Spar NI Expand Locally-Made The Kitchen Range With More Desserts, Do You See Any Of Your Favourites?

 Spar NI’s The Kitchen range is still fairly new, launching in late 2016, but has proven popular, thanks to the fresh ingredients & locally sourced products, meaning better quality ‘quick cook’ meals than competitors. They did have a couple of dessert options in the range, I think there were three that I can think of, but going into 2019 they’ve just expanded the line to include some more after dinner delights, ready for the oven that will taste like you baked them up yoursef at home.

There are the Chocolate Profiteroles which are always a favourite in this house. There’s two different types of crumble, Bramley Apple, and Rhubarb. Next up is a very tempting Sticky Toffee Pudding, which was part of the original The Kitchen range, but this has had a revamp and is larger and more cake like. There’s a classic Rhubarb Tart, and lastly Bread and Butter Pudding.

Everything apart from the Profiteroles can be frozen on the day of purchase if you wish. 

Again apart from the Profiteroles I would say the other desserts would be able to be split between a family of four for Sunday lunch, just add custard or ice cream and you are all set.  

You’ll find The Kitchen range in larger Spar NI stores and Euro Spar locations. 

Spar Launches Meal Inspirations, Helping Us Enjoy Freshly Cooked Meals, That Are Quick & Easy For Tea Time

It's estimated a whopping 87% of 16-34 year olds are no longer cooking their meals from scratch, and it's a figure I believe, as personally I favour the easiest ways of cooking available. 

The same study found that young adults and families aren't resorting to fully prepared ready meals, but are more likely to partake in component cooking. This means buying products like meat already prepared in a sauce that can be put in the oven, or vegetables that can be microwaved as a side dish. So whilst we are opting for ease and speed, we aren't going for full on American style TV Dinners.

This insight has helped Henderson Group, which comprises of Spar, Eurospar & Vivo, to develop Meal Inspirations, aiding shoppers who are short on time to still manage to cook a fresh, locally sourced meal.

75% of their fresh food is sourced from Ireland, including brands like Mash Direct and Willowbrook Farm. 

Those ranges, as well as Spar's own enjoy local and The Kitchen are part of the Meal Inspirations initiative, suggested as ways families can eat fresh, but without huge preparation times.

enjoy local includes prepared meats sourced locally, that simply need oven cooked, with fresh sauces included. The Kitchen is a Range you often see me singing the praises of on Twitter, I'm a massive fan of their meals and would use at least one product a week.

The Kitchen includes meals for one, almost like microwave meals, in fact you do microwave them, but the ingredients are fresh, not frozen. My absolute favourite The Kitchen product is the chicken curry. I would choose that curry over takeaway any day. There are huge chunks of chicken breast, button mushrooms, peas and onions, all fresh, all delicious. I'm probably going to have that for tea tonight now!

The Kitchen Range also has a line of desserts, that can be shared between two or three.

As part of Meal Inspirations you can also pick up this handy little mini recipe book, with quick and easy meals you can whip up using products from Spar, EuroSpar & Vivo.

You can also check out their  Instagram where they will be posting Tea Times Tables in the coming weeks  to further help shoppers decide their Meal Inspirations.

Spar NI The Kitchen Range- Win One of 3 Hampers During #FoodNIHour Tonight

Spar's new range The Kitchen offers us hungry customers 39 products, perfect for making tonight’s tea. The Kitchen brand is a range of fresh meal solutions, perfect for quick and easy dinners for one, two or the whole family.

Beef stroganoff  

I tried out some of the meals this weekend. There are mains for two, sides and sharing desserts, as well as dinners for one you can pop in the microwave. The difference between The Kitchen & frozen microwave meals is the quality & freshness. The beef stroganoff has big chunks of real meat, with a creamy sauce that tastes like you've made it freshly yourself. 

To put together The Kitchen range Spar NI have worked with local suppliers here in Northern Ireland, Armagh’s Daily Bake, Willowbrook Foods in Killinchy, Big Pot Co. in Cookstown and Quinfresh from Dungannon ensure only the best home-grown produce is used for each product.

If you fancy winning one of three hampers of The Kitchen products then you can join in with #FoodNIHour tonight between 9 & 10pm. You can follow SparNI @SparNI, and the food hour hosts @foodnihour, and I will be taking part as @rudedoodle.

#SparScarefest : Which Came First? The Turnip or The Pumpkin? The Facts Might Surprise You!

Ask any thirty something or above in Northern Ireland about their childhood Halloweens & in particular what designs they carved into their pumpkins and they'll reply the same thing, "pumpkins? You mean turnips, right?". 

Because in the 80s in October a nation of spoons would get bent out of shape trying to scoop solid, rock hard turnip insides out. A very simple face would be cut into the vegetable and a candle placed inside filling the whole house with a very 'organic' smell, to use a euphemism for the holiday scent Yankee Candle need never produce!

Then, about ten years ago we seemed to take a funny turn and Halloween went from a one night affair into something closer to how the Americans celebrate. Home decor, garden signs, spooky themed food and drink, and ... pumpkins. We knew the States used pumpkins rather than turnips from watching their tv and movies, but what I didn't know was that turnips came first there too. 

Spar NI sent us a Halloween care package today, with locally produced foods to get us in the mood for half term. Inside with a carving kit was both a pumpkin AND a turnip, to keep everyone happy. Also included some facts, and I was very interested to know that it was us Irish emigrating to the States in the mid-19th century that brought the Halloween celebrations, including turnip carving. Here's where it gets interesting- when they were unable to find the turnips, instead they use pumpkins- so turnips always were first, even there.

They would hang the lit up lanterns on their door to ward away lost souls and evil spirits. 

You can buy Armagh grown turnips or North Down pumpkins at your local Spar, as well as a selection of locally produced treats.  Your traditional monkey nuts are from Portadown, as are the toffee and chocolate apples made by Fosters.

£1 each

If you are feeling adventurous why not visit the  Spar NI recipe page, where there are several Halloween themed foods to make yourself.