Ozeri Pro II Digital Kitchen Scale~Review

Have you ever tried a diet and tried to figure out the amount of calories you are eating?  It is almost impossible!  I wanted to see if my favorite cheese was going to be reasonable but when I found the nutritional info I was stumped.  I can eat one ounce of cheese but how much is one ounce?  One slice? A thin or thick slice?  I was thrilled to be able to try the Ozeri Pro II Digital Kitchen Scale.  Ozeri makes digital products for the modern world.  They have a ton of really cool stuff that I would love to try out like electronic wine openers, salt and pepper mills, and book lights.  Here are some of the key features of the kitchen scale:

~Newly design with a capacity range from 0.05 oz to 12 lbs (1 gram to 5.4 kg),
~Built-in countdown kitchen timer with 3 alarm modes (audible beep, blinking LED, or combined)
~Precision tare feature subtracts the weight of the container for the net weight of the ingredients; 
~Easy unit button instantly converts between oz, g, lbs, and kg.
~Large screen features a bright LCD with an improved viewing angle for the on-the-go cook.
~Over sized buttons generate audible click confirmation
~3-minute automatic turn-off preserves battery life.
~Finished in elegant chrome and sized for easy storage and portability
~Ships with 2 AAA batteries included.

I decided to try it out while making a simple meal that we often eat at home, Sauteed potatoes, green peppers and onions.  Now I knew that this was probably a pretty healthy meal but I had no idea the amount of calories it had.  So after I chopped all the the ingredients, I weighed them all on the scale.  The scale is really easy to use!  I did not have one problem with it.  I wrote down all the weights of everything; I changed the measurement units with a press of a button.  I used the Calorie Guide that comes with the scale to find the calorie per gram ratio for the ingredients.  It turns out that the entire huge pan only had 652.79 calories!  I could eat half of everything I made for about 325 calories!  I plan on weighing pretty much everything I make now so I can get serious about this dieting thing! I also really liked how small it is, you can easily store it without taking up valuable kitchen space. Overall, I love my new scale!

Find out more but checking out their Facebook page!

I received the above products through Sublime Media Connection in exchange for an honest review. In no way was I asked to give a positive review.

Newman's Own Organics~Review and Giveaway

Newman's Own Organics was a division of Paul Newman's company, Newman's Own until 2001. They are dedicated to giving people good tasting, organic food.  I like that they are giving people the chance to try food that is good for them and still tastes good! They generously offered me all of the following food to try:

Pretzels- 

Spelt

High Protein

I loved these!  The high protein ones do not have any salt of them so I have no problem giving a lot of them to my daughter.  She really liked them and asks for them everyday for a snack.  The spelt ones were a great pick for me.  There is just enough salt and a great flavor.  All their pretzels are baked, not fried, so they make a great low fat snack.

Signature Series Chocolate-

Dark Chocolate

Super Dark Chocolate 

Mocha Milk Chocolate

Milk Chocolate

Espresso Dark 

Chocolate Orange 

LOVED this chocolate!  I was never really a big fan of dark chocolate but this stuff is amazing.  Every kind had a rich and smooth flavor. I thought organic chocolate would have an odd flavor but it was better than any non-organic chocolate I have ever had.

Chocolate Cups-

Peanut Butter in Dark Chocolate or Milk Chocolate

Dark Chocolate Peppermint Cup 

Caramel cup in Dark Chocolate or Milk Chocolate

I was surprised by these.  I expected they would have a thick, chewy center.  They had a creamy, rich filling.  These cups are main with the same chocolate as the bars above.  My daughter really enjoyed the caramel cups and my husband ate the peanut butter cups all in one sitting!

Family Recipe Cookies-

Orange Chocolate Chip

Ginger Snaps

I have never had either kind of these cookies before!  They were both really good.  I can definitely see myself buying the ginger snaps on occasion! 

Newman O's(Cream Filled Chocolate Cookies)-

Original 

Chocolate

Ginger 'n' Cream 

These tastes just like Oreo's but are made with all organic ingredients!  They were one of my favorite products that I got to try.  I really liked the chocolate ones.  They were sweet but not overpowering.  Very tasty cookies!

