Review- M&S NEW LE Mac 'n' Cheese & Bacon Pie

Holy moly, steady yourselves. M&S have gone and combined 2 of possibly the greatest foods that life has to offer.. Saucy macaroni pasta meet all buttery pastry, with a sprinkle of the porky stuff as it would be rude not to, it's only Mac 'n' Cheese & Bacon Pie! 

Oh how the excitement was overwhelming when I stumbled across the 200g Limited Edition, sunny boxed delight, at the start of the month! - Shame about the £3 price tag when bought individually but what can you do.. It is M&S after all! Fit to serve 1, (With nutritional values that may make you anything but!) the Pie is to be heated at 180ºC Fan for 30 minutes until possessing the heat of molten lava.. 

Cooked macaroni pasta in a cheese sauce topped with smoked bacon crumble, in an all butter pastry case. 

So I did just that and it came out beautifully - Golden on top, crisp around the edges and smelling very scrumptious. Then came the challenge of getting the thing out of the foil*.. A quick game of "Hot Potato" and miraculously it was on a plate in one piece! Hallelujah! 

Cutting the Pie in half, I did expect there to be more of the oozing sauce suggested on the packaging image.. But no such luck despite being piping hot. Thankfully, this minor blip didn't reflect in the taste, as cheesy it certainly was! ..But starting with the buttery pastry, the upper crust was extremely short and crisp, transitioning into something much softer, although not soggy, and having far more of a flake. This contrasted nicely against the full size, soft macaroni pieces, packing a good amount of the aforementioned Cheddar and Regato flavours combined with an undeniable indulgent creaminess. The crumble added a second crunchy aspect a long with a lot of seasoning, albeit perhaps personally too much for me, and bacon tones of both the pleasant smoked "farmyard" variety and something a tad more artificial which as expected, wasn't quite so appealing.. But generally went well with the cheesy pasta/pastry combo! 

Overall, this NEW LE Mac 'n' Cheese & Bacon Pie delivers all that it promises and makes for one  solid little snack. The only thing I am torn over is the fact it is exactly that.. A snack. Not one to usually be overly fixated on the fat content of foodstuffs, it is very much hard to ignore when a red symbol is slapped straight in front of your peepers and you know full well, you will be having a potato product as an accompaniment.. And maybe a can of baked beans.. Or is one meant to just have salad to make it a meal? Salad offends me. Either way, it still packs a serious punch for something so dinky.. Not to mention, to consume in one sitting since we're still only talking about one lonesome meal here! What about all the other "bad" things, one eats in a day? I am genuinely surprised that M&S are down with selling such "unhealthy"** options in such tiny packages***.. But I enjoyed it nevertheless****! It's a 4 out of 5 from me*****. 

*Turns out, you are meant to remove said foil and place on a preheated baking tray which poses the question.. Why use the foil to begin with, hmm!?

**The rest of the NEW LE Pies, e.g Chicken & Bacon, are no "better". 

***Everything in moderation. 

****To be enjoyed as part of a healthy active lifestyle. 

*****Please don't make me eat salad. 

Review- M&S NEW Lemon & White Chocolate Tart

Don't you just hate that instant feeling of regret when leaving a shop empty handed, not having bought the something you know deep down that you longed for? I know I do and was stupidly this foolish last week when deciding against buying M&S's NEW Lemon & White Chocolate Tart - Lord knows what I was thinking!

Never one to make the same mistake twice and like a woman on a mission, I frogmarched myself to the stores bakery section today, whacked one in a baggy and paid my £1 at the till. Given my all round excitement, I kind of forgot to take note of any other detail regarding the product so I have no description whatsoever and it may be suitable for vegetarians, it may not.. Who is to say!? 

The tart cut in half with ease to reveal a sneaky hidden curd layer beneath a ooey-gooey sticky filling which both looked and smelt a treat. Crumbly and buttery, the pastry itself was perfection with a short texture and not all to dissimilar to a shortbread biscuit really! Undeniably lemon-y but without a super zesty kick (No where near as potent as the Lemon Muffins for reference), the citrus tones came across well, pairing with the silky smooth and rich, condensed milk like, white chocolate "ganache" mixture above - Strangely however, the left half possessed fair more flavour akin to actual white chocolate than the right! All the elements went well together to produce one very tasty, pleasantly sweet and indulgent tart that I could have quite easily eaten another of! 

So now my regret has progressed to the "I wish I had bought 12 more" stage - This NEW Lemon & White Chocolate Tart is oh so good and makes for a decently sized treat to have with a cuppa! The only fault I can find with it, not that I am particularly fussed but I can understand why some might be, is the fact that the citrus aspect isn't lip puckering or likely to keel anyone over.. But since, it isn't wishy-washy either, this really is just being pernickety - It's a 4.5 out of 5 from me!

