Beech's Fine Chocolates - Giveaway

60g bar selection 

Taste testing chocolate, oh its a tough job but someones got to do it !

Our friends at Beechs' Chocolates in Preston sent us a selection of their delicious chocolates for taste testing recently and what fun we have had.

Beechs' are some what of a Lancashire Legend, formed in 1920 this Lancashire Chocolate company have been supplying the fine people of Lancashire and  the world with delightful chocolate treats for nigh on a hundred years. Their factory is in Preston so pretty local to us and still in its original location.

60g Bar various

So onto our taste testing, we tried the dark chocolate selection first, the Dark Chocolate is 54 - 55% cocoa solids so its not a dark dark chocolate, personally I prefer a higher percentage but that a question of personal taste and we still really enjoyed the selection, the ginger  and mint crisp deserve particular mention , the ginger warming and aromatic and the mint cooling and smooth. The Lime and Chilli starts like a chocolate lime and progresses to a warm heat to finish. All in all a good range of flavours.

Dark chocolate / Dark Chocolate with Ginger / Dark Chocolate Lime and Chilli / Dark Chocolate Mint Crisp.

White Chocolate

Rich smooth and creamy, classic white chocolate with a distinct vanilla hit, melts well.

Selection of 60g bars

Milk Chocolate / Milk Chocolate Anglesey Sea Salt / Milk Chocolate Popping Candy / Milk Chocolate Salted Caramel / Milk Chocolate Crunchy Honeycomb

The milk chocolate is 30% cocoa solids and is noticeably richer in taste than the average high street bar, all the milk bars were creamy and we loved all the flavours, particularly the Anglesey Sea Salt and Salted Caramel as the salting was very well handled and just subtly added to the bars flavours. The popping candy bar is novel and lots of fun and was the favourite of Mr Lancashire Food, plenty of pop !

Gift Boxes

Luxury Chocolate Hearts - Decadent rich chocolate hearts with a thick praline centre in a lovely presentation box

I Love You - fine selection of white, dark and milk chocolate creams, pralines and truffles 

Milk Chocolate Coconut Macaroons - 9 square pieces of rich and very coconutty macaroon in a presentation box

Milk Chocolate Fudge - rich decadent dairy fudge thickly coated in milk chocolate.

We are loving the packaging, its colourful and bright and is traditional showing Beechs' roots yet modern at the same time, inside the 60g bar pack you will find a clear cellophane wrapper containing the chocolate bar, a bit of a surprise if you aren't expecting it, but you can clearly see what you are getting. The boxes are dinky proper little boxes of chocolates with a tray and corrugated topper and of course the lovely contents, the boxes make a great gift and are really pretty too.

Beechs' chocolate are available in many fine retailers including Booths Supermarkets, at various fine food fairs, QVC UK and also on line via their e store 

NOW FOR THE GREAT NEWS ! 

Would you like to win a Beechs Fine Chocolate Tasting Pack, just like ours ?

Well you can, we have one Prize of 10 of the 60g bars of chocolate (various flavours) and also the four gift boxes, just like in our taste test, delivered to UK addresses only.

Entering is easy, just use the rafflecopter widget to enter

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Terms and Conditions

1. Complete the Rafflecopter widget below to verify your entries

2. Entries are by blog comment, Twitter, Facebook etc

3. Closing Date: 14th February 2016

(For more information on how to enter blog giveaways using Rafflecopter please see this short video


You can win more bonus entries by tweeting on a daily basis. Good Luck ! 

Obeo - the fuss free way to deal with food waste

If you have been reading this blog for a while you may have noticed that we are passionate about supporting the local environment and as such we compost and recycle as much of our household waste as possible.

We have a three bay New Zealand bin system in the garden which produces general compost for use around the garden as a soil improver,we are also provided by our local authority a "brown " wheelie bin for compostable garden waste which is collected fortnightly and taken to a local composting site for bulk recycling.

