Jules & Sharpie Hot Pepper Jellies

We here at The Amazing Blog are always trying to find something to help spice up our usual recipes, to give them a new twist. We have tried new spices, sauces, and of course jams and jellies. When we were introduced to Jules & Sharpie hot pepper jellies, we could easily imagine ourselves using these jellies as an accompaniment to meals or on our toast, croissants and other snacks.

Jules & Sharpie is owned by two long time friends, who have a love of  fine foods and cooking. These jellies are far from ordinary, they have been given the Jules & Sharpie 'treatment' - spiced with fresh chillies: creating a unique flavour and zesty taste. Each jar of jellies are handmade, using only the finest natural ingredients to create an appealing blend of heat and flavour. These jellies will surely help spice up any ordinary dish. We found that we really enjoyed the Original Hot Pepper Jelly,as well as the Hot Redcurrant Pepper Jelly (shown above). The Original Hot Pepper Jelly tasted best when paired with a selection of cheeses, whilst  the Hot Redcurrant Pepper Jelly we think probably tastes the best glazed over a leg of lamb. Usually my palate cannot handle spicy and hot foods, but these jellies were just too tasty to resist. And to my astonishment, the 'heat' wasn't too overpowering, which allowed for my weak taste buds to handle the zestiness without even shedding a tear.

If you are in search of some zest to liven up your favourite home cooked meals, look no further than The Jules & Sharpie Jellies. The added spice will surely turn an ordinary dish into an exquisite one. You can order your own pepper spiced jellies from their website for £3. 25 a jar and begin to enjoy a whole new world of flavour.

Model Kitchen by Cesar Casier

Spring is in the air and we all know what that means, summer is right around the corner. Around this time of year we all start thinking about eating healthier in order to look our best while strutting around in our bathing suits. However, eating healthy can be hard. But we have something here at The Amazing Blog that can help you get ready for summer and bathing suit weather in an easy and fun way. Model Kitchen by the model Cesar Casier is full of different meals and snacks that can help show you that eating healthy can be both fun and delicious. With quick and easy to follow recipes, luscious pictures, lists of some of the best hot spots from all over the world and recipes written by some other very famous models this cookbook is sure to excite your taste buds and get you ready for the warmer weather that is sure to come.

Cesar gives you so many tasty recipes that I found it difficult to choose just one for a family dinner party. After a few minutes of browsing through the book and debating which would taste best, I eventually decided upon his recipe for Oven Roasted Lemon Chicken. The recipe was very easy to follow and the ingredients were so simple I had no problems trying to find them in my local Sainsburys. The recipe took no time at all and I was able to present my family with a gorgeous meal that impressed them all. It may not have looked at delicious as the photo next to the recipe, but I definitely tasted just as good.

Through this cookbook, Cesar shows us how important and easy healthy eating can be, although we like to think that once in awhile a guilty pleasure can’t hurt. You can purchase your own Model Kitchen cookbook online for £26.22 and get ready to create some incredible meals.

Geeta's Spice & Stir Sauces

 

We here at The Amazing Blog love our Indian food and spices. They always add the perfect amount of kick and can make any meal an exciting one. I personally love just making some simple rice and chicken and then adding a good, rich and thick sauce to it. It makes the perfect quick and easy meal. That’s why I was so excited when we received Geeta’s Spice & Stir Saag and Karai Bhuna sauces, especially since these are a sauce and spice packet combination. I couldn’t wait to get cooking.

I first tried the Saag Spice & Stir sauce, simply because I love spinach (Saag means spinach). This fragrant and slightly spicy sauce is full of delicate spinach, aromatic spices and savoury garlic. It was the perfect compliment to my steamed rice and grilled chicken. Not to mention it’s completely free of any artificial flavours, colours and preservatives.

The next night, I decided to try the other sauce and spice combination that we received. The Karai Bhuna Spice & Stir sauce is very different from the Saag Spice & Stir sauce. Bhuna is a method of Indian cooking which uses whole and ground spices which are added to hot oil and then slightly browned. This sauce is then constantly stirred in order to allow the spices to fully develop in order to create a sauce that is absolutely delicious. It’s a rich tomato sauce with onion, coriander leaf and a special blend of spices. I tried this on my rice and chicken as well and although I found it to be very flavourful I did prefer the Saag Spice & Stir sauce to this one. I found this sauce to be a bit to rich for my taste.

Let Geeta show you the exciting and colourful flavours of India, although be warned the spice packet on the top of the jar can be a bit difficult to pop off. You can purchase your own Geeta’s Spice & Stir sauces from her website for £2.09 for each sauce and spice combinations.

Doris & Co. Hot in the Kitchen, Oven Friendly Cheeseboard

Warm a fig jam topped brie in the oven. Chop some fresh herbs for an exotic Indian chutney. Slice fresh vegetables for a hearty stew. Slice a New York style cheesecake for all to share. Whatever cooking fad you fancy at any moment, The Doris & Co. cheeseboard is up for it all. This cheeseboard can easily hold up against all of your cooking adventures, no matter how crazy they may be. Not to mention, this board is oven and dishwasher safe so you can pop it out of the oven and into the dishwasher without taking time out of your evening to hand scrub it clean. With all the new age and modern cooking fads going around, this cheeseboard stands the test of time with its traditional beauty and sturdy build.

Doris & Co. prides themselves on making heirloom items true to the British style rather than making disposables. Their intention is to create pieces that can be passed down from generation to generation as well as withstand any sort of cooking extravaganza. When we, here at The Amazing Blog, found this cheeseboard we quickly saw it becoming a staple in our own kitchens. These cheeseboards are built in the classic English farmhouse style with a sweet hand painted quote in the center of each board, so it can easily match any kitchen décor. With all it has to offer, we can definitely see this piece quickly becoming something that is full of memories of being in the kitchen with close friends and family.

A Doris & Co. cheeseboard is the perfect addition to any kitchen. They offer several different sizes all with different quotes painted on each so you can choose the one that fits your décor and personality best. You can purchase your own Doris & Co. piece on their website for £29.95, and get ready to create many lasting memories…as well as any popular food fads.

Everyday Lebanese Cooking By: Mona Hamadeh

 

Are you tired of making the same old thing for dinner every night? I know we here at The Amazing Blog are always trying to find something new and different to excite our taste buds. That’s why we are thrilled to share the Everyday Lebanese Cooking cookbook by Mona Hamadeh with you. This book contains a very large variety of incredible Lebanese recipes, breathing life to your regualr and tired looking ingredients.  So you can now have no excuses and can wave goodbye to your usual burnt meat and overcooked veg.

The author, Mona Hamadeh, grew up in the Shouf Mountains in Lebanon and was taught by her grandmother and her mother how to create delicious and traditional Lebanese dishes that are full of history. These recipes have been passed on from generation to generation and now, with he help of Mona, they have been passed down to us.  These recipes are full of love and infused with history.  With the help of this cookbook I was able to create an incredible Hummous and Baba Ghanouj as appetisers for a friend’s dinner party. The recipes were easy to follow and turned out unbelieveably well (much to my surprise) and easily stood out 'head and shoulders' above the rest of the dishes at the party (I was very chuffed!) So, if you're looking to be the talk of your next dinner party or simply just create a meal that won't have your family groaning ; I would recommend this book for anyone is tired of 'the same old, same old...'  and  who are looking for something a little different to spice up their meals a bit more.

You can purchase this essential guide to traditional Lebanese cooking at Amazon for £8.84 a copy. Get ready to impress your family and friends with some great food and gain some new favourite recipes that you can help pass down as well.