Denhay West Country Bacon

Denhay West Country Dry Cured Bacon

When you buy bacon in the supermarket, do you ever stop and think about the pig and how it was treated?

Do you search through the packs for the nicest looking meat without too much fat for the best price?

When cooking your bacon do you get a white scum forming on the meat that you have to scrape off?

Denhay Bacon is from welfare assured British outdoor reared pigs. The company are RSPCA monitored and are part of the Freedom Food scheme.

Denhay bacon is dry-cured, they use sea salt to bring out the natural flavour of the bacon without it being too salty. The taste is divine as you know the meat has been allowed to mature slowly without being forced for mass production.

What you see if what you get, there is no water added to Denhay bacon. This way the fat in the pan is directly from the meat, there is no white scud as its all natural pork fat with no water or bulking agents.

Denhay Dry Cured Bacon is available in both Back and Streaky, Smoked and Unsmoked and medium sliced. They pay a lot of attention to their product, packaging and prices.

This meat isn't the bacon you buy from your local supermarket, it is tender and wholesome. This bacon tastes like bacon is supposed to taste like, which makes a darn good bacon sarnie if I do say so myself.

Use Denhays award winning bacon in a recipe, don't just grill/fry it and slap it between two slices of bread. For example:

West Country Bacon Bruschetta

INGREDIENTS
* 150g Denhay Dry Cured back bacon
* 170g fresh garlic loaf
* 1 thinly sliced tomato
* 1 thinly sliced mushroom
* 1 finely chopped spring onion
* 25g grated Denhay Farmhouse Cheddar
* 2.5ml dried mixed herbs

METHOD
Preheat the oven to 200C (gas mark 6). Cut the bread into marked slices and place on a baking tray. Arrange slices of tomato, mushroom and onion on the bread. Cut the bacon slices length ways and place 1/2 rashers on each bread slice. Sprinkle with cheese and herbs. Place in the oven for 10 minutes or until the bacon is cooked and the cheese has melted. Serve as a snack or light lunch with a large tomato salad.

Cooking Time: Approximately 10 minutes

To learn more about Denhay's farm and their farming techniques which produce such high quality meat and cheese please visit their website: http://www.denhay.co.uk/

For further information about their bacon and links with the RSPCA please visit: http://www.spoiltpig.co.uk/

I found their bacon gorgeous, it was tasty without being fatty. You could taste the meat and the smokiness of the smoked variety. Each pack was fresh and well presented, you could tell that only the best cuts had gone into the pack.

Knowing that the pigs had had a good life without being caged has certainly shown me the difference in texture and taste of the meat produced.

Melvita Skincare

Melvita Young Skincare Range

Emma (9) has child acne, at times it dies down but sometimes her skin is really really red and sore. Around her nose it looks like her skin is burnt and enflamed, luckily the kids at school don't seem to notice her skin or say anything to her and so it doesn't seem to bother Emma either.

We have been using Melvita products from their Young Skincare Range.

Because adolescence is often a difficult time, Melvita has developed a complete range of targeted skincare treatments specially suited to young skin. Melvita offers 7 skincare products formulated with a minimum of 30% organic ingredients and with effective natural active extracts to provide a solution to acne prone skin. All Melvita Young Skin products contain a key ingredient: BIRCH SAP.

I was a little apprehensive about 'Birch Sap' as it sounds a little hocus pocus'y "eye of newt, tongue of a dragon, sap from a young silver birch' etc.... but when the products arrived they looked very posh!

We followed Melvita's 123 Plan and first cleansed with their Cleansing Foaming Gel. I purposely haven't followed the plan using ALL the products as Emma is very young and I didn't want to 'over wash' her skin. So we have only used 3 of the range on the website.

The Cleansing Gel which is great as it foams up, this is good as it means Emma can spread it on to her face herself. The Cleansing Gel contains: Birch sap, Lavender and Zinc.

This foaming gel combines:
√ regenerating, purifying properties of Zinc lactate and Lavender

√ powerful purifying qualities of Tea Tree

√ moisturising and softening Birch sap and Witch Hazel

Its a nice cleaning product, gentle on young skin and cleans well, you only need one pump of gel to wash your whole face, the product lasts ages. After use Emma's skin was quite matt ready for the next product.

We next used the Sebum Balancing Fluid. This is a very light moisturiser which helps to control the production of sebum. With Emma being young she gets a lot of nasty white spots which then turn to blackheads, this moisturiser can control this and also give her skin the nourishment it needs to heal itself. The fluid contains: Moisturising Birch sap, Yogurt, Willow and Boswellia.

√ is light, non-greasy

√ moisturises

√ helps balance oil production

√ is non-comedogenic

√ is designed specifically for skin that suffers from temporary blemishes

Emma's skin doctor advised her to use products that are non-comedogenic so its great that this moisturiser is ... if you look in your local supermarket it is very hard to find branded products that are non-comedogenic.

