REVIEW: SoBe V Water

I got to try out some of the new SoBe V Water flavours...

When I heard of this, I thought it sounded like a very interesting concept. I am pretty sure I don't get all of the vitamins and minerals in a day that I should, and this sounded like a good way of getting them whilst quenching your thirst at the same time.

SoBe V Water - GLOW - Pomegranate & Blueberry Flavour

This is probably the best flavour out of the three I received. Although the flavour isn't that strong, it is really quite nice. Definitely a good combination of flavours. It has a delicious, refreshing taste and it definitely makes me feel that I am doing something good for my body.

SoBe V Water - KICK - Ginger & Mango Flavour

I had Ginger and Mango flavour. Ginger is one of my favourite flavours and I don't remember having it with mango before so I was looking forward to trying. It smelt very nice once opened, mostly the fruity smell of mango. I liked the flavour but it was maybe a little weaker than I was hoping for. The ginger was more noticable in taste than smell so I wasn't disappointed.

SoBe V Water - SHIELD - Lemon & Lime Flavour

This flavour was the first one I tried. Upon first drinking it, I thought it tasted quite nice, but afterwards it left a bit of a nasty taste behind - kind of like that which is left after taking medicine or tablets to be honest. I think the flavour could have been far more dominant. I know it's good for me, but I'm not the type of person who would sacrifice on taste for the health benefits - I prefer the best of both worlds and this flavour just didn't deliver for me.

This new SoBe V Water comes in a variety of flavours, so there is something for everyone.

Ellie Goulding is a big fan of SoBe V Water...

Free from preservatives, artificial colourings, flavours and sweeteners, the SoBe V Water range is available in 500ml bottles to give you a refreshing taste of the South Beach lifestyle.

Discover more about the SoBe V range at http://www.facebook.com/SoBeuk and http://www.twitter.com/SoBeuk.

SoBe V Water is available in selected supermarkets (Sainsbury's, Tesco, Waitrose and Asda) and petrol stations (BP and Total), independent deli's and cafes, WH Smith Travel and Superdrug with an RRP of £1.39.

REVIEW: Funkin' Mojito

I received a Funkin' Mojito cocktail mixer and a small bottle of Bacardi to review...

I have tried a mojito before, and the taste I can only describe as strange. I was interested to see how the new Funkin' mojito cocktail would fare in comparison.

Well, first things first. The pouch with the cocktail mixer in was easy enough to open - if you've ever had a drink in one of these pouches before, you will be familiar with how to open them. Just a simple easy to open, screw cap (sealed to start with of course).

Mixing the drink was quick and simple. I poured the bacardi in a glass of crushed ice and then added the cocktail mixer and gave it a stir. It only took a few seconds, so it was quick and easy to make the cocktail - far easier than how it looks when they make one in a bar!

The smell of it was dominantly minty. Though it had a slight smell of fruit on it too. Upon drinking it, there was a very citrus like kick to it, even though it was predominantly mint flavoured. However, the mint wasn't overpowering and I thought the hint of lemon and lime in it gave it the perfect balanced taste. I've tried a mojito ready mixed in a bottle previously and it was like drinking toothpaste. This one had a far more subtle taste of mint - noticeable, but subtle and not overpowering. It was really a well balanced combination of flavours and if there is such a thing as a perfect mojito, then this was it.

I can't say over all that mojito's are one of my favourite alcoholic drinks, but it's definitely something I'd have once in a while and I think I'd choose the Funkin' one every time.

REVIEW: Munchy Seeds

I received a selection of the new Munchy Seeds to review...

To be honest, I'm quite a fussy eater and seeds have never appealed to me, so I would not ordinarily have ever gone out and bought them. I eat sesame seeds on a burger bun, or the seeds in certain types of bread, but never on their own. But here's what I thought of the ones I received to review.

Omega Sprinkle

Savoury roasted sunflower, pumpkin, hemp, sesame, rape, linseed and flax seeds.

These are a lovely combination of a variety of seeds. Eating seeds makes me feel like a bird, I must say, but they actually are far more appetising than they appear to be. They are a good combination that work well together and they have a nice taste to them, and much to my surprise, they also have a good texture too. At 153 calories however, considering I am on a diet, they are quite calorific for a 25g packet. These ones contain Omega 3 and vitamin E, so you can rest assured they are good for you overall, however. They are also high in fibre and protein, are a good source of zinc and are free from artificial flavourings, colourings and preservatives. They are also suitable for vegetarians, vegans and coeliacs.

