Disclosure: I received a sample in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Valentine’s Day is just a week away! I always tell my husband that I would much prefer to receive chocolate than flowers-ha. If you’re looking for a special chocolate treat, Chuao Chocolatier has so many great options!
We tried the Chuao Love Child Bonbons, and wow, they are so good! They contain dark chocolate, dried strawberries and port wine. Doesn’t that just sound like a delicious combination? Also, love the upscale packaging, which makes this decadent chocolate feel even more special.
Do you like to give or receive chocolate on Valentine’s Day? I am excited that I will be reviewing more Chuao Chocolatier products on the blog soon. There will also be a reader giveaway, so stay tuned!
Disclosure: I received samples in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
With the chilly temperatures we have been experiencing, soup is an especially appealing meal option. While homemade soup is always nice, sometimes it is just more convenient to have a quicker option on hand. We recently tried Boulder Organic Foods Organic Chicken Quinoa & Kale Soup, which we found in the refrigerated deli section at our local Whole Foods.
Check out this “clean” ingredient list: Chicken Bone Broth* (Filtered Water, Chicken Bone Broth Base* (Chicken Bone Broth*, Chicken Fat*, Sea Salt, Vegetable Stock*, [Onion*, Carrot*, Celery*, Tomato*], Bay Leaf* Garlic Powder*, Black Pepper Extract)), Tomatoes* (Tomatoes*, Water, Citric Acid, Calcium Chloride), Onion*, Chicken Meat* (Chicken Meat*, Water, Rice Starch*, Sea Salt), Navy Beans*, Carrots*, Quinoa*, Kale*, Garlic*, Extra Virgin Olive Oil*, Spices*, Sea Salt,Red Chili Pepper Flakes* *Organic
I like how this soup tastes fresh and is not overly salty like other packaged soups. The quinoa still had a nice bite and the chicken bone broth had a good flavor. I also liked how the kale added some “greens” to the soup. Each container of soup is 24 oz. and contains three servings.
Boulder Organic Foods makes eight delicious varieties of soup:
Organic Chicken Quinoa & Kale Soup
Organic Green Chile Corn Chowder
Organic Minestrone Soup
Organic Potato Leek Soup
Organic Chicken Noodle Soup
Organic Creamy Tomato Basil Soup
Organic Creamy Autumn Squash Soup
Organic Red Lentil Dahl Soup
Boulder Organic Soups can be found at stores across the United States. Go here to find out where you can find their soups near you.
Giveaway Time
Enter to win three vouchers for free Boulder Organic Soup (up to $30 value)!
Disclosure: I received free samples in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
It is always exciting when a New Hope Blogger Box is delivered to our doorstep. The natural product space is rapidly expanding, and I really enjoy making new discoveries and sharing them with others.
The most recent box I received had a good variety of products. Here are the contents, along with some of my observations:
RightRice (Thai Curry flavor): This “rice” is actually made from vegetables. The main ingredients include lentil flour, chickpea flour, pea fiber and rice flour. Each serving contains 5 grams of fiber (compared to 0 grams of fiber in white rice).
Bodylogix Vegan Protein: My husband is the big protein powder consumer in our household. He gave this one a thumbs up! The chia provides a nutty flavor, and there was not an unpleasant aftertaste as he has detected in other vegan protein powders.
CV Sciences Plus CBD Oil Capsules
Human Power of N Neo40: For daily heart & circulation support
Madhava Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil: We use olive oil all of the time, so I was excited to try this one. It won the Clean Label Purity Award and has been tested for 130 contaminants.
Natural Factors Organic Low FODMAP Reliefiber Powder: According to the packaging, this provides relief for constipation, diarrhea and bloating. It is naturally sourced from organic guar beans. Since I have not had these symptoms, I have yet to try it, but it is good to know there is a natural option.
Nature Nate’s Natural Raw & Unfiltered Honey: I used this sample for a salmon salad I made, and it tasted great!
Mother Raw Organic Caesar Style Dressing & Marinade: This dressing is gluten-free, vegan, peanut-free and canola-free. It contains olive oil, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar and hemp seeds (among other natural ingredients). I like the idea of being able to use this as both a dressing and a marinade.
Torani Italian Syrups Dark Chocolate Puremade Sauce: I am a big fan of Torani Italian Syrups. However, I had never tried their sauces. This dark chocolate sauce is so good! Perfect on ice cream or added to a coffee drink. I like how it does not contain any artificial ingredients, too.
Dislcosure: I received this product for free from Moms Meet (momsmeet.com) to use and post my honest opinions. Compensation for this post was provided and this page may contain affiliate links.
Extra virgin olive oil has become a staple in our kitchen pantry. It is very versatile due to its high smoke point (400 degrees F). It can be used to saute, fry or bake your favorite foods. I also often use it to make homemade salad dressing.
