Shark Bay Amber Ale (Lidl) By @SpectreUK

I love the movie Jaws, and we've also enjoying playing the board game. I've always been fascinated by sharks since I watched the Jaws films when I was young. The silent killer under the sea, and in shark documentaries they are shown to be a whole lot more.

This Shark Bay Amber Ale Was produced by Hatherwood Brewery for Lidl. At 4.3% in volume the bottle states that it's packed full of malts and spicy hops. It recommends trying it with battered seafoods or a good Sunday roast. I'm washing down a pizza, jacket potatoes, baked beans and cheese, with mushrooms and red pepper on the side.

On opening the bottle there was an amber malt aroma with bitter herbal hops behind it. Deep in sweet malted barley biscuit flavour to begin with, bitter herbal and lightly spiced hops followed, with further sweet caramel malts into the aftertaste. Very flavoursome indeed, this Shark Bay Amber Ale washed my dinner down a treat. Cheers.

Gu Victoria Sponge Cake Pots (Morrisons) By @cinabar

I’m always pleased to see new desserts from Gu. I really like the brand when I fancy a treat. They’re a little more expensive than some other options, but they always feel like a bit of luxury.

The new variety for summer is Gu Victoria Sponge Cake Pots. Inspired by the classic cake, they also feature Gu’s signature layer of mascarpone crème.

I opened the box, peeled back the wrapper, and the dessert looked lovely, topped with biscuit sprinkles. I gave it a try and was impressed by the flavour. I’d worried the sponge element might get lost, but it came through well: rich and creamy, like a slice of Victoria Sponge with plenty of extra filling.

The standout component is the zingy raspberry compote. It adds balance, a fruity freshness, and a sharp kick that cuts through the sweetness.

This is another delight from Gu, and definitely one I’ll be buying again.

Starbucks Cool Creamy Tiramisu iced drink [@NLi10]

 We went to see Mission Impossible, the last one, at the cinema yesterday and I wanted a cool drink that would last the three hours run time so chose the Oat based version of the Tiramisu

It was very expensive at £7 for a large

But it's a mighty drink, and tasty too - just enough strong coffee to excite - but enough Ice and choc to give you flavour.

And there is enough fluff and choc to give the drink a nice pudding like body.  And I liked it a surprising amount. I had some coffee chocolate ice still left for the credits and was happy enough with the whole thing.

The film was the ScreenX version and was good too.

Earlier that day I had a Tim Hortons coffee which was fine but not exciting.

And six doughnuts - the fillings are thicker than Krispy Kreme, but overall they were similar to me.  At 9.99 for 6 inflation has hit hard, these are not a buy a dozen for the office kind of vibe anymore!

Aero Peppermint Chocolate Muffins (Morrisons) By @SpectreUK

I can't remember the last time I had a muffin in my mouth. In fact I've forgotten the taste of a good muffin. Of course muffins come in all different shapes and sizes. And you often have to go out especially to find a good muffin in the first place.

 

Made by Cherrytree Bakery, these Aero Peppermint Chocolate Muffins sound like a tasty treat. They have an Areo Peppermint Bubble on top and are filled with a chocolate peppermint sauce. Cinabar spotted them in the local store and suggested we give them a try. I remember saying how much I like a good muffin.

After a curry and chips it can be important to keep your breath fresh. We had these Aero Peppermint Chocolate Muffins for dessert. On first taste, the texture of this muffin was soft and crumbly. The gooey chocolate peppermint centre was delicious. I had a pot of low calorie vanilla ice cream on the side. I left the Areo Peppermint Bubble until last for an extra treat.

Information on the box; Each muffin had 305 calories, with 12g of fat, 30g of sugar, and 0.21g of salt. Please see photograph for the ingredients.

Seabrook Limited Edition Tomato Ketchup Crisps (Morrisons) By @cinabar

There’s always a little thrill when Seabrook release a new flavour, especially when it’s a limited edition. This time, it’s Tomato Ketchup, a bold, nostalgic choice that’s bound to divide opinion, but definitely worth grabbing while you can.

First off, the texture hits all the right notes. These crisps are satisfyingly crunchy, with that signature Seabrook crinkle cut that not only boosts the bite but also catches every bit of seasoning in the ridges. It’s a smart design that delivers a more intense flavour with every mouthful.

Taste-wise, they’re a delight. The tomato is sweet and rich, instantly recognisable, but there’s more going on under the surface. A subtle warmth lifts the flavour, thanks to the paprika and pimento tucked into the seasoning mix. It’s mild, but it adds a depth that makes them more than just your average ketchup crisp.