Chilli Mix

Dry roasted sunflower & pumpkin seed with crushed chillies and a dash of savoury sauce.

These were by far my favourite - if you're a fan of spicy food as I am, then you too will really enjoy these. They are very nicely flavoured and deliciously fiery too. Again, the seed combination works well together and the taste and texture are a real delight to the tastebuds. Again, at 151 calories per 25g packet, they are a little heavy in the calories for someone who is on a diet like myself. These ones contain Omega 6 and 9. They are free from artificial colourings, flavourings and preservatives, have low GI and are suitable for coeliacs, vegetarians and vegans.

Vanilla Pumpkin

Sweet roasted pumpkin seeds with a vanilla flavoured dusting.

I didn't like these ones at all - I really didn't feel the sweet flavour of the vanilla worked well with the seeds  and I really didn't like the taste of them in the slightest. I'm normally a fan of sweet things, but this just didn't work for me. At 135 calories, these were probably the best of the four I received for a dieter. They are high in fibre and protein, are a good source of iron and zinc and are free from artificial colourings, flavourings and preservatives. They are suitable for vegans, vegetarians and coeliacs.

Pumpkin Mix

Savoury roasted 3 seed blend (pumpkin, sunflower and sesame seed).

I enjoyed these too - I thought it was a great combination of seeds and a delicious savoury taste. Both the taste and texture were perfect and I liked them a lot. 

Munchy Seeds are a small family company based in Suffolk.  Through their passion for “mindful munching” they take pride in developing high quality, delicious nutritional snacks.  They have been roasting high grade seeds with a variety of savoury and sweet coatings for over 12 years.

Munchy Seeds are available in a variety of flavours to suit everyone:

Omega Mix – Savoury roasted 7 seed blend (pumpkin, sunflower, sesame, linseed, flax, hulled hemp and rape seeds)Pumpkin Mix – Savoury roasted 3 seed blend (pumpkin, sunflower and sesame seeds)Chilli Mix – Hot savoury roasted 3 seed blend (Apricot kernels, Pumpkin and sunflower seeds)Vanilla – Sweet roasted pumpkin seeds dusted in vanilla icing sugarMunchy Granola –Roasted oats, seeds, sultanas and orange zest drizzled with honey and maple syrup.Original – savoury roasted 2 seed blend (sunflower and sesame seeds)Choccy Seeds - nutritious chocolatey mix of sunflower and pumpkin seeds with pieces of dried apricot, enrobed in luxurious quality Belgian milk and dark chocolate

Available in 30g snack pack size sachets, 200g tubs or 500g tubs. Free from Gluten, Cholesterol and artificial colours and flavourings.  Suitable for Vegetarians and Coeliacs.

You can find them on twitter http://twitter.com/munchyseeds and on Facebook by searching for “Munchy Seeds”, plus at lots of shows across the country throughout the year.

Stockists of these Munchy Seeds include Tesco Extra stores, Booths, Waitrose and Lakeland stores nationwide, plus  are available to buy directly via www.munchyseeds.co.uk or by calling 01728 833004.

REVIEW: WeightWatchers Biscuits

I received some WeightWatchers products to review...

5 Caramel Wafers

At 78 calories per bar, I thought they sounded too good to be true. They looked appealing, but I worried what they would taste like as surely they couldn't taste as good as a normal caramel wafer?!

Well, I was wrong - I would go as far as to say they are better than some caramel wafers I have tried in the past. And the best thing of all is, I can rest safe in the knowledge that they are a guilt-free snack as they won't spoil my diet.

As most of you know, I am on a diet at the moment, and I must say, I've been missing my chocolate fix quite a bit, so when I received these bars to review, it was like Christmas come early - getting to have a delicious chocolate covered caramel wafer but without the worry of how it will affect my diet.

They have both a delicious taste and texture. It's a delicious chocolate covered wafer with some delicious, chewy caramel in too.

5 Chocolate Biscuits

At 89 calories a bar, again these are a dieters dream snack - chocolate without the guilt trip!

