All posts in In The Basket

Michel Roux Meal Kits from Scratch

scratch meal kitMichel Roux Snr, forever immortalised as the Godfather of the UK’s culinary revolution and founder of the Waterside Inn, the only restaurant outside of France to be honoured with three Michelin Stars consecutively for 25 years, has created an innovative range of fresh, delicious, wholesome and affordable meal-kits ready to be cooked from scratch in under ten minutes.

Designed for people who value the virtues of good cooking but are squeezed on time and refuse to succumb to the ‘ping’ of a microwave, the genius of Scratch lies in its simplicity. One box, containing premium pre chopped, washed and weighed fresh ingredients, no additives or preservatives and a simple set of instructions requiring nothing more than a wooden spoon and no more than two pots or pans.

Created to readdress the balance between our growing desire to cook and our ever-increasingly hectic and time-strapped lives, Scratch serves up healthy, hearty and balanced meals in minutes, the kind that makes your soul and your tastebuds sing, with zero stress, fuss or preparation combined with a sprinkle of Michelin Stardust, for that extra dash of je ne sais quoi.

From April 25th the range, comprising of Chicken Thai Green Curry with Bamboo Shoots (£3.95), King Prawn and Chorizo Paella (£3.95), Makhani Chicken Tikka Masala (£3.95) and Tagliatelle Pistachio Pesto and Cherry Tomatoes (£3.95) will be stocked in 60 Sainsbury’s Local stores across London, with a view to rolling out nationally across the UK later in the year.


Yu! Bar

yu barFinally, healthy snacking that tastes great! Made from real fruit and completely guilt-free, the Yu! range uses only the best natural ingredients without compromising on taste, offering the perfect solution to snacking on the go.

Whether you are out and about, stuck in the office or a busy mum packing the kid’s lunchboxes for school, Yu! is the most convenient, nutritious choice for everyone everywhere. Yu! products are made from real fruit and completely free from added nasties.

Sweet and tasty, Yu! offers a unique selection of products which include:
• 100% Jus Fruit – delicious bite-sized pieces of dried fruit, one of your 5-a-day and less than 90 calories
• Yogurt-Coated Fruit Pieces – tasty fruit bites covered in a creamy yogurt coating, containing real fruit and real yogurt
• Yu! Bars – 40% fruit combined with cereal in a gorgeously healthy yogurt-coating

Find the perfect healthy snack for Yu! with the dried fruit snacks in the home baking sections of Tesco and Sainsbury’s stores nationwide now.
For more information, visit www.yuhealthysnacks.co.uk

Wagon Wheels

wagon wheelsIt’s time to discover Wagon Wheels again! The iconic, much-loved biscuit brand is revealing a new and improved recipe, tasty limited-edition Caramel flavour, an exciting new look and a new mysterious advertising campaign.

From nostalgic memories of the famous ‘Rollin’, rollin’, rollin’’ ads, to the unique and out of this world marshmallow centre – everyone has a reason to love Wagon Wheels. For more than 60 years, we’ve had to ‘grin to get it in’ and now it’s time for the new generation of young biscuit lovers to discover the secrets within the Wagon Wheel.

The new and improved Wagon Wheels is truly ‘choccy, crunchy and marshmallowy’ and joining the existing Original and Jammie range, is a satisfying new Caramel flavour. Whilst on the outside, Wagon Wheels are sporting an adventurous new look, so there’s never been a better time to devour a Wagon Wheel.

The new Wagon Wheels will be on shelves this month, in all major supermarkets, selected independent and convenience stores across the UK.

Rod and Ben’s Summer Soup

Rod and Ben's Summer SoupsRod and Ben’s Soup Club has voted two delicious NEW soup flavours on to the line-up of summer soups, which will be available from May 1st. A dozen members of its “Brotherhood of Broth” spent hours putting soups through their paces on Rod and Ben’s organic Devon farm near Exeter – and were ultimately bowled over by two exciting new Thai soups: Thai Chicken and Thai Vegetable, which will join the ranks of seasonal summer favourites such as Gazpacho, Tomato and Basil, Pea and Mint and Courgette and Tomato.

Rod Hall, Rod and Ben’s owner, whose 100% natural organic soups have won a host of Great Taste Awards, says:

“Thai soups are a new departure for us but as soon as the Soup Club tasted the two new contenders everyone was adamant that they had to be part of the Rod and Ben’s Summer Soup range. Thai flavours are light and delicious and lend themselves perfectly to a light summer soup – and who can argue with the decision of the Brotherhood of Broth?!”

Wheat and gluten-free, and sometimes dairy-free, the summer soup range is made using simple recipes so that the ingredient’s integrity – colour, flavour and texture – is preserved. The summer full line-up includes:

• NEW Thai Vegetable – wheat and gluten-free
• NEW Thai Chicken – wheat and gluten-free
• Carrot and Coriander – wheat and gluten-free
• NEW Gazpacho – dairy-free
• Tomato and Basil – wheat, gluten and dairy-free
• Pea and Mint – wheat and gluten-free
• Haddock Chowder – wheat and gluten-free
• Chicken and Vegetable – wheat and gluten-free
• Each month there is a soup of the month – a great way to taste the seasons!

Rod and Ben’s Summer Soup 2012 range is available from May 1st – October 1st from independent retailers (including Abel and Cole, Riverford, Planet Organic stores, Union Market, Selfridges and As Nature Intended), delicatessens and farm shops all around the country, South West Morrison’s stores and by mail order via www.rodandbens.com. Pots are 600g and have a RRP of £3.49 – £3.99.

Hotel Chocolat Easter Egg

To eat is to enjoy… this years Hotel Chocolat Easter Egg, the Rocky Road to Caramel. Twelve delicious mixed chocolates encased in an extra thick shell.

Both half-shells are cast in our mellow 40% milk chocolate, with one half-shell studded with crispy puffed rice, cookies and chocolate chunks. The other half-shell with a layer of caramel chocolate over a base of milk chocolate. And inside the dreaminess continues – with praline with cookies, liquid caramel and silky smooth milk chocolate ganache along with solid bunnies and chicks cast in milk and caramel chocolate and more.

The Hotel Chocolat Rocky Road to Caramel Easter Egg is £26.