McDonalds Festive Burgers 2021 Review

Hey everyone!

Welcome to a brand new blog post. I tried the new two burgers that are out for the festive period at McDonalds and I thought that I would talk to you about them today. 

Blogger has decided to be weird so please ignore that this may not look like a normal blog post from this blog. 

 


Festive Stack

‘Two 100% British and Irish beef patties with a red onion relish, white cheese sauce, bacon, crispy onions, red onion, lettuce, cheddar cheese in a glazed brioche style bun‘.

I quite enjoyed the texture of this burger. The chewiness of the meat patties against the the crunchiness of the onion pieces was sublime. Once the crunchiness of the fried onions had stopped partying on my tongue, a smooth saucy wave hit my tongue which I absolutely adored. These three textural components for me made up most of the burger and made it a great eating experience.

The flavour of this burger only added to the excellent eating experience. When I took a bite of this burger, after the savouriness of the meat hit my tongue, a wave of rich and delicious red onion relish took over. I really enjoyed it. After the red onion calmed down, the cheese sauce hit my palette like a wave of creamy goodness which combines with the after taste of the onion relish ensured that the cheese sauce wasn’t too rich for my personal taste.

Festive Crispy Chicken

‘ A chicken breast fillet in a crispy coating, cranberry sauce, sage & onion mayo, bacon, red onion, lettuce, cheddar cheese in a glazed poppy and sesame seed bun’.

The texture of this burger was a unusual one for me. The poppy and sesame seed bun created crunch which was different as normally the sesame seeds on burger buns don’t usually provide any texture to the dish overall. After the crunch of the bun came the crunch of the patty itself and, for me; it was a bit too much. After the double crunch came the chew of the bacon which didn’t provide much except an aching jaw. All in all, personally it was just a bit too much.

The taste profile of this burger was fabulously festive. When I took my first bite I had a sea of savouriness flood my mouth, after this the sweet taste of classically festive Cranberry crashed my mouth. I quite like the mix of sweet and savoury so I loved them. Once this had dissipated, a creamy flavour coated my tongue. It was meant to be sage and onion Mayo but honestly it tasted more like savoury cream than stuffing to me but every palette is different.



Would I get them again? If I’m in McDonalds and want something festive then I would pick one up but I wouldn’t rush out to get them.

Have you tried these burgers from McDonalds? Let me know down below.

Thanks for reading!

Jamie x

Aldi Festive Sandwiches 2021 (Turkey Feast & Brie & Cranberry) Review

Hey everyone! 

Welcome to a brand new blog post! I recently tried two of the new festive sandwiches at Aldi and I thought that I would talk to you about them today. 

Eat and GoTurkey Feast 

Cooked turkey breast, pork, sage and onion stuffing, cranberry chutney, mayonnaise, cooked smoked bacon and fried onion on malted bread

The textural aspect of this product was quite sublime. This sandwich contained a lot of the same sort of texture just in different thickness levels such as the thick chunks of stuffing against the thin texture. Even though these were slightly different (eg. different varieties of meat, different flavours and cut into different shapes), they were very similar when it came to texture. However, what made this sandwich sublime when it came to the texture was the fried onions. Against all of the sort of succulent meats and stuffing, the onions added a much needed crunch which when contrasted with the soft meats and smooth sauce and Mayo made for a great mouth feel. 

When I took a bite of this product, the first flavour note that I got was the savouriness from the turkey. When the savouriness of the succulent turkey disappeared, the flavour of the superb sage and onion stuffing hit my palette like a wave of flavour. I love stuffing in all shapes and forms so when this particular flavour hits my tongue I am always happy to enjoy it. The last flavour that mainly hit my palette from this sandwich was the cranberry. This fruity flavour hit my tongue and contrasted amazingly with all of the savoury flavours that had been going on throughout this product. 

Eat & Go Brie & Spiced Cranberry Chutney Sandwich 

'Mould ripened brie cheese with cranberry, orange and ginger chutney, mayonnaise and spinach on malted bread'. 

The texture of this product wasn't the best. Honestly, the texture of this product isn't bad, but, as there isn't anything severely contrasting, this means that it does scream a bit one note when you bite into this product. I did love the smooth cheese against the slightly crunchy seeded bread. This was the nearest to a textural contrast when it comes to consuming this sandwich in my opinion. 

This product may have lacked texture, but it definitely didn't disappoint when it came to taste. When I took a bite of this product, the first flavour note that flourished onto my tongue was the salty and creamy Brie. I don't eat Brie often because its sometimes hard to find for me, but when I do enjoy it, I can't get enough of it. After the creaminess cooled, the next flavour that jumped onto my tongue was the Spinach. To me, Spinach does't have much flavour but kind of has a saline yet iron based flavours to em. That sounds weird, I know but do you know what I mean? This added to the saltiness of the Cheese. After this, the final flavour that hit my palette was the fruity Cranberry. This worked amazingly against the salty and creamy flavours that screamed volumes in this product. I loved the flavour contrast of salt and sweet. It was to die for. 

Would I buy these again? Yes, definitely! They both tasted delicious and priced at £1.75, you can't not buy these again and again! 

Have you tried these? Let me know down below. 

Thanks for reading!

Jamie x

Lush All Year Round Editions Winter 2021 Range First Impressions

 Hey everyone! 

Welcome to a brand new blog post. Lush kindly sent me their new range of all year round bath bombs so I thought that today I would talk to you all about them! 

