Sunday, May 11, 2025

Tamalitoz Review

 Growing up in southern California I grew up eating Mexican candy. That delicious combination of spicy, sweet and salty. It is a flavor I crave and always gives me a nostalgic feeling. I remember as a little girl walking to my grandmother's neighbor's house after school because she had a little table set up inside her home where she sold a variety of sweet and salty candy's. Saladitos, Tamarindo, Diablitos, Chamoy and my favorite Vero mango lollipops. It wasn't until years later that I learned that many of those candy's may have contained some questionable not so healthy ingredients. So, I was pretty excited to learn about Tamalitoz by Sugarox

The owners of Sugarox, that started out as a small candy store in Mexico making small batch hard candy, decided to create a line of candy's inspired by my favorite Mexican sweets. But, with a twist! While most Mexican candies are covered with chili on the outside. Tamalitoz contain chili on the inside. So, you get a sweet exterior with an explosion of chili flavor on the inside. 

Their Divine Watermelon hard candies are sweet watermelon on the outside, but as you continue to savor these you start to get a hint of chili lime and once you get to the middle of these little pillows that delicious chili taste fills your mouth. They are really good! So good in fact that I left an open bag on the counter while I was at work and when I got home, they were all gone. My husband devoured these. 


Their Chili Pops Chamoy are naturally flavored cucumber, coconut and tamarind flavored lollipops with swirls of chamoy. They are so tasty and remind me of my favorite Vero lollipops. I hear they also have a mango flavored one that I must try. 

In addition to these candy's, I also tried their Palomitaz Lip Smackign Mango Popcorn. I love adding Tajin to my popcorn, so I knew I was going to love this. Salty, sweet with a hint of chili this popcorn snack is addictive. I would have finished the whole bag myself it wasn't for my husband again who also enjoyed these. 

Tamalitoz has definitely found a new fan and consumer in me. I am excited to try some of the other varieties of candies and popcorn that they sell. Check them out here!

The featured product{s} in this post were provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or PR company representing them. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by anyone.

Thursday, November 23, 2023

Taste of Home Special Delivery Subscription Box

 


If you are a foodie and love kitchen related things than you have to check out out Taste of Home's Special Delivery subscription box. This quarterly subscription box delivers curated cooking products and recipes straight to your door. So far I have received two boxes and have been very pleased with the contents of each box. I am going to share my last box with you, the fall box. 




The fall box was filled with 5 kitchen items, a Budget-Friendly Cookbook and a handful of recipe cards. First of all I love the cookbook you receive in each box, it is always a different theme,  but filled with recipes that look delicious and are easy to make. I am a cookbook collector so I love getting a new cookbook to try out some recipes and to display on my shelf. 

The items that were sent in this box were premium gadgets and multi-purpose tools. Like this Kitchen Innovations 3-In-1 Slotted Turner (center). This spatula flips food, has a silicone edge for scraping on one side and a serrated edge on the other that cuts through foods. It is really convenient and well made. 

The Joie Steamer Basket (right) is a collapsible colander that fits easily into your kitchen drawer. It is made of silicone and the perfect size for straining veggies. 

The Zulay Premium Apple Corer (bottom left) not only cores apples, but you can also use on pears, bell peppers, even cupcakes! It is made of sturdy stainless steel and doubles as a pitter and seed remover. This is a tool I was excited about receiving because it is something I would never think of buying but is great to have on hand. 

The Kitchen Innovations Silicone Lid (top left) can be used as a bowl cover, a splatter guard, a saucepan lid and for reheating in the microwave. It has a functional raised handle but takes up little space in your drawer. 

The Honey Dipper & Spreader (center) I thought was so cute. It is s small spoon perfect for dipping, drizzling and spreading honey. Made out of beechwood, it can also be used for glazing and icing. 

The Zulay Parchment Sheets (left) are small parchment squares perfect for baking cookies, wrapping homemade treats and as liners. I have a burger press and these are perfect for separating burgers and making sure they don't stick in the press. 

I love receiving surprises in the mail especially when they are things I will definitely use. You can currently get your first Special Delivery box on sale for only $29.95 plus Free Shipping. You can purchase just one box or sign up for the quarterly subscription where you will receive a box each season. I am currently anticipating my winter box. 

Go check it out!