Dried Fruit-

Apples

Raisins

This dried fruit is made with 100% organic fruit and contains no sulfates.  I often buy similar  dried fruit for my daughter but noticed that most of them contain sugars or other chemical sweeteners.  These only have fruit, nothing else!  I will be switching brands next time I go to the store!

Mints-

Cinnamon

Ginger

Peppermint 

Wintergreen

I have been popping these mints like there is no tomorrow.  I am not a mint person but these are great.  These aren't too sweet and are low fat.  Plus the tins are really cool!

Licorice-

Sour Strawberry

Sour Cherry

Sour Mango

Sour Apple

Black

Strawberry

Pomegranate

I am not a huge licorice fan so I gave all these to my brother to try.  He really liked them all and said that the strawberry ones were very good.

I also tried: Low Fat Fig Newman's, Pop's Corn, and Alphabet Cookies-Cinnamon Graham.

I have never really liked fig cookies but I did like these.  They have a really mild flavor and I feel good giving these to my daughter.  The popcorn is excellent.  I love popcorn but never buy it because of how fattening it is.  But this is about the healthiest popcorn you can have!  The Alphabet cookies were my daughter's favorite.  Not only do they taste great but I can work on her letters with her.  It's a win-win for everyone!

Want to win four products of your own? Enter below!

YumEarth Candy Giveaway

Candy, Candy Candy! Who doesn't love Candy! But have you tried organic candy? What would you do if you could have some delicious all-natural candy right at your doorstep? Introducing YumEarth!

YumEarth is a brand of candy produced by YummyEarth. Everything YummyEarth makes is certified organic or all natural, gluten-free, peanut-free, tree nut-free, and has no chemical colors, artificial flavors or high fructose corn syrup. This is why they are the #1 organic company in America! The company was founded by two dads to share healthier treats with their kids and are proud to share that each serving provides 100% of daily vitamin C. It has been called “The Best Lollipop I've ever tasted” by Today Show Food Editor Phil Lempert, YumEarth Organics Lollipops come in eight mouthwatering flavors: Very Very Cherry, Too Berry Blueberry, Strawberry Smash, Sour Apple Tart, Pomegranate Pucker, Razzmatazz Berry, Mango Tango and Wet-Face Watermelon. Featured as the “Snack of the Day” on the Rachael Ray Show, YumEarth Organics Gummy Bears have the quintessential texture of a traditional gummy bear with unique mouthwatering flavors: Pomegranate Pucker, Strawberry Smash and Sour Apple Tart.

YumEarth Candy is now available at Target! That's right, you have the option of buying the candy online or at your local store! Check this list to see YumEarth Candy is available at a Target near you. To celebrate the release of YumEarth Candy at Target, YummyEarth is sponsoring a giveaway of a YEAR'S WORTH OF CANDY to one lucky winner!

Enter on the rafflecopter form below! This giveaway is open to the US only. You are entering to 12 bags of YUMEARTH ORGANICS LOLLIPOPS and 12 bags of GUMMY BEARS. Must be 18+ to enter. Giveaway closes on August 21 at 11:59pm est. Only one person per household/IP address may enter. You only need to enter the giveaway on one of our blogs.

Enter below! Good Luck everyone!

Skillet Bacon Jam~Review

So I have to admit, when I first received my jar of Skillet Bacon Jam I thought it looked gross.  Before I go into how it surprised me, here is a little about the product:

"What is skillet bacon jam?


we make this bacon spread condiment called bacon jam..you say what?.. that’s right, we use niman ranch bacon and render it down along with onions, balsamic and other spices . It cooks for several hours until it is a perfect blend of smoky, tangy, savory and slightly sweet….basically spreadable bacony goodness!  USDA approved.

A savory alternative is found in our Fennel & Black Pepper Bacon Spread. The aromatic kick of black pepper and fennel adds a flavorful boost to any recipe you desire. Slather it onto a cranberry turkey sandwich or dollop a spoonful into your favorite baked vegetables. Any way you slice it, everything is better
with bacon!"

