New Fiber One Cookies & Struesels. #spons #PlatefulCoOp #FiberOneSnacks

So I sadly still struggle to get enough fiber into my diet. I pack on the veggies, flax seed and everything, but sometimes it's just not enough or I don't have it on hand. I have a high maintenance stomach. Because of this, I have to make sure most things I eat have fiber in them. Even desert. Luckily Fiber One's new cookies and streusels are really tasty and pack a good amount of fiber in every serving. 

Thanks to Fiber One and Plateful Co Op for sponsoring this discussion.

Now I know that nothing beats the taste of home made cookies and struesels, but I have to say that these hit the right spot for snacks and a quick indulgent desert. They are not high in calories and some actually taste close to the real thing. Especially the Chocolate Chunk and Oatmeal raisin cookies. they are so soft and chewy, with plenty of raisins and chocolate chips. Those were my absolute favorite and my main go to for a snack when I really craved sugar.

The best way to eat these is by heating them up in the microwave and dipping them in a nice cold cup of almond milk. SO good. I think the price for these is just right, but I will definitely be keeping an eye for sales and coupons so I can stock up for those times I just don't feel like baking or when I have guests over.  Fiber One is a great way to satiate a craving fast and get a good kick of fiber at the same time.

Save 50¢ on one box now with this coupon on http://www.readyplansave.com/! 

Sweet Wild Salmon with Red Onions and #SuddenlyGrainSalad #PlatefullCoOp #spons

Lately I have been on a HUGE Salmon kick. It's one of the best meats for your skin. I try not to have it more than 3 times a week, because of the Mercury worry, but I do love my Salmon fix! The following is a dish that is repeated a lot over here. My favorite is to mix sweet and savory, so this time I combined Blue Agave Nectar, Braggs Omega 3's, Garlic and red onions.

Thanks to General Mills and Plateful Co Op for sponsoring this discussion.

I decided to pair the Sweet Wild salmon with a very tasty herb filled, Tuscan Suddenly Grain Salad. This particular flavor consists of brown rice, quinoa, wheat berries, almonds and a tomato Parmesan herbed dressing. I loved the combination of the cheesy tomatoes with the light sweetness of the salmon.

 I am really loving these new mixes that I have tried. The prep time isn't very long and the incorporation of quinoa and brown rice is a nice change for Betty Crocker. It comes in a convenient bag that you cook in boiling water. Then drain the bag and add the sauce mix prepared ahead of time. Once done, I chilled it and served it with the Warm Salmon. The contrast in temperature was really appealing when mixed together.

One bag of Suddenly grain serves at least 4 people and they have several flavors that are on the sweet or spicy side.

Sweet Wild Salmon with Red Onions (Feeds 2) 

Ingredients: 

• 1 box of Tuscan Suddenly Grain Salad
• Aluminum Foil
• 2 medium Wild Salmon slices (thawed)
• 1/2 cup diced red onions
• Water for the Suddenly Grains mix
• 2 tspns Braggs Omega 3 or Soy Sauce
• 2 tspns Blue Agave Nectar
• Pam spray
• 2 tspns Garlic Powder
• 2 tblspns Rice Bran oil, Olive oil or Vegetable oil  (Rice Bran oil has a higher boiling point and it's healthier with more nutrients than most oils)

Directions:

• Prepare the Tuscan Suddenly Grain Salad as directed on the box. Then chill while you prepare and cook the Salmon.
•  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Thaw Salmon. 
• Spray Pam on a 9 by 9 inch glass or other pan.
• Place the Salmon slices beside each other and drizzle1 tblspn of oil on both. (save the other tblspn for the final step)
• Rub 1 tspn garlic powder on each salmon.
• Followed by 1 tspn Braggs or Soy Sauce and 1 tspn Blue Agave on each. 
• Then spread the diced onions on top of the salmon. 
• Finish by drizzling the last tbspn of oil on top and mix with hands so everything is coated.
• Cover with aluminum foil. 
• Bake for 35-45 minutes. 
• Serve with chilled Grain Salad. 

Enjoy with a glass of white or red wine! 

