chocolate

Butterscotch, Mixed Nut Brittle and Salted Caramel by Fudge Kitchen

All of us at The Amazing Blog are huge fans of Fudge Kitchen and their addictively sweet treats. Having never previously reviewed their products before, we leapt at the opportunity when it finally came around. Fudge Kitchen very kindly sent us three of their products, including some Salted Caramel, Butterscotch and Mixed Nut Brittle

Fudge Kitchen has been making hand-crafted treats for over 30 years, using traditional techniques to make new sweet treats. Each piece of confectionery is hand decorated in a small batch, and contain only natural ingredients. The Salted Caramel is utterly delectable; sweet caramel is topped with thick milk chocolate and pink Himalayan rock salt crystals. It had a rich, sweet and salty flavour that left us wanting more. The Butterscotch is a relatively new product for Fudge Kitchen. Creamy Gourmet Butterscotch is smothered in milk chocolate, combining an iconic British favourite with the velvety texture of smooth milk chocolate. The butterscotch is vegetarian-friendly and contains no gluten so everyone can enjoy this. The mixed nut brittle was the perfect snack to bring to work for when we needed a sugar boost. The thick caramel brittle is infused and filled with mixed nuts adding extra texture, flavour and snap.  This snack is also gluten-free and vegetarian-friendly.

We cannot wait to try Fudge Kitchen again and hope to do so soon. If you want to try these delicious treats then click here for the Butterscotch which will cost £6.50, the Mixed Nut Brittle is available here for £6.00 and the Salted Caramel here for £6.50
 

Anti-Age Concept Chocolate Mask - GMT Beauty

At The Amazing Blog, we know how important it is to include your body in your daily skin care routine, and while most people follow a  routine,  we understand that it can be easy to forget to take the same care over the rest of your body. GMT Beauty kindly sent us one of their body masks, and we think it is a great product for any of you who forget to look after the skin on the rest of your body, or for anyone looking to try something new. 

We tried the brand's Anti-Age Concept Chocolate Mask, which is an amazing mask that has been specifically designed to be used on the body. GMT Beauty products contain carefully selected ingredients along with patented active substances to produce brilliant results. In this case, the mask contains a blend of ingredients designed to rejuvenate and repair damaged skin that has lost its elasticity and radiance. Cocoa enriches the skin with Vitamin A and E and a multitude of antioxidants, protecting the skin from environmental stressors.

The mask also contains oats, which work to soften and heal damaged skin, and algae, which moisturises and protects it. This impressive mixture of ingredients really works together to reinvigorate dull and unhappy skin. We loved the scent of the product which had a strong chocolate aroma.

To use the product, the mask should be mixed with warm water and applied to th any problematic areas of the body you want to address. Leave the product on for 15-20 minutes and simply rinse it off with water (we found using the shower was easiest). The mask is suitable for all skin types, particularly sensitive skin as GMT Beauty ensures that there are no allergens in any of their products.

To give some love to your entire body, try GMT Beauty's Chocolate Mask here on Amazon for £14.00 - or you can purchase it from their website for €16.25. 

 

Spreads - Savvy, Keen Nut Butter, Erbology and Ogilvy's

We are surrounded by so many healthy and so-called ‘delicious’ alternatives to our favourite toast toppers and sandwich fillers. Here at The Amazing Blog, we have compiled our favourite natural spreads that will give our usual peanut butter and chocolate spread a run for their money. Today we are so aware of what we are putting into our body and Savvy Spreads, Keen Nut Butter, Erbology and Ogilvy’s will ensure we remain beautiful from the inside out.

Firstly, we are bringing you a taste of the Mediterranean with Savvy’s Sweet Sesame Spreads in three different flavours, Carob & Honey, Chocolate and their award-winning Date.

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Astoundingly, there are only up to 5 ingredients in each spread, and each is from a totally natural source. The founder of Savvy Spreads uses an ancient Mediterranean preserve recipe and gave it a 21st Century update for all the family to enjoy. We had full confidence that we were spreading pure nutrition on our morning toast and it felt great. Savvy Spreads can be used in sandwich fillers, cake flavouring, crepes and even porridge toppers. All spreads are gluten free and vegan friendly. We loved that it satisfied our sweet tooth without damaging our health. But don't just take our word for it, try out these delicious healthy spreads for yourself here.  

We are particularly excited at the discovery of a mouth-watering and all-natural nut butter. Peanut butter fanatics will love Keen Nut Butter, an indulgent creamy spread free from added sugar, salt and artificial flavouring.

There is a wide range of flavours to choose from, something most nut butter brands are lacking. We had the opportunity to try the Triple Nut flavour and were not disappointed. The divine smell itself left our stomachs rumbling before we’d even tried it, and we loved the rich taste and buttery texture. It melted beautifully on warm toast to provide us with a nutritious and indulgent breakfast or a midday snack. If you’re keen to get your hands on this guilt-free nut butter get your own here for £2.99 per jar. 

If jam is more up your street, we have the perfect organic substitution. Erbology have created a range of delicious Sea Buckthorn jams, of which we had the opportunity to try the apple flavour.

