How-To Groupon Like A Boss In Macomb County! How I Spent 3 Groupons In One Day And Had A Very Frugal Day!

How To Groupon Like A Boss - How I Used 3 Groupons In One Day

I will admit that I do check the Groupon site often for good deals. If I see a good deal that is just way too good to pass up, then you better believe it, I will grab that Groupon! Yesterday I managed to have quite a frugal day with 3 Groupons. I had a fun-filled day with some good sweets and treats, and a dinner to go along with it! Groupons geared towards dining are always a great way to experience something new and give it a whirl! These Groupons allow you to enjoy food and drink at a deeply discounted price.

This Groupon post is going to cover restaurants that are in the Southeast area of Michigan. I will share with you how you can score some great deals at these Michigan establishments. I am sharing how I Groupon’ed like a boss and had an incredibly delicious FRUGAL day!

How Groupon Works

Groupon is very easy to use. For the purpose of this post, I will only be sharing how to use the dining Groupons. There are many other types of Groupons available though! You simply head on over to the Groupon site or download the app. Choose the LOCAL tab at the top and find the Food & Drink category. Click onto that food & drink category and see what local Groupon deals are happening in your area.

How to get your Groupon

We just recently used a Buoy 12 Groupon this past weekend so I will use that as an example here. Buoy 12 is located in my area of St. Clair Shores, MI. They have two different offers available. One of those offers is for 2 people to receive a $25 voucher (currently sold out but keep checking back) or you can purchase a $50 voucher for four people at the discounted price of $30. So for $30 you get $50 worth of food on your next visit to Buoy 12. That is a discounted price of 40% off.

At time of publication (5/20/2019) you can use the Groupon coupon code SAVE3 to save even more!

My daughter and I dined at Buoy 12 in St Clair Shores this past weekend (Groupon deal)

Groupon coupon codes

BUT you can save even more if you have a Groupon coupon code, which is often available! Be sure to always check for Groupon coupon codes prior to checking out.

How to redeem your Groupon for dining

There are two ways you can present your Groupon when you are ready to redeem it. You can either print out the voucher on your printer at home OR you can download the Groupon app and show the server the Groupon on your mobile device.

Our first Groupon we spent was at Starbucks

I got quite lucky with the Starbucks Groupon. The Starbucks Groupons are only by invite-only. I spent $5 for the Groupon and ended up with $10 to spend at Starbucks.

Here is what I purchased at Starbucks: 1 S’mores Frappucino and 1 Mocha Cookie Crumble Frappucino.

I paid only $1.13 for two Frappucinos out-of-pocket. The Groupon was $5. So the total cost was $6.13. Not too shabby for two rather expensive frozen drinks! Starbucks is always just a fancy splurge item for me, so I appreciated that Groupon offer!

Give It A Whirl Girl and the Pearl Girl at Starbucks With Our Starbucks Groupon

You can sign up for Groupon and you might just get one of these invite-only Groupons for Starbucks!

Second Groupon we used was at Sagano Japanese Steakhouse

Sagano Japanese Steakhouse currently has two different locations on Groupon: the Warren Japanese Steakhouse and the Clarkston Japanese Steakhouse location. We visited the Warren location so I will be reviewing that experience here.

Read the fine print

Please always read the fine print on Groupons! Sagano Japanese Steakhouse is a shining example of that! For example, you can not use a Groupon at Sagano within 24 hours of purchasing the Groupon. Also, there are menu restrictions on what exactly the Groupon can be used for. We found out the hard way these two things!

What we ordered at Sagano

At Sagano Japanese Steakhouse my husband and I ordered a cucumber sushi roll (please not that you can’t use the Groupon for sushi rolls here. We paid separate for the sushi), and we ordered the chicken teriyaki entree and the beef teriyaki entree. My husband, my daughter Chloe who is 9, and I shared the 2 entrees and that was plenty for the 3 of us. Our entrees came with a soup and a salad, which was wonderful and delicious! We were very pleased with our teriyaki dishes. They had had a great flavor and the portion size was perfect!

How we got the most out of our Sagano Groupon

We had the $30 Groupon for Sagano. The beef teriyaki was $16.95 and the chicken teriyaki entree was $12.95. Our $30 Sagano Groupon covered the cost of the two teriyaki entrees. Our cucumber sushi roll was $3.50 and then we had to leave a tip. I gave the waitress a great tip because she was absolutely awesome, I must say! We really felt that the service at Sagano was excellent.

Cucumber sushi roll at Sagano Japanese Steakhouse

Soup and salad was included with our two teriyaki entrees at Sagano Japanese Steakhouse

Chicken teriyaki and beef teriyaki at Sagano Japanese Steakhouse in Warren

The Sagano Groupon is PERFECT for HIBACHI!

The Sagano Japanese Steakhouse Groupon is perfect for giving the hibachi grill a whirl. This image below is of my scallop hibachi dish that I got on a previous visit to Sagano. My family of 3 were quite impressed with our hibachi dinners. When we dined at the hibachi grill on that visit we had a fantastic chef. He had a great sense of humor and was very entertaining. Of course there were big flames and an onion volcano and my daughter really enjoyed the theatrics of the Japanese chef that cooked our meals.

Here is the hibachi scallops at Sagano Japanese Steakhouse. You can use the Groupon for the hibachi grill.

And finally, for dessert, we used a Menchie’s Groupon

We are big fans of Menchie’s here in the Give It A Whirl Girl household so we could not pass this deal up! The Menchie’s Groupon is valid for two different locations: Warren and Shelby Township. The Menchie’s Groupon allows frozen yogurt enthusiasts (like me!) to purchase bundles of $5 Menchie’s vouchers for a discounted price.

2 $5 Menchie’s vouchers are $7

or 4 $5 Menchie’s vouchers are $14

Please be aware (and I found this out the hard way too because I skimmed over the fine print) that you can only use 1 $5 Menchie’s Groupon per visit!

Want to learn more about Menchie’s?

Read my Menchie’s Review on the blog!

If you are looking for a fun place to take the family for dessert, Menchie’s is the place to be! You are the creator of your frozen yogurt treat. Choose from several different frozen yogurt flavors and then top it all off at the unlimited toppings bar! Menchie’s charges by the ounce of your dessert creation, so if you want to keep the cost down don’t go too wild and crazy and keep your dessert down to a small or moderate size.

3 happy little tubs of Menchie's frozen yogurt that we got with our Menchie's Groupon — 3 happy little tubs of Menchie’s frozen yogurt that we got with our Menchie’s Groupon

Here are some more Menchie’s photos for your viewing pleasure from previous trips to this dessert destination!

Pro Tip For Groupon! That is IF you are in the Southeast Michigan area

I am going to also let you know about one other FABULOUS GROUPON if you are local! That Groupon would be for Inyo Restaurant in Ferndale. If you are a sushi connoisseur like me you will absolutely love Inyo! You can see even more photos of this Asian fusion restaurant in my FAQ on the blog. Inyo Restaurant is currently in the top spot for my number one dining destination. You can score a tremendous deal to Inyo Ferndale on Groupon!

Here are the 4 Groupons offered for Inyo in Ferndale

$50 Worth of Food and Drink Valid Sunday-Thursday for Dinner – This Groupon is $26
$50 Worth of Food and Drink Valid Any Day for Dinner – This Groupon is $31
$20 Worth of Food and Drink Valid Any Day for Lunch – This Groupon is $10.50
$20 Worth of Food and Drink Valid for Carryout – This Groupon is $10.50

Get your Inyo Restaurant in Ferndale Groupon HERE

Ok guys! I am obsessed with Inyo. Here is a photo of my Walnut Lobster. This was the most recent meal that I ordered — Walnut Lobster at Inyo Restaurant in Ferndale

And just for fun! Here is a photo of my daughter, Chloe Pear, with her chicken teriyaki dinner at Inyo Ferndale — My daughter, Chloe, who is 9 always orders the chicken teriyaki at Inyo Restaurant in Ferndale

Final thoughts

I hope this post about Groupon dining will inspire you to give Groupon a whirl! There are so many restaurants that you can try out at a discounted price. This is a wonderful way to give some new establishments a whirl! My little family of 3 has discovered a ton of great places with Groupons and there are so many other places that we cannot wait to try! I have my eye on the Le Crepe Groupon.

Groupon is soooooo much more than just dining at restaurants! You can go scoop up some goods and take a trip with Groupon getaways!

Love saving money? Find out how you can earn cashback shopping with the simple-to-use IBOTTA app

Current Groupon Deals at time of publication

Find great deals at Groupon.com!

Sitewide Sale: Up to 20% Off Local, 10% Off Getaways, 10% Off Goods Promo code: SALE3 Valid 5/21-5/22

Grocery & Household

Deals of the Day

Sign up For Groupon Selects! Save 25% More on Local, 10% More Off Tickets and Events, 10% More Off Travel and Free Shipping!

Summer Grilling Packages from Omaha Steaks Stores (Up to 72% Off)!

Shogun in Rochester Hills Groupon

Dairy Queen / Orange Julius Groupon (Warren)

Ichiban Japanese Steakhouse Groupon (Grand Blanc)

RamenYa Groupon (Novi)

Sushi Q Groupon (Southgate)

Wok Inn Groupon (Clinton Township)

SHOP GROUPON – USE GROUPON COUPON CODE SALE3 TO SAVE!

Question & Answer Time!
Take a look around the Groupon site and tell me what Groupon dining deal you will be snatching up!

ButcherBox REVIEW – A Trustworthy Source Of Top-Quality Meats Delivered To Your Doorstep Each Month

Today I would love to spread the word about how fantastic ButcherBox is in my special ButcherBox review on this Tried It Out Tuesday! If you love to cook with top quality meats like 100% grass-fed and grass-finished beef, free-range organic chicken, and heritage breed pork then ButcherBox is going to blow your mind! ButcherBox only ships out the best high-end meats. I will be sharing with you some ways to use the beef that you receive from ButcherBox. I included a way to use the beautiful 36oz chuck roast, also a great way to serve up the gorgeous ribeye steak, and how I served the ButcherBox flat-iron steak with eggs.

The ButcherBox meat delivery service keeps up to their promise of delivering quality, convenience, and value. ButcherBox is a trustworthy source of meat to satisfy all of your carnivore cravings.

Standard disclosure: I was sent a ButcherBox free of charge for review purposes. All statements and opinions in this ButcherBox review are my own.

My Honest ButcherBox Review

How does ButcherBox work?

Choose your ButcherBox – Choose the Classic Box for small families and the Big Box for larger families.
Delivery to your doorstep – ButcherBox takes great care in their shipment.
Cook with confidence when you order from a trustworthy source!

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ButcherBox allows for customization with their meat delivery service. The ButcherBox’s that are available are listed below. For this ButcherBox review, I will be sharing my first-hand experience with the ButcherBox All-Beef Box.

The items shown below in each box are last month’s cuts that were sent out and are shown for example purposes only. Your shipment will vary. This is only shown for example.

Custom Box – The custom box is completely customizable and you can choose from over 20 different cuts of beef, chicken, and pork. The Custom ButcherBox gives you total and complete control over the meats you will receive.
Mixed Box – With the Mixed ButcherBox you will receive a mix of meat that totals anywhere from 8.5-11lbs. The Mixed ButcherBox includes the following meats: 2 lbs of Ground Beef, 2 NY Strip Steaks, 4 Top Sirloin Steaks, 1lb of Whole Pork Tenderloin, and 3lbs of Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast
Beef & Pork Box – 2 lbs of Ground Beef, 2 NY Strip Steaks, 4 Top Sirloin Steaks, 4 Boneless Pork Chops, 2 lbs of Whole Pork Tenderloin
Beef & Chicken Box – 2 lbs of Ground Beef, 2 NY Strip Steaks, 4 Top Sirloin Steaks, 3lbs of Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast, and 3 lbs of Chicken Drumsticks
All Beef Box – 2 lbs of Ground Beef, 2 NY Strip Steaks, 1lb of Premium Steak Tips, 2+ lbs of Chuck Roast, and 4 Top Sirloin Steaks

Want to add some extras to your ButcherBox?

You are in luck if you want to add some extra items to your ButcherBox shipment. You can click HERE to see them all. Here are just a few of the available add-ons: salmon, bacon, and breakfast sausage.

My first impressions of ButcherBox

I received my first delivery on Wednesday, May 1st. My order was shipped out the day before, so my first shipment of meat did arrive the next day. I was really happy with the speed of delivery. I could not wait to see what was sent to me in my first box. Opening up this package gave me flashbacks of Xmas morning!

My first ButcherBox arrived quickly and in great shape!

I opened up my first ButcherBox shipment and everything was packed really well. All of my meats were frozen solid and the box was insulated quite well.

Everything was frozen solid and packed really well with my first ButcherBox.

What was inside my ButcherBox

Right off the bat, I could see that I did receive one meat that I was really hoping for and that was my chuck roast. I was hoping to make another Mississippi roast next week and the gorgeous hunk of meat that was sent will be absolutely perfect for that dish! The chuck roast that I received in my ButcherBox came in at 36 oz and it will be the perfect size to feed my family. This piece of meat was quite honestly, the most impressive looking beef roast I ever had to pleasure to cook with. I usually get my meat from the grocery store. The grocery store that I shop at has this cut of beef on sale often at buy-one-get-one-free but it never looks as nice as what ButcherBox has to offer!

