Review- Pâtisserie De France Baked Alaska

Since dessert is the best part of any meal, we have a right fancy number today.. Baked Alaska! A trio of fairly simple elements, sponge, ice cream and meringue, you would think it would be most common but I have only ever had 1 AMAZING version of this pud and can't say I've seen it on many menu's let alone in a supermarket! Thankfully, Sainsbury's have saved us all.. 

Vanilla ice cream and sponge cake topped with a meringue covering 

I picked up this Pâtisserie De France Baked Alaska back in November, right when all the festive frozen desserts were starting to take over the shelves. I paid a reasonable £4 for the 320g pud then but they are still in store and have £1 off currently. 

Although "Baked" is in the name, this little oblong treat can be eaten straight from the freezer as long as given 10 minutes to soften.. 

But that would be foolish when you can "flambè" such a thing! As instructed, I whacked it in a 180ºC oven for 5 minutes until the meringue was golden and although I didn't personally, drench mine in booze and set the thing a light, that too is an option if you are feeling super bold! 

As you can see, popping it into the oven worked a treat! The meringue was toasty with a crunchy exterior, fluffy mallow like centre and a flavour that was surprising similar to a fresh equivalent in being sweet and ever so slightly "eggy". A generous chunk of thick, smooth, vanilla-y ice cream was hidden within that I would have sworn was Häagen Dazs - It really was uncanny in both taste and consistency! The relatively thin layer of sponge supporting everything was very soft and once again similar to something else.. Ladyfingers! - The slightly sweet, absorbing biscuit of Trifle and Tiramisu! The 3 elements went perfectly together and produced one very melty, very sticky, very gooey, sweet deliciousness of a dessert! 

Overall, this Pâtisserie De France Baked Alaska is pretty much the best thing to grace the Frozen Aisle since Chicken Nuggets.. No, I am not joking - It is that good! I can imagine it going down a treat at a dinner party but be warned, you will have to buy 2 as the serving suggestion of 4-6 people is a load of rubbish.. Me and MSW polished it off between us! It's a 4 out of 5 from me. 

Review- Cooke's Chip Strips: Sea Salt & Vinegar and Cheese & Onion

As usual, way to many snacks were purchased at Christmas.. There are still copious bags of crisps in the cupboard and I have no doubt that they will see us through until this years festivities! Today's review is one that I had forgotten about entirely in all the hustle and bustle - Cooke's Chip Strips!

I purchased both the 90g packets of Sea Salt & Vinegar and Cheese & Onion Savoury Potato Snacks in the middle (Ish) of December when I am sure they were on some sort of introductory offer.. But looking on Tesco's website today, they are currently £1 each. 

I wasn't sure what to expect in terms of packaging. Turns out, the wafer thin chips were stacked one on top of another, in plastic containers with a pop 'lid' - Fab for keeping them fresh! 

T-B Sea Salt & Vinegar, Cheese & Onion 

Both flavours looked similar in appearance with the addition of a few specks in the Cheese & Onion and both smelt fairly potent. When it came to texture, these weren't half strange - The long rectangles felt very crisp but as they were so thin, they were sort of bendy when moved in the air which I found most bizarre and not something I had ever seen in a crisp before! Light and crunchy when munched, they were most satisfying to eat and very moreish.. Well, they would have been apart from one major problem - They had next to nothing in the way of their flavour and certainly didn't reflect how they smelt! Both were extremely mild and pretty non-descript with a taste that was essentially a Poppadom! Rubbish. 

Overall, I am quite disappointed by these Chip Strips. They had a wonderful smell and a good bite to them but with a flavour that just couldn't match, they are sort of redundant.. I like Poppadoms immensely but if I had wanted Poppadoms, I would have bought Poppadoms! It's a 2 out of 5 for the pair. 

Review- Krispy Kreme LE Doughnuts: Honey Bee and Love Bug

Valentines Day appears to be big business over in Krispy Kreme world. Yesterday saw 2 NEW Doughnuts gracing Stores and Tesco cabinets alike which of course, excited me no end.. Despite not caring one way or the other for the occasion itself. I am not one to bang on about the commercialism of it all as that can be said for anything.. I just don't have anyone to love.. Apart from myself.. Which is why I buy all the Doughnuts and am ridiculously bitter.  Moving on.. 

I picked up both the Honey Bee and Love Bug for £1.90 each. I have to say these are some of the cutest KK I've seen with their smiley little faces and bright bodies.. And for once, they don't look like they've been rushed during production! 

Honey Bee

The Honey Bee is filled with smooth chocolate and hand-dipped in vanilla flavoured icing

I suspect everyone and their Mother will be saying this but why this Honey Bee isn't filled with some sort of honey flavouring is beyond me. Yes, it is a cute name but it does seem a bit like a missed opportunity since its not commonly used and the chocolate options are already free flowing.. Never mind, I guess! As usual, it felt rather cruel slicing something so innocently adorable in half but needs must when it comes to getting a good picture! The dough was superb in being up to the usual soft and fluffy standard with the signature Krispy Kreme flavour. A thick chocolate filling was in abundance which although was silky and smooth it was a bit to sweet and artificial for my liking. As for the icing.. Well, it was certainly generous but it both smelt and tasted like Play-Doh with 0 vanilla! I couldn't stomach such a flavour so donated it to MSW who agreed it was questionable but managed to eat it anyways - She's a soldier. It's a 2 out of 5 from me. 

