Hotel Chocolat Valentine's Chocolate Review

This week were sent a special treat to review from the lovely people at Hotel Chocolat. Now, everyone loves getting parcels through the post, but when this parcel arrived, it was clear that it was something special! No boring brown cardboard boxes here....!

I'll keep you hanging on for just a couple more seconds...

Here we have the exquisite Valentine's Goody Bag! A beautifully presented gift bag full of luxury chocolates - what more could a girl ask for on Valentine's Day?

 

This gift contains a luscious selection of charming chocolates to treat someone special this Valentine's Day. With Lovely Hearts Milk Chocolates, Raspberry Fusion Slab, Strawberry Heart Lick and Passion Fruit Truffles there's enough choice to share, if you really want to! (I'm sure the 'broken heart' was the doing of the postman, not Hotel Chocolat... or my loved one!)

 

These chocolates are definitely something to savour and enjoy - deliciously rich but not overly sweet, and an extra bonus point, they are suitable for vegetarians! This Valentine's Goody Bag costs £19, so a really reasonable price for the quality of chocolates that you receive.

 

Perfect for a treat for a relaxing Valentine's stress-free weekend and did I mention that chocolate can reduce stress and anxiety? So, a little indulgence is good for you!

 

You can buy this gift and the other chocolates within the range here. With prices from just £2.50, there's definitely something for all budgets. And don't forget, Valentine's Day is closely followed by Mother's Day and Easter... I'm off to make my 'wish list'!

 

Disclaimer: We were sent the Valentine's Goody Bag free of charge from Hotel Chocolat to review. All views and opinions my own.

 

Advent Post #2: Christmas Gift Ideas - Bellucci Chocolate from Turin

With Christmas now just literally around the corner, it's a present-buying frenzy in most households (mine, anyway!).

Some people are really easy to buy for because anything suits and some gifts seem to jump off the shelf towards you when you realise they are perfect for a particular family member. But... there's always the time when you're really stuck and you feel like a box of chocolates are a bit of a cop-out as a gift!

Well, let me introduce Bellucci Chocolate to you all! Bellucci Chocolate is a new brand of speciality chocolates from Turin in the Piedmont region of northern Italy. With the 'Tonda Gentile delle Langhe' hazelnut at it's heart, the brand showcases traditional glanduiotti, cremini and other gianduja products; a rich velvet smooth hazelnut praline that melts as it touches the tongue.

The 'Bella' selection boxes contain a combination of praline, nougat and traditional chocolates. And great news for those who have a dairy and/or gluten free diet - the traditional gianduiotti are gluten-free AND dairy-free! So when the box of chocolates get passed around, you'll be able to say 'Yes please!' instead of looking on longingly, wishing for some chocolate!

We were sent a sample of each chocolate that goes into the Bella Box Grande. Let me tell you that you needn't be sheepish about buying these chocolates as a gift for a loved one! They look exquisite and almost too good to eat! But don't let that hold you back! They are absolutely delicious and taste as good as they look. The flavours are subtle but classically beautiful, in fact I don't think I'd want to share them with anyone!

Have a look around their website here or pop over to their Facebook page here. You won't be disappointed with their range of gift ideas! With next day delivery available, you've no excuse for running out of time this December (subject to courier/Royal Mail restrictions, that is!).

I'm off to enjoy some more luxurious chocolates!

This blog post was written after receiving a sample selection box of chocolates from Bellucci Chocolate.

Chilli Chocolate Ginger Cupcakes - Gourmet Garden's Blog Off Cook Off

Gourmet Garden are the the producer of fresh herbs and spices easy for weekday cooking.  Their passion is organically-grown herbs and spices packaged in a convenient squeezable tube that lasts for up to 3 months in your fridge.  They are currently running a Blog Off Cook Off competition where one lucky blogger can win a trip to Australia and a whopping £3000!

Using some of their great range of fresh herbs and spices, I have to develop and make a recipe to be judged by the great Rosemary Shrager.

So here we go - here's one of my entries to the fantastic Gourmet Garden's Blog Off Cook Off competition.

