31 Mar 2013

Happy Easter!


Happy Easter everyone! I hope you're all having a lovely day filled with lots of chocolate and haven't yet started to experience the inevitable sugar overload.  I've been doing lots of baking and crafts with the kids in the last few days (like the banner above). I haven't actually posted that many Easter reviews so I thought I'd share some of my Easter stash now. Rather than buy me any more chocolate my husband got me this lovely Easter themed Yankee Candle called Bunny Cake.


I wouldn't normally go for a pink candle as it's not a colour I like very much, but this one was just too cute.


Plus the candle is coconut scented! It's a very sweet coconut smell, with lots of vanilla undertones but also a subtle fruitiness too. Something about the combination of those scents makes this candle smell a bit like bubblegum!


I did get this absolutely gorgeous (and massive) egg from my lovely Mum. It's just stunning with packaging that looks like a enormous flower! It's made by Butler's Chocolate who I've never tried before so I'm looking forward to cracking this one open.


The kids however, did get quite a lot of chocolate treats today, especially from their Grandparents. They got some classic Cadbury's boxed eggs, a Milkybar cow and a Mario themed tin. Luckily for me my kids are actually very restrained when it comes to chocolate. I know this selection will probably last for months in the cupboards and then I'll end up using them creatively in baking!


As if that wasn't enough they also got these lovely Easter baskets filled with Kinder and Thornton's chocolates, as well as a few fluffly chicks! I must admit I'm quite partial to Kinder chocolate so I'd like to apologise to my children in advance if some of these chocolates mysteriously disappear.


We couldn't resist opening up one of the Kinder Surprise bunnies straight away. This is a fantastic hollow bunny with a Kinder toy inside it! It was easy enough to open cleanly in half, although the bunny did slightly lose his head.


Easter eggs very rarely seem to have anything inside them these days (especially at the less expensive end of the market) so this Kinder bunny gets full points from me. The chocolate is very thick and super sweet but still very tasty, with milk and white chocolate layers. It was definitely the kids' favourite... so far! Although somewhat bizarrely the toy inside the Kinder egg was a reindeer!

So did you get any chocolate gifts this year? Feel free to leave a comment with details of your Easter haul!

30 Mar 2013

Pocky Panda Cookies & Cream Review (Oyatsu Cafe)


There are lots of Pocky from Glico to choose from at online store Oyatsu Cafe, but I especially loved the look of these Pocky Panda. It's no surprise that the flavour is cookies & cream, it's the perfect combination for a panda to represent!


Everything about the packaging on these is super cute. Even the inner bag holding the Pocky sticks is adorable.The little panda is using his Pocky as a wand!


Fans of Pocky will be pleased to see that the sticks have a chocolate base rather than the usual plain biscuit. They're then covered in a creamy vanilla layer containing lots of crunchy biscuit pieces.


As soon as I opened up the box I could smell the sweet creaminess of the outer layer. It's a sugary vanilla scent that was very appealing to me.


They tasted just as good as I was expecting with a delicious combination of biscuity crunch offset by the vanilla sweetness. I'm quite partial to any type of cookie with a cream filling, and these are essentially a Pocky stick version of that combination. I adored these Pocky Panda, they're the tastiest Pocky sticks I've tried by far. They're snack perfection!


The box even has a panda finger puppet activity on the back. Pure kawaii! I loved trying these Pocky and I will definitely be back for more. Oyatsu Cafe also has a new Limited Edition Pocky called Pocky Kumamon that looks fantastic too - they have a chocolate base with a rich chocolate coating and cookie pieces.

Don't forget to get 15% off your order at Oyatsu Cafe if you use the discount code:

 "GROCERYGEMS"

This is available for all orders internationally and with no limits. Check out their fantastic range of Japanese snacks and food!

These Pocky Panda were very kindly sent to me by Oyatsu Cafe for review but all views are my own. I don't receive any compensation if you order from Oyatsu Cafe or use the above code. 

Grocery Gems Verdict: Pocky Panda

RATING: 9 out of 10.
Buy them again?: Absolutely.

Purchased: Available at Oyatsu Cafe.
Price: $2.79 (approx £1.84).


