I think of all the salads in the world, the Caesar Salad has to be my absolute favorite. I love the simplicity of it. I love the flavours. I love the croutons and the cheese, the garlic . . . I never, NEVER order it when we are out to eat. Mostly because it more often than not is very poorly done. Seriously badly done. I have yet to receive a really good Caesar salad when I am eating out and am done wasting money on them. I would rather make my own at home and know that I am going to get a really good one, with fresh crisp lettuce, a delicious dressing, and yes . . . homemade garlic croutons.
Yesterday I experimented with something which I had received in my latest Degustabox for July. Fry Light, with Avocado Oil. I thought it would make a nice light croutons and it did.
Every month I am the happy recipient of a Degustabox. I love these boxes. Opening each one is a bit like opening a Christmas box. Always a surprise and always filled with things I want to try. Degustabox is a monthly foodie subscription service that sends out a range of specially selected foodie products. There's always a great mix of new products that I haven't tried before, as well as plenty of treats from more established brands. Quite often you will have the opportunity to try new products before they arrive in the shops, so it can be a bit of a sneak peak! Each Degustabox costs £12.99, delivery costs are included in the price, and there is no fixed contract involved - you can cancel at any time. I love getting these boxes. When I saw the contents of July's Summer Box I knew right away which product I wanted to highlight, but more about that in a little bit.Let me tell you about the other products I received first!
Thor Dry Spritz Ginger & Apple – RRP £1.39 x 2
These sparkling drinks are crisp and refreshing. I have enjoyed them before. I quite like them, especially chilled. I can't show you the Ginger one as it had somehow emptied into my box, which was odd because the lid was still screwed on tightly, but there was only about 1/2 an inch in the bottom of the bottle and everything else in the box was wet. What's nice to know however, is after a quick e-mail to Degusta Box, a replacement box was delivered just a few days later! You can buy these drinks from Amazon – in a variety of flavours.
MAILLE Dijon Original 1 X £1.99270 years of knowledge and expert craftsmanship and carefully selected ingredients contribute to the exceptional quality and character that sets Maille Mustard apart. With countless delicious recipes, Maille inspires creative food explorers to enhance the flavor of their meal with the gourmet touch of Maille. It is particualy delicious with a nicely cooked steak. I actually used this in my Caesar Salad Dressing. Maille has always been my Dijon mustard of choice and in fact I have a HUGE bottle of it in my refrigerator at the momet that I got at Costco. It keeps well and also comes in a grainy mustard.
BLOSSOM HILL SPRITZ 1 X £4.99
Blossom Hill Spritz is a fruity twist on wine. Lightly bubbly with natural fruit flavours, Blossom Hill Spritze is the ultimate refreshment. Best served chilled, try it over ice with your coice of mixed fruit for a longer drink. I got a bottle of the Raspberry and Black Currant. I don't drink Alcohol, but my neighbor does and she really enjoys this.
MERCHANT GOURMET Simply Cooked Red & White Quinoa 1 X £1.99
Merchant Gourmet's Red & White Quinoa is ready to use and has been simply cooked with a dash of water and a drizle of olive oil. Its wonderful nutty flavor works beautifully as a base to salads or as a nutritious rice/couscous alternative.
RYVITA THINS THREE CHEESE 1 X £1.89
The new Ryvita Thins Three Cheese have been designed to be your perfect snack this summer. Topped with Cheddar, Regato and Emmental Cheese, this exciting and moreish variat will tempt your taste buds without needing to dip them into a salsa. Just simple and delicious.
And that they are! They are as addictive as potato chips, except they are a lot lower in fat! Very flavourful!
ROWNTREE'S RANDOMs 30% less sugar 1 X £129
30% less, 100% Fruity Flavour! The sweets you know and love, but now with 30% less sugar. Remain free from artificial flavours, colours and sweeteners so you can chew with confidence! Give 30% less sugar Fruit Pastilles also a try. Available in a 110g sharing bag and a 38g bag.
I received the 110g sharing bag. There is still a fair bit of sugar in them, but with 30% less than the originals, this is a better snack to give your children than high sugar candies.
OLOVES Healthy Olive Snacks 2 X £0.99
Juicy olives seasoned with a little cheeky chilli, garlic and oregano. Low in Calories, high in loveliness. No stones, no fuss. Delicious and bursting with flavor.
Simply put, I love these. I have received them before and they are a real favourite!
WEETABIX ADDITIONS Coconut & Raisin 1 X £2.99
The new Weetabix Additions is the nation's favorite cereal with delicious fruit baked into every bite. Delight your senses with a nutritious breakfast that's paked with delicious coconut and raisins ensuring temptingly tasty goodness in every bite!
