Posts by admin:
- 1-14-ounce Nasoya Extra-Firm tofu (sliced in half width-wise, then sliced in 3 rectangles)
- 2 teaspoons coconut oil
- 2 1/2 tablespoons paprika
- 2 tablespoons salt
- 2 tablespoons garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon dried thyme
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking soda ( I forgot to add this!!!)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1-3/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground cloves
- 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 3/4 cup Earth Balance coconut spread, melted
- 1 cup coconut palm sugar
- 1/3 cup sugar, for rolling
- 1 egg, room temperature
- 1/4 cup molasses
Michelob ULTRA Light Cider Review
June 11th, 2012
I love doing reviews and even though I have been getting behind with the list of goodies I’ve been getting lately do know that those reviews will soon be posted.
I recently was given the chance to try Michelob’s new product called ULTRA Light Cider. The sponsor’s site happens to be Anheuser-Busch first cider produced and distributed in the United States so this should be one reason to try this product. When I see “Light” in a title, I almost always assume it has some fake sugar added to the product so I skip it and do not even buy it.
Hard cider is one drink I was first introduced when I moved to Michigan. It was November 2009 and we went to an apple farm in St. John where we drank hot apple cider, consumed donuts and purchased our first bottle of fresh hard cider. Yes, hard cider is an alcoholic drink, for those who have never tried it. When I drank it I knew it had alcohol and it was smooth and crisp at the same time. I also knew it was a combination of apples and grapes with perfect carbonation. How many calories in a glass of that drink? It was estimated that there was about 195 calories per glass.
Why share that information with you? Well I knew that consuming alcohol was not calorie-free so why not choose something that had the minimum amount without the fake ingredients?
Michelob’s ULTRA Light Cider has 120 calories per serving and is naturally gluten-free made with all-natural ingredients and lightly sweetened with stevia. Yes, STEVIA! It has a total of 6 grams of sugar that comes in the form of dextrose too.
What makes cider different than beer? Well, cider’s process is similar to that of beer but it does not use barley or hops. Instead the brewing process only includes apples. Michelob’s ULTRA Light Cider is a great alternative to champagne, white wine and as I stated before, even traditional ciders. Check out this process:
Please visit Michelob’s site here;
Michelob ULTRA Light Cider on BlogHer.com
and for more info or even their Facebook page for additional notes.
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Cajun-grilled and Blackened Tofu
June 7th, 2012
REMINDER!! Don’t forget to sign up for the coffee gadget giveaway!
This is such an easy recipe and I at least make this twice a week in order to have lunch and dinner options. Try and let me know how you like it!
1/4 cup Emeril’s Creole Seasoning
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Aerobie® AeroPress® Coffee and Espresso Maker Review and Giveaway
June 5th, 2012
I have a lovely product to showcase today. As many of you know, Ryan and I enjoy coffee lots! I believe, ahem, that we have been called coffee snobs at one point or other, but I believe we specific tastes. Who doesn’t?
I was recently given a chance to try out the Aerobie® AeroPress® Coffee and Espresso Maker. Aerobie was founded in 1984 and they specialized in making sports toys, but in 2005 they started the production of this espresso maker.
How about a little about the inventor? This is pretty amazing:
Who needs another gadget in the kitchen, right? I do. I mean, I do. Our Kitchen Aid Coffee Maker has been well used but between cleaning and drying each part, I wish the time was spent on buying a cup from Starbucks. I know. Ha ha.
Then we have our espresso machine, but seeing we do not have too much counter space, it ends being stored away. Our French Press is used often, but then the beans have to be ground and then poured into the glass then the water has to be heated. As a new mom, quick processes and shortcuts are essential.
Yes, I drink coffee with an infant and it is usually much needed. Did I mention that my baby sleeps through the night? Thank you. 🙂
In comes this COOL and innovative Aeropress. As the title suggests, all one has to do is press a plunger in a cylinder that has been filled with finely ground coffee and hot water and coffee is ready in your mug in 20 seconds.
