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Bahlsen Pick Up Biscuits Review & Giveaway

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Last week I was lucky enough to receive some pretty lovely parcels in the post. One of which contained these:

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I opened this parcel after a day in London on trains and tubes. I was worn out and in dire need of chocolate and a cup of tea.

This met all my needs for chocolate and a biscuit. You have a thick hunk of delicious chocolate in the middle sandwiched by two crispy and tasty biscuits. Therefore no chocolate melted over yours (or your toddlers) hands if you can’t eat it all in 15 seconds – which I totally can by the way.

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They are wrapped individually so stay fresh if you need to keep one in the changing bag and one or two by the side of your bed – I am breastfeeding after all so snacks close at hand are essential.

I’ve shared some of these with the pickiest biscuit eaters you could find – my Dad who will only eat certain brands and my toddler who thinks nothing of spitting them right out at my feet if they aren’t up to her standards. Everybody gives these a big thumbs up and there is certainly one from me too.

You could win yourself a whole case of these treats by entering my competition – a whole case! That’s 14 packets don’t you know.. Or 70 bars.. Drool.

Follow @BahlsenPICKUP on Twitter

A Mothers Day Main from Tate&Lyle – Glazed Chicken

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Balsamic-Sugar Glazed Chicken

This balsamic and sugar glaze keeps well in the fridge and is a useful addition to have to drizzle over roasted vegetables – be they English roots or a Mediterranean medley of peppers, courgettes and onions.

Serves: 6
Prep time: 35 minutes
Cooking time: 1hour 40 minutes

for the stuffing
1 medium onion, peeled & finely chopped
25g (1oz) butter
40g (1½oz) fresh breadcrumbs
125g (4½oz) cream cheese
1 heaped tbsp chopped tarragon
2 heaped tbsp chopped parsley, plus extra for serving
1 lemon, zested
salt & freshly ground black pepper

for the chicken & vegetables
1.6k (3½lb) chicken
3 tbsp olive oil
3 medium red onions, peeled, root discarded & thickly sliced across into 3
3 medium onions, peeled, root discarded & thickly sliced across into 3

for the glaze
4 tbsp balsamic vinegar
2 rounded tbsp Tate & Lyle Fairtrade Light Muscovado Sugar
salt & freshly ground black pepper

You will also need a piping bag with a 4cm (½”) plain wide nozzle and some kitchen string for trussing the chicken.

Gently fry the onion for the stuffing in a small pan with the butter over a low heat for about 10-12 minutes until softened. Tip into a bowl to cool, then add the breadcrumbs, cream cheese, tarragon, parsley and lemon zest. Season well with salt and pepper and transfer to the piping bag.

Preheat the oven to 220°C/Fan200°, 425°F, Gas 7.

Put the chicken on a board, cut the string to untruss it. Then, at the neck end carefully push your fingers from side to side to loosen the skin from the bird to make a pocket for the stuffing. Be careful not to split the skin, or the stuffing will ooze out. If you do, just stitch it up with a needle and thread, remembering to remove it later. Carefully pipe the stuffing between the breast and the skin, patting it down so that it is evenly distributed. Re-truss the chicken with a new length of string. Transfer the chicken to a large roasting tin, drizzle over 1 tablespoon of the olive oil, season and cover with foil.

Roast the chicken on the middle shelf of the oven for 1 hour, basting with the juices once or twice.

Meanwhile, combine the balsamic vinegar and Tate & Lyle Light Muscovado Sugar together in a small pan over a low heat, stir to dissolve and then simmer for 1-2 minutes until slightly reduced and thickened.

Rub the onions with the rest of the oil, keeping them together in their slices, and season.

Remove the foil from the chicken, arrange the onions around the bird and cook for another 20 minutes, turning them halfway. Brush the chicken with the balsamic glaze, drizzle the rest over the onions and roast for a final 10 minutes until the chicken is glazed and bronzed, and the juices run clear when the thickest part of the thigh is pierced with a fine skewer. The onions should be tender and nicely caramelised. Remove them to a plate to keep warm whilst you rest the chicken for 10-15 minutes, loosely covered with foil. Carve, scatter with a little parsley and serve with all the pan juices.

