Category Archives: Food

Win a fabulous Divine Christmas Hamper

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Have a Delicious Christmas with Divine!

Whether its hanging from your Christmas tree or hiding underneath, it’s that time of year again where chocolate is never too far from our fingertips!

8 out of 10 of us admit we indulge in our favourite chocolate treat each week, making us a nation of self-confessed chocolate lovers. And since it’s the one time of year we don’t have to feel guilty about eating it Divine have introduced scrumptious new fair-trade products to satisfy our chocolate cravings this festive season; whether it be after dinner ginger thins, Christmas coins and trees made with their critical acclaimed dark chocolate.

 

Divine is the only Fair-trade chocolate company which is 45% owned by the very coco farmers who pick the beans in Ghana. So you can be sure your chocolate is not only seriously scrumptious but responsibly and fairly sourced too.

 

Why not be in with a chance to win a fabulous Divine Christmas hamper for your loved ones (or yourself!) which includes 3 chocolate Divine Christmas trees in milk, dark and white chocolate, 2 bars of luxurious Divine chocolate, Ginger Thins, Mint Thins and Christmas coins!

 

To find out more information visit the website: www.divinechocolate.com

 

To win the Divine Christmas-themed chocolate hamper please follow Frost on twitter, @Frostmag and answer this question:
Which country are Divine Chocolate cocoa beans grown?
a) Ghana
b) Nigeria
c) Lapland


 

How To Make Your Own Top Notch Desserts This Christmas

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With only 19 sleeps to go until Santa comes shooting down the chimney, everyone’s now fully getting into the festive spirit; more and more gifts are getting ticked off wish-lists, many of us have already had our first mince pie of the festive season, and we’re all finding ourselves singing along to the Christmas classics being played on our favourite radios stations in the morning.

But, it’s normally around this time when we also have to turn our thoughts to buying something else other than the presents; the food. Yes, that’s right, it’s time to grab the best turkey, all the trimmings, and hunt out all of the supermarkets for the best Christmas trifle. After all, it’s not always the turkey that’s the star of the feast on Christmas Day – because, for some, it’s the dessert.

But, rather than turning to the supermarkets for help, why don’t you try something different this year? Get all the family involved and make your own Christmas desserts!

So, if you’re playing host on Christmas Day this year, why not wow your guests with some of these quick and easy festive dessert creations:

 

 

Banoffee Pie (Serves 4-6):

Ingredients:

250g digestive biscuits
100g butter, melted, plus a little extra for greasing
400g dulce de leche (sometimes sold as caramel)
2 bananas, peeled and sliced
300ml double cream
2 tbsp grated dark chocolate

Method:

1. Place the biscuits into a food processor and pulse until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Transfer to a mixing bowl and stir in the melted butter, mixing well to combine.

2. Place the mixture into a lightly greased 20cm/8in loose-bottomed cake tin and press down into the base and up along the sides. Place in the fridge to chill for 30 minutes.

3. Spoon the dulce de leche over the biscuit base, and then cover with a layer of sliced bananas.

4. Put the cream through a cream whipper with the help of a nitrous oxide charger, and decorate the pie on top with whipped cream and grated chocolate.

5. Slice into wedges and serve.

Raspberry and Cherry Trifle (Serves 10):

Ingredients:

10 boudoir (sponge) biscuits
2 x 250g punnets of cherries, stoned
5 tbsp cherry brandy or crème de cassis
2 x 125g raspberries, washed
4 meringue nests, crushed
1 litre/1 ¾ pint ready-made custard
400 ml double cream
110g dark chocolate, grated
55g toasted flaked almonds

Method:

1. Choose either a large glass bowl or small individual glasses. Break the boudoir biscuits into pieces and sprinkle at the bottom of the bowl(s).

2. Pile the cherries on top and spoon over the cherry brandy.

3. Sprinkle the meringue nests on top of the cherries and then sprinkle the raspberries on top.

4. Pour the custard over the entire ingredients and chill for 10 minutes.

5. Whip the cream either by hand or with the help of whipping cream dispenser, and carefully decorate on top of the custard. 

