November 7th, 2013
I am a NÛBY Mom Ambassador and I receive product to review for free. All opinions are my own.
We are always out and about during the week. We are at church twice a week and then in the mornings I usually go out with the kids to an activity class or errands. Sometimes we are out at mealtimes and well, I have to be prepared with food for TWO girls now.
I find that packing food must be prepared in advance because it takes up a lot of time in the morning and that is when it is most demanding with my kids. Most of the time the foods I pack are finger foods or foods in packets but when we go to restaurants we need utensils.
NÛBY has a Travel Fork and Spoon Set that I have enjoyed using especially since it has a nice traveling case. It is sturdy and it is not too big and it includes 9 pieces, from the case down to the spoons and forks. They are all BPA free and very easy to wash and available in fun colors.
I like the spoons because they are neither big or small but perfect for beginner hands like my toddler. She keeps a steady hand and holds the spoon to eat oatmeal and places it in her mouth. Now the fork is a little more challenging. I wish that these utensils were made with metal for easier grasping. The fork tends to be a little challenging to pierce through foods like meat and potatoes.
Either way, we still use them because they are handy and hopefully they can come out with a sturdier fork for my toddler because she is a a great eater but maybe she is just ready to use a REAL fork. I will try it.
Where can you find this set?
Available at these retailers:
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November 6th, 2013
I have been baking a lot lately and I know I have had to prepare seeing that the holidays are going to be around the corner. I was excited to be contacted by the folks at Ghirardelli asking me to try some of their new and old products. I was given some recipes to view and check out for me to try but I had to create some recipes of my own, of course!
What makes their products new? The Ghirardelli Chocolate Company has unveiled its new line of premium baking, hot cocoa, candy making and dipping products with zip-up pouches that are easy to open, use, reseal and store. The hot cocoas are made with real Ghirardelli chocolate and are available in 10.5 oz. zip-up pouches, which contain nine servings of hot cocoa and Ghirardelli’s Double Chocolate is also available in convenient, on-the-go individual packets (.85oz.).
I have been using their chocolate for a long time, when I realized it was not giving me allergies like other chocolate companies. I would get runny noses and colds given the lack of natural ingredients. I loved that Ghirardelli made their products pretty natural.
What is great about their cocoa? The Ghirardelli 100% Unsweetened Cocoa Ghirardelli Unsweetened cocoa is made from non-alkalized cocoa powder and offers home and professional chefs the very essence
of quality cocoa beans – the dark color of the powder and the rich dark cocoa flavors make this an intense experience that bakers prize. Enjoy it in your favorite creations, including cookies, cakes, and drinks.
Ghirardelli Sweet Ground Cocoa This cocoa has been alkalized using the traditional Dutch process. We’ve added the perfect blend of sugar, vanilla and real Ghirardelli chocolate to create a well-balanced chocolate taste. It is perfect for creating brownies or frosting.
What is great about the package?
· New re-sealable pouch that ensures that unused cocoa stays fresh.
· Ease of opening and storage in the pantry or cupboard.
· Ghirardelli’s legendary commitment to quality – the same delicious cocoa but
in a new convenient package.
I used the Sweet Ground Cocoa for my Cherry Bom Bom Smoothie that my husband requested one night seeing he had a hankering for something cold and desserty but healthy. So glad he asked for that because I made a double batch and we wished we had more to drink after that. The chocolate is delicious and rich and it did not require anymore sugar than what the cocoa and cherries provided.
Now the cocoas have been around except now they added the Chocolate Caramel to the line. I have tried all three and I have to say I like Chocolate Mocha the best! Yum! Yesterday I shared a recipe I featured an after-dinner drink using the Double Chocolate Cocoa called Churros y Chocolate After-Dinner Drink.
I decided to make a savory recipe using the unsweetened cocoa. It is a recipe I have in my e-cookbook that I never shared with anyone until now. I tweaked a few ingredients and increased the amount of cocoa it had and it came out to be a hearty and unique chili. Have you ever had a mole’ from Mexico? Well, this chili was a cross between the standard recipe and the Mexican recipe. It was so flavorful and we ate it with elbow macaroni.
I think cocoa in savory dishes is fantastic but not seen quite as often so I knew I had to share my recipe.
Burnin’ Love Chili
by Noelle Kelly
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 2 hours
Ingredients (12 servings)
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cups onions, diced (4 small onions)
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- One pound of ground meat (80/20) or 1- 12-ounce package Boca crumbles (vegan)
- 1 vegan / vegetarian bouillon cube
- One 28-ounce cans ground tomatoes in heavy puree
- One 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
- One 28-ounce can petite diced tomatoes
- Two 16-ounce cans pinto beans, reserve bean liquid
- Two 16-ounce cans kidney beans, reserve bean liquid
- 5 Tablespoons organic cocoa powder
- 8-ounces dark lager
- 1 ½ Tablespoons seasoned salt
- 1/3 cup ancho chili pepper, ground (1/4 cup to keep heat subtle)
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cumin
- 1 Tablespoon oregano
- 2 ½ teaspoons brown sugar
- 16-ounce package frozen corn
Toppings
- Sour cream or Tofutti cream cheese (vegan)
- chopped green onions
- grated sharp cheddar cheese or Daiya cheese
Serve
- 1 Pound of elbow macaroni
Instructions
Note: This chili is best made a day or 2 day in advance for flavors to combine.
