Christmas foods to compliment your table 2014

Smith & Kinghorn Hampers.

I am beginning with the best this year! If you have yet to discover Smith & Kinghorn Hampers don’t delay any longer. These hampers are wonderful and will bring some Christmas cheer to any home lucky enough to receive one.

Full of festive goodies, I was delighted with my hamper. I have had quite a few Christmas hampers in the past and with Smith & Kinghorn all of the contents are easily used by ‘normal’ people – no ‘far fetched’ items which look good but you have no idea how to use them!! They contain goodies like Thorntons chocolate, mustard, crackers, chutney, etc all of which tasted great and have been produced by award winning food and drink companies. I have to admit I saved the Walkers white chocolate and raspberry cookies for myself! These are way too good to share.

There are 2 hampers to choose from so you will really be spoiled for choice.

The hampers are buy one get one free at the moment but this offer expired so be quick! All products are from the UK which is a huge bonus. This is so much better for the environment as there are less ‘air miles’.

RRP £49.99 including delivery. www.smith&kinghornhampers.co.uk

Galloway Lodge has been producing the finest preserves and chutneys in Scotland from 1971 and they even rivel my hubbys grandmother’s best jam – and that’s really an achievement!

My favourite and absolute must is the Bladnoch Whisky Marmalade.

‘A good tot of single malt whisky from Scotland’s most southerly distillery adds a little zing to this marmalade’ (Galloway Lodge)

There simply is no better breakfast than this superb Whisky Marmalade on toast. The whisky flavour rings true with every scrumptious bite perfectly complimenting the more traditional marmalade taste experience.

Another delicious product is the Chilli Jam. This is the ultimate topping on crackers with a good cheese – I love it! The texture is perfect and the taste so delish.

Have a look online at www.gallowaylodge.co.uk

The selection is really excellent with products to appeal to all tastes.

Fairfields Farm Crisps.

I was rather impressed with this company, they put a lot of effort into their work ethos, individual taste and presentation.

Fairfields Farm crisps is UK based and managed by  husband and wife,  Robert and Laura Strathern. The business was set up in 2006 and has grown from strength to strength.

I love the variety of flavours and for Christmas 2014 they have a new taste sensation,  Turkey, Sage & Onion! These need to be sampled to be believed. They went down very well in my household and I will be purchasing again. I also was keen on the lightly salted parsnip – parsnip being a favourite taste of mine, so I was delighted to discover these crisps.

Have a look online, there are some very interesting flavours which sound delicious.

For further information visit www.fairfieldsfarmcrisps.co.uk

Colman’s Mustard – 200th Anniversary limited edition vintage jars.

Wow, I love vintage so snapped these up right away! The limited edition jars from Colmans are actually the original designs from long ago so you can’t get more original or vintage than that!

There are 3 design to choose from and I have them all. We use a lot of mustard year round as well as at Christmas. Did you know there is very very little fat in mustard despite the amazing zing it adds to any food?

Perfect for adding tradition to your Christmas table and excellent in a gift bag or hamper, these jars retail at £0.99 (100g) and £1.59 (170g).

Limited Edition Ben de Lisi Ryvita Tin.

Ryvita, I love it. So much healthier than bread and with none of the bloat factor!  Ryvita has always been a favorite with slimmers and we have plenty of choice with so many different varieties. Now there is even more reason to buy Ryvita with this fab new tin to store the crackers in.

‘The award winning and internationally acclaimed designer, Ben de Lisi, renowned for his vibrantly modern designs across homewares and fashion, has teamed up with Ryvita® to create an exciting new limited edition for the popular Ryvita® Tin range’ (Ryvita)

My Ryvita tin sits proudly on my kitchen counter as it is much too cool to store in a cupboard. The eye catching abstract design looks really well and I have had lots of people commenting on it and asking how can they get one!

The Ryvita Ben de Lisi tin is  limited and will sell out so be quick to snap this up. It would make a lovely little stocking for only £7.99

For further information visit www.ryvita.co.uk

Branston.

