Eastern Market Flower Day 2019 by Give It A Whirl Girl

This was my first time ever visiting Eastern Market during Flower Day weekend. My mom and my daughter, Chloe who is 9, headed down to the city around 11 am. When we arrived it was total chaos to find a parking spot but we eventually found one over by the Dequindre Cut (after driving around for 25 minutes lol). I am so glad we didn’t just give up and go home since it took so long to find a spot. I was determined to visit Eastern Market Flower Day this year since Eastern Market is now one of my favorite places to visit in the warmer months in Michigan. I get super duper excited whenever I know that I will be heading over there. I also absolutely LOVE the DeVries & Company 1887 shop that is in the heart of it all. It is chock full of unique food & drink items, as well as gifts. I have a ton of fun looking around there and always make sure I take home something special. For this trip, it was black SQUID INK PASTA!

What is Eastern Market

If you are not sure what Eastern Market is, it is a very large farmer’s market venue that also has some other vendors there selling miscellaneous things. Eastern Market is nestled in the heart of the city of Detroit and it is a must-see place to visit if you are near the city. Each weekend in the warmer spring and summer months, Eastern Market is open for shopping. It is quite the busy, bustling place and it is advised to arrive early to have the best pick of everything. Though, I do tend to go in the later part of the day, before they close, when the vendors start deeply discounting all of their goods.

This post about my visit to Eastern Market Flower Day is full of colorful photos for your viewing pleasure.

You can read more about my visit to Eastern Market from last summer in this post on the blog.

That post has more photos of the produce (there are a ton of fruits and vegetables here) available.

Eastern Market Flower Day Weekend 2019

One of many murals in the Eastern Market district of Detroit

My daughter Chloe checking out a dinosaur shrub - Eastern Market Flower Day 2019 — My daughter Chloe checking out a dinosaur shrub – Eastern Market Flower Day 2019

Eastern Market has several sheds filled with flowers, plants, and fresh fruits and vegetables!

Grab some fresh pierogi at Eastern Market! They must be great because the line was very long here!

Eastern Market also has several meat shops where you can find some unique meats! Rabbit!!!

Eastern Market has several people playing music and it creates an awesome atmosphere!

Free hugs and mouthgasms at this nut butter vendor's stand - Eastern Market — Free hugs and mouthgasms at this nut butter vendor’s stand – Eastern Market

Beer Bacon Salsa!! I gave it a whirl and it was pretty freaking fabulous! Eastern Market

Cannolis in many different flavors at Eastern Market

You can find many different types of homemade baked goods in the Eastern Market sheds. I bought two gigantic M&M and chocolate chip cookies!

And no Eastern Market visit is complete unless you visit DeVries & Company 1887!

DeVries & Company 1887 is a store that is a pure joy to visit when you are in the area of Eastern Market. This place is a go-to place for many cheese connoisseurs. This store is filled with some really interesting foods that you will not find on the shelf of your local grocery store. I ended up taking home some squid ink pasta, licorice candy, and some sour Michi-Gummies!

DeVries & Company 1887 on Flower Day Weekend 2019

I found a variety of Michi-Gummies at DeVries & Company 1887

I did it! I tried beer cheese at DeVries & Company 1887

Check out this green olive and cilantro salsa at DeVries & Company 1887

SWEET JESUS! Look what I found!
Some interesting finds at DeVries & Company 1887

The 2nd and 3rd level of DeVries & Company 1887 has some very unique gifts!

I really love this "All Things Michigan" find at DeVries & Company 1887 — I really love this “All Things Michigan” find at DeVries & Company 1887

It's Wine O'Clock Somewhere - DeVries & Company 1887 — It’s Wine O’Clock Somewhere

Final thoughts

I really hope that you enjoyed looking at all of my Eastern Market Flower Day photos. If you enjoyed this post there is still time to head on over to Eastern Market because TODAY (5/19/2019) is the actual Flower Day at Eastern Market. It will be busy. It will be totally packed. It is all worth it though. Each time I visit Eastern Market it is always a unique and memorable experience. My whole family enjoys coming down to the city to take how some interesting foods, to get some good deals on fruits and veggies, and last but not least… to see all of the sights! There is a lot to take in at Eastern Market.

Question Time!

Have you ever visited Eastern Market Flower Day? Tell me what you like to take home from Detroit’s Eastern Market!

Did you enjoy this Eastern Market Flower Day post on my blog? Sharing is caring! Feel free to share this post on social media.

Want to learn more about Eastern Market?

Eastern Market location

2934 Russell St (12.18 mi)
Detroit, Michigan 48207

Want to learn more about DeVries & Company 1887?

DeVries & Company 1887 location

2468 MARKET STREET, DETROIT, MI 48207, USA

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May 19, 2019 1

MengK 1500W High-Speed Professional Blender REVIEW & A Dragon Fruit Smoothie RECIPE

MENGK BLENDER REVIEW & A Dragon Fruit Smoothie RECIPE by GIVE IT A WHIRL GIRL

Today I would love to share my experience with you that I recently had with my new blender in this MengK blender review. This blender is quite simple to use and it is built like a professional blender. When I received my blender I was astonished by how professional the model looked and I was excited to give it a whirl with a dragon fruit smoothie bowl recipe. My hopes for this blender were that it would be capable of blending up frozen fruit because I am a huge smoothie fan and every blender I have ever owned prior was a big letdown to me. Keep reading this MengK blender review to find out how it performed in my test.

First impression of the MengK 1500W blender

Let’s kick off this MengK blender review with my first thoughts when I unboxed the blender. My first impression with this blender was the massive footprint it has on my countertop! This blender is a beast! Now, this can either be a positive or a negative for you. If you don’t have much storage space in your kitchen or home this blender might be an issue. This MengK blender couldn’t be any simpler to use either! If you look at the blender you will see one dial on the face of the blender and this determines the speed at which you will operate your blender. Big tasks call for dialing up on the knob for more power and speed.