Obeo is an Irish Company which came up with the idea of marketing a strong durable resealable brown bag which can be used to collect and store kitchen food wastes suitable for inclusion in municipal composting schemes.

We were sent a sample pack of 5 bags for us to review and trial in our kitchen, we have just recycled the last bag, so that 5 pack lasted a 2 person household just shy of a month, not bad in my humble opinion.

I am pleased to report that the bags delivered as promised and didn't leak, only on one occasion did I have an issue with the base of the bag becoming slightly moist and mouldy and I think that might have been due to the weather conditions at the time, as it was very hot and humid.

As we aren't encouraged locally to include actual cooked food waste in our municipal compost stream, our bags were used for fruit and vegetable peelings, teabags, coffee grounds, etc. Normally these would go directly onto the compost heap so we did try composting the bags also, obviously we are only a month later but the bags on the heap are still intact and look like they will take some time to break down. Ever one to try all avenues I have also placed a couple of bags in our brown waste wheelie bin too.

For everyone who hates trailing out the compost bin / wheelie bin and detests the dreaded bin juice the bags are ideal as they will sit quite neatly on your counter top for a few days whilst you fill them with no noticeably smell or leaky juices. No smell yucky kitchen caddy to handle either, just straight in the brown bin.

I also noticed on facebook that Obeo is being stocked now by Booths, fabulous local supermarket chain in the North West of England, so today whilst in store I actively sort them out and there they were on the shelf for sale, at £2.99 for 5 bags. Not sure whether its all Booths stores or just selected I think the price may put some people off , but if more people buy then I am sure the price will come down further.

                   
Lucky reader if you fancy trying out Obeo for yourself, we have two months supply to give away free, just by entering our rafflecopter widget below.

Normal rules apply, UK and Ireland enterants only please

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Win a fabulous whole fruit juicer from Domu - Start the new year the right way !

Wow ! we have a fabulous giveaway of a Whole fruit Juicer just for you, this great juicer is from people at Domu from their Vonshef range.

This juicer has been Voted and Reviewed by Great British Food Magazine as one of their Top Five Juicers on the market and gives Fast and Easy juicing from a large chute, fitting whole fruits and vegetables with ease.

It also has an Impressive 2-speed rotary dial switch, so you can juice a variety of fruits and vegetables and an Extremely Large 2 Litre detachable pulp container, plus a Sleek and Stylish Stainless Steel Mesh Strainer.

So if one of your New Years resolutions is to start juicing this is the perfect juicer for you, juicing is great for you and a great way to up your fruit and vegetable intake.

The full Vonshef range is avaliable from Domu and also Amazon.

Entry to our fabulous giveaway is by easy reafflecopter entry, just follow the instructions below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Rules for giveaway

We have one juicer to giveaway, this can only be posted to UK addresses and will be sent direct from Domu.

• Simply follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter widget above. 
• To be in with a chance of winning you must complete ALL the required fields. 
• All entries will be checked and verified before a winner is announced. 
• You can increase your chances of winning by Tweeting on a daily basis. 
• Rafflecopter will pick a random winner. 
• The competition runs until the 19th January 2015
• If you win, you MUST send me your delivery details quickly and within 24 hours or the prize will be passed to the next person drawn. 

Please see the Terms and Conditions on the Rafflecopter widget for the rules and more information.

The Prize for this giveaway is provided by Domu (Designer Habitat) who will send the item direct to the winner.

mini nibs - where do you nibble yours ?

I know this sounds sacreligious but this week we have mostly been nibbling something thats made in Yorkshire !

Mini nibs are handy  resealable snack pots of crunchy munchy dinky cheese straws, which come in three flavours

•  Exceptional cheddar cheese 
• Exceptional cheedar and spicy chilli
• Exceptional cheddar and cheeky onion

Apparently all the cheddar cheese used in nib nibs hails from Garstang in Lancashire

The mini nibs range also includes some very moreish roasted salt and pepper jumbo peanuts (my personal favourites from the range) 

The total range is great to serve as a snack with drinks with friends and the pots are also great for popping in your rucksack whilst out on a walk. The nibnibs range is avaliable  through many quality outlets including Booths Supermarkets, nibnibs have a handy stockist finder on their website. They are also on Facebook and twitter too. 

