Nut Butter Is All The Rage! Get In On It! Healthy Hot List – A Top 10 Amazon Shopping Guide

In case you have been living under a rock, then you would be aware that nut butter is all the rage nowadays. Peanut butter is boring, so move over peanut butter! There are so many new nut butters available today. It is overwhelming to see so many all over Amazon so today I broke down my favorite nut butter into this top 10 list as part of my Healthy Hot List series on my blog.

ABOUT NUT BUTTER

You want to know the very wonderful thing about these nut butters? They are a fantastic source of protein. These brands in this shopping guide also only use all natural ingredients to create their products. Many are also gluten-free and vegan. These nut butters are quite versatile and there are a ton of inspirational recipes online for how to get the best use out of these.

Wanna shop from this shopping guide?

All you need to do is click the link or image and load up your cart! I would love to hear from you and know what you got for yourself!

Top 10 Nut Butters On Amazon by GIVE IT A WHIRL GIRL

Betsy’s Best Nut Butter Gift Set – Cinnamon Almond, Toasted Coconut Cashew, Cashew Cardamom, Cinnamon Peanut and Cinnamon Seed Butters (Sampler, 5 Pack)

This Betsy’s Best Nut Butter Gift Set has everything you need to whip up a tasty creation in your kitchen. I love creating energy balls with nut butter.

Five Amazing Flavors –The Coconut Cashew Butter contains wonderful coconut flakes along with savory cashew butter. The Cinnamon Almond, Seed and Peanut butters all contain a chia seeds, cinnamon and honey for a touch of sweetness. Our lovely Cashew Caradmom combines savory cashew butter, cardamom spices and chia seeds making a flavor to fall in love with.

Betsy's Best Nut Butter Gift Set - Cinnamon Almond, Toasted Coconut Cashew, Cashew Cardamom, Cinnamon Peanut and Cinnamon Seed Butters (Sampler, 5 Pack)
Betsy’s Best Nut Butter Gift Set

You might also like:

 

Buff Bake Protein Almond Butter – Nut Butter Spread with 11 Grams of Whey Protein, Gluten Free, Non-GMO (Birthday Cake, 13 oz)

Here is one nut butter that you will most definitely want to give a whirl! This birthday cake flavored nut butter by Buff Bake does not disappoint. Enjoy this nut butter mixed into smoothies, spread onto fruit, just use your imagination! Two tablespoons of this Birthday Cake nut butter contains 11 grams of protein to fuel you through your day.

Buff Bake Birthday Cake Nut Butter Spread
Buff Bake Birthday Cake Nut Butter Spread

Buff Bake also has drumroll please….COOKIES!

Buff Bake Variety Pack Of Cookies
Buff Bake Variety Pack Of Cookies

You might also like:


Legendary Foods Nut Butter Variety Pack (16oz, 5 Pack) – Natural Ingredients, Sea Salt, High Protein Healthy Spreads – No Added Sugar or Artificial Flavors, Gluten Free

Trust me on this! You are going to want to give this Legendary Foods variety pack a gigantic, huge whirl! I have tried all of these flavors of Legendary Foods nut butter and I was amazed by the taste of these. They also inspired me to whip up many creative concoctions in my Give It A Whirl Girl kitchen! There are so many fun flavors to try so if you can’t decide, I highly suggest going with the variety pack.

Flavors included: Apple Pie Flavored Almond & Cashew Butter, Blueberry Cinnamon Bun Almond Butter, Peanut Butter With Chocolate Chips, Peanut Butter Cup Peanut Butter, and Pecan Pie Flavored Almond Butter.

These nut butters from Legendary Foods can fit right into your low-sugar, keto lifestyle with only 1 gram of sugar per serving and only 2 net carbs. WOWZA!

Legendary Foods Nut Butter Variety Pack

Legendary Foods Nut Butter Variety Pack

And check out these pizza-flavored nuts by Legendary Foods. I just discovered their existence and I am really drooling over here. OMG~!!


Eliot’s Adult Nut Butters Chocolate Chili Almond Butter, 12 Ounce, Non-GMO, Gluten Free, Vegan, Keto and Paleo Friendly, 72 grams of Protein

Eliot’s Adult Nut Butters is a brand that I am completely and totally intrigued by!

Wanna talk about creative flavors? See what they got:

This is the kind of nut butter that I would love to try out in savory dishes! These savory flavors really appeal to me and I give Eliot’s Adult Nut Butters MAD PROPS for the innovative flavors!

These nut butters also sell for quite a decent price considering the size and the flavor selection.

What flavor of Eliot’s Adult Nut Butters would you give a whirl and what would you whip up? Feel free to leave me a comment about this in the comment box!

Eliot's Adult Nut Butters Chocolate Chili Almond Butter

Eliot’s Adult Nut Butters Chocolate Chili Almond Butter

Nuts ‘N More Cookie Dough Peanut Spread, High Protein Nut Butter Snack, Low Carb, Low Sugar, Gluten Free, All Natural, 16 oz Jar

Nuts ‘N More has a huge variety of different flavors of high protein nut butter available. This cookie dough nut butter is hands down my favorite flavor!

Nuts 'N More Cookie Dough Peanut Spread

Nuts ‘N More Cookie Dough Peanut Spread


Epic Spreads Nut Butter (Rainbow Sherbet)

Here is a nut butter for the adventurous flavor seekers out there! This is a Rainbow Sherbet spread created by Epic Spreads. This is another brand that has a wide variety of fun flavors to kickstart your creativity.

Epic Spreads Nut Butter (Rainbow Sherbet)

Epic Spreads Nut Butter (Rainbow Sherbet)


NOOSH Almond Butter Cupcake Packets (20 Count)

Oh man, this sure sounds like an incredible flavor from NOOSH! This nut butter is an almond butter cupcake spread. These are made with only all natural ingredients. They are also vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, and NON-GMO.