Professional Blender MengK 2000W Peak Horsepower Electric High Speed Blender REVIEW — Professional Blender 1500W MengK 2000W Peak Horsepower Electric High-Speed Blender

AFFILIATE DISCLOSURE: This post contains affiliate links. I receive a commission from items purchased through these links with no extra cost to you.

What can the MengK blender do?

If you are in the market for a blender that is versatile, MengK has you covered with this blender! You can use it for smoothies, nice creams, soups, milkshakes, hummus, alcoholic beverages, homemade nut butter, baby foods, and more. This MengK blender features a very well-constructed 67oz professional blender jar. Please note that this blender jar is not a glass blending jar, it is made out of some very heavy duty, thick, plastic. The blending jar for the MengK blender is BPA-free.

MengK blender motor

The MengK blender has a whopping 2.6 HP-2000 watt motor, and this commercial blender can reach a rotational speed of up to 27,000 r/min. This powerful motor makes it possible to crush ice, fruits, and vegetables.

The controls on the MengK blender are simple

You might also enjoy this post: Mindblowing Smart Home Products For Your Kitchen

The MengK blades

This powerful blender features 6 stainless steel, sharp blades for maximum blending power. The MengK blender crushing blades make it possible and perfect for ice crushing, blending, pureeing, and controlled processing.

The 6 blades on the MengK blender are razor sharp

My experience with the MengK blender

The first experiment with this high-speed blender was to see how well it would process and blend frozen fruit. I placed two frozen bananas, a cup of frozen dragon fruit, and a bit of milk in the blending cup. I was really excited to try this out because I have not had much success with frozen fruit in any blender I have ever owned.

The capability of blending frozen fruit is top priority to me. I need a blender that can do this.

I turned the blender onto medium with the dial. I then turned it on. The blender was loud and I could tell it had a powerful motor. The blades efficiently chopped up my frozen fruit and blended it up with the almond milk. After a few short moments, I had a delicious smoothie bowl waiting for me.

I performed one other smoothie test with my MengK blender. For that test, I used a fresh banana, frozen dragon fruit, and frozen mango with a splash of some unsweetened nut milk. The blender performed wonderfully and as expected. In a very short time, without any hesitation, I had a delicious, tall smoothie waiting for me!

Overall, I am quite pleased with this MengK blender and I am excited to try more smoothie recipes with it.

The MengK blender is simple to clean

Cleaning the MengK blender is simple and easy to do! All you need to do is add a bit of soap and warm water to the blending cup. Turn the blender onto a mid-high speed and it 30-60 seconds the cup and blades will be clean. Rinse after cleaning and carefully dry.

Satisfaction guaranteed from MengK

If for any reason you are not satisfied with your MengK blender purchases, MengK offers a money back guarantee and a warranty on their product.

3-month warranty on commercial Cups and a 6-month warranty on household cups, unified TWO years warranty about this pedestal, and 30-day refund guarantee.

Dragon Fruit Smoothie Bowl

Take a trip to paradise with this dragon fruit smoothie bowl. You will feel like you are transported to a tropical place with this exotic fruit smoothie bowl recipe.

2 Bananas (Frozen and chopped)
1 cup Dragon Fruit chunks (Frozen of fresh)
1 Kiwi Fruit (Sliced)
1 Star Fruit (Sliced and seeds removed)
2/3 cup Unsweetened nut milk of choice

Place the frozen bananas, dragon fruit, and milk in the blender and process until smooth.
Pour the smoothie mixture into two bowls.
Top the smoothie with fresh sliced kiwi fruit and star fruit.
Serve, eat, and enjoy!

Dragon Fruit Smoothies created with the MengK Blender

Dragon Fruit Smoothie Bowls topped with kiwi fruit and star fruit

MengK 1400W Blender

If you want to get yourself a MengK blender that is a little more friendly on your budget there is a 1400W model on Amazon.

There is also a clippable coupon to save on this model!

MengK 1500W Blender

The blender that I reviewed is currently available on Amazon.

Final thoughts

The MengK blender is a lot of bang for your buck! For this price point, you are getting quite the powerful blender. I am hoping that this MengK blender will stand the test of time. I have a great feeling that it will be outperforming the last blender that I owned prior to this one. I took a chance with this off-brand name and I am very pleased with it.

It is not a Vitamix or a Blendtec but for the price you are paying for this one you are getting a powerhouse blender. If you are like me and dream of owning a fancy blender like a Vitamix, this blender makes a great clone of one and you will save yourself a ton of money going with the MengK.

The MengK blender makes a delicious smoothie in seconds!

Question Time! What will you be using the MengK blender for first? What will you create with this powerful blender?

Find out more about MengK and their other products

Website

Disclosure: I was sent this product in exchange for a review. All opinions stated here are my own.

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

Trip To Eastern Market & DeVries & Company 1887 – Detroit

Eastern Market & Devries & Co. 1887 - Our Visit To Detroit

If you are local to the Detroit area, chances are you have been to Eastern Market at least once in your life. If you are a foodie like me then chances are you have visited several times. Eastern Market is a bustling area of visitors looking for the best deals on fresh produce, other food items, and flowers. Through Groupon, we have also discovered a miraculous place nestled down there in all of the action, DeVries & Company 1887. We regularly purchase Groupons to get some good bargains there and we went equipped with one yesterday to stock up on some unique foods.

Each and every time you visit Eastern Market it is a different experience because there are different vendors.