Love Bug

Our cute Love Bug is filled with strawberry mousse and hand-dipped in raspberry icing

I was scared when it came to this doughnut given its bright yellow, doughy Adonis - The icing was once again super thick but fortunately smelt much more inviting. Taking a bite, I was in heaven. The texture was perfect with a real fruity flavour of which both the raspberry and the strawberry were identifiable. A baby pink mousse filling was really crammed in the centre and beautifully whipped and light with a jammy like flavour. The cerise coloured topped was pleasantly tart which kept things from getting to sweet and as there was plenty of it, no bite lacked, lustre. A finishing touch of the smiley face comprising of a harder icing was lovely for that extra added something. A 4 out of 5 from me! 

Overall and in standard Krispy Kreme style, these LE Valentines Doughnuts are a funny old match - The Love Bug is wonderful and should be available all year round whereas the Honey Bee needs to be put down. I've noticed it before but the chocolate that KK use really isn't up to scratch.. And the icing on this occasion, I am convinced came from a Playgroup.. I feel sorry for kids if that's what they snack on nowadays. Go check out NibsnScribs review as she too is a fan of consoling ones woes with dough and have a lovey dovey (Or not so much) 14th of February! 

Review- Kingdom Dark Chocolate & Pistachio

Another day, another present.. I was most spoilt at Christmas! A certain someone took being a Secret Santa to a whole other level and is whom we can thank todays review for.. It's my Turkey guzzling companion, Bake Off date and general all round partner in crime, NibsnScribs! I shall spare you all a soppy eulogy about how glorious she is.. But instead will say, that if you've ever considered making a shrine, make one in her honour - She really is that worthy and will probably reward you with chocolate.. A win win situation for all, don'tcha think!? 

Dark Chocolate 63% with white chocolate 17%, pistachio 13% flavoured chocolate centre

Ever one to be bold and knowing full well of my nut woes, this suspiciously green Dark Chocolate & Pistachio bar was one of my gifts. I hadn't tried Kingdom previously but apparently they are Montezuma's Cheeky Little Brother which coincidentally, I have not had either but do know that they are very much a British company who are big on ethics. 

The first thing to excite me about this bar was the little crown embellishments on each cube of chocolate - I'm a sucker for aesthetics! It smelt invitingly of good quality dark cocoa with no nuttiness, much to my surprise. The chocolate had a lovely melt to it with the centre being just as smooth and luxurious. Flavour wise, I am torn yet happy to say that the Pistachio element was wonderfully non existent - Literally, nothing was apparent other than the delicious balance of creamy and bitter, not to unlike Green & Blacks, of the dark chocolate. I even tasted the olive coloured centre seperately and it was sweet, white chocolate and nothing but - I liked it a lot! 

Overall, this Dark Chocolate & Pistachio bar may just be Dark Chocolate but I enjoyed it thoroughly.. And not just because I didn't have to have a fight with any potential allergens. The quality of chocolate is superb and Kingdom have managed to strike the perfect balance of rich and sweet to produce something super yummy.. Just not nutty! Thanks Nibs - You're magical! It's a 4 out of 5 from me. 

Review- Good4U NEW Super Bites: Orange & Cocoa and Coconut

I like to be healthy.. Well, I try to be. The issue I often face is that most sweet snack bars contain some sort of problematic nut which prevents me from eating them and in turn I consume nothing other than Fruit - Don't get me wrong, I love Fruit but with the likes of Nakd having a smorgasbord of tasty healthy treats that I can't eat, things do get a little disheartening. Thankfully, Hannah has got my back and she sent me on a mission to pick up the Good4U Super Bites which contain nothing that can kill me.. Huzzah!

Asda was my port of call when buying the 40g bags of Truffles which are currently on a 2 for £1.50 offer. I opted for the Cocoa & Orange and the Coconut but a Banana option is also available if thats what floats your boat. The ingredient list on the back has nothing to turn your nose up at, comprising most notably of Dates, Milled Sunflower Seed, Raisin, Fat Reduced Cocoa, Chia Seed and Red Algae Seaweed with no added sugar. 

Cocoa & Orange

Cocoa & orange flavour raw seed and fruit bites. 

I had to pick this bag to start with - Chocolate Orange is one delicious combo! Sadly, they don't look all that appetising and were actually more solid than I anticipated, with a smell that can only be described as like a Garden Centre. With some hesitance, I popped one in my mouth and instantly disliked what I tasted - Gritty in texture but with a strange chewiness, the flavour was like flowers mixed in with some artificial orange that you would typically find in a cheap, jelly sweet! I couldn't taste any Dates or Cocoa.. Just a Soil. Absolutely grim - 0 out of 5 from me. 

