NEW! Finest Eton Mess Cookies (Tesco)

Yesterday was one of those indecisive, dawdly days, and therefore probably not the best day to do the weekly shop. The chores needed doing though, and so I found myself hovered in the bakery section of Tesco mid-afternoon, torn between two new bags of freshly baked cookies. I've heard from many people that Tesco Bakery's Finest cookies are the bees knees (especially the white chocolate and honeycomb flavour), yet the brownie stuffed cookies sounded rather tempting too. Choices choices. In the end I let Bert decide, and that's how we ended up with these Eton Mess cookies.

"Cookies with Belgian white chocolate, freeze dried strawberry pieces and meringue pieces."

They certainly looked much chunkier than the anaemic brownie cookies, and they were on special offer too at 4 for £1.

Once out of the bag I could appreciate the rugged, cracked appearance of the cookies; although the white chocolate chips and Meringue pieces were unevenly dispersed. Needless to say I nabbed the most plentifully adorned of the bunch.

I wasn't sure how the strawberry would come across.Freeze dried strawberries can be quite sharp, which I hoped would work well to counteract the sweetness of the white chocolate and meringue.

My first bite provided me with the answer, establishing that the strawberry pieces were crushed into the cookie, infusing a gentle flavour throughout. The taste reminded me of strawberry Nesquik though, which was surprising considering that the fruit wasn't synthetic. As a lover of strawberry milkshake I enjoyed the result, but anyone with a less sweet tooth might not be so keen.

The white chocolate chunks weren't noticeably luxurious, but were sizeable enough to deliver scrummy mouthfuls of sweet chocolatey pleasure. As for the meringue pieces, they were in mini form and so every few bites I came across little sugar hits. They're an unusual inclusion to a cookie, and whilst they were successful in terms of adding extra texture, I actually found the meringues knocked the flavour harmony into sickly territory. It would have been better for Tesco to stick with strawberry and white chocolate.

8/10

NEW! Green Apple Moose Juice (Online)

I was just leaving my house the other day for the gym when I spotted a note through my letterbox from a courier, who had assumed I was out and had left a parcel in our safe place. Goddamnit Bert, I asked you if you were expecting something and you said no! I quickly had to retract my nagging thoughts though when I found a box with my name on, bound together by Muscle Moose tape. What could it be? I didn’t know that they were sending me anything. The weights would have to wait. I needed to know what the mystery parcel contained…

A case of Moose Juice Extreme Energy, and their new green apple flavour at that! Now I’ve seen their energy drinks on many Instagram feeds but haven’t tried any before. I was excited by them though, especially given that my weekly Friday morning treat is a can of Monster Ultra to kick-start my lecture.

For those of you who also haven’t tried Moose Juice, I’ll let Muscle Moose fill you in:

“Moose Juice Extreme Energy is a sparkling energy drink with added BCAAs and B-Vitamins. Low calorie, zero fat and zero sugar – Moose Juice is your new best friend for an energy boost without the crash.”

Each can contains 200mg of caffeine, 8mg of vitamin B6, and just 15kcal.

I’m not fond of having fizzy drinks before working out, and I’m trying to cut down my caffeine consumption in the afternoon, so I decided to wait until the following morning before opening a Moose Juice. I cracked open the first cold can just when I needed the extra energy after walking the dog and settling down to do uni work.

I expected the liquid to be green, but instead it was clear. Flavour-wise the apple was a balanced mixture between sour and sweet (despite the lack of aspartame).  I could taste the taurine in the background though, so imagine a Red Bull-Apple Tango hybrid and you’ll have a fair idea of what to imagine.

I didn’t expect my face to tingle though, which it did. At the time I wondered if I was imagining it, but whilst writing this up I read the warning: ‘Long term intake of 10mg of vitamin B6 may lead to mild tingling and numbness’. I don’t take any additional vitamins (anymore) but it happened again when I had my second can yesterday morning -alongside my Peanut Butter Cup Muscle Mousse proats. It didn’t last long so I don’t imagine it’s anything to worry about, but for those of you who are on extra vitamins or are sensitive to vitamin B6, it might be something worth bearing in mind.