Black Rose 

A rose by any other name would smell as sweet. This bath bomb smells as sweet as an actual Rose! This product has been out before but has come back with not only a vengeance but also with a little bit of a makeover! This bomb contains Pakistani Rose Absolute, Rose Oil, Geranium Oil and Sicilian Lemon Oil. This bomb smells like a lovely mixture of a Lemon squeezed over some cooked down Roses. If you like anything with a floral kick then you will love this. I love this bomb but I do think that it is definitely one of those bombs that is fit for a certain mood especially with it's deep and dark colours that shoot themselves all over the tub. If you love anything glitter based then you will also love this bomb. This particular bomb is actually my friend Abbey's favourite bomb! Priced at £6. 

Diamond Dust 

Diamonds are a tubs best friend! Who doesn't love Diamonds? Not only is this bomb inspired by a Diamond but it also looks like a Diamond! This bomb contains Nerolii, Ylang Ylang, Black Pepper, Sandalwood and Vetivert Oils. To me, the first ingredient that I can smell in this bomb is black Pepper which I absolutely love but this has a sort of smoky, slightly fresh scent to it. If you love glitter then you will love this bomb as the glitter in this bomb makes your bath look like well Diamond Dust! I'm intrigued to see what this bomb is like as I was intrigued by the smell which smells like Breath Of God to me. Priced at £8.50 which is quite expensive but would be nice to purchase every now and again as a gift. 

Lakes 

Lets go bathe in the Lakes and think about all of the things that we regret in our life. When this bomb was first rumoured, it was apparently inspired by Taylor Swift but there is no mention of this in the description of the bomb now so I am guessing that Lush may have been scolded by someone related to Taylor Swift maybe? This bomb contains Labdanum Resinoid Siberian Fir Needle Oil, Osmanthus Absolute and Myrrh Resinoid. To me this smells very fresh. It reminds me kind of like a mixture of sea water and Cucumbers with a touch of the smell of Grass. Yes I know that this sounds like a weird mixture but I think that this would be perfect for those nights where you need to relax or a bomb for those mornings in the Spring. Priced at £5.50 and I think that it would be perfect for someone as a gift. 

Luxe 

Who doesn't love a good bit of Luxe-try? This bath bomb is a bomb that I was intrigued and unsure of before it came out as I had no idea of the scent notes or ingredients but I quote like it. This bomb contains Rose and Jasmine Absolutes, Ylang Ylang and Sandalwood Oils and Vanilla Absolute. To me, this has notes of the Cocktail perfume from Lush but a bit more woody and sweet? I enjoy Cocktail so I think that this has a sort of air of Cocktail to it. I have the Cocktail Bubble Bar so I may pair it with a tiny bit of it just to see if my nose is right. The bomb itself looks pretty and I can't wait to use it. Priced at £7.

The Experimenter 

Who doesn't love a good experiment? The Experimenter is back with a bang! When this first came out during the Oxford Street megastore

 launch, I fell in love with it. The smell was to die for and still is! This product contains Vetivert Oil and Vanilla Absolute. This smell to me creates a woody yet creamy scent. Personally, I think that it smells like when fireworks have been used. I know that sounds odd but I really love the scent. it also contains Popping Candy for a real sensory treat! Definitely one to try if you haven't before. Priced at £6.50. 

Think Pink 

Who would have thought that Think Pink is back! A classic back for good! This bomb used to be the bee's knees for a lot of people when it was out. Sadly I wasn't one of them but I appreciated the bomb. This bomb contains Vanilla Absolute, Lavender and Neroli Oils which to me creates a sort of very sweet floral scent. This bomb is also coated in glitter which I love and has always reminded me of Mean Girls for obvious reasons. The Body Spray of the same scent name wasn't my favourite but I quite liked the bomb when I smelt it before writing this so I think that my nose has changed a bit when it comes to certain scents. Priced at £6.50.

Unicorn Poop 

Unicorns are amazing and so are their poops! When I heard about this bomb ages ago, I heard that this would be in the same scent as the Uncorn Horn Bubble Bar. Now that I have smelt it, this is definitely not the case! (If it is then let me know but the last time that I checked it wasn't). This product contains Ylang Ylang, Davana and Bergamot Oils and Jasmine Absolute. To me, the first note that I got was Lemon which I guess was from the Bergamot itself. I didn’t really get much of the Davana but I got a lot of the powdery floral from the Ylang Ylang and Jasmine. I am intrigued to try and use this bomb just to see if the Davana and Bergamot transfer well to the water in the tub. Priced at £6. 

So what do you think of all of these bombs? Im intrigued to see what they're lie in the bath. Have you tried any of the bombs? Leet me know! 

Thanks to Lush for sending me these products. 

Thanks for reading! 

Jamie x

This post was in exchange for free products or services. All views and ramblings are my own. 

Ferrero Rocher Original Milk Chocolate & Hazelnut Dark 55% Chocolate Bars Review

 Hey everyone! 

Welcome to a brand new blog post! I finally got my hands on the Ferrero Rocher bars after pretty much hunting them down whenever I was at a supermarket so I thought that today I would talk to you all about them. 

During my childhood, two confectionery based products were the height of excellence to me. Lindt Lindors and Ferrero Rochers. Seeing those adverts where all of the chocolates were encased in gold packaging that would glimmer and shine against the lines in the studio. All of the spherical chocolates lined in a pyramid ready to be unwrapped. The sound of someone biting into one in the advert which would make your mouth water instantly. These are some of the factors that made me instantly connect Ferrero Rochers with excellence... Now that same celebrated chocolate treat has been turned into a chocolate bar. 

The two bars that I could find were the Original Milk Chocolate and the Hazelnut Dark 55% Chocolate. I did hear that there is a White Chocolate bar that is on supermarket shelves and that Ferrero hope to release some more flavours but I have only heard this through the grapevine so take this with a good pinch of salt. 

