Food & Drink Christmas Gift Guide - 2017 #2*

Yesterdays blog post was my first Food and Drink Christmas gift guide (you can find that here) and today I have the second one for you! There were just too many things I wanted to include this year so I had to split it into two posts, hopefully both will give you some ideas for gifts this year and some of the things included are brilliant for hampers if you're putting something like that together.

Meantime's Brewery Tour and Chocolate Porter Beer* 

Starting with alcohol because a lot of people like a little drink over the festive period. Meantime's Chocolate Porter and Brewery Tours could be the unique gift you're looking for. Meantime's Chocolate porter is a perfect beer to enjoy at Christmas. Brewed using four different roasted malts, there's a mocha taste that's aided by the addition of real chocolate during the maturation process. These are full of warm, complex and smooth flavours and make a very special gift for slightly more abstract beer lovers. If you're not looking for an actual present to hand over this Christmas, then why not give an experience unlike anything else? Tours are now available at the Meantime Brewery in Greenwich, London and it's known as the best brewery to visit in the city. During the tour you'll learn how Meantime beer is made, take part in a tasting of some of the beers and get to mingle with like minded beer fanatics. Find out more about their tour on the website here.

Healthy Snacks from Abakus* 

If you're going down the hamper route this year for someone then these healthy snacks from Abakus could be a great addition. You might think healthy snacks like dried fruit and nuts could be a bit of a boring thing to give but I really don't think so and they'd be perfect for any people you know who are currently trying to eat a bit better or are following a new eating plan. As much as a lot of us love to eat ALL the chocolate at Christmas, some people really don't and that's where tasty and nutritious snacks like this come in useful. Also many people like to start a new diet and exercise regime in the new year so receving some of these in a hamper that are definitely not as bad for you as crisps are chocolate, could be perfect and give them that motivation to get going! You can find more info about Abakus snacks and other gifts available on their website.

Bettys Chocolate*

  Now on the other scale of what I've just been talking about, for those who really do love their chocolate then Bettys is the place you need to go to! Bettys do just about everything, from chocolates to cakes to biscuits, even tea and coffee, and they also have their own tea rooms, you can find an array of wonderful gifts on their website. A few of my personal favourites that I think would be lovely as a stocking filler are the Moonlight Owls which are delicious milk chocolate and £4.95, the Chocolate Christmas Characters are adorable and are £6.95 and finally the Chocolate Christmas Pudding for those of us who don't like the real thing, and that's £4.95. You can tell so much time and effort has gone into these chocolates, there is so much attention to detail and they really are mouthwatering. Bettys is definitely one to consider this year for stocking fillers!

Crabtree & Evelyn* 

One brand I don't think you can go wrong with for presents is the lovely Crabtree and Evelyn. First of all, how beautiful is the packaging of both of these biscuits? I'd be pretty thrilled to unwrap something like this! Crabtree and Evelyn was founded over 40 years ago now and it's evolved from a small, family-run business which only sold fine soaps from around the world to an international company which is renowned for it's fragrances, fine foods and wonderful gifts. You can get something for just about everyone from Crabtree and Evelyn, bath and body products, mens grooming, handcare, perfume and even food. If you're looking for some foodie gifts then I highly recommend the All Butter Dark Chocolate and Hazelnut Biscuits which are £7 and also the Mini Shortbread Biscuits Musical Tin which is £15. Both of these are beautiful and the biscuits just melt in the mouth! Who doesn't love a cup of tea and a few biscuits?

Opies* 

Something else which could be a good idea if you're making a hamper up for somebody this year, or if you just know someone who loves baking, are these jars from Opies. Opies are one of the oldest family owned food firms in the UK and I'm sure most people have heard of them. Opies do a range of products which are great for a number of occasions, from stem ginger to cocktail cherries to black cherries, and so many more. All of which are perfect for this time of year. Why not use the stem ginger to make some parkin to enjoy with custard on one of these cold nights? or how perfect would the cocktail cherries be for a new years party? Things like this are always handy to have in and as I mentioned, if you're putting together a foodie hamper for someone, then a few jars of these could be perfect! I'm looking forward to putting some recipes together with some of these so look out for those in future. You can find more about Opies on their website, and they are also available at most supermarkets.

