Disclosure: I received samples in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

Do you enjoy spicy foods? Everyone in my family likes to add hot sauce to our food, so we were excited to try Dave’s Gourmet Hot Sauces. Dave’s Gourmet Hot Sauces come in a wide variety of flavors, with varying heat intensities. The website provides detailed descriptions of each sauce and rates them from mild to insanely hot+!

We tried the Dave’s Gourmet Creamy Garlic Red Pepper Sauce in a chicken bowl, and it added a nice and gentle amount of spice. I really enjoyed the unique sweetness that the red pepper adds. This is a versatile sauce which would complement many types of foods. The website suggests using this sauce with grilled meats, pasta or soup. I want to try it the next time we have turkey burgers.

We also tried the Dave’s Gourmet Creamy Roasted Jalapeno Sauce drizzled on a chicken quesadilla. This too was a winning combination. The heat from the jalapenos is subtle, and not over-powering. Some suggested uses are on top of eggs, salad, pizza, burgers or Mexican food. If you want something hotter, go for Dave’s Gourmet Ghost Pepper Sauce. We have not tried that one yet…need to work up the courage!

Dave’s Gourmet Hot Sauces are gluten-free, GMO-free, vegan, and contain no preservatives. These sauces really add unique flavors and guarantee that your food will not be bland.

Where to Purchase Dave’s Gourmet Hot Sauces

Dave’s Gourmet Hot Sauces and other specialty food items are available through the Dave’s Gourmet online store.

Dave’s Gourmet Hot Sauce Giveaway

Enter the giveaway below for your chance to win 4 bottles of Dave’s Gourmet Hot Sauce!

Disclosure: I received samples in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

I must admit, it does feel a little strange to be talking about hot chocolate in the middle of July. However, I did not want to wait to introduce you to 123 Choco Hot Chocolate Sticks. I first learned about this woman-owned business through the virtual Expo West platform.

Using these chocolate sticks, it is so easy to make a cup of hot chocolate. Just warm up a cup of milk, and stir the stick until melted.

123 Choco Hot Chocolate Sticks come in a variety of flavors:

• Milk Chocolate
• Dark Chocolate
• Mocha
• Mint Chocolate

These sticks are certified Kosher, gluten-free and peanut-free.

My son could not wait to try making a cup of hot chocolate with a 123 Choco Hot Chocolate Stick. Watching the chocolate stick melt into the warm milk was quite entertaining for both of us. The result is a deliciously rich cup of comforting hot chocolate.

These hot chocolate sticks would be so fun to have at a brunch with friends or a kids’ party. They would also make a nice favor or stocking stuffer since they come individually wrapped.

Whatever the season may be, keep 123 Choco Hot Chocolate Sticks in mind when craving your next cup of hot chocolate. (They have a shelf life of over 12 months!)

Where To Purchase 123 Choco Hot Chocolate Sticks

123 Choco Hot Chocolate Sticks are available for purchase through their online store.

123 Choco Hot Chocolate Sticks Giveaway

Enter the giveaway below for your chance to win a box of 123 Choco Hot Chocolate Sticks (milk chocolate, dark chocolate, or mocha)!

Disclosure: I received samples in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

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Michel et Augustin is one of those brands that exuberates joy. I recently received a care package from them and just opening this gift box of their Cookie Squares brought a smile to my face.

I immediately fell in love with the bright colors and quirky illustrations. This gift box would surely brighten the recipient’s day!

After reading their back story, I learned that two best friends (Michel and Augustin) started the company in Paris back in 2004.

Their Cookie Squares are delicious morsels of goodness made with ingredients you can find in your own kitchen. They use real butter for the shortbread base, and the result is a perfectly crisp cookie.

These Cookie Squares come in four delicious flavors (three shown here):

• Dark Chocolate and a Pinch of Sea Salt
• Milk Chocolate and Melty Caramel
• Chocolate and Toasted Hazelnuts
• Triple Chocolate (not shown)

The chocolate to shortbread ratio is just right. You can eat a square and not feel over-indulgent. Each resealable bag contains 15 individually wrapped Cookie Squares. They are the perfect treat to share with friends and family.

Where To Purchase Michel et Augustin Cookie Squares

Michel et Augustin Cookie Squares are available for purchase through their online store, Amazon, or at a store near you. I am excited to look for them at my local Costco and Whole Foods.

Michel et Augustin Cookie Squares Giveaway

Enter the giveaway below for your chance to win a Michel et Augustin Cookie Squares variety pack gift box and a “Butter” cap!

Disclosure: I received samples in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

While I am disappointed that Expo West could not be held in person this year, I am grateful to be able to connect with brands through the online platform. One brand that immediately appealed to me is Real Treat. Their USDA Organic cookies recently became the first organic cookie to win a coveted Gold SOFI Award, and their Real Treat Pantry line is a current finalist for a Nexty Award (EDIT: They won!).