Both go these bars share a similar texture, so I will mainly focus the texture on one bar as the difference between these bars lies more in the taste rather than the texture, or the textural contrast of different components against each other (eg. smooth cream against a crunchy nut praline and so on). 

The texture of this bar was quite interesting. I was expecting it to be exactly like the original Ferrero Rocher truffles but that isn't the case with these bars. When I placed a piece of these practically perfect bars into my mouth, the first thing that hit my tongue was the oh so smooth chocolate. Whether this be milk or dark chocolate, it didn't matter, they were both smooth against my tongue. Once this texture hit my tongue the nubbly nutty filling hit the roof of my mouth which made for an amazing textural contrast against the smooth chocolate. The nuts were of a fine texture which meant that the filling didn't feel like chunky clusters going into my mouth. 

The Milk Chocolate Original Bar tasted amazing. The first component that hit me was the chocolate. Instead of texturally, this time the chocolate hit my tongue with the sweetness and creaminess that milk chocolate gives when anyone places a square of it into their mouths. This milk chocolate was instantly contrasted with the toasty and slightly savoury note that came from the toasted Hazelnut filling that was next to hit my palette like a wave hitting a surfer without a care in the world doing their thing in the waters. These two flavour notes combined later on in the tasting experience of this bar to create a salty sweet concoction that is to die for. 

The Dark bar was surprisingly just as delicious! My qualms normally with dark chocolate when its mixed with another flavour (in this aspect, its nuts but I've tried bars with caramel, fruit etc) is that the Dark Chocolate overwhelms the other components in the bar which then makes the other component (eg fruit) pointless. The Dark Chocolate is at a 55% Cocoa rate which means that it isn't too strong and thus allows the other flavours in this bar to dance on the tongue without having their thunder stolen by the chocolate. I really enjoyed the Dark as the slightly more rounded and fruity chocolate gave a completely different taste experience compared to the Milk. As someone who isn't the biggest Dark Chocolate fan, I would definitely recommend this bar to others. 

Would I buy this again? Yes, but I have a few stipulations. First, I wouldn't hunt them down in several stores for several weeks and I wouldn’t buy them often due to the pricing of the bars. I would get them when I wanted to treat myself and if I knew that I could purchase one in my local area. I also would like a few more flavours. I think that a fruit flavour would be nice especially against the warming flavours of the nuts that are in the bar and I would love to see some experimentation with the nuts themselves. Macadamia, Coconut, Almond. The list could be endless. The bars are priced ai £2 for 90g. 

Have you tried out the Ferrero Rocher Bars? Let me know down below. 

Thanks for reading! 

Jamie x

Lush Christmas 2021 Bath First Impressions

 Hey everyone! 

Welcome to a brand new blog post! I thought that I would talk to you all about my first impressions of the Lush Christmas Range. Due to this range containing a plethora of products, I've decided to split it up into three posts. Bath. Shower and Body, and Face, Lips & Fragrances. 

Today's post will be focusing on the bath bombs and bubble bars in this range. 

Bath Bombs: 

Orange Pop 

Squeeze this juicy Orange and it will go pop! Who doesn't love a good citrusy bath bomb to help them feel uplifted and refreshed during the cold winter months? This bomb contains Popping Candy obviously, but it also contains Sicilian Red Mandarin, Brazilian Orange, Tangerine and Bergamot Oils. This to me creates a zingy yet slightly sort of peppery fresh Orange scent to me. If you like Orange Scrub or Repeat Foot Balm then imagine that but in a bath bomb form! I think that this could really be made into an all year round product at Lush but during the wintry months, for me, it will definitely be used on those days where I need a little boost as I know that this product will definitely give me that zesty pizzaz that I will need on a cold day! Priced at £3.95. 

Butterbear 

The Bear is back! This festive favourite is back and better than ever! This bomb contains Fair Trade Organic Cocoa Butter, Synthetic Musk and Ylang Ylang Oil. This combo create a very rich soothing Vanilla scent to me. I also normally only pick one up at Christmas due to this bomb being out all year round in the form of Butterball but I do love a bear which draws me into buying one every year! If you have dry or sensitive skin then this may be one for you! Priced at £2.95. 

Sleepy Bear 

Who doesn't love snuggling up to a sleepy bear? Talking about loving bears, there is a new bear in town! This bear is like Butterbear but contains a few different things. This bomb contains Lavender Oil, Benzoin Resinoid, Tonka Absolute, Ylang Ylang, Fine Oatmeal, Lavender Flowers and Fair Trade Organic Cocoa Butter. I would say that this is a cousin of the Butterbear. The Lavender, Tonka and Benzoin to me create a rich creamy sort of Lavender scent with a whispering note of Ylang Ylang. The Fine Oatmeal and Lavender Flowers add something to the bath and skin but add to the power of scent as these products to me only enhance that malty vanilla Lavender scent that this product contains. This one would be great for someone with anxiety or someone who needs a boost when it comes to attempting to sleep. It would also be great for any little ones that need a buddy for the bath! Priced at £2.95. 

The Golden Pudding 

We all love a big gold pudding! If you are missing Golden Wonder this year, do not be afraid, The Golden Pudding has pushed it under the Christmas Tree and is now sitting where once Golden Wonder resided. This product contains Sweet Wild Orange, Lime and Wine Lees Oils to create a boozy citrus based scent. The best way to describe this scent for those who have never tried this scent in its many names, imagine a Bucks Fizz cocktail that you can use in the bath! This is not for those that are afraid or repulsed by glitter in their bath water. If you have tried Golden Wonder, Bubbly, Celebrate, Bucks Fizz named products then you will love this! Priced at £5.95. 

