Sweet Christmas Treats & Desserts, Including a Game of Thrones ‘Inspired’ Box of Chocolates, at M&S

£6

We have just about a week left to go, and Marks & Spencer still have some fantastic deals on, as well as brand new Christmas products fresh on the shelves. 

Whether you are looking for a last minute gift, party food, or a dessert for Christmas day, everything is now in store to choose from. 

One of the offers this week is this jolly little wobbling Santa biscuit tin filled with chocolate shortbread, for just £6. 

If you have a Game of Thrones fan who is a sweet tooth, I imagine these ‘Fire & Ice’ Chest of Drawers of chocolates would make a great stocking filler.

There are lots of golden treasures to choose from amongst the chocolate gifts. 

I particularly love the golden cocktail shaker filled with mojito, Cosmopolitan & espresso martini sweets.

Thereis also a box of mini salted caramel pine cones, for £12.

It’s definitely time to allow yourself to eat party food for no other reason than the time of year, and along with the savoury & chilled selections, it’s also 4 for 3 on the desserts in the Party Food Deal.

There are the cute Red Velvet Santa Hat Cupcakes, which are a return from last year, but also mini Christmas Tree Chocolate Cupcakes too, which are equally adorable. There are tiny, gold star adorned Billionaire Shortbreads, and for your gluten free chums, Made Without Wheat chocolate Brownies. There are also mini mince pies.

If you are looking for some last minute stocking fillers, there are little crafty bakery sets, like the Decorate Your Own Santa biscuits, and a Colour In Santa Game Pack complete with chocolates.

There are also fun novelty sweet gifts for the grown ups, with games that could be fun for Christmas Day. There’s a Golf Game with Chocolate golf balls, a Hum That Tune game with a chocolate prize for the winner, plus chocolate football & skittle games. They are all mix and match 3 for 2.

I’ve already ordered my M&S Christmas cake for the big day, and there are lots of show stopping desserts to chose from. The Penguin surprise cake will always be a winner with the kids, and adults can choose from various puddings, classic cakes, ice cream cakes and mousses.

Lastly, a quick note on the gifts. I was in my local store today and a lot of the range is already 50% off, Including all M&S beauty gifts, and the glorious Zodiac themed presents of cushions, candles, paperweights and mugs. You might even want to treat yourself, with the cushions now reduced to £3.75 and mugs £4. Happy shopping! 

Feed Your Paddington Mania in M&S Food Hall #LoveTheBear

I think it’s fair to say that Marks & Spencer are the runaway winner of Best Christmas ad of 2017.  ‘Paddington & The Christmas Visitor’ has been viewed over 5.5 MILLION times, and it’s only mid-November.

M&S have been clever and have brought in lots of Paddington themed Food Hall items, so you can relive the magic at home.

Smix has loved Paddington since our first visit to London in 2016, so he’s delighted with all the Paddington goodies on offer. You can stuff Christmas stockings with a pair of chocolate Paddington Boots (£2), or have his own special thick cut marmalade (£1.50)  on toast on Christmas morning.

There are paw print biscuits (£1.50) and a whole selection of mini treats like the Paddington Chocolate Lolly (£1.50) and tiny tin (£1). 

There are even Paddington Marmalade Muffins, which would go down a treat with a cuppa while you read the book based on the Christmas ad. It’s available in stores priced £3, with £2 of every sale going to NSPCC Childline. We actually bought our copy last week, and they are waiting for more to come in stock at our local M&S. So if you can get your hands on a copy I would advise buying it ASAP!

As well as the Food Hall delights, there is a whole range of Paddington themed cosies in the kids’ clothing department.  

Smix desperately wants the gorgeous onesie, but unfortunately it doesn’t go up to age ten. He insists he can squeeze himself into the age 6-7, but I think maybe the Paddington slippers might work out better for him! 

Lastly, if you haven’t seen the advert and don’t know what the fuss is about, here it is. Joint the other 5.5m views and fall in love with a childhood classic all over again.

M&S Christmas 2017- Takeaway Lunch Sandwiches, Rolls & the 1st Ever Vegan Xmas Wrap- With Proceeds To UK Charity Shelter

This time next month the Marks & Spencer Christmas takeaway food will be in store, and I got a chance to see what’s coming when I visited the Xmas launch party last month in London. 

Once again M&S are teaming up with the homeless charity Shelter,  giving them a percentage of sales of takeaway food and drinks.

