THIS 100% Plant Fillet Steak with pepper [@NLi10]

 I like vegan food, and I like trying new things so when I spotted this variation on the steaks-but-vegan idea I decided to give it a shot.  It was orphaned on the shelf so it's price was a mystery until I got to the till - £7! But fortunately £5.50 as a 'deal'.  This still seems a bit much, but everything does these days.

It looks luxury - and there are two!

So - what is it? Water! Mostly anyway, just like real meat. Then wheat & soya, unlike most meat. Although cows do eat a lot of grass.

Almost as off-putting as the real thing!

Just a block of red stuff - covered in pepper and sizzling away

It went a bit too crispy on the sides, I'm not sure exactly how they wanted me to ensure that it was cooked without burning it.

I think the idea that the middle looks red so you feel like a carnivore is fun, but my resident vegetarian wouldn't touch this so I get to eat both.

Texture was great, and the flavours were nice - if not mostly pepper and not really 'steak'.  Again - this kind of stuff needs to be less homogenous and have 'marbling' or at least gaps to really feel correct.

Overall - like a luxury soft cut of meat, but with lighter flavours and a slightly odd texture.  A win for me, but way too expensive to eat weekly.

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MYPROTEIN Chipotle Beef Chilli & rice [@NLi10]

 Sometimes it's nice to have a quick and easy pot of food to heat.  We used to call it Batchelor Chow but that reference I think it now lost to the mists of time.

I'm never entirely sure what Chipotle is - is it always beef in a red sauce?

If it is always beef chilli then that makes it easier.

Does it always look so basic?!

Smells very good though, and had a decent mix of things.  I think that the 'protein' fad has kind of been stapled to this one - it's like calling a Pot Noodle a protein snack as you added a few extras in.

Eat more broccoli boys, it's the same protein but much more bioavailable with a lot more vitamins included.  Doesn't stop you from having it as a side with this nice warm pot of brown though.

Did the job mind - tasted ok, didn't starve.

TGI Fridays at home - BBQ Pork Burnt Ends & Tetris Waffles [@NLi10]

When I bought this the guy in Iceland asked me to let him know how it was as no one there had tried it yet.

Turns out it's likely because it takes 40 mins to oven cook, and would rather you defrosted it first .

That's a lot more mental planning and effort than I'd expected - and also it's for 4 and I'm only one person

Which means getting complicated and using half the sauce

And somehow chiselling off half this bag of horror.

Meanwhile in the frozen aisles these lovely mini waffles appeared.  Looking like Tetris blocks and infinitely divisible they are also much better for dipping.  How have these not been around for 40 years?!

All hail the air-fryer, I'm sticking them in the oven.

Wait ages for a long piece and get loads when you don't need one. 

Thankfully blurred shot of defrosted but not cooked burnt ends bag.  Looks like dogfood.

As I was home alone I decided to just go for it, make the whole bag of burnt ends and some waffle fingers on the side.  With a bit of cooking and the sauce added on it not only started to resemble human food but actually smelt really good.

And turned into a serviceable meal at home.  Had the meat portion not been so big I'd probably have added some other sides, but I could definitely imagine getting this at a TGI and being absolutely fine with it.  Better for two people, but possible for one with a movie and breaks.

The sauce was the star, but the meat was decent quality and while not particularly crispy that might have been me using the glass casserole bowl instead of the tin as recommended.

Bonus Content!

I did spot as well this full Sunday Roast chicken dinner for 4 for £25 (including veg and pigs in blankets) which I think I'd struggle to solo, but for 2/3 might be manageable.  Can't imagine how long this would take in the oven from frozen though.

 

Star Wars - Millennium Falcon Pizza / Hot Dog Stuffed Crust - Iceland [@NLi10]

 In a Frozen Foods Shop Far Far Away...

We wanted some back-up pizzas for the freezer, and Iceland is my go-to shop these days for cheaper but quality choices (plus their range changes so often you don't get bored).  I risked my partner's wrath and chose her a glorified garlic bread, and I had the hotdog crust meat feast.

Shockingly similar on calories too - although the meat edges ahead.

Possibly because this really does look sparse!

(she enjoyed it but all the cheese in the crust is the main event here)

And here's my choice - but why is it Star Wars?

Millennium Falcon Pizza! Obviously this is the bit where the sausage isn't hiding in the crust, but it's a fun bonus.  The meat on the topping is interesting, but really could have more flavours in there.

The hotdog that encircles 95% of the circumference is the main event here too - and it works well.  You can hold on to it safely (the tomato sauce crust is insanely hot for the first few slices and cold an unappetising for the last one)

And surprisingly it's a decent quality.  Yes - I'm sure that they could make one with quality Italian Deli meats - but not at £4 or whatever this is.  As it stands, this is a decent meal for two (I mean - I soloed it but I do like a pizza) with a few olives or a dip.

Hungry Boar - Loaded BBQ Sticklers (Tesco) By @SpectreUK

I always find Biltong and Beef Jerky kind of tough to eat. I'm hoping these new Hungry Boar - Loaded BBQ Sticklers will be a little easier on my old teeth.

As I'm getting older it's taking longer and getting harder to keep my exercise up and heal from injuries. It helps to add the correct amount of protein in my regular diet and balancing calories to help me heal. Most adults need 50 to 55g of protein a day. A packet of these Hungry Boar - Loaded BBQ Sticklers has only 9g of protein in it for 207 calories. Bit of a kicker when I can have a protein yogurt for 18g of protein for 92 calories.

