Red Rooster Fish and Chips "rip-off"

Red Rooster recently started advertising what appeared to be thick chunky succulent and generously sized fillets of flathead with a correspondingly generous service of golden thick cut chips.

The family pack of ten fillets with chips costs $25.00 and I foolishly thought that this would do for a couple of meals. Nothing could have been further from the truth.

The fish fillets were tiny and looked nothing like the picture, also several being a brownish colour on the verge of being burnt, and the chips were soggy and anaemic and definitely not a family serve.

As a result ,this package is literally a "rip off" and much better value can be found by purchasing directly from your local fish and chips shop. Do not be seduced by the misleading advertising! This would definitely be one for the 'pack comparison' segment on The Checkout on the ABC.

Shame on you Red Rooster!

Comparative Review of Hansells Probiotic Yoghurt (now stocked in Coles) and EasiYo

Over the past couple of years Coles stocked three plain varieties of Hansells packet yoghurt alongside a wider range of the EasiYo products. From 1 July 2013, Coles discontinued the EasiYo range and replaced it with a wider Hansells range and the Hansells yoghurt-making container.

This is a review of the Hansells yoghurts that have been tried (and a couple of EasiYo varieties that I was able to purchase at Woolworths). Sadly overall they do not stack up against their EasiYo counterparts, and it remains a pity that Coles decided to discontinue the range. However, EasiYo is still available for purchase online and may be available at other supermarkets. (I have since discovered that Woolworths sells both EasiYo and Hansells - what a pity that Coles does not do the same!)

In summary, the two flavoured Greek Yoghurts I tried were of acceptable quality, but as far as the other flavours are concerned I much prefer the EasiYo equivalents and found the Hansells varieties disappointing.

Hansells Passionfruit
This was bland and watery. I would not buy it again.

Hansells Thick and Creamy Yoghurt Boysenberry
This was also fairly bland and not as fruity in taste as the EasiYo. I would not buy it again.

Hansells Lite Yoghurt 99% Fat Free - Strawberry
This was fairly bland and had a floury/chalky taste and left a feeling in my mouth a bit like a film of toothpaste. I would not buy it again.

Hansells Thick and Creamy Yoghurt - Strawberry
There is an occasional hint of a nice piquant strawberry flavour, but overall a bit bland and disappointing. The consistency in the mouth is more of a claggy/pasty feel than creamy. I would probably not buy it again if I could get the EasiYo Strawberry instead..

EasiYo Greek and Coconut Bits
This was a new one to try, and this was interesting to compare with the Hansells. The EasiYo variety is creamy, sweet and delightfully light and refreshing with a gentle coconut taste. It reminded me of sitting on a tropical beach in the shade with a light zephyr of a breeze drinking a Pina Colada! I would definitely buy this in preference to the Hansells (reviewed below).

EasiYo Mixed Berries and Bits
This was also another variety that I had not tried before. Wow! It is creamy, tangy and tart with a summery taste and a generous smattering of berry bits (blackcurrants, blackberries and raspberries). I will definitely be getting this one again.

Hansells Thick and Creamy Yoghurt with Bits - Greek and Coconut Style
This was indeed thick and creamy and had a nice coconut taste. Unfortunately a lot of the coconut settled to the bottom so a periodic stir would be in order to avoid getting a mouthful of coconut when you are getting to the end of the container. I would probably buy this one again.

Hansells Thick and Creamy Yoghurt - Greek and Honey
This is the final one which I tried. It is also indeed thick and creamy. The flavour is fairly subtle but the overall result is a soft sensation of being slightly sweet. I would probably buy this one again. The two Greek Yoghurt combination flavours are by far the best of what is on offer.

Hansells Lite Yoghurt 99% Fat Free - Apricot
This was fairly bland and had a floury/chalky taste and left a feeling in my mouth a bit like a film of toothpaste after a couple of mouthfuls. As it aged in the container there was a bit more of a tangy apricot taste.  I would not buy it again.

Hansells Lite Yoghurt 99% Fat Free - Berry
This one actually had a nice fresh and consistent berry taste but the same sensation of a slight chalky film left behind on your teeth after a couple of mouthfuls. The most surprising thing about this one was just how much water separated out from the solids within the first 24 hours. There was a large quantity of pinkish fluid that I kept having to pour off. Ironically this led to a thicker and stickier yoghurt. Just because this one actually has some taste I might consider buying it again if there was no EasiYo available.

Connoisseur Gourmet Ice Cream

Coles Supermarkets recently had a special on Connoisseur Gourmet Ice Cream, so what better opportunity to 'try it out'!

Cookies and Cream
The blurb states that they "crush premium dark chocolate cookies and fold them gently into rich vanilla ice cream". This is exactly what the ice cream tastes like. There is a slightly grainy crunchiness that you would expect with eating a firm choclate cookie, like a chocolate ripple biscuit, but the ice cream base is very smooth and creamy. There is a generous number of cookie chunks. Very moreish!

Summer Strawberry
This is quite a delightful little surprise packet, packed with tangy real strawberry flavour. It contains "pureed summer strawberries and a swirl of strawberry sauce". The sauce has a lovely intensity of flavour, and the ice cream base is gorgeously creamy without suffering from excess sweetness. The uniform soft pink colour is brken up by the darker (almost brownish) saucy swirls. Very enjoyable!

Product Review - EasiYo Yoghurt Maker

(Updated 5 October 2012 - new photos added.)

