Top 10 Protein Bars On Amazon – Healthy Hot List – Gluten-Free, Vegan Snacks

Today I am sharing my top 10 picks for protein bars that are available on Amazon. These have all been taste tested by yours truly and I love each brand that is represented here in this Healthy Hot List. If you are on the lookout for gluten-free, vegan snacks chances are you will find some here that appeal to you in my Top 10 List of Protein Bars!

What I love about the protein bars that are in this top 10 list is that they really truly do satisfy my sweet-tooth. These protein bars are all available in some really fun flavors that will trick your brain. They taste so indulgent but you can enjoy them without all the guilt!

I have a huge weakness for anything that is birthday cake flavor!

All of the protein bars that are mentioned in this Top 10 list are gluten-free, vegan, and packed with protein.

Some of these bars can even be incorporated into your keto diet and lifestyle (just look for the zero or low sugar labels).

Also, if you are like me and get impatient waiting for items to arrive, you are in luck! These products all include free 2-day shipping with your Amazon Prime membership! If you are not yet a Prime member you can sign up for a FREE 30-day trial.

 


TOP 10 PROTEIN BARS by Give It A Whirl Girl


TRUWOMEN Daydreaming About Donuts Protein Bar

TRUWOMEN is a brand that I love and trust and I believe they earned the top spot here on my list of favorite protein bars. These plant-fueled protein bars are both gluten-free and vegan. Each TRUWOMEN protein bar is going to give you 12 grams of protein per serving. Be sure to check out the other fun flavors available: I Scream For Orange Cream, Oh Oh Cookie Dough, Saltylicious Almond Love, Smother Fudger, and Zamn Good Zesty Lemon.

TRUWOMEN Daydreaming About Donuts Protein Bar
TRUWOMEN Daydreaming About Donuts Protein Bar

 


YOU MIGHT ENJOY: Get Empowered With TRUWOMEN Protein Bars REVIEW


Protein Cakes by thinkThin (Birthday Cake Flavor)

I just adore these little birthday cake flavored Protein Cakes by thinkThin! I always try to have at least one of these pouches in my snack stash. Each package contains two little protein cakes and 12 grams of protein per serving.

Also available in Chocolate Cake and Red Velvet.

thinkThin Protein Cakes (Birthday Cake Flavor)
thinkThin Protein Cakes (Birthday Cake Flavor)

R.E.D.D. Bar

These superfood bars from R.e.d.d. Bar are also gluten-free and vegan and these bars give you a boost in energy with a little dose of caffeine. Reaching for a R.ed.d.. Bar is highly recommended when that afternoon sluggishness sets in. Each of these protein bars contains 35 mg of caffeine and 10 grams of protein.

R.e.d.d. Bar Variety Pack available on Amazon
R.e.d.d. Bar Variety Pack available on Amazon – 5 flavors, 8 bars

Want to know which flavor is my fave? Salted Caramel all the way baby!

If you love caramel you will be swooning over this flavor!

R.e.d.d. Bar Salted Caramel
R.e.d.d. Bar Salted Caramel

YOU MIGHT ENJOY R.e.d.d. Bar REVIEW – Gluten-Free, Vegan Healthy Snack



Thunderbird Bar

Continuing on with the theme of things (gluten-free and vegan) may I present to you Thunderbird Bar? These protein bars are definitely one of my favorite healthy snack bars to reach for. I am absolutely in love with the wide variety of delicious flavors available!

And if your kiddo has a craving for a Thunderbird Bar, you are in luck because Thunderbird Bar has four different fun flavors of bars for the kiddos! Choose from Chocolate Chip Cookie, Peanut Butter & Jelly, Apple Pie, or Fruit Punch!

Thunderbird Bar Sampler Pack - 8 Flavors
Thunderbird Bar Sampler Pack – 8 Flavors


And my favorite flavor of Thunderbird Bar? Cacao + Hemp + Walnut!


Thunderbird Bar CACAO HEMP WALNUT
Thunderbird Bar CACAO + HEMP + WALNUT

 


YOU MIGHT ENJOY: Take Flight And Start Your Day With A Thunderbird Bar


Quest Protein Bars

Truth be told, I do love Quest Bars but I feel as though they might be an acquired taste due to the texture of these protein bars. Quest Bars are one of my go-to brands for when I need to refuel. Quest Bars are a low-carb, keto, high protein (20 grams of protein per bar) solution for when you are having a snack attack.

 

Quest Bar Variety Pack - 12 Flavors, 12 Protein Bars
Quest Bar Variety Pack – 12 Flavors, 12 Protein Bars



ONE Protein Bars

ONE Protein Bar is very similar in comparison to Quest Bars. These are another low-carb, zero sugar, high protein healthy snack. ONE Bar is gluten-free and vegan and there are 12 different indulgent flavors available. ONE Bar will be there to satisfy any sweet-tooth cravings that you have! Two of my favorite flavors from ONE include the birthday cake flavor and the maple glazed donut bar.

ONE Protein Bars - 12 Bar Variety Pack - 12 Flavors To Choose From
ONE Protein Bars – 12 Bar Variety Pack – 12 Flavors To Choose From


RXBar – Real Food Protein Bars (Peanut Butter & Berries)

Calling all peanut butter & jelly lovers!

This Peanut Butter & Berries bar from RXBar is bursting with pb&j flavor! I am a huge fan of RX Bars but this flavor right here is hands down my favorite! RX Bars are an excellent snacking solution. Each bar has appx. 12 grams of protein. The best thing about RX Bar might just be that they are made with only all natural ingredients. They proudly display the ingredients smack dab on the front of the packaging.

No B. S.

 



Power Crunch Protein Bars

If you are into wafer treats then you are going to love these protein bars from Power Crunch. These are protein wafter bars that are drenched in a candy coating shell. You will get 13 grams of protein per Power Crunch protein bar and these are also quite low in sugar (5 grams per bar). I am just loving the wide variety of fun flavors that these are available in! Which flavor will you reach for first?

I have my eye on the Red Velvet and the Chocolate Mint!

Power Crunch Protein Bars Variety Pack - 10 Bars, 10 different flavors
Power Crunch Protein Bars Variety Pack – 10 Bars, 10 different flavors


 

YOU MIGHT ALSO ENJOY: Kiss My Keto COUPON & REVIEW (Chocolate Bars, Energy Supplement)


Primal Kitchen Collagen Bars

Primal Kitchen is another top brand that I love and trust when it comes to eating healthy and clean! You are going to love these Primal Kitchen Collagen Bars! These bars are high in protein (15 grams) and also include a healthy dose of grass fed collagen. These collagen bars are perfect for your paleo (or gluten-free) diet and lifestyle.

Want to find out more about these collagen bars? READ the review on my blog.

If you would like to try Primal Kitchen’s collagen in smoothies, etc. they do have a Collagen Fuel powder available.

Primal Kitchen Collagen Bars - Variety Pack - 4 Flavors
Primal Kitchen Collagen Bars – Variety Pack – 4 Flavors – 16 Bars


Lenny & Larry’s Protein Cookies

And last but certainly not least, here we have protein cookies from Lenny & Larry’s! I know, I know, these are cookies and not bars but I do believe they earned a spot on my top 10 list! This variety pack of Lenny & Larry protein cookies features 16 cookies in 8 different, fun flavors! These protein cookies are gigantic and you can actually split them into two servings if you would like. That is what I usually do with these because they are very filling! Each Lenny & Larry’s protein cookie contains 16 grams of protein. Err with caution here if you are watching your sugar! Each serving (1/2 a cookie) has 15 grams of sugar. That’s fine though… just have a Lenny & Larry’s cookie on one of your “cheat days”!

Grab a 12 pack of their best-selling Chocolate Chip Cookie flavor! Or you can go with my personal favorite Birthday Cake!

 

Lenny & Larry's Protein Cookies Variety Pack - 8 flavors, 16 protein cookies
Lenny & Larry’s Protein Cookies Variety Pack – 8 flavors, 16 protein cookies

Shop Amazon for all of your protein bar needs!







Final thoughts

I hope you all enjoyed this Top 10 Protein Bars list that I am sharing with you today! Decisions, decisions! Which protein bar(s) will you choose? I believe I have a little something for everyone here. If you can’t find an appealing flavor here there might be something wrong with you… lol! I am pretty open-minded when it comes to eating and I will try anything and everything once so all of the bars here are definitely appealing to me, of course. If you have a sweet tooth that is calling your name you can fulfill that sugar craving with the bars in this top 10 list. Feel free to leave me a comment about your thoughts on these protein bars. I would love to hear from my readers.

 


Other posts that you may enjoy at Give It A Whirl Girl


 

Question time!

What protein bar(s) will you be giving a whirl?

Leave me a comment and let me know what bar(s) you are the most eager to try out!

 


Want to do some shopping on Amazon?

For more healthy sweets and treats check out the featured items in

my Amazon store!

 


 



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

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)”

GIVEAWAY! ZenSweet Baking Mixes & Monk Fruit Sweetener REVIEW (Gluten-Free & Sugar-Free)

I recently had the pleasure of giving ZenSweet’s gluten-free and sugar-free products a whirl. ZenSweet products can be incorporated into your paleo or keto diet. Their products are sweetened with monk fruit and do not contain any refined sugars or wheat products. The great thing about ZenSweet baking mixes is that they will taste like they were made from scratch but the mixes only need 1 or 2 ingredients to be created and the final product tastes completely homemade! I was very impressed with the chocolate chip cookie mix that I started out with on my ZenSweet product venture. Keep reading to learn more and then enter the giveaway to win a variety pack of baking mixes and monk fruit sweetener.

ZenSweet Baking Mixes and Monkfruit Sweetener
ZenSweet Baking Mixes and Monkfruit Sweetener

 

All about ZenSweet

ZenSweet is a brand for the health nuts (like myself) that are out there reading. Their products contain 3 natural ingredients:

There are three all natural ingredients in ZenSweet: erythritol, soluable prebiotic fiber, and monk fruit. Erythritol is a naturally occurring sweetener found in some foods, including pears, grapes, and watermelon. Inulin is a soluble, prebiotic fiber. Monk fruit is a small round green gourd grown in China and northern Thailand, and is 300 times sweeter than sugar. (source)

ZenSweet measures and tastes just like sugar but without all of the guilt! ZenSweet products are low-calorie and also have a low glycemic index.

ZenSweet products can easily be incorporated into a paleo, vegan, low-sugar, or keto diet.

ZenSweet Chocolate Chip Cookies (Gluten-Free & Sugar-Free)
ZenSweet Chocolate Chip Cookies (Gluten-Free & Sugar-Free)

What is monk fruit?

I am new to this world of monk fruit so I had to do a little digging and research this. I am intrigued! The monk fruit is a sweet, small melon that originates in Asia. It was first cultivated over 800 years ago and its name came from the Buddhist monks that first cultivated this gem!

There are zero calories in monk fruit and the monk fruit is actually 20 times sweeter than regular fruit juices. The monk fruit is gaining in popularity quickly due to the latest health crazes that cut down on refined sugars.

You can find out more about the monk fruit HERE and watch the informative video below. Monk fruit is something that your entire family can enjoy and benefit from.

ZenSweet Monk Fruit Sweetener

This was my first time giving monk fruit a whirl and I gotta say… I am a huge fan! The first time I tried the Monk Fruit Sweetener was in my coffee. I did not notice any sort of weird or funky aftertaste in my coffee. Heck yeah! I have tried Stevia many times and, to me, I really notice a heavy aftertaste with it. Not the case with this monk fruit sweetener!



You will love this ZenSweet Monk Fruit Sweetener and you will find yourself replacing all of your sugar with this. The Monk Fruit Sweetener measures like sugar with a 1:1 ratio. Next time you are in need of sugar reach for a bag of this! I even got my sugar-addicted hubby to use this in his coffee and he was quite pleased with it.

