The New Southern Table by Brys Stephens

May 5, 2014 by Christine 1 Comment

I was sent this book for the purposes of this review. Although I was sent this book for free, all opinions are my own.

I was absolutely intrigued by the book, The New Southern Table by Brys Stephens. Being that I am from the Northwest and have always lived in this region, I do not know much about southern food traditions. I have never let Okra touch my lips and only in the past few years have I gotten very adventurous at all with my pallet.

The New Southern Table looks at traditional southern ingredients such as peaches, okra, greens and “flips” them. They are made in not traditional ways in order to create a whole new desire for the staple ingredients in the southern part of the US.
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Win a Waffle Maker from Karlorik

April 11, 2014 by Danielle 52 Comments

Disclosure: The Waffle Maker from Kalorik mentioned below were provided for me in order to facilitate my review. All opinions are my own and honest. I am disclosing this in accordance to FTC Guidelines. Please see “Disclose” tab for more information.

We are big breakfast eaters in this house. We are often busy in the morning and don’t always have time for the big breakfast that we would like, but it is not a big surprise to find us occasionally eating breakfast for supper. We were so excited to be able to try out the Rotary Waffle Maker from Kalorik.

About Kalorik:

All the Kalorik products are designed in Belgium and made in China. All of the Kalorik products are warranted for 1 year from date of purchase against defects in material and workmanship. The majority of the products that are listed on their website or in the catalog are also available in many retail stores. In some cases, merchandise displayed for sale on their website or in the catalog may not be available at retail stores.

About Rotary Waffle Maker:

You will never have to suffer through a burnt waffle again with this rotating waffle maker from Kalorik. This waffle maker has extra deep waffle pockets that allow for thick Belgian waffles.

Alpine Alpine Lace® Reduced-Fat Deli Cheese #LifeIngredients

April 1, 2014 by Samantha 3 Comments

This is a sponsored post written on behalf of Alpine Lace. All opinions are my own and honest. I am disclosing this in accordance to FTC Guidelines. Please see “Disclose” tab for more information.

Being a mother is hard work! There is never enough sleep, enough time, or enough energy to get through each week. Day after day, we make small decisions that open the door to a lifestyle of not taking as much care of ourselves as much as we should be.

Taking small steps is the key to getting back on track to a healthy lifestyle and good eating habits, for both you and your children. Choosing healthy snacks, lower fat options, and whole foods is a great way to take back control of your diet. Need ideas? Start with cheese.

Alpine Lace ® Deli Cheese is a high-quality, wholesome, satisfying cheese that provides enough indulgence to fuel your day.

The best thing about Alpine Lace Cheese is that the perfect on-the-go snack, too! Show me a mother and I will show you someone that needs great, portable snacks. There is something about having kids that automatically makes you a taxi and when you’re in the car constantly, as I am, it is easy to fall into the rut of chips, burgers, and candy bars. Challenge yourself to be prepared with better options: nuts, fruits, and Alpine Lace Reduced Fat Swiss Cheese. Not only can it be paired with apples and grapes as a mess free car snack, you can also use it in sandwiches and recipes for a more filling meal.
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Filed Under: cooking, food, recipes Tagged With: food

The Great Cholesterol Myth Cookbook

March 19, 2014 by Samantha 1 Comment

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About The Great Cholesterol Myth Cookbook:

Publication Date- November 15, 2013

Publisher- Fair Winds Press

For decades, low-fat and low-cholesterol diets have been touted as the way to prevent and reverse heart disease. In the groundbreaking book, The Great Cholesterol Myth, Jonny Bowden and Stephen Sinatra debunked that assertion, arguing that fat—often curtailed on traditional low cholesterol “heart-healthy” diets—is not the enemy and may in fact be part of the solution. Now, in The Great Cholesterol Myth Cookbook, the authors and nutrition expert and whole foods chef Deirdre Rawlings, Ph.D., put their findings into action with a detailed meal plan and 100 delicious and nutritious recipes that will prevent and reverse heart disease and give you back the foods you thought were gone forever.

