Silver Crest Hand Blender Set

Price: £14.99

Score (out of five): 4 now 5

Review: we had a very good quality Moulinex version of this. We used the small food processor bit quite a lot as it was easier to clean than the large food processor we have. But alas the plastic clip at the top of the blades that plugs into the lid to make it spin broke, so that had to be disposed of.

And then one Thursday our Lidl Random Crap Aisle™ was stocked with these. Alas, I didn't have enough arms/bags to buy one so I sent my partner off to get one, which is a whole other story to be published soon. 

So, it works. Not much more to add really. Slightly disappointing the whisk attachment only has one whisk, and the plastic feels a bit brittle and plasticy. But, it blends. It dealt find with some quite tough lamb. When I blitzed a very nice beetroot and dill soup with it you could really feel the power of the motor pulling it down to the bottom of the pan. It's dishwasher safe with the wonderful W5 Dishwasher Tablets. The key thing, I suppose, will be how long it lasts and whether it can do things like mince cooked meat. I shall let you know. 

Update a month later: I've not used this a bit more and it's actually brilliant. The brittle plasticky feel is because it's actually really strong plastic and also it locks together really securely and satisfyingly. It has absolutely no problems cutting really tough cooked beef and actually found it easier than our large Kenwood mixer. Another win from Lidl.

Deluxe Cornish Camembert

Price: £1.69

Score (out of five): I'm giving this a Spinal Tap 6.

Review: reader, I married it. Well, I would've done if I was allowed to eat cheese. Excuse me while I deliriously eulogise about this Camembert.

OH MY GOD IT WAS SO NICE. IT WAS JUST LIKE EATING CREAM MADE INTO A CHEESE. IT HAD THE MOST BEAUTIFUL FLAVOUR. BUY THIS NOW AND JUST PUT YOUR FACE INTO IT AND CHEW.

*ahem*

Sorry, my usual objectiveness has left me. But, bloody hell, this is good cheese. I presume it's called a Camembert because it's made in the same way, but it's actually just an incredibly rich, flavoursome British soft cheese. I'm imagine a blue version would be like what Lymeswold was like. So, yes, I can heartily recommend adding this to your middle class cheese board at a dinner party. 

Simply Sumptuous Granola

Price: £1.79

Score (out of five): 4 (fruit and nut); 5 (fruit)

Review: well, as I've written here before, the thing I like about Lidl, unlike Tesco, is they rarely confuse you, or make you feel short-changed by having special offers (apart from the occasionally reduced price), but here I'm offering you a BOGOF.

The Lidl granola was a review I'd been promised by a friend for months but they'd never got round to it*. When we got back from our recent holiday I took my partner and we did our first proper big shop entirely (just about) at Lidl. He was after something new for breakfast so I suggested this granola as my friend had mentioned it was very nice. Eventually my branflakes ran out (thank god) so I got to try the fruit and nut. It was so nice I bought the fruit one to try as well. 

And they're both very nice indeed. I prefer the fruit one myself. Granola is always one of those breakfast cereals that makes you feel like you've used more calories chewing the stuff than you get from it and the extra sweetness of the fruit granola makes up for that. But, like all granola it leaves you with that slightly smug feeling that you've worked for your breakfast and it's tasty. I've not checked the nutrition information, but it's therefore probably laced with added sugar. Hey-ho. 

As well as having it with milk, it's also very nice with the Lidl yoghurt - they now sell more one litre pots of flavoured yoghurts. I can recommend the Scatiatelli (or scratch-your-telly as I call it) and passionfruit and peach.  

* Jenny, I'm still waiting for those reviews of the perfume and mascara. There's a limit to what a man can review...

Crownfield Bran Flakes

Price: 45p (reduced)

Score (out of five): 0.5

Review: oh reader, the things I do for you. There's no photo with this post, even though I did actually go back and buy a second pack of these branflakes just to take a photo even though I really didn't like them. Alas, I forgot before the pack was finished.