We liked this fluid, it has an easy 1 pump bottle where one squirt is enough to cover Emma's face. It is also very hygienic as you don't have to scoop the lotion out of a jar or bottle .. it is self contained and sealed.

The Anti-blemish Roll-on for Targeted Action, is actually my favourite. Containing Rosewood, Tea Tree, Schizandra and Tepescohuite it smells very very strong and rolls straight onto problem areas.

IF you put this onto broken skin you will know it!! Also any sore spots (where you have picked them!) will sting like crazy if you roll this product onto them.

This quick-dry formulation combines:
√ purifying essential oils of Tea Tree, Cistus, Sage, Lavender, Lime, Rose wood, Peppermint
√ repairing properties of Schisandra berries, Tepescohuite bark and Propolis
√ comforting qualities of Ginger and Birch sap

I found that it almost dried out Emma's spots, however we found it quite hard to roll-on as you couldn't tell if any had actually come out as you rolled.
A good product, I even used it myself a couple of times. You can also use it underneath make-up.

We liked Melvita's Young Skincare Range. I cannot say that they cleared up Emma's spots as they didn't but they have lessened the troublesome areas and controlled her blackheads a little.

Well worth a look as the products are packaged in colourful packaging that will look good in any ones bathroom regardless of age.

Cleansing Foaming Gel: £12 for 200ml
Sebum Balancing Fluid: £16 for 50ml
Anti-blemish Roll-On: £10 for 5.5ml

All products plus more! Available from http://uk.melvita.com

Ecover

Ecover - Powered By Nature

Cleaning experts Ecover are powered by nature to offer a wide range of highly effective and ecological cleaning products which cater for your every summer cleaning need. From ground-in dirt on your favourite t-shirt, stubborn stains on your kitchen floor, tough grease on your BBQ or a dirty car or bike; Ecover has an effective ecological solution for all your cleaning needs.

Ecover uses sustainable plant-based and mineral ingredients, all of which are chosen to ensure Ecover’s products are effective and tough on dirt.

Now I must admit .. I was always a little suspect about Ecover's claims about cleaning, I saw the products in the shops but never actually purchased any, how wrong was I !!

As with all new products I always worry about how my skin and my families skin will react to the products, especially with washing liquids and softeners. I am allergic to most washing-up liquids and Andy is terrible with certain brands of clothes washing products. I am pleased to announce that none of us had any kind of reaction to Ecover - any type!

Ecover's washing-up liquid took quite a bit of liquid to get a good amount of washing bubbles (a good squeeze), but once in the water and bubbly it cleaned our dishes really well. The glasses came out shiny and it seemed to shift dried on food as good as any other leading brands.

The non-bubbly effect is actually on purpose by Ecover, apparently other brands use foam boosters that are full of chemicals to make all the white foam, they have no extra cleaning effect and are harmful to the environment - hence why Ecover leave them out.

For stained coffee mugs I found it worked best with really hot water, I ran it hot then left mugs to soak for a while. All stained wiped off easily with a sponge, no scrubbing.

The fragrance was also very pleasant and my hands felt soft after use and not dried out. I had no rashes at all with Ecover so I was really pleased.

Available in 3 fresh fragrances: Lemon and Aloe Vera, Chamomile and Marigold, and Grapefruit and Green Tea just one squeeze is enough for a whole sink full of dirty dishes to be left sparkling clean.

RRP £1.30 (500ml)

Ecover's laundry products also surprised me, they cleaned well with a nice fragrance and didn't leave the washing machine drawer all scuddy.

All of the ranges are concentrated so you only need a small amount of liquid to wash a full drum of dirty linen. The cap doubles as a measuring device so you can be sure to use the correct amount each wash - no more hunting round for a scoop or in wash liquid holder.

Offering exceptional washing results, even at low temperatures; more washes per bottle; 54% less packaging per wash and 68% less transport miles, Ecover’s powerful concentrates mean you can tackle your dirty laundry with an even cleaner conscience this summer.

The softener was also of high quality, it was creamy and luxurious. After the wash had finished and clothes dried you could still smell the freshness of the conditioner fragrance. The clothes felt soft when dry, I used a tumble dryer for all our washing so I cannot comment on how they feel after being on the line.

Ecover Concentrated Bio Laundry RRP £5.69 (500ml)
Ecover Concentrated Non Bio Laundry RRP £5.69 (500ml)
Ecover Delicate RRP £2.06 (500ml)
Ecover Under the Sun Fabric Softener RRP £1.99 (500ml)

All I can say about the Multi Surface Cleaner is WOW!

