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cambrook nuts gift sets

6/11/2021

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Cambrook nuts
Looking for some tasty nibbles? You can't go wrong with Cambrook Foods baked and seasoned nut mixes - if you're a nut lover, then you will love them!
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The company has launched two gift sets which are absolutely full of flavour.  Available in two sizes, the two jar set includes Hickory Smoke Seasoned Almonds & Cashews together with a jar of Baked Truffle  Nuts, a mix of macadamia nuts and almonds, baked and seasoned with aromatic yummy black truffle and sea salt.

The three jar set includes Cocktail Mix no 2, which is a traditional mix of nuts.  Cocktail Mix no 6  is a fantastic mix of flavours - salted cashews, chilli buttered peanuts, macadamias and smoke seasoned almonds. The third jar in this set is Baked Cashews with chilli and lime - what a set of taste sensations!
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These nuts are baked in small batches to enhance the flavours.   Why not give yourself a treat and buy some?    See www.cambrookfoods.co.uk for more information and retailers.    [ad / gifted]
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Foods to keep you healthy

26/10/2021

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Looking for foods to help banish joint pain and inflammation?  Here is some advice from Clinical Nutritionist Suzie Sawyer from www.feelaliveuk.com 
  • Eat a rainbow of fresh/ dried/ frozen fruit and veg so that your diet is full of potent antioxidant vitamins.  These fight free radicals and reduce  damage caused by inflammation. Stars of the show include kale and broccoli which research shows may protect joints from damage, thanks to a compound called sulforaphane
  • Warming spices ginger and turmeric contain potent anti-inflammatory compounds. Use liberally in cooking.
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Lean protein is key for building healthy connective tissue. Inadequate intakes may lead to loss of muscle mass and diminished strength. Fish and plant-based proteins including beans and pulses are great options.  For inspiration try this tasty tuna, fennel, and bean salad https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/tuna-fennel-bean-salad

Foods to avoid:  Some arthritis sufferers report that omitting certain foods from their diet helps  alleviate their symptoms. Foods commonly cited include oranges, tomatoes and peppers as well as dairy foods and wheat. Consider keeping a food diary to see what works for you. Don’t omit major food groups from your diet without seeking the advice of your GP or dietician first.
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MAYOnnaise MADE HEALTHY

15/10/2021

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100% Olive Oil Mayonnaise from Hunter & Gather, perfect for dipping, dunking and dolloping!
  • Hunter & Gather all natural 100% Olive Oil Mayonnaise
  • Packed with ‘real food’ goodness including 250+ olives per jar
  • Free-from sugar, grains, gluten, milk, and seed oils
  • Suitable for Vegan diets, Diabetics, Gluten Free, Dairy Free 
Hunter & Gather mayonnaise
Hunter & Gather is the brand behind ‘clean’ condiments (100% Avocado Oil Mayo and Unsweetened Sauces) and winner of ‘Best of British’ at Ocado’s Rising Stars Awards 2021.  Now they have launched a  trio of 100% Olive Oil all natural mayonnaise , a UK first, packed with goodness and free from nasties.  That's such good news for me as I LOVE mayonnaise.   Let me tell you, I have an array of cookery books, many telling me 'how easy' it is to make my own mayonnaise.  Okay, it's not that difficult, but it can be a bit of a palaver. I therefore opt for the shop bought versions, though they generally come laden with additives in the shape of salt,  sugar and multiple preservatives. 

Hunter & Gather's mayonnaise on the other hand is made with only four ingredients : olive oil,  free range egg yolk,  apple cider vinegar and a pinch of  pink Himalayan salt.   The flavour?  Creamy and fresh with a slightly sharp tang and what is REALLY wonderful is, you can taste every one of those four ingredients!  

Amy Moring, Co-founder of Hunter & Gather, says: “It’s about time mayo had a makeover. All too often, shop bought mayonnaise contains inflammatory seed oils or sunflower oil blends - poor fats with negative health impacts - plus powdered egg, chemical preservatives and added sugar. Our mayonnaise is  made with 100% light tasting Olive Oil from ancient groves in the Cordoba region of Spain,  pressed in the traditional way, meaning no chemical hexanes or solvents are used. The result is a product that’s pure, light and delicious, packed with healthful monosaturated fats and polyphenols and with absolutely no added nasties.”   

