Amy's: Chinese Noodles & Veggies

Tonight, I took a break from making fresh food to try this ready meal from Amy's. I had heard this was vegan and it said so on the ingredients list...which I should have read as it contains mushrooms which I'm really not a fan of. That being said, I barely noticed them. That's partly because there are quite a few different veggies in this, carrots, beans, broccoli, and onions, plus cashews, sesame seeds and tofu! One thing this got right is the balance of wet/dry, and I was surprised it that it tasted slightly fresher and richer than I had expected. The sauce has a good balance of flavours, it's worth stirring it up as much of my sauce seemed to be at the base so initially I thought it was quite plain. One thing though that might stop me from buying it again was that experience you sometimes get with a meal, where it starts off really nice and enjoyable, but then for no apparent reason you don't want anymore. That was how I felt after I had finished, and it wasn't a big portion. Again, I'm not sure why this was, I did enjoy it and there was nothing wrong with it. Perhaps it was the mushrooms, they really do gross me out, which sucks because I wish I liked all vegetables (yes they're fungi). So...I'd say given it's a frozen ready meal, maybe a 3/5, it would definitely be a solid 4 if it weren't for those mushrooms, but that's just me!

Tesco: Raspberry Sorbet

Haven't been on the blog for a while now, lazy, but here's something to get your taste-buds going. This is one of my favourite frozen things in a tub, it's just so good. The raspberry flavour is really nice and strong, the texture is light and fluffy, and I can't really say anything bad about it. There's no bits, in case you were wondering, and it leaves a clean aftertaste. I like it best when it's starting to melt - try it for yourself. This is 5/5 for me!

Redwood: Beef Style Pasties

I was surprised how much I enjoyed these. Everything just seemed well balanced, although I probably had quite a low expectation... I thought they might be like the Frys Pepper Steak pies which I didn't much like. The filling is nice, beef style things are ok and you get a good amount of potato cubes. And the pastry is good too for a frozen item. They are also a good size, and as they aren't boxed you can size them up in store. The ratio of filling and pasty too is good, everything is good - nice seasoning, size, not too dry or moist. It's hard to fault to I'll stop, say 5/5 and let you know if anything changes! Thanks

Swedish Glace: Pearl

I was both very exciting about trying these and disappointed. Swedish Glace, as far as I'm concerned at this moment, probably make the best vegan ice cream (at least the raspberry tub anyway). And last time I was ordering these were out of stock so I bought the Peak cones instead. Finally I got hold of a box today! And you get 5 in the box. BUT... they are tiny lollies and that makes me sad. Going purely on taste these are great. The ice cream inside isn't like the tub variety, it's smooth without any sauce (which is a bit of a shame) but its very tasty and creamy still and this one is strawberry too. And then it's covered in a thin layer of chocolate like a posh choc-ice with some fruity little pieces on the outside (just like hundreds and thousands but a bit nicer). Together it's great, a really tasty sweet lolly that nobody would suspect is vegan. But it's not enough - it's like one scoop worth and it needs to be at least 2! As you can see below it makes my hand look some giants hand. 4/5

Tofutti: Rock 'n' Roll Cones

These cones might say Tofutti or Triano, I think they're the same, but the ones I'm reviewing didn't have a chocolate sauce I think it was toffee or caramel. The tops have sprinkled nuts too, and they're a bit bigger and better than the ones on Peak cones. However, overall the cone isn't quite as good as the Peak ones; the vanilla ice cream, like the tub, tastes a bit cheaper and the cones too they're a bit more soggy. Flavour isn't bad though and I still enjoy them. So it's 3/5 (maybe plus a half).

Swedish Glace: Peak

Mmm, these are good. I'm eating one as a type, which is hard, so I've made a makeshift holder but will not say how. Anyway... I'm quite impressed with these, though they're not perfect, they are very nice indeed. Start with the flaws, like most ready made cones the cones are chewy, which I personally don't mind but sometimes a crunchy one can be nicer to add a depth of texture. And the raspberry sauce is always bang on one side at the top and a bit more frozen than the raspberry tub. There are also some nuts and chocolate on the top. To me the chocolate doesn't really add anything other looks, but the nuts are ok. Again not quite as they would be fresh.
On the good side, the flavour is awesome, and the ice cream isn't really that drippy. I think the cone is also chocolate lined, maybe to help it stop getting soggy, and there's a nice crunchy bit at the bottom. I'll certainly be buying them again. 4/5

Bessant & Drury's: Chocolate Dairy Free Frozen Desert

I had planned to right a really raving review of the chocolate flavour but a second tub has changed my mind. The first time I had this ice cream was a few weeks ago. It was amazing, it looked really dark but it didn't taste dark at all, and it tasted kind of like a rolo (from what I remember before I became vegan). The texture was perfect too; melt in the mouth, consistent, and not too hard.

But, it's good to try things more than once. So I bought another tub and ate it over the last couple of days. It was like I had bought a different brand. This time the colour was much much lighter, but the taste was really dark. And the silky texture had gone too, I'd scoop some up and it was in layers. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't horrible, it was ok. But that's all, it wasn't moorish and it wasn't as rich or as sweet or as creamy as before. If I had had that tub first I wouldn't have bought it again.

So the first tub was 5/5, second, 2/5. Bad points for inconsistency.

If I try it again I will update the review!