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Chiquita Cooking Lab Contest – September 29 – November 24, 2014

Bananas – one of the easiest and tastiest fruit around. They’re great for desserts, for a quick morning breakfast, or an in-between meals snack. Whatever your reasons for eating bananas, know that they contain an incredible amount of vitamins and minerals. Not everyone likes bananas, but if you do you probably already know that not only are they sweet but they can be used in many creative recipes. You can enjoy bananas as a simple in-between meals snack or incorporate them into intricate and delicious recipes. Whatever your reasons for eating bananas, take a look at Chiquita bananas newest cooking contest hosted on their site: http://www.chiquitabananas.com/cookinglab/.

As a Moms Meet blogger, I was encouraged to enter the cooking contest using bananas as the main ingredient. I had to really think about that for a moment because it could be something super easy or incredibly complicated. I chose the middle ground given that a simple banana split might be too easy although yummy and chose instead to create a Pumpkin Pancake with Glazed Bananas and Pecans.

Each week there is a tab where the secret ingredients are revealed on the Chiquita bananas cooking lab website. I was having some trouble scratching off the tab to reveal the ingredients but once you do find out, be sure to include the secret ingredients in your recipe. This week’s secret ingredients are: Pumpkin, bananas, and pecans. A million ideas ran in my head but then when it came to execution of the recipe, I was at a loss as to what to make with these 3 main ingredients. I’m not really a pumpkin fan but I could enjoy it in a pie or a smoothie. I knew that I wanted to do something sweet as I associate pumpkins and bananas as more of dessert ingredients but I also wanted to do something that wasn’t too difficult either. My son actually liked it and he’s not a big pumpkin fan either, but with the caramelized bananas and the toasted pecans, all we had to do was drizzle a little 100% maple syrup and it was a very delicious treat!

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups milk

1/2 cup pumpkin puree

1 egg

2 tbsp vegetable oil

2 cups all purpose flour

3 tbsp brown sugar

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground ginger

1/2 tsp salt

Directions:

In a bowl, mix together the milk, pumpkin, egg, and oil. Combine the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger and salt in a separate bowl. Stir into the pumpkin mixture just enough to combine.

Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Brown on both sides and serve hot.

So enter today at: http://www.chiquitabananas.com/cookinglab and who knows, you might be a winner! For more info, please visit the Chiquita bananas website as well as their Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram sites for more ideas.

Disclaimer:

I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms Meet program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms MeetSM blogger, I agreed to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily
reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of the product.

Disclaimer: The product(s)were sent to the author for review by the manufacturer/PR. All reviews on “Happymomblogger” remain unbiased and unpaid and are the sole decision of the author. The opinions of these product(s) were not influenced in any way, shape, or form. As always, please read the ingredients carefully when trying new products.

Please read the labels and ingredients carefully and follow all manufacturer’s instructions (if any). The products selected for the giveaway were generously donated by the companies/PR to help readers learn more about their products. The winner’s choice in using/consuming these products are entirely up to the winner and will not hold the author and her family liable nor the companies/PR liable. These products are made with non-toxic ingredients but always be safe with what you use and consume.

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November 10, 2014

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Calbee Harvest Snaps – Back to School Products Worth Reviewing

What is it about that first delectable crunch when you bite into a new savory snack? Is it the initial delight that lingers on your tongue or how the crisp crunchiness has just the right bite? There’s no denying that sometimes our taste buds and our tummies crave for something savory and delicious. But it doesn’t have to be limited to just good old fashioned chips. In our world of sophisticated palates and unbound curiosity to try a new cuisine, along comes a new style of “chips” that’ll literally blow the other savory snacks out of the fryer.

Allow me to introduce you to Calbee’s newest Harvest Snaps Snapea Crisps and Lentil Snaps: made with real and wholesome ingredients, baked not fried, and are high in fiber and low in sodium. They are so delicious and so addicting that you really can’t eat just a handful. If you’ve never tried baked snap peas and it sounds strange to you – don’t let the description deter you. Once you take a bite, you really have no other reason to not include them in your snack repertoire.