I also received two 10 oz ribeye steaks, which will be perfect for a special Sunday dinner this week. Ribeye is my favorite steak cut of meat. It is a very simple steak to cook with simple ingredients. I create an herbed ghee mixture and rub it on the meat and cook it for a few minutes per side in a cast iron pan. I cook my steaks medium-rare and I am really thrilled to give ButcherBox’s meat a whirl.

Everything that I received looks completely and totally super duper fresh! I was really impressed with the gorgeous red hue of all the meat and the marbling on everything.

The other cuts of beef that I received in my first ButcherBox were the following: 2 lbs of grass-fed ground beef (in one pound packages), 2 6 oz flat iron steaks, 2 packages of sirloin tips (1 lb packages), and a package of ButcherBox’s very own bacon!

My first ButcherBox shipment was the All-Beef box

My first ButcherBox contained meats with a gorgeous deep red hue and nice marbling

The 36 oz beef chuck roast in my ButcherBox shipment - Beautiful cut of beef! — The 36 oz beef chuck roast in my ButcherBox shipment – Beautiful cut of beef!

Grass-Fed Beef Ribeye Steak from ButcherBox

Ground Beef (grass-fed beef) from ButcherBox

ButcherBox offers a wide variety of different meats! I chose the All-Beef Box!

Here is what I did with meat from my ButcherBox

ButcherBox Chuck Roast

For the chuck roast that was sent to me from ButcherBox, I immediately knew what I wanted to create with it… my Paleo Mississippi Roast. This is a really awesome recipe to use with a nice piece of chuck roast meat. The recipe tells you how to create your own ranch seasoning rub for the meat and how to create this set-it-and-forget-it beef dish. The chuck roast that I received from ButcherBox was the best chuck roast I had ever seen. I had the most perfect red hue and great marbling on it. This chuck roast did not have much fat on it and the meat came out extremely juicy and tender!

This ButcherBox chuck roast sure made for one memorable meal with lots of ooo’s and ahh’s at the dinner table!

Paleo Mississippi Pot Roast made with a BUTCHERBOX Chuck Roast

Paleo Mississippi Roast Melt In Your Mouth Meat Recipe (Slow-Cooker) (Gluten-Free)

ButcherBox Ribeye Steaks

Sometimes simplicity is best! For the ButcherBox ribeye steaks, I simply cooked them in a cast iron pan with a bit of oil, salt, and pepper. This was a very easy approach but it results in big flavor and a juicy, unforgettable meal. I served my ButcherBox ribeye alongside some ButcherBox bacon-wrapped asparagus. The ButcherBox bacon was the perfect addition to this paleo, primal meal!

Oooh yeah check out those ButcherBox ribeye steaks on the cast iron pan! This will satisfy your primal cravings.

ButcherBox Ribeye Steaks are big on flavor! Served with ButcherBox bacon-wrapped asparagus

Steak & eggs

Here is another simple way to use your ButcherBox meat. My husband has never had steak and eggs so I decided to serve up this for dinner last week. We call it brinner when we eat breakfast for dinner. It doesn’t get any easier than this folks! To cook the ButcherBox flat-iron steak I simply warmed up some avocado oil (you can use olive oil too) in a cast iron pan and seasoned the steak with some steak seasoning on both sides. I got a nice sear on each side of the steak, let it rest a few minutes, and then sliced and served.

Can you see that I like my steak still mooing? lol!

Steak & eggs served with ButcherBox flat iron steak

The ButcherBox flat-iron steaks are perfect for steak and eggs! How do you like your steak cooked?

Final thoughts on my first ButcherBox shipment

I am really thrilled that I had the opportunity to review this subscription box and give these top-quality meats a try in the Give It A Whirl Girl kitchen. I hope that you enjoyed this ButcherBox review and that it will inspire you to give it a whirl soon! ButcherBox was perfect for our small family and we completely and totally enjoyed our shipment of beef, and trust me when I say that we enjoyed it! It was love at first bite! It’s not hard to see that ButcherBox only ships out the finest of meat. Every single meal that had ButcherBox incorporated into it had tender, juicy, and flavorful beef! Certainly was the best beef we ever had and it sure beats the stuff that you get at your local grocery store.

Ready to sign up and get your first ButcherBox?

Click HERE to see pricing available options for your ButcherBox, and to sign up for your first shipment of top quality meats!

Current offers at ButcherBox

Ready to sign up and receive your very own ButcherBox? Simply click the link below or the image below to get started. They are currently offering 2 free pounds of Wild Alaskan salmon with your order.

Join ButcherBox today and get 2 lbs of Wild Alaskan Salmon free!

Or you can claim a free BBQ Bundle with your next order by clicking HERE.

The BBQ Bundle includes babyback ribs, 2 pounds of ground beef, and 2 NY Strips.

Question Time! Which ButcherBox would you love to give a whirl first? Will you choose the all-beef box, beef & chicken, beef & pork, mixed box, or will you be going with a custom box? Leave me a comment and let me know how you like your steak cooked as well! Would love to hear your thoughts.

Want to learn more about ButcherBox?

Sign up for ButcherBox

Pin this image for later if you enjoyed this post

Here is a recipe post at Give It A Whirl Girl that you might enjoy!

Click the image below to read more!

May 14, 2019 4

Tasty Ice Cream REVIEW – Dig Into 4 Fun & Unique Limited Edition Ice Cream Pints From Tasty!

Tasty Ice-Cream REVIEW by Give It A Whirl Girl

New product alert! And this new product is also a limited edition item! Today I am sharing my Tasty ice cream review with you. I just recently discovered that my local Kroger store carries these new ice cream pints from Tasty and they are available in four fun and very delightful flavors. Tasty ice cream pints feature some super-duper creamy ice cream with the addition of unique mix-ins. The flavor combinations of these Tasty ice cream limited edition flavors are not only creative but make for one memorable ice cream experience! Tasty ice cream succeeded in slapping a big fat smile onto my face with these sweet treats!

These Tasty ice creams are the perfect treat for your next indulgent “cheat day”. I often opt for the healthier, better-for-you ice creams like Enlightened and Halo Top but sometimes you just have to give into to that sweet tooth and have a bit of sugar. No sweat… just get back on track with your diet and lifestyle the next day. YOLO (you only live once) so why not just give in to the temptation and enjoy that pint of ice cream?!?!?!!! Remember my blog tagline is “Eat Healthy So You Can Have Dessert” so just keep that in mind ok?

Peanut Butter S'mores Smash Tasty Ice-Cream — Peanut Butter S’mores Smash Tasty Ice Cream

Check out that White Chocolate Raspberry Lava Cake ice-cream from Tasty... omg! — Check out that White Chocolate Raspberry Lava Cake ice cream from Tasty… omg!

Tasty Ice Cream Review

The 4 Limited Edition Tasty Ice Cream Flavors

Vanilla Galaxy Twist

This flavor here is for the rainbow candy sprinkles enthusiast (me!!). The Vanilla Galaxy Twist is going to blast you off into euphoria while chowing down on this pint. The ice cream flavor also has silky blue frosting swirls with a vanilla ice cream base. In this out-of-this-world delicious ice cream pint, you are also going to enjoy some caramel stars, chocolate chunks, and cosmic crunch. Tasty really went all out with this fun flavor! I don’t think ice cream gets any better than this folks!

WOWZA! Vanilla Galaxy Twist is chock full of goodies!

Peanut Butter S’mores Smash

With the Peanut Butter S’mores Smash flavor of Tasty ice cream this is where two flavors collide and marry into one hell of an awesome flavor! The ice cream itself has a peanut butter flavor and inside you are going to experience some marshmallowy goodness and miniature peanut butter cups. And to take this flavor to a whole other level you will also enjoy a sprinkling of graham cracker crunchies and a fudge swirl mixed throughout.

Two Peanut Butter S'mores Smash ice-creams from Tasty — Two Peanut Butter S’mores Smash ice creams from Tasty

Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Crunch

This flavor is for the chocolate lover and connoisseur! Inside this Tasty ice cream pint, you will find some smooth and creamy chocolate ice cream mixed with pretzel bites and a dreamy salted caramel swirl! Yes please and YUM!

Here is the Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Crunch ice-cream from Tasty! — Here is the Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Crunch ice cream from Tasty!

White Chocolate Raspberry Lava Cake

The White Chocolate Raspberry Lava Cake Tasty ice cream pint is like my dream flavor here! This unique flavor features a white chocolate ice cream combined with raspberry ribbons and swirls along with some get this… CHUNKS OF CAKE! Oh my goodness gracious! I kinda hate to say it but this ice cream pint is one that I would honestly hoard just for my own sweet self. I am head over heels in love with anything that is raspberry flavored and when you throw some cake into the mix? BLISS! Pure bliss!

Dig into this White Chocolate Raspberry Lava Cake ice cream from Tasty brand!

Tasty Ice Cream Nutrition Facts

As you can see in the nutrition facts label below this is an indulgent treat. The nutrition facts vary by flavor. The one shown in the photo below is for the Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Crunch flavor. If you give in to your desires and lose control AND eat that whole pint you are going to set yourself back a whopping 710 calories. Might just have to run a marathon to burn that all off. Am I right?

One serving contains 25mg of sugar. If you eat the whole pint you will be consuming a massive amount of sugar, a total of 65mg. As mentioned earlier in this post, these ice cream pints are reserved for a cheat day treat. It is ok to have a sugary treat every now and then. I believe in eating with balance. What I do is eat healthy and clean most of the time and then allow myself to indulge in a not-so-good-for-you treat. I don’t want to deprive myself of the fun things in life (like ice cream).

Tasty Ice-Cream Nutrition Facts — Nutrition Facts

Final thoughts on Tasty ice cream

Gotta say these four limited edition ice cream pints were thoroughly enjoyed by my little family of 3! I truly hope that my Tasty ice cream review inspires you to hunt these down and give them a whirl! I’m going to give some mad props to Tasty for offering up these creative ice cream flavors. I also really enjoyed the delicious creaminess and texture of the ice creams. I am looking forward to Tasty releasing some more ice cream pints. Pretty sure I will be a regular buyer of this brand.

It is so hard to resist eating the entire pint all by your lone self because they are just that good!

If you are a regular reader over here at Give It A Whirl Girl, you can probably tell by now that one of my major weaknesses is ice cream. I love to review it and I love to blog about it. And finally, I love to eat all of it! In the near future, I will be reviewing more ice creams since summer is fast approaching and I can’t think of a better sweet treat to eat than ice cream when it is warm out.

Question Time!

What flavor of Tasty Ice Cream will you be indulging in on your next cheat day? Leave me a comment and let me know which Tasty Ice Cream pint you will reach for first!

Ready to give Tasty ice cream a whirl?

Find out more!

Shop on Amazon for ice cream products

or visit my Amazon store

April 2, 2019 16

Zesty Spaghetti Sauce RECIPE With Ancient Harvest Pasta, Tri-Color Peppers, Ground Beef, & Italian Sausage (Slow-Cooker)

Zesty Spaghetti Sauce RECIPE With Ancient Harvest, Tri-Color Pepper, Ground Beef, & Italian Sausage - Slow-Cooker by Give It A Whirl Girl

I am just going to come out and say it… this is some thick ass sauce right here y’all! This zesty spaghetti sauce recipe with Ancient Harvest pasta is nowhere near being skimpy and naked. We got it all going on over here with grass-fed ground beef, ground Italian sausage, three colors of bell peppers, oodles of minced garlic, half an onion, and a whole lot of basil and oregano! How does that sound? Keep reading to find out how I made this set-it-and-forget-it sauce. I will also talk about the Ancient Harvest gluten-free pasta that I used with this zesty spaghetti sauce recipe. I tried them out for Tried It Out Tuesday!

Tri-Color Pepper, Ground Beef, and Italian Sausage Spaghetti With Ancient Harvest Pasta — Tri-Color Peppers, Ground Beef, and Italian Sausage Spaghetti With Ancient Harvest Pasta – A very zesty spaghetti sauce recipe that you will love!

This zesty spaghetti sauce recipe does require a little bit of prep but it is essential. You can’t just toss raw ground meat products into your slow-cooker and expect good results. You gotta brown that meat. Next you are also going to want to saute your onions and garlic until they achieve a translucent appearance and become aromatic and fragrant. I also take the time to soften up the three peppers.

Continue reading “Zesty Spaghetti Sauce RECIPE With Ancient Harvest Pasta, Tri-Color Peppers, Ground Beef, & Italian Sausage (Slow-Cooker)” →

March 1, 2019 2

ROCKET FIZZ REVIEW (Soda Pop, candy, nostalgia, gifts)

I actually just found out about this incredible place, Rocket Fizz, a few days ago through my sister. My sister took her kiddos here and shared some photos from her experience. I knew that right after seeing those photos of hers that I needed to come in and scope out this fun and unique place. Rocket Fizz is a soda pop & candy shop, as well a nostalgia store located in Shelby Township, MI. These are actually a chain of stores that are located throughout the United States. Spectacular surprises await you around every corner and I am sharing my first-time experience with you in this Rocket Fizz review. From floor-to-ceiling there are sweet confections and oddities everywhere your eyes look. It is like sensory overload in here and I mean that in the greatest way for the candy consumer.

