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Rum Making At The River Antoine Rum Distillery

February 6, 2014 by Erica Hughes 6 Comments

Chopped Bundles of Sugar Cane

Rum is the signature drink of the Caribbean and each of the islands seems to have its own rum distillery (or three) where the art of rum making is carried out. Whilst we were on Grenada we went to visit the River Antoine rum distillery, where rum is still made in the traditional manner and has been since 1785.

The first stage of the process is to harvest the sugar cane from the fields. This organically grown sugar cane is harvested by hand on the River Antoine Estate. The cane is tied into bundles to make it easier to transport and handle and taken to the rum distillery.

Water Powered Cane Mill

Next the cane is crushed to squeeze out the cane juice and this part of the process is powered by the water powered cane mill. This machinery is ancient (like something from the earliest years of the industrial revolution), but it’s effective. The cane goes through the crushing machine twice to extract as much cane juice as possible and the resulting liquid is then channelled, through open gutters, to the boiling room. There’s no waste in this process because the leftover plant material (the dried out, crushed cane, known as bagasse) is put to good use as a fertiliser in the local fields. Some of the bagasse is also used to fuel the fire in the boiling room that is home to the next stage of the process. As you walk around the site you are stepping on the drying bagasse.

Boiling House

Boiling up the cane juice helps to thicken up and concentrate the sugar levels of cane juice. The juice is filtered by the workers who scoop out any bits of cane material with their ladles. The juice is ladled through a succession of big, cast iron basins (known as coppers), with increasing sugar concentrations, until it is brought to the boil in the last one in the line. Once the correct sugar concentration has been reached to allow for a good fermentation, then the boiled cane juice is ladled into another sluice which runs into the fermentation tanks in the next room. I don’t think I’d want to work in this room on a hot day as I’d imagine it would get very uncomfortable. It takes about an hour for the cane juice to make its way through the boiling house process.

Fermentation Tanks

The next stage is fermentation. This is where the sugar changes to alcohol. I was surprised to hear that no yeast is added and that they rely on the natural yeasts in the air around us to do the job for them. This fermentation stage takes about six days and they have two large tanks. One tank is filling while the other is fermenting. Then one is emptied ready for refilling, while the other one starts its six day fermentation.

Distillation

The next stage is distillation. This is where the rum is concentrated in the still until it reaches 75 per cent proof. If it isn’t the right concentration the first time, it goes back through until it is. The fire under this boiler is heated by wood. The wood comes from all over the small island of Grenada. Basically, if you want a tree chopped down, you call out the brewery people and they come do it and take the wood away for their still.

Bottling

Once the rum is 75 per cent proof, it’s ready for bottling. They also dilute some down to 69 per cent proof for visitors that want to take a bottle home with them (you can’t export 75 per cent proof). We then got to sample a little of the finished product. It will really blow your socks off. Alternatively, you might want to try the rum punch which is a mere 20 per cent proof.

Tartan Rug From Buyakilt.com

February 5, 2014 by Erica Hughes 2 Comments

It’s lovely to review a product that you can use every day and that provides a little, affordable luxury into everyday life. As I write this piece I have my Ramsay Blue Tartan Blanket Rug tucked around my legs keeping me cosy and warm in my rather draughty, Edwardian house.

As you can see it’s a handsome looking rug made from 100% pure, new wool and produced to a high quality standard. It measures 5 foot by 6 foot approximately, which is a good size for snuggling up on the sofa, as a throw or a picnic blanket come the summer. The fringed edges add a nice decorative touch too. The blanket is priced at £25.20 currently which is good value for a top quality product. The other good news is that readers of A Little Luxury For Me can get a reduced price by using a special discount code for buyakilt of luxury10. This buyakilt voucher code will get you 10% off any of the products on the buyakilt.com website. Buyakilt.com are a Scottish Highland dress supplier and stock a wide range of products from kilts to hats, shoes to scarves.

Gone Crabbing

January 10, 2014 by Erica Hughes 54 Comments

Have you come across Gone Crabbing before? If not, you should really visit their website or if you are in East Anglia they have shops in Burnham Deepdale and Southwold. I really wish there was a shop closer to us as they look like amazing places to browse and are full of the most vibrant colours. Gone Crabbing is a family run business set up by Susie Mason in 2008. Many of the designs are inspired by Susie’s home county of Norfolk and her memories of going crabbing as a child.

We’ve been trying out these great oven gloves from Gone Crabbing. I’m a bit fussy when it comes to oven gloves: they need to be well padded (don’t want any nasty hot shocks) and they need to be flexible enough for me to be able to hold things easily. I’m pleased to report that these Great British Dishes Double Oven Gloves score highly on both counts. They’re made in the UK from 100% cotton drill and have a fun prin,t with the names of various British culinary favourites like roast beef, haggis and yorkshire pudding plus a few rareties like Cullen Skink (does anyone know what that is?).