Give It A Whirl Girl in Eastern Market with a rainbow rose

Rainbow roses at Eastern Market in Detroit, MI

Our trip to Eastern Market in Detroit and DeVries & Company 1887

My family of three really values these trips down to the city to explore all of the foods that Eastern Market has to offer. Yesterday it was just my husband and me on a little day-date while my daughter hung out with her friends. Our first stop was DeVries & Company 1887 and we got a wonderful haul there. Then we stopped into the sheds at Eastern Market with our canvas shopping bags and filled those bags up with a plethora of foods. When I come home from these trips I unload my bags and marvel in all of the glory of having these available in the Give It A Whirl Girl kitchen. My day is always made on these trips and I treasure them in my memory and mind.

There are beautiful murals all over the Eastern Market area

Eastern Market in Detroit, MI - The home of many food vendors selling produce, meat, cheese, plants, and flowers. — Eastern Market in Detroit, MI – The home of many food vendors selling produce, meat, cheese, plants, and flowers.

First stop – A visit to DeVries & Company 1887

DeVries & Company 1887 – Detroit, MI

Cheese and Meats at DeVries & Company 1887- What they are best known for

DeVries & Company is a large historic building with three levels of fun finds. Yesterday we only explored the lower level where a majority of the foods are kept. The other two levels are gift shops where you can obtain some neat things.

This place is well-known for their cheeses. We have bought some in the past from DeVries & Company 1887 and had a cheeseboard full of them at a Wine & Onesies party and the cheeses were a big hit. There are numerous to choose from here and if you like cheese there is a cheese for everyone that can be located here. Check out their Facebook page to see their cheese offerings which are regularly posted. They also have a variety of interesting meats to pair with your cheeses. You will have the best cheeseboard in town if you stop in here to stock up!

DeVries & Company 1887 cheese station

DeVries & Company 1887 meat station

DeVries & Company 1887 – Detroit, MI

Not just meats and cheese

DeVries & Company 1887 is more than just a meat and cheese shop. This place is like a little grocery store with gourmet foods and uncommon, specialty food products. Pro tip: grab a Groupon and save some money here. You can get a $50 voucher to shop with for around $20-$25 and get more bang for your buck here.

Balsamic vinegars & oils

If you recently stumbled upon my 100th post on the blog I discussed two different, unique balsamic vinegars used to create a chocolate-raspberry nice-cream. This is the place where you can pick up some bottles of those (there are several to choose from and they are all imported from Italy). There is also a wide variety of various oils by the same brand (Fanchone Gourmet) that you can sample here. You won’t leave empty-handed after trying these out. They all have interesting flavor profiles and they will help take your cooking to the next level. The Meyer Lemon oil was fascinating and I really should have bought that one because that would likely result in the greatest chicken piccata known to man!

Various oils to sample at DeVries & Company 1887 – Detroit, MI

Various balsamic vinegars to sample at DeVries & Company 1887 – Detroit, MI

A few items that I took home with me

I am a curious eater and I live for the adventure of trying new foods. You all know that. That’s why my blog is titled, “Give It A Whirl Girl”. In the photos below I am letting you see a sneak peek of a few things I took home with me. I am super duper pumped and excited to experience these foods.

Raspberry salsa

I have a major mad addiction to anything raspberry flavored and I couldn’t pass up this Traverse Bay Farms Raspberry Salsa. This was my first time seeing a raspberry salsa so I had to swoop this up! My husband also talked me into bringing home some mango salasa bag of chips from Aunt Nee’s.

Hibiscus sugar

Then I spotted this Mr. Gigglepants Hibiscus Sugar. I was instantly intrigued by this sugar made by Beautiful Briny Sea. It is described as:

A fun, tutti fruitti treat for your cupcakes, French toast, fresh fruit fancy drinks, just about anything that needs a giggle.

I really don’t have a plan for this sugar just yet. It was my big splurge item at DeVrie’s. It was $11 for a 14 oz can. I will figure something out soon though. Maybe I can whip up a batch of cupcakes next week and incorporate Mr. Gigglepants into it.

Root-beer BBQ sauce

Let it be known, I think Guy Fieri is annoying as hell. (insert lols here). I spotted his Root Beer Barbeque Sauce and could not pass it up. I bought it with the intention of making some pulled pork sandwiches with it. Whenever I made pulled pork sandwiches I always cook my pork in root-beer. Sounds weird right? But it is so good!

Our Visit To Eastern Market

When you go to Eastern Market there is a ton of stuff to take in and see all around you. There are tables set up with fresh fruits and vegetables, there are people selling their homemade salsas, honey, fresh pierogi, succulents, and flowers, etc.

There are two different ways to visit Eastern Market. You can arrive early when everything is all set up and available. Or you can arrive mid-afternoon when the vendors are about to close up for the day. They want to sell what they brought with them so you will be walking by and the vendors will be shouting out deals to you. It happened to me yesterday. We came late in the afternoon and I scored some great deals. I got a carton of strawberries for a dollar. I also got some blackberries for a dollar. Those prices sure do beat the local grocery store prices.

I do realize I made a bit of a boo-boo with my photos here. I must have been just vegetable obsessed because I just realized I did not shoot any photographs of fruit and Eastern Market has a huge load of fruit to choose from at really reasonable prices. So I am very sorry about that. Next time I visit I will be sure to snap some photos of fruits.

Ornamental Indian corn at Eastern Market

Bundles of rainbow carrots at Eastern Market – I can not leave this place without taking home some purple and white carrots

Jumbo stalks of Brussels sprouts at Eastern Market

Purple kale at Eastern Market – what a gorgeous color and it appears to be so fresh!

Quail eggs and duck eggs for sale at Eastern Market – now that is something you do not see every day!

Spice Miser at Eastern Market – This vendor is a must-see! Spice Miser offers a huge variety of seasonings and spices. Be sure to take home a bag. I always make sure I bring something home from the Spice Miser.