And just a heads up! This is a very pic-heavy post! I feel as though the images here really speak for themselves. I am really and truly hoping that my Rocket Fizz review will inspire you to visit this candy shop! If you want to find out where there is a Rocket Fizz store near you, you can use the store locator tool to find out where the closest location is.

Shop at Rocket Fizz for candy, soda pop, and unique gifts

Rocket Fizz location in Shelby Township, MI

My Rocket Fizz Review

Just what is Rocket Fizz?

Rocket Fizz just might be the place to head over to when you have a major hankering for sweets and you need to satisfy that sweet tooth of yours. This is the place to visit if you need to stock up on “Cheat Day” sweets and treats.

If you have ever been curious about what mustard-flavored or puke flavored pop tasted like then Rocket Fizz has you covered with their completely and totally INSANE flavors of pop for the thrillseeker!

Rocket Fizz is a store that has great pride in offering unique food and drink items to the public. They are a brand that strives for creativity and innovation. This store is the furthest thing from being boring. Rocket Fizz is the type of store that definitely evokes a lot of happiness, a ton of smiles, and plenty of hardy laughs. The mission of the Rocket Fizz chain of stores is that they want to offer something for everyone, for people of all ages and backgrounds. After my first visit here I can truthfully say that Rocket Fizz does succeed in doing that quite well! We had a blast here and we are all excited to come back soon for another visit.

Rocket Fizz soda pops available ROCKET FIZZ REVIEW by GIVE IT A WHIRL GIRL — Rocket Fizz soda pops available

There is a huge variety of different soda pops available here! ROCKET FIZZ REVIEW by GIVE IT A WHIRL GIRL — There is a huge variety of different soda pops available here!

Soda pops available in adventurous, fun flavors

What flavor of soda-pop would you give a whirl to?

Jimi Hendrix soda-pop ROCKET FIZZ REVIEW by GIVE IT A WHIRL GIRL — Jimi Hendrix soda-pop

Chumlee soda-pop ROCKET FIZZ REVIEW by GIVE IT A WHIRL GIRL — The Monkees and Chumlee soda-pop

Zombie/Horror soda-pops available ROCKET FIZZ REVIEW by GIVE IT A WHIRL GIRL — Zombie/Horror soda-pops available at Rocket Fizz

Do you see any soda pops that you would love to try?

Would you try any of these crazy flavors of soda-pop?

What do you think of these weird flavors of soda-pop?

Ranch dressing or mustard soda-pop?? That is the question!

What soda-pop are you going to try at Rocket Fizz?

Soda pops come in so many wonderful flavors!

Lester’s Fixins Bizarre flavors of soda-pop at Rocket Fizz!

and

Melba’s Fixins soda-pops available at Rocket Fizz!

Which flavor will you be giving a whirl?

Just living for those Cheat Day thrills!

I ended up taking home a big bag of candy that was chock full of several (and I do mean several) different flavors of taffy. We opted for the larger size bag that you could fill up with as much candy as you could stuff in there. It was $9 for the large bag and I believe it was $7 for the all-you-could-fill smaller bulk candy bag. There were so many different unique flavors of soda-pop at Rocket Fizz and I need to go back when I have a bigger chunk of money to spend here. I also am not a pop-drinker AT ALL but the unique flavors here are worthy of a try. My daughter ended up getting a black licorice pop and boy was it ever tasty! You can choose 4 flavors of soda-pop and build your own 4-pack at Rocket Fizz for $8.00. That is a great deal at $2 a pop! Otherwise, the soda pops sell for $2.29 a piece. The next time I visit this place I am going to get adventurous and try out the weird flavors of soda pop. I am thinking that it would be fun to purchase a couple of different 4-packs and do a video review with my 9-year-old daughter, Chloe Pearl! She is my little blogger sidekick and she has an adventurous palate when it comes to food and drink. Just like her momma, she will try pretty much anything once!

As you can see in the photo below, we did take home quite a bit of taffy in many different assorted flavors. I wonder how long this bowl of candy will last here? Probably not long!

Bowl of taffy that we ended up taking home!

You also might enjoy these

ROCKET FIZZ VIDEOS

Candy Galore!!

Seriously guys and gals… if you can not find a candy here at Rocket Fizz that appeals to you then you might have a problem! This store offers something for everyone! They have the more traditional candies available here as well as some really unique off-the-wall stuff! They have everything from taffy, sour candies, Jelly Bellies, lollipops, gummy candy, chocolate bars, and MORE!

So many fun chocolate candy bars! What is your favorite?

ROCKET FIZZ REVIEW by GIVE IT A WHIRL GIRL — Assorted candies

Slime Bar! Ooooh yummy! ROCKET FIZZ REVIEW by GIVE IT A WHIRL GIRL — Slime Bar! Ooooh yummy!

Box of boogers! Would you pick these? ROCKET FIZZ REVIEW by GIVE IT A WHIRL GIRL — Box of boogers! Would you pick these?

Rocket Fizz is more than just candy and soda pop!

The neat thing about Rocket Fizz is that it is more than just a soda-pop and candy shop. You can find some very unique gifts at Rocket Fizz. You can find a vast array of decorative tin signs here, gag gifts, and more. These items are mixed in throughout the store. If you have ever wondered where you could get a giant unicorn mask you are in luck at Rocket Fizz. You can make all of your unicorn dreams come true here!

Where else will you find "squirrel underpants"?? — Where else will you find “squirrel underpants”??

Tin signs and gag gifts.
I love the “I refuse to become a nugget” sign!

Final thoughts

I believe that my readers will really enjoy their first visit to Rocket Fizz! My little family of three sure had fun browsing around this soda-pop and candy shop! There are so many fun and unique items here at Rocket Fizz and it is a lot to take in all at once. It seems as though everywhere I looked I could spot something that I wanted to take home with me to try out! When you do visit this establishment, be sure to bring a decent wad of money with you to blow here. And always remember to eat and drink with an open mind! See something of interest? Take it home and give it a whirl!

Question Time! After reading this Rocket Fizz review, do you feel that this is a place that you would love to visit with your family? What items would you take home to try out? Leave me a comment and let me know!

Do you want to find out more about Rocket Fizz??

Rocket Fizz Location (Shelby Township)

50752 Schoenherr Road

Shelby Charter Township, MI 48315

Did you enjoy this Rocket Fizz review? You might also enjoy other local spots that I visited in the Southeast, MI area!

CLICK HERE to read more of my local reviews!

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AFFILIATE LINKS. I RECEIVE A COMMISSION FROM ITEMS PURCHASED THROUGH THESE LINKS WITH NO EXTRA COST TO YOU.

February 19, 2019 10

Modern Cone REVIEW – Our First Visit To This Modern-Day Ice-Cream Shop In St. Clair Shores

Modern Cone is a fairly new ice-cream shop to hit the city of St. Clair Shores, MI. This ice cream shop is formerly known as Ashby’s Ice Cream shop. I am so excited about the change that has come to this location. This past weekend we were actually looking for a new frozen-yogurt or ice cream shop to visit and we stumbled upon Modern Cone on Yelp. The photos that I saw on my Yelp app totally and completely sucked me in. So for Tried It Out Tuesday this week I am sharing my Modern Cone review with you. If you are in the Detroit area (or St. Clair Shores would be even better) you need to check out Modern Cone. Their extensive menu is super duper exciting for the ice cream enthusiast. You will find yourself coming back for more and more after your first visit! I am always looking for new and interesting foods to try out and Modern Cone was the most perfect content to share with my readers.

My Modern Cone Ice Cream Review

First Impressions

My first impression of this ice cream shop was the super duper friendly staff! There were two people working when I came in and they were both very friendly and both were helpful. It is always reassuring to go into a new establishment and be welcomed by some joyful staff members.

Modern Cone is a decently-sized little ice cream shop. There are several ice cream flavors to choose from, an exciting menu board, and also an adequate amount of seating for those who wish to enjoy their ice cream on the spot. Check out the menu board below.

Menu board at Modern Cone — Modern Cone menu board

Stackers menu at Modern Cone — Modern Cone menu board – Stackers

Create Your Own Stacker

Modern Cone offers up one of these lovely items known as a Stacker. You can order a Stacker off the menu board or create your very own!

The bottom of the Stacker gets 2 toppings & sauce
Ice cream layer
2 toppings & sauce
More ice cream!
For the topping of your Stacker, you choose two toppings and a sauce

Easy peasy and endless possibilities! I look forward to trying more Stackers off their menu and then venturing into creating my own.

Regular size Stackers sell for $6.00 and the large size sells for $8.00. To me, this is a very reasonable price for a sundae that is not only delicious but memorable too!

Cereal Killer ice-cream Stacker available at Modern Cone — Cereal Killer ice cream Stacker available

Our Two Ice Cream Stackers and a Modern Cone

I ended up splurging on the Cereal Killer sundae, my hubby got a I Want S’more (s’mores flavor), and my daughter Chloe got a double-scoop ice cream cone with rainbow sherbet and cotton candy. It was really hard to narrow down my choice to just one because the Stackers that Modern Cone offers all sound enticing to me. I consider myself an ice cream enthusiast so I can’t wait to return to Modern Cone and give more of these creative icec ream concoctions a whirl!

Cereal Killer

I have never in my life had an ice cream sundae with cereal on it but now seems like a good time to start! My Cereal Killer Stacker included strawberry ice cream with a variety of different breakfast cereals (Fruity Pebbles, Trix, and Lucky Charms) and it was then topped with a white chocolate sauce. Talk about a unique ice cream experience! Yeah yeah yeah I know this sounds like diabetes that is ready to happen in a cup BUT I do not treat myself to confections like this often so all is good! I was long overdue for a Cheat Day treat and this Cereal Killer Stacker satisified my sweet tooth!

Our three desserts at Modern Cone — Our three desserts

They also have “NACHOS”!

I was really intrigued by the section of the menu where it said NACHOS! This ice cream shop puts a delicious spin on nachos and they came up with dessert nachos. Yep… you heard that right! With the nachos, you get two flavors of ice cream, your choice of 3 different toppings, and two dessert sauces.

Nachos at Modern Cone — Nachos (this is not my image. (Image source: **Facebook**)

Other Items Available On The Menu

There is a great variety of items available on the menu here. Indulge in an Ice Cream Cookie Sandwich or Cookie Ala Mode! Few things in life beat the winning combination of a warm cookie paired with some scrumptious ice cream so I bet you a million bucks that I will be trying out both of these frozen treats!

Ice-Cream cake — Ice Cream cake (Image source: **Facebook**)

Traditional Treats

If you don’t want to try out something wild and crazy then Modern Cone has you covered with more traditional fare like milkshakes, sundaes, cones, Italian Ice, slushies, and even a pup cup perfect for your pooch!

Italian Ice and Ice-Cream — Italian Ice and Ice Cream

Chocolate Milk Shake (Image source: **Facebook**)

Ice-Cream - There are man more options available! — Ice Cream – There are many more options available!

What is next for me at Modern Cone

I already have my mind made up (I think!) for my next visit to Modern Cone. I need that Fruity Explosion! The Fruity Explosion comes with vanilla ice cream but I am leaning towards swapping that out for some Blue Moon or cotton-candy!

Final Thoughts

I am sharing this Modern Cone review today because I want to inspire you all to get off your butt and head on over here! This was my first ever visit here and I was absolutely blown away by the menu choices.

Ice cream shops like this are a dream come true for me because I am not into ordinary… give me extraordinary!

This place is anything but boring. When you go to an ice cream shop like this you are in for a real treat. The menu is so creative and it really has inspired me to want to go back for more! I want to give it all a big whirl! Lucky for us, we actually live within walking distance to Modern Cone. I am feeling like I hit the jackpot by discovering this unique and modern place!

QUESTION TIME!

What Stacker do you want to order at Modern Cone? Check out the Modern Cone menu board in this post and let me know!

To read more about my Tried It Out Tuesday experiences you can check it out HERE.

Want to read more of my local reviews?? You can find them all HERE on my blog.

Want to learn more about Modern Cone?

- Facebook

Instagram

Where Can I Get My Modern Cone?

Wondering where you can get your very own Modern Cone? This ice cream shop is located in the plaza where Village Market is in St. Clair Shores, MI.

MODERN CONE LOCATION:

28616 Harper Ave St. Clair Shores, Michigan 48081

MODERN CONE HOURS

Monday: 12PM-8PM

Tuesday: 12PM-8PM

Wednesday: 12PM-8PM

Thursday: 12PM-8PM

Friday: 12PM-9PM

Saturday: 12PM-PM

Sunday: 1PM-8PM

January 29, 2019 36

Nino Salvaggio & A Passion Fruit Guava Smoothie Bowl RECIPE

Let’s kick things off here by just admitting that I feel so very blessed to live in close proximity to Nino Salvaggio in St. Clair Shores. I have been visiting Nino Salvaggio’s for as long as I can remember. My mom used to go shopping here all the time and my mind was always blown by the beautiful, colorful fruit and vegetable displays there. It is sort of like a work of art… an installation of the prettiest produce your eyes have seen. Nino Salvaggio takes pride in the products that they sell, and it shows! This store is absolutely stunning and you can see that they pay attention to detail.

