Tag Archives: Sainsbury’s

Food Challenge: Mashed Potatoes with Garlic and Lancashire Cheese

November 5, 2015 By in Lifestyle Tags: , , , , , , , , , 51 Comments

I was recently challenged by Travelodge to create a Northern dish. I have lived in North for over 5 years now, and I can say I know a thing or 2 about the dishes, so I decided to give it a go. With a budget of £50, I went into Sainsburys to get the items I needed, which were:

  1. 450g Potatoes
  2. Mixed Vegetables
  3. 250g Lancashire Cheese
  4. Salt
  5. Black Pepper
  6. 2 fat cloves of Garlic
  7. 25g Butter

North Treats

I wanted to make a simple dish I could share with my kids. I wanted a dish centred around Lancashire Cheese, and I didn’t want to complicate things as I am not a food blogger, but I do love a good challenge. My kids love anything with potatoes in it, so I decided to make mashed potatoes with garlic and Lancashire cheese.

Here are the steps:

  1. Start by placing the garlic in a small saucepan with the butter, leave it on the lowest heat possible to melt and infuse for 20 minutes.
  2. While that is melting, thinly peel the skins of the potatoes and cut them into even-sized chunks, or cut any large potatoes into quarters and small ones into halves if you prefer that.
  3. Place the potatoes in a steamer, sprinkle 1 level dessertspoonful of salt, put a lid on and let them cook for 20 minutes, or until it feels tender in the centre when tested with a skewer.
  4. While that is cooking, start to grate the cheese and stem some mixed vegetables.

Grating Cheese

5. Once the potatoes are cooked, with an electric hand whisk, switch to slow and begin to break up the potatoes, then add the melted butter and garlic, some black pepper and a handful of the grated cheese. Now switch the speed to high and continue adding the cheese, a handful at a time, while you whisk.

6. As you whisk the cheese in, the potatoes will turn translucent and glossy, which means it will be ready to be served soon, as you continue to lift and whisk, it will form stiff, glossy peaks. When all the cheese is in, it is ready to be served.

Mixing the Cheese

7. Add some mixed vegetables and enjoy with a bottle of wine (water or juice for the kids, lol). You can also add some gravy if you want, I tend not to as I find it a little too salty.

Lancashire Cheese and Veg

I found this dish quite tasty, I love the smell of garlic, and you can really taste the garlic in the food, the black pepper added a bit of spice to it as well. It was a delicious Northern treat, my kids loved it.

What do you think? What is your favourite Northern dish? Drop me a comment, let’s chat.

*This is a collaborative post.

Product Review: Vita Coco Coconut Oil

September 8, 2015 By in Beauty, Product Reviews Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , 44 Comments

I was sent this Vita Coco Coconut Oil to review some weeks ago, it has been tried and tested and it has a 100% pass mark from me but before I jump right into it, let me tell you a bit about this product.

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Here is what Vita Coco has to say about this Extra Virgin 100% Raw Coconut Oil:

Vita Coco, the company who first brought us delicious tasting coconut water, now brings to our shores its own brand of 100% Organic Coconut Oil. Cold pressed from Organic coconuts, 100% raw and extra virgin, this new addition to the Vita Coco Family is the perfect cooking oil and goes a long way to rescuing dry skin and hair – that’s why people swear by it!

So after some weeks of using this coconut oil almost every day, here are my thoughts on the product:

PROS

  1. This coconut oil is a natural multi-tasker and a good value for money. It can be used from the bathroom to the kitchen, for baking, moisturising, hair conditioning, makeup removal, cooking, you name it, it can do it.

2. Say goodbye to dry skin with this coconut oil. It is a perfect body moisturiser. I have been using it along with my body lotion, everyday for weeks now, and I can see a noticeable difference in my skin. My skin is now smooth and supple.

3. I use it as a weekly hair conditioner. I apply some of it to my hair after washing with a shampoo and I leave in for about 2/3 hours, before rinsing off with a shampoo. It has brought my hair back to life literally. My hair is now growing at a terrific rate, it has stopped breaking and it is no longer as weak and brittle as it used to be.

4. I use this coconut oil as a makeup remover. I apply on my face with a cotton wool and it removes every trace of makeup except waterproof mascara.

5. I love the smell of this coconut oil. It has a sweet, refreshing fragrance, just like a coconut.

6. This coconut oil also serves as my lip balm and it soothes my lips.

7. I love the fact that this Vita Coco coconut oil is readily available in various stores.

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CONS

None

Sorry but I can’t fault this product. It is one of the best products I have had the privilege of reviewing this year. If in doubt, just Google up the benefits of the coconut oil, or better still, try this Vita Coco Coconut Oil for yourself, you can grab the 250ml for £5.99 at Tesco, Amazon, Boots, Sainsbury’s, Asda, Waitrose and many more stores.

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I love this product. This is the best hair conditioner and skin moisturiser ever. #swearbyit

Have you tried this Vita Coco Coconut Oil? Tell me how you #swear by it. Sound off in the comment section. Thanks for reading.

PS: This product can be used for cooking and baking as well, there are various recipes online but I didn’t use it the kitchen. I am sure it will taste yummy though.

PR samples included in this post.

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