M&S Food 

Ahhh M&S is just the best isn't it? I'm not going to lie it can be very expensive at times but around this time of year they put on a lot of offers and currently so many of their boxes of chocolates and biscuits are half price! They really are one of the best places for Christmas food I think and receiving a box of chocolates from there is always nice I think. I picked up this selection of biscuits a few weeks ago when it was on offer for £4.50 and I'm going to have to go back soon and stock up for the festive period. At the moment they have a bigger tubs than this reduced and so many wonderful boxes of chocolates for around £3 which would make lovely little presents.

So that's both of my Food and Drink gift guides done for 2017! I love getting people chocolate each year and little foodie gifts and there really are some brilliant things out for great prices at the moment!

Did you see my first food and drink gift guide yesterday? and my womens gift guide earlier this week?

*Products marked with a * were sent for the purpose of this post. I only work with brands relevant to me and my blog

Follow Me - Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest & Bloglovin!

Food & Drink Christmas Gift Guide - 2017 #1*

It's time for my second Christmas gift guide of the week and this time it's all about FOOD! I love putting together my food and drink gift guides each year but this year is really exciting as their are some amazing brands that have got involved and I can't wait to tell you about them all. There were so many things I wanted to include in this post, so I've had to split it into two so come back tomorrow for another foodie gift guide. These are perfect for the people in your life who love cooking, baking and like me, just generally eating and drinking all the good stuff, so I hope it helps you find a few ideas!

English Tea Company* 

 Now we're well into Autumn and the cold weather has properly started, a hot cup of tea is heavenly isn't it? I've been getting through cups of the stuff over the last few weeks, normal English Breakfast tea that is perfect with a few biscuits (or if you're like me a packet) and I'm now even into green tea and flavoured teas, I just can't stop drinking them all at the moment! If you know someone who isn't without a cup of tea then the English Tea Company have got you covered. Since 2010 they have been sourcing the best tea from the best farms in the world, ensuring they have something for everyone. If you know they drink a variety of teas then maybe something like the Christmas Tea Collection would be a good idea? This contains 72 tea bags in a selection of flavours so perfect for someone who goes through a few cups a day. Or if someone you know is really into the festive season, the Gingerbread Man Christmas Tea is perfect! Brilliant for those of us who love the gingerbread flavour but aren't into the lattes available at this time of year! Lastly, and probably my favourite is the Christmas Pyramid Prisms which contain flavours that are sure to get you in the Christmas mood, including Candy Cane and Irish Holiday.

Creative Nature Baking Mixes* 

 If someone you know loves baking then mixes like this brownie one from Creative Nature could be perfect to add to a little hamper! Some people might think things like this are a bit of a random gift but if someone got me a few baking mixes, I know I'd be happy! What I love about this one in particular is that it's so easy to use and makes the most delicious brownies. Creative Nature do a range of products that are just as indulgent and tasty as others you might find, but healthier! Aswell as brownie mixes they also sell muffin mixes (YES PLEASE) and they even do healthy snack bars, superfood powders and breakfast toppings. They are definitely worth having a look into if you know someone who either loves baking and would like to give these a go or if they're currently trying to eat a bit healthier or lose weight.

Westminster Abbey Afternoon Tea* 

 If you live in London or you've got a day there planned soon, then I really recommend you try out the Afternoon Tea at Westminster Abbey! Starting on the 27th November and running until the 31st of December, it's the perfect treat for you and family member or friend, and a good excuse to take a break from Christmas shopping. The Cellarium Cafe & Terrace will be serving the festive themed menu which includes Norfolk turkey coronation sandwiches, Iced Christmas cake, Cranberry and sultana scones and more, everyday between 12pm and 4pm. Prices are £21.50 per person or £25 per person if you would like a glass of prosecco. Be sure to book in to avoid disappointment via westminsterabbey@benugo.com.