Today I will also be sharing a recipe for an exotic fruit smoothie bowl that I created with passion fruit and guava. Passion fruit is one of my favorite fruits and I love the sweet and sour taste of it. Guava is another favorite exotic fruit of mine and I don’t get a chance to enjoy it very often. I could not resist buying one from Nino Salvaggio.

Produce section of Nino Salvaggio - Isn't it just spectacular? — Produce section of Nino Salvaggio – Isn’t it just spectacular?

About Nino Salvaggio

Nino Salvaggio is the go-to place in the area if you want some perfect and flawless ingredients in your food. It’s not just fruits and veggies though! Nino Salvaggio also has a deli and meat counter. They also have a great little grocery section with some very cool, unusual ingredients. And you just have to see the gorgeous bakery at Nino Salvaggio. I get my chocolate cassata birthday cake from Nino Salvaggio every single year. And speaking of birthdays, mine is next month and I will be enjoying that cake soon! Yippee!

Nino Salvaggio has four convenient locations in Michigan to serve you. They are located in St. Clair Shores, Troy, Clinton Township, and Bloomfield Township. You can find out more about Nino Salvaggio and their mission HERE. This is a store that is highly committed to providing high quality foods.

I visited Nino Salvaggio this past weekend to pick up some exotic fruits. I knew ahead of time that I wanted to pick up a couple passion fruits (one of my all-time favorite fruits). The dilemma was that I really was not quite sure what I wanted to combine it with for my smoothie bowl. Then I saw the guava and I knew that would pair well with the passion fruit so I took home one of those.

Gorgeous produce at Nino Salvaggio's — Gorgeous produce at Nino Salvaggio’s

Exotic fruits that intrigued me at Nino Salvaggio International Marketplace

The exotic fruits section at Nino Salvaggio is the most interesting place to shop, for me anyway! This is the spot in the store where you can get brave and muster up the strength to try something new!

Passion Fruit

So this is the fruit that I was really going after with my trip to Nino Salvaggio. Passion fruit just might be one of my all-time favorite fruits to chow down on. With the passion fruit, you get the wonderful combination of sweet & sour. If you don’t like the texture of tapioca you probably won’t like this. It does, to me, have a tapioca texture. It is slimy and seedy but the taste blows my mind. Using this as the star of my smoothie bowl was a wise choice!

Passion fruit is a nutrient-dense fruit that has a great amount of Vitamin C in it and it is great for the immune system. The passion fruit also has some fiber, Vitamin A, potassium, and a bit of iron. It is a small fruit and contains around 17 calories per serving. You can learn all about the health benefits of the passion fruit HERE.

Passion Fruit at Nino Salvaggio International Marketplace

Guava

Guava is the second fruit that I ended up going with for my smoothie bowl. These guavas are oh so yummy but they are pricey! I only took home one small guava. One turned out to be just enough for the flavor that I was going after.

As far as nutrition goes with the guava fruit, you are going to find some antioxidants, Vitamin C, fiber, and beta carotene in the fruit. There are 8 wonderful health benefits of the guava fruit and you can feed your brain with knowledge over here.

Guava at Nino Salvaggio International Marketplace

Rambutan

Now here is an interesting piece of fruit! This is a rambutan and it sort of reminds me of lychee fruit. I was really tempted to get more of these but the steep price deterred me and I only purchased one! Me and my daughter, Chloe, split the rambutan in half and we each tried a small piece. It definitely does have a taste reminiscent of lychee. The flesh was soft and also reminded me of grapes. I would give this a whirl again. We really enjoyed the experience of trying this unique fruit.

Quince

Quince is a new-to-me fruit too. Never ever had one in my life had quince! These tart fruits are grown in Chile and you can eat them raw, but it is advised to cook these if you want the best flavor to come through.

Ya Ya Pear

The ya ya pear is a pear that originates from China. This white pear’s flavor can best be described as a cross between a rose and a pineapple. The ya ya pear is crisp and sweet, but not overly sweet. Just the right amount of sweetness!

Passion Fruit / Guava Smoothie Bowl RECIPE

For this Passion Fruit/ Guava smoothie bowl I used two frozen bananas, two passion fruits, one guava, coconut milk, chia seeds, and coconut flakes. This tropical smoothie bowl makes a fantastic treat for breakfast!

Passion Fruit & Guava Smoothie Bowl

Want a smoothie bowl with exotic flavor?

Give this tropical passion fruit and guava smoothie bowl a whirl!

2 Bananas (Frozen)
1/4 cup Full fat coconut milk
2 Passion Fruit
1 Guava
2 tbsp Coconut flakes
1 tbsp Chia seeds

Place two frozen bananas, 1 passion fruit, 1 guava, and 1/4 cup of coconut milk in the blender. Use your smoothie mode if your blender has one.
Once blended up pour the smoothie mixture into a large bowl. Soup bowls work well.
Top your smoothie bowl with some shredded coconut flake and chia seeds. And now you can use your other passion fruit to top the smoothie.
Eat and enjoy! Hope you love it!

Fruits that I used in my Passion Fruit & Guava Smoothie Bowl

Close-up of the passion fruit and the guava

Passion Fruit & Guava Smoothie Bowl topped with coconut and black chia seeds

A spoonful of Passion Fruit & Guava Smoothie Bowl

Final thoughts

Sounds strange (maybe??) but I sure do get excited about taking a little trip to my favorite fruit & veggie store- Nino Salvaggio! If you are looking for top-notch produce you will find whatever it is you are looking for at Nino Salvaggio. Definitely make sure you visit the exotic fruit section of the store. What you need to do next is get brave and try some of these unusual fruits and vegetables. My blog is all about trying new things and eating with an open mind. I hope this inspires you to eat with an open mind. There is an entire universe full of unusual food and it is just waiting for you to give it a whirl!

Question time! Have you ever been to Nino Salvaggio? Leave me a comment and let me know what you think about this incredible place to shop!

Find out more about Nino Salvaggio

THIS POST CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS. I DO RECEIVE A SMALL COMMISSION IF ITEMS ARE PURCHASED THROUGH THESE LINKS (no extra cost to you). ALL OPINIONS STATED HERE ARE MY OWN.

January 22, 2019 12

Redd Bar REVIEW – Superfood Energy Bars – A Gluten-Free, Vegan Snack Bar With Clean Ingredients

When that afternoon fatigue and hunger pang hits me, I need something to recharge myself with. If you are looking for a good, clean source of energy, look no further than to Redd Bar Superfood Energy Bars. Today I am sharing my Redd Bar review with you on the blog for Tried It Out Tuesday. These snack bars are gluten-free, vegan, non-GMO, and contain 35mg of caffeine per bar. These bars will give you the jolt that you need without any jitters. What I love about these snack bars is that they only use pure and natural ingredients in their bar. You will not find anything strange lurking inside these. They also taste fantastic!

They come in five different flavors: Chocolate, Salted Caramel (my favorite!), Peanut Butter, Mint Chocolate, and Oatmeal.

Redd Bar is actually 3 items in one handy snack: protein bar + energy shot + multivitamin.

It is a convenient snack that is a nutritional powerhouse. I am confident that you will be adding them on the regular for your snack rotation.

Keep on reading to find out more about Redd Bar.

Redd Bar Superfood Energy Bar Nutrition

In this Redd Bar review, let’s kick things off with discussing the nutrition of these snack bars. You are going to love the back of the Redd Bar when see the ingredients. This bar is chock full of clean ingredients, also known as superfoods. Redd Bar utilizes the best and the most natural ingredients in their snack bar. A couple of their slogans:

All Killer No Filler

and Uncompromised

You will not find any artificial ingredients here. Some of the superfood ingredients you may find in your bar: mangosteen, yerba mate, quinoa, chia, pumpkin seed, acai, schizandra, maca, dark chocolate, goji, and cacao. To find out more about the clean ingredients that Redd Bar uses check it out on their website.

The Redd Bar is a great source of protein. As you can see in the photo below (peanut butter flavor), the bar contains 10 grams of protein. This is a great amount of protein for an afternoon snack. The Redd Bar also is a fabulous source of fiber if you need to boost your intake. This bar has 4 grams of fiber.

No gluten in these bars and no animals products

I am always keeping my eye out for tasty gluten-free snacks and the Redd Bar is an absolute winner. With these bars, you will not miss the gluten! Redd Bar really hit the mark with taste and texture.

And a big bonus as well is that Redd Bar does not contain any animal products. These bars will be perfect for your vegetarian or vegan lifestyle.

Vitamin & mineral blend

If you are looking to gain some vitamins and minerals into your diet, Redd Bar has a vitamin & mineral blend that has pretty much everything you need for your healthy diet and lifestyle.

Vitamin/Mineral Blend (Tricalcium Phosphate, Magnesium Oxide, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamin E Acetate, Niacinamide, Zinc Oxide, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Chromium Amino Acid Chelate, Pyridoxine HCl, Riboflavin, Folic Acid, D-Biotin, Vitamin A Palmitate, Selenium Amino Acid Chelate, Vitamin D2, Vitamin B12)

The caffeine in Redd Bar

Caffeine in the Redd Bar is equivalent to about a third of a cup of coffee. It is naturally sourced through yerba mate. If you are curious about this superfood you can read more about it on Redd Bar’s website.

Maca (awesome superfood)

The superfood maca is also known to increase energy, stamina, and focus. Redd Bar includes maca in your energy bar. You can read more about maca HERE.

Nutrition Facts for Redd Bar Peanut Butter Flavor

Redd Bar review of product flavors

Chocolate Redd Bar

I have a thing for anything and everything chocolate! This nutrient-dense snack will satisfy your chocolate cravings and in a great way that you can feel good about! This bar has dark chocolate and cocoa powder in it for maximum flavor.

Check out these nutrition facts… VITAMINS AND MINERALS GALORE! This particular flavor also has a large amount of dietary fiber… 8 grams! WOWZA! This will really keep your regular if you know what I mean. I am very impressed with these number of the nutrition facts label.

Redd Bar - Chocolate Flavor — Chocolate Flavor

Salted Caramel Redd Bar

This flavor right over here was the first bar that I gave a whirl and boy was I ever impressed with the bold flavor of this particular flavor. This Salted Caramel bar is hands down my favorite. If you love caramel you will be delighted by this flavor.

Peanut Butter Redd Bar

Ahhh yes! Peanut butter!! I am a huge fan of peanut butter and this flavor did not disappoint. The main ingredient in this bar is peanuts. It also has a super grain blend with oats and quinoa.

Peanut Butter Flavor - Redd Bar — Peanut Butter Flavor

Mint Chocolate Redd Bar

Mint combined with chocolate is a classic flavor that will never go out of style. This bar has a refreshing, bold taste of mint. It is just the right amount too!

Mint Chocolate Flavor - Redd Bar — Mint Chocolate Flavor

Oatmeal Redd Bar

This oatmeal flavored bar was a terrific flavor. The main ingredients in this oatmeal bar are cashews, oats, and agave syrup. Never fear! The oats are gluten-free!

Oatmeal Flavor - Redd Bar — Oatmeal Flavor

SHOP REDD BAR

Amazon

Feeling indecisive and don’t want to commit to just one flavor of Redd Bar? Pick up a variety pack of their five flavors on Amazon.

Amazon currently has a $4.00 off clippable coupon for a variety pack of Redd Bars. Don’t miss out on that special offer. Pick up your variety pack on Amazon today!

Redd Bar online store

Price per bar is $2.99 at their online store. You can also subscribe to Redd Bar and save 10%. Redd Bar also allows you to create and build your own variety pack.

Final Thoughts

Redd Bar is going to now be a regular part of my healthy snack stash. I am overall very, very pleased with the taste, texture, everything about these gluten-free, vegan bars. The ingredients inside these bars give me both a boost in vitamins and a boost in energy to combat afternoon fatigue. When I eat one of these bars I feel great about the snack choice that I made. I am really happy I found myself a great snack bar that is only made with all-natural ingredients. I also love that these bars have a great amount of fiber in them. Helps keep things going smoothly.

I hope you enjoyed this Redd Bar review on my blog and hopefully I inspired you to give a variety pack a try!

Question Time!

What flavor of Redd Bar’s energy bars will you be reaching for first? Leave me a comment and let me know.

