I don't think it will come as a surprise to anyone that I love Peanut Butter. I use it a lot! That's why I was so excited when my February Degustabox arrived. I think this one was my all time favorite box and not the least because it contained not one, but two delicious peanut butter goodies, not to mention a couple of my second favorite flavor things . . . chocolate! I was able to create a really delicious peanut butter cake using one of the products, but more about that a bit later.
A bit about Degustabox. 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.
Here is what was in the February Box.
Whole Earth
Packed with three types of seeds, Whole Earth Peanut Butter with Sunflower, Pumpkin and flaxseed, has a rich and unique taste, making it a truly scrumptious spread. Perfect for a protein filled breakfast, or to get you through the mid afternoon slump. This is a must have addition to the store cupboard. RRP £3.19
Melba Thins
Melba Thins, crisp toast, for night owls and early birds. Night Owls: Pick your occasion (dinner, cocktails or snack). Add toppings (cheese, salads . . .) with or without company. Enjoy your evening. Eary Birds: Choose your moment (breakfast, brunch, lunch). Serve with jam, ham or . . . Select a drink and enjoy! RRP £1.39
Swartz Flavour Shots
Flavour shots from Schwartz are delicious recipe bases containing a unique blend of herbs, spices and seasonings infused in sunflower oil to help you create amazing tasting meals. Simply spoon into your pan, add your favorite ingredients, simmer and serve. There are 8 delicious recipes to choose from. Available in Tesco, Morrisons, ASDA and Waitrose. For more hints, tips and recipes ideas visit www.schwartz.co.uk RRP £1.40 each
Jack Link's
Jack Link's is the world's best selling meat snacks company. The range includes the Jack Link's Beef Snack which is a delicious, convenient and easy to eat bar aimed at busy people looking for a healther snack on teh go. Only the best quality beef is used, which is then seasoned with a unique blend of spices and oven roasted. RRP £1.39
Beet It
Beet it Sport is the #1 natural nitrate brand in th eworld. Beetroot shots and bars contain c400mg of dietary nitrate and is used by over 150 universities world-wife for research into the benefits of lowering blood pressure and improving sports performance. RRP £1.85 each
Lily O'Brien's
Lily O'Brien's, Ireland's bestloved chocolatier has launched its new range of luxury snacking pouches for chocolate lovers looking for a scrumptiously indulgent treat. I was sent the Cocoa Cookie Crunch . . . crunchy chocolate biscuit pieces smothered in smooth, creamy milk chocolate. Delicious! RRP £2.60
American Muffin Company
American Muffin Company produces some of the most deliciously and delectable gluten free, wheat free muffins, cakes, brownies and cookies. The muffins and cakes are always made by using the finest ingredients such as high cocoa content chocolate chips and Sicilian lemon oil. Therefore satisfying the most discerning consumer. I was sent the Chocolate Brownie Bites. They are very good for a gluten free product I have to say. RRP £2.50
Laimon Fresh
Open nature's secret with Laimon Fresh, a refreshingly light sparkling lemon, lime and mint flavoured soft drink using only 100% natural ingredients. Laimon Fresh tastes delicous on it's own but can also be simply mixed with white run to create a tasty Mojito cocktail. (I'll just have to take their word for that one!) RRP £1.99
Peanut Hottie
Meet the world's first Peanut Butter flavoured hot drink Peanut Hottie. The distinct peanut butter taste, aroma and color are the results of real American peanuts blended together with a special flavor and carefully selected ingredients to create a smooth, velvety indulgent instant hot drink, a great alternative to tea and coffee. RRP £3.00
Peanut Hottie is the product I chose to showcase this month by creating a recipe to use it. I recently saw a cake made using strawberry quick drink mix and I thought to myself why not use some of this peanut butter drink mix to do the same thing!
It worked a charm and was so easy to make.
It's a beautiful cake! Only one layer, which is just enough for an easy family dessert, or snack for the kids after school.
Dense, moist and delicious. I added my signature peanut butter buttercream icing to add a special extra touch. The end result was a cake that you will have a hard time saying no to!
*Peanut Butter Milk Cake*Serves 6 to 8Printable Recipe
A deliciously moist single layer cake, with lovely peanut butter flavours and a rich peanut butter icing.
150g of butter, softened (1/2 cup plus 2 TBS)150g of Peanut Hottie peanut butter hot drink mix (see note below) (1 1/3 cup)2 large free range eggs3 TBS milk1 tsp vanilla150g of self raising flour (1 cup plus 1 1/2 TBS)
For the icing:30g of butter (2 TBS)30g of peanut butter (2 TBS)1 tsp vanilla200g icing sugar (about 1 1/2 cups) siftedmilk as needed
Preheat the oven to180*C/350*F/ gas mark 5. Butter an 8 inch round cake tin. Line the bottom with paper. Set aside.
Beat the butter and drink mix together until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, add a TBS of the flour with each egg to keep the batter from splitting. Beat in the flour, vanilla and milk. Beat until smooth. Spread into the prepared pan. Bake in the pre-heated oven for about 30 minutes, until risen and golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Cool in the tin for 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack to finish cooling completely.
To make the icing cream the butter and peanut butter together. Add the icing sugar and vanilla and just enough milk to give you a creamy spreadable icing. I would start with 1 TBS of milk and then add as needed. Spread the frosting over the side and top of the cake.
Note - If you cannot get the peanut hottie drink mix, you can use an equal amount of chocolate drink mix. In which case you will hav ea milk chocolate cae with a peanut butter icing, which is not entirely a bad thing!
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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Follow them on Twitter Right now they are having a competition on their facebook page. Feel free to enter.You can win a free box for yourself. I also have a voucher code which if you enter on check out will give you a discount off of your first box. The code to use is GPNEH