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Sweet treats that will break any dieter's resolve, fish that you buy with sauces and dressings, a cookery competition for kids, fashion-conscious water and a non-alcoholic drink made from Cabernet Sauvignon that's every bit as enjoyable as it's alcoholic cousins. By Delia Online editor Jo Hill.

Olives from Filippo Berio
Filippo Berio is well known for the quality of its olive oil, so it seems a natural progression to launch a range of olives: Queen Olives, Pimento-stuffed Olives, Mixed Whole Olives, Garlic-stuffed Olives, Feta-stuffed Olives and Sun-Dried Tomato-stuffed Olives, all preserved in olive oil (much gentler than salty brine!). Olives are a great ingredient for summer and these would go down brilliantly with pre-dinner drinks or salads... these are lovely, plump olives with plenty of fresh flavour, especially the Garlic Stuffed Olives, which vanished in record time! £2.79 from Sainsburys.

Whoopee pies?
Apparently these gorgeous little morsels are very Sex & The City. Whatever the inspiration, they are totally scrumptious and quite addictive: moist vanilla sponge sandwiching chocolate cream, or vice versa; £1.99. M&S has also launched a range of biscuits that will wow chocolate fans: Milk Chocolate & Caramel Layered Cookie, for example, is comprised of a crisp cookie base, topped with smooth caramel, added crispy bits, smothered in milk chocolate and with milk, dark and white crispy bits sprinkled on top. Seriously good – and probably seriously calorific but we all need a treat! £1.99 for four.

Bean there, done that...
I wasn’t excited by the idea of green bean chutney, believing it could be quite stringy. Of course, as it’s from Tracklements I should have known better: for 40 years this Wiltshire company has been making chutneys, pickles and other condiments in small batches as you would at home, giving a very authentic, home-made feel. The green bean chutney is a delight with cold meats and cheeses: quite crunchy in texture, it combines the sweetness of beans with mustard and a touch of chilli. £2.50 for 240g from tracklements.co.uk

The next best thing to alcohol...
When everyone else is downing the rosé at a rate of knots, it can be hard on drivers, pregnant women or those who don’t drink. No longer. Maggie Beer non-alcoholic Sparkling Ruby Cabernet is a refreshing, carbonated Cabernet Sauvignon grape juice drink that has all the body, flavour and appearance of wine without the alcohol. When I tried it with a group of friends we did have to check the label as it was exactly like wine. An excellent alternative; from £9 at John Lewis Food Halls, independent shops and online at www.cecipaolo.com and www.mistergees.co.uk

In the red
Raspberries have to be one of the very best things about summer – juicy, tart and with an intriguing softness. Crush some into cream and serve with meringues, use them to fill a sponge cake, serve them with anything made from chocolate or make a sharp red coulis to drizzle over fruit and desserts. Find out more about these lovely fruits and see more recipe ideas at seasonalberries.co.uk

Naturally good muesli
I am a bit fickle when it comes to muesli, as some of it is a little too much like the stuff we used to feed our rabbits. The new Toasted Mueslis from Eat Natural are definitely mueslis for grown ups though: all the premium-quality nuts, seeds and cereals are roasted to maximise flavour, toastiness and texture. The range is interestingly different and includes such ingredients as buckwheat, rye seeds and linseeds. I loved the vine fruit version which packs in sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, linseeds, almonds and honey, with vine fruits too. £2.99 from Waitrose.

Nut-free birthday cakes
With one in every 55 children suffering from a nut allergy, it’s good news to learn about the Just Love Food Company. For many years, founder Mike Woods struggled to find birthday cakes on the market suitable for his two children who suffer from nut allergies, so decided to launch his own ‘nut safe’ birthday cake. The cake we tried had an attractive design and the sponge was light and had a good flavour: all in all a brilliant solution to an ever-increasing situation. Just Love Food Cakes are available from Sainsbury’s, £7.99.