Review- Patisserie Valerie NEW LE Madame Valerie Slice

Patisserie Valerie AKA the place of dreams, dropped a bombshell yesterday.. A NEW, Limited Edition flavour available in both 8" Celebration Cake form as well as individual sized portions, is gracing the bakery come café this January! Huzzah! The excitement! 

I didn't need much persuading when it came to getting myself a mysterious, pretty pink bowed box containing the Madame Valerie Slice this morning.. It's only bloomin' Chocolate, Caramel and Honeycomb Gateau, priced at £2.95 to take away or £2.50 if you go, quite rightly too, for the 4 slices for £10 option! The nice lady who served me also mentioned that there's to be a different NEW addition to the regular range every month this year which resulted in a high squeal from me, slap bang in the middle of the shop floor - Expect 11 more PV reviews this year, folks! 

Crikey, what a sight to behold.. Check out those layers of stickyness!

Grabbing a fork, the Gateau was as tender as expected with three layers of feather light, moist sponge, providing plenty of rich cocoa tones whilst making for a soft yet stable base for the thickly sandwiched, pale gold cream. Smooth like no other, not to mention far superior to all other crème pâtissière, the aforementioned tasted ridiculously buttery and sweet without being cloying or delivering a nasty throat burn - Not full on, overpowering caramel but extremely luxurious! Nibbles of crunchy honeycomb pieces were sprinkled throughout adding a nice contrast in texture to all the soft as well as a pop of sugary goodness, with a helping hand from the toffee tasting curls hiding up the side of the slice. Topping the lot was a indulgently chocolate version of the previously mentioned cream, that features in the usual Double Chocolate Gateau which was once again, all kinds of velvety deliciousness and a crisp choux profiterole that I wanted a dozen of. AMAZING! 

Overall, this NEW Madame Valerie Slice is pretty much the best thing I have eaten.. Not just this year or this decade but like, ever! From the flawless cake in terms of both texture and flavour to the silky cream, honeycomb and toppings, the entire confection is sheer perfection! Oo that rhymed! It's top marks from me, 5 out of 5 and I can't wait to see what else Patisserie Valerie have in store for us this year! 

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 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! 

Snackmas Day 8- Nespresso Holiday Variations ft. M&S Christmas Capsules

I trust you all go mad for the Christmas coffee ranges at Starbucks, Costa and co. From Fudge Hot Chocolates to Salted Caramel Cappuccinos, there's something about a calorie laden, festive bevvy that I just can't say no to, with the Tiramisu Latte from Caffe Nero being a particular favourite of mine this year.. But what does one do when they need a fix at home? The only logical answer is to turn to Nespresso, of course! 

2016's Limited Edition Holiday collection is inspired by Austrian Pastries - Apfelstrudel, Linzer Torte and Sachertorte - All with an intensity rating of 6 and coming in the 40ml espresso sized capsule. I purchased mine on the Nespresso website with a box of 10 costing £3.80 but getting them in store is always an option if you've got one close by - Saves on the p&p when not buying 200+! 

L-R Apfelstrudel, Linzer Torte, Sachertorte 

Look how cute they are! I adore the minimalistic swirly pattern design with a bit of colour to reflect the individual flavours.

The coffees essentially all looked identical so I shall not bombarded you with repetitive pictures.. Be jealous of my Christmas mugs though!

Apfelstrudel

A puff paste layered dessert revealing a sweet apple filling, delicately spiced with cinnamon. Variations Apfelstrudel flavoured espresso results from the sweet marriage of Livanto's balance and roundness with rich aromas of pastry, baked apple and a hint of cinnamon. 

Starting with the Apfelstrudel, I can't say I tasted actual apple or cinnamon but the flavour and quality of coffee was second to none with just the right strength and not remotely wishy-washy considering the full fat milk I used to top up with. A slight buttery taste begun to linger once well into the drink which was somewhat like the promised pastry! It's a 3 out of 5 from me. 

Linzer Torte

A tasty redcurrant tart, recognisable by the lattice design. Variations Linzer Torte flavoured espresso results in the sweet marriage of Livanto's balance and roundness with the taste of red fruits and notes of spiced dough. 

Moving onto the Linzer and my hopes were high from first whiff! Sweet, fruity and just like the actual torte, the jammy, berry flavour was undeniable with warming biscuity undertones to match. This was a delicious pairing to smooth, silky coffee and made for an all to easy drink to glug! A 4.5 out of 5 from me.