Cockburns Special Reserve Port* 

 It wouldn't be a food and drink gift guide without a little bit of alcohol and the product I wanted to mention in this one is the Cockburns Special Reserve Port. This huge bottle is a perfect gift for someone who loves a tipple on Christmas Day or in the evening and it's such a good thing to have in over the festive season. This has been the drink of choice for so many families over the years since it was originally introduced in 1969 and it's been hailed as one of the most iconic ports of all time! Matured in oak casks, giving it a full bodied dry finish, it also features notes of Strawberry and Plum, and is just a classic for enjoying on its own. If you're struggling for gifts for maybe someone like your dad, then this is definitely one to consider. Available from Waitrose, Tesco & Morrisons and 75cl bottles are £12.

All The Haribo* 

Who doesn't love Haribo? They are the go to sweet brand for me and I pretty much always have a pack or two in our flat! Every year Haribo bring out a range of Christmas products and this year is no exception. If you're looking for gifts for a younger sibling or family member, then Haribo have got it sorted for you, choose from either their Selection Box, Sweet Medley, Maoam Stripes Cracker and so much more. Gifts like this are really reasonably priced and include a selection of different sweets so really something for everyone. My personal favourite at the moment is the Giant Trees which are basically the Giant Strawbs you can get throughout the rest of the year. I always like to have sweets in around Christmas time so even if you don't have anyone to pick these up for, they are definitely worth having in to snack on over the festive period! Available at most supermarkets.

So that's my first gift foodie gift guide of the year! I've been looking forward to putting these together for so long so I hope it's given you a little bit of inspiration. You can't really go wrong with food and drink gifts I don't think, and I have lots more to share with you so make sure you come back tomorrow for another post full of wonderful tasty gifts.

*Products featured were sent for the purpose of this post. I only work with brands relevant to me and my blog

Follow Me - Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest & Bloglovin!

Womens Christmas Gift Guide - 2017*

After a tiny little blogging break, I'm back with my first Christmas gift guide of 2017! I decided not to post on Friday as I was having such a rubbish day and it just didn't feel right. I then spent the majority of the weekend not blogging and not even thinking about it and it was actually quite enjoyable. I do love doing this but I've just been feeling a little stressed recently and needed a little break. I'm so happy to be posting my gift guides now though, I've been working on these for absolutely ages so I hope everyone enjoys them and finds them useful. I've got some incredible brands featured in them all this year and I think there are some really lovely bits out this year. I'm starting with my Womens gift guide today, tomorrow and Wednesday I'll have food and drink gift guides, Thursday will be a Mens one, Friday will be a homeware one, and then next Monday will be a skincare specific one! So plenty to choose from and lots of options!

Olverum Bath Oil* 

The first product I wanted to mention in this gift guide is a luxurious bath oil from Olverum. I love a good bath and find things like this just make it feel like such a treat and so much more relaxing. If you know someone who loves a good pamper or just deserves a night off, then this could be perfect. Olverum is a therapeutic bath oil which contains 10 pure essential oils that are carefully blended to work synergistically. Using the Olverum oil which has a beautiful lavender scent can help relieve stress and get a better nights sleep, can help with cold and flu symptoms and can also ease sore and aching muscles. It does so much for such a small bottle. You can buy online, and prices are £29 for 125ml (enough for 25 baths), £53 for 250ml (enough for 50 baths) and £19 for 3 x 15ml (enough for 9 baths).

Bloomtown Christmas Baubles*

 If you want to get something a little different this year then why not a Bloomtown Christmas Bauble? These are handcrafted, reusable, decorative baubles and they each contain a luxury Bloomtown beauty product inside. I think this would make a beautiful gift and it's nice to have the element of surprise of not knowing what's inside! You can choose to buy one geometric bauble or a set of 3, and in each one will either be a roll on infused oil, vegan lip balm or a sugar scrub, and all products are eco-friendly and cruelty free. The bauble I have had a roll on infused oil in and it is such a lovely little product, it smells absolutely gorgeous and is perfect to take out when you're on the go. What I love about Bloomtown is that you can tell real care, time and thought has gone into each product and I know anyone who receives one of these will be very happy. You can find out more about them on their website if you think this might be a good option.