ZenSweet Monkfruit Sweetener
ZenSweet Monkfruit Sweetener
ZenSweet Monkfruit Sweetener
ZenSweet Monkfruit Sweetener
ZenSweet Monkfruit Sweetener Nutrition Facts
ZenSweet Monkfruit Sweetener
Nutrition Facts

Vegan, Non-GMO, Low Carb, Paleo, & Keto Friendly Baking Mixes

 

ZenSweet Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix

ZenSweet Chocolate Chip Cookie Baking Mix
ZenSweet Chocolate Chip Cookie Baking Mix

The first baking mix that I decided to try out was ZenSweet’s Chocolate Chip Cookie Baking Mix. The recipe ingredients are simple: just one egg and some butter (I used ghee). The recipe instructions were also very simple and easy to use. I used my KitchenAid stand mixer to whip up my batch of cookie dough. If you are following a vegan diet, ZenSweet provides vegan cooking/baking instructions.

Because I love to have my chocolate chip cookies a little extra chocolatey, I decided to snazz up this batch of cookie dough with some Lily’s Sweets Dark Chocolate Chips.

Lily’s Sweets was an excellent choice because their chocolate chips are sugar-free and sweetened with stevia. The chocolate chips are made with only all-natural ingredients, are vegan, and non-GMO.


Each bag of ZenSweet’s Chocolate Chip Cookie Baking Mix can create 12 cookies. I love my cookies to be on the bigger side so I made a tray of 8 fats ones. If you make a tray of twelve cookies each cookie will be only 60 calories. Each chocolate chip cookie will contain only 1g of sugar per serving. Also, each cookie contains only 3g of net carbs! You seriously can’t beat that guys!

I am all about eating foods that are guilt-free and taste great!

ZenSweet Chocolate Chip Cookie Baking Mix and Lily's Sweets Dark Chocolate Chips
ZenSweet Chocolate Chip Cookie Baking Mix and Lily’s Sweets Dark Chocolate Chips

 

ZenSweet Chocolate Chip Cookies and a glass of unsweetened almond milk
ZenSweet Chocolate Chip Cookies and a glass of unsweetened almond milk

ZenSweet Snickerdoodle Cookie Mix

This ZenSweet Snickerdoodle Cookie Mix is for cookie fans that love the flavors of a sugar cookie that is laced with cinnamon. This baking mix is gluten-free (and paleo), keto, vegan, low-carb, and non-GMO. These cookies are only 3 grams of net carbs per serving and each cookie is only 60 calories.

ZenSweet Snickerdoodle Cookie Baking Mix
ZenSweet Snickerdoodle Cookie Baking Mix

ZenSweet Brownie Mix

The ZenSweet Brownie Mix is another simple and easy mix to prepare. To make the brownies you will need some unsweetened yogurt. If you want to keep it paleo or vegan simply use some non-dairy unsweetened yogurt to whip up this batch of sugar-free, low-carb brownies. You will need an 8×8 pan to create these brownies and each bag of mix will result in 12 delicious, moist, dark chocolate fudgy brownies. Each brownie is only 60 calories and contains 0g of sugar!

ZenSweet Brownie Baking Mix
ZenSweet Brownie Baking Mix


ZenSweet Vanilla Cupcake Mix

I am really looking forward to giving this ZenSweet Vanilla Cupcake Mix a whirl! I decided that I am going to order a bag of Swerve’s confectioner’s sugar-replacement to make a creamy and dreamy sugar-free buttercream frosting. You can think of this cupcake mix as a blank canvas and use your imagination to come up with a cool cupcake, whatever your heart desires!

ZenSweet Vanilla Cupcake Baking Mix
ZenSweet Vanilla Cupcake Baking Mix


Final Thoughts

When my sweet tooth is calling ZenSweet is going to be one of my new go-to brands to satisfy my sugar cravings. I have been into clean eating for a while and after Halloween, I ended up taking a turn for the worse! Oh my! I really need to get back on track and on-board the clean eating train. One of my new year resolutions was to cut back on my sugar intake and I feel that ZenSweet can allow me to do that.

Their sweetener is perfect for coffee and their baking mixes are perfect for your next baking project. The monk fruit that ZenSweet uses in their products is, perhaps, the best sugar replacement I have discovered. You won’t miss the sugar when you use ZenSweet!

Ready to shop?

You can find ZenSweet on Amazon and if you are Prime member you can receive free 2-day shipping! Not a member? No problem!

Sign up for Amazon Prime and receive a FREE 30-day trial!


Find out more about ZenSweet


TIME FOR A GIVEAWAY!

Important! Make sure you are subscribed to my blog to enter. The subscription box is in the upper-right corner of my homepage below the search bar. If you are on a mobile device scroll down my page until you find the subscription box.

Winner must reside in the United States and be 18+ years-old.

Winner will be drawn on January 31st. I will email the winner and the winner must claim the prize within 48 hours. If the prize is not claimed within 48 hours a new winner will be selected and emailed.

Winner of this giveaway will receive the following items:

  • 1 ZenSweet Vanilla Cupcake Baking Mix
  • 1 ZenSweet Chocolate Chip Cookie Baking Mix
  • 1 ZenSweet Snickerdoodle Cookie Baking Mix
  • 1 ZenSweet Brownie Baking Mix
  • 1 ZenSweet Monk Fruit Sweetener (not in photo)

ARV of the ZenSweet variety pack is $50

Enter to win a ZenSweet Baking Mixes prize pack in my giveaway!
Enter to win a ZenSweet Baking Mixes prize pack in my giveaway!

What ZenSweet product do you want to try first? Leave me a comment and enter the giveaway with through the entry form.


DISCLAIMER: THIS POST CONTAINS AFFILIATE LINKS. I DO RECEIVE A SMALL COMMISSION IF ITEMS ARE PURCHASED THROUGH THESE LINKS. THIS HELPS MAKE FOR A BETTER BLOG EXPERIENCE FOR ALL OF MY READERS. ALL PROCEEDS GO TOWARDS MAKING IMPROVEMENTS ON THIS BLOG.


More choices at Sun Basket today!

Goodie Girl Cookies Review – Have A Gluten-Free Cookie For Goodness Sake!

I recently had a chance to give Goodie Girl Cookies a whirl and I am here today to share my experience with these scrumptious gluten-free cookies with you! Welcome to my Goodie Girl Cookies review! I have a feeling you are going to absolutely love these! I came across this brand of cookies while browsing Amazon. These cookies are perfect for those of us who consume a gluten-free diet. Goodie Girl Cookies has several different flavors available for their cookies.

I will admit that I am a sucker for packaging. Aren’t you just really love the design of Goodie Girl Cookie’s packaging?? I sure am and it really caught my eye. The adorable little girl on the packaging is just so sweet. That is the kind of face I make when I eat way too many cookies!

Goodie Girl Cookies

Goodie Girl Cookies on Amazon~ pour yourself a glass of milk and give this variety pack a whirl!


The Goodie Girl Cookies Review… let’s get started!

Gluten-free and peanut-free for goodness’ sake!

If you are following a gluten-free diet it is often difficult to find a line of cookies to please your palate. With Goodie Girl Cookies you will think you hit the jackpot with their extensive line of classic and fun flavors. Their cookies are certified gluten-free and produced in a place that is free of any gluten. Goodie Girl Cookies uses oat flour to manufacture their cookies instead of traditional wheat products.

Also, for anyone that has a peanut allergy you can have peace of mind and rest assured with this brand because their cookies are all manufactured in a peanut-free facility.

What makes Goodie Girl better?

I don’t know about you but I sure am not a big fan of artificial ingredients. I try to avoid artificial ingredients and flavors as much as possible. Goodie Girl Cookies only uses natural ingredients to make their delicious cookies.

Also, Goodie Girl Cookies contain half the sugar of leading other cookie brands.

Goodie Girl Mint Cookies

Tis the season for any and everything mint so this was the first box of cookies that I just had to open up and try out. I’m not going to lie. This box disappeared pretty dang quick on us and for great reason! These Goodie Girl Mint cookies have the perfect balance of mint flavor and dark chocolate flavor.

Goodie Girl Mint Cookies
Goodie Girl Mint Cookies


Goodie Girl Mint Cookies
Goodie Girl Mint Cookies and a glass of almond milk

Caramel Apple Cookies

Are you looking for the perfect cookie to dunk in a nice glass of cold milk? These Caramel Apple cookies are perfect for dunking. These cookies are on the crisp side and I love to soak them up in a bit of milk since I’m more into soft cookies. This caramel apple flavored cookie has a unique flavor and it combines crunchy toffee with little itsy bitsy apple bits.

Caramel Apple Goodie Girl Cookies
Caramel Apple Goodie Girl Cookies
Caramel Apple Goodie Girl Cookies
Caramel Apple Goodie Girl Cookies and a glass of almond milk


Toffee Crunch Cookies

Toffee Crunch Goodie Girl Cookies
Toffee Crunch Goodie Girl Cookies

The Toffee Crunch Cookies are another crispy cookie. I prefer to have a glass of unsweetened almond milk nearby for this flavor. This is another great one for dunking in a glass of milk. The Toffee Crunch Cookies have a buttery taste combined with crispy rice and chocolate chips.

Chocolate Creme Cookies

If you are a fan of Oreo Cookies then you will be swooning over these Chocolate Creme Goodie Girl Cookies! I have always been a huge fan of creme filling inside of any food and these chocolate cookies did not disappoint. These Chocolate Creme Cookies have a rich chocolate flavor. If you are an Oreo-lover that is following a gluten-free diet these sandwich cookies make for one wonderful alternative!

Chocolate Creme Goodie Girl Cookie
Chocolate Creme Goodie Girl Cookies

 

Vanilla Creme Cookies

These Vanilla Creme Cookies are the sister of the Chocolate Creme Cookies by Goodie Girl. I am an Oreo fan but I actually prefer the Vanilla Creme over the traditional chocolate flavor. These gluten-free cookies have the perfect amount of vanilla flavor, and this flavor will surely satisfy your sweet tooth and your cookie craving. I really enjoyed the delicious creme filling center on this flavor. I also gotta add that this cookie is another perfect one for dunking into a nice cold glass of milk.

Vanilla Creme Goodie Girl Cookies
Vanilla Creme Goodie Girl Cookies

Fudge Stripe Cookies

Fudge Striped Cookies from Goodie Girl bring up a bit of nostalgia for me. These were always one of my favorite types of cookies to chow down on. Goodie Girl steps up to the plate to bring this classic cookie to the gluten-free crowd. This flavor of cookies has a chocolate fudge bottom and the tops are drizzled with even more chocolate.

Fudge Stripe Goodie Girl Cookies
Fudge Stripe Goodie Girl Cookies


Where to buy Goodie Girl Cookies

You might have just seen these cookies in your local Kroger store or Starbucks coffee shop. If you are wondering where you can run out a grab a box today use their handy store locator tool to find some near you! There is also a 75-cent coupon available for download. Many varieties of Goodie Girl Cookies can also be found on Amazon and shipped with Amazon Prime.

Final Thoughts on Goodie Girl Cookies

I was quite impressed with the Goodie Girl Cookies that I received and I am happy to share this Goodie Girl Cookies review to my readers. I didn’t come across a flavor that I did not like. I did prefer some flavors over others though. The crispy cookies are not my favorite, I do need milk to go with those. The mint and fudge stripe are very addictive and you have to be careful not to eat the entire box of them! The cookies with the creme filling (Chocolate Creme and Vanilla Creme) were hands down the family favorite. I will be, from now on, including this brand in my cookie stash. I love that these are gluten-free and I also love that their cookies are made from all natural ingredients, and have less sugar than other cookies out there.

Hope you enjoyed this Goodie Girl Cookies review and it will inspire you to give them a whirl! I am sure glad that I did!

Question Time!

Which Goodie Girl cookie will you be giving a whirl first after reading my Goodie Girl Cookies review? Leave me a comment and let me know.

Want to find out more about Goodie Girl Cookies?

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Goodie Girl Gluten-Free Cookie Review

Goodie Girl Cookies - Gluten-Free Cookie Review

 

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Visit DylansCandyBar.com

Gluten-Free Food Shopping Guide – Healthy Hot List Part 4

Today I have compiled this list of gluten-free food that I am just dying to try! I searched high and low on Amazon to bring you a list of my top 10 favorites that are on my wishlist. Many of these items are also paleo and keto-friendly and you can easily incorporate these gluten-free items into your healthy diet and lifestyle.

Real Good Foods Gluten-Free, Low Carb Pizza

You can find Real Good Foods at their online store or on Amazon. Their pizzas are offered as a chicken crust pizza or a cauliflower crust pizza. Amazon currently has a $15 off clippable coupon.