Mushrooms galore at Eastern Market! Many exotic mushrooms to choose from that are grown in Chesterfield, MI. Give and Grow Mushrooms LLC

Give and Grow Mushrooms LLC offers a wide variety of exotic, gourmet mushrooms at Eastern Market

This was a first for me! Black garlic but $5 a bulb. I was tempted. Eastern Market - Detroit, MI — This was a first for me! Black garlic but $5 a bulb. I was tempted. Eastern Market – Detroit, MI

Flowers and eggplants at Eastern Market in Detroit, MI

Fresh and local honey at Eastern Market in Detroit, MI

Pepper obsessed! Eastern Market, Detroit, MI

So much to choose from and great prices on vegetables at Eastern Market

Be sure to see the murals

There are gigantic murals painted on the buildings all over the Eastern Market area. Be sure to take a stroll around and snap some pics of the art.

Eastern Market in Detroit, MI – The home of many food vendors selling produce, meat, cheese, plants, and flowers.

Mural in the Eastern Market area of Detroit, MI

Ladies and gentlemen!

Here is my haul from both DeVries & Company 1887 and Eastern Market

As you can see here I have a pretty decent haul from both DeVries and Eastern Market. I love getting home and unloading all of my newly acquired foods. I am already looking forward to my next trip back.

Haul from Eastern Market and DeVries & Company 1887

Have you ever visited DeVries & Company 1887 in the Eastern Market district? Will you be purchasing a Groupon to shop there?

Have you ever went to Eastern Market in Detroit, MI? What is your best memory? Please share by leaving a comment.

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You might enjoy these posts at Give It A Whirl Girl!

September 23, 2018 3

Let’s Celebrate 100 Posts With Paleo Balsamic Raspberry & Chocolate Balsamic Fudge Ripple Nice Cream

Wow, gals and guys! Can you believe that in the past 4 1/2 months I have been blogging here at Give It A Whirl Girl and this is a milestone post? 100 posts have been drafted and published as of today! I figured the best way to celebrate my hard work was with a bowl of Balsamic Raspberry & Chocolate Balsamic Fudge Ripple Nice Cream! No champagne bubbles flowing here, just some paleo and (almost vegan… I did use raw honey) nice-cream for my daughter and I to share.

Blogging has just been a fantastic journey and experience for me. I feel blessed that I am able to work from home and combine my passion for cooking, baking, and writing. I am learning new things as the days go by. There is also never a shortage of things to do. I am consistently keeping myself busy and occupied. With blogging, there is always a lot of behind-the-scenes work.

I love being able to sit down and write each morning while I am sipping on my coffee. Once the caffeine kicks in I am ready to start drafting up a post to share with my readers. I am really looking forward to seeing where I will be on June 6th of 2019 when I will hit my one-year blog milestone. I can already see in the four short months I have been blogging, how much improvement I have already made from the beginning. Thank you to all who take the time to read my posts. I love and appreciate each and every one of you!

Now onto the balsamic nice-cream that I created last night. I am going to tell you all about it!

The story behind the balsamic vinegar

This all just started out as a wild and crazy idea. I had some bottles of flavored balsamic leftover from an adult onesie party that I had for my birthday. I picked these up at Devries & Company 1887 in Eastern Market down in Detroit, MI. Back in February I stocked up on Groupons and went and did a little shopping there. They had numerous flavors of balsamic vinegars to sample and several different oils as well. For the vinegars, I ended up bringing home a bottle of raspberry, chocolate, and espresso. These vinegars pair so well with fruit.

Continue reading “Let’s Celebrate 100 Posts With Paleo Balsamic Raspberry & Chocolate Balsamic Fudge Ripple Nice Cream” →

September 19, 2018 3

Fighting for the Chocolate On Chocolate Paleo & Vegan Nice-Cream

Sorry readers… no recipe here. I really should have taken measurements and gotten out my pen and paper. I still, however, would like to share the details on how I created this scrumptious and healthy-ish bowl of paleo and vegan double chocolate nice-cream! As you can see in the photo below there are three spoons in that little Fiesta bowl fighting for a bite of this frozen treat! I was a little short on ingredients so I worked with what I had and ended up with one lone bowl. Oh well, better than nothing right? If you love chocolate then you are in for a real treat. Continue reading to find out how you can make your own healthy ice-cream at home with a few simple (and affordable) ingredients!

If you are an addict to chocolate it is time to listen up here! There is this thing, a superfood, called cacao. Not cocoa, but cacao, and there is a difference in the way that the two are processed. Raw cacao is achieved by a cold-press method with the beans. Cacao is chocolate in its purest and most natural state. Cacao is filled with enzymes that are beneficial to your body and those enzymes are lost in cocoa.

Continue reading “Can We Just Talk About This Chocolate On Chocolate Paleo & Vegan Nice-Cream?” →

September 8, 2018 1

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
Store locator
Shop their online store
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram

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

Zoku Duo Quick Pop Maker Easy-To-Do Healthy Popsicles Made At Home – REVIEW + RECIPE

Summer may be winding down here but when is it ever a bad idea to enjoy a homemade frozen treat? Never! Making my own popsicles at home is a new venture for me. I have dilly-dallied around with making my own ice-cream on occasion and found that to be a fun experience. Making homemade popsicles is an easy treat to prepare and I can even have my 8-year-old daughter, Chloe help me out with this project. In this post I will be discussing the Zoku Duo Quick Pop Maker.

Kombucha popsicle with passion fruit and blueberries

Zoku has a product line that includes popsicle-making kits. I had the opportunity to try out the Zoku Duo Quick Pop Maker and also the Zoku Character Kit. You can enjoy your homemade popsicles in as little as 7-8 minutes. In order for this to work, you must place the Quick Pop Maker (the inner core) in the freezer overnight. Once this has been in the freezer for at least 8+ hours you pour your desired juice into the popsicle maker with the popsicle stick in place. It is so wonderful to have a product like this so you can conveniently whip up a tasty frozen treat in a matter of minutes. Need a healthy dessert? No problem! Having this quick and easy device on hand will produce that nutritious dessert that you desire.