It's #CincoDeMayo. Another excuse to Party! #ad #PlatefullCoOp

I don't usually celebrate Cinco De Mayo, but Old El Paso gave me a great excuse to! This holiday can be popular for some. For those that do celebrate, this is one of the best finger friendly easy and very convenient ways to serve up a fun, quick themed dinner party or just a fun night in with friends or family.

I was provided with utensils and fun party accessories and it was actually enjoyable to use, as well as amusing. This pack came with little mustaches. Pair a sombrero with your mustache and you are the token Mexican ;) Not really, but it's fun to pretend!

I know you want to chow down on these easy to fill soft taco shells. This is actually actually a lot more convenient and a thousands times less messy than eating a wrapped burrito or regular taco. I think all tacos should be in that shape from now on. Listen to your consumer! 

I sauteed  some vegetarian crumbles from Morning Star, and onions. Then threw in the mexican style rice. Mixed it all together and put it on top of the shells with lettuce inside. Then topped it all off with a helping of refried beans and melted a little bit of cheese. Noms! It was really good and the whole meal took less than 10 minutes to put together. 

Hungry yet? If so, check out the savings this week, via General Mills! 

Find coupons and savings!

Old El Paso - I can't believe that's frozen.

Have you ever tried Old El Paso? I had the chance to check out more varieties and I have to say, it's not bad. I usually don't spring for the processed frozen foods, but once in a while I like to treat myself to something. Especially, when I just do not feel like cooking or I'm in a hurry.

I paired Old El Paso chicken quesadillas with a garden salad, drizzled with olive oil and balsamic vinegar, and topped with hemp seeds. For dips, I used sour cream and my homemade guacamole. 

Then I paired this entree with simply strawberries and a little agave nectar in water. This is such a refreshing and colorful drink I love to enjoy in spring and summer, and right now it's getting there here in Florida. The weather has been in the high 70-80's!

Aren't these dishes so cute? They were provided to me courtesy of General Mills. I love the aqua colored swirly trio side holder the most.

To make the most of your Chicken quesadillas, make sure to skip the microwave and bake them in the oven. They come out a lot more authentic and much better quality. Always pair with fresh veggies or a salad for added nutrition.

Old El Paso is really tasty and they really pack a bucn of ingredients in there. It keeps me full for a while and really satisfies that authentic mexican craving.

I've got a #Breakfast Twist for you. #spon #platefull

Anyone a big breakfast eater? I am and I think that's mostly because I stop eating pretty early at night to calm my stomach and let everything digest. By morning, I am FAMISHED. Which is a good thing, because the folks at Target and General Mills sent me no shortage of their breaky goodies to experiment with!   Today, I hope to give you new healthy and FAST twists on your breakfast, by mixing  packaged food with fresh foods.  Also, check out these other awesome breakfast ideas, along with the coupons and savings to go forth and make your own, whilst saving mula in the process! 

I had a great time experimenting with ways to make breakfast healthier, tastier and most importantly,  faster for those of you who need it in a jiff on the go! Speaking of Jiff,  Jiffy Peanut Butter is one of the items I received, but not a soul in this household is a PB fan. I know!  Some of us just aren't born with the right tastebuds, right?  Oh well, but I can guess my first recipe below would taste amazing with some PB swirled in for those of you who are fans! 

Old Fashioned Oatmeal with kettle cooked apples.

 I mixed the Big Slice pure Kettle cooked cherry vanilla apples into my oatmeal with some rice milk and it was superb. If you want it a little sweeter, add some Agave nectar, Stevia or just more apples! 

Old Fashioned Oatmeal with Nutella.

For my second recipe I used more oatmeal. Why more oatmeal?! Because I love it, that's why! I also love Nutella and the two mixed together with some rice milk was so yummy. You should try it! It's best with as little milk as possible and two Nutella mini cups. The pic below is from my first try, which was good, but when you swirl it in with much less milk,  the flavor of the Nutella isn't drowned out and it is a ton better! 

Greek Yogurt with kettle cooked apples and granola.

Ok, enough oatmeal. While I love it, Greek Yogurt is another cherished love of mine. Add some Kettle cooked apples and  granola to it and you are golden.  This was incredibly tasty. 