Real Good Foods offers up a great gluten-free, low-carb pizza. I haven’t tried the cauliflower crust yet but I sure do love the chicken crust pizza. Because they use chicken and cauliflower in their crusts you are not going to find any gluten in these and very few carbs. These pizzas are also great for those following a keto diet. You can also check out their gluten-free, low carb enchiladas that are available. They are fantastic for lunch!

Real Good Foods Gluten-Free low-carb pizzas on Amazon
Real Good Foods Gluten-Free low-carb pizzas on Amazon
Real Good Foods online store
Real Good Foods online store

If you prefer to purchase your pizzas in-store simply click this banner below for the Real Good Foods handy store locator.

Real Good Pizza

Paleo Powder Seasoning Variety Pack

Paleo Powder is a brand that I know and trust to deliver a wholesome, quality product. I have used their Paleo Powder Pink and Paleo Powder Original All-Purpose Seasoning to flavor many of my recent dishes. This variety pack contains both of those seasonings and also includes Herbed Salt-Free and Low FODMAP. You can read more about how I used Paleo Powder to season my chili and whip up the best batch ever.

The wonderful thing about these Paleo Powder seasonings is that they only use all-natural ingredients in their seasonings. You will not find any artificial flavors or food additives lurking here. All of Paleo Powder seasonings are free of MSG and GMOs and they are manufactured in a wheat, soy, and milk-free facility. These seasonings are certified Paleo and can be incorporated into all of your healthy meals. They are very versatile.

You can also shop for Paleo Powder in their online store.

Paleo Powder Seasoning Variety Pack
Paleo Powder Seasoning Variety Pack



Caulipower Cauliflower-Based Baking Mix

This here is a brand that I love and trust to come through with a great-tasting, quality product. Caulipower serves up a gluten-free and paleo product here with their baking mix, that I have yet to try! It has 11 net carbs per serving and has a 1/3 less amount of calories and fat than traditional baking products. This would be the perfect grain-free mix for your next baking project! I am thinking this would be great for a homemade pizza crust.

Read my review of Caulipower (Gluten-Free) Pizza and check out my recipe for a Greek pizza made with Caulipower cauliflower crust.

Caulipower Baking Mix
Caulipower Baking Mix



Legendary Foods Variety Pack of Nut Butter

If you hang out on Instagram a lot then chances are you have heard about Legendary Foods and their line of gluten-free, keto, no-sugar-added nut butter. Instagram is where I first heard about them. They have an incredible line of healthy nut butter that you can feel good about eating without all the guilt. This variety pack is available on Amazon and includes Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip, Pecan Pie, and Blueberry Cinnamon Bun.

Legendary Foods Variety Pack of Nut Butter
Legendary Foods Variety Pack of Nut Butter

Banza Gluten-Free Chickpea Pasta

These gluten-free pastas from Banza were created with chickpeas. They are gluten-free and packed full of protein. This pasta also gives your fiber intake a much-needed boost and they are slightly lower-carb than traditional pasta. This variety pack from Banza includes many different shapes of pasta so you can get started on your next gluten-free pasta dish! Includes shells, penne, and rotini-shaped noodles.

Check out my gluten-free Italian Sausage Goulash recipe on my blog that I created with Banza pasta.

 

Banza Chickpea Pasta Variety Pack
Banza Chickpea Pasta Variety Pack

Primal Kitchen Whole 30 Kit

If it is Whole 30, then you know it is gluten-free! Primal Kitchen is one of my go-to brands that I use often in the Give It A Whirl Girl kitchen. You can read my review of their products on my blog. These products by Primal Kitchen are always gluten-free and many are also paleo, keto, and Whole 30 friendly. This Whole 30 Starter Kit is perfect for getting started with their products. It includes: Avocado Oil, Greek Dressing/Marinade, Ranch Dressing, Chipotle Lime Mayo, and Avocado Oil Mayo.

Check out some of the meals I have whipped up using Primal Kitchen products:

You can also shop at Primal Kitchen’s online store and save 10% with coupon code GIVEITAWHIRL10.

Primal Kitchen Whole 30 Starter Kit


Lily’s Dark Chocolate Premium Baking Chips

As many of you may know, I am a huge fan of Enjoy Life Food’s dark chocolate chips. They are great for baking projects. I do have a confession to make as well, they are great for nibbling and snacking on straight out of the bag. Busted!

I have not had a chance to try out Lily’s Sweets Premium Dark Chocolate Baking Chips yet but they rank quite high on my list of foods that I would love to try. I recently tried a Lily’s Sweets dark chocolate bar and it was love at first bite. This bag of chocolate chips is sweetened with Stevia and these chips are also vegan and free of GMOs.

Lily's Sweets Dark Chocolate Chips
Lily’s Sweets Dark Chocolate Chips


Swerve Gluten-Free Chocolate Cookie Baking Mix

This Swerve Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix is for the health-conscious person. Not only is it gluten-free but it is also low-carb and ketogenic. One baked cookie comes in at 110 calories, 2 grams of added sugar, and 12 carbs. I have not given this product a whirl just yet but if you have I would love to hear your thoughts on it.

Swerve Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix
Swerve Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix


ChocZero Keto Bark w/ Hazelnuts

I love this keto bark by ChocZero. I have not yet tried this hazelnut flavor but I have tried the almond bark. Other flavors available are peanut and coconut. This chocolate bark is sweetened with monk fruit so there are zero added sugars in this gluten-free chocolate bark. This is a line of chocolate you can enjoy with peace of mind because there are only 3 net carbs per serving.

ChcoZero Keto Bark w/ Hazelnuts
ChcoZero Keto Bark w/ Hazelnuts


Goodie Girl Birthday Cake Sandwich Cookies

These birthday cake flavor sandwich cookies from Goodie Girl really caught my eye and stood out for me. Birthday cake flavored items rank pretty high on my list of favorite foods. It is just something about birthday cake, maybe it is the nostalgic feeling of eating it when I was a little girl? Birthdays are all about happy times and a celebration and I think that is why they always put a smile on my face.

These cookies are gluten-free and they are also made with all-natural candy sprinkles as well. You won’t find any artificial flavors or colors in these cookies. Goodie Girl only uses the best all-natural ingredients to create their cookies. There are a ton of great flavors available (way too many to list here!!). So click the image below to see what is available and go ahead and treat yourself!

Goodie Girl Birthday Cake Sandwich Cookies
Goodie Girl Birthday Cake Sandwich Cookies


Know Foods Maple Syrup

Everyone knows that maple syrup is chock full of sugar and carbs and it is best to avoid if following a diet that is low in sugar. Know Foods has a solution though! Their maple syrup has 0 net carbs and only 10 calories per serving. WOW! This stuff goes great on your stack of gluten-free pancakes or waffles. It is a fabulous alternative to regular maple syrup.

I am a big fan of their products and first discovered them through their line of cookies. You can grab a variety pack of their gluten-free cookies on Amazon and enjoy some cookies without worrying about allergens and guilt! They also have chickpea, gluten-free pasta available.

Know Foods Maple Syrup
Know Foods Maple Syrup


Question Time!

Which of these gluten-free foods from this shopping guide are you most eager to try? Leave me a comment and let me know what is on your wishlist!

Related posts:

Birthday Cake Flavor – Healthy Hot List

Part 3 – Healthy Hot List

Part 2 – Healthy Hot List

Part 1 – Healthy Hot List

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.

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Stay Fit and Healthy

Best Holiday Gifts For The Foodie – Gift Guide

Know someone who is a big-time foodie? Shopping for last-minute holiday gifts? This gift-guide is chock full of the perfect gifts for the foodie in your life. This foodie gift-guide has a variety of different food-related items that will surely put a smile on the recipient’s face. Hopefully, you can find an item in this foodie gift guide that will make for a very memorable gift. I know I would be completely and totally happy and content with anything from this gift-guide.

Sun Basket Gift Card

Give the gift of healthy food and clean eats with a Sun Basket Gift Card. You can read more about Sun Basket in this blog post and here as well. I recently posted this round-up post with my favorite meal kit subscription boxes and you can find the current deals there.

Sun Basket is perfect for gift giving!

Candy Club Gift Box

Candy Club has a few different options for sending a gift to someone. This Candy Club box makes a great gift for a loved one that you can send straight to their doorstep. There is a smaller Fun Box size (which starts at $9 for the first box) and a larger Party Box size (that is $19 for the first box) that you can choose from. There are six different boxes that you can choose from.

You can click this banner to get started and save $20 off your first box. This $20 in savings is on the larger box.

Give the gift of Candy Club

Grill Masters Club Gift Box

Grill Master’s Club has four different gift boxes that are perfect for gift giving this holiday season! Know someone who is a Grill Master? They will appreciate this gift that keeps on giving. Boxes start at $27.95/month. Giving a one year subscription to this Grill Masters Club gift box will be an unforgettable gift for that foodie that is obsessed with grilling.

Get started HERE

Grill Master’s Club

Bones Coffee

Bones Coffee hands down has some of the most unique flavors of coffee I have ever seen and heard of! Check out their flavors and grab yourself a sampler back of 5 different flavors that you choose.

Electric Unicorn (a fruity cereal flavor), S’morey Time, French Toast, Peanut Butter & Jelly, and Maple Bacon are the five flavors I am dying to try (if anyone wants to gift me a sampler pack… wink! wink! And pretty please with sugar and cream on top lol).

Click this link to start shopping at Bones Coffee.

Bones Coffee 5-Pack Sampler (image via Bones Coffee)

Primal Kitchen

Primal Kitchen is one of my favorite brands and my go-to for clean eats! You can use my special coupon GIVEITAWHIRL10 to save on your order at Primal Kitchen and they currently have free shipping on any order over $50. You can shop at Primal Kitchen’s online store or find them on Amazon.

Paleo By Maileo

Paleo By Maileo has a few different paleo snack boxes available, indivdual snacks so you can create your own box, or you can purchase a gift card in their online store. This is for the foodie in your life that prefers a diet of clean eats and gluten-free foods. I know I would love a gift like this!

 

 

Love With Food Subscription Box

Love With Food is a snack box subscription box. For a limited time only you can get a FREE $25 snack box and $10 off any 6 or 12-month subscription with coupon code JOLLY10. You can also shop around in their online snack shop and create your own custom box. These snack boxes are absolutely wonderful for any foodie that loves to give new and different foods a whirl!

 
Holiday Sale- $25 Free Box + $10 Off w/ 6 or 12 COUPON CODE: JOLLY10
Love With Food Snack Box

Give the Gift of Shipt grocery delivery service

Grocery delivery service is all the rage nowadays. You can now give the gift of Shipt to a loved one. You can choose from a 6-month or 12-month service and the cost starts at $49/month. With Shipt you can receive your grocery ordered delivered in as soon as an hour. This type of service is a godsend to me because I do not drive due to a phobia of driving.

Sign up and get started HERE.

 

FoodStirs Baking Subscription Box

I had a 6-month FoodStirs subscription and I am super bummed that this subscription ran out because we absolutely loved it! FoodStirs is a baking subscription box and FoodStirs only delivers the best ingredients in their baking kits. They use organic ingredients and all of these desserts turn out scrumptious. This is a great box to share with your children that love to help out in the kitchen. My daugher, Chloe, is almost 9 years old and she absolutely loved creating these desserts with me. This is perfect for the sweet tooth foodie in your life.

Celbration Rainbow Pancake Kit from FoodStirs

15% Off Sitewide on your first order! (Use Code: MOREFLOUR15)

Gourmet Candy at Sugarfina

Here are some more gift ideas for the foodie in your life with a major sweet tooth. Sugarfina’s online store is full to the brim with gourmet candies that have a unique flavor profile.

The ultimate gift at SugarFina is the Build-Your-Own Candy Trunk. With this gift you get to choose twenty different gourmet candies to fill it with. Is that too rich for your blood? Check out the Four Piece Holiday Bento Box.

Build Your Own Candy Trunk (20 different flavors)

Receive Free Shipping On Orders $50+! Use code: SWEETSHIP50. Offer Valid 11/27-1/31. Shop Now!

 

Give the gift of Thrive Market

Thrive Market is the place to be if you want big savings on all the organic, clean eats! This company definitely earned a spot in my foodie gift guide and for good reason. Their online store is chock full of gluten-free, paleo, Whole 30, keto, and vegan/vegetarian foods. You can receive 25% off your first order. Delivery is fast and free. I have ordered from Thrive Market before and was totally pleased with my order AND the big savings! Their prices are 25-50% below regular retail prices.