Hey! Hollywood 

You better bet your bottom dollar that when you use this bomb, you'll have your photos in all of the magazines and your name on a star! This bath bomb not only looks the part with a 3D holly on top but also smells the part as it contains Peppermint Oil. This to me smells like Beats Shower Jelly or Maypole Soap from a few years ago but with a sort of rich toffee twist which I wasn't expecting. I quite enjoy the sweet toffee note mixed with the fresh Peppermint notes. Priced at £5.95. 

I Want  A Hippopotamus For Christmas 

I have mentioned this before in last year's post so I am going to leave this very short. This cutie contains Grapefruit, Bergamot, Almond essential and Cold Pressed Raspberry Seed Oils to create a sherbet like Raspberry scent with notes of Violet and Lemon to me which I absolutely adore. This bomb also contains Popping Candy to create a great experience in the bath and only costs £2.95 which is great value compared to some of the other bombs this year. 

Jingle Spells 

Who doesn't love to make a bell ring? Jingle Spells was out last year but has had a few changes made to it. This year the Salt that makes this bomb ring has changed in colour and so has the scent. This bomb now contains Lemon Myrtle, Ylang Ylang and Grapefruit Oils which creates a sort of sherbet Lemon based scent to me. If you're missing the scent of the old Jingle Spells you can now pick it up all year round by picking up a Toby's Magic Cow. If you like Baked Alaska but want it in a format that isn't a soap then pick this beauty up! Priced at £4.95. 

Rangoli Dreams 

This actually isn't a Christmas product... This product has been specifically made for Diwali. Not only is this bomb beautiful but it also smells beautiful too. This bomb contains Green Mandarin, Rose, Cardamom and Almond Essential Oils and Benzoin Resinoid. This bomb also contains Coconut Milk Powder which will nourish the skin. To me this smells kind of mainly of a mix of soft soft Rose and husky  Cardamom and definitely is one to sniff if you're near a store. Priced at £5.95. (Only available till 4th November or stocks last). 

Santa's Magic Sleigh

Who doesn't want to ride Santa's Magic Sleight tonight? In the bath I mean of course! This is technically three bombs in one as it contains Santa which smells delightfully ofThe Comforter, a bear which smells of Butterbear, and the sleigh which smells of Snow Fairy. I think that this is a great bomb for those that want something to relax with on Christmas Eve. This bundle of bombs contain Popping Candy, Cypress, Bergamot, Ylang Ylang and Persian Lime Oils. It also contains Fair Trade Organic Cocoa Butter, Synthetic Musk and Blackcurrant Absolute to create these three signature scents. I think that it is a great concept! Priced at £7.50. 

Shoot For The Stars 

This is a cult classic at Lush. Again, I have mentioned this beautiful bath bomb in several blog post. This bomb not only looks great as it is replicating the night sky but smells great as it contains Brazilian Orange and Bergamot Oils which creates a wonderfully sweet toffee like scent to me. This bomb also contains Creamed Coconut, Almond Oil and Cocoa Butter stars to nourish the skin. I absolutely love this bomb. If you love sweet scents, glitter, or the Honey I Washed The Kids scent then you will love this! Priced at £4.95. 

Snowball 

Lets throw a Snowball into the tub! I love the look of this bomb especially as everyone has been made slightly different. The bomb that I got did remind me more of sort of a spherical tube than a spherical bomb but as I said, it comes with the charm and uniqueness of this bomb. This bomb contains Eucalyptus, Lemongrass and Peppermint Oils to create an uplifting slightly citrus, slightly sea breeze based scent. I absolutely love this scent even though I am not the biggest fan of Eucalyptus itself. If you love Outback Mate Soap from Lush, then you will love this product! Priced at £ 4.95. 

Snowman Dreaming 

Who doesn't love a cute Snowman when they are dreaming? I have talked about this bomb in previous posts so again I will keep this short. This bomb is not only cute but spurts out a plethora of colours into the bath through its rainbow design on the side of the bomb. This bomb contains Lavender and Cedarwood to create a wonderful relaxing yet herbal scent. If you like anything with Lavender in then you will enjoy this bomb! Priced at £3.50. 

Snow Fairy 

Who wants to feel like a fairy at Christmas? I do! Snow Fairy is back! I have talked about this bomb a fair few times. This bomb contains Synthetic Musk and Persian Lime Oils which to me creates a wonderful sort of Pear meets Candy Floss scent. It is pink and creates amazing bath art. If you love anything sweet then you will love this! Priced at £4.945. 

Snow Fairy Lights 

What is Christmas without Fairy Lights? Lush have joined in the fun with creating a. Fairy Lights named bomb which is 3 bombs in one. The small star of this bomb can be used as a bomb on its own, the balls inside the bigger star can be used as a bomb as they are little Snow Fairy bombs and the bigger star can be used a bath bomb. If you are feeling luxurious then why not throw it all in at once! This bomb contains the same scent as Snow Fairy (read the last paragraph for details on scent) and makes bath time oh so fun! Personally, I would use them separately but that's just me! Priced at £7.50. 

You Shall Go To The Ball! 

Who doesn't love a good ball? You Shall Go To The Ball is a perfect bomb for those festive office party times! This bomb contains Sicilian Lemon Oil and Tonka Absolute. To me, this bomb smells quite floral whist having a sweet slightly Strawberry Milkshake like note underneath the floral note. This bomb also looks like a carriage which I think is super cute! If you like sweet scents or bath bombs that are whimsical you will enjoy this one! Priced at £4.95.