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Camp Bestival.. Food Festival?

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Just when you thought Camp Bestival couldn’t get any better. It does. Oh it does.

THE FEAST COLLECTIVE

FOOD ADVENTURES IN A FIELD

FEATURING
A GIRL CALLED JACK / MARTIN MORALES / THE CAKE SHOP BAKERY / ROLA WALA / CRAYFISH BOB / SMALL BATCH COFFEE / BREDDOS / WHOLEFOOD HEAVEN / KNACKERED MOTHERS WINE CLUB & MANY MORE STILL TO BE ANNOUNCED

PLUS
THE FARMERS’ MARKET
DELICIOUS LOCAL FOODS!

AND DON’T MISS
FOOD FORTNIGHT
BRINGING CULINARY COOL TO YOU

www.campbestival.net

That’s right. Camp Bestival which has always been an awesome festival for foodie delights has now taken it up a notch with a celebration of all that is great about the British food movement – The Feast Collective

It will be in a prime front of castle spot so you can eat AND still watch all the main stage acts. You can catch demos from people like Jack Monroe – I’m personally thrilled about this- and awesome food and mixologists. I’ll probably be telling you a lot more about the foodie aspect in my next Camp Bestival post next month but for now I just wanted to share this news with you.

A Battery Powered Life – Energizer Batteries Shop

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I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for #CollectiveBias and its advertiser.

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Where would we be without batteries? At 3am when only Ewan The Dream Sheep will settle my baby. At 5pm when I put Chloe in her swing just so I can have 20 minutes hands free to make food. At 7pm when I need to pump milk and don’t want to be stuck next to the plug socket.

At anytime of day when Izzy absolutely NEEDS her torch. We need them.

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They can get expensive though and buying cheap only means they last half the time. Keeping an eye out for good ones that are on offer or buy one get one free has become a habit of mine.

On the weekend I did my online shop with Sainsburys – I never do a main shop instore with Sainsburys as my local shop is too small but I do like to use them for my online shops. This week I shopped online mainly because I had a £15 off voucher but also because the Energizer batteries I needed to power up the Dream Sheep were 2 for 1.

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Typically when my shop arrived substitutions had been made and the batteries had been replaced with another set within the same brand but not in the 2 for 1. Grrr. It does frustrate me when this happens.

As soon as Izzy saw the packs – she does like to help me put away the shopping- she shouted yay batteries for my torch.

You see I may tell a little white lie every now and again. If I’m a bit fed up of her playing with something I may say its run out of batteries..even if it doesn’t contain them. Bad mammy but I’m pretty sure we all do it.

We had planned an adventure. A walk out to the local forest when it started to get dark for fun with our torches and to try to find some owls..she’s an owl fanatic but once again Pox hit our household ( this time with Chloe) so instead we used out batteries for something which we all need every now and again. And that was to replace the batteries in this..

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I try to avoid too much screen time for Izzy but on days when one of the girls are unwell it can be a real sanity saver.

We made up lots of snacks and settled in for a day of Peppa Pig and Iggle Piggle!

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What do you use batteries for that you really couldn’t do without? Favourite children’s toys? Do you ever make up that something has run out of battery?

Mothers Day Wishes with Johnsons

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The makers of JOHNSON’S® Baby are asking mums to share their ‘Memorable Mother’s Day Wishes’ on their Facebook page, and are offering them the chance to download a special note that they can share with their family ahead of the big day. The JOHNSON’S® Baby brand knows that mums cherish special moments with their children, and the ‘Memorable Mother’s Day Wish’ will help them to create a new memory they will remember for years to come.

A spokesperson for the JOHNSON’S® Baby brand said: “Mum’s are known for their selfless nature, so it’s no surprise that they aren’t looking for pricey presents to make them happy on Mother’s Day. What they really want is to create another moment that they can treasure forever, one that only a child can give. By making the effort to spend time together, or by getting the kids to make mum a card, it’s really easy to not only put a big smile on her face, but also show her just how much she means to everyone.”