6. Sprinkle generously with the chocolate and flaked almonds, and serve.

 

But, don’t just stop at making your own desserts this year! If you’re looking for an alternative drink to serve on the table rather than the standard Bucks Fizz this year, then why not try making this (adults only) festive drink suggestion – just remember to make enough of it for when everyone asks for more!

The Granny Apple Cocktail (Alcoholic – Serves 1):

Ingredients:

1 oz apple schnapps
½ oz brands
½ oz irish cream
2 scoops ice cream
½ oz double cream
1 pinch ground cinnamon

Method:

1. Simply combine all the ingredients (excluding the cream and cinnamon) into a blender and blend well until fully mixed together.

2. Pour into a cocktail glass over ice.

3. Whip the cream and decorate on top with cream and dusted cinnamon. Serve, enjoy and remember to drink responsibly!

The World’s First Chocolatiers’ Convention. What’s Hot in Chocolate

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Frost recently got a golden ticket to The World’s First Chocolatiers’ Convention, and yes, we were just as excited as the kids in the Wille Wonka film. The convention was organised by Kennedy’s Confection Magazine and we heard the best and most impressive chocolate makers talk. A.Boyd Tunnock was a particular favourite. I had a good chat with Boyd who invented the Tunnock tea cake in 1960. He is as nice as he is brilliant.

Here are my highlights.

Pekka Rantala, managzing director of OY Karl Fazer, talked about Fazer becoming a €1.6 billion company. Fazer have teamed up with Angry Birds to make some really cool Angry Birds sweets. Okay, they are not chocolate but they are bang on trend. Check out the cool video below.

Next up was Peter Meadows from California Raisins. Peter says that raisins are just dried out grapes. The grapes are picked and layed out to dry. They are harvested in late August and there is a two-to-three week drying process. Raisins are 1 £500 million industry. In Tesco raisins are the second biggest bagged snack after Maltesers.

A. Boyd Tunnock CBE is the grandson of the founder and the inventor of the Tunnock Tea Cake. Tunnock’s was started in 1890 by Thomas Tunnock. They expanded in the 1950’s. Tunnock’s makes 9 million biscuits a week at their Uddingston factory and Boyd says, ‘When success comes you have no idea how, you just keep going.’

Boyd’s eldest gandson, Colin, works for Cadbury. Boyd says that he has a toy store compared to them but he is happy with it.

9 out of 10 people eat chocolate.

Sophi Tranchell MBE, managing director of farmer-owned Divine Chocolate. Average income for a cocoa farmer is £328 per year. 80% of the chocolate industry is owned by three companies. When a survey was done in West Africa only one child out of 250 wanted to be a cocoa farmer. Divine Chocolate are impressive. They aim to improve the livelihood of cocoa farmers in West Africa. Chocolate for those who want to buy ethically.

Francisco Redruello is a senior food analyst and had some great information and Willie Harcourt-Cooze. Willie is a well known chocolate maker and entrepreanur who came to fame in Channel 4 documentary Willie’s Wonky Chocolate Factory. We tried some of his chocolate and it is good.

Body language expert Judi James then turned the lights on and gave us all chocolate. She gave an excellent talk on chocolate and body language and then said what our chocolate eating habits meant. Judi says we only share chocolate to make ourselves look good, but I don’t believe her. Do you?

Predictions in the chocolate industry from Angus Kennedy.

Personalisation of the product.
Bolder tastes like cheese & wine, pumpkin, chilli, olive oil, bacon and carrot.
More indulgence. Chocolate with an indulgent appeal.
Smaller packets. As the recession kicks in, packs get smaller but stay the same price.
Sharing. 56% of people like to share.
Healthier chocolate. For people who are lactose intolerant for example. Did you know that 90% of people in Africa are lactose intolerant and 70% in United Kingdom and 20% in all of Europe.

Morrisons Christmas Showcase Event: What Food to Buy for Christmas?