 For this recipe, I first put in about 3 tblspoons of the apples. Then I added a layer of  greek yogurt and some granola, with 1/2 tspn of Agave Nectar. Then I added a little bit more yogurt and apples and mixed it up. To top it off , I added more granola and voila. THIS was by far my favorite of the bunch, but I enjoyed them all. You can also use the Nature Valley Granola bars if you want a thicker crunchier and sweeter version. This version was perfect for me when I added a little bit of Agave Nectar. 

This is a guilt free decadent desert. Plus, you get a nice punch of protein and fiber in there, along with a hefty helping of probiotics! 

The goodies I received that inspired this post:

•1 pouch Nature Valley® Protein Granola

•1 box Nature Valley® Granola Bars

•1 box Honey Nut Cheerios® Medley Crunch™ cereal

•1 box Trix® cereal

•1 package Quaker® Oats

•1 jar Jif® peanut butter

•1 package Nutella® mini cups

•1 pouch Grandma Hoerner’s® Big Slice™ apples snack

I hope I helped you find something new to feast on for breakfast. All of these recipes are super quick and ridiculously easy to make. 

The information and product in this post has been provided by General Mills through Platefull Co-Op. All opinions are 100% my own.

Raisin Nut Bran with covered raisins Review. Plus Sales and #coupons! #PlatefullCoOp #spon

This post was inspired by samples from General Mills through Platefull Co-Op. 

Throughout these past two weeks I have been trying out different healthy cereals and seriously forgot how good some of these are. One of my favorites that I got to try out was The Raisin Nut Bran. This isn't the classic though. This one has yogurt covered raisins inside, tons of them, and I love that new addition. I don't know how new this actually is because for some reason I stopped eating cereal for a long while and then I got really into smoothies, and now i'm back to cereal.

 The Raisin nut bran is so yummy. I am hooked on this stuff now and will probably buy another box when I'm out. One of the big reasons I got back into cereal was to get in more fiber and this definitely helps. There is a whopping 5 grams in only a 3/4 cup. It also has only 14 grams of sugar per serving. It's not too sweet at all. I can't stand cereal that is over sweetened. It's a perfect blend and eliminates the need for sugar. The almonds and yogurt covered raisins really bring this up a notch in taste. At only 220 calories per 3/4 cup with a 1/2 cup almond milk, It's hard to turn this down. It's also got a good dose of protein, with 3 grams per serving.

If you are looking for new cereals or are intrigued by how Raisin Bran has changed, you should definitely try it out. It is very tasty and satisfying. Especially in the morning and right before a workout.

Here are some sales going on until January 29th and coupons to stack on top. You can get two boxes for just $4! Hurry, it ends soon! 

Coupons can be found at everydaysaver.com/publix

• 2/$5 on the following Big G cereals: Total® Raisin Bran 18.25oz, Whole Grain Total® 16oz, Basic 4® 16oz, Raisin Nut Bran 17.1oz, Oatmeal Crisp® Almond 17oz, Oatmeal Crisp® Raisin 18oz, Wheaties® 15.6oz. Offer available 1/23/14 – 1/30/14.
• Save $1 off any 2 General Mills cereals 

Cascadian Farms Review, Plus new Sales and #Coupons! #PlatefullCoOp #spon

This post was inspired by product samples from General Mills through Platefull Co-Op.

I love trying new and healthy cereals, as I often need to switch my choices up to stay interested.  That is where healthier sweet options come in.  So, I have been starting my day off with a bowl of Cascadian Farm Organic Fruit and Nut Granola every morning for a few days now.  It really hits the spot and fills me for a good few hours. It's full of fiber, 3 grams in 2/3 cups,  a great and tasty way to get in some of your daily needed fiber. It is also only 230 calories with a 1/2 cup of skim milk. I had mine with unsweetened almond milk, which is about the same amount of calories.

This cereal is filled with chunks of oats, crisp rice, raisins, sunflower seeds, cranberries and slivers of almonds. There was no need for additional sugar, as this is sweetened enough. It is really yummy. 

later I have one of their chocolate granola bars as a mid afternoon snack. If you ever wanted a healthy replacement for a candy bar, you should definitely check out this brand and these specific bars. It is tasty and filling . It doesn't skimp on the chocolate at all, there's just enough without being too much. Great to satiate that junk food craving. They are very chewy and satisying. 

