M&S red pesto chicken ready meal

A few days ago, whilst browsing the ready meals in M&S, I came across this new red pesto chicken from their Balanced for You range. I didn't buy it, but I went home and regretted leaving it on the shelf. A few of my Instagram followers asked for review, so it was only right I went back to get it.

The meal costs £5, which I think is pretty steep - even for M&S - so I grabbed 3 meals for £10 (salmon and chilli were my other choices).

The meal consists of chicken, spinach pasta, peppers and butternut squash, with a red pesto sauce. It looked tasty and smelt amazing, as it heated up in the microwave.

Excuse my presentation - I was too eager to eat!

The chicken was very tasty, with a lovely sharpness from the pesto. I was pleasantly suprised at how juicy the meat was, as chicken has the tendency to go dry when it's microwaved.

The spinach pasta was nice, but I expected more spinach flavour and it lacked a bit in that department. Still a good pasta though, and it tasted delicious with the sauce.

I enjoyed the peppers (fun fact: red peppers are the only ones I actually like) as they were sweet, juicy and had plenty of flavour. They'd maintained some crunch, which was a nice contrast in texture to the rest of the meal.

The butternut squash I wasn't keen on at all, as it had turned mushy and had a very bitter taste to it. I always find butternut squash a bit hit and miss, and I think green beans or courgette would have worked better with this meal.

The sauce was beautiful - full of flavour, with a sharpness that was cut by sweetness from the red pepper in the sauce. It was gorgeous, but there just wasn't enough of it, which is a massive shame.

I enjoyed this meal and it was lovely to see something new in the Balanced for You selection. However, this meal is definitely not work £5 and I wouldn't buy it at that price. The portion is quite small and the sauce:pasta ratio is totally off. I'd have it again, but it wouldn't be a regular purchase.

Munchie stuff

Halo Top UK, part 1

You may be aware that Halo Top ice cream has made it's way to the UK. This low cal, healthy option ice cream is said to out sell Ben & Jerry and Haagen Daz in the US, so I was very excited when I heard it was coming to the UK.

There are 7 flavours in total and I decided to start with cinnamon roll and peanut butter cup, as they were the flavours that appealed to me the most. At £5 a tub, they are quite pricey, but I didn't have the patience to wait for an offer.

CINNAMON ROLL

Having never tried cinnamon ice cream before, this was doubly exciting for me and I couldn't wait to get stuck in!

I'll be honest, I was expecting something between a sorbet and a frozen yogurt and - although this wasn't as densely creamy as the likes of Ben & Jerry's - this has a good ice cream texture that isn't compromised by being low in fat, calories and sugar.

The cinnamon flavour is so good - spicy with a nice heat that just works so well at this time of year. I was both suprised and impressed with the fact that, not only does the ice cream contain actual bits of cinnamon roll, but also that they were plentiful.

Overall a great tub of ice cream that is far too easy to polish off.

PEANUT BUTTER CUP

First off, this contains actual roasted peanuts, which had me impressed from the word go. This entire tub contains just a quarter of the Ben&Jerry's tub by the same name, so definitely one for dieters.

I wasn't expecting a swirl of any kind and, as a swirl lover, I was super impressed with that. The ice cream it's self has a gorgeous nutty flavour and really hits the spot for peanut butter cravings. I think this would be a brilliant accompaniment to a warm peanut nutter Carbkilla bar.

Another great tasting tub.

So, am I converted? Well, I can't say it would become my go to - given the choice between this and a tub of B&J's Sofa so good, I know I'd stay faithful to my boys, Ben and Jerry. However, Halo Top is perfect for indulging when you're dieting and still feels like a satisfying treat.

The ice cream has a great creamy texture that coats your tongue as it melts. I genuinely think this could help keep dieters on track as it almost tastes as good as a full fat pud, and is without a doubt a tasty tub!

I am definitely converted and will certainly be making my way through the other 5 flavours. I am so glad Halo Top have arrived! Look out for part 2, as next on my list are the mint choc chip and sea salt caramel.

Munchie stuff

Dairy Milk vanilla mousse bunny

Apparently I wasn't alone in my quest to find the vanilla mousse snowmen at Christmas, alas it seems Cadbury only released the chocolate version!

Now, I know everyone bemoans the appearance of Easter chocolate while we'r still munching mince pies and selection boxes, but I was super excited to spot the vanilla mousse bunnies in Morrisons. Did I buy some? Of course I did!

The concept is essentially the same as the festive snowman - Dairy Milk chocoate with a mousse filling, but this has a vanilla flavoured centre and is shaped like a bunny. The 30g bar costs 65p, but I picked up 2 for £1.

Unlike the phallic Santas, at least this actually looks like the thing it's meant to be, and what cute bunny it is... I bit off it's head!

The Cadbury chocolate is standard Dairy milk but that vanilla mousse is the star here - it's light, fluffy and creamy, with a delicious sweet and milky taste. It's suprisingly rich and creamy and pairs well with the Cadburys chocolate.

I said on Instagram that they remind me of the Dairy Milk Bliss bars, which I loved; and over which I felt a great sense of loss when I realised they'd been discontinued! If you liked those bars then you will love these. I will certainly be making sure I stock up while they're still around.

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Bonne maman chocolate caramel petite tartlets

I've come across these tartlets a few times whilst out shopping, but I've always decided not to bother buying them. Bonne Maman are of course synonymous with jams, conserves and spreads, and I just wasn't sure they'd be very good at baked treats.

