Sampling Party - Bob's Red Mill Flour

Bob’s Red Mill Natural Foods is a miller of stone-ground whole grains and a leader in nutritious, organic and gluten-free foods. Their mission to promote “whole grains for every meal of the day” is backed by a diverse line featuring over 400 products including whole grains, flours, cereals, baking mixes, beans, seeds and more. Bob’s Red Mill is based in Milwaukie, Oregon and is proud to be an employee-owned company.

Just the facts 

• Bob’s Red Mill Organic All-Purpose Flour is unbleached and unbromated white flour that is milled from premium wheat grown right here in the United States. I had my sampling party tonight and had these lovely ladies, their spouses and children, as well as my own over for a night of great food and great company. We had a nice dinner followed by lovely desserts made with Bob's Red Mill Flour. 

• A favorite among professional bakers, this versatile flour is great for baking bread, cookies, cakes, muffins, quick breads, pie crusts, pizza crusts, and more. 

• Bob’s Red Mill Organic All-Purpose Flour is Certified Organic, non-GMO, and does not contain any fillers, additives, or preservatives. 

• The retail price for Bob’s Red Mill Organic All-Purpose Flour is $4.49 for a 3lb package.

I made carrot cake muffins (recipe found HERE)  with cream cheese frosting AND peach pound cake. Both were Eastery and delicious!!!! I decided to buy some Gluten Free 1:1 flour since several guests were on a restricted diet. The carrot cake muffins were moist and I couldn't tell they were missing gluten, but the pound cake was denser then usual (as I've made this recipe a handful of times before with regular flour) and not as enjoyable. 

In the past month I've made sugar cookies and had my son and his friends decorate them for Easter. As you can see from the collage photos before, they had a blast! I've made fresh baked bread in the bread maker (for those of you who don't own a break maker, you are missing out!) and chocolate chip cookies that were to die for (my weakness fyi). I am so grateful to Bob's Red Mill for sending out samples and for giving me many excuses to bake and share my creations with my friends and family. I plan to do much more in the near future!!!

Although I received samples of this product, all opinions expressed are 100% my own!

GIVEAWAY: Rachael Ray Nutrish for Cats & Recipes for Humans too

I participated in an Influencer Activation Program on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Nutrish for Cats. I received a sample of Nutrish for Cats to facilitate this review and a promotional item to thank me for participating.

As cat owners, our furry friends hold a very special place in our hearts. Growing up our family cat would greet me at the door, and follow on my heels until I scooped him up and gave him my undivided attention. Now that I'm grown and married, I have two cats who are family, and while they don't both run to greet me when I get home, this little love bug certainly does. She knew what time I got home every day and waited anxiously by the door. My husband thought it was hilarious, but I call that love! And like any member of the family I want to make sure they get the best of what I can offer, and that includes their food.

Rachael Ray Nutrish for Cats makes cat nutrition a priority, just like I try to make nutrition a priority for my family, including my furbabies. Real meat like chicken or fish is the #1 ingredient in this line.  I know I don't like eating processed meats, so why would our pets? Instead of consisting of fillers and artificial flavors, the number one ingredient in Nutrish for Cats is real meat, followed by wholesome veggies. I love that this line is inspired by recipes from Rachael Ray’s kitchen. Rachael Ray is so entertaining; I just love her show! Nutrish for Cats is available in wet and dry formulas, including Ocean Fish-alicious, Chicken Purrcata, and Lip Smackin’ Sardine & Mackerel.  Look for these wholesome recipes where you currently shop for your family's groceries.

Chicken and Salmon are two staples in our diet. We probably eat each at least once a week, and usually give the cats a little taste of the salmon because they love it so. One of my favorite easy salmon recipes is maple salmon (Recipes at the bottom) and one of my newer favorite chicken recipes is flaky crust pot pie with belchamel sauce from scratch. It's a lot of work, but oh so good!

Maple Salmon Recipe: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/maple-salmon/

Pot Pie Recipe: http://www.comfycook.com/2011/09/greek-phyllo-chicken-bundles-kotopita.html

As you can see from the image below, our cats LOVED the Rachael Ray Nutrish wet food.