This is how it looks in the jar!

I had no idea what to expect when I opened the jar.  It looks and smells like a bacon paste.  The first time I used it was just on a sandwich as a spread.  It tastes like you added bacon right to the sandwich.  It was surprisingly great!  You can also add it to your ground beef when making burgers to give it an added kick of flavor.  My favorite part of Skillet Bacon Jam was it's ingredients.  There are no crazy sounding words, just real food!  If you are looking for a product to give your recipes an added bacon flavor, this is for you! Questions? You can email them at eat@skilletstreetfood.com.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Tasty Tuesday~7/24

Growing up in an Italian family was amazing.  Every woman in our family was a fantastic cook!  My great grandma and grandma however, guarded their recipes like they were gold.  And in our family, they really were.  They were known for giving you a recipe with an ingredient missing or unknown measurements.  You you try to duplicate their great dish and it would turn out good, but not as good as theirs.  As my grandma was laying in the hospital bed, she leaned over and whispered the secret to her antipasto dressing.  Now if I could only get my mother to tell me..... Anyway, one of my favorite memories is of helping my great grandma, Grandma U, make gnocchis.  Now that I am a wife and mama, I wanted to try to make them myself.  I found this Mario Batali recipe that is the closest I have ever tasted my Grandma U's.


Ingredients
3 pounds russet potatoes
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 egg, extra large
1 pinch salt
1/2 cup canola oil


Directions

1. Boil the whole potatoes until they are soft (about 45 minutes). While still warm, peel and pass through vegetable mill onto clean pasta board.Set 6 quarts of water to boil in a large spaghetti pot. 
2. Set up ice bath with 6 cups ice and 6 cups water near boiling water.
3. Make well in center of potatoes and sprinkle all over with flour, using all the flour. Place egg and salt in center of well and using a fork, stir into flour and potatoes, just like making normal pasta. Once egg is mixed in, bring dough together, kneading gently until a ball is formed. Knead gently another 4 minutes until ball is dry to touch.
4. Roll baseball-sized ball of dough into 3/4-inch diameter dowels and cut dowels into 1-inch long pieces. Flick pieces off of fork or concave side of cheese grater until dowel is finished. Drop these pieces into boiling water and cook until they float (about 1 minute). Meanwhile, continue with remaining dough, forming dowels, cutting into 1-inch pieces and flicking off of fork. As gnocchi float to top of boiling water, remove them to ice bath. Continue until all have been cooled off. Let sit several minutes in bath and drain from ice and water. Toss with 1/2 cup canola oil and store covered in refrigerator up to 48 hours until ready to serve.

Bon Appetit!

Reuse It Totes!

When you go grocery shopping do you just wish you had a great tote bag to put your groceries in?

Well check out this website!  It has everything from lunch totes to reusable bottles.  There are also over 400 products made in USA!

I have the bag on your right that is green and white - awesome! It is called  BlueAvocado Big Chil Large Insulated Reusable Shopping Bag. 

We recently took it on our trip to Wal-Mart to put all our  fruits and veggies in.  I loved that it had pockets on the outside, which of course I stored my phone/keys/coupons.  If you go to Wal-Mart, you know yourself it takes forever to get though the store because you want to look at everything you do not need or never will.  The BlueAvacado  did keep our fruits chilled throughout the entire journey.  The entire bag is made from recycled material, which is a great idea.  Altough the website carries many products made in USA, this bag is not.  If you are wondering how to clean it, just get a wipe!  The one I have is called Kiwi Wildflower and sells for $22.95. 

Just because I used it for grocery shopping does not mean that is what it specifically is for.  This could be a great beach bag or mom bag for all the little ones stuff as well as your own.  Be sure to visit http://www.reuseit.com and look around at their neat products and various tote bags!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Rocky Mountain Popcorn GA!