You might also be interested in:

Cheeseburger Cheetos (Oyatsu Cafe)
Oyatsu Cafe Discount Code


29 Mar 2013

Ormo Soda Farls & Potato Farls and an Ulster Fry!


This post is thanks to one of my lovely, lovely readers, Becca, from The Sparkling Recoverer, who contacted me on St. Patricks Day, after reading about my Around the World challenge. She noticed that I hadn't reviewed anything from Ireland, a completely shocking oversight on my part! Well, Becca soon put that to rights by sending me a whole box of Irish goodies, including these breads and even instructions on making an "Ulster Fry". Thank you to Becca, and to her lovely Mum too, for such a wonderful parcel and for helping me with my challenge on behalf of Ireland!


Ormo is a company based in Belfast, Northern Ireland, who have been baking traditional Irish breads for over 135 years. The two breads that Becca sent me are traditionally used to make an "Ulster Fry", which is very similar to a full fried breakfast, but with potato farls and soda bread on the side.


The Ormo Soda Farls are breads made with baking soda rather than yeast. They are very versatile and easy to toast or fry. Once toasted, they tasted quite similar to an English muffin type of bread, but much softer and springy, and with a tangy edge. They were just delicious with a little bit of butter on top, so soft and tasty!


The Orma Potato Farls are thinner than the Soda Farls, but are much heavier in texture, and are made of mashed potato and flour. The consistency was a bit like a thick pancake, but denser from the potato. We put these in a frying pan with a little butter to get them lovely and golden. I'm going to have to find a local supermarket that sells these because they were absolutely delicious and perfect with a fry up.


So here's my finished Ulster Fry! Although when I say "my" I have to give props to Mr. Grocery Gems because he's the undisputed Master of fry ups in this house. He did most, ok it was all, of the cooking. This Ulster Fry includes; the soda and potato farls, bacon, sausages, eggs, baked beans, grilled tomatoes and mushrooms! There are many recipes online for an Ulster Fry, like this one from the Hairy Bikers, and I would recommend giving it a go, it's so much nicer than just a normal fry up with toast!


Many thanks again to Becca for sending this out, everyone in my family loved the breads and the Ulster Fry! I'll soon have a review of these fantastic Irish crisps that Becca also very kindly sent.


Nespresso Limited Edition Trieste & Napoli


Nespresso fans will be happy to hear about the release of two new Limited Edition Grand Crus, but I suspect they will be even more delighted to know that one of them has an intensity of 11. These Limited Edition coffees have been inspired by two beautiful Italian towns. There is Napoli, with an 11 intensity, and Trieste, with an intensity of 9. I know that Nespresso owners have long been awaiting an intensity greater than 10. Indeed, it's been a few years since Nespresso released the Limited Edition and extremely popular 12 intensity Kazaar.

When I went to the Nespresso Store in London yesterday the new coffees were only available in this double pack costing £7.00, with one sleeve of each new variety. The design features a leather type effect on the outer sleeve and on the boxes themselves. The colours used are red, green and white, evoking the Italian flag. I love the look of the capsules with their white background stamped with the names of the coffee. It's a very different look for the Nespresso range.


The Nespresso Napoli is described as a blend of South American, African and Asian Arabicas and best enjoyed as a Ristretto (the smallest 25ml setting). The taste is described as having smokey notes with an aromatic woodiness and slightly syrupy body. I made the coffee as suggested to enjoy the full intensity and I was surprised by just how velvety it was, especially given the intensity. However there is also a bitter note which comes through as an aftertaste. I can see why Nespresso also suggest enjoying the Napoli with sugar, no doubt to curb that slight bitterness. This would be the perfect coffee to use as the base for other drinks such as cappuccino or latte, where you still want an intense coffee flavour.


The Nespresso Trieste is a 9 intensity blend with a much silkier and subtle flavour. It is also recommended as a Ristretto (25ml). I've also made it using the slightly larger Espresso size and added some hot milk (as shown in the photo above). It's described by Nespresso as having a rounder texture with chocolate and hazelnut notes. For me there was a sweet smooth flavour to this coffee, almost like caramel, which was just delicious. Considering that the Trieste has a high intensity too, it doesn't have too bitter an edge. This was actually my favourite of the two and I can imagine I will be stocking up for the future.