Brilliant Eats:

Sweet and Spicy Beef or Chicken Stir Fry
Veal Scaloppini Supreme
Energizing Thai Spice Chicken Salad
Luscious Lemon- Pineapple Yogurt Cake
Hearty Hazelnut Rounds

What I Loved About It:

The book had amazing reference material about how a diet low in sugar and inflammatory foods and ingredients that are high in healthy fats, protien, antioxidants and key nutrients is the best course of action to prevent and reverse heart disease. My favorite section was “Foods For A Healthy Heart”. I learned that Sugar, Processed Foods, Trans Fat, and Processed Meats are the enemies when eating for a healthy heart. It gave you a detailed summary of exactly why these types of foods were bad for you and things to look for. Did you know that just because a label boasts “zero trans fat” that doesn’t mean it actually is? If you read the label and it has the words “partially hydrogenated” the product has trans fat and needs to be put back. Labels are your best friend and you need to read them carefully!
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Filed Under: cooking, food, health Tagged With: cookbook, health

Kitchen Club Kids- Rainbow Salad

March 12, 2014 by Danielle Leave a Comment

Disclosure: The End of the Rainbow Fruit Salad Book from Kitchen Club Kids was provided for me in order to facilitate my review. All opinions are my own and honest. I am disclosing this in accordance to FTC Guidelines. Please see “Disclose” tab for more information.

One of my favorite things to do with my girls is to cook. They love to spend time in the kitchen with me just as much as I love to have them in there with me. The Kitchen Club Kids is the perfect addition to our days in the Kitchen together.

About Kitchen Club Kids:

Kitchen Club Kids promotes healthy eating habits, fundamental learning opportunities and recipe building. Not to mention the books are very fun to read.

Each story introduces a real recipe that can be prepared in the kitchen by cooks of any level. SO, whether you’re reading with your child before mealtime or before bedtime, Kitchen Club Kids turns story time into a culinary, learning adventure.

Kitchen Club Kids cooking adventure books are also a great gift for expecting moms and foodie friends with young kids. The colorful illustrations and layered learning opportunities on each page will keep your child’s interest from beginning to end.

The Daily Grind: What Goes Into Your Favorite Cup Of Coffee

March 4, 2014 by Samantha Leave a Comment

A lot of effort goes into making a good cup of coffee. After the beans are initially picked, they need to be hulled, polished and sorted before they can be processed further. And that’s not even the hardest part of the process. Many machines are used in the making of a typical cup of coffee. The machines are used to remove layers from the bean, including the entire dried husk. The beans are then polished which helps to determine the quality of the final product.

After polishing, the beans will be sorted. This is the stage where people can check each bean for defects. Beans that don’t have the right colour or size are discarded. The remaining beans can then be traded to companies that process them even further. It’s amazing to think that all this behind-the-scenes process take place for every different variety of coffee bean you can image, all showcased online on sites such as www.ebay.co.uk.

Coffee from all over the world

According to Wikipedia, three billion coffee plants are cultivated worldwide to satisfy a demand of over 2.25 billion cups consumed every day. When the plants are cultivated they are loaded onto ships and transported across the globe.
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Filed Under: cooking, food Tagged With: Coffee

Shepherd’s/Cottage Pie Meatballs

February 16, 2014 by Samantha 1 Comment

If you call something shepherd’s pie on the Internet but you use beef instead of lamb, people freak out. I personally like this recipe better with beef, but it works both ways, so I wanted to leave it open for you to decide. The fun part of this recipe is biting into a meatball to find the soft mashed potato on the inside.

Makes: 30 to 35 meatballs

Heat: 0

Pig-Out Scale: 6.4

Potatoes

2 large russet potatoes

Olive oil

Salt and pepper

4 tablespoons (56 g) butter

2 carrots, diced

1 small onion, diced

2 cups (230 g) corn

½ cup (120 ml) cream

Meatballs

2 cloves garlic, chopped

2 tablespoons (30 ml) Worcestershire sauce

2 slices bread

2 tablespoons (30 ml) milk

¼ cup (16 g) chopped parsley

1 teaspoon salt

1 ½ pounds (680 g) ground beef or lamb

Make the Potatoes: Preheat the oven to 375˚F (190˚C, or gas mark 5). Rub the potatoes with oil and season with salt and pepper. Place on a baking sheet and bake for about 1 ½ ours, until tender.
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Filed Under: cooking, food, recipes Tagged With: dinner, food, recipe

Baby Carrot Soup Recipe

February 8, 2014 by Samantha Leave a Comment

Vidalia onions were first grown during the Depression in the sandy soil of Toombs County, Georgia, where farmers were surprised to find they’d cultivated a variety that was sweet, not hot. Their unique taste balances the slightly hot chipotle peppers in this easy-to-make (yet company-worthy!) soup.