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The perfect Christmas scene

Last week Frost was lucky enough to attend the Morrisons Christmas showcase event. We tried out all the delicious treats Morrisons is offering for this year. You may have already seen our Morrisons Christmas range article

Morrisons does an exceptionally good job of transcending the image of the corporate behemoth. Whilst other supermarkets were hosting investor days, Morrisons was focused on getting its message out to its customers. The event was hosted in a magical house which had apparently been featured on Grand Designs. It felt like it was Christmas day already! What struck me was the genuine passion and honesty of all the Morrisons team.

After being warmly greeted we were offered a glass of Morrisons award winning champagne. I don’t pretend to be much of a wine expert but my partner and I have been sold on Morrisons champagne ever since we first had some a few months ago. Honestly some of the best champagne I’ve ever had.

Moving on we were invited to try some of Morrisons bakery products. Graham, one of the bakers responsible for Morrisons new products, proudly encouraged us to try some of their new work. Morrisons employs more bakers than any other supermarket. All of the products we tried are made directly in the store.

mmmmm

White Christmas Pudding

Morrisons has brought in Claire Clark, world-famous pattissiere, to make this delicious alternative to the original Christmas pudding. It’s moist lighter and dare I say in many ways better. For those who aren’t fans of more traditional Christmas puddings this is well worth trying. Good value at just £3 as well.

Snow Capped Baked Alaska

Baked Alaska with cassis liquer, blackcurrant cream and sauce.

Christmas Tree Bread

Delicious and easy. Eleven mini buns locked together in the shape of a Christmas tree. Ideal for breaking and sharing.

Candy Cane

My absolute favorite of the new range. These look and taste wonderful. It is essentially a chocolate brioche wrapped around a currant bun. Definitely worth getting a couple for Christmas breakfast.

Panettone Cheesecake

This was a wonderful creation. I love cheesecake so it was great for me to try a Christmas version for once. It tasted superb the Morrisons team can be rightly proud of this one.

We next meet baking specialist Martin. Martin is very friendly and passionate like everyone else. He encourages us to try Morrisons old favourites, the award winning Panettone and Stollen, both have been updated slightly with extra fruit. Both are exceptionally good. I don’t think I’ve had better. I love Panettone.

I have barely finished stuffing my face when I am greeted by Roy, Morrisons meat specialist. He brings me a huge plate of Morrisons Christmas meats.

The quality of the ingredients really shines through, everything was excellent.

I really enjoyed the Crusted Turkey joint

The Morrisons team has worked with Michelin-starred chef Nigel Haworth to develop this.

You definitely won’t go wrong with Morrisons pigs in blankets. They were delicious. The cranberry sauce, stuffing and lamb were all excellent.

Everything is washed down with a delicious glass of Chilean wine. Morrisons is doing a lot to help their customers choose the right wine. Wine can be pretty confusing and often I get overwhelmed by all the different choices. Try out their new online taste test to see what wine is right for you.

The items above are just a small sample of Morrisons huge Christmas range.

Morrisons is a fantastic supermarket. An example of a great British business which provides food and livelihoods for a huge number of people.

I was really impressed by the genuine passion of the Morrisons team. There was no fake interest or pretence, just satisified people with a passion for their work.

Morrisons often doesn’t get the credit it deserves when it comes to the quality of its food. They’ve put together a fantastic Christmas range make sure to check it out.

 

9 Bar | Food Review

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I am on the go a lot so I like to have some snacks in my bag. Cereal bars are a particular favourite.
9bar have re-launched with a sleek new makeover and I tried their 5 varieties – Original, Nutty, Pumpkin, Flax and Organic. 9bars are gluten, dairy and wheat free. 9bars are handmade in Wales.


Original

The original bar is crunchy and delicious. It is also very filling. A brilliant snack. This bar is substantial and not too sweet.

Nutty

This bar is filled with nuts and seeds. Really good cereal bar, and with chocolate on top. Yum.

Pumpkin

I love pumpkin seeds. This bar also has a brilliant carob coating. You can see all of the seeds. It tastes sweet and is filling.

Flax

Flax seed is very popular with the health conscious. Flax seed is a super food, making these bars even more healthy. Tastes brilliant too.

