Category Archives: Food and Drink Products

Earnest Eats Review

Earnest Eats Review and Giveaway

As I review blogger I get items for review in a variety of ways that range from press releases to simple pitches from companies. While these are the most common ways I acquire my review items, there is another way.

One night Jason and I were sitting around watching Food Network, as we often do. A new show came on called Food Fortunes and one of the companies featured was Earnest Eats. The gave the panel a sample of their hot and fit cereal. The product looked so good on television that I decided to reach out for a sample.

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Canyon Bakehouse Holiday 2015 Giveaway!

Let me start by saying that the products featured in this post were provided to me free of charge courtesy of Canyon Bakehouse. This post may contain affiliate links but this in no way will influence the review to follow and all opinions are my own.

Canyon Bakehouse Holiday 2015 Giveaway!!

I love the holiday and the decadence that comes with it – the breads, the baked goods and the bagels on Christmas morning. I am saddened that as we embark on this holiday season that those with gluten sensitivities could miss out on this decadence – that is until now.

Canyon Bakehouse is a gluten-free bakery that makes breads, bagels, buns and brownie bites among other bakery items. Everything made in this dedicated gluten-free bakery is made of 100% all natural whole grain ingredients that are not only gluten-free and kosher but dairy free, tree nut free, soy free NON-GMO ingredients.

See my Bread Review here and Bagel and Brownie Review here

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Mrs. Thinsters Waffle Crisps Review

Mrs. Thinster’s: Waffle Crisps Review and Giveaway

Learning to cook is much more than just main dish, and to be a well-rounded home cook many items need to be learned including appetizers and desserts. I have always been a baker but I wanted to get into a fresher more seasonal type dessert. Jason and I have begun making “fruit yummies” for desserts lately. Basically “fruit yummies” are fruits that are macerated and drained, then put in a bowl with homemade whipped cream and topped with vanilla sugar and usually a crispy element.

One day while we were walking through the local store looking for different elements for our newest dessert craze we were sadly, coming up empty. We debated chocolate cookies but we did not want a chocolate element involved. Jason suggested that we use our waffle maker to make our own version of the waffle cookies we saw in the store. Unfortunately this ended up being much more work than anticipated – then a solution arrived – Mrs. Thinster’s Waffle Crisps.

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LaFaza Vanilla Holiday Giveaway!!

LAFAZA Vanilla Holiday Giveaway

I am so excited about this giveaway – the Vanilla Sugar is a topping used on dessert almost every evening after dinner in our home – I am thrilled to be able to share this giveaway with everyone!

LAFAZA Pure Ground Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla – 1 oz: When I reviewed this a couple of months ago I mentioned that this was not only a pleasant smelling vanilla but also on of the most beautiful brown color I have ever seen. I had planned to use this on chocolate chip cookies and I am happy to say that my goal was accomplished. These added such a richness to my cookies, and the vanilla was slightly noticeable and added a punch to an otherwise normal cookie. This vanilla smells so good and you can tell that this is sun-cured and a slow-dried Madagascar Bourbon bean. By using this process is removes nearly all the pod moisture and leaves dried beans that are then ground into a powder. The result is a pure concentrated vanilla flavor.

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Safe Catch Foods Review

Let me start by saying that the products featured in this post were provided to me free of charge courtesy of Safe Catch Foods. This post may contain affiliate links, but this in no way influences the review to follow.

Safe Catch Tuna Review and Giveaway

As ones pallet matures and gets more refined minor variations in taste become more obvious. I mention this because there are a couple foods that no matter what, the more you pay the better the product. These type of items are peanut butter, honey, pancake syrup and tuna.

There have been moments in the past (shhh don’t tell Jason) that I have tried to pull the wool over his eyes and bought the lesser versions. Nine times out of ten his refined pallet knows the difference and I am unable to fool him otherwise. Where this becomes obvious in tuna and tuna quality.

Let’s talk for a moment about tuna, quality and mercury. Tuna is notorious for having mercury and because of this tuna is generally not safe for pregnant women – until now! I recently tried a new brand of Wild Albacore tuna and Wild Skipjack Tuna (no longer available on their website) by a company called Safe Catch by Safe Foods.

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Garlic Gold by Seven Oaks Farm Review

Garlic Gold: Garlic Gold and Garlic Gold Oil Review and Giveaway

Introductions and cooking are remarkably similar, and both can be challenging. When a person embarks on learning to cook the introduction to the oils is inevitable. After a while a comfortably sets in and a distinction in flavor becomes noticeable – that is where the introduction of flavored olive oils is made.