Rocky Mountain Popcorn comes in a variety of flavors from spicy to sweet. There is something crunchy & delicious for everyone. Pick from old school favorites such as buttered & lightly salted or go bold & try something new like the Southwest Cheddar. The Southwest is spicy, cheesy & has a fabulous kick of lime that makes for a unique taste.

Rocky Mountain delivers by the case so you will have lots of yummy snacks on hand at all times. The bags are designed with easy snacking in mind, using the “grip n’ pour” technology. This style also makes storage a snap! For over 20 years the folks at Rocky Mountain have been hot-air popping the largest, moistest kernels they can find. With all this practice comes a fantastic product sure to satisfy even the harshest of corn connoisseurs. Now it is your turn to experience the delectable flavors of Rocky Mountain Popcorn! Enter below to win your very own case. Good luck!

This giveaway was brought to you by the Sublime Media Connection. The participating bloggers cannot be held responsible for the delivery of this item, as that is the responsibility of the sponsor. If you have any questions regarding the delivery of the prize please email pr@sublimemediaconnection.info

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blueberry Banana GF Bread!

Growing up with a Polish grandma has taught me one thing - measuring is done with the eye.  :)

1 1/2 cups GF Flour - Gluten Free Pantry

1/4 cup canola oil2 whole eggs + 3 egg whites

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 cup mashed ripe bananas  - I used all our bananas, like 3

1 teaspoon vanilla extract - Nielsen-Massey :)

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon Coco Powder

1 cup blueberries - Rinse them!

1/2 cup dark chocolate chunks - Enjoy Life Mega Chunks

1 tbl. Yellow Dog - Mom's Gourmet 

1.Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a pan with butter - I used a glass baking dish. 

2.Whisk together all ingredients except for blueberries & choc in mixing bowl until combined.

3.Gently fold in blueberries & chocolate chunks.

4.Pour batter into prepared baking pan.

5.Bake for 45-55 minutes or until top is no longer wet and a knife comes out clean from center.

Remember: Allow to cool before removing from pan and slicing and add some butter slices on top :)

Yum! GF Blueberry Banana Bread!

"Revenge of the Vegetarian"

The author, Jim Tilberry, has his tongue firmly planted in his cheek, while taking humorous jabs at a variety of easy targets.  Get a silly lesson on how to deal with meat eaters in social situations.  Read hilarious interviews with famous dead vegetarians such as Gandhi, Socrates, and Ben Franklin.  You'll even get a comical look at how the English language would change if an overly zealous vegetarian politician got his way. 

The book also poses a lot of "what ifs."  What if there was a "Vegetarian Olympics"?  What if vegetarians ruled the country?  And what would a vegetarian horoscope tell you about your future?  Also you'll learn some laughable techniques meat eaters can use to more easily quit their carnivorous habit. 

"Revenge" pokes fun at vegetarians, vegans, liberals and conservatives.  But it pokes the most fun at meat eaters.  This short entertaining book is ideal for any vegetarian or vegetarian wannabe with a sense of humor.

"Revenge of the Vegetarian" is a paperback with just 70 pages.  It’s a very quick and easy read.

This book was a wonderful read, much different than the other books regarding vegetarianism. One thing I noticed about this book was the choice of font and spacing.  It made it exremely easy to read and would be great for all ages.    As a Special Education teacher I always look at this to determine if the font can cause confision or is to closely spaced.  This book is neither! The book is binded (put together) to last, especially if children are constantly flipping though it.  I loved the 10 Great Reasons to Become a Vegetarian, mainly #7: 

7. It's easier to pick up women. When you're at a bar or party, tell the women you just met that you're a vegetarian because you care about animals.

Revenge of the Vegetarian is on Amazon for $11.95.  

This is a great addition to any classroom to promote differences and understanding, as well as having for ones own library. 

 I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Imusa Panini Press Giveaway!