If you've tried these new Nespresso coffees then let me know what you think by leaving a comment below. Are you pleased to see these as Limited Editions or would you prefer them to be added to the permanent range?

Update 07/04/13: Having drunk both these coffees regularly since writing this review I don't think I will be stocking up on either of them, well at least not beyond the stash I already have! I'm always glad to find new products, and these certainly do have a very unique flavour, but the bitter aftertaste of both is not really for me, especially since I don't put sugar in my coffee. They're still worth a try if you want something a little bit different from Nespresso.


28 Mar 2013

FritoLay Cheeseburger Cheetos Review (Japan)


I was very privileged to be sent an array of Japanese snacks from online store Oyatsu Cafe and I'll be reviewing more of their products in the upcoming days. At the top of my list when looking at the selection of Japanese snacks available at Oyatsu Cafe were these Cheeseburger Cheetos made by FritoLay Japan. Even though the flavour is most definitely not a traditional one for Japan, the packaging is quintessentially Japanese. The shiny red and gold colours on the front are a cut above any other Cheetos I've seen or purchased before. And if you look closely at the packaging it's not just a juicy cheeseburger that is featured on the front.


Who also spotted the large glass of Pepsi in the background? These Cheeseburger Cheetos are in fact a collaboration between FritoLay and Pepsi (who of course are both part of the same company anyway).


I cracked open a bottle of Pepsi (well it's Diet Pepsi but I think that still counts!) and then settled down to a Cheeseburger Cheetos and Pepsi feast.


These Cheeseburger Cheetos are the crunchy type of Cheetos rather than the puffy variety. For UK readers they're a lot like Nik Naks in shape and texture.


The cheeseburger flavour in these in just incredible. It's not just a generic meat flavour, it's a full on juicy-cheeseburger-in-a-snack flavour. They're not just a fun novelty snack, these Cheeseburger Cheetos are also seriously delicious and moreish. The taste of burger, cheese, relish, tomato and lastly sweet gherkin, all combine to create the perfect cheeseburger flavour. Without a doubt the tastiest Cheetos I've tried so far.


You can order these from Oyatsu Cafe for the great price of $2.99 (approx £1.98), where they will be sent direct from Japan. I had a very good experience with the shipping of my order - the parcel came very quickly in just over a week. Oyatsu Cafe say it should take between 7 to 14 days if you choose standard Airmail delivery. Postage costs vary according to the weight of your order and there are other postage options available.

Don't forget to get 15% off your order at Oyatsu Cafe if you use the discount code:

 "GROCERYGEMS"

This is available for all orders internationally and with no limits. Check out the Oyatsu Cafe range of hard to find Japanese snacks from Kit Kats to Pocky!

These Cheeseburger Cheetos were very kindly sent to me by Oyatsu Cafe for review but all views are my own. I don't receive any compensation if you order from Oyatsu Cafe or use the above code. 

Grocery Gems Review: FritoLay Cheeseburger Cheetos

RATING: 9 out of 10.
Buy them again?: A great snack that is worth a try.

Price: $2.99 (approx £1.98).


27 Mar 2013

Kettle Chips Mozzarella & Pesto Review


I love Kettle Chips and was pleased to see this new Mozzarella & Pesto "Seasonal Edition". All the products in the Kettle Chips range are hand cooked and seasoned with real ingredients - there's nothing artificial in these crisps at all.


I'm a fan of both mozzarella and pesto but I don't think I have ever seen this combination as a crisp flavour. Mozzarella is a very creamy and mild flavoured cheese which is often used on pizza - it's a great base for stronger flavours, such as those found in a classic pesto.


The crisps have the same great look as you would expect from Kettle Chips - golden in colouring and very generously seasoned. The dominant flavour is the pesto, especially from the basil and garlic. The cheese flavour is delicious too, it's creamy and mild but still strong enough to make these cheesy crisps. The creaminess from the cheese and strong herby notes from the pesto make this flavour an interesting twist on a classic cheese crisp flavour. If you love cheese and onion crisps then I'm sure you will also enjoy these!

