Candyfloss & Dreams

Category: Food

A witch is eating is a category of blog posts celebrating good food and ranting about diet culture

Independent Wines – Pinot Noir

Ad – I received a bottle of Pinot Noir (the wine featured) from Independent Wines to taste and review. All opinions are my own.

Do you have a favourite wine? I think everyone has a preference for a certain grape or country of origin. I very much enjoy Italian Reds so when Independent Wines offered a chance to taste and review I was exicited. One selected was the Pinot Noir Rolhüt 2018 Adam’s favourite is Pinot Noir and I have to admit I admire the usual richness of this red, however, I was pleasently surprised that this was a more fruity, less heavy wine. I did a little research before to get some food pairing suggestions and awaited my delivery.

Italian Red Wine : Pinot Noir Rolhüt 2018

Trying Independent Wines

Independent Wine have an amazing range of red, white and sparkling wines to choose from. I found the website really easy to navigate and full of useful and helpful information when viewing the types of wines on offer. Each page of the individual wine has extensive tasting notes and an ability for customers to review and leave feedback to aid future purchasing decisions for others. You can search and select Wines by region, country and grape which is really helpful. Our wine came well packaged and protected.

The choice of Italian red wines was really good. Plenty of choice by region and some really highly rated wines. Reading the tasting notes for the Pinot Noir we were about to try had my mouth watering as it sounded so decadent. There are plenty of helpful articles on the knowledge base to help learn more about the wines on site to further help with buying decisions. I found the article Where to taste aromatic Pinot Noir really interesting and further inspired me to visit Italy one day.

Tasting Pinot Noir Rolhüt 2018

I first tried this alone to try and distinguish the flavours. I loved the tartness of this one and it was very easy drinking. It’s fruity but I wouldn’t say it’s too light. The wine was a ruby colour and well balanced. Fruity Pinot Noirs are recommended with lighter foods so I put together a board of cheese, salami, pear chutneys and rosemary crackers. The Pinot Noir Rolhüt 2018 is a perfect accompiment to this and the whole thing was very moreish. I felt the goats cheese/fruit chutney mix really complimented the Pinot Noir and made it even easier to drink. The wine had a really smooth finish and is one I would try again. It felt perfect for a late summer evening with friends and good food. Other food recommendations for this fruity Pinot Noir were pasta and salmon.

Pinot Noir Partnered with cheese, crackers and chutney

September 2, 2020
a nationwide lockdown is not the time to start a diet
i’ve talked openly about trying to balance my relationship with food and looking at improving my overall general health rather than obsessing about weight loss. however, being a bigger woman, my bmi does put me at an increased risk than others at developing complications if i were to be diagnosed with covid-19. i would be lying if i said that my size does not worry me about this pandemic.

despite this, there are loads more beneficial things i can do during this pandemic than focus on stressing my body out with fad diets and inevitably binge eating. i am limited in things i can do really. i was looking forward to getting out more during extra day light hours and less rain however there’s now a risk with that so i will be isolating most of the time. i don’t care what size my body will be during or after this pandemic but i do care about the state of my mental health.

so rather than focusing on weight loss and diets whilst we stay at home here are the ways i am going to focus on improving my health during our lockdown. none of these are going to stop me from getting unwell, the only things that lower your chances of catching coronavirus, covid-19, is frequently washing hands, social isolating and hopefully, when it’s readily available, a vaccine. but there are a significant amount of things i can do to help me feel good.
1. exercise. i have body priviledge enough that i can find a way i enjoy moving. i love dancing, i like yoga, i like weight training. i have some weights, a resistance band, a yoga mat and an internet connection. i have spotify. i also have to encourage movement in my daughter for her home school ‘pe’ lessons. each day we are going to find a way to have fun moving for 30 minutes, at least five times a week.
2. getting a good night sleep. there’s no alarm to set, no worry about the school run and no fear when adam will be out the house working, because he will be home. we can take it in turns to do the early mornings with felix, we can both focus on getting a decent amount of sleep each evening.
3. staying hydrated. water helps us feel better and helps us to stay healthy. it is not going to prevent or ‘wash out’ a virus but it is going to help keep my body working as well as it can.
4. fresh air. when and as we can i do want to make an effort to get outside for a walk because we don’t have access to a garden. if we can’t get outside then opening up the curtains and windows for a little bit each morning can help make me feel a bit better and ‘fresher’
5. cooking with my family and including as many colours as i can. we are currently using a hello fresh subscription to get fresh veg and try new meals. we are cooking from scratch a bit more and i’m really enjoying it. i’m paying attention to my fullness levels as much as i can and leaving some for lunch the next day.
most importantly, right now we are going to feel every emotion. it is okay and valid to feel those emotions in the moment. we are seeking something to control but i urge you to try to let go of some of that control. let your body feel and heal through this weird time. focus on what feels good. take time for self care. seek an online therapist in the meantime. reach out to friends. let people know if you are struggling. turn off those news updates if they’re worrying you.

