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- 3 vine-ripened tomatoes, diced
- 3 shallots, diced ( about 1/3 cup)
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 jalapeno, deseeded and diced
- 1/2 cup red wine vinegar
- 2/3 cup Steviva Blend
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon clove
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 Tablespoons pickles, chopped
- Bring all ingredients, except pickles, to a quick boil and then reduce heat on medium low and simmer for 30 minutes or when most of the liquid has evaporated. Remove from heat and allow to cool in a Mason ball jar.
- Once cooled, add pickles at the end, and mix well. May be used immediately at room temperature or can be stored in fridge. Good for 6 months.
- Other chances to win was to follow my Instagram profile : @singerinkitchen
- 1 lb boneless chicken, sliced in strips
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 Tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 medium yellow bell pepper, seeded and chopped in big square pieces
- 1 medium green bell pepper, seeded and chopped in big square pieces
- 1 medium onion, peeled and chopped in big square pieces
- 1 cup canned pineapple chunks
- 1/2 cup reserved pineapple juice
- 3 Tablespoons Steviva Blend
- 3 Tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1/2 cup chicken stock
- 4 teaspoons cornstarch, mixed with 4 teaspoons water
- Cooked rice, for serving
Sugar Free Tomato Relish for Cheese Boards
December 7th, 2018There is always a need for lovely sides that make an ideal cheese board. When I was looking to pair a sharp cheddar, I read that a great tomato relish made for a delicious pairing along with some roast beef. Steviva helped me make this relish sugar free and with no guilt.
Cheese-pairing goodness
I love eating my tomatoes fresh but amazingly enough when you mix in a few ingredients wonderful things can happen. When I had a cheese-tasting party a few weekends ago, I was sent some 4-aged sharp cheddar. A few simple crackers just would not do the trick in enjoying such a lovely cheese.
When I was reading about what a relish is all about, I was looking forward making my own. A little sweet, sour and spicy is what I decided I wanted to go for.
Steviva Sweetener
If you do not know much about Steviva, they are a great company that strive and have succeeded making products ideal for those leading low-carb, keto, diabetic lifestyles. One of the products I have been using is Steviva Blend which is a blend of erythritol and stevia.
It is easy to use but it is sweeter so you only need to use half the portion you would in a normal recipe.
Sugar Free Tomato Relish
This is a quick recipe that is ready in 30 minutes. It is delicious with a sharp cheddar, crackers, and roast beef. It was a sure winner at our cheese-pairing party. This is ideal for the holiday season and your future cheeseboard.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Ingredients (makes 1 cup)
Assembly
Learn more about Steviva
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/steviva
Twitter: https://twitter.com/steviva
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevivabrands/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/stevivabrands/
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Matilda The Musical at Walnut Street Theatre Review + GIVEAWAY
December 6th, 2018Do you love reading and watching these very books come to life onstage or on screen? I had the privilege of watching Matilda The Musical at The Walnut Street Theatre, a childhood favorite book of mine. Thanks to PR for providing tickets for our evening.
Based on the beloved Roald Dahl novel, MATILDA THE MUSICAL is the story of the courageous little girl with an unbounded imagination who proves that despite the odds, you can do anything you put your mind to—and change your destiny.
If you’re looking for a funny and entertaining show for your family, you will find it in this production, thanks to the magical touches of Director Linda Goodrich and choreographer Michelle Gaudette.
As I entered the theatre, I was intrigued by the colors and props already displayed. I’m always excited how shows are staged since I’m very familiar with theater and opera life myself.
While there were 2 young girls chosen to alternate in the title role of Matilda, I was happy to catch Jemma Bleu Greenbaum of Elkins Park, PA making her debut at Walnut Street Theatre. She was simply spectacular, I at one point thought she was British or from Irish only to find she is a local actress. She sure fooled me because her accent on onstage was spectacular. The role is a hefty and emotional one and she delivered it really well.
The next two roles that stole my attention came from Ian Merrill Peakes (Miss Trunchbull) and Jacob Tischler (ballroom dancer).
Mr. Peakes is no stranger to the stage, making Matilda The Musical his 127th professional production. He was hilarious to watch especially in this role because everything that the author Roald Dahl described in his book was embodied in Mr. Peakes.
Mr. Tischler is in a supporting role as the ballroom dancer and somehow in the middle of the musical, he stole the show. Thanks to him for adding a comedic effect to his role.
If anything, I’m always amazed by the performances of young singers especially in this show.
