From when I was young until 2014 when I did my first Whole30. I was a vegetarian/pescatarian. The only meat I ate was tinned tuna. This slowly faded out after I ride a TIME article explaining how the fish was going to be extinct within the next 50 years. The no-meat-thing stemmed from me being a picky eater rather that a righteous drive. I was opposed to swordfish for over-fishing reasons and veal for animal welfare perspective, but seemed to be in the minority for both.
Typical Whole30 breakfast
When I started eating meat three times a day, it was a big change. I had no idea how to cook it or how to season it. My husband has been flexitarian since we lived in USA so it caused a few problems at meal time when we wanted different things. Although I no longer follow the Whole30, I work with a nutritionist, Shannon who has me eating 100+g protein/day. As much as I love protein shakes and bars, they tend to be expensive when you have multiple servings a day and seem to be full of chemicals and/or sugar. They are handy to satisfy my sweet tooth though because of this.
Sweet tooth, say what?
My husband and I still disagree about how much meat I eat and what kind. Normally I have chicken for lunch, which I season and grill. However, this gets old quickly. I will mix it up with sustainable wild salmon, Heck sausages, and the occasional ground beef or lamb. If we eat out, I will usually get a cheeseburger (with bacon, avocado, and sweet potato fries if possible). In a recent article, the environmental impact of eating meat is highlighted. There are movements for Meat Free Monday and generally eating less meat. I no longer have meat at every meal, but I do need to hit my protein targets.
The one source of protein we agree on is chocolate milk (one of the many reasons I think we knew we were suited for each other).
When I saw a tweet offering a new protein-packed chocolate for review I immediately responded for the following reasons:
I love chocolate
I need more protein
I like to support female entrepreneurs and small businesses
I treated myself to a hot chocolate after being timekeeper at parkrun not too long ago and it was delicious. I added two scoops of the pistols to 160ml of slowly microwaved semi-skimmed milk and stirred for a while to get it to melt (I don’t think the milk was hot enough and I was being too lazy to heat properly on the stove top). I have also tried Apple Pie and Funky Monkey. My usual preference is for dark chocolate and they were all yummy. On average, 100g of dark chocolate offers 4.9 grams protein but, as shared above, 80 Noir Ultra offers more. When you add this to milk (3.6g protein per 100ml), it is a pretty powerful punch.
Simply put, I loved each and every sample I was given of 80 Ultra Noir. I haven’t been able to use it for a proper recovery drink as I have been injured for eight weeks but I will be happy to give it a go as soon as possible.
So it looks like, I need to be supplementing my protein intake with hot chocolate, dark chocolate, and chocolate milk instead of mass produced farm animals. That is one diet I can get on board with!
Thanks to Carole Armitage for the complimentary samples. All opinions are honest and my own.
As you saw from my post earlier this month, I have had a reoccurring injury with my Achilles (yup, both of them) and have tried various therapies to get better. I have seen osteopaths, physiotherapists, sports rehabilitation specialists, and doctors and all of them have had different ideas on how to get better. With these appointments, I would usually see the specialist and then come back a few weeks later to check in. It was up to me to do my homework (strengthening exercises to sort out imbalances) or rest until my next appointment. I might not see the same person at each appointment, which would make it hard to have a continuity of care.
When I heard about Restore and Reform’s (R&R) concept, their program immediately appealed to me. R&R is a medically accredited retreat offered in the UK, Portugal, and France. Founded by Michelle Lewis and Lucy Nifontova, R&R offers three or six day programs while include reformer Pilates classes, soft tissue therapy, mat Pilates classes and physiotherapy assessments. The holidays can offer treatment themes based on your needs- such as back pain, recovery, post natal, and more.
In January, I was invited to their first retreat at Fair Oak Farm, just outside London. My primary interest was sorting out my Achilles. My injury wasn’t as severe one as some of the others who were recovering from back injuries or hip replacements. Former clients were at the retreat too and gave testimonials about how their week long experience in Portugal enabled them to touch their toes or sleep without pain. I had high hopes that the weekend retreat might provide some relief for me too.
