Review- Hope and Greenwood Sicilian Lemon Curd Superior Coconut Ice

Coconut AND Lemon! My 2 loves rolled into yet another one of my favourite treats.. Coconut Ice! 

I picked up Hope and Greenwood Sicilian Lemon Curd Superior Coconut Ice in Waitrose for £3.99 - Quite pricey for only a 150g carton! 

I stacked up the citrus scented coconut ice and got stuck in! It tasted gorgeous - very lemony whilst not being tart, with a strong coconut flavour. The super sweet cubes were pleasantly chewy after the sugar had dissolved on the tongue. Sheer perfection! 

I really rate Hope and Greenwood - I have tried the Raspberry Jam Coconut Ice previously and it is just as gorgeous as this Sicilian Lemon Curd version. If you're into coconut, I would highly recommend giving either (BOTH!) a go. It's a 4.5 out of 5 from me! 

Review- Krispy Kreme Chocolate & Honeycomb

I was very pleased to see this Chocolate & Honeycomb Krispy Kreme in my local Tesco cabinet.. At long last! It was the one doughnut from the Choco Mania Range that I hadn't managed to get my hands on. Talk about leaving it to the last minute, Tesco - These Limited Edition delights are only available for 3 more days! 

Filled with chocolate truffle kreme topped with a white Belgian chocolate coating & crunchy honeycomb pieces. 

I was so impressed by the amount of whipped kreme, packed inside! It tasted delicious - very creamy and chocolatey. The doughnut itself was the usual soft, squidgy, buttery dough, we've all come to know and love - I can't fault it! The white chocolate on top of the doughnut was quite brittle. It cracked and crumbled awkwardly when bitten which was a bit of a pain but it tasted very nice and of a high quality. The honeycomb was crunchy and a lovely finishing touch to what was, a fab doughnut! 

Overall, another massive hit from Krispy Kreme - They always get it spot on! You will have to be quick if you want to give this donut a go as they will be gone on Monday to make room for the NEW Cheesecake Doughnuts - Luscious Lemon & Salted Caramel Cheesecake. Yes, you read that correctly. Yes, I can't wait either. It's a 4 out of 5 for the Chocolate & Honeycomb, from me! 

Review- M&S Peach Melba Slices

These Peach Melba Slices were another item I bought from Marks & Spencer's Dessert Menu Range. They were on an introductory offer of £2.62 for 2 slices. 

Sponge layered with peach and raspberry jellies, vanilla and peach mousses and white chocolate, finished with a glaze, dusted with icing sugar. 

First of all, these were a nightmare to get out of the packaging. The box recommended sliding a knife 'carefully' under the base of each slice whilst holding the tray for support.. Because that clearly was always going to work. I ended up tipping them out onto their side whilst trying not to buff the tops. After much faffing about, I finally got stuck in. They smelt mildly fruity but had very little taste! I couldn't distinguish any sort of flavour from the jellies or even sweetness from the white chocolate. They were mainly just sickly from all the bland creamy mousse! Texture wise they were equally as unpleasant - It was all very mushy until you chomped down on an underripe peach. Very poor! 

I don't know what M&S are playing at with this new Dessert Menu Range - These slices are just as naff as the English Afternoon Tea Desserts, I reviewed a few weeks back. Thank goodness they are Limited Edition and hopefully won't be around for long! It's another, 0 out of 5 from me. 

Review- Pringles NEW Nacho Cheese Tortilla Chips

Who else use to have those cute little Pringle containers? I wish I still had mine - The pot was almost as exciting as the Pringles themselves! 

I picked up the NEW Pringles Nacho Cheese Tortilla Chips in Asda. They are priced at £1.47 for a 180g tube which is slightly less than the 190g of normal Pringles. Typical. 

I popped the top and couldn't stop. Well, sort of. They smelt very cheesy and tasted so too! The flavour was really similar to Quavers although my brother said they reminded him of Cheetos - I don't remember when I last had them so wouldn't like to comment on that! I was amazed at how the texture was both that of a normal light, crispy Pringle as well as having a corn chip quality to it - A perfect crisp mash-up! They were not overly salty either which is always a good thing. Although they are moreish, I am not sure you could eat half a tube of these, without giving it a second thought, as they are a bit heavier going than your standard pringle.. That's probably not such a bad thing though!