Bubble Bars 

Cinnamon Roll Bubble Roll 

I love a good freshly baked Cinnamon Roll in the morning! I may be biased but I absolutely love anything with Cinnamon in it. This bubble bar contains Cinnamon Leaf, Clove Leaf, Lime, Brazilian Orange and Patchouli Oils, Benzoin Resinoid, Fair Trade Organic Cinnamon Powder and Clove Powder. There is a lot of Oils and Powders but to me this reminds me of Cinnamon Sugar in the middle of a Cinnamon Roll which I always have adored. I think that this one will be great for those cold days. If you love anything spicy then you will love this bubble bar. Priced at £5.95. 

Candy Cane 

Four for you! You go, Glen Coco! Who doesn't love a good Candy Cane? This bubble bar has a little bit of a change this year. Not only in colour but in scent too! This contains Sicilian Lemon, Bergamot and Peppermint Oils which to me creates a sort of slightly citrus, slightly fresh, slightly sweet scent which I quite like. I always have thought that the Candy Cane Bubble Bar from Lush was a little bit too sweet for me but I really enjoy this product. Priced at £4.50. 

North Pole 

Let's go to the North Pole! This is a brand new product for Lush. Thus product has a design that most may know. This product has a Bath Melt that you can snap off separately and a bubble bar that you can use alongside it or instead of it. This product contains Brazilian Orange, Clove Bud, Cassia and Davana Oils whereas the melt contains Fair Trade Organic Cocoa Butter to make skin soft and smooth. The oils remind me of Pomche when it comes to scent or honestly a fruity hair conditioner. I know that sounds weird but it just does. Priced at £5.95. 

Snow Fairy Roll 

Snow Fairy bubbles galore! This Bubble Roll creates amazing bubbles and and smells gorgeous for those who love a pink candy scented bubbles. Like the rest of the Snow Fairy range, this contains Persian Lime Oil and Synthetic Musk. I quite enjoy this in small doses. Priced at £5.95. 

The Big Snow Fairy Roll

This is pretty much the above but in a bigger form. I think that this is an amazing product for a gift for someone who loves Snow Fairy. Priced at £20. 

Have you tried any of the bath products from Lush Christmas 2021? Let me know down below. 

Check out Lush. 

Thanks for reading! 

Jamie x

I'm The Jolliest Bee In Leeds | Jollibee Leeds Food Review

 Hey everyone! 

Welcome to a brand new blog post! The lovely guys at Jollibee Leeds sent me some food to try and I thought that I would talk to you all about it today! 

Jollibee is a Filipino originated fast food business that is slowly taking over the world one ChickenJoy at a time! Jollibee are well-known all over the world for some of their dishes such as the Jolly Spaghetti, ChickenJoy and Burger Steak. As said, this business started in the Philippines but now has invaded the States and now the Uk. Jollibee started this inevitable invasion of UK by setting up first at Earls Court in London. After this first store, Jollibee has released stores in Leeds, Liverpool, Leicester, Leicester Square, Cardiff, and Reading. Leeds is the nearest store to me therefore I will be focusing mainly on the food served to me at the Leeds branch. 

8 Piece ChickenJoy Bucket 

Chicken that makes me happy? Sign me up! I decided to grab a bucket of their well-known Chicken to try to see if their ChickenJoy was all that it was hyped up to be. I absolutely loved it. Crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside! I have tried my fair share of Chicken from fast food establishments and sometimes it is dry and not that great. This ChickenJoy was amazing, I even grabbed an extra 1 piece that you can buy in store to see if it would still be good hours later and it was. Again, I have tried some Chicken that becomes soggy in a matter of mere moments. The outside of the Chicken reminds me of salt and comfort. I know that sounds weird but you know that sort of comforting taste that you want from food when it is cold and rainy outside? Well this ChickenJoy is coated in it. Some may say that it isn't coated in spices and is thus tasteless but I disagree! I think that with ChickenJoy it doesn't need all the bells and whistles of spices and everything else because Jollibee allow the Chicken to speak for itself which I love. If you are wanting Chicken with spice though I would recommend the Spicy Chicken Burger. 

Jolly Spaghetti 

Spaghetti at a fast food establishment that is also jolly? I had to give it a try! Yes I know that Spaghetti isn't something that most Western countries serve at fast food establishments but this is Spaghetti with a twist! I absolutely adored this dish not only due to the textures that were going on but also due to the flavours that were going on in this dish! I love the softness of the pasta mixed with the smoothness of the sauce, the snap of the hotdog and the creamy sort of texture of the Cheese. I also loved the taste of this as it reminded me of rainy days, childhood and barbecue sauce. Yes I know that sounds like a vague and odd mixture but I used to love having spaghetti on cold days so this dish takes me right back to them old moments and the barbecue sauce element in this dish gives it a twist that I wasn't expecting! I also love the slightly smoky flavour that the hotdogs provide too! All in all a great dish that I recommences that everyone tries once in their lifetime! 

2 Piece Burger Steak With Side 

Will this dish drive a comforting stake through my cold heart? We shall see! Again, to most western people, this may seem like an odd dish to serve at a fast food establishment but I am always up for trying new dishes no matter what! The texture of the Burger Steak itself reminded me of a very succulent Meat Loaf to me and the flavour was something that comforted my soul with it's savouriness. To add to this, the gravy contained mushrooms which were a umami bomb against the side of white rice which created a blank canvas for the savoury notes of this dish to jump from. I love Mushrooms so this dish was right up my alley but I do think that this will be either a love or loathe situation for most people. 