With only three days at Fair Oak Farm, I was able to fit in a 60 minute soft tissue therapy, a 60 minute assessment with Michelle, and six mat classes. R&R offer their uniquely designed Stretch and Restore mat classes, which are used to educate clients on how they can continue to care for their bodies at home. Both classes were relaxing and small. With a maximum of nine people per class, each recipient received individual attention throughout the class. We learned about foam rolling, pressure points and stretching to release tension and stiffness.
During our weekend, Lucy’s mom prepared wonderful breakfast and lunches which clients would attend around their morning classes and sessions. Dinners were catered by and included free-flowing wine and amazing cheese. It was wonderful to enjoy a delicious meal with everyone around a large farm table. The conversation never dulled and I think if the retreat has been longer, we would have had even more time to connect. The week long programs have much more free time to spend with the others or relax on your own.
Fair Oak Farm offered a variety of accommodation, with many different outbuildings. I stayed in the Cow Shed, which has a large double bed and bath. It was also close to the farm house (which is where the kitchen and dining room are) and the Barn where the classes are held. The farm was so beautiful and quiet, and even has peacocks walking around. Michelle had her physiotherapy assessments in the Beauty Bar, Abi gave her soft tissue therapy treatments in the Cinema Barn, and Lucy lead Reformer Pilates classes in the Hay Barn with the doors wide open to allow in the fresh air and sunshine.
The three day weekend program is a little intense. In order to fit everything in, you have a mat-based class just before or after breakfast, then some free time before having a Reformer class. There is a window to eat lunch before having another mat class in the afternoon. Dinner was served around 7pm. Also included in there are soft tissue therapy appointments and physiotherapy assessment. I enjoyed the down time to nap, take a hot bath, read my book, work on my blog, and explore the farm.
Meeting with Michelle on Sunday for my physiotherapy assessment, she took me through a few different physical tests to look for imbalances, weaknesses, and possible causes for my Achilles inflammation. Before the retreat, she obtained my medical records from Function360 to see what they had observed in the past and what my current treatment regime was. Michelle also had feedback from Abi who gave me soft tissue therapy on Saturday. The R&R team share their notes on each client every evening during the retreat to make sure the team is aware of any symptoms that need extra attention and/or any improvements.
Although the retreat didn’t solve my Achilles issues, I did leave feeling stronger and stretched out. Having time to relax and switch off was exactly what I needed. Michelle sent notes back to Function360 about what R&R observed during my classes and treatments, as well as recommendations on further treatments I may need to treat my Achilles. In my particular case, both R&R and Function360 agreed on my condition and future treatment plans. For previous clients, the intense treatment for a week’s time allows R&R to tailor daily treatment plans to see significant improvements. This gives attendees hope and motivation to keep working hard after the retreat.
While I am very lucky not to have an injury that impacts my life on a daily basis, many of the clients R&R treat do. On the weekend of my retreat, several surgeons and nurses who have referred their own patients to the retreat spoke about the improvements made by their patients in the retreat’s short time frame compared to care given by the NHS and private insurance. The R&R team truly care about their clients and enjoy the challenge of getting their clients well enough to not need major corrective surgery.
If you have an injury that limits your movement or ability to live pain free, I highly recommend looking into R&R as an investment in your health and well-being. It is a way to receive a second opinion on your condition, a personalized rehabilitation program, and a time away from life to focus on your own health. If you want to give the weekend retreat a try, their 12-15th April retreat at Fair Oak Farm in East Sussex is now on offer from £550.
I grew up playing in the snow during the long winters of Upstate New York and downhill skiing on the weekends. It is one of the activities I truly love, and miss most since moving in London. With my extreme travel insurance for Ultra X Jordan, winter sports were covered. There was no way I was going to miss a chance to ski this year. I was lucky enough to go skiing in both Italy and Switzerland this year and am already making plans for the next season.