Harvest Snaps Snapea and Lentil Snaps (http://harvestsnaps.com/) were recently redesigned to align with the growing needs of food in America. They made their snapeas and lentil snaps healthier, with less salt, and possibly even more delicious. I’m not exaggerating when I say that their snapeas are so addictive that recently I bought a “family-size” bag at our local Costco. And of course it disappeared in just a few days. But the most important fact about Harvest Snaps Snapeas is that they are baked, and contains at least 70% of green peas. That’s a lot of peas if you’re considering adding more plant foods in your diet or you just want a healthier savory snack alternative. Green peas are full of fiber and essential vitamins and being a vegetarian, I rely mostly on legumes to give me the protein and fiber content.

Harvest Snaps are made with green peas, a bit of salt and natural oil. They do not use genetically modified ingredients and their peas are solely grown in the United States. Their products are also easy to find as you’ve probably seen them at your local grocery store or natural food stores. Their bright and beautiful bags are attention-grabbing and they come in a healthy size so you can share them and still have enough. But in our house, when we do snack, these snapea chips go pretty quickly. And the fun thing about Harvest Snapeas are their versatility. They are great with a sandwich, dipped in soups, and of course, eaten as they are and when you take a bite, they literally sing in your mouth.

The good folks at Calbee Harvest Snaps had sent me a box full of snack-sized Lightly Salted Snapea Crisps for a fundraising event I was involved in. We passed out these ultra delicious snacks to everyone who attended and the kids had a blast eating them! They kept coming back for more but being as delicious as they are, the bags ran out quick. I personally think Harvest Snapea Crisps are great for kids and make wonderful lunch treats or in-between meal snacks. They are easy to eat, fun to hold, and filled with lots of healthy ingredients and important vitamins and minerals. My son loves them and we keep them in our pantry all of the time. Yes, all of the time!

So if you’re interested in trying Harvest Snaps Snapea Crisps, you can find them in most natural grocery stores as well as supermarkets that carry natural foods. They are versatile and healthy and you might end up hooked on them too!

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November 5, 2014

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Dave’s Killer Bread – Products Worth Reviewing

With a name like Dave’s Killer Bread, it kind of makes you wonder what exactly does this Dave put in his bread? Well, as a family owned and operated company, Dave’s Killer Bread was named after a family member who turned his life around from a rebellious past. Now, Dave and his family proudly bakes and serves their bread all over the country teaching people the importance of eating healthy and making healthy choices.

Dave’s Killer Bread (http://www.daveskillerbread.com) is a complete line of organic, all-natural and whole grain bread company that prides in making the best whole grain breads available. With over 15 different types of bread to choose from, all of Dave’s Killer Bread are made with only natural and organic ingredients without any preservatives or unnecessary additives you’d find in most conventional bread. While some of the bread is a bit tough due to the whole grains, once they were toasted up they were quite delicious and versatile. I’m not a big bread eater but I do like my bread to have full of flavor and not taste bland and boring as I had found with certain conventional breads. Plus, with all the healthy nutrients found in Dave’s Killer Bread, you are naturally doing your body good by feeding it good food.

As a Moms Meet (www.greenmomsmeet.com) blogger and ambassador I was given the fun opportunity to try and review Dave’s Killer Bread. I have never tried this brand before but have seen them in natural grocery stores. Of course the name of the title intrigued me and it made me wonder if this bread was as delicious as they appear to be. When looking at the bread itself, you’ll find bits and chunks of whole grains such as organic rolled oats, organic millet, organic quinoa, organic flax seeds, organic sesame seeds, and a whole lot more of wholesome and natural goodness. All the ingredients are organically grown and sweetened with honey or molasses where necessary.

While I do enjoy eating bread now and then, I really like it when they are hearty and filling. The conventional breads are so bland and thin they’re really hard to make sandwiches with. Dave’s Killer Breads are thicker and full of whole grains so you get a mouthful of delicious nuts or seeds in every bite. My son wasn’t crazy about most of the breads, but he did enjoy the Seeded Honey Wheat. And of course my husband secretly loved all of the flavors that was sent to me as he’s more of a bread eater than I am. He tried it with peanut butter and toasted as well as a good old fashioned ham and cheese sandwich. But whatever reasons you have for enjoying bread, remember that really good and delicious bread are made with wholesome ingredients and whole grains. Dave’s Killer Bread could be a bit expensive than the other brands but they’re really worth it. With only natural and organic ingredients and made with the finest available, you really do get something truly healthy and delicious with Dave’s Killer Bread.

You can find Dave’s Killer Bread at most natural grocery stores and they retail around $5.00.

Disclaimer:

I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms MeetSM program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As a Moms MeetsSM blogger, I agree to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of this product.