• Heat olive oil in a large pan on medium high heat and add onions. Sauté for 10 minutes or until the onions are translucent. Add the garlic and ground beef or Boca crumbles and cook for another 15 minutes.
• Open the cans of beans and add the bean liquid to the pan along with the bouillon cube. Simmer the mixture until the bouillon cube has dissolved.
• In a large pot, add the canned tomatoes and beans. Heat the mixture on medium heat. Add the meat or Boca and onion mixture to the pot.
• Add the spices, brown sugar, and cocoa and mix the chili with a large wooden spoon. Simmer the mixture for 30 minutes on medium heat.
• Add the lager and corn at the end and cook for another 45 minutes.
• This chili can be placed in a crockpot and heated on high for 3 hours before serving.
The newly re-packaged products will hit mass and grocery stores nationwide now through September 2013 when the previous brand packaging will be entirely phased out. For more information, visit www.ghirardelli.com or become a fan on Facebook at Facebook.com/Ghirardelli to stay up to date on special coupon offers and exciting product news.
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November 5th, 2013
Thank you to SMIRNOFF for providing product for today’s SMIRNOFF Cinna-Sugar Twist post! As always, please consume responsibly.
In the last month, I have been craving the chocolate and cinnamon flavors together. I have been making my own hot drinks and ordering different non-menu drinks at Starbucks. When I was asked to create a recipe using one of Smirnoff’s NEW flavored vodka, I knew I had to continue with that craving.
Smirnoff recently launched TWO new flavored vodkas called Cinna-Sugar Twist and Wild Honey. I have always just tried straight up liquor so flavored liquor was new to me. I was so glad to receive one bottle of the Cinna-Sugar Twist vodka because I knew that I would come up with the recipe I have been wanting to make. This vodka was flavorful and I could taste the cinnamon with each little sip it was fragrant with the said twist.
I would definitely make this for a themed party with Spanish food. When I went to Spain a few years back with my sister and mom, we would make frequent stops at cafes, eating churros and decadent and thick hot chocolate. Do you know what are churros? These are typically known as a Spanish doughnut but much more gourmet. They are covered in a cinnamon sugar powder and dipped in a thick hot chocolate or served with a cafe’ con leche. Yes, please.
When I first started thinking about my ingredients I had to decide whether to add espresso or not but instead I decided to go with the thick hot chocolate part of the dessert. I made a vegan version and a regular version and had my husband taste test both to compare. Thumbs up for both!
So imagine a holiday party or a beautiful get-together with friends. You start off with the following:
- A cheese plate using Spanish cheeses, crackers, olives, mebrillo and anything typical of the country
- A seafood paella with a salad
- Serve churros and hot chocolate with this dessert or a typical dessert made in Santiago de Compostela called Tarta de Santiago with the after-dinner drink.
If anything, make this at home and enjoy after a regular dinner and after a hard day’s work. I promise. It will be so tasty!
Churros y Chocolate After-Dinner Drink
by Noelle Kelly
Prep Time: 5-10 minutes
1 drink (1/4 cup drink)
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup half-and-half or to make vegan, use So Delicious coconut creamer
- 1 Tablespoons of hot cocoa mix (I used Ghirardelli Double Chocolate Cocoa Mix)
- 1 ounce SMIRNOFF Cinna-Sugar Twist flavored vodka
- 1/2 ounce creme de cacao liqueur
- cinnamon-sugar for the rim
- chocolate shavings
Instructions
Mix the cinnamon-sugar (3 Tbsp sugar + 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon) with 1 Tablespoon chocolate shavings.
Dip the rim of a small espresso cup into water and dip the rim into the sugar-shaving mixture.
Warm the half-and half and add the cocoa mix and dissolve until mixed well. Add the vodka and liqueur and stir.
Serve warm or at room temperature.
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October 31st, 2013
I received the book at no charge by RoleMommy . I was not compensated and all opinions are my own.
Here is a NEW book that has been recently published by the American Academy of Pediatrics called Retro Baby: Cut Back on All the Gear and Boost Your Baby’s Development With More Than 100 Time-Tested Activities. This book was perfect for me since I have an eight month old and I had to be reminded that simple is sometimes better.
I sometimes feel caught up with the NEWEST item out there or the hype that certain toys or gear will help my child stay still or help them stay more attentive. Not so. I am SO surprised by my second child because she totally did not like the Jumperoo as much as my first baby, who is now almost 2 years old. She also did not favor being in the exersaucer either.
In the book, it explains and reminds us as mothers not to completely rely on gear and toys to hold our babies for LONG periods of time. I recently was over at a mom’s house whom I had NEVER met before. She was actually selling me some items and she had a 1 year old daughter in the Jumperoo. She looked content and the mom told me that she can spend HOURS in that and it makes her work and kitchen work very easy. I totally did not judge her at all, although I felt a bit envious, but then I wondered about the child’s development. I did not know if she was walking yet but she was not fussy.