Now that I work with brands, I tend to notice more what people are wearing in the lines at the lift. This year, 99% of the people I saw were wearing helmets. Bike helmets are something I feeling strongly about, and I feel the same about ski and snowboard helmets. Think about how much time, effort, and money you put into your education. Think about how lucky you are to be able to go skiing and not limited in your ability to move. Wearing a helmet won’t 100% protect you from injury or death, but it can reduce the risk of impact and/or injury should you have an accident.
James giving me his best Blue Steel while putting on Carv 700 and G540
James and I tried out the Wed’ze Carv 700 with MIPS (thanks Decathlon!) ski/snowboard helmet during our recent trip to Switzerland. He has had his previous helmet since we lived in the USA and noticed that the polystyrene lining was starting to degrade. The Wed’ze Carv 700 seems to have universal fit, as it fit me and our friend, Jamie, too. All of our heads are different shapes, but the Carv 700 has a ratchet fitting that can adjust the tightness. My helmet is a POC Bug and I have had it since 2010. Although it doesn’t show any signs of wear and tear, it has been checked as hold luggage more times than I can count. I decided it couldn’t hurt to replace my helmet as well. I soon learned there are many helmets of various pricing and styles out there! Hopefully this post will help you decide which ski helmet is best for you.
When you go to purchase a helmet, there are a few features to consider: the fit, the ventilation, how to store it, and when to replace it. Hate to say that the color is the last thing to think about. Let’s break down each point.
Fit: This is the most crucial bit for obvious reasons. I asked Adam Summerfield, the SMITH UK brand manager at UltraSport, for advice on how to find the perfect helmet. Summerfield says:
To get a good fit the first thing you will need to do is measure your head, take a soft tape measure and wrap it around your head about 1cm above your eyebrows and ears. Once you have the measurement you should fit into one of the following sizes S (51cm-55cm), M (55cm-59cm), L (59cm-63cm), XL (63cm-67cm). When choosing your helmet it should feel snug but not tight, if you feel your head is being squeezed it’s too small or if the helmet can move around freely on your head it’s too big. A lot of helmets now come with fit systems which allow you to adjust the helmet to get the perfect size.
Fit is the most important thing to consider (not color, sorry) as if the helmet doesn’t fit properly, your head will not be protected. Also check how your googles will fit on/with the helmet. You will need ventilation to prevent the googles from fogging up and, of course, it needs to be comfortable when you have them on. For example, James felt the Carv 700 pushed his goggles down his nose a little bit compared to his old helmet. His goggles, Wed’ze G540, were also new (and a different design than his old ones) so he might just need to get used to the change. The goggles didn’t fog up though, so that was a good indication that the goggles and helmet were the right fit.
How goggles attach to the back of Carv 700
Does it have MIPS (Multi-Directional Impact Protection System)? This is a feature that is now becoming more and more popular in both cycling and snow sport helmets. it works by separating the shell of the helmet and the liner by a low friction layer. In a crash, this allows the helmet to slide relative to the head reducing rotational force on the brain. The SMITH Mission and CARV 700 both have this feature.
SMITH Mission
Another safety feature to look for is RECCO(R) search and rescue compatibility if you tend to be an advanced snow sport athlete. Rescuers will send out a signal that is reflected by the sensor in the helmet, such as after an avalanche. Of course, you need to check with the resort you are visiting to see if they use a RECCO(R) compatible system. The Wed’ze Carv 700 has this feature (although thankfully we didn’t have to try it out).
Ventilation: Personally, I am always cold and even wear a thin hat under my POC helmet. However, I can removed pieces of the lining if I start to overheat (but I never have). My husband, on the other hand, is always hot and prefers his ventilation fully open. Consider how your body temperature runs and where you are likely to be skiing when you make your selection. The Salomon Sight has a unique climate control system that includes 12 vents with six adjustable zone, an EPS4D internal airflow system, and quick drying fabric to help you regulate your body temperature while enjoying time on the slopes.