I have also tried the Burgers in previous visits with Luke and Alex including the Spicy Chicken Burger and the Tropical Chicken Burger. I may be bias as I love Pineapple but I absolutely loved the Tropical Chicken Burger as not only did it contain Pineapple but it also contained Bacon and Sweet Chilli Sauce, Not only do I love this due to the tastes of the salty Chicken, the sweet pineapple and the spicy Chilli sauce but I also love this burger due to the texture contrasts. I love the crispy Chicken contrasted with the smooth sauce and the slightly chewy Bacon, its to die for! The Spicy Chicken Burger is not for the faint hearted though. This burger has all the spice going on and will punch you in the face with flavour if you try it!

Have you tried anything from Jollibee? Let me know down below! 

Check out Jollibee. 

Thanks for reading! 

Jamie x

This post was in return of gifted items. All views, opinions and ramblings are my own. 

Lush Halloween Range 2021 First Impressions

 Hey everyone! 

Welcome to a brand new blog post! I thought that today I would talk to you all about my first impressions of the new Lush Halloween 2021 Range! 

Bath Bombs: 

Lord of Misrule (2021 Edition)

The Lord has returned and has had a makeover! This bath bomb that is synonymous with Lush Halloween due to it's vivid green exterior and deep wine red interior has had a makeover after spending some time reflecting during the lockdown. This year, Lord Of Misrule has been inspired by the jesters and the mischief that they have brought to many people for many centuries. This bomb contains Black Pepper, Dark Sumatran Patchouli Oil and Vanilla Absolute to create a spicy yet slightly creamy scent that many have described as mysterious in years gone by. 

I have had this product for the past few years when it has made an entrance during the spooky times and it has definitely changed. Am I sold on the changes? Only time can tell. Do I think that the design of the bomb reminds me more of Mario Kart than a jester? Maybe. Will I still use this bomb? Of course! I also think that not only the switch of ingredients this year (from Patchouli, black Pepper, Vanilla to Black Pepper, Patchouli, Vanilla) and the change of type of Patchouli Oil has changed the scent of LOM significantly to me. I still love it but its a lot more creamy and spicy rather than spicy and creamy. As someone who loves spicy scents all year round, this slightly saddened me, however, I am still excited to see what this is like when I use it. Priced at £3.99. 

Bat Art 

Fly my pretties! I believe that I have mentioned this on the blog before, however, I will just give a little recap on this bomb. This bomb is not only shaped like a Bat but creates wonderful Bath Art, therefore, Lush decided to merge the two and create well Bat Art. Well that's my opinion of the background of this bomb anyway. 

This bomb contains Sicilan Lemon, Red Mandarin, Rosemary and Sage Oils which creates a fragrance that to me smells of menthol and blackcurrants which I love during the colder months. I know that the description of what I just said sounds awful but trust me smell it, to me it is divine! This bomb is packed full of colour and sparkle which makes it a perfect bomb to wind down with them the Autumn is just getting a little bit too much for you! Priced at £4.50.   

Ghostie 

Boo! What a wonderful name and concept for a bath bomb! This little cutie not only looks the part with its starting white and concoction of colours design but also smells the part of giving you a fright! To me, this bomb is obviously inspired to a truly friendly ghost but who knows? This bomb contains Lemongrass, Persian Lime and Sicilian Lemon Oils. This bomb also contains Popping Candy. 

To most, this has been described as an old scent in the form of You've Been Mangoed. To me, this does remind me of that old scent but amped up a bit which to some may remind them more of the Avobath scent from Lush. I can't wait to use this due to the uplifting scent, popping candy and the plethora of colours that will explode from this little ghostie. Priced at £4.50. 

Punkin Pumpkin 

Who doesn't love to rip out the guts of a Pumpkin? Pumpkin to me is the epitome of Autumn and Halloween! 

This product contains Cinnamon Leaf, Lime, Siciian Red Mandarin and Sweet Wild Orange Oils, and, Pumpkin Puree. I love anything Cinnamon so this bomb is a favourite of mine for when I want that spooky spicy punk sort of vibe which is quite often. The Orange and Lime create a sort of citrus background for the Pumpkin to jump from which I quite like too as it stops the bomb from being one dimensional, If you haven't tried this product then you really should! Priced at £4.50. 

Bubble Bars: 

Screamo Bubble Blower

Ahhhhh! Are we screaming at the patriarchy, the villain that's coming to stab us, or, the worries of living during the pandemic? Who knows! Who doesn't love a good mask and a good scream? To me this bubble bar is obviously inspired by the wonderful slasher franchise that many including myself love to watch during the Halloween series. This bubble bar can be used by swishing into water/letting the water from the tap run on and through it and then once you're done filling your tub, you can use this product to blow actual bubbles into the bath. What an amazing concept! 

This bubble bar contains Benzoin Resinoid, Ylang Ylang and Almond Essential Oil. These three create a wonderful sort of Marzipan and Cherry scent which reminds me of amazing baked treats that definitely should be eaten straight out of the oven. I quite enjoy this scent but I do get that it is can be sickly and a bit too much sometimes. Priced at £7.95. 

Alien 

This bubble bar brings you peace! Who doesn't love a good Alien. This one definitely reminds me of those Alien toys that were all the rage a good fewyears ago. To get the full extra-terrestrial experience, just crumble this bubble bar into the tub and let the water create bubbles that are out of this world! 

This product contains Bergamot and Litsea Cubeba and Benzoin Resinoid which creates a very citrus scent that reminds me of Avocado Co-Wash with a little bit more of a zing to it. Priced at £4.95

Shower: 

Monster Octopus Shower Jelly

This Octopus may look like a monster but they will definitely take over your heart! Who odesn't love a good Octopus so having one to shower with is amazing. I love this design as Lush rarely release shaped Shower Jellies nowadays! 

