Snackmas Day 20- M&S Parsnip, Camembert & Chestnut Pithivier

Pithivier. I didn't know how to say it until I googled it.. But it's pastry and what else does a pastry fanatic really need to know?! Oh I know what, it's only bloomin' vegetarian too! This one is for you, veggie members of the Snack Army! 

The 245g, single serve, puffed pastry tart cost me £3.50 in Marks and Spencer, where I found it situated amongst the regular vegetarian range - I am thankful for that festively green packaging making it stick out! Scanning the ingredients, the list was fairly few and far between with relatively minimal components compared to some of products the store produce which unnecessarily go on for days - Rejoice, there's not a single E number here! 

Parsnips (10%) with Camembert cheese (10%), chestnuts (9%), shallots (7%) and thyme encased in all butter (19%) puff pastry. 

I cooked as instructed in a 180ºC Fan oven for about 25 minutes and it turned out most inviting indeed - Beautifully golden and smelling just as sensational. Then I was in a quandary as to how I was going to get the Pithy out of the foil tray-ey.. 

With a bit of jiggery-pokery, I just about managed to get the tart onto a plate before wielding my knife and slicing in half - I can only apologise that it kind of looks a bit "vommy" but I can assure you, the scent alone would make you want to go for a face plant! Ridiculously flaky with buttery tones all the way, the pastry itself was sheer perfection and everything one could want from a puff. The packed encased filling, comprising of soft veggies and actual camembert chunks delivered loads of creamy, smooth cheesiness with parsnip and super sweet shallot to compliment. I couldn't taste any chestnuts nor did I find it to be overly herby or taste of thyme.. Not that it really mattered but it could have done however, with a smidgen more salt to really bring out the individual flavour profiles. 

Ooh-Eeh-Aah, M&S have done it again - This Parsnip, Camembert & Chestnut Pithivier is very almost top marks.. If only it had just that tad more seasoning! Get grinding the salt and bask in the cheesy, veggie glory whether you are vegetarian or not - You'll enjoy it, I promise! It's A 4.5 out of 5 from me. 

Snackmas Day 18- Tesco Finest: Christmas Market Sausages and Apple, Cranberry and Honey Stuffing Stars

Are you a meat or breadcrumb based Blitzen when it comes to the stuffing with your Turkey Dinner? What about the sausage side option? Traditional sized Pigs in Blankets, the larger bacon wrapped Chipolata or just a plain, "naked" sausey? How does a Christmas Market Inspired number take your fancy with a Bramley Apple, Cranberry and Honey Star to shine through the savoury? There are so many porky options but it is Tesco and their Finest range that we turn to again on Snackmas Day 18! 

Weighing in at 400 and 300g respectively, I found both the Sausages and Stuffing Stars amongst a smorgasbord of Trimmings in the Fresh Meat aisle and priced at £2.50 each - It seems that the majority, if not all the options are gluten free (And proud given it's written on the front of all the packaging!) as well making them perfect for the Pig enthusiast and Hand Selfie King himself, Kevvie! Sadly for me however, I was a bit of a Son of a Nutcracker when it came to the Stars, not realising they contain the dreaded pea fibre.. The bain of my entire being! 

Christmas Market Inspired Pork Sausages

Blimey, these were some big bangers! They might not look it in the action shot but believe you me, they were chunky! Cooked at 180ºC Fan for about 30 minutes, the sausages came out perfectly - Slightly wrinkly and chewy on the outside with a soft, orange hued centre. Taste wise.. Disappointingly, from what I could tell, they possessed not even a nod to Christmas and essentially just tasted like any decent porky, meat sausage. Scanning the ingredients for a second time, incase I had invented the anticipated nutmeg, ginger and sage listed, I was left further baffled - There really was no spice apart from a good seasoning of pepper! Nice but not it's namesake - A 3 out of 5 from me. 

Bramley Apple, Cranberry and Honey Stuffing Stars

Moving onto the Stars which also cooked well at the same temperate as the above and for the same time, holding their shape - I like a bit of burnt around the edges! Very soft, squidgy and juicy, the meat oozed herby meaty flavour with a real injection of sweet from the identifiable, caramelised tart tones of apple and cranberry, mellowed by the classic taste of comforting honey. All the different flavour elements went well together, despite being a big twist and anything but what you would expect from a conventional "savoury" Stuffing. A 4 out of 5! 

Overall, both of these Tesco Finest Trimmings are very much enjoyable and would make a great addition to your December 25th Feast. It is a shame that the Christmas Market Inspired Sausages seem to have misplaced their inspo somewhere along the way but as Sausages go.. They more than suffice. As for the Stuffing Stars, MSW practically forced one upon me despite my pea allergy simply because they were "so good and I couldn't miss out".. She was right. As always. And I lived to retell this thrilling tale now. Get yourselves down to Tescy, ASAP! 