MATILDA THE MUSICAL runs at the Walnut now through January 6. The Wednesday, December 12 performance will be ASL interpreted and Audio Described. For tickets and information, call 215-574-
3550 or 800-982-2787. Tickets are also available online 24/7 by visiting
www.WalnutStreetTheatre.org or Ticketmaster.
GIVEAWAY
Walnut Street Theatre is giving 4 tickets away for a family to enjoy a show from here until January 6th. To enter for a chance to win, tell me what your favorite Broadway show is and I will pick a winner by next Wednesday, December 12, 2018.
and follow the post for more chances of winning.
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Sugar Free Sweet and Sour Chicken
November 20th, 2018Are you ready for some holiday recipes and easy meals during this busy time of the year? I am! I find myself trying to make delicious quick meals like this Sugar Free Sweet and Sour Chicken. It is low-carb and uses Steviva as my sugar free option. My family devoured the dish and it is definitely going on my rotation. I am partnering with Steviva by entering their recipe challenge. If you make this recipe, let me know!
Sugar Free Alternative for Cooking
Steviva is known for their low-carb, low-carloric and low-glycemic products that are safe for those who are diabetic or those following the keto, paleo and LCHF lifestyles. While they offer a lot of products on their website, I was only sent the Steviva Blend which is a sweetener blend of stevia and erythritol in a granular form.
I like Asian food, but most of the time all the sauces require so much sugar that I normally do not make it or even order at the restaurant. I decided to try make Sweet and Sour Chicken using a mix of pineapple juice and the Steviva blend and the result was a mouthwatering Asian dish that my three little girls and husband consumed in its entirety.
This meal was ready in 30 minutes and can be served with white or brown rice or over low-carb noodles. I wanted to stay traditional, so I went with white rice with a side of green tea.
I cooked the chicken that I had seasoned in salt, pepper and soy sauce with 2 minced garlic. After the sliced chicken was cooked I sauteed the chopped onions, colored peppers and then added the pineapple chunks. I made a sauce with 1/2 cup chicken broth, 1/2 cup pineapple juice, steviva, and rice vinegar.
Once everything simmered I added a mixture of arrowroot starch and water to thicken the sauce and allowed it to thicken for 5-7 minutes. As soon as it cooked I served alongside some delicious rice. Enjoy.
Sugar Free Sweet and Sour Chicken
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Ingredients (4 servings)
Chicken Marinade
Added ingredients
Instructions
In a large non-stick skillet, heat oil over medium high heat.
Season chicken to make marinade and let sit for 5 minutes and add to pan.
Brown chicken and remove to plate.
Add peppers and onions and cook for 3 minutes.
Stir in pineapple chunks, juice, Steviva, vinegar and chicken stock and bring to a simmer.
Simmer until sauce reduces for about 7 minutes.
Stir in cornstarch mixture and bring liquid to a simmer.
Stir in cooked chicken and cook for another 5 minutes.
Immediately serve over rice or low-carb noodles.
Life has seriously been busy but despite that I have been creating recipes and making yummy meals for my family. While I have not published a post in a while, I have been insta-blogging on Instagram. Taking photos of everything never changes so if you want to be updated, check out my profile.
More about Steviva
Check out Steviva on social and learn more about their products:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/steviva
Twitter: https://twitter.com/steviva
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stevivabrands/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/stevivabrands/
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Disney’s Aladdin Jr –Walnut Street Theatre
September 24th, 2018As musicians, my husband and I love to expose our girls to the arts in various ways. Their appreciation for different musical genres is definitely growing and we love seeing them enjoy music. This past Saturday we had the opportunity to check out a local production of Aladdin Jr. at the Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia geared for kids. Thanks to PR for getting us tickets to enjoy such a colorful and fun production.
Disney’s Aladdin Jr. is different than movie?
My husband and I really did not know the difference between the movie and the stage production of Aladdin but we soon found out through the HOUR-long show that was geared for families with kids, especially of all ages. Admittedly, even though my husband and I enjoy Broadway, we do not always keep up with the news and trends.
Aladdin Jr. is a one-act, eleven scene theatre musical adapted from the 1992 film version of Aladdin. Since it was an hour, there was no intermission and families were quickly spared from meltdowns by their little ones. There are additional songs included as well that are not in the movie. We loved seeing the small cast also perform as the chorus throughout the whole production. It is pretty amazing to see how versatile these young performers can be.