In all honesty, I wasn't very keen on these - the chocolate was delicious, but the actual biscuit was very chewy and grainy and it didn't have a very nice texture. The taste of both the chocolate and biscuit were fine, I just didn't enjoy the texture and crunchiness of the biscuit.

To be honest though, beggars can't be choosers - if you've been on a choccy vacation because you're on a diet, you will want to eat them anyway - I know I did!

REVIEW: Aleyna Sun Kissed Range

I was delighted to review some of the new Aleyna 'Sun Kissed' range to review. This is what I thought...


Aleyna Sun Kissed Tomatoes
I loved these - before I say anything else, I have to say that... They are SO delicious. They are sun ripened and slow roasted tomatoes - they are deliciously sweet and succulent and very flavoursome and juicy. I ate some straight out of the jar and they really are supremely delicious. My husband tried them too and really enjoyed them.

Aleyna Sun Kissed Peppers
In general, I wouldn't eat peppers on their own - I can only generally tolerate them as an ingredient in different foods, so I was pleasantly surprised when tasting these as I thought they were very nice. Although I preferred the tomatoes in the range, I very much liked these peppers too. Again, they are slow roasted and are very soft, succulent and tasty. They also have a touch of oregano and garlic which just intensifies their delicious taste. As with the tomatoes, I tasted these peppers straight out of the jar too. My husband really enjoyed these and I had to take them away from him quickly to stop him eating the whole jar!

REVIEW: Radcliffe's Wines

I had the pleasure of receiving two bottles of Radcliffe's wine to review and this is what I thought...

Radcliffe's Muscadet

This is a 2009 French white wine. It is a very aromatic, dry white wine with a delicious crisp taste and hints of an appley flavour. It has an 11.5% volume.

I served it chilled with a nice lemon chicken and cous cous meal and it accompanied the meal very well. It was very easy to drink and I enjoyed every sip of it. I love a nice cold glass of white wine to wind down and relax at the end of the day, and this wine did not disappoint. It was very rich in flavour and taste. I'm trying to describe it as it was for me, as I am not a wine expert, so I cannot describe it in a connoisseur kind of way.

"Muscadet is a classic French white wine, made from Melon de Bourgogne grapes grown in the maritime climate of the western Loire Valley, in the region irrigated by the Sèvre and Maine rivers. This wine is pale yellow-green in colour, with attractive citrus and floral aromas and delicate flavours. A crisp, refreshing wine that is traditionally served with fish and shellfish, or on its own as an aperitif."

Radcliffe's Chianti

This is a 2008 medium-bodied Italian red wine. It has a deep ruby red colour and has scents of berries and vanilla. It has a 12.5% volume.

I am not a very big fan of red wine - I'm more of a white wine person, whereas my husband is more of a red wine person, but we have both red and white to please us both. This was a very nice wine however - it has a very depthful taste to it and is a pleasure to the tastebuds. I had this wine as an accompaniment to a roast chicken and mediterranean  vegatables meal and it made the perfect match to the meal. I didn't much like the after-taste, though that may be because I simply am not a big fan of red wine - my husband thought it was very enjoyable on the other hand, but then he does like red wine best.

"A classic Tuscan red wine, made predominantly from Sangiovese grapes and characterised by a deep ruby red colour with shades of violet. This typical example has pleasant aromas of red berry fruits and vanilla, and a remarkable body with good balance and a long finish. It is the perfect accompaniment to both red and white roast meats, or Italian cured meats."

The complete Radcliffe’s Collection includes Muscadet, Prosecco, Pinot Grigio, Pinot Grigio Blush, Rioja, Côtes du Rhône, Corbières, Chianti, Chablis, Sancerre, Barolo and Châteauneuf du Pape.

Available from www.radcliffeswines.co.uk, branches of Martin McColls, Wine Rack, Bargain Booze, Wine Shak and independent wine merchants nationwide. Prices start at £5.49.

REVIEW: Nature Valley Snack Bars

I was very happy to receive a large selection of the various varieties of Nature Valley snack bars to review and this is what I thought...

CrunchyRolled wholegrain oats baked until crisp. 2 Bars in every pack. They come in packs of 6 double bars. And there are 3 flavours and a variety pack with two of each flavour in:

Roasted AlmondReally nice not overpoweringly nutty like I was expecting them to be.

