Cotton Candy Grapes - The Verdict

Hello!

If you haven't heard of Cotton Candy Grapes, where have you been?! They've been all over Twitter, YouTube and Instagram... and yes, they do really exist!

"not genetically engineered or artificially flavoured"

How are they made? They have not genetically engineered or artificially flavoured the grapes, but have used pollination techniques to create this unique flavour! So, they genuinely are grapes, and they actually (sort of) taste like the good-old Candy Floss you get at summer fun fairs and carnivals!

"'WAIIITTT!', paced it to the fruit isle... searching all over for the green grapes with 'Cotton Candy' written on..."

I went to my local Tesco yesterday and only when I was at the till did I remember about the Cotton Candy Grapes. So, obviously, I said 'WAIIITTT!', paced it to the fruit isle and was searching all over for the green grapes with 'Cotton Candy' written on the package. To my delight, they were there! At £2.50 for the punnet, I was delighted. You can bet I opened it as soon as I got in the car!

"get excited: there's going to be tropical flavour grapes next!"

Instantly, the taste of candy floss came into my mouth. The taste doesn't last the whole time you're eating the grape, but the initial taste is candy floss. Having said that, some grapes taste more candy-flossy than others.

Overall, it's a lovely idea! Oh, and get excited: there's going to be tropical flavour grapes next!
What do you think about Cotton Candy Grapes, or do you think it's over-rated? 

PS. these grapes are available in Waitrose, M&S, Tesco, Sainsbury's and Asda.

BerryWeekly: Chocolate Fondue, Food and MORE Flowers?!

Hello!

"looking like a complete weirdo trying to get the perfect shot"

BerryWeekly is such a fun segment on BBXO! You know you're a blogger when you take photos of everything, looking like a complete weirdo trying to get the perfect shot of the things in front of you in a public place - that's what it was like while getting photos for this post, too. I was at the restaurant standing up and kneeling down and whipping out the camera at every opportunity! 

However, due to the likes of Instagram, this is much more usual now than it has ever been... And I'm okay with it! 

"if you had seen the menu you'd understand why we went for the Fondue"

One of the more exciting food-related places I visited was a dessert place in London. Actually, I was taken there as a treat and it was super fun! There were four of us that went and if you had seen the menu you'd understand why we went for the Fondue for Four - there were so many amazing options that it was difficult to decide one each, so choosing this option meant there was a bit of everything! 

"Is your mouth watering already?"

The platter came with a wide array of choices: brownies, cookies, 16 mini scoops of ice cream and a bowl of fruit, all to dip in the melted chocolate! Yummy! And on the side, there's chocolate fudge cake with ice cream and whipped cream. Is your mouth watering already? 

If you have read the previous BerryWeekly earlier this month, you would realise my love for flowers. Having a garden whose blooms are looking beautiful this season, who can resist picking some? I did some more arrangements for the study and the bedroom!

"makes me feel so good inside!"

Seeing fresh flowers as soon as I wake up makes me feel so good inside! I also read somewhere that seeing green, fresh leaves and plants in the morning is great for eyes and I'm a firm believer in this as it also makes me feel more peaceful!

 "lasagne was made from Spinach pasta sheets"

Another restaurant we went to was Pizza Express. Funnily enough, I've never actually been to Pizza Express and when we got a chance to go, we all ordered the Vegetarian Lasagna! It was nice, though and the lasagne was made from Spinach pasta sheets!

Well, that was a few pictures from the week and you can imagine some of the awkward positioned shots taken!

I hope you liked the pictures and do you prefer chocolate fondue or cake? 

5 Simple Strawberry + Chocolate Recipes

Hello!

British Strawberries - the fruit of the season, especially in the UK (I guess that goes without saying!). The thing with strawberries is that they don't last for very long - so simple recipes are perfect for when you want them eaten before they go to waste. Also, what better way to eat strawberries than with chocolate?

Here are 5 easy recipes which can be substituted with Raw Chocolate (1 cup cacao, 1 cup melted coconut oil, 4 tbsp agave syrup)  for a healthier version! Healthier White Chocolate recipe here.

This is a simple recipe which is easy to replicate (the whole idea of this post) and is so versatile as you can add things to it without much worry. You can add almond flakes or make it a coconut chocolate filled strawberries or whatever you wish! 

This is a little different but just as simple. If you use whipped cream, ensure that you eat it soon and not leave for too long!