Organic

This organic bar is tasty and pure organic heaven. Topped with chocolate and full of seeds. The perfect on the go bar.

The 9bar range is available from Waitrose, Tesco, Sainsbury, Asda, Morrison’s, Holland & Barrett and independent health food stores nationwide. All varieties are available in 4 x 40g multi packs, RRP £1.89, and in 50g singles, RRP 70p.

Nim’s Fruit Crisps | Food Review

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I love to snack. I have been trying to eat healthier snacks but I must confess a weakness for crisps. I know they are not good for me, but I love crisps. Can Nim’s Fruit Crisps be a good and healthy alternative? They are certainly healthier. Instead of being made from potatoes these crisps are made from dried fruit. It might sound like it won’t work, but it does.

Nim’s Fruit Crisps are free of additives and preservatives. Fat and gluten free, high in fibre, have no sugar, no added sugar and only between 62-76 calories per pack. They are also one of your five a day. But do they taste nice? Thankfully yes. I try the Apple & Kiwi and the Orange and Melon. They taste good and are also surprisingly filling. Perfect for a snack. The crisps are dried, not fried. I am definitely a fan of Nim’s Fruit Crisps. They are a great delicious, natural snack. Top marks.

This is what Nim’s say about their fruit crisps.

Pining for a packet of crisps without the guilt? Then look no further than delicious Nim’s Fruit Crisps. With only less than 70 calories per pack, Nim’s Fruit Crisps are the perfect healthy snack for every occasion. Whether you’re on the go or relaxing at home, these healthy bags of zesty goodness are the ideal snack to indulge your sweet tooth. Each bag is made from 100% natural fruit, using a unique air-drying process, meaning that each bag retains as much nutritional content as possible.

 

Nim’s Fruit Crisps are currently available online at www.nimsfruitcrisps.com / www.flavrbox.com / www.loveyourlarder.com / www.planet-v.co.uk / www.auravita.com / www.realfoods.co.uk / www.winnaturally.com and at Planet Organic, HealthZone stores and independent delis, health food stores, and farm stores.

£1.25 per mixed pack (20g)

£0.85 per single pack (18g)

On the week of the Annual Victoria’s Secret showcase, Miranda Kerr shares the insider knowledge on her catwalk body

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ON THE WEEK OF THE ANNUAL VICTORIA’S SECRET SHOWCASE, MIRANDA KERR SHARES THE INSIDER KNOWLEDGE ON HER CATWALK BODY

 

With the annual Victoria’s Secret fashion show commencing last night, all eyes were on their golden girl, Miranda Kerr. But as she stripped down to show off the latest lines, how did Miranda prepare her figure for the catwalk showcase?

 

We’ve rounded up Miranda’s most sought after beauty secrets, and given you the go-to guide to the catwalk body everyone’s lusting after this season.

 

SHE SAYS

“To keep my skin in check I always eat lots of greens and take Chlorella supplements and drink lots of water”

 

WE SAY

The powerful combination of key nutrients in chlorella help to detox and cleanse the skin and body, and also improve energy, sleep, hair and prevent nail ridges and splitting. Sun Chlorella ‘A’ is comprised of a whopping 60% pure plant protein, containing a unique component called Chlorella Growth Factor (CGF), which encourages growth and repair of cells and tissues in our bodies, working alongside antioxidant Vitamin A to bring anti-ageing benefits to your complexion.

Sun Chlorella is priced £21.95 for 300 tablets (a 20-30 day supply) and in NEW Sun Chlorella ‘A’ Granules, perfect for beauty boosting smoothies, priced at £21.95 for a 20 x 3g sachets box (one month’s supply)  available from http://www.tesco.com/ and www.SunChlorella.co.uk

 

SHE SAYS

“I will not go a day without coconut oil”

 

WE SAY

Holland & Barrett’s Nutritionist Kate Butler said one of the reasons coconut oil is so popular was its multi-functional benefits when used on the skin, hair or eaten.  “The small molecular structure of coconut oil allows for easy absorption through the skin, giving it a soft, smooth texture” said Kate. “This makes it an ideal ointment for the relief of dry, rough skin, and an effective after-sun lotion because it literally melts into your skin.  Coconut oil works wonderfully as a hair conditioner too as Miranda Kerr’s diet shows can be eaten on salads or used as a cooking oil” Holland & Barrett – Pure Coconut Oil is priced at £12.59 for 453g.

