Tag Archives: miso soup

Snack Attack! Snack Ideas From Frost

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Choc Shot Liquid Chocolate

This is a brilliant invention. This liquid hot chocolate just needs to be stirred into hot milk. However it’s a hot chocolate that is not just for drinking. You can spread on toast, squeeze and shake for a milk shake and drizzle over ice cream, porridge and fruit. It tastes great, like a high quality dark chocolate. Not the bitter ones though, it is very sweet. It is 100% natural, low GI, GM and gluten-free, vegan and only 14 calories per tsp. Wow and wow. I think we just found out how we are going to be getting our chocolate fixes from now on.

snacks brilliant good

Available from Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and Ocado. RRP £3.59

Miso Tasty Spicy AKA Miso Soup

Really tasty, good soup from Miso Tasty, founded by pioneering chef and food blogger Bonnie Chung. Find it in supermarkets.

Cawston Press Cloudy Apple and Rhubarb Canned Drinks

cawstonpressThese sparkling drinks are not only delicious, they are also different. Each is made from pressed fruit juices that are gently mixed with sparkling water. The cloudy apple and rhubarb both taste great and are refreshing. Has no concentrates, artificial sweeteners, preservatives or colourings.

Available from Waitrose, Booths, WH Smith and Whole Foods.

Nature’s Path Organic Nice And Nobbly Granola Bars, Dark Choc Chip and Trail Mix

These are the first granola bars from Nature’s Path, the organic cereal producer. They are gluten-free and endorsed by Coeliac UK. They are a lavish muddle of organic seeds, fruit, wholegrain clusters of golden-baked oats. The dark choc chip one has a healthy dollop of rich, Fair Trade dark chocolate and the trail mix has cranberries, almonds, peanuts, pumpkin seeds, coconut, flax seeds and gluten-free oats.

Available from Tesco.com, Waitrose and Sainsbury’s. RRP £2.99 for five.

Clearspring Japanese food

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With a brand name inviting thoughts of fresh and healthy ingredients, it was no surprise to learn the Japanese Clearspring food range is 100% organic and all vegan.

 

Now, I’m just going to come out with it – I have a love hate relationship with Japanese food.

 

I love sushi, noodles and tempura batter, but I’m afraid my palette isn’t quite accustomed to squidgy, spongy tofu or the sharp taste of Sake.

 

However, I was happy to take on another culinary experience at the Clearspring 20th anniversary event at Ice Tank, Soho, on Friday evening for the launch of Miso soup on the go and Matcha green tea powder.

 Clearspring Japanese food Geisha green tea miso soup

Miso soup on the go comes in a handbag-friendly 8g sachet and you just need to pop it in a cup and add hot water.

 

It was surprisingly refreshing and filling (it had tofu pieces and I promise, I did try a few before fishing them out), but the best part is that it counts for a measly 29 calories of your daily allowance, perfect for a quick and light snack.

 

Now, the Matcha tea was the star from the evening. It’s unlike any tea I have ever seen or tasted. It’s green tea but in powder form – the tea leaves are grown in the Uji region of Kyoto, Japan, before they are finely milled to create a loose powder.

 

Just a quarter of a teaspoon whisked with hot water creates a revitalising and intense green tea flavour. Just don’t be put off by the pond-weed colour in your cup; it’s meant to boost energy levels and your metabolism rate and has been drunk by Buddhist monks for over 900 years during tea ceremonies and days of meditation.

 

Clearspring has a vast range of products which were showcased on the evening: fruit purees, Amazake sweet grain dessert, seasonings such as soya sauce, Teriyaki sauce and sesame oil; as well as sea vegetables including Kombu (good for soup stock), Wakame (good for Miso soup and salads) and Hijiki (black flavoursome strings).

 

Plus there’s also a good selection of rice and noodle dishes: Udon (thick and flat wheat noodles), wide Udon, brown rice Udon and Soba noodles (made with buckwheat and wheat flour giving a nutty taste).

 

It was a pleasant evening with cooking demonstrations and sushi tasting, and the traditional tea ceremony and Kimono dress-up area were also real hits complementing the authentic Japanese food products. 

 

Already stocked in major supermarkets, Clearspring has just launched their products for the online market. See www.clearspring.co.uk for more information.