Wednesday, September 6, 2023

New! Kraft Mayo Buffalo Style Dressing Review


 

As a member of Influenster I recently got to try Kraft's New Mayo Buffalo Style Dressing and let me tell ya, this stuff is really good! It's creamy, zesty, tangy and spicy and makes a really good wrap. 



I tried it on a sun dried tomato wrap filled with turkey, blue cheese crumbles, lettuce and tomato and it was everything. If you have yet to try this new mayo from Kraft I would definitely give it a try. You can find it at your local grocery store. You won't be disappointed! 

The featured product{s} in this post were provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or PR company representing them. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by  anyone.

Thursday, June 29, 2023

Mode Chocolate Review

Are you a chocolate lover? If so, then I have something to share with you! It's really tasty chocolate that's healthier for  you. Made without all the extra sugar, all natural ingredients and sweetened with monk fruit. 



Mode Chocolate  is a better option for those with a sweet tooth. These tasty chocolate bars come in both milk and dark chocolate. the dark chocolate option contains only 1g of sugar and is only 3 net carbs while the milk chocolate option contains 4g of sugar and only 4 net carbs. This is just a teeny amount compared to some other popular chocolate bars. I have to admit I was a little worried about whether or not I would like the taste of this chocolate but I did! It is creamy and taste like...well, really good chocolate. They are also about the size of a Hershey's bar so you are getting the same size snack in a better for your version.  Chris is a chocolate fiend so I knew in order to seal the deal with this chocolate I had to get his stamp of approval. His thoughts, that's really good, do you have any more? Unfortunatly I was only sent one bar of each flavor to review however, you can purchase Mode Chocolate bars online in 5, 10 and 20 packs. They even have a subscription option so you never run out of chocolate. If you practice a low carb lifestyle or are looking for healthier options for yummy treats, than give Mode Chocolate a taste! Visit their website for a chance to win a years supply of chocolate! 

The featured product{s} in this post were provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or PR company representing them. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by  anyone.

Wednesday, July 7, 2021

Santa Cruz Organic Dark Roasted Almond Butter Review

 


Recently I received a jar of Santa Cruz Organic Creamy Dark Roasted Almond Butter for review via Influenster.  I am a big fan of eating peanut butter from a spoon straight out of the jar. I am also a fan of almonds, so I was anxious to give this stuff a try. Upon opening the jar I noticed the oils had settled to the top. This is the sign that the almond butter is natural and not filled with additives. In fact the ingredients label consist of organic dry roasted almonds and sea salt, that's it!  The oil tends to separate, but with a stir of your spoon you can blend the oils back into the spread, no problem. The consistency of the spread is smooth and creamy. I tried it my favorite way first, a large spoonful. It tasted like roasted almonds of course! Delicious. I also dipped some strawberries into it because I thought the sweetness of the strawberries would work well with the strong smokie taste the of the almond butter. I was right! I found a new snack that I really enjoy. Almond butter is healthy and tastes great. It can be used in a variety of ways, as a dip, on a sandwich, blended in a smoothie or straight out of the jar. You can purchase this and other Santa Cruz Organic products online or check out their store locator to find a store near you. 

The featured product{s} in this post were provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or PR company representing them. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by  anyone.

Thursday, November 19, 2020

PigWizard PorkCorn Review

 Who likes pork rinds? I do! Who likes PorkCorn? Me! What is PorkCorn you ask? PorkCorn is like caramel popcorn but air-fried and made with pork rinds instead. What?! No really, PigWizard, a sandwich shop in Monterey California makes these tasty creations, and now you can order them online. 



I was sent two bags for review, Sweet Heat Caramel PorkCorn and Beer Bacon Caramel PorkCorn, but they also have a Thai Tea flavor that sounds really interesting. Let me tell you, I wasn't sure what to expect when I got these, but they are really good. They really do remind you of caramel corn but with a pork-y flavor to them. They are crunchy, flavorful and addictive. The Sweet Heat have a sweet orange flavored caramel taste at first that finishes with a heat from crushed red chilis. Not too spicy, but an explosion of flavor. It's kinda hard to explain you just gotta try them for yourself. Unfortunatly, Chris got his hands on the Beer Bacon ones and devoured them before I even got a chance to try one. He said they were delicious and wants me to order more. I hear they are also working on 2 more flavors for the holidays Mocha and Maple Ginger!