Best of all,  both products are USDA Organic! Which means no GMO's , no synthetic peticides, no chemical fertilizers. They also do not contain any artificial flavors or preservatives. 

This oat granola cereal would be great to mix in for home made oatmeal cookies, which I'll have to try soon! 

Are you looking for something different in cereal. Something Organic and satisfying? If you are,  you can take advantage of their sales going on and the coupons to stack on them! Hurry in, because sales end the 30th! 

Don't forget to use Ibotta for cash back with your smart phone! 

Coupons can be found here: www.everydaysaver.com/publix

Cascadian Farm Organic Cereal or Granola or Granola Bars, Assorted Varieties, 7.1 to 16 oz, 2/$5

-$0.75/1  any Cascadian Farm product

-$0.75/1 Cascadian Farm Product, any – 01-05-14 SS Insert (exp 3/29/2014)

-$0.85/1 Cascadian Farm Product

-$0.75/1 Cascadian Farm Product, Any – Weight Watchers, November/December 2013 (exp 7/12/2014)

-$1/2 Cascadian Farm Organic Cereal, Bars, Granola, or Frozen Items 7.1 to 16 oz Healthy Savings Publix Coupon (exp 2/15)

-$0.50 Breakfast Cereal any brand 12 oz+ ibotta offer

Just $1.15 each after coupons + ibotta cash back with 12 oz+ cereal purchase.

Apricot Glazed @GortonsSeafood Grilled Tilapia. Plus, #RealFabulous Sweepstakes!

I am a big seafood lover. I love it all, from Shrimp to crab to fresh water fish. My favorite among them all is tilapia though. The reason I like it so much is because it works like a sponge by soaking in any flavor you marinate it in. It's also high protein, very low fat and low cal, yet jam packed with Omega 3 fatty acids and all around just nutritious for you. i have a favorite past time with Gorton's fish sticks as a child. It was my favorite meal and it has been years since I have tried them again, until now. When I had the chance to work with  Gorton's Seafood, I was on board hook, line and sinker to review their Grilled Tilapia. Gorton’s has updated a lot of their entrees and they now have 11 certified gluten free varieties of their popular grilled fish!

Gorton's provided me with coupons to purchase some Grilled Seafood, along with  a nifty spatula, and two oven mitts. I got great use out of these cooking their products. 

I was excited to get dinner going. I chose the Garlic Butter Grilled Tilapia and I thought that it would be paired well with a sweet contrast. So, once out of the oven and piping hot, I decided to spread some organic apricot jam on top. While tasty on their own, I knew that a special topping would make them zing and OMG it took them to a new level. I love to mix sweet and savory a lot. Using this apricot on top was like spreading a budget friendly chutney on these beauties. The Apricot glazed Tilapia was served over a bed of  Romaine, drizzled with olive oil.  This is definitely going to be a regular occurrence for dinner. 

Right now, you can save $1.00 with this Gorton's coupon, when you purchase any two Gorton's items, so if you are tempted I'd take advantage of that! 

For those of you who need gluten free choices, this is definitely a good one that is healthy and fast to prepare.

And now for the Sweepstakes! 

 Gorton's is holding a Real Fabulous Sweepstakes where you have a chance to win a whole new wardrobe. They want to help make you feel good inside with healthy foods and give you a makeover to feel good on the outside too! 

Good Luck!

To find out more and keep up with their promotions, follow Gorton's on their social media sites:

Twitter

Facebook

Pinterest

Meat replacement with #Gardein #Review & #Giveaway !

Gardein was the inspiration for this post and I received samples for consideration. All opinions are my own. 

When one tries to cut their meat consumption significantly to almost nothing, they want to be creative when it comes to cooking. This is what I did over a year ago and saying it's a challenge is putting it lightly. Not experimenting with things is the quickest way to get bored and go back to your old ways. I am constantly on the look out for new and exciting meat replacements on the market and it's important that those be healthy.

Gardein carries by far and wide, the most exquisite soy derived meat replacements on the market, and I have tried quite a few. When I took my first bite of their version of Chicken strips, I was immediately hooked. In fact, it was my dinner for the next several nights. I thought, there's no way they can all be this good. I can't impress upon to you just how wrong my assumption was.