                               

Now here's the great news we have some nibnibs to giveaway in an easy Rafflecopter giveaway, so if you'd love to try some nibnibs why not join in the fun do you own taste test.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

The giveaway will run from 12pm on 15th October to 12th November.
The prize is a selection of nibnibs which will be sent direct to the winner.

Lancashire Recipes - our book. Win a copy in celebration of Lancashire Day

Yipee ! our first booklet has just been published, over the years we have been lucky to have recipes featured in various magazines and articles but this is our first cookery booklet, a collection of 20 modern Lancashire recipes.

                                             
Roughly 12 months ago I was approached by a publishing company to develop the recipes for the book, unfortunately the food photography isn't from Mr Lancashire Food as they chose to use stock images but none the less the recipes and frontis piece are mine.

The book can purchased from major supermarkets, tourist offices and some book shops in Lancashire, plus online from Amazon or Waterstones.

                                         

So in celebration of Lancashire Day you can win one of five signed copies we have to giveway, just enter by completing the Rafflecopter below.

Lancashire Day for the uninitiated is the 27th November it commemorates the date in 1295 when Lancashire sent its first representatives to parliament. A toast is made to the Queen, Duke of Lancaster and is celebrated across the county (even the metropolitan areas which aren't officially Lancashire any more).

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Rules for giveaway

We have 5 signed copies to giveaway, they can only be posted to UK addresses.

• Simply follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter widget above. 
• To be in with a chance of winning you must complete ALL the required fields. 
• All entries will be checked and verified before a winner is announced.
• You can increase your chances of winning by Tweeting on a daily basis.
• Rafflecopter will pick a random winner.
• The competition runs from until Lancashire Day 27th November .
• If you win, you MUST send me your delivery details quickly and within 24 hours or the prize will be passed to the next person drawn.
• Please see the Terms and Conditions on the Rafflecopter widget for the rules and more information.

                                   

Great British Food Festival ! at Stonyhurst College - Weekend pass giveaway !

In a few weeks time I'm off  to have a great time at "The Great British Food Festival" - my visit will be the event being held in the delightfully British surroundings of Stonyhurst College, a spectacularly beautiful building set in the heart of the fantastic Ribble Valley area of Lancashire. The college is very picturesque in fact so much so that its featured in a number of film and television series, as a school (which is what it is ( 3 men and a little lady) or some other ancestral pile). Great news is Lancashire Food has a pair of weekend passes to this festival to give away, just an easy rafflecopter entry, scroll down to find out more.

Stonyhurst College is a coeducational Roman Catholic independent school, adhering to the Jesuit tradition. It is located on the Stonyhurst Estate near the village of Hurst Green in the Ribble Valley area of Lancashire, England, and occupies a Grade I listed building. The school has been fully co-educational since 1999. Stonyhurst is situated in beautiful Lancashire countryside and is the ideal location as it is situated in the middle of the famous "Ribble Valley food triangle".

We want you to get involved. This year there is more opportunity for you to be a part of GBFF. On the Onionring Stage you'll find our Cake-Off tasters (that's me !!!) deliberating over which cake they prefer, at other times you'll find courageous souls taking on the Men Vs Food challenges! Pop into the hall to watch a top chef cooking on stage - you'll be surprised at what you can learn.

Bring a picnic blanket and sit out for the day enjoying live music and beautiful surroundings. Local bands are playing throughout the festival - again we have a great mix.

This is the perfect recipe for a foodie fun day out for the whole family. We welcome well behaved kids and dogs too.

                              
For you celebrity spotters we will be being joined by Simon Rimmer for the chef demonstrations at Stonyhurst.

