Wholesome Sweeteners; Fair Trade Certified, Organic and Natural Sugars, Syrups, & Nectars Review & Giveaway (Coming Soon)

About Wholesome Sweeteners

"Based in Sugar Land, Texas, Wholesome Sweeteners celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2011. In addition to bringing the best organic natural, unrefined sweeteners to the North American market, Wholesome pioneered the certification process for Fair Trade CertifiedTM sugar and honey. Today, Wholesome Sweeteners is the category leader in Fair Trade Certified, organic and natural sugars, syrups, nectars and honeys produced from nature's best resources. 


The company is a joint venture between Imperial Sugar Incorporated, one of the largest US sugar companies, and Edward Billington & Son, Europe’s leading importer of natural and organic unrefined sugars 


The Imperial Sugar Company is the one of the oldest continuously operating companies in the United States, tracing its roots back to 1843 when the first sugar mill was commissioned (in what later became the city of Sugar Land) by one of the original 100 families that Stephen F. Austin brought to settle Texas. The Imperial Sugar Company sells several of the best-known brands in the US and is a major supplier to the mass retail, food ingredient and food service markets.Billington’s is a diverse, international foods and agriculture group. It is one of Britain’s largest, privately owned family businesses, recognized for quality, service and innovation. Established in 1858, it has more than 150 years of knowledge and experience in organic and all-natural farming and extensive expertise in sourcing the finest quality sugars across the globe.  In 1992, Billington’s was the first company in the world to bring a certified organic sugar to market. 


The partnership was formed after the successful test marketing of Billington’s Natural Sugars in the Texas retail market. The venture now encompasses all the Fair Trade Certified, organic and natural sugar assets of both companies in North America and aims to be the leading supplier of these products to the US retail and food manufacturing markets. "

This is just the first part of "the package". 

Part 2 of "the package"

The 3rd part of "the package"

My Opinion

Wholesome Sweeteners was gracious enough to send me  their entire line to try! I was in shock when I opened the box - totally now what I was expecting at all, but I was completely thrilled. I may have even squealed with joy at the sight of so many organic and natural products in one box.

Here is what my blogger sampler included:

• Fair Trade Certified Natural Cane Sugar
• Fair Trade Certified Organic Sugar
• Fair Trade Certified Organic Sucanat
• Organic Turbinado
• Fair Trade Certified Organic Powdered Sugar
• Fair Trade Certified Organic Dark Brown Sugar
• Fair Trade Certified Raw Cane Sugar
• Organic Stevia Packets
• Organic Blue Agave Packets
• Organic Raw Blue Agave Packets
• Fair Trade Organic amber Honey
• Organic Light Corn Syrup
• Low Glycemic Organic Blue Agave "Syrup"
• Organic Raw Blue Agave "Syrup"
• Fair Trade Organic Raw Honey
• Organic Cinnamon Flavored Raw Blue Agave Syrup
• Organic Strawberry Flavored Blue Agave Syrup
• Organic Maple Flavored Blue Agave Syrup
• Organic Vanilla Flavored Blue Agave Syrup
• Fair Trade Organic Molasses
• & a nifty and cool reusable Wholesome Sweeteners tote

Whew! That was a "mouthful". Since they had surprised me with quite a bit of products it has taken me awhile to use each one and determine how they work, ways to use them, and  what my true opinion is of each product. So, I am going to break up these products into "bite sized" segment and deliver them to in several posts so that neither one of us becomes overwhelmed by information (or delivering that information).

This weeks post will be on  Wholesome Sweeteners Honey. They sent me two different ones to try. Fair Trade Organic Amber Honey & Fair Trade Organic Raw Honey.  The first one, Fair Trade Organic Amber Honey, comes in a 16 ox. inverted squeeze bottle. Which I found to be ideal. It's perfect for drizzling on top of yogurt, granola, fruit, in tea, and so much more. this honey is Kosher, GMO-Free, and Gluten Free.

The Fair Trade Organic amber Honey is a multifloral nectar honey collected on Fair Trade cooporatives in the Yucatan and Chipas, Mexico. As a Fair Trade item it ensures that a fair price is paid directly to the farmers and beekeepers tending the hives; it also means that they can develop the quality of the hives and forage ares and build thriving communities. By protecting the hives and forage areas, Fair Trade encourages biodiversity and help the forests thrive as well.

I used the Fair Trade Organic amber Honey in one of my all time favorite recipes. I don't get to make these often enough! I make these for the Spring Equinox and for Easter (Eostre/Ostara; an old German celebration of Modern Day Easter). I love this honey. It's thick and silky, dissolves well in warm and hot beverages, tastes great drizzled on fruit, yogurt, and granola. This honey is just sweet enough, but not overbearing. It leaves your sweet tooth satisfied, but also leaves you longing for more of it succulent goodness.

Mikey's Homemade Hot Cross Buns

Adapted a British Easter recipe I found years ago.

Ingredients

1/2 cup currants

3 Tbs raisins 

Hodgson Mill Yeast packet 

3 c. King Arthur All Purpose Flour

3 Tbs Wholesome Sweeteners Certified Organic Sugar

1/2 tsp salt

1 and 1/2 to 3 tsp mixed spice, according to taste;

1/2 tsp ground allspice

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp ground nutmeg

1/4 tsp of ground cloves

1/2 tsp of cardamom

1/4 cup glazed mixed citrus peel

1 Eggland's Best Cage Free Egg

3/4 cup + 1 tablespoon milk (I used  Wegman's Oganic 1% Milk)

3 and 1/2 Tbs butter (I used Wegman's Organic)

1/2 c. of Wholesome Sweeteners Fair Trade Organic Amber Honey (for brushing the tops)

For the crosses:

1/2 c King Arthur All Purpose White Flour

1/3 c cold water

Preparation

Mix all dry ingredients together, then use your fingers to rub the butter into the flour. Add the Yeast and mix. Add beaten egg and lukewarm heated milk to form a soft dough. Mix well.Cover and leave to rise until dough is double it's original size. Add fruit and knead the dough well until smooth and elastic, for about 10 minutes by hand or 5 minutes using an electric mixer. The dough should form a soft ball which, when pressed lightly, resume it's shape. The dough should not be sticky.

Making the buns:

Divide the dough into either 12, 15 or 16 equal pieces, and shape each piece into a ball. Place on a baking sheet or in a baking tin, either lined with baking paper or well greased. The balls of dough can be spaced close to each other, but if you want your buns to be round, space them at least 2 inches apart.

Leave covered until it doubles in size. This will take at least one hour or more in a warm environment,or overnight in a cold room or the fridge.