The only thing missing? That sharp vinegar tang you’d expect from a classic ketchup flavour. It’s not a dealbreaker, though. These crisps are still packed with tomatoey goodness, and the slight spice more than makes up for it.

If you’re a fan of sweet and savoury with a hint of warmth, these are well worth hunting down before they vanish from the shelves.

Reese’s Peanut Butter Bar White (Ocado) By @Cinabar

It’s always a bit of a thrill to spot a new Reese’s bar in UK shops, and even more exciting when it’s a sharing-sized white chocolate version.

As someone with a sweet tooth (okay, all the teeth), I’ve got time for most chocolate, anything from milky white to 70% dark. So I was more than happy to give this one a go.

This bar comes in chunky squares, each stamped with Reese’s signature ®. It feels surprisingly light in the hand, but the chocolate is a decent thickness and there’s a generous layer of peanut butter filling inside.

The squares snap off easily enough, though the soft white chocolate does crumble a bit against the also-soft filling. No big deal, it’s not a bar you’ll want to eat neatly anyway.

Taste-wise, it’s exactly what you’d hope for: very sweet, with that rich, nutty, unmistakably Reese’s flavour. I’d planned to eat just three squares... but went back for another three. It’s seriously moreish, sweet, creamy, and comforting with every bite.

If you’re a Reese’s fan or into white chocolate, this one’s definitely worth picking up.

Oho! Marsh Mallows Pool Party (Home Bargains) [@NLi10]

 While we were picking up the Macarons from last week I spotted a box of marshmallow cereal for £1.89!

I like real marshmallows - and when Lucky Charms existed in the UK we were allowed a few boxes before they were decided to be very unhealthy and became an import only cereal and at one point were £10 a box.

This is an approximation of that, with less elaborated colours

And less devastating health side-effects

And they look OK too

And as a bowl aren't too sweet - especially if you balance them with a base cereal like I tend to.

I wonder if sugar for breakfast is really the best thing for us, but I'm still going to do it occasionally as the boost is often needed.

Crossing The Rubicon Beer (Drygate Brewery) By @SpectreUK

Crossing The Rubicon is a phrase that originates from when Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon River in AD49. Crossing The Rubicon means crossing the point of no return. To some that may mean the end of all things for love, work or friendship. Some may never except that crossing. Some of us are haunted by ghosts that have since crossed and left us floating without a paddle.

Crossing The Rubicon was created by Drygate Brewing, in Scotland. At 6.9% in volume, the can of this West Coast India Pale Ale states to expect flavours of citrus, caramel, pine and resin. Not sure about a beer that tastes of resin, but I'm fairly open minded.

On opening the can there was a smell of pine and citrus hops, with sweet pale malts at the back of the aroma. On taste this deep golden Crossing The Rubicon IPA, was quite malty, with strong sweet caramel malted barley, followed by pine and a crisp citrus bitterness into the aftertaste. This made for an unusual but most welcome West Coast IPA.

My Rubicon has always been a vast uncrossable sea where the rules can change from day to day. Those ghosts that cannot or at least feel that they cannot come back, well it's up to them. I'll just bob around hoping for a break in the tide and another cool beer.

Tim Tam Biscuits – Chewy Caramel (Morrisons) By @Cinabar

The Tim Tam is one of Australia’s most popular biscuits. They are a double-layer biscuit coated in chocolate with a chocolate fondant centre. I want to say they remind me, in concept, of Penguin biscuits, but I’m sure Australians would be quick to point out the differences!

Tim Tams are becoming easier to find in the UK, with large supermarkets now stocking the regular variety. However, this is the first time I’ve seen one of the flavoured editions outside of an import shop. Here we have Tim Tam Biscuits with Chewy Caramel.

Now, I think this may be a cultural difference between the UK and Australia, the phrase "chewy caramel" makes me think of those golden penny sweets from Quality Street, which I’m not particularly fond of.

Anyway, I opened the pack and found the biscuits neatly laid out with plastic separators between each one. I broke one in half and was pleased to see the caramel was gooey, a far better texture.

I gave a biscuit a try and loved the layered texture. The milk chocolate, the double biscuit, and the soft caramel (which, thankfully, wasn’t chewy at all) were a lovely combination. The flavours were sweet, the caramel taste came through beautifully, and the chocolate was a delight. I completely understand why Australians love these biscuits so much. I’m hoping we get even more flavours over here soon.

VIBES - Salt & Vinegar Potato Crisp Chip Hybrid - Iceland [@NLi10]

Potato Scallops are great - just circles of potato cooked like chips.  We used to have these all the time as kids - and not just because they took less cutting, but because they are superior to stick chips.

And if you buy them pre-cut they can have ridges too!

VIBES are of course a totally new invention, and not just McCain potato scallops repackaged for Generation AirFryer.

