St Pierre - Croissant Loaf - Toasted Croissants at Home [@NLi10]

 I've been a big fan of pastries ever since I was young - to the extent that when I got bored of the same old bread sandwiches at school every day I swapped to taking in a croissants and jam every day.

Britain has become less 'white loaf' obsessed as time has gone on and now instead of bread for every meal of the day (including bread pudding) there are exciting options.  St Pierre has added to that with this pastry loaf creation. 

It's essentially fat, sweet bread, but combined in such a way that it layers up and has a very different texture.  It's shelf life is also two weeks which is much better than our usual loaves.

It also has the trademark croissant swirl, which kind of hints that they made a giant one and dropped it in a loaf tin.

And it works with chocolate spread and strawberries?  Result.

All I have is upside down Welsh jam and vegan butter.

I toasted it a little more than it suggested

And pilled on the goodies.

And it's fantastic.  Child me would absolutely have accepted this in his tiny yellow lunchbox, although I'd still want to add the jam etc on site to prevent sogginess.

It has the right texture, the right smells and tastes, and it's so much easier than trying to toast a pre bough croissant (or the bake at home ones that while fantastic take ages).

I can't wait to get back from my holidays to have more of this - and I hope it's not a short term product and that I can get other similar things in the future.  Loaf od Pan Au Chocolate? Yes please!

Hash brown pizza base - Iceland [@NLi10]

 Iceland sell plate-sized hash browns

It’s a slab of potato

Pop them on the messy grill.  Not sure you’d fit these in the air fryer

Small plate sized then

So - let’s turn it into a real meal - a hash browns pizza!

I used a pesto base, and added some Tesco meat circles, and some roast veggies.

Fantastic idea and a nice variation on the usual pizza base, and I’ve been instructed to get more!

Daily Jam Croissant (Petrol Station) By @Cinabar

We picked up two of these Daily Jam Croissants as part of a DIY all-day breakfast treat. I spotted them at the petrol station and thought they sounded interesting. Once home, we cooked bacon, sausages, fried some mushrooms, made eggs, and then, for dessert (and for theming), finished the meal with the Daily Jam Croissants. We actually waited a while, as we were quite full, but eventually got round to them with a traditional cup of tea.

 

I opened mine and was pleased to see it looked full, large, and fluffy, though not particularly crescent-shaped. The texture was spot on, but it wasn’t as buttery as some croissants, and it lacked the crisp top layer you’d expect from a freshly baked one. The jam was tasty but poorly distributed, thin at the edges with a big dollop in the middle. It really needed to be spread more evenly throughout.

They were pleasant enough, but they didn’t match up to a fresh croissant served with jam and butter. I think I’ll do it properly next time.

Kellogg's Crunch Nut -but- Salted Caramel (@NLi10)

It's breakfast time! Kellogg's have released an extra flavour of Crunchy Nut Cornflakes - and it's not too bad!

Everyone likes Crunchy Nut Cornflakes - especially in countries where the wavelength of the sunlight doesn't cause humans to generate vitamin D for a large portion of the year.  Kelloggs realised this and spray it on the cereals and then advertise that it's "The Taste" that's causing the cravings and not the vitamins.

Seriously - buy a decent Vit D supplement! 

Here we see the details of the new flavour twist.  And the lie about the taste.

Lets add some fresh stuff too...

So with a few raspberries on top it looks so far so similar!

And the smell is a little more caramel than usual, but the taste is very much the burnt caramel that the trendy foods all had about 5 years ago.  And you know, it's not bad!  It's a little more interesting than the standard version that I've been eating for 40 years, but not so different that you don't know which brand it is.

There is a little bit of a tax on these as they only come in the small boxes so it'd work out very expensive for a daily cereal so these are very much going to be a treat, but I think I'll be trying more of these soon.

Quaker Caramel Fudge Porridge (Ocado) By @Cinabar

I don’t eat porridge very often, so I rarely buy a whole box, unless I’m using it for baking, of course. I just had a fancy for some chocolatey porridge and spotted this Quaker Caramel Fudge Porridge online and added it to my basket. The porridge is made in the container, you open the lid, add hot water, leave it for a few minutes, then stir and eat. Super simple.

