Tesco Orchard Review: Finest Vintage Farmhouse Cheddar

"CHEESE"........ and like that the human sized mice in my house come scurrying over to see what cheese the Tesco delivery man has bought this week....blocks, sticks, grated, round, teddy bear shaped......

Personally, to me, cheese is cheese.  As I do the shopping and we are on a budget I tend to buy the huge heavy duty value 1kg mature blocks of cheddar.  But hubby has more sensitive taste buds (after all it is one of only about 6 foods that he eats) and prefers it when I buy a named brand like Cathedral City or Pilgrims Choice.    We don't really steer away from cheddar other then when we have pizza - however it's best not remind the husband about the time he tried to grate the mozzarella ball for home made pizza.

Whether it's

with salad....   

....   on shepherds pie.....

Tesco Orchard Review: Summer Fruit and Veg - Strawberries

The boys loved Tesco's fresh juicy strawberries which we tried as part of the orchard programme and would definitely get again.  They lasted a really long time and are so versatile.

These summer buckets and spades we bought from Lakeland make the perfect receptacle for them to be eaten fresh out of........

Tesco Orchard Review: Summer Fruit and Veg - Carrots and Peas

When Tesco asked me to try their fresh summer fruit and veg range I noticed a lot of it was on 3 for the price of 2.  Having already picked up some carrot spaghetti I decided to try their freshly packed peas and carrots.   I'll admit I'm not the best when it comes to buying fresh food but carrots are one thing I will buy, all be it, these are normally whole carrots that I prepare myself.
  Peas, unless in pods or sugarsnap, are generally bought frozen.

Tesco Orchard Review: Summer Fruit and Veg - Carrot Spaghetti

Ben is becoming really picky when it comes to veg recently, peas are too green, corn on the cob too hard (he has wobbly teeth) but sweetcorn too boring (unless swimming in butter).  Carrot's are usually too hard or too soft ..... my patience was wearing a little thin.  Tesco were there for me again, carrot spaghetti.  This was something new and therefore something the boys were happy to try, they loved it.

  

Tesco Orchard Review: Summer Fruit with a dipping chocolate sauce

At the Ideal Home Show I happened upon an impromptu 'cooking' demonstration on melting chocolate and it gave me a great, messy,  treat idea for the kids......

   

... combine that with the fact Ben has suddenly got a passion for cherries, don't ask me where it's come from but suddenly they are his newest obsession.   Every time we walk past the greengrocers he asks for them but they are really expensive and personally I don't like them  (which made him even happier when Tesco provided us with some vouchers to try theirs for free).  We also picked up some British strawberries with our vouchers. 

   

Tesco Orchard Review: Steak (2) - Homemade Steak Pie

We love a good steak pie in this house but it's rare we have it.  Shop bought ones are a big no as they always contain onion which no one in this house will touch so the only time we have it is when mummy has time to cook.

This was the perfect opportunity to make one.

Tesco Orchard Review: Steak (1) - Steak, chips and Beans

Having never cooked steak before (yes I know!) I had to call on a friend for advice I was feeling a little scared about my next opportunity from Tesco's Orchard programme.  But I bit the bullet and

here's how it went.

Tesco Orchard Review: Ice Cream - Ice Cream Roll

Whilst flicking through the various ice cream options on Tesco's website I came across Arctic roll or as Tesco call it "Ice Cream Roll".

With Home made Turkey Twizzlers planned for tea one night this had to be the perfect compliment to our school dinner themed evening.

The boys loved it.  The idea that they could have cake and ice cream and 'jam' all in one dish it's safe to say it was a hit and has been requested many nights since.

Tesco Orchard Review: Ice Cream - Pigs in Mud

For years I scoffed at Ben and Jerry's - seriously who pays that sort of money for ice cream I thought (can you tell I am a budgeting queen?) ....... then I tried some and my heart screamed out for more.

I don't eat a lot of ice cream and therefore when I do I treat myself to some 'posh' ice cream, unfortunately for me the kids also like it so I need to **shudders** share.   You can therefore imagine I was pretty chuffed when Tesco asked if I would like to try their ice cream range... and when I found they now did their own Limited Edition 'posh' ice cream "Pigs in Mud" why I bought us a tub.

Flowers from Tesco

I don't get flowers very often :(  usually Valentine's day and sometimes my birthday but more often than not it's only when my husband had done something very very bad and thinks that's the way to make it up.  Honestly my kids buy me flowers more (usually with my money lol).  So when Tesco sent me a £5 voucher to try their selection I couldn't think of a more deserving person to treat.