As well as the oven gloves, we’ve been trying out some of the products with a sailing motif. I’m loving the colours and the simple shapes of the sailing boats upon the sea. The Gone Sailing tea towel is a top quality product made from 100% cotton and it has even got its own hanging loop. If you have a boat, this would be the perfect tea towel for your galley or it can add a nautical theme to your kitchen. Our Sailing Mug is very sweet and much sought after in our house. Good news too that it is dishwasher safe and made from bone china.

Radical Skincare Review and Giveaway

January 10, 2014 by Erica Hughes 332 Comments

Over the last few weeks I’ve been trying out Radical Skincare’s Age-Defying Exfoliating Pads. Radical Skincare was set up by two sisters and they set out to create strong skincare products that are very potent. The packaging is kept simple and stylish to allow the money to be spent in the bottle (or in this case the jar).

Radical Skincare using Trylacel Technology which combines multiple antioxidants, anti-aging ingredients and soothing ingredients for sensitive skins. To use the exfoliating pads, you need to cleanse your face first. Then you use a single pad over your face, neck and décolleté. My skin has been very happy to get this treatment. It’s become clear to me that I’m not cleansing quite as effectively as I thought as some dirt is coming off on the pad. My skin feels soft and smooth after use and I hope it’s making me look a little younger. One thing to be sure of though is that you must close the jar properly after use.

For readers of A Little Luxury For Me, we have a jar of Radical Skincare’s Age-Defying Exfoliating Pads to give away. Entry is via rafflecopter.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Competition Terms and Conditions

1. No bulk, third party or automated entries.

2. Entrants must be UK residents aged 18 years or older.

3. The winners will be chosen by a random draw.

4. The winner will be notified by email and will have a week to claim their prize. Should they fail to respond within this time, an alternative winner will be selected.

5. Promoter is responsible for fulfilling the prize and full contact details of the winner will be passed onto the promoter.

6. Competition closes on 25 January 2014.

Ice Cream’s Not Just For Summer

December 30, 2013 by Erica Hughes 2 Comments

Ice cream doesn’t just have to be a summer treat. For me it’s something to be enjoyed all year round. After a heavy winter’s meal, it’s the ideal sweet to finish off a special meal as it can slip down the edges as it were. It also provides the perfect foil for a hot dessert like a treacle tart or a chocolate fondant pudding. Or team it up with a hot chocolate sauce or even a add it to a hot chocolate drink for a touch of luxury. For me though, I think I like ice cream best served simply, with just a few sprinkles and additions to add a little visual interest and the odd taste sensation.

Here’s my take on a simple, everyday little luxury dessert. I’ve used Kelly’s Clotted Cream Ice Cream which is smooth and creamy. It just tastes like a Cornish summer. I’ve added a few chocolate chunks and finished off with some golden sprinkles. I’ve served the ice cream fairly soft, as I think this is less of a shock in the mouth during the winter. It’s easier to taste all the flavours when the chill has been taken off a bit too.

Sugar And Crumbs

December 23, 2013 by Erica Hughes 2 Comments

Sugar and Crumbs sent me some of their flavoured icing sugars and cocoa powder to try out. They offer a wide range of 24 naturally flavoured icing sugars and 5 cocoa powders. Using flavoured icing sugars and cocoa powders is a quick and easy to add depth of flavour or even just a hint of a taste to your baking.

I tried making chocolate fairy cakes with the chocolate orange cocoa powder. I made them in the normal way (taking out a little flour from the recipe and substituting cocoa powder). To decorate them I decided to keep it simple and just dusted them with the orange zest flavoured icing sugar. The cakes had a definite and very pleasant chocolate orange flavour. We found adding a chocolate orange segment to the top worked a treat too.

I’d certainly used flavoured cocoa powders or sugars in the future and I found that a little goes a long way so you can use them to make quite a few cakes. There’s a wide range of flavours to choose from and there’s bound to something that appeals to you.

Hotel Chocolat Sleekster Classic Christmas Selection

December 22, 2013 by Erica Hughes 2 Comments

The Sleekster Classic Christmas Selection made its way to our house the other week. It’s made by Hotel Chocolat who make the most exquisite, luxury chocolates and it’s part of their latest seasonal collection for Christmas 2013. As you can see it comes in a lovely box that would be very welcome addition to just about anybody’s present pile.

The fun thing about the Sleekster Classic Christmas Selection is that the Christmas theme continues inside the box. There’s a wonderful array to choose from a full menu card so you can pick out the ones that appeal most:

Chambord Royale -A real Champagne truffle blended with black raspberry liqueur.
Christmas Mess – Fabulously fruity cranberry ganache and strawberry mousse with meringue sprinkles.
Cranberry Cup – Invigoratingly tangy cranberries blended in a more-cocoa white chocolate ganache.
Rum Punch -A creamy milk truffle with ginger and orange and lashings of premium Jamaican rum.
Nutmeg & Almond Praline -A creamy milk truffle with ginger and orange and lashings of premium Jamaican rum.
White Chocolate & Vanilla Bell – Cast in our exquisitely creamy more-cocoa white chocolate with vanilla essence and seeds.
Dark Christmas Tree – Cast in our classically smooth dark chocolate with deep aromas and punchy cocoa notes. This was one of my personal favourites and they look just like a Christmas tree too.
50% Milk Bauble – Deeply chocolaty but still gorgeously milky – made with less sugar and more cocoa. A good one for children if you feel able to share.
Pistachio Praline Crunch – Pistachio praline with cherry pieces and a hint of rose crowned with a whole pistachio nut.
Mulled Port – A deliciously warming truffle with our own ruby port, spiced with Pimento leaf and bitter orange.
Marzipan & Amaretto Truffle – Fine almond marzipan softened with a splash of mellow amaretto. A big hit with the husband who is known for his fondness of amaretto.
Caramel Supernova – A star of oozingly soft caramel paired with our 70% dark chocolate.
Praline Crisp Star – A rewarding contrast of smooth, mellow praline and masses of nibbly feuilletine.

