Marmite Crumpets

The inspiration for this recipe came from my love of Marmite on crumpets. The recipe from The Hairy Bikers has been adapted to incorporate the delicious spread I know and love so much. So here we have them, home-made Marmite flavoured crumpets. Come on Warburtons & Marmite, let’s get these on the supermarket shelves and quickly!

Ingredients

• 350ml of whole milk
• 6 tsp of Marmite
• 225g strong white flour
• 125g plain flour
• 1tsp caster sugar
• 1 level tsp of bicarbonate of soda
• 150ml warm water
• 7g packet of fast action yeast
• butter for greasing

Warm the milk very gently until tepid. Sift both the flours into a large bowl and stir in the yeast, salt and sugar until all are well combined. Make a small well in the middle of the flour mixture and stir in the warm milk. Beat with a wooden spoon for 3 or 4 minutes until thick and elastic. Cover with cling film and set aside in a warm place for about an hour or until the mixture has doubled in size.

When the batter mix has risen, mix the bicarbonate of soda with the warm water and yes the magic ingredient (the Marmite) in a separate jug. Once mixed, add to the batter mix and beat together for a couple of minutes. Set this mixture aside for around 30 minutes or until covered in tiny bubbles.

Heat a heavy based frying pan and butter the inside of crumpet rings. Spoon in around three tablespoons of mixture or about 1cm in depth. Cook for 9 to 12 minutes or until lots of bubbles have broken the surface. Remove from the rings, turn over and cook on the other side till brown and golden.

Eat while still warm or toast after they have cooled and enjoy with lashings of butter and Marmite* (*for serious Marmite lovers only)

Marmite Crunchy Nut Chocolate

This recipe was inspired by Nigella Lawson, a great favorite of mine. While I was watching her create her Sweet and Salty Crunch Nut bars, the Marmite gene deep within was creating the next step in the Marmite chocolate evolution. Thanks to Nigella’s inspiration we now have Marmite Spaghetti and now that inspiration has led me to create the Marmite Crunchy Nut Chocolate.

So here we have it, so simple but yet so tasty.

Ingredients

• Marmite
• 200gm milk chocolate
• 100gm dark chocolate
• 1 pkt Marmite Cashews
• 3 Crunchie bars
• 125gm unsalted butter

Break up the chocolate into chunks and heat gently in a pan. As the chocolate is melting, add the butter and 2 heaped teaspoons of Marmite. Keep stirring until you have a smooth lump-free mix. Chop the Crunchies into small chunks. Then add them to the chocolate mix along with the Marmite cashews. Stir until mixed and coated. Remove from the heat, spread into a foil container at a thickness of around 1cm and place in the fridge for about 3 hours until set. Finally, remove from the fridge ,chop into chunks and  indulge.

Very Peculiar? Marmite Chocolate

Having searched everywhere for Marmite chocolate last week, imagine my utter glee as yesterday morning I entered Robert Dyas in Brighton and there it was, in its sleek dark packaging, the familiar Marmite logo leaping of the packet drawing any true marmiteer towards it.

I hastily purchased two bars, and left the shop, thanking Mr Robert Dyas wherever he was. I was alone at the time  while waiting for my girlfriend who was having her hair cut, but I had to tell someone. I texted her the wonderful news and she replied with her usual enthusiasm (she has over the last couple of years embraced and encouraged my Marmite passion, not easy when living with an addict). She has become my chief taste tester so I needed her with me.

I walked around and decided a coffee was in order. I then stared longingly at the packet, reading the lable ‘Very Peculiar Milk chocolate, with a hint of Marmite indulgence. A Perplexing treat that bewilders the tastebuds’. Could all this be true of a chocolate bar? I love chocolate and, of course, I love Marmite but could this be a marriage of flavours to send me to heaven?

I left the coffee shop and collected my chief taster, even remembering in all the euphoria to tell her how nice her hair looked ( how good am I ).

We settled down and I opened the packet slowly to reveal the inner yellow wrapper. I smelt the chocolate, it had a hint of something different… We were at my dads house (he could easily be TheMarmitemansdad although he is not yet on Twitter). We all tried it, even my son who… does not like Marmite (Yes I Failed) and here’s my verdict.

To me its not got enough Marmite. If this was in a plain packaging I would doubt that anyone, even the most dedicated Marmite fanatics, would be able to say ‘that’s got Marmite in it‘. It just tastes like a slightly bitter tasting milk chocolate. Somewhere between that and dark chocolate. I have to say, I was slightly disappointed. It’s not very peculiar.

Having said that, the chocolate is nice. I have eaten the whole bar for research purposes, and you do get a taste left in your mouth for a few minutes after but it’s not Marmite as we know it.

I think they should revise it and add liquid centre of Marmite and then be true to the word Very Peculiar.

If you like Marmite and you eat chocolate, then you will eat this. If you don’t like Marmite and you eat chocolate, you will eat this. If you don’t like Marmite, you won’t buy this anyway so why not make it Marmitey enough to satisfy the true Marmiteer. It does not have to appeal to everyone.

This is my opinion and after so many years of spreading the spread so thick my taste buds have probably been Marmitezed, so I would appreciate your oppinions. Go out, buy it, try it and share with all of us what you think

M&S Wrap

Soft floured wrap, lashings of creamy dreamy salad cream. The finest matured cheddar cheese grated to perfection and delicately sprinkled into place. Crisp and succulent cos lettuce, crushed black pepper with a sprinkling of Mediterranean sea salt, all blended together in a dark brown spread packed full of mouth tingling flavours.

This is not just any wrap. It’s an M & S Wrap.

Marmite & Salad Cream wraps, tasties!

Marmite Product Review

I was sitting here thinking about all the Marmite products I have had the pleasure of trying over the years and decided to compile a list with my thoughts and views of these. I’m sure there are many more out there that I have not tried.

Marmite Original

The original spread I never grew out of from the first time I remember eating Marmite toasted soldiers to now on my crumpets or toast. Also spread thickly in sandwiches with cheddar cheese and salad cream or with blue cheese, lettuce, cucumber and salad cream, it makes my mouth water just thinking about it.

Marmite Squeezy

This should be the ideal answer ’squeeze straight on to the bread and spread’ but I don’t think it tastes the same. Having looked into this it is meant to be the same formula, just thinner. I’m not convinced you save anything as, after a while, you need to be a body builder to squeeze the last bit out so you end up taking the lid off and scraping out with a knife. So, in my opinion, stick to the glass jar. The original is best.

Marmite XO

The brand new contender from the dark side. Stronger in flavour, matured for longer and designed to give the hardened Marmite fanatics something else to get those taste buds jumping after continual abuse from the original. If you are like me I spread the original so thick the XO can only take me to a new level never achievable before. Thank you Marmite .

Marmite Cashews

An absolute taste sensation if you have not tried these. Be warned: once opened, never closed.

Marmite Cereal Bars

Well, what can I say about these? As you can see, I am a true Marmiteer but I have to say these are wrong. I have never tasted anything like these. Please let me know if you agree or disagree. It’s the first time with a Marmite product I have to say I don’t love it.

Marmite Bread Sticks

Well, to me they are ok. Not my most favourite of products but more than acceptable.

Cheddar Cheeses

One of my favourite products but, as you can see form my blog, I have a Marmite and cheese fetish so this is quite understandable. Never managed to get them out of the fridge and as far as a sandwich yet. Just eat them neat. I am really trying to stop this habit. When I do, I will let you know.

This is just a brief insight to my feelings on the above Marmite products. As I said before, I am sure there are many more. If you would like to share your thoughts on any of the above or any important ones I have missed, I would love to hear from you.