If you would like to try it, head on over to this link to find some Nutrish coupons.

If you want to know where you purchase Nutrish try this link. 

For more general information, or to follow Nutrish, visit these links:
Nutrish Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/nutrish
Nutrish Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/nutrish
Nutrish Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/nutrishforcats

WIN IT: One reader will win samples of Rachael Ray Nutrish for Cats

HOW TO ENTER:

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GIVEAWAY - Chick-Fil-A Grilled Sandwiches!!!

Chick-fil-A® is introducing a new lineup of grilled chicken entrees that will give the chain one of the most nutritious and expansive grilled menus across the quick-service industry. On April 14, the Atlanta-based restaurant chain officially rolled-out three new entrees – the Chick-fil-A® Grilled Chicken Sandwich, Chick-fil-A® Grilled Chicken Club Sandwich and Chick-fil-A® Grilled Nuggets – in an ongoing effort to provide more flavorful and “craveable” grilled options for its nutrition-minded customers.

NOW YOU HAVE A CHANCE TO TRY THEM FOR YOURSELF!!!

WIN IT: 3 readers will each win 3 digital offer cards, good for a grilled sandwich for the month of June and July (May's offer already expired on card)

HOW TO ENTER:&a Rafflecopter giveaway

Dietz & Watson Uncured Ham

A premium, boneless, All Natural Classic Dinner Ham. This delicacy is uncured, prepared with Sea Salt and features a totally delicious off-the-bone ham flavor that makes a simple dinner a banquet. It is horizontally sliced and features a great slight smoked flavor, and the size is perfect for today’s busy household.

We recently had a chance to try this new product by Dietz & Watson. It's Gluten-Free, Soy-Free, MSG-free and Dairy Free. This means that everyone I know and love can enjoy this meat, so I decided to experiment with recipes. My favorite recipes was a breakfast casserole, which combined hash browns, eggs, cheese, ham and onions. I liked a baking dish with hash browns and melted butter and baked this "crust" for 20 minutes at 425, then I mixed eggs, milk (or heavy cream), cheddar cheese, salt, pepper, dried onions, and cubed ham and poured it into the baking dish and popped it back in the oven for another 25-35 minutes until cooked through. It was tasty!

I really enjoyed this ham. While most hams are salty, this one was fairly mild as far as the sodium taste goes. It had a rich flavor without the added preservative of msg.  All in all, great product! Many thanks to Dietz & Watson for allowing me to do this review.

An Alternate to Wheat - KAMUT!

KAMUT® wheat is recognized by health professionals as a great source of nutrition, containing higher amounts of protein and minerals than modern wheat. It is also known as a "high energy wheat" due to its high percentage of lipids; and it's easy to digest.

Organically grown and with a nutty, buttery flavor, KAMUT® wheat is highly versatile and its natural sweetness makes it ideal for a variety of dishes including cereals, cakes, pastry and bread as well as savory side dishes, stuffing and burgers.

I was really excited about trying this as the package said it's a great alternative for people with wheat allergies, however was sad to find out this is not a gluten-free product.  So yes, it's something you can use instead of wheat if you wish to try a different flavor or texture, but not acceptable for people with Celiac's.

Here is a vegan recipe to try and it sound delicious!

The Ultimate Vegan Oatmeal Raisin Cookie

Inspired by Salt Kissed Chunky PB Chocolate Chip Cookies & Vegetarian Times.

Ingredients:

• 1 & 3/4 cups walnuts, toasted
• 2 cups regular oats, divided
• 3/4 cup white Kamut flour (other flours probably work!)
• 1/2 cup Sucanat (or brown sugar)
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
• 2 tbsp almond milk
• 3.5 tbsp coconut oil
• 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 2/3 cup raisins