NOOSH Almond Butter Cupcake Packets

NOOSH Almond Butter Cupcake Packets


Chocolate Hazelnut Butter by Justin’s, Organic Cocoa, No Stir, Gluten-free, Responsibly Sourced, 16oz Jar

Justin’s is a brand that I know and trust. I have been using their cashew butters to create energy balls. I am super curious about this chocolate flavored hazelnut butter!

Each 2 tablespoon serving:

4g Protein, 3g Fiber, 0g Trans Fat, 7g Sugar

Chocolate Hazelnut Butter by Justin's

Chocolate Hazelnut Butter by Justin’s

Here is another product from Justin’s that I am confident you will love! These dark chocolate peanut butter cups are at least 100x better than the leading brand, Reeses. These chocolate confections are created with only the best, high-quality natural ingredients. My mind was blown the first time I tried Justin’s Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups.


Julie’s Real Cashew Butter, Coconut Vanilla Bean, Gluten Free, Paleo, Peanut Free, 9oz Jar

Julie’s Real Cashew Butter is the brand you are looking for if you are following a gluten-free or paleo diet! There are four flavors available of Julie’s Real Cashew Butter. This nut butter is made with only all-natural ingredients and guess what? This one only contains two ingredients: cashews and coconut!

Want to check out the other three flavors of this nut butter?

Julie’s Real Cashew Butter, Coconut Vanilla Bean
Julie’s Real Cashew Butter, Coconut Vanilla Bean


Crazy Go Nuts Walnut Butter & Healthy Snacks: Gluten Free, Vegan, Low Carb, Non-GMO + Keto Snacks, 9oz – Plain

And let’s wrap things up here with some walnut butter from Crazy Go Nuts. This is perfect for you if you are following a gluten-free, vegan, or keto diet and Crazy Go Nuts claims that you will not find anything boring about this nut butter.

You might also like Crazy Go Nuts’ other flavors:

Which of these fun flavors appeals the most to you?

Crazy Go Nuts Walnut Butter - Plain
Crazy Go Nuts Walnut Butter – Plain


Question Time! Now that you have seen my Top 10 favorite nut butters, which one will you be giving a whirl to first and tell me how you will be using it!


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.


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

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

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

About Nino Salvaggio

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

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

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

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

"<yoastmark

Exotic fruits that intrigued me at Nino Salvaggio International Marketplace

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

"<yoastmark

Passion Fruit

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

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

Passion Fruit at Nino Salvaggio International Marketplace
Passion Fruit at Nino Salvaggio International Marketplace

Guava

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

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

Guava at Nino Salvaggio International Marketplace
Guava at Nino Salvaggio International Marketplace

Rambutan

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

Rambutan fruit at Nino Salvaggio International Marketplace
Rambutan fruit at Nino Salvaggio International Marketplace
Rambutan fruit from Nino Salvaggio
Rambutan fruit from Nino Salvaggio

Quince

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

Quince at Nino Salvaggio International Marketplace
Quince at Nino Salvaggio International Marketplace

Ya Ya Pear

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

Yaya Pear at Nino Salvaggio International Marketplace
Yaya Pear at Nino Salvaggio International Marketplace

Passion Fruit / Guava Smoothie Bowl RECIPE

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

Passion Fruit & Guava Smoothie Bowl

Want a smoothie bowl with exotic flavor? 

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

  • 2 Bananas (Frozen)
  • 1/4 cup Full fat coconut milk
  • 2 Passion Fruit
  • 1 Guava
  • 2 tbsp Coconut flakes
  • 1 tbsp Chia seeds
  1. Place two frozen bananas, 1 passion fruit, 1 guava, and 1/4 cup of coconut milk in the blender. Use your smoothie mode if your blender has one.

  2. Once blended up pour the smoothie mixture into a large bowl. Soup bowls work well. 

  3. Top your smoothie bowl with some shredded coconut flake and chia seeds. And now you can use your other passion fruit to top the smoothie.

  4. Eat and enjoy! Hope you love it!


Fruits that I used in my Passion Fruit & Guava Smoothie Bowl
Fruits that I used in my Passion Fruit & Guava Smoothie Bowl
Close-up of the passion fruit and the guava
Close-up of the passion fruit and the guava
Passion Fruit & Guava Smoothie Bowl topped with coconut and black chia seeds
Passion Fruit & Guava Smoothie Bowl topped with coconut and black chia seeds
Passion Fruit & Guava Smoothie Bowl
A spoonful of Passion Fruit & Guava Smoothie Bowl
Passion Fruit & Guava Smoothie Bowl
TALK ABOUT YUM! Passion Fruit & Guava Smoothie Bowl


Final thoughts

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

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

 

Find out more about Nino Salvaggio

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.


Kettle & Fire COUPON & REVIEW – How I Made Healthy Chili Made With Bone Broth

Today I will be sharing my experience with Kettle & Fire Bone Broth. This is an excellent source of nutrients and a splendid way to warm up on a cold winter day. These paleo, Whole 30, and keto-friendly bone broths should be a part of your diet regimen for various reasons. There are so many health benefits to incorporating bone broth into your diet.

I also have a special coupon code to save you some money at Kettle & Fire. Drumroll please, I am also giving away a 6-Pack of Kettle & Fire Beef Bone Broth. Keep reading so you can find out how to save and enter the giveaway. Good luck everyone!

What is bone broth?

Let’s start things off here by discussing what exactly Kettle & Fire Bone Broth is and why you should be giving this product a whirl! Bone broth is sourced from the bones of animals and their connective tissues. These bones and tissue are boiled into a broth and cooked for 10+ hours (up to 20 hours). They are boiled with vegetables, herbs, and spices to enhance the flavor.

The benefits of sipping Kettle & Fire Bone Broth

Bone broth is known to be a superfood. Bone broth is a nutrient powerhouse and a super source of collagen. There is a lot of talk about collagen nowadays. Collagen is extracted from the bones after simmering for a long time. The longer the bone broth simmers, the more collagen that can be extracted. The benefits of collagen in your diet are noted below.

