Review: Vax Voice consumer testing: the Vax Air Total Home cylinder cleaner
So as you’ll know if you read the last review, I’m part of the Vax Voice team. Basically I get to try out Vax products and give honest feedback about them. This time I let English Grandma have a go (I was going to tell her it was her Christmas present, but she’d already read about me being a Vax Voice reviewer – dammit).
Grandma got to try out the new Vax Air Total Home cylinder cleaner (model number: C89-MA-T). Over to Grandma, then:
Opening the box proved rather daunting as I was faced with numerous, [11 in all], parts and attachments, and feared my lack of assembling skills would hinder using the machine!
However, most of the packets turned out to be attachments [hard floor brush, crevice, dusting and upholstery tools etc] and the vacuum cleaner itself only needed minimal assembly – I have to say I haven’t yet tried out all the extras. It is a bagless cylinder model, light and simple to use, easily cleared of blockages, with a separate little compartment to catch the occasional coin or child’s game part lost under the bed or sofa!
The Vax Mach Air was an immediate success on my carpets – the dirt container was soon full of pet hair from my, as I thought, reasonably clean sitting room carpet, and it gave me great satisfaction to empty [and re-fill!] it twice more on going through the house. Now I do know my dog is extra hairy and seems to moult all year round, but I am now confident that I can make my carpets practically hair free with the new machine, which obviously they hadn’t been before.
It stores compactly too, with a ‘parking slot’ to keep the extension tube tidily in place when the cleaner is not in use.
And English Grandma’s verdict?
Much recommended, and I will try out some of the attachments in the future.
Big thanks for Vax for providing the machine for review, and a big, mahoosive snog for our tester, English Grandma xx
For more information, check out www.weloveclean.co.uk and www.vax.co.uk.
Review: hellofresh.co.uk
Did you watch the Sport Relief version of the Great British Bakeoff? I was actually quite struck by how, if you don’t cook much, it’s actually quite difficult to get your head around it (case in point: Arlene Phillips not knowing that you had to line a pastry-filled tart tin before pouring in the baking beans). The same goes for healthy eating, really – if you want to move away from chucking a pizza in the oven when you get home from work, but have no clue how to do it, where on earth do you start?
This thought occurred to me again when I was approached by hellofresh.co.uk. They offer a delivery service with a difference – they basically deliver all the ingredients PLUS a recipe that’s easy to follow, taking all the hard work and guess work out of it. I was quite impressed. Tell me more, I said to Caitlin.
So first you pop to their website – tell them how many there are in the household and choose how many meals you want, and they do the rest. They do all the shopping, and it appears at your door on a Monday evening between 5 and 9pm with recipes, all ready to go. All the meals area easy to do and take under 30 minutes to prepare, with no fancy schmancy cheffy tools required.
The sample recipe was, I have to say, very impressive: a chicken breast with creamy rocket risotto and tomatoes for 2 people:
My top ten gorgeous books for under the tree
I think cookbooks are sometimes overlooked as Christmas presents. Maybe it’s the ‘domestic’ element of it? I’m not sure. I remember when the brevren were small, English Dad bought me a breadmaker for Christmas. At the time I was devastated and offended and saw it as insulting that he’d bought me something so ‘homey’ and boring. I don’t know what was the matter with me – I’d love it if he got me one now!! Anyway, if you’ve got a food lover in your life, here’s my top ten of some of the more recent books that have been released. I’ve reviewed some of them before, and have provided links to my reviews. I’ve also given you links for books on the WHSmith website where I can.
Allegra McEvedy’s Bought Borrowed and Stolen has become one of my absolute favourite cookbooks. I’ve reviewed it here so you can read all about it. A beautiful travel/cookery book written in a no nonsense style that is truly unique.
Dan Lepard’s Short and Sweet - a perfect pressie for anyone who loves to bake. Dan’s friendly nature (he’s lovely on Twitter – look him up) comes across really well in this chunky book full of sweet treats. I know I’m probably silly, but how a book looks and feels is important to me and this one is gorgeous – I love to be able to flick through photos and pick something that takes my fancy. If you’re like me, you’ll adore Dan Lepard.
