We’ve been giving a new everyday tea a try this week… and, as we both love a cuppa, it’s an exciting thing! We have a couple of favourite brands that we consider to be a good everyday tea… and now SPILL tea has definitely joined them. In fact, we’ll probably just switch completely, as it’s perfect on so many levels.
First things first, it’s a wonderful cup of tea. It’s a lovely golden colour, robust & flavoursome, whilst staying light & clean… a sparkle on the palate. It gets the magic sigh after the first sip, “…ooooh that’s a good cup of tea!”.
It’s a new venture for co-owners Lou & Sofia, although both have a long history and much experience in the tea world.
The combination of a great cuppa combined with treating the farmers with respect & gratitude has obviously been the driving force for their new company. They deal directly with the farmers who hand pick the crop, so only the best leaves are used… it’s not a blend of whatever tea was cheapest in the market or at auction. No need for middlemen or deals that drive prices and quality downwards.
You can actually see the difference as you take each spoon from the tin – none of that dusty, tired-looking mixture here.
SPILL pays $3 / kilo – 50% above Fairtrade. Plus, an additional farmer payment of 50¢ / kilo.
Add to that, we love the logo & branding – and the packaging, which is home recyclable. Perfect all round!
For you, a better cuppa. For the farmer, a better price.
So, our advice is to give it a go – you won’t regret it. We’ve been drinking it all week and still appreciate that extra quality and improved experience that it’s brought. As Lou & Sofia say, it’s all about upgrading the products that you have on a regular basis whenever possible – whether it be coffee, bread, beer or tea. Little things that make moments in life so much more enjoyable!
They have loose-leaf or tea bags – and very nice storage tins if you need one of those too.
I’m sure you’ll be able to tell straight away which of these three outdoor drinks coolers I’d choose to own.
I absolutely love the egg yolk yellow drinks cooler from Outside Gang (#2) – it would match perfectly with our yellow bistro table & chairs. It’s available in a range of other colours, long or short legs and optional bamboo chopping board and champagne cooler. It can hold up to 10 bottles of wine or 25 bottles of beer in 2 litres worth of ice.
I could probably also opt for the Keter cool bar in another colour; perhaps the slate grey with lime green interior. I think the telescopic lid-to-tabletop mechanism is a great idea. I’ve even seen an illuminated option for this model.
The four hundred pound version has all the bells & whistles that you’d expect for something in this price range; huge capacity, exterior shelves & baskets, temperature control and castors for ease of movement. The only drawback for me is that it’s electric. A power cable will have to weave its way out of the house through a door or window to the spot in the garden that I want the cooler. The combination of an electrical lead and alcohol is an accident waiting to happen!
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Prices & links correct at time of publication.
Lifestyle stainless steel 50L electric drinks cooler £399.99
Outside Gang drinks cooler £129.00
Keter cool bar £85.95
Lifestyle stainless steel 50L electric drinks cooler £399.99
Outside Gang drinks cooler £129.00
Keter cool bar £85.95
Lifestyle stainless steel 50L electric drinks cooler £399.99
Outside Gang drinks cooler £129.00
Keter cool bar £85.95
Lifestyle stainless steel 50L electric drinks cooler £399.99
Outside Gang drinks cooler £129.00
Keter cool bar £85.95
Lifestyle stainless steel 50L electric drinks cooler £399.99
Covid forced us all to stay at home, many folks tried to make the most of it by bringing ‘going out’ indoors. Miss going to the pictures? Invest in a large-screen TV and a Netflix or Amazon Prime subscription. You can make your own popcorn for a fraction of the price of the stuff from a multiplex.
Miss going to the pub? Stock up on a variety of bottles of booze from your local offie, buy yourself a bar cart, some bar tools and a range of glassware and create your very own chill out room.
That’s just what Stefanie has done in a corner of her dining room. There’s even a Les Paul electric guitar to bang out some impromptu tunes!
What would be some of the essentials on your ultimate bar cart?
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Prices & links correct at time of publication.
One of the hardest things about hosting a dinner for someone you don’t know well is deciding what to serve. It’s hard because different people might have a range of food allergies, dietary restrictions and taste preferences.
It’s time-consuming to do your research ahead of time when you’re trying to make last-minute dinner arrangements! Plus, it can be awkward if one loves vegetables and another hates them, or one prefers a Non-Alcoholic Rose for their drink and someone else insists on a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon. That’s why we’ve put together this post with some food and drink ideas you could serve when you have mixed company over for dinner.
Some of these dishes we’ve listed can be cooked in advance, so if you’re not the best cook, then you can leave it in the hands of your other half to prepare some of the food. If you go down this route, it may pay to have a few things available for people to nibble on while they’re waiting for dinner – crostini with pesto or hummus is perfect for this.
Some of the recipes are for dishes that don’t need to be cooked; but also, feel free to prepare others ahead of time.
1. Roast chicken and vegetables
Roast chicken and vegetables can be made in advance. You can even make them throughout the day, reserving the leftover cooking liquid to use in a soup or stew the following evening. Remove any skin or bones and cut them into pieces before serving. This, paired with a good wine, makes a delicious meal to serve your guests.
2. Garlic bread
This is a simple, easy dish to make for any meal, but it also lends itself well to being prepared in advance. You can put your bread under the grill with some olive oil and garlic cloves, or if you’re feeling super fancy, you can use a special garlic bread recipe!
3. Roasted garlic and herb potatoes
These potatoes are great as a side dish, or you can keep them on hand to pop in the oven and make mashed potatoes. You can also use them as a base for a quick soup! If you don’t want to be bothered with cooking the potatoes, you can buy pre-cooked ‘ready roasted’ ones at most supermarkets.
4. Brown rice and mung bean curry
This dish can be cooked in advance, so if you’re trying to keep things simple and have limited cooking time, this is a good choice. It’s also hearty enough to be served as a main course without being too heavy. You can even prepare it in advance, meaning you don’t have to worry about it while your other half is cooking the main course!
5. Feta and spinach strudel
This is an enjoyable dish to make as you can use different types of pastry. I’ve also seen versions that use filo pastry or tortillas. Make sure you cover it with something to stop the pastry from becoming soggy. I recommend tin foil or parchment paper. You can make this ahead of time, but you may have to reheat it in the oven before serving.
Some of the drinks you can serve with these:
a. Lemonade
Lemonade is an easy drink to make ahead of time, and you can use any fruit you like in it. It’s also an excellent drink for kids to make because it’s easy to prepare and tastes delicious!
b. Minted water
This is a refreshing and healthy drink that’s a nice alternative to plain water! Plus, it’s an easy recipe to make ahead of time, so there’s no need to worry about cooking water or waiting for the kettle.
c. Chai-spiced iced coffee
If you’re a fan of chai tea, this is a simple recipe for making it at home. You just need to make up your chai tea in advance and when you’re ready to serve it, just add the ice cubes!
d. Apple cider
This is another drink that can be prepared in advance. You can buy cider (or apple juice) in bottles or cartons, and once you’ve opened it, you’re good to go. You can also add spices such as cinnamon or vanilla extract to flavour it.
e. Rosewater water
This is a wonderful drink for hot summer days! It’s also lovely served with a slice of pomegranate in the warmer months – the rosewater and fruit go well together.
There are lots of different things you can serve in different combinations for a mixed company dinner. And all you have to do is make sure that your food is sufficiently warmed if you’re serving it as finger food!
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