Review: Sun-Pat Choc-a-Nut Peanut Spread

Even though I enjoy chocolate spreads and peanut butter, my husband is even more of a fan than I am. He's always on the lookout for any new product and has found some real gems over the years (I still miss the Coconut Chocolate Spread that Sainsbury's used to sell!). I had actually read about this new Sun-Pat Choc-a-Nut peanut spread on Kev's Snack Review blog but hadn't seen it instore anywhere, so I was more than happy when the other half found a jar recently.

It certainly sounds like a great idea, albeit a very simple one - to create a combination of chocolate spread and butter butter in one jar. The reality of this Sun-Pat spread does not actually equate to that promising combination, but it's a very tasty proposition in it's own right. Instead, this is a mix of smooth peanut spread with cocoa powder, rather than chocolate, which meant it had a deeper, darker flavour than I was expecting. Even though I've pictured this spread on a toasting waffle, I wouldn't recommend it eaten this way, it just didn't work well at all, and seemed to bring out a bitter flavour from the Choc-a-Nut spread. On a piece of toast, or bagel, however it is completely delicious! The result is not too sweet or greasy, with the rich cocoa flavour creating a very different type of spread.

Grocery Gems Verdict: Sun Pat Choc-a-Nut Peanut Spread

RATING: 8 out of 10
Buy them again?: Yes.
Nutrition (100g): 562 calories.
Purchased: Tesco.
Price: £2.25.

Review: New McVitie's Mini Digestives Creepy Shapes

It seems that Halloween is finally making it's presence known on the shelves of most supermarkets, offeing a brief respite before the Christmas products take over completely. Amongst the new Halloween snacks are these McVitie's Mini Digestives Creepy Shapes, which are spookily similar to the Cadbury Mini Animals Halloweenies that I reviewed earlier in the week.

There are six individual bags in each multipack. The packaging is mainly black with an interesting Halloween "Did You Know" fact printed on the front.

Each Mini Digestive has a spooky creature or image pictured on one side, whilst the other side is covered in milk chocolate. The biscuits have the same flavour as the regular sized McVitie's milk chocolate digestives, which I find very moreish, with their slightly crumbly texture and wheaty flavour. The individual biscuits are larger in size than the Cadbury Mini Animals Halloweenies, and feel more substantial to eat. Even though I preferred the brighter Halloween theme of the Cadbury Halloweenies, I also enjoyed the look and flavour, of the McVities Mini Digestives Creepy Shapes. It's quite hard to choose between them, but I think there is enough room in my cupboards for both!

Grocery Gems Verdict: McVitie's Mini Digestives Creepy Shapes

RATING: 8 out of 10
Buy them again?: Yes.
Nutrition (25g): 126 calories.
Purchased: Sainsbury's.
Price: £1.00.

Limited Edition Maynards Sour Patch Kids Heads & Bodies

Sour Patch Kids were launched in the UK last year there, with at least one new variant; the Soda Popz (review HERE), being released this year already. Now there is also a rather macabre Halloween Limited Edition in the form of these gruesome Sour Patch Kids Heads & Bodies.

Despite the fact that the sweets consist of severed heads and headless bodies, they still manage to look quite fun. There are only two flavours of sweets in the pack; blackcurrant and orange, but this simply ensures the perfect colour mix for Halloween. The flavours are very good too, a satisfyingly fruity combination of the zesty orange and sweeter blackcurrant. They both feature a mildly sour coating that soon gives way to a more sugary finish.

I was really impressed by these Limited Edition Heads & Bodies, they're just on the right side of gory for kids to enjoy at Halloween!

Grocery Gems Verdict: Sour Patch Kids Heads & Bodies

RATING: 8 out of 10.
Buy them again?: I'll probably buy a few more packs later this month.
Nutrition (per 5 sweets): 80 cals, 0.1g fat.
Vegetarian: Not suitable.

Review: Liberté Strained Greek Style Yogurt Blueberry Harvest

As an all round yogurt fan, I've tried out a few different brands of the newly popular super thick strained yogurts, such as Fruyo (review here) and Danio (review here). Even though I enjoyed the super thick texture of these types of yogurts, I don't buy them too often as I find that the individual servings a bit too large (170g in the Fruyo pots) for me. I've been meaning to try these Liberté Strained yogurts, because the pots are much smaller (100g), which I prefer. The Liberté brand has a long heritage in Canada where it began, and has finally been launched in the UK this year.

There are several flavours available; Strawberry, Blueberry Harvest, Lemon Bliss, Golden Honey, as well as a plain variety. I decided to go for the Blueberry Harvest. Each pot has 85 calories, is naturally rich in protein and is free from artificial sweeteners and preservatives.

I had seen in other reviews of the Liberté range that the yogurt is often separated (with a watery layer on top), however I didn't encounter that problem with any of mine. The yogurt was thick, creamy and extremely satisfying, just like the other strained yogurts I've tried. I found that the blueberry compote layer at the bottom had plenty of juicy blueberries, but was quite runny, almost liquid in consistency. Despite that, I still enjoyed this fruity layer, as I found it lighter and less sugary than the compotes in other yogurt brands. and it worked well with the thick texture of the yogurt itself.

Grocery Gems Verdict: Liberté Strained Greek Style Yogurt Blueberry Harvest

RATING: 7.5 out of 10.
Buy them again?: Yes, the smaller size is perfect for me.
Nutrition: 85 calories
Purchased: Sainsbury's.
Price: £2.19 (multipack of 4)..

Review: Cadbury Mini Animals Halloweenies

Beware of this truly gruesome Halloween product from Cadbury - the traditionally cute Animal biscuits have had a spooky makeover and now feature loathsome bats, spiders, mice, and other terrifying creatures.

There are six mini bags in a pack, each one taken over by a different monstrous critter, some more horrific than others. The ghastly biscuits are covered in Cadbury milk chocolate on the underside, with one of several despicable beasts depicted on the other.

Of course I'm just kidding, because these are all ridiculously cute! The Halloween creatures (or should I say Halloweenies) make these biscuits so much more fun that the usual animals! There's also a little Halloweenies fact on each packet such as: A group of rats is called a mischief. One bat can eat 600 to 1000 insects per hour. Toads run or take small hops rather than run. Overall, great fun from Cadbury - my kids loved them.

Grocery Gems Verdict: Cadbury Mini Animals Halloweenies

RATING: 8.5 out of 10
Buy them again?: Yes.
Nutrition (22g): 105 calories.
Purchased: Wilkinsons.
Price: £1.00.