Einkorn Pasta

I had never even heard of Einkorn till very recently, when I was approached by the folks over at Jovial Foods

The pasta from Jovial Foods is made from  Einkorn which was cultivated nearly 12,000 years ago is one of the earliest species of cultivated wheat.

The pasta contains 9 grams of Protein per serving and it outperforms super-foods like the blueberry in nutritional value.

Its also a healthy source of fiber, zinc, iron, and the antioxidant Lutien.

With no egg, the Einkorn Pasta is a great option for Vegan, or vegetarian eaters.

I think its a great option for toddlers. The pasta is hearty like a whole wheat pasta and it goes well in hearty dishes like casseroles because it really holds its shape.

Besides the great taste, if you cover it with some cheese, most toddlers don't even notice the difference so its a simple way to take a normally unhealthy meal and turn it into something that will really rock the lunchbox, AND have your toddler filled with all the protein she needs in just a 2-ounce serving!

We made the Einkorn Rigatoni with Broccoli, Olives, Herbs and Lemons which went great with a roast chicken that I cooked for the night!

If you want more recipes for Einkorn Pasta check out the Jovial Foods Recipes Page

I received a free sample of Einkorn Pasta from Jovial Foods for this review.. All opinions are 100% mine I did not receive any monetary payments for this review.

Gracie's Gift

If you have a little girl and choose to do things to her hair, then there has probably been a point in your parenting that you've dealt with your little one loathing the hair-bow or pigtails.

Ever since my daughter was born, I have been guilty of decorating her adorable little cranium,

From Headbands

To Hats

To Tutus

To Bags

Headlamps

or even Pigtails

She Much prefers it like this

Gracie's Gift  is about a little girl who dislikes hair-bows about as much as my daughter does.

When her birthday comes and she see's her birthday outfit set out on a chair complete with a bow, Gracie is not so excited.

But as the day goes on, Gracie notices the beautiful bows that complete her birthday presents, are just like the bows that her mother gives her everyday, a way to celebrate Gracie as a special gift!

Annabella really enjoys this book, of course she always enjoys reading books about girls and the more pink the more she is convinced that the girl is 'princess'

She also loved the birthday party idea, I think that every young kid can relate to a birthday being a special and exciting event. 

I've found that Annabella wants to do her hair as soon as I'm done reading the book. And while it doesn't work during a temper tantrum, it certainly has turned a few mornings around!

Gracie's Gift was written by Andrea Trosclair and Illustrated by Sean Gautreaux

The book sells for $16.95 and is a hardcover; a portion of the proceeds benefit the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America.

For more information or to get a copy of this book for yourself, visit

www.TrosclairTales.com

I received a free copy of Gracie's Gift for this review. All opinions are 100% mine. I did not receive any monetary payments for this review.

Cuties Clementines and Mandarins!

                                                                                                                                  COAST TO COAST: CUTIES^® CALIFORNIA CLEMENTINES

       AND MANDARINS GO NATIONAL

   Cuties^® Kicks off National Launch And Online Channel – CutiesKids.com – Dedicated to Cute Kids

Los Angeles, Calif. (December 7, 2011) – The kid-friendly California citrus that West Coast shoppers have grown to love is bringing a bit of sunshine to the East Coast. Beginning this month, Cuties^®California Clementines and Mandarins are available coast-to-coast for the first time ever.

In support of the national launch the brand will introduce a $20 million national television and print advertising campaign that is among the most significant in the fresh fruit, vegetable or salad category.

“We know how much parents love sharing Cuties^® Clementines with their kids on the West Coast and we are excited to now offer this popular fruit to families across the country,” said Marc Seguin, senior marketing director for Paramount Farms North America.

In conjunction with the national launch, Cuties^® has also introduced a new, interactive website created especially for kids and proud parents to celebrate the cute things kids do. The site (www.CutiesKids.com) will showcase parent-uploaded videos and pictures, featuring kids doing what they do best: having fun, acting silly and of course, being oh-so adorably cute. Bragging rights aren’t the only prizes parents can win by uploading images of their kids: Cuties^® is giving away a college scholarship worth $150,000 to the star of the cutest kid video.

Cuties^® is teaming up with DonorsChoose.org, a not-for-profit organization that lets contributors across the country fund classroom projects posted by public school teachers on the DonorsChoose.org website. For every video uploaded, users will receive a $10 DonorsChoose.org gift card to use towards any classroom project of their choice. Weekly winners will receive a $500 DonorsChoose.org gift card and the winner of the grand prize will receive a $5,000 card. Cuties^® is committed to kids and educationand will continue the charity gift card giveaway up to $100,000 in addition to the individual college scholarship prize.

“The CutiesKids.com site is another way for us to reward parents for something they already love to do – show off their kids,” said Seguin. “What better way to do that than winning a free college education for your little cutie.”

In addition to school contributions, Cuties^® will award daily and weekly prizes for the first 18 weeks, leading up to one grand prize winner. Participants will be able to share their videos using their social network platforms, and the winners will be determined by the number of online votes.

•        Daily Prizing: Forty-one video contestants per day will each have a chance to win a Cuties^® T-shirt, beanie, lunch box, tumbler or plush toy.

•        Weekly Prizing: One video contestant per week will win a $500 DonorsChoose.org gift card to use to fund a project of their choice in addition to an active game console.

•        Grand Prize: One grand prize winner will be awarded a college scholarship worth $150,000, a $5,000 DonorsChoose.org gift card to use to fund a project of their choice and aseason’s supply of Cuties^®.

                                                                                                      

To submit a video of your kid, or to watch some seriously cute videos, log on to CutiesKids.com. 