Todd love, LOVES Weetabix and he is really enjoying this!
CRAFTED 1 X £1.80
Crafted introduces a range of delicious fruit juice drinks, blending complementary and unique combinations of fruit to create something truly special. But there is no added sugar or sweeteners in any of the drinks, plus a serving a day provides you with 1 of your 5 a day. Available in 4 different blends. I received the Mango and Passion Fruit.
This is delicious.
THE COLLECTIVE PRO-YO High Protein Yoghurts 1 X £1.35
Pro-yo is a new high protein yoghurt from The Collective in handy pouches for snacking anywhere, anytime! Pro-yo is made with real fruit combined with thick and smooth yoghurt with more protein than you will find in two whole eggs, low fat and under 120 calories.
I received a full value voucher for two Pro-yo yoghurts, which I have not redeemed yet, but I am not unfamiliar with their other yoghurt products and they are quite nice.
And finally . . .
FRYLIGHT COOKING SPRAY with Avocado Oil 1 X 2.99
Frylight, the 1 cal cooking spray is now available with Avocado Oil. It resists the oxidation that cooking temperatures cause and is perfect for pan frying, woks, and roasting. Makes perfect Frylight chips too!
This is the product I chose to highlight with a recipe this month and I have to say I have been using it a lot. I have always used low fat cooking sprays that come in the aerosol cans, but this is my first time using one like this. It is quite comparable and I just may have become converted as I have also been using it to butter my baking tins and its worked beautifully!
It did an excellent job on my baked garlic croutons for my salad. They were nicely crisped without being greasy in the least. Well flavoured also. I highly recommend. I squirted some on the pan and spread it around and then gave about 2 squirts over the croutons and toss them about with the garlic, salt and pepper prior to baking. Easy peasy and with great results!
The dressing for this salad is nice and flavourful also, without being really high in fat, especially if you use low fat or no fat ingredients, ie sour cream and mayo. Its nice and garlicky!
I do recommend that you use a Parmesan Cheese that you grate yourself for the best flavor. You can also add some grilled chicken or turkey which will turn it into a delightfully light and delicious main course salad!
*Caesar Salad*Makes 4 servingsPrintable Recipe My favorite all time salad. I never tire of this. You can add cooked chicken or turkey to turn it into a main course. I love this!
For the dressing:60g sour cream (12 cup1 1/2 tsp anchovy paste1 1/2 TBs mayonnaise1 1/2 TBS olive oil3 TBS fresh lemon juice1 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard1 TBS Worcestershire Sauce1/4 to 1/2 tsp freshly ground black peppersalt to taste3 cloves garlic, peeled and finely grated or mincedFor the Croutons:1/2 loaf day old French bread spray oil1 tsp garlic powdersalt and black pepper to tasteFor the salad:1 head of romaine lettuce, washed, dried and chopped90g coarsely grated Parmesan cheese
Preheat the oven to 190*C/375*F/gas mark 5. Lightly spray a baking tray with spray oil. Cut your french bread into 3/4 inch cubes. Place them onto the baking tray. Spritz with some more oil spray and sprinkle with the garlic powder, salt and black pepper, tossing them to coat them and combine. Spread them out and then bake them in the preheated oven for 5 minutes, give them a stir and bake them for an additonal 4 to 5 minutes. Take out of the oven and allow to cool completely.
To make the dressing whisk together the mayonnaise, anchovy paste, olive oil, lemon juice, mustard, worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper and garlic. Whisk in the sour cream. Place into a covered container and chill until you need it.
To assemble the salad toss together the croutons, lettuce and 3/4 of the cheese. Drizzle with your desired amount of prepared dressing and toss again. Sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan cheese and serve immediately!
Many thanks to Degustabox UK for sending me this box. I have to say I really look forward to getting my box each month. There are always lots of things in it to enjoy and new products to try out. I highly recommend. You can also tailor the boxes to your own likes and dislikes by filling in your own Taste Profile. Do you like the sound of the Degustabox July 2017 box? You can buy yours now and instead of £12.99 you’ll pay just £5.99! Use the discount code BEA4O . Your order will come with free shipping. You will then receive a surprise box containing 10 to 15 items. The RRP of this box was between £24 and £24, which (with the discount) really makes it a good value. With no comittment to buy further boxes you really can't lose. Also a lot of the items within the Degustabox are new to the market. It is a great chance to try something new for a discounted price as well. Do check out the Degustabox web page for more information and details.
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Note - Although I was sent a box free of charge any and all opinions are my own.
