A true show stopper: Tesco Ice-cream Sundae Gravity Cake

Now this is a real party piece. It's what appears to be a gravity-defying, 3D celebration cake, shaped to look like a nice cream sundae being drizzled from above by chocolate sauce. The jug and sauce are, in fact, solid chocolate and come separately in the box. Upon assembly, the solid chocolate jug and sauce are pushed into the top of the cake (sorry if I've spoilt your illusion!) The actual cake itself is a plain sponge with a filling of butter cream and raspberry jam, although when a cake looks this impressive, I don't think people are really that bothered with the flavour! 
£15.00 from Tesco, serves 20 people

A picnic to be proud of

Even if, like me, you're not going to Henley, Ascot or Glyndebourne, the chances are that you'll be visiting the beach or the local park over the summer. But just because you're watching the ducks on the pond in Shoreham rather than the Gold Cup at Ascot, it doesn't mean you can't pack a picnic to be proud of!
This new Pink Grapefruit Mimosa Fizz is a sparkling cocktail of pink grapefruit juice and white wine. It's a refreshing low-alcohol fizz that won’t give you a headache.
£4.99 in M&S






Waitrose Bite Size pork pie selection
5 mini pork pies made with seasoned British pork filling encased in a hot water crust pastry and 5 mini pork and pickle pies made with seasoned British pork filling and pickle encased in a hot water crust pastry with a crumb topping.
£2.49 for 10 


Tesco Strawberry Cheesecake Slices
Topped with cream cheese frosting, biscuit crumbs and real strawberry pieces.
£1.45 for a pack of 5

Pigs in Mud Ice Cream

Another limited edition product. The weather is supposed to warm up again next week, so I thought I'd check out freezer cabinets and found this in Tesco. Wish I had seen this limited edition Pigs in Mud ice-cream sooner! It's chocolate and marshmallow flavour ice creams swirled with marshmallow sauce, chocolate flavour pig shaped pieces and mini marshmallows. Cute if you like pigs. Am I the only one who thinks that there should be a whole farmyard-inspired range??! No?
£2.00 for 480ml 

Pizza, but not as we know it...

Introducing Pizza without tomatoes. Yes, WITHOUT tomatoes. Surely that's like lemonade without lemons. Well, apparently it works, which is why Waitrose has released this new wood-fired mushroom and gorgonzola pizza. It's a hand stretched base topped with kale,roasted portobellini and oyster mushrooms, sweet balsamic onions and Italian blue cheese, with a creamy white sauce rather than your standard tomato sauce. This is the first ‘white pizza’ Waitrose has ever sold. But I reckon once you’ve tried it, you’ll wonder why it took them so long.
300g, introductory price of £2.52 until June 9



This is known as a 'pizza bianca', and it may be that this really takes off in the UK. Pizza Express, for example, now have a pizza bianca called 'La Regina', which is smoked ham hock, chestnut mushroom, buffalo mozzarella, garlic oil and black pepper on a béchamel base, finished with freshly chopped parsley and black truffle oil.
This might be worth sacrificing your tomatoes for.

Limited Edition from The Collective Dairy

The Collective Rhubarb, Vanilla and Lemongrass
For months, the limited edition flavour from The Collective has been coffee. But now it's time for something a rather more seasonal and a lot more imaginative. This is certainly both of those. It's pretty random, too. Who new that lemongrass went well with rhubarb? Well we all do now. This is extremely good: thick and creamy yogurt with a tart rhubarb puree/compote. And 5p from every pot will go to Action Against Hunger to help malnourished children. 
£2.39 for 500g, Ocado

Willie's Cacoa: Colombian Gold

This is Willie's highest % cacao bar so be prepared for something really bitter. I was bracing myself when I tried this, but was pleasantly surprised to get a subtly fruity after-taste. The packaging says that it has redcurrant and spice notes, although I swear I could taste cherry too. However, the bar is not that large and so had disappeared by the time I could clarify this for certain! I like the fact that Willie explores all corners of the world with his cacao. The bars don't even have vanilla or soya lecithin added to them so you certainly get the raw taste of cacao, just as it should be. I'm not completely converted to cacao, and certainly not converted to the bitterness of a high % of cacao or cocoa solids, but a small little bar like this is a nice change once in a while. Considering the price, however, I would not buy it again.

£2.99 for 80g, Ocado

New: Muller Fruitopolis Summer Berries

Yet another new product from Muller! They certainly keep them coming! This time it's a new variant for their Fruitopolis range; summer berries layered over thick creamy tasting Greek Style yogurt. How I love a seasonal product, and what's more, it's fat free!
£2.48 in Asda

A feast of pulled pork...