Jamie’s Great Britain - I’ve LOVED the series on the TV and this book is a really great accompaniment. Not only are there all the recipes from the series but tons more besides. I know Jamie has his critics but I absolutely adore his food – big flavours, creative combinations and no fiddly twiddly bits. The book is split up into nice easy sections – my fave being breakfasts (I’ve had a go at the Yemeni pancakes – they’re delicious) and mmmmm bubble and squeak with a runny egg on top. Heaven.
Donna Hay’s Fast Fresh Simple - Aussie Donna Hay’s book is absolutely gorgeous to look at and the recipes don’t disappoint either. I really like Donna Hay’s no nonsense approach to cooking, and her books reflect it really well. There are some fab shortcuts and inventive ways to get classic recipes on the table in half the time too. I love it.
One Sweet Cookie - Another really lovely looking book (making it perfect to be given as a gift, in my opinion) full of all sorts of yummy baking. The author, Tracey Zabar, herself famous as a jewellery designer, and stylist on Sex and the City, approached some of the most famous chefs in America (which is why you may not recognise some of the names) and asked them for their favourite baking recipes. The result is a treasure trove of amazing recipes.
Silver Spoon - Phaidon have recently published a new edition of this absolute monster of a classic cookbook. It’s got loads of new photographs and a really luscious red cover. Any foodie would be delighted to discover this one under the tree – everything you could possibly need to know about cooking Italian food.
Leith’s Cookery Bible - I was lucky enough to be given one of these after my recent trip to Leith’s. It’s another real weighty tome but it’s got absolutely everything in it – every recipe you can ever imagine co0king is laid out here, clearly and succinctly – I love the wine tasting section too. Really interesting. This would be a great pressie for a serious amateur cook. It really is a bible.
The Great American Cookbook - this one is quirky and fabulous. I adore it as much for the story behind it as for the actual recipes. Back in 1948, Clementine Paddleford set out on an epic journey to travel across the United States seeking out regional recipes, bringing them together in one enormous tome which was published in the 1960s. This reprint has all the spirit of the original and every truly great American recipe will be found nestling in its pages, from Creole cooking to New York cheesecake and Southern fried chicken. A fantastic read and a really great reference for any keen cook.
Next up will be my top ten Christmas books. Happy shopping!
Win a Tassimo coffee machine!
We are, dearest reader, a household divided. Nothing new there, you might think – we’re already divided into the pasta haters vs pasta lovers (that’s us three against English Dad), the creamy sauce lovers vs the creamy sauce haters (yup, that’s us three against English Dad too)… hmmm, there seems to be a pattern emerging.
Anyway, we’re two for two on the tea/coffee debate. I have the largest mug in Christendom (pink Minnie Mouse), which I fill on a fairly regular basis with builder’s tea, liberally topped up with milk. The Mad Prof is a tea lover too, whereas the Death Wish Dude and his Dad are confirmed coffee lovers.
Since we’ve been testing this Tassimo whatnot though, the house has been filled with the delicious smell of coffee, and I’ve even had the odd tongue-scorching, molten lava temperature cup of espresso. I know – not like me at all. It’s like when you really don’t fancy a mince pie, then someone warms one up and you smell it and really want one.
Anyhoo. Digressing. The Tassimo has these little plastic yokes that you pop in and press down on the thingy and then, voila! you get a freshly brewed mug of coffee! No filter papers or coffee grounds or any of that messy stuff. I love it.
Happily, I’ve also got one to give away. Pop over to my Facebook page here and leave me a comment (say hello, say ‘bum’, say whatever you like) on the Tassimo post and you can be entered into the draw. Good luck!
Draw closes Sunday 27th November. No cash alternative. Winner chosen at random.
Roast figs with brown sugar and cinnamon, inspired by Diana Henry
I absolutely love Diana Henry. Her book ‘Food from Plenty’ is one of my absolute favourites, so I was delighted to be offered a copy of her ‘Roast Figs, Sugar Snow’.
This book is just gorgeous. It’s all about Autumn and Winter, and the ingredients: figs, pumpkins, maple syrup, chestnuts, cranberries, quinces, are so evocative of the seasons. It’s like a massive warm hug in a book (with an optional hot chocolate).
Some of the recipes I’ve already got bookmarked include Danish Christmas Rice Pudding, snow biscuits, a steamed apple and marmalade pudding and roast figs and plums in vodka with a cardamom cream. You’re drooling already, right? It’s the perfect book to curl up with in front of the fire – not just recipes, but a lovely, seasonal read that will get you in the mood to get in the kitchen and rustle up some comforting winter food.