To make the crosses, mix the flour and water until smooth and runny. Place mixture in a small zip-lock plastic bag and seal. Snip off a very small (2 mm) corner and pipe crosses on the tops of the buns. (If you want a more traditional "cross" slice an "x" across each bun instead of using the cross mixture. 

Bake 15 to 20 minutes in an oven preheated to 425 degrees Farenheit until dark golden brown.

Take the 1/2 c. of Fair Trade Organic Amber Honey and glaze the tops. Serve Warm.

Wholesome Sweeteners Fair Trade Organic Raw Honey is blended from multifloral nectar collected on Fair Trade cooperatives in Quintana Roo & Chiapas, Mexico. This honey is processed below 110 degrees Fahrenheit to maintain the natural properties of the nectar. This particular honey is best used in baked goods, fresh fruit jams, and spreads. This honey too is Kosher, GMO-Free, and Gluten Free.

In using these honeys compared to other brands, I found these to be more flavorful and easier to work with. The taste was 10x more incredible then with regular honey. As, I made a batch of each and had family and friends vote on which ones they liked better. Every time, the ones made with Wholesome Sweeteners products won out as being more satisfying in flavor and consistency.

Wholesome Sweeteners Fair Trade Organic Amber Honey is available at my local Wegman's marketplace for $7.99 per 16 oz. squeeze bottle. I haven't found a local retailer for the Fair Trade Organic Raw Honey yet, but I am putting in a request at Wegman's for it. I can find the Fair Trade Organic Raw Honey online at Amazon.com, but it's $25.23 + S&H for a three pack.

I used the Fair Trade Organic Raw Honey in my recipe which I shared in my review of Nature's Hand Granola. I made some delicious No-Bake Granola Bars.  This honey was the perfect "glue" to bind all the ingredients together. I'll share that recipe again with you now, just in case you missed it!

Mikey's No Bake Wild Blueberry Granola bars

Only makes 4 servings

Ingredients:

3/4 c. Wholesome Sweeteners Raw Honey (or substitute with Agave)

1/2 c. packed Wholesome Sweeteners Brown sugar

1/4 c. grape-seed oil (I used Wegman's Brand)

3 c. Nature's Hand Wild Blueberry Granola 

(add raisins and other nuts if you wish about 1/2 c. of fruit and nut mixture)

Preparation:

Put honey, brown sugar, and oil in a small pot & bring to a boil. Put Wild Blueberry Granola into a large mixing bowl and pour the brown sugar/honey mix over the top while mixing. Keep stirring until the granola is well coated. Once this is done, press the granola mixture into an 8 or 9 inch square pan and let it cool in the refrigerator. Once cooled, spray knife with cooking spray and cut cooled granola into squares or rectangles and serve. 

Notes: Can be stored in an airtight container for UP TO 4 days. 

To sum it up: I'm really starting to believe that more natural is really better and you'll see why in the next parts of this review. The next segments will include more recipes, so stay tuned for a delightful surprise in store! In the meantime, while you are waiting for the next segment you can learn more about Wholesome Sweeteners or purchase their products by visiting:
Wholesome Sweeteners on Facebook
Wholesome Sweeteners on Twitter
Wholesome Sweeteners on YouTube
Wholesome Sweeteners Official Website and Online Store
Wholesome Sweeteners Online Store Locator Tool

In the spirit of full-disclosure Wholesome Sweeteners sent samples for me to try. No monetary compensations was given and as always all opinions are my own. 

New ways to teach lifelong skills and a love of learning: Reading Together & more

Long before children can read by themselves, they learn many things when adults read to them. He or she hears new vocabulary, builds comprehension skills, and realizes that ready with others can be cozy & fun. Here are a few ideas to raising a book lover;

Discovery

Introduce your little ones to non fiction. If he or she loves animals, you might try books like Panda Kindergarten by Joanne Ryder or perhaps Owney, the Mail Pouch Pooch by Mona Kerby.  As you read together, turn the pages slowly and let them explore at their own pace- he/she may ask you what a word means or make comments about the various pictures that they see. This will help to build vocabulary and help them learn more about the book's topic.

Sharing

Let your little one invite a friend or two over for story time. Read the book together and then have the children do an activity that encourages them to think about the story's plot. For instance, after hearing Brown Bear, Brown Bear, what do you see? by Bill Martin Jr., they might make their own set on "binoculars" with empty toilet paper or paper towel tubes. Help each child tape the tubes together and let their imaginations run wild decorating them with paper, markers, glue, glitter, or other crafty little do-dads. Then, they can each take turns looking through their binoculars and asking each other "What did you see?" (ie: I see a green couch looking at me).

Playing

Be very playful when reading aloud. Use different voices for each of the characters in the story and also, encourage your child to mimic you so they get a chance to learn new words. For example, you might try using a "gruffy" voice for giant, or a hissing talk for a snake. Perhaps, Yuck! by Mick Manning & Brita Granstrom that has repeating words in it. Each time you hear the word "yuck" you can stop and let your youngster read that word while you make silly "yuck" faces.

A quote worth quoting

" Logic will take you everywhere from A to B. Imagination will take you everywhere." Albert Einstein

Learning R-E-S-P-E-C-T for others

A child who shows respect for others is more likely to succeed in school. Why? Well, because teachers, other adults, and peers all get along better with a youngster who treats them respectfully. The actual meaning of Respect is; to treat with priority or consideration, to put first. Try using these suggestions to encourage respect in your home and with others.

Together, think about everyday actions that show respect for other people. For instance, whispering in a library is respectful towards others who are reading. Helping to keep the school clean (throwing away trash, recycling, not sticking gum under the desk) shows respect for the custodial staff. Ideas: Practice at home by pretending your at the library or another public place, and ask to speak softly. Teach your youngster to clean up after him/herself so they don't create extra work for others.

It's also respectful not to keep others waiting for you. Try to set an example by having your family be on time for appointments, events, and get togethers. Help your child make promptness a habit by giving them a 10 minute warning. For example, Dinner will be ready in 10 minutes. Please finish up your game so you'll be ready.

Free Play

You can help to steer your child away from the television and keep his/her school skills sharp by helping them to make a "to do" list. Together write down their favorite ways to play, such as taking care of dolls/animals, painting, and doing puzzles. Then, add a few new ideas to the list. He/she might work on their coordination skills by stringing beads, dancing to music, or pretending to be in a marching band. By "teaching" school to their dolls/animals & putting on puppet shows, they can boost their imagination and strengthen the skills they are already learning in school.

Post the list on the refrigerator. When your youngster asks to watch t.v., look over the list together and choose something else to do. When they enjoy what they are doing, they may not ask to watch t.v. as often.

All kinds of Shelters!

what do a castle, a tent, and an apartment all have in common? They are different kinds of shelters! Use these two ideas to help your child learn about shelters that are not like their own home.