Usually I love anything with the words Limited Edition because it hopefully indicates something new and a bit different, but in this case I hope this "Seasonal Edition" flavour is here to stay. In the meantime I'll definitely be picking up a few more bags from Waitrose.

Grocery Gems Verdict: Kettle Chips Mozzarella & Pesto

RATING: 8.5 out of 10.
Buy them again?: Definitely.
Nutrition (per 100g)
506 calories. 6.6g protein, 51.3g carbs, 3.1g sugar, 29.2g fat.
Purchased: Waitrose.
Price: £1.99p (currently on a buy one get one free offer!)


Kerrygold Softer Block Butter & Exclusive Recipes

I was sent some delicious sounding recipes which have been developed by the TV chef and author Rachel Allen for the new Kerrygold Softer Block Butter. I haven't tried this butter yet but it sounds like a fantastic idea to me -  especially if it means not having to deal with rock hard blocks of butter from the fridge! Kerrygold Softer Block Butter has been developed to be softer to use, all by natural means, partly because of the type of cream used but also because it's been gently heated and cooled before churning. It can be used in baking but also spread straight onto bread, toast, muffins etc.

There are three Rachel Allen recipes to share with you - an Almond Brittle Cake, Rillettes of Fresh and Smoked Salmon with Melba Toast and Cucumber Pickle, and Spinach and Mushroom Pancakes.


Rachel Allen Almond Brittle Cake

Ingredients

  • 150g (5oz) Kerrygold block butter, now softer
  • 175g (6oz) caster sugar
  • 3 large eggs, beaten
  • 150g (5oz) self-raising flour
  • 1 tsp baking powder
  • 75g (3oz) ground almonds
  • 2 tsp milk

Almond Brittle


  • vegetable oil, for greasing
  • 100g (4oz) granulated sugar
  • 100g (4oz) whole almonds (unskinned)

Almond Butter Icing


  • 225g (8oz) Kerrygold block butter, now softer
  • 450g (1lb) icing sugar
  • ½ tsp pure vanilla extract

2 x 18cm (7 inch) deep sandwich tins or cake tins         

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 190°C, fan oven 170°C, Gas Mark 5. Grease the cake tins with a little Kerrygold butter and line the bases with baking paper or greaseproof paper.
  2. Beat the Kerrygold butter and sugar together until light and creamy, then gradually add the eggs, beating well between each addition. Sieve the flour and baking powder together, then add to the creamed mixture with the ground almonds. Stir in the milk.
  3. Divide equally between the prepared tins. Bake for 22-25 minutes.
  4. While the cakes are cooking, make the almond brittle. First, grease a baking sheet with a little vegetable oil. Next, combine the sugar and almonds in a heavy saucepan. Put over a medium-low heat until the sugar turns caramel colour, carefully rotating the pan until the almonds are covered – this will only take a few minutes. Very carefully pour the mixture onto the baking sheet. Cool. (TAKE GREAT CARE when making caramel and NEVER touch it – it reaches an extremely high temperature. Keep a watchful eye on the pan as you make it – don’t just leave it to cook).
  5. Remove the cakes from the oven and cool in the tins for a few minutes, then turn out and cool on a wire rack.
  6. To make the icing, beat the Kerrygold butter until soft, then gradually beat in the icing sugar, using a hand-held electric mixer. Beat in the vanilla extract. Chop half the cooled almond brittle finely and stir it into the icing.
  7. To assemble, spilt each cake in half. Spread with butter icing, then sandwich the two cakes together with more icing. Spread the rest of the icing around the top and sides of the cake.
  8. Break off some shards of almond brittle and arrange on top of the cake. Coarsely chop the rest and sprinkle over the top of the cake.

Tip: Use whole unskinned hazelnuts instead of almonds for the brittle.



