Spices of India - Little Turban Sauces

Are you looking to switch up your typical dinner dishes but afraid to branch out too far?  We here at The Amazing Blog have discovered unique Indian sauces, spices and other creative foods thanks to Spices of India’s, Little Turban.  Their sauces are a simple yet unique additive to everyday dishes or pair perfectly with authentic, Indian inspired meals.

Launched in 2006, Spices of India is the leading online Indian grocery store in the UK, specializing in true Indian foods, spices and cookware. They are proud of their gluten-free foods and sauces which contain zero artificial flavouring and colouring.  The Little Turban offers exceptional fresh curry based sauces, providing an alternative to dry mixes or pastes used in traditional Indian cooking.  Unlike most Indian sauces, all Little Turban sauces contain beetroot, orange juice and whisky for additional zest! Little Turban offers four sauce options, each with a different heat intensity.  The range of Little Turban sauces provided by Spices of India include Aromatic Bourbon Masala, Goan Coconut & Orange, Makhani Masala Curry, and Mughlai Qorma.  Though these four sauces are all unique in ways, Little Turban  suggest all of their sauces be served over chicken, lamb, king prawns or paneer.  All of these sauces arrive in a 400g box containing enough sauce to serve three to four people, making theses sauces an exceptional option for entertaining dinner guests.

When the Little Turban sauces arrived at our door step, I immediately jumped on the chance to mix up my usual cooking style.  I tried the Little Turban Makhani Masala Curry sauce containing tomatoes, melon juice, curry, cream, chili and other impeccable ingredients.  I prepared the recommended recipe below with the Makhani Masala Curry sauce and was not disappointed!  The sauces hint of sweetness from the melon paired perfectly with the spice of the chili and curry upon seared chicken and rice.

Makhani Masala Curry Recipe:

• Brown 450g diced chicken.

• Add the contents of the pouch and stir well.

• Cover and allow to simmer, stirring occasionally, until the meat is cooked through.

• Serve with naan bread or rice.

Add an additional zest to your typical dinner with the Little Turban sauces from Spices of India.  Purchase the sauce for the recipe above here for £4.95.

Friday Favourites – Keep Well in Spring

Despite the tremendous rainfalls we’re experiencing here in London, the birds are singing and its beginning to feel a bit like spring!  Unfortunately with this lovely change in weather come allergies, tiredness and occasionally the common cold.  Luckily, we here at The Amazing Blog have found a few healthy supplements, drinks and even snacks to help you Keep Well in Spring! First we have Hafkalk Food Supplements, an Iceland based company who stresses the importance of producing quality supplements.  Their three primary supplements, including Ocean Calm, Ocean Calcium and Ocean Krill, all include high-quality vitamins and minerals from local Iceland marine sources.  The Ocean collection is perfect for the preparation of spring because each supplement aims to improve a specific part of the body.  The Ocean Calm supplement combines minerals of the sea including marine magnesium and calcified red alge to enhance sleep.  Ocean Calcium uses calcium and minerals to improve bone and joint health.  The Ocean Krill supplement contains 100% Krill Oil, Omega 3 and natural Antioxidants to increase brain, heart and join health. It is recommended to take 2-4 of each supplement per day for the best results.  The Ocean Supplements are available online and can be ordered through Global Bounty. The Ocean Calm supplement can be found here, Ocean Calcium supplements are here and Ocean Krill supplements can be purchased here.

Staying hydrated is a key to staying healthy!  Substitute your morning coffee or tea with a glass of juice from Terrafertil Goldenberry Juice Drinks.  Goldenberry Juice Drinks originate from the Andean mountain Goldenberries (which we have written about before)!  Bursting with the Vitamins B-complex, A and C the vitamins in the small but mighty Goldenberries protect the immune system and maintain healthy skin while burning fat.  Not only is the juice a great source of vitamins but it is also gluten free, dairy-free and vegan friendly!  Beside natural juice concentrate of the Goldenberries, the juice also includes fruit extract concentrate, acidity regulator - citric acid and antioxidant - ascorbic acid.  These distict berries make for a delicious change to typical coffee or tea in the  morning. The Terrafertil Goldenberries Juice Drinks can be purchased from Holland and Barrett here.