Oats & HoneyNice crunchy with a delicious oaty taste. With real honey in to sweeten it nicely.

Canadian Maple SyrupNice oaty flavour again but this time topped off with maple syrup flavour.

Chewy TrailThese come in packs of six, RRP £2.19 from Sainsburys and Waitrose. They contain oats, nuts and fruit pieces:

Mixed BerryOpening the packet they have a really nice fruity smell. The bar is soft and easy to pull bits off. The main taste is the berries. Soft and easy to chew. Not overly sweet like some snacks. Filled with mixed berry pieces, roasted nuts, honey and whole grain oats.

Fruit and nutJust like the mixed berry this one is soft, chewy and easily breakable. Opening the packet releases a deliciously nutty aroma. I preferred the berry one but that is just down to personal taste. They are full of almonds, peanuts, honey, raisins, sunflower seeds and oats.

Crunchy and moreThese are new from Nature Valley and they have been well thought out! Two great flavours with good sizes pieces in them. They come in packs of 5 double bars:

Oats and berryNice crunchy bars with real chewy fruit pieces in. These smell fantastic and are good and satisfying to munch on. And you get the real feeling that they are much better for you than chocolate bars!

Oats and hazelnutsVery much like the regular crunchy Nature Valley bars. The big difference is the size of the nutty pieces which are much chunkier rather than the smaller bits. Also just when you think your snack time is over there is a whole second bar in the packet.

In my pack, I was also sent some gardening gloves which was fantastic as I do a lot of grow your own (vegetables and fruit). I also received some "ready to plant" seeds, a USB stick and a lovely bag for them all too.

If you would like to know more about Nature Valley products, you can visit their website at www.naturevalley.co.uk.

REVIEW: Grey Poupon Dijon Mustard

I received a jar of Grey Poupon Dijon Mustard to review...

When I opened the jar - I thought 'yum!' as it smelt really nice and rich! Opening the jar was easy. The jar looks very fancy to me - it makes it look like it's not your standard cheap mustard - it makes it look special.

I first used the dijon mustard to make a delicious mustard mayonnaise for with salad. It was really easy to use.  The consistency of it is just right - not too thick and not too thin. The flavour was nicely strong, but not overpowering. It was really easy to use to make into mustard mayonnaise as a dressing for salad and it tasted very delicious. I also had some with just a ham and lettuce sandwich and it was equally delicious on its own. It is easy to store once opened - just pop it in the fridge.

The recipe for the Grey Poupon Dijon Mustard is over 200 years old and it has never lost its quality. It is stated that it is the only Dijon Mustard to contain white wine as part of its recipe.

Grey Poupon Mustard is available from Tesco, Waitrose and Asda stores and select independent food stores nationwide.

REVIEW: Giovanni Rana Pasta Meals

I was lucky enough to receive a Giovanni Rana Tortellini meal to review...

The exact meal I received was "Tortellini filled with Prosciutto Crudo in tomato sauce with cherry tomatoes, spinach and Parmigiano Reggiano shavings".

Looking through the packet, it looked very appetising indeed. And the description (as I've noted above) made my mouth water even more! It was very quick to cook in the microwave - a total of just 3½ minutes - it needed a stir after 2 minutes, but that was easy enough.

When I removed the lid when it was finished, the smell was gorgeous and it looked good too. The filled pasta was very nice, and the cherry tomatoes were delicious, though I wish there would have been a few more in there. It was a really nice combination of things together though - a very delicious taste and delicate flavour. The texture was just right too. All in all it was a very delicious meal. It was very full on calories however considering the size of the meal - it contained 488kcal which I'd consider a lot for a meal of that size, but then if I wasn't on a diet, I wouldn't be counting the calories, so I am probably just being superficial. I would very much like to try the other meals in the range at some point too.

The new filled pasta range comprises:

• Tortellini filled with Prosciutto Crudo in tomato sauce (with cherry tomatoes, spinach and Parmigiano Reggiano shavings)
• Tortellini filled with Spinach and Ricotta in a basil sauce (with courgettes and cheese shavings)
• Tortellini filled with Prosciutto Crudo in Alfredo sauce (with peas, smoked ham and Parmigiano Reggiano shavings)

These meals are available from Sainsbury's stores nationwide, and selected ASDA stores at RRP £2.99 each.

