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.

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. 

Snackmas Day 22- M&S Mini Turkey. Bacon & Cranberry Sausage Rolls

We may be reaching the end of Snackmas but there is always time for one last turkey/bacon/cranberry review and this time, paying homage to MSW, The Queen of Party Food and her love for Sausage Rolls - It's a post to please everyone.. In theory - Our fate lays in M&S', very slippery hands. 

I spotted the box of 24 Mini Turkey, Bacon & Cranberry Sausage Rolls in the freezer section and was immediately drawn in by the promise of all butter pastry filled with British turkey, pork, bacon and cranberries, topped with poppy seeds. I don't even like Sausage Rolls usually but I am easily swayed by the Festive Foods and purchased them for what I think was £5. 

Cooking these little darlings wasn't all that easy - Perhaps my oven is once again to blame but I found it increasingly difficult to not "burn" the tops whilst ensuring they were cooked inside.. Although that was problematic in itself as the meat stays pink even when scolding hot and cooked for 40 minutes. One thing I did enjoy during cooking was the lovely smell that wafted all throughout the house - It was like buttery cheese and cranberry with a hot pastry which was very inviting indeed. I let them cool slightly before getting stuck in as they really were piping and probably best enjoyed, Warm This Winter.. They were meaty as promised and tasted of turkey and strong pork flavour with smoky tones from the bacon in the background. Seasoned well with pepper but not to much for amateurs like me to handle with massive chunks of cranberry having been crammed in for lots of added sweetness, the flavour was spot on. Encasing the lot was just the right amount of puff pastry and was crisp, flaky and buttery with a sprinkle of poppy seeds on top which although didn't taste of a lot, added a slight satisfying crunch. Why these smelt of cheese when cooking though, I haven't the foggiest as it didn't translate in taste! 

I am not entirely sure what has happened to M&S* during Snackmas - Either they saw me coming or they have genuinely stepped up their game.. Or I just so happened to pick the best of a bad bunch of Christmas Products! I hope it is not a case of the latter as I have been super impressed and wouldn't want to be disappointed again if I went in store and purchased something else. Back to today and these Turkey, Pork, Bacon & Cranberry Sausage Rolls are delightful, not to mention, so much nicer than your regular bog standard jobby - Me and MSW are certainly going to have a Holly Jolly Christmas with them in the freezer! Its a 4 out of 5. 

*The measly 5% to Shelter with the Sammies and Soup, I won't ever overlook. Sort it out M&S.