Want to find out more about Redd Bar? Find them here:

January 13, 2019 8

Fresh Sushi At Kroger – Tried It Out Tuesday

Fresh sushi at Kroger? Sure is and I got brave and ventured over to Kroger on Friday to try out some of that beautiful, fresh sushi. I don’t consider myself a sushi snob but I do prefer my sushi to be as fresh as possible. At the present time, my favorite place to grab some fresh sushi is at the Inyo Restaurant in Ferndale, MI. Their sushi is top-notch, creative, and beautifully plated. To save some money and some time, I gave the fresh sushi at Kroger a whirl and it did not disappoint. For the record, the Kroger that I visited is located in Roseville, MI in the 13 Mile Rd & Little Mack location. This store is fairly new and it is my go-to place each and every week. Keep reading my Kroger sushi review to find out more!

My Kroger Sushi Review

Pretty huge selection of fresh sushi at Kroger

As you can see in the photos below, Kroger has a nice selection of fresh sushi available. Their sushi is made fresh each morning and often times you will see someone working at the station and creating more. If there is a sushi chef at the station you can even request a fresh roll of sushi or customize it to your liking.

Presentation

The sushi is presented beautifully. I was in awe of all of the beautiful colors from the sushi. Looking at stuff like this dazzles my eyes and makes my tummy growl a bit. All of the sushi looked super fresh and nothing there turned me off. I wanted to give it all a whirl. You can tell that they pour their heart and soul into this sushi. Sushi is an art form and a craft. Their rolls were impressive considering it is at a grocery store.

Different types of fresh sushi at Kroger

Kroger offers a wide variety of sushi including both cooked sushi and raw sushi. For those that fear eating raw sushi, Kroger has your back with plenty of non-raw choices.

I was even amazed to see that Kroger had a sushi burrito available for $10. I am definitely going to give that a try someday and that will be a first for me because I have never tried a sushi burrito. There was also a poke bowl available. That is another dish that I plan on trying out in the near future.

Pricing of the fresh sushi at Kroger

I feel that the prices of this grocery store sushi is also pretty reasonable. For basic rolls like a California Roll you can get quite a bit of sushi for around $6.00. The fancier rolls are higher in price but the taste justifies it.

Variety Pack #3

I ended up purchasing a variety pack of fresh sushi at Kroger. This variety pack had three different rolls:

Crunch Roll – Krab salad, cucumber, avocado, sushi sauce, spicy mayo, and crunchy fried onion.
NY Crunch – This roll has a krab salad mixture in it with sliced avocado, cucumber, avocado, sushi sauce, spicy mayo, and crunchy fried onion.
Shaggy Dog -Krab, avocado, fried shrimp, sushi sauce, and topped with spicy mayo.

These three rolls were perfect for my husband and I because we love spicy sushi. These rolls fit nicely together in the variety pack due to their similarities in ingredients. The spicy sauce on this fresh sushi was a tad bit on the spicy side and definitely wasn’t overpowering… it was perfect. I don’t know about you but I love quite a bit of ginger to go with my sushi. Ginger was provided but it would have been nice to have just a bit more included. The amount of wasabi in this variety roll package was adequate. Just a dab of wasabi is all that you need because wasabi sure does go a long way!

A variety of fresh sushi that I brought home from Kroger

Close-up of my sushi from Kroger. Looks pretty good huh?!

Final thoughts

In the end, I was very impressed with the taste and the quality of my sushi at Kroger! Wow! Who knew that grocery store sushi could be so good? It is not the greatest but it will do when you have that sushi craving that you have to satisfy. The convenience of being able to run into Kroger and grab some fresh sushi in a pinch is awesome! The variety packs are the way to go if you want to experience some different rolls. The variety pack that I purchased was put together well and these rolls went wonderful together.

Also, I am quite sure that you can make a custom roll just by requesting one if there is a worker at that station. Word of mouth told me that so I am not 100% sure because I never tried, but I will in the future and see what happens.

I love the convenience of the Kroger sushi and whenever I have that sushi craving I can satisfy that craving by going to my local Kroger store!

Have you ever tried grocery store sushi? What are your thoughts on it? Leave me a comment and let me know.

October 30, 2018 3

Cheeseburger Casserole From SkinnyTaste – Tried It Out Tuesday

I recently came across a Cheeseburger Casserole recipe from SkinnyTaste and I was intrigued so by it, I just had to give it a whirl! I would have never even thought of enjoying a cheeseburger in casserole form until I saw this brilliant recipe of hers. My family really enjoys their cheeseburgers and we love our pasta too so this seemed like a winner winner cheeseburger dinner!

If you are not familiar with SkinnyTaste be sure to check out her website for some brilliant recipes that will help keep you on track with a healthy lifestyle. I made a gluten-free version of her Cheeseburger Casserole and my family enjoyed this recipe. I will be whipping up this dish again in the near future. Keep reading to hear more about this unique casserole dish.

Cheeseburger Casserole is a simple & easy recipe

What I really loved about this recipe from SkinnyTaste was the simplicity of creating it. The recipe was easy to follow and the ingredients were very simple to prepare. I started out by boiling the pasta and browning the beef. There was very little prep involved. I used two shallots in this recipe and had to slice those, easy peasy! The recipe calls for garlic as well and I just use my trusty Spice World squeeze bottle. I love simple recipes… who doesn’t?? They are wonderful on busy weeknights or when you are feeling too lazy to cook.

**Ingredients I used for the SkinnyTaste Cheeseburger Casserole**

Gotta have my grass-fed beef in my Cheeseburer Casserole!

I recently made the switch to grass-fed beef. Grass-fed beef is not only more beneficial to your health but I believe it tastes better than regular beef. The grass-fed beef that I purchase at Kroger is also organic. That means that the cows graze on pesticide-free grass. Grass-fed cows also mean that the meat is free from added hormones that are typically given to cows. Sometimes I think of my body as an automobile. Your body needs good to fuel to run. You don’t want to put crappy fuel into your car so why would you want to put bad fuel into your body? Grass-fed beef costs a bit more than regular beef but I believe that the added benefits are worth the extra cost.

A few modifications to the Cheeseburger Casserole recipe

I made a few modifications to her recipe for my family. Instead of using an onion I used two sliced shallots. I discovered shallots earlier this year and prefer their taste and often swap onions for shallots now. I also incorporated some onion powder to the meat while browning it. I love the added flavor that onion powder lends to ground beef. Also, instead of using Dijon mustard I went with my favorite mustard by Boar’s Head. The mustard is a Delicatessen style and it gave the dish a wonderful flavor.

**Grass-fed beef, tomatoes, shallots, and minced garlic**

Gluten-free eating

Another swap that I did with this dish was that I used gluten-free noodles. I use Kroger’s ClickList and wanted some rotini pasta but they were out of stock and they gave me penne pasta instead. That was fine with me but I do think that rotini would have been best. I used Ronzoni brand and I believe that they do make a very tasty gluten-free noodle. I don’t think they taste much different than regular pasta. This dish would have been great with Banza’s chickpea pasta as well. They are another one of my go-to brands for gluten-free pasta.

Getting cheesy

A great cheeseburger has to have great cheese. I love Tillamook’s shredded cheese and I ended up pouring the entire bag of cheese all over this Cheeseburger Casserole. The recipe calls for 2 cups of cheddar and the one bag of cheese was equivalent to two cups. I used a sharp cheddar and this was a great choice for the casserole. Tillamook creates some damn good cheese. It is my go-to brand for shredded cheese. I also use their mozzarella on my homemade pizzas. They take great pride in creating their cheese and I can always rely on Tillamook to deliver a quality product.

SkinnyTaste Cheeseburger Casserole before going in the oven

Pickles on a casserole?

Who would have thought that pickles would be an acceptable topping on a casserole dish? I’m telling you guys, this works and the pickles actually turned out to be my favorite part! Any type of pickles will work well with this casserole. I ended up going with bread and butter pickles. Dill pickles would we splendid on this as well!

Giving it a whirl

I was so excited when my oven beeped and my casserole was ready to dig into. Check out that ooey, gooey melted cheddar, OMG! I love anything with melted cheese on it and this recipe did not disappoint. When the casserole came out of the oven I topped it with some bread and butter pickles. This dish was love at first bite. The cheeseburger really translated well into a casserole dish. I was amazed! This is a dish that I would gladly make for my family again since we all enjoyed it.

Kid-friendly meal

My daughter, Chloe, really enjoyed this recipe and she really got a kick out of those pickles that we topped the casserole with. Pickles are an ingredient that you wouldn’t normally use in a typical casserole. For us, the pickles were actually our favorite part of this dish! The more the merrier! The next time I whip up this recipe I will definitely be adding an abundance of pickles on top!

Who is SkinnyTaste?

SkinnyTaste was created by Gina Homolka. She is an author, recipe creator, and a photographer. She is a pro when it comes to the recipe world. SkinnyTaste began in 2008 and now has 3 million monthly viewers on her website… can you say goals?? I would love to someday achieve greatness like her. Her philosophy of eating is to eat seasonal, whole foods and to maintain portion control while eating. Her website has a wide variety of recipes for several different diets. I am sharing this with you today because her recipes are top-notch. Yes, I am a food blogger and yes she is a food blogger. I don’t see her as competition. When I fall in love with something I feel the need to share it with the world. I am sharing her recipe website because I believe in her philosophy and I like to encourage people to eat the right way.

Does this look like a recipe that your family would enjoy? What other SkinnyTaste meals sound great to you? Leave me a comment and fill me in!

You can see all of the recipes at SkinnyTaste on her website. The Cheeseburger Casserole recipe can be found HERE.

October 23, 2018 0

Surround Yourself With Squash & Gourds- Tried It Out Tuesday (Dumpling & Buttercup Squash)

Have you ever gone on a squash adventure? No? Neither have I until this past weekend when I went to Nino Salvaggio International Marketplace in St. Clair Shores, MI looking for something interesting to try this week for Tried It Out Tuesday. We ended up taking home four different types of squash. In this post I will be discussing the dumpling squash and the buttercup squash that we tried.

I have written about this place before and I love going here on a fun little foodie adventure when I have a small wad of cash to blow. Some girls spend their dollars getting hair & nails done or buying trendy new clothes. Not me, not this girl right here! My family enjoys being adventurous eaters so when we have a little extra cash we like to treat ourselves to something delicious and tasty.

There is a whole world of squash out there in the universe just waiting to be discovered by you!

When you eat with an open mind you allow yourself the chance to experience new foods, new flavors. I went to Nino’s with no clear plan. I just wanted to go in there and walk out with something that I have never tried and experienced.

A little bit about Nino Salvaggio’s

Giant pumpkin at Nino Salvaggio International Marketplace

Indian corn at Nino Salvaggio International Marketplace

Nino Salvaggio’s is a great local place that is chockful of interesting fruits and vegetables right at your fingertips. They currently have 3 locations with another added location in the works. I live closest to the smaller, St Clair Shores location, and believe it or not I have been going to this little store my whole entire life. On weekends I remember my mom taking us out to fruit markets to stock up on produce. We would go to Randazzo’s on Gratiot in Roseville and we would go to Nino’s in St Clair Shores. Honestly, I absolutely hated going to these stores when I was growing up. I thought it was boring and I would get a bit antsy and impatient and want to leave.

Look at me now! I am all grown up and going shopping for food is always the highlight of my days and I look forward to it. I just can’t seem to get enough of it.

Nino’s is bustling with people on the weekend and for good reason! They have the most beautiful displays of fresh produce that I have ever witnessed. They are super picky about what gets put out on the display for purchase, and they only put out the best of the best.

I will be writing frequently about my shopping experiences there. Other than Eastern Market, this is my go-to place for interesting eats. If you live in the area of Nino Salvaggio’s I highly recommend taking a little trip there to see what you can stock up on. There is always something new and interesting there to feed the senses.

My little haul of unusual squash

Squash that I bought at Nino Salvaggio's — Squash that I purchased at Nino Salvaggio’s: Dumpling Squash, Buttercup, Hubbard, and Sweet Potato Squash

I am a huge fan of summertime in Michigan. I pretty love and cherish most things about summer here, minus the god-awful humidity. I do enjoy a good barbeque feast on the weekends and I do love the food during the summer BUT my favorite foods are all autumn related. I love a good, filling bowl of soup on a cold day. I love a thick & hearty stew. I enjoy eating pumpkin flavored desserts. Just last year I recently discovered that I am also a huge fan of squash. The first squash I fell in love with last year was the butternut squash. I pureed it and made some paleo soup with it and topped it with a coconut milk drizzle. And then next up I ventured into trying out acorn squash. I remember serving it as a side dish with a maple syrup drizzle on it.

So this year I was up for the challenge of taking home some new-to-me squash. Nino Salvaggio’s had a grand display of squash, pumpkins, and gourds out in the front of the store. I grabbed a shopping cart and starting asking Google a bunch of questions on my phone about these squash I was about to purchase. I filled up my cart with four varieties: dumpling squash, buttercup squash, sweet potato squash, and an orange hubbard squash. I had a general idea on what I was going to do with them. Maple syrup always goes well with roasted squash so I got myself a bottle of pure Michigan maple syrup.

I did not even step foot into the store and I already had my mind made up on what I was going to take home… SQUASH and lots of it!

My daughter, Chloe, was scoping out the heirloom pumpkins and observing them in amazement. She fell in love with a tall white pumpkin that you can see in the photo below.

I also had to rummage through the basket of decorative gourds and bring home a few of them. We enjoyed looking at how unique each and every one of them was.