Sachertorte

A glaze chocolate cake containing of thin layer of apricot jam. Variations sachertorte flavoured espresso results from the sweet marriage of Livanto's balance and roundness with the flavour of soft chocolate and apricot notes. 

Last but by no means least.. The chocolatey option - Sachertorte. Super rich and creamy, the coffee was just as flawless to the above with no sharp notes. Chocolate tones came through beautifully with a sweet, mellow apricot edge to compliment and really reflect and taste of it's namesake. Delicious - A 4 out of 5. 

Overall, this is a gorgeous Holiday trio from Nespresso. I can't fault the coffee itself whatsoever and the balance of flavours is second to none. Yes, it would have been nicer to have more fruity tones in the Apfelstrudel a long with some warming spice but perhaps they were just saving it for my personal winner, the Linzer Torte! I am only too happy to drink all 3 regardless and will be buying more before they disappear.. If you have a Nespresso machine, I highly recommend you do the same! 

M&S Christmas Coffee Capsules

An added hot drink extra. I was lured in by the promise of chocolate and citrus.. Not to mention the price - Sparks card holders had 20% off when I purchased the 10 capsules for a £2.40 opposed to the usual £3. As seen with the Nespresso, these are also a 40ml cup size serving but with a slightly stronger intensity of 8. 

Specially blended beans from Brazil, Ethiopia & Central America, roasted for a wonderfully deep, dark flavour with seasonal hints of chocolate & citrus.. Perfect at Christmas. 

No snazzy pattern but at least they're festively red!

The coffee smelt good when being dispensed but nothing like chocolate or citrus. This was reflected in the taste which was disappointingly, just that of a decent coffee in not being too strong or weak but neither of the promised elements were present. Nice enough but a tad boring - A 2 out of 5 from me. 

Review- M&S NEW Spirit of Summer: Summer Tartlet Selection

Penultimate SoS review, Folks! One I was particularly looking forward since my discovery and now, undying love of the Banoffee version.. A flavour trio this time - Mississippi Mud, Coconut & Lime and Dulce de Leche & Pecan.. It's a Summer Tartlet Selection! 

The 178.5g (Oo precision), box of 6 cost £2.50 with 2 tarts of each flavour, all suitable for Vegetarians.. But not Mustard, Sesame or Nut allergy sufferers due to manufacturing methods. Talking of Nuts, the box also comes with a nice warning not to feed such a thing to your Sprog as small children can choke on nuts.. I expect so can some adults. 

The tartlets were presented in a nice little plastic tray and weren't too smooshed.. Unlike some of the other boxes on the shelf! It does make you wonder whether it is in transit that products get destroyed or could the shelf stackers be the blame.. I assume they aren't in such a state when they leave the factory. Someone let me know. 

Mississipi Mud

All butter chocolate pastry tartlets filled with a chocolate brownie and topped with a chocolate buttercream and chocolate sauce. 

Smelling extremely cocoa rich, the ooey gooey tartlet was a pure hit of chocolate from start to finsh - The buttery, soft pastry encasing a squidgy brownie and a thick, ganache like buttercream with a final hit from the runny sauce centre. The proportion of each element was spot on and texture wise, was not dry in the slightest. Nothing but a Chocoholics dream! - Divine.

Coconut & Lime

All butter pastry tartlets filled with lime curd and a coconut sponge topped, with a coconut buttercream, lime curd and desiccated chipped coconut. 

Moving onto the Coconut & Lime, the pastry here seemed to be a little too tender as in the process of cutting in half, the side broke.. Although faultless in taste! A real zestyness was apparent when munching through the tartlet but was not all that easy to identify as being lime - It could have quite easily been lemon and I wouldn't have questioned it! As for the sponge, it also had problems in feeling a tad to thick for a treat of its size and surprisingly didn't deliver in terms of coconut - Not in taste, signature chew or even with the sweet buttercream to heighten the potency! A strange one!  

Dulce de Leche & Pecan

All butter pastry tartlets filled with caramel and toffee sponge, topped with a Dulce de Leche caramel buttercream, a pecan nut and white chocolate. 

Last but by no means least, Dulce de Leche & Pecan. The tart halved well with no pastry lost or even a crumb out of place to reveal the golden sponge within which tasted very much like golden syrup! Soft and sticky, the butteriness was undeniable with bucket loads of sweet caramel tones to compliment. The Dulce de Leche aspect really shone in the buttercream however, as seen above, I do feel there could have done with being a little more! Topping the lot was of course, the choking hazard of a pecan which tasted fresh and crisp - A nice finishing touch! 