I recently made an introduction of my own to Garlic Gold. Garlic Gold’s beginnings were unlike most companies, but completely unique. Garlic Gold began as a high school economics project by Rinaldo Brutoco for his son Orion. The students created a business plan around Rinaldo’s garlic recipe with crunchy toasted garlic nuggets included. The students packaged, labeled and sold the project at the local farmer’s market.

Today that student project is a company that believes that the legitimate precursors to success are having corporate responsibility, creating sustainability and always having integrity. Taking into account the company’s philosophy I was interested to see if the product was as good as I hoped it would be. I was sent the following USDA certified items for review:

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Gourmet Nuts: Sea Salt Review

Let me start by saying that the products featured in this post were provided to me free of charge courtesy of Gourmet Nuts. This post may have affiliate links but this in no way will influence the review to follow and all opinions are my own.

Gourmet Nuts: Sea Salt Review and Giveaway

I am a simple girl, and because of this it has never dawned on me that salt comes in flavors and varieties. I have only ever used the salt that you purchase for about a a dollar at the store. As I venture further into cooking, I am learning the value of different flavors and the distinctions between different salts.

I have learned that cooking is the not only the proper allocation of heat but the correct application of spices. The most simple and easiest to use seasoning is salt and pepper, and the many variations of those. The simple table salt that you purchase for a dollar is simple on taste but low on flavor and I believe the key is to pack as much flavor as possible in each used seasoning.

Not to long ago I reviewed Gourmet Nuts nuts and snack products, and I discovered that they not only make nut and snack products but they have a variety of salts available.

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Treats Monthly Subscription Box – Japan

Let me start by saying that the products featured in this post were provided to me free of charge courtesy of Treats. This post may have affiliate links but this in no way will influence the review to follow and all opinions are my own.

Treats Box Subscription Review and Giveaway – Japan Box

The one thing that having a review blog does is force the reviewer outside of their comfort zone, and experience something they may not have had they not completed the review. At least that is the case for me, each day my comfort limits are tested to some degree.

Something that I want to do in my lifetime that pushes those comfort zone limits is travel to Japan. I am asked frequently why Japan of all places, and the answer is really a simple one – to see and taste new things. There is something about Japanese culture that is much more adventurous than the United States. I am not in a position to travel the 5,600 miles away (but this could change next year – I will keep you posted), but I can still experience the food of Japan in the form of Treats Monthly Subscription Box.

The Treats Monthly Subscription Box is a monthly subscription service specializing in international snack boxes. Each month you will receive a different country and the items will range from candy, crackers, chips, cookies, chocolate and more! I received the Japan box for review and it was full of treats including:

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Kinnikinnick Soft Donut Review

Let me start by saying that the products featured in this post were provided to me free of charge courtesy of Kinnikinnick Foods. This post may contain affiliate links, but this in no way influences the review to follow.

Kinnikinnick Donuts: Soft Donut and Pumpkin Spice Review and Giveaway

I have high standards where donuts are concerned and I think I have good reason to feel this way. I happen to live in donut heaven – I literally live less than 2 blocks from one donut shop and less than 5 miles from another with to many to number in between. I know this does not sound like the reasoning I gave you, but these two donut shops happen to be the top two donut shops in North San Diego County.

My favorite donut of all time has to be a chocolate cream filled with a round puffed pastry. The chocolate plays off the cream and donut dough perfect. Jason is a little more of a traditionalist in that he likes the chocolate old-fashioned. The common thread is the chocolate on the donuts. During the holidays I love a good tasting pumpkin donut and if icing is included then I am a very happy donut consumer.

The production of pumpkin donuts does not generally begin until October and abruptly ends in late December. At least that is how it has been, until now – Kinnikinnick Foods is proud to announce that their previously seasonal and regionally limited Pumpkin Spice donuts are now a permanent part of their product line and available year round. Also new to the Kinnikinnick Foods family is Soft Donuts with Vanilla Icing in addition to their existing Chocolate Donuts and Cinnamon Sugar Donuts.

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Mrs. Thinster’s Review

Mrs. Thinster’s: Cookie Thins Review and Giveaway

I have mentioned in the past that I am a cookie monster – I love cookies! If I had to choose one cookie over the other I would have to say Chocolate Chip Cookies are my favorites. In my opinion it is hard to really mess up the taste of a chocolate chip cookie. The other thing that I love is raw batters, although I know that they are bad for me with the raw egg element. I have always wanted a cookie with a batter taste, and I think I may have found them.

I was sent a box from That’s How We Roll and Mrs. Thinster’s. The box I received had 3 bags of cookies including Brownie Batter Cookie Thins, Chocolate Chip Cookie Thins and Cake Batter Cookie Thins. The idea behind these cookies that are thin but fill of taste. The round shape are reminiscent of the traditional thick cookie counterpart and full of flavor. Continue reading →