Botanics Skincare* 

 I'm only going to mention these briefly as I actually have a full Botanics blog post going up in a few days so keep an eye out for that, but if you know someone who is really into their skincare then Botanics are a brand you need to consider. Botanics sell a wide range of skincare products for all different skin types ranging from face scrubs, to eye creams, to day creams and so much more. All products are really reasonably priced and are available in Boots so easy to grab while out Christmas shopping.

Hello Time Planner* 

I don't think you can ever go wrong with stationery as a gift. A girl always needs more notebooks and diaries and Illustries have brought out a Hello Time Planner which makes the perfect gift for a stationery lover. The Hello Time Planner is a stylish, debossed cloth cover planner which features a years worth of diary and monthly calendar pages, to do checklists, ideas and doodle pages and also sections for setting goals and important dates. It's a perfect planner to help you get organised in daily life, so suitable for work, uni, college etc, but is also brilliant for setting yourself long term goals and making plans to achieve them. If you're looking for something a little different to your usual stationery bits then this is the thing for you, available for £29.

Sleep Products

 You know, I would be so happy to receive products or a gift set that can help with sleep! It might seem like a bit of an odd one but Boots in particular are selling some brilliant sets at the moment for such good prices that include a variety of products to help you get a great nights sleep. The main brand I think is worth considering this year for Christmas is Feather and Down. I have a full review on some of their products which you can find here, but in short, they really are brilliant and would make lovely little gifts or be a a welcome addition to a hamper. You don't necessarily have to be struggling with sleep to enjoy products like this, they just make going to sleep so much more enjoyable and comfortable. I do think they would be great though if you know someone who maybe is going through a stressful time, suffers with insomnia or maybe is a new mum! Everyone loves a good nights sleep and these only enhance that. Gift sets are priced from £12 to £15 at Boots, and my personal favourite is the Travel one.

Cosy Nightwear

 I love getting a new pair of pyjamas each year for Christmas, it's such a nice feeling to have a hot bubble bath and to then get into some fresh PJ's, a chunky dressing gown and fluffy socks while the Christmas tree is up and festive films are on the TV. There are some really lovely nightwear bits out in a variety of shops at the moment but a few of my favourites are these Gingerbread Fluffy Socks from Debenhams which are currently on offer for £4.80, Dog Pyjama Set from Matalan which is £14 and the Woodland Print Dressing Gown from Next which is £25. It just all looks so snug and perfect for the colder nights.

There are so many other things I'd love to include in this gift guide but I think I've picked some pretty good things that most women would love. So many products that you just can't go wrong with! I think now is a pretty acceptable time to start on Christmas shopping so I hope this gift guide has given you a little inspiration! Look out tomorrow afternoon for my first Food and Drink Gift Guide!

Have you made a start of Christmas shopping yet?

*Some products sent for the purpose of this post

Follow Me - Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest & Bloglovin!

Make Cooking Easy - Simply Cook Review*

I'm not going to lie, I've kind of fallen out of love with cooking a bit this year and I've basically been all about whatever is easy and requires very little effort! I think because I've had so much going on and some very up and down months, it's been hard to find the motivation to create new and exciting meals so I've just been sticking to the old favourites. The last few weeks though I've made a real effort to try some new things and to get back into it because cooking genuinely makes me so happy. I love creating delicious meals, so I was very happy to receive something to help me with that from Simply Cook.

Most people have probably heard of Simply Cook but if you haven't, they are a recipe based subscription box and they provide you with four recipes each month and four non-perishable ingredients e.g. seasoning and sauces. Each recipe card comes with step by step instructions so brilliant for those who are maybe new to cooking and it also has a little shopping list section which clearly tells you what other ingredients you'll need to pick up to make the meals. The box I was sent contained recipes for Chipotle Grilled Steak Salad, Nyonya, Thai Red Prawn Curry and Vietnamese Pork. All very exciting and different to what I usually make.