                     
               
Here's some more details of the festival or alternatively check out the website for more details

Stonyhurst College hosts The Great British Food Festival 

Stonyhurst, Clitheroe, Lancashire BB7 9PZ

Saturday 24^th, Sunday 25^th & Bank Holiday Monday 26^th August 2013

10.30am-5pm  www.greatbritishfoodfestival.com

£6 entry, under 5’s are free and 5-11 are only £1. Tickets available via the website or on the door.

Bring your blanket... the picnic awaits!! 

With Chef demo’s from Simon Rimmer, Artisan and Drinks talks, Cake Competitions and Men V’s Food - there is something for everyone this year at the Great British Food Festival !

This year the event also has ‘The Onionring.co.uk tent’, where you will find free drinks and artisan talks from the likes of top pig breeder Julian from Pig & Co, Levante Fine Foods, ‘Drinks Enthusiast’ and, the tent will also be host to the ‘Great British Bake off’ with members of the public entering the Chocolate Delicious and the classic Victoria Sponge, anyone can enter to get practicing and enter today.

The Great British Food Festival has attracted over 80 producers showcasing the best in local, seasonal and specialty food and drink. Taste, enjoy and buy. Bring a picnic blanket and sit out for the day enjoying great food and drink and live music in stunning surroundings of Stonyhurst estate, The perfect recipe for a fun, foodie day out for the whole family.
 

WHAT'S ON

• Chef Demos
• Live Music
• Child-Friendly
• Cake-Off
  • Day 1: Victoria Sponge
  • Day 2: Chocolate Delicious
  • Day 3: Great British Novelty
• Men VS Food Challenges
• Wide choice of Hot Foods
• Local Producers
• Vintage and Craft stalls

THINGS TO KNOW

• Onsite parking is free
• Kids under 5 are free, 5-11 are just £1
• This is our first event at Stonyhurst, bringing our fantastic event to the region for the first time!
• Dogs are welcome. All dogs must be kept on a lead. Dogs are not allowed inside the producer marquees or the college buildings.

WHERE

Stonyhurst College, Clitheroe, Lancashire, BB7 9PZ

DATES

Saturday 24th, Sunday 25th and Monday 26th August Open 10:30am till 5:00pm.

WE HAVE TWO PASSES TO GIVE AWAY, TO BE IN WITH A CHANCE OF WINNING JUST COMPLETE THE RAFFLECOPTER BELOW

How do I enter the Giveaway?

• Simply follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter widget below. 
• To be in with a chance of winning you must complete ALL the required fields. 
• All entries will be checked and verified before a winner is announced.
• You can increase your chances of winning by Tweeting on a daily basis.
• Rafflecopter will pick a random winner.
• The competition runs from 30/07/13 to 16/08/13 .
• If you win, you MUST send me your delivery details before 12pm on 17/08/13, or the prize will be passed to the next person drawn.
• Please see the Terms and Conditions on the Rafflecopter widget for the rules and more information.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Fluffy puff puffs - gourmet marshmallow review and giveaway !

Recently I received a small box in the post and was intrigued as to its contents, it was a light as air. I was pleasantly surprised as to its contents having agreed to the review I had forgotten that I was expecting a delivery from Fluffy puff puffs, the Gourmet marshmallow company. I was sent four flavours to sample, now I'm not a real fan of commercial marshmallows, the pink and white one's you see in the shops as I don't think they taste of any thing, well that's were Fluffy Puff Puffs differ. 

Our sample pack contained

• Lime Punch
• Love currant & white chocolate
• Raspberry & white chocolate
• Sugar & spice

You could really taste the flavours in the mallows, berry, chocolate, spices, unlike other commercially produced mallows which are full of rubbish , these are totally different, due to their being no preservatives in them, so they only have a relatively short shelf life of 6-8 weeks and the texture is also so very different too. There are loads of other flavours available plus seasonal variations, here are just a few to tempt you

• Key lime and ginger pie
• Salted caramel
• Dark chocolate peanut butter drizzle

Made using the finest ingredients, including Belgium chocolate, these mallows are artisanal, gourmet, decadent and above all very delicious.

