16 February 2025

Co-Op Irresistible - Hand Cooked All Dressed Seriously Saucy Crisps (mystery flavour?) [@NLi10]

Co-Op have their own range of a couple of posh things - including crisps! Here we have an unusual one - because it doesn't really have a flavour!


These are All Dressed Seriously Saucy crisps.  This is not sufficiently descriptive. 

There has been talk about this online - which I have a suspicion is the idea.


The potatoes are standard


The flavours are mysterious and important.  It does feel like these are the crisp equivalent of the everything bagel - they just put all the herbs and spices in.


They look decent and smell nice



And there isn't too much on the crisp itself.

Best I can describe them is 'herb and spice and vinegar' - a little hint of posh ketchup, brown sauce, sweet vinegar and a finish of paprika.  No real chillie kick, but otherwise like the shakers I use to liven up food.

So - nice - but confusing - and you'll eat the first 10 or so crisps just to figure out if you like them or not.

We did!







15 February 2025

Vault City Brewing: Winter Berry Crumble (Morrisons) By @SpectreUK

Vault City Brewing: Winter Berry Crumble

I got quite excited about this beer when I first heard about it. Then I noticed on the can in small letters that it's a "modern sour beer". I rarely like sour beers so this could be a short blog. I'm going to try it with my Lamb Rogan Josh and chips tonight. Although it sounds like a pudding beer, its dark berry flavours may complement the lamb and all the spices.

At 6% in volume Winter Berry Crumble was created by Vault City Brewing, in Edinburgh. Blackberries, strawberries, pears, sloeberries, lactose and cinnamon were added in the brewing, for flavours of winter fruits and creamy spicy crumble.

On opening the can there was a dark fruitiness to the aroma, with a decent spiciness behind it. On pouring Winter Berry Crumble was a deep red murky maroon colour. On first tentative taste, this sour beer was definitely face twistingly sour. There was heavy sour bitterness from dark fruits to start with and throughout the flavour, followed by spiciness of cinnamon and a little creaminess into the aftertaste. I couldn't detect the malts. I really missed the malts.

If you like a fruity sour spicy beer for pudding this is it. Although It went pretty well with my Lamb Rogan Josh with chips too.

14 February 2025

Exceptional Tiramisu Hot Cross Buns (Asda) By @Cinabar

Exceptional Tiramisu Hot Cross Buns (Asda)

These hot cross buns are part of Asda's luxury range for this year, featuring an unusual and intriguing flavour combination. As we usually see fruit-based varieties, the Exceptional Tiramisu Hot Cross Buns caught my attention.

Upon opening the pack, I was immediately struck by the abundance of chocolate chips in the buns. While a traditional Tiramisu dessert often has a sprinkling of cocoa powder, it’s not usually the dominant flavour. I also noticed that the buns were generously sized and had a lovely, plump appearance.

Exceptional Tiramisu Hot Cross Buns (Asda)

I decided to toast them, though I’ll admit it turned into a bit of a messy affair. The melted chocolate from the buns got everywhere, and I found myself wiping down the counter and trying to clean up the chocolate-covered butter (yes, there was chocolate in the butter too!). It was a level of mess I hadn't anticipated, though I’ve certainly toasted chocolate-filled buns before, it just wasn’t quite this chaotic.

Taste-wise, though, these buns were a delight. The chocolate flavour was rich, complemented nicely by a strong coffee taste. While they might not have fully captured the essence of Tiramisu, the coffee was a lovely touch. As a fan of chocolate and coffee together, I’d definitely buy these again, despite the mess!

Exceptional Tiramisu Hot Cross Buns (Asda)

13 February 2025

Amicelli Hazelnut Wafer Tubes - Aldi [@NLi10]

 I received a Christmas box of goodies - that I'm only just fully exploring.  One of these is this giant box of Milky-Way Crispy Rolls!



Ok - so not Milky Way, these are Amicelli which sounds like pasta - but is actually Ritter's version of the lovely choc coated wafer roll.  And the middle is closer to a dark hazelnut spread than Nutella and no where near as light as the Milky Way


I am reliably informed these came from Aldi - and are 'perfect for gifting'


And neatly arranged too - 16 in a box is really 8 portions


They do look like feminine hygiene products though


But are lovely and chocolaty inside


With crispy layers and a hazelnut centre - like a lovely grown-up version of one of my favourite childhood treats.  Will have to see how long these last!

12 February 2025

Swizzels Squashies Love Hearts (Asda) By @SpectreUK

Swizzels Squashies Love Hearts (Asda)



Valentine's Day is just around the corner. It's a happy time for lovers, lonely time for those who seek a date, and worse for the broken hearted. Everyone has hard times, most people miss someone, and everyone wants to know they are loved by at least somebody. A time for love, a time for loss, a time for hope, and a time for reconciliation.

 
Swizzels Squashies Love Hearts (Asda)

What I do know is that these Swizzels Squashies Love Hearts could be good to share whilst watching a romantic comedy like Four Weddings and a Funeral. There were six squishy flavours all with different words or faces embossed on them, just like Love Hearts.

Blackcurrant tasted of a very fruity blackcurrant flavour. Pineapple was mild to begin with, but as I chewed more the pineapple flavour shone through. Lime had a slightly face twisting tangy bitterness, and was my favourite so far. Orange had a fruity pleasant tanginess to it. Cherry had a dark cherry flavour, sweet and not unpleasant. Lemon had a bitter citrus fruity sweet lemon flavour.

I was impressed at how fruity all these Swizzels Squashies Love Hearts were. They were a fun combination of squishy sweets, as well as seeing what was embossed on each sweet, their squashy texture, and fruity flavours. Happy Valentine's Day, I hope everyone finds their heart's desires.

Swizzels Squashies Love Hearts (Asda)