The cleverest part is that the flavour comes separate so you add it and shake the bag up to get your chosen style.  For the (not yet tried) spicy ones this means you could put less in if you didn't want to scare the children too much.  For S&V they could have given me two of the flavour bags and I'd have been fine.

We don't have an Air Fryer so on the tray they go

And they come out pretty well!

Yes - they are just fat, hot crisps - but at the special offer price of £3.50 for two bags in Iceland, UK - and with each bag giving a generous 2 portions or a skimpy 4 (which we did) then they are sure to be a hit.

Especially if you have an AirFryer and a teenager or nearest equivalent.

 

Handmade Caramelised Biscuit Fudge (Asda) By @SpectreUK

I fancy a caramel treat with my pot of salted caramel ice cream tonight. This Handmade Caramelised Biscuit Fudge is small batch handmade fudge sprinkled with sweet Caramelised Biscuit and ground cinnamon. It sounds pretty ideal, and besides, I've saved up on calories, so I can scoff the lot.

Wow on opening the packet, this Handmade Caramelised Biscuit Fudge smelt like sweet caramel and fudge. They were very very sweet and indulgent smelling, with light spiced biscuit, but mainly caramel and fudge.

In contrast, on first taste of these Handmade Caramelised Biscuit Fudge, there was more of a biscuit flavour. There was the texture of fudge, which was squishy and soft, but biscuit flavour first with a gentle spice of cinnamon, and then caramel and the sugary sweetness of fudge. Gorgeous and definitely indulgent.

Information on the box; At 150g there were 108 calories per sixth of the packet, with 2.8g of fat, 16g of sugar and 0.10g of salt.

Lemon Coca-Cola Zero (WH Smiths) – By @Cinabar

I think I’ve had Lemon Coca-Cola before. This feels familiar, so I suspect it’s a re-launch of an older product. I’ve always believed citrus flavours and cola are a perfect match, so I was feeling positive about this drink even before I opened it.

This is the Zero Sugar edition. I’m fairly sure I saw a full-sugar version in the shop too, but I opted for the lower-calorie option made with sweeteners. I don’t mind that in drinks, even though I know many people prefer the original recipe.

I opened the bottle and took a sip, and I really liked what I was tasting. The cola flavour was strong and familiar, and the lemon added a refreshing twist. It wasn’t overpowering, but it was definitely noticeable. The balance was spot on, making it taste like a chilled cola served with slices of fresh lemon and plenty of ice, ideal for a hot summer day.

This one gets a definite thumbs up from me. It deserves a place in Coca-Cola’s regular flavour line-up, right alongside cherry. It was that good.

On a side note, the Coca-Cola bottles with names on them are back, so keep an eye out for yours. As always, I curse the weird spelling of my name.

Twix Crispy Rolls (Tesco) By @Cinabar

Spotted these new Twix Crispy Rolls in Tesco and couldn’t resist picking up a pack. They’re made by Mars and come with a lighter pitch, just 57kcal per stick, so they’re definitely aiming for the lower-calorie treat crowd.

Inside the wrapper are two slim rolls coated in milk chocolate. They look a bit dainty, but curiosity got the better of me and I snapped one open. The filling is pale, almost fondant-like, with no visible caramel layer. It turns out that’s by design, a gooey centre would have made the wafer soggy, and this is all about crunch.

And crunchy they are. The texture is lovely, light, crisp wafer that’s fun to bite into. The filling has a gentle caramel flavour, subtle but enough to remind you this is a Twix spin-off. It’s not quite the full Twix experience, no thick caramel chew, but it still ticks the box if you’re after that familiar taste in a more delicate form.

My only gripe? They’re gone far too quickly. A couple of bites and it’s all over. But for a sweet snack that won’t dent your daily calories too much, these do the job. A lighter Twix fix for when you're trying to be good,  or at least pretending to.

Poppies Macarons (from Home Bargains) [@NLi10]

 We picked up a few things from Home Bargains for a eurovision party - the host has bunnies so we picked up the lovely apple & banana stix for them - and a frozen box of Macarons for us!

They are in the freezer section which means they are perfectly fresh and in tact when you get them home, and 30 mins later they are ready to consume.  This really does feel like the perfect way to sample them.

The flavours are Vanilla, Lemon, Caramel, Chocolate, Raspberry & Pistachio and you get two of each - so a dozen for £2.89 which feels reasonable.

They are well packaged too so a good thing to present to a host of a party!

Poppy wasn't allowed to have one, even thought they do look a bit like dog treats.

The lemon one had a good flavour and was very fresh, the raspberry one was fruiter and very nice.

I'll have to try the rest next time!