 The flavour caught my eye as it is caramel fudge, and the moment the hot water hit the oats, it smelled lovely. There were sweet toffee and chocolate tones, and I couldn't’ wait to give it a try. The taste test was also really positive, provided, of course, you have a sweet tooth. If you don't, I’m not sure you would buy a flavour like this anyway. The porridge mixed up nicely and even had fudge pieces in it, which was a nice touch. The chocolate was good, and all the caramel-like tastes came through. This isn’t an every-day porridge but does make a nice treat at the weekend as something a bit more indulgent.

Sainsbury's Mini Croissant Cereal - Strawberry Jam Flavour (@NLi10)

 Happy New Year - Happy New Cereal! 

I spotted this in Sainsbury's and figured it was worth a shot - I've not seen this shape in the cereal before!

It looks nicely produced and has a vague attempt at health compared to a lot of cereals - look at those green segments on the health infographic.

Still too much sugar really, but that's kind of the selling point here I guess.  Pastry isn't exactly a health food itself.

And it looks similar to the pictures too - these could easily be sold as boomerangs instead though - but I get what they are going for.

Action shot! Not sure why this blurred, maybe it's to reflect my sleepiness in the morning.  I added non-dairy milk, and some Blueberries for actual vitamins.

And... it's pretty good.  I don't think I'd automatically replace this box once finished, but I'm enjoying it so far.  It's a little crunchy for my preferences, but that's not too big a problem - you can blend this with something softer and less sweet and have a nice texture mix.

Couldn't really taste the strawberry Jam, but I guess that's more of the sweetness.

Overall a hit - and something that the kids might like as a change, but that's not going to alert them to the fact that it's a little healthier than most of the sugar cereals.

Frosted Brown Sugar Cinnamon Pop Tarts (Candy Mail) By @Cinabar

I was so excited about the idea of cinnamon Pop Tarts, I ordered them the second I saw them and couldn't ’t wait for them to arrive. I think this flavour of Pop Tart is available all year in America, but it is an import and I think available because people think cinnamon is the Christmas spice. I think it is my all-year round favourite spice, but will gladly take all the cinnamon products I can find at this time of year.

When they did arrive, I could tell they were a little bit broken. Well, they have had a long trip to get here. Both Pop Tarts were missing corners. I toasted them on the lightest setting and delicately removed them from the toaster. They were a little cracked and not very brown. I have to admit to being a bit worried at this point.

Then I gave them the taste test and all was forgiven. The hit of spicy warming sweet cinnamon and sugary goodness was an absolute joy. The texture is light and not too crispy, with that soft sweet cinnamon dream filling in the middle. These are my favourite flavours and I loved every bit. I wish they had transported a bit better, and I wish they made this variety in the UK but for now I’ll savour the couple of packets I have.

Pop-Tarts Eggo Frosted Maple Flavour (Candy Mail) By @Cinabar

As a British person, my only knowledge of Eggo Waffles is from Stranger Things and that they are the favourite food of the character Elle (11). I admit when I first watched the show I looked for them here and couldn’t find them, but I did want to know what all the fuss was about. I sort of gave up until I was browsing an import shop and didn’t find the Egoo waffles, but did find these Eggo Pop-Tarts, which I guess will have to be close enough!

I haven’t had Pop-Tarts for years, though I used to love them as a student. We don’t get that many flavours here, and if I ever stumbled across the brown sugar and cinnamon I would buy loads! I remember that you have to turn the toaster right down, so I did this and put the two pop-tarts in and waited for them to cook.

Once the toaster popped, I went to put the Eggo Frosted pop-tart on a plate but it was hot and was crumbling. In fact, one pot-tart lost a corner and the other broke in half. Perhaps the lowest setting on my toaster is still too hot? The pop-tarts are smart and have a nice yellow waffle pattern which is all icing rather than the actual shape. The flavour if quite gentle, and just nicely sweet with a hint of maple syrup. They were fun to have for breakfast and I enjoyed them with my morning cup of coffee. They aren’t quite as exciting as the mystery behind the Eggo waffles is in the UK, and I can’t say even now I’ve tried a proper Eggo waffle, but they were certainly a good start to the day.

Super Zeros Carb Rebel - Apple & Cinnamon - Pro Cereal, High Protein Low Sugar by @NLi10

 

The kind people at Super Zeros sent me a little care package of cereals this weekend so I made a little video opening it (you don't need to watch it if your more a text kind of person).  Inside were two boxes of their new cereal and a few surprises.