REVIEW: Nakd Snack Bars

I was lucky enough to receive some Nakd snack bars to review...

I received three flavours - Berry Delight, Pecan Pie and Cocoa Orange. Because they are snack bars, I was expecting crunchy, oaty type things, but in reality, these snack bars are quite different.

The snack bars are soft, chewy and cake like and each bar provides you with 1 of your 5-a-day too as well as being gluten, wheat and dairy free - so they are suitable for almost everyone. They are fairly low calorie too at 135kcal per bar.

The Berry Delight was my favourite - it very much tasted of fruit and I really could taste the berries coming out in it. The Cocoa Orange was my second favourite - there was just the right amount of flavour - it was much like a cup of cocoa with some orange syrup in - very scrummy! My least favourite was the Pecan Pie, but I did not dislike it - I liked that a lot too, I just preferred the other two! The Pecan Pie had a lot less flavour/taste than the other two, but I was impressed that the bits in it weren't really big and crunchy.

Nakd snack bars are available to buy from Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's, Morrisons, Waitrose, Holland & Barrett, independent health food shops and www.eatnakd.com at RRP 72p.

You can find out more information by visiting www.eatnakd.com.

REVIEW: Ambrosia Snacks

I was very lucky to receive some of the new Ambrosia Custard Coated Apple Flakes and Ambrosia Custard Coated Banana Flakes to review here on my blog...

When I was offered the opportunity to review them, I wasn't exactly sure what to expect - I was maybe expecting fruit flakes in custard in a tub or something from the name of them. What they actually are, is small chunks of fruit coated in solid custard.

I'm not really a fan of dried fruit which I was expecting it to be, so I was very pleased when I realised that was not the case with these - instead being nice, soft chewy pieces of fruit which are really quite delicious. The custard tastes more like white chocolate to me, and although I'm not a big fan of white chocolate, the snacks are very delicious. My hubby says they taste very much like custard on the other hand, so he disagrees with my white chocolate opinion!

They are very filling as a snack and as I am on a diet as you all know, I was very pleased to see that a pack only contains 95 calories!

I really like these and will definitely buy them again in the future. My hubby likes them a lot and so does our 8 year old son, David. In fact, David wants to take some in his packed lunch to school he likes them so much!

Although a banana is my favourite fruit, the custard coated apple flakes were actually my favourites! Though they are both nice. They have a very nice taste and texture to them. They fit perfectly into a lunch box too and don't take up a lot of space.

The Ambrosia Custard Coated Apple Flakes and Custard Coated Banana Flakes are available at Sainsburys and Morrisons stores nationwide from £1.89 for a multipack of 5x 20g.

RECIPE: Jamaican Jerk Chicken, Rice & Beans

I am a big fan of Jamaican jerk chicken served with rice and beans, and I am sharing my recipe with you. Although this isn't the traditional recipe, I am sure you will like it.


Preparation time: 10-20 minutes
Time to cook: 30 minutes
Serves: 4
Heat rating: Hot
Difficulty Rating: 3/5


WHAT YOU NEED
For the jerk chicken:
4 skinless (or skin-on if preferred) chicken breast fillets
DGF jerk rub BUY


For the rice and beans:
400g (approx.) tin black eye beans
400g (approx.) tin coconut milk
1 small onion, finely chopped
2-3 Scotch Bonnet peppers
1 clove garlic
¼ teaspoon thyme
1 tablespoon oil
1 cup water
2 cups long grain rice (not easy cook)


HOW TO MAKE
Pierce the chicken through to the centre several times. Rub the DGF jerk rub onto the chicken and leave overnight in the refrigerator for best results, however if you are in a rush, rub it on and pop it in the fridge for 10-30 minutes prior to cooking.


In the meantime, put the oil and coconut milk into a large pan and bring to the boil.


Once boiling, add the water, onion, garlic, beans (the whole tin - do not drain) and thyme and simmer.


Wash your rice and add this to the pan and stir briefly. Place the whole scotch bonnet peppers on the top and cover tightly. Cook for approx. 30 minutes until all the water has evaporated.


Now place the jerk chicken fillets onto a baking tray and put into the oven at gas mark 6 for 20-40 minutes (will vary depending on the size).


Serve the chicken with the beans and rice. I would highly suggest serving with hot pepper sauce.