Preserving Wild Foods #sponsored

Preserving Wild Foods #sponsored

April 27, 2013 by · Leave a Comment

I was provided one copy of Preserving Wild Foods at no charge in order to facilitate my review by all opinions expressed are my own.

 

Preserving Wild Foods

preserving wild foods

Title:   Preserving Wild Foods

Subtitle:  A Modern Forager’s Recipes for Curing, Canning, Smoking, and Pickling

ISBN:  978-1603427272

Authors:  Matthew Weingarten, Raquel Pelzel

Publisher:  Storey Publishing, LLC (November 6, 2012)

Format/Length:  Paperback 256 pages

 

From the Publisher:

 

Crab apple mostarda. Instant samphire pickles. Sweet bergamot marmalade. Pickled chanterelle mushrooms. Blueberry-maple spoon fruit. Duck prosciutto. Wild ramp and walnut pesto. These and dozens of other inspired recipes from chef Matthew Weingarten show you how to preserve — by curing, canning, smoking, and pickling — a wide range of wild ingredients foraged from the sea, fields, forests, and fresh water. Clear instructions make small-batch preserving techniques easy to learn, from smoking fish to putting up jam, pickling vegetables, and curing meat. Whether you forage in the wild or at the farmers’ market, you’ll delight in making and enjoying these unique preserves.

About the Authors: 

Matthew Weingarten is a New York City-based chef who has garnered great acclaim for his heritage comfort food. His food reflects a strong sense of place and season, and he is a committed proponent of sustainability and authenticity. He is a director on the board of Chefs Collaborative and lives in Brooklyn, New York.

 

Award-winning writer Raquel Pelzel has collaborated with professional chefs on thirteen cookbooks, including the James Beard-nominatedDamGoodSweet and Masala Farm. She is the senior food editor for TastingTable.com and a former editor at Cook’s Illustrated. She lives in Brooklyn, New York.

 

My Review:

I have always been fascinated with wildcrafting and living off the land, although I admit that I have never actually tried preserving wild foods in real life.  Living in the suburbs where my neighbors all have this intense need to spray pesticides and fertilizers all over their property doesn’t provide a very good source of wild food sources.  Preserving Wild Foods is an interesting combination of preserving handbook, cookbook,  and personal memoir.  I found the layout of the book interesting since it is divided into the type of environment.  For example, you have chapters for the coastline, pastures, gardens and fields, forest and woods, wetlands, etc.  The beginning of the book is the ‘preserving’ part of the book.  Primarily the author talks about canning, although does mention other ways of preserving wild foods as well.  If you have never canned before, this is not a really in depth look at how to can foods. I have never tackled canning and when I do I will probably buy an entire book dedicated to just that process.

The array of recipes in Preserving Wild Foods is really impressive.  The author covers not only what you would harvest from the earth but also a few animal based products like eggs, milk, fish, beef, etc.  The recipes themselves are unique and manage to be both elegant and rustic at the same time.  There are a few recipes for garden grown items that I am looking forward to trying like the watermelon pickles and a geranium-tomato jam.

I enjoyed reading through Preserving Wild Foods and I think the author’s personality and unique voice really comes through as you read it.  While I am not sure I will find a lot of the food items in this book unless I go to a farmer’s market there are definitely a few that I will be able to tackle without too much trouble.  If you are a foodie that enjoys living off the land I think you will really enjoy Preserving Wild Foods.

Disclaimer:  In accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials.”: I received one copy of this book  in exchange for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation. All opinions expressed here are mine and mine alone. Some of the links in this post may be “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers.

