Woman Tribune » Food & Beverage Finds

#PhotoaDayMay: Snack (and My Influenster Spring Beauty VoxBox)

Holly — Thu, 17 May 2012 23:49:50 +0000

I have tried to like soy products, and I have had some success in the past with soy, albeit those successes have been very few and far between. However, I cannot help but to be indifferent when it comes to SOYJOY. I received this all-natural, gluten-free bar of fruit and soybeans in my Influenster Spring Beauty VoxBox, and while I have no idea why they included a food item in a box full of beauty products, I opened up this strawberry-flavored bar this afternoon for a quick snack in between work tasks.

SOYJOY has been around for a while, but this was the very first time I tried it, and I really wasn’t impressed. The texture of the bar was thick and it was dry; its only saving grace is that it’s a small product and didn’t last long enough to completely dry out my mouth. The taste was tolerable, and that is as far as I can go with it. I was completely put off by it at first bite, it was just drastically different from most of the things I eat, but it got a bit better as I progressively urged myself to keep going. Overall, not one of my reactions to this product or my perspective on it after the fact are what you want to experience with anything you’re eating. While it’s true that SOYJOY bars are a healthier snack option than some other products just as quick and travel-ready that ward off hunger between meals, there are still a lot of other things that you can opt to eat that will elicit a lot more than merely a tolerable response from you.

So that was my snacking experience today, and all I can say is at least the picture I took of this product is pretty.

As I mentioned, the strawberry SOYJOY bar was included in my Influenster Spring Beauty VoxBox, which I also wanted to quickly share with you all. Quickly because I haven’t had time to try out all of the products yet, but I will be reviewing each one individually here in the next week, so you can look forward to that!

This is the first VoxBox I have received from Influenster, which I immediately signed up with after seeing a picture of a past box that Jenn shared on Flickr. While taking the trend of sending out a box of surprise goodies for people to try out, Influenster is all about reporting back your experiences with the products you were sent and sharing those experiences and products with your friends, blog readers, connections on social media sites, and so on. Best of all, Influenster is totally free–those who are most active in the Influenster community receive a box that fits their lifestyle (as determined by badges that you receive by taking surveys and telling them a little about yourself.) Pretty awesome, right?

So here is what came in my Spring Beauty VoxBox:

Sheer Cover Duo Concealer
Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Body Wash
ChapStick Lip SHIELD 365
Sally Hansen Salon Effects
Bath & Body Works Fine Fragrance Mist (in Moonlight Path)
Dr. Scholl’s For Her Ball of Foot Cushions

I am really excited about quite a few of these products, so stay tuned for full reviews of all of them!

#PhotoaDayMay: A Smell You Adore

Holly — Wed, 09 May 2012 10:33:18 +0000

I promise I took this photo yesterday, but I didn’t get the chance to upload it and write out this post until this morning. Sorry about that! Moving on…

Coffee is one of my absolute favorite things in life. I drink it daily, and it has long been a staple in how I start my day. The smell of coffee is an experience for me. When I’m at the grocery store, I always make it a point to take a stroll through the coffee aisle, regardless of if I actually need anything there or not, just so I can take in the scent of the variety of coffee beans. When I wake up, I start brewing my first pot of coffee as soon as I make it down to the kitchen, most of the time it’s Folgers Black Silk which is their darkest roast and absolutely delicious, and the smell of it filling the room and the downstairs of my house is such a great way to start the day.

If you want to join in, check out the May Photo a Day Challenge List.

Yoplait Lactose Free Yogurt Review and Prize Pack Giveaway [Closed]

Holly — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:14:42 +0000

I love my dairy products. Ice cream, milk, cheese, yogurt, I love them all, and consume them happily as often as my heart and stomach desire. Unfortunately, my partner has had a love/hate relationship with dairy for years. As someone with lactose intolerance, he often denies himself the foods that he wants to eat because of the uncomfortable and sometimes painful consequences that come with them. He is just one of millions of Americans who are lactose intolerant, and while passing on dairy can spare people the effects of when it disagrees with their stomachs, it can also have unintended health consequences.

The National Institute of Health has stated that when dairy is avoided, there are lower intakes of calcium and vitamin D in a person’s diet. These nutrients are important for building and caring for your bones, so not getting enough of them can create a higher risk for osteoporosis.

Yoplait is helping those who are lactose intolerant and always saying ‘no’ to dairy products finally say ‘yes’ with their brand new Yoplait Lactose Free yogurt. This new yogurt comes in four delicious flavors–Strawberry, Peach, French Vanilla and Cherry–and contains 50% of the recommended Daily Value of calcium, with vitamins A and D in every cup. Lactose Free can also be used in your favorite recipes; because it contains no artificial sweeteners, it can be used in smoothies, cheesecakes, and more.

We had a chance to try out this new yogurt, and it is incredibly tasty. My partner has tried quite a few soy and lactose free products but has always made a funny face, said it “tasted weird”, and that was the end of it. With Yoplait Lactose Free yogurt, he had a whole new reaction. It doesn’t taste the least bit different from yogurt that contains lactose; in fact, if this yogurt were in a small bowl, instead of him eating right out of the container, he wouldn’t have known the difference. That is, he wouldn’t have known the difference until a little while after eating it when he didn’t get sick.

Yoplait Lactose Free is in grocery stores nationwide. If you or someone in your family is lactose intolerant, I highly recommend you try it out for yourselves. You can also save when you purchase your first cup by printing out this coupon for $0.30 off.

Giveaway

One lucky Woman Tribune reader will win a Yoplait Lactose Free prize pack, which includes one VIP coupon to purchase a free cup of Yoplait Lactose Free yogurt, a lunch tote, 2 gel packs, an individual bowl, and a matching spoon.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The VIP coupon included in the prize pack is not valid in the following states: Louisiana, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota, and Tennessee.

Prize pack, information, and giveaway were provided by Yoplait through MyBlogSpark. No other compensation was received, and opinions are my own.

The Little Things Keep Romance Alive — Dr. Oetker Ristorante Pizza Review and Prize Pack Giveaway [Closed]

Holly — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 15:44:24 +0000

Just a little over a month ago, stories, advice, tips, and ideas from how to sweep our lovers off their feet to the specifics of planning romantic gestures both grand and simple were coming at us left and right. Every blog, magazine, and talk show host had something to say about how to spend Valentine’s Day. Yet the very next morning, our workloads, routines, multi-tasking, cleaning the house in our sweats, and everything else that makes up our every day lives was back in effect and the topic of romance was no longer on everyone’s collective minds. Love isn’t in the air solely during the month of February. Romance is something every relationship needs frequent doses of all year long.

It’s easy to get wrapped up in the stresses and tasks that we all have to get accomplished, and it’s easy to think that there isn’t enough time in the day or the finances in the budget to put together a truly romantic experience for you and your partner. However, there are ways to inject romance into your relationship every single day, because honestly, it’s the little things that make a relationship mutually fulfilling and long-lasting.

So, here are some things that my partner and I do and have done to keep romance alive and well, and our love strong in the six and a half years we have been together:

We take care of each other. No one responsibility lies solely on the shoulders of just one of us; instead, we tackle daily life from the perspective of a mutual partnership. Finances, (most) housework, grocery shopping, and errands are a joint effort, with two exceptions: I do the laundry because I am incredibly particular about the way it is done, and my partner does the majority of the cooking because he is better at it.
We say ‘thank you’ and express appreciation for each other.
We laugh–a lot. Goofy faces, absurd voices (I have several), suddenly turning a walk into a little dance, and giving our cats personalities and voices that we make up on the spot are just a few of the things we do to get silly.
We rough house like we’re kids. Now, this doesn’t happen often, particularly because if we spent that much time landing way too hard on our bed we would probably break it, but when we get into those silly moods and start tickling each other and wrestling, I think about it for days and it always brings a huge grin to my face.
Never underestimate the power of a sweet note. The first time my partner put the toilet paper roll on the holder the right way (the right way being with the paper coming out over the roll and not under), he wrote on the paper (an accomplishment in itself) that he made sure to put it on the holder that way because he knew that is the way I like it. The man made toilet paper romantic!
We hold hands; while watching television, while out shopping, or taking a walk together.

Above all, I think we really value and make the most of our time together. We both work full-time from home, which tends to give people the idea that we’re attached at the hip 24/7, which isn’t the case. We have separate work spaces. My partner, a professional musician and guitar instructor, works out of the basement apartment of our home that you have to go outside and down the steps of our back porch to get to, while I work predominantly at our kitchen table. We’re both admitted workaholics, so it’s fairly typical for us to spend most of our days apart. The time that we really dedicate solely to one another is dinnertime. As soon as the dinner process begins, technology is put away and we can talk and focus on each other while, most of the time, my partner cooks and I help with preparation and just enough so I can say that I contributed.