This is a food product that I happened across in the supermarket when I was living in the country a couple of years ago, and it seemed like a very convenient idea to be able to make your own yoghurt at home and never run out! (It is also cheaper than buying yoghurt from the dairy cabinet at the supermarket.)

The actual kit itself was not expensive (current price A$21.99) and the yoghurt powder packets cost around A$3-4 each, depending on the variety. My favourites are the Boysenberry, Strawberry, Raspberry and Mango in the standard range (there are several 'plain' varieties as well) and there are two 'deluxe' flavours - Peaches and Cream and Raspberries and Cream. They are all very nice!

In order to make the yoghurt, all you need is a packet of powder and some hot water (and follow the instructions on the pack). In general, if you put the yoghurt on in the evening it will be ready in time for breakfast the next morning.

The following pictures are of some freshly made yoghurt.

I like to decant it into an existing yoghurt container for storage in the refrigerator so that I can wash/clean all the components and put them away until next time.

One of the other benefits is that you can add your own extra ingredients. In this case I decided to add some defrosted blueberries to the boysenberry yoghurt.

Mix the berries through and enjoy! Exotic alternatives such as this could also form part of a dessert if desired.

Surprisingly good ice-cream from Coles!

(Updated 15 June 2012: Strawberry White Choc added; 23 June 2012: Photos added. Updated 24 December 2012: Lamington Style added. Updated 28 January 2013: Mango Swirl added Updated 01 November 2014: Coconut Lime and Chocolate Orange added.)

Coles Supermarkets recently introduced a range of premium one litre ice-creams. Now, I'm not a big ice-cream eater, but in the noble tradition of the Scandinavians, who love their ice-cream even in winter, I decided to try out a few flavours despite the somewhat chilly time of year and was pleasantly surprised at just how good they are! All the ice-creams are made with real cream.

Verdict: Recommended

Rum and Raisin
The ice-cream is a light butterscotch colour, and has a smooth creamy taste with a definite sharp flavour of rum. It contains plump and juicy raisins which are similarly rum-soaked in flavour.

Rocky Road
This has a solid chocolately background which is not overly sweet, with crunchy nuts and pieces of soft springy pink and white marshmallow as well as some raspberry swirl.

Chocolate Fudge
This one has a denser dark chocolate base with syrupy swirls of fudge and chewy chocolate pieces.

Strawberry White Choc
This ice-cream has a fresh, smooth, sweet and creamy strawberry flavour that bursts out in your mouth like a sunny spring day. There are delicate slivers of white chocolate which amplify the richness of the tasting experience, chunks of real strawberries and tendrils of raspberry swirl, adding small bombs of zesty tang.

Lamington Style Ice-Cream

Indulgent chocolate ice-cream with rich raspberry, swirled with creamy vanilla ice-cream and dessicated coconut.

Well, this is an interesting take on an Australian classic, and it took me a while to be persuaded to try it (really only until it came down to $5.00 a carton, along with the remaining ice-creams in the Coles range).

It is indeed very chocolately in appearance but mild in flavour, with a variegated appearance; presumably the mix of chocolate and vanilla mentioned above. There are occasional flecks of raspberry flavour and quite chewy pieces of dessicated coconut (in a semi-frozen state).

To my mind it is a brave experiment that doesn't quite work. The chocolate is a bit wimpy, the rapsberry insufficiently prevalent, and the coconut just sits there and doesn't do anything - its normal sweet, succulent, juicy nature is missing, as is the classic offset of the golden sponge base. It is probably inoffensive enough and sweet enough to be wildly popular with children, but I would advise adults to choose one of the more sophisticated flavours previously reviewed.

Mango Swirl
Smooth and creamy vanilla ice-cream accompanied by sassy and tangy mango sorbet swirls with real mango flavour.

Coconut Lime
All those of you who are fans of the individual 'Lime Splice' ice-creams will like this one. It has a base of creamy vanilla ice-cream mixed in with generous strands of shredded coconut and pockets of pale green zesty lime flavour. All these elements combine for a refreshing taste.

Chocolate Orange
All who are fans of the famous 'Terry's Chocolate Orange' will like this ice-cream version. There is a nice creamy chocolatey taste with an overlay of orange essence. It is not too rich and the citrus element is not too overpowering. A nice combination and good as a special treat!

The Cider Stakes

Having bought some Swedish cider from Dan Murphy's last year out of curiosity, a few months later they also had a 'taster' pack of twelve different Australian and international ciders so these have been tried and ranked into (a) worth drinking again and (b) did not impress. 

Five of these are good enough to recommend.
1. Bulmers Original Cider 330mL. 4.7% alcohol. An authentic apple cider. (Australia)
2. Three Oaks Cider Co. - Original Crushed Apple Cider. 330mL. 5.0% alcohol. (Australia)

3. Old Mout Cider. Classic Apple. 330mL. 4.5% alcohol. (New Zealand)
4. Castaway Cider. Apple. 330mL. 5.0% alcohol. (Australia) 

5. Kopparberg Preium Cider with Stawberry and Lime. 330mL. 4.0% alcohol. (Sweden)

The Swedish Kopparberg Lime and Strawberry cider is pinkish in colour and has an interesting taste which is a mixture of tart and sweet, in accordance with its contents. Some may feel it is an alternative version of an 'Alcopop', but it would be a refreshing choice chilled on a hot day. 

Whilst not in the mixed pack, the Swedish Rekorderlig Winter Cider is also pleasant drinking, It can be consumed warm in winter, but is also quite lovely chilled, with a fruity cinnamon-tinged flavour