There's no denying that pulled pork has taken off in a BIG way. And I mean BIG. It's barging its way onto our shelves in ever increasingly inventive ways. Take a look at some of the latest pulled pork foods that Asda is stocking....

Feasters Pulled Pork Sandwich
Slow cooked, marinated BBQ pulled pork with a maize topped bun and a sachet of BBQ sauce. Made with slow cooked Irish pork. Microwaves in 110 seconds. 
£1.50 in Asda



Asda Sharing BBQ Pulled Pork Bites
Shredded slow cooked pork and barbecue sauce coated in a ciabatta style breadcrumb.
£1.60



Asda Butcher's Selection Chinese Pulled Pork
 Marinated in classic Chinese seasoning, with a rich Oriental sauce
£3.60

Asda Meat Free BBQ Pulled Pork
A soya twist on this sweet 'n' smoky stateside favourite. Pork flavour rehydrated soya protein with a honey barbecue sauce. £2.28

Asda BBQ Pulled Pork Burgers
Pork and pulled pork burgers blended with a barbecue sauce.
£3.00 for a pack of 4

Companies such as I Am Souperare even starting to incorporate this fashionable food item into other products...

I Am Souper Pulled Pork & Jalapeño Fully Loaded Soup

I Am Souper is fully loaded with chunky tasty ingredients and delivers a source of “High Protein”.

£1.00 in Asda

The trend has extended beyond pork....

Asda BBQ Pulled Chicken Crown
Cherrywood smoked and marinated in a blend of herbs and spices, with a sweet barbecue sauce
£3.60

ASDA  Pulled Chicken with Smoky Fajita Sauce

Cooked and smoked seasoned pulled chicken with a sachet of smoky fajita sauce

£2.50

ASDA  Pulled Beef Brisket with Bourbon BBQ Sauce

Cooked and smoked seasoned pulled beef brisket with a sachet of bourbon barbecue sauce

£2.50

Law of the Land Beer

Good news if you live in Lincolnshire... However, if  (like me) you're one of the many millions who don't live in Lincolnshire, you'll either have to read about this beer knowing you will never get to try it, or make a pilgrimage to Lincolnshire to hunt a bottle down.  That's because this highly limited edition beer, called Law of the Land, is only available from Lincoln Castle and Lincolnshire Co-op stores, as well as the visitor centre of Batemans (a family brewer based in Lincolnshire). By now, my readers, you're probably asking/screaming why? Because this ruby beer has been brewed to celebrate the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta. Lincolnshire  plays an important role in the story of the historic document and is home to one of only four surviving original copies.
The beer was launched at an exclusive event held in the women’s prison at the newly renovated Lincoln Castle, where Lincoln Cathedral’s copy of the document is now housed in the new David PJ Ross Magna Carta Vault. Law of the Land is a rich and opulent old-style beer, brewed specially to be a modern-day representation of the type of ale that would have been enjoyed by the barons who created Magna Carta. It has hints of berries and fruits to enhance the traditional flavour. The use of Minstrel hops is also deliberate, as they feature some characteristics of hops of that time.
It hopes to appeal to those drinking during the national ‘Cheers to Beer’ taking place at 12.15pm on Beer Day Britain, 15 June 2015. At that time people are encouraged to go to the pub, bar or have a bottle of beer at work or home and raise a glass to British beer and Magna Carta. The time of 12.15pm relates to the year the great charter was sealed.

Veg as carbs... once again!

Those of you who follow my blog regularly will have seen my posts about vegetable crisps, vegetables juice and most recently, vegetable couscous and vegetable spaghetti. Is this wave of veggie products a sign of vegetables getting too big for their boots? Or is this the revival that vegetables finally deserve? But before you answer that, take a look at these new vegetable crisps from Tesco....
Crunchy slices in sweet potato, beetroot and carrot variants. Dig in.... they're one of your five a day!


£1.00 for a 30g bag

Peshwari Naan

Naan is one of my favourite things about Indian cuisine. I find it delicious dipped into a curry or even eaten by itself. A Peshwari naan is a traditional recipe where the naan is stuffed with a tasty combo of sultanas, cinnamon, apple and almond flavours. Basically, naan bread for the sweet-toothed. Tesco Finest's new Peshwari naan is hand stretched and topped with butter ghee, which gives it a rich flavour. It is filled with sultanas, coconut, honey and sweet Bramley apple sauce, and has been flame baked in a tandori style clay oven. Still lovely with your favourite curry, the sweet flavours also make the Peshwari naan great dessert.
£1.75 for a pack of 2. They're big though!