Of course, just like anyone else, sometimes we’re really lazy and want the perks of being able to hang out and share a meal without doing a whole lot of work or having to drive to the next city or two over to go out to a restaurant. For times like these, we have been known to reach for a frozen solution.

Recently, we were able to try Dr. Oetker Ristorante Pizzas, a line of frozen pizzas that are so unlike the average frozen pizzas I’ve grown accustomed to.

We were sent two different flavors of Dr. Oetker Ristorante Pizzas–Mozzarella and Spinaci. I really loved the Mozzarella flavor; it was cheesy, there was a generous portion of delicious, sweet tomatoes and herbs, and the crust was thin and crispy. What was really surprising, especially since we’re talking about frozen food here, was that the herbs and tomatoes tasted like they were really quality ingredients. They weren’t just good, but really really good. My partner and I were in awe, repeatedly commenting on how much better these pizzas are than what we were expecting. I immediately knew why Dr. Oetker’s Ristorante is Italy’s #1 frozen pizza brand.

The Spinaci flavor was, of course, topped with spinach. I haven’t eaten a lot of spinach in my life and when I have, it was usually mixed into a pasta sauce of some sort and I barely noticed it was there. On this pizza, the spinach takes center stage. It is the star of the pizza, and I found out that I am not a fan of spinach. I kept commenting on the “oils” I tasted, which my partner kept assuring me was the taste of spinach. After eating half of my piece, I was really wishing I had another Mozzarella pizza. My partner really liked the spinach, though, so at least it didn’t go to waste.

Dr. Oetker Ristorante Pizzas are really easy to make, perfect for lunch or dinner when you really don’t feel like making an effort but still want a tasty meal. Just take the pizza out of the cardboard box, unwrap it, place it directly on the middle rack of your oven, and wait 10-12 minutes.

The only complaint I have about these pizzas is that they are very small. I would love to see a larger version come out that could feed more than two people. My partner and I split the pizzas we made and after we finished the first one, my partner was ready for more pizza, so I would say that one of these pizzas could feed two people, or just one very hungry man.

Dr. Oetker Ristorante Pizza is available now in the following states for $4.99-$5.99: New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Washington, D.C., Rhode Island, Baltimore, Maryland and New Hampshire.

Giveaway

One lucky Woman Tribune reader will have the chance to try out Dr. Oetker Ristorante Pizza and receive a prize pack, which includes a coupon for 1 free Dr. Oetker Ristorante Pizza, branded pizza cutter, branded freezer bag, and a Crate & Barrel Pizza Slice & Serve Board.

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I received Dr. Oetker Ristorante Pizza for review as part of a blog campaign with One2One Network. Additional incentives were provided to me, and opinions are my own.

Start Your Day Off Right with General Mills Cereal with Whole Grain First Ingredient — Cereal with the White Check Giveaway [Closed]

Holly — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 08:30:44 +0000

The most recent Dietary Guidelines recommend that people get at least 48 grams of whole grain in their daily diets. If you’re like me, you have no idea how that translates into how much of what you should be eating daily. I have never been able to crack the Dietary Guidelines Code. I can read as many food packages as I want, but after reading off a seemingly endless list of ingredients for everything I put into my cart at the grocery store, I still walk out of there with a wish and a hope that I have a week’s worth of daily whole servings of what my body needs. Isn’t this the stuff we all learned year after year in health class; if it was easy enough to teach to us then, then why is it so difficult to figure out now as an adult?

The food industry advances and changes frequently and it is our responsibility to change right along with it while also learning to become more aware. We are bombarded by all sorts of health messages about our food every day in commercials, on the news, in newspapers, magazines, advertisements, and in the aisles of our local stores. It is sometimes hard to differentiate between what is hype to sell more of a product and what we should actually be paying close attention to.

One of the most deceiving products in terms of nutritional benefits that we all regularly buy is breakfast cereal. It isn’t like when you’re in the snack aisle and you know that everything located there is bad for you. In the cereal aisle, everything is combined. You have your bran sitting right next to your Cocoa Pebbles and you’re trying to find that balance between a cereal that is wholesome while also being something everyone in your family, especially kids, will eat.

Getting enough whole grain in your daily diet is important and General Mills is making it easy to start your day off right with a bowl of any one of their 50 cereals that have more whole grain than any other ingredient while still having the same great taste that you have come to expect. Looking for whole grain in your General Mills cereals is now easier than ever before.

All cereals with the white check currently have at least 9 grams of whole grain per serving.

Giveaway

To help get your day off to a great start, MyBlogSpark has generously provided us with the opportunity to give away an additional General Mills cereal prize pack to one lucky Woman Tribune reader. Included in the prize pack are 5 boxes of General Mills cereal with the white check: Cheerios, Lucky Charms, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Honey Nut Cheerios, and Total.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Prize pack, information, and giveaway were provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark. No other compensation was received, and opinions are my own.

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Do You Know the Difference Between Gelato and Ice Cream?

Liz — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:00:14 +0000

Gelato is Italian for ice cream, right? Well, not exactly. True, they are both dairy, they are both cold, and they are both desserts, but the similarities end there.

For starters, they look different, with true gelato resembling something more like frozen yogurt than ice cream, and in many displays, it looks like flavored whipped cream. Here’s some more detailed, delicious insight into the two treasured desserts:

American vs. Italian Ice Cream

American ice cream, we all know, has a pretty high milk fat content. Legally in the United States, a product must have 10% fat to use the label “ice cream.” Higher quality brands of ice cream have about 18% fat, which makes for a delicious ice cream, but a pretty pathetic gelato.

Gelato has a much higher milk to cream ratio. This means that the milk fat content is much, much lower, usually in the vicinity of 4% or so. The fat content difference influences the taste as well as your waistline. The fat in ice cream coats the tongue and saturates the taste buds, while gelato does not coat the taste buds as much, which allows the flavors to be stronger with a great depth of flavor.

Another key difference is the amount of incorporated air during churning. Ice cream can have 50% or so, while gelato only has about 25% trapped air. This is mostly due to the speed of the churning process, as gelato is churned slower, and this density has a decided impact on the texture and the flavor of the product.

Differences in Flavor and Texture

Regarding the flavor and texture, gelato should not be grainy. Ever. It should have a creamy texture that invites the flavor to develop and dance on the tongue. Usually this means that the mixture should have a chance to rest, allowing for the maximum development of flavor.

Ice cream is served frozen and gelato should be served slightly warmer. This allows the fats to mingle with the water, but not to freeze, which enhances the flavors. In fruit flavors, this can be a challenge.

Sadly, as home it is not possible to create gelateria-style gelato in an ice cream maker by just changing the ingredients. This is where the use of gelato makers come in. Gelato makers are different because they are designed to mix the ingredients at a speed which needs to be slower, so as not to incorporate too much air.

Northern vs. Southern Italy

Northern Italian gelato is predominantly milk and cream-based, while in Southern Italy, water-based fruit flavored gelatos are more common. This difference has been around for a few centuries and is nothing new. Fruit gelato offers the intense fruit flavors associated with sorbet, but the delightful creamy goodness of frozen yogurt–only much better.

Using Fresh Fruit in Gelato

When making gelato traditionally, it is important to use real fresh fruit and not fruit flavoring or syrup. If there is no time to chop the fruit up, simply pop it in a food processor for a fast way to prepare the fruit. There are some fruits that do work better than others in gelato; fruits that puree easily work the best, while others such as coconut can be considerably harder.

Using real fruit is a classic example of the importance of quality food in Italian cooking. The basic recipes are usually very simple but require high quality ingredients to yield the best results. This goes along with a great many other Italian dishes, such as pasta or panna cotta–simple to make but can either be breathtakingly amazing when done properly or a dismal failure.

While Americans in general love ice cream, if gelato was more well-known here, it would probably outpace the demand for ice cream in the summer. I know that personally, as much as I enjoy the ice cream truck trundling down my street with frozen confections, I would much prefer the Italian version: a gelato cart. That would be truly amazing. Relaxing at home and enjoying a skillfully-made gelato on a summer day–indeed–it would be a slice of heaven.

To use a common quote, “What is better than ice cream? Gelato!” and it really is very true.

Photo by missyjane20

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3 Ways to Cut Food Costs and Get Back to Basics

Liz — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 17:56:37 +0000

From the small restauranteur saving a dollar per case of shallots, to the largest car manufacturers getting a half-cent off each gallon of paint, all businesses benefit from cost-cutting. Getting just a little bit more bang for your buck is in your best personal interest, too–ever pass by a gas station because the one down the street sells gas for three hundredths of a penny less?