 

Filed Under: Gardening, review · Tagged: ,
Healthy Eating Made Easy With Yopa! #YopaYogurt #spon

Healthy Eating Made Easy With Yopa! #YopaYogurt #spon

March 18, 2013 by · 6 Comments


I like to think that I take fairly good care of myself most days but to be honest, it is something I have to work at.  Healthy eating and exercise are important in order to stay in good shape but some days, life gets in the way.  There are days that I am running errands for several hours or sitting around watching my kid’s tennis match.  Times like these, it is easy to forget about healthy eating and instead grab junk food to make it through the days.  However, when I do that I can definitely tell a difference in how I feel.  I run low on energy, get irritable and my stomach gets all out of sorts.  I recently received some coupons to try out Yopa! Greek Yogurt and it honestly makes healthy eating tasty and convenient!

Yopa for healthy eating

Yopa! Greek Yogurt contains no fat and has twice the amount of protein as regular yogurt.  It contains no preservatives and they use natural, plant-based pectin and gums to thicken it which makes it completely vegetarian.  Yopa! is also Kosher, a great source of calcium and is loaded with probiotics.   It is made in the Northeast USA and I love that they source their milk as close to their manufacturing plant as  possible.  They’re committed to producing the best yogurt, with farm-fresh, regionally-sourced milk from dairies close to where they make it.  I was thrilled to see that the milk they use comes from comes not treated with recombinant growth hormones (rBHT).  This is something I look for in dairy products and am happy they have made this pledge!

healthy eating with yopa yogurt

Yopa! Greek Yogurt for Healthy Eating

 

What is so delicious about Yopa! is the combination of fresh fruit in the  yogurt and creative toppings that come in a tiny cup on top of the yogurt. They actually have a yogurt team that studies and tastes combinations of flavors so they can bring you the perfect taste combination.  By pairing their Greek yogurt with nine whole grain granola, toasted Blue Diamond almonds or even dark chocolate, they created the ideal balance of yogurt, flavors and toppings. They call this concept “Balance Perfected.”  What sort of flavor combinations have they come up with?  Here are your choices:

  • Blueberries & Granola – real blueberries and nine whole grain granola
  • Strawberries & Granola – real strawberries and nine whole grain granola
  • Black Cherries & Granola – real black cherries and nine whole grain granola
  • Peach & Granola – real peaches and nine whole grain granola
  • Vanilla & Almonds – rich vanilla and toasted almonds
  • Vanilla & Chocolate – rich vanilla and dark chocolate chips

yopa for healthy eating

Yopa! Is the perfect balance!

I have found that Yopa! helps bring balance into my own life with the perfect combination of sweet and healthy.  While the inner child in me is hollering at me to grab a couple of cookies as I run out the door for the carpool line, the healthy mom in me knows that this is not a good choice at all!  Yopa! satisfies my need for something a tad bit sweet and slightly crunchy while still being a good for me snack.  It is healthy eating disguised as dessert!  A perfect balance!  I am happy to eat it as a dessert for a meal or as part of a healthy snack.  I found the vanilla with toasted almonds and the blueberry with granola in my grocery store. I thought the yogurt was thick and creamy with just the right amount of sweetness.  The almonds gave it a nutty crunch that was very satisfying.  Overall, a great snack, meal  on the go, or dessert, depending on the type of day you are having.   I am going to be looking for the vanilla with chocolate chips…that sounds heavenly!

Yopa healthy eating challenge

Speaking of balance, gold medalist Gabby Douglas is an expert, and she’s challenging you to take the Yopa! Taste Challenge where you can win a variety of prizes, including $10,000! Just “like” Yopa! on Facebook for a chance to win and to grab a coupon for $.50 (or more!) off one cup of Yopa! Authentic Greek Yogurt.

Disclaimer: I was selected for participation in this campaign as a member of Clever Girls Collective. All opinions expressed here are mine and nine alone. 