When you are in a car, have your little one look for different kinds of shelters (house, townhouse, mobile home). He/she can draw a picture of each one down one side of a piece of paper. Then, they can make tally marks for each one that they see next to the pictures. What kind of shelter is most common in that area?

Browse through books, magazines, & newspapers for pictures of shelters that you don't see everyday like a log cabin or a mansion. Have your child build one out of block or recycled materials!

Tid-Bits: Practice Fire Saftey

Has your little one learned about fire safety in school? Ask them to tell you all about what they learned. For example, they might explain "Stop, Drop, & Roll." Practice what they learned in school. Walk around the house with your little one and point out two exits in every room and where smoke alarms are. Set one of the alarms off for a few seconds to let your child hear what they sound like. Also, practice what to do when you hear one of those alarms.

To Tell the Truth

Youngsters sometimes fib because they are worried about your reaction. If your child sees you staying calm, they will be more likely to be honest in the future. Let's say "Suzie" knocks over her juice at breakfast and blames her little bother. You might say. "Oops. I see your juice has spilled on the table. Can you please clean it up?"

Activity Corner

This spring, get outside and learn about science by exploring the trees.

Observe Trees.

Your child might notice some of the trees are starting to blossom, while others never lost any of their leaves during the winter (evergreens). Help them find and draw pictures of the different types of trees in your backyard. Then, ask what makes each tree different from the others (needles vs. blossoming leaves).Idea: Save the drawings and let them check the trees and make new pictures for each of the seasons to see how they change.

Make Bark Rubbings.

Help your youngster tape a piece of paper to the trunks of different trees. Then have them lightly rub a crayon over the papers (this can be done with leaves too!). The pattern of the wood will appear. Have them describe how the patterns are different. Perhaps, one has ridges and one has ripples. Your child can also put these with their observation pages that they made earlier for the different types of trees.

Glow Bug Cloth Diaper Winner!

Congrats to Crystal T. on your Glow Bug cloth diaper win!

Be sure to check your email and get back to me within 48 hours of receiving the email to claim your prize. Don't forget to check your SPAM box.

Nature's Hand Granola Review & Recipes; Cranberry Delight & Wild Blueberry Granola

About Nature's Hand

Over 40 years ago, two Bavarian immigrants who resided in Minnesota decided they wanted to begin blending and baking their own unique mix of grains and nuts. This recipe would come straight from Northern Europe and was a recipe that had been used and shared with many people back in the old country. The founders never had any intention of marketing and selling their product initially. They baked it simply because they loved the taste of the granola they were making.

After a few years, friends and family began inquiring about the recipe. At this point, the founders began engaging in the idea of selling their granola commercially since it was developing such a cult-like following.

For the next three decades, the founders baked and sold their granola, slowly expanding their reach over much of southern Minnesota and western Wisconsin. They originally formed a company called Nature’s Harvest, but then changed the name to Nature’s Hand a few years later.  The company had a loyal customer base that used the product as a cereal, a topping, and a baking ingredient with other delicious recipes.

My Opinion

Nature's hand was kind enough to send two packages of  13 oz. granola for my family and I to try. Aaron hooked us up with Wild Blueberry and Cranberry Delight. We had fun with these because 1) We LOVE Granola and 2) We LOVE experimenting in the kitchen and this gave us both! They do come in a whole wide array of other flavors as well. Including: Original Vanilla Almond, French Vanilla Almond, Raisin Hazelnut, Cinnamon Apple, Maple Pecan, and Coconut Almond (coconut almond is currently only available in bulk).

The first thing we did was of course open up the bags and smell them. We always have to smell things before we try them. I don't know why that is, but it is what it is. I was the first one to try the granola. I started with the Cranberry Delight. The granola was filled with big crunchy oats, sunflower seeds, sweet cranberries and allspice giving it one of the most flavorful combinations my mouth has seen in a long time.

I love eating granola in the mornings for breakfast and for an afternoon snack. So I started there. I love Greek yogurt topped with Nature's Hand Cranberry Delight Granola, and drizzled with Wholesome Sweeteners Amber Honey. It creates this fabulous deliciousness that is difficult to explain. This blend of wholesome oats, sunflower seeds, and cranberries contains 3.5 grams of fat (until you make them into cookies!). The Cranberry Delight also made a great warm or cold breakfast cereal, and made homemade cookies taste even better. This wonderful Cranberry Delight Blend is available online for $4.99 for one 13 oz. bag or $29.94 for a 6 pack. Without further adieu ... Here's the recipe:

Mikey's Homemade Cranberry Delight Cookies

Makes a bout 4 dozen

Ingredients:

1 and 1/2 c. King Arthur all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp Simply Organic Cinnamon

1/2 # of Organic Valley butter (2 sticks) softened

1 c. Firmly packed Wholesome Sweeteners Brown Sugar

1/2 c. Wholesome Sweeteners Organic granulated Sugar

2 Eggland's Best Organic Large Eggs

1 tsp. Nielson-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla   

3 c. Nature's Hand Cranberry Delight Granola

Preparation:

Heat oven to 350°F.

In medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and mix well. In large bowl, beat butter and sugars with electric mixer until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla; beat well. Add flour mixture; mix well. Stir in Cranberry Delight Granola and mix well.

Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.

Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until light golden brown. Cool 1 minute on cookie sheets; remove to wire rack. Cool completely.

Next, we tried the Wild Blueberry Granola and we were just as impressed. So impressed it sent us straight back into the kitchen again to experiment and find the perfect mix for homemade granola bars- a perfect grab and go treat that is healthier then chips, or other snack foods. This granola is also made with big crunchy oats, sunflower seeds, and deliciously sweet blueberries. This blend contains only 4 grams of fat. The sweet smell of this blend reminds me of picking berries at the local farm. They have special days for families to go and pick berries, and other fun activities and this Wild Blueberry Blend brought me straight back to that farm. This wonderfully Wild Blueberry Blend is available online for $4.99 for one 13 oz. bag or $29.94 for a 6 pack. Here is the recipe for our homemade granola bars:

Mikey's No Bake Wild Blueberry Granola bars

Only makes 4 servings

Ingredients:

3/4 c. Wholesome Sweeteners Raw Honey (or substitute with Agave)

1/2 c. packed Wholesome Sweeteners Brown sugar

1/4 c. grape-seed oil (I used Wegman's Brand)

3 c. Nature's Hand Wild Blueberry Granola 

Preparation:

Put honey, brown sugar, and oil in a small pot & bring to a boil. Put Wild Blueberry Granola into a large mixing bowl and pour the brown sugar/honey mix over the top while mixing. Keep stirring until the granola is well coated. Once this is done, press the granola mixture into an 8 or 9 inch square pan and let it cool in the refrigerator. Once cooled, spray knife with cooking spray and cut cooled granola into squares or rectangles and serve. 