This cutie contains Blackcurrant and Vanilla Absolutes, Sweet Wild Orange and Tagetes Oils and Fresh Passion Fruit Infusion. I have heard many say that this smells of Passion Fruit, but honestly I disagree. I think that the infusion is more for colour than smell as I do not smell Passion Fruit at all. I have tasted and smelt a lot of Passion Fruit's and Passion Fruit based products and this smells nothing like them. To me, I get Vimto. The fizzy drink that reminds you of a mixture of berries and citrus. That. I think that this Octopus also has a fizzy element that makes me instantly think of Vimto too. No matter what you think the scent is, this is an amazing product. Priced at £7.50. 

Lord Of Misrule (2021 Edition)

The Lord has returned to the shower! Most of this is going to be a repeat of what I said in the LOM Bath Bomb 2021 section, however, I do love the colour and texture of this gel. The colour is inviting and the gel texture isn't too thick to use and will definitely be one of the products that I will be using aplenty during the cold mornings. Priced from £7. 

Ectoplasm Shower Slime 

It's getting slimy in here. Who doesn't love slime?! This product means that you can now enjoy your slime in the bath or shower. To be frank, the Shower Slimes remind me of that bath jelly that was on every TV screen in the early noughts. 

This product contains Tangerine, Litsea Cubeba and Grapefruit Oils and Fresh Tangerine and Grapefruit Juices, This to me reminds me of a more zingy cup of freshly squeezed Orange Juice to me and is definitely something that I need every morning no matter what. Priced at £6. 

Soaps: 

Pumpkin Spice 

All things nice, Pumpkin, and Spice! Who doesn't love a good bit of Pumpkin Spice with their Autumn cosmetic products. Autumn to me is always Pumpkin Spice season! 

This soap contains Pumpkin Puree, Cinnamon Leaf Oil, Clove Bud Oil and Ginger Absolute which creates a slightly rich yet spicy scent that is to die for. I absolutely love this and if you love Pumpkin Spice anything then you will do too! Priced at £5. 

Ghost In The Dark 

We all need a bit of brightness after all of the darkness that we have had in the past 18 months This soap not only looks boo-tiful, but also smells it too. 

This soap contains Lemongrass and Bergamot Oils which create a wonderfully uplifting scent which will brighten the darkest of people up. If you have smelt the Avobath product from Lush and loved it then you will love this too! Priced £5. 

Lip: 

Trick Or Treat 

Trick or treat? The ultimate question. I love a good trick and adore a good treat. To use a lip scrub, simply grab some of the scrub up from the pot by swiping the pot and then scrub your lips with it by moving your fingers in a circular motion over your lips and then lick once done scrubbing! 

This product contains Malic Acid and Lime Oil which to me creates a sweet like sour Lime scent and flavour which makes your lips pucker and your mouth beg for more. 

Gifts: 

They Only Come Out At Night

 Contains Bat Art, Alien, Ghostie, Ectoplasm Shower Slime and a drawstring cotton bag. I love gifts that come with bags as they create dual purpose and can even be used to bag other gits to people when needed. Priced at £32.

Halloween Buds 

Contains Punkin Pumpkin, Ghoste and Bat Art. I love this gift as it would definitely be a great gift to give someone who may only want a few products or may be slowly getting into Lush. Priced at £16. 

Have you checked out the range? Whats your favourite part of Halloween? Let me know down below! 

Check out Lush. 

All photos except the soaps were shot by Alex. 

Thanks for reading! 

Jamie x

Grabbing All The Spoons From The Pot To Start The Day Off Right | Mr Lee's Breakfast Porridges & Congees Review

 Hey everyone! 

Long time, no see! A lot of personal things have happened lately which has stopped me from blogging which I'd rather not get into. However, I do want to state that I am writing a Dissertation for my Masters Degree so posts will be sporadic for the moment. Recently I was kindly sent some products from Mr. Lee's recently and I thought that I would talk to you all about them today!

About Mr Lee's (Taken From Their Website): 

Damien Lee was a real person, not some fictitious character made up by Madmen. After being diagnosed with cancer in 2014, he decided to take a stand against the food choices available to time poor people, passionately believing that we all have a right to quick, honest and tasty food. 

So he started a food company! Damien passed away in early 2021 after battling fiercely and so courageously through the challenges of cancer for over 6 years. 

During Damien’s treatment, he craved his guilty pleasure: instant noodles. But couldn’t succumb, knowing they’re full of junk and that wouldn’t help his diet in the fight. With the help of Andy Chu - an experenced executive Chef and friend of Damien’s - they developed 6 instant noodle recipes that contained no nasties, are low in sugar, low in saturated fats and gluten free. Damien’s idea became reality and Mr Lee’s first product was born. A guilt free, healthier instant noodle!

Unlike most other cup noodles, our ingredients are freeze dried, not dehydrated. This locks in more of the flavour, nutrients and vitamins. So you can scoff away guilt-free, knowing mind, body and soul are getting what they need!

Although their about us is all about the noodles and the background of the noddles and why they are amazing, Mr. Lee's kindly sent me some of their new Congee's and Porridges so this post will be mainly focusing on them. 

The Products: 

Original Congee Rice Porridge:

Congee to me is an Asian food staple. My friend Alex introduced Congee to me whilst being at Dim Sum a while ago and it changed my life. 

