Heinz Salad Cream with Onion and Chives update

Heinz Salad Cream with Onion & Chives update 

I held a Pampered Chef party at my house for my friends, the host cooked some dishes using recipes from the Pampered Chef programme - while I quickly whipped up an Italian Pasta Salad using Heinz Salad Cream with Onion & Chives.


It was gorgeous!!  The salad cream lightly coated the pasta and gave a light onion bite of flavour.  Teamed with the ingredients my guests were really impressed - plus it looked colourful and tempting to eat.


Unfortunately I had to take some photos with my phone as my husband was away for the weekend and had taken the camera with him - and I can't find the lead to transfer the photos to my blog :(

Italian Pasta Salad



Serves:
4 or Serves 10 as a side salad


Preparation Time:
10 minutes


Cooking Time:
10 minutes


Tip:
Can serve this salad cold, just add
more Heinz salad cream with
onion & chives to taste.




Ingredients:
• 400g penne pasta
• 125g reduced fat mozzarella, torn into pieces
• 150g cherry tomatoes, cut in half
• 20g rocket leaves
• 15g basil leaves, torn
• 50g pitted kalamata black olives,
roughly chopped
• 1/2 red onion, finely chopped
• 4 tbsp Heinz Salad Cream with Onion & Chives (although I didn't measure, I just gave it a good squeeze!).



Method:
Cook the pasta according to the pack instructions.
Meanwhile in a large bowl mix together the mozzarella,
tomatoes, rocket, basil, olives and red onion with
Heinz Salad Cream with Onion & Chives.
Drain the pasta and toss together with the other
ingredients, season well and serve warm.


The recipe was quick and simple to make ... and everyone loved it !!  My mother-in-law has asked for the recipe and even my daughter ate everything except the olives.


I shall definitely be using Heinz Salad Cream with Onion & Chives this summer, great for perking up a salad or oozing over bbq food.


Heinz Salad Cream with Onion & Chives will be available in all major supermarkets for a limited time only this spring

Heinz Salad Cream with Onion & Chives

Heinz Salad Cream with Onion & Chives

Heinz is delighted to announce a new tasty twist on an iconic British favourite - Heinz Salad Cream with Onion & Chives.

The new flavour takes its place in the much loved Heinz Salad Cream line-up, alongside the huge success of Heinz Salad Cream with Lemon and Black Pepper which already has a well deserved spot as a store cupboard staple.

For the launch of this appetizing new addition to the Heinz family, fans are able to create their very own “Ultimate Sandwich” using Heinz Salad Cream with Onion & Chives via an app on the Heinz official facebook page which will go live on the 23^rd February. 

By entering the “Ultimate Sandwich” competition fans will have an exclusive opportunity to go in the draw to win a bottle of the new variety before it is available in the shops. 

Heinz will then take six of the top creations on the road to popular Heinz Salad Cream fan locations around Britain and give the public a chance to buy an ultimate Heinz Salad Cream sandwich. 

I have made a sandwich using the easy instructions - you select the bread you would like, then a meat ingredient, a cheese, up to 3 salads etc..... really simple to do and it actually makes you think 'will these ingredients actually taste nice?'. Then you can name your new creation and share it with your friends .... will you be a winner?

To get a free Heinz Salad Cream with Onion & Chives sandwich, fans simply download a coupon from Facebook and take it along to the nearest Heinz Salad Cream with Onion & Chives sandwich van, this March (See http://www.facebook.com/#!/HeinzSaladCream for more info).

First introduced way back in 1914, Heinz Salad Cream was the first Heinz product to be developed specifically to cater for British tastes. As British tastes have evolved, so too has Heinz Salad Cream, with Heinz launching its first ever variant - the delicious Heinz Salad Cream with Lemon and Black Pepper with its citrusy freshness in September 2010.

Now, brand new flavour innovation Heinz Salad Cream with Onion & Chives has been created to go especially well with cheese or chicken sandwiches and is the perfect accompaniment to a crisp spring salad. 