Inspired by this gorgeous book, and by the beautiful soft, dusky orbs in my local farm shop, I thought I’d have a go at roasting some figs. The result was utterly delicious. And so easy:
Roast figs with brown sugar and cinnamon
6 figs
50g butter
50g soft brown sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
Preheat the oven to gas 5/190 degrees. In a non-stick baking tin, place the figs, cutting a deep cross into the top of every one.
Melt the butter and brown sugar gently in a pan on the stove, add in the cinnamon, then pour the whole lot over the figs.
Roast for about 15 minutes. Serve with some thick double cream (Henry adds crushed cardamom seeds and a little icing sugar to hers) – a sprinkling of crushed pistachios would be gorgeous too.
Roast Figs, Sugar Snow: Food to Warm the Soul
Review: Allegra McEvedy’s ‘Bought, Borrowed & Stolen’
There are some cookery books that I definitely class as bedside books. Some are just a plain old list of recipes, and that’s fine, I like those ones as well, but others tell amazing stories and warrant bedside-table space along with the handcream and glass of wine (everyone does that, right?).
Take Sophie Dahl’s beautiful Miss Dahl’s Voluptuous Delights. It’s one of my favourite books – I thinkSophie Dahl writes amazingly well, and her gorgeous prose interlinked with anecdotes, rememberings from her childhood and other snippets enhance the lovely recipes and really make the book what it is, a classic to be treasured.
Allegra McEvedy’s new book, ‘Bought, Borrowed & Stolen. Recipes & Knives from a Travelling Chef’ is definitely a bedside book. Part recipe book, part travel tome, it’s a wonderful mixture. McEvedy has travelled extensively and started to pick up knives here and there on her travels. Along the way, she lists the knives she purchased in different places, then goes on to give local recipes in a friendly, matey way that I absolutely love. She starts one Mexican recipe with ‘My Spanish is crap’. I love that.
In my usual, destructive way I’ve turned down loads of pages to mark recipes that I really, really want to cook. They are miriad: Clafoutis aux Abricots, Szechuan Crispy Pork Ribs and Caldo Verde, temptingly subtitled: ‘A Soup of Greens, Spuds and a bit of Pig’. What’s not to love about that?
If you count a food lover amongst your nearest and dearest, especially one who loves to travel, lovingly wrap this book for them for Christmas. Like me, they will absolutely adore it.
Bought, Borrowed & Stolen is available now, published by Octopus. Click below to take you straight to Amazon.
Review: ‘Vax Voice’ consumer testing – the Vax Air Reach
I was delighted recently to be asked to become part of the Vax Voice team. Basically I get to try out Vax products and give honest feedback about them. I like this because I do find that sometimes brands are enthusiastic for bloggers/consumers to review their products, but not always as happy to receive honest feedback.
Today, I’ve been trying the new Vax Air Reach – now you know me, I’m not massively keen on cleaning at the best of times, but here at New New English Towers the entire place is carpeted in that weird ribby carpet (you know, the ones that looks a bit like corduroy), which is a total pain to clean.
After scratching my head a bit over the initial assembly, then scratching my head a bit more trying to work out how to attach the longer hose, I was finally off. Considering it’s quite light, it’s really powerful. The carpet we’ve inherited had started to go slightly darker around the edges, but a quick whizz around with the hose and the pointy attachment saw the edges back to the same colour as the rest of the carpet.
There’s also a very good brush attachment (see pic) which works really well on my leather sofa – it has a sort of soft finish and everything sticks to it – especially white hairs from the Ninja Cat of Death.
I managed to hoover the stairs without having to juggle the cleaner or balance it half way up (it sat at the bottom – the hose is really long) and it was easy to empty too. It’s also really nice and light, and very easy to carry up and down the stairs.
My one gripe is the little bunch of accessories which has a really tricky little button that you need to push in really hard to get the nozzles to release.
Apart from that, it’s a big 9/10. Nice, one, Vax!
For more information, check out www.weloveclean.co.uk and www.vax.co.uk.
Review: Giant Jenga from gardengames.co.uk
I do get some odd emails. The other day, I got one that said would I like to try out an enormous game of Giant Jenga?
Bring. It. On.