Salomon Sight helmet
Ear covers: Bern makes a multi-purpose helmet that works for skiing, snowboard, cycling, skateboarding. Our friend, Jamie, has one. This is a good choice if you are limited on space to store things. However, it didn’t have any ear covers, so Jamie’s ears were cold this year at Verbier. How to store it: Summerfield recommendstrying to find somewhere dry and not in direct sunlight as the UV rays can break down the materials of a helmet over time. When travelling, try to avoid checking the helmet in the hold and instead carry the helmet with you (If you are on EasyJet, I am sure you have seen people wear their helmets on board to save checking a bag). Or you can invest in a hard case to protect your helmet when travelling or storing. When to replace it: The most obvious time would be after a crash but every three to five years is a good idea too. As James has observed, the polystyrene will start to degrade. Storing the helmet in the proper climate (as mentioned above) and carrying it onto the plane (rather than checking) will help extend the life of your helmet too.
Hopefully, these tips will give you a few things to look out for the next time you have to invest in a snow sport helmet. Leave a comment below and let me know what make and model you have and why you choose it.
Thanks to Decathlon for the gifted Carv 700 ski helmet and G540 goggles. All opinions are honest and our own.
I grew up playing in the snow during the long winters of Upstate New York and downhill skiing on the weekends. It is one of the activities I truly love, and miss most since moving in London. With my extreme travel insurance for Ultra X Jordan, winter sports were covered. There was no way I was going to miss a chance to ski this year. I was lucky enough to go skiing in both Italy and Switzerland this year and am already making plans for the next season.
Now that I work with brands, I tend to notice more what people are wearing in the lines at the lift. This year, 99% of the people I saw were wearing helmets. Bike helmets are something I feeling strongly about, and I feel the same about ski and snowboard helmets. Think about how much time, effort, and money you put into your education. Think about how lucky you are to be able to go skiing and not limited in your ability to move. Wearing a helmet won’t 100% protect you from injury or death, but it can reduce the risk of impact and/or injury should you have an accident.
James giving me his best Blue Steel while putting on Carv 700 and G540
James and I tried out the Wed’ze Carv 700 with MIPS (thanks Decathlon!) ski/snowboard helmet during our recent trip to Switzerland. He has had his previous helmet since we lived in the USA and noticed that the polystyrene lining was starting to degrade. The Wed’ze Carv 700 seems to have universal fit, as it fit me and our friend, Jamie, too. All of our heads are different shapes, but the Carv 700 has a ratchet fitting that can adjust the tightness. My helmet is a POC Bug and I have had it since 2010. Although it doesn’t show any signs of wear and tear, it has been checked as hold luggage more times than I can count. I decided it couldn’t hurt to replace my helmet as well. I soon learned there are many helmets of various pricing and styles out there! Hopefully this post will help you decide which ski helmet is best for you.
When you go to purchase a helmet, there are a few features to consider: the fit, the ventilation, how to store it, and when to replace it. Hate to say that the color is the last thing to think about. Let’s break down each point.
Fit: This is the most crucial bit for obvious reasons. I asked Adam Summerfield, the SMITH UK brand manager at UltraSport, for advice on how to find the perfect helmet. Summerfield says:
To get a good fit the first thing you will need to do is measure your head, take a soft tape measure and wrap it around your head about 1cm above your eyebrows and ears. Once you have the measurement you should fit into one of the following sizes S (51cm-55cm), M (55cm-59cm), L (59cm-63cm), XL (63cm-67cm). When choosing your helmet it should feel snug but not tight, if you feel your head is being squeezed it’s too small or if the helmet can move around freely on your head it’s too big. A lot of helmets now come with fit systems which allow you to adjust the helmet to get the perfect size.
Fit is the most important thing to consider (not color, sorry) as if the helmet doesn’t fit properly, your head will not be protected. Also check how your googles will fit on/with the helmet. You will need ventilation to prevent the googles from fogging up and, of course, it needs to be comfortable when you have them on. For example, James felt the Carv 700 pushed his goggles down his nose a little bit compared to his old helmet. His goggles, Wed’ze G540, were also new (and a different design than his old ones) so he might just need to get used to the change. The goggles didn’t fog up though, so that was a good indication that the goggles and helmet were the right fit.