For more inspiration visit www.heinz.co.uk from March onwards to discover a wealth of delicious recipe ideas to try which are perfect for spring, including chicken and cheese ciabattas, pasta salads and Mediterranean tarts (- all featuring the distinctive flavour of Heinz Salad Cream with Onion & Chives.

Heinz Salad Cream with Onion & Chives will be available in all major supermarkets for a limited time only this spring, Heinz Salad Cream with Onion & Chives will be stocked in Morrisons and J Sainsbury’s from March and all other major retailers from April 2012 - don’t miss out!

For more details of the ultimate sandwich challenge for the launch of Heinz Salad Cream with Onion & Chives visit http://www.facebook.com/#!/HeinzSaladCream

Fancy a bit of cake?

Yummy things from Lou’s kitchen

Baby Shower Cupcakes

Cakes available to order for all occasions.

Please take a look at Louise's cake baking blog to see the fabulous creations she can do with cakes!

Special Girly Cupcakes

Louise is open to suggestions too, so if you have a design or event in mind, please drop her an email and she will discuss ideas and prices with you.

Scrumptious Coffee Cake

Louise is based in Luton, Bedfordshire.

For more information and contact details please visit: 

http://lou-bakes.blogspot.com/

Owen Potts Sauces and Condiments

DISCOVER THE SAUCE OF GREAT FOOD

A NEW RANGE OF SAUCES AND CONDIMENTS FROM OWEN POTTS

Those on the look-out for a helping hand in the kitchen need look no further, thanks to the launch of a brand new range of top-quality sauces and condiments from Owen Potts – undoubtedly the food industry’s best kept secret!

A genuine culinary expert, Owen has been developing products behind the scenes for years – if you’ve ever bought a gourmet salad dressing, luxury sauce, chutney or condiment, you’ve more than likely already tasted one of Owen’s creations.

With his delicious new quick to cook range, you can add some flair to your cooking, bring a little something extra to everyday meals or introduce a touch of indulgence to special occasion dining – safe in the knowledge you’re in the hands of a real food guru.

The Owen Potts range uses the very best, natural ingredients sourced from around the world, and includes everything from store cupboard essentials such as chicken gravy and steak sauce, to classic recipes with a unique twist, such as a mouth-watering cranberry sauce infused with honey, a great-tasting mustard sauce with hints of tarragon and a delectable Spanish dressing blended with roasted peppers and pimenton.

The delicious store cupboard range – with a product suitable for every occasion – will be available in most major supermarkets this winter. 

I am looking forward to trying the Honey Cranberry Sauce with my turkey on Christmas Day, I sometimes find cranberry sauce a bit sharp and tarty so hopefully as honey has been added it should be a little sweeter and smoother, a perfect combination for our turkey and trimmings.

Also in the new year the first BBQ will spark up (we have BBQ'd in Jan before... as we are odd!), I can't wait to test Owen Potts' Maple Chipotle Barbeque & Grilling Sauce out on some chops.  I know I could use the grill but the BBQ gives a more authentic taste.

The lead products in the Owen Potts range are:

Maple and Chipotle Barbecue and Grilling Sauce – RRP £2.29

Chicken Gravy with White Wine and Thyme – RRP £1.99

Steak Sauce – RRP £2.29

Spanish Dressing with Roasted Red Peppers and Pimenton – RRP £2.39

Honey Cranberry Sauce – RRP £1.89

Mustard and Tarragon Sauce – RRP £1.80

The Owen Potts range is currently available in Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Asda and Booths, with RRPs ranging from £1.65 to £2.39.  

Whitworths Christmas Cake Kit

Whitworths Christmas Cake Baking Kit

Christmas Cake is like Marmite - either you love it or you hate it, I 'like' Christmas Cake, its not my favourite but its not Christmas without a cake to devour with cups of tea, port and cheese.