Rachel Allen Rillettes of Fresh & Smoked Salmon with Melba Toast and Cucumber Pickle 

Ingredients

75g (3oz) Kerrygold block butter, now softer
200g (7oz) smoked wild or organic Irish salmon
1 tsp water
200g (7oz) skinless fresh salmon fillet
Freshly ground pepper and nutmeg
Lemon juice, to taste
6 slices medium-cut white bread from a large sliced loaf

Method

  1. Melt 15g (1/2oz) Kerrygold butter in a saucepan. Add the smoked salmon and 1 tsp of water. Cover and cook for 3-4 minutes, or until it no longer looks opaque. Cool and refrigerate until cold.
  2. At the same time, put the fresh salmon fillet into a saucepan and cover with water. Heat until almost boiling, then turn off the heat and let the salmon poach in the hot water for 5 minutes. Remove, cool and refrigerate until cold.
  3. When cold, use two forks to shred both the fresh and smoked salmon – you are aiming for a coarse, slightly stringy texture.
  4. Beat the remaining Kerrygold butter in a bowl, then add the salmon and mix together, still using a fork (do not use a food processor). Season with pepper and nutmeg. Taste and add lemon juice as necessary. Cover and chill.
  5. Just before serving, make the Melba toast. Toast the bread on both sides. Cut the crusts off immediately and then split in half to create very thin slices. Scrape off any soft crumb, cut into triangles and put back under the grill, untoasted side up for a few seconds until the edges curl up. Serve with the rillettes.

Tip: Salmon rillettes will keep perfectly in the refrigerator for 5-6 days provided they are sealed with clarified butter. To make clarified butter, melt 75g (3oz) Kerrygold butter gently in a saucepan. Allow it to stand for a few minutes, and then skim off the crusty white layer of salt particles from the top. Underneath this crust there is clear liquid butter, which is the clarified butter. The milky liquid at the bottom can be discarded or used in a white sauce. Pack the salmon rillettes into individual pots or a larger pottery terrine and level the surface. Carefully pour the clarified butter over the top. Chill to form a sealed layer.

Cucumber Pickle
Calories per serving: 35 Fat per serving: 0
Serves 6

Ingredients

  • 1 cucumber, thinly sliced (unpeeled)
  • 1 small onion, thinly sliced
  • 25g (1oz) caster sugar
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 200ml (7fl oz) cider vinegar

Method 

  1. Combine the cucumber and onion sliced in a bowl (not a metal one). Add the sugar, salt and vinegar. 
  2. Place in a tightly covered container in the refrigerator and leave for at least 4-5 hours or overnight before using. 

Tip: Keeps well for up to a week in the refrigerator.


  • Spinach and Mushroom Pancakes

    Pancake Batter
    • 15g (1/2oz) Kerrygold block butter, now softer
    • 150g (5oz) plain flour
    • pinch of salt
    • 200ml (7fl oz) milk
    • 2 eggs
    • 2 tablespoons water


    Filling

    • 25g (1oz) Kerrygold block butter, now softer
    • 1 onion, finely chopped
    • 400g (14oz) baby spinach
    • 225g (8oz) mushrooms, sliced
    • 100ml (4fl oz) single cream
    • 1 teaspoon freshly chopped parsley
    • squeeze of lemon juice
    • salt and freshly ground pepper
    • chopped fresh chives, to garnish (optional)

    Method

    1. For the pancake batter, melt the Kerrygold butter over a low heat. Put the flour, salt, milk, eggs and water into a mixing bowl and beat together with a hand whisk to make a smooth batter. Whisk in the melted Kerrygold butter and leave to rest for 20-30 minutes.
    2. For the filling, melt the Kerrygold butter in a heavy saucepan until it foams. Add the onion, then cover and sweat over a gentle heat for 5-10 minutes, until soft but not coloured.
    3. Meanwhile, cook the spinach in a tiny amount of water in a large lidded saucepan, until the leaves wilt (about 3-4 minutes). Drain, then squeeze out the excess liquid with the back of a spoon.
    4. Add the mushrooms to the onion and cook for a few more minutes, then stir in the cream, parsley and spinach. Season with lemon juice, salt and pepper.
    5. Cook ladlefuls of the pancake batter in a non-stick frying pan until set on the surface. Turn over to cook the other side. Use to make 4 large or 8 small pancakes.
    6. Lay the pancakes on warm plates and spoon the filling in the middle. Serve, sprinkled with chopped chives.