The catch? This is a paid membership site. The membership is $59.95 for one year of access to their online store. This fee, however, pays for itself if you order from Thrive Market frequently. This membership would be an incredible gift for the healthy food enthusiast. 

 

Gift cards are always tops!

Who doesn’t love a good gift-card? Seriously, you just can’t go wrong with one of these and that is why I am including them in this foodie gift-guide for all of those food lovers out there.

Amazon Gift-Card

Amazon is your source for anything and everything. I would imagine that anyone and everyone would be excited to receive one of these gift-cards during the holiday season.

Amazon Gift-Card Holiday Box

Fleming’s Steakhouse & Wine Bar Gift-Card

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar is the place to dine if you are looking for food with exceptional taste and quality. At Fleming’s there are also several fancy schmancy wines to choose from to go with you big, juicy steak.

Fleming’s Steakhouse & Wine Bar Gift-Card

Tastemade Gift Card

Tastemade has some very unique for the foodie in your life. They have an online store that has something for everyone.

Tastemade
Shop at Tastemade

Sur La Table Gift Card

Sur La Table has excellent gifts for the home chef. They have cookware, bakeware, small appliances, dinnerware and more. So make that foodie happy and give them the gift of shopping online at Sur La Table!

Sur La Table
Shop at Sur La Table

Chef’s Catalog Gift-Card

The online store at Chef’s Catalog is another slice of heaven for foodies. They also offer cookware, bakeware, and all the kitchen essentials you can possibly think of.

Chefs Catalog
Shop at Chef’s Catalog

Did any of these gifts in this foodie gift-guide pique your interest? Let me know in the comments what you will be gifting this year or treating yourself to!


Related posts: 

 

 

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.

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Send holiday gifts, holiday cake delivery, Bake Me A Wish!

Hosting Thanksgiving At My Home – My First Time Wrap-Up!

Thanksgiving has came and went. Whew! This was my first year hosting the Thanksgiving Day holiday at my home. I gotta say that I was probably nervous about the whole situation for the month leading up to it. I know that a lot of work and prep goes into pulling off this festive day. Our feast that we had here was perfect and excellent from start to finish. I was satisfied with how every single element of it came out. No complaints whatsoever here! I hope all of my readers also had a great holiday and enjoyed their big plate of food!

Here is a look at my dinner plate from Thanksgiving! I have a little bit of everything on my plate: roasted turkey, redskin mashed potatoes with French butter, Brussels sprouts, wild rice stuffing with mushrooms and cranberries, White Castle stuffing, Clean Bean (green bean) Casserole, ambrosia, sweet potato casserole, and my favorite~ Everything But The Kitchen Sink Cranberry Sauce! I am hoping to do a recipe post soon for my famous cranberry sauce. I can turn any cranberry-sauce-hater into a lover! So far it has worked with two haters in my family.

Thanksgiving Holiday Platter
Thanksgiving Holiday Platter

Today I will be discussing Thanksgiving and how we pulled it off. I could not have possibly made this day possible without the help and support of my family. My mom, Kathie, was a huge help. She purchased the turkey and a great majority of the food that was served. Money is super tight right now with my family so I was very grateful that she pitched in (big time) to help me create this feast.

My mom bought the 19-pound turkey and an electric roaster to cook the turkey in. I spotted the roaster when we took a trip over the Costco and I thought it would be a great idea to cook the turkey in there so we could free up the oven space for the side dishes that needed to be warmed up. Turned out to be the best idea ever!

My stepmom, Evelyn, was also a huge help. She came over early on Thanksgiving to help my mom and I prep. Evelyn brought over an appetizer and a side dish to pass as well. The appetizer that she brought was unique. They were bacon-wrapped water chestnuts. Sounds strange, doesn’t it? Well, they were delicious. These got gobbled up pretty quick. For a side dish, she brought her famous sweet potato casserole. My stepmom was incredibly helpful with the kitchen clean up as well. That helped me tremendously.

 

Prepping for the Thanksgiving holiday

 

Paleo & Vegan (Gluten-Free) Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake

The day before Thanksgiving, I did what I could to prep for the big day. The first thing that I did was I created my Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake. This is my favorite fall dessert at the moment. I wanted to get that done early because the cheesecake needs to set for at least six hours. I gave it plenty of time to set by creating it the morning before the holiday. I have a recipe for this paleo/vegan cheesecake on my blog. I did modify the recipe just a tad bit. Obviously, I did something different for the topping. Instead of creating a whipped cream with coconut cream I topped this cheesecake with a ton of walnuts and pecans. I wanted to make it extra nutty. I purchased a can of non-dairy, almond milk whipped cream to top it with. Instead of using the spices individually I used a jar of pumpkin pie spice.

Paleo & Vegan Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake topped with walnuts and pecans
Paleo & Vegan Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake topped with walnuts and pecans

Paleo cranberry sauce

I also busted out my slow-cooker the day before Thanksgiving to make my paleo cranberry sauce in advance. This is one of those set-it-and-forget-it recipes. I love cranberry sauce and my cranberries have the power to turn cranberry sauce haters into lovers! My husband never eats cranberry sauce. Guess what? This year he did! And I know that he enjoyed it because he helped himself to some for his leftover plate. This cranberry sauce is simple to make. I call it my Everything But The Kitchen Sink Cranberry Sauce! There are many ingredients that go into it but it is very easy to create. There are no refined sugars in this cranberry sauce. I use an entire bottle of pure maple syrup to sweeten it. I also use fresh-squeezed orange juice, orange zest, two ambrosia apples, walnuts, and pecans to create the sauce. The apples are a nice, welcome addition and the nuts give it a great texture. The sauce is heavily seasoned with pumpkin pie spice. I picked up a bottle of the Spice Hunter’s Pumpkin Pie Spice at Nino Salvaggio’s in St Clair Shores. This pumpkin pie spice seemed like a wonderful blend of spices. It worked out well in my Pumpkin Spice Cheesecake too, so the funds I spent on it was a great investment.

Ingredients Cinnamon, ginger, lemon peel, nutmeg, cloves, cardamom, star anise, fennel, black pepper

You can pick up a bottle of this awesome pumpkin spice seasoning on Amazon. I highly recommend using this Spice Hunter blend for all of your fall flavored foods.

Everything But The Kitchen Sink Cranberry Sauce
Everything But The Kitchen Sink Cranberry Sauce

Continue reading “Hosting Thanksgiving At My Home – My First Time Wrap-Up!”

Sun Basket REVIEW & COUPON – Clean-Eating Subscription Box Meal Kit – Special Offer Inside

I recently had the pleasure of trying out one meal kit subscription box from Sun Basket. If you are not familiar with Sun Basket, their meal kits are all about clean-eating and healthy, organic ingredients. They offer vegetarian subscription boxes for those eating a plant-based diet, and there is a paleo option for those who follow a gluten-free diet. My family tried Sun Basket for one week and we had 3 meal kits delivered. Today I will be sharing my Sun Basket review with you and a special Sun Basket coupon/discount. We were highly satisfied with all three meals and I plan on ordering more subscription boxes in the future. I went with the paleo box and it was love at first bite!

Simply click the link below to get started with Sun Basket and activate my special Sun Basket coupon.
$80 Off – $35 & $25 Off the First, Second & $20 Off your Third Orders with this Sun Basket coupon

Seared Steak with Brussels Sprouts and Chipotle Mustard Vinaigrette (Sun Basket) Review - GIVE IT A WHIRL GIRL
Seared Steak with Brussels Sprouts and Chipotle Mustard Vinaigrette (Sun Basket)

Sun Basket Review

Sun Basket has clean-eating meal kits for everyone’s diet

Sun Basket makes it easy to order meal kits based on your diet. I ordered the paleo box and all of my meals were gluten and grain-free.

There are 18 options available on the menu at Sun Basket. Many meal kits only offer a fraction of that to choose from. I love that Sun Basket has so many menu items to choose from!

Mediterranean Tomato Braised Cod from Sun Basket - Review - GIVE IT A WHIRL GIRL
Mediterranean Tomato Braised Cod from Sun Basket

Only the best ingredients go into your Sun Basket

All of Sun Basket’s ingredients are sourced from organic produce and premium meats that are antibiotic and hormone free. The seafood is all wild-caught. The eggs are all pasture-raised organic eggs.

Recipes are also free from:
Added sugars, processed ingredients, and preservatives

Organic ingredients!

Expect nothing but the best from Sun Basket! Here is their statement about the organic ingredients that they provide:

Sun Basket strives to source organic produce 100% of the time. Currently over 99% of our produce is organic
We develop our recipes to use the best the season has to offer, so some ingredients may be different than depicted
Mother Nature can be fickle. On the rare occasion that we are unable to meet our organic promise, we’ll let you know with a note in your basket
All our tofu is made from organic, non-GMO soybeans
We are a USDA-certified organic handler, and all organic ingredients are clearly labeled on delivery (source)

First impression of Sun Basket

My first Sun Basket subscription box arrived on-time on a Tuesday morning. This was perfect for me because I was hoping to receive my dinner kit before dinner time on Tuesday. I have ordered other meal kits previously in the past and they came much too late in the day to prepare them that day for our meal and I had to wait until the next day to prep and prepare my dinner.

My Sun Basket box was quite heavy from the ice-pack that was packed inside. The box was insulated well throughout and all of my ingredients were kept cold. When I opened up my first box everything was inside individual meal kit bags and labeled. The meats were kept separate from the fresh produce ingredients, which was great. There were no loose items and everything was super fresh and all of my ingredients looked beautiful. You can tell that Sun Basket takes great pride in the meal kits that they ship out just by looking at the quality of the ingredients.

Sun Basket Meal Kit Subscription Box - Review - GIVE IT A WHIRL GIRL
Sun Basket Meal Kit Subscription Box
Sun Basket subscription box individually wrapped dinner kits - Review - GIVE IT A WHIRL GIRL
Sun Basket subscription box individually wrapped dinner kits

Here are some close-up images of the three different types of meat that were included.

Steak from Sun Basket - Review - GIVE IT A WHIRL GIRL
Steak from Sun Basket
Pork from Sun Basket - Review - GIVE IT A WHIRL GIRL
Pork from Sun Basket
Cod from Sun Basket - Review - GIVE IT A WHIRL GIRL
Cod from Sun Basket

Giving those meal kits a whirl!

Now I will be discussing each of the three meals and my experience preparing them and devouring them!

Seared Steak w/ Brussels Sprouts & Chipotle Mustard Vinaigrette

This recipe for the seared steak was so easy-peasy! A recipe booklet is provided with your order and I followed all of the directions in the recipe exactly how it was written. The first step was to sear the steak and I did this with my cast iron pan. I love my steak medium-rare so I cooked it only for a few moments on each side and gave it a nice sear.

After the steak was cooked to my liking, I cooked the fresh vegetables that the kit came with. This particular kit came with Brussels sprouts, radishes, shredded cabbage, green onions, and garlic. I used the same cast iron pan that I cooked my steak in to cook the veggies. You do have to provide your own olive oil, salt, and pepper.

Ingredients for Seared Steak w/ Brussels Sprouts & Chipotle Mustard Vinaigrette - Review - GIVE IT A WHIRL GIRL
Ingredients for Seared Steak w/ Brussels Sprouts & Chipotle Mustard Vinaigrette
Searing the steak for my Sun Basket meal - Review - GIVE IT A WHIRL GIRL
Searing the steak for my Sun Basket meal
Cooking the veggies for my Sun Basket meal - Review - GIVE IT A WHIRL GIRL
Cooking the veggies for my Sun Basket meal

And here are a couple images of the final product! I may have cooked my steak rarer than medium-rare but that was fine with me. I love my steaks to be reddish and pink throughout. You will never see me eating a well-done steak that tastes like shoe leather! This meal was fantastic and the Chipotle Mustard Vinaigrette was a very welcomed and nice touch. I never had a sauce like that EVER on my steak. It was a tad bit on the spicy side but not too spicy. I also really enjoyed the warm radishes in this Sun Basket meal. It has never occurred to me to try radishes warm because I always just thought of them as a cold ingredient in a salad. Thanks to Sun Basket I am now inspired to try out warm radishes in other meals that I cook up!