No matter the season we all dread the lack of energy we occasionally have during our work day.  Unfortunately a cup of coffee or an energy drink unsubstantial for long periods of time.  Start your work day (and spring) off right with a natural energy lift from Amazing Grass.  Specialising in Organic Super Foods, Amazing Grass offers energizing, nutritional beverages containing the necessary vitamins of an entire meal.  Amazing Grass also offers Green Super Food Energy Bars.  These convenient snack-sized bars are packed with necessary nutrition for both adults and children.  These bars combine organic vegetables and fruit, as well as Green Super Food drink powder to deliver a natural energy boost.  With these wonderfully natural supplements, Green Super Food Energy Bars make for the perfect mid-day pick me up!  These bars are sold in packs of 12 online here for £35.99.

As mentioned before, energy drinks often come with a negative stigma of energy peaks and crashes.  Luckily we have discovered the world's first '100% natural, organic and FairTrade approved organic drink' from Scheckter's Organic Energy.  Being raised on Laverstoke Park, his families leading UK organic farm, Toby Scheckter  was inspired to quench the world's thirst and energy with a healthy alternative to energy drinks.  Scheckter's Organic Energy drinks are vegetarian certified and include zero synthetic caffeine.  Scheckter' Energy Drinks supplements the typical caffeine additive with organic raw coffee beans, organic guarana and organic green tea to energize yet calm the mind.   Becuase the ingredients in Scheckter's Organic Energy Drink are 100% natural, the effects of the drink are long lasting over substancial periods of time. Scheckter's Organic Energy also offer a 'Lite' version of the drink for those who are seeking a less caffeinated option. Get 'Powered by Nature' this spring by purchasing your Scheckter's Organic Energy drinks from mySupermarket here.

We hope our suggestions for Keeping Well in Spring assist you in your journey for a healthy and energising season!

Friday Favourites - Valentine's Day

To quote Robert Smith (lead singer of the Cure) “It’s Friday and [we’re] in love!” Yes, today is the day when lovers all over the world will be showering their loved ones with heart-felt messages and gifts. Don't worry if you don’t have a partner, why not just treat yourself! But for those of you that will be spreading the love, we here at The Amazing Blog have compiled a few of our Valentine’s Day favourites to help get you on your way.

Let’s start by setting the mood or the ‘ambiance’ for this special date night. Ancienne Ambiance is a British luxury brand that produces luxury goods and utilises fragrances that are inspired by ingredients and techniques from ancient times. They offer an array of beautifully candles, soaps, bath salts and oils. Their products are hand-poured and delivered in elegant purple (our favourite colour!) hand-crafted gift boxes. The brand has recently introduced the Lavendula Collection, which features top quality, pesticide-free lavender which is produced in both France and UK. From the Lavendula Collection, we particularly love the soaps and bath salts which immediately fill the office with an aroma of calming lavender (much needed to calm our hectic days...). The Lavendula Beauty Gift Set in full of lots of gorgeous goodies that  include a pillar candle, three soaps, bath & body oil and salts. The set is a perfect way of giving your loved one a relaxing evening and can be found here.

Given that Ancienne Ambiance specialises in the art of luxury candle making, we must mention their limited edition Valentine’s Day, Red Eros Rose Scented Candle. This premium three wick candle is scented with the most delicious Damascan Roses. It uses slow burning beeswax and best of all has no wax dripping issues. The Damascan Roses are used in particular to make a variety of rose-scented products due to their rich, floral scent therefore this candle is sure to fill the room with a sweet and irresistible fragrance. The candle is available here for £34.

If you want something a bit more unusual, why not give your loved one a unique one-of-a-kind vase filled with allegedly a 'thousand rose petals’. Ashleigh & Burwood creates home fragrances that are meant to beautify and enhance your home’s ambience through fragrance. Ashleigh & Burwood offers the Decadent Diffuser Gift Set which includes the scent of a ‘thousand rose petals’ in an artisan-made vase with mosaic detailing, guaranteeing no two vases are ever the same. This diffuser gives off a velvety, red rose scent that is enhanced with warm subtle spices and a twist of exotic ylang ylang. Ylang ylang is found in Southeast Asia and is used to relieve stress, induce happiness and act as an aphrodisiac. The diffuser gift set is available for £22.50 and can be found here.