I have always fancied making my own, starting months before and then pouring alcohol over it to keep it moist (and very boosy) for weeks and weeks.  As always I forgot and so 3 days before the big day I am now embarking on making my cake.


To help me out I am using a Christmas Cake kit from Whitworths.  Inside is almost everything I need: Soft Brown Sugar, Mixed Fruit with Rum, Black Treacle, Chopped Almonds, Plain Flour, Mixed Spice and the recipe card.    You also need to provide yourself the baking tin, baking parchment, butter, 3 eggs and lemon zest and juice.
.
To make the cake just follow the instructions - simple :)  (I'll let you know how I get on)
I have read online to lower the temperature in my oven a bit as I have a fan oven and also to put a circle of baking parchment on top of the cake (not touching the mixture) so that the top doesn't get too brown.  The pack states 150*C so I'll knock it down to 140*C instead.  The total baking time is 3 hours so I will watch that too as it may cook a little quicker in my oven.


What annoys me is that the decorating kit has to be brought separately.   The cake kit is around £8 which is a lot cheaper than buying all the ingredients on their own (plus you have no half packets of ingredients hanging around or being wasted), then you have to buy a decorating kit (or all the icing sugar etc... to make your own) the icing kits are at least a further £5+ to buy.    


To be honest its cheaper and easier to buy a ready done cake .... but its not so much fun :)

Moon Sand Construction Set

Moon Sand Construction

Young lads will love this Moon Sand set, the kit contains a sand tray base,  roof, door, windows, brick moulds, detonator, shovel, construction worker, plus 2 colours of Moon Sand.  


Moon Sand is a play sand that easily sticks together and moulds without the need for water.  It can be played with inside as it isn't mucky and can easily be hoovered up if an accident occurs.


Up until now the Moon Sand range was mostly aimed at girls, the construction set is however for a more male market ... build it up and knock it down!


A great present this Christmas, one that's intended for the kids but Dads and Uncles will end up playing with instead.


Moon Sand Construction is just one of the many sets from Spinmaster Toys please take a look at the Moon Sand website link for more ideas.

Man Wrap

Man Wrap

Man Wrap is a wrapping paper made from thick foil, basically it allows you to wrap a gift in seconds without the need for scissors or sticky tape.


I have to admit that although it is a snazzy idea and perfect for men .. its not entirely brilliant.

Great points:

• Fantastic for wrapping odd shapes such as the bottle in the video above or erm... Easter eggs!  
• It also looks shiny and is pretty simple to use.  
• I have run my finger along the edges and so far I haven't been able to cut myself (which I was a bit concerned about).
• Not only it is easy to wrap stuff, it is also easy to unwrap too :)  so great for people with arthritis or a disability who find wrapping or unwrapping a problem.
• You do not need to struggle and muck about with sticky tape, in fact you could wrap 3 gifts in the time it takes to find the end of the tape on the roll.

Bad points:

• The roll isn't very wide, it could do with being twice the length that it is to be able to wrap more items effectively.  
• You only get 5m for the £5.99 rrp .. so at £1.20 per metre it is quite pricey.
• Its basically thick tin foil!  You may as well just buy some extra thick Baco Foil and have the same effect, plus you can get it in extra widths for your turkey.
• I have wrapped up Andy's Xbox controller (as it was next to me, that'll fool him later when he tries to find it) and it looks like a cruddily-wrapped melted Easter egg, not a brilliant look.

Oh course you can still tart up your foil wrapped presents with bows and ribbon if you wish too, but then that kind of defeats the object.

The foil comes on a handle which will help for wrapping upright stuff (not entirely sure what??) but I am sure it could be handy.

I am not entirely impressed with this product, as a Secret Santa fun present then it is fab!  But as a usable item, unless you have a special need and require help with wrapping .. its not worth the price and I would stick to traditional wrapping paper, even if you do get stuck together with tape and curling ribbon.

Available in red or blue, 5m for £5.99 (rrp).

Please visit www.themonsterfactory.com for more information.