Luckily for you Fluffy Puff Puffs are  allowing one of you to taste their delicious mallows too. The prize will feature two flavours, white chocolate peanut butter drizzle and the new Raspberry mallow.

How do I enter the Giveaway?

• Simply follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter widget below. 
• To be in with a chance of winning you must complete ALL the required fields. 
• All entries will be checked and verified before a winner is announced.
• You can increase your chances of winning by Tweeting on a daily basis.
• Rafflecopter will pick a random winner.
• The competition runs from 10/06/13 to 30/6/13 .
• If you win, you MUST send me your delivery details before 12pm on 01/07/13, or the prize will be passed to the next person drawn.
• Please see the Terms and Conditions on the Rafflecopter widget for the rules and more information.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

                            


                                                         

Clarks Maple syrups and Honeys - taste testing !

I love maple syrup, so was pleased when Clarks Maple syrups and honey's sent me some of their lovely products for taste testing and recipe development and what's more you can win some of their lovely products too in an easy to enter rafflecopter competition (please see below).

Clarks are based in Newport in Wales were they blend the finest quality pure and blended maple syrups, honeys and fruit syrups. Their maple syrup is collected in the beautiful province of Quebec in Canada between February and April. Maple syrup is graded according to its light transmission the more it transmits the lower the number. Maple Syrup is now classed as a superfood being a good source of manganese and also rich in antioxidants.

Clarks Pure Canadian Maple Syrup (Medium no 1) - this is traditional maple syrup, light with a good maple taste , mild and sweet and ideal for using drizzled on pancakes, waffles and in cooking.

Clarks Pure Canadian Maple Syrup (Amber no 2) Darker in colour than the above syrup with a stronger more pronounced maple taste which may be a little strong for drizzling purposes for some. Ideal for using in cooking and baking where the  maple flavour is to be combined with other ingredients.

Clarks Original Maple (blended with pure carob fruit syrup) - with a  great maple taste this is ideal for using as a sweetner for porridge or cereals or drizzled on yoghurt and fruit. Ideal for using in when baking  Parsnip, apple and syrup cake.

Clarks Original Vanilla Maple (blended with pure carob fruit syrup),a great syrup with a good vanilla hit , you could use this drizzled over fruit or in coffee or chai as a sweetner.

Clarks Clear blossom honey - blended from blossom to produce a versatile honey which is great on toast and as a general honey for the kitchen cupboard. Its a handy sugar substitute.

Clarks Orange blossom honey - is blended from honey from orange groves across the world, with a slight citrussy note, this versatile honey is delicious in recipes which are enhanced by the orangey flavour. Golden and bright in colour.

Clarks Acacia honey - a mild and delicate honey with a very slight vanilla note, this honey is a delicious substitute in any recipe which calls for honey.

Clarks Lavender Honey - a gorgeous honey with a lovely lavender note, collected from Spanish lavender groves this is a delicious addition to desserts and cake recipes or drizzled over scones and cream.

Our Clarks prize giveaway consists of 2 prizes, a maple syrup selection pack and a honey selection pack  which will be sent to the lucky prize winners addresses by those nice people at Clarks.(Sorry UK only)

How do I enter the Giveaway?

• Simply follow the instructions on the Rafflecopter widget below. 
• To be in with a chance of winning you must complete ALL the required fields. 
• All entries will be checked and verified before a winner is announced.
• You can increase your chances of winning by Tweeting on a daily basis.
• Rafflecopter will pick a random winner.
• The competition runs from 15/05/13 to 31/5/13 .
• If you win, you MUST send me your delivery details before 12pm on 02/06/13, or the prize will be passed to the next person.
• The first prize drawn will be the maple syrup pack
• The second prize drawn will the honey pack
• Please see the Terms and Conditions on the Rafflecopter widget for the rules and more information.

Maple Syrup Prize Pack

Honey Prize pack

a Rafflecopter giveaway


We have our winners - Jen Price @BlueKitchenbake & Pat O'Brien via Facebook