Brothers Cider

I recently spotted this new addition of Brothers cider. It's pear cider flavoured with coconut water and lime juice, which goes to show that the recent trend for coconut water is stretching further than the soft drinks shelves. The combination of coconut and lime reminds me of Thai cuisine, but also sounds highly refreshing which makes it a perfect offering for summer. It joins the existing range of Toffee Apple, Cloudy Lemon, and Strawberry & Kiwi.
£2.09 for a 500ml bottle in Tesco

Chorizo Jam

Introducing the new Eat 17 Chorizo Jam. But is it a jam, a spread or a relish? A jelly or a chutney? Who cares? Jam it on some crusty bread or cheese. Spread it on your sarnie or relish it in a burger. It's smoky, sweet and has a little bit of heat. 

£3.49, in Tesco 

Retro-favourite sweets gone soft!

The manufacturer of British retro-favourites Wham, Refreshers and Fruit Salad sweets have reinvented these confectionery classics into a soft format with its new Softies range. The soft gums will be available in Fruit Salad raspberry and pineapple, and apple and blackcurrant; Wham fizzy cola, strawberry, and original; and Refreshers original flavour varieties. Let's hope that they still hold the sour tang and fruity fizz that we know and love.

A double-choccy-orange delight...

The new Double Chocolate Jaffa Cake Bars feature chocolate sponge with the traditional orange flavoured filling, covered in dark chocolate. For the serious chocolate fans. 

Currently £1 for a pack of 5 in Tesco

Weight Watchers Choc Pots

This new product from Weight Watchers will be music to the ears of dieters and non-dieters alike. These Choc Pots are available in caramel chocolate and milk chocolate varieties. They have a silky smooth custard-like texture. Basically little shots of heaven. Guilt free. What's not to like?

£1.99 for a pack of 6 in Waitrose or Asda.

Boost Cherry Burst

Cherry Burst is the latest new product from Boost Drinks, which is a popular flavoured energy drinks brand. Cherry Burst comes in a 250ml can, price marked at 49p. However, like the rest of the Boost range, Cherry Burst will not be sold in supermarkets and is only available at convenience stores.

Perfect for a picnic...

If you've been tasked with looking after the children this half term, then why not have a picnic? And whilst the children delight themselves with peeling cheesestrings and squeezing frubes, why not treat yourself to something a little more refined, something a little different and perhaps a bit more inspirational? These new sausage rolls from the M&S British-inspired range seem to fit the bill.

Black Pudding & Pork Sausage Rolls
Topped with oats and black onion seeds.

Hog Roast Sausage Rolls
Puff pastry, sausage-meat, puller pork and bramley apple topped with pork crackling.

Pork and Chilli Rolls
Puff pastry, pork bacon and chilli topped with chilli powder and cumin seeds.

Pork and Bramley Apple Rolls

Gourmet Drops

 I've become familiar with the relatively recent trend in little squeezy bottles of concentrated squash which can simply be squirted into a glass/bottle of water to make your drink more flavoursome. Robinsons is one example of the numerous brands which are now producing this handy little product:


However, recently I spotted these curious 'Gourmet Drops' on the shelf at my local Waitrose and decided to investigate. But there certainly not for adding to water. Oh no. These are naturally flavoured coffee syrups with no added sugar which can be added to coffee (or hot chocolate) for a delicious flavour of vanilla or caramel. Perfect for the office... if (or when) your day needs a little added interest!
£2.79 each

New Cadbury Roses flavour

Since its creation in 1938, the designs and chocolate varieties within Cadbury Roses have evolved with consumer tastes. Cadbury Roses is now  introducing a new addition to the range; new Almond Caramel Bite, the flavour of chewy caramel with a taste of almond.


But that's not the only change to Cadbury Roses. Oh no. There's a new pack design, which is closer to the historic ‘Roses’ design than ever before, but with a modern twist. The updated carton  includes a new lid for easier sharing, and the ‘Thank you’ messaging has also made a reappearance. The tub has also changed...

However, worrying for Roses addicts is the ever-shrinking tub which was a hefty 975g until 2011 when it was pruned to 850g. And it has carried on downsizing with the weight tumbling to 777g in 2014 and by the end of that year there was another dramatic cut to 753g with no change in the price. Now it has been trimmed again to 729g with shoppers coughing up the same price. So the tub has been slashed by 246g - which means chocolate lovers have lost more than a family size bar of Dairy Milk (200g) and a bag of Dairy Milk Giant Buttons (40g).