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November 5, 2014

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Frontier Soups – Products Worth Reviewing

Once in awhile there’s nothing like a good, hot bowl of soup to soothe whatever ails you. Other times, soup can be a main course for dinner or a light meal for lunch. Whatever your reasons for enjoying soup, there are times when we need a little bit of help to get them started. You’re probably thinking – how do you get soup started? Well, in the sense of making soup from scratch, sometimes we may add store bought soup base or stock to give soup that extra boisterous flavor. There’s certainly nothing wrong with that as we know in order to achieve the ultimate soup stock, it could take hours to create.

When I heard about Frontier Soups (http://www.frontiersoups.com/)and was given the opportunity to try their soups as a Moms Meet blogger, I was intrigued at all the varieties they carried. With a healthy assortment of soup mixes, Frontier Soups has a soup mix for pretty much every taste bud. They have everything from vegetarian to meat to spicy and all of them come in a convenient package where you just add milk, water, or stock and you’re good to go. Making good soup isn’t all that hard but it’s always nice to get a little extra help when you have a million other things to do that day.

Frontier Soups started 28 years ago with just one product. Then, with the expansion of more recipes and the need for creative and convenient foods, Frontier Soups grew to carry over 30 different types of soups, stews, and chili. Although I haven’t tried all of the soups yet, the ones I tried were very easy to make and to add some extra ingredients to them as well. While they are perfectly fine with whatever are included in the packages, I always like to add something unique when I have the time to cook. Soup for me can be an easy dinner fix and if you make it as a main dish, it can be quite filling as well.

Frontier Soups are made with only the finest natural ingredients without any MSG’s and all of their corn are certified GMO-free. Depending on the variety, I had to add more seasonings to my Corn Chowder to make it a bit saltier. But that’s the beauty of Frontier Soups, is that most of them have no added salt so it’s great for those who have specific dietary restrictions. And when you add in some of your own ingredients, you can really make soup enjoyable and fun! Frontier Soups can be found at most Whole Foods Markets as well as certain natural grocery stores around the country. You can also order their products on their website.

Disclaimer: I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms MeetSM program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer. As aMoms MeetsSM blogger, I agreed to use this productand post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do not necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of the product.

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November 5, 2014

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Made In Nature – Back to School Products Worth Reviewing

Oh, the joys of parenting. And Back to School. Some may dread going back to school while others relish at the new challenges. While we’re almost a couple months into the school year, parents still have to think what to pack in their kids school lunches on a daily basis. I know for me it can be a challenge at times because my son wants hot lunches at school and I cringe at what is offered there. Knowing of course that most schools don’t offer organic food choices on a daily menu, I feel better when I pack him a lunch. But what to pack though every day can be quite daunting.

Aside from the usual sandwiches, it can be really hard to pack lunches that are nutritious while still delicious enough for your child to eat. Because we all have school lunches that come back inevitably with some leftovers. So this year I decided to jazz up my son’s lunches a bit. Instead of fresh fruit, I would pack him some bite-sized dried fruit as a side snack or dessert. Generally dried fruit can be a bit hard to chew or too big in size but when I cut it up in little pieces, they are quite fun to eat. And dried fruit contains the same amount of nutrition as their fresher versions if not a bit more. Plus they have a different texture and quality to them that makes them very unique.

When I tried Made in Nature ( http://www.madeinnature.com/)a few years ago I was intrigued to find a company that makes all natural and organically grown dried fruits. There are no added sugars or preservatives as you may find with other brands and their dried fruits are simply just delicious and wholesome. All of Made in Nature dried fruits are certified organic as well as Non-GMO Verified and are harvested immediately and dried to ensure the absolute freshest flavor. I really enjoy their Organic and Unsulfured Dried Apricots and the Organic Super Berry Fusion Blend. Their dried fruits are naturally sweet and moist so they are an excellent healthy and delicious snack.

Made in Nature currently carries an extensive lineup of organic dried fruits including Organic Banana Slices, Organic Seedless Raisins, Organic Cranberries, Organic Figs, Organic Apples, and many more. They also carry Single Serve Fruit Fusions which I absolutely love because they are a blend of dried fruits, seeds and berries along with a few other yummy ingredients. Made in Nature also makes Organic Ancient Grain Fusion which are ancient whole grains mixed with fruits, vegetables, and spices and delicious as a side dish or a main dish with some of your own added protein. And recently they added Organic Frozen Pizzas which are a great choice for vegetarians.