Notes: Can be stored in an airtight container for UP TO 4 days. 

To sum it up:

Both flavors we tried were simple and nutty with lots of oats, some sunflower seeds, and nice pieces of dried fruit.  The texture was crunchy and chewy with some small clusters; actually they were just the right size. Some granolas have clusters that are too large to reasonably eat as a cereal or sprinkle on yogurt or ice cream.  These were perfectly sized. 

Nature’s Hand granolas come in six flavors. In addition to the two we sampled, there are also Vanilla Almond (Original & French), Wild Blueberry, Raisin Hazelnut, & Maple Pecan.  Don’t they all sound delicious?  Each one features roasted oats, wheat, nuts, seeds, brown sugar, & honey.  I can actually pronounce every ingredient on the package; there are not artificial colors or flavors, preservatives, sodium, cholesterol, or trans fats.  A thirteen-ounce package retails for $4.99 and is available at stores across the country including Whole Foods and may also be purchased from their online store. You can also buy the 6 to a case for $29.94 including a variety case with all 6 flavors in it!  

Now that I have tantalized your taste buds, get your "mousing" hand in gear and get over to Nature's Hand and check them out, even better find out where you can purchase their granola out and get creative yourself! So, to learn more about Nature's Hand products or to purchase them for yourself, please visit:

Nature's Hand on Facebook

Nature's Hand on Twitter

Nature's Hand Official Website & Online Store

In the spirit of full-disclosure Nature's Hand sent samples for me to try. No monetary compensations was given and as always all opinions are my own. 

PrintRunner; Quality Online Printing for Less Giveaway; Ends: 4/10/2012

About PrintRunner

PrintRunner, Inc. was established with little more than a small press and a dream. Ten years later PrintRunner.com is one of the foremost quality printers in Southern California and occupies over 25,000 sq ft. Our growth is due to our commitment to providing the best value in high quality full color printing at an affordable price. Whatever your promotional needs, from business card printing to full color brochure printing to postcard printing services and beyond, we have the solution.

To maintain that commitment, PrintRunner.com has invested millions to bring all the services we offer in-house... from concept to completion. A state-of-the-art pre-press department, including direct to plate systems and a unique color system that sends electronic color profiles direct to our Komori and Heidelberg presses. Our presses and pressroom are kept spotless, showing the pride we take in our facility and your project.

PrintRunner.com boasts one of the most enriched and diverse bindery departments including die cutting, embossing, foiling and saddle stitching. Why settle for cheap color printing at your small local print shop when you can take advantage of the wide range of professional printing services that we have to offer?

My Take on PrintRunner

Stephie over at PrintRunner sent me an email, asking if I would be willing to host a giveaway and knowing how much my readers love learning about NEW products and services I kindly agreed. However, I did not receive a product for review, but I looked over their website and LOVE what I see. So, move over Vista Print you have some competition!

Here is what I learned about PrintRunner.

PrintRunner offers a wide array of products to choose from. Some of their most popular products include; Banners & Signs (Great for Birthday Parties!), Bookmarks, Brochures, Business Cards, Calenders, Catalogs & Booklets (Great for fundraising, or if you have your own business these are great for getting a catalog of YOUR products out to your customers and getting new customers in), Flyers, Greeting cards (Holidays- need I say more?), Posters, and stickers.

Some of the other products they offer include: Bumper stickers,  Car door magnets (great for you AVON & Mary Kay sales Reps), Letterheads, Magnets, Notepads, Presentation folders, Rubber stamps, and so much more!

They also consistently offer COUPON DISCOUNTS for a variety of products and services including FREE Shipping, 25% off of Business Cards,  30% off of Invitations, 5% off of Print Postcards, and more and always within reach on their Coupon Page.

They offer a variety of services including Graphic Design where they will work to design your next logo or image, Postage & Delivery where they will do it all for you, Custom Prints which bring all of your creative ideas to life, and a FREE file check which allows you to know exactly when your files are ready for print.

The website of Print Runner is easily navigable and user-friendly.  To place an order, all you need to do is select the product that you want, enter your print order, upload the files that you need, approve your artwork, logo or proof – and wait for the turnaround time to begin. 

PrintRunner has a toll-free number which you can contact if you have inquiries.  The website also has a Help Center which includes a glossary and a Frequently Asked Questions section. Finally, there's Live Chat and e-mail support that you can use if you have other inquiries.

At PrintRunner, they strive to be your single source for ALL of your print media needs through high quality, competitive pricing, knowledgeable customer care specialists, and ON TIME delivery of your products. they have over 75,000 SATISFIED customers who rely on them when the job needs to be done.

To sum it all up, the services offered by PrintRunner.com is reliable, high-quality and reasonably priced.  No matter which type of printed promotional material it is that you need for the improvement of your business, you can rest assured that the quality printing services offered by PrintRunner.com will not just meet – but exceed your expectations.  With all these benefits and more, why else would you not take advantage of the services offered by PrintRunner.com? 

Today, PrintRunner is offering one very lucky reader the chance to score some high quality postcards through the giveaway below, but first let me give you the run down on what you will be receiving.

Postcard Printing Services

You can create your own postcards online with their specially designed online tools. 

The postcards they offer come in 9 of the most popular sizes and can be printed on 100% recycled paper. The ones you will be receiving will be:

• Postcard Sizing: 5x7 
•  Quantity: 100 postcards
• Colors: 4/0 Front Only Print
• 14 Pt. UV Coating on front side
• Rounded Corners
• & Ready to ship within 4 business days at end of contest

To learn more about Printrunner and their services, or to purchase products, please visit them:
PrintRunner on Facebook
PrintRunner on Twitter
PrintRunner's Official Website

In the spirit of full-disclosure PrintRunner will be sending me a set of postcards as compensation for hosting this giveaway. As always all opinions are my own. 


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Riega Foods; Gluten-Free Cheese Sauces Review & Giveaway: Ends: 5/31/2012

About Riega Foods

"A healthy lifestyle and trustworthy food is more than just a business strategy for Riega Foods – it’s a personal mission.  A number of our friends and family, including founder Brad Gampper’s wife, suffer from allergies and other food-related health issues.  Riega Foods was founded with the purpose of providing the finest and best tasting foods for family, friends and others with dietary needs.


Riega Foods is a family owned business located in the Kansas City metropolitan area.  We are dedicated to providing flavorful, high-quality and all natural foods that we’re proud to share.  We are committed to quality manufacturing processes that ensure all of our products can be enjoyed without worry.  If it says “Riega” and wears the “Gluten Free” stamp of approval, then you can be sure that every production lot has been quantitatively tested to ensure gluten free authenticity of under 20 ppm in every bite."