As an energy drink it’s rather good, and the extra BCAAs are welcome too (especially the day after leg day 😉). Moose Juice is also available in Blue Raspberry & Berry, and is available in cases from their website as well as in single can format from reputable retailers such as CNSport.

8/10

Thank you Muscle Moose for the samples!

Montezuma's Peanut Butter Mini Eggs (Waitrose)

There is a week to go until Good Friday. Have you arranged any nice plans for the long weekend? Perhaps you’re seeing family, taking the kids out, or even getting away for a bit. Either way, I hope your Easter Sunday will include lots of chocolate. As a Catholic I probably should bestow a more religious greeting upon you, but let’s be honest, chocolate is just as important.

Do you agree that Cadbury are the kings when it comes to Easter. Their Creme Eggs (although something I can’t abide) are the mainstay of supermarket shelves this time of year. Admittedly, they've been just about everywhere since Christmas Eve, but that’s by the by. Cadbury’s Mini Eggs are much more my cup of tea -which reminds me, I must make some chocolate nests sometime soon (made with Coco Pops not Shredded Wheat though).

Cadbury certainly aren't the only ones making mini eggs though, and last year I was overcome with jealousy at the people who were able to buy Montezuma's Peanut Butter Mini Eggs from Ocado (who still don't deliver in rural Herefordshire). I hadn't tried any of the chocolatier’s products before, but had heard great reviews from those who were lucky enough to sample them. Yes, Reese’s eggs are wonderful, but they’re not known for their superior quality and I wondered whether Montezuma had managed to elevate my favourite combination of peanut butter and chocolate to the next level. Luckily for me Waitrose are stocking them this year, although they’re a little on the pricey side at £3.99 for 150g.

“Soft centered, bite sized and very addictive! Our chocolate mini eggs come in a deliciously rich milk chocolate with salted peanut butter.”

I’m not sure how big Montezuma’s mouth is but they were bigger than I expected. Instead they were sized roughly mid-way between Cadbury’s Mini Eggs and their Oreo filled Egg & Spoons. Without the crunchy shell or foil to protect them, Montezuma’s Peanut Butter Mini Eggs looked a little battered. The chocolate was flecked with chips, a shame really as I imagine they would have been quite glossy when they left the production line.

I sliced an egg in two to have a better look at its innards. I found a centre that looked similar to praline embedded with tiny nut nibs, all encased within the relatively thick chocolate casing.

I immediately appreciated the high cocoa content*. The flavour of the chocolate was richer than your usual milk but thankfully lacked the bitterness of dark. As for the filling, it was soft but not gooey, and the salinity came through well. The peanut however wasn’t as strong as I’d have hoped, despite the eggs containing 48% peanut paste. The chocolate was by far the dominant of the two flavours, not a problem per-se, but very different to what I’m accustomed to.

Montezuma are right, their Peanut Butter Mini Eggs are addictive. Thanks to their richness they’re not the kind of treat I could eat all 150g of in one sitting, but I have been dreaming about them since my first bite. 

8/10

*Cocoa Solids 41% / Milk Solids 21%

FlapJacked Peanut Butter, Double Chocolate & Chocolate Peanut Butter Mighty Muffins (Online)

It's Thursday evening and I'm guessing you need that final boost to get you through Friday too. Could FlapJack's protein packed, high fibre, gluten free, Mighty Muffins be just the ticket?

You might remember that I've already reviewed their Apple & Cinnamon, Maple Pumpkin & S'mores flavours, so now it's time for the Peanut Butter, Double Chocolate, and Chocolate Peanut Butter. As before, the cakes just require 60ml of water and a minute or so in the microwave. Easy peasy.

Peanut Butter
One of the things that makes FlapJacked's Mighty Muffins so tasty is the abundance of extras that the company adds into the mixtures. This Mighty Muffin is not just peanut butter flavoured, but also contains a healthy supply of peanut butter chips. Mmm.