She continues,  “At Hunter & Gather, our mission is to provide people with the tools to thrive through healthier food choices, education and recipes that are always free from refined sugars, chemical preservatives, grains and seed oils. Our new 100% Olive Oil mayonnaise is a huge step forward for real food products and marks an important milestone on our journey to improving the health of the nation.”
 
Go on, give it a try, you won't be disappointed!  It tastes so good you won't want to go back to ordinary-old mayo again.

Hunter & Gather 100% Olive Oil Mayonnaise available in Classic,  Olive & Lemon and Horseradish available to from  hunterandgatherfoods.com.  More stockists to follow. RRP £4.49 for  240g jar.

About Hunter & Gather
Launched in 2017 by dynamic entrepreneurs Jeff Webster and Amy Moring, to fulfil a lifelong mission to create a brand that proactively champions honest, tasty, real food, free from lazy sugars, grains and poor quality fats; shining a light on the nutritional shortcomings of taken-for-granted food categories: ketchups, mayonnaise, cooking oils and dressings. In a UK food landscape where 63% are overweight, the brand is re-writing the rule book for real food, changing the way people think about what it means to eat well and creating ‘tools to thrive’ to pave the way for optimal health & wellness.  
​hunterandgatherfoods.com

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images (c) Sophie Harrington                                                                                                                                                ad/  gifted product - honest review
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Loveraw vegan chocolate

29/7/2021

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LoveRaw, an indulgent, plant-based chocolate brand, is on a mission to produce vegan confectionary which tastes better than traditional chocolate. The company has introduced Cre&m Wafer Bars with no palm oil, dairy or artificial ingredients. No wonder they taste so moreish!
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  LoveRaw use only organic ingredients and - isn't this clever? - they slow dry their superfood bars at 38 degrees  to make sure that no vitamins or minerals are lost in the process.

There are two editions in the range: M:lk Choc and White Choc. Every pack contains two  wafers, which are simply crammed full of LoveRaw’s signature almond and hazelnut cre&m and generously smothered in vegan chocolate.
 
Your taste buds won't know what's hit them with these Wafer Bars which are so scrummy that each product can be enjoyed on its own or be the star ingredient in numerous culinary creations, from cupcakes and brownies to doughnuts and birthday cakes.   (see recipes here.)
 
Give Wafer Bars a try whether you are extremely vegan, occasionally vegan or not vegan at all. They are perfect for sharing or for a self-indulgent moment with a mid-morning or afternoon cuppa. You'll find them in 
TheVeganKind, Whole Foods Market, Boots, Holland & Barrett, Ocado, Co-op, Waitrose.                                                                                                                Images all (c) Gilly Pickup​

Eat Love Raw Superfood Bars are: 100% Organic - 100% Raw - 100% Vegan - Gluten Free - Dairy Free -Wheat Free -Soy Free
www.eatloveraw.com      Twitter: @loverawofficial     Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/officialloveraw/
Instagram: @loveraw      Pinterest: @loverawofficial

 
Thanks to the company for sending me samples to try for review purposes.
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THESE DARK CHOCOLATE Bites are good for you

27/7/2021

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 Fatt, the company producing all-natural, sweetener-free, low carb and low sugar products, has launched plant-based Dark Chocolate Bites. Not only for those following the Keto lifestyle, but  for those who want healthier snack choices and who enjoy the energy-boosting and mind-sharpening benefits of a low carb, low sugar diet without compromising on flavour.

The company kindly sent me a couple of bars so that I could taste them for myself and they are definitely hugely enjoyable.  High in prebiotic fibre to  help  support a healthy gut and with a mere  3g of carbs per bite, they are also free from sweeteners, palm oil, GMO, dairy, gluten and fillers!   How good is that?

Every pack contains two Dark Chocolate Bites.  They are lovely and chewy with a rich almond and  creamy cocoa centre and intense dark chocolate coating.   If you're looking for something healthier than traditional chocolate, this is the ideal swap. They are also an indulgent after dinner treat.
Fatt and Keto
Most products in the Fatt range have under  2g of carbs (sugar) per portion and are high in good fats and inulin, a prebiotic fibre, feeding the body and brain while supporting gut health. All products are sweetener-free and deliver the magic of Keto: a way to gain physical energy, sharper mental clarity and all-round better health.
 