This review/giveaway is hosted by the blog Miss Jackie's Views


Imusa USA is the #1 Hispanic housewares brand. Imusa products are innovative and affordable and the company strives to meet customer needs and demands. To see the newest products Imusa offers go HERE. Imusa has a great interactive website with a recipe section, blog. Right now Imusa is having a recipe contest/giveaway where you can submit a recipe and be entered to win a Red Cookware Set, to enter go HERE

Rocky Mountain Popcorn

Rocky Mountain Popcorn is an all-natural, gluten free, nut-free whole grain snack, certified non-GMO, and contains protein, iron, and phosphorus.  Wow, I thought popcorn you pop in the microwave was healthy ... guess not! This popcorn was honestly delicious and because I'm watching what I'm eating and working out it does not ruin my caloric intake! It says the bag is around 1.5 servings and under 200 calories.  YES!  

 
They have great flavors that are all awesome:
• Jalapeno
• White Cheddar
• Caramel
• Southwest Cheddar
• Cinnamon and Sugar
• Sweet and Salty Kettle Corn
• Butter
• Naked

My favorites have to be the White Cheddar and the Jalapeno.  I loved how the White Cheddar tasted like the big bag of popcorn that we know is bad for us in the junk aisle and the Jalapeno was spicy yet had a tang to it.  Yum! Although the Cinnamon and Sugar & Kettle Corn were great, I still love the spicy ones.  Just grab a bag and throw into your lunch box or GE/Walmart bag like most teachers use... hehe.

Be sure to follow them  on FB and Twitter! 

This review for Rocky Mountain Popcorn was supplied by Sublime Media Connection. 

All thoughts and Opinions are my own.

Tasty Tuesday with Mom's Gourmet Spices!

This Tasty Tuesday, I decided to do something a little different than just post a recipe.  A few months ago, Trista and I went to the Fabulous Food Show in Cleveland.  We tasted HUNDREDS of products and one of the few products that stood out to us was Mom's Gourmet.  All their products are low or no salt, MSG and gluten free(yay Trista!)  I was lucky enough to get a few bottles of their artisan spice blends sent to me to try.  The first thing I noticed was their great labels!  All their products have funny animal names and cute drawings on them.

How cute!

I tried the following kinds:

Yellow Dog Sweet Shake- Blended with brown turbinado sugar, ginger, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

Red Dog Rub- Blended with mild and warm red peppers, parsley, garlic, other spices, and a hint of salt.

Black Dog Belly Rub- A peppery blend of seasonings.

Rowdy Kitty Rub- Blended with red, green and black peppercorns, garlic salt and herbs.

These rubs all pack a punch!  You can really taste all the different flavors in each blend.  I promise you that they would give any boring recipe a little added umph.  Now to prove this, I used them in some standard, easy recipes all week long.  

I added the Yellow Dog Sweet Shake to butter toast for my daughter.  She's not a big eater but she ate the whole piece of toast(which is unheard of in our house).  There's no recipe for this(duh) but it did make her toast extra special that day.

For the Black Dog Belly Rub, I used it as a replacement for my normal spices in my loose meat sandwiches.  Loose meat sandwiches don't sound very good but they are!  Here's my recipe:

Loose Meat Sandwiches

1 lb Ground Meat

1 onion, diced

2 tablespoons Olive Oil

Black Dog Belly Rub

1 tub of condensed beef stock(I use Knorr's)

1/2 cup of water

Rolls

Cheese

1. Add olive oil to pan and add onions.  Saute a few minutes until they start to become see-through.

2. Add ground beef and brown.  Drain.

3.  Return beef and onion mixture to the pan and add a liberal shake of Black Dog Belly Rub.

4. Add water and beef stock. Mix and simmer.  

5. Cook until water is almost gone.

6. Place beef mixture on rolls with cheese and any other condiments you find tasty!

Tonight I made roasted chicken breasts with potatoes and onions.  I used the Red Dog Rub on the potatoes and onions and the Rowdy Kitty Rub on the chicken.  This is a really easy, basic recipe.  But it sure is tasty!