My daughter, Chloe, checking out the heirloom pumpkins at Nino Salvaggio’s

Dumpling Squash at Nino Salvaggio's International Marketplace — Dumpling Squash at Nino Salvaggio’s International Marketplace

Buttercup Squash at Nino Salvaggio's International Marketplace — Buttercup Squash at Nino Salvaggio’s International Marketplace

Continue reading “Surround Yourself With Squash & Gourds- Tried It Out Tuesday (Dumpling & Buttercup Squash)” →

October 2, 2018 3

Healthy Hot List – Must-Have Health Food Products For Your Lifestyle (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Vegan, Paleo, Whole 30, or Keto)

Healthy Hot List - Must-Have Healthy Food Products For Your Lifestyle (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free, Vegan, Paleo, Whole 30, or Keto)

I would like to start up a new regular feature on the blog featuring items that I have used and fallen in love with. I will be calling this the Healthy Hot List. These are all health food items that I have given a whirl and want to spread the word about so this fits in perfectly with my Tried It Out Tuesday weekly feature. These are healthy foods that can fit into your routine.

Many of these health food items fall within the realms of several different diets: gluten-free, dairy-free, paleo, Whole 30, keto, and vegan.

Whenever I try out a new product and I become a fan I do my best to promote these items and spread the word about them. I would love my good words for these brands to travel far and wide because they earned it with their quality health food products. Hope you enjoy this list and let me know if you have tried anything on this list.

Healthy Hot List – Health Foods Your Pantry Needs

Caulipower Variety Pack – Cauliflower Crust Frozen Pizza – Gluten-Free

I recently blogged about this Caulipower pizza. I tried the veggie one out and doctored it up a bit. I was really impressed with the quality of this frozen cauliflower crust pizza. This is a low carb pizza alternative and features a gluten-free crust. The cauliflower crust mimics a regular crust quite well considering the fact that it is all veggie!

Primal Kitchen Avocado Oil Mayo

This Primal Kitchen Avocado Oil mayonnaise is a must-have in your fridge. It is paleo-friendly and Whole 30 compliant. It is also egg-free and dairy free. I have made tuna salad, potato salad, and macaroni salad with this mayo and the flavor of it was impressive.

Check out my: Primal Kitchen Lemon Turmeric Chicken

Terrasoul Superfoods Cacao Nibs

Did you know that chocolate in its purest form is actually quite healthy and good for your body? These raw cacao nibs from Terrasoul Superfoods are an antioxidant powerhouse. Cacao nibs are also vegan-friendly. I enjoy eating these on top of my smoothie bowls or incorporating them into my nice-creams.

Mamma Chia – Chia Squeeze – Variety Pack of 4 flavors

I consider myself a big fan of Mamma Chia. I often purchase their chia drinks and chia seeds. The squeeze pouches are an awesome on-the-go snack. These pouches come in at 70 calories and contain 1200-milligrams of Omega-3. These squeeze pouches are also a great source of protein, antioxidants, and fiber.

Enjoy Life Foods Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips – Package of 6

Here is another brand that I am a huge fan of- Enjoy Life Foods. At the moment these are my favorite chocolate chips. They are a trusted brand for me and the only brand I purchase my chocolate chips from. I usually use the dark chocolate chips. They are free from common food allergens. If you are looking for a dairy-free, vegan option for chocolate chips this is the brand I recommend going with.

**Find out how I used Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips in THIS RECIPE!**

4th & Heart Grass-Fed Ghee Butter – Variety Pack

A lot of talk about ghee these days! Ghee is a clarified butter with all milk solids removed. It is a dairy-free option to butter and this can replace your current butter or cooking oil with a 1:1 ratio. I use 4th & Heart ghee for my cooking and my baking. The smell of a ribeye steak cooking in some ghee is divine. I will never turn my back and go to regular butter again. Ghee not only tastes better but it also has some health benefits as opposed to butter. This variety pack includes regular ghee and a vanilla ghee, which would be great for your next baking project!

Banza Chickpea Pasta Variety Pack of 6

If you are looking for a lower carb pasta that is gluten-free and high in protein look no further than Banza! I have been using Banza quite often in my pasta dishes and it is one of my favorite pasta that is gluten-free. You can check out the macaroni salad that I made with Banza HERE. I whipped that up for family and even though it was gluten-free the pasta salad was a smashing success. Pro tip: undercook your pasta just a tiny bit. I always do a minute or 2 less than the suggested time on the box. I also give my pasta a rinse before serving.

Nut Cravings Raw & Unsalted Cashews

If you are interested in making a vegan and paleo cheesecake raw cashews are a must! Nut Cravings has pretty reasonable prices. Raw cashews can be quite pricey! When the raw cashews (soaked overnight) are mixed with a bit of coconut milk and lemon juice you end up with a faux cheesecake filling. I honestly prefer my raw paleo cheesecakes over traditional nowadays.

Thai Kitchen Coconut Cream

Coconut cream is essential for paleo or vegan baking. If you are in need of a dairy-free whipped cream the best way to go is to use Thai Kitchen coconut cream. You simply refrigerate the can overnight and then scoop the solids out of the can (no water) and then use your whisk attachment on your stand mixer.

Kiss My Keto Chocolate

Sugar-free, low-carb chocolate bars? Can I get a hell yeah! Check out this variety pack of chocolate bars from Kiss My Keto and let me know which flavor you will try out first!

What health food items have you tried from this Healthy Hot List and what are your thoughts? Leave me a comment and let me know.

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September 25, 2018 1

I have been trying to lose my halo halo virginity for well over a year now. A freaking year! I discovered this crazy cool concoction on Instagram one day and ever since I have been dreaming of the day that I would get a chance to give this a whirl. My day finally came at Tou & Mai in the Midtown section of Detroit, MI yesterday. This Tou & Mai review will cover my first time experiences at this neat little place that is nestled down in the Midtown area of Detroit.

I was going to share this post for my Tried It Out Tuesday feature but I am really eager to share the details with you and since it is Sunday, maybe you can head on over there today to give this extraordinary and unparalleled dessert a try! There truly is no other dessert on this planet like it.

Tou & Mai is a quaint and curious place! There is so much to see and take in, in such a small space. The first thing you see when walking in is the big white menu. I analyzed the menu online before visiting so I already knew what my strategy was when it came down to deciding and ordering. I started off with a passion fruit boba tea and of course I had to get myself the Hello Hello (their version of halo halo). Click HERE to get a better look at the menu.

Hello Hello (Halo Halo) at Tou & Mai in Detroit, MI

I planned on getting the Hello Hello most definitely and I wanted to try out the Tricolour Tapioca but bummer… they were temporarily out of that dessert. That one sounded so fascinating to me and it will be next up on my list of to-try items at Tou & Mai. Here is a description of the tapioca dessert.

TRiCOLOUR TAPIOCA
popular & colourful southeast asian dessert
made with pandan flavored tapioca strings,
miniature tapioca pearls, ruby chestnuts and
creamy coconut milk

Source

Since I could not try out the tapioca I figured I should go ahead and satisfy my boba addiction with a Sweet Tea Boba. I went with the passion fruit flavor. The passion fruit boba was the perfect amount of sweetness and the mango star jellies were a big bonus to go with the exotic flavor of passion fruit. If you have never tried passion fruit the way it can be best described in my terms is a sweet and sour exotic fruit. It has the perfect balance of both. It currently has earned the top spot on my list of favorite fruits, for the moment anyway!

Passion Fruit Sweet Tea Boba at Tou & Mai — Passion Fruit Sweet with Mango Star Jellies at Tea Boba at Tou & Mai

Other flavors available at Tou & Mai were:

ORIGINO JASMINE
SUMMER LITCHI
PASSION FRUIT
TROPICO MANGO
STRAWBERRY
CUCUMBER
PEACH SEASON

If you like your boba milky you are in luck because Tou & Mai also offers Sweet Boba Milk Tea in a variety of fun flavors.

CLASSICO BLACK
TARO ROOT
HONEY DEW
MANGO
MATCHA LATTE
COCONUT
BANANA
ALMOND

And if slushies are your thing they have those available as well! Here is a list of the flavors available for slushies.

SWEET MANGO
RED ADZUKI BEAN
JACK FRUIT
DURIAN
TROPIC TARO
AVOCADO

I really need to go back to this place to explore the menu more just look at these options below for new garnishes available. FLAN! ZOMG!

What the heck is halo halo?

Halo halo is a famous dessert in the Philippines. To create it they use a purple ice-cream that is derived from a purple yam, otherwise known as ube. It also has a scoop of mango ice cream, coco de nata, aiyu jellie, basil seeds, red adzuki bean, sala cider, coconut milk, condensed milk, wafer roll, and toasted candied coconut. Wowza! That sure is a lot to take in and process right? Google might just have to be my friend here to tell me what exactly it was that I ate! Let’s explore this a little bit more!

This was my first time trying ube and when you put that together with all of these other unique ingredients you get one hell of a memorable dessert!

Having actual beans in my dessert was also another first for me. They include red adzuki beans in this dessert. Odd huh? These are sweet red beans and they are a magnificent source of protein! A one cup serving of these beans is a whopping 39 grams of protein. I would say they use about a quarter cup in their Hello Hello. I enjoyed these beans immensely!

For the next ingredient Wikipedia sure came in handy so I included that information as a quote directly from he source.

Nata de coco is a chewy, translucent, jelly-like food produced by the fermentation of coconut water, which gels through the production of microbial cellulose by Acetobacter xylinum. (source: Wikipedia)

This is really a complex dessert! I really had to use Wikipedia for the aiyu jellie as well since I am not familiar with it whatsoever.

Aiyu jelly, known in Taiwanese Hokkien as ogio, and as ice jelly in Singapore, is a jelly made from the gel from the seeds of the awkeotsang creeping fig found in Taiwan and East Asian countries of the same climates and latitudes. Wikipedia

Basil seeds! I did a little research and discovered that these seeds are void of calories but rich in antioxidants. They are also great for your skin and beneficial for a diabetic.

The sala cider is a fruity ingredient but I could not gather much information on that. If anyone has knowledge of this ingredient, feel free to leave me a comment and fill me in.

The Hello Hello here also used coconut milk and condensed milk. The dessert is topped with candied coconut which is sure to satisfy your sweet tooth and it also has a beautiful orange glow to it.

And let’s not forget those two wafer sticks that really stand out and scream halo halo! No halo halo frozen treat is complete without those wafers. There were two in the dessert and the three of us sharing. Joe, my husband, got left out.

Hello Hello (Halo Halo) at Tou & Mai in Detroit, MI

More than just a place to grab dessert!

Need to do a little bit of Asian grocery shopping? You can certainly load up here at Tou & Mai. They packed in a lot of Asian goodies in this small space. My 8-year-old daughter had fun looking at all of the colorful and peculiar packaging. Anyone want to send a crisp new $100 bill my way because I sure would have a ton of fun blowing a big wad of money in this place.

Tou & Mai in Detroit, MI

Asian snacks at Tou & Mai in Detroit, MI — Tou & Mai in Detroit, MI

Chloe sipping on a Passionfruit Sweet Tea Boba at Tou & Mai in Detroit - GIVE IT A WHIRL GIRL — Chloe sipping on a Passionfruit Sweet Tea Boba at Tou & Mai in Detroit Actually stealing MY drink lol!

Oh and macarons!

They also have various flavors of fresh macarons available at $2.49 each. I have no doubt they are delicious but honestly I felt as though the price was somewhat steep for one macaron so I passed. Bummer! The flavors did sound intriguing.

Macarons at Tou & Mai - GIVE IT A WHIRL GIRL — Macarons at Tou & Mai

I scream for ice-cream!

Tou & Mai also has a small selection of ice-creams available for $3.29 a scoop. That price seems reasonable to me. If you are not going to go with their Hello Hello dessert at least treat yourself to some of that delish purple ube ice-cream. You won’t regret it! Then you can boast to your friends that you tried a purple yam ice-cream! Wink!

Hot drinks

The air is getting quite crisp and nippy so if you are not into cold treats on cold days they have some hot beverage options. The tea flavors are unusual and impressive. I am definitely going to stop in here on a chilly day and give one of those teas a whirl! I am all about trying new things and I love the tea flavors they offer. The only problem? Deciding on one flavor because they all sound interesting.

Want to learn more about Tou & Mai?

Check them out on their website
Take a look at their Facebook page
Sneak a peek on their Twitter page
Drool over their gorgeous Instagram page

Question Time!

So are you going to hop in the car and make a trip down to Tou & Mai today? I hope that my Tou & Mai review will inspire you to visit this unique place!