In addition to the design, the chocolate wrapping itself has been refreshed to address customer complaints. In 2014, the number one complaint on Cadbury Roses was chocolates becoming unwrapped in the box and affecting the other chocolate flavours. To address this, a new ‘flow-wrap’ around each chocolate aims to overcome these problems, keeping the chocolates fresher for longer and ensuring none accidentally unwrap in the box.

Lion Granola

I've always had this notion in my head that granola is healthy. Alright, I know it's usually laden with sugar, but I've tried to kid myself that the oats and added nuts/fruit make it at least a little bit good for me! Well my illusion has just been shattered with this new granola from Nestle, designed to represent the gloriously unhealthy Lion chocolate bars. In essence, it is a cereal version of the chocolate bar: caramel and chocolate pieces combined with golden crunchy rolled oats. At least there's a big sign on the front of the packet saying 'Whole Grain Guaranteed', so that we don't feel totally guilty when tucking in at 7am!

£1.98 for 350g in Asda

Nescaffee Shakissimo

A range of chilled coffees in Europe, just in time for summer. The Shakissimo range is made up of three milk-rich coffees – Latte Espresso, Latte Macchiato, Latte Capuccino – designed to be consumed straight from the fridge. But not so fast... the coffees come with their own unique ritual – the cups have been designed to be shaken to create an instant creamy froth on the drink.

£1.30 each in Asda.

New: Luxury yogurts from M&S

Fancy yogurts in the new British range from Marks and Spencer.
West Country Yogurt with...

Sussex Lemon Pond Pudding
Sussex Pond Pudding is a traditional English pudding made of a suet pastry which encases a whole lemon, with butter and sugar, it is boiled or steamed for several hours.

Blackberry & Quince
Quince belongs to the same family as apples and pears; its shape is similar to a pear, but larger.

Victoria Plum & Bergamot
The Bergamot orange is a fragrant citrus fruit the size of an orange, with a yellow color similar to a lemon.

Vegetables masquerading as carbs.

Even if you've been living under a rock for the last half-century, you can't have missed the gathering momentum of vegetable crisps and vegetable fries. Recently, however, vegetables have started masquerading as other forms of carbohydrate too. Tesco has newly released three products which are perfect examples:
Cauliflower Couscous, Courgette Spaghetti and Carrot Spaghetti. Nothing has been added or taken away from the vegetables; the cauliflower is just in very fine pieces and the courgette and carrot has been chopped/peeled in a way that resembles spaghetti, but which would take you or me a very long time without any special equipment.
£1.00 each.

Mattessons Strip Sticks

Mattessons, the meat snacking brand, has extended its range with the launch of a snack aimed at adults.  Mattessons Strip Sticks are chicken skewers made with 100% chicken breast and high in protein. They're only available in one flavour, but it's worth noting that this single flavour is sheer, unadulterated slow roast chicken, perhaps we don't need any other flavours? Available in both a Strip Stick single 50g portion and Strip Sticks Minis Multipack of two 30g portions.

Fish & Chips.... Marks & Spencer style!

As you may be aware, Marks & Spencer have newly released a Taste of the British Isles range, and no 'Taste of the British Isles' would be complete without good old fish and chips. So sure enough, the new range features some fish & chips dishes: beer-battered cod and scraps; haddock, scraps and chips; wholetail scampi and chips; cider-battered plaice fingers; cider-battered plaice fillets; and whitebait. But fish & chips is just not the same if it's not wrapped up in newspaper, I hear you cry! Well, M & S have already thought of that; the new products are packaged in sustainable cardboard printed with a retro newspaper design. Now the question is what goes on first, salt or vinegar?!!

Soupologie Soup To Go

To my mind, soup has never been that fancy. It's always been a simple  affair; opening a tin and heating the contents if ever I'm in need of something quick and easy to fill my rumbling tum. Well, Soupologie has turned all of that on its head thanks to a new range of decadent and inventive soups. Their new 'soup to go' range features unusual soups with their own separate toppings (in sachets). The five strong line-up includes 'spirulina greens (no, me neither - apparently it's a bacteria used as a dietry supplement for protein) with pumpkin seed sprinkles', 'beetroot & pomegranate with chia seed sprinkles', 'spinach, kale & garlic with hemp seed heart sprinkles', 'curried sweet potato, coconut &  raw cacao with toasted coconut flake sprinkles' and 'cauliflower, kale & black garlic with sunflower seed sprinkles'. If that wasn't enough, the range is free from lactose, gluten, glucose syrup, added sugar and corn flour, AND they can either be eaten hot or cold. Well fancy that.
They're available from Ocado, Holland & Barratt and Planet Organic.