How goggles attach to the back of Carv 700
Does it have MIPS (Multi-Directional Impact Protection System)? This is a feature that is now becoming more and more popular in both cycling and snow sport helmets. it works by separating the shell of the helmet and the liner by a low friction layer. In a crash, this allows the helmet to slide relative to the head reducing rotational force on the brain. The SMITH Mission and CARV 700 both have this feature.
SMITH Mission
Another safety feature to look for is RECCO(R) search and rescue compatibility if you tend to be an advanced snow sport athlete. Rescuers will send out a signal that is reflected by the sensor in the helmet, such as after an avalanche. Of course, you need to check with the resort you are visiting to see if they use a RECCO(R) compatible system. The Wed’ze Carv 700 has this feature (although thankfully we didn’t have to try it out).
Ventilation: Personally, I am always cold and even wear a thin hat under my POC helmet. However, I can removed pieces of the lining if I start to overheat (but I never have). My husband, on the other hand, is always hot and prefers his ventilation fully open. Consider how your body temperature runs and where you are likely to be skiing when you make your selection. The Salomon Sight has a unique climate control system that includes 12 vents with six adjustable zone, an EPS4D internal airflow system, and quick drying fabric to help you regulate your body temperature while enjoying time on the slopes.
Salomon Sight helmet
Ear covers: Bern makes a multi-purpose helmet that works for skiing, snowboard, cycling, skateboarding. Our friend, Jamie, has one. This is a good choice if you are limited on space to store things. However, it didn’t have any ear covers, so Jamie’s ears were cold this year at Verbier. How to store it: Summerfield recommendstrying to find somewhere dry and not in direct sunlight as the UV rays can break down the materials of a helmet over time. When travelling, try to avoid checking the helmet in the hold and instead carry the helmet with you (If you are on EasyJet, I am sure you have seen people wear their helmets on board to save checking a bag). Or you can invest in a hard case to protect your helmet when travelling or storing. When to replace it: The most obvious time would be after a crash but every three to five years is a good idea too. As James has observed, the polystyrene will start to degrade. Storing the helmet in the proper climate (as mentioned above) and carrying it onto the plane (rather than checking) will help extend the life of your helmet too.
Hopefully, these tips will give you a few things to look out for the next time you have to invest in a snow sport helmet. Leave a comment below and let me know what make and model you have and why you choose it.
Thanks to Decathlon for the gifted Carv 700 ski helmet and G540 goggles. All opinions are honest and our own.
Saving the Earth was a big concern of mine growing up. I wanted to recycle everything and always turned the lights off. ’50 Simple Things You Can Do To Save the Earth’ was a favourite book of mine. Much to my mother’s dismay, I even brought backing recycling from my university to home (a 6 hour drive away. I also brought a lot of laundry).
Reducing my impact on earth and it’s resources has continued to be important thread in my life. I have carried a reusable water bottle since uni and try to cycle or carpool when I can. Living with a Brit, I even got in the habit of hanging our laundry out to dry in the summer time in Michigan (we have no choice now as very few people in the UK have a dryer).
When I saw the opportunity to review the Wonderbag,I was intrigued. Firstly, because it can heat the pot for up to eight hours without electricity and secondly because it helps to empower women in third world countries. I was pretty much sold on both of those factors but want d to try it out myself.
Wonderbag in action
The Wonderbag was developed by Sarah Collins with inspiration from her childhood in South Africa. Frequent blackouts meant her family would use couch cushions to keep meals warm. Years later, Collins invented the Wonderbag. Its foam stuffing allows food brought on a boil by conventional means to continue to cook for for up to 12 hours. The impact of this means women spend less time foraging for firewood and less time cooking over open flames. The smoke from these flames can be toxic and severely impact their heath.
We don’t have room for a slow cooker (or “Crock Pot” as we call it in the USA) because we have a small flat. My husband loves to cook anything that requires only one pot, so he is missing out on a lot of cooking opportunities. We have a few batch cooking staples, such as veggie chili and a chicken dish from Well Fed 2. I figured since I was trying out the Wonderbag, I might as well try out a new recipe and share it with out with you.
Not sure this is going to fit.