Fatt is on a mission to keep Keto clean, healthy and convenient and is committed to creating all-natural products. It is the only sweetener-free Keto brand, their range full of gut-loving prebiotic fibre, good-fats and clean energy.  Almost  the whole range is suitable for vegans.  All Fatt products are optimised for convenience and can be eaten at-home or on-the-go.


Dark Chocolate Bites are high in prebiotic fibre, helping  support a healthy gut and have  a mere 3g of carbs per bite.  What's more, they are free from sweeteners, palm oil, GMO, dairy, gluten and fillers. 
 
Buy these delish Dark Chocolate Bites from Livefatt.com or Amazon. RRP of £3.69 for 2x 27g.

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delicious tea that's healthy too

25/5/2021

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It's no wonder the Pinestone Tea team is proud of their product.  Not only are the varieties delicious, but they are also made from sustainably grown tea plants and prepared using traditional methods handed down through generations.   The company generously sent me  a quality green tea presentation box containing three types of teas so that I could try them for myself.  It's quite a while since I took the time to make 'proper' tea in a pot, generally opting for teabags instead.  Now, presented with these loose-leaf teas,  meant it was time to bring the teapot out from where it had been languishing in a cupboard. Preparing tea provides the ideal reason to slow down and relax, something of an awakening for me and something I enjoyed and appreciated.

Sustainability
 Pinestone uphold the following values: 
• Everyone in the tea supply chain deserves to be treated with respect, paid fairly and afforded good working conditions
• Tea should be ethically sourced and fully traceable
• All Pinestone packaging is recyclable apart from the reusable and resealable inner bags
• Green tea has mental and physical benefits 
Wellbeing and Health
Research shows how good green tea is for our mental and physical health.  Even the act of brewing these meticulously prepared leaves can bring a sense of mindfulness and calm.  Time and care are essential in the brewing process so this is an opportunity to allow yourself peaceful contemplation.

Green tea's health benefits are far reaching.  It is high in protective polyphenols which act as antioxidants,  amino acids help brain function and some believe that un-sweetened green tea can help with fat burning because of its thermogenic properties.

Tea Culture
Did you know that Chinese  tea drinking culture is an important aspect of any mealtime? Different teas are best drunk with specific foods, just like fine wines.


Rich and satisfying Chun Mee tea is good for digesting heavy dishes.  This hand produced  Pinestone  tea  has a sweet though slightly acidic flavour and is especially good  with a main course. 

Lung Ching or Dragon Well is a yellowy green coloured delicate all-rounder. It is an extra special tea which must be produced in the traditional, hand-panned style in order to be granted  the world-renowned Lung Ching mark. it has a fabulously refreshing taste and is  ideal to drink on its own.

Refreshing Jasmine tea is a well known favourite with tea drinkers.  It's ideal when eating Dim Sum, light starters and desserts because of its fragrance. It is sweet and smooth and utterly 'yes, I'll have another cup please.'  Jasmine is very calming.​
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And, did you know that  tea is also a cooking ingredient in China?  Back in the Tang Dynasty people would drink ground tea  flavoured with salt and herbs.  This type of tea is still common in some parts of China today while sometimes  roasted rice and beans are added to make the tea more like a soup.  The most famous dish cooked with tea  is shrimp stir-fried with Lung Ching tea, a speciality of Hangzhou where the tea comes from.  Kevin Sui, Pinestone tea founder, regularly cooks with teas and one of his creations is green tea mayonnaise for fish and chips.  Sounds good to me!

​The Pinestone Tea Luxury Green Tea Set RRP  £26.99 includes 100g Lung Ching, 100g Jasmine, and 100g Chun Mee loose-leaf tea.  A complimentary re-seal clip to keep your tea absolutely fresh. The teas are also available separately in 100g boxes prices from £5.99.   Free next-day delivery for orders over £20. Available from www.pinestonetea.co.uk 

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    Author

    I'm Gilly,  award winning journalist /author of 12 books.  Credits incl:  Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail, CNN,  The Scotsman, Daily Express,  Country & Town House, My Weekly, Platinum,  Woman,  Best,  cruise magazines, etc
    you can  e​mail me here

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