Baking and stir frying these dishes was so convenient and fast for me to do. I love the simplicity and the fact that I am still maintaining my health. 

The first dish I made was the Crispy Chicken Filet's and my god were they scrumptious. They tasted almost 99% like real chicken. 

 Each bag comes with enough for two people and is perfectly filling when you have bread, rice or a salad along with it. 

Teriyaki Chicken strips. I added fresh broccoli, herbs and the sauce packet that came with it. It's a very sweet and sour type of taste that is soooo yummy. Very reminiscent of Asian cuisine.

Chicken filet's once again, but this time with  fresh Broccoli, fresh Portabello mushrooms and garlic sauteed in balsamic and apple cider vinegar. The sauce packet really complimented the flavors nicely! 

And here is the Steak Strips alternative, which is the closest I have ever tasted to actual steak. It's amazing. I made some pasta and sauteed some fresh broccoli in herbs and mixed everything up in their steak sauce.

This product is like something I imagine a mad scientist taking years to perfect in his laboratory. Countless nights experimenting with ingredients and concoctions only to fail, until that one glorious night when they finally found the secret ingredient. I know that sounds a bit overzealous, but when you taste these you will know why. Absolutely everything I tasted from this company tastes almost EXACTLY like real meat. Especially their steak alternative and chicken pattie alternative. I could not believe just how akin to meat it actually was, even in it's consistency.  

There are endless ways to cook with these and although somewhat pricey, they often have coupons, plus sales every few weeks at my local Target! even at it's regular price, which is $3.99 at Target, they are still worth the money. I usually get them when they go on sale for around $3 and then apply  a $1 coupon. Not bad at all! 

And now I get to offer one of you lucky people from my audience a chance to win 3 free bags to try out Gardein's many yummy flavors, along with some nifty buttons and sporks with the company logo! 

Good Luck! 

Giveaway open to U.S. & CANADA!

Starts 12-19 12 am EST Ends: 1-2 12 am EST

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Warm up your holidays with this easy and fast recipe for Tropical Island #Chex Party Mix

Sponsored by Platefull Co-op & General Mills

Have you ever tried the classic Chex Party Mix? It takes just 15 minutes to make in the microwave and is a delicious gluten free snack the whole family can enjoy! Now, there is a twist on this famously easy recipe and it'll get you in the mood for the warm months ahead. The Tropical Island Chex mix is another fun way to eat your Chex and warm up the holidays with a tropical flair! This recipe is also pretty healthy to boot at just 160 calories per serving! 

Courtesy of Betty Crocker

Ingredients:

• 8  cups Rice Chex® cereal
• 1   cup shredded coconut, if desired
• 1   cup dried banana chips
• 1   package (7 oz) dried tropical fruit mix
• 1   jar (3 oz) macadamia nuts
• 3   tablespoons butter or margarine
• 1/4    cup packed brown sugar
• 1/4    cup frozen (thawed) pineapple or orange juice concentrate

Directions:

1. In microwavable measuring cup, microwave butter uncovered on High about 30 seconds or until melted. Stir in brown sugar and pineapple juice concentrate. Microwave uncovered on High about 30 seconds or until hot; stir. Pour over cereal mixture, stirring until evenly coated. Microwave uncovered on High 6 to 8 minutes, stirring every 2 minutes, until mixture just begins to brown.Spread on waxed paper or foil to cool. Store in airtight container. 

2. Oven Directions: Heat oven to 300°F. In ungreased large roasting pan, mix cereal, coconut, banana chips, tropical fruit mix and nuts. In 1-quart saucepan, heat butter, brown sugar and pineapple juice concentrate over medium heat until hot. Pour over cereal mixture, stirring until evenly coated. Bake uncovered 30 minutes, stirring after 15 minutes. Spread on waxed paper or foil to cool, about 15 minutes. Store in airtight container.  

3. In large microwavable bowl, mix cereal, coconut, banana chips, tropical fruit mix and nuts.

  

If you plan on making this sweet and tangy snack, don't miss out on the  deals you can get on some ingredients, only at Publix. Why not make a Tripical Chex mix for yourself and family. It's something new and different and would make a great party snack for New Years. If you Google all over you'll find that the general consensus is that this is a well liked fast and easy recipe! 