There is one very colourful, exciting addition this year- their first ever fully vegan Christmas wrap. It looks so cool that everyone I’ll wll want to try it, roast chestnut with grape & cranberry chutney.

With offerings of Lobster & Prawn Thermidor, and Mustard Crusted Beef, I’m really looking forward to these ranges arriving in store.

I’ve noticed a few Christmas items sneaking into the Bloomfields Bangor store already, so you can see what’s on the way in my video tour of the food launch last month, below. 

Rustic Artisan Breads & Scrumptious Cheeses at M&S

There’s a whole new range of rustic, British artisan breads in store at the M&S Bakery counter. Paired with their wide range of cheeses, they make for a homely comforting afternoon snack.

M&S Pizza Offer for Autumn 2017 Is Their Best Yet! 2 Pizzas & 2 Sides for £10

Marks & Spencer's £10 Pizza Deals are legendary, second only to their Dine In weekend meals which should go down in history as one of the best ideas they ever came up with. 

Their pizza deal for autumn 2017 is beyond a bargain and should feed a whole family easily. You can choose two pizzas, and two sides for £10. 

The pizzas can be from their classic selection, but it's worth noting you can try their brand new Detroit style pizzas, which have just hit stores this week, in the offer also.

The Detroit Style pizzas are thin based and fully loaded. The Philly Steak has Colby cheese, green peppers, house sauce, mozzarella, mature cheddar and comes with American mustard mayo for drizzling once cooked. Three cheeses on one pizza!

All Fired Up is a classic American Hot, with pepperoni and red hot chilli sauce for drizzling. The Whole Hog is a pork lovers dream and the Meatball Marinara combines your two favourite Italian dishes in one delicious handheld snack.

With two sides to choose from, there's coleslaw, potato salad & fresh side salads, or for a real treat you can pick from Mac N Cheese Bites, Cheesy Pizza Fries & Spicy Chicken & Rice Bites. These can really bulk the meal up if there are more than three of you.

The offer is on in stores now, so the choice is really up to you. Any two pizzas, and any two sides for £10. 

I will update with some cooked pizza shots over the next few days as we work our way through these beasts! 

Fruit & Nut Salami, Chocolate Olives, Sparkling Rose and Coffee Flavour Drinks, & Nougat That Looks Like Gourmet Sushi- Curious Candy For Your Sweet Tooth From M&S Spirit of Summer 2017

Gastro Book £5

We are at the half way point of the summer holidays, but there's still plenty of time to be adventurous and try the inventive treats from the Marks & Spencer Spirit of Summer range for 2017. Mediterranean inspired goodies are to be found in every aisle and every food department. 

This week we were invited to try the sweet delights of the confectionary, dessert and drinks ranges. What struck me about the choices in the colourful fridges and tempting shelves were how unusual some of the products were. There are 'chocolate olives', which are milk chocolate coated almonds. 

Chocoate Fruit & Nut Salami at first sounds crazy, but then thinking about it- yes please. Peach Bellini Truffles and a Mocha, Lemon, Pistachio and more selection of Gelato Truffles make up the Spirit of Summer confectionary selection.

Summer Nougat £4

Jellies £3 : Fudge £4

Of course my eye was instantly drawn to these beautiful little packages of nougat and fudge. They look like gourmet pieces of hand rolled sushi, but sweet! Heaven! The nougat has apricot, pistachio & rose flavours, while the fudge has pecan, ginger & Valencian Orange nibbles to enjoy.

Smix just loves watermelon anything, so the selection of watermelon and lemon & blueberry juice jellies are perfect for his dessert. 

Lemon & Rose Presse £2

Agua Fresca £2.20 : Yoghurt £1.50

Continuing the watermelon theme, we picked up a freshly squeezed Agua Fresca.

If you like your flavours unusual, the Spirit of Summer drinks choice is inventive also. You can be adventurous with a sparkling lemon & rose presse, a coffee spritzer, or for a party with some surpirses why not serve some Olive Vodka, Murcia Lemon Buck's Fizz, or Peach Frizzante?

Chocolates £2 : Drinks x4 £2.30

For grab from the fridge & go, handbag-sized chilled cans, there are Spirit of Summer Sparkling Grape, Sicilian Lemon & Grapefruit mini-cans. There's also an orange flavour if you prefer. 

There are some more interesting flavour combos in smaller snack packs, like the Hazelnut Coffee Vanilla Custard Chocolates. 