I was also going over the PigWizard restaurant menu they sent along with my PorkCorn and now want to make the drive to Monterey. This place looks good! They have a variety of homemade sausages and sandwiches that sound amazing. Like the Porchetta Sandwich with pork loin and pork belly that has been stuffed with fresh rosemary and garlic and roasted until crisp. The sandwich is served hot with lettuce tomato, red onion, chimichurri and lemon garlic aioli. All on a toasted ciabatta roll. Yum! How about the Manchego Artichoke Chicken Sausage made with chicken, Spanish Manchego cheese, Castroville artichokes, thyme, garlic, white pepper and chardonnay. This you can also make into a sandwich with your choice of "vessel", "slop", and fresh toppings. 

If you are in driving distance of Monterey, CA stop by and let me know how it is. If you are not you can always order some PorkCorn to be shipped to your home here. PigWizard is located at 32 Cannery Row Suite G Monterey, CA 93940 Be sure to check them out on Instagram @pigwizardporknmore 

The featured product{s} in this post were provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or PR company representing them. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by  anyone.

Saturday, August 31, 2019

Steeped Coffee Review

I am not a coffee drinker, except for that new Nitro cold brew from Starbucks, that stuff is pretty tasty. I love tea however, but then you probably already knew that. I love the act of steeping a tea bag in boiling water and watching the water take color and smelling the fragrance and then of course sipping the beverage out of a nice big  mug. I always wondered why coffee wasn't available in bags like tea, where coffee lovers could also enjoy the act of steeping their favorite beverage. Then I learned about Steeped Coffee and knew I had to share the experience with my coffee loving husband. 

Steeped Coffee is a specialty coffee company that offers single serve coffee bags that you steep just like tea!Making it easy to have a cup of coffee anywhere in just minutes. The single serve coffee bags are filled with 100% specialty crafted quality coffee that is fresh. Every bag is nitro-sealed inside compostable packing making it eco-friendly as well. 

Steeped coffee comes in five different blends from light roast to decaf. I was sent a box filled with a California Blend medium roast and Eventide decaf.  I was so excited to give these to Chris to try because first he loves coffee and second I thought he would totally dig the convenience of them. I received these while our kitchen was being renovated, it was a total mess. My mom had just given us an electric kettle for boiling water and it was like the coffee gods were smiling down on us. 


You simply boil your water, pour it into your favorite mug, place the coffee bag inside and let it steep. My husband loved these! He thought the coffee itself was pretty tasty and he finished the California Blend pretty quick. Chris is a bit of a coffee snob and he definitely does not drink decaf however he drank these because it was so easy too! He was pretty bummed when his box of Steeped Coffee was all gone however, I decided that these would be a great purchase for him. He works a rotation in Alaska and it isn't always easy for him to get a good cup of coffee. Also, at $15 for a box of 10 bags that makes each cup only $1.50. Quite the bargain when he is used to spending up to $5.00 for a cup of coffee at the local coffee shop. 

Check out Steeped Coffee, they even offer a subscription for all you coffee lovers out there. 

The featured product{s} in this post were provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or PR company representing them. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by  anyone.

Wednesday, February 20, 2019

Bokksu Subscription Box Review


This post is a bit overdue but back in September my sister gifted me with a three month subscription to Bokksu for my birthday. What is Bokksu? It is a subscription box (I love subscription boxes, who doesn't love getting things in the mail?!) from Japan (my dream vacation spot) filled with Japanese snacks (I love all things Japanese and snacks!). They have two different subscription boxes a large Classic box and a Tasting  box. I received the tasting box. Bokksu's Tasting box is filled with 10-14 Japanese snacks and candies as well as a tea pairing all curated around a theme. The first box I received that I am sharing with you today was the Kyushu Kitchen box. Kyushu is the third largest island in Japan and this box was filled with items inspired and containing popular ingredients found in Kyushu.




The items in the tasting box were individual/sample sized items which in my opinion is a good thing. It is a great way to try new things without committing to a full size box if it's something you do not like. If you do find something you like in the box, Bokksu has an online market where you can purchase more of the item. Here are some a few of the things I enjoyed coming out of this box.


This Romance Sandwich is a cake-like biscuit flavored with honey and baked with sugar pearls on top. It also has a thin layer of sugar paste inside. These are commonly given as a omiyage or souvenir. This was tasty!


This Strawberry Kirara is a strawberry flavored cookie sandwich filled with strawberry cream. It also contains bits of freeze dried strawberries in it. Amaou or strawberries are known in Japan as the "king of sweet" and are highly valued throughout Japan. Yum!