I have to say, despite not really having the weather for taking this game outside, we couldn’t wait until next summer and instead have had enormous fun with it in the house, and, if you’ve got the room, I can see it being a great party game too (I’ll let you into a secret – English Dad gets all competitive after a few beers – I might have to subtly introduce this game around Christmas time).
One word of warning – if you’re competitive, and you’re trying to take out a block right at the bottom of the tower, be prepared to be showered in very large chunks of wood.
Mild concussion? Pffft. At least I won.
To check out this game, officially titled Mega Hi Tower in a Bag, and other fab family garden games, check out www.gardengames.co.uk.
Foodie news: what’s new?
Organic wild pomegranate balsamic vinegar
We adore this fruity pomegranate balsamic from Higher Nature. It’s gorgeous in salad dressings. Higher Nature supply vitamins, supplements and organic foodstuffs, but don’t discount this because it’s not in a posh glass bottle. A first class product.
1870 Mixers
Each of the seven varieties is made with pure Kentish spring water and flavoured with the finest natural ingredients from around the world: from Sicilian lemon oil to fiery African ginger. I was especially taken with the slimline tonic (well, I do like a gin) – it was lovely, not too sweet and a perfect complement to my favourite tipple.
Anchor Butter
are celebrating their 125th birthday, and to celebrate sent me some wonderful, nostalgic goodies, including a gorgeous butter dish – my fave. Click here to win some for yourself. Happy birthday, Anchor!
Wonderful Pistachios
These little sweet chilli flavoured wonders are absolutely evil. Eat one and you can’t help but scoff the whole packet. Seriously yummy!
Soreen’s new Toastie Loaf…
We love malt loaf in this house and this new ready-sliced loaf means that you don’t squish it when you cut it too. Perfect for a healthy breakfast!
Gourmelli.co.uk
sent me a lovely little selection of some of their luxury products:
The Smoked Chilli Garlic is a delicious combination of smoked chilli and garlic – I used it in a risotto and it was rather nice.
Tartufi Truffles & Mushrooms – a great alternative to mushrooms, the truffles add a new twist to any mushroom based recipe – fabulous in pasta, or served as a part of an antipasti plate.
Black Truffle Olive Oil – the subtle taste of black truffle blends perfectly with the olive oil – yummy drizzled over eggs benedict (I know, but honestly try it. Delicious).
Check out their enormous range at gourmelli.co.uk.
Oxo’s new salt and pepper grinders
These little beauties keep gravitating back to the kitchen from the dining room table. They’ve got a special dial so you can choose whether you want really find sprinkles, or a larger grind and they’re so useful I really need two pairs.
Capricorn Goats’ Cheese
The lovely chaps at Capricorn sent me the ingredients to make a gorgeous goats’ cheese risotto – yes even the wine! The end result was utterly delicious. Each little round of goat’s cheese has a lovely goat on it as well. Pick your favourite. Here at English Towers we’re team Beryl all the way! Find out more at www.capricorngoatscheese.co.uk
Review: Pieminister – a pie for all seasons by Tristan Hogg and Jon Simon
We’re huge pie fans here at English Towers. I think I’ve missed out because I’ve never actually had a Pieminister pie, but they’ve come to the rescue and brought out a weighty tome of their wonderful pie recipes so we can all have their lush creations at home.
I love this book, not only for its creative ideas (canapies, anyone?) and wonderful sense of humour (try saying “‘Jamaica, me love you’ patties” without attempting a Caribbean lilt) but also for the sheer breadth of ingredients they manage to stuff into a pie! There’s rabbit, chipotle chilli, jerk chicken, pear and chocolate, rhubarb and custard….
*Takes a breath*
Highlights include the Christingle Pie (no more boring nut roast for the veggies amongst us on Christmas day), the frankly ridiculous Hedonist pie: a stunning chocolate pie with a touch of clementine and a shot of rum (drooool) and the Spring Chicken Pot Pie, proving that pies aren’t just for chill winter evenings. Oh no.
I just had to make their classic moo pie (although they don’t give away their closely guarded secret recipe completely). It’s a rich and delicious, herby steak and ale pie that got a unanimous thumbs up from de brevren (we actually fought over the last piece).
Highly recommended! ’Pieminister. A pie for all seasons’ is published by Bantam Press and is available now priced £14.99.