My local Tescos has a great range so I was spoilt for choice, from beautiful seasonal bouquets to hand-tied finest* designs their flowers are sourced from British and international growers.  Whether it's seasonal favourites like daffodils, sunflower or lillies to more premium exotic ranges from Holland, Kenya or Colombia there's sure to be something for you to fall in love with in all the colours of the rainbow.  They also offer a freshness guarantee which varies depending on which bloom you choose (up to 14 days on some).  

I choose a glorious bunch of lillies and roses which offered a 7 day guarantee. I must admit with some of the buds already open, and the sell by date very short (had I bought on the 9th of March they'd not have survived the 7 days), I was dubious about this claim.

I took them home, cut the bottoms of the stems to freshen them up and added the sachet of food to the water in my vase before arranging them.

Make it Monday: Pasta recipies

I was never a fan of pasta, wouldn't touch it.  That was until a couple of years ago when the meal hubby was having smelt soo good that I tried a bit and soon polished off the rest that was left in the kitchen.

The boys go through fads, currently Noah loves pasta (depending on what phase the moon is in and whether he has woken up on the correct side of bed) and Ben hates it.... that was until we were asked to try Tesco Finest pasta.  I'm not sure it was the flavour that converted the boys or the really cool shapes it comes in.

To me pasta is pasta, and when on a budget you eat as cheaply as possibly so we always go for the 30p value packs, Tesco finest comes in at £1.70 a pack, after this trial tho the taste is completely different and I am very tempted to make the switch permanently.

Try #OneLittleChange from Tesco

With Christmas now a distant memory I've almost managed to finish off the chocolate and goodies that have been scattering the house for the past few months. We've had countless take aways and meals out due to holidays but now it's time now to get back to exercise and eating healthier before December rolls around again. 

If you are like me the temptation is to try and completely overhaul my bad habits, cutting out all fatty foods and chocolate but before too long the need for these treats becomes overwhelming and I end up having a couple of massive 'pig out' days.  Tesco agree that it's not good to cut out everything and that it's the little changes that add up to a big impact, for example don't walk up all 11 flights of stairs on your first day, start a floor lower every time,  have an apple instead of chocolate or have one less glass of wine a week.  Once the changes have started it's easy to take more steps to feel healthier. 

I was therefore really please when I was asked to be part of the Tesco Orchard #OneLittleChange programme so I could see how the changes made to their foods can assist me to change my lifestyle. 

Fresh Fish Friday

Ben loves Fish and Chip Friday at school.  Sometimes it's fillets, sometimes fingers but you can

guarantee one thing - I bet it's not Fresh.  You just can't beat the taste of fish shop fish at the seaside can you?

Or so I thought.

We rarely buy 'real' fish at home anymore due to the cost.  I used to love fresh plaice fillets with a jacket potato (in fact it's one of the things I cooked many years ago in GCSE food technology) but when you are working to a budget and weighing up the cost of a small piece of fresh fish vs a bag of frozen portions it's a no-brainer.  I was really excited then when Tesco, the 2014 Meat and Fish Retailer of the Year Award,  asked us to try their range of fresh fish as part of the 'orchard food' panel.

Chickywiggle's guide to .... Christmas Party Food

This season we have mostly been eating and ... well yup that's pretty much it.  From roast dinners to party food to chocolate you name it, we've eaten it.  But that's what Christmas is all about right?  **tucks into another piece of shortbread**

I did a big online food shop that was delivered on Monday 22nd.  To be honest the experience I had using the app was far from perfect.  I booked the slot in good time and it was really convenient to open the app wherever I was to be able to add an item (or delete one if I got it cheaper somewhere else).  Every time I went in to add an item tho the chicken in the basket became unavailable and I had to replace it with another.  5 times this happened in the run up to the delivery and I was beginning to think I would have to go shopping somewhere else on Christmas eve.  Thankfully I was able to add the original chicken to my order the night before so Christmas was saved.

Tesco had kindly sent me some money off vouchers as part of the Orchard Programme for their Finest* Party Food.  It wasn't easy to find these online (as I've said before our online Finest* range is not brilliant) but with some googling and looking at what others had purchased I discovered there was more to the Party Food range then I first thought.... couldn't get the profiteroles tho :(

Our Tesco Finest* Party Food  range helped out in 3 meals over the festive period.