you do not need to diet through a global, viral pandemic

it is okay to gain or lose weight or go up and down

it’s okay to admit that you’re struggling, it’s okay not to be okay

however you need to process this time, try to do it in a way that is nourishing for your mind and body. it’s not the time for focusing on restriction, its a time for peace, calm and trying to make our way through this unprecedented mess.
March 25, 2020
#ChileanEasyPeelers Challenge with BritMums
This post is an entry for the BritMums #ChileanEasyPeelers Challenge, sponsored by Chilean Citrus Committee.

I don’t know about your children but Evie is ALWAYS hungry after school. She’s also hungry on the way to school. Having a handy, pocket-sized snack to take with me like a Chilean easy peeler satsuma is a great way to satisfy her hunger needs and make sure she’s getting a nice dose of vitamin C and having a healthy snack. There are times where we pop to the supermarket or go and see family after school which means getting home for dinner takes a little longer. It’s always good to have something nice and easy for her to snack on. Easy peeler satsumas are great for picnics, lunch boxes, breakfast and after-school snack and the box of juicy easy peelers we received have been a big hit for us all. They’re naturally sweet, easy to peel and no need to cut up which means, when we’re on the go, these are ideal. They’ve also been a great snack for me to have in the house because I’m back doing Slimming World and they are helping keep cravings at bay. I love adding these to a chicken salad for a bit of juice, flavour and to make salads a bit more fun!
About Chilean Easy Peeler

The demand for Chilean easy peelers are growing in the UK as the convenient, seedless fruits are sweet in flavor and a hydrating snack, perfect for families.

With year on year growth of 32% in tonnes sold in the UK, the amount of Chilean mandarins sold last season reached over 2,000 tonnes. The predictions for this year’s crop are even greater.

Available in supermarket shelves from September to November, the delicious fruits are the ideal snack for back to school season.

Here are some talking points/tips about why Chilean easy peelers are so great for kids:

Easy peelers are great for children’s lunch boxes. Young children love doing things for themselves and easy peelers help them do just this. With easy peelers, children are also less likely to need teachers help to peel these, so they are more likely be eaten rather than left in lunch boxes. Older children love a snack they can grab before studies or while they’re on the go.

Easy peelers are a great source of water – they are about 87 per cent water. Children should be encouraged to drink water but eating foods with a high water content such as citrus fruit may help to keep them hydrated too. These are especially great to pack on hot or busy days, or when children are taking part in sports, to help keep hydration levels topped up.

Easy peelers are low in calories, fat and a good provider of vitamins and minerals. In particular, they help to provide children with fibre, folate, vitamin C, potassium, calcium and magnesium.

Easy peelers save mums time in a morning and as we know time is precious. No more peeling, cutting and slicing when making your child’s lunch boxes – just pop in an easy peel mandarin!

To make peeling even more fun, attach a sticker on the peel in a morning when making up your child’s lunch box. Easy peelers can also be packed into picnics, passed out and eaten at sporting events or practice, given as a treat and presented to your child when you pick them up for a healthy energy and juicy fluid boost.
October 8, 2017
Our #HealthyRedMeat Challenge
This post is an entry for the BritMums #HealthyRedMeat, sponsored by the Meat Advisory Panel.