Benefits of collagen in your diet

Repair torn cartilage
Relieve joint pain
Soothe an inflamed digestive tract
Strengthen the gut lining
Maintain bone density
Boost immunity
Improve sleep quality
Improve your skin’s appearance

Bone Broths and Soups

You can view the Kettle & Fire Bone Broth video below for all of the information you need.

Bone Broth is not just about sipping

Kettle & Fire Bone Broth can be used in more ways than just sipping on it. There are ways you can get creative with it. You can use bone broth in place of regular broth in any recipe. There are also several suggested flavor enhancers that you can incorporate into your bone broth.

  • Acid: lemon juice, lime juice, apple cider vinegar
  • Salt: Himalayan or Celtic Sea, miso paste
  • Healthy fat: avocado oil, olive oil, coconut oil, ground flaxseeds
  • Spice: ginger, garlic, lemon zest turmeric, rosemary, cayenne, and cinnamon

The possibilities here are endless, folks! Just use your creative powers in the kitchen.

Kettle & Fire Bone Broths

The 3 varieties of Kettle & Fire Bone Broth
The 3 varieties of Kettle & Fire Bone Broth

Beef Bone Broth

Kettle & Fire’s Beef Bone Broth is a superfood with some very remarkable health benefits. This broth is super rich in collagen and amino acids. Their broths are all free of hormones, antibiotics, additives, preservatives, and artificial ingredients. What you get with Kettle & Fire’s product is the real wholesome deal. The beef broth is simmered for up to 20 hours with the bones of grass-fed cattle.

All bone broths produced by Kettle & Fire are perfect for those following a paleo, Whole 30, or keto diet. It is also the perfect product to use in your recipes if you are a clean-eating fanatic like myself.

  • WHAT IS IN OUR BEEF BONE BROTH?Marrow Bones From Pasture-Raised, 100% Grass-Fed & Finished Cattle (6 grams of protein per serving, 10 grams of collagen per serving) Onions, organic carrots, organic celery, organic parsley, sea salt, black peppercorn, bay leaf, thyme, rosemary extract, and apple cider vinegar (which extracts even more nutrients from the bones)

Chicken Bone Broth

The Chicken Bone Broth from Kettle & Fire is another nutrient dense superfood that is full of health advantages. The Chicken Bone nutrient-dense with the bones and chicken feet of chicken feet.

  • WHAT IS IN OUR CHICKEN BONE BROTH?Organic chicken bones and feet (which add extra collagen) (10 grams of protein per serving, 6 grams of collagen per serving) Organic celery,organic roasted Poblano pepper, organic green pepper, organic onions, organic carrots, organic garlic, organic scallions, organic tomato puree, organic herbs (parsley, thyme, rosemary, basil), organic spices, sea salt, and apple cider vinegar (which extracts even more nutrients from the bones)

Mushroom & Chicken Bone Broth

The Mushroom & Chicken Bone Broth from Kettle & Fire is one you are going to definitely want to give a whirl! This bone broth is similar to the chicken bone broth but with the added health benefit of Lion’s Mane mushroom, which are another known superfood! So what can Lion’s Mane mushrooms do for you? They are known to improve cognitive function as well as improve your energy levels.

  • WHAT IS IN OUR MUSHROOM CHICKEN BONE BROTH? Organic chicken bones and feet (which add extra collagen) (10 grams of protein per serving, 6 grams of collagen per serving) Organic Portabella mushrooms, organic celery, organic roasted Poblano pepper, organic green pepper, organic onions, organic carrots, organic garlic, organic scallions, organic tomato puree, organic herbs (parsley, thyme, rosemary, basil), organic spices, sea salt, Organic Lion’s Mane Mushroom powder (Lion’s mane mushroom is an adaptogen, which means it can help reduce your stress response) and apple cider vinegar (which extracts even more nutrients from the bones)

Other products by Kettle & Fire

Healthy Butternut Squash Soup

Butternut Squash soup is definitely one of my favorite soups of all time and this Healthy Butternut Squash Soup from Kettle & Fire delivers as far as taste and quality go. With this soup, chicken bone broth is used as a base and coconut milk is also used. This soup is a wonderful paleo, Whole 30, or keto treat for your palate!

INGREDIENTS

Kettle & Fire Chicken Bone Broth for a protein and collagen boost
9 grams of protein per serving
Organic apple cider vinegar (which extracts even more nutrients from the bones)
Organic olive oil and coconut milk for a dose of healthy fats
A variety of organic herbs and spices to make the flavor pop

Healthy Tomato Soup

This tomato soup from Kettle & Fire got taken up a notch so it can earn the title of Healthy Tomato Soup. Chicken Bone Broth is used as a base to flavor it and to load it up with those extra nutrients that your body desires and craves. Just like Grandma’s homemade tomato soup, only better!

INGREDIENTS IN HEALTHY TOMATO SOUP

Kettle & Fire Chicken Bone Broth for a protein and collagen boost
9 grams of protein per serving
Organic apple cider vinegar (which extracts even more nutrients from the bones)
Organic olive oil and coconut milk for a dose of healthy fats
A variety of organic herbs and spices to make the flavor pop

Healthy Miso Soup

This Kettle & Fire Miso Soup has that umami flavor that you are looking for but this one is packed full of nutrients and will give you a great boost in collagen.

INGREDIENTS IN HEALTHY MISO SOUP

Kettle & Fire Chicken Bone Broth for a protein and collagen boost
11 grams of protein per serving
Organic apple cider vinegar (which extracts even more nutrients from the bones)
Organic olive oil
A variety of organic herbs and spices to make the flavor pop

Healthy Thai Curry Soup

This Healthy Thai Curry soup from Kettle & Fire can best be described as spicy, sweet, and BOLD! This soup was created with the chicken bone broth and is chock full of collagen to give your hair, skin, and nails the treatment that they deserve.