Filed Under: health, review · Tagged: ,
Nutritious Snacks and #AGiantSurprise from Green Giant #spon

Nutritious Snacks and #AGiantSurprise from Green Giant #spon

March 12, 2013 by · 6 Comments


My children and I have a game we play almost every day called ‘Are These Nutritious Snacks?”.  They have hit those tween and teen years where they are starting to get wise about mommy’s obsessive need to feed them healthy foods.  THEY might want cookies, candy, and donuts but mommy would rather give them smoothies, homemade granola bars and veggie chips.  So, whenever I present them with a new food they look at it rather suspiciously, wondering whether I am trying to sneak in some nutritious snacks.  They are perfectly happy actually EATING the healthy stuff as long as it tastes good.  Well, we have found some nutritious snacks from Green Giant that we can all feed good about indulging in!

more nutritious snacks from green giant

Green Giant’s new veggie chips are a great tasting chip that snackers can feel good about eating.  They are made with whole grains and contain zero trans fats.  They are also made with real vegetables and contain less fat than traditional potato chips.  Since I am never going to curb my family’s desire for chips, I am happy to have a healthier alternative!  Want to see what other giant surprise Green Giant has unearthed?  Check out  the video below! You can see even more of the Giant’s favorite surprise talents at the Green Giant YouTube channel.

I received the Roasted Veggie Tortilla chips and the Multigrain Sweet Potato chips with Sea Salt to try out with my family.  I really loved the sweet potato chips.  They have just a hint of sea salt on them, which I really like because my husband is watching his salt intake.  It is sometimes hard to find nutritious snacks for him to enjoy that also taste good but these made for very enjoyable snacking.  You can really taste the sweet potato in them and they are light and crispy.   The roasted veggie chips had a natural zesty cheddar flavor to them that gave them a slightly bolder taste than the sweet potato chips.  I honestly could have eaten the entire bag in one sitting but made myself share with the children.  So, what did they think of these nutritious snacks? My son wanted me to hand over the entire bag of the zesty cheddar veggie chips but I convinced him that saving some for later was a better choice.  He enjoyed the light and crispy flavor of the sweet potato chips, too, but the others were definitely his favorite.  I am happy to have found a nice balance with Green Giant Veggie Chips.  The kids get chips they enjoy and I get to feel good about providing them with nutritious snacks.

nutritious snacks from green giant

Nutritious Snacks from Green Giant

Green Giant is offering a printable coupon for 85 cents off their new Veggie Snack Chips! Go ahead and grab the coupon so you can try out these nutritious snacks with your own family!  Here is some more information about the new Green Giant Veggie Snacks if you would like to learn more:

  • The Green Giant™ Roasted Veggie Tortilla Chips – Zesty Cheddar Flavor are made with real vegetables, 17 grams of whole grain per serving (48g are recommended daily), and are naturally flavored.
  • The Green Giant™ Multigrain Sweet Potato Chips – Sea Salt Flavor are made with real sweet potatoes and made with 14 grams of whole grain. Plus, they contains 40 percent less fat than regular potato chips*!
  • *Green Giant Multigrain Sweet Potato Chips (6g per 28g serving) have 40 percent less fat than regular potato chips (10g per 28g serving).

Thank you to The Green Giant™ for being a sponsor. Show the Giant your surprise talent at www.facebook.com/greengiant

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Light Up Your Workout Routine With Panther Vision

Light Up Your Workout Routine With Panther Vision

February 25, 2013 by · 11 Comments

Have you ever tried walking a hyper dog at night with your hands full of leash, flashlight, and a bag of something that said dog decided to leave in your neighbor’s yard?  Ever try running at night while gripping a flashlight in your sweaty hand?  How about camping in the middle of nowhere and trying to pee on a tree at night while holding on to a flashlight and a roll of biodegradable toilet paper?  I have done all of these things and can tell you, an extra hand would have really come in…well…handy!  While walking, running and hiking in the woods are all great additions to your workout routine, they all become a touch more difficult when done at night.  With the hectic schedules that many Americans are dealing with, most people are having to add night time exercise to their workout routine.  That means we need a way to light up our steps without giving up the freedom of a free hand or two.  Well, Panther Vision has come up with a great way for you to light up your own workout routine.   My husband and I got the chance to try out a couple of their lighted baseball caps over the last few weeks and I have been very pleased with them.  If you have never heard of Panther Vision, here is some information about them from their website:

panther vision for your workout routine

 

 At Panther Vision®, our mission is to make people’s lives easier, more productive, and enjoyable through our ultra-bright, HANDS-FREE, LED lighting technology. Our hands-free product designs are focused on easily lighting the areas where you work with your hands, where you read, or where you do activities and are designed to make sure you can continue your activities regardless of lighting conditions.