Directions: Preheat oven to 350F and grease a baking sheet. Place 1.75 cups of walnuts on the baking sheet. Toast walnuts in oven for about 10-12 minutes, until golden in colour. Watch carefully so as not to burn. When walnuts are toasted remove from oven and cool for a few minutes. Dump walnuts into food processor and process until just finely ground, no more. In a medium sized bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda, 1 cup oats, cinnamon, and Sucanat (or brown sugar). Now add the dry ingredients to the food processor and process for about 20-30 seconds until mixed. In a small bowl add the coconut oil and microwave for 20 seconds to soften (if necessary). In the same bowl, stir in the maple syrup, almond milk, and vanilla, and pour into food processor. Process until the mixture is thoroughly combined. Remove bowl from processor and dump contents into a large bowl. Mix in the remaining 1 cup of oats by stirring or with hands. Fold in the 2/3 cup of raisins. Take about 2 tbsp of dough, make a ball, and then flatten with fingers. Place on cookie sheet. Repeat. Bake for 10 minutes at 350F and no longer. Remove from oven and let sit on baking sheet for 2 minutes before placing onto a cooling rack for 10-15 minutes. Makes about 16 large cookies.

Read more: http://www.yummly.com/recipe/external/The-Ultimate-Vegan-Oatmeal-Raisin-Cookie-440149

John Wm. Macy's gourmet snacks

About John Wm. Macy’s
Caterer and chef John Macy founded John Wm. Macy’s Cheese Sticks in 1985 in New York City. His delicious and unique, hand-twisted snacks, made from fresh sourdough, cheese and seasoned butter, soon became his signature hors d’oeuvres and continue to be manufactured in the company’s facility in Elmwood Park, New Jersey. John Wm. Macy’s CheeseSticks, SweetSticks and CheeseCrisps are distributed nationwide and can be found in many of the country’s finest gourmet, natural and specialty stores, supermarket chains, luxury hotels and online at www.cheesesticks.com

Always all-natural and hand-rolled, CheeseSticks and SweetSticks are available through the Company’s online store in 4oz. 3-pack ($10.99), 6-pack ($19.99) and 12-pack ($35.99) retail boxes, as well as specialty gift tins starting at $13.99.

MY THOUGHTS:
At first I loved the original cheddar twists, but then I realized they had a kick, so I looked at the ingredients and low and behold they have cayenne pepper as an ingredient, and seeing that I have NO tolerance for peppers or spice I had to stop eating them, but my husband seems to enjoy them. They are an upscale version of a cheeze-it but so much more interesting and flavorful. I did have a chance to also try the sweetsticks and they were the perfect ending to a meal. A hint of vanilla to cleanse the pallet after supper, or a tasty treat with coffee or tea.

John Wm. Macy’s gourmet snacks and gift sets can be purchased online or in specialty food stores and supermarkets nationwide. For more information, visit http://www.cheesesticks.com.

For those interested in recipes and serving suggestions, please visit http://www.cheesesticks.com/RecipesCreativeEntrees

MUGGINGS: THE NEWEST WAY TO COOK DESSERT! IN YOUR OWN MICROWAVE IN 90 SECONDS.

Introducing Mugging! by Shirley J, a brand new baking concept, at home in your own microwave! It's the perfect size for single-serving desserts and even savory dishes. And it only requires water!

Available in eight flavors:

Chocolate Brownie Cake
Old-Fashioned Yellow Cake and Cobbler
Country Style Cornbread
Gluten-Free Chocolate Brownie Cake
Pumpkin Spice Bread
Walnut Bread
Quiche in a Cup
No-Pan Pancake

My Thoughts:

I think this is a FANTASTIC idea. I don't know how many times I've looked through the fridge, freezer and cabinets looking for something to quench my desire for a sweet treat at the end of the day only to turn up empty. Well now my problem is solved. When I'm craving chocolate or spice cake or a savory bread I can simply get out a mug, a mugging packet and water and make a single serving treat to satisfy my cravings. I've had a chance to try a few flavors and they're quite tasty. I also like that they offer Gluten Free as a family member recently developed this allergy, so it's nice to know they are considering people with dietary restrictions. 

Yum!

New Honey Bunches of Oats Greek Mixed Berry

Introducing the New Honey Bunches of Oats Greek Mixed Berry, which combines the sweet taste of strawberry, raspberry and blueberry flavors with the slightly tangy taste of real Greek yogurt. Each serving contains 33g of Whole Grain (more than 2/3 of your daily recommended serving!) and 5g of protein. 