Being frugal does not mean you have to sacrifice every little thing that helps you get through the day. It just means using your creativity to maintain your lifestyle as best you can through any economic turmoil. Even if there’s no turmoil, what does it hurt to have a little extra money lying around?

When it comes to keep your food habits, you can absolutely get imaginative without sacrificing quality. With the exception of having an unnatural daily craving for caviar, you can follow these three dollar-stretching steps to eat just as you always have, even if your pocket’s running on empty.

Learn Culinary Basics

This is far less intimidating than it sounds. Just like Michael Jordan or Larry Bird had to master the free throw and jump shot, the culinary elite got where they are by mastering the basics of cooking. That means they can make a mirepoix, prepare fresh pasta from scratch, and whisk up the most delicious salad dressing with their eyes closed.

Sounds daunting, doesn’t it? Fret not–we’re here to help.

Mirepoix is the standby combination of aromatics that go into making sauces, soups, roasts, and stocks. All it takes is three simple (and inexpensive) ingredients: onion, carrot, and celery. To make it, cut the vegetables based on how long they’ll be cooking (the longer the cooking time, the bigger the cut), and use the following ratio:

2 parts onion : 1 part carrot : 1 part celery

That’s it. Nothing too terrible, right? Neither are the following ratios for the stuff you think is “out of your league.”

Fresh pasta:

3 parts flour : 2 parts egg (by weight)

Keep a tablespoon or two of water to drizzle in little by little, and there you have it.

And that salad dressing you love?

3 parts olive (or canola) oil : 1 part acid (vinegar)

Here’s the best part: once you learn and develop these ratios to your liking, you will be creating restaurant-style dishes in your own kitchen for quite literally pennies on the dollar.

Buy Fresh and Buy in Bulk

With rare exception, fresh ingredients cost less than prepared foods. Take salad mixes, for instance: they fall into the three-dollar-per-bag range, and typically include several lettuces and a salad dressing. But can you get a head of Romaine and loads of tasty vegetables for well under three dollars? Probably not.

What about that vinaigrette above? Costs about eight cents.

Also, as a price-conscious society, grocery stores everywhere are making bulk purchases readily accessible, and that’s something that can benefit you greatly. You can get coffee beans, loose-lead teas, flour, quinoa…just about anything you can imagine, all without paying for the expensive packaging and labeling brand names must include in their costs.

Buying in bulk means less processing, and that brings us to…

Process Your Own Foods

Don’t buy pre-chopped vegetables or pre-minced garlic when shopping. For every hand that touches your product, labor must be paid…and covered. Plus, the minute vegetables are cut, they begin dehydrating and losing their nutritional value–you pay more for significantly less product.

Same goes for meats: buy large hunks (which typically freeze well), and portion it yourself. Bake a whole six-dollar chicken, and use it for two or three meals with recipes like chicken soup, chicken primavera, or even chicken tacos. Try cubing a large roast, and throw it into an electric meat grinder for burger night–talk about quality food!

From baking your own brioche to chopping vegetables for a cheap Italian recipe like Pasta Primavera, when you process your own foods, the sky’s the limit!

So as you can see, you can easily cut food costs without sacrificing your food habits or personal integrity. In fact, mastering the steps above could actually give you bragging rights!

Photo by NourishLife

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Yoplait Frozen Smoothies New Chocolate Banana Flavor and $1.00 Off Coupon

Holly — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 17:00:22 +0000

Smoothies are an excellent, wholesome option to indulge your sweet tooth without running to the cookies, cakes, and candies. Instead of copious amounts of sugar and a whole lot of things your body doesn’t need, smoothies are delicious and sweet and packed full of calcium and fruit.

As much as I love a good smoothie, I don’t always have the best and freshest ingredients that I would like. In those cases, Yoplait Frozen Smoothies are a great backup plan that I have gone to again and again, without losing one ounce of nutritional value. Yoplait Frozen Smoothies contain real fruit, live and active cultures, and 50% of your daily value of calcium, and can be enjoyed by just adding milk and blending.

Yoplait Frozen Smoothies have just recently introduced the newest flavor, Chocolate Banana. To give families just a little incentive to go out and pick up a bag of the new flavor, Yoplait has also issued a coupon for $1.00 off any bag of Yoplait Frozen Smoothie. Just print it out, bring it to your local grocery store, and save!

This coupon is not valid in the following states: California, Idaho, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota, and Tennessee.

Information and coupon offer were provided by Yoplait through MyBlogSpark. No compensation was received, and opinions are my own.

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We Put a New (Easier!) Spin on the Traditional Cookie Exchange with a Chex Party Mix-Change — Prize Pack and $20 Gift Card Giveaway [Closed]

Holly — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 12:34:27 +0000

Cookies are a time-honored holiday tradition for most of us. Some of the best cookies made all year by anyone are those made in celebration of the holidays, and it is during this time of the year that we collectively throw our weight management plans out the window–hence all of those weight loss-oriented New Year’s resolutions. When I was a kid, I knew it was time to start getting really excited for Christmas when my grandmother started the holiday baking. By the time she was through, we would have several containers full of a variety of different cookies, and they lasted well into the new year.

The art of baking the perfect holiday cookie is pretty much lost on me as an adult. Me and baking is very hit or miss, but I still wanted to make something delicious and sweet to indulge in while celebrating the holidays with my family. This holiday season, Chex encouraged people to mix it up and replace the traditional cookie swap with a Chex Party Mix-Change, and since I didn’t want to set myself up for failure by attempting to make my own homemade holiday cookies this year (maybe next year!), I jumped right on board.

I received an awesome prize pack to help get my Chex Party Mix-Change started, which included 2 boxes of Chex cereal, 10 red takeout containers, 5 featured Chex Party Mix recipe cards, and a $20 gift card to purchase recipe ingredients.

Making Chex Party Mix is incredibly simple; in fact, it is so easy that with guidance through the recipe instructions, my 6-year-old stepdaughter made the Chex PB and Chocolate Blast party mix nearly all on her own.

Prep/Cook Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 22 (1/2 cup each)

You Will Need

6 cups Rice Chex cereal

1 cup white vanilla baking chips (8 oz.)

1 cup peanut butter chips

1 cup red and green candy-coated chocolate candies

1 cup dry-roasted peanuts

Before combining the candy and peanuts, I microwaved the white vanilla baking chips and peanut butter chips in separate containers for 5 minutes, just until they were warm enough to be stirred smooth. Then, the mixture was put into two bowls, each containing 3 cups of Rice Chex cereal, and lightly stirred until the cereal was lightly and thoroughly coated. After being placed in the refrigerator for 5 minutes to set, I broke the cereal apart into bite-size pieces and had my stepdaughter place handfuls of the cereal into each of the takeout containers.

Then, she also filled the containers (which she had already written the names of the recipients of our Chex Party Mix on) with the red and green candies and dry-roasted peanuts. After a light shake to mix up all of the ingredients, our Chex PB and Chocolate Blast party mix was done and ready to be gifted and enjoyed!

So simple, and incredibly delicious! I actually enjoyed the Chex Party Mix we made at home a whole lot more than any bag of pre-made Chex Party Mix I have had before–and I’ve tried quite a few of them.

Giveaway

MyBlogSpark has generously provided us with the opportunity to give away an additional Chex Party Mix-Change prize pack to one lucky Woman Tribune reader. Included in the prize pack are 2 boxes of Chex cereal to create Chex Party Mix recipes, 5 featured Chex Party Mix recipes (Original Chex Party Mix, Chex PB and Chocolate Blast, Chex Pumpkin Pie Crunch, Hot Buttered Yum Chex Mix, and Chex Caramel Chocolate Drizzles), 10 takeout containers, and a $20 gift card to purchase recipe ingredients and decorating supplies.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Prize pack, information, and giveaway were provided by Chex through MyBlogSpark. No other compensation was received, and opinions are my own.

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Carapelli Olive Oil Taste Test Review

Holly — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 01:00:30 +0000

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Carapelli. All opinions are 100% mine.

When I think of olive oil, it is very easy to immediately have a short list of items that are enhanced by its presence spring to mind; most notably, salad, pasta, and warm breadsticks. Enjoying olive oil on a certain number of foods and having a favorite brand are two different things, at least to me. Trying a new brand of anything after already trying and liking a different brand is something I hardly do. I work very much under the mindset that I have found something that I like and I’m going to stick with it. It’s safer that way. Then again, I’m probably one of the most picky eaters you’ll ever meet who doesn’t actually cook themselves.