Olitalia believes all great cooking revolves around great oil. Olitalia is the #1 brand most used by chefs in Italy and is now available for home cooking in the US. Look for Olitalia at Eataly locations.
There is a website called Flavor Your Life which provides a lot of useful information regarding European Extra Virgin Olive Oil. For example, did you know that the flavor of olive oil is greatly impacted by the region in which the olive trees are grown? Europe’s diverse climate and soil produce a wide range of olive oil flavor profiles. Here are some key characteristics of the different regions:
Spain: typically golden yellow with a fruity, nutty flavor.
Italy: dark green and has an herbal aroma and a grassy flavor.
Greece: tends to be green, strong flavor and aroma.
The recipe calls for marinating the salmon for thirty minutes.
The super simple dressing consists of 4 T. Extra Virgin Olive Oil; 1 lime, juiced, 1 tsp. honey, 1 T. fresh coriander, minced, and sea salt and cracked black pepper to taste.
The salad dressing turned out nice and light and complemented the flavor of the salmon well. n gave it a thumbs up! Be sure to visit Flavor Your Life for more recipe ideas using European Extra Virgin Olive Oil.
Olitalia extra virgin olive oil is available at Eataly locations.
Disclosure: I received samples in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
The holidays can easily become a time of over-indulgence, food-wise. CompletEats is a line of superfood cookies that feels like a treat, but contains all-natural ingredients such as almond flour, almond butter, chocolate chips, baking soda, chia seeds and dates.
CompleteEats come in five flavors:
Peppermint Cacao Chip Cookie
Banana Bread Cookie
Mocha Chip Cookie
Chocolate Chia Cookie
Cherry Almond Cookie
CompletEats cookies are certified vegan, gluten-free, non-GMO, and contain no trans-fat or artificial ingredients.
The Peppermint Cacao Chip Cookies are made with organic peppermint oil, organic cacao powder and allergen-friendly chips. The cookies are nice and moist and are just sweet enough to make a satisfying snack.
Also, don’t you just love the packaging of these Peppermint Cacao Chip Cookies? They would make a great gift topper or stocking stuffer!
Disclosure: I received a free sample in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
I have fond memories of my mom baking Christmas cookies during the holidays. Spritz cookies made with a cookie press were always a favorite.
The Zulay Kitchencookie press is a must-have for making the designs associated with spritz cookies. The cookie press is made of durable stainless steel and anodized aluminum and comes with 20 decorative stencils and four icing tips.
Here is an easy recipe for spritz cookies that can be used with a cookie press.
Easy Spritz Cookies
Ingredients
1 c. butter (2 sticks) (softened to room temperature)
3/4 c. sugar
1 large egg
2 t. almond extract (can substitute vanilla extract)
2 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
1/2 t. salt
Directions
Beat butter and sugar together in a mixing bowl. Add egg and almond extract.
Slowly mix in flour and salt.
Load the dough into the cookie press and follow the cookie press directions.
Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. (When I used a Silpat, the cookies did not brown, as in the picture. If you want the cookies to be a little brown on the bottom, bake directly on cookie sheet).
Make sure the dough is chilled before pressing the cookies out on the cookie sheet. It was so fun trying out all of the different stencils! I will definitely be saving the heart stencil for Valentine’s Day.
These spritz cookies are just begging to be dressed up with some chocolate (white, milk or dark) and colorful sprinkles!
The Zulay Kitchen Cookie Press is available on Amazon. Get ready for cookie-baking season!
Giveaway Time
One of my readers will win a Zulay Kitchen Cookie Press, so enter below!
Disclosure: I received free product samples in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.
One of D’s favorite dessert combinations is raspberries and chocolate. Something about the tartness of raspberries and the sweetness of chocolate just goes together. If you agree, then Tru Fru is a must-try frozen treat.
Tryazon gave us the opportunity to try the Tru Fru Raspberries with White & Dark Chocolate. They start out with frozen raspberries, which are immersed in both white and dark chocolate and then hyperchilled (-300 degrees). The concept is simple and unique, and the result is deliciousness.
Tru Fru products do not contain any artificial ingredients–just fruit and chocolate. They are gluten-free, made in the USA, and only have 90 calories per serving.
We shared samples of Tru Fru with k’s basketball team and their parents and they were a hit!
Tru Fru also comes in other varieties such as raspberries with white chocolate and milk chocolate and cherries with white chocolate and dark chocolate. To find Tru Fru at a store near you, go to the store locator here. I found Tru Fru at our local Target.
Disclosure: I received a sample box in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.
One of the fun things about visiting Japan is trying all of their different snacks and candy. When D and I went in 2011, we would go to 7-11 and just pick out random snacks that caught our eye. I know that my kids are definitely looking forward to doing the same during our planned trip to Japan next year.