Overall, I really enjoyed these Tortilla Chip Pringles. I dipped mine in Cottage Cheese (of all things!) and it was delicious! I imagine they would be good with Salsa too. There are 3 other flavours in the same range which I would be keen to give a go - Original, Sour Cream and Spicy Chilli. It's a 4 out of 5 from me, for these cheesy chips! 

Betty Bakes Bonanza Round-up!

Hello Snack Army! 

Sadly, all good things must come to an end.. 6 Days, 6 Bars, 6 reviews, have all been complete. Our Betty Bakes Bonanza is over. 

Betty Bakes Round-up

As a whole, I have loved every single bar I have had his week. Apart from the odd thing, I couldn't find much fault in any of them - I found them very difficult to mark out of 5 given the high standard! 

I cannot commend Betty Bakes enough for creating such amazing wheat & gluten-free bars. It is not fair for anyone with an intolerance to miss out, although they are perfect for anyone who just fancies an indulgent treat! You would never know the difference between Bettys Bars and those that are not free-from apart from hers being far superior! 

My personal favourites were the OMG Bar, Lemon Meringue & White Chocolate and Raspberry & Coconut.. But who am I trying to kid? The Billionare Bar and Toffee Tiffin were delicious too! Although I would have it again in a heartbeat, I would be more drawn to the Bakewell Bar if it had more of an almond flavour - I am an almond fiend! 

I am keen to try more from Betty Bakes and already have my eye on the Eton Mess, Toffee Crisp and Banoffee Bar! 

Stockists 

Betty Bakes is sold in IKEA, Selfridges, Debenhams, Waterstones, Jamie's Italian, Wyevale Garden Centres as well Cafes and Childrens Play Centres.

Betty intends on launching online orders later this year but in the mean time will only be to happy to help you find your nearest stockist. Check them out via:

Twitter ~  (https://twitter.com/bettybakes)

Facebook page ~(https://www.facebook.com/bettybakes)

Website ~ http://heavenlycakes.co.uk/index 

A huge thank you to Betty Bakes once again for spoiling me! 

I think I best go have a sugar detox now and hope I don't have to many new cavities.. I do these things so you don't have to! 

Have a lovely Bank Holiday weekend, all! 

Images sourced from the lovely website that is home to Betty and her heavenly cakes: http://heavenlycakes.co.uk/index

Betty Bakes Bonanza Day 6 - OMG Bar

I have to confess.. Whenever I make flapjacks, it is not often that they make it into the oven. I love oats so much that I always end up eating the mixture straight from the saucepan that the ingredients have been melted together in! 

Our final review from Betty Bakes comes in the form of the OMG Bar. 

The 90g bar is made of gluten-free oats as well as oat flour. The flapjack base is topped with pumpkin & sunflower seeds, flaked almonds and cranberries, all sitting upon a sweetened condensed milk, caramel layer. 

The oats really were packed into this bar! The flapjack was dense and chewy with a sweet golden syrup, buttery flavour. It tasted very oaty and wholesome - I think the seeds and nuts helped contribute to this also. The almonds added a nutty element to the bar whilst the crammed, pumpkin & sunflower seeds added a lot of crunch. A pop of tartness from the ruby red cranberries prevented the bar from becoming overly sweet even with the soft and sticky yet delicious, caramel layer. Absolutely divine!  

Overall, this is another fantastic bar from Betty Bakes.. Surprise, surprise. I loved it so much I didn't even share it, as I had done previously! I would go as far as to say, it's the best bought flapjack I have ever had. It's a 'OMG' worthy, 5 out 5 from me! 

I will be back later on with a Betty Bakes Bonanza Round-up! 

Betty Bakes Bonanza Day 5 - Lemon Meringue & White Chocolate

I have made 2 lemon meringue pies this week and given both away. It is only fair that I am rewarded with the same flavours but in bar form!  