INGREDIENTS IN HEALTHY THAI CURRY SOUP

Chicken Bone Broth, Organic Coconut Milk, Organic Chicken Meat (Organic Chicken Meat, Water, Organic Rice Starch, Salt), Organic Potato Starch, Organic Jalapeno Peppers, Organic Red Bell Peppers, Organic Portabella Mushrooms, Organic Celery, Organic Onion, Organic Carrots, Contains 2% or Less of Organic Chicken Flavor, Organic Honey, Organic Spices, Organic Chilies, Organic Ginger, Organic Garlic, Organic Lemongrass, Natural Flavor, Yeast Extract, Organic Cilantro, Sea Salt, and Organic Guar

Grass-Fed Beef Chili

Mmmm… nothing beats a great big bowl of warm chili this time of year. This Grass-Fed Beef Chili from Kettle & Fire was created with grass-fed beef, kidney beans, and various spices to season it.

INGREDIENTS IN GRASS-FED BEEF CHILI

Beef Broth (Filtered Water, Beef Bone Broth Concentrate), Ground Beef, Organic Tomatoes, Organic Kidney Beans, Organic Tomato Paste, Organic Green Bell Pepper, Contains less than 2% of Organic Tapioca Starch, Organic Chili Powder, Organic Jalapeno Peppers, Organic Spices, Organic, Honey, and Sea Salt

How I used Kettle & Fire Bone Broth

I decided to give the Kettle & Fire Beef Bone Broth a whirl first. My daughter, Chloe, requested another batch of my Farty Party Chili that I made last weekend because it was so good. I did not want to eat the same exact meal two weeks in a row so I made a few modifications. I ended up calling this one Gas Blaster. Why? Because I used three cans of beans in it (dark kidney, light kidney, and pinto beans). I also added in two cups of the Kettle & Fire Beef Bone Broth, seasoned it up with a good amount of turmeric seasoning, and used some Muir Glen Organic Tomato Paste to thicken it up.

This 3-bean & tri-color bell pepper chili turned out amazeballs and dare I say the best chili that I have ever whipped up!

Farty Party Chili w/ added Kettle & Fire Beef Bone Broth
Farty Party Chili w/ added Kettle & Fire Beef Bone Broth

I do not normally use a beef broth in my chili because I like my chili thick. I used this Beef Bone Broth this time around and thickened it with tomato paste and it was absolute perfection as far as flavor and consistency goes. The bone broth gave this batch of chili some exceptional flavor that blew my mind.

Ever have one of those meals where you are eating it and can’t shut up about how good it is? That is what happened with this chili I created with the Beef Bone Broth from Kettle & Fire!

3 Bean & 3 Pepper Chili with Kettle & Fire Beef Bone Broth
3 Bean & 3 Pepper Chili with Kettle & Fire Beef Bone Broth
3 Bean & 3 Pepper Chili with Kettle & Fire Beef Bone Broth
3 Bean & 3 Pepper Chili with Kettle & Fire Beef Bone Broth
3 Bean & 3 Pepper Chili with Kettle & Fire Beef Bone Broth
3 Bean & 3 Pepper Chili with Kettle & Fire Beef Bone Broth

To learn more about this chili that I created click the link below and just add bone broth to it and tomato paste to thicken it up.

FARTY PARTY 3- BEAN CHILI

Nice warm bowl of grass-fed beef chili made with Kettle & Fire Bone Broth
A nice warm bowl of grass-fed beef chili made with Kettle & Fire Bone Broth

Final Thoughts

Kettle & Fire Bone Broth is a product that I will be keeping my pantry stocked with. I was very impressed with the taste and the quality of these products and I can see myself getting creative with them in the kitchen. Not only are these great for sipping but they can be incorporated into any recipe that calls for broth. This bone broth will give your dish a much-needed boost in nutrients and it will lend some extraordinary flavor to your meal.

Pro tip!

Also, if you are looking for a great way to season your chili, look no further than to Paleo Powder! I used Paleo Powder Pink seasoning in my chili and this gives your meal an incredible flavor with only all-natural, wholesome ingredients.

Are you ready to shop?

If you are ready to stock up on Kettle & Fire Bone Broth simply click the banner below to get started.

Kettle & Fire Bone Broth - Shop Now

Current offers and deals at Kettle & Fire

Kettle & Fire is currently offering free shipping with any order of 6+ cartons of their fabulous bone broth. Click the bold link below to shop and save and apply the Kettle & Fire coupon to save.

Kettle & Fire Coupon WHIRLGIRL!

You can also save yourself a good amount of money by signing up for a subscription of bone broth. They offer discounted rates on a subscription order and you can cancel at any time.

Question Time!

How do you think Kettle & Fire Bone Broth will fit into your diet and lifestyle? What is the first dish you will create with it?

Want to learn more about Kettle & Fire?

PALEO POWDER coupon GIVEITAWHIRL

SHOP PRIMAL KITCHEN COUPON CODE GIVEITAWHIRL10

SIGN UP FOR PALEO BY MAILEO

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Meal Kit Subscription Boxes That You Need To Try – Current Deals

What a time to be alive guys and gals! There are so many meal kit subscription boxes to choose from it makes my head spin. Today I am breaking down my top 3 of all of the kits I have tried and I will share with you the top steals and deals that are currently happening. As many of you may already know, cooking is something that I am truly and deeply passionate about. These meal kits are always a pleasure to prepare and we all join the Clean Plate Club every single time.

My top three favorites will be discussed in this post. Continue reading to find out more about Sun Basket, HelloFresh, and Marley Spoon.

These meal kit subscription boxes also make great gifts for your loved ones. The holidays are quickly approaching and when you give the gift of food it is always a memorable gift to receive.

HelloFresh recipe card
HelloFresh recipe card
Ingredients for the Marley Spoon Meal Kit (Steak & Oven Fries w/ Charred Tomato Salsa)
Ingredients for the Marley Spoon Meal Kit (Steak & Oven Fries w/ Charred Tomato Salsa)
Cooking the veggies for my Sun Basket meal
Cooking the veggies for my Sun Basket meal

The great thing about meal kit subscription boxes

There are a variety of benefits and perks to trying out these meal kit subscription boxes.