Panther Vision makes a number of different types of lighted caps so you can find one the matches your style and type of workout routine.  And, they aren’t just for designed for exercising.  They are great to wear any time you need your hands free and a little extra light. My husband always struggles to change the air conditioner filter in the unlit crawlspace under the house and this is the perfect solution.  They are also great for automotive work in dimly lit garages and grilling in the low light of early evening.  These caps have a built in LED light under the brim that offers the perfect amount of lighting while still being stylish and comfortable.  Panther Vision also makes an assortment of reading classes and clip on lights.  The LED lights makes them very bright and long lasting.

Panther Vision lighted cap

I received the POWERCAP Men’s LED Lighted Running Hat in white for my husband to try out.  The hat has 4 LED’s under the brim which provide more than 48 Lumens of light.  It looks just like any other running hat and is made of a lightweight performance material that dries very quickly.  There is a moisture wicking sweat band around the inside of the cap to help with perspiration, although my husband is a serious sweater when he works out so that feature doesn’t do TOO much to control the sweat for him.  There are 4 coin cell batteries hidden in a little compartment of the sweatband and they provide about 68 hours of light for your workout before needing to be replaced.  The on/off switch for the light is very easy to click and is located right under the brim.  It is slightly raised so you can find it easily with your thumb.  The lights in the brim are angled in two different directions to illuminate the area right in front of you as well as an area slightly ahead of you (up to 72 feet away).  Basically, you can see where you ARE but also where you are going.   This hat is very attractive and stylish, as well as functional.  The Velcro fastening at the back makes adjusting for your own personal head size very easy.  The material is very soft and the brim is slightly curved, giving it a very nice look and feel.

panther vision hat for workout routine

We also received the POWERCAP EXP 100 Headlamp Lighted Hat which is listed as one of their high performance hats.  This cap runs on 3 AAA batteries that are located in a small pack at the back of the hat.  It will run for 117 hours and has a slightly different lighting system than the previous hat.  The LED lights are still located right under the brim and are easily controlled with just a click of your thumb.  Instead of 2 fixed LED lights there is one panel under the center of the brim that contains 6 different LEDs that are angled in slightly different directions   A patented 3 way switch allows you to choose distance lighting, close up lighting, or both together.  Like the previously mentioned hat, it too has a Velcro closure at the back for easy size adjustment.  The cut and material are a little bit different than the running hat but is still lightweight and fits very comfortably.  The battery pack nestles quite nicely in the little dip at the base of the skull and I honestly could not even feel that it was there.

lighted cap for your workout routine

Light Up Your Workout Routine!

 

After a good workout routine you are usually left with a very sweaty hat and the Panther Vision lighted caps can be machine washed, just make sure to take the batteries out of them first.  And we never put our hats in the dryer….usually just a run through the wash and line dry.  That is really all the maintenance these hats need.

I was very happy with the hats that I was sent from Panther Vision and they fit in nicely to both my husband and I’s workout routine.  They are comfortable, stylish and offer a nice amount of light to make night time workout routines easier or to illuminate any chore that needs just a little bit more light.

If you would like to purchase Panther Vision LED hats for your own workout routine head over to the Panther Vision website.

