We've enjoyed a few warmer days this weekend. It seems that Spring has finally sprung and I took advantage of them to create a delicious pasta salad for us. Well . . . our Spanish girl and I enjoyed, but Todd, well he simply tolerated it because as you know he not fond of either salad or pasta, and with this I was giving im a double socko! Nevermind, I made up for it by getting him a nice big Easter Egg.
I have to say that this latest Degustabox that I received has been my favorite one yet. It just seems to be going from strength to strength. There have been a few recipe ideas which have sprung to mind from this box, and this pasta salad is the first of them. And now about the box.
Once a month, each month Degustabox will deliver to your home 10 to 15 new, special or innovative food products for you to try in the comfort of your own home via a subscription service. A monthly subscription costs £9.99 and there is a delivery fee of £3, for a total of £12.99, and what you receive can be tailored to the types of things that you like and would use. To me it's a bit like a foodie Christmas every month of the year! I love them. The March box had a definitive Easter theme running through it. Here is what was in the box.
JORDAN'S GRANOLA £3.69
When it comes to making the new lighter Granola, Jordan's looked for their recipe in the field and not the lab. By using only natural ingredients, they have created a natural new granola for you to enjoy that has naturally 30% less fat than standard granolas (and is high in fiber too!) It is light done right.
JUICEBURST 2 X £1.25
Juiceburst is a good honest juice for everyone. With 14 different flavours to try and 3 skinny drinks, their range of tasty juice drinks is bursting to the brim with fruit goodness. A totally delicious way to get one of your five a day.
BBQ £3.99
BBQUE original Bavarian Barbecue Sauces are now available in four unique flavours (GRILL & BEECHWOOD, THE ORIGINAL, HONEY & MUSTARD, CHILLI & HORSERADISH) each with a special Bavarian touch.
In my box: THE ORIGINAL Bavarian delicacy with cranberries, beer, honey and apples. Ideal for barbecue, marinades and dips. The Bavarian original. Gorgeous.
MAYNARDS Sour Patch Kids £1.00
Sour Patch Kids: First they’re sour, then they’re sweet: the mischievous little guys bring a sour sensation before revealing their sweet & soft jelly side. Six different flavours offer an exciting taste variety.
I confess I have really enjoyed these. I love chewy candies anyways and I have quite enjoyed the sour shock and sweetness of these.
BASSETTS Jelly Babies Berry Mix £1.48
Finally available in the favorite flavours: the well- loved Jelly Babies characters in blackcurrant, raspberry and strawberry, brought to you by Bassetts. Berry Mix contains fruit juice and is made with natural colours. Ideal for sharing.
LINDT Assorted Mini Eggs 2 X £2.00
Lindor Assorted Mini Eggs are the perfect Easter treat! This delightfully smooth milk, white and dark chocolate assortment provides a moment of bliss with every bite. Inspired by a secret recipe the Master Chocolatiers of Lindt have created, we have enjoyed not one but two bags for a delicious and blissful Easter. I adore the creamy deliciousness of Lindt Chocolate.
Not only that but they also gifted me with . . .
A spectacular Lindt Gold Bunny . . . my favorite with his little red collar and bell . . .
And a Lindt Gold Bunny Story Book . . . RRP £6.49
The enchanting Lindt Gold Bunny Storybook brings the Gold Bunny to life in an engaging and interactive story. This gift contained a selection of 15 Lindt milk chocolate treats to enjoy with storytime.
CRABBIES FRUITS 2 X £1.50
Crabbie's Alcoholic Fruits, voted product of the year, is a delicious new range of really fruity, fruit flavours with no ginger. There are three flavours to choose from, Black Cherry, Zesty Lemon, and Rasperry and Rhubarb. These mouth watering drinks are made with up to 10% natural fruit juice, containing no artificial colours or flavourings.
KENT'S KITCHEN £1.75
Kent's kitchen pot noodles are perfect for lunch on the go or for a hot snack. Made with all natural ingredients these noodles are tasty, low fat and low calorie. Just add water to the pot, stir well, wait a few minutes and you have a delicious pot of noodles.
NATVIA £2.00
Natvia is a 100% naturally sourced alternative to artificial sweeteners and sugar. An Australian Company, Natvia, a natural sweetener was created because the people at Natvia wanted a healthy and natural way to enjoy a little sweetness. It has zero calories perserve, is non genetically modified and has low GI! You can use it in your hot drinks and it is also great for cooking and baking. One teaspoon of sugar is the same as one teaspoon of Natvia.
And finally the product I have chosen to highlight with this delicious salad today . . .
BRIOCHE PASQUIER 2 X 50p
Baked Bread Bites, are the new alternative snack to potato crisps. Made with real French bread, each 20g bag is under 90 calories. Low in saturated fat, free from artificial colours, flavours and preservatives. Launching in stores soon, in one of the nation’s favorite flavours, Bacon.
As you can see they went down very well as a cripsy garnish for this delicious BLT Pasta Salad I created.
It contains all the elements of your favorite BLT Sandwich . . . with crisp bacon, chopped tomatoes, sliced lettuce, red onions, al dente pasta and a delicious creamy lemony dressing . . .
Those crisp little moreish naturally flavoured Bacon Brioche bites were the perfect topping! This was fabulous! Don't add the bread bites or the lettuce until just before serving in order to keep both crisp and delicious! The secret to getting the most flavor from that delicious dressing is to add it to the pasta while the pasta is still hot. Wowsa!
*BLT Pasta Salad*Serves 8Printable Recipe
A delicious pasta salad that encompasses all of the elements of a delicious BLT. Simple. Quick.
110g of good quality mayonnaisethe juice and zest of 1/2 unwaxed lemon1 tsp sugar1 tsp chicken boullion powderblack pepper to taste100g of dry pasta shapes (3/4 cup)( I like to use fusilli)4 slices of streaky bacon, cooked and crumbled1 large tomato, seeded and chopped1/2 a small red onion, peeled and finely chopped1 Romaine Lettuce heart, thinly sliced1 (20g) pack of Pasquier Baked Bread Bites (bacon flavour) (Optional, about 1/2 cup)
Whisk the mayonnaise, lemon juice and zest, sugar and chicken boullion powder together in a large bowl. Bring a lightly salted pot of water to the boil and then cook the pasta to al dente, according to the package directions. Drain well and then dump the pasta right into the mayonnaise mixture in the bowl. Give it a good grinding of black pepper. Allow to cool completely. Toss the cooled pasta mix together with the bacon, tomato, red onion and lettuce. Sprinkle with the bread bites and serve immediately. Note - If you wish to make this ahead, leave out the lettuce and the bread bites until just prior to serving.
Many thanks to Degustabox 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 check out the Degustabox web page for more information and details.
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