Japan Candy Box is a subscription box that delivers that experience to your front door!
We had the opportunity to try out the October Japan Candy Box, which naturally has a Halloween theme.
This helpful guide has information in English regarding all ten items that come in the box. I thought it was interesting that the product packaging of this month’s snacks are either cute (kawaii) or creepy scary. Personally, I am a much bigger fan of the cute packaging, but I guess there is something for everyone!
The Kawaii Snacks
Tohato Caramel Corn Halloween Mini Pack-sweet corn puff snacks
Monstro Frankenstein Gum-soda and cola-flavored gum
Pokemon Halloween Party Chocolate Snack-chocolate coated corn snack pieces shaped like a Pikachu face
Overall, I like how there is an interesting variety of snacks and the sizes are large enough to share. My personal favorites in this box are the Koala Halloween Biscuits and the Black Thunder Halloween Chocolate Bar. The Japan Candy Box is the perfect way to have a taste (literally) of a different culture and would make a unique gift this holiday season. Go here to subscribe (there are 1 month, 6 month, and 12 month plans available).
Disclosure: I received samples in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Have you tried overnight oats yet? If you are looking for a quick, easy and nutritious breakfast, overnight oats may be your answer. I was excited to discover Maker Overnight Oats at Expo West earlier this year.
Maker Oats comes in three delicious flavors:
Apple & Coconut
Banana & Coffee
Mulberry & Chia
I was able to try the Apple & Coconut flavor. Check out the “clean” ingredient list: Organic whole grain rolled oats, organic dried diced apples, organic raisins, organic dried coconut, organic sliced almonds, organic diced dates, organic chia seeds, organic ground cinnamon, organic ground ginger.
I especially appreciate that the only sugar it contains is that found in the dried organic fruits and nuts. Most packaged oatmeal I have tried has too much added sugar!
The directions for these overnight oats are simple. Just pour in milk (soy, nut, dairy) or water to cover the oats, stir, and let soak overnight in the refrigerator. It will be ready to eat the next morning!
I really enjoyed the Apple & Coconut flavor. The abundant dried fruit really plumps up after soaking overnight and adds just the right amount of sweetness. Each packet contains 7 g of fiber, and the portion kept me satisfied throughout the morning.
Maker Overnight Oats can be found at natural food stores and online at Walmart here. Hopefully they will become more widely available soon!
Disclosure: I received sample products in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
I am so excited to welcome the first week of fall! Although it seems like I will have to wait a few more weeks for the temperatures to cool down around here, I am looking forward to cozy afternoons at home with a warm drink in hand. One of my favorite hot drinks (other than coffee, of course!) is chai tea. The following is a simple tutorial for chai tea using a couple of handy kitchen tools from Zulay Kitchen.
Pictured here are the Zulay KitchenMilk Boss Electric Milk Frother and Stainless Steel Frothing Pitcher. I had so much fun testing out these high-quality kitchen tools-they made me feel like a real barista! Both the milk frother and pitcher can be used to make various drinks, including coffee, matcha, cappuccinos, lattes, hot chocolate. and chai tea.
Chai Tea Tutorial
First, make a chai tea mix using sugar, cinnamon, ginger, cloves and cardamom (exact recipe below).
Store the chai tea mix in a labelled air-tight container to keep on hand in the cupboard.
Brew a strong cup of your favorite black tea.
Measure out cold milk (could also be warm) in a frothing pitcher. The measurements inside the Zulay Frothing Pitcher are quite useful!
Froth the milk using the Zulay Milk Boss Electric Milk Frother. This battery-operated frother could not be easier to use. I also like that it comes with its own stand.
Within a few seconds, you will have a small pitcher full of frothy milk!
Top off your cup of tea with the foamy milk.
Enjoy your cup of chai tea!
Instant Chai Tea Mix Recipe
Ingredients:
1 c. sugar
1 t. cinnamon
1 t. ground ginger
1/2 t. ground cardamom
1/2 t. ground cloves
Stir all of the ingredients together in a bowl. Store the mix in an air-tight container.
Brew a cup of black tea. Add 1-2 teaspoons of the Instant Chai Tea Mix to the cup of tea (depending on how sweet you want it) and stir well. Froth 1/4 c. of milk (can be hot or cold) and top off the cup of tea with some of the frothy milk (this should be enough frothy milk for two cups of tea). Sprinkle with a dash of cinnamon if you’re feeling extra fancy.
Check out some of the other innovative kitchen products that Zulay Kitchen offers here.
Giveaway Time
I am excited to announce that one of my readers has the opportunity to win a Zulay Kitchen Milk Boss Electric Milk Frother & Stainless Steel Frothing Pitcher!