I've decided to split the review into the two different flavours so I can try them for a while and see how I get on - after all this isn't just food - it's science!

They don't make lots of dubious claims on this one though - just that it's lower in sugar and higher in protein.  That's pretty refreshing. They haven't even amped up the superhero angle too much (else like the RNLI 'life-saver' tea they might have to pop a disclaimer on the box)

The balls are fairly interesting looking - and they certainly smell like cinnamon and apple.  I guessed the portion size and popped them in the newly provided bowl.

With a few left over blueberries of course - vitamins and sweetness all in one.

Using almond milk makes it even more healthy right? And eco friendly too! 

Both cats are still convinced the bowl is for them though!

So - the cereal? How does it hold up.

Well - it's certainly different.  Unlike carb based cereals it didn't really go soft - I mean at all.  This meant that (without blueberries) it'd be one texture for the whole bowl.  While that's not all that exciting, it wasn't really a problem.  I have a cupboard full of things to mix it with to add pizzazz. 

The smell and taste are the same as the pre-milk test, both fantastic.  I'm still looking forwards to eating more of these - and unlike a lot of cereals the flavour didn't just wash off.

Most importantly it's filling - if you are looking for a simple breakfast that will keep you sorted til lunchtime then this works well.  And while I'm not sure I need epic amounts of protein this is a pretty innocuous way to start the day off with a boost.

The cereal was still a little dry though, and like puffed up crisps the texture takes a little getting used to.  It really is a whole new kind of breakfast experience.  I'll eat these for a while (trying a few non-dairy milk pairings like an early morning wine list) and see how I get on and likely report back with the chocolate version.

All in all - a cautious success.  If you are after more cinnamon breakfast cereals and to reduce your morning sugar intake (more on that in the video) then these could be exactly what you've been looking for.

Warburton’s Fruit Loaf With Orange (Asda) By @Cinabar

One of my favourite simple things for lunch is toast. This might make me sound like an eternal student with my eating habits, but working from home it is quick and easy and tasty. Add in a chocolate spread and it is a winner. Today I thought I would try a different twist on it, and I picked up this Warburton’s Fruit Loaf With Orange, which I hadn’t seen before.

Now I think this bread is made for the toaster. The slices are small so you get a full toasting without any bits sticking out. Why do regular toasters insist on being smaller than some slices of bread? Who makes them like that? I hate having a raw edge. Anyway, no such problem here. The whole piece was submerged.

I added a decent layer of butter to the toast and gave it a try. I loved the sticky fruit in the toast, it was sweet and pleasing and it meant I wasn’t reaching for the jam. The bread toasted well, crispy on the edges, soft inside. The flavour was gently fruity from the raisins, but the taste from the orange was very mild, just a light citrus hint in the background. I would still buy this Warburton’s Fruit Loaf With Orange again, just the fuel I needed before the afternoon of work from home meetings kicked in.

Pop Tarts Bites - Frosted Strawberry Banana (GB Gifts) By @Cinabar

I’ll start by saying what we are all wondering. You don’t have to toast them. I rarely buy Pop Tarts these days, I do like them I just question when to eat them. Pop tarts are a little too sweet for breakfast and a bit weird as a treat during the day, so I end up not buying them unless some limited edition catches my eye. These Pop Tarts Bites with Frosted Strawberry Banana did catch my eye and I picked them up from the import shop. The flavour sounded nice but it was the size that made me curious about them. I liked the idea of a cute little bag of mini pop tarts to have with lunch.

I opened up the bag and found the pop tarts to be small but fairly thick and with a decent amount of frosting. The icing is a smart bright pink, but the biscuit/sponge base is a weird yellow in colour. I might be over thinking about the colour issue.

The flavour though is lovely and sweet, with strawberry being the majority taste and banana following in the after taste which reminds me of banana foam sweets. I have a sweet tooth and thoroughly enjoyed these soft bites. The calories are pretty low for the bag (150 calories), so despite the sugar hit, they weren’t too guilt-inducing. I’d happily have these Pop Tarts Bites with Frosted Strawberry Banana with my lunch again, I just need to see if anywhere more mainstream stock them?