Seared Steak with Brussels Sprouts and Chipotle Mustard Vinaigrette (Sun Basket) - Review - GIVE IT A WHIRL GIRL
Seared Steak with Brussels Sprouts and Chipotle Mustard Vinaigrette (Sun Basket)
$35 off your first Sun Basket order with this Sun Basket coupon code
$35 off your first Sun Basket order with this Sun Basket coupon code

Mediterranean Tomato Braised Cod with Broccoli and Preserved Lemon

This fish dish was so simple to create in the comfort of my own home and this one really packed a punch of gourmet flavor! This Sun Basket meal was exquisite and it tasted like something that a chef would have prepared for me at a fancy restaurant… true story! My family does not eat seafood so I got to hog up this meal all for myself. I did not eat the entire two helpings on my own but I almost did!

Never have I worked with preserved lemon but I know that it is an ingredient often used in Mediterranean cooking. I’m all about trying new things so I was excited and thrilled to give it a whirl. It really brightened up this dish! It gave it some acidity and gave the cod fish that lemony flavor that I adore with my cod.

This meal didn’t take too long to prepare and there was not much prep involved either. I started out with chopping the broccoli into smaller pieces and sauteed it with some olive oil. I did alter this recipe just a bit. Then I added some shallots and minced garlic to complement the broccoli and that proved to be an excellent idea. The most difficult part of the preparation of this Sun Basket meal, for me, was chopping the cod up into smaller pieces. I could really use some nice new professional chef knives. If you have a great set then this part will be simple but my dinky knives had a hard time getting a nice clean slice on the fish so my fish got mangled up just a bit.

Mediterranean Tomato Braised Cod with Broccoli and Preserved Lemon - Sun Basket Review - GIVE IT A WHIRL GIRL
Mediterranean Tomato Braised Cod with Broccoli and Preserved Lemon

Orange Chipotle Glazed Pork W/ Coleslaw & Roasted Sweet Potato

Orange Chipotle Glazed Pork w/ Apple Slaw and Roasted Sweet Potato (Sun Basket) Review - GIVE IT A WHIRL GIRL
Orange Chipotle Glazed Pork w/ Apple Slaw and Roasted Sweet Potato (Sun Basket)

This was the third Sun Basket meal that I tried and this was another clear winner in my eyes. This recipe was simple to prepare and cook. The ingredients were all organic and clean and everything added up to a delicious, nutritious meal. I used my cast iron pan to cook the pork and I got a nice orange glaze on it. My daughter loved the pork so much she was asking for seconds.

The apple slaw was an interesting side-dish. I have never had a coleslaw like that before. The slaw dressing was two simple ingredients: apple cider vinegar and honey, and it was already prepared and ready to use so I did not have to do any mixing.

If I had one small complaint about this meal it would have only been the size of the sweet potato provided. My sweet potato was on the small side and the roasted sweet potato with smoked paprika was so delicious we were all wishing for more.

Orange Chipotle Glazed Pork w/ Apple Slaw and Roasted Sweet Potato Sun Basket Review - GIVE IT A WHIRL GIRL
Orange Chipotle Glazed Pork w/ Apple Slaw and Roasted Sweet Potato

Final thoughts

I was thoroughly impressed with Sun Basket and this is most definitely is a subscription box that I will be subscribing to again in the future. I have tried other meal kits previously and this one really stood out to me with the quality of their recipes. These meals were so simple to create and they were really coming through as having gourmet flavor! What’s better than having a gourmet flavor at home and knowing that you were the one that prepared and created that dish? These meal kits brought out the inner-chef in me.

I love that they have a huge menu to choose from each week with 18 choices. Everything on the menu sounds so wonderful and it is hard to narrow it down because I just wanted to try it all! I also appreciate the fact that Sun Basket has plenty of paleo and gluten-free options.

I hope that you all enjoyed this Sun Basket review and it inspires you to sign up with the discount and give it a whirl today.

Have you ever tried a meal kit subscription box? What did you love about it and which one(s) have you tried?

Curious about Sun Basket after reading my Sun Basket review?

You can click the banner below and claim the Sun Basket coupon for $35 off your first order.

Sun Basket coupon for $35 off your order
Sun Basket coupon for $35 off

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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.


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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!

Fresh Sushi Variety Pack #3 from Kroger
Fresh Sushi Variety Pack #3 from Kroger
A variety of fresh sushi that I brought home from Kroger
A variety of fresh sushi that I brought home from Kroger
Close-up of my sushi from Kroger. Looks pretty good huh?!
Close-up of my sushi from Kroger. Looks pretty good huh?!
Variety Pack #3 Sushi from Kroger
Variety Pack #3 Sushi from Kroger

 

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.

 

 





Birthday Cake Flavor – Protein Galore – Healthy Hot List

Here is another edition of my Healthy Hot List featuring all health food items that are birthday cake flavor! Protein galore over there today!! I am completely obsessed with this flavor profile right now. Possibly because birthday cake flavor conjures up some great childhood memories. Who doesn’t love birthday cake? I feel as though that is a universal flavor that most people can get on-board with. Often times in life our first taste of sweets and sugar is from the first bite of birthday cake at our first birthday party.

This list is chock ful of birthday cake flavored items that focus on protein. I sure could use a boost in my protein and these items make it convenient to get in your daily recommended intake.

Optimum Nutrition Protein Cake Bites, Whipped Protein Bar, Flavor: Birthday Cake Flavor, 12 Count

I just had to go ahead and put one of my favorite birthday cake flavor items here at the top of the Healthy Hot List. I love these little bite-sized tasty morsels from Optimum Nutrition. Each package contains 3 Cake Bites and each 3-piece serving is going to give you a generous 20 grams of protein. If birthday cake flavor is not your jam you probably won’t be into this list but Optimum Nutrition has some other flavor offerings: Chocolate Dipped Cherry, Red Velvet, New Chocolate Frosted Donut, Mint Chocolate, Peanut Butter, Fruity Cereal, and Blueberry Cheesecake.

Optimum Nutrition Birthday Cake Bites
Optimum Nutrition Birthday Cake Bites

FITCRUNCH 6-Layer Birthday Cake Flavor Whey Protein Bars by Chef Irvine- 12 Pack

This is a 12 pack of birthday cake flavored whey protein bars. These are packed with that cake flavor that you crave in not just one layer, but 6 layers! These birthday cake protein bars come in at 30 grams of protein and only 6 grams of sugar. If you are following a gluten-free diet, you are in luck because these bars are also gluten-free! There is also a variety pack available with four different Fit Crunch flavors.

FIT CRUNCH Birthday Cake Flavor Whey Protein Bars
FIT CRUNCH Birthday Cake Flavor Whey Protein Bars

Buff Bake Birthday Cake Flavor Protein Cookies – 12 Count Package

Kudos to Buff Bake for creating a soft baked birthday cake flavor protein cookie. I absolutely love these as a quick snack. These are some giant cookies and sometimes I only eat half and save the other half for later. Each cookie has 16 grams of protein. They are also a great source of fiber with 15 grams per serving. These are great cookies for those who are gluten-free.

Buff Bake Birthday Cake Flavor Protein Cookies - 12 Count Package
Buff Bake Birthday Cake Flavor Protein Cookies – 12 Count Package


Buff Bake also has an incredible Birthday Flavor Cake Protein Almond Spread. This nut butter is low in sugar and high in protein. There are 11 grams of protein per 2 tablespoon serving.

Buff Bake Birthday Cake Protein Almond Spread
Buff Bake Birthday Cake Protein Almond Spread

It is pretty obvious and clear that Buff Bake loves to represent that birthday cake flavor! Here are some Protein Sandwich Cookies from Buff Bake.

Protein Sandwich Cookies - 12 Grams of Whey Protein Snacks, Gluten Free, Non-GMO (Birthday Cake, 8 Count, 1.79 oz)
Protein Sandwich Cookies – 12 Grams of Whey Protein Snacks, Gluten Free, Non-GMO (Birthday Cake, 8 Count, 1.79 oz)

Grenade Carb Killa Protein Bars, Triple-Layered Deliciously Crunchy High Protein Bar -Birthday Cake Flavor, 2.12 Ounce (Pack of 12)

These birthday cake flavored protein bars from Carb Killa have awesome packaging, will give them credit and props for that. There are 23 grams of protein in each bar, tons of fiber, and only 1 gram of sugar. These are also gluten-free. Hook a girl up! There are a ton of other flavors available so why not go with a variety pack!

Grenade Carb Killa Protein Bars, Triple-Layered Deliciously Crunchy High Protein Bar - Suitable Meal Replacement for Weight Loss, Birthday Cake, 2.12 Ounce (Pack of 12)
Grenade Carb Killa Protein Bars, Triple-Layered Deliciously Crunchy High Protein Bar – Suitable Meal Replacement for Weight Loss, Birthday Cake, 2.12 Ounce (Pack of 12)

NOOSH Keto Almond Butter (Birthday Cake Flavor, 15 Count) – Perfect on the go Keto snack. All Natural, Vegan, Gluten Free, Soy Free

I stumbled upon this birthday cake flavor nut butter by Noosh yesterday and was instantly intrigued. I love that this is a keto, vegan, gluten-free on-the-go tasty treat. You will receive 15 servings of birthday cake flavor almond butter in convenient packaging so it is portable. If you are following a low-carb diet this nut butter would incorporate right into your carb-conscious diet with only 2 grams of carbs per serving.

NOOSH Keto Almond Butter (Birthday Cake, 15 Count) - Perfect on the go Keto snack. All Natural, Vegan, Gluten Free, Soy Free
NOOSH Keto Almond Butter (Birthday Cake, 15 Count) – Perfect on the go Keto snack. All Natural, Vegan, Gluten Free, Soy Free


Continue reading “Birthday Cake Flavor – Protein Galore – Healthy Hot List”

Paleo Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake RECIPE (Vegan, Gluten-Free)

Saturdays are my favorite days of the week to get in the Give It A Whirl Girl kitchen and whip up a tasty treat for my family to enjoy. This weekend I created a vegan and gluten-free, no-bake Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake. Is there anything in this world better than edible chocolate chip cookie dough? Hell no! This Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake is completely safe to indulge in and does not contain any eggs which are typically found in cookies. The filling is of this cheesecake mimics the real deal quite well and my little family of 3 absolutely loved this faux cheesecake recipe.

I think that it is a universal idea that raw cookie dough is the bomb! When I was a little girl and my mom whipped up a batch of cookies I always had to have a taste of the cookie dough on the spatula. I would give it a good lick and the taste of raw cookie dough is pure, straight up comfort food! Am I right?

Raw cookie dough almost always has eggs in it, and let’s face it… raw eggs can get you sick with salmonella nowadays and that is the last thing in the world that anyone needs. This recipe is perfect for those that admire that taste of raw cookie dough. If you don’t feel like creating an entire cheesecake with this recipe, go ahead and just create the filling and indulge in that with a spoon or use something to dip in it. The filling on its own makes a great dip!

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake
Vegan-friendly and gluten-free Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake
Vegan-friendly and gluten-free Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake

Creating the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake

This cheesecake has a very rich taste thanks to the 4th & Heart ghee that I used. If you are able to get hour hands on the 4th & Heart vanilla ghee I am sure that would be fantastic in this recipe as well. In my cheesecakes, I always go with coconut oil but for this one, I swapped that out for ghee since chocolate chip cookies are full of butter. The ghee turned out the be a wise choice. When I took that first bite of this cheesecake I knew that using ghee in this recipe was a smart decision. I used coconut oil a couple months ago to make a cookie dough cheesecake, and while it was delicious this recipe with the ghee knocked it out of the park!

It may seem as though this recipe has a lot of ingredients. If you have a well-stocked pantry, chances are you already have most of the items on the ingredient list. There are also some kitchen items, such as a good-sized food processor, that you will need. A springform pan is essential as well in order to create a cheesecake. A standard 8-inch size will do. If you use anything larger you will have to increase the amount of the ingredients in the chocolate ganache topping.