Tou & Mai Location

4240 CASS AVE – SUITE 102

DETROIT, MICHIGAN 48201

Tou & Mai Hours

MON-SAT 11:00am – 9:00pm

Sun 4:00p – 9:00pm

September 9, 2018 7

Firehouse Subs REVIEW – Picnic In The Park At Fort Fraser in Fraser, MI – Tried It Out Tuesday

Yesterday was Labor Day and my husband had the day off and he came up with the most wonderful idea to have a picnic in the park AND to visit a new park that was close by to us. Fraser is relatively close and he discovered a park called Fort Fraser there. We ended up dodging some thunderstorms that seemed as though they were heading our way. We heard lots of thunder in the distance. We really lucked out! We stopped off at Firehouse Subs in Roseville, MI to get our food for the picnic and we brought along a cooler to keep it cold on the way there. Unfortunately, they do not offer any gluten-free options for bread so I had to go with a salad. The salad ended up being a great choice though and I am actually so glad I got that. It was so delicious that I did not even miss the bread! Here is a little bit of a review of my experience with Firehouse Subs.

Firehouse Subs menu board in Roseville, MI

I ordered the Italian With Grilled Chicken Salad and added on some cherry peppers and black olives (free of charge). There were a lot of extra toppings you could choose from that did not cost any additional money, which I thought was wonderful! You can see the photo on their website. I just kept on eating and eating this salad. It was huge and seemed neverending but in the greatest way. I most definitely feel that I got what I paid for with my $8. This salad was chockful of meat and veggies. No sad salad to see here folks!

This was one of those rare occasions when your salad actually turns out looking better than the advertised photo!

Give It A Whirl Girl and the Pearl Girl at Firehouse Subs in Roseville, MI

Joe at Firehouse Subs in Roseville, MI

I have been to Firehouse Subs a couple times before (back when I was eating regular bread) and I always ordered the Engineer. That was a hot sub that had mushrooms on it and that sub never disappointed. The food here is always fresh, the establishment was squeaky clean when we came in, and the staff was helpful and friendly.

ITALIAN WITH GRILLED CHICKEN SALAD from Firehouse Subs with a couple extra toppings

Continue reading “Firehouse Subs REVIEW – Picnic In The Park At Fort Fraser in Fraser, MI – Tried It Out Tuesday” →

September 4, 2018 0

Pamela’s Sugar Cookie Mix (Gluten-Free) – Giant Cotton Candy Cast Iron Skillet Cookie – Tried It Out Tuesday

Pamela's Sugar Cookie Mix Review and Giant Cast Iron Cotton Candy Sugar Cookie by Give It A Whirl Girl

Welcome to this week’s installment of Tried It Out Tuesday. This week I will be discussing a fun dessert that I created using Pamela’s Products Gluten Free Sugar Cookie Mix. I created a giant sugar cookie using a cast iron pan and it is naturally colored and tastes just like cotton candy! This was my first time trying out Pamela’s Products Gluten Free Sugar Cookie Mix and if you have been following along you might have noticed that I am a big big fan of her other mixes. I love the ease of use and I also love the ways you can get creative with them and customize your recipe. Just use your imagination and the sky is the limit!

Cotton Candy Sugar Cookie Skillet w/ Pamela's Sugar Cookie Mix (Gluten-Free) GIVE IT A WHIRL GIRL — Cotton Candy Sugar Cookie Skillet w/ Pamela’s Sugar Cookie Mix

Pamela's Products Gluten Free Sugar Cookie Mix - GIVE IT A WHIRL GIRL — Pamela’s Products Gluten Free Sugar Cookie Mix

Give It A Whirl Girl with Pamela's Products Gluten Free Sugar Cookie Mix - GIVE IT A WHIRL GIRL - Kimmy Ripley — Pamela’s Products Gluten Free Sugar Cookie Mix

Pamela’s Sugar Cookie Mix Review

& How I Created A Cast Iron Cotton Candy Sugar Cookie

Cast iron is the way to go!

For this tasty adventure, I used my 10.25″ Lodge Cast Iron Pan. I think of cast iron pans as an essential tool in the kitchen and if you ever want to make yourself a giant skillet cookie, cast iron is the way to go! I preheated my oven to 350-degrees and sprayed my skillet with coconut oil.

Oil up that cookie

The back of the bag for the sugar cookies suggested using butter but I swapped that for coconut oil, thinking that was a healthier way to go. To start up this recipe I placed the coconut oil and one egg in my KitchenAid stand mixer. I whipped it up for a bit and also added a generous splash or Lorann’s Cotton Candy Flavoring Oil. It suggests using this oil to flavor hard candy but I have had much success using it as a baking element. I then slowly added in the dry mix.

Making a beautiful cast iron sugar cookie

Once the mix was about ready to go I gave it a squirt of red natural food colorings from Simple Truth (Kroger). The red color comes from beetroot. After the color was mixed in I took my ball of cookie dough and spread it out evenly into the cast iron pan. I made sure it was spread evenly and that it went all of the way to the edges. Then guess what? It was SPRINKLE TIME! I busted out my nonpareils and my bottle of Mr. Sprinkles and gave the cookie a heavenly shower of sweet sprinkle goodness!

No such thing as too many candy sprinkles!

I often wonder how many people get turned off by my usage of candy sprinkles (insert a nervous LOL here). I happen to love them and I feel that a little extra sugar isn’t going to kill me. You only have one life to live (YOLO) so if you want the sprinkles, don’t hold back! Give whatever it is a good dousing of them. I enjoy eating clean as much as possible but I’m not going to restrict myself constantly and tell myself I can not have this and I can not have that. I am not a militant clean eater by no means. Just wanted to clarify that. I think of myself as a free eater that has a lean towards health and wellness. Balance, people!

Cast-iron gluten-free cookie before baking - Pamela's Sugar Cookie - GIVE IT A WHIRL GIRL — Cast-iron gluten-free cookie before baking – Pamela’s Sugar Cookie

Baking the cast iron sugar cookie

Back to the process! I was not sure how long to bake this so I kept checking on it. I started off at 10 minutes and that was not enough. I checked again a couple minutes later, nope! I am going to say it probably took about 15 minutes for this to be completely baked.

Decorating the cast iron sugar cookie

I allowed the cookie to cool and then got to making some royal icing for it. I beat one egg white with my whisk attachment and added a little more cotton candy flavor to it… a very tiny bit! Once the egg got frothy from whisking I slowly added one cup of organic powdered sugar to it. I loaded up my Wilton Dessert Decorator with the icing and the smallest tip. This is a neat baking tool to have on-hand if you do not have piping bags. Just load it up and squirt!

Cotton Candy Sugar Cookie Skillet (gluten-free) GIVE IT A WHIRL GIRL — Cotton Candy Sugar Cookie Skillet (gluten-free)

I am so very pleased with every single mix of Pamela’s I have tried so far. You can see my previous posts about Pamela’s mixes here:

Marshmallow Cake

Cotton Candy Cake

Oatmeal Raisin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Marshmallow Brownie Skillet

Also, if you have been reading my previous posts or following me on social media I have been using the Lorann’s Cotton Candy Flavor Oil frequently. If you are a lover of cotton candy and enjoy baking I would like to say that you truly need that oil in your life. The flavor that it gives your baked goods is phenomenal!

I wish you could all eat a piece of this giant skillet sugar cookie that I created. It had a wonderful texture throughout it and the taste was spot on. When my husband approves of my gluten-free baking then I know it was a smashing success.

Have you ever created a giant cast iron skillet cookie? What did you create? Leave me a comment and let me know. I would love to hear all about it.

August 28, 2018 4

The Woohoo “I Made Marshmallows” Cake – Homemade Marshmallows Cake (Gluten-Free)

Woohoo I Made Marshmallows Cake By Give It A Whirl Girl Homemade Marshmallows Cake Gluten-Free

I got a new apron yesterday and I needed a reason to put it on and wear it. I couldn’t just walk around the house doing nothing with my apron on right?? So I decided to delve into a recipe for paleo (gluten-free) marshmallows. I was going to make a marshmallow cake and I was going to make it gluten-free. I have never in my life made marshmallows so this fit in nicely with my Tried It Out Tuesday theme. I am on a roll today because I already did a post for that earlier today. So I decided to make these marshmallows but could not stop there. I WANTED TO WEAR MY APRON LONGER! So then I went into the pantry and got out my cake mix and decided I would crank out a cake too. Great idea and a good way to kill the time.

How I Created Homemade Marshmallows The Paleo Way!

Since I had no idea where to start with these gluten-free marshmallows that I wanted to construct it was time to bust out my best friend Google. I often like to go with the first thing that pops up and that was a recipe from Our Paleo Life. Seemed simple enough and lucky me, I had all of the ingredients on hand. I did not have a candy thermometer though so I tried my best just to use a regular cooking thermometer.

Great Lakes Gelatin

For the recipe, I had Great Lakes Unflavored Beef Gelatin in my pantry. That is some great stuff! You can make your own healthy gummy candies with it and reap the benefits of gelatin. I also had some honey on-hand and that was another main ingredient. I was nervous while making this because of the lack of a proper thermometer so I just had to use my brain. I am happy to say that after these set for a few hours in the fridge they turned out great. Quite a bit different from a regular marshmallow but definitely edible and good in a weird sort of way. I didn’t use a knife to cut these out and make them square. Silly me just used the top of a water bottle to cut out a simple circle shape. And they turned out looking like banana slices. Ooopsy!

Paleo marshmallows ready for the fridge and before candy sprinkles

Pamela’s Gluten-Free Cake Mix

I have been using Pamela’s Vanilla Cake Mix (gluten-free) quite a bit lately and I love the finished product with this mix. I did end up using about an extra 1/4 cup of coconut oil to give it a nice boost in moistness. Worked like a charm!

How I Used Wilton’s Checkerboard Cake Kit and Lorann Oil

This time around I decided to use my Wilton Checkerboard Cake Pan Set. You are supposed to use at least 2 bags of mix if you want the finished product on the box but I only had 1 mix and there are only two of us here. I used two cake pans and got 2 short layers. For the two layers I did one with just nonpareils candy sprinkles and the other one I dyed pink with my Wilton Icing Colors. I also added some Marshmallow Flavor Oil from Lorann Oils to give it a marshmallow flavor.

Wilton Checkerboard Cake Pan Set

Lorann Oils Marshmallow

Cake batter divided evenly with pink and funfetti

I had a lot going on in the kitchen and I was having a blast! Seriously, who needs therapy when you have baking? Baking takes me to another place and makes me forget about all of my troubles. Baking totally washes everything away that is bad in my life. It is so therapeutic!

The Icing On The Cake!

Oh gosh! I almost forgot to talk about the Swiss meringue buttercream that I created. I usually just do a standard buttercream but this time I used 5 egg whites in there and whipped it up really good in my stand mixer. Not as runny as the last time I made buttercream but still a little on the drippy side. Boohoo! Well, I am learning. Everything conveyed here on this blog is all about my journey to become a better cook and a better baker! I went with the color purple for the icing since I already did a pink cake and a teal blue cake. The buttercream turned out so divine and I owe it all to the magic that is known as Chef Shamy. You seriously all need to try the Vanilla Bean Butter from Chef Shamy in your buttercream recipe. It is a bit pricey but so worth it if you are going for a heavenly taste in your next cake!

Are you all waiting to see the final product?

Gluten-Free Marshmallow Cake With Homemade Marshmallows

Overall, I am super satisfied with how this turned out! I am really nailing it on flavors! I need to work on my decorating technique big time. BIG TIME! I am bound and determined to get good at decorating my baked goods.

Have you ever made your own marshmallows? I found the whole process to be enjoyable and fun! Leave me a comment and let me know. I love to hear from my readers.

Take Flight And Start Your Day With A Healthy & Nutritious Thunderbird Bar – REVIEW -Tried It Out Tuesday

I am so happy to be an Ambassador to this great company Thunderbird Bars. Now is the time for me to spread the word about these amazing bars to my readers with this Thunderbird Bar review. I want to let you in on a little secret… these bars are amazeballs! The best thing about them is that they are all natural and made with REAL FOOD ingredients: fruits, nuts, seeds, and spices. If you are vegan, following a paleo diet, and are looking for a no-added-sugar treat, Thunderbird Bars are for you! You have to trust me on this, these bars are an excellent snack and they are especially great while on-the-go and the hunger hits you. I have been eating these for the past month now and I feel the need to spread the word about them.

Thunderbird Bar Pecans + Goji + Pistachio in Eastern Market, Detroit, MI

There are ten flavors available for Thunderbird Bars and every single one of them is delish!

No boring flavors over here! These bars are unlike every other bar I have experienced. As you may already know, I live for the thrill of trying new foods. These flavors do not disappoint one bit and they satisfy my hunger. Their flavor combinations are unique and each and every single one of them delivers a satisfying taste.

Want to know my favorite flavor of the ten that are available? I’m going to say it is the Pineapple + Mango + Papaya. I’m always a sucker for anything tropical and I love how all of these flavors blend together.

I have included an image of the bar in a photo below. It might look a bit on the small side but these bars are quite filling. This bar has seven simple ingredients noted on the label: prunes, buckwheat groats, papaya, raisins, mango, pineapple, and Hawaiian black lava salt. No BS here… just pure + simple real food ingredients.

This bar comes in at 145 calories, 30g of carbohydrates, 3g of fiber, and 22g of natural (no-added) sugar.

Thunderbird Bar also stays away from sweeteners. You will not find any real, artificial, honey, syrup, agave or any other variety of sweetener in their bars. There are not many bars that you can come across that promise that.