  • Convenience

First of all, these meal kits are super convenient! It doesn’t get any better than this folks… fresh food delivered straight to your door. You can skip the grocery store. You choose the day that you would like to receive your meal kit and it will show up at your doorstep!

  • Customizable

Secondly, these meal kit services are very customizable. They present to you a variety of different foods on the menu that you can select from. They also allow you to choose how many meals you want to receive for the week (usually 2-3 different meals), and they also allow you the opportunity to choose from a box for 2 people or for a family of 4 people

  • Try out new recipes

My favorite part about receiving these meal kits is that they inspire me to eat with an open mind. Many of the recipes that you can choose from are not only delicious but unique. They give you gourmet flavor in the convenience of your home and you get to be the chef! Your family will be amazed by the dinner that you whip up for them.

  • Simple to follow recipes

Here is another great thing about these food subscription boxes. I have tried many meal kits and found all of the recipes simple and easy to follow.

Sun Basket

You can read more about Sun Basket in my review on the blog.

I recently tried Sun Basket’s meal kit subscription box and I was very impressed with the recipes and the quality of the ingredients that were provided.

When I gave Sun Basket a whirl I went with the gluten-free paleo meal kit. Sun Basket is a subscription service that relies heavily on clean eating. They only send out high-quality organic ingredients for your meals. You can have a bit of peace-of-mind when you enjoy your Sun Basket meal because their ingredients are only sourced from the best. They will provide premium meat and seafood (antibiotic and hormone-free) and only the freshest organic produce.

They have a few different plans to choose from to suit your diet. Sun Basket has the following meal plans available: Mediterranean, paleo (gluten-free), and a vegetarian option.

Current deals on Sun Basket

Sun Basket currently has an offer where you can receive $80 off your first four orders. With this offer, you will receive $20 off your first four boxes of the Sun Basket meal kit subscription box.

If you want to try out Sun Basket for a 2 week trial period you can save $45 off your first two boxes of food. This is split into two tiers of savings. The first box is $35 off and the second meal kit will be $10 off.

Check out the photos below of the meals that I created with my Sun Basket meal kit subscription box.

Seared Steak with Brussels Sprouts and Chipotle Mustard Vinaigrette (Sun Basket)
Seared Steak with Brussels Sprouts and Chipotle Mustard Vinaigrette (Sun Basket)
Mediterranean Tomato Braised Cod from Sun Basket
Mediterranean Tomato Braised Cod from Sun Basket
Orange Chipotle Glazed Pork w/ Apple Slaw and Roasted Sweet Potato (Sun Basket)
Orange Chipotle Glazed Pork w/ Apple Slaw and Roasted Sweet Potato (Sun Basket)

HelloFresh

HelloFresh was actually the first meal kit subscription box that I have ever tried. They are the brand that made me fall head over heels in love with meal kits. The meal kits from HelloFresh are always a joy to cook and they are a sure people pleaser at the dinner table. HelloFresh ships out only the freshest and finest ingredients for your recipes. I have found that they are one of the easiest meal kits to prepare at home.

HelloFresh offers three plans: Classic, Family, and Veggie. You can view the menus on their website and customize your meal kit.

I have a fully detailed review of HelloFresh on my blog if you would like more details on this subscription service.

Current deal on Hello Fresh

HelloFresh has a fabulous deal taking place right now where you can receive a total of $60 off your first meal kits. With this deal you get a $20 discount on each of the three boxes.


HelloFresh Swedish Meatloaves w/ homemade garlic mashed potatoes, roasted carrots, and currant jam
HelloFresh Swedish Meatloaves w/ homemade garlic mashed potatoes, roasted carrots, and currant jam
HelloFresh Cheddar Smash Burger
HelloFresh Cheddar Smash Burger
Chicken Cheddar Fajitas w/ Lime Crema from HelloFresh
Chicken Cheddar Fajitas w/ Lime Crema from HelloFresh
Pan-Seared Duck Breasts w/ Duck Fried Potatoes from HelloFresh
Pan-Seared Duck Breasts w/ Duck Fried Potatoes from HelloFresh

Marley Spoon

Marley Spoon is meal kit subscription box brought to you by Martha Stewart. Martha Stewart?!?! Ok then you know this is going to blow your mind. When I think Martha Stewart the first thing that comes to mind is perfection followed by gourmet food.

There are ten different options to choose from on the weekly menu with Marley Spoon. If you are following a vegetarian diet, you are in luck because there are vegetarian options available.

Current deal at Marley Spoon


You can read my full review of Marley Spoon on my blog.

Check out the images below to see a couple of different dinners that I prepared with the Marley Spoon subscription box.

Marley Spoon - Steak & Oven Fries w/ Charred Tomato Salsa
Marley Spoon – Steak & Oven Fries w/ Charred Tomato Salsa
Marley Spoon - Japanese Chicken w/ Bok Choy & Fried Rice
Marley Spoon – Japanese Chicken w/ Bok Choy & Fried Rice

Final thoughts

I really truly do love these meal kit subscription boxes and I think I’m ready to give another one a whirl very soon. There are so many different ones out there to choose from nowadays.

My favorite thing about them is the simple and easy to follow recipes that result in a meal that is bursting with gourmet flavor. Many of these meals, to me, are restaurant quality meals.

So what are you waiting for? Get cooking with one of these meal kits and bring the taste of gourmet to your dinner table. Your family will be amazed by the meals that you serve during the week. These deals that are currently happening are too great to pass up. These deals give you a fantastic opportunity to give these boxes a whirl.

Question Time!

Have you ever tried a meal kit subscription box? Tell me about your favorite in the comments below.


Related posts:

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Primal Kitchen Collagen Bars & Fuel Powder – Great For Healthy Hair, Skin, and Nails

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Scoop of Collagen Fuel from Primal Kitchen
Scoop of Collagen Fuel from Primal Kitchen – Goes great in coffee and smoothies

I am hopping on the collagen train and I have been using Primal Kitchen’s Collagen Fuel in my morning coffee and I was recently sent this box of Primal Kitchen Coconut Cashew Collagen Bars bars to try out. If you are following a gluten-free or paleo diet this Primal Kitchen Collagen Bar might just become your next go-to snack. Not only are these bars delicious but they are nutritious as well. The Primal Kitchen Collagen Fuel also has a great flavor. I might just be a little bit addicted to it at the moment!