    Tip: Use the filling as a sauce for pasta - simply stir it though your favourite cooked pasta shapes.

    I hope you enjoy the recipes! Kerrygold Softer Block Butter is available from Asda, Sainsburys, Tesco, Morrisons, Co-op and Waitrose with a rrp. of £1.60.


26 Mar 2013

Lucky's Humpty Dumpty Duke of Nutting Hazel Chocolate Egg Review


Yesterday I posted my review of Lucky's Tiny Pieces of Wonderland - delicious chocolates filled with cake. It was one of my all time favourite reviews to write, because the chocolates were so wonderfully unique and interesting. Today I'm reviewing the Humpty Dumpty Duke of Nutting Hazel Chocolate Egg that Lucky's very kindly sent me. And because this is a Lucky's chocolate egg, it's far from ordinary. The packaging is fun and quirky - forget bunnies and chicks who wouldn't want their own Humpty Dumpty chocolate egg? He's even sitting on his own wall!


But that's not the only reason why I love this Humpty Dumpty egg, it's also fabulous because it's a filled chocolate egg. There are six different flavours of filling in the range, and this Duke of Nutting Hazel is a delicious hazelnut praline.


The chocolate egg looks gorgeous even when it's out of the fun packaging. It's a gloriously glossy milk chocolate with a white chocolate moulded bow on the front. If the bow is too girly for you then there is also a ""Moustache Collection" available with chocolate moustaches instead of bows!

Unfortunately, whilst sitting on his wall, poor Humpty Dumpty was pushed met with a terrible accident:


Indeed, Humpty had such a great fall that he completely split in two. It might look at first like Humpty's insides are just filled with a hard chocolate, but this is actually a softly textured hazelnut praline.


The praline is smooth and silky, with a perfect hazelnut flavour. It's a delicious chocolate and hazelnut combination that anyone will love. The milk chocolate used has a full cocoa flavour but it also very sweet and moreish.The praline has crunchy chunks of hazelnuts within it to add extra texture and flavour. I loved the softness of the praline contrasted with the harder outer chocolate shell of the egg. The taste was simply stunning. I'm a fan of chocolate hazelnut anyway but this really was just divine.
The presentation is fun and unique too, making this an all round fabulous product. There are two sizes of these eggs available, large or small. They're quite pricey, so they're definitely a chocolate egg to be savoured rather than devoured. I'll certainly be buying these in the future as an extra special treat or present.

The Humpty Dumpty Chocolate Eggs are available in six different fillings: Sir Salt McAramel (a salted caramel filling), Prof Berry White (a white egg with raspberry pudding filling), Dr. Booz of Ireland (Baileys ganache filling), Earl of Peanuttle (peanut butter filling), Lord Dark Toffius (a dark egg with dulce de leche filling) and this Duke of Nutting Hazel (hazelnut praline filling). Which Humpty Dumpty Chocolate Egg would you go for?

Grocery Gems Verdict: Lucky's Humpty Dumpty Duke of Nutting Hazel Chocolate Egg

RATING: 10 out of 10.
Buy it again?: I'd go for Earl of Peanuttle next!

Price: £9.95 for the small egg (special offer price).


25 Mar 2013

Lucky's Tiny Pieces of Wonderland Review (Bestsellers)


I've always wanted to try something from the award winning Lucky's range but their Tiny Pieces of Wonderland, chocolates filled with cake, were especially interesting to me. That's not a misprint - these are chocolates with a luxury cake filling! If you're looking for a unique Easter gift idea then these are perfect (although Lucky's also makes an amazing filled chocolate egg called Humpty Dumpty which I'll be reviewing tomorrow).


I'm quite an indecisive person when it comes to choosing a sweet treat, especially if it's a range I've never tried before. Luckily the lovely people at Lucky's have foreseen such an eventuality and put together a Tiny Pieces of Wonderland Bestseller Collection. I decided the best way to sample the range was by delving straight into their most popular chocolates. The six chocolates in this set are: Nutty Delay, Chunky Nutter, Caramel Craze, Salty Insanity, Orange Rush and Peanut Bunny.