We brought a caravan the other week and I used the multi surface cleaner to give the whole van a good wipe round. It didn't knock me out with strong chemical smells and I used it on all surfaces - even the outside of the caravan and the windows (it did say 'multi-surface').

It cleaned really really well, all sticky marks disappeared with not much scrubbing effort and the sink and shower tray came up lovely. It made light work of the cooker hob and also took care of a small patch of mould on the fridge door.

I was really impressed, I have even left it in the caravan to use while on the go as it won't overwhelm us with fumes like other brands.

Ecover Multi Surface Spray Cleaner RRP £2.84 (500ml)

All-in-all I was really impressed with the whole Ecover range of cleaning products. The washing-up liquid is definitely on my list for the future and the multi surface spray is the best I have ever used.

My rating: 10/10

Lovea Bio L'Argan

Lovea Bio l'Argan

This shampoo is from their Bio range, the type I am reviewing is dedicated to 'Shine'. The special Organic Moroccan Argan Oil formulation brings health and vitality to dull and lifeless hair.

It is a clear shampoo with a lovely fragrance, it is quite runny and so runs through your fingers while you are quickly trying to out it onto your wet hair, but a little does go a long way.

The foamyness is smooth and silky, lathers up well and washes out quickly. My hair felt very clean but I do not use products (gel, sprays, etc...) and so it is quite easy to wash, I would think though that it would cut through products and give a good deep clean for all hair types.

Shine wise I didn't see a difference until I had used it a few times, it was actually a colleague that commented when the sun caught my highlights, I couldn't personally see any difference myself.

It is a nice shampoo, not the sort that I would buy and use daily (as I am a supermarket type of girl) but nice as a a treat. Would be great in a set with shower gel and conditioner as a gift.

Available from
http://www.mypure.co.uk/lovea-b136?utm_source=Blogging&utm_medium=May2010&utm_campaign=LoveaShampoo

http://www.lovea.fr/

Kosmea Eighth Natural Wonder

Kosmea Eighth Natural Wonder Revitalising Facial Serum

My first impression was that the tube of cream looks really really posh, its like a mini pump bottle with lots of silver making the dispenser look very swish and snazzy.

It didn't take much of initial pumping for the cream to dispense either which was positive ... one pump gives a good amount of cream, enough for your whole facial area as the cream smoothes really well and give good coverage.

The colour of the cream is slightly off-white yellow, I personally am not keen as I prefer creams to be white and pure looking. I am under artificial light though and so that may be where the yellow tint comes from so please forgive me if the colouring is different under natural light.

Basically Kosmea Eighth Natural Wonder is an age-defying, antioxidant which has the ability to 'freeze' fine lines and facial wrinkles. It gives a radiant glow like a mini face lift using natural ingredients. The two main ingredients are hibiscus extract which is used to combat fine lines and organic rose hip oil to give your face an instant lift and glow.

Combined with green tea extract, rosewood and geranium these all help with their own properties such as anti-aging and replenish and revitalising.

So how do you use it? After cleansing in the morning pop some onto your facial skin, you can use it under other Kosmea creams if your skin requires extra hydration, if not then on its own if fine.
At night you should not need any extra moisturisers as this is the time to let Kosmea Eighth Wonder do its magic.

I however do not like the fragrance of the cream, on first application it smells like paint drying, then as the initial powerful fragrance has disappeared you can smell the essential oils that are combined to make the properties of the cream. I don't like it, its not my personal cup-of-tea ... but every ones senses are different.

Suitable for all skin types, but do do a small skin test before smothering your face in it (as you would any product).

http://www.mypure.co.uk/kosmea-b142?utm_source=Blogging&utm_medium=May2010&utm_campaign=Kosmea8thDay

http://www.kosmea.com/

Rachel's

Rachel's Organic

Whenever I go to food shows , Rachel's always has a really busy stand... people can purchase yogurts, chilled desserts and children's products then collect them in little chilled bags later in the day. Now I will admit that I always thought that queueing to buy yogurt was a little odd but now that I have tasted Rachel's products I can understand why people queue.Have you seen the adverts where they eat a well known cereal with different toppings everyday? Well whenever they use products other than milk I used to cry out "Uurgghhh!".

Rachel's have produced a 'Pouring Yogurt', its like a regular yogurt except it is slightly thinner and runnier ... this helps it to soak into the cereal (or whatever you want to pour it onto) and give good cover.

Now don't think that they have just added a bit more milk to make it so it pours, they haven't ... it still has a yogurt consistency and smooth punchy flavour.

Pouring yogurt is available in 3 flavours: Natural, Hint of Strawberry and Hint of Honey. All 3 flavours are low-fat and totally organic. The pouring yogurt has a natural sweetness in the 'hint of' flavours and so extra sugar or sweetener is not needed.