Check out the video below to see how simple the Quick Pop Maker is to use!

The Zoku Character Kit includes several stencils that you use with sliced fruit to make fun faces on your popsicles. Honestly, we found this quite difficult to do because the popsicle opening is not very wide and fruit needs to be razor thin in order for it to be placed inside.

You start out by using the stencils on your fruit. You then apply the cutouts to the face plate. The next step is to place the frozen Quick Pop Maker on the stand and insert face place. Press the face plate up against the top side of the mold and hold for 15-30 seconds. You then remove the face plate and pour in your favorite fruit juice after you put the popsicle stick into position. Allow the pops to freeze for at least 8 minutes.

My favorite pop that I created was made by using fresh passion fruit and also a bit of Juice From The Raw‘s Passion Fruit Cleanser juice. Making that particular pop is simple and easy. What I did was scooped the guts out of the passion fruit and placed it on the little green board (faceplate) and then inserted it inside the pop maker (while pop maker is in vertical position) and pressed the board up for 30 seconds to get the fruit in place. After your fruit is inside the pop maker place the pop maker in an upright position, place the popsicle stick in place, and then gently and carefully pour the juice inside. There is a fill line inside of the pop maker. I can not stress this enough but do not let your juice contents go above that fill line because you will have a very difficult time removing that pop. I had my juice go very very slightly above that fill line and ran into a problem removing it.

Kevita Kombucha Blueberry Passion Fruit Popsicle

The wonderful thing about the Zoku Duo Quick Pop Maker is how versatile it is when it comes to ingredients. The possibilities are endless and all rely on your imagination. We made a popsicle with Kevita Raspberry Lemon Kombucha and we also made a protein pop with Svelte French Vanilla Protein Shake.

Final Thoughts

My overall opinion of the popsicle maker was that it was a little finicky to get it to work properly. There is a learning curve to this. It takes a lot of trial and error to get the popsicle to come out correctly. We were not successful at producing a popsicle with a fun face with the character kit. I just could not get the fruit sliced thin enough to go into the cavity. However and despite all of this it was very fun to use and a fascinating project for my daughter to work on. Teamwork and creativity resulted in some tasty frozen treats!

You can find out more about Zoku on their social media channels: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest.

If you feel inclined to give this a whirl I have added the links to these items. They can all be found on Amazon.

DISCLAIMER: Zoku sent me these products to review. All opinions stated here are my own. This is my honest review. Also, this post contains Amazon affiliate links. I receive a small commission if items are purchased through those links.

August 9, 2018 0

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

Frozen banana, dragonfruit, and guava fruit

1 scoop of Collagen Fuel Vanilla Coconut

Recipe:

Place frozen banana, 1/2 of your dragon fruit, the flesh of the guava, and your full-fat coconut milk and blend until smooth
Pour smoothie mix into 2 bowls and top with unsweetened coconut flakes, kiwi fruit slices and dragon fruit slices.
Eat and enjoy!

Primal Kitchen Collagen Bowl w/ Dragon Fruit and Guava

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed reading this post. Let me know if you try the recipe!

Are you familiar with Primal Kitchen Foods? What would you love to have from their online store? Leave me a comment and let me know what you are crushing on!

If you would love to save some money on your next Primal Kitchen purchase please use my

Primal Kitchen coupon code GIVEITAWHIRL10

during checkout.

TGIF! A Visit To Nino Salvaggio’s International Marketplace & How I Spent My Friday – Thank Goodness It’s FOOD!

My husband has Fridays and Saturdays off work for the time being. We spent the early part of the day cleaning and tidying up our house, it was long overdue. I love spending quality time with my family. Joe leaves for work early in the morning and works long hours so we do not get to see him much during the week. We had an awesome day full of good eats and a little trip to Nino Salvaggio’s International Marketplace.

My daughter and I were also spending more time working on a product review for a popsicle maker. We have been having a blast experimenting with the pop maker. She was so happy yesterday when I gave her a vanilla protein popsicle that I had made with Svelte’s vanilla shake and a few candy sprinkles. You can see her joy for this pop in the image below.

Svelte Pops!

Kiwano Horned Melon

Chloe was happy to also have a kiwano horned melon to nosh on yesterday. We mistakingly got 3 of them in an Instacart order and they let us keep them. They were supposed to be cactus pears. When I called up to inform them that I received the wrong item they sent the wrong item to me AGAIN. They ended up giving me golden dragon fruits. I am going to assume that the Instacart shoppers are a little baffled on an order that involves exotic fruits because they never got that order right.

Chloe eating the kiwano horned melon

Kiwano horned melon

Sy Thai in St. Clair Shores

We were all craving something spicy last night so we decided we would go to one of our favorite Thai restaurants~ Sy Thai in St Clair Shores, MI. We have been visiting this spot for several years now and we can always rely on the food being fresh and delicious!

We decided we would order a lychee bubble drink and all share. Sy Thai is known for making gigantic bubble drinks. The one we received yesterday may have been the largest one we received to date. It was huge.

Another thing that I love about Sy Thai is their soups that come with the dinner. Many Thai restaurants do not include soups with the dinners. We had hot and sour soup yesterday and me and Joe loved it. My daughter, on the other hand, did not care for it. Hot and sour soup is really not a kid-friendly soup. It has a taste that is hard to describe.

I wanted to try something new yesterday. I also knew that I needed to have some kind of noodle dish. I am a huge fan of Thai basil and I usually enjoy ordering the drunken noodle but I ended up trying out the Karee Basil Noodle. Joe ordered his usual Pad Thai. That is the dish he often goes with. I really enjoyed the flavor of my dish but the rice noodles in there were so thick they were almost like dumplings. I have never in my life had noodles that were that thick!