The Real Treat Pantry line of organic cookies uses high quality natural ingredients that you can feel good about serving your kids (or eating yourself)! They come in four delicious flavors:

• Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
• Brown Sugar Shortbread
• Chocolate Chunk Cookies
• Dark Chocolate Cookies With Almonds and Sea Salt (These cookies are gluten-free, although not produced in a facility that is certified celiac-safe).

All of the Real Treat Pantry cookies are the perfect size for a snack and have just the right amount of sweetness. I especially enjoyed the Dark Chocolate Cookies with Almonds and Sea Salt. The hint of sea salt provides a nuanced flavor that really makes these cookies stand out.

The Brown Sugar Shortbread cookies pair nicely with a cup of afternoon tea.

I followed the suggestion on the package of the Chocolate Chunk cookies, and put them in our toaster oven for 3 minutes at 250F. There is nothing like a warm cookie with melty chocolate paired with a glass of cold milk!

My kids agree that Real Treat Pantry Cookies are a welcome after school treat. (They would also make a delectable summer afternoon treat as well!)

Where To Purchase Real Treat Cookies

Real Treat Cookies are available for purchase through their online store, and at a store near you.

Real Treat Pantry Cookies Giveaway

Enter the giveaway below for your chance to win a 4-Pack Bundle of Real Treat Pantry Cookies! Open to Continental U.S. and Canada residents only.

Disclosure: I received samples in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

If you are looking for a sweet way to celebrate Mother’s Day, McCrea’s Candies has many options.

I had a chance to sample their Classic Mother’s Day Gift Box. It contains 20 pieces of McCrea’s Candies Classic Vanilla Caramel, 20 pieces of McCrea’s Candies Deep Chocolate Caramel AND 10 assorted chocolate hearts from Lake Champlain Chocolates.

Everyone in my family really enjoyed this assortment of caramels and chocolates. McCrea’s caramels have a rich flavor and the quality of their simple ingredients is top notch. For example, here is the ingredient list for their Classic Vanilla Caramels:

Fresh Milk, Fresh Cream, Cane Sugar, Inverted Cane Sugar, Tapioca Syrup, Butter (cream, salt), Molasses, Vanilla Extract (alcohol 35%), Salt.

The fresh milk and cream that they use in their caramels definitely comes through in the flavor so that they are not one-dimensionally sweet.

I love the classic design of the packaging, which makes this box feel like a special gift. With both caramels and chocolates, this gift box has something for everyone to enjoy.

For the caramel aficionado, McCrea’s also offers a wide variety of caramels in unique flavors. The Flavor Family Tube includes: Dark Roasted Mocha, Ginger Fusion, Rosemary Truffle Sea Salt, Single Malt Scotch, Black Lava Sea Salt, Tapped Maple, Cape Cod Sea Salt, Classic Vanilla and Deep Chocolate. Don’t they all sound incredible? As a coffee fan, I cannot resist the Dark Roasted Mocha flavor-yum! McCrea’s even offers a Caramel of the Month Club for the gift that keeps on giving.

Where To Purchase McCrea’s Candies

McCrea’s Candies offers a wide variety of products through their online store.

McCrea’s Candies Giveaway

Enter the giveaway below for your chance to win TWO McCrea’s Candies Classic Mother’s Day Gift Boxes (one for you, and one to give to your mom or someone special in your life). *Prize delivery cannot be guaranteed before Mother’s Day.

Disclosure: I received samples in order to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own.

I had so much fun attending the Online Nourished Festival a few weeks ago. I always enjoy hearing about new allergen-friendly products and learning about ways to live a healthier lifestyle. One of the brands that I discovered was Sam’s Famous Salsa. According to the website, their salsas originated with a family recipe that is over one hundred years old!

Sam’s Famous Salsa comes in three different heat levels: Mild, Medium and Hot. I am not sure if my family is just used to spicy foods, but we thought the Medium tasted more like Mild and that the Hot tasted more like Medium.

Due to the use of fresh ingredients, Sam’s Famous Salsa needs to be kept refrigerated. They do not use any artificial flavors or preservatives and it is quite evident in the taste! I thought the texture of the salsa was just perfect-a little chunky, but easy to scoop up with some tortilla chips. We also tried the salsas with quesadillas and they added a real flavor punch. This salsa seriously did not last long in my house; my family gobbled it up.

Where To Purchase Sam’s Famous Salsa

Look for Sam’s Famous Salsa at a store near you or order it through their online store.

Sam’s Famous Salsa Giveaway

Enter the giveaway below for a chance to win your choice of 6 containers of Sam’s Famous Salsa!