Christmas gift guide..... for kids

I have had so much fun Christmas shopping for the kids this year, however it was really hard to get something they wanted, needed and wasn't tat.  As much as I believe Christmas should be about getting presents they wouldn't normally get I don't believe in buying for the sake of buying. 

My mum, dad etc have been asking what they want....but what they want is very different to what they might get.
   For example give ben £20 and he'd probably want sweets and some bit of plastic that he'd play with for 2 days until he gets bored.

   I know both he and Noah would love a full set of teenage mutant ninja turtle figures and the shell raiser.  However I know that this would mean countless fighting, arguing and next month they'd want something else. With this setting you back the best part of £70 it's not something I'd consider a sensible present.  And while they are still at an age where I can have a say over their spending habits.....I will!

Homemade Garlic Bread

We were really excited to try Tesco Ingredients Garlic and Herb butter as part of the Tesco Orchard Programme the other week and decided this would be a great time to teach the boys how to make homemade garlic bread.
   It is soo easy to do and something we are sure to try again.

We went for the Tesco Crusty White Farmhouse Bread Mix at 80p for 500g. This mix will make 1 large loaf, 10 small rolls or 4 x 20cm (8 inch) thin pizza bases.  We went for rolls of various sizes.

The mix comes with instructions on for both oven bake and bread machine, and whilst I would love a bread machine we don't own one and had to go for the oven method.

The great thing about making bread is that the boys could be involved at every step, yes mummy had to step in and help to mix as it got thicker but they learnt loads not just about cooking processes but also about how bread rises.

Tesco Ingredients Dairy range - a review

Readers to my blog will know that I am part of the Tesco Orchard Programme which allows me to try their various services and foods for free or at a reduced price.  You will also know how picky my family are.

The Tesco Ingredients Dairy range is rather limiting at the moment.   It is designed to feature ingredients that will turn everyday cooking into something different, special.  They do this thanks to the special blend of flavours and ideas Tesco have obtained from around the world.

You should be able to buy items such as; “Spanish Chorizo and Smoked Paprika Cheesy Toppers”, “Parmesan and Tomato Butter” and “Stroganoff Cooking Sauce”,
  Tesco provide some amazing looking recipes:

Tesco Finest* Spaghetti Carbonara - a review

We're rather a picky family, none of us like onions so we have to steer away from any ready meals as they always seem to contain them.  Tesco's finest* range is no different and when we were asked if we would like to try one of their chilled ready meals I was a little wary and almost said no.

I looked online and discovered their is a huge selection.....

The Lasagne sounded really nice with it's "rich ragu of tender beef and outdeeor bred pork, Italian tomatoes and white wine. Layered between fresh, hand ruffled pasta and finished with tangy Northern Italian Grana Padano cheese" but yup, take a look at the ingredients ....... onion.

Aberdeen Angus Cottage Pie, "Minced beef in a vegetable gravy topped with fresh King Edward mashed potato and a shredded potato & parsley crumb".... mouth watering. ... but .... onions.

I can't go wrong with Meatball Pasta tho... oh no, of course, they'll have onion in won't they.

But I did find 2 dishes without onion.

Freshly harvested fruit and veg make the perfect .... dessert

If you were reading my blog the other week you'll have read all about how Tesco are passionate about bringing us seasonal flavours to enhance our meals.  Not only this but they like to ensure all their harvested fruit and vegetables is fresh and of the highest quality.  

You will already know that if you see the Red Tractor logo on their products you can be assured they are working with suppliers who have passed rigorous production standards to bring you the best possible food.  It's no secret where Red Tractor food comes from, you can trace it all back to the farm it originated on.

And of course you will already have seen that Tesco set some of their Orchard Club members a challenge, to use their freshly harvested products and let everyone know about them. 

Freshly harvested fruit and veg make the perfect ... ... accompaniment to any Sunday dinner.

It's really Autummy out there now, I don't know if you'd noticed, and Tesco are passionate about
bringing us seasonal flavours to enhance our meals.  Not only this but they like to ensure all their harvested fruit and vegetables is fresh and of the highest quality.  If you see the Red Tractor logo on their products you can be assured they are working with suppliers who have passed rigorous production standards to bring you the best possible food.  It's no secret where Red Tractor food comes from, you can trace it all back to the farm it originated on.

Confident of their products Tesco set some of their Orchard Club members a challenge, to use their freshly harvested products and let everyone know about them.