The Production
We loved the performance at Walnut Street Theatre. We sat in the President’s Box in the theatre that allowed for more space and privacy. The girls were able to find a seat that was comfortable even though they did need boosters, which the theatre did provide.
The performers were very fun to watch. It seemed that they were all high school students who have a love for musical theater. The costumes were colorful and the production set was simple, colorful and easy to work with. It was very obvious that each student seemed to enjoy their roles and it definitely brought memories of being on stage.
The actors portraying the princess, villains, and heroes of Agraba are local to the tristate area, and members of the Walnut Street Theatre School. Immanuel Rimmer of Wyncote, PA will take the stage as the title role of Aladdin with Domenica Passio of Philadelphia, PA playing the strong-willed Princess Jasmine. Melina Cruz of Philadelphia, PA will portray the all-powerful Genie with McKenna Rulan of Williamstown, NJ as the dastardly Jafar. Jafar’s sidekick, Iago, will be played by Delilah Figueroa of Southampton, PA. Bringing to life Aladdin’s three best friends, Babkak, Omar, and Kassim will be Nathan Esser of Bluebell, PA, Rachel Gopalani of Merion Station, PA, and Fionnaula Meister of Philadelphia, PA. The Sultan will be played by Andre Brockenbrough, Jr. of Philadelphia, PA
High School Students as Performers
We had a chance to meet some of the performers at the Meet and Greet outside in the lobby. The girls were able to get their Playbills signed with Jasmine and Aladdin. It was so cool to see my girls see these young singers up close and personal. We had a chance to speak to Melina Cruz (Genie) and to Domenica Passio (Jasmine) after the show and it was fun to hear where they attend school, what their favorite musicals are, and what they love about performing. Thanks for sharing ladies!
Their show favorites are Wicked and they both started singing when they were young especially Ms. Cruz. Miss Passio surprisingly started singing in 7th grade and is now a Senior. When music takes a hold of your life you go with it. The girls make their studies a priority with a degree in musical theater being their goal. It was great to see the passion in these young ladies eyes especially with my young girls watching.
Walnut Street Theatre In Philadelphia
We loved visiting Walnut Street Theatre because it was our first time. There is a lot of history to the building, going as far back as 1809. It is America’s oldest season and they are currently in their 210th season! How incredible is that? They have a big season subscription including productions geared for families with young children. As we left the theatre this weekend, they had just finished their 3rd production of Aladdin Jr. and were doing a quick turnaround for Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn. I forget how quick things move in theater.
Aladdin Jr. will be showing again this coming weekend, Saturday, September 29th at 11am and on Sunday, September 30th at 11am. Make sure to make plans to check it out with your family. We love going to the city so then you can hang around and walk Indpendence Hall and see Liberty Bell after.
Do not know where to park in the city? Use the SpotHero app, and get a discount on your first reservation. It find the closest parking to your destination which you can reserve and book. It is so easy. Use my referral promo code: FRKDVQWXL
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Tori Kelly Hiding Place CD [Review]
September 19th, 2018
As a musician, people automatically assume that I only sing and enjoy opera. It is not so. I love all types of music especially uplifting music that encourages the soul. Gospel music is a way to express the soul to our one true God. It allows for our bodies to move, breathe and sing what our soul needs the most. It is an expression of our whole being.
This is what I felt when I listened to Tori Kelly’s new CD called Hiding Place. When I started listening to her CD her voice sounded very familiar but I did not realize who I was listening to until after I finished the 8-track piece. I was first introduced to Tori Kelly as Meena, the voice behind the elephant in SING. My three little girls and I loved her voice and would replay her scenes quite often. Little did I know that she would be introduced into our lives through a wonderful new CD.
Hiding Place is an R&B-infused and melodic take on gospel music. Tori Kelly connected with 12-time Grammy Award-winning Gospel artist Kirk Franklin to collaborate on the musical project that came to be Hiding Place. It is a combination of song written by him as well as Ms. Kelly even though Mr. Franklin was confident she could have produced the whole project herself. Her desire was to have someone inspirational to be part of her project.
Every track has a message starting out with “Masterpiece” which features Houston-bred hip-hop artist Lecrae. It is an upbeat song reminding the listener about our existence and our Creator in Heaven. I love the fact that Ms. Kelly used her beliefs as a Christian to share her faith and her love for God.
She was inspired to title her album Hiding Place based on the verse she loves:
songs of deliverance.”
1As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, my God.
2My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?