The penultimate review of our Betty Bakes Bonanza is Lemon Meringue & White Chocolate. 

The 90g, free from nasty flavourings and colourings bar, consisted of lemon curd upon a shortbread base, topped with a Belgian white chocolate and meringue layer. 

The first thing to jump out at me was the bright yellow curd - it was practically a sticky neon goo! It had a tangy lemon flavour whilst still being sweet enough to banish any tartness. The base was once again a little crumbly but had a lovely light buttery taste with no salty kick! The Belgian white chocolate on top with meringue pieces running throughout, was amazing - sweet but not throat burningly so with a slight crunch before the meringue melts in your mouth. 

All I can say is, perfection! It's a fab option if you are looking for something a little lighter - it is a bit to easy to eat all in one go though! It's full marks for Betty today - 5 out of 5! 

It's the last day of the Bonanza tomorrow.. The OMG Bar is our Grand Finale! 

Betty Bakes Bonanza Day 4 - Billionaire Bar

Why have Millionaires Shortbread when you can have Billionaires? Sometimes you just need chocolate and lots of it! 

Betty knows what's good for us! Here's review number 4 of the week. 

This 80g bar is a case of 'GO BIG OR GO HOME' with 3 types of Belgian chocolate- white, milk and plain with caramel, on a dark chocolate base made of Betty's signature gluten-free oat flour and cocoa. 

I was a little disappointed by how the bar cut. Although it tasted pleasant, the base was quite dry and very crumbly - not sure if the cocoa was to blame! The buttery caramel layer was soft, sweet, sticky and utterly delicious. A thick chocolate topping completed this bar. It certainly tasted like a premium chocolate with a deep rich flavour and fantastic melt. I really enjoyed the 2 white chocolate buttons on top - it added another element of sweetness. I was quite surprised to find that this bar had no salty taste to it unlike some of the others I have reviewed this week. No qualms either way though! 

Once again, Betty Bakes has produced another cracker. I'm never going to want regular Millionaire Shortbread again. It's a 3.5 out of 5! 

We need some fruit after all this indulgence.. Lemon Meringue & White Chocolate is up tomorrow! 

Betty Bakes Bonanza Day 3 - Raspberry & Coconut

I shall spare you all, a spiel about my love of coconut. It's the best thing of life. We all know it. 

We are half way through our Betty Bakes Bonanza! The Raspberry & Coconut bar is today's review. 

A third, 95g bar - they really are very substantial. More than big enough to share if you are feeling particularly generous! 

The bar smelt gorgeously tropical upon opening - just as all good coconut treats should. I was blown away by how densely packed the coconut was! It's thanks to this thick layer that the bar had a seriously chewy consistency. The fruity raspberry jam went perfectly with the sweet potent coconut. Once again I found that the base, although buttery, had a salty kick to it. It really helps balance out all the sweetness! 

Overall, given my love of coconut there was no way I wasnt going to adore this bar. Betty Bakes got it pretty much spot on! It's a 4.5 out of 5 from me. 

It's another chocolate offering tomorrow with the Billionaire Bar! See you then! 

Betty Bakes Bonanza Day 2 - Toffee Tiffin

Tiffin reminds me of my youth! I loved making fridge 'cakes' with my mum as a kid. Chocolate, golden syrup, biscuits and dried fruit.. What more could you ever want? 

It is Toffee Tiffin time for today's Betty Bakes review! 

The bar weighed 95g once again. It comprised of toffee, gluten free biscuit, sultanas as well as both plain and milk Belgian chocolate. 

It cut perfectly to reveal the biscuits inside! It tasted as good as it looked and smelt. The toffee layer was a chewy, sticky delight! It had a lovely sweet buttery flavour which went perfectly with the rich indulgent Belgian chocolates. The sultanas weren't lost in the bar at all - I was surprised at how plump and juicy they were. The biscuits in the base added yet another texture. The crunchy digestives gave a salty kick to the bar which I think helped balance out all the sweet elements. 

All in all, I can't find much fault with this Toffee Tiffin - It is 100 times better than anything I made as a child, that's for sure! It's a 4 out of 5 for this delicious 'grown up' version of a classic. 