20 seconds. Yes. That is quick and it is SO TASTY.
I believe I initially was out of town when the product first arrived so I gave the task to my husband to read the instructions and to try the coffee for the first time. I came home a few days later and he prepared me a mug of coffee. Talk about the smoothest tasting coffee. It is so creamy and well, the clean-up process is quick and easy and I can one cup or two cups without a problem.
The chamber has removable filter cap where a very thin filter is placed. The filter cap is placed back on the chamber. There is a funnel provided to prevent coffee spills. I really did not think this was necessary.
The chamber is placed on top of a mug while all this process occurs. Dripping will otherwise occur.
Hot water is then poured into the chamber up the number 2 line or to line 4 for two cups of coffee. There is a stirrer that is also provided. Stir the coffee for 10 seconds.
Using the plunger provided, the rubber seal must be moistened before being placed in the chamber.
The plunger must be pressed gently downwards, until all the air is expelled and the coffee has been released into the mug.
You now have a double shot of espresso that can be consumed as is or you can make a American coffee by adding hot water to the coffee or a latte by adding hot milk.
Does this sound tantalizing?? The steps seem complicated but once you know what needs to be done it is a cinch.
The one thing that I do is reuse the grounds. I remove the plunger and add more hot water, stir, and press for another cup of coffee. I think it tastes JUST as good.
There were some things that seemed a bit confusing to me. It is just assumed that the coffee scoops are multiplied for the amount of coffee servings. The other thing is that even though the instructions talk about GENTLY pressing the plunger into the chamber, it was quite hard to gently press downwards. It is a bit of hand workout but it is WORTH IT!
If you get a chance go to Aeropress website’s and watch the video, demonstrating how it all works.
How about a chance to win one of these babies? The company was very nice to offer one to my readers.
This contest is only open to readers in the USA though, sorry.
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Secret Recipe Club: Grandma’s Molasses Cookies
June 4th, 2012
Wow folks! Can anyone ELSE believe it is June? I totally feel like I am still in March or April. All I can say is that I am happy the weather has given us a break. It feels more like spring and April with all the showers we have been having.
I finally did some baking this weekend! I had a friend ask me how I found time with everything I have to do to bake. Well, after the baby goes down to sleep at 7:30 or 8pm, I catch up on housework and chores until maybe midnight. Lately we have been going to sleep at 11pm. So tired! Anyway, even though I have not been making sweets around the house I made an excuse to bake.
Secret Recipe Club is finally here for the month of June. I was so excited to realize I was given such a popular blog, called The Yummy Life. The author,Monica, is a fabulous blogger and poster of recipes. She creates recipes that I wish I could and pictures that have you salivating. She has a wonderful support system with her family especially the talents of her son, who built the website for her. I need some help on mine for sure! Is that possible Monica? 🙂
Anyway, I was a bit overwhelmed with the choices. I really wish I could have made 4 to 6 recipes, and I STILL plan on making them, like the Chili Beans and the Healthy Egg McMuffin Copycat . I also plan on trying her salads and dressings too. GO check out those recipes.
Okay, so what did I bake? I decided on spiced cookies, called Grandma’s Molasses Cookies. I know that the last two months I have chosen pumpkin recipes and now I chose a spice cookie that Monica posted in December 2011. I wanted to use my blackstrap molasses and the sound of spices in a cookies made me imagine the smell. I HAD to make them.
What you will realize is that my cookies do not look anything like the original recipe. You know why? I forgot the BAKING SODA!! I never forget ingredients but I guess I can blame my mommy brain right? Sigh….
****Note: Even though I forgot the baking soda, these cookies came out really well! LOL
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Memorial Day Highlights
May 31st, 2012
We started out by going to Detroit and visiting the Henry Ford Museum for 2 days. I did not take the camera but I did have some Phone Pics I’ll share later.
We returned home for a night and then headed out to Grand Rapids for Memorial Day.
Boy was it a HOT day to be outside. Suddenly walking sculpture gardens and seeing nature was not so exciting.