Coconut

Cocoa & toasted coconut raw seed and fruit bites. 

On a scale of 1-10 on how much I wanted to try these.. I was on about a -7. Once again, they looked like Rabbit poop but this time were much more squidgy with a scent that was essentially, medicinal sun screen. With all the hesitance, I ate one and not so surprisingly, didn't like it - They tasted as above, shrubbery but this time mighty bitter as well. The coconut was sort of apparent but really was overpowered by whatever else was causing the yucky flavour and again, no Cocoa edge. Another 0 out of 5 from me. 

Good God. I have no idea what planet The Bananah was on when recommending these Good4U Super Bites to me - I have never pulled such repulsed faces when eating something in my life. If this is what healthy, Vegan, fruity, seedy snacks are like, well.. You can keep them! Me and my Fruit are going elsewhere! Jeepers. 

Review- Cully & Sully Honey, Carrot & Coriander Soup

There are quite a few NEW additions to the fresh ready meal aisle of Tesco at the minute.. It seems they have majorly upped their game since the New Year! The Vegetarian section has expanded as well as having being given a packaging make over, with the soups too, being in abundance. One brand particularly caught my eye having not heard of them previously.. Cully & Sully. 

The cute name and cute packaging only helped when deciding to buy the 400g tub of Honey, Carrot & Coriander Soup for £1.50. It turns out Cully & Sully are a couple of Irish folk who just so happen to have a Global Sial D'or award as well as a Great Taste Gold 2007 stamp on not only this product but several of their others too! 

Both worryingly and reassuringly, I thought the soup smelt a bit like school dinners when being zapped until hot in the microwave - It was most inviting. Smooth and silky in the mouth and of the ideal thickness, the soup tasted pleasantly of earthy carrot with a very mild hint of spice to warm the back of the throat on the way down. I couldn't identify the honey itself which I wasn't all to disappointed about as it isn't my favourite but the apparent sweetness it did bring was lovely. The coriander also wasn't all that distinguishable but it didn't feel as though anything was missing as was - Everything was perfectly balanced with no yucky saltiness! Very comforting and very delicious. 

Overall, I am pretty much in love with this Honey, Carrot & Coriander Soup* from Cully & Sully.. I can certainly see why it has gone down a treat on judging panels! Without a shadow of a doubt, I will be trying more from the brand - The Tomato & Basil option has already caught my eye and I suspect will be purchased next week! It's a 4 out of 5 from me. 

Vegetarians and Gluten Free-ers unite as this is suitable for you.. AND it is freezable! What more do you want?! 

Review- Augusto Ice Cream Sandwiches

Does cold weather deter anyone from eating ice cream? This question stems from a sight I saw at the weekend. I witnessed a woman trying to eat a 99 whilst being battered by the Baltic wind on the sea front, in a temperature that I can only describe as, below absolute zero. Her commitment to Mr Whippy is admirable but I can't help but feel that in a chill, ice creams are best enjoyed in the comfort of ones own warm home! 

I had no intention of buying anything from the Frozen dessert aisle of Asda when I popped in but alas, I saw these Augusto Chocolate, Vanilla & Strawberry Wafer Ice Creams and was immediately taken back to ye olden times when MSW would make her own DIY version. I couldn't not get them and at only £2 a box.. Well, I didn't need any more persuading so in the basket they went and took them home where I then realised they were a Polish product - No wonder, I hadn't heard of the brand previously! 

The box contained 6 x 160ml, individually wrapped sandwiches which were really quite huge - Almost 10cm by 7cm with a depth of just over 3cm for those interested in specificity! 

I cut the sandwiched wafer lengthways, not straight I might add, to reveal the 3 distinct blocks of brown, white and pink ice creams - It may look like there was less strawberry than the others but this was just due to being placed wonky to begin with during manufacturing. Taking a munch, the texture was lovely. The wafer was soft but pleasantly so with the ice creams being being firm yet easy to bite. Flavour wise and starting with the chocolate, it wasn't super high quality by any means but it did taste noticeably cocoa-y and there was no yucky after taste. The vanilla was lovely and my personal favourite - Super creamy and sweet with most definitely a european feel. Last but be no means least was the strawberry and where things got interesting. Upon first tasting, I thought it was more of a bubblegum as it struck me as familiar and what I assumed was something I would have had when on holiday when little.. Definitely not as this proceeded to pack a serious punch! The strawberry flavour was so potent it was all a bit to much and proved to be really quite artificial - Such a shame! 

Overall, these Augusto Ice creams aren't all that bad really. They make for a substantial dessert and despite the flavours being a little squiffy and a tad mouth puckering, they won't be left to perish in the freezer. If Neapolitan is your thing then they are definitely worth a go.. But only when inside, of course! - It's a 3.5 out of 5 from me.