My partner prepares most of our meals and unlike me, loves experimenting with new products and new brands of products he already loves. So he was pretty excited when we received a bottle of olive oil to taste test from Carapelli.

Carapelli Olive Oil has been around since 1893 and to this day, is still Italy’s number one brand of Extra Virgin Olive Oil. That is quite an accomplishment, but not so surprising after finding out that they conduct their business on the principle of providing people with reassurance that their olive oil is of premium quality and consistently so. They have also instituted a quality certification program that they adhere to that meets and exceeds the extensive, strict quality specifications that are required in Europe and the United States.

I never thought that olive oil could be anything like wine; until I received a bottle of Carapelli Olive Oil and a printout on how to have a true olive oil tasting experience that is very similar to how you are supposed to correctly taste a good wine. With that, I was introduced to the four S’s:

Swirl: By swirling the olive oil in your glass, you release the oil’s esters, which are the molecules that contain the aroma.
Sniff: Now inhale deeply. The aroma is the key to the fruitiness of the oil. Is it intense or is it more subtle?
Slurp: Sip the oil while “sipping” in a bit of air. This slurping action emulsifies the oil and helps spread it throughout your mouth. Take note of the various tastes and sensations. Is it fruity, peppery, smooth?
Swallow: Once you swallow the oil, it should leave your mouth with no aftertaste. Again, take note of any peppery or stinging sensation in your throat.

Upon first sniff, there was little to no smell at all coming from my glass. That’s why it is so important to swirl Carapelli Olive Oil before sniffing. Suddenly there was a rich, vibrant scent wafting from the glass and it was delicious. The taste was incredibly smooth and I was somewhat taken aback by it. I don’t know what I was expecting at first, to be honest, but I was pleasantly surprised by the richness in the taste and also the peppery taste, which was very slight, settling into the back of my throat. In no time at all, that peppery taste had dispersed, leaving no aftertaste in my mouth or in my throat.

Carapelli Olive Oil is understated and delicious and great for eating on salads or with bread, and will definitely be featured in many upcoming pasta dinners in my house.

Try Carapelli Olive Oil out yourself with a $1.00 OFF coupon at www.CarapelliUSA.com.

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Ragu Mom’s the Word on Dinner Brand Immersion Weekend in New York City

Holly — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 17:15:49 +0000

Throughout the past few months we have been discussing what dinner is like in our home (along with providing a few helpful tips and recipes) in connection with my appointment as an ambassador in the Ragu Mom’s the Word on Dinner program. It is through that program that in mid-September I was able to travel to New York City for two days to take part in a full Ragu Brand Immersion Day along with several other ambassadors at the offices and kitchens of Unilever, the name behind Ragu and numerous other brands.

This was only the second time I had ever been to New York City, which is a statement I would be less ashamed to make if I didn’t live just over two hours away. My reaction to the city was very much the same reaction I had the first time I had been there years earlier: Complete awe. Everything amazed me; the buildings, the people, the atmosphere, the energy. The energy in the streets of New York City can damn near sweep you off your feet and the good thing about New York City is that hardly anyone will notice you as you walk outside and just stand there, taking everything in and appreciating everything going on around you and never wanting that excitement dancing around in your chest to end. So you just stand there.

That night we stayed at the Gansevoort Park Avenue, an absolutely beautiful hotel with rooftop bar and home of Asellina restaurant. My room was gorgeous and promptly after opening the door and putting my bags down, I could not help but take several pictures of all of its stunning features. Here are some of them:

The next day, we all headed to the Unilever offices and kitchens in New Jersey where during the day, we were given the inside scoop on just about everything involved in conceptualizing a new sauce (or improving upon an old one) and getting that product made and on grocery store shelves. It was an insightful day packed full of interesting and useful information.

Naturally, the first thing we had the opportunity to learn about upon arriving at Unilever was how the Mom’s the Word on Dinner campaign came to be and what Ragu wanted to accomplish with it. We’ve all seen countless brands attempt to speak the language of parents in their advertisements and pretty much every one of those advertisements ends with how life would be much easier or we would be happier or less stressed if we just bought their product. I appreciate that Ragu did not approach the Mom’s the Word on Dinner program in this way, which is why this is the first full-on ambassadorship that I have said yes to in the nearly-four years that Woman Tribune has been in operation.

Ragu’s main focus with the Mom’s the Word on Dinner campaign is to start a dialogue between their brand and their consumers, between bloggers and their readers, between parents and other parents. It’s a really simple concept–like most good ideas are–and it’s a conversation that anyone who has experienced dinnertime dilemmas can’t help but want to participate, and sometimes yes, commiserate in. And that’s where the magic of this campaign happens.

We also had the chance to hear just what goes into getting a Ragu sauce made, from conceptualization-to-jar, and then getting that jar on the shelves of your local grocery store. We learned that Ragu sauces begin with a recipe that is then perfected by Unilever chefs following the Gold Standard until they have created what they believe is the perfect sauce. Yes, chefs. It is so important to emphasize this because when I had first told my partner that I would be visiting Unilever and would have the chance to see how Ragu sauce is made, one of the first things he said was, “You know you’re going to a lab, right?” He was so wrong! There are no labs; instead, there are kitchens. Unilever has a series of kitchen stations in the middle of the Ragu space where there are chefs working hard to create sauces as well as new recipes that utilize their sauces as well as other Unilever-named brands. The most interesting aspect of the Unilever kitchen is that there are a series of stations equipped with only the appliances and tools that the average household has available. Because of this, the chefs are able to create recipes that they know regular families will be able to make and enjoy.

Annually, we have seen the statistics of serious health issues plaguing young people continue to rise. Thanks to the amount of research that has been done on this topic within the last handful of years, we have more information now than ever before to help us make the most informed, healthy choices about what is being put on our dinner tables. Ragu has also taken the initiative toward feeding our families better by dramatically reducing the amount of sodium in their sauce. The original Ragu sauce contained 780mg of sodium; as of 2010, they were able to bring that sodium level down to 480mg while also adding two servings of vegetables to each serving of Ragu and keeping the great, full flavor that their customers love.

Click to enlarge

Ragu has an impressive and mighty vault of delicious recipes. We have spotlighted some of their most budget-friendly recipes not too long ago, and I have plans of sharing a few others with you in the coming weeks from my kitchen. It would have most likely been difficult to decide on which recipes I wanted to make in my kitchen and share here if it weren’t for that Brand Immersion Day. Towards the end of the day, we were treated to quite the spread made by the Unilever chefs. Most notably, I really have to say that if you don’t try the Easy Mexican Pasta Salad, No Frying Chicken Parmesan, and No Boiling Lasagna, you are really missing out. They were delicious! I love the last two recipes because they are “skip-a-step” recipes, which literally means that you are skipping a step. With the Chicken Parmesan, you aren’t frying the chicken (or cleaning up the typical mess that comes with it) and with the Lasagna, you aren’t boiling the pasta noodles. These are easy dinners to make with efficiency, taste, and value in mind. All the important stuff! Also, I’m not so great in the kitchen and skip-a-step recipes leave an even smaller margin for error for me which is a great bonus!

I really learned a lot during the Ragu Brand Immersion Day. It was a great experience to see from the inside what goes into creating and distributing a product that I have already been purchasing on my own for years.

Here is a video further encompassing what I and the other Ragu Mom’s the Word on Dinner Ambassadors experienced that day:

Disclosure: This event occurred in connection with my appointment as an Ambassador in the Ragú® Mom’s the Word on Dinner Program. Visit www.facebook.com/ragusauce to join the conversation.

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Betty Crocker Milk Chocolate Traditional Brownie Mix and Prize Pack Giveaway [Closed]

Holly — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 20:50:43 +0000

Fall is somewhat of the unofficial start to baking season, and with good reason. For the first time in months you can bare to turn your oven on for more than 30 minutes at a time without feeling as if you just may overheat and pass out in the middle of your kitchen. This is pretty much the only reason you need if you’re asking yourself if you should bake some brownies. The answer is yes. Always, yes. I am fairly certain that there is never a bad time for freshly baked brownies, which pretty much sums up why I recently tried out the new Betty Crocker Milk Chocolate Traditional Brownie mix in the middle of the night. The middle of the night is still prime brownie-making and consuming time, believe me.

