Christmas Special - Hampers

It is the season for giving, so here at the Amazing Blog we have compiled our favourite Christmas hampers. These indulgent and useful festive hampers will wow your friends and family, and even make the perfect treat for yourself.

Stuck for a thoughtful Christmas gift? Look no further. Family and friends will be unable to resist the Festive Warmer Hamper from Spicers, a willow basket full to the brim with enticing sweet and savoury snacks. This perfect mix and match will come in handy right before and after you Xmas dinner. With the whole family reunited, watching festive movies, dreaming about Santa, kids will be happy to share mince pies, small bites of fudge, smoked almonds and toffee popcorn while the adults can enjoy a nice glass of merlot.

If you think you can handle all these special treats what you need to do is click here and this basket full of goodness will be yours for £42.30.

We don’t know why but the first thing that comes in mind when someone talks about Christmas is chocolate and wine. Let us prove it different with The Regency Hamper Real Ale. For sure not a common one and definitely for grown up only. A fine selection of ale and bitter accompanied by smoked beef, game terrine, cheese, oatcakes and sweets.

What makes this gift set not ordinary is that you’ll have the option to customise and personalise the ribbon with a dedicated message. Buy it online to get a 10% discount; this tasty fest is available here at £73.55

Need a boost of energy after too many nights out and dinners not so light? If your body is asking for some post Xmas detox treatments, spoil yourself and friends with a healthy hamper from Twinings.

The Twinings Taste Experience includes all the natural herbs and ingredients to purify your body after festivities gluts. It contains so many varieties of tea, we’re sure it’ll be a gift that will accompany you until New Year’s Eve. From the more traditional breakfast, earl grey and Darjeeling tea, without forgetting that is still holiday time; indeed in the basket Twinings incorporated selection of sweet options like chocolate, caramelised apple and Moroccan mint flavoured tea.
Do not suffer from Christmas pudding nostalgia and click right here to get your tea box for £80, plus a tea filter, a cup  with wooden rest and a tea tidy.

If you’re looking for something a little less decadent, but equally delicious, then the Milly Green Embossed Christmas Tin of Biscuits is the perfect way to say Merry Christmas. The sweet tin is adorned with all sorts of cute British illustrations, and would make a great keepsake box when the holiday season is over. The biscuits inside probably won’t last past Christmas Day, so once they’ve all been scoffed, you can pop all your special Christmas trinkets inside.

The moreish Double Chocolate Chip and delectable Stem Ginger and Lemon Biscuits are so delicious, we can’t think of a better gift to show you care. This would be ideal as an office gift, or one to pop in the stocking. Grab a tin of these delectable Christmas cookies here for £11.99.

We think having one of these hampers will transform you Xmas 2015 in a unique experience; having the 4 of theme will just make it the best of your life!

English Wine Tasting Tours

Here at The Amazing Blog, we love a nice glass of wine at the end of the week, but as the Christmas season is upon us, we felt it was appropriate to kick it up a notch in the tipple department. English Wine Tasting Tours makes the perfect gift for a loved one who appreciates a good grape. And with next year’s tours starting in May, it’s sure to give them something to look forward to when those post-Christmas blues inevitably set in.

We all have someone near and dear who probably considers themselves a bit of a wine connoisseur, so why not treat them to a tour next year, where they can opt for a jaunt in either the Kent or Sussex countryside. They’ll be able to taste some delicious, authentic English wines and ciders whilst eating gastronomic treats, away from the city smog and traffic, on a unique and authentic day out that I’m sure they’ll wish to repeat every single year.

Leaving from London Bridge, the Kent tasting tour has two main stops: the Hush Heath Estate, producer of the Balfour Brut Rose’ and the Chapel Down Winery, which specialises in sparkling wines and Curious beers & cider, much appreciated by the likes of Gordon Ramsey and Jamie Oliver. With 18 different wine and cider samples to sip on, and a pitstop at the Goudhurst Inn for a tasty lunch and a selection of English cheeses, they’ll feel spoilt rotten.  Of course, no two grapes are the same, so they may prefer to taste what Sussex has to offer. The Sussex tour journeys to the Bolney Estate vineyard, famous for it’s environmentally friendly ethos, where not only great grapes are welcome but even butterflies, rabbits and dragonflies. Not too far from Bolney, they will get to know the Bluebell Vineyard and its love for traditional English sparkling wines as well as tasting delicious hand harvested grapes, nurtured with as little herbicide as possible. The day finishes in a nice gastro pub for a hearty meal that perfectly pairs with a newfound favourite wine. As an added perk, English Wine Tasting Tours offer a 10% discount to customers, so they can grab a bottle of the best wine England has to offer for a little less.

Give the gift of wine this Christmas, with Sussex and Kent tours costing £89 each, from here. Or take the stress out of guessing and grab a gift voucher, here, and your loved one can pick the perfect date for them.  And if you can’t wait until May, check out these videos from the tour to tide you over in the meantime!

Friday Favourites - Sweeteners

Calorie-counting has become a routine for most of us; however we can still be unaware of the damaging effect of high sugar intake. Here at The Amazing Blog, we want to provide a healthy alternative to sweeten your morning coffee. With our favourite sweeteners, you can treat yourself guilt-free.

