I was walking past my parent’s house and this lily of the valley plant caught my eye in their front garden. The sunlight had caught it and was highlighting the leaves making them appear variegated.
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Tesco Finest Pizza Review
I absolutely adore pizza, and there are countless reasons why it holds a special place in my heart. First and foremost, the flavors and variety that pizza offers are simply unparalleled. From the classic margherita with its harmonious blend of fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, and basil, to the indulgent combination of pepperoni, mushrooms, and gooey melted cheese, every bite is a burst of pure culinary bliss.
The versatility of pizza is another reason why I find it so irresistible. Whether I’m in the mood for a thin and crispy crust or a thick, doughy one, pizza caters to my cravings perfectly. It accommodates all sorts of dietary preferences and restrictions, allowing me to experiment with different toppings, sauces, and cheese types. It’s a canvas for endless creativity, and I can personalize it to suit my tastes or explore new and exciting flavor combinations.
One of the things I love most about pizza is its ability to bring people together. Whether it’s a casual get-together with friends, a family gathering, or a celebratory occasion, pizza has a way of creating a convivial atmosphere. Sharing a pizza with loved ones, each grabbing a slice and engaging in lively conversation, forms lasting memories and strengthens bonds.
Moreover, pizza possesses a timeless quality that transcends cultural and geographical boundaries. It is cherished worldwide, from the traditional Neapolitan-style pizza in Italy to the deep-dish delight in Chicago. Pizza has become an emblem of comfort food, a universal language that connects people from all walks of life.
Tesco Finest have launched a new range of pizzas that are lower in calories. We tried out the Finest Woodfired Chargrilled Pepper and Tomato & Chipotle Chilli Salsa, plus the Finest Woodfired Chicken, Mint & Coriander pizza.
Both pizzas have a stonebaked, woodfired pizza base. The base is made from Italian 00 flour and extra virgin olive oil. The Finest Woodfired Chargrilled Pepper and Tomato & Chipotle Chilli Salsa pizza has a topping of rich tomato sauce (made with San Marzano plum tomatoes), with a tomato and chipotle pepper salsa. Added to that there are chargrilled red and yellow peppers and fresh green chillies for a bit of heat. Meanwhile the Finest Woodfired Chicken, Mint & Coriander pizza also has a San Marzano plum tomato sauce, with marinated chicken pieces on top. Once again, there are chargrilled red and yellow peppers with a mint and coriander, extra virgin olive oil dressing.
The Finest Woodfired Chargrilled Pepper and Tomato & Chipotle Chilli Salsa pizza was nicely spicy. This was my favourite of the two that we tested. I’m a bit of a lightweight in the spice department and for me this was as spicy as I like it, without being dull or insipid. My husband (R) tried it too and he liked it. The Finest Woodfired Chicken, Mint & Coriander pizza was less of a success. I served this up to us two adults, my son (6) and his friend (also 6). I wasn’t very keen on the combination of mint and pizza and neither were the boys. R enjoyed it though.
As I’m trying to cut back a little on the calories at the moment, the fact that these Finest pizzas were lower in calories was a real plus for me.
I think though that my favourite pizza comes from Pizza Express, in fact the Etna pizza from Pizza Express is my all time favourite.
Ashby De La Zouch Arts Festival
Plum Blossom
#FreeYourFeet Challenge – Studio Beat Sandals From Clarks
I’m taking part in the #freeyourfeet challenge competition from Clarks. They sent me a pair of their Studio Beat sandals to team up with an outfit of my choice.
Hopefully, you can see from the photos they are metallic gold coloured sandals with metal trims. They have a T bar design with the stalk of the T being a woven look strap, which is accented by a sleek gold chain. Fastening round your ankle with a buckled strap, which you can adjust to fit. I really like the fact that the metallic gold colour and the design dresses up any outfit, but the practical side of me loves the flat sole which means that I can wear them for the school run or for a day’s sightseeing on holiday. Clarks’ Softwear Technology makes them easy and comfortable to wear too.
Because these Studio Beat sandals dress up an outfit so easily, I’ve teamed them up with dark indigo skinny jeans. I liked the contrast of colour between the dark blue of the jeans and the gold of the sandals. On top I’ve gone for a print tunic top which the sandals easily hold their own against. This is the perfect outfit for a little everyday glamour in late spring.