We have made our own homemade brownies from scratch before, and while they are always good, they also take a significant amount of time and energy to accomplish. I’m not always a big fan of waiting. Me and the concept of patience are not very well acquainted, so I’ll most often opt for brownie mixes in order to satisfy my chocolate craving in as little time as possible. These brownies can be made in just three extremely easy steps and are ready in under 20 minutes. That delights my inner five-year-old who anxiously waits in front of the oven as if that will somehow alert the brownies that they need to hurry up and finish baking so I can put one in a bowl with a generous scoop of ice cream.

My brownies came out perfectly and they were delicious. Packed with delicious milk chocolate flavor, but not containing so much chocolate that it makes you sick and not want to look at chocolate at any point in the foreseeable future. Something that I could not help but want to dole out copious high-fives over is the fact that the Wilton baking pan that arrived in our Betty Crocker Milk Chocolate Traditional Brownie Mix prize pack is non-stick and made it so that the very first brownie that emerged from the baking pan came out cleanly with no hassle. That is pretty spectacular if you have ever had to fight with your food to get it out of the pan.

Giveaway

MyBlogSpark has generously provided us with the opportunity to give away an additional Betty Crocker Milk Chocolate Traditional Brownie Mix prize pack to one lucky Woman Tribune reader. Included in the prize pack is one box of Milk Chocolate Traditional Brownie mix, a Betty Crocker apron, Wilton baking pan, and mixing spoon.

Disclosure: The Betty Crocker Milk Chocolate Traditional Brownie mix prize pack, information, and giveaway have been provided by Betty Crocker through MyBlogSpark.

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National Chocolate Day

Jacquie — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 10:00:39 +0000

October 28 is National Chocolate Day. Personally, I think it should be a statutory holiday where we all get the day off work to indulge in chocolate. Chocolate cake, chocolate ice cream, chocolate candies, chocolate…well, you get the idea.

A Celebration of Chocolate

Chocolate is the world’s number one flavour. This tasty substance was first discovered by the ancient Mayans, who used the extract of the cacao plant as a beverage in ancient rituals. Later, after it had been discovered and brought to Europe by the Spanish, chocolate became a symbol of royalty, available only to those rich or powerful enough to obtain it. In Renaissance-era France, chocolate was officially reserved specifically for members of the French Royal Court.

Today chocolate is the favourite dessert of the masses. Whether on its own or blended as a subtle flavour it’s used in countless foods and drinks worldwide. I think it’s about time we gave chocolate it’s due.

Chocolate is revered throughout the world and many countries have their own chocolate celebrations. In the country of Ghana, for instance, which is a major producer and exporter of chocolate, the government decreed that February 14 would henceforth become National Chocolate Day.

The thinking behind this was that the associated Valentine’s Day celebrations were corrupting the youth of the country and that a focus on chocolate for that day would reduce the “wanton immorality” on the part of young people on this day. Personally, I’m not so sure that was a good idea. After all, chocolate has been considered an aphrodisiac for centuries. The Ghanaian government may have more to deal with than they bargained for!

Chocolate comes with a surprising array of health benefits, various studies have shown that the chemicals in chocolate can boost your mood, lower your blood pressure and even improve your cardiovascular health. Technically, chocolate is actually a vegetable, it comes from the cacao tree found in Central America and Western Africa. Of course, we all know how important it is to eat our vegetables, right?

Despite all this, chocolate does have its detractors (clearly these people are no fun at all.) The two main criticisms are that it contributes to obesity and to the development of acne. The fact of the matter is that any food eaten in excess will cause obesity, not just chocolate. It’s a matter of maintaining moderation; everything in your diet has its place, including chocolate.

As for the acne, the actual causes of acne are related to diet, hormones and genetics. Some believe excess sugar contributes to the problem and thus label chocolate as a culprit. The evidence however, points to the fact that getting rid of acne is more a matter of eating a healthy diet overall, maintaining proper hygiene and avoiding food allergies. Paying attention to these factors is what’s really needed as a treatment for pimples.

Personally, I think the most important benefit of chocolate is that it simply tastes good. Don’t we all deserve to enjoy a break once in a while with the world’s greatest dessert? Even if chocolate were completely unhealthy, I’d argue the taste and psychological benefits would make it all worthwhile.

So remember, on October 28, feel free to celebrate National Chocolate Day without guilt and in whatever manner you see fit. Chocolate mousse, chocolate sauce, dark chocolate, white chocolate, the possibilities are endless!

Photo by David G-H

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Betty Crocker Molasses Cookie Mix and Prize Pack Giveaway [Closed]

Holly — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 11:49:32 +0000

I have frequently disclosed my complete and utter lack of culinary prowess; everything kitchen-related easily boggles my mind and if there isn’t a clear and concise set of instructions, I am lost. This is precisely why I am a big fan of any product that makes it easier for me to spend about 30 minutes in the kitchen and come out unscathed and with something edible. Luckily for all people (and products) involved, that is exactly what I was able to do a few nights ago when I went into the kitchen and grabbed the new Betty Crocker Molasses Cookie Mix.

Molasses is a taste that I don’t get very often due to the severe lack of easy (and that is always the key word) ways to prepare and produce it at home. Betty Crocker’s Molasses Cookie Mix takes just three ingredients and 10 minutes before I can indulge myself in warm, soft, chewy cookies packed with molasses, cinnamon and spice.

Included in the Betty Crocker Molasses Cookie Mix Prize Pack, which we received from the awesome folks over at MyBlogSpark, was a plastic spoon. One would assume that this spoon is used to stir the three ingredients–1/2 cup of butter, 1 tablespoon of water and 1 egg–into the mix in order to create cookie dough. That is what I assumed, anyway, but that did not work. In order for the amount of moisture those ingredients create to get to all that dry mix, you have to use your hands. So where does that aforementioned plastic spoon come in? I have not a clue.

For the first time possibly ever, I didn’t burn the cookies I made at all; not even the bottoms which always, always happens.

The cookies came out great and if you like molasses, you should definitely give these a try. You can also download a printable coupon for $0.75 off the purchase of one Betty Crocker Molasses Cookie Mix pouch.

Giveaway

One lucky Woman Tribune reader will win a Betty Crocker Molasses Cookie Mix Prize Pack that includes a pouch of cookie mix, a Betty Crocker apron, non-stick baking sheet, and mixing spoon.

Required Entry

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Enter to win a @BettyCrocker Molasses Cookie Mix Prize Pack from @WomanTribune & #MyBlogSpark http://shar.es/bbCCO #giveaway ends 10/17

This giveaway ends Monday, October 17th at 11:59 p.m. ET. This giveaway is open to all U.S. residents over the age of 18 at the time of entry. The winner will be randomly chosen and contacted by email; they then have 48 hours (2 days) to respond to that email or another winner will be chosen.

Full Contest Disclaimer

This giveaway is now closed and the winner is…

Congratulations!

Disclosure: The Betty Crocker Molasses Cookie Mix prize pack, information, and giveaway have been provided by Betty Crocker through MyBlogSpark.

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Pasta Never Has to be Boring, Fresh Ideas to Spice Up Your Pasta Dinners

Holly — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 19:00:22 +0000

Did you know that families have pasta for dinner about 1.6 times per week? That is a lot of pasta, and my family most definitely contributes to the accuracy of that statistic.

Pasta is such a staple in our house, as well as in the houses of most everyone else, because it is extremely budget-friendly and there are so many different things that you can do with it. We typically tend to stay on a tight budget around here and at the same time, we are pretty picky eaters who very frequently grow tired of seeing the same thing grace our dinner plates. In most cases, we don’t typically have the same thing for dinner more than once every two or three weeks; but with pasta, even if we have it twice a week, which we frequently do, it’s a totally different meal and experience each time.

One of the easiest ways to reinvent a pasta dish that has become completely boring to you and to your family is to add to it. Adding fresh spices, vegetables and different types of meat to your base sauce can really spice up your dish and make all the difference.

I was recently sent a Le Creuset saucepan from Ragu which has made our experimenting with sauces an even more enjoyable experience all around, not to mention much easier than using our very old large pot that has been on its last legs for quite some time now. Seriously, I love this thing.

And not only because it matches my tea kettle.

Check out a new video from Ragu featuring some awesome moms talking about how they spice up their pasta dishes at home:

Here are a few choice pasta dishes to try from Ragu’s selection of recipes, including the dish that was mentioned during the end of the video above! Also, every dish below are all under $2 per serving. How amazing is that?

Baked Pasta Primavera Casserole

Cost per recipe: $10.32
Cost per serving: $1.72
Get the recipe »

Better for You No Boiling Baked Ziti

Cost per recipe: $11.34
Cost per serving: $1.42
Get the recipe »

Easy Skillet Ravioli

Cost per recipe: $5.75
Cost per serving: $0.96
Get the recipe »

Fettuccine with Chunky Feta Tomato Sauce

Cost per recipe: $7.80
Cost per serving: $1.30
Get the recipe »

How do you spice up your pasta dinner dishes?

