Innovative
They can be stored on wall hooks
No transfer of flavours
No discolouring
Easy to clean

Cons:
Nothing obvious


Thank you to Find Me A Gift for the review sample.  Find Me A Gift price £19.99 for the set.