Hold onto your hats.. It's Raspberry & Coconut tomorrow! 

Betty Bakes Bonanza Day 1 - Bakewell Bar

Bakewell Tart has always been one of my favourite treats.. Most things are to be fair. I like food, OK. 

As promised yesterday, Betty Bakes Bakewell Bar is up first for review. 

The hefty 95g bar contained very few ingredients: salted butter, raspberry jam, sugar, free range eggs, almonds, gluten free oat flour. I love how there are no hidden nasties!

This bar was so moist it actually stuck to the outer cardboard! I wasn't overwhelmed with the scent of almond upon opening - it was more like that of a sweet vanilla-y cake. The texture was lovely! It was very soft and squidgy with the almonds on top giving a crunch.Taste wise it was nice and buttery with a subtle hint of almond. The raspberry jam layer added a sweet fruitiness. My only wish is that it contained some almond extract to intensify what was quite a mild flavour.

Overall, I really enjoyed this first offering from Betty Bakes. If the rest of the bars are as yummy as this, we are going to be in got a good week! It's a 3.5 out of 5 from me! 

See you tomorrow with Toffee Tiffin! 

Betty Bakes Bonanza!

Hello Snack Army!

I am very excited to announce that starting tomorrow here on 'Reaching for Refreshment', we are going to be having a week long, Betty Bakes Bonanza!

6 Days, 6 Bars, 6 Reviews. No longer think of 666, being the devil.. Betty has been sent down as an angel from heaven, to satisfy all our sweet tooth cravings. 

Betty Bio

Betty Bakes prides herself on using fresh, locally sourced, natural ingredients to produce her no additive, gluten & wheat-free traybake bars. From Shortbreads to Brownies, to Flapjacks, there is something to please everyone! 

Image sourced from the lovely website that is home to Betty and her heavenly cakes: http://heavenlycakes.co.uk/index

Here's a sneak peek of the bars that are coming up next week:

L-R Bakewell, Toffee Tiffin, Raspberry & Coconut, Billionaire, Lemon Meringue & White Chocolate, OMG Bar. 

A massive thank you to Betty and her fantastic helpers for very generously sending me all these delicious looking treats! 

Stay tuned - Up first is the Bakewell Bar.  I shall see you all tomorrow! 

Review- Asda Chosen by You Lemon Meringue Donuts

My love for lemon is almost as great as my love for coconut. I think I get it from my mother.. She's the biggest lemon fiend I know! 

I picked up these 2 New Lemon Meringue Donuts in Asda for £2.25. 

Filled with stabilised whipped cream and lemon sauce topped with marshmallow and white chocolate meringue pieces.

The dough texture wasn't dissimilar from that of a Krispy Kreme which came as a big surprise - it was both soft and buttery. I didn't think the lemon was very tangy at first but it soon became apparent as I chomped my way through! The whipped pillowy cream was plentiful and not overly sickly, thankfully. The meringue on top and white chocolate pieces added sweetness which cut through the tart lemon as well as giving a crunch. I can't fault this donut! 

Overall, this was another great fresh cream dessert from Asda. There are other variants in the same range including Strawberry & White Chocolate and Chocolate & Praline - I'd be keen to try both! It's a 4 out of 5 from me.  

Review- Tesco Finest Hot Cross Scones

What would the hybrid Love Child of Hot Cross Bun and Scone be? Why yes, a Hot Cross Scone of course! 

I picked up these 4 Finest Hot Cross Scones in Tesco for £1.50. They are made with Cornish buttermilk, dried fruit and candied peel. 

It certianly looked very promising! I loved the cross on top and it smelt exactly as a Hot Cross Bun would. 

I was impressed by the amount of candied peel the scone contained, upon cutting it in two - no one likes a fruit scone that's seriously lacking the fruit part, afterall! It was very soft and had a perfect golden crumbly texture. Taste wise, it was spot on! The scone was very buttery and had a lovely warming cinnamon spice to it. The dried fruit and chewy candy peel that ran throughout, gave bursts of sweetness that complimented the spice perfectly. The likeness to an actual Hot Cross Bun was uncanny - Apart from the obvious difference in texture, I am not sure you would know it wasn't one! 

