Category Archives: Food Analysis

Food Analysis

Chocolate and Peanut Butter

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A few months ago, T made the most amazing chocolate cheesecake brownies from a recipe booklet published by Macmillan Cancer Support. As I devoured a still-warm slice, I thought to myself “add some peanut butter to that cheesecake swirl and this would probably be the world’s best cake”.

You see I, along with much of America, am in love with chocolate and peanut butter. The nutty saltiness and the sweet creaminess are a perfect combination in my eyes.

However in the UK, it’s easy to think one is alone in feeling like this. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and a few other Reese’s items are available here and there, but there’s very little else.

peanut butter truffles

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Ayrshire, Delis, Food Analysis

There’s a New Cheese in Town

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I’ve often thought that if I worked in food production in any way, making cheese would be the thing for me. That or baking cakes for a teashop where presentation was low on the list of priorities.

I’ve been to cheese festivals, seen umpteen programmes about how cheese is made, eaten I have no idea how many different cheeses, and even wasted a couple of hours messing around and making a song about it (I know…I’m not sure what came over me). However I’ve never actually made any.

I have recipes for soft cheeses kicking around, and keep meaning to try them, but until I do, I’m going to content myself by supporting the industry and eating yet more cheese.

That’s why I was thrilled to come across a new local cheesemaker earlier in the year: Barwheys Dairy.

barwheys smoked cheese

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Food Analysis, Holland

Dutch Food Analysis: Oliebollen

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Before you get envious/astounded that I have been on holiday so soon after being abroad for months, don’t worry. The oliebol may be Dutch, but I bought it in Kilmarnock at the Global/Continental Market mentioned in my post on macaroons.

Given that this occurred a few weeks ago, there is really no excuse for my taking so long to write about it. All I can say is that my mind has recently been focused on job-seeking, which hasn’t left much room for anything else.

oliebol

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Food Analysis, Markets, Scotland

Scottish Food Analysis: Macaroon Bars and Coconut Macaroons

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I am a big fan of French macarons. The stunning colours, delicate flavourings and chewy textures… the only thing I don’t like is the price. Seriously. Considering the price just one of those tiny little delights retails for, I almost expect them to be diamond-encrusted.

Of course I appreciate they are a fiddle to make. I’ve had my fair share of cracked tops, sandy textures and uneven splodges to contend with, and after watching a recent episode of one of my favourite tv programmes “The Great British Bake Off”, I can see I am not alone.

Coconut macaroons are a very different beast, and something that are strangely Scottish. I say strangely, because coconut palms don’t line the shores here, but perhaps they come from the same tropical stable as pineapple tarts.

macaroon bar

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Food Analysis, Scotland

Scottish Food Analysis: Tablet Review

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H’s mum T, myself and H were having a conversation about something or other, and tablet came up. “Tablet?”, H queried.

T and I hastened to try to explain what tablet was. If you’ve never come across it before, it’s a traditional Scottish sweet normally made from sugar, condensed milk and butter, which has a firm texture, like Kendal mint cake. It isn’t chewy like toffee or soft like fudge, but has a similar caramel taste.

When we saw some tablet for sale the next week in the supermarket, T picked up a bar, and then at a later stop on our trip, bought another for comparison. Things spiralled from there.

tablet

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