Nutrition for Primal Kitchen Collagen Bars

These Primal Kitchen Collagen bars contain healthy fats sourced from nuts and seeds.

  • In each bar, you are going to pack in a whopping 15 grams of protein.
  • The bars contain 7,800 milligrams of collagen that are sourced from grass-fed cows. Primal Kitchen claims that the amount of collagen in each bar is more than what is found in a cup of bone broth.
  • The bars are also packed with prebiotic fiber. There are 9 grams of dietary fiber found in each bar.
  • These collagen bars are low on sugar. Zero grams of added sugar and 3 grams of natural sugars. The bars are sweetened with monk fruit and a touch of honey.

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Continue reading “Primal Kitchen Collagen Bars & Fuel Powder – Great For Healthy Hair, Skin, and Nails”

Caulipower Veggie Pizza Doctored Up And On-Point! Gluten-Free and Low-Carb – Frozen Pizza Product Review

I have been wanting to try out this cauliflower crust pizza for quite a while now from Caulipower. Maybe you have been curious about it as well if you are looking for a gluten-free or low-carb pizza? I located a $1 off coupon online so I decided to put this on my Kroger ClickList order and give it a whirl! I had some pepperoni, black olives, onions, and pesto sauce on-hand too so I figured I could use the pizza as a base and doctor it up with a few extra things. This cauliflower crust pizza absolutely blew my mind… it was that great! I really hope this post will inspire you to give it a try.

Caulipower Veggie Pizza with some extra toppings
Caulipower Veggie Pizza with some extra toppings

I was a bit nervous and hesitant to try this pizza because last year I attempted to make my own cauliflower crust pizza and it was a bit of a fail on my part. The crust was soft and a tad on the soggy side. It tasted great but the texture was way off. I was afraid this would happen with Caulipower but that’s not the case! The texture of this crust was on-point… no sad, soggy pizza here! For me, the crust of this pizza really did taste and feel like a regular pizza crust, maybe not 100% but for the most part!

Caulipower Veggie Pizza with some extra toppings
Caulipower Veggie Pizza

Toppings

Let it be known that this pizza would have been completely perfect without the addition of extra toppings. The Caulipower Veggie pizza comes equipped with a medley of bell peppers in green, red, and yellow. It also has the right amount of mozzarella cheese topping it. The sauce really, to me, is what makes a pizza great. The sauce can either make it or break it and Caulipower comes through and delivers a fine sauce made with vine-ripened tomatoes, garlic, extra virgin olive oil, and a blend of Italian seasoning.

Continue reading “Caulipower Veggie Pizza Doctored Up And On-Point! Gluten-Free and Low-Carb – Frozen Pizza Product Review”

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

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

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

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

Cactus Pear Nice Cream RECIPE With Pomegranate & Enjoy Life Foods Protein Bites – (Vegan and Gluten-Free)

Wondering how I naturally obtained this lovely shade of hot pink in my bowl of nice-cream (vegan ice-cream)?? Easy! I owe it all to the cactus pear, also known as the prickly pear. The flesh of a cactus pear, when combined with a banana, will give you this gorgeous magenta hue. This cactus pear nice cream recipe is a healthy dessert that will most definitely make your child excited for a yummy treat that is naturally sweet from nature with no added sugars. Other ingredients in this frozen treat are frozen pomegranate, two frozen bananas, some coconut milk and Enjoy Life Foods Dark Chocolate Raspberry Protein Bites. This is a much healthier alternative to traditional ice-cream and I always enjoy creating this and serving it at home. Super simple and easy to do too!

Nice-cream is the vegan and paleo version of ice-cream. It is dairy-free and lactose-free.

Cactus Pear & Pomegranate With Enjoy Life Foods Protein Bites Nice-Cream
Cactus Pear & Pomegranate With Enjoy Life Foods Protein Bites Nice-Cream

Affiliate disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I receive a commission if items are purchased through these links with no extra cost to you.

A good food processor comes in handy for making vegan nice-creams at home. You will also want to prepare in advance for making this by freezing two sliced up bananas overnight. Also, chill a can of full-fat coconut milk in the refrigerator overnight for best results. If you have a can of coconut cream on-hand that makes for even better results, a lot more creamy, but coconut cream is usually around $4 a can and coconut milk works just fine.

The Enjoy Life Foods Dark Raspberry Protein Bites were a wise choice here as a nice-cream topping. I chopped them up small and placed them on top. The dark raspberry flavor is actually my favorite flavor of all the Protein Bites and it paired nicely with the flavors of the cactus pear and pomegranate. It also gave this bowl of nice-cream a boost in protein, which is always welcome, especially if you are following a vegan diet.


Ingredients used to make Cactus Pear & Pomegranate With Enjoy Life Foods Protein Bites Nice-Cream
Ingredients used to make Cactus Pear & Pomegranate With Enjoy Life Foods Protein Bites Nice-Cream (Protein Bites not shown in this photo)

Cactus Pear Nice Cream Recipe

Cactus Pear Nice Cream RECIPE With Pomegranate & Enjoy Life Foods Protein Bites

This simple and easy to do gluten-free and vegan nice cream recipe results in the prettiest of pink nice creams you have ever seen.

  • 2 Bananas (Frozen)
  • 1 Cactus Pear
  • 1/2 cup Pomegranate (Frozen)
  • 6 Enjoy Life Foods Dark Raspberry Protein Bites
  • 1/2 cup Full-fat organic coconut milk (Chilled overnight in fridge)
  1. Place the frozen bananas, cactus pear, pomegranate, and chilled coconut in the food processor.