These Mantai Curry Karinto are a traditional fried dough snack popular throughout Japan. They remind me of fried chow mein noodles. These are coated with a sweet mentai curry flavored sauce. Mentaiko is a spicy cod roe and gives this snack the perfect amount of spice to sweet. They are kinda addictive.


Kakinotane is a popular snack mix of peanuts and crescent shaped senbei or rice crackers. Typically enjoyed with beer. The yuzu pepper in this kakinotane gives a hint of spice and a tinge of citrus.


This Saga Brown Sugar Marubouro is a combination cake/cookie. It has a 300 year long history in Japan and since it is pretty good I can see why.

 
These Uni Rice Crackers are seasoned with uni or sea urchin and soy sauce. They are salty and not overly fishy. The crackers are also made in this oblong shape to reassemble a sea urchin.

I also love that each box comes with a different variety of tea that is supposed to compliment the treats in the box. The particular tea that was inside the box was Okurishima yea. Using the finest Sencha leaves in Kirishima, this tea has subtle sweet notes while being full bodied.

Since Bokksu is shipped directly from Japan we did have a couple of snags with shipping, however at one point I received an extra box then what was paid for and Bokksu allowed me to keep it at no charge. If you are interested in sampling some Japanese edibles take a look at Bokksu  and their subscription options. Tanoshi!

Sunday, June 24, 2018

Cave Tools Salad Spinner Review and Buffalo Chicken Salad Recipe


I have been wanting to add a salad spinner to my kitchen arsenal for awhile now. I know you are probably thinking a salad spinner? Why? Well, I love products that make things easier and Cave Tools Salad Spinner & Large Serving Bowl Set does just that.


This salad spinner has a quick dry design and like all Cave Tools is dishwasher safe. You simply add your salad, veggies or fruit into the basket that sits in a bowl. Add water for easy rinsing.


The lid contains a vented cover to easily pour out the water. Then the the fun part begins, you spin the high velocity knob to quickly dry your produce. Once it is dry you empty the baskets contents directly into the serving bowl and voila, it's ready to enjoy.


Here is the Buffalo Chicken Salad I made using my convenient salad spinner. 

Buffalo Chicken Salad

2 Boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1 Cup of Franks Red Hot Buffalo Sauce
1/2 stick of butter
salt & pepper
Olive oil

Preheat oven to 350. Salt and pepper each chicken breast and in a skillet with olive oil cook on medium high for 5 minutes on each side. While cooking chicken place Franks sauce and butter in a sauce pan and and allow butter to melt into sauce stirring occasionally. Place chicken in a baking dish and pour sauce over top. Put in oven for 35 minutes to cook through. Slice chicken pouring some of the sauce on top. 

For the Salad

Wash, rinse and dry some chopped lettuce and cucumber. 
Rinse some frozen peas.
Fry up some crumbled bacon.
Blue cheese dressing to top. 


I am so excited to finally own a salad spinner and it is going to get a lot of use in my kitchen. If you don't have one you can purchase Cave Tools Large 4.2 Quart Salad Spinner and Serving Bowl Set on Amazon. Or if you would rather you can purchase directly via the Cave Tools website here. Use the code SALAD15 to get 15% off your order. 

The featured product{s} in this post were provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or PR company representing them. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by  anyone.

Wednesday, April 25, 2018

Bahama Buck's Review and Giveaway

I don't know about where you are but here in southern California it feels like we skipped spring and headed straight into summer. It's warm out here!  What better way to cool off than a tasty and refreshing snow cone from Bahama Buck's

Bahama Buck's was started in the summer of 1990 and has since grown into a franchise with several locations nationwide. If you are lucky enough to have a Bahama Buck's near you than you are probably a fan of their gourmet flavored shaved ice. It's delicious! With flavors like Blue Coconut, Strawberry Margarita, Cotton Candy and Pina Colada  why wouldn't you be? But these are just a few of their flavors they also have some fun originals like Princess, a magical combination that is made extra special when you add in some sprinkles. Or how about Sun Devil, cherry with a cinnamon kick. They even carry some licensed flavors like Coca-Cola, Sour Patch and the latest Fanta Orange. Even better, you can mix and match flavors and add things like ice cream, Tropic Creme, Sour Patch Sauce and other mix-ins to make your shaved ice extra special. 