On opening the packet, these Hungry Boar - Loaded BBQ Sticklers had a strong pork barbecue aroma. On biting in I could see the stuffed pork inside. The texture of these Sticklers was pretty soft and easy to chew. On taste there was a strong lightly spiced pork barbecue flavour. I found them very tasty and moreish, and they went very well with my Tomato Ketchup crisp sandwich for lunch.

Information on the packet; The 50g bag contained 415 calories per 100g, with 31g of fat, 7.5g of sugar, 18g of protein, and 3g of salt.

Lemon Passion Fruit & Yuzu Possets [@NLi10]

 Luxury deserts at discount prices is always a treat.  My partner happened to be in the supermarket as the stickered stock was going up so got one of the premuim items at a bargain price - but she didn't get to eat it!

These lemon and passion fruit & yuzu possets (!) were a lot at £2.17 each, but at 82p each are a much easier sell.  But oh no - we have to eat them today!

So fruity, so yummy, and oh so not suitable for vegetarians!  My guess is to make the clear jelly stuff on the top they added beef gelatine - scaring off both the Veggie and halal crowd which is why these are last-picked for the team.  I mean I guess some people might not spot it, but most are careful to make sure that the good stuff ca be eaten by all.  I guess as it has milk they figured if they were not vegan they might as well go the whole hog.

They are pretty little shots of fruity delight, and the textures are actually pretty welcoming, so as the non-vegetarian in the house I quite enjoyed it.  So small you can't get a decent picture though.

I'm hoping that they keep that extra day because I'm having the second one tonight.

Judi Love is a National Treasure - Braised Beef & Butter Bean Pie [@NLi10]

 My partner picked me up a Judi Love's Braised Beef & Butter Bean Pie on a rare Sainsbury's trip - and even took some photos for me as I was at work!

Much more artistic than my usual snaps

For those not in England, this isn't a lady called Judi who loves pie (although lets face it - we all do) it's a celebrity whose name is Judi Love.  She shows up on things, and comes across as someone genuine and that would be a laugh to hang out with.  If she invited you to dinner you'd go, and you'd make an effort with your dinner gift.

Here is a picture of Judi presumably preparing for an interview.  I'd have said Passport photo, but you aren't allowed to smile in those anymore.  Maybe this is to indicate that she's taking the pie seriously.

So far so good - meat & bean pie.  Not exactly common - but sounds good.  Higgidy always deliver too so this should be good.

And spicy? Yes please!

Raw version

Cooked version - with olives because everything needs olives.

Pie is a little more spacious on the inside than some luxury pies - but no less filling.  The meat is insane quality - I mean this isn't pie meat.  This is more like when my dad makes pies and finely slices steak and top cuts of pork.  Full marks. And the beans are whole too - and have had space and time to soak up the sauce.  

The spice level is more of a two chilli level. I can't give this pie to my sister without her exploding, but for me this is spot on.  Probably more suited to a few potatoes and some winter greens than garlic bread that needed using up - but we will know for next time.

For there shall indeed be a next time.  Hopefully this isn't a limited time thing, and hopefully they got Judi to make a whole range.  She's a great comedian, and now great at getting Higgidy/Sainsbury's to make exciting pies.  A national treasure for sure.

Pukka Steak & Bourbon (and mushrooms) Pie [@Nli10]

Pukka have quite a wide range, and while chip shops only have 5 or so, the supermarkets have loads of extras - so I figured I'd give this one a go.  Big mistake!

Why you ask?

Hidden mushrooms!

One of the big four selling points to them - but not in the name and not obvious on the box. I don't eat mushrooms but at 11% of the contents I can (and did) pick them out.

Beloved Iceland frozen broccoli and Waitrose Mediterranean mix to the rescue - it's not like Pukka will put green things in the pie - that'd scare off the core audience.

Looks vaguely meal-like

Bit sludgey for a pie (that's the bourbon I guess) so it was a pain to remove the mushrooms for the slugs to eat, but the flavours were decent. The steak was much less abundant than the All Steak black tin Pukka version though so overall I'd choose that and have the bourbon separately for afters.

Co-Op Limited Edition Chianti Beef Pizza - [@NLi10]

 Mmmm - beef pizza.  It feels like a very American thing - especially the brisket ones - but the co-op have had a different twist Chianti!

It sees some lovely marinated beef on the standard luxury Co-Op pizza

And it looks pretty good.

It smells like an Italian restaurant pizza too - I had a lovely deep beef pizza while in Italy, and these are making me want to go back.

I'm not a wine buff, so I couldn't tell you if this is authentic at all, but it's nice to see a variety of flavours in the pizza aisle - and we really enjoyed this one.

Tesco Taste Discoveries - Korean Pork Belly Roast [@NLi10]

 Sometimes I’m home-alone and fancy something a little more interesting. I spotted this in Tesco in their new themed section and figured it was worth a shot.

A few of the discount supermarkets have rotating ranges like this, so I figured that this was likely of a similar high quality.

But I hadn’t spotted it’s literally a bag of meat, a sauce and some herbs!

You basically pop the meat in a roasting tin and fire away, so plenty of time to make sides.

Doesn’t look great ‘unboxed’

Prepping the Udon noodles

Looks better after a little roast, and then you slowly add the glaze

And it looks pretty decent on the plate! I figured that slicing it as suggested in the kitchen would be unnecessary but i probably would do that next time.

Luna thought that it definitely smelt like something she should be allowed to assist with.

With hindsight i think i should have picked up other boxes in the range to use as sides, but it worked really well and im happy to go back for more.