11/14—12/31: Save $1.00 off 2 Chex cereals, find coupon in the “All The Trimmings” coupon booklet, available now until 12/31/13 in Publix stores.

12/12—12/18: BOGO on the following Chex cereals:

• 14.25oz Chocolate Chex
• 13.75oz Apple Cinn Chex
• 13.5oz Cinn Chex
• 14oz Corn Chex
• 13.8oz Honey Nut Chex
• 12.8oz Rice Chex
• 14oz Wheat Chex
• 13.5oz Vanilla Chex

#Organize your #Kitchen -The Spices Conundrum

The Spice Stack by Youcopia is the inspiration behind this post. I received it free for consideration. All opinions are my own.

Prior to order of the chaos in my kitchen, I had one of those turn table spice holders you see above. It was nice, but still left a lot to be desired. The sizes have to be just right to fit in it and that never happens.  Or you'd have to fill up and re-label the existing bottles, which you have to wait to finish them up. Obviously not going to happen either. I'd have it shoved in the back to make room for more counter space too. It was barely help for my disorganization and I still had 20 odd other spices I needed to organize. I put them in tins, but that just took up more room! I will say it was a step up from just putting bottles in the cupboard, which half of would be shoved so far back that I'd end up buying duplicates forgetting I had them! 

Guess what my favorite past time is? When the bottles have a mind of their own and jump out of the cupboard. None of you can tell me that hasn't happened. Especially at the most inopportune time, when you're cooking! 

Well, I kissed ALL those problems goodbye with ONE product.

The original spice stack came into my life and all was right in the world. It fit perfectly in my cupboard, but with absolutely no room to spare. I was almost afraid it wouldn't fit judging by the size of it. The specific measurements are Height- 8.5” Width- 8.0” Depth-10.9” So as you can see, it is rather large. This is the size that is supposed to fit into any standard size cupboard. 

See how much room this baby has? It doesn't skimp on design or innovative concept. Trust me when I say this thing is nothing short of amazing and for the price ($24.99 on Amazon!)  It is incredible what you get. The Original Spice Stack holds 18 spices. Even the more larger, longer, thicker and irregular shaped spice bottles. OR you can stack the smaller ones and hold double that! 

This heavy duty plastic spice holder is incredibly easy to use. Especially in the midst of cooking. I don't have to fish for things while my food burns anymore! Yes, that did happen. I'm not too proud to admit it. To use, all you have to do is pull out the drawer containing  the spices you need. Then when done, put the spices back and push it back in. It is very durable, not at all flimsy! 

As you can see, I use a wide variety of spices and flavoring that come in different sizes and shapes and to my delight, they ALL fit perfectly! 

This is one very fast efficient way to organize your spices in a snap and save A LOT of room for other things. I absolutely love having something so convenient as a go to and plan to buy another one soon. They come in different sizes and stainless steel  to appeal to everyone's fancy.  It includes drawer labels as well, but I didn't need those at the moment. I use my spices enough that i know what is where. I could see this working well as an arts and crafts holder too! 

I saved the best for last though and that is the fact that there's no assembly required! It comes fully equipped and ready to use with non skid feet! They're also stackable!  Honestly, this is probably my top favorite product of this decade. It has saved me so much trouble in the kitchen. The spice stack IS all it's stacked up to be.  I know it will solve your spices conundrum too! 

Stay tuned for more kitchen organization where I get a little more creative and stylish. 

Old El Paso Quesadillas and homemade guacamole.

Sponsored by General Mills through MyBlogSpark.

I had the chance to try out Old El Paso's new Mexican frozen cuisine and I was pleasantly surprised by the taste, given that it's a frozen "t.v. dinner". Although I like to make my own, it's nice to try someone elses from time to time. Especially when I don't have time and just want something quick and fast without having to go to fast food restaurants.

I enjoyed this Chicken Quesadilla meal for two and the Mexican Platter was a nice touch.  This platter is very pretty and artsy in design and would make a unique center piece for any get together. It would even be great to take on picnics for up to a meal for 4. It's perfect for small or big snacks and meals. Especially tortilla chips, quesadillas, empinadas, burritos and dips. If you are doing a Mexican themed party, this is definitely a cute platter for the occasion. This is going to be useful!