I made the mix up in my heart bowl and topped it with Jude's Chocolate ice cream.
The base flavour was pretty damn good, but I think the MyMuscleMug version was better. The chips were a fantastic addition however, and I really enjoyed it!

8/10

Double Chocolate
I've mentioned many times on this blog that chocolate cake can be so hit and miss, so my hopes weren't too high when it came to this Mighty Muffin. I decided to take the opportunity to turn the double chocolate muffin into a triple chocolate affair though, and popped some Milkybar Mini Eggs into the batter before cooking. I also topped it with fresh raspberries for a real treat.

Christ. How can a cake that contains 20g of protein taste so good? The flavour was rich and dark, with the chocolate chips adding extra flavour and moisture. The texture was fudgy, especially comforting to eat thanks to the warmth of the muffin. I was in chocolate heaven. My addition of the Milkybar was borderline genius too. You. Must. Try. It.

10/10

Chocolate Peanut Butter
I saved the most tempting sounding Mighty Muffin until last. This one was chocolate flavoured with the peanut butter chips in - it certainly sounded like the best of both worlds!

This time I topped the Muffin with Ben & Jerry's Peanut Butter Cookie Clutter (why oh why have you discontinued the flavour B&J?!). The texture was good and the taste of the chocolate was as scrummy as I found it to be in the double chocolate muffin.

I did find that the peanut butter was slightly lost in all the chocolatiness -but that might just be because the ice cream is so peanutty that it paled in comparison. I'd like to try this Mighty Muffin again on its own to see if the peanut butter stands out more when un-Ben&Jerried.

8/10

Summary
FlapJacked's Mighty Muffins are a fantastic treat to have, especially if you're trying to up your protein intake or simply can't tolerate gluten. They certainly beat a protein shake and most protein bars hands down! I love that they're easily transportable and could even be enjoyed at work for a mid-afternoon pick me up that's healthier to the cake that's doing the office rounds.

If you fancy trying the Mighty Muffins (or FlapJacked's Protein Pancake & Baking Mix for that matter) then please head over to their website, where you can also get 10% off by using the code AMY10 at checkout.

A huge thank you to FlapJacked UK for sending me their Muffins to try, I've thoroughly enjoyed them!

NEW! Syrup Sponge Desserts (ASDA)

A good five or six months ago I was in Worcester's ASDA before my lecture and spotted a new dessert pot that took my fancy. I even took a photo of it at the time, but didn't think it would survive a 3 hour lecture followed by the 2 hour commute home. I tried the local ASDA the next day but couldn't find it, then tried the Worcester store a couple of days later... but guess what? It vanished, not to be seen again. If it hadn't been for my photo evidence I would've been sure I'd imagined it.

Just imagine my surprise during the weekly shop last week when I spied the very same packet that's been playing on my mind all this time! Without my usual reservation towards the £2 price point I swiftly picked up a pack.

"Vanilla flavoured custard and mousse with a sweet syrup sauce and sponge pieces."

The tiers were distinct and the pot was well filled, but the mousse was a disconcerting shade of yellow.

I was worried that the mousse would just be devoid of flavour but in reality it had pleasant vanilla notes to it. The texture was just as light and fluffy as I'd hoped too. A rather good start.

Underneath was the custard layer, which was thinner than I'd usually like and lacked the creaminess of Ambrosia's version. It was still enjoyable, but could be a lot better.

The final layer consisted of the cake cubes and golden syrup. The combination should be a winner but ASDA have completely messed up the ratios. Of course in a traditional golden syrup sponge the cake element makes up the majority of the dessert, but in these pots there was twice as much sauce to cake (19% and 9.3% respectively). With so much syrup pooled at the bottom the last mouthfuls were almost unbearably sweet -and I've got a very sweet tooth.

C'mon ASDA, you dominated the supermarkets last year. These Syrup sponge puddings and your new cheesecakes are a right let down in comparison!