Nutty Delay - Honey cake and hazelnut praline all wrapped in white chocolate. The first of the Tiny Pieces of Wonderland that I wanted to try was the Nutty Delay.


Once unwrapped the chocolate looks simply gorgeous. They really do look like chocolates that have been crafted in some distant magically wonderland.


Inside is a perfect layer of honey cake topped with a hazelnut praline. The cake is soft with a delicate honey flavour. The hazelnut praline is deliciously smooth and nutty. The thick outer white chocolate is perfect here, adding a sweet creamy finish. It's amazing how the distinct flavours of honey from the cake, and hazelnut from the praline, remain separate from each other and from outer white chocolate, creating a delicious layering of flavours.


Chunky Nutter - a chocolate brownie with white chocolate and pecan pieces, all wrapped in milk chocolate.


Again, the chocolate looks gorgeous from the outside, I love the perfect shape and Lucky's logo.

The outer milk chocolate is sweet and creamy and is filled inside with a rich chocolate brownie. There is a lovely strong pecan flavour running through the brownie and added texture from the white chocolate chunks. The cake is dense is texture but still soft and fresh too. It really does taste like a brownie even though it's inside a chocolate.


Peanut Bunny - a honey cake and layer of peanut butter all wrapped up in milk chocolate. From the outside this looks exactly like the Chunky Nutter (above) so I won't repeat the outer photo. Inside it's a completely different story.


The Peanut Bunny had the most clearly defined layers in looks but also in terms of the taste and texture. The honey cake layer at the bottom is identical to the honey cake used inside the first Nutty Delay chocolate. It's quite dense with a distinct honey flavour. On top of that is a very soft, but also crunchy peanut butter. This has a perfect peanut butter flavour, sweet and nutty but slightly salty too. The whole chocolate is a real treat to the senses, full of different textures and flavours that compliment each other perfectly.


Caramel Craze - a brownie with caramel drops all wrapped in milk chocolate. Again this looks the same from the outside as the previous two milk chocolate covered Tiny Pieces of Wonderland.

Inside this chocolate is again filled with chocolate brownie but this time with pockets of soft caramel within it. I have no idea how Lucky's manage to put a perfect brownie inside a chocolate, let alone how they also get the caramel within the brownie - and with all the ingredients retaining their own unique textures.


Orange Rush - honey cake and marmalade all encased in dark chocolate. This is one of the newer chocolates in the Tiny Pieces of Wonderland range.


Again this Tiny Piece of Wonderland looks fantastic. The dark chocolate looks glossy and simply divine.


The centre of this one was very different from all the other chocolates I tried because the orange marmalade layer is quite liquid. I'm not really a fan of chocolate and orange together, but I enjoyed the honey cake and orange combination here. The dark chocolate stops it from being too sweet. It's a rich and smooth dark chocolate without any bitterness.


Salty Insanity - A salted caramel brownie, wrapped up in dark chocolate. From the outside this looks just like the previous dark chocolate.


I was really excited to try this chocolate as I love sweet and salty combinations. Inside the Salty Insanity is a lusciously dark and dense chocolate brownie with a real salty edge to it. The salt helps to bring out the sweetness and rich flavour of the dark chocolate, creating a delicious contrast of flavours.

Overall Lucky's Tiny Pieces of Wonderland is a unique and fun range that gets a resounding 10 out of 10 from me. Of course there were some flavours I enjoyed more than others, which is all down to personal taste. Peanut Bunny and Nutty Delay were my absolute favourites, closely followed by Salty Insanity and Chunky Nutter.

Take a look at Lucky's online as they have twelve flavours to choose from in the Tiny Pieces of Wonderland range, aswell as other varieties of chocolates and cakes

Grocery Gems Verdict: Lucky's Tiny Pieces of Wonderland

RATING: 10 out of 10 for the overall range.
Buy it again?: I'll be trying more from Lucky's - the cakes in jars are next on my list!

Purchased: Available from Lucky's online.
Price: £11.95 for the Bestsellers collection.


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