About Cuties^® Brand

Thanks to their small size, sweet flavor and easy peelability, Cuties^® are naturally kid-friendly. And with their high nutritional content, they’re a big hit with parents, too. Available from November through May, Cuties^® offer a variety of nutrients per serving including: fiber, potassium, protein, calcium, vitamin C and folate. Cuties^®is a joint venture between Paramount Citrus, Sun Pacific and Fowler Packing. For more information, visit www.Cutieskids.com.

About DonorsChoose.org

Founded in 2000, DonorsChoose.org (www.donorschoose.org) is an online charity that makes it easy for anyone to help students in need. Public school teachers post requests, and then individuals can browse and fund projects that speak to them. After completing a project, the donor hears back from the classroom they supported in the form of photographs and teacher thank-you letters. To date, 184,000 public and charter school teachers have used the site to secure funding for $85 million in books, art supplies, technology, and other resources that their students need to learn. Through DonorsChoose.org, individuals from all walks of life have helped 5.1 million students.

Waxelene! The Petroleum Free Alternative!

I grew up with a grandmother who fully believed in Vaseline, and I'll admit that we used it for everything from moisturizer to greasing squeaky hinges on doors.

Waxelene is an eco-friendly alternative to Petroleum Jelly contacted me for a review and I was happy to give it a try! 

I really loved when I read the ingredients in Waxelene; Organic Soy Oil, Beeswax,  Natural Vitamin E Oil, and Organic Rosemary Oil.   There are three main things that I LOVE about that list 

1. The ingredients are natural, and organic.
2. The ingredients are actually good for skin
3. Petroleum is never used!

I started using Waxelene for my daughter's legs which are often dry and bumpy. I used it twice a day once in the morning before school and once at night after her bath or before I put on her pajamas.

I 'm pleased to say that after only about two and a half weeks of use, my daughter's skin has greatly improved   Even her father has noticed a difference.

I have also been using Waxelene for my hands, feet and lips. I apply a thick coat of Waxelene before bed or before I do the dishes. The heat from a pair of gloves helps to really get the Waxelene into my skin!

Waxelene is great for everyday use, because it isn't oily or greasy like petroleum jelly.  Its aerated which makes it soak easily into skin, without clogging pores.

Not just the product is eco-friendly. Waxelene comes in recyclable glass jars, instead of plastic so the jars can easily be reused and recycled. 

Next time you need to reach for that Petroleum Jelly, think twice and give Waxelene a try,  you will not only get better results but you'll feel better knowing that you used a healthy product!

Be sure to visit the Waxelene Website

https://waxelene.com/

for more information, updates and information on where you can find Waxelene near you!

I received a free sample pack of Waxelene for this review,.All opinions are 100% mine. I did not receive any monetary payment for this review. 

Flying Cauldron Butterscotch Beer

We go through a lot of drinks here in my house, and lots of it is soda. But we are so often drinking the same things over and over again. 

First lets talk about the name 'Flying Cauldron Butterscotch Beer' it sounds like a beverage straight from the Hogwart's kitchen. And yes this beer is nonalcoholic much like root beer or ginger beer. 

Reed's really has a winner here, with butterscotch and vanilla flavors, it is a delicious winter brew, while Reed's released it for Halloween, we really loved the flavors with the turkey and stuffing of Thanksgiving. 

In addition to the turkey, the 'Flying Cauldron Butterscotch Beer' also goes with pretty much any type of pie that I've tried. 

Its all natural, and free of caffeine, and gluten! 

So be on the lookout for Reed's 'Flying Cauldron Butterscotch Beer' this year and surprise your guests and your family with the newest flavor from Reed's!

I received a free sample pack of Reed's 'Flying Cauldron Butterscotch Beer'  for this review,.All opinions are 100% mine. I did not receive any monetary payment for this review

Twin Tour!

My sister and brother are coming!!  

Be sure to keep updated with their adventures at

http://twintour.blogspot.com

Yaay I can't wait!

WINNER!

We have a winner of the World Vision Gift Giveaway! 

The Winner (selected via Random.Org) is #2 USA!

USA said

I would provide food to people in need in the USA, our local food banks always collect but I am sure there are a lot of places where it is just not enough!!

November 28, 2011 7:21 AM 

USA will be receiving a beautiful beaded necklace! Check you email USA, I'll be looking for your address!

Adventures with Chocolate

It should be no secret to you by now that I love chocolate.

I nearly jumped for joy when I received Adventures in Chocolate by Paul A Young.

The book is filled with recipes and techniques that could make even the beginner cook a chocolate pro. Learn how to make Ganache, temper chocolate,  and make the most amazing truffles you've had.

With 80 recipes you can easily fill a few months making these.

The book is an even mix of complicated and easy recipes. I made the Chocolate-drenched cacao-nib cookies. An amazing cookie made with cacao nibs. The cookies come out almost as brownies, and to be honest I ate most of the cookies in dough form.

The dough is TO DIE FOR, and the cookies aren't bad either , you can see the dough above and drool over it.... I'll be honest and tell you that 1/3 of that bowl was eaten before the oven was finished baking them!

The book features truffles, tarts, sweets and savory recipes. Its amazing.

I have really enjoyed this book, both reading it and cooking from it, my only complaint when I first opened it was that a lot of the chocolate in the recipes was for the most part hard to find and expensive.  This was easily fixed by using a couple brands  I found at Whole Foods, I haven't felt once that the chocolate I used for the recipes didn't work... in fact every recipe has been amazing.

So please, if you're a chocolate lover (and I know you're out there) this is the book for you! Fit chocolate into every meal of the day, I can't wait to have a Chocolate party inspired by this book.

I received a free copy of Adventures with Chocolate for this review, all opinions are 100% mine. I did not receive any monetary payments for this review.