Made in Nature can be found in most natural grocery stores as well as major supermarkets that carry organic and natural products. The dried fruits are extremely moist and easy to eat and can be enjoyed as is or mixed in with some of your favorite recipes. I like to make trail mixes as well as cut them up and sprinkle them in cereal. Personally, I think dried fruit offers the same nutrition as fresh fruits but in a more convenient and fun way of enjoying them. And because they are smaller in size after being dried, you can eat a lot more of them. They make great snacks for any age because Made in Nature’s dried fruits do not have added sugar, so you just get the natural sweet goodness that fruits already provide. So if you’re wondering what to pack for your kids’ school lunch or what to offer as an afterschool snack, consider dried fruits for a change.

Fore more information about Made in Nature, please visit their website: http://www.madeinnature.com.

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October 29, 2014

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Kupp – Products Worth Reviewing

Little kids love to help out in the home simply because they want to feel like a “big” kid. But because they are still relatively too young to handle many things, sometimes you just have to give them their own to take care of. When I heard of Kupp, a reusable glass cup designed specifically for children I was extremely intrigued. One does not generally associate glass with kids but in the case of Kupp, they have made it ingeniously possible to do so. Armed with a BPA-free silicone sleeve wrapped around a lead and cadmium free glass cup, Kupp is designed to fit the needs and desires of kids who want the responsibility of using glass drinking cups but without the hazards. The glass cups are beautifully designed and easy to handle and wash. I love the soft handles and the firm base. The only thing you have to be careful on is making sure to clean inside the silicone well enough to prevent embedded dirt.

Kupp (http://www.thekupp.com/)was inspired by kids and designed by moms. With their ingenious invention of teaching kids the responsibility of owning their own glass cups kids can have fun drinking from their glass cups while learning the importance of maintaining them. We all know that kids can be careless with their belongings, but the BPA free silicone wrapped around their cups can help prevent breakage from falling or banging against something. Glass cups can be expensive and hard to clean up if broken so the plastic sleeve is a really great way of keeping them safe. And Kupp comes in four colors: Blue, Lime Green, Orange, and Red so children can choose their own colors or you might even pick up a few so they can switch up the colors now and then.

Kupp really is a great way to teach children about responsibilities that are suited for their ages. The theory behind Kupp is “to stop the use of plastic cups in the home and instead use drinking glasses for kids. This will eliminate exposure to toxic chemicals found in plastic. Second, the color connection helps teach children responsibility. Your child will take pride in their own BPA free, cool kids cup and be excited to drink out of and reuse their blue, orange, red or green Kupp.”

Currently Kupp can be purchased online at: http://www.thekupp.com/. Each cup is a 6oz. cup that can be used over and over again. They are dishwasher safe and are free of harmful chemicals found in other cups for children. As a Moms Meet Ambassador I was given the wonderful opportunity to try and review Kupp with my son. He was excited of course because he finally gets to use a glass cup that is made just for him. And I don’t have to worry much about him knocking down his glass or leaving it on the edge of the table. Although we have yet to take off the sleeve around the cup, I found that washing it in the dishwasher or with a scrub brush worked best in getting inside the sleeve.

For more info about Kupp, please visit their website: http://www.thekupp.com.

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October 20, 2014

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Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups milk

1/2 cup pumpkin puree

1 egg

2 tbsp vegetable oil

2 cups all purpose flour

3 tbsp brown sugar

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground ginger

1/2 tsp salt

Directions:

In a bowl, mix together the milk, pumpkin, egg, and oil. Combine the flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger and salt in a separate bowl. Stir into the pumpkin mixture just enough to combine.

Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Brown on both sides and serve hot.

So enter today at: http://www.chiquitabananas.com/cookinglab and who knows, you might be a winner! For more info, please visit the Chiquita bananas website as well as their Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram sites for more ideas.

Share this:

So if you’re interested in trying Harvest Snaps Snapea Crisps, you can find them in most natural grocery stores as well as supermarkets that carry natural foods. They are versatile and healthy and you might end up hooked on them too!

Share this:

You can find Dave’s Killer Bread at most natural grocery stores and they retail around $5.00.

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Fore more information about Made in Nature, please visit their website: http://www.madeinnature.com.

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For more info about Kupp, please visit their website: http://www.thekupp.com.

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