This post was created in connection with my appointment as an Ambassador in the Ragú® Mom’s the Word on Dinner Program. Visit www.facebook.com/ragusauce to join the conversation.

All pasta images via Ragu

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Fiber One 80 Calories Cereal Review and Prize Pack Giveaway [Closed]

Holly — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 18:58:54 +0000

You know all of those Fiber One commercials that compare foods typically containing fiber to cardboard and then show seemingly random people at the supermarket trying samples of any of their products, only to be completely surprised by what they are tasting?

I recently had the opportunity to try a box of Fiber One 80 Calories cereal, thanks to MyBlogSpark, and I inadvertently reenacted the role of one of those seemingly random people at the fictional supermarket with the Fiber One sample booth. And that newer commercial where a mom and a dad are sitting at the kitchen table in the morning eating a bowl of Fiber One cereal and their kid wakes up, asks where his cereal is and they have him try “Number One” cereal hoping that it can pass off as something kid-friendly that he will eat up and it totally works? Yeah, that scenario is now believable.

Obviously, I was pretty surprised by what I was tasting when I had my first bowl of Fiber One 80 Calories cereal. Lightly coated in honey to give the cereal a sweet taste, it is really delicious and not one of those “healthy” cereals you have to will yourself to finish a bowl of. I know, I’ve been down that route a few times now. My one, tiny problem with Fiber One 80 Calories cereal is that at times, when you’re munching along through the honey-coated squares, the texture can sometimes seem a little thicker than most other cereals I’ve eaten. However, the benefits and taste far outweigh the very slight texture issue.

Ever since finding out that I have low blood sugar that needs to be checked and maintained daily, I have been trying all sorts of different cereals that provide healthier solutions at breakfast time. Given the fact that this cereal is only 80 calories while also providing 40% of the daily value of fiber needed daily, as well as the fact that it keeps you full until lunch time, it’s a great choice.

To stay up-to-date with everything up Fiber One’s sleeve, “like” them on Facebook. Also be sure to check out their website for a $1.75-off coupon that can be used on any Fiber One products!

Giveaway

We had the opportunity to not only review Fiber One 80 Calories cereal, but to also give away a prize pack to one Lucky Woman Tribune reader!

The Fiber One 80 Calories cereal prize pack includes one box of Fiber One 80 Calories cereal, a sensor pedometer with USB connector to chart walking progress and a neoprene iPod/smartphone holder with armstrap to take along with you on your workouts.

Required Entry

Leave a comment on this post telling us what your current breakfast routine is like and if what you’re eating for breakfast keeps you full until lunch time.

Extra Entries

Leave a separate comment for each additional entry.

Subscribe to Woman Tribune
Follow @WomanTribune on Twitter
“Like” Woman Tribune on Facebook
Blog about this giveaway with a link back to this post and details about the Fiber One 80 Calories cereal prize pack. (This entry is worth five entries, so leave five separate comments with the link to your blog post)
Tweet about this giveaway. Feel free to use the following tweet or write your own. (This can be done once a day, leave the link to your tweet in your comment)

Win a Fiber One 80 Calories cereal prize pack from @WomanTribune & #MyBlogSpark http://ow.ly/6dW1w ends 9/2

This giveaway ends Friday, September 2nd at 11:59 p.m. ET. This giveaway is open to all U.S. residents over the age of 18 at the time of entry. The winner will be randomly chosen and contacted by email; they then have 48 hours (2 days) to respond to that email or another winner will be chosen.

Full Contest Disclaimer

This giveaway is now closed and the winner is…

Congratulations!

Disclosure: Fiber One 80 Calories cereal, information, and giveaway have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark.

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Oh, How Pinteresting: Desserts in Jars

Holly — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 14:33:48 +0000

I started using Pinterest a few weeks ago after seeing quite a few people on Twitter talking about how great it is. And it really is. Pinterest is an awesome place to get ideas; for your personal style, for DIY projects, for your garden, for damn near pretty much anything. Most recently, I have been pinning a whole lot of images of delectable-looking foods. Mostly desserts and specifically, desserts in jars. I don’t know what it is about them. Cakes and pies look delicious on their own, but when you bake them in jars, they look that much better.

Source: blogs.babble.com via Holly on Pinterest

The lattice tops on these peach pies are insanely cute. I especially love how you can see the juice from the fruits inside coming out over the top of the crust.

Source: blogs.babble.com via Holly on Pinterest

Neapolitan cake, complete with swirled chocolate, vanilla and strawberry frosting. While they are a bit out-of-focus, I am loving those small wooden spoons. They seem quite fitting when eating cake out of a jar.

Source: ohjoy.blogs.com via Holly on Pinterest

Lemon meringue pie and let me ask you, how downright amazing does that meringue look!?

Source: mycakies.blogspot.com via Holly on Pinterest

Layered cupcakes in a jar. It is really surprising just how easily you can make these. Even I can make these and I am a disaster in the kitchen most of the time.

Source: howsweeteats.com via Holly on Pinterest

S’mores cake; the colors in those jars practically scream ‘Halloween!’ to me. I hope it isn’t too early for me to be talking Halloween already!

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How Do You Describe Dinner in One Word?

Holly — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 21:16:54 +0000

Dinnertime brings on a unique set of challenges for every family. We have all heard tips on how dinnertime should be, but we all have a different routine and pace for how dinner is served in our households.

Ragu recently asked moms to describe what dinner is like in their house using only one word. So far, there has been a lot of response and the one word that has come up the most by far has been “chaos”. However, when it comes to dinner in my house, the one word that immediately pops into my head is togetherness.

My partner and I both work from home, so you would think that we are together so much that we’re completely sick of each other by the end of the day. You would be wrong. He is a musician while I run this here website; if you have ever heard someone play the same guitar riff or the same ten seconds of a song repeatedly for hours on end, you’ll understand why we work in separate areas of our apartment. So when dinnertime rolls around, no one is on a computer, a cell phone, no texting or checking email; it is just a time of togetherness.

Perhaps the reason why dinnertime is one of my favorite times of the day, coming in second to smelling fresh coffee brewing in the morning, is because while I do get in the kitchen and show off my skills, these skills are not so awesome, nor are the product of these “skills” always edible. So for the most part, we have an arrangement that works very well for us: my partner makes dinner and I am the designated cleaner-upper. I like this arrangement mostly because you cannot overcook, under-cook, or burn dishes, the counter, the floor, or anything else that resides in the kitchen. This is assuring to me.

Over the past year I have started experimenting in the kitchen more than I have ever in my life and I have made it a point to make meal preparation and the entire experience of a meal more fun. So with that, I am really psyched to tell you all that from now until the end of the year, I am a Ragu Mom’s the Word on Dinner ambassador. What this means for you is, well, quite a lot actually; I will be posting more here about dinnertime over the next couple of months and what dinnertime is like in my household, and Ragu will be sponsoring some awesome giveaways for you to enter to win! Ragu will also be giving me the opportunity to host in-home parties to try out some recipes made with their selection of really great sauces, in which I’ll be posting a lot of pictures of.

This new partnership is particularly awesome because I have used Ragu sauces for years. In fact, just a few days ago we had some delicious spaghetti, featuring organic chicken breasts smothered in cheese, and topped with Ragu Old World Traditional sauce.

This was really delicious, and now, armed with Ragu and some handy dandy new recipe cards, I will be embarking on a journey. Destination: my kitchen, mission: create delectable, or at least edible meals, probability of hilarity ensuing: high.

So stay tuned, I am positive I will have a lot to share with you all with upcoming posts, pictures, and videos.

Now it’s your turn! How do you describe dinner in one word?

This post was created in connection with my appointment as an Ambassador in the Ragú® Mom’s the Word on Dinner Program. Visit www.facebook.com/ragusauce to join the conversation.

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This Summer, Remember Green is Good with Sunkist Valencia Oranges

Holly — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 15:02:02 +0000

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Sunkist. All opinions are 100% mine.

This week has brought on the official beginning of summer, but you would swear summer came early this year by the amount of humidity in the air; the kind of humidity that makes you feel sticky within ten minutes of walking outside. As we all know, different seasons bring on cravings for different flavors and in the summer, I cannot get enough fruit. It just so happens that summer is also peak season for Sunkist Valencia oranges, which is why they are also commonly called summer oranges.