Overall, I am so glad I found these scones. I would go as far as to say they might be the best I have ever bought from a supermarket. They are so moist and flavoursome.. I think adding any sort of topping would ruin them so put down the jam and cream, please! I hope they weren't just left over stock from Easter as I would buy them all year round. It's a 4.5 out of 5 from me! 

Review- M&S NEW Rhubarb & Custard

Another thing I picked up last week in Marks and Spencer were these NEW Rhubarb & Custard. They were in the Confectionary aisle but I'm not sure what to call them.. Chocolate? Sweets? Bobbly misshaped delights? 

Custard flavour white chocolate coated puff cereal and freeze dried rhubarb.

First and foremost.. Am I the only one who thinks they look a bit like teeth? Apologies if I have just grossed anyone out but don't be put off by their strange appearance - they are delicious! I was surprised how true the flavour was to rhubarb & custard. The sweet white chocolate goes perfectly with the tart rhubarb. The puff cereal made them crunchy and very moreish. My only complaint is that some of the rhubarb was really chewy and quite sour once the chocolate had gone - Luckily only a few pieces were like this! 

Overall, these a fab. The little 80g carton didnt hang around for long sadly! At £3, they aren't the cheapest snack in the world but definitely worth it, if you are a rhubarb fan. M&S have a whole range of treats like these including Earl Grey Almonds that my fellow reviewing, Amigo (@kevvieguy) is crazy about. Check out his review -http://kevssnackreviews.blogspot.co.uk/2015/04/earl-grey-almonds-marks-spencer-review.html?m=1. They are next on my list to try! 

It's a 4 out of 5 for the 'bobbly misshaped teeth delights' from me! 

Review- Emmi Caffe Latte Iced Coffees: Vanilla and Limited Edition Caramel

I am a self confessed Coffee Addict. I can't walk past a Costa without popping in for a Caramel Cappuccino. It's a rather expensive addiction to feed - I'm sure many of you are in the same boat!

Since the weather is getting warmer, I thought I would give some shop bought Iced Coffee, a go. These Emmi Caffe Lattes were £1 each in Tesco. They are made from Finest Arabica, Rainforest Alliance Certified coffee beans and Fresh Swiss milk. 

Vanilla

I gave it a good shake before opening hence all the bubbles! Although the drink was very sweet smelling, I am not sure I would have identified it as vanilla. It tasted far more of vanilla than it smelt, thankfully! The coffee flavour was quite mild as it stated on the front but definitely still there. It's a 3 out of 5 from me. 

Caramel

I love the design of lids - perfect for drinking on the go! The colour of the coffee was slightly darker than that of the Vanilla. This reflected in the taste - it was a lot stronger! I am not sure why considering both drinks are meant to be the same strength. The caramel came through nicely and wasn't to sweet. It's a 3.5 out of 5. 

If you are a flavoured coffee fan, I am sure you would love these. The Caramel is Limited Edition so get your hands on it before it vanishes! 

Pro Tip- Don't put opened, iced coffees in the door of your fridge. They will fall over and you will be cleaning it up for days. Nightmare. 

Review- M&S English Afternoon Tea Dessert

I did some serious damage in Marks and Spencer last week. I hadn't been in for a few months so I was keen to check out what was new for the Summer. I kind of wish I hadn't bothered now.. Brace yourself for some negativity! 

I was instantly drawn to the Dessert Menu Range. I was lucky enough to get these English Afternoon Tea Dessert with Cambridge Favourite Strawberry & Earl Grey, for £2.50 as they had been reduced. 

I wish I had read the description before I bought them.. Sparkling wine flavour mousse?! 

They certainly look very cute! 

These are very soft and wobbly. The base was unpleasantly soggy and the 'mousse' was more like a blancmange. Taste wise, it was pretty disgusting. I couldn't taste any almond or earl grey. The sparkling wine flavour was that of nondescript cheap booze and the strawberry compote centre didn't make it any more appetising. The white chocolate piece on top was about the only edible part of the whole dessert. 