Next we have a sweet treat for your date night courtesy of Charbonnel et Walker. They are the  purveyors of fine chocolates and have been crafting chocolates since 1875. For Valentine’s Day they offer various gift sets for that special someone. We were lucky enough to try the Truffle Kisses box which includes the signature Pink Marc de Champagne and the new Raspberry Marc de Champagne Truffles. We were excited to try these and they didn't disappoint with their decadent champagne kisses! The truffles have a hard pink chocolate shell that unveiled a delicate, chocolate filling, which was infused with hints of raspberry and champagne perfect for a romantic night in. The chocolates are hand-made and follow a traditional recipe which is couverture (which means the chocolate has a higher cocoa butter content) giving the chocolate a unique richer and silkier taste. The boxes come with complimentary gift wrapping thus making the presentation beautiful and hassle free!  The boxes are available in store or online here for £20.And if that dose of sweetness was not enough, pick up a box of Macarons by Babette. Babette is relatively new (launching in March 2013) and they supply to various cafes around London including Le Pain Quotidien  restaurants. Le Pain Quotidien offers macarons in boxes of two or six, but Macarons Babette takes on much larger orders depending on the occasion and event. If you really want to go over the top and ‘wow’ your partner, Macarons by Babette even offers a whole tower of macarons! Whatever your needs this Valentine’s Day, Macarons by Babette are sure to have a flavour for you. You can order yours online or find a supplier here.

Lastly, we have something that incorporates everything  for Valentine’s Day. It is an all-inclusive hotel that showers you and your lover in chocolaty delights. The Chocolate Boutique Hotel is located in Bournemouth, Dorset. It  houses 15 chocolate-themed rooms. They are offering three packages for Valentine’s Day but recommended the double room package as it includes a one nights’ accommodation, breakfast, a bottle of their Exclusive Spanish Cava, their Belgian Chocolate fountain with strawberries and marshmallows to dip and a slab of chocolate with your very own personalised message.  There is also a chocolate workshop allowing you and your partner to learn about the origins and art of chocolate-making To book your night and see which package is right for you, go here.

 Whatever you and your partner decide to do tonight, we hope our suggestions inspire you!  We here at the Amazing Blog wish you a fun, passionate and decadently sweet evening!

Contigo - Travel Mugs

Given that we live in a time where everything is fast and on-the-go, even the most practical items were bound to jump on board. Currently, you may not pay much attention to your coffee mug, but we at The Amazing Blog have found a company that makes simple yet elegant hassle-free mugs to keep your drinks hot or cold during the busiest days.  Contigo has taken the art of mug making and has formed it into a business, a business that is steadily booming here in the UK as well as other countries around the world. Contigo offers a wide array of products ranging from travel mugs, water bottles, kids cups and coffee mugs. We were lucky enough to try two of their travel mugs, the Morgan and their best-seller West Loop, both of which were a big-hit here in the office.

The Morgan AUTOSEAL Thermo Cup is stylish and easyt to carry throughout your busy day. The cup is made of soft-touch plastic and comes in four bright colours. Their design was praised by Red Dot, especially the AUTOSEAL feature that allows you to open the mug with the press of a button and seals upon release, making it 100% spill proof. I have been using this mug and have no problem with leaks considering I just throw it into my handbag on the way to work. I also enjoy the reservoir feature that keeps some of your drink a bit cooler for your next sip, eliminating those ever annoying scalds of the tongue. Though it helps protect you from burning your mouth, this cup keeps drinks hot for an hour and drinks cold for up to four.

If you are a bit more adventurous and need more from your thermo cup, you may need to try the West Loop. West Loop is a Stainless Steel Vacuum Insulated Mug which also features the AUTOSEAL making it 100% spill proof. The double insulated walls will keep your drinks hot for up to 4 hours or cold for up to 12, making it ideal for those long business trips or weekend hikes. West Loop comes available in 9 colours and is top-rack dishwasher safe (just like the Morgan), making the clean up as easy as the sip.

To get your hands on these lovely, hassle-free mugs visit the Contigo online shop here!  Next time you are trying to enjoy your drink while lugging your groceries, handbag, your child or all three at once, know that your drink is safe in your hands and only a press of a button away.