Snackmas Day 16- M&S Party Food

As I mentioned last Snackmas, MSW is a sucker for Party Food. She buys it all despite never having an actual party.. We do always have it for tea on the 24th though and all the way through to New Year just to keep the spirit alive - You might say we have several of our own mini celebrations with the help of tiny finger foods!

M&S caught my eye when it came to this years offerings with plenty of NEW bits to feast upon - Handmade Prawn Parcel Selection, Mini Porcini & Chestnut Mushroom Mac & Cheese, Duck Croquettes and Mini Mozzarella Bites, all priced at £3.50 each minus the latter which I think was £2.  Conveniently, this little lot can be cooked from fresh at the same temperature of 180ºC Fan for 10 minutes.. Even the Mozzarella Bites which came with a recommended time of 7 minutes, turned out perfectly - I always give cheesy things a smidgen longer to avoid any soggy outsides! 

Handmade Prawn Parcel Selection

4 wheat pancake parcels with a prawn sweet and sour filling, 4 pastry stars with prawn and red chilli, 4 pastry parcels with prawns, mushrooms and hoisin sauce filling. 

Golden and crisp, all 3 of the prawn parcels looked most attractive when straight out of the oven and certainly something you would be proud to display on your party table. Smelling as one would expect in being mildy fishy, the Sweet & Sour Pancake Parcels were the first I tried and didn't disappoint in terms of flavour - The outside was pleasantly on the greasy side with a packed filling of prawn chunks and complimenting vegetables which reminded me a bit of a Spring Roll. Moving onto the Pastry Stars which I felt quite brave in even trying given the use of red chilli. Thankfully, it was just about bearable but still delivered enough heat for those who appreciate such a thing, for that spicy kick and went well with the soft prawn layer between 2 crisp sheets of pastry. Thirdly, the Pastry Parcels or as I feel compelled to call them, the crunchy blobs! Thicker on the pastry front but not overly dry, these were just as yummy as the previous 2 with the addition of hoisin sauce for that added bit of sweetness and mushrooms for a "meatier" flavour. I didn't find any of the trio to be overly fishy so can't see them offending many.. Apart from the Shellfish allergy sufferers.. Obviously, you're excused. A 4 out of 5 from me. 

Mini Porcini & Chestnut Mushroom Mac & Cheese

10 mini foils containing conchigliette pasta, chestnut and porcini mushrooms in a rich cheese and marsala wine sauce. Complete with spoons. 

How cute are the individual pots with a handy, baby spoon!? The cheese may have exploded everywhere but I don't think they could look more adorable! Taking a mouthful, quite a potent flavour was delivered of rich, creamy cheese with squidgy pasta pieces throughout and a real kick of mushroom - Strong to the point of definitely being one for the fanatics of the aforementioned. I couldn't taste any marsala wine whatsoever but that didn't take away the enjoyment and I would quite happily eat 6 - 3 spoonfuls in each, just isn't enough! It's 4.5 out of 5 from me. 

Duck Croquettes

Tender and tasty roast duck croquettes coated in a crunchy crumb and served with a honey and truffle dip. 

These, cylindrical shaped croquettes cooked a treat to be exactly as promised - Soft on the inside with a satisfyingly crisp coating. Full of meaty flavour and undeniably that of duck, they were quite rich alone but mellowed by the delicious sweet, honey tones of the dip. Some sort of spice was also noticeable, not that I could say what exactly and for me, the truffle was completely MIA.. What is truffle suppose to taste like anyway? I probably wouldn't know it if it hit me in the face! It's a 4 out of 5. 

Mini Mozzarella Bites

Italian mozzarella in a thyme and parsley breadcrumb with a garlic and herb dips. 

Lastly and the type of Party Food that I am particularly fond of.. The Mozzarella Bites! Smelling ridiculously herby, the balls were ooey gooey inside with another crunchy outside to contrast to all the soft. Unfortunately, the thyme aspect of these was very overpowering and I felt, took away from any decent cheese flavour. Bizarrely however, when eaten with the rather slimy green looking dip, despite adding further herb into the equation, I found the bites to mellow and generally be far more palatable. An odd one - A 3 out of 5. 

Overall, there is not much to complain about when it comes to this range of Party Food from M&S. The quality is most definitely there and I feel, brings something a bit different oppose to the usual selection on offer - Mini Pizza's and Quiches are great and all but just sometimes, only a fancier snack will cut it.. Maybe do avoid the Mozzarella Bites though unless you've got an extended family member who's favourite food is thyme and nothing but! 

Three Bird Roast Sausage Rolls

All butter puff pastry, filled with lightly seasoned British pork, turkey, chicken & duck with smoked bacon. 