Overall, these are god awful! I now understand why there were dozens of boxes at a reduced price - No one in their right mind would enjoy them! It's a big fat 0 out of 5 from me!  

Review- Tesco Finest Dark Chocolate Orange Croissants

I was feeling a bit French on Monday.. I was all for a standard plain croissant but my excitement cranked up a notch when I saw these Finest Dark Chocolate Orange Croissants in Tesco. The pack of 2 cost £1.80 but are often on a 2 for £2.50 offer. 

Filled with rich Belgian dark chocolate & Brazilian orange oil, hand decorated with a dusting of icing sugar. 

I was quite pleased I managed to get these home unscathed as the packaging was very flimsy. 

The croissants smelt amazing! The zesty orange scent greeted me immediately upon opening the pack. The pastry was soft, flaky and had a lovely buttery taste. I am glad Tesco didn't scrimp on the filling. I could definitely taste the orange oil in the rich chocolate. It was perfectly balanced and not overpowering or fake, thankfully. Although Belgian chocolate on top was a nice extra, it was a little brittle and most ended up on the floor sadly - cutting it probably didn't help to be fair! 

These croissants are utter perfection. If you like chocolate orange, I can pretty much guarantee, you will love these too. I would buy them again tomorrow. It's a 4.5 out of 5 from me.. OUI OUI! 

Review- Asda Piñata Surprise! Cake

Asda's birthday cake aisle is a dangerous place to be on a Friday morning. It is always a plethora of discounted cakes! I picked up the Piñata Surprise! for £7.92 rather than its usual £12. It was a bit battered and bruised but I wasn't to fussed - it was far to colourful to refuse! 

Scrummy sponge with our funky frosting and sweet plum and raspberry jam, bursting with crispy, crunchy chocolate beans. 

I am not sure if someone had been chucking the box around or what but the cake had slid across the board, the swirly frosting was all a bit squashed and the chocolate beans had fallen out of the centre. 

Sadly, not the most attractive looking cake in the world when cut! 

I am always impressed by how light and relatively moist the Madeira sponge of Asda cakes are - this was no exception. It was soft and airy with a lovely vanilla flavour. It made a great pairing to the fruity jam even if I was a bit disappointed by the lack of its presence in the first layer! The frosting was pure vanilla-y sugar. I felt as though the proportion of it to cake was a little off given how super sweet it was. The 'all over the place' chocolate beans were a nice crunchy contrast to all the soft textures. The chocolate itself wasn't anything remarkable - saying that you wouldn't expect or want anything to fancy with a cake like this! 

Overall, for just under £8 this isn't a bad offering from Asda. Less frosting and more jam and they would be onto a winner! It would make a fab kids party cake - I am sure they would all go mad for the bright coloured frosting and 'hidden' chocolate beans.. That's if you can find one that doesn't look like it's gone for a purler down the stairs! It's a 3.5 out of 5 from me. 

Review- Tesco Mozzarella Cheese Slices

I often wonder if I like processed cheese more than actual proper cheese.. There's something about that rubbery texture and fake taste, that just does it for me. I've been known to eat it straight from the packet or in hot, butter laden toast. Appalling, I know. 

I spotted these 8 Mozzarella Slices in Tesco* when buying Cottage Cheese - I get credit for at least pretending to be healthy, right? 

I unwrapped this square delight and ate it as is. I was really impressed by how much the cheese did taste of Mozzarella! Considering they only contain 25% Medium Fat Soft Cheese, I was expecting something really mild and bland but I was pleasantly surprised by the creamy flavour. The texture was identical to that of a normal processed cheese slice - rubbery and will mould together if you fold it onto itself! 

I am sure cheese connoisseurs would shun me but I thoroughly enjoyed these slices! It made a nice change from the bright orange ones and had a lot more flavour. They will go down a treat on burgers which is perfect since BBQ season is fast approaching! It's a 4 out of 5 from me. 

*In my excitement, I forgot to take note of the price - oops. Will update soon!