Hampstead Iced Teas, Low Calorie Refreshment

Five years ago asking someone in Northern Ireland for iced tea would be met with a blank look, but now we are all slugging coconut water, ice cold coffees, and the European mainland staple, fruit iced tea. Try as I might I just can't get into coconut water, even the local brands I sadly can't truthfully rave about as I don't have the refined taste, or health kick persistence to drink it. Iced tea is another story. Hampstead premixed teas aren't wishy washy, they are punchy and refreshing.  

They come in four flavours, three of which Michael and I tried and loved. I simply didn't ask to try the elderflower variety as I for some reason just don't like the flavour in any drink or food, but I'm sure if you do like it the Hampstead tea will probably be delicious, as the other three certainly are. They retail in Tesco for £1.39, or you can bulk buy on the http://www.hampsteadtea.com/ site. If we get another heat wave I'll be stocking up, as they really are far more refreshing than fizzy drinks.

http://www.hampsteadtea.com/ site. If we get another heat wave I'll be stocking up, as they really are far more refreshing than fizzy drinks.

What's New in The M&S Food Hall This August?

As blog posts go, some of my favourites are when I get to visit the huge M&S at Sprucefield in Lisburn, and pick lots of delicious treats to fit the particular theme that time around. I've had posts with their healthy eating Count On Us and Fuller Longer ranges, BBQ inspiring blogs, and picnic ideas, but this visit I wasn't sure what the topic of my foodie haul was going to be. 

As Michael & I perused the shelves of the colourful and fresh food ideas, I decided just to go with 'what's new this August', as there are so many new products to try in every section of the store. 

I featured their wide range of BBQ meats & fish a month ago, but these new ones caught my eye. I love their ranges like this where you get a great cut of meat in the perfect sauce. It's fool-proof to cook and always tastes amazing.  

They are all on 2 for £7, or 3 for £10. 

M&S are well known for their exquisite smoked salmon already, but this limited edition black treacle salmon is to die for. The little seafood selection packets are great for a quick stirfry to change things up if you usually just use chicken. Go a little exotic next time with the coconut & lime dressing, or lime, mint & chilli. 

Again these are 2 for £7, or 3 for £10. 

Some times for me the difference between a healthy snack & a packet of crisps is pure laziness at having to chop the veg for the healthier option, so the preprepared crudité selection is perfect for lazy folks like me! It's £3, but also falls under the deli range offer of 3 items for £6. 

If you're snacking in work there's actually a crunchy veg & houmous pot available in the lunch aisle for just £1.75. I also picked up the new sweetcorn, chilli and coriander dip (£1.40) and a pack of croutons to add to salads & soups (£1). 

M&S have a fab selection of these little vegetable & salad pots all year round, which make for great sides to main meals, or a healthy snack on their own. They usually fall under the 2 for £3 offer too. 

If you are fed up of sandwiches this summer, there are plenty of alternatives like sushi, or a protein pot. The salmon and edamame pot is £2. There are also packs of seasoned & prepared meat that simply need added to bread or a bap for a tasty lunch. The caramalised Apple ham hock was £2.60. In my previous M&S post about picnic items I had tried a roast beef sandwich which included their blacksticks blue cheese, which was delicious, so I snapped up the spreadable version for £2.50.

We haven't had great weather this week, but it's still the summer and these two drinks will at last give you the taste of the season where our climate is falling short. The watermelon & coconut iced tea is £1.80 and the melon, pineapple & passion fruit juice is £1.50. 

The rhubarb iced buns are £1.30 for two and also come in a lemon variety. They are sort of lik a doughnut/bun mashup, filled with jam. 

Lastly a couple of dessert options that are new this month. A healthy treat of strawberries, cream & crumble for £3, a pair of gooseberry custard crumbles in reusable glass jars for £3.80, and a trip of tiny summer traybakes for £1.20.

Pick Your Picnic From The Tastes of the British Isles

School ends next week & Smix and I have dozens of day trips already planned all over Northern Ireland, and even beyond. I'm sure there will be a picnic or six along the way. I called into Marks & Spencer at Sprucefield to pick up some new lunch items from their Tastes of the British Isles' range.

There is also a great big sale on, with up to 60% off. I got a t-shirt for myself for £2, and a Minecraft sweatshirt & t-shirt for £10 each for Michael. 

Straight in with the sandwiches, but this is no ordinary sandwich, this is an M&S sandwich! If you are buying for a family picnic, you'll be able to take advantage of the current 3 for 2 offer running on most of the lunch range. Then again if you're just buying for yourself, you could get three items, sandwich, crisps, drink or dessert for the price of two yourself. 

These mighty British sandwiches are £4, £3.80 and £3.50. 

If you're feeling a little more adventurous there are some protein rich, fancy salads with a classic British twist too, £3.50 each. 

Guilty secret time. I discovered the little three pack of sausage rolls last week one evening at my local M&S in Bloomfields. I had gone to pick up sushi, but they were all out. I chose the £2.00 pack of three different flavours of rolls and since I've repeat purchased three times! My daily sausage roll consumption is quite high right now! I just eat them cold and they are super tasty. So I'm excited about trying the massive Hog Roast Sausage Roll, which is also £2. I could tell myself only eating one sausage roll of an evening is healthier than three, even if the one roll is the size of my hand! 

Moving onto lunch snacks, British recipe inspired crisps are 3 for 2 also, or 70p each. There also a little jelly for £1.35

For your sweet tooth we have little takeaway bowls of fresh strawberries for £2, a must have in Wimbledon week, even if you are just watching it on tv. I also picked two rhubarb desserts to try, a trifle at £1.35 and a slice of cheesecake for £2. Have you noticed just how many products in M&S have rhubarb in them this summer? Drinks, cakes, everything. They must have bought a rhubarb farm they've used so much of the stuff. Luckily I adore it! 

Now I'm not entirely sure if I like gooseberries, but I was very drawn to the little meringues on top of this dessert. There is also a classic recipe Eton Mess variety and they are £1.50 each.

So here is my spread all together. All these items are on three for two, so you only pay for 2/3 of what's shown. I think this would make a great picnic lunch for the family, and everyone could try a little of each. Happy feasting! 

Kopparberg Pear Cider & Nachos = Summer, & There's a Non-alcoholic Option!

Picnic perfect Kopparberg.

Kopparberg is the original and best pear cider on the UK market. I used to love a bottle or four on a summer evening in my single days. These days I don't drink at all, so I had forgotten all about Kopparberg as an option. 

When they contacted me to try out their new flavours Elderflower & Lime and Cloudberry I had to let them know I'd have to use my husband as taste tester due to my teetotalness. Their lovely PR made my day when she offered to send me lots of alcohol-free pear and mixed berry versions to join in with the taste test.

Rejoice! Now non-drinkers, expecting mums & those with early alarm calls tomorrow can enjoy an icy cold Kopparberg too. It tastes just like the regular version from what I remember, and it goes wonderfully with nachos. 

You can check out the full range of flavours and say hi to the team at the Kopparberg UK Facebook page, or Twitter.