 

SHE SAYS

‘Now being a mother I don’t have as much time to spend on my skin. I like to wear rosehip oil at night. It’s full of that many antioxidants and it really works on a cellular level too to rejuvenate the skin. I put that on at night and I wake up glowing.’

 

WE SAY

Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil is a powerful 100% natural skincare product that helps improve the appearance of wrinkles, scars, stretch marks. Its potent active ingredients make it highly effective for other skin concerns includingdry and dehydrated skin, ageing skin and uneven skin tone. All skin types will benefit from using this lightweight oil which absorbs easily just like a serum.

£16.50 for 20ml and £28.50 for 45ml available from John Lewis trilogyproducts.co.uk and hollandandbarrett.com

 

SHE SAYS

“I have been working out quite a bit doing Pilates and yoga and strength training with weights and resistant bands and I eat super healthy.”

WE SAY

Justin Way, Fitness Expert and Personal Trainer at Pure Gym (www.puregym.com) says “Pilates can improve strength, flexibility and overall mobility, and develops the mind as well as the body.

It’s a totally safe and effective exercise method which will improve posture and over time help you achieve strong core strength, develop lean muscle tissue and improve wellbeing.

Pure Gym’s 24-hour, no contract membership starts from £17.99 a month. For more information, visit www.puregym.com

 

SHE SAYS

 “I drink warm water and lemon every morning and I also drink lots of good quality purified and preferably alkaline water throughout the day.”

 

WE SAY

Water is essential for life. It accounts for about 60% of our body weight and  performs crucial roles such as carrying nutrients and waste products between our major organs, helping regulate body temperature, lubricating our moving parts, and acting as a shock absorber. Independent consultant to the Natural Hydration Council – Dr Emma Derbyshire PhD, RNutr. Nutrition Consultant explains “Quench your thirst with water first before going on to enjoy other beverages such as tea, coffee, squash and fruit juices. If in doubt, the Food Standards Agency provides a useful guide of 6 to 8 glasses of water a day for the average person.”

 

 

Chillbox, the UK’s frozen Greek yoghurt, hosts a not-so-secret Saturday giveaway!

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Free stuff alert!!

Chillbox, the UK’s first ever frozen Greek yoghurt, hosts a not-so-secret Saturday giveaway!


This Saturday 10th November, 1pm – 3pm

 
Behind a refrigerated doorway, hidden in the vibrant food hub of Brixton Market, sits Chillbox – the UK’s first ever frozen Greek yoghurt concept.
Completely unique in its taste, the result of using Greek yoghurt and being chilled rather than frozen, Chillbox’s Greek frozen yoghurt is far softer and creamier than any of its competitors.
To celebrate its arrival, Chillbox will for one day only be giving everyone the chance to taste this delectable Greek frozen yoghurt with up to two toppings. The giveaway will take place this Saturday 10th November, between 1pm and 3pm only.
Choose between natural yoghurt, chocolate yoghurt or both, and then personalise with a huge selection of indulgent toppings – from caramelised Aegean almonds, slow cooked Morello cherries, to Oreo Cookies, Lemon Pie to name but a few. Sounds yummy.
Spread the word, come on down. #ChillboxSaturday is happening!
Terms & Conditions:
Offer to run on Saturday 10th November from 1 – 3pm only. Only one Chillbox per person and a maximum of two toppings allowed. No other products are allowed in this promotion. Toppings on the day may vary. Promotion offered on a first come, first served basis. Christmas toppings are not included in this offer.
Further information:
Chillbox
14 Market Row, Brixton Market, SW9 8LD
Opening times: Tues 10 – 5pm / Wed – Sun 10 – 10pm
For Chillbox updates follow:
Twitter – @Chillbox_uk