Most of the ingredients
Most of the ingredients

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake crust

The first step of this recipe is to create the crust of the cheesecake. For the crust of this cookie dough cheesecake, I used a mix of Medjool dates, raw almonds, almond flour, finely shredded coconut, maple syrup, cacao powder, ghee, and some pure vanilla extract. This results in a chocolatey crust due to the added cacao powder. If you do not want a chocolate crust, simply just omit the cacao powder. The crust is gluten and grain-free. The crust has a nutty texture (from the almonds) and the perfect amount of chocolate flavor.

Crust ingredients in the food processor
Crust ingredients in the food processor
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough chocolate crust pressed into a springform pan
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough chocolate crust pressed into a springform pan

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake filling

The filling is composed of raw cashews, almond flour, coconut flour, ghee, maple syrup, lemon juice, coconut sugar, and vegan dark chocolate chips. This is the part of cheesecake that is all about that edible cookie dough flavor. The soaked cashews mixed with that little bit of lemon juice, believe it or not, are going to imitate a cheesecake. This type of formula with the cashews and lemon juice is very versatile and you can totally get creative here with your non-dairy, vegan cheesecake. I posted some other recipes for cheesecakes at the bottom of this post.


Filling made... just need to stir in some chocolate chips
Filling made… just need to stir in some chocolate chips
Filling smoothed out over the crust. Just needs a chocolate ganche topping.
Filling smoothed out over the crust. Just needs a chocolate ganche topping.
Close up of the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake
Close up of the Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake topping

For this Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake, we are going to top it off with a simple chocolate ganache that is only 2 ingredients: vegan dark chocolate chips (from Enjoy Life Foods) and just a dab of coconut oil to smooth it all out. This is my daughter’s favorite part of any cheesecake that I create. Gee, I wonder why? Could it be because she is a chocolate lover like myself? This is the first part that she always goes for when I cut her a slice.

Melting down some dark chocolate chips for the topping
Melting down some dark chocolate chips for the topping
Slice of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake
Slice of Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake

Continue reading “Paleo Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake RECIPE (Vegan, Gluten-Free)”

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
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.

Browning the grass-fed beef
Browning the grass-fed beef
Grass-fed beef, tomatoes, shallots, and minced garlic
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.

Tillamook Sharp Cheddar Cheese
Tillamook Sharp Cheddar Cheese
SkinnyTaste Cheeseburger Casserole before going in the oven
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.

Cheeseburger Casserole from SkinnyTaste
Cheeseburger Casserole from SkinnyTaste

 

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.

 

 

Must-Have Healthy Food Products (Gluten-Free, Vegan, Paleo, Whole 30, or Keto) Healthy Hot List – Part 3

Hello friends and readers! On this day I will bring to you more of my top items on my Healthy Hot List. This list contains healthy food and the products that will also help you create them. The healthy foods that I have included in this compiled list are for a variety of diets: gluten-free, vegan, paleo, Whole 30, or keto. I also figured that this week I would throw in a couple products as well that will help you create your own healthy foods at home. The ones that are included here are quite essential for a kitchen that cranks out healthy eats. I am really wishing and hoping for everything on this list this week. Enjoy and I hope you see something that catches your eye!

 

Healthy Food Items That Made The Cut For My Healthy Hot List Part 3

 

Vitamix A3500 Brushed Stainless Blender

A Vitamix blender has been the most wanted item on my wishlist for some time now, at least a couple of years now. These are professional grade machines that are known for getting the job done. These dream machines will help you whip up your next smoothie bowl, soup, nut butter, or nice-cream with ease. I think a good blender is a necessity in the kitchen if you want to create healthy food and the Vitamix blender would be a great place to start.

Vitamix Blender
Vitamix Blender

LILY’S Chocolate – Super Variety – 1 Of Each Flavor Creamy Milk, Almond, Coconut, Salted Almond Milk, Original, Crispy Rice – 3 Oz

I have yet to try Lily’s Chocolate but I have been curious about it for some time now. This variety pack contains the following flavors: Creamy Milk, Almond, Coconut, Salted Almond Milk, Original, Crispy Rice. A variety pack seems like the way to go for a newbie like myself. Lily’s Chocolate is sweetened with Stevia and contains fewer calories than your regular chocolate bar. These chocolate bars contain only, non-GMO products. Sign me up for some of that healthy chocolate!

Lily's Chocolate Variety Pack Candy Bars
Lily’s Chocolate Variety Pack Candy Bars




TRUWOMEN Plant-Based Protein Bars, Daydreaming About Donuts (12 Count) | Non-GMO, Vegan, Gluten Free, Kosher, Soy Free, Dairy Free, Healthy Snack Bar, Natural Ingredients | 12g Protein

TRUWOMEN is one of my go-to brands for nutritious and delicious protein bars that come in some very fun to eat flavors. Check out all the fun flavors of TRUWOMEN protein bars and check out my review on the blog.

TRUWOMEN Daydreaming About Donuts
TRUWOMEN Daydreaming About Donuts


 

Birthday Cake Protein Packed Flavor Topper, Gluten-Free, Non-GMO, No Preservatives, No Fillers, and No Artificial Flavoring (Birthday Cake, 4.25 Ounces)

This birthday cake flavor topper is created by Oh My Spice and is a protein powerhouse with two grams of protein per 1/2 tablespoon serving. It is suggested to top your favorite oatmeal, smoothie, or popcorn with this flavoring. I think it would be great with some vanilla ice cream or Greek yogurt as well.

Oh My Spice Birthday Cake Flavor
Oh My Spice Birthday Cake Flavor


 

Clean Eating Print Magazine

I am a subscriber to this Clean Eating magazine and I absolutely love it. It is full of healthy food recipes and educational articles about how to eat clean. I have learned a lot by reading this magazine and I find it to be quite inspiring. Clean eating does not have to be bland or boring. This magazine is chockful of wonderful meals to help you stay on track.

Clean Eating Print Magazine Subscription
Clean Eating Print Magazine Subscription



 

Cuisinart DFP-14BCNY 14-Cup Food Processor, Brushed Stainless Steel

Have you seen my latest vegan/gluten-free cheesecake recipe? If you want to get on-board the healthy cheesecake train then you are going to need a good food processor to get the job done. This Cuisinart model seems like a good one to go with based on the great reviews of it. This is the one I have my eye on when I decided to upgrade. Food processors are a necessity in the kitchen if you want to crank out some healthy food. I also use mine for whipping up nice-creams.

Cuisinart Food Processor
Cuisinart Food Processor



 

Tessemae’s All Natural Dressing and Sauces Variety 8 pack – Whole30 Certified, soy-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, keto approved

As many of you already know I am a huge fan of Primal Kitchen but there is another brand out there that I have a lot of love for too and that is Tessemae’s. These salad dressings and sauces are Whole 30 compliant and paleo-friendly and only contain natural ingredients. This variety pack has everything that you need to get on your way to an awesome salad or an incredible meal. This variety pack contains the following products: Organic BBQ Barbecue Sauce, Organic Ketchup, Hot Buffalo Sauce Marinade, Organic Creamy Ranch Dressing (or Marinade), Organic Creamy Caesar Salad Dressing, Organic Habanero Ranch Dressing (or Marinade), Organic Lemon Garlic (for Dressing or Marinade), and (1) Organic Balsamic Vinaigrette Dressing.

Tessemae's Variety Pack
Tessemae’s Variety Pack



Primal Kitchen Coupon Code - 10% Off
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Save 10% off your next order at Primal Kitchen.

Primal Kitchen has items for your paleo, Whole 30, keto, and gluten-free diet and lifestyle.

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Paderno World Cuisine 6-Blade Vegetable Slicer / Spiralizer, Counter-Mounted and includes 6 Different Stainless Steel Blades

Veggie noodles are all the rage these days and for good reason~ they are good and they are lower in carbs than traditional pasta noodles. I have this model of spiralizer from Paderno and I have had it for a couple of years. It is still going strong and the blades are still sharp. This model comes with six different blades so you can create a variety of faux noodles. There are numerous vegetables that you can use to create veggie noodles. What I love most about these veggie noodles is that they actually taste great and can liven up a dish.

Paderno Spiralizer
Paderno Spiralizer

Four Sigmatic Mushroom Ground Coffee, USDA Organic and Fair Trade Coffee with Chaga and Lion’s Mane mushrooms Vegan, Paleo, 12 Ounce, Dark roast

This mushroom coffee by Four Sigmatic is known to boost brain function. The ingredients inside this coffee can improve focus, concentration, creativity, and productivity. I could totally use something like this in my morning routine.

Four Sigmatic Mushroom Coffee
Four Sigmatic Mushroom Coffee

Epic All Natural Meat Bar, Bison, Uncured Bacon and Cranberry, 1.3 oz. (12 Count)

I actually discovered this Epic Bar through a Free Friday Download at my local Kroger store. I got this flavor as a freebie to try and it was love at first bite and really fulfilled my primal-eating instinct. It was my first encounter with trying bison meat and it was both sweet and savory. These Epic Bars are a great snack when you need to refuel your body.

Epic Bars Bison and Cranberry
Epic Bars Bison and Cranberry

 


 

What healthy food items caught your eye this week on my Healthy Hot List? Will you be ordering anything so you can give it a whirl? Leave me a comment and let me know.

 


Check out my ButcherBox review on the blog

Kettle &amp; Fire Bone Broth - Shop Now

Check out my Kettle & Fire review on the blog and find out how you can save with my Kettle & Fire coupon

15% OFF At Skinny Dipped Almonds
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Clip this coupon to save 15% off your next order at Skinny Dipped Almonds.

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Check out my Skinny Dipped Almonds review and find out how you can save with my Skinny Dipped Almonds coupon.

 

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Save 10% on your next order at Kiss My Keto

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Save at Kiss My Keto with my Kiss My Keto coupon.

Warm Sunbutter & Raspberry Jelly Sandwich On Bob’s Red Mill Bread

Bob’s Red Mill Wonderful Gluten-Free bread mix once again over here in the Give It A Whirl Girl Kitchen. This time I was craving a peanut butter & jelly sandwich so I ventured into the kitchen to make my own loaf of bread. I also had some jars of Sunbutter Sunflower Seed Spread that I needed to try out and a jar of Herkner Farms Champagne Raspberry Preserves that I picked up at Devries & Company 1887. I had all of my ingredients and all I kept thinking about was how this would be the greatest wannabe peanut butter & jelly sandwich of all time. This was my first time giving Sunbutter a whirl and I was so excited to try it.

Bob's Red Mill Gluten-Free Wonderful Bread, with Sunbutter, and champagne raspberry jelly sandwich
Bob’s Red Mill Gluten-Free Wonderful Bread, with Sunbutter, and champagne raspberry jelly sandwich

It all starts with Bob’s Red Mill 

Oh boy… I am blogging about this Wonderful Bread Mix once again! Let me tell you this… this gluten-free mix truly is wonderful and that is why it is in the name of the product. I have a problem getting my gluten-free breads to fluff up when I use my own recipe and ingredients. Maybe it is just me but my gluten-free bread do not rise up much. Bob’s Red Mill does include a yeast packet with the mix and that is probably why this mix results in a soft and fluffy loaf with the perfect bread crust. I had a wonderful feeling that this fluffy bread would pair well with my Organic Sunbutter Spread.

Continue reading “Warm Sunbutter & Raspberry Jelly Sandwich On Bob’s Red Mill Bread”

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

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.

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)”

Must-Have Healthy Food Products (Gluten-Free, Vegan, Paleo, Whole 30, or Keto) Healthy Hot List – Part 2

Welcome to another installment of the Healthy Hot List! This is now a regular feature over here at Give It A Whirl Girl. There are health food items everywhere I look nowadays. People are focusing on health and wellness and fueling their bodies with healthy and nutritious foods. This is where I break down those must-have health food items that you just gotta try.

Some I have tried and I can vouch that they are great, while others are just sitting around on my Amazon wishlist waiting to be swept up and brought over here. I also added a few supplements to this list, two of which I have tried, and another that I want to give a whirl.

You can read Part One of the Healthy Hot List HERE

 

Healthy Hot List Part 2 – Must-Have Health Food Products

 

Vanilla Bean Grass-Fed Ghee Butter by 4th & Heart, Pasture Raised, Non-GMO, Lactose-Free, Certified Paleo, Keto-Friendly

4th & Heart Vanilla Ghee
4th & Heart Vanilla Ghee

Want to take your next baking project up a notch? Why not try out 4th & Heart Vanilla Bean Ghee Butter in your next recipe? When I think of great ghee this brand here certainly comes to mind. The wonderful thing about this ghee is that it is spreadable and does not require any refrigeration. Ghee is a clarified butter with milk solids removed so there is nothing here that will spoil. Available in chocolate too!