So when you’re at your local market or grocery store and you’re picking through the bin of oranges, it’s likely that when you come across an orange with a bit of green around it, you think that it isn’t ripe and you continue your search for the “perfect” oranges to bring home. Here’s something you may not know, when it comes to Sunkist Valencia oranges, green is good! These particular oranges grow and develop into their bright orange color on the tree, but when warm temperatures come around, their skin reabsorbs chlorophyll which is what makes them look partly green. Although the outside has some green color to it, rest assured that the inside of the orange remains ripe, juicy and delicious! Check out the Sunkist Valencia Oranges Re-greening Video from Chef Robert Danhi to learn more.

While the most straightforward thing you can do with a good, ripe orange is to peel it and indulge, oranges make fabulous ingredients for a wide variety of different meals and snacks. Here is a great recipe from Sunkist for a simple, light, and tasty mixture full of summer flavors that can be used to top crackers to make a great appetizer or mid-day snack.

You will need:

3 Sunkist Valencia oranges, segmented and zested
20 cherry tomatoes, halved
1 lb. tub Bocconcini mozzarella
1/4 cup Opal (purple) basil, shredded into small pieces
20 whole wheat crackers
Salt to taste
1/4 cup fresh rosemary
1/4 cup fresh thyme
1/8 cup fresh oregano
1 1/2 cups extra virgin olive oil
1 tbsp. black pepper

Directions:

Cut the Bocconcini into halves.

Zest the Valencia oranges using a micro plane or fine grater and set aside. To segment the oranges, cut off the top and bottom.

Lay the orange on a flat surface, using a pairing knife, remove the skin and white pith. Carefully cut and release each segment from between the membranes and set aside.

In a blender, add the olive oil, orange zest and fresh herbs. Pulse until blended, continue to blend on medium speed until the herbs and zest are finely chopped; add the pepper and pulse quickly. Pour into a jar or plastic container. Leftover oil can be kept refrigerated for up to one month and used as a marinade for fish, poultry or vegetables.

Toss the orange segments, cherry tomatoes, Bocconcini and basil lightly with 3/4 cup of orange scented herb oil and season with salt.

To serve: Top each cracker with the mixture and serve.

This is just one of many recipes you can try out this summer. Be sure to check out their website for additional Sunkist citrus recipes.

Are you one of the many women out there looking to get more active this summer? I’ve been easing into doing just that due to the recent medical problems I have been experiencing, and one super simple thing that has made a ton of difference in my life is making my own juice with fresh ingredients.

Fresh juice is loaded with nutritional power that your body will notice and contrary to popular belief, you don’t need a high-powered juicer to make it, so don’t be discouraged if all you have in your kitchen is a blender. Chop up some fresh fruit, add a handful of kale and you have yourself some amazing juice that will keep you energized throughout the day. I always make way too much juice to fit into a large glass, so if you do the same, you can keep it refrigerated overnight, just make sure that it is tightly covered and immediately chilled or else you can risk your juice losing flavor and vitamin C.

If juice isn’t your thing but you want to treat yourself to a nice smoothie, start with a 1/2 cup of juice and 1/2 cup of diced oranges in a blender. Add a peeled banana, some frozen berries and a 1/2 cup of yogurt and blend.

What are some of your favorite things to do with fresh fruit in the summer?

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Blueberry Brown Sugar Newtons Fruit Thins Review

Holly — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 17:00:05 +0000

Who doesn’t love cookies? No one. Everyone loves cookies, and if there is someone reading this right now thinking that I’m wrong and that they really don’t like cookies, I assure you, you just haven’t found the kind for you. There are a ton of varieties of cookies and I humbly suggest you try as many different types as you can and find the cookie that clicks with your taste buds.

I have been a fan of nearly all cookies I have tried, with a few notable exceptions of course, and I can now officially add yet another cookie brand to that ever-growing list: Newtons Fruit Thins!

I recently received a package of the brand new Newtons Fruit Thins cookies in the blueberry brown sugar flavor. When I was first asked if I would be interested in trying them out, I didn’t think I would be in to them in the least. Mostly I said yes with my partner in mind, who absolutely loves Fig Newtons. I do not. I think they are crap. See? Notable exception right there! But he has always loved them and since they are the same company and all, it makes sense that I thought that I would be presented with that same caliber of cookie; the kind that my partner loves and can’t get enough of and I think are crap.

I am so happy that I get to report that Newtons Fruit Thins are absolutely nothing like Fig Newtons. They shouldn’t even be allowed to be sold in the same aisle of the grocery store. Then again, I will debate anyone for as many rounds as it takes on the argument that Fig Newtons should not be allowed to be called cookies in the first place, but I digress. Newtons Fruit Thins are totally different. Firstly, they are edible and not just edible, but I have eaten them, now on numerous occasions, willingly and have been left wanting to eat more of them. They are super tasty and fill your taste buds with immediate delicious blueberry flavor, which I happen to be a huge fan of because I love blueberries. I also love brown sugar. Good job on that pairing, Newtons!

Newtons Fruit Thins aren’t just a completely different take on treats from Newtons, they are a whole different kind of cookie all together. They are thin, crispy, light and make a delicious and more wholesome snack than your run of the mill, filled with chocolate or many of the other not-so-good-for-you ingredients that we see in most cookies. Newtons’ cookies are made with real fruit and contain 8 grams of whole grain per serving. While they are a healthier snacking option, it is important to remember that they are cookies and they are an indulgence. A super delicious indulgence. The serving size of Newtons Fruit Thins are 3 cookies which equal 140 calories, 5 grams of total fat and 1 to 1.5 grams of saturated fat.

Newtons Fruit Thins are available in four different flavors; blueberry and brown sugar, which I can tell you are absolutely delicious, and also cranberry citrus oat, which I am definitely looking forward to trying out, chocolate raspberry and fig and honey, because as we are all very aware of, Newtons loves their figs.

Check out the Newtons website for more information about these awesome new cookies, as well as the Fruit Crisps, which I am quite intrigued about, and of course, their original Newtons cookies.

I received one package of Newtons Fruit Thins for review through One2One Network. No other compensation was received, and opinions are my own.

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Father’s Day Gift Idea from RedEnvelope: Here’s To Dad Root Beer and Snack Sampler Review

Holly — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 18:24:18 +0000

Father’s Day is just a little over two weeks away, making it the perfect time to start thinking about great gifts your dad or husband would be thrilled to receive. A lot of dads can be incredibly difficult to shop for; gift-givers want to be sure to get something the recipient is going to get a good amount of use out of and men don’t generally drop hints, give clues, or seem to need much of anything that would make a great gift.

Luckily, there is RedEnvelope, which has such a spectacular variety of gifts for Father’s Day and more that you’re sure to see a little bit of the dad in your life in a number of the items they carry.

RedEnvelope recently gave me the opportunity to try out one of their Father’s Day gifts, which I picked out especially for my partner who could use a little something special just for him to enjoy.

He was presented with the Here’s To Dad Root Beer and Snack Sampler, which quite literally made his face light up when he picked it up out of the box it arrived in.

Included in the metal tin were three bottles of Dad’s Root Beer, beer nuts, salami, cheese, Napa Valley mustard, three pepper water crackers, California Crunchies and smoked almonds. Also included was a cheese knife which worked perfectly to slice the cheese and salami that could then be stacked on the three pepper water crackers. Little by little, the contents of the tin made their way up into my partner’s office so he could snack while he worked and in just two days, everything was gone. He had quite the little feast and loved everything included. Every time he tried something new from the tin, I received a play-by-play of how completely delicious it was and I have to say, I’m pretty thrilled that he enjoyed it as much as he did. In fact, he even said it was one of the best Father’s Day gifts he has ever received, even if he did receive it about two weeks early.

This is the first time I have opted to give my partner something on the savory side instead of giving him sweets. He really loves his sweet stuff, let me tell you, but this went over much better than any cake, cookie, pie, brownie, or cupcake gift I could have given him instead.

The tin included in this gift can be kept and used again and again. Just fill it with ice, put the bottles of Dad’s Root Beer inside, or any other bottled drink, and put it out for parties or casual summer get-togethers and you have some ice cold drinks that can be enjoyed right away.

If your dad isn’t quite into the savory edible gifts, RedEnvelope also has a great selection of unique gadget gifts for dad you should definitely check out.

To receive updates on new products, email deals, and even 20% off your next purchase at RedEnvelope, be sure to like them on Facebook.

Disclosure: I received the Here’s To Dad Root Beer and Snack Sampler from RedEnvelope in order to write this review.