Sy Thai menu

Sy Thai lychee bubble drink

Sy Thai hot & sour soup

Our Trip To Nino Salvaggio’s International Marketplace in St. Clair Shores

After our dinner, we wanted to do a bit of shopping at Nino Salvaggio’s. We visited the smaller location in St Clair Shores since that one is the closest to our home. I did not really have any idea what I wanted to come home with. I was pretty much just on a mission to challenge myself to find something new and unusual to take home.

The first thing that really caught my eye when I walked in to Nino Salvaggio’s was the fresh green figs. Oh man… I sure do love my figs. I love the red and green. Nino’s had the green ones in stock so I grabbed a few. I would have loved a whole case but my wallet said no.

Fresh green figs at Nino Salvaggio’s

Cactus pears at Nino Salvaggio’s

Forelle pears at Nino Salvaggio’s

Exotic fruits at Nino Salvaggio’s

Baby bananas

I was hoping to find some purple carrots while I was at Nino Salvaggio’s. I have a newfound love for them. I did locate a bag of mini rainbow organic carrots and I could not pass that up. They will make a great side dish for one of my dinners this week. I love roasted carrots with some raw honey drizzled on top. So damn good!

Me and Chloe have been eating a ton of fruit lately, and I mean a lot! We ended up taking home a few interesting fruits that were brand spankin new to us: baby bananas, Forelle pears, guava, midnight rose apriums, and yellow plums.

You can see my haul from Nino Salvaggio’s International Marketplace in the images that follow. Some people get excited about buying new clothes, buying new makeup, or buying a new video game. I get most excited about buying new food!

And wowza!~ Nino Salvaggio’s sure has a fantastic bakery. I did not get this cake but it sure looks drool-worthy to me! They have an amazing array of sweets and treats to satisfy your sweet tooth.

The first fruit that we tried last night from Nino Salvaggio’s was the midnight rose apriums. These are a hybrid fruit that is a mix of plums and apricots. They had a nice firm texture and also a nice rosy hue for the flesh. As far as the taste goes, they were quite sweet but not overly sweet. They had the perfect amount of sweetness to them. I purchased four of these fruits and I do really wish I had more.

After we came home and unloaded the groceries it was time to pick up more food. We had a ClickList order waiting for us at Kroger. Ahhhhhh I sure do love grocery pick up day. At the end of the week the fridge and pantry starts getting bare. I love bringing home my groceries and seeing a fridge and freezer packed to the gills with stuff!

Ticklebelly Pops

I put a fancy little dessert on our grocery list. I have had my eye on these for quite some time now. I got the TickleBelly Carnival Cotton Candy bars. They are cake pops dipped in a cotton candy shell. Oh, sweet heavens were these delish! Our Kroger has a cute display inside of mermaid-ish items and these were part of the display. My whole family loved these. There are 4 in a pack and we each had one. We will all have to fight over who gets the last one! I am definitely going to hunt down more flavors of these bars and give them a whirl ASAP!

Today is now Saturday and I am unsure of what the day has in store for us. Maybe the beach with my rescue dog, Stormy? I am also not sure of what we will be feasting upon for dinner tonight. It will likely be steak or another from-scratch pizza. Whatever I do end up making tonight will be fun. I am sure of that!

Do you have any fun plans this weekend? Have you recently tried a new food and fell in love. Let me know in the comments. I sure would love to hear from you. Comments always brighten my day over here!

August 4, 2018 6

Cactus Pear Smoothie RECIPE With Raspberries- Tried It Out Tuesday

Cactus Pear Smoothie RECIPE by Give It A Whirl Girl

I went shopping at Nino Salvaggio’s International Marketplace this past weekend and that is my go-to place for unusual fruits and vegetables. They carry the mainstream and also the more obscure. If you are looking for beautiful produce, Nino’s is the place to be. You can tell that they are super picky about what kind of produce is allowed to hit the shelves because it all looks beautiful and perfect! This past weekend we went to the exotic fruit section and decided on bringing home a couple cactus pears, also known as a prickly pear cactus. Imagine my surprise when I sliced into it and discovered that it is a vibrant hot-pink, magenta color. I had no idea this cactus pear had such a gorgeous interior! I was thinking hmmm maybe cactus pear smoothie? Keep reading to find out how you can make this delightful pink drink with my cactus pear smoothie recipe!

37697111_10156518991034420_6636608170431086592_n — Nino Salvaggio’s

This post may contain affiliate links. I receive a commission from items purchased through these links with no extra cost to you.

I did a bit of research before eating the cactus pear. I sliced the skin off and I noticed that it had quite a few hard seeds inside. They are not something you can bite into but they are safe to swallow. When I blended this up in a smoothie the seeds got ground up in the blender.

So the taste? Super sweet like candy, a cross between juicy watermelon and bubble gum!

Here is a recipe for a cactus pear smoothie that you can have all to yourself or share with a loved one! I shared mine with my adventurous eater, Chloe Pearl, who is 8 years old and loves trying new things with me.

37772613_10156519053229420_295658517795176448_o — Cactus Pear Smoothie

Cactus Pear Smoothie Recipe

cactus pear

cactus pear diced

banana

fresh raspberries

unsweetened almond milk

Cactus Pear Smoothie Recipe With Raspberries

This delightful hot pink smoothie drink not only looks incredible but it tastes great too and it is a healthy choice to make!

2 Cactus pears (Peeled)
1 Frozen banana
1 handful Raspberries
1/3 cup Unsweetened almond milk

Place all of the ingredients in your blender.
Blend until smooth.
Serve, eat, and enjoy!