My Opinion

Riega foods was kind enough to send me a sampler pack of their awesome cheese sauces in the four flavors they offer. Taste aside (which was phenomenal by the way), are gluten free and all natural and come in the following flavors: Alfredo, Pepper Jack, Yellow Cheddar, and White Cheddar.  Riega's cheese sauces contain less then 20 ppm of Gluten for those of you who have to watch your Gluten intake or have Celiac's this product was designed with you in mind or those who just need an alternative to the hum drum of everyday routing cooking.

The first of the bunch that we tried was their Alfredo sauce. The packets state that there are only 2 serving per packet once it is made, but I fed 9 people on 2 packets. I invited friends and family to partake in the sampling. We just added a little extra milk and butter and got phenomenal restaurant quality results. The sauce comes out thick and creamy just like the pros do it. This actually tastes better then any other Alfredo sauce (aside from home-made, but close tie). It's quick to cook so make sure your pasta has about 5 minutes left on the timer before you make the sauce. I love that it cooks quick which is convenient  especially on busier days. There were NO leftovers what so ever. You can purchase this sauce directly from Riega in 4 or 12 packs. 4 pk retails for $6.36 and the 12 pk retails for $18.13. You get a better deal if you buy them 12 at a time: you save $0.08 per package.

Grilled Chicken Alfredo

Served 9

Ingredients:

Grilled and sliced chicken ( about 2-3 breasts)

1 box of Ronzoni Garden Delight Fettuccine

2 pkg. of Riega Alfredo Cheese Sauce Mix

1 pkg. of Steam-able  Broccoli (or steam fresh your own)

Preperation:

Grill chicken until an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit is reached to ensure the chicken has been fully cooked. Slice chicken horizontally into strips of chicken.  Cook pasta until tender (12 minutes), less if you like your pasta al dente'. Steam Broccoli. Make Riega Alfredo sauce mix according to package instructions. Once everything is cooked mix pasta and sauce together, top mixture with broccoli and chicken or combine all ingredients and serve.

The next of the cheese sauce family that we delve into was the Pepper Jack cheese sauce. This makes the ultimate adult mac n veggie sauce. It has that "kick" , that "bite" that other products just can't wrap themselves around, yet it's mild enough that you don't need to fret about finding something to cool your mouth down with. The flavors in their pepper jack just dance around your mouth hitting all the right notes.  We used this sauce to spice up our Meat Out Mundane Monday Blues. I say it that way, not because we don't love M.o.M., but because sometimes you just need to kick things up a notch and have something totally off the wall and out of the norm to keep things interesting. The kiddos didn't care to much for the pepper jack and understandably so. They aren't particularly fond of spicier foods, but the adults that tried it LOVED it.You can purchase this sauce directly from Riega in 4 or 12 packs. 4 pk retails for $6.36 and the 12 pk retails for $18.13. You get a better deal if you buy them 12 at a time: you save $0.08 per package.

Spicy Pepper Jack Rotini and Vegetables

Serves 9

Ingredients:

1 box of Ronzoni Garden Delight Rotini 

2 packages of Riega Pepper Jack Cheese Sauce Mix

2 packages of Steam-able Mixed Vegetables (or steam fresh your own)

Preperation:

Cook pasta according to package directions (12 minutes for tender), less if you like your pasta al dente'. Prepare Reiga Pepper Jack Cheese Sauce according to package directions. Steam veggies. Combine all ingredients and serve.

Next, we gobbled up the Yellow Cheddar when we made a basic mac'n cheese dish to compliment our "kid's choice" night where they get to choose what we enjoy for the evenings "banquet" which included home made  baked chicken, biscuits,  home made coleslaw, and home made mashed potatoes and gravy. It's their equivalent to eating out at KFC. This mac'n cheese passed with flying colors and was super easy to make. There were some leftovers, but they went fast. This is quite comparable to the o' so standard Kraft macaroni and cheese, but made with natural ingredients and more flavorful. I love that they use natural ingredients because I like to know what exactly we are putting into our bodies unlike most major and store brands where 80% of the ingredients I cannot pronounce. The boys gave this one a 5 star rating. You can purchase this sauce directly from Riega in 4 or 12 packs. 4 pk retails for $6.36 and the 12 pk retails for $18.13. You get a better deal if you buy them 12 at a time: you save $0.08 per package.

For our last and final sauce we incorporated the White Cheddar  sauce into our Broccolli and Cheese Twice Baked Potatoes. Twice baked potatoes are time consuming, but totally worth the effort in the end. These potatoes cam out amazing without all the hard work of busting out the double boiler to make a cheese sauce! The white cheddar is my absolute favorite, well, because I LOVE white cheddar. This compared to my homemade white cheddar cheese sauce very well and was also a big hit with family and friends. I cannot wait to order more sauces from Riega and incorporate them into my cheese dishes more frequently. The boys loved this as a main course, while I enjoyed mine as a side dish. You can purchase this sauce directly from Riega in 4 or 12 packs. 4 pk retails for $6.36 and the 12 pk retails for $18.13. You get a better deal if you buy them 12 at a time: you save $0.08 per package.

Broccoli & White Cheddar Cheese Twice Baked Potatoes

Serves 4, 8 as a side

Ingredients:

4 russet potatoes (7-8 oz/ea), scrubbed, dried, and rubbed lightly with veg. oil

2 packages of Riega Foods White cheddar Cheese Sauce

6 c. of Broccoli, cut into bite sized pieces, stems removed and composted (or discarded)

4 Tbs unsalted butter, room temperature

1/2 c. of Sour Cream

1/2 tsp Salt and Ground Black Pepper Mix

Preparation:

Adjust oven rack to upper middle position and heat oven to 400 degrees. Bake potatoes on foil-lined baking sheet until skin is crisp and deep brown and skewer easily pierces flesh, about 1 hour. Setting baking sheet aside, transfer potatoes to wire rack and let sit until cool enough to handle, about 10 minutes.

While the potatoes are baking, heat 2 tablespoons butter in skillet for medium heat. Add broccoli and 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook - stirring occasionally until lightly browned about two minutes. Add 2 tablespoons water, cover and cook until crisp tender, about 1 minute. Uncover and continue to cook until water evaporated. 

Once potatoes are done: Cut each potato in half so that blunt sides will rest on work surface. Using a small dinner spoon, scoop flesh from each half into medium bowl, leaving a 1/8-inch to 1/4-inch thickness of flesh in each shell. Arrange shells on lined sheet and return to oven until dry and slightly crisped, about 10 minutes. Meanwhile, mash potato flesh with fork until smooth. Make White Cheddar Cheese Sauce according to package directions. Stir in cheddar cheese, broccoli, sour cream,2 tbs butter, and salt and pepper, until well combined. 