Chilli Chocolate Ginger Cupcakes  - makes 12

Cupcakes
140g self raising flour
115g unsalted butter (softened) or liquid Stork margarine
115g caster sugar
1 tsp baking powder
2 medium eggs
1 tbsp Gourmet Garden ginger

Buttercream
200g icing sugar, sifted
100g unsalted butter, softened
1 tbsp cocoa powder mixed with 1 tbsp hot water (cooled)
1 tsp Gourmet Garden chilli
12 strawberries, washed and wiped

1. Add all of the cupcake ingredients to a large mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer for 3-5 minutes until all the ingredients are well combined.
2. Divide between 12 large cupcake/muffin cases and bake in a preheated oven (Gas 4) for 12-15 minutes.
3. Remove from the oven and cool on a wire cooling rack.
4. For the buttercream; beat the icing sugar and butter for 5-6 minutes until pale, light and fluffy.  Add the cooled cocoa powder/water and the chilli - mix until well combined.
5. Pipe swirls of the buttercream on top of the cooled cupcakes and top with a fan-cut strawberry.
6. Serve and enjoy!

Mayan Monkey Mijas - quite possibly the best chocolate in the world!

I'm not a chocaholic.. but I do like chocolate!  I'm not a big milk chocolate fan, I much prefer a good quality dark chocolate you can nibble on rather than chocolate that you just eat and eat until you feel a bit queasy!

Whilst on holiday earlier this month, we stumbled upon a fantastic little shop in the village of Mijas, Costa del Sol, Spain. 

Mayan Monkey Mijas is tucked away in the quiet village of Mijas strategically placed on a balcony of cute shops overlooking Constitution Square - it's like a little secret that needs to be shared and shouted about; it really is that good!

The beautiful Chanel was very helpful...  there's loads of chocolates to choose from and when you're limited by baggage weight, it really was a difficult decision as to which chocolate to buy!  In the end we decided on Massaman Thai Curry Dark Chocolate and Orange & Chilli Dark Chocolate.  We also tried samples of the White Chocolate with Lavender - I really didn't think that I would like it but it was a lovely flavour and would be great to top a cupcake with as a treat or something a bit different.

These chocolates are defintely ones to be savoured and nibbled slowly - not scoffed in one and not appreciated! 

We also bought (and ate before we left the shop - oopppss!) some lovely mini chocolate figures for my children.  From robots to owls and most things inbetween, there's something for everyone. 

Chanel was even making some "special" Christmas chocolates - without giving too much away, they gave us a giggle on a wet and misty afternoon!

And.... they also sell ice cream!  "Ice Cream Heaven" to be exact.... a scoop or two of ice cream (any flavour!) covered in freshly melted, hot chocolate which immediately freezes when it touches the ice cream, resulting in a chocolate "crust"!  Sounds a bit strange... but absolutely lovely!

Mayan Monkey Mijas has a claim to fame... it's the smallest chocolate factory in the world. All of the chocolates are made on site and you can help with the process!  They run workshops (pre-booked) for children and adults.  In workshops for children, the emphasis is more fun-based, whereas with adults, they can get more technical, and explore the science, geography, etc in greater depth.

Workshops run daily at Mayan Monkey Mijas, 7 days a week. Spaces are limited, and since classes are proving as popular with children as with adults, make sure you book in advance to avoid disappointment!

They can accommodate birthday parties, team-building events, etc.  Workshops at Mayan Monkey Mijas are held in their professional craft-based factory.

So, if you are planning a holiday to Costa del Sol any time soon, or are local to Mijas Pueblo (you lucky thing!), pop in and see Chanel and the guys and girls, say hello and be spoilt for choice with the amazing chocolates on offer!

More Macmillan Cakes! Luv It! Bermo's Fundraising Coffee Morning

Here's the second installment of Macmillan Coffe Morning Cupcakes (and muffins this time!).  We have....

Mallow Chrysanthemum Cupcakes

Royal Iced Macmillan Vanilla Cupcakes

Ginger & Lemon Cupcakes and Chocolate Orange Cupcakes

Mango & Papaya Muffins with Mango Buttercream

I hope the event gets lots of support as Macmillan do a fantastic job supporting cancer sufferers and their families in times of need.

It's a scary thought but one in three of us will get cancer and it’s the toughest thing most of us will ever face. If you’ve been diagnosed with cancer, or a loved one has, you’ll want a team of people in your corner supporting you every step of the way.

Macmillan Cancer support provide practical, medical and financial support and push for better cancer care.

£25.00 will pay for one hour for a Macmillan nurse to support a family affected by cancer.

£51.00 could buy a liquidiser for someone who can't eat solid food as a result of their cancer treatment.
£70.00 could help run a large Macmillan information and support centre for an hour.
£191.00 could pay for a Macmillan nurse for a day, helping people living with cancer and their families receive essential support.
£220.00 could pay for travel and accommodation for a support group member to attend a dealing with loss workshop.
£333.00 could pay for a Macmillan Grant that helps a family affected by cancer take a holiday and enjoy precious time together.