I was given the opportunity to visit my local Temecula location and try their latest creation made with Fanta Orange. Before I get into all that I just have to say that I love how clean and spacious this location is. This isn't a little snow cone stand. It's a place where you can bring family and friends and sit down and enjoy a fabulous treat without feeling rushed. The ladies that were working on this particular day that I visited were friendly and knew their stuff. I was enthusiastically offered so many suggestions of flavors to try. Cherry Coke with Chocolate Cream add-on was surprisingly good, the Strawberry Cheesecake was as sweet as can be and Pickle was amazing. That's right they have a pickle flavor and I hear it is extra great when you add some chili salt to it. I will let you know on my next visit. 


Looking for something else to quench your thirst? Bahama Buck's also makes their own soda creations, Frozen Island Espressos which they call Frostalattes and a variety of Island Smoothies


My daughter and I tried the Wavebender, a combination of bananas, pineapple juice, & coconut and run flavors. It was a tropical paradise. 

Now for the latest addition to Bahama's Buck's large list of flavors, Fanta Orange


I tried it Bahama Rama Mama style which contained vanilla ice cream & topped with Tropic Creme. It tasted almost almost like a 50/50 ice cream bar, but better. You need to head to your local Bahama Buck's and give it a try!

Guess what?! The generous people at Bahama Buck's are going to make this easy for one lucky Girly Girl reader. One of you has the chance to win a $20 gift card to use on whatever your tummy desires. Head on over to Girly Girl Giveaways to enter! 

Friday, April 13, 2018

Diamond Glass by ThumbsUp! Review

Thumbs Up! is a brand that creates cool, clever and and quirky products.  I was recently sent one of their products for review from their Soiree collection which includes glassware and a few other products that will liven up your next dinner party, or make great gifts for that hostess with the mostest.

This set of 2 Diamond Glasses sit at an angle which not only looks sleek and elegant but the angle also makes for a great way to enjoy your favorite whiskey. Perhaps some Woodford Reserve Rye Whiskey with some maraschino cherries.



These tumblers made of a lightweight borosilicate glass are high quality and have a high tolerance for heat. However they are not dishwasher safe, so just keep that in mind.

These would make the perfect gift for someone who likes to enjoy their spirits in style. Mother's Day is just around the corner with Father's Day following. Aside from this set of Diamond Glasses which can be purchased on Amazon, their are a several other products from ThumbsUp! that would make one mom or dads day.  You can check out their latest catalog here!

The featured product{s} in this post were provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or PR company representing them. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by  anyone.


Friday, March 30, 2018

Cave Tools Meat Tenderizer Review and Recipe


I have another great kitchen gadget to share with you from Cave Tools. I love kitchen gadgets so I am always excited to get to try out new ones like this nifty Meat Tenderizer.


This Stainless Steel 48 Blade Meat Tenderizer is the perfect way to break down tougher cuts of meat, tenderize steaks and inject some marinade directly into your roasts. It's also a lot of fun to use! The blades are super sharp so you don't need to put a lot of pressure when compressing. Little effort means less fatigue on your hands. It also has a plastic protective cover to ensure the blades are covered and the product is safe. As usual this tool is dishwasher safe, one of my favorite things about Cave Tools products. It is also very affordable at only $15! If you are a meat eating family like mine is, than this is a must have in your kitchen arsenal.


Check out my juicy steak tenderized to perfection and seasoned with some smoked Serrano pepper salt, delicious.

Pan-Seared Steak

1 Steak, any cut. I am telling you this meat tenderizer will make the cheapest cuts of meat taste amazing.
Baker & Olive Smoked Serrano Pepper Salt or another seasoning of your choice. I also like using Cajun seasoning on my steaks.
2 tbs. Butter
Olive Oil

Prepare your steak by using Cave Tools 48 Blade Meat Tenderizer on both sides. Don't go crazy mashing up the meat just lightly inject the blades to soften it up a bit. Coat both sides of steak with a bit of olive oil and then season with your seasoning of choice, liberally on both sides. You need a cast iron skillet for this recipe. Heat your oven to 450. Heat your skillet on medium high heat on the stove. Place steaks in pan and sear for 2 minutes. Flip steak over and place skillet in oven for approximately 7 minutes. Lower the stovetop heat to medium low. Remove pan from oven, (be careful, cast iron gets hot! and place back on stovetop. Flip steak and top with butter making sure to tilt the pan as the butter melts so that it reaches all parts of the steak. Cook an additional 2 to 4 minutes depending on how you like your steak. You can pull out your Cave Tools Instant Read Digital Cooking Thermometer. I like my steak around 155 degrees, a nice medium. Remove your steak when it is about 5 degrees under your desired temperature and let rest as it will continue to cook to your desired taste.