Remove shells from oven and increase oven setting to broil. Holding shells steady on pan with oven mitt or towel-protected hand, spoon mixture into crisped shells, mounding slightly at the center,*optional* Sprinkle the tops with regular shredded white cheddar cheese and return to oven. Broil until spotty brown and crisp on top, 10 to 15 minutes. Allow to cool for 10 minutes. Serve warm. 

On that note, I love Riega's sauces and highly recommend them. They are quite the time saver and super convenient to have on hand. At $1.51 a package that's no more expensive then buying a package of Knorr or McCormick Cheese Sauces, except to get that deal you have to buy 12 at a time, which may be slightly inconvenient if you are on a shoestring budget. I wish my local grocer carried them so that I could purchase them as needed rather then all at once. However, they do have a store locator on their site where you can check to see if your local grocer carries it near you.

To learn more about Riega Foods and their fabulous cheese sauces, or to purchase them for yourself, please visit:

Riega Foods on Facebook

Riega Foods on Twitter

Riega Foods Official Website and online Store

Where to find Riega's Cheese Sauce

Oh, and if you'd like to try Riega Cheese Sauces for yourself, and you can for FREE! All you have to do is nter below using the Rafflecopter form. Be sure to complete all mandatory entries for your chance to win an assorted 12 pack (3 of each White Cheddar, Yellow Cheddar, Pepper Jack, and Alfredo )! There will be not one, but 2 lucky winners this time!

In the spirit of full-disclosure Riega Foods sent samples for me to try. No monetary compensations was given and as always all opinions are my own. 

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Bennu; The Leader in Green Social Media Marketing; T-Shirt Review & Giveaway ~ Ends: 4/10/2012

 

About Bennu

Bennu was started in 2010 by a diverse group of social entrepreneurs who met while pursuing their MBA’s in New York City. The founders, Sayaka Eto, Ashok Kamal and Kevin Ng, came from across the world with varying backgrounds in finance, management, graphic design, and marketing. Having previously worked on groundbreaking sustainability projects, the team was united by a common passion: using business to tackle social and environmental problems.

Bennu’s inspiration originated from the disturbing amount of waste – particularly plastic bottles – being sent to landfills as trash. With tens of billions of potentially useful bottles wasted each year, Bennu launched by developing recycled promotional products that prevent landfill dumping, save energy and serve practical consumer needs. At the same time, our goal was to educate people about the environmental, social and economic value of sustainability. Social media presented the ideal communication channel to engage a community who shared our values and beliefs.

From an idea that was sparked, refined and realized during business plan competitions, international travel, hands-on market research, and countless hours of meetings, Bennu was born. Bennu continues to evolve, expanding from promotional products to social media marketing services that help other companies respond to the green wave that’s rapidly changing the world. Our clients range from multinational corporations to startups who embrace business sustainability as a competitive advantage.

The name Bennu reflects the company’s purpose and vision. The Bennu bird is the Egyptian equivalent to the Greek Phoenix, which represents rebirth. The company Bennu exists to promote a greener new lifestyle for a society that has long taken for granted environmentally harmful ways.

We hope that our efforts encourage people to take more steps toward sustainability in their daily lives. Whether buying locally grown food, conserving natural resources, or recycling more, we believe that every act of sustainable living makes a positive impact.

My Opinion

When you imagine "going green" you can visualize recycling bins for various types of waste cluttering your house or business with no "end product" in mind. It seems more of a hassle then what it is worth at times and you know you just want to throw your arms up and shout That's it! I'm done. I cannot take this anymore. You can never visualize in real life how that recycled product will make it's way back into your life. You always hear that it is turned into more bottles, cans, and clutter or that they made this or that from it, but you never actually put your hands on it knowingly.

Bennu is trying to change that by connecting the recycling arrows- from processing, to consumer use, to collection, and back again. They take "one man's trash and turn it into another man's treasure and I don't just mean financially for themselves, but for the health and heart of the communities they actively give back to time and time again. Through strategic marketing and education they are changing the way people and businesses view recycling and are taking it to a whole new level.

Their most prominent products are their recycled accessories, from backpacks to tee-shirts they are always searching for innovative ways to create from waste. When I say "waste" like that it sounds so dirty, but what they do is phenomenal. They take water bottles and re-purpose them into those recycled accessories saving 1/3 pound of agricultural chemicals from being released per t-shirt (and using 2/3s cotton taken from cutting room floors-which by the way would only wind up discarded otherwise) and use 20 bottles per backpack (which are made ONLY from re-purposed plastic bottles)! How does something like that happen?

Ya got me on how they actually process the bottles and turn them into more, but they do and that is the important thing. They also GIVE BACK, big time. An example of that giving back is the  "Greenpacks for Great Kids" campaign which donates eco-friendly backpacks to low-income children. In fall 2010 they donated $5,000+ worth of book-bags with the help of Entertainers 4 Education Alliance in NYC. The campaign is supported by a wide range of celebrities, including superstar actor & recording artist Bow Wow, MTV media personality Sway Calloway and WNBA all-star Cappie Pondexter. To celebrate the campaign’s mission, every “Greenpacks for Great Kids” backpack is emblazoned with the “I WILL GRADUATE” logo.

Another awesome thing about this company is that Bennu was started by some college graduates; three MBAs to be exact. Bennu was very lightly funded and were awarded with $40,000 in seed money by winning the 2009 Baruch college and Merrill Lynch Invitational business plan competition. They have also received smaller cash prices including the 2010 Rice Business Plan Competition. Their ultimate goal is to eventually move into apps and social games at just the right pace (like Goldilocks and the three Bears) and as Kamal said best "There is nothing worse than a bad Green Product."  This really gives kids today living in a technologically hand on world something to aspire for. Who knows who will be the next innovator, but in this day and age anything is possible. 

Bennu sent me a fabulous "Green It"  t-shirt for review and it is amazing that something so basic, so comfortable, and definitely something taken for granted could be made out of water bottles and cutting room waste. This t-shirt is one of the softest most comfortable tees I have ever owned. I love it. It's getting so broken in because I am constantly washing and wearing it again and again.  This has become my "go-to" shirt. You know- that one t-shirt that you cannot just live without? Yea, that's the one. The one that you sleep in, run errands in, find yourself lounging about in on your day off shirt. I just wish they made toddler sizes and baby bodysuits. I'd so get them for the kiddos. Everyone should have a tee like this if you don't already.