This idea is another simple one. Sort of like the Reeses Peanut Butter Cups but with strawberries instead of peanut butter - not saying peanut butter cannot be added to it!

This idea I thought was totally different. I would have never thought of it yet it's such a lovely idea! You can add any fruits you want or any other toppings.

A little trickier but just as tasty and yummy as all the others, this recipe consists of an oreo crust and a strawberry and chocolate filling!

What's your favourite simple go-to recipe with strawberries?

image sources: 1//2//3//4//5

Happy Pancake Day!

Hello!

Tomorrow is no ordinary Tuesday… it's Shrove Tuesday! Yay, pancakes for all! :)

Of course, this post has to be based around the festivities! Well today I bought a packet of Pancake Mix and was thinking what toppings to put on the pancakes tomorrow, and incase you're in the same situation, here are some intriguing ideas that may help:

Go Fruity

Adding Fruits of your choice with a bit of Golden Syrup or Honey on top will be lovely! I love the combination of Strawberries and Banana.

Nuts & Custard

The idea of warm custard drizzled on the pancake sounds amazing, with a bit of cinnamon and some nuts on top would be perfect for a comforting pancake

Jam it Up

Jam is so sweet with a fruity flavour too, top that on your pancake for a nice spread - if you want a PB&J version, add some Peanut Butter!

Nutella, Duh! 

What's a crepe or pancake without some Nutella? The world's favourite chocolate hazelnut spread…. on a pancake… on Shrove Tuesday… yumm 

Granola Pancake

Crunch form the granola and a soft pancake sounds so well-fitting! 

Ice-Cream and Fruit

Ice-Cream with Fruit and honey/golden syrup is the perfect pancake. Add a drizzle of Nutella and that's heaven for ya.

What's your favourite Pancake Topping? 

image sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

Healthy, Yummy, Quick Snacks

Hello! 

New year. New, healthier, you!
So, with the Christmas and winter, we tend to have slightly overindulged with the oh-so-yum Chocolate and pies that are available! So, we need to get set on a healthier route again, right?

I, too, may have received one too many chocolate gifts for Christmas which I will need to hide away from now on!

Here are some easy snacks which are yummy as well as healthy. A lot of the time we think healthy tasting disgusting - and yes, honestly, sometimes it does! But these ideas taste so yummy, you won't think they're healthy!

1. Cereal in a Bowl - without the milk

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I LOVE Raisin wheats by themselves. They provide a serving of dry fruit, as there are raisins inside the mini wheats. Also, they are a great serving of wholewheat and fibre. Many of us don't have enough fibre in our diets due to the fear of Carbs, yet we need the 'good' carbs in our life and fibre to help with digestion! So, Raisin wheats are sweet and crunchy. A perfect easy-to-grab snack.


2. Carrots with Hummus 

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Carrots are veggies. Veggies are good for you! I am not likely to eat just a plain carrot on it's own. Hummus is a dip made from Chick Peas. Chick peas are full of protein, low in fat and taste nice. Therefore, hummus tastes nice! Pairing these two items is a match made in heaven. I wasn't a big hummus fan myself until a few days ago, and I've been having this for the last two days straight!
Just get baby carrots or cut slices from big carrots and dip in the hummus (about 2 tablespoons) - enjoy!
You can also eat with cucumber slices, pepper slices and even grapes - yes, I tried it with grapes and it's nice!


3. Apple and Peanut Butter

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Many people will look at this and think 'Ergh.. Peanut butter is NOT healthy' - let me tell you: it is! Actually, I once told somebody about this and they said 'How can peanuts mixed with Butter be healthy, have you lost your mind?!' - well, actually peanut butter is not peanuts and butter - contrary to the name! It is actually roasted peanuts blended to a spread-like consistency. Therefore, no saturated fat is in natural peanut butter! It is all the good unsaturated fats! These improve cholesterol levels and lower risk of heart disease. Though, peanut butter is calorie dense, so 1tbsp with an apple is perfect! Peanut butter tastes incredible! Apples are also a natural teeth whitener, so eat up for those pearly whites!

Those are my 3 favourite go-to snacks! I hope you have a healthy, tasty and happy New Year!

What are your favourite snacks? 