Not only is it a delicious, nutritious breakfast the whole family will enjoy, but it's also a great snack to pack for the beach, pool, park on car trip. And I know this is a bit redundant, but I also like to top some Greek yogurt with the cereal to give a nice crunch!

I had a chance to try this new cereal recently and really enjoyed it. While you don't get much in a box, which seems to be across the board, it was very tasty. I like that I'm getting protein and whole grains in the first meal of the day. It's a great way to start out.

Try it for yourself!

NurturMe

Benefits:

1. Freeze/Drum Dried versus canned: In Freeze Driying, you are able to preserve of nutrients and phytochemicals,  and you get a higher sensory quality of food. Also, there is less heat exposure to foods and consequently higher preservation of nutrients and phytochemicals. Freeze/drum dried foods look better and taste fresher.

2) It's Organc: Pesticides are widely used on conventional food crops, because pesticides are toxic by design, they can cause harm to humans.  Exposure to pesticides over time has been linked to a variety of chronic health problems including: neurological damage, hormone and reproductive problems, and some cancers. Infants are especially vulnerable to the harmful effects of pesticides due to their small body size, immature organ systems and rapidly growing brains. Feeding your child organic foods, which are grown without the use of pesticides is a smart way to provide wholesome nutrition without the harm of synthetic influences.

3) Gluten Free (with 1 exception - NurturMeals sweet potato-oatmeal-banana blend): There are so many health benefits to cutting Gluten out of diets and has been linked to lower chances of Autism and less behavioral problems.

4) Available in stores, online and soon to also be in Canada

My Thoughts:

I think this is a great idea. Instead of carrying around jarred food that could shatter or tupperware containers with lids that could pop off at any minute, these packets are super convenient and also have higher nutrient quality than jarred foods. I think it's a win win - win for mom b/c it's easy to toss in a purse or bag without breaking, and win for the baby!

Check it out here: http://nurturme.com/

Post Sesame Street Cereal

Post Cereal has launched a new cereal for the special munchkins in your life! As I’m sure you know, that first photo or video of your child eating on their own is one that will be cherished forever. Now parents can make this moment fun and exciting with new Post Sesame Street Cereal.  

Post Sesame Street Cereal comes in two flavors, A is for Apple and B is for Banana. This new cereal is specially formulated to meet a growing toddler’s needs, providing them with 2/3 of their daily whole grains serving with only 1 gram of sugar. Children will be familiar with their furry friends, Elmo and Cookie Monster, who are featured on the front of the box, and parents will feel good letting them eat it. Additionally, the fun X and O shapes are specifically designed for little fingers and the yummy cereal has a soft texture that melts away for safe and easy consumption.

Each box features 2 different educational activities per flavor for you and your little one to enjoy. You can have fun collecting them all! 

Who doesn't love Sesame Street? My son is 6 month old, and already his favorite toy is a stuffed Grover, so I'm sure he'll grow up being a big fan of these guys too. While he's too young to try out this cereal, I think it's great to make the "first foods" experience a fun one, especially when it's a healthy food you're introducing.

Check out their Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/PostSesameStreetCereal 

For more information visit their site: http://www.postfoods.com/our-brands/post-sesame-street-cereal/

Larabars - Wrappers are now recyclable!

 LÄRABAR wrappers are now recyclable!

LARABAR has partnered with TerraCycle®.

TerraCycle collects all kinds of hard-to-recycle items (did you know you can recycle flip-flops?) and repurposes them into new products, ranging from recycled park benches to upcycled backpacks. Additionally, each Brigade program provides an opportunity to raise money for non-profits and schools. 

To get started, visit the TerraCycle website.

...and by the way, these bars are DELICIOUS!!!!! I keep them in my purse, gym and diaper bags for a healthy snack on the go!

Fiber One Bars!!!