To learn more about Bennu or to purchase some of their awesome products, please visit:
Bennu on Facebook
Bennu on Twitter
Bennu on YouTube
Bennu's Official Website and Store

Interested in winning a tee shirt? Check this out! Bennu is offering one lucky reader the chance to win an Ocean Aid Tee shirt;Ocean Aid is a public awareness campaign Bennu helped launch to protect the ocean!  All you have to do to get your very own comfy Ocean Aid shirt is to follow the mandatory entries below on the Rafflecopter form below.

In the spirit of full-disclosure Bennu sent samples for me to try. No monetary compensations was given and as always all opinions are my own. 

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Redwood Hill Farm Goat Cheese Products Review & Giveaway: Ends: 4/10/2012

About Redwood Hill Farm

Award Winning Dairy Products Since 1968

Located among the picturesque redwoods of western Sonoma County, California, sixty miles north of San Francisco, Redwood Hill Farm is a different kind of dairy. A small family farm, we have been producing delicious, award-winning goat milk dairy products since 1968 when owner, Jennifer Lynn Bice’s parents first decided to build their grade A goat dairy in Sonoma County providing fresh goat milk to the public.

Excellence Has Been Our Top Priority

In 1978, Jennifer assumed ownership of the farm with her late husband Steven Schack, expanding the business to produce a greater variety of goat milk products, and diversifying the dairy goat breeding program.

Promoting the benefits of goat milk products and developing a genetics program of excellence has been a top priority and Jennifer’s work has positioned Redwood Hill Farm at the forefront of the goat dairy industry. Today the herd is exhibited at major shows, holding National Champions in four of the five breeds. Redwood Hill Farm furnishes stock to dairy goat breeders across North and South America.

Quality and sustainability have been the guiding principles as Redwood Hill Farm has grown over the years. We are honored that the Business Environmental Alliance of Sonoma County has awarded Redwood Hill Farm & Creamery the Best Practices Award in recognition of environmentally sound business practices and we are the first Certified Humane goat dairy.

The Best Tasting, Least Processed Natural Goat Milk Products

Because we want our products to be as natural and unprocessed as possible, we do not standardize or homogenize our milk. Our products are free of sugar, coloring, preservatives, stabilizers or powdered milk.

One taste will convince you that our products are different. Many people consider Redwood Hill Farm & Creamery goat milk, artisan cheese, yogurt and kefir to be the best tasting they’ve ever tried. 

My Opinion

Remember that review I did for Lactose Free Green Valley Organics? Well, their parent company, Redwood Hill Farm was kind enough to allow me the pleasure of sampling their line of Goat's Milk products. Let me tell you more about their products (being Lactose Intolerant and all, I've heard that Goat's milk products are easier to digest.)

Their whole line of goat milk yogurts comes with a slew of benefits. Whole milk goat milk yogurt is naturally lower in fat, cholesterol and calories than whole milk cow yogurts. The fruit flavors are 180 calories a cup (45 calories from fat); the plain yogurt is 130 calories (50 calories from fat). Goat milk has smaller fat particles, which makes it much more easy to digest; and people like me who are lactose intolerant or allergic to cow’s milk proteins are generally able tolerate goat’s milk.

Yogurt in general is easier to digest than milk because the lactose that upsets some people is converted by the yogurt cultures into lactic acid. Redwood Hill Farms yogurt also has live yogurt cultures, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Lactobacillus bifidus, which can help to restore normal intestinal tract flora and other internal flora destroyed by antibiotics. The products are natural and don’t contain sugar: the vanilla and coffee flavors are sweetened with maple syrup and the fruit flavors are sweetened with clover honey. I love clover honey! Their 6 oz. yogurt cups retail at my local grocer for $2.49 each and the 32 oz. sizes retail for $7.29.

Their yogurt is made custard style, you know all thick and creamy the fruit is all mixed in with a velvety smooth and delicate texture with just the right amount of tangy to it. Each yogurt with its' very own unique flavor and you would never know they were made with goat's milk. The only yogurt that I had issues with was the hone flavored yogurt - when I opened the container it was quite watery. The fruit yogurts (strawberry, apricot, and cranberry orange) all were thick and creamy and the fruit mixed  together very well. The fruit that was in the yogurts were more like fruit preserves then big hunky chunks of fruit which the kids LOVED!  I didn't think the kids would be game for trying them. The plain yogurt spiced up my ordinary dips and and a few of my friends wanted the recipe! Dare I tell them it was made from goat's milk. Indeed, I did. 

Came out a little blurry. Boo children running in the house!

I was also lucky enough to be sent a variety of their cheeses including California Crottin which is a french style goat cheese. It was incredibly packed with flavor. The underlying hint of nuttiness really brought this cheese to life. The outside was a nice solid, yet buttery firmness and the underlying cheese was was as creamy as softened butter being prepared for cooking.


Tomato & Crottin Cheese Pizza
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Serves: 4

Ingredients

1 pkg. of Puff Pastry (I buy Wegman's Puff Pastry Sheets)

2 small Tomatoes

2 Onions

1 tsp. of Olive Oil

2 tsp. Parmesan Cheese

4 tsp. dried Italian herb blend

4 Basil Leaves (Fresh)

1 Redwood Hill Farm Crottin Cheese Round

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Peel the onions and cut them into slices. Peel the tomatoes and cut them into slices and let them drain. (Cut onions and tomatoes in thick or thin slices depending on your own preference). Saute' the onions in a pan with olive oil, add tomatoes and cook for 10 minutes. Roll out the puff pastry sheet and prick it with a fork (make four puff pastry "rounds" for crust from the two pastry sheets.) Cut Crottin into 4 pieces. Spread the Crottin onto Puff Pastry rounds (1 pieces per pizza). Pour the tomato and onion mixture onto puff pastry crusts. Sprinkle with herbs and Parmesan; add basil leaves for garnish.

Their Raw milk Feta was no ordinary Feta instead it was salty yet savory and not at all crumbly.  I was able to use my food processor to break it down finely enough to use in my Chicken Cesar Pasta Salad. Retails locally for $3.95.

Chicken Caesar Pasta Salad
By: Christina Myre
Preparation: 30
Cook time: 15-20 minutes
Serves: 6

Ingredients:

3 c. skinned shredded chicken breast (can be roasted or grilled)

3 c. hot cooked penne (I prefer Ronzoni Garden Delight, but they were on sale last week and I lost out)

2 c. thinly sliced romaine lettuce

1 & 1/2 c. halved cherry tomatoes

1/2 c. thinly sliced fresh basil

1/3 c. fat-free or light Caesar dressing (see recipe below)

1/4 c. fresh parsley

1 "block" of Redwood Hill Farm Raw Milk Feta Cheese 

Preparation:

Cook or roast chicken for required amount of time (internal temp. should read 165 degrees F). Shred chicken once cooked. (I pretty much gave you all the directions above). Once chicken is shredded combine all ingredients in a large bowl; toss well to ensure an even thorough coat.

