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

Today I am excited to talk about Runamok Maple Syrup, a company based in (where else?) Vermont. Runamok Maple makes infused, smoked and barrel-aged maple syrup using sustainable and socially responsible practices.

The flavor infusions that Runamok Maple offers are intriguing, and include:

• Cardamom
• Cinnamon + Vanilla
• Coffee
• Elderberry
• Ginger Root
• Hibiscus
• Jasmine Tea
• Makrut Lime-leaf
• Smoked Chili Pepper

Don’t they all sound amazing?

We had the opportunity to try the Coffee and Cinnamon+Vanilla infused syrups. I really love the bottle designs–so elegant and fancy! I can totally imagine these syrups tucked into a gift basket along with a box of pancake or waffle mix.

Weekend mornings are great time to treat your family or guests to a nice breakfast or brunch. Using a board to lay out all of the food makes it easy for people to serve themselves. I made a simple waffle brunch board and included cut-up Belgian waffles, sausages (bacon would also be good), strawberries, blueberries, bananas, chocolate chips, pats of butter, and of course, Runamok Maple Syrups.

The Runamok Maple Syrups that we tried really elevated the waffles. The Cinnamon + Vanilla syrup is a traditional flavor that would pair well with everything. The Coffee syrup has a more sophisticated taste that is not quite as sweet (perfect for the coffee-lover). Once you use “real” maple syrup, it is difficult to go back to using fake syrup that is actually just corn syrup with artificial flavoring. I definitely want to try out some of the recipes on the Runamok website.

Where to Purchase Runamok Maple Syrups

Runamok Maple Syrups are available at a retailer near you, or through the Runamok website.

Runamok Maple Syrup Giveaway

Enter the giveaway below for a chance to win two bottles of Runamok Maple Syrup (Coffee and Cinnamon+Vanilla!)

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.

I really admire the story behind Jessica’s Natural Foods. Jessica developed her gluten-free granola, mixes and syrup in response to her own family’s gluten-free lifestyle. I think it is amazing when someone sees a market need and creates a business. While our family does not follow a gluten-free diet, I am always interested in healthier eating. Therefore, I was excited to try some of the gluten-free products offered by Jessica’s Natural Foods and today I am going to share them with you.

Jessica’s Gluten-Free Granola

My family really likes granola, so we were excited to try out Jessica’s Gluten-Free Granola. This granola starts out with certified gluten-free oats and adds in natural ingredients such as ground flax, coconut, organic honey, real maple syrup and pure vanilla extract. It is made by hand in small batches and contains no artificial colors or ingredients. Jessica’s Granola comes in the following flavors:

• Gluten-Free Almond Cherry Granola
• Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Granola
• Gluten-Free Vanilla Maple Granola
• Gluten-Free Cherry & Berry Granola
• Gluten-Free Pecan Almond Granola
• Gluten-Free Chocolate Hazelnut Granola

We had the opportunity to try the Chocolate Chip Granola and the Cherry & Berry Granola. Both of the flavors that we tried were hearty and delicious. I like how there are sizeable clusters that offer a satisfying crunch.

I like to use granola as a topping for a fruit and yogurt parfait. It would also be good with some milk or just eaten by itself as a snack.

Jessica’s Gluten-Free Mixes

We also had the opportunity to try Jessica’s Muffin Mix and Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix.

Although I enjoy baking from scratch, I also really appreciate the convenience of using a mix! Jessica’s Muffin Mixes contain ancient grain teff and oat flour. I was very curious about ancient grain teff, as I am not sure whether I have tried this ingredient before. According to the package, teff contains protein, fiber, calcium, amino acids and iron. Sounds good to me!

I used the muffin mix to whip up a batch of blueberry muffins. (You can use any add-in that you want, such as other types of fruit or chocolate chips). They turned out really tasty! The muffins had a really tender texture with lightly crisped edges. I would not have guessed that these muffins are gluten-free.

Baking cookies with this mix was super quick and easy. As you can see, the dough looks just like traditional cookie dough. The cookie mixes are also made with ancient grain teff and oat flour.

My family (including my son shown here) really enjoyed these chocolate chip cookies. I think the butter that I used was a little too softened, so the result was a really thin and crisp cookie. However, my daughter said she actually prefers her cookies this way, which I never knew-ha! Again, I would not have guessed that these cookies are gluten-free. I like that I can feel good about the ingredients, and I am sure that feeling would be that much stronger for those that are gluten-free.

Where to Purchase

Jessica’s Natural Foods products can be purchased at a store near you, through their website, or on Amazon.

Giveaway Time

I am excited that Jessica’s is offering the chance for THREE of my readers to win their choice of two Jessica’s Natural Foods products!

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

Today I am excited to share about Steeped Coffee, a company based in Santa Cruz, CA that delivers coffee in a whole new way.

Steeped Coffee is a convenient way to make coffee without the need for a coffee maker or any special equipment. Each packet contains a filter bag of 100% specialty coffee (much like a tea bag).

Steeped Coffee comes in the following varieties:

• Sunrise Light Roast
• California Medium Roast
• Odyssey Dark Roast
• Driftwood French Roast
• Eventide Decaf

The directions for Steeped Coffee could not be simpler. Place the Steeped filter in a cup and pour 8 oz. hot water over it. Dunk for 15 seconds and let it steep for five minutes (or more) according to how strong you like your coffee.