  2. Blend until smooth.

  3. Remove cactus pear nice-cream from food processor bowl.

  4. To the nice cream with small chunks of Enjoy Life Foods Protein Bites. I used the Dark Raspberry.

  5. Divide into two bowls. 

    Serve, eat. and enjoy!


Cactus Pear & Pomegranate With Enjoy Life Foods Protein Bites Nice-Cream in the food processor. Do not add Protein Bites at this time!
Cactus Pear & Pomegranate With Enjoy Life Foods Protein Bites Nice-Cream in the food processor. Do not add Protein Bites at this time!
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Enjoy Life Foods Dark Raspberry Protein Bites chopped into small pieces
Cactus Pear & Pomegranate With Enjoy Life Foods Protein Bites Nice-Cream
Cactus Pear & Pomegranate With Enjoy Life Foods Protein Bites Nice-Cream

Final thoughts on the cactus pear nice cream recipe

I do believe that you will love this hot-pink cactus pear nice cream recipe if you do decide to give it a whirl. It is super unique in its flavor and unlike anything I have ever tried! I am extremely happy with the results of mixing these ingredients together. I was not sure what the outcome would be, but I got brave in the kitchen and I have no regrets!

If you are looking for a healthier alternative to ice-cream that is dairy-free and contains no added sugars, you should try making vegan and glutern-free nice creams at home. They are very versatile and you can get creative by whipping them up and experimenting with different ingredients. As a base, I usually use two frozen bananas and make sure I have a can of chilled coconut milk (it must be full-fat and not light coconut milk) on-hand to make this. This will result in approximately 2-3 servings. Most often it is just my daughter and I sharing but sometimes my hubby wants some too.

You can read more about the Enjoy Life Foods Protein Bites on a previous blog post:

HERE

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Have you ever tried vegan nice cream? How do you like to create yours? Leave me a comment and let me know.

 

Here are some other posts you will enjoy!

 

Want to find out more about Enjoy Life Foods?

 

 

 

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Paleo Turkey & Turmeric Chili – Gluten-Free – A Healthier Approach To Chili

Paleo Turkey & Turmeric Chili simmering in the Staub
Paleo Turkey & Turmeric Chili simmering in the Staub

It seems a bit early in the year still for chili but temps are cooling down a bit here in Michigan and I so ready to make my first batch on Sunday night. This version that I created was totally paleo (gluten-free) and this time around to keep it paleo I avoided kidney beans, which I usually do love to use in my chili. I also usually use ground beef and I switched it up and went for a lean ground turkey. I had a craving for some paleo turkey chili and I had to make it to satisfy my craving! The added turmeric was a nice touch as well. My husband and I reveled in this bowl of comforting chili. There is just something so comforting about eating chili. It is always satisfying and it is also so simple to make!


How I created this paleo turkey chili

This chili will make quite a few servings. I would say anywhere from 4-6 servings, depending on how much you place into your bowl. It started off with garlic and onion sauteed in the Staub until it reached a nice translucent, golden color. You will need a large pot to prepare the chili in. I love to use my Staub dutch oven for meals like this. The Staub is a heavy-duty piece of cooking equipment. It is very durable and built to last a lifetime. I always enjoy cooking with it.

Then came the lean ground turkey. I broke that up with a wooden spoon and continued to brown it. I seasoned the turkey with some organic chili powder, turmeric, cumin, smoked paprika, red pepper flakes, and salt and pepper. This was my first time using turmeric in my chili so I was not sure how we were going to like it.

While the meat was browning I also added in some diced red and green bell peppers. Every chili needs to be chock full of peppers for me. Peppers in every bite! For this chili, I also decided to add some chopped zucchini pieces.

Once the meat was cooked and browned I added in an entire can of Muir Glen Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes. This is my favorite brand of tomato products that I currently use. Muir Glen is an organic line of tomato products and they always lend an extraordinary flavor to the dish I am preparing. You can read more about Muir Glen HERE and their principles as a company. They are outstanding!

I allowed this chili to simmer for a couple of hours. This can also be prepared in a slow-cooker and simmer all day in there. Just be sure to brown/cook the meat before putting it in there.

Continue reading “Paleo Turkey & Turmeric Chili – Gluten-Free – A Healthier Approach To Chili”

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

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

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

Thunderbird Bar - What We DO

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

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


Thunderbird Bars Variety Pack
Thunderbird Bars Variety Pack

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

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

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

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

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

Thunderbird Bar in Detroit, MI - Pineapple + Mango + Papaya
Thunderbird Bar in Detroit, MI – Cashew + Fig + Carrot
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Thunderbird Bar Pineapple + Mango + Papaya
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Thunderbird Bar Pineapple + Mango + Papaya Nutrition Facts
Thunderbird Bar in Detroit, MI - Cashew + Fig + Carrot
Thunderbird Bar in Detroit, MI – Cashew + Fig + Carrot
Thunderbird Bars - Pineapple + Mango + Papaya in Eastern Market, Detroit, MI
Thunderbird Bars – Pineapple + Mango + Papaya in Eastern Market, Detroit, MI
Thunderbird Bars - Cacao + Hemp + Walnut
Thunderbird Bars – Cacao + Hemp + Walnut in Eastern Market, Detroit, MI
Two of the Thunderbird Bars flavors available for children
Two of the Thunderbird Bars flavors available for children

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

  • Fruit Punch
  • Apple Pie
  • Peanut Butter & Jelly
  • Chocolate Chip Cookie

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

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Thunderbird Bar For Kids in Detroit, MI

Want to learn more about Thunderbird Bars?

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


 

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

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

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

 


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Paleo Balsamic Steak With Primal Kitchen – Simplicity Is Often Best When It Comes To Steak

I had two New York strip steaks to cook yesterday. I often opt for a garlic herbed ghee when cooking up my steaks but I wanted to mix things up a bit last night and try something different. I have been trying out many of the flavors of Primal Kitchen dressings/marinades that I ordered recently and I am completely and totally satisfied with their quality. I had Primal Kitchen Balsamic Marinade and that is exactly what my steaks ended up marinating in.

