Your ViewsKeep your e-mails pouring in, it's good to know that there are lots of you out there with views and opinions. To help you work out what is what, are now little icons to help you see biscuit related themes. And now you can see at a glance which are the most contested subjects via this graph (requires Flash 6.0 plugin). Please keep your mails coming in to nicey@nicecupofteaandasitdown.com | If you like, you can use this search thingy to find stuff that matches with any of the icons you pick, or use the fantastic free text search, Yay! | Your e-Mails |
Biscuit Enthusiast Mandy |
Having seen your news flash about two for one parkin at Fred Pipes' local Co-op, I decided to pay a visit to the Co-op Milton Road on my way home on Tuesday evening in the hope of laying my hands on some. Sure enough it was there on the shelf, but not labelled as two for one. In fact, it had no price on the shelf at all. However, it is 2 for 1 and has a use by of 20 November! :-) So get stocked up.
mandy |
Nicey replies: Hoorah for Parkin news. We should all get some, and start a Parkin revival. |
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Ben Hale |
Nicey,
I fully understand your unease where the subject of 21st century, so-called innovative biscuit packaging is concerned, especially when it appears a manufacturer is attempting to swindle its customers out of several biscuits, in return for the dubious compensation of a plastic tray or a snazzy new logo.
However, there is one addition to the pantheon of biscuit wrappers that has been a positive boon for my partner Carol and I: the sturdy cardboard pipe used to house McVities Chocolate Digestives and Hobnobs.
In our later years with the kids gone and retirement not too far away, Carol
and I have joined a lively local walking group, and we often find ourselves
rambling along remote woodland tracks or up and down an isolated hillside path. Apart from the kagools and spare socks, essential kit for these daytrips is the trusty thermos and a supply of biccies, for when we come across an inviting spot to sit down. Unfortunately, Carol doesn't like taking the normal packets, as they get crushed too easily, and once opened, are liable to leave a crumbly residue at the bottom of her knapsack. I don't like using the Tupperware her sister gave us, because, to be honest, it smells a bit and is somewhat offputting. We do have a slim, cylindrical tin, but Carol says it makes her bag too heavy and the straps cut into her shoulders (although I believe this may be purely psychological).
Hurrah then, for the McVities tube. You only need buy one before reverting
back to the normal, big value packs, but we can top the tube up with as many biccies as we need for a couple of cups of tea and sit downs in the
countryside. Nearly all of our walking friends have adopted our method of
biscuit carriage.
Mr Hale |
Nicey replies: If it saves Carol's shoulders from strap cutting then I am prepared to register a point in favour of the HobNob tube, especially given your admirable stance on the recycling issue. |
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Duncan Bain |
Dear Nicey.
Love the website, dont know if you got my last e-mail, still trying to find out if anyone remembers Honey and Cream biscuits ? I think they were made by Huntley and Palmer. Your thoughts on the subject would be apreciated.
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Nicey replies: Not ringing any bells with me, sorry. |
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Jason Ryan |
Dear Nicey,
I would like to consolidate your theory about dinsours and them having nice cups of tea and sit downs. I have a pet budgie who loves tea, and although she doesnt like to drink from a full sized cup (probably for fear of falling in and not being able to get out.) Anyway, after having found a suitably sized drinking vessel (an egg cup), and filled it with some nice tea, it was offered to her and she proceeded to enjoy it thoroughly. It is also well known, as you say, that birds like biscuits, although she prefers jammie dodgers over digestives as thay dont crumble quite so easily.
Therefore, it seems quite obvious that if tea plants had evolved when dinosaurs were about, and they had mastered biscuit making, they would've enjoyed nice cups of tea and sit downs.
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Nicey replies: That's fantastic news, and is probably all the evidence we require to back up our wobbbly made up theory. |
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Hywel Thomas
McVities Digestive Cream Review |
Nicey,
I spotted some digestive creams in the newsagent's near work recently. I was unable to resist them and without thinking, I was back at my desk showing off new discovery to Sue, who has a Giant Bee mug. "I think they reviewed those on nicecupofteaandasitdown recently", she said. What's more she added, "I tried some, but I didn't think they were very nice".
Now I'm a fan of the digestive. I had some Happy Shopper digestives recently, and even they were quite nice. Digestives are nice with chocolate on top and also make a superb vehicle for a nice bit of cheddar. So I read your review and it's spot on. The size really was off-putting being different in both diameter and thickness. I do understand that a full sized version would be a bit over the top, but something a bit bigger would've been easier to accept.
The main problem, as you point out, is the cream. It's just not right. It seems too sweet somehow and detracts from the digestive in a way that a thin topping of chocolate does not. I'm sure there must be a fillings engineer out there could come up with something, but it's hard to imagine exactly what. I something a bit like the cheese bit of a cheesecake might work, but I don't know how well that would work with a hot beverage (especially for dunking).
As an expert, have you had any thoughts on the ideal flavour for the cream in a digestive cream ? At the moment it's less than the sum of its parts, which is a terrible shame. |
Nicey replies: Well I think they could try something citrus like lemon or orange, that might be nice.
Tell Sue she has impeccable taste. |
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