Thanks for participating in this Spark! Did You Know: 9 out of 10 Americans aren’t getting the recommended amount of fiber each day? Now getting your fiber has never been tastier than with Fiber One's new Trail Mix and Protein bars. Taking care of yourself suddenly sounds like fun! It all started with the Oats and Chocolate Fiber One bar, but now Fiber One offers several solutions to help you get the fiber you need. There are so many delicious ways to enjoy fiber! Check out their range of products at a Publix® near you. Try all of these delicious Fiber One bars: Oats & Chocolate – 35% of your daily fiber with chocolate chunks, chocolate flavored drizzle & yes some oats Chewy Trail Mix – 35% of your daily fiber with chocolate chunks, raisins, peanuts & cranberries Caramel Nut Protein – 7g of protein plus 20% of your days’ fiber with caramel and peanuts wrapped in chocolate flavored coating Coconut Almond Protein – 7g of protein plus 20% of your days’ fiber with coconut and almonds wrapped in a chocolate flavored coating

Whole Fruit Sorbets - DELICIOUS!

Whole Fruit Sorbets are an award-winning member of the Whole Fruit Line by J & J Snack Foods. Available in five flavors: Mango, Black Cherry, Raspberry, Strawberry, and Lemon. 

Whole Fruit® Sorbets are made with chunks of real fruit and bursting with a refreshing taste. Here at J&J Snack Foods we pride ourselves on providin

g customers with quality products. We think we've done a pretty good job!

•          Naturally fat free

•           Full 16 fl. oz. size pint

•          Smooth and creamy taste

•          Refreshing, unique flavors

My Thoughts: I had a chance to try these awhile back and I was blown away. For being a fat free dessert, it was absolutely delicious! I liked it better than the popular red and white franchise which I won't name here. My favorite was the peach. I couldn't get enough of it. My husband agreed with me. It was a hit!

The lemon was the only flavor that I couldn't handle. The lemon tang was more than I could handle, but if you love a lemon punch, this is something you'd enjoy.

Learn more on their website: http://www.jjsnack.com/WholeFruit/home1.aspx

John & Kira's Chocolates!

 I recently learned about a semi-local chocolate and confectionary company called John & Kira's located in Philadelphia. They offer very unique products, not only visually but pallatially. 

The offer these ladybug chocolates that are so adorable you almost can't bring yourself to eat them, but of course you will. Known to bring good luck, they offer three varieties of Ladybugs which make the perfect gift for a true chocolate lover. Each unique dark chocolate shell is meticulously colored by hand then filled with our signature raspberry (red), garden mint (green) or honey lavender (yellow) Valrhona chocolate ganache. I had a chance to try the red and green and had mixed feelings. I loved the chocolate raspberry, but the mint tasted more like green tea than mint, and I normally love all things mint and chocolate, but these were a let down.

Not all of their products are brightly designed, but just as tasty, like their chocolate caramels. Nestled inside this box are four chocolate caramels so sinisterly dark they will send a shudder down your spine accompanied by four light caramels perfectly accentuated with Himalayan sea salt. This is their version of the ultimate caramel pair. 

I had a chance to try these caramels, and while they're small, they are delicious! I've had a handful of chocolate caramels in my time, and these are in my top three. Their chocolate caramels are to die for!!!

For more information, or to make a purchase head on over to their website: http://www.johnandkiras.com/ 

These make EXCELLENT holiday gifts!!!

Lehigh Valley Farms Products

About Lehigh Valley Dairy:

Lehigh Valley puts their products through a 5-Point Purity Checklist to make sure every product is fresh and pure for you and your family:

Our farmers pledge not to use artificial growth hormones. *

Our milk comes from cows fed a nutritious diet.

We reject any milk that contains commonly used antibiotics.

Our milk is continuously tested for quality at every key step.

Our milk is cold shipped from dairy to store within hours.

*No significant difference has been shown in milk from cows treated with the artificial growth hormone rbST and non rbST treated cows.

And now, Lehigh Valley gives you one more reason to spread the news about their commitment to purity! Introducing Lehigh Valley’s NEW Pure Protect Bottle™, specially designed to protect your milk's taste and nutrition from harmful light, ensuring your milk starts pure and stays pure! Look for it in your dairy case today!