Rather than a simple sugar high, these jams contain a host of vitamins, minerals and Omega 3,6,9 + 7 that is rarely found in such a concentrated form. As avid beauty enthusiasts, we were ecstatic to learn that the antioxidants in the jam promotes healthy skin and hair. Radiant skin and thick shiny locks while satisfying sweet cravings, that’s our kind of spread!  We thought it made a tasty topping to our porridge and a delectable addition to afternoon tea scones, along with a spoonful of clotted cream. If you want to watch your waistline but don’t want to give up your favourite sweet spreads, try out the Sea Buckthorn Apple jam here for £8.90. 

Last, but not least, Ogilvy’s has produced a British honey range with a difference.

The nectar collected to create the honey comes from a wide variety of plants and flowers, which gives each one its own unique taste. We were lucky enough to try the Borage, Heather and Wildflower honeys. We loved the traceability of these spreads; the Borage nectar was collected in Warwickshire, the Heather nectar in the Derbyshire Peak District, while the Wildflower nectar came from gardens and hedgerows in the heart of England. The differing textures, richness and fragrances provided a refreshing variety. The runnier Borage honey was great as a sweetener in porridge or in warm drinks. Whereas the Heather honey was rich and thick which made it an ideal toast topper. Check out the range of Ogilvy’s British honey range here for just £5.59 each.

Rebel Kitchen - Coconut Mylks

Coconut has emerged as a new super food that appears in food and beauty products. Here at The Amazing Blog, we have benefitted from refreshing coconut water and the hydrating powers of coconut oil. Rebel Kitchen has now caught our attention with their range of Coconut Mylks.

Rebel Kitchen goes back to basics with simple and natural ingredients, thankfully without the use of additives and preservatives. Finally we know exactly what we are putting into our body, rather than trying to decipher the cryptic ingredients. As a staple each Mylk contains Organic Coconut milk, Somerset Spring water and Organic Date nectar, which acts as a natural sweetener. We loved that the range of flavours adhered to our cravings, in particular the Chocolate and Coffee Mylks. Chocoholics and Caffeine Addicts alike will love this healthy, dairy free alternative.

While adults can enjoy the Chocolate, Coffee, Matcha Green Tea and Chai flavours, Rebel Kitchen have included a children’s range that will satisfy any young sweet tooth. Snack time will never be the same again! Kids have a choice between Chocolate, Banana and Orange Chocolate flavour, each of which is personified on the packaging in the form of a foodie character. This will surely entertain children whilst also feeding them a nutritious snack.

Satisfy the whole family with a natural sweet treat from Rebel Kitchen; get yours here for £1.89 each.

Friday Favourites - Gluten-Free Snacks Feature

Here at The Amazing Blog, we love enjoying delicious snacks throughout the day to keep us focused and energised. For our readers with dietary restrictions, we understand that quality gluten-free snacks are not always easy to find. To solve this problem, we made it our mission to search for gluten-free products that taste great and won’t harm your body. Here are our top four favourites out of the products we discovered. 

All of the snacks from The Foods of Athenry ere a big hit here at the office, especially the cookie shots! They make a variety of delicious treats, many of which are gluten-free, so your whole family can enjoy their yummy snacks. The Foods of Athenry is a family-run business based in West Ireland. Their gluten-free snacks include a variety of different breakfast cereals, cookies, crackers, flapjacks, grab & go bars, biscuits, cakes and scones. Their gluten-free products are certified by the Coeliac Society, since all of the snacks have the crossed grain symbol on the box. Since some of their products do contain gluten, they avoid cross-contamination by using two separate bakeries. You can shop all of their gluten-free snacks here, where you’ll be able to choose from a wide variety of products. 

Perhaps the most nutritious item on our list, we loved the healthy olives from Urbangrains. The two varieties we sampled were the Black Kalamon Olives and the Green Olives. Both olive flavours are organic and are marinated in olive oil and oregano. Since they’re harvested by hand and are delicately prepared without being processed, the quality is top-notch. We could tell the difference in taste between these olives and other types of olives you might find while at the grocery store. They were a satisfying snack on their own, although they would complement a plate of cheese and crackers if you’re in need of a larger snack. Head here to get a few packs of these Greek olives for £3.

Everyone at the office agrees that a yummy chocolate spread is the perfect finish touch on top of a biscuit or piece of toast. Our new favourite chocolate spreads are from Jim Jam’s, a family-owned business that strives to eliminate all of the hidden sugars found in many common spreads. All of the spreads made by Jim Jam’s are gluten-free and contain no added sugar, so you can rest assured knowing you’re providing your family with the highest quality available. The side of each jar contains an easy “choccie milk” recipe, so you can enjoy the spread in more than one way. At the office, we tried the Milk Chocolate spread and the Hazelnut Chocolate spread, and we highly recommend them both. Find out which retailer nearest you sells the Jim Jam’s spreads here. A few popular places from their list are The Co-Operative food and TK Maxx.

Last but certainly not least, we enjoyed the double chocolate gluten-free cookies from Angelic Gluten Free. Each one contains less than 75 calories, have around 30% less fat in comparison to other gluten free cookies and are made with dairy-free chocolate chips. Plus, they have the same amount of taste and flavour you’d expect from cookies with gluten. We loved how perfectly portioned each cookie was; they weren’t too big or too small. They came in a package that made them easy to serve and share with others, or you can keep them to yourself if you’d rather. Head to the Angelic’s website and use their store locator to find the shop nearest you where you can purchase the cookies.