Move over dairy coffee creamers that are laden with sugar and calories! Nutpods is my new favorite coffee cream. These are unsweetened and taste rich and smooth in my coffee. Each 1 tablespoon serving is a mere 10 calories and ZERO grams of sugar. Nutpods are made with coconut cream, almonds, and other natural flavors.

 

Nutpods Variety Pack Coffee Creamer
Nutpods Variety Pack Coffee Creamer


CAULIPOWER Paleo Cauliflower Pizza Crusts, Grain Free, Gluten Free, Non-GMO, Lower Carb (4 Crusts)

I bought myself a Caulipower paleo crust for a Greek pizza this week. I am excited to work with this blank canvas gluten-free crust. You can read my veggie pizza review: HERE. What a time it is to be alive with a cauliflower pizza crust that takes the place of regular pizza crust so well. The veggie pizza that I tried had a great crisp crust. No soggy cauliflower there. I have a great feeling that this paleo crust will by a go-to product for my next pizza concoction.
Caulipower Cauliflower Crust
Caulipower Cauliflower Crust

Rao’s Tomato Basil Sauce

I have been hearing a lot about this brand of pasta sauce. This marinara from Rao’s contains only pure and natural simple ingredients and Italian tomatoes. I will say that it seems to be a bit on the pricey side but if you are looking for a high-quality sauce for your next Italian dinner look no further than to Rao’s.

No tomato blends, paste, water, starches, filler, colors or added sugar. (source)

Rao's Homemade Tomato Basil Pasta Sauce
Rao’s Homemade Tomato Basil Pasta Sauce

Primal Kitchen – Avocado Oil-Based Mayo, Garlic Aioli, 12 oz, Gluten and Dairy Free, Whole30 and Paleo Approved

I just used this Primal Kitchen Garlic Aioli Mayo last night to whip up one hell of a tasty tuna salad with some sundried tomatoes in it! This was my first time using this mayo (I have used the regular one previously) and I love the added garlic flavor in this. Primal Kitchen takes pride in only using all natural and pure ingredients in their food. This mayo is the first avocado oil-based of its kind.

A creamy combination of garlic, lemon, and cage-free eggs, this savory mayonnaise spread is infused with real food ingredients and uncompromisingly delicious taste. (source)

Primal Kitchen Garlic Aioli Mayo
Primal Kitchen Garlic Aioli Mayo

You can save on your order at Primal Kitchen with my special Primal Kitchen coupon code

Primal Kitchen Coupon Code - 10% Off
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Save 10% off your next order at Primal Kitchen.

Primal Kitchen has items for your paleo, Whole 30, keto, and gluten-free diet and lifestyle.

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Birch Benders Pancake & Waffle Mix Health Variety Pack, Gluten Free, Protein, Paleo, Pack of 3

Awesome pancake mix alert right over here! I have used Birch Benders to whip up some delicious and fluffy chocolate chip pancakes recently. Their mix is one of my go-to brands and I am always happy with how these pancakes turn out. This particular brand has great reviews on Amazon, and for a great reason, they are fantastic!

Birch Benders Pancake & Waffle Mix
Birch Benders Pancake & Waffle Mix


Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Homemade Wonderful Bread Mix, 16-ounce (Pack of 4)

Bob’s Red Mill is a brand that I rely upon heavily for quality products. I have tried several in their line and have never felt let down. This Wonderful Bread Mix is gluten-free and results in a wonderful, fluffy loaf of bread. Considering the fact that this bread is gluten-free, it does a great job of mimicking regular whole grain bread. You can read more about this bread mix on my two posts on the blog: HERE and HERE.

Bob's Red Mill Wonderful Bread Mix
Bob’s Red Mill Wonderful Bread Mix

Garden of Life Kombucha – Vitamin Code Raw Dietary Supplement with Probiotics and B Complex, Vegan, 60 Capsules

This supplement by Garden of Life is something that I recently came across that intrigued me. Drinking kombucha gets expensive when you add up all of those bottles. This supplement has all of the healthy gut benefits that you will find in kombucha and it comes in capsule form. This supplement is great for boosting energy and your immune system.


Vitamin Code Raw Kombucha Supplement
Vitamin Code Raw Kombucha Supplement

Purely Inspired 7-Day Cleanse, Flush Excess Waste, 42 Count Cleanse Supplement

This is a product I have actually tried quite a few times. Without going into too much detail or getting graphic, this gentle cleanse by Purely Inspired will release any backed up waste that you are walking around with and storing in your body. I take my capsules and in the evening I am ready to go! This product never gave me diarrhea but it sure did clean me out after a week of taking the capsules.

Purely Inspired 7 Day Cleanse Supplement
Purely Inspired 7 Day Cleanse Supplement

NatureWise Whole Food Multivitamin for Women | Whole Foods Complex with Vitamins & Minerals for Healthy Heart, Bones, Hair & Nails | Brain Health, Focus & Memory Boost with Cognizin Citicoline | 60 ct

I have tried several multivitamins that are on the market today and so far this one by NatureWise has been my favorite. I felt my best while taking this. The main thing that sucked me into purchasing this multivitamin was that it supports brain health. The older I get, the more brain fog I am getting. This supplement did seem to improve mental focus and did give me a boost in energy. I did not have any ill side effects while taking this and it was gentle on my stomach.

Naturewise Multivitamin & Minerals Supplement
Naturewise Multivitamin & Minerals Supplement

Have you tried any of the health food products on this list? What health food item do you want to try out?

Leave me a comment and let me know.

DISCLAIMER: I am not a health or medical professional. This content is for entertainment purposes only and not to be taken as any medical advice. Please consult with your doctor before taking supplements if you have any health concerns. I am not responsible for any side-effects that may occur from supplements and vitamins listed here.

Curious about ButcherBox? Read my ButcherBox review HERE.

Want to learn more about Kettle & Fire? Check out my Kettle & Fire review HERE.

Primal Kitchen Honey Mustard Chicken With Roasted Brussels Sprouts & Air-Fryer Fingerling Potatoes

Every single time I use Primal Kitchen in my meals I am never disappointed. That was the case last night when I used the Primal Kitchen Honey Mustard marinade and vinaigrette on my grilled chicken breast. When people think about healthy eating they often think foods are bland and boring. They do not have to be that way. I have changed my eating habits a little over a year ago. My family is on this clean eating adventure with me and they are a-okay with most of it. We are probably the number one fan honey mustard marinade from Primal Kitchen.

Primal Kitchen Honey Mustard With Roasted Brussels Sprouts & Air-Fryer Fingerling Potatoes
Primal Kitchen Honey Mustard With Roasted Brussels Sprouts & Air-Fryer Fingerling Potatoes

Primal Kitchen Honey Mustard Marinade / Vinaigrette

The first thing I did with this dinner was marinated my chicken breast. I went with the Primal Kitchen Honey Mustard marinade last night and I broke out the marinade in the morning and let my chicken soak up the flavor all day. This honey mustard marinade is one of my top favorites from Primal Kitchen. This marinade has a bit of tang a bit of sweetness. It is perfectly balanced.

No weird ingredients in Primal Kitchen

Want to know what is on the label for this Primal Kitchen honey mustard marinade? Simple and pure ingredients and that is it! Here are the ingredients:

Avocado Oil, Water, Organic Apple Cider Vinegar, Organic Stone Ground Mustard (Water, Organic Mustard Seeds, Organic Vinegar, Sea Salt, Organic Spices), Organic Honey, Organic Lemon Juice Concentrate, Sea Salt

Primal Kitchen is paleo-approved

If following a paleo diet is important to you, great news! This honey mustard marinade is perfectly paleo friendly. I am not 100% paleo so I just slap the label “paleo-ISH” on myself.  This Primal Kitchen honey mustard marinade will fit right into to your clean-eating lifestyle.

Time to bust out the trusty ol’ cast iron grill pan

My preferred method of cooking chicken is with my Lodge cast iron grill pan. I use this pan for my steaks as well. If you want a juicy, succulent, and tender piece of meat this is the way to go.

Primal Kitchen Honey Mustard Chicken grilling on a Lodge cast iron grill pan
Primal Kitchen Honey Mustard Chicken grilling on a Lodge cast iron grill pan. See those awesome grill marks? YAS!

What’s on the chopping block?

We had a tasty combo of vegetables for this meal. I decided to roast the brussels sprouts in the honey mustard marinade. I roasted them in the oven at 400-degrees for about 25 minutes. We also had some fingerling potatoes. I placed them in a bowl and drizzled them in extra virgin olive oil, garlic salt, pepper, rosemary, and thyme.

Fingerling potatoes and brussels sprouts on the cutting board
Fingerling potatoes and brussels sprouts on the cutting board

 

Want perfectly fried potatoes? Use your air-fryer!

For the fingerling potatoes, I used NuWave my air-fryer to fry them up. After air-frying them at 390-degrees for about 20 minutes they came out with the perfect doneness. The skin was nice and crisp and exactly how you want to eat a fried potato. The rosemary and thyme gave them a wonderful flavor throughout.


20180928_0732161315106316.jpg

I have an older model of the Nuwave air-fryer. I have been using it for a couple of years now and it is still going strong. If you want to give an air-fryer a whirl there is a new model on Amazon. This model is a 6-quart air-fryer and using this is the best method for a healthier alternative to fried foods. Two of my favorite items to use my air-fryer for are fries (obviously) and my pickle-marinated chicken tenders, which I will make a point to blog about soon because I am craving them.

Final thoughts

Primal Kitchen Honey Mustard With Roasted Brussels Sprouts & Air-Fryer Fingerling Potatoes
Primal Kitchen Honey Mustard With Roasted Brussels Sprouts & Air-Fryer Fingerling Potatoes

I will be honest and blunt here (sorry Joe!) but I never envisioned my husband maintaining a healthy diet. Before we were married he lived off Little Caesar’s Hot & Ready pizzas and nachos smothered in processed cheese. When we were eating our healthy dinner last night I heard some moans and mmm’s coming out of him while he was devouring his plate of food. Any time he makes I sound like that I know I did a great job whipping up dinner. Maybe I deserve a little medal or trophy for getting this man on the healthy train? Or at least a little pat on the back?

It is also important that my 8-year-old daughter, Chloe, adapts to healthy eating habits as well. I believe I am on the right path because she does enjoy most meals and often asks for seconds.

Primal Kitchen Honey Mustard With Roasted Brussels Sprouts & Air-Fryer Fingerling Potatoes
Primal Kitchen Honey Mustard With Roasted Brussels Sprouts & Air-Fryer Fingerling Potatoes
Primal Kitchen Honey Mustard With Roasted Brussels Sprouts & Air-Fryer Fingerling Potatoes
Primal Kitchen Honey Mustard With Roasted Brussels Sprouts & Air-Fryer Fingerling Potatoes
Primal Kitchen Honey Mustard With Roasted Brussels Sprouts & Air-Fryer Fingerling Potatoes
Primal Kitchen Honey Mustard With Roasted Brussels Sprouts & Air-Fryer Fingerling Potatoes

Have you ever tried any of Primal Kitchen’s items? Which one is your fave? Leave me a comment and let me know.

 

Want to save some dough at Primal Kitchen?

Use my special discount code GIVEITAWHIRL10 to save!

Primal Kitchen Coupon GIVEITAWHIRL10 - Save on dressings, marinades, condiments, cooking oils, and more!

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Primal Kitchen Honey Mustard Chicken With Roasted Brussels Sprouts & Air-Fryer Fingerling Potatoes by Give It A Whirl Girl

 

Primal Kitchen Honey Mustard Chicken With Roasted Brussels Sprouts & Air-Fryer Fingerling Potatoes by Give It A Whirl Girl

 

Here are some other Give It A Whirl Girl posts you might enjoy!

Paleo Vegetable Beef Soup RECIPE by Give IT A Whirl Girl - Slow-Cooker, Gluten-Free

Gluten-Free Chicken Pot Pie Soup - How I Created It (Almost Paleo!) by Give It A Whirl Girl

How To Make Primal Kitchen Lemon Turmeric Chicken and a Primal Kitchen Coupon by Give It A Whirl Girl


 

Healthy Hot List – Must-Have Health 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!