Their Valentines Special is still in effect until the end of the month! Use code PVFEB at checkout and get 20% off on ALL Powercaps

You can also follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

 

Filed Under: health, review · Tagged: , ,
Petite Treats Book Review

Petite Treats Book Review

February 11, 2013 by · 1 Comment

petite treats

Petite Treats

Title:    Petite Treats

Subtitle:    Adorably Delicious Versions of All Your Favorites from Scones, Donuts, and Cupcakes to Brownies, Cakes, and Pies

Authors:  Morgan Greenseth , Christy Beaver

Publisher:  Ulysses Press (December 11, 2012)

ISBN:  978-1612431116

Format/Length:   Paperback: 180 pages

My Review: 5

 

From the Publisher:

For hip bakers looking to dazzle guests, nothing beats the small treats found in this handy volume. From mini fruit scones at brunch and bite-size pies after dinner to decorative cake pops for parties and tiny tortes for tea time, these handheld desserts are sinfully delicious. In Teensy Treats and Baked Bites, the founders of the Seattle-based Mini Empire Bakery show readers how to miniaturize everyone’s favorite desserts, creating impressive, reduced-guilt treats that guarantee sweet satisfaction for every palate and dietary concern. Sharing favorite recipes for mini bourbon pecan pies, “tiraminiscule” cups, and diminutive croissants, Morgan Greenseth and Christy Beaver show that indulgence can be sensibly portioned. Featuring appetizing full-color photos, handy decorating and presentation tips, and straightforward instructions, this adorable little book contains a broad spectrum of desserts perfect for holidays, birthdays, cocktail parties, or simple afternoon snacks

 

About the Authors:

Morgan Greenseth has engaged in the many aspects of food throughout her life. As a young girl she learned to bake with her mother and grandmother. Growing up in the Midwest, she also baked for community events and as a leisure activity. While studying Interior Design in Italy, she learned about the culture of Italian cuisine. Not only does she design the interiors of restaurants and cafes, but she also helps fill the pastry case with treats. When she’s not brightening up the interiors, she’s working on new bite-sized recipes for Mini Empire Bakery. She has written about food and the environment for Worldchanging.com and has served as a panelist for the recently published Fearless Critic Seattle Restaurant Guide book. Recently relocated to New York, she is on a mission to expand Mini Empire to the other coast.

Raised in Southern Arkansas, Christy began helping her mother and grandmother in the kitchen as soon as she could walk. From this upbringing, she developed a lifelong love for pie. After moving to the Pacific Northwest, she noticed a lack of wholesome home-baked goods. This inspired her to start Mini Empire Bakery.
Christy studied Interior Design and then began a career in the industry working to design restaurant, retail, and residential spaces. Her personal accomplishments include owning her own Interior Design business and co-founding the Mini Empire Bakery.
With one business already under her belt, Christy’s entrepreneurial spirit and love for food drives her to make Mini Empire Bakery a success and she plans to take over the world, one tiny dessert at a time. Christy lives in Seattle with her devoted dachshund, Andy.

 

My Review:

 

Some days, you just need a tiny bite of something sweet after a big dinner.  Or, you sit down to a hot cup of coffee and just want to nibble on something that won’t totally destroy your diet.  Well, Petite treats is the answer to your dessert needs!  This is a fairly small cookbook but it is filled with tons of different sorts of treats, all in miniature!  The author has taken a ton of your favorite desserts like donuts, pies, brownies, cakes and more and shrunk them down into bite sized nibbles.  The recipes are clear and easy to follow with a sweet little cooking ‘tip’ on many of the pages.  These tips range from how to make a frosting vegan without completely destroying the flavor to using shot glasses as mini cookie cutters.  There are several very attractive pictures scattered throughout the book as well.  The author divides the recipes into chapters based on the types of treats and even includes a ‘fancy’ treat section that has things like cannolis and mini eclairs.  I made the Frosted Apple Spice muffins and can honestly say that they were delicious and very easy to make!  The last chapter of the cookbook is all about the frosting  streusels, and glazes that are used to decorate these yummy little treats.  I am looking forward to trying more of these recipes and am thrilled to have found some ‘mini’ versions of my favorite treats so I can feel a tad bit less guilty when I sit down to indulge my sweet tooth!

 

 

Disclaimer:  In accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials.”: I received one copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation. All opinions expressed here are mine and mine alone. Some of the links in this post may be “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers.

Filed Under: review · Tagged: ,
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