Sometimes, we rely on gear to babysit our children especially if much is required or if you have more than one child, like I do. Now my 8 month old baby is in discovery mode and she wants EVERYTHING and to DO everything that my toddler does. She is learning to crawl and loves to reach out for anything in her way, especially books.
The book encourages making homemade toys from recyclable items in order to encourage everything from tummy time, range of motion, and observation. Not only that, but it also encourages time with our little ones. Truth be told it is easy to leave your child with toys but in reality it is the time spent with our children that develops their whole self.
There were other things that I had already read in other books like the overuse of baby carriers and making sure parents are using slings correctly to prevent injury. There is also discussion on how a baby should sleep or rest to prevent skull deformities.
The book is another information book for new moms but not to obsess about the ways we are doing things incorrectly but to inform about possibilities. I have learned that reading too much can sometimes make me worry more than I should. I loved seeing the activities provided and was happy to know I had already started using some of them for both my children.
This book is published by Anne H. Zachry, PhD, OTR/L, is $16.95, and is available through Amazon, Barnes and Nobles, and bookstores nationwide.
Here is a press release: IT’S TIME TO GO BACK TO BABY BASICS WITH RETRO BABY!
What do we risk by overusing baby equipment and technology? What are the best ways to help little ones build a strong foundation for growth and development? I am working with The American Academy of Pediatrics to launch a new book, out this October. Titled RetroBaby (AAP, October 2013) and written by one of the country’s most prominent and respected occupational therapists and child development specialists, Anne Zachry, PhD, OTR/L, the book emphasizes the importance of one-on-one play with children in the early stages of life, good old-fashioned bonding and recommends over 100 OT-approved time-tested activities.
Incorporating the latest recommendations from the AAP, Zachry – also a professor of OT at The University of Tennessee Health and Science Center – bases the book on her over 20 years of experience and extensive research by her and other experts in the field. RetroBaby Covers how an infant’s brain, body, motor and sensory skills develop, explains the negative impacts of overusing certain baby gear and provides specific instructions for play positions and activities that are appropriate for each developmental stage, giving parents both a starting point and guidelines to help them properly invest in their child’s future.
Retro Baby arms parents and caregivers of children birth to 24 months with important advice including:
- Activities, tips (and even homemade toy suggestions) for building a solid sensory motor foundations throughout various stages of a child’s development;
- The proper and healthy daily amount of time to use various types of baby gear; certain baby gear to avoid;
- Tips for practicing Tummy Time;
- Preventing Positional Skull Deformities.
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October 30th, 2013
This is a sponsored post. By posting, I am entered to win my own Electrolux Induction Cooktop or Range. All opinions are my own.
Electrolux and Food52 will pit three influential chefs against each other in a live cook-off challenge hosted by Food52’s website founders. This cook-off will be live on Food52’s website for 30 minutes on November 6 at 1pm EST, where viewers can engage with the brand and hosts by answering questions and joining the chat that lives next to the streaming video. Just log in via Twitter or Facebook to participate and use the hashtag #Electroluxlive.
When you join in the conversation, you could win an Electrolux Induction Cooktop (worth $2,199!) or Electrolux Induction Range (worth $3,749!)
Why should you join this conversation? You get to see celebrity chefs, learn a thing or two about cooking, and get the opportunity to win an Electrolux cooktop!You can’t really go wrong.
What kind of cooktops do you have in your kitchen? I have been around an induction cooktop before and boy does it heat food quickly! Here are a few details about them:
-Induction Cooktops: $1,999 (30″), $2,199 (36″)
•Power Assist: Boils Water in 90 seconds.
•Precision Cooking: Control of a gas cooktop in an electric range.
•Keep Warm: Indefinitely hold food at the perfect serving temperature.
•Exceptional Temperature Control: Adjust heat with greater accuracy than gas or electric cooktops, especially at lower settings – perfect for melting chocolate and cooking delicate foods and sauces
-Electric Cooktops: $1,299 (30″), $1,399 (36″)
•Flex-2-Fit® Elements: Elements adjust up to three sizes, so the element fits the cookware, not the other way around.
•Glide-2-Set® Control Panel: Heat is controlled by just the touch of a finger, resulting in a clean look uncluttered by knobs or dials. These controls are intuitive, precise and very stylish.
•Easy-to-Clean Cooktop Surface: Smooth glass cooktop makes cleanup a breeze.
•Perfect Over A Wall Oven: Mounts above a single wall oven for additional installation options.
-Gas Cooktops: $1,349 – $1,549
•Dual flame sealed burner: From a 450-BTU simmer to an 18,000-BTU fierce boil.
•Professional Grade Control Knobs: Designed to provide pinpoint precision control.
•Continuous Grates: Seamlessly designed to move pots from burner to burner.
Good luck! Sounds like these stovetops are pretty wonderful and useful for any cook out there.
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