Our go to meat is usually chicken as it’s a firm family favourite however we do also enjoy red meat from time to time too. Working with Britmums and the Meat Advisory Panel I was provided with a £10 voucher to go and grab some read meat and get cooking. I felt quite inspired and wanted to make some really tasty meals for the family. I decided on our meat and purchased some lean diced casserole beef and a lovely big portion of lamb for a roast dinner. I very rarely make a roast dinner because I’m not really a fan but Evie absolutely loves them and Adam and I both enjoyed the change to our usual Sunday food.

Using the beef we made a big tasty beef stew with lots of vegetables, lentils and dumplings. I seared the beef first and then cooked up onions and garlic. I added the beef back into the onions and cooked for a few minutes before moving over to a big pan of beef stock that I had been simmering. I then roughly chopped our vegetables and added a portion of lentils. The dumplings were added fifteen minutes before I dished everything up.

Using the lamb we had a lovely big roast dinner with roast potatoes, stuffing, Yorkshire puddings, carrots, brocolli, cauliflower and a mint gravy. It was really lovely and filling and the lamb was nice and tender. I do really quite like lamb when it’s roasted and it’s not a meat we have very often. Evie wasn’t convinced but I was proud she did actually try some. The beef stew was much more to her taste. We really did go all out with our roast because all the trimmings really make it a tasty, filling and fun meal.

I’ve always enjoyed eating meat and don’t really remember a time without it. I love making chilli, burgers and burritos with mince but it was nice to try making something new this week. I am really trying to educate myself about nutrition and what we put into our bodies to act as fuel, what gives us a boost in vitamins and essential nutrients that we need to function optimally. I really believe that there should be a healthy balance of flavours, textures and colours on every plate and red meat is a good source for this. Some interesting points to consider when thinking about food and what we eat:
Red meat provides a range of important nutrients that are often low in toddlers and children – including iron, zinc, and B vitamins, selenium and potassium.

Red meat has been in the spotlight recently, and experts fear that the nutritional benefits have been overshadowed by misleading negative views. To cut through the confusion, the Meat Advisory Panel, an independent group of health and nutrition experts, is partnering with BritMums to promote red meat in the diets of children.

Dr Emma Derbyshire, a public health nutritionist and mother, says: “Including a small portion of red meat in the diet a few times a week after weaning can help to bridge nutrient gaps and so help to maintain good health through childhood and beyond.”
Do you eat a lot of red meat in your meals?
September 20, 2017
Halloween Hot Chocolate and Milkshake Mix

Okay so Halloween is still a little further down the Autumn path but I think this chocolate mix will be perfect for delicious drinks with a hint of spice. What makes it even better is this chocolate mix can be made as healthy or as decadent as you like. This chocolate mix has undergone a tasting test in this household and has thumbs up all around. It’s quick and easy to make, you can double the suggested quantities to make a huge batch up so it’s always ready for a quick fix, and you can change the ingredients as you see fit to suit your dietary needs. It’s got a gentle spice to it making it a perfect autumn warmer or cooler.

For healthy versions of the chocolate mix use chocolate protein powder, Sweet Freedom choc shot and dark organic cocoa powder. I love hazlenut milk with this chocolate mix. Let me take you through how I created my super chocolate mix.

10 teaspoons chocolate milkshake powder
5 teaspoons dark chocolate powder
8 teaspoons icing sugar
1/2 teaspoons sachet of chocolate orange powder
10 grams milk chocolate chips
10 grams white chocolate chips
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
1 teaspoon of nutmeg
1 pint of milk or dairy substitute

Alternatively you could use gingerbread or pumpkin spice for a bit of a kick. I recommend the My Secret Kitchen chocolate powders as they are amazing. Mix all the dry ingredients in a pot and then warm up the milk or dairy substitute on the hob. Add 8 tablespoons of the mixture and stir. This should simmer for around ten minutes and create a silky smooth mixture. You can drink warm or leave to cool and pour over ice for a delicious milkshake.

Fancy making an adult version for those friday nights to warm up with? Why not add a shot of baileys? The orange chocolate truffle one works perfectly for this mix.

Topping this with whipped cream, toffee sauce or honey and a little segment of Terry’s chocolate orange. Just to make it a little more special. So there it is, my ultimate chocolate powder for Halloween hot chocolate and milkshake mix.

October 1, 2016