But what if you prefer a cold Party Food option? I hear ya and present to thee, the Three Bird Roast Sausage Rolls! Priced at the ludicrously expensive £5 for 12, I purchased the 420g pack when it had been reduced with every intention of whacking them in the freezer to bring out over the holidays.. This never happened and we ended up eating them there and then, as is.. Although they are fine to be heated at 180ºC Fan for 10-15 minutes, if one so wishes. 

Cutting the Roll in half, a good amount of filling presented itself with the layers of pastry, to produce that flaky feel, clear to see. Taste wise, bacon was at the forefront with an array of not quite bird distinguishable yet deliciously meaty flavours throughout - I especially didn't get duck at all despite it being such a rich taste. A good amount of seasoning was included along with a salty edge making them really quite moreish.. Not to mention, the oodles of buttery, almost cheese tones from the pastry! Yummy - A 4 out of 5 from me!

..I think I might have eaten too much.

Snackmas Day 12- Pieminister Pies: Christingle, Mistle Moo, Deer Santa and Three Kings

I love pastry.. Be it sweet or savoury, I go bauble bonkers over it all. Luckily for me, Christmas and Pastry seem to go hand in hand with everywhere stocking the stuff at this time of year, in all of its glorious, buttery crisp forms. 

Pieminister are no exception with not 1, not 2, not even 3 but 4 festively inspired pies which I picked up in Waitrose whilst on a 2 for £6 offer. Each weighing in at 270g, there's the Vegetarian Society Approved, Christingle, Mistle Moo for the meat munchers, Deer Santa for those who don't have a conscience (Poor Donner) and a traditonal turkey feast in the form of the Three Kings. All bar the latter which needs 35, are designed to be heated at 160ºC Fan for 25 minutes.. So I broke all the rules and whacked the lot in at 200ºC for about 20 until they were golden on the outside with a hot middle. 

Christingle

A roast parsnip, west country cheddar, leek & chestnut pie. 

Starting with the Veggie option, I was very much looking forward to getting stuck in after being engulfed by the mouthwatering scent of cheese upon cutting into the sizeable pie. Absolutely packed to the brim, soft chunks of parsnip were in abundance, delivering sweet notes, distinctly that of the vegetable and feeling very much wintery and wholesome. The leek came through adding onion-y tones with the smooth cheddar sauce being of just the right cheesiness to compliment - Nothing too strong, overpowering or sickly. I can't say I noticed the chestnuts but felt nothing was missing as was, especially with the perfect casing of crisp, buttery pastry, breaking up the texture and adding that final flare of cheese. It's top marks from me - 5 out of 5! 

Mistle Moo

100% British beef steak, Long Clawson stilton, 100% British bacon & chestnut pie. 

Moving onto the Mistle Moo.. Which somewhat disappointingly, didn't smell all that much of beef and cheese. Once again, the pastry itself was second to none in being of just the right thickness, plenty flaky and something I never wanted to end! Extremely meaty, thanks to a generous amount of tender beef chunks with a thick gravy as a fantastic accompaniment, the filling had a deep, almost fruity flavour - Certainly reflecting both the red wine and redcurrant jelly in the ingredients! Mushrooms popped up in a few mouthfuls adding some chew and a second almost "meaty" hit with subtle bacon tones in the background. As for the Stilton.. Well, what stilton? I would seriously question whether any was in there to begin with! It's a 4 out of 5.

Deer Santa

100% British venison, dry cured 100% British bacon & red wine pie. 

Caribou shield your eyes and ears - MSW has eaten one of your brethren! (Not one for me sadly, due to the use of green lentils). As seen above, the casing to the pie was faultless with a loaded filling to match. Very game-y in taste with another, even deeper red wine edge, the overall flavour was extremely rich and perhaps, a tad overbearing for the bacon, lentils and other vegetables, which unfortunately didn't really get a look in. The chunks however, did add a different textural element, keeping things nice and soft. Definitely one for the real Venison fanatics - A 4 out of 5 from MSW.

Three Kings

100% British Turkey, smoked 100% British bacon, parsnip & cranberry pie. 

Lastly and the pie, I was most looking forward to.. Three Kings! Alternately to the previous 3 and those comprising of Pieminister's Classic Pie Range, this little beauty came with 30% less pastry - Visible to see from the "bare" topping and making for a much softer pie. Thankfully, this didn't take anything away in the taste with loads of chunks of succulent, full of flavour, turkey, quite a strong undertone of porky bacon and an uncanny whiff of some sort of herby stuffing. The cranberry added a good hit of sweetness with a general vegetable flavour along with a hint of buttery cheese, to really produce an all round festive feel. Amazing - A second 5 out of 5 from me! 