Overall, this Summer Tartlet Selection isn't to bad at all and with a few tweaks, could quite easily be amazing.. It's the Coconut & Lime which is the main problem and letting the team down! Hunt yourself down a box, give the aforementioned to some unsuspecting chum and enjoy the rest with afternoon tea whilst M&S still have them! - It's a 3.5 out of 5 from me. 

Review- M&S NEW Spirit of Summer: Chocolate & Coconut Slices

Sorry if anyone was under the illusion that the Spirit of Summer reviews had finished - I've still got half a dozen more to trot out but am trying to stagger them in hope of not sending you all completely over the edge.. Is anyone still with me? Let me know your edge status whilst I crack on with todays Chocolate & Coconut Slices! 

As soon as I saw the pack of 2 slices, I knew that they had to be mine given my love of all things coconut and I gleefully skipped to the checkout with £3.50 in hand. As with a lot of M&S desserts, the chocolatey treats are suitable for vegetarians but not for the freezer and nut allergy sufferers should be wary due to the manufacturing methods. 

Supporting the 85g each slices was of course, the handy dandy plastic tray which is both a godsend and a nightmare - Thankfully these were relatively robust so didn't break but I do wish companies would add a little tab on the side to pull and slide out their desserts! 

A sweet pastry tart with chocolate (37%) and coconut (6%) layers topped with swirls of caramel and a decorated chocolate plaque. 

Cutting the slice in half, the texture proved to be satisfyingly dense thanks to all the layers with a glorious chocolate scent that screamed "eat me!".. So I did as I was told and fell into heaven. Super rich and fudge like, the top layer of ganache was so thick, a fork left imprints with an equally stunning flavour of dark cocoa and not much sweetness. The sticky, gooey coconut was really quite potent and went perfectly with the chocolate tones as expected, as well as adding a decent chew. A further hit of deep cocoa came from the softer layer of chocolate which wasn't exactly needed considering the sheer amount of richness already apparent but it certainly didn't ruin things in the slightest. As for the pastry, I can't say it added much in terms of flavour but it did make for a stable base.

Wow. These M&S Chocolate & Coconut Slices are sensational! They're everything any Bounty fan could want in a chocolate, coconut dessert with not enough sweetness to ruin things but enough to balance out some of the richness, making them all to easy to get down - They are definitely one for the chocoholics however! It would be top marks if the promised swirls of caramel were present but alas.. It's a 4.5 out of 5 from me!

Review- M&S NEW Spirit of Summer: Mustard Pie Dogs

So it seems that pork based products are now being referred to as Dogs or Puppies.. Well at least in M&S Land anyways and regardless to whether actual "Hot Dogs" come in to it or not. I don't really get it personally - A sausage is a sausage and a sausage roll is a sausage roll in my world but here are Mustard Pie Dogs, courtesy of Spirit of Summer. 

I picked up the 150g, pack of 2 for £2.50 in the ready to eat, cooked meat section where I am pretty sure they were part of some offer - Not that I can recall what exactly! Obviously, given the use to meat here, they aren't suitable for Vegetarians or to freeze so meat-goers best scoff them within 3 days, either warmed at 160ºC Fan for 10-12 minutes as instructed or cold, having been removed from the fridge 30 minutes earlier. 

Seasoned British pork encased in a hot water crust pastry with a mustard centre. 

I was a little disappointed upon first cut to see a massive gap between the filling and pastry.. Not to mention the meat appeared to be more of a mince than the chunks I envisaged! Soft, crumbly and buttery is the only way to describe the outer casing which had some mysterious, delicious coating that needs to be on everything. The flavour of pork definitely shone despite my initial concerns of abundance with the mustard adding some moisture and proving not to be hot in the slightest but instead, the american kind with it's undeniably sweet flavour. The seasoning throughout rounded things off nicely with onion and garlic at the forefront and some non-spicy warmth to match - Delish! 

Overall, I am quite surprised that I liked these Mustard Pie Dogs as much as I did.. And the fact, MSW didn't! I think the trick here is to eat them cold as even I have to admit, they weren't all that enjoyable warm. See past the name that they're not a sausage roll, pie or fluffy Dog and get yourself some - They will make a fab addition to any picnic! It's a 4 out of 5 from me. 

Review- M&S Eton Mess Tartlets

After 3 savoury reviews in a row, I feel it's about time we go back to sweet.. M&S Eton Mess Tartlets! These were purchased off the back of the legendary Banoffee's which featured at the beginning of last month - I figured that since those were so spectacular, a berry version had to be too! 

The bright magenta box of 6 were once again included in the 2 for £4 offer along with a whole host of cakey treats.. But rather sneakily the total weight is 150g and not the 195g seen previously - I can only assume this is down to the difference in toppings.. No dried banana chips here!