Old El Paso claims to take pride in their mexican cuisine inspired foods and I think they do a good job. I chose to microwave one quesadilla and then nuke the other one, followed by giving it a quick fry in my cast iron skillet. THAT made all the difference in the authenticity. We all know it's impossible to get the exact taste of a real home made Mexican quesadillas, but it comes close.

I would recommend this brand for the occasional indulgence of quick tasty meals and if you'd like to try some of your own, you can grab a coupon for $1 off in your local flyer this week or one online at  coupons.com. for .60 cents off 3 Ole El Paso products. Stack those coupons!

Onto the homemade dip! 

This was the perfect occasion to whip up my favorite guacamole dip topped with fresh salsa. It went perfect with the Old El Paso Quesadillas. The contrast of hot cheesy crispy goodness with the cool guacamole and salsa was scrumptious.

Recipe for simple Guacamole: 

1 Hass Avocado mashed up, but I like to leave little chunks
1 tspn lemon or lime juice
1 tsp of garlic powder
Pinch of sea salt
1 .5 tsp's of Worcestershire sauce

Mix it all up together, then top with fresh salsa!  

Krave Jerky Review

I used to be a huge fan of beef jerky, but then i gave up red meat, except on special occasions. It wasn't that hard of a task, until Krave Jerky comes along and swoons me into trying their unique flavors. I have to say, this isn't something I plan on eating a lot of, but I will treat myself once in a while, as it's minimally processed and they use natural beef.

Krave Jerky is a beef and turkey jerky company unlike anything i've ever tried. The meat is moist, juicy and flavorful. The texture is just a thousand times better than your average jerky.

Krave provided me with 6 samples in different flavors. Many of which were unfortunately too spicey for me, but my friend enjoyed them immensely with her fire proof taste buds As for me, I can barely stand too much pepper. I'm a wimp when it comes to spice, but the spicy ones even smelled so good that I made myself try one and of course regretted it. They have a HUGE kick. I underestimated the label that shows you where they fall on the spicy scale. Regardless, I  loved the non spicy ones and was happy to enjoy at least those.

I received the following flavors:

• Pineapple orange
• Lemon Garlic
• Sweet Chipotle
• Chili Lime 
• Garlic Chili Pepper 

My absolute favorite was the pineapple orange. I love when fruits are mixed with meat. It has a Caribbean taste that I love. The Lemon garlic was a close second and As I said before the rest were just way too spicey for me. When I did taste them they were very good, until the "zest" kicked in and put my mouth on fire. a good example of this was the sweet chipotle. It started out sweet with a small kick that gradually became too much, too fast. I wanted to eat more, even though my tongue was burning off so that's a testament to how good these taste. 

I love that they're offered in turkey varieties, which is leaner and healthier than red meat. 

These would make excellent additions to soups and stews as well, they are so moist and would get even moister, bringing a lot of flavor to the dish. They'd also great with some stirfry or rice. I think it's endless what you can do with these, you don't have to eat them just as a snack. 

I've never tasted Jerky quite this good. Most of the ones I try leave me picking the meat out of my teeth for hours and chewing until my jaw becomes sore. I recommend you check these guys out. 

Beanfields chips

I'm a big fan of beans, especially black, kidney and red beans. When I saw that there were chips made out of primarily beans, I was excited and had to try them for myself. Beans are good for you and to have them infused into a snack is such a great alternative to regular chips.

Beanfields generously provided me with a whole case of all their flavors to try out. I have to say that not even one disappointed me. I enjoyed it all, bite by savoring bite. I tried these in guacamole mix, sour cream and salsa. They are even amazing on their own, but having a side to dip them in gives the flavors so much more depth. There is so much flavor and variety to each and every one of these chips.

The flavors I received are:

• Naturally Unsalted - I found these somewhat bland, but with some salsa they were just right. 

• Salt N' Pepper - These were too spicey for me, but that is my own wimpy tastebud's fault.  They still tasted good, even though  my mouth was on fire.