37746566_10156518976374420_8763659834370293760_n — Cactus Pear Raspberry Smoothie

37700487_10156518991104420_7947507913738682368_n — Chloe enjoying her cactus pear smoothie

Tidbits of info on the cactus pear:

Cactus pears grow on the Nepales Cacti and these plants can be found in North and South America, Europe, the Middle East, Egypt, and Morrocco
Cactus pears contain potassium, calcium, vitamin C, iron, and beta carotene.
Cactus pears can be used to make smoothies, candy, syrups, jams/jellies, wine, juice, pies, and more! Get creative!
They have anti-inflammatory benefits and also have anti-viral perks
High in fiber and rich in antioxidants
Can be used to lower blood sugar in type 2 diabetics
They can help strengthen hair and nails
The average cactus pear has 60 calories, 14 g of carbohydrates, and 5 grams of fiber.
The fiber in the cactus pear can help with weight loss since the fiber makes you feel full longer.
Do not consume large amounts at first. They have been known to have side effects so please research before consuming large amounts. This does not affect everyone but some may get side effects.
Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional. Please do research on how this may benefit or impact you.

I hope that this cactus pear smoothie recipe will inspire you to give it a whirl! This hot pink concoction is simple and easy to do with your blender and home and it is a fantastic smoothie recipe that you will want to incorporate into your morning smoothie regimen.

So have you ever tried a cactus pear? How did you eat yours? If you have not tried it yet does this look like something you would try? Leave me a comment below. I would love to hear your thoughts.

You might also enjoy these posts:

July 24, 2018 2

Epic Exotic Fruits Smoothie Bowl & How I Created It With Knowrish Well Blue Dream

Epic Exotic Fruit Smoothie Bowl & How I Created It

If you read my last post you would see that I stocked up on some interesting fruits at Meijer through the Instacart grocery delivery service. I ended up getting some nice produce delivered: bananas, dragon fruit, kiwi, starfruit, passion fruit, papaya, and a kiwano horned melon. I had the ultimate exotic fruit smoothie bowl already planned out in my mind. What I came up with did not disappoint!

How I created the Epic Exotic Fruit Smoothie Bowl

To make a great smoothie bowl you need to have some frozen bananas. I will usually use two bananas in my bowl. I love to work with Knowrish Well freeze-dried fruit powders to infuse my smoothie bowls with an extraordinary flavor and a color that is pleasing to the eyes! I was going to use the Knowrish Well pitaya (dragon fruit) powder but then realized that I was out. So I ended up using the Blue Dream powder which is another great flavor enhancer. Not only does this powder give your smoothie an incredible flavor but it is also loaded with nutrients. It is made of butterfly pea flower and contains the following superfoods: maca, inulin, lucuma.

The other ingredients in this epic smoothie bowl were 1/2 a dragon fruit (inside of the smoothie) and I topped it with some sliced star fruit, kiwi fruit, a blob of passion fruit, and used more dragon fruit.

Having these fruits is a really a special treat for me. The cost of a dragon fruit is pretty ridiculous. I wish they were as cheap as something like apples and oranges! I also have a big passion for passion fruit. The taste can be described as a bit sweet and a bit tart. It is more sour than sweet so I have no clue how they came up with the name of this fruit. It also has a strange appearance and texture. I love it though! The star fruits are just fun to eat purely because of their incredible shape. I didn’t get a chance to try one until I was an adult, and I remember begging my mom to buy me one when I was a little girl.

The overall taste of this bowl was mindblowing delicious. Also, I believe this big fruit smoothie bowl would be chock full of nutritional benefits. Aside from the natural sugar content, I was feeling pretty good about this being a healthy bowl of yumminess. I don’t eat smoothies like this all of the time (anymore) so I am not too concerned about the naturally occurring sugars in the fruit. I often say YOLO (you only live once) so if you want the fruit~ eat the fruit!

The greatest part about this smoothie bowl was seeing how much my 8-year-old daughter, Chloe, loved it! She has always been my #1 fan of my smoothie bowls. I used to make one almost daily last summer. She proclaimed that this one was my best yet and I wholeheartedly agree with her. Hearing that definitely put a smile on my face.

Have you ever had an exotic fruit smoothie bowl? How do you enjoy your smoothie bowls? What are some of your favorite toppings? Leave me a comment below.

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.

July 18, 2018

Kiwano Horned Melon For Tried It Out Tuesday!

Kiwano Horned Melon - REVIEW - Tried It Out Tuesday

Yesterday I had a $25 credit for Instacart so I decided to hurry up and spend it right away. I have no control over myself when it comes to having money for food. I spend, spend, spend. I live for the thrill of trying new foods out. My game plan yesterday was to use my credit to stock up on not only healthy foods BUT adventurous foods as well. I ended up getting a kiwano horned melon! What?? Keep reading to learn more!

In the photo above you can see the small haul that I acquired from Meijer. I usually avoid the Meijer near our house because of the long checkout lanes as opposed to the speedy service at Kroger that is right across the street. However, Meijer does carry quite a bit of food that is not available at Kroger. Since I had the credit to get food delivered to my home and avoid the checkout lines altogether, I placed my order with Meijer.

I ended up with 6 bottles of Kevita Kombucha. They had a promo where you could get free delivery if you purchased $20+ of this line of beverages. I love kombucha anyway and it is a nice treat for me to have some in my fridge so I figured I would load up on that to waive the $10 delivery fee.

I also stocked up on exotic fruits. Dragonfruit is a very rare treat for me because of the high cost. My daughter has been begging me to get one so I did. I also got a passionfruit, starfruit, papaya, kiwi, and last but not least~ a kiwano horned melon (see photo below).

I have always wondered about this fruit. It is a bright orangish-yellow color and it covered with little spikes. It actually looks quite intimidating with the spikes all over it. I had to do a little research on this fruit before I bought it. I wanted to know what I was getting myself into. I basically just wanted to make sure it was something I could cut into with ease. I have an issue with mangoes. To me, they are very difficult to cut. The kiwano horned melon was easy peasy though with just one long slice down the middle length-wise.

So what on Earth does this look like inside? Check out the photo below.