The new survey, which has been commissioned by the brand to help make ‘Memorable Mother’s Day Wishes’ come true, has produced a list of the top 10 things that will make mums happy this Mother’s Day.

1. A Bunch of flowers

2. A hug from their children

3. A box of chocolates

4. Having lunch together as a family

5. A handmade card

6.More time together as a family

7.Relaxing bath products

8. A bottle of my favourite perfume

9. A book

10. Breakfast in bed

For me everything on the top 10 list sounds fab.

One of my personal wishes as a mum is for an hour long soak in the bath with bubbles in the bath and a glass of bubbles in my hand.

What would you like?

Share your own Memorable Mother’s Day Wish’ by visiting the JOHNSON’S® Baby Facebook page www.facebook.com/JohnsonsBabyUkIre.

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I Heart Cookbooks – Marshmallows Made Marvellous Parragon Book Review

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The tagline of the book is ‘Anyone can make these’ and I have to agree because I made these on a day where I was existing on about 2 hours sleep with a newborn and a toddler demanding attention.

Homemade pillows of sugar – doesn’t that sound delightful?

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This book has over 30 recipes ranging from a vanilla to fancy mojito or amaretto crunch flavours.

We decided to master the basics first with the vanilla marshmallow recipe.

It’s a really straightforward recipe to follow and we ended up with some gorgeously gooey vanilla marshmallows:

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Next up we want to try the cookies and cream marshmallows. I will let you know how we get on.

Recommend this book to anyone who has a sweet tooth and likes to get creative in the kitchen, could make some wonderful gift wrapped sweetie presents.

* I received this book as part of the Parragon Book Buddy scheme.

Pump Up The Volume

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Today marks the start of another journey in breastfeeding. Expressing or Pumping.

I’m using an electric pump which was kindly gifted to me by Tommee Tippee:

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Pumping isn’t easy. Well I’ve never found it easy but if you can get your baby to take a bottle of expressed milk it can make your life a lot easier. If for example you had an important hospital appointment or meeting and you needed to leave your on demand feeding baby it will be a lot less stressful for you knowing that there is a bottle of milk just waiting for them.

So today. Day 1. First pump of the day and I got a measly 2oz. It’s disheartening especially as I pumped for about 5 times longer than I would feed for.

Having read up a lot about pumping whilst also feeding however I have found this is normal. 1.5-2oz per pumping session is the norm for a full time nursing mum. It means you will need to pump several times a day for a full feed but as I’m not planning on replacing pumping with feeding its not a problem.

I want to breastfeed for a year, that’s my goal. To do that I will certainly need to be away from my baby at some point even if only for a few hours. When Chloe is a little older I want to be able to leave her with my OH for a few hours so I can perhaps take Izzy out for some one on one mammy time.

During my research I’ve found some great pumping tips.

1. First up relax. The more stressed you are about getting enough milk the less milk you will produce.

2. Try to pump from one side whilst feeding from the other.

3. Pump immediately after a warm shower or bath.

4. Drink plenty.

5. Pump first thing in the morning and also late at night after the final feed of the day.

6. Use a good pump.

7. Eat. If you are feeding and pumping now is not the time for a strict diet.

8. Visualisation – some people swear by looking at photos of their baby whilst others imagine running water or streams.

9. If you nipples are sore after pumping rub in some cream such as Lansinoh.

10. During growth spurts your baby will want to feed more which may mean pumping will be more difficult. Try to relax about it during this time.

You will need to buy breast milk storage bags if you want to freeze your milk. Make sure you have adequate room in your freezer.
You can store milk for 5 days in the fridge or up to 6 months in the freezer. Clearly label each bag with date and amount pumped.

At the end of day 1 I had pumped a total of 6 oz over 3 pumping sessions. On day 2 I had pumped 8oz over 4 sessions. I will keep you posted on my progress.

Next up we see if Chloe will take a bottle. Following tips from others I am going to ask my OH to do this while I’m in another room. Planning to try this within the next fortnight.