After looking on the internet for inspiration, I decided on a slow cooked pork with Italian seasoning. We don’t really eat ham or pork and thought it would be a nice change from chicken. I bought the smallest pork roast I could find at the shop and got to work.
Seasoning and garlic. This will be yummy!
I made three mistakes when preparing this meal. First, my pork roast was too big for the pot, which meant the lid did not seal all the way. This affected how long the food needed to cook for on the stove top and how involved I needed to be. Second, the only pot that the roast fit in and itself fit in the Wonderbag had a handle on it. This will affect the efficiency the Wonderbag insulation has. I firmly believe that these two errors impacted my cooking experience.
To prepare the pork, I dried it off with a paper towel and then tried to slice the top in several places to create pockets for sliced garlic. My roast was about two kilos and I used three large garlic cloves.
Roast prepped with seasoning
My seasoning was one teaspoon of dried basil, oregano and thyme mixed with half teaspoon salt and half teaspoon pepper. I mixed this combo in a small bowl and then rubbed all over the pork. You can use any seasoning combination you like to create flavour you will enjoy.
Lid ajar means the cooking is less efficient.
Once seasoned, I put the entire roast into a saucepan with lid and cooked for 20 minutes on medium heat. As I saw the lid was slightly ajar, I decided to cook it for another 20 minutes. The Wonderbag recommends having a meat thermometer handy to see if meat is heated through. This was my third mistake because we don’t have one.
Tea towels lining the Wonderbag
After 40 minutes on the stove top, I put the pot in the Wonderbag, which I had lined with a few towels to avoid the inside of the bag from melting. I weighed the lid down with a kilo of salt to hopefully keep the heat in. Then I took the dog out for a walk. Two hours later, I checked the pot and it was still warm so I left it for another hour. After that, I took the meat out and cut it down the middle with a bread knife. The inside was still a bit pink (again, no meat thermometer), so I returned the roast to the pot and cooked for another 20 minutes, holding the lid down for the last ten minutes (the lid still wouldn’t close).
Nearly cooked all the way through.
By this point, the inside looked cooked, so I sliced myself a piece and left the rest in the pot with lid on and heat source off. Once I finished my dinner (it was super yummy!), I carved up the rest. Half went into the fridge and half into the freezer. I decanted the juice from the pot into a small Tupperware to use as gravy. There wasn’t much though. My husband used it all for one serving (I didn’t mind as I am not a fan of gravy). If you like gravy, you might want to make some additional gravy.
It was delicious!
A week later, we defrosted the frozen pieces. They looked pink when frozen but were grey by the time they were room temperature. Overall I am pleased with how my experiment went given I was missing several keys items (a pot without handle and a meat thermometer). I am definitely going to get a proper pot for using the Wonderbag but am not sure if a meat thermometer will get much use. The Wonderbag will be perfect for making chili and stews this winter, and maybe even mulled for long winter walks and when we host a big dinner party (when we get a bigger flat).
If you have any ideas on what we should cook with the Wonderbag next, please let me know in the comments below.
Served with a side of sweet potato.
Thanks to Wonderbag for the complimentary bag to put to the test. All opinions are honest and my own. Please note that this post includes affiliate links which cost the buyer nothing additional but help support the running of this site..
Saving the Earth was a big concern of mine growing up. I wanted to recycle everything and always turned the lights off. ’50 Simple Things You Can Do To Save the Earth’ was a favourite book of mine. Much to my mother’s dismay, I even brought backing recycling from my university to home (a 6 hour drive away. I also brought a lot of laundry).
Reducing my impact on earth and it’s resources has continued to be important thread in my life. I have carried a reusable water bottle since uni and try to cycle or carpool when I can. Living with a Brit, I even got in the habit of hanging our laundry out to dry in the summer time in Michigan (we have no choice now as very few people in the UK have a dryer).
When I saw the opportunity to review the Wonderbag,I was intrigued. Firstly, because it can heat the pot for up to eight hours without electricity and secondly because it helps to empower women in third world countries. I was pretty much sold on both of those factors but want d to try it out myself.