You can get your hands on Cave Tools Stainless Steel 48 Blade Meat Tenderizer on Amazon and the Cave Tools website. Use the code TENDER15 for 15% off your purchase.  

The featured product{s} in this post were provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or PR company representing them. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by  anyone.

Sunday, February 4, 2018

Cave Tools Meat Claws Review and Recipe


I have another great product to share with you from Cave Tools.


Their Stainless Steel Meat Shredding Claws not only look awesome, think Wolverine, but they work amazingly. These guys are a must have for any cooking or barbecue enthusiast. In fact, I think these would make a great gift for a man who knows his way around the kitchen or grill. When my husband saw these he was pretty excited to put them to use.

The handles are textured making them slip resistant and the stainless steel claws are perfect for not only shredding meat but for handling large cuts of meat that need to be moved or carved. I have been using my meat shredding claws for just that, shredding meat! They work great and there is no need to wait for meat to be cooled before shredding. In seconds you have the perfect pulled pork ready for you to slather on some barbecue sauce or the perfect pulled chicken ready to be turned into enchiladas.

Enchiladas Suizas 

24 Corn Tortillas
4 Boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 can of Rotel 
1/2 cup Water
Garlic Powder
Onion Powder
Cumin
Salt
Pepper
1 Jar Herdez Guacamole Salsa
1/2 lb. Shredded Jack cheese
Sour cream
Cooking oil such as corn or canola

This recipe calls for you to cook your chicken ahead of time in your slow cooker. You can start it in the morning and your chicken will be ready for dinnertime. Put your chicken breasts in your slow cooker and season with the garlic and onion powder, cumin, salt & pepper. Add the can of Rotel and the water. Cover and cook on low for approximately 6 hours. Once your chicken is cooked it is time for the fun part. Pull out your Stainless Steel Meat Shredding Claws and get to work. Only it's not really work cause it literally takes seconds to shred the meat.


You now have everything ready to assemble your enchiladas. In a 9 x 13 baking pan coat the bottom of the pan with just a teeny amount of the salsa. Pour the rest of the salsa into a bowl large enough to fit a tortilla. In a frying pan heat just enough oil to cover the  bottom of the pan. Make sure you keep your oil out cause you will need to continue to add oil as you fry the tortillas. One at a time fry the corn tortillas till they just become soft in the oil and then drop into the bowl of salsa coating both sides. From their start piling up the tortillas on a plate until you have a stack of tortillas ready to be filled. It's a long process but well worth it. Heat your oven to 375 and you can finally start to fill and roll your enchiladas. Fill each tortilla with a couple spoonfuls of the shredded chicken and a small amount of cheese and roll shut. You should have 12 tortillas fit snug in the bottom of the pan. You might have to rearrange some in the opposite direction, just make it work! Then take your sour cream and spread a layer over the top of the enchiladas and sprinkle some cheese on top making sure to save half of it. This completes the first layer. You will repeat the process with the remaining 12 tortillas and stack them on top of the bottom later. Spread some more sour cream over the top layer, pour any remaining sauce, and sprinkle the remaining cheese. Now put in your oven for 20 to 25 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and just starts to brown.


This recipe makes a large pan of enchiladas so it is perfect if you are having guests over for dinner or you can just enjoy the left overs the next morning for breakfast by topping them with a fried egg. YUM!

You can purchase your Stainless Steel Meat Shredding Claws on the Cave Tools website   and receive 15% off your purchase by using the coupon code MEATCLAW15. You can also find them on Amazon.

The featured product{s} in this post were provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or PR company representing them. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by  anyone.

Sunday, January 14, 2018

Explore Cuisine Gluten Free Pastas Review and Recipe


Are you trying to eat healthier in 2018? Why not to try Explore Cuisine's  gluten-free, vegan approved pastas that are loaded with plant-based fiber and iron. These high quality, one might call designer pastas, are made with nutritious organic ingredients and they won't beak your bank. Explore Cuisine products all sell for under $5.00 in numerous stores worldwide. Just check out their product locator here. You can also purchase in bulk on Amazon.

Choose between bean pastas that contain only one ingredient,beans! Black bean, mung bean and edamame making these high in protein. They come in three varieties.