Home-made Creamy Caesar  Salad Dressing (Light version)

Ingredients:

1 clove garlic (1/2 of a clove, or 1 very small clove depending on how much you like raw garlic!)

1/4 tsp salt

2 Tbs lemon juice

2 Tbs Redwood Hill Farm Plain Yogurt

1 tsp dijon mustard

1 dash worcestershire sauce *optional*

1 dash red hot pepper sauce (I use about 1/2 teaspoon of Frank's Red hot)

1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper

2 Tbs olive oil, extra-virgin

2 tsp asiago cheese grated

Directions:

Peel and crush the garlic clove with a flat side of a chef's knife. Sprinkle with salt and mash the garlic into a paste using the flat side of the chef's knife. (You might find it easier to use the back of a spoon) but I use the knife.

Either whisk very vigorously in a small bowl or use a small food processor.

Add the lemon juice, sour cream (or Greek yogurt), Dijon mustard, hot pepper sauce, Worcestershire sauce and black pepper. Process or whisk until very well combined.

While whisking or with the food processor running slowly drizzle in the olive oil.

Add the grated Parmesan cheese. Mix and refrigerate until needed to combine the flavors.

*Will keep in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

The last of the three sent to me was the Three Pepper Chevre, a soft, tender spreadable cheese with the sweet and aromatic smells and all the flavors of red peppers, but not at all spicy.  I used this to make my own  tasty "Garlic Bread". Retails locally for $4.78.

Wild Mushroom & Three Pepper Chevre Crostini
By Me experimenting

Ingredients:
2 dozen baguette slices (cut diagonally 1/4 in. thick and 3 in. long; about 8 oz. total)
1 tablespoon olive oil
12 ounces fresh mushrooms (chanterelle, crimini, morel, oyster, porcini, shiitake, or common; choose about three kinds)
1 tablespoon butter or margarine
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1/4 cup minced shallots
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1/4 cup dry white wine
1/4 cup fat-skimmed chicken broth or vegetable broth
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
Salt and pepper
4 ounces Redwood Hill Farm Three Pepper chèvre (goat) cheese
1 tablespoon chopped parsley

Preparation
1. Arrange baguette slices in a single layer on a 12- by 15-inch baking sheet. Brush tops lightly with oil. Bake on the middle rack in a 350° regular or convection oven until golden, 15 to 20 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, trim and discard discolored stem ends, bits of debris, and bruised spots from mushrooms (for shiitakes, remove entire stem). Rinse mushrooms well and drain. Cut mushrooms larger than 1/2 inch into 1/4-inch-thick slices; leave smaller ones whole.
3. In a 10- to 12-inch frying pan over medium-high heat, melt butter; add garlic and stir often until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add mushrooms, shallots, and thyme; stir often until liquid is evaporated and mushrooms are well browned, about 10 minutes. Add wine, broth, and vinegar and stir to release browned bits; boil until liquid is evaporated, 4 to 6 minutes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Keep warm over low heat, stirring occasionally.
4. Spread chèvre equally on toasted baguette slices. Spoon warm mushroom mixture equally over cheese. Sprinkle evenly with parsley. Serve warm.

The Redwood Hill Farm goat milk "kefir" was tangy and tingled the senses. This kefir is thicker and creamier then their Green Valley Organics version which totally hit the spot. It was like drinking one of my children's yogurt drinks (creaminess wise)  The plain Kefir was absolutely delightful mixed in with my morning dish of granola. It also added that extra "zing" to my oatmeal, and was a great substitution for regular milk in my homemade macaroni and cheese as well as in many other regular dishes that we make. It spiced up my buttermilk ranch dressing.

The Mango Orange Pineapple Kefir brings together the tropical flavors of pineapple, orange and mango fruit in their newest enzyme rich kefir for an unforgettably fresh, delicious and healthful probiotic beverage. When thrown in a blender, add ice and turn it into a smoothie by adding a few chinks of fresh fruits to it as well and you have yourself an awesome delightful and healthy mid-day "snack". Both Kefirs retail locally for about $7.56/each.


Chilled Avocado Soup
By: Redwoord Hill Farm
Serves:4-6

Ingredients

3 ripe avocados, pitted and peeled

2/3 cup frozen peas

1 cup Plain Kefir (such as Redwood Hill Farm goat milk kefir OR Green Valley Organics Lactose Free cow dairy kefir)

1/4 cup chopped cilantro

1 Tbsp. chopped white onion

2 tsp. seeded and chopped jalapeño (to taste)

Juice of one lime

1/3 or 1/2 c Water or chicken broth

Salt, to taste

Pico de Gallo

1 large tomato, halved with seeds removed

1 small white onion, finely chopped

1/4 cup chopped cilantro

2 tsp. seeded and chopped jalapeno pepper (to taste)

Juice from 2 limes 

Salt to taste

Directions:

To roast the corn on the stovetop, heat oil in a sauté pan over medium high heat. Add fresh or frozen and thawed corn kernels and cook 5 to 7 minutes, until the corn is golden and toasted. Set aside.

To make the pico de gallo, chop tomato in to very small pieces and mix with onion, cilantro and jalapeno pepper. Stir in lime juice and roasted corn; add salt to taste and set aside.

To make the soup, place avocados, peas, kefir, cilantro, onion, jalapeno and lime juice in a blender. Puree until smooth. Add warm water or chicken broth to thin out the soup. Add salt to taste.

Divide soup between four or six bowls and top with Roasted Corn and Pico de Gallo Garnish. Serve with your favorite hot sauce.

The only products I can find real local (about 1/2 hour drive) are the yogurts. The Kefir I can find in Hellertown which is quite albeit away and even further away I can get all my Redwood Hill Farm's products in Wales, PA. Wish I could get them closer because as healthy and beneficial as they are I don't think a two hour or more car ride is good for them.

To learn more about Redwood Hill Farm or to purchase their products, please visit:
Redwood Hill Farm on Facebook
Redwood Hill Farm on YouTube
Redwood Hill Farm's Official Website and Online Store

 

As an added bonus, one lucky reader will win a Green Valley Organics Gift Pack which will include:

Their  eco-friendly insulated tote bag filled with the Green Valley Organics Lactose Free product line of organic yogurts, kefirs and sour cream, a "Peace Love & Dairy" t-shirt and bumper sticker. Excited yet? Enter  by completing the mandatory entries on the Rafflecopter form below for your chance to win!

In the spirit of full-disclosure Redwood Hill Farm sent samples for me to try. No monetary compensations was given and as always all opinions are my own.

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