Rice Krispie Squares - Salted Caramel Pretzel (Ocado) By @cinabar

There are some new flavours of Rice Krispie Squares out and they have gone all American. Actually I think they may have always been American, but the UK version now has American themed flavours. First up we have these Rice Krispie Squares Salted Caramel Pretzel edition, which sounded fun. I love a mix of sweet and salty.

I opened up the packet and was quite surprised by the look of these Squares, they are really covered in pretzel bits, even to the extreme where it was hard to recognise the marshmallow bar underneath. There is a lot of topping an dI wasn’t complaining. I gave the bar a try and the texture was out this world. I found the usually soft and crispy Rick Krispies in the sticky mallow but the topping added extra crunch and a nice hint of savoury too. It really worked and I enjoyed the Salted Caramel Pretzel treat with a cup of coffee. I’m just hoping the other American flavour (Cookies and Cream) is half as good to be honest. This is quite a leap from their usual limited editions (we’ve all seen the things this year where all they do is add a bit of orange), this it is a total success.

McVitie's Digestives - Marmalade & Toast Flavour (@NLi10) Are these Breakfast?

McVitie's have been on a roll releasing new flavours of classics recently.  We have reviewed A LOT of them.  This one was abandoned on the counter in my local corner shop as they are a little out of date.  

I suspect that my neighbours were not convinced that Marmalade on Toast flavour should be an option for biscuits.  

A few years back 'breakfast biscuits' were a big thing pushed by snack brands as a way to sell rusks to grown ups. It seemed to work for a short time but you don't really see them as much now.  I think people missed the cereal bowl.

No artificial colours or flavours - but the ingredients disagree...

Natural Orange Flavouring, Natural Flavouring.  No toast - no marmalade - all trickery and PR language.  Just the same biscuits with a new taste.

And slim, slim chocolate to make us feel bad about our choices.

But - yes - these do taste of Marmalade - not orange, but actual marmalade (very Robinsons), the toast I get a lot less.

And they are nice biscuits, but the kind that leave you wanting more - and not in a satisfying way.  I'd rather have some actual marmalade on toast, or a piece of good shortbread.

Kelloggs Crunchy Nut Peanut Butter (Sainsburys) By @Cinabar

I tried this Kelloggs Crunchy Nut Peanut Butter before reading the ingredients, I think that is important to note because I found the latter rather disappointing. What is the first thing you think of when you Kelloggs Crunchy Nut, breakfast cereal. My instinct was this ‘butter’ was going to be made up of cornflakes, honey and peanut spread and that had me very excited. I love the flavour of cornflakes, especially honeyed ones but alas this is peanut butter with a touch of honey and a lot of branding. Shame.

I liked the flavour, there was loads of peanut and that nice mix of gentle sweetness from the honey. I like that mix of sweet and savoury ot worked very well. The product is good, this is thick peanut butter with a nice crunch from plenty of chopped nuts. I really enjoyed my toast with this spread. The negative part is it had very little to do with its name, you can’t call it Kelloggs Crunchy Nut and not have a flavour of the breakfast cereal or indeed the main ingredients. These are as much Kelloggs Crunchy Nut as the are Honey Puffs.

Limited Edition Apple & Cinnamon Shreddies (Aldi) By @Cinabar

Don’t tell NLi10, but I’m writing about some new breakfast cereal. Cereal is his thing, but I found this fair and square in Aldi and couldn’t resist trying out a box. I may not eat as much cereal as him but I love cinnamon, and so had to try these Limited Edition Apple and Cinnamon Shreddies out. I do like Shreddies and I eat them fairly regularly. With the addition of cinnamon, my favourite spice, it sounded like these could be my thing. I poured myself a generous bowl, and added milk. The texture was stayed firm for quite a while, much like normal Shreddies.
The Limited Edition Apple and Cinnamon Shreddies were more apple than cinnamon, I think the first thing I noticed was some extra sweetness, then the apple follows and a hint of cinnamon. I guess they didn’t want the cereal to be too spicy first thing a morning, but I thought this was effectively teasing me with cinnamon and that it needed a more generous helping. For most people I would suspect this is perhaps a nice touch of the spice. I have to admit I did thoroughly enjoy my bowl though, with the added apple and sweetness making the Shreddies something special. I might just add a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar to my next bowl, just to give them the extra a bit of magic that I love.