Organic Black Bean Spaghetti
Organic Edamame and Ming Bean Fettuccine
Organic Edamame Spaghetti

Pulse pastas made with organic chickpeas that are not only high in protein but in fiber and iron. These come in six varieties.

Organic Chickpea Fusilli
Organic Chickpea Spaghetti
Organic Green Lentil Lasagne
Organic Green Lentil Penne
Organic Red Lentil Penne
Organic Red Lentil Spaghetti

Rice Pastas packed with organic pea protein and non GMO certified whole grain. They come in three varieties.

Organic Brown Rice Fusilli
Organic Brown Rice Rigatoni
Organic Red Rice Macaroni 

In addition Explore Cuisine also offers Rice Noodles  so you can make some tasty Pad Thai or other Asian noodle dish.

I received the boxes below for review. I am always up to trying new foods!


I loved all of these, they are like regular pasta but healthier for you. They have a mild taste to them so you can pretty much make anything out of these as you would your typical high gluten pastas. My favorite of the bunch was the Organic Red Lentil Penne. I love the subtle flavor of lentils and I was able to create this really tasty dish with it.


This simple Chicken Alfredo with a Cajun Twist was simple to make, it took minutes using jarred sauces but tasted like I spent a lot more effort.

Chicken Alfredo with a Cajun Twist

1 Large boneless, skinless chicken breast diced in small pieces
1 Box of Explore Cuisine's Organic Red Lentil Penne
1 Jar of Alfredo sauce
2 tbs. of Jarred red pesto sauce
1 Minced garlic clove
Crushed red pepper
Cajun Seasoning
Salt & Pepper
Parmesan cheese
Chopped green onion
Olive oil

Cook your pasta according to box directions. While it is cooking put some olive oil in a large pan and add the garlic on medium heat. Season chicken with Cajun seasoning and S&P and place in pan. Cook chicken until no longer pink. Add the entire jar of Alfredo sauce and continue to cook. Add 2 tablespoons of the red pesto sauce and mix together. Add some crushed red pepper to taste. Once the pasta is cooked and has been drained add to the sauce mixture. Mix together making sure that the pasta is completely coated with sauce. Serve with Parmesan cheese and chopped green onions.

Check out some more recipes here using Explore Cuisine products.

The featured product{s} in this post were provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or PR company representing them. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by  anyone.

Tuesday, December 19, 2017

Cave Tools Burger Press Review


Cave Tools offers barbecue and cooking tools for all the home cooks out there looking for quality at value prices. I own several of their products including their Instant Read Digital Cooking Thermometer, which I use all the time, their Meat Tenderizer Mallet, one of my faves, and their Shish Kabob Barbecue Skewers, that are so much nicer than wooden skewers. Recently I was sent another one of their products to add to my growing collection, their Burger Press Patty Maker.


I don't know about you but whenever I make burgers I form them by hand, they look perfect...at first, and then something happens when I start to cook them. They shrink up into small little pucks that are nowhere near photo worthy. I was excited to give this Burger Press a try and see if it would make my burgers worthy of an Instagram post. My husband was also excited to try this out and finally have an adult sized burger.


Cave Tools Burger Press Patty Maker comes with 200 square burger papers which makes removing and separating your patties a breeze, plus they eliminate the mess making cleanup so easy. It also comes with 25 downloadable barbecue recipes to impress at your next cookout. It is super easy to use, you simply season your meat, put one square of paper on the bottom of the press, and fill with the desired amount of meat. It has a convenient indicator line for 1/4 pound burgers or fill it entirely for one big 1/3 pound burger.


You then place another paper on top, grab the comfortable handle on the press and push down to form your patties. We made both sizes to compare.



A couple things I love about this burger press besides how simple it is. I love that it leaves grill marks in the meat so even if you cook your burgers on the stovetop instead of firing up your grill they still look really pretty. I also love that you can just toss it into the dishwasher to clean, I am all about making time in the kitchen easy and fun! And, because this burger press will make perfectly formed burgers every time there is no more arguing at your next backyard barbecue over who is going to get the bigger burger!

Take a look at last nights dinner!


Tell me this burger is not photo worthy!

You can get this Burger Press Patty Maker  and other Cave Tools online. Use the code BURGER15 for 15% off!

The featured product{s} in this post were provided to me free of charge by the manufacturer or PR company representing them. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced in any way by  anyone.