I've eaten bran flakes for my breakfast for quite a few years after getting sick of dried coconut and raisins in fruit and fibre. I've become quite the expert in the various supermarket own-brands as it always seemed a tad pointless forking out for Kellogg's bran flakes when they essentially have three ingredients. I'd eventually settled on Tesco Everyday Value (89p for 750g).

I thought I'd give Lidl's brand a whirl. Oh deary me. The flakes become mush very quickly after you pour on the milk and they are far too sweet. After the first spoon it's a bit like eating over-sugared Weetabix mush combined with Ready Brek. Really not a pleasant texture or flavour. After the second packet I was just about getting used to them. You might like this texture/flavour combo (I can imagine they'd be a good way to get kids to eat a vaguely healthy cereal) but it's definitely not for me. Sorry, Lidl, on this one Tesco beat you.

However, after coming back from holiday, I've discovered Lidl granola.

Review coming up! 

Sancerre Rose

Price: £7.99

Score (out of five): 5

Review: well, the fact that the photo includes two empty bottles of the stuff should be testimony enough to the fact this is very nice wine indeed. Funnily enough it was a bit of marketing genius by Lidl that got me writing this blog in the first place. Their "Wine Cellar" had appeared in our local store quite a while ago, but after getting my fingers severely burnt with their wine in the past (a bottle of red that was so unpalatable even by the end of necking the bottle in one night it still made me gag) I tread wearily through said section of fake wine boxes. But then they included a brochure, with reviews and scores in The Observer so like a dutiful Guardian reader I trotted down with my brochure in hand and stocked-up.

And, my, did we like the Sancerre Rose. When it came back in this summer's wine cellar brochure I was back there like a shot. Now, I know bugger all about wine apart from how to describe it like Jilly Goolden. But I know I usually loathe roses for being sickly sweet. This rose is a very light colour and in the setting sun it just glows golden. I've not noticed the nose because I neck it too fast, I'm afraid, but if it's well chilled, it's crisp and complex, like a very good dry white wine but with a little bit more richness from the grape skins. Basically, exactly as I'd like a rose to be. The only problem with it is rationing it.

Oh, and previously I've done a gushing review on here of the W5 All-in-1 Dishwasher tablets. The two wine glasses are identical - bought in the same six pack of cheap Bohemian Crystal glasses from TK-Maxx. The one on the right was dishwashed with Finish. The one on the left has only ever been dishwashed with Lidl W5 All-in-1 tablets. Need I say more?

Rowanfield Hot Cross Buns

Price: 75p

Score (out of five): 2 1/2

Review: at this time of year I do like a bit of hot cross bun with my butter, as you'll see. Hot cross buns are a funny one - I've spent a small fortune on "finest" or "extra special" ones and been mightily disappointed that they are just over-spiced and over-sweet. What I'm looking for in a hot cross bun is a light, fluffy texture, a good amount of fruit evenly spread, and a good kick of spice. When toasted they should have a nice crispy outside too.

So, how do Lidl's compare? I'm afraid not very well. They were a bit doughy and not light and fluffy enough. The spice was there, but did not have that kick that leaves you smacking your lips. And unfortunately when toasted they don't get that crispiness, they're just a bit wangy.

Cien - sensitive handwash

Price: 59p

Score (out of five): 5

Review: to say I'm brand loyal with my toiletries would be the understatement of the decade (literally). Since the age of 17 my beauty regime has consisted of Herbal Essences for Dry Hair, Sanex bodywash and Clean and Clear face scrub. I tried an own-brand shower gel once and got eczema. 

But handwash, well you don't use it very often. Again, well done Lidl - it's really good. Most importantly, it smells bloody lovely. It's marketed as sensitive, and I don't have very sensitive skin, but it is slightly sensitive. I reckon the perfume would mean this would cause very sensitive skin to flare up, but generally it's ok with me. 

And check out my first action shot on the blog!