Help us to raise some funds for this great cause! Pop in for some coffee and cake this Saturday 11.00- 3.00pm, look forward to seeing you all :)

 

So do what the lady says!  If you're close enough, pop to Luv It! Bermo tomorrow (Saturday 29th Sept 2012) and show your support.

Macmillan Coffee Morning Fundraiser - Cakes, cakes, cakes!

Just a quick "hello" today and some updated cupcake photos!  To support Macmillan's World's Biggest Coffee Morning I'm baking for 2 local coffee mornings - one takes place tomorrow and here's a selection of my contribution...

Drum roll please.... we have ginger, honey & lemon; chocolate fudge; chocolate orange; royal iced; butter iced and marshmallow chrysanthemum cupcakes!!!

I've not decided what I'll be baking for the second one at the weekend... we'll see!

The Big Fair Bake 2012 - Fairtrade Awareness

Baking tastes better when you share, so the Big Fair Bake is the perfect excuse to get inspired put on your pinny and bake up a treat for others; not just the friends and family we share it with, but also the farming communities who grew the ingredients.

Fairtrade tea, coffee, bananas, sugar, chocolate, cotton.... to name a few products that we all use daily and by switching to Fairtrade we can all make a difference, one step at a time.

I have chosen a recipe (Chocolate Orange Muffins) from the Fairtrade website here, but also added my own twist... to devise and bake a recipe using only Fairtrade ingredients... sort of like a "Ready, Steady, Cook" for the Fairtrade industry.... the last part of the challenge is to share my culinary creations and delights and share the message of Fairtrade.

Even though I live in a small town with little choice for supermarkets, I'm lucky that the main supermarket is the Co-Operative... in 2000 they developed and launched their own label range of Fairtrade products.  The ethics behind their products is great and they stock over 250 Fairtrade products, each displaying the Fairtrade badge to make them easily recognisable.

So, the ingredients that I can choose from are.... tea, coffee, chocolate, bananas, honey, sugar, beansprouts(!), wine, blueberries, pineapple, mangoes, oranges, grapefruits and lemons..... I'm not sure where the beansprouts will come in however my son loves them in a quick stir-fry...not with fruit salad though!  But, the wine will definitely be for drinking, no questions there!!

I'm thinking along the lines of "Banana tea bread muffins", "Chocolate blueberry muffins" and "Tropical fruit salad".  These delights will be created over the next couple of days and shared with family and friends... I'll publish the recipes to share with you all too...no secrets here!

Why don't you have a go... a simple fruit salad can provide your 5 a day and help the farmers at the source of the industry.... and everyone loves cake - Fairtrade just makes it better!

Preview Review of Nestle Chocolately Cheerios

I was lucky enough to receive a box of the Nestle Chocolately Cheerios before they hit the supermarket shelves next month... my children were delighted at the thought of being important enough to be able to try a new breakfast cereal before anyone else in the world (or so they thought!).

They spotted the box after school one day but I managed to hold them off until the morning when we could all sit together and eat breakfast as a family.  They were well-liked by both of my children and also got the thumbs-up from the parents, i.e. me & hubby!  My daughter quoted, "super magic awesome" with my son having 2 bowls!

 

 

The new cereals have been taked about and promoted on the Cheerios UK Facebook page and some people were saying, "not another chocolate-based cereal!" and seemed of the opinion that their children would be forced to live on chocolate cereals!  But, as parents, we can all make the choice when purchasing cereals for our families. 

In my household, we do buy chocolate cereals for our children but they also enjoy porridge, Weetabix and bran flakes/cornflakes... all without adding sugar!  As part of a healthy diet and lifestyle chocolate cereals are OK in my opinion; Chocolately Cheerios are a source of calcium and have the Wholegrain Guarantee carried by Nestle cereals.  They are also lower in calories and higher in fibre than another "chocolate hoop" cereal... not naming names, but you can guess the brand I mean! 

The Chocolatey Cheerios are slightly smaller than the "other" ones - more "Cheerio-shaped and sized" and also they keep their "crunch" - one of my pet hates is soggy cereal (I actually shouted at a midwife when I was in labour as she was trying to make me eat crisped rice cereal that had had milk put on it for about an hour... not nice!).

Overall, I think these cereals will be a hit with families and will be appearing on breakfast tables all over the country really soon.  As an ex-uni student, I can also see them as a store cupboard essential for those times in need of a (healthy!) energy boost!

Pop over to the Cheerios UK Facebook page and say, "hello" - watch out for their next giveaway of new and/or existing products :)