A brilliant idea for fish lovers!
Some people are still wary of cooking fish, or don't know what to serve it with, so I was delighted to try the new range from The Saucy Fish Co. A very clever idea: the fish - sea bass fillets, salmon fillets, smoked haddock, prawns etc - comes in a pack with an accompanying sachet of Sunblush dressing or watercress sauce (salmon), beurre blanc and dill sauce (sea bass fillets). King prawns in roasted garlic and herb sauce or in a lime and coriander sauce with a hint of chilli are in sealed foil bake bags so you cook fish and sauce/dressing at the same time for a quick, effortless meal. You can also buy their fresh sauces separately: teriyaki, sauce for fish pie, hollandaise etc. One of my very favourite products of the year so far... £4 per pack (serves 2); £1.29 for sauces at Tesco; visit www.thesaucyfishco.com

Kelly’s ice cream
As Cornish as pixies, fairings and clotted cream, Kellys of Cornwall ice cream is wonderfully creamy, with all the milk used to make it coming from herds within 30 miles of the creamery. It’s also reminiscent of the very best Italian ice cream, which is no surprise given that the company’s founder came to England from Italy several generations ago to establish his family business. The really good news is that this Cornish treat is not confined to the area West of the Tamar – it’s now available nationwide in supermarkets. Find out more
 
Conscious food
Sometimes ethical can mean worthy, but Conscious Foods’ Power Snacks are a joy to enjoy: artisan Indian snacks made to traditional recipes, including Ginger Crunch (beware – highly addictive!) tasty bites of toasted amaranth, sesame, coconut and ginger; Digestive Mix, a heady swirl of herbs, seeds and spices to aid digestion, soothe your system and freshen your breath; and Mumbai Masala Munch, a type of Bombay Mix with baked chickpea sticks, puffed brown rice and millet, all gluten, yeast, wheat and dairy free, suitable for vegans, and support smallholdings in India. £1.99 each from Selfridges, Planet Organic, Revital or consciousfood.co.uk

Sweet treats
Irish cake makers Barry and Bernard Broderick have now brought their tasty wares to the UK, for which we should be very grateful. All hand-made from bona fide Irish butter and Belgian chocolate, the scrumptious range includes Handmade Rocky Road, Chocolate Brownies, Handmade Chocolate Cranberry Nut Bar and my favourite, Handmade Belgian Chocolate Caramel Nut Bar (or Belgy Nicker Nutty Drippy Drop, apparently). Bars are £1.30 each from www.brodericksbrothers.com (min 6 per order, with £3 p&p) and, from August, you can find them in 200 branches of WH Smith.

Something different: skate cheeks
As well as skate wings, Donald Russell is now supplying skate cheeks – fished in Scottish waters and a delicacy in Spain, where they are marinated in oil and lemon juice. Here they are more classically poached then served with brown butter sprinkled with chives and capers, or you can oven-bake or shallow-fry them. Supplied shock frozen, which seals in the freshness and flavour. You can buy two packs of skate cheeks, bone-in (7-11 pieces per pack) for £8.90 from www.donaldrussell.co.uk

Italian flair... in a bottle!
Italy’s iconic brand S. Pellegrino – sourced and bottled in the Italian pre-Alps, and the water of choice in top restaurants around the world - has partnered with world-famous Italian fashion house Missoni to design a breathtaking limited-edition bottle. Exclusive to Selfridges stores nationwide from 1 July 2010, the bottle shows one of Missoni’s iconic zigzag designs. A snip at just 99p per bottle.

Mmmake it with mince!
This year's Red Tractor Make it with Mince Challenge encourages kids from the ages of 11-15 to get into the kitchen and get cooking. To enter, register free here in the 'Student's Zone'. You can also contact the team directly with any questions on 020 7861 3858 (9am-5pm). The national winner (here’s last year’s winner, Shaefn) gets to enjoy a day in London with celebrity Chef James Martin and a behind-the-scenes trip to Saturday Kitchen, plus the chance to experience cooking in a top London restaurant. Regional winners receive vouchers for equipment for their school and the first prize winner also gets an iTouch.

And finally...
Not surprisingly, Bear – the 100% natural healthy snack brand – has reacted angrily to the news that the Government is withdrawing funding from some of its healthy eating schemes such as change 4 life and giving power to food giants such as Mars, Coca-Cola and Cadbury’s in the fight against obesity. You can sign a petition against this here 

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