2nd December 2012

In which the elfs and I investigate the publicity of Mediæval Bæbes...

Today's song is the classic Gaudete which you may well know the Steeleye Span version of. Here is the version performed by the Mediæval Bæbes:

I think their album covers show an obvious change in publicity tactics. For example here's their first album, Salva Nos, which is where Gaudete is from:

A cover which definitely fits with the medieval theme of their music. Their next album then features the artists themselves:

Apparently slowly dissolving into the curtains. Then their publicity guy went "Hey they're all women, let's put them in nicer dresses":

Which was followed by the noughties hitting them suddenly:

Where they look like an extended cast of Charmed. Then the publicity guy clearly came back with "We need sexy dresses and lighting!":

Then they went all out on the photoshoot:

Explosions!

While it would be cool to think that the new marketing is due to them being assured women I expect it was a male advertising exec who came up with the idea. Maybe men just don't like medieval songs in general and the need to push into the market?

Tom Out!

1st December 2012

In which I present Christmas Wrapping...

The elfs* here at Tinker Tailor Soldier Sponge have suggested this song today. It's not the rarest (as it definitely features on at least one version of The Best Christmas Album In The World ... Ever!) , however, it isn't as popular as say A Fairytale of New York is. I really like this song as it tells a story and is pretty festive :)

*No elfs† were harmed in the making of this blogpost

†Elfs as in the short Christmas kind, not Elves the tall Tolkienian kind

Tom Out!

Advent 2012

In which I detail blog posts in the run up to Christmas...

So I thought this year I would put up an advent calendar of less well known Christmas songs. Some will be good but you just haven't heard them while others will be quirky and interesting. I hope you all enjoy :)

The advent calendar below will update daily with links to the posts so you can bookmark this post or just keep checking back :)

1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25

Tom Out!

P.S. The usual blog will continue alongside this, Great British Tea Test 2012 results are being analysed as we speak.

Afternoon Infusion

In which I get a free tea with my pumpkin and ginger cake from Graze...

I recently got a few free Graze boxes and they send you a small piece of cake with complimentary tea :)

Brewing

"A blend of assam and kenyan leaves."

There were no instructions so I used my usual 5 minutes brewing time and added a little milk.

Colour

Lighter than my standard teas but still a light brown, tea colour.

Aroma

There is a hint of bergamot but the predominant aroma is that of black tea.

Taste

This is a very pleasant blend. Perhaps it's a gateway tea to those who don't currently like Earl Grey as it tastes like normal tea with a hint of bergamot. It is very refreshing and a great way to start the afternoon. The fact that it comes packaged with cake doesn't harm it either!

BII Showcase

This week I attended the 4th annual Biomedical Imaging Institute Showcase. It was very interesting to see new MR applications and to see a study that I was a subject in being presented. Also I managed to get the annual free mug, which of course I can now use to drink tea!

Conclusion

A refreshing afternoon blend which comes with a cake :) Lovely.

I know I've said this before but I think I may soon change the layout of my tea reviews as they are getting a little repetitive :S

Web-Link

http://www.graze.com/products/browse/1184/guilt-free-high-tea

Tom Out!

Bonus: M&S Turkey Feast

M&S sandwich

This week it is time for the king of the Christmas sandwiches IMHO - the M&S sandwich! Will it retain it's crown?

Price: £3.00

Taste: The stuffing is very tasty, you can taste the sage & onion. A small amount of mayonnaise makes the sandwich moist enough without overpowering. It could do with a bit more cranberry sauce but when you get a whole cranberry it is splendid. The turkey has a lot of flavour as opposed to in the others to date where it was indistinguishable from chicken.

Conclusion: Still excellent and the best so far. Will another sandwich topple it in the following weeks?

Blend of Both

In which I try a tea donated by Katy and put Sainsbury's to the test!

This tea was donated to me for the express purpose of reviewing on my blog so here it is :)

Brewing

"It has been expertly created to deliver the delicious full-flavoured taste of original Tetley, but with the natural refreshing benefits of green tea. So you can have it with milk and still enjoy green tea goodness."

There are no brewing instructions so I assumed standard Tetley brewing of a minute or two and then added milk.

Colour

Tea coloured though it came out a slightly darker hue than the normal blend does.

Aroma

Realistically it just smells like tea.

Taste

This is a very refreshing blend. Usually I find Tetley very strong but the addition of green tea lightens the blend while still tasting like the standard blend. I'd say it tastes like Tetley light and there is a bit of a green tea aftertaste.

Data Entry

This week I 'ave mostly been typing on a computer. Manual data entry is annoying, if only my handwriting wasn't so terrible and I could use OCR.

Web-link

http://www.tetley.co.uk/our-teas/products?id=3

Conclusion

Like Tetley, but lighter!

Tom Out!

Bonus: Sainsbury's Turkey Feast

Sainsbury's turkey feast

This week it is time for Sainsbury's Christmas offering.

Price: £2.70 (although it is in the £3 meal deal too)

Taste: A bit different from last time this is turkey, bacon, stuffing, cranberry sauce and salad. The stuffing is lovely and moist and there's no overpowering mayonnaise flavour. The cranberry sauce adds a pleasant aftertaste but is a little subdued. I think the weird thing about this sandwich is that it doesn't seem particularly Christmassy just a glorified chicken and bacon sandwich really. It's still better tasting than the Tesco one but it is still disappointing.

Christmas Puddings

In which stir-up Sunday comes early and on the wrong day of the week...

Although I realise stir-up Sunday is later than this week (and that I made these on a Monday night), it is always good to make your puddings early so that you can top them up with lots of of brandy (feeding the pudding.) Also I always used to make Christmas puddings on Remembrance Day with my school choir.

My mum has always made the best Christmas pudding (as far as i'm concerned) and here is the recipe. This recipe is designed for a Slow cooker.

Apologies to members of CAOS expecting a recipe for tonight's cake but the recipe for mincemeat tart is:

1. Obtain mincemeat and pastry.

2. Place pastry in dish.

3. Fill with mincemeat.

4. Bake.

UPDATE: Mincemeat tarts came out like this :)

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Mincemeat Tart

Ingredients

• 50g plain flour

• pinch of salt

• 2 teaspoons mixed spice

• 100g currants

• 100g sultanas

• 100g raisins

• 100g mixed peel

• 100g shredded suet

• 100g soft brown sugar

• 100g fine white breadcrumbs

• 50g chopped blanched almonds*

• grated rind of 1 lemon

• 2 eggs, beaten

• 2x15ml spoons black treacle

• 1x15ml spoon brandy

• a little stout/ale or milk for mixing†

*The nuts are really important, it's what makes this pudding that bit better than anyone elses :P

†I change the stout every year, this year I went for Marston's Oyster Stout

How-To

1. Sieve together flour, salt and spice, add all dry ingredients and mix well.

2. Add eggs, brandy and treacle with enough liquid to make a soft clinging mixture.

3. Divide between 2 greased basins, leaving about 1 cm headspace.

4. Cover with a double thickness of greased greaseproof paper or tinfoil.

5. Put basins in a slow cooker and pour 1 pint of hot water around them.

6. Heat on high for 1 hour then low for 12 hours or alternatively on high for 7 hours.

7. To reheat: heat on high for 3 hours.

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In the slowcooker

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Almost done!

It's double recipe week this week as on Thursday there is the World Famous ManSSAGO Pudding Party!* Stay tuned on Thursday for the desserts and the recipe!

*May not be actually famous worldwide!

Tom Out!