The Ready To Enjoy Range from The Saucy Fish Co.
Recently I was sent some samples from The Ready To Enjoy Range by The Saucy Fish Co. to review. There are four flavours in the Ready To Enjoy Range: Roasted Sweet Chilli Salmon with Tomato and Chilli Chutney, Smoked Salmon with Sticky Maple Dressing, Roasted Lemon and Herb Salmon with Sicilian Lemon and Dill Mayonnaise and Steamed Salmon with Lime and Coriander Dressing.
When The Saucy Fish Co. say they are ready to enjoy, they aren’t exaggerating. You can serve them up straight from the pack if you want. Alternatively if you prefer, you can heat them up. Either way they’re very easy. You just take them out of the packaging (heat on a baking tray in the oven if you want to) and add the dressing or sauce to serve.
Ready meals can often be dull, uninspired and unhealthy, but the Ready to Enjoy range breaks that mould. There are strong flavours like the Roasted Sweet Chilli Salmon with Tomato and Chilli Chutney which is really gutsy. The Roasted Lemon and Herb Salmon with Sicilian Lemon and Dill Mayonnaise variety really packed a punch too. They are a great way to get in one of your portions of oily fish too. The pack of two fillets is the perfect size if you are eating alone, in a bit of a hurry, or don’t want to bother with lots of preparation. The fish is of good quality and all the fillets were very tasty. Sauces too were of a high standard and complimented the salmon nicely.
Tesco Cheese For Entertaining Range Review
We were recently given the chance to try out Tesco’s Cheese For Entertaining Range. This selection features ready to eat or ready to cook products that are perfect if you are hosting a dinner party or have friends for lunch and don’t want to be slaving away in the kitchen.
We tried the Goat’s Cheese and Bacon Parcels. The goat’s cheese discs come wrapped in ultra thin smoked bacon and need pan frying (no need for oil) for a few minutes before serving. They are very tasty with strong flavours that balance each other perfectly. They’d make a lovely starter or light lunch served with a green salad and some good bread.
Next up were the Mature Cheddar Souffles. They come in individual glass dishes. Despite the hearty mature cheddar flavour, the souffle is really very light. They are so easy to cook too. You just need to bring them to room temperature and then cook in a preheated oven.
The third dish we tested was the Mexican Style Monterey Jack Cheese. This is good and spicy (it uses a traditional Mexican blend of spices plus hot chillies) so making it perfect for tortilla wrap filling. This would be good for sharing or as a snack.
The only down side I encountered was that the Tesco Cheese for Entertaining range wasn’t available in my local (quite large) store, but I was able to get it from a Tesco Extra shop.
Clivia Houseplant
My Travel Avenue 32 Wish List
Having just got back from Greece and hoping to do a little more holidaying this year, travel is firmly on my mind. So when I was asked to put together my Avenue 32 Wish List, it was natural to think of focusing on what you need when you get away on holiday.
First things first, you’re going to need something to pack your things in. Making the journey part of the holiday is a great way of extending the benefit of your trip and having nice luggage helps you feel like you’re on your way in style. I like this Biscuit Hold Me Close Holdall. It’s got classic, good looks and is made from high quality leather. How cool would you look arriving at your hotel carrying this beauty?
If I’m only going to pack one swimming costume, I’d probably opt for a one piece. It’s practical for doing some proper swimming and with one as chic as this Roksanda Ilincic Orange Antares Swimsuit, you can count on looking good sunbathing by the pool or on the beach too.
Sunglasses are another must for me. These Cutler and Gross Chocolate Cat Eye Star Sunglasses are particularly elegant and have a slightly retro feel.
Sandals will take you where you want to go on your holiday whether it’s down to the pool, out for drinks or all day sightseeing expeditions. A pair that are pretty, but practical too like these Ancient Greek style sandals suit just about every occasion.
Entertainment, while you travel or while you bask in the sunshine, doesn’t come any better than quality sound by Frends. Frends make headphones with the design and craftsmanship qualities of vintage jewellery, but with modern cutting edge technology. Afterall there’s no reason why your headphones can’t look as good as they sound.
This is a sponsored post.
Dessert Selection
A picture of the dessert selection available daily at the Aquila Porto Hotel, cure Rethymno, Crete.