The inside of a kiwano horned melon is certainly unusual. Was not really expecting the insides to look like green slime but that is what it resembles most~ slime! There are also a ton of seeds inside, which are edible. My 8-year-old daughter, Chloe, and I got brave and decided to give it a whirl. I scooped out the guts with a spoon and put it inside of a bowl. We ate it like a soup. It had a very faint taste of citrus. We were expecting much more flavor than it delivered so it was a bit of a letdown.

The kiwano horned melon has quite a few health benefits that may make it worth eating. It is packed with antioxidants. It can also help improve cognitive function, heart health, weight loss (boosts metabolism), improve vision (lots of vitamin A), and it can also aid in digestion (contains a great amount of dietary fibers).

Would I ever purchase this fruit again?

The answer to that is no. This melon is quite pricey coming in at about $5 a melon (at Meijer). The price was worth it, to me, for the experience of trying it but the flavor was so bland and the slimy texture with all of those seeds in there was not very palatable. Also, I am not sure how this food would be used in any type of recipe. It is not versatile at all. So if you enjoy eating a bowl of bland slime the kiwano horned melon just might make your day.

On the other hand, I asked my daughter if she would want me to purchase this again and she told me that she would love to have it again. She describes the taste of the kiwano horned melon as, “sweets slime”. A future foodie in the making? Considering that she is only 8 years old, I think she is definitely an adventurous eater.

Have you ever tried the kiwano horned melon? What are your thoughts? Leave me a comment below.

If you are interested in trying out Instacart service you can claim $10 off your first order with the code: KRIPLEY1051BA

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July 17, 2018 5

Simple, Easy Vegan and Paleo NICE Cream: RECIPE that anyone can do!

Simple! Easy! Healthy! Vegan + paleo friendly nice cream! This is naturally sweet and does not contain any added sugars!
It is so simple to whip up your own small batch of ice-cream at home that is healthy and good for you! This ice-cream has the consistency of soft serve and will make about 2-3 servings.

You will need:

2 frozen bananas
1 chilled overnight can of cream of coconut or full-fat coconut milk (the cream of coconut will be creamier)
1 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract
and any toppings you desire.
a food processor of blender

Place your frozen bananas in a food processor or blender along with the cream of coconut or coconut milk (CAUTION: do not use any liquid from the can just the coconut), and a teaspoon of vanilla. Blend this up completely. This may take awhile with the frozen banana chunks. Also serve immediately. If you decide to freeze your batch the texture will get a bit icy so I prefer to serve right away.

Here I have my vanilla nice-cream topped with a blackberry & wine reduction sauce. You can find the recipe on my blog (just swap out the raspberries for blackberries).

Other examples of what you can do with this recipe are shown below. Get creative!

If you have a craving for chocolate use some about 1 tablespoon of cacao powder.

Fruit craving? No problem! Add any fruit you desire. In the photo below I used fresh strawberries. My favorite fruit mix in is dragon fruit (also known as pitaya. Those fruits can get a bit pricey so try a powder. A little bit goes a long way and still has incredible health benefits.

Does your diet need a boost in fiber? Try chia seeds in your next batch of nice cream.

Wanna pack in some protein? Top it with a nut butter. Try this one from Nuttzo.

You can add in any other mix-ins you want and top it any way that you want. The possibilities are endless here! Enjoy! Please be sure to share this post with your friends and let me know in the comments if you enjoyed this recipe.

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Disclaimer: This post contains Amazon affiliate links. I do receive a small commission if items are purchased through these links. All opinions stated here are my own.

July 4, 2018 1

What is Eastern Market

Eastern Market Flower Day Weekend 2019

And no Eastern Market visit is complete unless you visit DeVries & Company 1887!

Final thoughts

Question Time!

Have you ever visited Eastern Market Flower Day? Tell me what you like to take home from Detroit’s Eastern Market!

Want to learn more about Eastern Market?

Eastern Market location

2934 Russell St (12.18 mi) Detroit, Michigan 48207

Want to learn more about DeVries & Company 1887?

DeVries & Company 1887 location

2468 MARKET STREET, DETROIT, MI 48207, USA

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First impression of the MengK 1500W blender

What can the MengK blender do?

MengK blender motor

You might also enjoy this post: Mindblowing Smart Home Products For Your Kitchen

The MengK blades

My experience with the MengK blender

The MengK blender is simple to clean

Satisfaction guaranteed from MengK

Dragon Fruit Smoothie Bowl

MengK 1400W Blender

MengK 1500W Blender

Final thoughts

Question Time! What will you be using the MengK blender for first? What will you create with this powerful blender?

Find out more about MengK and their other products

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About Nino Salvaggio

Exotic fruits that intrigued me at Nino Salvaggio International Marketplace

Passion Fruit

Guava

Rambutan

Quince

Ya Ya Pear

Passion Fruit / Guava Smoothie Bowl RECIPE

Passion Fruit & Guava Smoothie Bowl

Final thoughts

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

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Our trip to Eastern Market in Detroit and DeVries & Company 1887

First stop – A visit to DeVries & Company 1887

Cheese and Meats at DeVries & Company 1887- What they are best known for

Not just meats and cheese

Balsamic vinegars & oils

A few items that I took home with me

Raspberry salsa

Hibiscus sugar

Root-beer BBQ sauce

Our Visit To Eastern Market

Be sure to see the murals

Ladies and gentlemen!

Here is my haul from both DeVries & Company 1887 and Eastern Market

Have you ever visited DeVries & Company 1887 in the Eastern Market district? Will you be purchasing a Groupon to shop there?

Have you ever went to Eastern Market in Detroit, MI? What is your best memory? Please share by leaving a comment.

Links:

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The story behind the balsamic vinegar

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Want to learn more about Thunderbird Bars?

Want to try a variety pack of Thunderbird Bars? Find them on Amazon:

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!

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Bob’s Red Mill Wonderful Bread Mix

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.

2934 Russell St (12.18 mi)
Detroit, Michigan 48207