What was I drinking? Summery IPAs!  This first one bordered on a sour - and as a split can was a nice size

You could totally taste the fruits!

This tropical one in comparison had none of the fruity sharpness, but the beer itself was more smooth and drinkable.  Our host loved this one so I might have to nab a few to donate.  It's Vocation which we are already big fans of from holidays in Cornwall.

Lucky Saint Hazy IPA (Morrisons) By @SpectreUK

I tried Lucky Saint Lager at a pub recently and liked it. I liked it partly because it went rather well with my fish and chips, and partly because I could drive home afterwards. Now I have found this Lucky Saint Hazy IPA in a local supermarket. I usually prefer an ale to a lager, so I wondered what it would taste like.

At 0.5% in volume and vegan friendly, the can mentions notes of tropical and stone fruits. Lucky Saint Hazy IPA was brewed with pale malts, malted wheat, oats and New World hops. This India Pale Ale was also left unfiltered for maximum flavour.

On opening the can there was a citrus tropical fruity smell from the hops, with sweet pale malts behind it. Lucky Saint Hazy IPA poured with an excitable frothy head. On taste there were crisp citrus and tropical fruity hops to begin with, as well as a full smooth body from the oats, followed by sweet pale malts into the aftertaste.

After hundreds of beer blogs over the last fifteen years, I couldn't tell the difference between Lucky Saint Hazy IPA and an alcoholic IPA on the market. Gorgeous, cheers.

Angel Delight Butterscotch and Chocolate Flavour Ice Creams (Morrisons) By @Cinabar

Angel Delight was one of the classic desserts of the 1980s, an instant whip mixed with milk and left to set in bowls. It was a household staple, and butterscotch was, of course, the best flavour. The brand is still readily available, and last year it branched out into choc-ice-style lollies on sticks. Those must have been a success (they were lovely), as this year they've launched Angel Delight Butterscotch and Chocolate Flavour Ice Creams.

The lollies consist of twisted ice cream, part butterscotch, part chocolate. They look very pretty with the two flavours intertwined. On tasting, the butterscotch was divine: sweet, with that perfect note of burnt caramel. The chocolate was smooth and creamy, and the ice cream overall was a delight. The texture was light and mallowy, which added to the enjoyment. I really appreciated this treat on a warm day and will be checking back for any other flavours in the range.

If you’ve tried the original Angel Delight whip, I recommend giving these a go too, they offer a lovely bit of retro indulgence.

Sainsbury's Pistachio Tiramisu [@NLi10]

 We love puddings, so when the supermarket is near closing and clearly isn't going to sell all of the reduced but exciting puddings on offer it feels rude not to try a new one.

As it's Eurovision week TV puddings are especially welcome - this Pistachio Tiramisu is a little alcoholic but a lot tempting

It looks much better like this

And it's a pain to serve so doesn't look great in the bowl - maybe a fish slice required not a serving spoon!

The taste is great, there isn't enough coffee and the alcohol is a bit fumy (probably better after it's sat for a bit) but it's got a lovely mix of flavours and textures and is something I'd try again.

Does feel like it needs a sauce pouring over the top to elevate it - but I'm already planning seconds tonight!

Maryland Choc and Caramel Cookies (Sainsburys) By @SpectreUK

I ran out of rum the other day. Devastating I know, but with both mom's constantly in and out of hospital, and my personal losses mounting up over the years, things are beginning to look very bleak. I needed a treat.

I like spiced rum, not too alcoholic in taste. If it has vanilla in it, even better, but it's not written in stone. I usually put around four shots in a 330ml glass and top it up with cool 7UP. I've tried other lemonades, but to me, 7UP is the best for rum.

When I was a kid I used to drink shots, but I drink with meals these days and prefer to savour it. I've tried all sorts of rums over the years, some very expensive, some not expensive at all. The first rum I tried was Captain Morgan's when I was a kid and hated it. I say 'kid', I was around 18, but when you reach 50, everyone below 40 is a kid. I've never tried the Captain Morgan's Spiced Rum, because I always figured I'd hate that too. Short on cash the other day, I picked the cheapest bottle of rum in the store, which happened to be Captain Morgan's Spiced Rum.

So, feeling slightly foolish with my new favourite spiced rum next to me, I opened up these new Maryland Choc and Caramel cookies. I'm not sure Cookie Monster would approve, but I don't care.

Although they were relatively small cookies, there were quite a few and I'd saved up on calories. They had a lovely crunch and there were lots of chocolate chips. These cookies had a nice chocolatey taste to begin with, and a sweet caramel flavour into the aftertaste. They also went perfectly with my new favourite rum.

"Me love cookies (and spiced rum)".