These bars will give you energy and endurance during your day derived purely from the real food ingredients. I love to start my day with a Thunderbird Bar. It gives me the fuel that I need to conquer the day.

Thunderbird Bar in Detroit, MI - Pineapple + Mango + Papaya — Thunderbird Bar in Detroit, MI – Cashew + Fig + Carrot

Thunderbird Bar Pineapple + Mango + Papaya

Thunderbird Bar Pineapple + Mango + Papaya Nutrition Facts

Thunderbird Bar in Detroit, MI - Cashew + Fig + Carrot — Thunderbird Bar in Detroit, MI – Cashew + Fig + Carrot

Thunderbird Bars - Pineapple + Mango + Papaya in Eastern Market, Detroit, MI — Thunderbird Bars – Pineapple + Mango + Papaya in Eastern Market, Detroit, MI

Thunderbird Bars - Cacao + Hemp + Walnut — Thunderbird Bars – Cacao + Hemp + Walnut in Eastern Market, Detroit, MI

Two of the Thunderbird Bars flavors available for children

Thunderbird Bars also encourages your little ones to eat healthy and they offer four flavors for kids, also known as Thunderkids.

Fruit Punch
Apple Pie
Peanut Butter & Jelly
Chocolate Chip Cookie

I love when a healthy brand of food makes kid-friendly products. I try my best to avoid giving my daughter junk. When I give her a Thunderbird Bar as a snack I feel good about it. Chloe also really does enjoy eating these. They are naturally sweet and satisfy a sweet tooth craving in a more healthy approach. These bars will be a great thing to pack for her daily snack during school when she goes back.

Thunderbird Bar Thunderkids – Chocolate Chip Cookie (image courtesy of thunderbirdbar.com)

Thunderbird Bar Thunderkids – Peanut Butter & Jelly (image courtesy of thunderbirdbar.com)

Want to learn more about Thunderbird Bars?

Check out their website
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Want to try a variety pack of Thunderbird Bars? Find them on Amazon:

Learn more about how I got inspired by the cacao in Thunderbird Bars and created a healthy smoothie bow. READ HERE.

Hope you enjoyed this Thunderbird Bar review! What Thunderbird Bar flavor interests you the most? Leave me a comment and let me know which one you will try out first!

Please join my Facebook Group Give It A Whirl Girl so you can participate in the weekly Tried It Out Tuesday challenge.

August 21, 2018 12

Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free Bread Mix – The Result? Smurf Bread! Tried It Out Tuesday

I am a big big fan of any of Bob’s Red Mill gluten-free products. My cupboards are stocked with several of their items. I just recently put some of the Bob’s Red Mill Wonderful Bread Mix on my Kroger Clicklist order and I am so pleased that I did. Check out that loaf of bread that I created! In all its purple glory… I call it Smurf Bread. This was a very unique loaf of bread that was bursting with blackberry and lemon flavor. What a fantastic combo! Read on to find out more about the process of baking this gluten-free loaf of bread.

Bob’s Red Mill Wonderful Bread Mix

I created this bread by preparing the mix according to the recipe but I had to do some sort of modification to make it my own. What I did was added a whole pint of organic blackberries to the mix. This made the dough a bluish-purple color. It’s more purple than blue (I know) but I’m just going to keep it as Smurf Bread. That sounds fun to me.

Me in the Give It A Whirl Girl Kitchen KIMMY RIPLEY — Me in the Give It A Whirl Girl Kitchen

I also added in a bit of some pure almond extract to the bread mix to give it a nice almond flavor. That stuff is potent and a little bit goes a long way so I only poured in a tiny bit.

I also zested up a lemon and I tossed in some lemon zest. That is another potent thing and a little bit goes a long way with that too. I put some lemon zest on top of the loaf as well for a little more zing and zang.

The main ingredients I used to make the gluten-free Smurf Bread

I brushed the top of my bread with a butter flavored coconut oil. It is Barlean’s Butter Flavored Coconut Oil and I’m going to tell you this… that stuff is magic! This coconut oil has a magnificent buttery taste. It is a bit on the pricey side but if you are looking to give your food a nice punch of buttery goodness flavoring this stuff is sure to please!

And to finish it off I added a few sliced blackberries to the top and some sliced almonds. I figured I might as well add them since I went with almond extract in the bread. Plus I think it makes the bread look a little more fancy schmancy!

This was like one giant science experiment to me in the kitchen. I’m pretty sure my kitchen is not even a kitchen anymore, just a science lab! (Insert the LOLs right here) I will come across a recipe and use it for inspiration but I just always gotta put my own spin on things. I’m not the type of person that will follow a recipe word for word. I am sharing with you how I took the traditional bread recipe and made it unique so you can DIY in your home kitchen. If you try it, you gotta let me know how you loved it!

This bread took a long time to bake compared to some paleo breads that I have made. This particular loaf took a little over an hour to puff up. I couldn’t resist a slice of this warm bread straight out of the oven. But I just had to add a sugary glaze to it. Why on Earth why? Simple answer… because I wanted to! To make the glaze you simply mix powdered sugar with a tiny bit of unsweetened almond milk until you get a nice, smooth consistency that you can drizzle onto the bread. I also used red and blue Simple Truth Natural Food Colors to make the purple glaze.

Smurf Bread (blackberry lemon) made with Bob's Red Mill Gluten-Free Homemade Wonderful Bread Mix topped with organic & naturally colored glaze — The Smurf Bread made with Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free Homemade Wonderful Bread Mix topped with organic & naturally colored glaze

So there you have it! There is my gorgeous loaf of purple bread that is completely infused with the taste of blackberries and lemon! This turned out much better than expected. I normally make paleo bead (this mix is not paleo) and my loaves usually do not puff up much. My bread often comes out dense and on the small side. This mix by Bob’s Red Mill contained a yeast packet so I am guessing that is what made my bread nice and fluffy.

Slice of Smurf Bread (blackberry lemon) made with Bob's Red Mill Gluten-Free Homemade Wonderful Bread Mix — Slice of Smurf Bread made with Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free Homemade Wonderful Bread Mix

This mix can either be made by hand or with a bread machine. I do not own a bread machine and I prefer the by hand method. I used my Kitchenaid Stand Mixer to do most of the kneading and work the prep to get this dough ready for the oven. This bread can be prepared traditionally and be used as a sandwich bread, dinner rolls, garlic bread, toast, etc. Just because I made this a fruity loaf that doesn’t mean that is what it has to be. There are recipes available on Bob’s Red Mill site that can give you some inspiration.

Will you be giving this Bob’s Red Mill Wonderful Bread Mix mix a whirl? What will you create with your mix? Leave me a comment and let me know. I would love to hear from my readers.

Want to give this bread mix a try? I have conveniently provided the shopping links below so you can grab a bag or four!

Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free Homemade Wonderful Bread Mix available on Amazon:

Find out more about Bob’s Red Mill

Disclaimer: THIS POST CONTAINS AMAZON AFFILIATE LINKS. I DO RECEIVE A SMALL COMMISSION IF ITEMS ARE PURCHASED THROUGH THESE LINKS. Proceeds from the Amazon Affiliate Program help make this blog a better blogging experience for my readers. This is a sponsored post and these items were sent to me in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

August 14, 2018 4

Primal Kitchen Collagen Fuel – Smoothie RECIPE – Tried It Tuesday

For the past couple of days I have been trying out this Primal Kitchen Vanilla Coconut Collagen Fuel. I am really loving this mix and it goes well stirred into coffee, mixed with unsweetened almond milk in a smoothie, or it makes one hell of an awesome smoothie bowl as I will explain below. The taste is incredible as well, which is sometimes hard to come across with a protein powder. Today I will be talking about Primal Kitchen Collagen Fuel and how versatile it is.

First off a little bit of info on Primal Kitchen’s Collagen Fuel. This product contains healthy fats from the coconut and it promotes healthy hair, skin, nails, joints, and also helps repair muscle. This Collagen Fuel is also packed with a whopping 10 grams of protein per 1 scoop serving. If Vanilla Coconut is not your jam they do offer the Primal Kitchen Collagen Fuel in a delicious chocolate flavor. Each tub of Primal Kitchen Collagen Fuel will give your 24 individual servings.

Primal Kitchen Collagen Fuel Smoothie Bowl

Many protein powders on the market contain whey. This mix does not contain any whey, soy, or dairy and it is perfect for those on a paleo diet. You know you are getting a quality product from Primal Kitchen because they only source ingredients from cows that are grass-fed.

The great thing about this Primal Kitchen Collagen Fuel for me is that it helps promote a healthy gut. It had prebiotic fibers in it. I have been doing more research on health and I am hearing more and more about how important our gut health is and that a gut that is off balance can through your whole system out of whack.

I hope you enjoy this delicious and nutritious smoothie bowl recipe that I came up with for you. This was perfect for a Tried It Tuesday post because not only is the Primal Kitchen Collagen Fuel new to me but so was the guava. This past weekend was the first time I ever brought home a guava fruit.

Primal Kitchen Collagen Fuel Bowl w/ Dragon Fruit and Guava

RECIPE (makes two servings)

Ingredients:

2 frozen bananas
1/2 of a dragon fruit (I used a golden pitaya in mine)
1 guava
1/3 cup full fat coconut milk
1 scoop Primal Kitchen Vanilla Coconut Collagen Fuel
Dragonfruit & kiwi fruit slices to top
Unsweetened coconut flakes to top

How Groupon Works

How to get your Groupon

Groupon coupon codes

How to redeem your Groupon for dining

Our first Groupon we spent was at Starbucks

You can sign up for Groupon and you might just get one of these invite-only Groupons for Starbucks!

You might like this Eclipse Burgers & Smoothies Groupon

Second Groupon we used was at Sagano Japanese Steakhouse

Read the fine print

What we ordered at Sagano

How we got the most out of our Sagano Groupon

The Sagano Groupon is PERFECT for HIBACHI!

You might enjoy this Le Crepe Groupon (Royal Oak)

And finally, for dessert, we used a Menchie’s Groupon

Read my Menchie’s Review on the blog!

Here are some more Menchie’s photos for your viewing pleasure from previous trips to this dessert destination!

Pro Tip For Groupon! That is IF you are in the Southeast Michigan area

Here are the 4 Groupons offered for Inyo in Ferndale

Get your Inyo Restaurant in Ferndale Groupon HERE

Final thoughts

Love saving money? Find out how you can earn cashback shopping with the simple-to-use IBOTTA app

Current Groupon Deals at time of publication

Question & Answer Time! Take a look around the Groupon site and tell me what Groupon dining deal you will be snatching up!

Other posts at Give It A Whirl Girl that you might enjoy!

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My Honest ButcherBox Review

How does ButcherBox work?

Choose your ButcherBox – Choose the Classic Box for small families and the Big Box for larger families.

Delivery to your doorstep – ButcherBox takes great care in their shipment.

Cook with confidence when you order from a trustworthy source!

Want to add some extras to your ButcherBox?

My first impressions of ButcherBox

What was inside my ButcherBox

Here is what I did with meat from my ButcherBox

ButcherBox Chuck Roast

ButcherBox Ribeye Steaks

Steak & eggs

Final thoughts on my first ButcherBox shipment

Ready to sign up and get your first ButcherBox?

Click HERE to see pricing available options for your ButcherBox, and to sign up for your first shipment of top quality meats!

Current offers at ButcherBox

Question Time! Which ButcherBox would you love to give a whirl first? Will you choose the all-beef box, beef & chicken, beef & pork, mixed box, or will you be going with a custom box? Leave me a comment and let me know how you like your steak cooked as well! Would love to hear your thoughts.

Want to learn more about ButcherBox?

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Here is a recipe post at Give It A Whirl Girl that you might enjoy!

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Tasty Ice Cream Review

The 4 Limited Edition Tasty Ice Cream Flavors

Vanilla Galaxy Twist

Peanut Butter S’mores Smash

Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Crunch

White Chocolate Raspberry Lava Cake

Tasty Ice Cream Nutrition Facts

Final thoughts on Tasty ice cream

Question Time!

What flavor of Tasty Ice Cream will you be indulging in on your next cheat day? Leave me a comment and let me know which Tasty Ice Cream pint you will reach for first!

More posts you might enjoy at Give It A Whirl Girl

Ready to give Tasty ice cream a whirl?

Find out more!

Shop on Amazon for ice cream products

or visit my Amazon store

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My Rocket Fizz Review

Just what is Rocket Fizz?

YOU MIGHT ENJOY

Lester’s Fixins Bizarre flavors of soda-pop at Rocket Fizz!

Just living for those Cheat Day thrills!

You also might enjoy these

Candy Galore!!

Rocket Fizz is more than just candy and soda pop!

Final thoughts

Question Time! After reading this Rocket Fizz review, do you feel that this is a place that you would love to visit with your family? What items would you take home to try out? Leave me a comment and let me know!

Do you want to find out more about Rocket Fizz??

Other posts on my blog that you might enjoy!

Question & Answer Time!
Take a look around the Groupon site and tell me what Groupon dining deal you will be snatching up!