Caulipower Crust Variety Pack
Caulipower Crust Variety Pack

You might also love my: Greek Caulipower Pizza Recipe


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.

Primal Kitchen Avocado Oil Mayo Variety Pack
Primal Kitchen Avocado Oil Mayo Variety Pack




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.

Terrasoul Cacao Nibs
Terrasoul Cacao Nibs

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.

Mamma Chia Pouches Variety Pack
Mamma Chia Pouches Variety Pack

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.

Enjoy Life Foods Chocolate Chips
Enjoy Life Foods Chocolate Chips


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!

4th & Heart Grassfed GHEE Butter
4th & Heart Grassfed GHEE Butter

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.

Banza Chickpea Pasta Variety Pack
Banza Chickpea Pasta Variety Pack

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.

Nut Cravings Cashews
Nut Cravings Cashews

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.

Thai Kitchen Coconut Cream
Thai Kitchen Coconut Cream

 

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!

Kiss My Keto Chocolate Variety Pack
Kiss My Keto Chocolate Variety Pack



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.

 

 

Save with these coupons!

Kiss My Keto coupon

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Save 10% on your next order at Kiss My Keto

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Primal Kitchen coupon

Primal Kitchen Coupon Code - 10% Off
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Save 10% off your next order at Primal Kitchen.

Primal Kitchen has items for your paleo, Whole 30, keto, and gluten-free diet and lifestyle.

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Jordan’s Skinny Mixes coupon

10% off at Jordan's Skinny Mixes
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Want to give Jordan's Skinny Mixes and drink syrups a whirl?
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Primal Kitchen Greek Strip Steak, Applegate Bacon-Wrapped Rainbow Carrots, And Paleo Butternut Squash Soup – Gluten-Free

I really enjoy making a nice Sunday dinner for my family. Last night’s Sunday dinner turned out to be an exquisite one. Everything from start to finish was spectacular. For starting out I actually made a bowl of paleo butternut squash soup to go with our meal. I never make a soup to go with dinner. I just always make soups that you eat as an entire meal. For the main course, I had some grass-fed beef strip steaks marinated in Primal Kitchen Greek Vinaigrette and Marinade. For a side dish, I wrapped Applegate Sunday Bacon around some rainbow carrots (purple, orange, and white) that I picked up during our visit to Eastern Market. This was our first time trying out bacon-wrapped carrots and it certainly will not be the last. Lately, I just want to wrap everything up in bacon! Next up for me will be bacon-wrapped brussels sprouts.

Sunday Dinner - With Primal Kitchen Strip Steak, Applegate Bacon-Wrapped Rainbow Carrots, And Paleo Butternut Squash Soup
Sunday Dinner – With Primal Kitchen Strip Steak, Applegate Bacon-Wrapped Rainbow Carrots, And Paleo Butternut Squash Soup – Awesome Sunday dinner feast!

Marinating the steaks with Primal Kitchen Greek Vinaigrette and Marinade

Using a marinate overnight with your steak usually seems like a great idea that results in a flavorful, juicy steak. This was the case with the Primal Kitchen Greek Vinaigrette and Marinade from Primal Kitchen. I have never had a steak with a Greek marinade so I was not sure if we would enjoy this or not, but so far I have not been let down by a single Primal Kitchen item. They all excel in quality, taste, and fall within the realm of clean-eating.

These marinades are low-carb, paleo-friendly, Whole 30 compliant, and do not contain any added sugars. If you are looking into eating clean I highly recommend the products available from Primal Kitchen. No nonsense ingredients, just pure and simple healthy ingredients.

This particular Primal Kitchen Greek Vinaigrette and Marinade uses avocado oil as a base. It also contains oregano, black pepper, coriander, marjoram, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, and sea salt. These are all organic ingredients.


Roasted butternut squash soup – the paleo way

Butternut squash and rainbow carrots
Butternut squash and rainbow carrots

I had a great time going to Eastern Market for some fresh produce and great deals on them. You can read more about that experience HERE. We went towards the end of the day when the vendors are letting things go at low prices. I picked up this butternut squash for a buck. I really should have bought more because I really enjoy it this time of year.

To make the soup I removed the skin from the squash then cut and cubed it. Cutting squash, to me, is scary and difficult. I am always afraid I am going to chop off my hand. My knife skills are rusty and have a lot of room for improvement. After the squash was cut I placed it in a large mixing bowl. I drizzled olive oil on it and the used some garlic salt and pepper on it. I also added in a big squirt of some organic minced garlic. I had the oven preheated to 400-degrees and roasted them for about 30 minutes.

Once the squash was roasted I placed the cubed squash in my blender with a cup of chicken broth and most of a can of full-fat coconut milk. I seasoned it with some pumpkin pie spices that I got from the Spice Miser at Eastern Market. I was really wanting to get some delicious fall flavor with that seasoning and it sure did not disappoint. It came through and flavored this squash with the taste of autumn.

I kept the soup warm in my Staub dutch oven while I prepared the rest of my meal. I just let it simmer on low. I sure do love my Staub and that piece of cooking equipment will be in regular rotation here at the Give It A Whirl Girl kitchen. That pot is perfect for soups, stews, sauces, and one-pot meals. It is actually the greatest cooking tool that I currently own. It is super heavy-duty and I also love that it is dishwasher safe. I highly recommend getting one for your kitchen, they are especially great this time of year.

Roasted butternut squash ready to be turned into soup
Roasted butternut squash ready to be turned into soup


Info on Spice Miser

If you are ever browsing the sheds at Eastern Market you can’t pass up the Spice Miser setup. This is spice heaven! I never go to Eastern Market without coming home with some new spices and seasonings. I bought the Pumpkin Pie Spices. I really had no clue what I would do with it at the time I bought it but I figured I could put it to good use somehow.

So what’s inside?

The Pumpkin Pie Spices packet has the ingredients listed on the back and they are: ginger, cinnamon, allspice, and cloves

Those spices combined with the butternut squash gave it a wonderful flavor profile. I did not use up all of the packet so I will be trying it out again with something else. Perhaps acorn squash next time?

Spice Miser - Pumpkin Pie Spices - seasoning packet from Eastern Market
Spice Miser – Pumpkin Pie Spices – seasoning packet from Eastern Market – ginger, cinnamon, allspice, and cloves

Roasted rainbow carrots wrapped in Applegate Sunday Bacon

When I went to Eastern Market I was really on a mission to hunt down some of these rainbow carrots. In the bundle, you receive purple, white (or is it yellow), and orange. I love any food that is the color purple and the purple carrots are the best of any carrot I have ever had. I tracked down my carrots and I wrapped those beauties up in Applegate Sunday Bacon.

I roasted these gorgeous carrots in the oven at 450-degrees and they were ready at the 30-minute mark. The bacon came out with the perfect crispness and the carrots were fork tender.

Bundles of rainbow carrots at Eastern Market
Bundles of rainbow carrots at Eastern Market – I can not leave this place without taking home some purple and white carrots
Applegate Uncured Sunday Bacon and rainbow carrots ready for roasting
Applegate Uncured Sunday Bacon and rainbow carrots ready for roasting
Rainbow carrots wrapped in Applegate Sunday Bacon
Rainbow carrots wrapped in Applegate Sunday Bacon – roasting in the oven at 450-degrees

Cooking the steaks

Yeah, it is that time again… time to bust out that trusty ol’ Lodge Cast Iron Pan! A good cast iron pan is all you need to cook a steak that maintains its juice and comes out nice and tender. I simply just cooked the marinated steaks for a few minutes on each side and cooked it to a medium-rare temperature. These were grass-fed beef strip steaks and the one that I had was at least a good inch thick. Gosh I just love a big fat piece of meat. I’m so primal!


Time to dig in!

This was the type of dinner that just totally blows my mind. Everything about this meal was just excellence from start to finish. I was proud of myself for creating this meal for my family. I serve a lot of great meals but this one really stood out for me. I think that when you pour your heart and soul into a dinner it really shows and shines through.

Sunday Dinner - With Primal Kitchen Strip Steak, Applegate Bacon-Wrapped Rainbow Carrots, And Paleo Butternut Squash Soup - Awesome Sunday dinner feast!
Sunday Dinner – With Primal Kitchen Strip Steak, Applegate Bacon-Wrapped Rainbow Carrots, And Paleo Butternut Squash Soup – Awesome Sunday dinner feast!
Paleo butternut squash soup with coconut milk
Paleo butternut squash soup with coconut milk
Paleo, Primal Kitchen Greek strip steak with roasted rainbow carrots wrapped in Applegate Sunday Bacon
Paleo, Primal Kitchen Greek strip steak with roasted rainbow carrots wrapped in Applegate Sunday Bacon – Check out how thick and juicy that strip steak is!

If you would like to create a steak dinner like this I am providing a couple shopping links below to help get you started and on your way!

You can find Primal Kitchen’s dressing and marinades on Amazon


Primal Kitchen Variety Starter Pack Primal Kitchen Greek Vinaigrette & Marinade

LINKS

Primal Kitchen Coupon Code - 10% Off
Coupon

Save 10% off your next order at Primal Kitchen.

Primal Kitchen has items for your paleo, Whole 30, keto, and gluten-free diet and lifestyle.

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Did you have anything special for your Sunday dinner last night? Leave me a comment and let me know. I would love to hear from my readers.

 

Pin these images for later

Primal Kitchen Greek Strip Steak, Applegate Bacon-Wrapped Rainbow Carrots, And Paleo Butternut Squash Soup - Gluten-Free,  Primal Kitchen Coupon - by Give It A Whirl Girl

Primal Kitchen Greek Strip Steaks, Applegate Sunday Bacon Wrapped Rainbow Carrots, and Paleo Butternut Squash Soup - How I Created This Sunday Dinner


			

Marley Spoon Review & Discount – $30 OFF Your First Box – Simple & Easy Meal Kit Subscription Box

I just recently had the pleasure of trying out Martha Stewart’s gourmet meal kit subscription box. I was so blown away by the quality of the ingredients and the easy to follow recipes so I want to share my experience with you in this Marley Spoon review! I think you will be pleasantly surprised with the quality and content of this meal kit delivery service.

How does Marley Spoon work?

Each week Marley Spoon has several different meals that you can select from. They have a huge archive of recipes… over 18,000!  Each week there are ten different meals you get to select from. They really do have a wonderful variety of meals and they all look and sound so amazing it is kind of difficult to narrow it down. I want it all!

You can choose the meal kit that suits your family needs. They offer boxes for two people and they also offer boxes that can feed 3-4 people. You can choose to get 2, 3, or 4 Marley Spoon meals per week. It is entirely up to you and you get to customize your plan.

Each week Marley Spoon offers an exciting menu featuring a variety of meats and a large selection of different vegetables. There are meals suitable for dinner as well as lunch.

Marley Spoon also has meals to suit a variety of dietary lifestyles. I choose to eat gluten-free so I received two meal kits that were friendly to my diet.

There are some quick dinners provided, one-pot meals, kid-friendly meals, and salad options.

Two Marley Spoon Meal Kits for four people: Steak & Oven Fries w/ Charred Tomato Salsa and Japanese Style Chicken w./ Bok Choy and Brown Rice
Two Marley Spoon Meal Kits for four people: Steak & Oven Fries w/ Charred Tomato Salsa and Japanese Style Chicken w./ Bok Choy and Brown Rice

Marley Spoon recipe cards

The shipment of Marley Spoon

My meal kit box was overnighted to me via FedEx. When I opened up my box I was very impressed with how well-packaged everything was. There were no leaks and there were no missing ingredients. Everything was kept cold with ice-packs. The meat that I received looked beautiful and the quality of the produce was perfect. There was not a single disappointment with my shipment. I have tried other meal kits boxes in the past and had missing ingredients, some not-so-fresh looking items, or leaky meats. Marley Spoon takes pride in their subscription box and it shows.

A special Marley Spoon discount for you – $30 OFF YOUR FIRST SHIPMENT

You can receive $30 off your first Marley Spoon shipment by clicking this LINK.

Sign up for Marley Spoon today and taste the gourmet!

Continue reading “Marley Spoon Review & Discount – $30 OFF Your First Box – Simple & Easy Meal Kit Subscription Box”

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