So, you have the crackers, now what do you put on them? Nothing other than some of the new chutneys from Branston! I have tried both the new flavours – Caramelised Onion and Mediterranean Tomato and cannot choose a favourite.

Both would be delicious with cheese, both hard and soft, on any type of cracker.  The jars look as appetizing as the contents are and they will definitely add some festive spirit to your Christmas table.  I made a wicked goats cheese tart with the onion chutney on the base – it went down a treat with my sisters – yet another occasion where they said, ‘ Did you really make this??’ – so it must have been good!

Super value at only £1.49 and easily picked up in your local supermarket.

I was delighted with the recipes I found online as well. As an avid sandwich lover, there are lots of interesting yet simple ways to use branston to add some fab flavour to any old sandwich.

For further information and recipes visit www.bringoutthebranston.co.uk

Shloer Celebration.

To compliment these delicious foodie gifts why not choose a bottle of sparkling Shloer Celebration?

The Christmas party season beacons and with it the familiar sound of bottle corks popping – is there anyone who doesn’t love this sound? Yes, those who are the designated driver! However, non-drinkers and drivers can appreciate a lovely bottle of Shloer Celebration in 2 flavors.

I recall Shloer from when I was a child, mum always had red and white grape flavour on the table most mealtimes. Nowadays there are so many more flavours to choose from along with this bubbly version. I would point out that Shloer contains no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives – a big issue with most mummies and fast becoming the topic of 2014. People are more aware now than ever of the ‘disadvantages’ of artificial additives.

‘Shloer Celebration White Bubbly has a crisp and full bodied flavour, using the very best in white grape juices to create the perfect glass of fizz – no alcohol required! Best served chilled.

Shloer Celebration Pink Fizz is a fresh and fruity combination with the vibrant flavours of red and white grape juices fused together to create a beautiful sparkling rosé juice drink. Best serve chilled.’ (Shloer)

Very good value – RRP £2.99

Licor 43.

For those of you who like a Christmas with a little bit of a ‘kick’ you have to try Licor 43. A leading drink in its homeland, Spain, Licor 43 is now available closer to home.

I adore a little something in my Christmas coffee and am always experimenting adding this and that and topping my coffee up with a little cream. Never have I had as gorgeous a liquor to grace my palatte – this is so yummy! Vanilla and caramel are my 2 favorite flavors so that is probably why this is such a huge hit with me.

My parents came for lunch last Sunday and instead of being offered a traditional Irish coffee I presented them with a long hot coffee with Licor 43, topped with whipped double cream. They both loved it and of course mum was on the internet that evening to purchase some of her own!

Aside from coffee, licor 43 can be enjoyed straight and in a variety of recipes all of which can be found online. I recommend the Apple Pie shown below – this would make a fab after dinner drink.

Licor 43 Apple Pie

• 25ml Licor 43
• 100ml cloudy apple juice
• Dash Angostura Bitters

Pour Licor 43 into a glass and top with cloudy apple juice and Angostura Bitters. For an extra treat top with whipped cream and cinnamon.

Licor 43 is available in selected Asda stores nationwide and from www.drinksupermarket.com    RRP of £17.50 – £17.99.

Licor43 is distributed in the UK by Cellar Trends, the UK’s leading distributor of specialist wines and spirits.

Follow Licor43 on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Licor43UK

Taylor’s Port.

Looking for something to compliment your cheese board? Taylor’s port will hit the spot. This late bottled vintage full bodied and velvety smooth port is a must for everyone’s table this Christmas.

Available from Asda, Tesco and Sanisburys, this can be picked up while you are doing your weekly shop and stored until Christmas.My husband and I have enjoyed a bottle of Taylor’s port and were very impressed. We would buy a bottle of port about once a month and enjoy it with cheese and crackers after dinner or even at suppertime. Taylor’s port didn’t disappoint and we have a bottle stashed away for Christmas evening.

For further information and recipes to accompany, visit www.Taylor.pt

Excellently priced at only £14.99