Vietnamese Pork 

This was the first recipe we tried and I don't think I have words for how tasty it was! I love cooking up pork loin steaks to have with rice anyway, it's a staple meal for us as it's cheap and easy, but it can be a little bit bland sometimes, so all of the seasoning which was provided just completely changed up the meal. The little recipe box for this contained beef stock, sriracha sauce and fish paste. All I had to do was first bring water to the boil for the rice, stir in the beef stock then cook the rice to packet instructions. For the pork, I just fried 2 loin steaks in a small pan until cooked through, and then I sliced them. In a seperate frying pan I fried some frozen onion til soft then added in a tsp of sugar, the fish paste and around 20ml of water. I let this bubble away until it started to thicken and then I added in the pork strips. After giving everything a good mix, I then added in the sriracha sauce and it was ready to serve! I was a little sceptical about how the rice would be because I've never cooked it in any sort of stock before but it just made a subtle difference so I'd definitely do this again in future. The pork was juicy and full of flavour and together the combination was incredible. Straight away after finishing this, both me and George wanted to have it again the week after!

Chipotle Grilled Steak Salad 

The next meal we tried was the Chipotle Steak and it was a perfect meal for a Saturday night. Steak can be expensive so we don't have it too often but whenever we do it's always worth it and this meal was the best in a long time. The seasoning included for this meal was a lemon and herb blend, ancho steak rub and chipotle paste. The first step for this was to spread out the ancho rub onto a plate and then press the steak into it making sure it's all covered, then fry in a hot pan for your desired time, we like ours well done so keep it in for a while before leaving to rest. As we didn't make the exact salad pictured on the recipe card, we didn't need the lemon and herb blend as that was for the peppers. We did use the chipotle paste though which had to be mixed into sour cream. To serve we put a load of salad onto a plate, topped with the sliced steak and then drizzled some of the chipotle sour cream mix on top (I did this after I took a picture) and we ended up having it with some onion rings and mac and cheese bites. It was honestly beautiful and one we will definitely be making again soon. The seasonings really do just add something a little bit unique and give it so much flavour. I would have never thought to add chipotle sauce to sour cream before but it made a really great sauce.

Thai Red Curry 

The recipe for this included prawns but as neither me, nor George like them, we decided to switch that for chicken instead so ours ended up looking a little different to the original! This was a meal I'd genuinely seen lots of people make before online but had just never given it a go for some reason. The recipe card though fully explained what we needed to do and made it so simple. The box for this included thai red paste, thai red garnish and garlic paste. The first step for this was to make a start on the rice so we just cooked that to packet instructions and then in a seperate pan cooked around 250g of chicken in place of the prawns. When the chicken was cooked we added in the garlic paste and mixed well. We then had to add a large spoonful of coconut milk and the thai red paste, stirring well before adding in the rest of the coconut milk, and leaving to simmer away for around 5 minutes before finally adding in the thai red garnish. This ended up making quite a thick curry and I'm going to be completely honest, it wasn't my favourite. It's not that it was bad and everything included in the box was fine, it just wasn't really to my taste. George though really enjoyed it and ate mine too so really it was me just being a little fussy.

The last recipe included in the box was one for Nyonya which is a curry full of chicken, potatoes and green beans. It looks delicious but we just haven't got round to making it yet and I didn't want to leave it any longer to put up this review. I'm sure once I've made it, it will be featured in one of my other foodie posts, if the others are anything to go by then I'm sure this will be good too.

I've absolutely loved trying out this box from Simply Cook, it's given me inspiration for new meals and has made me get back to cooking and having fun with it. Each recipe really is so easy to follow, anyone could do it and it's great for those who are maybe just starting to get into cooking if you're at uni or just for those who are busy at work during the week and don't have time to plan lots of different things. There was a real mix of different recipes included in this box and it's been so nice to try some new meals. Some of these I would have never thought to make and some of the combinations are so unique but so good together. I'll definitely be subscribing to Simply Cook in the future and I really recommend you do too! If you get bored easily or are always making the same meals then a box like this where you get new things to try each month is perfect for you. This box is currently £9.99 and you can find outs lots more info and see some of the other recipes available on their website here.

Have you ever tried a Simply Cook subscription box? What do you think to things like this?

*Product sent for the purpose of this review. I only work with brands relevant to me and my blog. Affiliate links used in this post

Follow Me - Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest & Bloglovin!