While I was in Morrisons, these little tarts were on offer, which seemed like the perfect time to bite the bullet and give them a go.

A box of 9 tartlets cost £1, but I think the normal price varies between £1.50 and £2.

Now, these tarts really are mini - probably around the size of an Oreo. They are also individually wrapped, for those who don't want to inhale the entire box.

I was suprised when I bit into the tartlet; I'd been expecting a pastry tart, but the case is actually crispy and crunchy - a little like Leibniz biscuit, but definitely more crisp. It's buttery and rich - a little bit like a shortbread in taste - and that crunch works so well with the gooey innards.

The caramel is gorgeous - buttery, sweet and so moreish, it tastes very indulgent. The chocolate topping is delicious! It's milky, with a good cocoa taste and works harmoniously with the caramel layer. The great thing about these tartlets is that you can taste every single element and they all work perfectly together.

I'm sorry I haven't ventured into the world of Bonne Maman desserts and baked treats before now, as I have most certainly been missing out! I picked the lemon tartlets up at the same time as these ones, and I will be reviewing those in a future post.

Munchie stuff

Chicken tikka naanster

I first discovered naansters a few years back, but they seemed to disappear for a while, before returning with a whole new selection - chicken tikka, chicken balti, vegetable balti and beef madras. I really enjoyed them first time round, so when I spotted them at Sainsburys, I grabbed the good old chicken tikka - surely the best curry available?

Costing £2, this filled naan bread is around the same price as a sandwich, and the perfect hot lunch for this cold weather.

You stab the paper packaging and whack it in the microwave for 90 seconds, then leave it to stand for one minute - not too technical, but I hate that minute long wait!

 My initial thought was that it looked rather anaemic, not at all like those golden, doughy naan breads I love from an Indian take away. It smelt good though, so I still had high hopes.

I was pleasantly suprised by the amount of fillen encased in the naan, and there was definitely nice amount of chicken. The meat looked like real chicken breast too, nothing like the reconstituted fake stuff that they use in those Rustler chicken burgers and paninis.

The filling was beautiful - perfectly seasonsed, with juicy chicken pieces and the ratio of sauce:meat was spot on!

There was filling in every bite, which was just as well as the naan bread it's self was a little chewy at the edges and slightly soggy underneath! The flavour was great, the texture of the bread was just a little rubbish. That may, however, be my hungry head's fault, as I probably only allowed my naanster to stand for half the time. Who knew 30 seconds would make that much difference?

Would I get it again? I would! I'd like to try the other three from the range, but I think I'd probably wait for them to go on offer and also make sure I let it stand for the full 90 seconds.

It's a great idea and makes a nice change from a sandwich or soup at lunch time.

Munchie stuff

Dominos pulled pork pizza

If there was ever a food trend that looked set to stay for the long haul, I think pulled meats are right up there. Pulled pork started the trend and - obviously knowing it couldn't fail - Dominos released this pulled pork pizza.

Topped with chipotle pulled pork, red and green peppers, red onion and sweetcorn, this pizza costs £18.99 for a large, but Dominos ALWAYS have great deals on, so I don't think anyone ever pays full price.

When the pizza came to the door, I could smell that fresh pepper smell and my mouth was already watering! The pizza had a good amount of topping, but I'd definitely have liked to have seen more sweetcorn!

We all know the Dominos pizza crust is amazing - salty, doughy with whatever herbs they whack on it; is there anything better than a pizza crust covered in that amazing garlic and herb dip?

The toppings of this pizza were incredible - the pulled pork was cooked perfectly and was tender and juicy, with a kick from the chipotle spice. The vegetables tasted fresh, with a nice crunch from the peppers and a sweetness from the sweetcorn (still would have liked more of the latter). I'd go as far as saying this is my new favourite pizza from Dominos.

My wife found the pulled pork quite spicy; she said it was nice, but by the third slice she definitely needed the garlic dip. In her opinion, this would work better with bbq sauce on the base, so maybe worth customising your pizza, if you're a bbq sauce fan.

We both agree that this is a great pizza and, although it doesn't quite beat the Mexican fiesta or chicken tikka pizzas that once were, this is one we will be having regularly.

Munchie stuff

Morrisons volcanic vindaloo

Call me a glutton for punishment, but - when I spotted it at my local Morrisons - the dare devil in me was dying to try this volcanic vindaloo. I love a bit of spice and normally get a madrass from my local Indian take away, so I thought I was well equipped to deal with a supermarket curry.

The curry costs £3.25 on it's own, but you can get two mains and two sides for £7 - bargain!

I heated my meal in the microwave and, as the curry warmed up, the spices were already tickling my nostrils. I knew then that I was in for a heated experience.

It even looks spicy, doesn't it?

The first mouthful of this curry was actually quite pleasant - tender chicken and a tasty sauce... then came the heat, and it sure was one spicy vindaloo! After that first taste, my mouth was on fire and I began to wonder if I had any taste buds left, because it felt as though they'd been burnt off.

The spice reaches a level and stays there, which would be fine if that heat level wasn't like being trapped between an erupting volcano and the sun!

In all honesty, this curry was actually tasty, but the heat level means this is probably more of an eating challenge, rather than a meal you could sit and savour and enjoy!

I'm glad I gave it a go, but I couldn't say I'd hVe it again. That said, I'm never one to step dowm from a challenge!

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