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Ritz Crackerfuls Multigrain Sharp Cheddar Snacks Review

Holly — Thu, 26 May 2011 04:08:00 +0000

When it comes to snacking, there is a lot of conflicting information floating around out there. To some, snacking is unhealthy and should be avoided, and to others, snacking is attached to guilt. I, however, fall into another category. Snacking is crucial to me; not just because I would be starving between meals if I suddenly stopped snacked now, but also because I have faced a few challenges with my metabolism, which on occasion, has pretty much shut down and left me feeling not hungry and therefore not able to take cues from my body about when and how much to eat at one time and when.

While snacking constantly is probably not such a good idea, it really all depends on what you snack on and how often between your bigger meals. I recently had the opportunity to try out the new Ritz Crackerfuls Multigrain Sharp Cheddar snacks. They are a great pick me up between meals so you can keep your energy up without feeling sluggish, tired, or just too hungry to function at your best throughout the day.

In every box of Ritz Crackerfuls are six individually wrapped crackers. I have a slight problem with snacks that are individually wrapped, just because I think it’s wasteful where it necessarily doesn’t have to be. However, I understand why they are. These crackers are snacks and you’re not always eating snacks at home. With them being individually wrapped, you can easily take one or two out in the morning and bring them to work with you or leave a few in the car to snack on while you’re running errands.

I have not tried the regular Ritz Crackerfuls flavors, but I did enjoy the multigrain. They are a great texture (I am all about texture when it comes to the any foods I eat), and the nuttiness of the grains taste great and make the crackers just that much more filling. The cheddar cheese in these crackers taste exactly the same as the cheddar cheese in every single other type of Ritz Crackers products, which is fine by me since I love the stuff. Overall, my Ritz Crackerfuls Multigrain experience was a pretty great one.

Ritz Crackerfuls Multigrain are made with 6 grams of whole grains, real cheese, and include 5 grams of fiber. This may lead you to believe that this is a healthy snack. It’s a simple conclusion to come to, but I would just like to point out that they may not be as healthy as you are initially led to believe. Upon further dietary research, or, you know, looking at the side of the box, you will find that they are 130 calories per serving (1 cracker) and also contain 210 mg of sodium. While they surely are not as super healthy as you may think at first, they do in fact the pants off of a lot of other popular snacking choices out there in terms of nutrition.

If sharp cheddar cheese isn’t your thing, Ritz Crackerfuls Multigrain are also available in garden vegetable (which I would really love to try next) and garlic herb. Lucky for you, you can get a coupon for $0.75 off any Ritz Crackerfuls variety just by liking Ritz on Facebook and downloading the coupon.

I received one package of Ritz Crackerfuls Multigrain Sharp Cheddar for review through One2One Network. No other compensation was received, and opinions are my own.

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Freschetta By the Slice Review and Coupon and Container Giveaway [Closed]

Holly — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 20:00:02 +0000

This giveaway is now closed.

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of FRESCHETTA®. All opinions are 100% mine.

Pizza is one of the most universally quick, easy and delicious meal options in any household, mine definitely included. In my case, pizza is usually ordered when my partner and I both adamantly refuse to carry ourselves into the kitchen to cook something for dinner, but pizza can also be a really great lunch or snack option, especially now that there are perfectly-portioned frozen options available that can be taken out of the freezer and cooked in less time than it takes to call the pizza place, place an order and wait for the delivery person to come knocking on your door.

FRESCHETTA® By the Slice is exactly what it sounds like–one perfectly-sized piece of pizza with the same great taste and of the same impeccable quality as their full-size frozen pizzas.

I had the opportunity to try FRESCHETTA® By the Slice for myself and it was great to have at lunch time when I was just hungry enough to know i should eat a little something and it really hit the spot, leaving me satisfied and ready to get on with the rest of my day until dinnertime.

When preparing FRESCHETTA® By the Slice pizza, you have two options, either the microwave or the conventional oven. I opted to cook mine in the oven as I am really not a fan of heating things in the microwave; in my opinion, the microwave has a tendency to practically ruin foods. So, when FRESCHETTA® By the Slice is cooked in the oven, the crust comes out amazingly crispy while all of the flavors on the pizza, like those on the Chicken, Spinach & Mushroom pizza, retain their own individual flavors that taste great!

FRESCHETTA® By the Slice is available in four different flavors, suitable for just about anyone’s tastes; the BBQ Recipe Chicken, Six Cheese Medley, Vegetable Medley and Chicken, Spinach & Mushroom, and they can be found in the frozen pizza section of your local grocery store.

Giveaway

We want you to try out FRESCHETTA® By the Slice for yourself, so we are giving away one coupon that can be redeemed for one free FRESCHETTA® By the Slice product and a three-piece reusable container set.

Required Entry

Leave a comment on this post telling us what flavor of FRESCHETTA® By the Slice you would like to try.

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Blog about this giveaway with a link back to this post and details about FRESCHETTA® By the Slice. (This entry is worth five entries, so leave five separate comments with the link to your blog post.)
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Win a FRESCHETTA® By the Slice free coupon and 3-piece reusable container set from @WomanTribune http://bit.ly/mgeUvO ends 5/7

This giveaway ends Saturday May 7th at 11:59 p.m. ET. This giveaway is open to all U.S. residents over the age of 18 at the time of entry. The winner will be randomly chosen and contacted by email; they then have 48 hours (2 days) to respond to that email or another winner will be chosen.

This giveaway is now closed and the winner is…

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Shari’s Berries Cheesecake Trio and Full Half Dozen Giant Dipped Fancy Berries Review

Holly — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 17:00:53 +0000

Who doesn’t love relaxing after a long day, after the house has quieted down, with your feet up, a glass of wine and some delightfully decadent treats? Thanks to some choice products from Shari’s Berries, I was able to do just that recently and let me tell you, it was pretty amazing; so amazing that I am super excited to not only have had the opportunity to experience some of their treats and make a few quiet nights of relaxation and yummy treats possible, but to also be able to share them with you just in time for Mother’s Day.

After some serious deliberation while looking through the Shari’s Berries berries and more product selection, I settled on trying their Cheesecake Trio & Full Half Dozen Giant Dipped Fancy Berries. Included are six Fancy Berries and three individually-sized, mini cheesecakes.

The Shari’s Berries Fancy Berries are six surprisingly large and delicious strawberries covered in an arrangement of chocolates and toppings that include (from left to right in the image above), a white chocolate covered strawberry drizzled in dark chocolate, a dark chocolate covered strawberry drizzled in milk chocolate, a milk chocolate covered strawberry covered in peanuts, a white chocolate covered strawberry covered in coconut, a dark chocolate covered strawberry covered in chocolate chips, and lastly, a milk chocolate covered strawberry drizzled in white chocolate.

From the first bite I took from the very first chocolate covered strawberry I picked up from the box, I was in love with these things. Seriously, six is not nearly enough. This is especially true when you have one strawberry and put the box back in the refrigerator, then in no less than fifteen minutes, you’re already thinking of heading back into the kitchen to get another one. And then another. Then, before you know it, they’re gone.

The Cheesecake Trio includes three flavors, including Classic New York cheesecake, a rich and smooth white chocolate cheesecake and a chocolate Rocky Road cheesecake, which is not a flavor you see being infused into cheesecake creations every day.

While the three cheesecakes are individually-sized and considered to be the perfect serving size for one person to enjoy, I found them to be incredibly rich. They are incredibly delicious, but after just half of one cheesecake, I was just about done. Of course, this means your cheesecakes just may last twice as long, and if you so choose, you can cut your cheesecakes in half and share them with your partner or spouse and make a romantic night of it.

I was completely impressed with the Shari’s Berries’ products; the care and consideration that went into the flavors at work and the overall quality of these treats is abundantly apparent.

Shari’s Berries has a truly incredible variety of treats that all make perfect gifts for all occasions. Mother’s Day is coming up very quickly, so if you’re looking for a great gift that will ensure mom gets a much-deserved break and a chance to splurge on everything from chocolate covered strawberries and cheesecakes to truffles, cookies, cakes and even spa baskets, be sure to check out their brilliant selection of Mother’s Day gifts.

Disclosure: I received Cheesecake Trio & Full Half Dozen Giant Dipped Fancy Berries from Shari’s Berries in order to write this review.

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Progresso Souper You Debut Prize Pack Giveaway Winner

Holly — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 08:52:13 +0000

Thanks to everyone who entered our second-annual Progresso Souper You Debut prize pack giveaway sponsored by Progresso and MyBlogSpark.

The prize pack includes VIP coupons that can be redeemed at your local grocery store for free cans of Progresso soup, as well as a yoga mat, water bottle, set of aerobic bands, sport headband and two sport wristbands.

The winner of this prize pack giveaway is Tara Oliver

Congratulations!

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