Firstly, we found an innovative new range of fruity Fine Powders by LOOV, designed to liven up anything from smoothies, baked goods, and even plain yoghurt. The powders are sourced using organic berries giving a fruity taste.

The three delicious flavours include Lingonberry, Cranberry and Blueberry; our favourite had to be the Lingonberry for its potent scent and intense ruby colour. We love that LOOV source their berries from local organic farmers in Estonia, making the product guilt-free in more ways than one. Get your hands on your own berry powders here for £13.50.

If berries aren't your thing, we have the perfect syrup substitute. BeLoved have utilised one of our favourite natural sweet treats to produce Date Nectar. The nectar is expertly extracted to retain all of the yummy goodness from the whole fruit.

We found it to be such a versatile product, perfect as a sweetener in hot drinks, drizzled over pancakes, or for an alternative sticky ‘date’ pudding. Dates are an ancient superfood packed with fibre and minerals. What makes them particularly special in our book is that they actually boost metabolism. A sweetener that turns sugars into energy rather than fat - we’re sold. Go try it and get yours here for only £3.99.

This next product will curb those sweet cravings for good. With only 3g of natural sugar per teaspoon, The Groovy Food Company’s Agave Express Sticks are astounding.

Agave nectar is incredibly sweet, without any artificial additives or refined sugars, so a little goes a very long way. The Agave Express Sticks are the definition of ‘what it says on the tin’, made from 100% organic Agave nectar and so convenient for on-the-go. We thought the 5ml sachets were great to sweeten tea & coffee and add some excitement to our morning porridge. Sweeten up your diet with a natural substitute by getting your Agave sticks here for £2.99.  

We were particularly excited about receiving The Coconut Company’s Organic Coconut Sugar, a fantastic alternative to the regular refined kind.

It’s formed by gently heating coconut sap from the coconut flower blossom. Although this sounds very technical, the result is a beautifully sweet and fragrant brown sugar. What’s more, the sugar retains the vitamins and minerals from the coconut blossom, as well as having a low GI. In other words, you won’t experience that turbulent sugar high or crash. We loved the unique taste and intense sweetness and it was fantastic to use when baking.  If you want the great taste of sugar but want to avoid those awful blood sugar spikes, get your Coconut Sugar here for £4.99. 

Lastly, we wanted to find a truly multipurpose and versatile sweetener that could be used in anything. Essential Nutrition’s Sweetlift Cook is the sugar free, natural answer to our prayers.

This table-top sweetener is extracted from totally natural sources yet has twice the power of regular sugar and is less calorific. We were excited to use this in all aspects of our cooking; it worked particularly well in baking and to sweeten our morning cuppa. There was no artificial or bitter aftertaste, it provided texture, volume and caramelisation just as sugar would. Essential Nutrition have outdone themselves with this fantastic and almost undetectable substitute. Introduce Sweetlift Cook into your kitchen, order yours here for €14.90.

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.

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.

Handmade in Britain: The Annual Contemporary Crafts and Design Fair

Forget trudging the high street this November looking for the best Christmas gifts. Here at The Amazing Blog we want to make gift shopping a luxurious and pleasurable experience. Handmade in Britain are hosting The Contemporary Crafts Design Fair in Chelsea Old Town Hall, where you can find 120 of the UK’s finest designer-makers.

This is an interactive shopping experience where you'll have the opportunity to speak to each designer to help understand their work and discover their influences. They'll be on hand to help you pick out the perfect gift - think of them as your own personal shopper. The event is sponsored by House of Artisans who are also hosting a late night shopping even on the 14th November, so plenty of time to pop on down after work. The event will host a variety of exquisite and luxurious products, including ceramics, glass, textiles, jewellery and silverware.

Beautiful ceramics can really hold a room together, talented artists such as Elizabeth Renton, Chito Kuroda and Jill Ford will showcase their different styles. Choose from muted toned tableware, modern porcelain pieces, and contemporary vases. The likes of Samantha Sweet, Elin Isaksson and Vicky Higginson will also display their beautiful and elegant glass art/vessels.  It is surely going to be a feast for the eyes, as well as the wallet.

Winter may be upon us, but the numerous textile stalls will leave you feeling cosy in their range of knitwear from Hattie Kerrs and Katie Mawson. If you don’t feel like succumbing to winter clothing, keep the colour in your wardrobe with vibrant silks from Taisir Gibreel. There is something to appeal to everyone’s taste. We are particularly excited at the prospect of Catherine Aitken’s collection, the Scottish designer is known for her quality tweeds, the pure strength and luxury of her work. Take some time for yourself and indulge. Step out of your jewellery comfort zone and take a look at the unique pieces showcased by Sabine Konig, Victoria Walker, and Joana Cunha to name a few. The innovative, vibrant and unique pieces would make the perfect gift this Christmas, or cheeky treat for yourself. It doesn’t end there, silversmiths like Adrian Hope and Sally Cox will also showcase their stunning silverware both contemporary and traditional. Spoil yourself with some lavish new Christmas tableware. 

This is a rare and unique shopping fair that is not to be missed, so get on down to Chelsea Old Town Hall from 13th-15th November 2015. Book your tickets here or pay £10 on the door.