Wonderbag in action
The Wonderbag was developed by Sarah Collins with inspiration from her childhood in South Africa. Frequent blackouts meant her family would use couch cushions to keep meals warm. Years later, Collins invented the Wonderbag. Its foam stuffing allows food brought on a boil by conventional means to continue to cook for for up to 12 hours. The impact of this means women spend less time foraging for firewood and less time cooking over open flames. The smoke from these flames can be toxic and severely impact their heath.
We don’t have room for a slow cooker (or “Crock Pot” as we call it in the USA) because we have a small flat. My husband loves to cook anything that requires only one pot, so he is missing out on a lot of cooking opportunities. We have a few batch cooking staples, such as veggie chili and a chicken dish from Well Fed 2. I figured since I was trying out the Wonderbag, I might as well try out a new recipe and share it with out with you.
Not sure this is going to fit.
After looking on the internet for inspiration, I decided on a slow cooked pork with Italian seasoning. We don’t really eat ham or pork and thought it would be a nice change from chicken. I bought the smallest pork roast I could find at the shop and got to work.
Seasoning and garlic. This will be yummy!
I made three mistakes when preparing this meal. First, my pork roast was too big for the pot, which meant the lid did not seal all the way. This affected how long the food needed to cook for on the stove top and how involved I needed to be. Second, the only pot that the roast fit in and itself fit in the Wonderbag had a handle on it. This will affect the efficiency the Wonderbag insulation has. I firmly believe that these two errors impacted my cooking experience.
To prepare the pork, I dried it off with a paper towel and then tried to slice the top in several places to create pockets for sliced garlic. My roast was about two kilos and I used three large garlic cloves.
Roast prepped with seasoning
My seasoning was one teaspoon of dried basil, oregano and thyme mixed with half teaspoon salt and half teaspoon pepper. I mixed this combo in a small bowl and then rubbed all over the pork. You can use any seasoning combination you like to create flavour you will enjoy.
Lid ajar means the cooking is less efficient.
Once seasoned, I put the entire roast into a saucepan with lid and cooked for 20 minutes on medium heat. As I saw the lid was slightly ajar, I decided to cook it for another 20 minutes. The Wonderbag recommends having a meat thermometer handy to see if meat is heated through. This was my third mistake because we don’t have one.
Tea towels lining the Wonderbag
After 40 minutes on the stove top, I put the pot in the Wonderbag, which I had lined with a few towels to avoid the inside of the bag from melting. I weighed the lid down with a kilo of salt to hopefully keep the heat in. Then I took the dog out for a walk. Two hours later, I checked the pot and it was still warm so I left it for another hour. After that, I took the meat out and cut it down the middle with a bread knife. The inside was still a bit pink (again, no meat thermometer), so I returned the roast to the pot and cooked for another 20 minutes, holding the lid down for the last ten minutes (the lid still wouldn’t close).
Nearly cooked all the way through.
By this point, the inside looked cooked, so I sliced myself a piece and left the rest in the pot with lid on and heat source off. Once I finished my dinner (it was super yummy!), I carved up the rest. Half went into the fridge and half into the freezer. I decanted the juice from the pot into a small Tupperware to use as gravy. There wasn’t much though. My husband used it all for one serving (I didn’t mind as I am not a fan of gravy). If you like gravy, you might want to make some additional gravy.
It was delicious!
A week later, we defrosted the frozen pieces. They looked pink when frozen but were grey by the time they were room temperature. Overall I am pleased with how my experiment went given I was missing several keys items (a pot without handle and a meat thermometer). I am definitely going to get a proper pot for using the Wonderbag but am not sure if a meat thermometer will get much use. The Wonderbag will be perfect for making chili and stews this winter, and maybe even mulled for long winter walks and when we host a big dinner party (when we get a bigger flat).
If you have any ideas on what we should cook with the Wonderbag next, please let me know in the comments below.
Served with a side of sweet potato.
Thanks to Wonderbag for the complimentary bag to put to the test. All opinions are honest and my own. Please note that this post includes affiliate links which cost the buyer nothing additional but help support the running of this site..
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