The quality of the Steeped Coffee was quite impressive. Their direct trade, ethically sourced coffee is hand roasted in small batches and does not involve any additives, solubles, crystals or freeze-drying. Steeped Coffee does not taste like “instant” coffee, but more like coffee you would make in a French press. It is nice how you can control how strong the brew is just by letting it steep longer. (I prefer mine on the stronger side.)

Steeped Coffee makes it really convenient to enjoy a fresh brewed cup of coffee at work or home. I can also see how Steeped Coffee would be great to take along on a camping trip or while traveling.

Where to Purchase

Steeped Coffee can be purchased on their website and they also offer subscriptions.

Giveaway Time

Enter the giveaway below and enter to win an assortment of Steeped Coffee and a Steeped Coffee mug!

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

If you have been to a Japanese restaurant, you have probably enjoyed a nice steaming bowl of miso soup to start your meal. MiSOgood makes it super easy to enjoy miso (and all of its health benefits) at home.

MiSOgood products are USDA Certified Organic, Non-GMO, gluten-free, and vegan. As for health benefits, miso contains essential minerals, various B vitamins, vitamins E and K, and folic acid. Because miso is a fermented food, it provides the gut with beneficial bacteria that keeps the gut healthy. (Information taken from the MiSOgood website).

MiSOgood is available in 6 different flavors that can be used for soups and sauces:

• Sweet and Savory Miso
• Brown Rice Miso
• Soy-free Miso (made with fermented rice)
• Teriyaki Miso
• Spicy Miso
• Sesame Miso  

MiSOgood sent us two of their products to try: Sweet & Savory White Miso and Sesame Miso.

First, I tried the Sweet & Savory White Miso as a soup base to make a bowl of miso soup.

The miso soup had a nice rich flavor. My family loved it! It will be a nice addition to a quick lunch or dinner at home.

I also wanted to try the Sweet Miso Salad Dressing recipe I found on the MiSOgood website. We eat a lot of salads in the summer, so this is a good dressing to have on hand. It has a nice tang and adds umami at the same time.

Finally, I made a quick stir-fry with the MiSOgood Sesame Miso. Just saute some tofu and add 2 T. of the MiSOgood sauce. Add some vegetables and rice and you have a complete meal in minutes. The Sesame Miso has a nutty flavor with a hint of spice from red pepper and ginger. I can’t wait to try it with chicken or salmon as well.

Where To Purchase

MiSOgood products can be purchased on their website here and they offer free shipping!

Giveaway Time

Enter the giveaway below for a chance to win a MiSOgood Summer Soup & Sauce Variety 3-Pack, which includes Miso Teriyaki, Sweet & Savory White Miso and Sesame Miso!

Disclosure: I received samples 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.

Judging by the popularity of some of my recent posts, my readers enjoy snacking as much as we do! Poptime Snacks is another company that I missed seeing at Expo West this year. They currently offer four different lines of snacks, and today I am excited to have the opportunity to share about ALL of them with you!

Poptime Popcorn

First up is Poptime Popcorn. Our family has been having a lot of movie nights recently, so popcorn is always a good snack to have around. Poptime Popcorn comes in six delicious varieties:

• Honey BBQ
• White Cheddar
• Butter
• Spicy Jalapeno
• Sea Salt
• Sweet & Salty

You can munch on this popcorn without the guilt because it is non-GMO, cholesterol-free, contains zero trans fat, is gluten, dairy and nut-free, and contains no preservatives or artificial flavors.

Our family especially liked the white cheddar flavor. To me, it had just the right amount of cheesiness/saltiness. I was also impressed that there were hardly any unpopped kernels or popcorn “crumbs” that you often find with bagged popcorn.

Poptime Creations

For those who like exciting flavor combinations, check out the different varieties of Poptime Creations popcorn:

• Sriracha & Lime
• Marshmallow & Cinnamon
• Truffle Herb & Parmesan Cheese
• Chocolate & Vanilla

Don’t these flavors sound amazing?

This is the popcorn to choose when you want an “elevated” popcorn experience. The fun flavors would be perfect for a picnic or a party! Pop Creations popcorn is non-GMO, dairy-free and kosher. This line of popcorn also contains no artificial ingredients, trans fat, or preservatives.

Poptime Popped Chips

Poptime Popped Chips are “popped” potato chips, and they come in the following flavors:

• BBQ & Honey
• Sea Salt
• Jalapeno
• Truffle

These snacks are non-GMO, cholesterol free, gluten free, dairy free and nut free. They contain zero trans fat, no added sugar and no preservatives or artificial flavors.

These Poptime Popped Chips are so good! They are light and crispy and full of flavor. They are exactly the type of snack that my kids like to pack in their school lunches. I like that they are a lower-fat alternative to regular potato chips.

Big & Bold

Sometimes you just want a big bag of popcorn. That is when you need Poptime Big and Bold Popcorn. These large bags come in the following flavors:

• Salt & Pepper
• Butter
• Sea Salt
• Sweet & Salty

Poptime Big and Bold Popcorn is vegan, dairy-free, kosher, non-gmo, has 0g trans fat, and contains no artificial ingredients or preservatives.

This popcorn definitely lives up to its name! Each bag contains several generous servings, and the flavors are definitely bold. Sometimes air-popped popcorn can taste like nothing, but that is not the case with Poptime Big and Bold Popcorn.

Where To Purchase

Poptime Snacks can be purchased through their website and Amazon.

Giveaway Time

Poptime Snacks is generously offering a giveaway prize of one bag of each of their snacks–18 bags total! You will be all set for summertime snacking!