Friday Favourites - Chinese New Year Celebration

Kung Hei Fat Choi (Happy New Year) from all of us here at The Amazing Blog! This celebration marks the commencement of the year of the Horse.  Whether you celebrate the date or just want to partake in the festivities, here at The Amazing Blog, we have found all you need to get your New Year’s celebration underway. First off let’s address the superstitions surrounding the entry of a new year to the Chinese and what one should and should not do. Starting with the home, families clean the home as a way of saying out with the old and in with the new, as well as eliminating bad energy. Also remember to avoid any unpleasant situations or crying on this day since the first day of the year is said to be a precursor of the year to come. For you fashion conscious folks, be mindful not to wear black since the colour relates to death and instead opt for red as it represents luck and fortune. Also if you want to have some fun with ghosts and spirits, pop some firecrackers to scare the bad ones off. Your neighbour may not appreciate it but it’s a sure way of starting the year off with a bang!

Regardless of your plans, let us suggest a themed recipe because clearly we here at the blog love anything in regards to food! We have found a Chinese New Year Cake Recipe Kit by Sous Chef.  Sous Chef is an online store dedicated to supplying hard-to-find ingredients and equipment to ‘adventurous cooks’ interested in exotic cuisines.  The cake mix kit includes the ingredients needed to make traditional New Year ‘sticky cakes’ known as Nian Gao, which consist of Chinese brown sugar, glutinous rice flour, coconut milk and the recipe card with instructions. These cakes have the consistency of Japanese mochi balls but can also be pan-fried and transform into tasty, eggy ‘bread’. The kit is available online here for only £5.00. Thanks to our friends at Sous Chef who have given us the recipe to share with you!

Ingredients:

225g Chinese brown sugar in pieces (half packet), 200ml water, 200ml coconut milk (half can), 225g glutinous rice flour (half a bag), optional gold leaf to garnish

This recipe makes 3x10 cm cakes, to serve 6 people.

Recipe:

1. Break down the brown sugar into small pieces, and place in pan with the water. Heat, stirring until dissolved and simmer for 5-10 minutes. 2. Remove the pan from the heat, and whisk in the coconut milk. 3. Measure out the glutinous rice flour into a large mixing bowl, and pour over the coconut milk and sugar mixture. Whisk well, until there are no lumps. The texture should be similar to a runny pancake batter. 4. With a little cooking oil, grease 3-5 small ramekins, remembering that 4 is an unlucky number! Pour in the batter, dividing equally between dishes. 5. Sit the ramekins in a large saucepan with a lid, and add water until it comes to half way up the sides of the dishes. Cover with lid, and simmer for 30 minutes on a low heat. 6. Remove from pan and leave to cool (they are also tasty at this stage!). Refrigerate. They will keep well wrapped in the fridge.  7. Optional: If you’re giving the cakes as presents, run a knife around the side of the cake, and lever it out. Place upside down on a circle of grease-proof paper, tie with string, and top with a little gold leaf.

Next we have the Wing Yip Five Beer Gift Pack, because what is a celebration without a little alcohol!  Perfect for any occasion and festivity, the pack contains beers from all over Asia in areas like Kirin Ichiban, Tiger, Sapporo, Tsing Tao and Singha. The supplier of the beer pack, Wing Yip, is the UK’s leading retailer of Oriental products with four locations in Birmingham, Manchester, Cricklewood and Croydon. The beer gift pack however, is only available online here for £7.98.

Food and drink are a must but not always enough to entertain your guests; we want your celebration to be everything but boring.  Amuse your guests and bring good fortune by flying a traditional Chinese dragon kite.  Airdynamics, a UK based company specializing in hand-made kites imported from China, suggests that under Chinese tradition flying a kite during the celebration brings growth and good fortune in the upcoming year.  If kite flying isn’t your speciality, no worries!  These carefully crafted kites dual as entertainment and home decorations in the form of dragons, snakes and other animals.  Prices very based on size and selection, but orders can be placed here.

Finally we have a gift from us to you; well, it’s actually a gifting idea. Traditionally in Chinese New Year culture, a charm is given to family members and friends to optimize good fortune in the upcoming seasons.  Seeking good fortune themselves, the Pandora bracelet company has designed the Chinese Zodiac Horse Pendant Charm.  Yes, it is unique to 2014 but we find the Zodiac Horse doubles as an everyday “good luck” charm.  Even better, the horse charm will fill another space on the bracelets of your family and friends!  Find the charm at a local Pandora store or on Pandora’s estore for £35.00 here.

If you’re not hosting or attending a Chinese New Year party, pop by Chinatown to experience ‘the largest Chinese New Year party outside of China.’  This Sunday, 2 February, Chinatown entertainment will include dancers, musicians, food and more!  Find more information on this celebration here.