Weekly Roundup #8

Hello!
I hope you've had a great week and can now relax in the weekend, unless you're attending a late Halloween Party, which you may want some ideas for here.
Anyway, this week revolved a LOT around Halloween, so here's my roundup:

For the first time ever this year, I carved a pumpkin! I was determined to do one this year and I've got to say, I''m quite proud:

Also on the theme of Halloween, they're selling Halloween themes Orange boxes, I bought one, opened it and found STICKERS! Yes, I was as excited as a 6 year old, but IDC! Anyway, so I decorated some oranges and didn't end up eating theme - I mean, when there's chocolate involved, the fruits go out the window!

Finally I changed around my office and now this is the gorgeous view from my desk, which is where I'm writing this from now! It's muchhhhh better than the wall I was previously facing!

Oh and behind me is the canvas I hung up myself, and shown in this post.

Well, that's my roundup, so tell me: What did you do for Halloween?

BerryHealthy: Charming Cherries and Pick-Your-Own Farms

Hello!

Hope you guys are making the most of the sunny weather - going to have picnics, going to the beach, having dinner in the garden or... going fruit picking! We have a tradition to go fruit picking every year during the summer months, usually we go to a local strawberry farm but this year we decided to pack up and take a mini road trip to the cherry farm, which is slightly further away but still not that far! YAY Road Trips!

Cherries are in season in July in pick your own farms and they are so yummy! Not only that but they are full of vitamins and minerals that are great for your body! Did you know, these beautiful fruits are 75% water?! I didn't know that until I dug down into some research!

We entered the farm and there were multiple rows of these trees with little red ball-like fruits hanging off them. The entire first 2-3 rows were left almost bare of cherries but there were still so many delicately hanging from the other trees. These cherry trees were quite short - which is good for me because I'm short and then I can reach the highest cherry and it makes me feel like a giant - come on, I'll never get to feel like that with normal trees!

Cherries are a great source of potassium, consumption of potassium leads to lower blood pressure. This is done as potassiums removes excess sodium in our bodies - so when you're not feeling like eating a banana, grab a handful of cherries for similar benefits! Cherries also help fight cancer, due to the dark pigmentation we can see that they're great antioxidants! Cherries contain an antioxidant called Flavonoids that help fight cancer by preventing cancerous cells from growing.

Also you insomniacs that like cherries may be happy to know that cherries help you get a good nights sleep - tart cherries contain a hormone called melatonin which promotes sleep. So, you want a good nights sleep? Have a glass of cherry juice before bed - check this post why squeezing your own fresh juice may be better than cartons from the store.

Moreover, cherries contain anthocyanin which is shown to improve memory! So, you need a study snack? Try some cherries to make sure the notes you're reading stick! Anthocyanin is also said to increase insulin production by 50%, this is great for diabetics.

Cherries are also said to be great for the skin, the vitamin A and high carotene content allows this fruit to be great for the immune system and to beautify your skin!

With all these benefits, I couldn't help but put a basket together for me to take home - well, it was a pick-your-own farm, so obviously I was going pick-my-own!

I picked all my cherries in twos so the stem contained two cherries at the end of them - because to me, that looks cute... and this way the cherries don't get lonely! LOL! Is it just me that thinks like this?

Also, the pick-your-own farm had other fruits like strawberries and raspberries, but during this time cherries were the main attraction! Oh, and they had loads of wheat!

 They looked lovely in the sun, all yellow and happy-looking! Did you know if you rub this between your hands you get sunflower seed-like seeds which you can just eat? They tasted nice and chewy - and this was legit WHOLE-GRAIN wheat - with the total nutrients.

Oh, and don't forget to check out my Watermelon Wonders post to see the benefits from watermelons!

So, yes, that was how I spent my Sunday and I had so much fun! How do you like to make the most of the sun? Comment below!

xoxo,
BerryBloomXO

Info from here, here and here. 

Fresh Juice over Cartons... Why?

Hello!
Many of you may be aware of the 'Juice Cleanse' craze going on at the moment, and to be honest, I love it!
From a family who has freshly made juice almost everyday of the week for at least the last 6-7 years, I am a huge fan. My parents had seen a tele advert for a juicer and jumped on it and since then we've been served with carrot, apple and ginger juice for a very long time (with the occasional melon or over-ripening fruit added to the mixure!)... oh, and for a change we'd have freshly squeezed orange juice too.