Lastly, for the ultimate summer dessert, it's got to be cinnamon sugar dusted, oven-warmed churros, with a side of hot chocolate sauce.  Hopefully those will stick around after summer 2017 is gone.

Churros £4

Not Just Your Normal Chocolate Eggs For Easter 2017 in Marks & Spencer- We Will Kick Things Off With The Spinning, Silver Disco Ball One...

I remember when I was a kid, if you got an egg with a matching mug, that was big news. The free mug was pretty darn cool. Now a days there are all sorts of free gifts and varieties of Easter egg, but it's Marks & Spencer who push things one step further out there every year, with innovative egg products such as this year's show stopper- a spinning, silver chocolate disco ball. 

When Smix spotted it he immediately required it! It spins in the box & he says the chocolate tastes like Magnum ice lolly chocolate. It's £10 and definitely the stand out product from the kids' range, but there are more goodies too. 

Much of the Easter confectionary line is now in store, including all the eggs, sweets, Hot Cross buns and hunt kits and hampers. 

The intricate Frozen castle shaped 'egg' is back this year, plus a Thomas the Tank Engine shaped chocolate delight, and Percy & Penny sweet statues. 

Bendy Bob is a new addition, plus there are white chocolate options and plenty of bunnies. 

Laid Back Lamb is flying off the shelves, with his wacky wool and happy face. 

For your ever so cool teenager, this quirky chocolate bunny is almost too good to eat. If hipsters designed Easter eggs.... 

Besides your straightforward egg selection,  M&S are also a great place to stock up on items for a garden east egg hunt. There are specific kits you can buy to make a hunt, or there are bundles of mini eggs you can purchase to put together a hunt yourself.

I also adore the bunny jar, which could be used to store cotton buds for your makeup area afterward. 

There are hampers of different sizes and prices with all you will need for an Easter party. You'll have biscuits, sweets and plenty of chocolate. 

Of course Marks and Spencer are known for their 'grown up' fancy pants eggs too. Many to choose from this year. 

I like the options of nougat or fudge eggs, an alternative to the endless chocolate variety. 

And don't forget Bennet! From tiny Beau, right up to Bennet who is £20 and almost a kilogram of chocolate!

The £2 Hot Cross Bun flavoured fudge just can't be missed. Make sure you pick up a pack of it to try.

Even those who don't like chocolate can enjoy these little jelly bunnies. 

So what's your favourite Easter 2017 Marks & Spencer goodie? 

M&S Launch THREE New Hot Cross Bun Flavours for 2017- Which Will Be Your New Favourite?

It's Marks and Spencer Hot Cross Bun season! The 2 for £2.50 deal is back, and very hard to resist.

The retailer sells 42 million hot cross buns every year and for 2017 is selling an exciting range of hot cross buns with nine different varieties for customers to enjoy. All of the M&S hot cross buns are made by Gunstones in Sheffield. To meet demand for the buns in the run up to Easter, the factory produces 24 hours per day.

The first new flavour to introduce you to is the ‘Savoury Cheese Bun’ is made with a blend of two cheeses, juicy Turkish sultanas, onion, chives and of course the traditional hot cross bun spice mix. It is said to be the perfect pairing of fruit and cheese and delicious stuffed with bacon for a gourmet bacon butty. It's the first savoury Hot Cross Bun, and it's well worth picking up to try.

M&S has also launched the first carrot cake/hot cross fusion – the Carrot Cross. A delicious bun made using carrot slithers, citrus and spice flavours and of course stuffed with a moreish cream cheese frosting. As this is a stuffed bun, you get two per pack, but they are handy on the run as you don't need to find butter or a knife to fill them yourself.

Cream cheese filled carrot cake Hot Cross Bun  

M&S Hot Cross Bun Product Developer, Sadia Usman, commented, “We wanted to have some fun with our hot cross bun and create a range of new flavours for our customers to enjoy. Our savoury bun is amazing served as a bacon butty, whilst the Carrot Cross is perfect for afternoon tea.”

My favourite new addition however, is the Chocolate Orange flavour buns. I've already gone through two packs. I'm not a huge sultana fan, so I always loved the toffee and fudge variety, but this new delight is even better. There's just a slight hint of spice to it. 

Chocolate orange and toffee & fudge varieties  

Of course there are all the traditional favourite flavours too, luxury Hot Cross buns in both mini and regular size.

Cranberry & orange flavour and Kentish Brambley Apple, plus Clementine Orange varieties too. 

Stay tuned for a look at the Easter treats and eggs in store for 2017 later this week.