Well.. I am almost lost for words. Almost, I said - All 4 of these Christmas Pieminister Pies are absolutely sensational! I plan on buying both the Christingle  (AKA, A parsnip lovers dream) and Three Kings (All the good of a Christmas Sammie but in pastry) again and maybe even hide a few away in the freezer (They can all be frozen, FYI!) to enjoy throughout next year. As for the other 2.. Yes, it is a shame that the Mistle Moo lacked any sort of cheese flavour but I suppose this isn't all that surprising considering the packaging states only a measly 1% of Stilton went in to begin with.. Surely that's a bit of false advertising in it's description, no? And finally, the Deer Santa.. I obviously can't give my opinion on but it wooed MSW and if the quality of the rest are anything to go buy, I can't see it being anything but delicious, if legumes don't bother you.. Or the prospect of eating one of Santa's Original Eight, that is! Pieminister, I salute you! 

Review- New Covent Garden NEW Skinny Creamy Chicken & Vegetable Soup

Happy October! Does anyone know where this year has gone? I don't.. But I am giddy for the impending festivities of the next few months especially the one beginning with a "C".. In December.. Which I shall refrain from mentioning for the time being incase of great upset. 

This creamy soup tastes so good you won't believe it's part of our Skinny range. We've taken tender chicken pieces, combined them with cream, pinhead oats, white wine and chicken. Finished with a selection of vegetables, herbs and black pepper, this soup is sure to please. 

Today's review is something I am sure we will all be tucking into now that Autumn is well and truly upon us - The humble and inoffensive delight that is Soup! New Covent Garden NEW Skinny Creamy Chicken & Vegetable Soup to be precise which I bought in Asda a few weeks ago for £1.98. Obviously, as this contains meat it isn't suitable for Vegetarians and is also not suitable for home freezing.. I suspect rule breakers would go a head regardless.

It may look like puke but thankfully, it smelt a lot nicer and just as its name suggested - Creamy, chicken-y with subtle herby veg. As always, I zapped my soup in the microwave for a couple of minutes until piping hot but if you're old school, you can always whack it on the hob and gently boil. 

The soup was plenty thick with lots of visible carrot and potato chunks.. The chicken pieces however were few and far between with my bowl (Half the 600g carton) only containing 2 bits. Flavour wise, it was definitely creamy but due to the aforementioned, certainly more of a "plain" vegetable soup  opposed to its Chicken namesake. The herbs came through ever so slightly to compliment with as usual, the black pepper not exactly being to my liking but only marginally off putting - A dash more salt wouldn't have gone amiss, to bring out the full flavour potential though! As for the pinhead oats.. What pinhead oats? They were as elusive as the chicken!

Overall, this NEW Creamy Chicken & Vegetable Soup from New Covent Garden isn't wonderful but isn't a disaster either - The texture is spot on but more chicken and an injection of seasoning would really see it soar in terms of tastiness. Along with the soup of the month (Fiery Tomato & Lime), there are also 2 other NEW Skinny options now on the shelves - Broccoli, Pea & Pesto for the legume lover and Chicken & Chorizo Jambalaya for those who like a bit of a kick.. Neither are for me sadly! Back to today and it's a 3 out of 5!

Review- Cauldron Lincolnshire Vegetarian Sausages

We like Veggie Sausages here on R4R but so far both previous reviews of such a thing, Tesco's Everyday Value  and the Glamorgan, have been verging towards Croquette territory rather than actual Sausie. Today, there is none of that with this offering from Cauldron, makers of the Lincolnshire Vegetarian Sausage! Tesco was my port of call when buying the pack of 6 for £2.50 which live next to the fresh Quorn products. 

Made from an authentic recipe of vegetable protein with sage and pepper seasoning 

Veggie Sausages are one thing that never looks attractive when photographed - I apologise. Luckily they taste a hell of a lot better than they look! As soon as I took a bite, I thought "Rooks!". Whats Rooks?, I hear you ask. Its only the best Butchers in Kent and providers of all the usual and expected raw meats as well as hot, cooked sweet and savoury goods - Their herby Sausage is out of this world! These Caldron Veggies were almost identical.. You wouldn't know they weren't real meat although they do have that slight "quorn" aftertaste which you'll know if you're a regular eater of such things. The flavour is spot on and full of herby taste with a good seasoning of salt and pepper - I did almost find the latter to be to much but I am a wimp when it comes to any sort of "heat". Texture wise, things were tip top as well - They had a very meaty feel minus the fat and grease of course, with a "skin" that was crisp and chewy. 

I think I might have just gone and found myself a new favourite Veggie Sausage - These Cauldron Lincolnshire jobbies are definitely on par with the Linda McCartney's Red Onion & Rosemary Sausies and we all know how amazing they are! I can't quite believe I've gone this long without them.. I can easily see them becoming a staple weeknight meal. Its a big old, 4.5 out of 5 from me!