Beech’s Chocolate Brazils

December 20, 2013 by Erica Hughes 3 Comments

Until a couple of weeks ago I’d never heard of Beech’s Fine Chocolates. Beech’s have been makers of traditional British chocolates since 1920, so they are a long-established firm. They sell chocolates both under their own brand and on own labels for well-known retailers. Beech’s retain traditional manufacturing methods fo the most part and use natural ingredients. It’s good to know that they don’t use any artificial colours and flavours.

I was sent some of Beech’s Chocolate Brazil’s to try out. Beech’s use whole Brazil nuts of the highest quality from South America. I can vouch for this because the nuts were large and tasty. The nuts are coated in a double layer of thick chocolate which helps seal in the crispness of each nut and aims it in retaining its full natural flavour. The chocolate is of a high quality too and the double layer means that you get enough chocolate to provide a perfect balance between nut and chocolate.

They offer dark chocolate and milk chocolate options. I prefered the dark chocolate, partly because I think it provides a better partnership with the Brazil nuts and partly because I just love dark chocolate. Both varieties are available in pack sizes of 90g, 140g and 260g. I was very impressed with the quality of Beech’s Chocolate Brazils and I’ll certainly be looking out for Beech’s Chocolates in the future.

Like A Woman In A Jewellery Shop

December 18, 2013 by Erica Hughes 4 Comments

One of my favourite shops is jewellery shop called The Jewellery Stop. They’ve a few branches dotted around the Midlands, but I tend to shop in their Kings Heath store as that’s the closest to me. It’s an Aladdin’s cave of jewel like colours with plenty of choice and a selection of items in just about every colour imaginable.

So when Barclaycard got in touch and asked if I’d like to spend some money in a local shop to illustrate the benefits of their Freedom Rewards Card, there was no holding me back. The idea behind Barclaycard’s Freedom Rewards Card is that it’s a card that lets you earn points no matter where you spend your money. Unlike other loyalty cards, the Freedom Rewards card literally rewards every single purchase, so whether you’re at your favourite independent retailer, are buying gifts from a unique craft shop or are buying a round of drinks at your local pub, you can be earning points. In addition, you have the potential to earn double and triple points with major retailers.

I decided that I would splash out on a few items to take with me on the Caribbean cruise that we are going on in the new year. As well as jewellery, The Jewellery Stop has a wonderful array of floaty scarves to choose from. Again they are displayed in colour order which not only looks wonderful, but makes it very easy to find what you want. I picked out a gorgeous, crinkly, silk scarf to provide an extra touch of warmth in the evenings and a bit of upper arm coverage. To team up with this, I picked out a bronze coloured flower brooch to help hold the scarf in position and to really make a feature of scarf. I’m looking forward to wearing it especially on one of the formal nights that we will be having.

I didn’t want to leave the shop though, without picking out one of the stunning necklaces to add to my little collection of The Jewellery Stop pieces. My eye was soon drawn to a gorgeous, purple necklace with multiple stones which suited me very well. Purple is one of my ‘colours’ and I only had a rather delicate purple necklace, but this one provides a lot more impact in colour terms. So now I’ve some lovely accessories to take with me on my cruise and to help me ring the changes with the limited wardrobe that I’ll be able to take with me.

Nano-B Toothbrush

December 17, 2013 by Erica Hughes 4 Comments

Recently I heard about the Nano-B toothbrush. I thought it sounded interesting, so now me and my husband are trying them out.

So far 15 months of research and development have been invested to get the Nano-B toothbrush just right. The self-sterilizing bristles are impregnated with nano-size particles of gold and silver and the scientifically rounded tips are designed to protect the gums from scratches and cuts.

So my husband has been trying out the silver toothbrush which has higher anti-bacterial properties. He’s had more problems with his teeth over the years than I have and it’s important that he keeps his teeth clean.

My teeth on the other hand are very good. My only issue is that they do have a tendency to get a bit stained. It’s red wine and cups of tea. The gold toothbrush incorporates bamboo charcoal to help with staining, so I’m trying out those. I’ve taken this selfie to act as a base line. So far, after about a month of use, we are happy using our toothbrushes. I’m pleased that my increased tea intake (it is winter after all) hasn’t led to yellower teeth. I’ll report back on progress in the future as this is a long-term trial. Next month I have a visit to the dentist booked, so it will be interesting to see what he has to say.