• Sea Salt- Just the right amount of salt and they went great with guacamole 

• Pico de Gallo- SO flavorful. Biting into these was like enjoying a burrito with all the fixins stuffed into a chip. I layered guacamole and sour cream on these, and it was perfection.

• Nacho- My ultimate favorite. I'm not exaggerating when I say that the this flavor tasted 10 times better than Doritos, and it was 100 times more hearty and fulfilling. I was not hungry at all after munching on these. Whereas, Doritos never satiate you until you've had too much. 

Unfortunately, My camera was broken at the time I was trying these out. Cell phone pics don't do them justice, so I wasn't going to do them the discourtesy. Hopefully my descriptions are enough to make your mouth water. I know mine is right now.

There were doubles of many of these and I could not be happier. They made excellent go to healthy snacks. It is a struggle to find healthy snacks that you don't get tired of and I doubt I will get tired of these any time soon. They make excellent sides and even an alternative to beans. Hve them with a burger or a sandwich or chicken and veggies. I think they are so versatile and go with anything.

Beanfields is packed with good for you ingredients and lots of fiber and protien, which is important for all of us and our health!
                                                               Benefits & Nutrition:

• 4 grams of protein in every serving
• 4 grams of fiber in every serving. Both soluble and insoluble fiber. This helps with digestion and makes you feel fuller longer.
• Complex carbs for energy
• Important minerals for our body. Potassium and magnesium 
• 1/2 the saturated fat of regular tortilla chips
• 1/3 less sodium than regular tortilla chips
• Made with two of my favorite beans; Black and Navy 
• Made with whole grain rice, not your average bleached flour
• Cooked in high quality safflower and sunflower oil, which gives them that crunch we all love
• Contains no GMO, 
• Vegan
• Do I really need to say more? They are healthier all around and taste JUST AS GOOD, if not better than regular tortillas made with corn!

In conclusion, I recommend that you stop giving in to the kids when they beg for a bag of Doritos or cheetos filled with preservatives and artificial ingredients. Instead, replace them with these. I promise you they will not mourn the loss for long, if at all. The regular chips on the market are made to make you want more and become addicted. Don't give in. Try a healthier version. You'll see the difference, but not in taste! 

Don't forget to like their Facebook and enter to win a FREE case for yourself! 

If you'd like to purchase your own now, you can do so here, as well as search for your nearest store that carries them. Enjoy! 

Mediterranean snack foods

I had the chance to try out an absolutely scrumptious line called Mediterranean snack foods. 

The bundle of yummy included:

• Seasalt hummuz crispz
• Olive Tapenade hummuz crispz
• Rosemary baked lentil chips-gluten free 
• Roasted Garlic hummuz crispz
• Sea Salt baked lentil chips-gluten free 

The Veggie Medley straws were my absolute favorite. They were crunchy and had a blast of delicious vegetable flavor. I could not get enough of these and had to pry them out of my own hands, before eating the whole bag in one sitting. I had these as a side to a chicken sandwich and it was the perfect combo. 

These are a much healthier alternative to regular chips and taste just as good, if not better! With 30% less fat, gluten free and no trans fat, it's hard to go wrong. 

I got a few flavors of the baked crackers and hummuz crackers and I have to say they were all delicious. Some more bland than others, but not too bland. They just needed a little something like hummus dip and salsa to bring out the flavors. My favorite of them all has to be the Garlic and the Roasted red pepper pictured below. The roasted red pepper was extremely flavorful. I loved it, and it paired perfect with some classic Bruscheta , an olive paste I got from one of my fav Fair Trade stores online, and fresh mozzarella  This is an excellent alternative to unhealthy starched and fatty white breads. Just grab some crackers and load on the toppings.

They have a huge variety of Lentil crackers and chips and these are just a few examples.

Mediterranean snacks foods are very healthy. Some great benefits to note: 

• All natural and free from any additives, chemicals and genetic modification.
• The baked lentil chips are gluten free 
• the health of lentil beans baked right in 
• minimal calories compared to regular chips, given normal portions 
• baked not fried

You can check out their website for more info and purchase them from stores, such as Publix, Amazon, Whole foods and more. Check their website for store locations.  I highly recommend these as a satisfying and healthy go to for midday snacking.