Cheap As Chips – Schwartz Perfect Shake Recipe & Review

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I was recently sent some great new products from Schwartz.

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I love Schwartz herbs and spices and like most people I have a lot of their products in my pantry at any one time.

Their new range : Perfect Shake caters for a wide range of cuisines and occasions. The delicious herb and spice blends in the Schwartz Perfect Shake range are truly versatile and can be used in sauces, marinades or sprinkled on to chicken, meat, fish or vegetables to easily add great flavour

I was sent:

Perfect Shake Pasta – a delicious blend of tomato, oregano and basil. Ideal in tomato based pasta sauces and Bolognese for adding Italian flair
Perfect Shake Spanish – a tasty seasoning blend of smoked paprika and red and green bell peppers. Perfect used in a tomato sauce over patatas bravas or sprinkle into a Spanish omelette
Perfect Shake Chips – a sweet and spicy blend of paprika, onion and garlic. Great for adding a delicious twist to classic chips or potato wedges

I decided to try out the Chips blend first. I’m on a bit of a frugal kick at the moment and I’m trying to use tinned potatoes in as many recipes as possible to save some pennies so when I call this recipe cheap as chips it really is.

Cheap As Chips

You will need:

1 tin of potatoes (approx 500g)
A few shakes of Schwartz Perfect Shake Chips
A glug of olive oil

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Preheat your oven to gas mark 6.

Pour some oil onto a roasting/baking tin and shake on your Perfect Shake – place in oven to warm through for about 5 minutes.

Drain your potatoes and chop into smaller pieces ( like round chips) and tip into your tray. Be careful because the oil will be hot.
Stir them about a little so they are coated in the oil/spice mixture and shake on a little more of your Perfect Shake. Make sure they are in one layer so they cook properly.

Place in oven for about 25 minutes.

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You could serve with anything but I chose to serve with my creamy pesto chicken and some rocket. They have a lovely flavour but aren’t too spicy so could easily serve to little uns. This recipe made enough for two hungry adults.

The tin of potatoes costs approx 15p in most supermarkets so with a glug of oil and a shake of the blend it probably cost less than 50p to make. Cheap as chips 🙂

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I’m looking forward to trying out more of the new range.. There are 27 different flavours! I will share any further recipes I come up with as I make them.

* I was these products for the purpose of this review.

Banana, Coconut and Dark Chocolate Traybake

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Am I the only person who deliberately leaves bananas go bad so that I can bake with them? I’m a lover of banana bread, peanut butter and banana muffins and now this.

Banana, Coconut and Dark Chocolate Traybake

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This is a combo of a few different recipes I have used over the years for banana bread and tray bakes with some extra bits like coconut added in.

I love tray bakes as they are so easy. Typically the recipes us an all in one method so you’re not faffing about with creaming butter/sugar etc and they can be cut into squares so easy to serve and store. Great for parties or just to munch on at home.

You will need:

2 very ripe bananas
150g plain flour
150g caster sugar
100g butter
30g of sweet desiccated coconut
3 tbsp milk
100g dark choc bar bashed to pieces
1 tsp bicarb of soda
1tsp baking powder
2 large eggs ( free range)

Grease your baking dish. I use a rectangular pyrex dish. Preheat oven to gas mark 3.

Firstly chop or bash your dark chocolate – I use a heavy rolling pin to break it up whilst still in packaging to avoid mess.

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Then put all ingredients into a mixing bowl or electric mixer. I use an Andrew James mixer which is similar to a kitchen aid.
If mixing by hand use a wooden spoon and beat well. If using a mixer turn to the highest speed and blend for 1-2minutes.

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Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the middle comes out clean. Turn onto a cooling rack ( if you don’t want the rack impressions turn it to the correct side – I like them so I don’t) and leave to cool.

Once cooler chop into squares – the size is up to you! If you eat it while still warm you will get some gorgeous chunks of melted choc,

You could top with melted dark choc and coconut – this would be lovely if making for an occasion. I like it just as it is.

The sweetness of the banana works so well with the bittersweet chocolate. One of my favourite bakes already and I’ve only made it three times.