6/10

NEW! Milkybar Milk Slices (ASDA)

White chocolate. Its adored by most dark chocolate dodgers, yet is still vastly under-utilised in the U.K. The only white chocolate bar currently available in most newsagents is Milkybar, and that's marketed at children. Still, there's something quite comforting about eating children's food. I don't trust anyone who doesn't enjoy a plate of McCain's smiles with Birds Eye fish fingers. I did feel a little silly buying these Milkybar cake slices, but realised soon after posting my Instagram post last night that I'm not the only adult with an affinity towards kiddie junk food.

I used to regularly buy the Nesquik chocolate milk slices, but haven't had them in a while, opting for chocolate cake/ muffins instead. To be honest, I'd all but forgotten about them until these Milkybar versions were released. At £1 for four from ASDA they weren't too badly priced though, and they're good to eat up to 6 hours from the fridge.

"Sponge Cake with White Chocolate Filling"

Oh, well they're not the most appetising looking snacks are they? The thin squares of cake were only a couple of millimetres thick and disconcertingly smooth. Perhaps cutting it in two would make it look prettier. What do you think?

The cake itself was solid and reminded me of rusk as opposed to the sponge it promised of. It didn't have any noticeable flavour either - no butteriness or even egg to it. Hmm.

The situation improved slightly with the filling, which was whipped and moussey in texture. Like white chocolate it was very sweet, but that's where the similarities ended. The filling had a generic vanilla ice cream flavour, with the merest hint of white chocolate, but it was certainly no MilkyBar.

I don't think I'll bother with these again.

5/10

Rhubarb Milk Chocolate (Choc Affair)

My father has been on the snack hunt again...

"I've found you some rhubarb chocolate, pickle. It's the peculiar kind of thing I thought you might like" he excitedly told me. I felt my stomach turn, remembering the sickeningly sweet bar from ALDI last summer "Oh, dad, please tell me it's not made by Moser Roth?" I groaned. "No no", he assured me, "it's made by a posh chocolate company called Choc Affair".

Somewhere in the back of my mind I recalled hearing good things about Choc Affair, but I spend so much time looking for and eating chocolate that I could easily be mistaken. Choc Affair, for those of you who who don't know, is a family run business from York whose tag line is "changing lives through chocolate". Their products are all handmade, palm oil free, and made using natural ingredients.

Rhubarb is an unusual pairing for chocolate, and I always assumed that given the natural tartness of the vegetable that white chocolate would be the obvious choice. It seems that Choc Affair don't always opt for the classic combinations though, and I was keen to discover whether their milk chocolate was any good and whether it would work with the rhubarb.

"Rhubarb chocolate, you say!  Well this rhubarb is a light and subtle flavour which will leave you with a feeling of serenity and a sweet surprise."

Can we please take a moment to admire the beautiful packaging too? It was a work of art, and almost too good to open.

I was somewhat surprised when I unwrapped the gold foil covered bar to discover a glossy but smooth block. I thought I'd spot strands of rhubarb, or perhaps some pink hues, but instead the chocolate simply looked like good quality milk chocolate. Just for info, the Rhubarb Chocolate contains a very respectable 33.6% minimum of cocoa solids and 20.8% minimum of milk solids.

Nibbling the edge of my first chunk revealed just how well Choc Affair have done with this bar. The milk chocolate is rich and silken, so smooth that it melts in the mouth without the slightest wax or chalkiness to it. I'd even go as far as suggesting it's one of the best quality milk chocolate bars I've had in many years.

As for the rhubarb flavour, it's bold but balanced, offering a genuine fruitiness that cuts through the sweetness. There's no hiding from its presence either, for it makes itself known in every last morsel. Despite my earlier reservations about whether a white chocolate would work better, the flavours fuse in perfect harmony and I'm glad that Choc Affair have opted for the more unusual choice here.

Choc Affair's range includes a whole host of innovative chocolate bars in milk, white and dark varieties which are reasonably priced between £1.25 (45g unflavoured chocolate bars) and £2.75 (100g flavoured bars) all available from their website. They also produce chocolate lollies, letters, numbers, hampers, and drinking chocolate as well as seasonal editions. I'm especially eyeing up their mango and peach & raspberry white chocolate bars!

10/10

Thanks for the find Daddio!