Anyway, the REAL reason I'm writing this post is to tell you the reasons why freshly squeezed juice, orange juice in particular, is much more beneficial than the cartoned juice. I am not a huge fan of juice in general, I don't remember the last time I drank soda and nor do I enjoy fruit juice or any sort of cartoned juice in general, but when it comes to fresh juice... YUMMY.

Freshly Squeezed Orange Juice in my Summery Glass! 

You may know that food (vegetables/fruits etc.) in general lose nutritional value when they're cooked, by that I mean raw broccoli has more vitamins and minerals than cooked, such as steamed, broccoli, therefore if orange juice is cooked in any way, the nutritional value is reduced. "Cooked juice? WHAT?"you may ask, well, legally (in the UK anyway), all juice has to be pasteurised before sold to ensure longer shelf life and the idea that bacteria is killed. Now, pasteurised means heating the juice, which is basically cooking the juice, what does this mean? This means the nutritional value is reduced!

Therefore, store bought orange juice, no matter how healthy and high in nutritional value it may seem (I'm looking at you, Tropicana), it won't beat the freshly squeezed, legit juice. Also, the sooner you drink it after it is squeezed, the higher in nutritional value as it is said that the longer it sits, the decrease in nutritional value.

Moreover, many store bought juices have added sugar and ingredients that you may not be aware of, so you may think it's great for you, yet it's not. So, even though it takes a little more effort, I recommend freshly squeezed NON-PASTEURISED juice to ensure you're consuming the most nutritious beverages with the highest amount of nutritional value to nourish your body.

Woah, I feel like I said 'Nutritional Value' a million times in this post! Anyway, I hope you learnt something from this and decide to join me and my family with the fresh juice consumption.

xoxo,
BerryBloomXO

Disclaimer: I am not trying to say the juiced/cartoned juices are BAD for you, just that there are many benefits of fresh juice - and if you find that you crave some orange juice and don't have the time or energy to squeeze it fresh, by all means buy the cartoned version over that soda (try and avoid added sugars, though)... :)
Oh, and I'm not a nutritionist or anything, just a curious person who likes to research stuff! :D

BerryHealthy: Watermelon Wonders

Hello!
Summer's in full blast at the moment, especially in England where the weather has been phenomenal for the last couple of days! I've been enjoying sitting out in the sun with my cold beverage and platter of yummy fruits while I read my book or watch the boys play sports!

One of my favourite fruits to enjoy in the summer is Watermelon!

I LOVE pretty much all types of fruit and this is one is no exception! There are so many benefits to eating fruits that contain a wide range of vitamins and minerals which are obviously bound to be great for the human body in numerous ways.
I enjoy researching about the foods I eat to gain knowledge about how they benefit me and wanted to share with you!

1. Hydrating
Even in the name you can guess that this fruit is full of water! It is made of 92% water and therefore is very hydrating. This is great in the heat when you tend to sweat (unfortunately!) and lose water, so it's important to stay hydrated to avoid headaches and... quite frankly, dehydration!

2. Antioxidant
The Red Pigment of the watermelon is a great antioxidant. It is also found in other fruits such as Papaya and pink Grapefruit. This pigment is found to reduce risks of breast, prostate, lung and colon cancer!

3. Vitamins & Minerals
Watermelon contains vitamins C and A. This means it is great for eye health too. In addition, it contains traces of vitamins K and B. Loads of minerals are also found in watermelons, such as Manganese, Copper and Iron. It is also a great source of Potassium which helps muscles and nerves function properly which is essential for good health. In addition, is reduces inflammation which leads to diseases such as asthma and diabetes.

4. Nutrition
Watermelons are very low in calories with only 43 calories per cup! This is great for those looking to slim their waistline. It is also virtually fat-free and contains very, very little saturated fat. It is also low in sodium and contains no cholesterol, caffeine or alcohol.

There are over 1,200 varieties of watermelon grown worldwide - in Japan, you can even get square watermelons! This was done so it fits in fridges perfectly! haha! Oh, and did you know watermelons are originally from South Africa?!

Watermelons are one of the 15 'most clean' non-organic fruits - although seedless varieties are less 'clean' and not as organic.

There are SO MANY recipes you can create with watermelons, some ideas here:
Watermelon 'cake', smoothies, ice-cream, juice and throw in with some feta cheese and mint for a salad!

I hope you enjoyed this health post!
xoxo,
BerryBloomXO

Photo from HERE
Info from: here, here and here