The texture of Congee to me is amazing. Thick and velvety. That staple dish that just makes you feel warm on the inside. I guess the best way to put it is a very similar texture to Porridge. As the Congee's and Porridge Instant Pots are all similar in texture therefore I think that it may be best to leave it at this one in terms of discussing the texture as it may become repetitive. The texture of the Congee's and Porridges is amazing. 

Ingredients: 

Rice, Corn Semolina, Gluten Free Oat Flakes, Natural Flavour, Yeast Extract, Freeze-dried Spring Onion, Maltodextrin, Freeze-dried Ginger, Soybean, Salt, Onion Powder, Spirit Vinegar, Sugar. 

The flavour of this Congee is strong but still soothing. The Soy that is in this product adds a sort of soothing saline shake to the product making you want to go back for more and more. After a while of having the smooth saline hit jump onto my tongue, the warming wave of Ginger popped on my tongue afterwards which contrasted against the soothing hit of Soy. As said from the texture, this Congee is exactly what you want when you need to be soothed and the flavour reinstates that. The Ginger may have a kick but it still has the ability to soothe your insides and make you feel warm and toasty. 

Chicken Congee Rice Porridge 

Ingredients: 

Rice, Corn Semolina, Gluten Free Oat Flakes, Freeze-dried Chicken Breast, Freeze-dried Mushrooms, Fermented Shrimp Powder, Natural Flavour, Yeast Extract, Freeze-dried Spring Onion, Maltodextrin, Dried Ginger, Soybean, Onion Powder, Salt, Wild Seaweed, White Pepper, Spirit Vinegar, Sugar. 

The flavour of the Rice, Oats and Salt are the first components to hit your tongue as soon as you take a spoonful of this perfect product which reinforces the soothing properties that I mentioned in the paragraph above. After this, blasts of Ginger and Onion jump onto the palette ensuring that you get hit with both the punchy flavours that these ingredients provide. Once this takeover of the tongue is finished, the coolness returns in the form of Mushroom. I always relate Mushrooms to soothing as they are in such sort of comforting dishes as Miso Soup and such forth. These go well with the savoury flavour of the Chicken which coats your mouth beautifully and makes you want more. I love this Congee as it is definitely the best mixture of contrasts. From soothing and uplifting to salty and sweet to crunchy and soft. It is such an amazing dish. 

So Very Berry Porridge: 

Ingredients: 

Gluten Free Oats, Coconut Milk, White Rice, Organic Coconut Blossom Sugar, Psyillium Husk, Freeze-dried Strawberries, Freeze-dried Raspberries, Freeze-dried Goji Berries, Beetroot, Maltodextrin, Modified Food Starch, Natural Flavouring. 

Oh god this porridge was amazing. I could have this every single day! As soon as I put a spoonful of Porridge in my mouth, I was hit with a blast of uplifting Coconut and I loved it! The Coconut coated my mouth like how the perfect blanket coats you at night. After this, the bunch of berries popped flavour onto my tongue like how a dart has the ability to instantly pop a balloon. I absolutely loved it as it created a great contrast against the sweet Coconut This is definitely a great product that would perk up your morning perfectly! 

Salted Caramel Porridge: 

Ingredients: 

Gluten Free Oats, Coconut Milk, White Rice, Organic Coconut Blossom Sugar, Maltodextrin, Psyllium Husk, Natural Flavouring, Modified Food Starch, Sea Salt. 

If anyone knows me well then you will know that I have a habit of trying Salted Caramel products and end up complaining about the fact that they never have a distinct Salt flavour to them. I was pleasantly surprised that one of the first flavours to hit my tongue was Salt which was probably Mr. Lee's telling me that I was in good hands when it cane to them putting what I wanted into their products. The next thing that hit my tongue with flavour was a sort of toasty warm Caramel flavour which I believe came from a mixture of the flavouring, Coconut Blossom Sugar and Oats. I love anything with a warn sort of smoky flavour to it as it stops products and food from being too sweet and this was no exception! It added a sort of sweet smoky flavour to the product and made me want to go back for more and more every time that I had a bite. 

Original 3-Grain Porridge

Ingredients:

 Gluten Free Oats, Coconut Milk, White Rice, Maltodextrin, Psyllium Husk, Modified Food Starch. 

Simple but sublime. The first flavour that flooded my mouth was a toasty note from the Oats which I adore. I love that sort of warm smoky tastiness that comes from Oats especially on a cold morning. Whilst the smoky note took a slight step into the background, the Coconut Milk came out to shine and gave the oats an amazing contrasting flavour of not only Coconut but also comfort. As a lactose intolerant person, Coconut Milk is my milk of choice because of this sort of comforting note as it reassures me that everything will be okay when I drink it.

Directions On How To Prepare An Mr. Lee's Instant Pot Product: 

Boil the kettle, take the lid off, fill the kettle up to the line, stir, wait four minutes and enjoy! 

Would I Buy These Again?

Honestly? Yes, I would! I absolutely love these. As someone who sometimes forgets to have breakfast and as someone who craves food like Porridge and Congee on the cold days, I would stock up on these to ensure I always have something in to eat for breakfast or those cold days! I love the simplicity of them and they taste amazing which I was pleasantly surprised about as I've had some instant pot products that haven't been up to a great standard of quality. Overall I give all of these a 9/10. 

Where Can I Buy These? 

You can purchase these at Amazon, The Mr Lees website, vending machines and Ocado and start from £2.25. 

Check Mr Lees here. 

I hope that you have enjoyed this blog post. Have you tried any new food products lately?? Let me know down below! 

Thanks for reading! 

Jamie x 

This post was in collaboration with a brand and was in exchange for products. All views, opinions and ramblings are my own.