Rachel's Pouring Yogurt is available from Tesco, look out for offers.

Rachel's Organic Low Fat yogurts are creamy, filling and very very moreish. My favourite from the 6 flavours available is the mango, pineapple and passion fruit (see image above), it is very creamy and thick which surprised me, being a 'low-fat' yogurt I expected it to be a bit wishy-washy when it is a very fruity thick yogurt.

One word of warning though, if you have no self control buy the smaller pots (single serving) and not the large 3 serving size ... yes they are 'low-fat' but eating a whole pot to yourself in one serving and then feeling quite sick (own fault!) kind of defeats the object.

Some people eat a lot of Organic Natural yogurt, I personally do not like it on its own as a yogurt but I do like to use it in recipes. Rachel's organic natural yogurt was particularly good to cook with. The natural yogurt spooned out of the container easily and mixed well to combine with other ingredients.


Fluffy Yogurt Scones Recipe

The scones rise up nice and fluffy due to the yogurt. The golden raisins lend a touch of sweetness. Try experimenting with other fruits instead of the raisins such as cherries and blueberries.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients:
•8 ounces (225g) white all-purpose flour or fine wholemeal (wheat) flour
•2 teaspoons baking powder
•1/4 teaspoon salt
•1 ounce (25 g/2 tablespoons) golden granulated sugar
•2 ounces (50g) butter, cut into small pieces
•3 ounces (75g) sultanas (white raisins) (optional)
•4 to 5 fl ounces (125-150ml)Rachel's Natural Yogurt
•For the glaze:
•A little of the Rachel's Natural Yogurt
•Golden granulated sugar

Preparation:
Preheat the oven to Gas No. 7 (425 degrees F./220 degrees C.).

Line a baking sheet with silicone or parchment paper.

Sift together the flour, baking powder, salt, and sugar. Rub in the butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. (This can be done using the pulse action in a food processor, or in a mixer.) Turn into a bowl, stir in the sultanas, make a well and add the yogurt, then mix with a knife to a soft non-sticky dough.

Turn it out on to a lightly floured board and knead gently for 30 seconds to smooth the underside. Roll out the dough 1/2 inch (1.25 cm) thick and cut it into 10-12 rounds with a pastry-cutter.

Place the scones on the baking sheet and brush with yogurt. Scatter with sugar and bake for 12-15 minutes, until they begin to brown on the top. Cool and then eat or freeze (up to three months).

Yield: 10 to 12 scones

Rachel's Greek Style yogurt is spot-on when it comes to smooth, flavoursome taste. They come in different sized serving pots (single and 3 servings 150g pots), there are also 4 different flavours to choose from: Honey, Coconut, Cherry and Natural.

Emma loved the coconut yogurt, it has tiny bits of coconut in it with a light coconut flavour. I'm personally not that keen on coconut so I had a little taste, then Emma finished off the rest of the pot.

I did however tuck into the honey Greek Style yogurt, it was quite sweet and I literally only could eat a proper sized portion (unlike the low-fat variety).

All in all I am very impressed with Rachel's Organic Yogurts. They are tasty, filling, fruit and adaptable to different tastes and needs. They have differentiated their products to suit diets, styles, trends and even make products especially for children.

Rachel's have their own facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rachels-Official-Fan-Page/332480254815

For more information about products and the company please visit: http://www.rachelsorganic.co.uk/

Peugeot - Call to action competition

From 6 May to 5 October 2010, Peugeot will be inviting Internet users to give us their ideas for the car of tomorrow on the interactive www.new-peugeot.com website. In photos, texts and videos, the public can choose their own way of expressing their view of the automobile as a true space for living, sharing and feeling.
The best entries will win novel prizes including preview road tests of the 508 or VIP week-ends at the Le Mans 24 hour race.

Internet users will be asked to share their desires through six emotionally expressive themes:

Performance: powerful emotions are the best drivers of performance. By sharing their strongest sporting moments, Internet users will have a chance to win a VIP week-end at the Le Mans 24 hour race.

Environment: the most beautiful feelings inspired by the natural world will win Peugeot 200th anniversary Collector’s Edition bicycles.

Emotions: contestants are invited to describe memorable emotions inspired by creative design. Participants can win a road-test of the new Peugeot 508.

Movement: catching and communicating the vibrations of the city will give contestants a chance to win MU by Peugeot mobility units.

Connectivity: the outside world and its technologies have taken up residence in the car. Fans of unlimited connectivity will have the chance to win a customised iPad.

Vision: unusual holiday incidents, or fond memories of tender or hilarious moments, could open the doors to a VIP preview of the Paris Motor Show.

Lots of prizes and a great opportunity - enter now !!

(This is a sponsored post)