We had a chance to try the Lehigh Valley Skim Milk, and I'm a bit of a snob when it comes to Milk. We almost always buy Rosenberger's milk from CVS because it's creamy and tasty, but we thought we'd try something new, so we tried Lehigh Valley skim milk. I found it comparable to the milk we always buy, and would buy it again.
 

Spike Seasoning Magics

SPIKE®, the seasoning that has been elevating flavor from “Blah…” to “YUM!” for over half a century in the world’s greatest kitchens is now available to you IN TEN DIFFERENT VARIETIES!

The SPIKE® family of seasonings, featuring SPIKE® ORIGINAL MAGIC! are all-natural; made without preservatives or additives, and have ZERO calories per serving – so you can FLAVOR your meals, SAVOR your meals – with no guilt.

A dash of any SPIKE seasoning will add ZIP and ZEST to your favorite foods – and save you the trouble of adding one more item to your “food database”! Forego the fat and go with SPIKE®! THE Healthy Lifestyle Seasoning. SPIKE® Seasonings are available at your local health/natural food stores and many select grocery stores.


What I love about these is that they're made without preservatives or additives, and no calories. I am in the kitchen all the time, and probably make a few freezer meals a week, a casserole a week, and some sort of egg dish a week, so I go through spices like water, so I was thrilled to have a whole batch to experiment with. So far I've used them in chili, soups, omelette's and many other dishes, and I love them so far.


Try them yourself: http://spike-it-up.com/

Silk Fruit&Protein Giveaway

Wake up to the great taste of fruit juice plus the nourishing power of protein. Silky-smooth, fruit-luscious and easy to love, Silk Fruit&Protein is marvelous in the morning or awesome in the afternoon. I am so happy to introduce you to Silk Fruit&Protein, available in three different juice blends of Fruit&Protein: Mixed Berry, Strawberry Banana, and Mango Peach.

I have been a fan of Silk products for the past few years since being introduced to them, and my opinion of Silk products keeps getting better and better. I am in LOVE with these Fruit&Protein drinks. They taste like a creamy smoothie, minus the chunks of ice and fruit bits. The texture is like the name - silk! So far my favorite is the Strawberry Banana. The only drawback is that you don't get enough - sold in either quart or half-gallon, and the quart is hardly enough for my husband and I to each have a nice glass before it's finished, so my suggestion would be to make these in larger quantities (and reducing the price never hurts ;-)).

WIN IT: Three Silk Fruit&Protein Vouchers

HOW TO ENTER: a Rafflecopter giveaway

Annie's Frozen Pizza

After years of bringing health-conscious families wholesome alternatives to traditional mac & cheese and snacks, Annie's has launched the first-ever certified organic rising crust frozen pizza!

Now available at Whole Foods Market™ nationwide in 11.5” inch family-sized varieties – including Uncured Pepperoni, Four Cheese,Supreme and Spinach & Mushroom – Annie’s new pizza features 8 grams of whole grain in every serving and a choice of certified-organic vegetables and meats, a great alternative for those pizza fans and families who seek a healthier option, but are not willing to sacrifice exceptional taste.

Here is a link to their site: http://www.annies.com/pizza/

ENJOY!

Gorton's Grilled Seafood - GIVEAWAY!

Gorton's offers a wide variety of delicious flame-grilled seafood options, a natural source of omega-3s, and 80 to 130 calories per serving.

Grilled Tilapia

• Roasted Garlic & Butter Grilled Tilapia Fillets
• Signature Grilled Tilapia Fillets
• Lemon Peppercorn Grilled Tilapia Fillets

Grilled Shrimp

• Grilled Shrimp Classic
• Grilled Shrimp Garlic

Grilled Salmon

• Classic Grilled Salmon Fillets
• Lemon Butter Grilled Salmon Fillets

All Natural Grilled Fillets

• All Natural Lemon Pepper Grilled Fillets
• All Natural Garlic Butter Grilled Fillets
• All Natural Lemon Butter Grilled Fillets
• All Natural Cajun Blackened Grilled Fillets
• All Natural Italian Herb Grilled Fillets 

WIN IT: TWO READERS WILL EACH WIN 2 FREE GRILLED PRODUCT COUPONS!

HOW TO ENTER:
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