Baked Chicken with Potatoes and Onions

4 Chicken Breasts

3 potatoes, cut into bite sized chunks

1 medium onion, cut into fourths

Olive oil

Red Dog Rub

Rowdy Kitty Rub

1. Preheat oven to 350.

2. Add potatoes and onion to a bowl with just enough olive oil to coat them.

3. Toss with Red Dog Rub(I used a lot because I wanted a bold flavor).

4. Bake, covered, for an hour.

5. Sprinkle generously chicken with Rowdy Kitty Rub.

6. After taking pan out of the oven, top with the chicken breasts.

7. Cover and cook for another 30 minutes.

Super tasty and easy! We will be using our Mom's Gourmet spices all the time now.  All their spices are only $8 and the bottle is twice the size of normal spices.  It's a great deal!  If you want more info about all the different varieties(there's 10), check out their website and Facebook page!

Bon appetit!

Summer Flashback!

What's was your favorite childhood food/snack?

I knew it was summertime when I could go to Kennywood and get some Dippin' Dots!

I also loved this drink called Surge.  I wasn't allowed to drink to so I would chug it all before I got home from walking to the store!

What was your favorite?

White Russian!

 This is a flashback for all of our friends...

White Russian

This is how we would make it :

1. Pour Vodka into a cup ...  1/3 of the cup
2.  Pour Kahlua into it ...   1/3 of the cup
3. Pour in half and half ...  1/3 of the cup

Put a couple ice cubes in it if you want!

We dedicate this to our prego friend Bri ... :)  Here is your drink!

Kettle Cuisine Free Coupons!

Are you a foodie always looking for something new, yummy & made with fine ingredients? How about some delectable soup to warm your soul & tummy? 


Kettle Cuisine has been crafting fine soups for twenty five years. They boast all natural meat/poultry & ingredients that are raw and unprocessed. Freshly blended spices, hand cut vegetables & soup stocks created from scratch are just a few diligent processes that go into making every small batch.

Currently there are ten flavorful varieties to choose from, all of which are gluten free. There are also low fat, vegetarian & dairy free choices so everyone can have a taste. Even our friends with food sensitives! These soups are so renowned that they even offer Food-service soups for Restaurants! Don't worry though, they also cater to food retailers & grocery stores so you can find them for your home too.


Now that your mouth is watering, why not enter for a chance to win some for free? Sublime Media Co. has TWO free product coupons to giveaway so you can find your favorite flavor!


The participating bloggers cannot be held responsible for the shipment of this prize.


FYI, their chili is amazing!!! Plus it's low cal so you won't feel bad about scarfing down the whole bowl!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Win a Martha Stewart Cooking Set!

Tasty Tuesday-6/26

With frozen pizzas being over $5(even for store brand), I have been making my own pizza dough for over a month now.  I like the I can separate into small batches and freeze it.  Then I can make a small one for lunch or combine two and make a large one for dinner.  I also like that I can add whatever toppings I feel like eating that day(usually sun-dried tomatoes).  Here is the recipe that I use: 

Caring Candies Giveaway

Are you looking for a healthy candy?  I always am.  I hate giving my little one a bunch of sugar filled candy.  But when everyone else is having some, it's hard to say no to her.


Caring Candies were developed in South Africa by a father and mother team out of sheer frustration at the lack of healthy treats available, and specifically with diabetics, hyperactive children, dieters & the health conscious in mind. Every candy is expertly handcrafted and consists of only natural ingredients. Nothing artificial has been added. They are gorgeous to look at, are tooth-friendly and kosher. Caring Candies are naturally flavored with either herbs or fruit essence and its amazing coloration is derived from either veggies, plants or herbs.

Review done by DonnasDealsAndMore


I had the opportunity to sample a variety of the Caring Candies and I was really impressed. When I read the back of the package for the mints these are the ingredients listed were isomalt (a natural sugar substitute made from beets), water, and natural peppermint flavor. That's it! And they had an excellent peppermint taste. I love that the lollipops are not overly sweet either. The munchkins love that they're allowed a treat and I feel good about what is in that treat :)


You can purchase Caring Candies on Amazon in their store: Caring Candies Amazon Store
And one of you lucky readers will be receiving a Caring Candies gift box, which will contain a variety of their products.
*Open to US only, must be 18 years or older