All butter pastry cases filled with British raspberry jam, topped with raspberry coulis buttercream, meringue and freeze dried raspberry and blackberry pieces. 

I do like the look of these little tarts - They're just the right size, bright in colour and would look lovely laid out if you were putting on a summer spread! 

A knife cut through the layers of pastry, jam and buttercream with ease - I do however think the latter here was softer than that seen with the Banoffee.. It did appear to be fluffier! Taking a bite, the pastry proved to be up to the usual high quality with a short texture and buttery taste. Above this was a real kick of almost tart fruitiness from a jam come compote which was full of raspberry flavour along with pips for authenticity! The buttercream layer was lightly whipped, sticky and full of further berry tones with an obvious load of sweet thrown in to help mellow the "sharp".. Although given the sprinkling of freeze-dried fruits on top, it did still have a edge to it! As for the meringue.. There was zilch! - Not even a lonesome bit lurking. 

Overall, these Eton Mess Tartlets aren't to shabby at all but are certainly for the fruit go-ers who don't mind a bit of a tang - Yes, they are sweet but not sugary sweet and nothing like the Banoffee. Also marks have to be deducted for the total absence of meringue.. You can't really call a product Eton Mess if it doesn't have any meringue! I hope you're listening M&S - It's a 3.5 out of 5 from me. 

Review- Asda NEW Custard & Raspberry Mille-Feuille

Mille-Feuille - It's a beautiful thing.. And actually one of my very first reviews here on R4R! The Custard & Cream Slice was legendary but it doesn't seem to be in my local Asda anymore which is a great concern.. Thankfully, a potential replacement is now on the shelves instead - It's the NEW Custard & Raspberry! 

I picked up the pack of 2 slices for £2 along with the horrific Neapolitan Cheesecake back in April. They are suitable for Vegetarians but not for soya allergy suffers, they may contain traces of nuts and are heavy on gluten.. As it's pastry! Shock horror. 

Lovely layers of puffed pastry sandwiched with vanilla custard and raspberry filling, topped with pink fondant icing and a sweet dusting. 

One, very soft and squidgy Mille-Feuille - The custard was very much intent on oozing out the sides when cut! Flakey and layered was the texture of the pastry with the chew you only get from keeping such a thing, refrigerated. Taste wise it was semi buttery which was improved by the instant hit of creamy vanilla custard. As for the raspberry, it was very much like a fresh puree with a tang as a nice contrast to all the sweet - The dusting a fondant only adding to this! The elements were all in good proportion to one another and paired up a treat. Yum! 

Overall, this Custard & Raspberry Mille- Feuille is a mighty tasty addition to Asdas' dessert section - I am not sure it matches the glorious Custard & Cream Slice but it is decent nevertheless. If you like sweet pastry and custard, then its worth a whirl! It's a 4 out of 5 from me. 

Review- Asda NEW Hog Roast Pasties

The humble Pasty - A British Classic. Despite never been to their Cornish home and probably never having had the real deal regardless of any "authentic" claims, I have always enjoyed them. It was when on a recent trip to Asda that something a bit wild caught my eye.. Breaking completely from the traditional beef and vegetable recipe, they've only gone down the pork route! - It's NEW Hog Roast Pasties. 

I picked up the packet of 6 for £1.85 in the Pie/Quiche/Sausey Roll aisle where they were situated with a whole array of NEW picnic-esque goodies to be enjoyed either hot or cold. Personally, I always opt for the latter option so did just that and didn't turn on the oven on to 160ºC fan and cook for 6-8 minutes.. But you always can if you want! 

Pork and roasted shredded pork with Bramley apple and sage filling in buttery shortcrust pastry. 

Cutting the Pasty in two, the lack off filling was immediately plain to see with a big airy gap in each half.. Typical! - Why is it that more often than not, such snacks lack a decent centre?! I didn't want to write them off completely so tried to overlook the initial disappointment and am glad I did.. Buttery and crumbly, the pastry shell itself was delicious, just of the right thickness and making for the ideal casing to the soft meat inside. The flavour of pork paired with sweet yet subtle apple was of course, a match made in heaven with a real herby-ness to only improve things further. I did notice a slight hint of black pepper/spice but I don't expect anyone else would and certainly wasn't to much - Not even for sensitive old me! 

Overall and lack of filling aside, these NEW Hog Roast Pasties are really quite pleasant. They are fab cold, would make a great addition to any summer Picnic and I can see them going down a treat if you take them for what they are - Quick, cheap and simple. Nice one Asda, it's a 3.5 out of 5 from me.