Balsamic Steak w/ Primal Kitchen Foods Balsamic Dressing/Marinade and Roasted Balsamic Asparagus
Balsamic Steak w/ Primal Kitchen Foods Balsamic Dressing/Marinade and Roasted Balsamic Asparagus

Last night I wanted to do something simple with my steak that would still result in a juicy piece of meat and I opted for the Primal Kitchen Balasmic. This is an avocado oil based dressing that only uses real food ingredients and no BS whatsoever. This is paleo-friendly, gluten-free, and does not contain any added sugars. Many Primal Kitchen items are also Whole 30 friendly but this particular one is not, due to the added honey.

As you can see in the photo below I did not have too many ingredients at all. I had the Balsamic, some Heavenly Organics Acacia Honey, and not shown was the Primal Kitchen Extra Virgin Avocado Oil, and the salt & pepper. That is all I worked with~ 5 simple ingredients.

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I preheated the oven for my asparagus to 425 degrees and lined a sheet pan with foil. I took some of the Balsamic and a bit of the honey and mixed it together. I then made sure that all of the asparagus was doused in this mixture. It took about 15 minutes to roast the asparagus. It came out with a little bit of sweetness from the honey, which I thought was great. The Balsamic was not too overpowering with the veggie.

Primal Kitchen Balsamic Dressing/Marinade
Primal Kitchen Balsamic Dressing/Marinade
Primal Kitchen Balsamic Dressing/Marinade
Primal Kitchen Balsamic Dressing/Marinade

I used my Lodge Cast Iron Grill Pan to cook the steak, as I usually do. That pan is by far my favorite way to cook a steak. I no longer use my grill outdoors for steak. This pan will produce one hell of a juicy and tender steak. I poured just a bit of avocado oil in the pan and warmed it up. Once the grill was warm I threw the steaks on. Don’t you just love that sizzling sound when your meat is cooking on the grill? Music to my ears. I poured a bit of the marinade on the steaks while they were cooking. Gosh the smell of the Balsamic paired with the meat was an incredible smell. Hubby even remarked and said, “something smells good in the kitchen”.

So there you have it… a big juicy piece of medium-rare balsamic steak and roasted balsamic asparagus. Clean Plate for Joe and I and the steak was so perfectly cooked I could have probably eaten half of another one.

Balsamic Steak w/ Primal Kitchen Foods Balsamic Dressing/Marinade and Roasted Balsamic Asparagus

How do you like to prepare your steak? What is your secret to a juicy, tender steak? Leave me a comment and let me know.

 

You can find Primal Kitchen items in their online store and save with coupon code: GIVEITAWHIRL10

or….

Want to give the Balsamic Primal Kitchen dressing/marinade a whirl? You can find it on Amazon:

You can also treat yourself to a Lodge Cast Iron Grill Pan on Amazon:

Find out more about Primal Eating with the Primal Blueprint book available on Amazon:

 

 

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Lemon Turmeric Chicken With Primal Kitchen Foods – Simple, Easy, and Delicious & A Primal Kitchen Coupon!

Dinner does not get much easier than this folks! Last night I served up a chicken breast marinated in Primal Kitchen Foods Lemon & Turmeric Dressing/Marinade. This was my second marinade by Primal Kitchen that I tried. I just recently tried the Italian (click here to read more) on a chicken dish a couple nights ago and it was fab! Their dressing/marinades give your food an amazing infusion of flavor. We were big fans of the Primal Kitchen Lemon Turmeric. Keep on reading to learn more about this wonderful Lemon Turmeric marinade and how you can save with my special Primal Kitchen coupon code!

Simple, Easy, and Delicious Lemon Turmeric Chicken With Primal Kitchen Foods served with roasted fingerling potatoes
Simple, Easy, and Delicious Lemon Turmeric Chicken With Primal Kitchen Foods served with roasted fingerling potatoes
Primal Kitchen California Extra Virgin Avocado Oil and petite fingerling potatoes
Primal Kitchen California Extra Virgin Avocado Oil and petite fingerling potatoes
Primal Kitchen Foods Lemon Turmeric Dressing/Marinade with chicken breast
Primal Kitchen Foods Lemon Turmeric Dressing/Marinade with chicken breast

And you want to know the best part? It is REAL FOOD. No weird ingredients, just straight up REAL FOOD. With Primal Kitchen Foods you are getting a quality product. Many dressings are Whole 30, paleo, and keto friendly as well. This particular dressing is suitable for all of those diets. This dressing/marinade is free of gluten, soy, sugar, dairy, sugar, canola, sunflower & safflower oils, and this dressing is also Non-GMO-Project Verified and will fit in perfectly to your primal eating lifestyle.

Organic apple cider vinegar, revitalizing organic turmeric, and organic herbs give this dressing a deliciously diverse flavor profile.

Once the chicken had marinated in the Primal Kitchen Lemon Turmeric marinade for a few hours it was time to get funky in the kitchen. I grabbed my saute pan, splashed a bit of avocado oil in there, and then placed my chicken in there with some minced garlic and chopped shallots. Easy peasy!

While my chicken was cooking I had some purple and gold petite fingerling potatoes roasting away in the over. It was 90 degrees today so turning on a hot oven is no fun but so worth it. The potatoes were simple to prepare. I placed them in a bowl, drizzled some Primal Kitchen California Extra Virgin Avocado Oil on there, a good shake of garlic powder, a dash of salt & pepper, and a squeeze of fresh lemon. The potatoes were delish and I have no regrets but they, unfortunately, are not paleo friendly. The chicken, however, is paleo.


Simple, Easy, and Delicious Lemon Turmeric Chicken With Primal Kitchen Foods served with roasted fingerling potatoes
Simple, Easy, and Delicious Lemon Turmeric Chicken With Primal Kitchen Foods served with roasted fingerling potatoes

This was a pretty effortless dinner with quite an astonishing result. The flavor of the lemon turmeric chicken was impeccable and the potatoes were roasted to perfection. Ahhhhh even a novice cook could construct this healthy, wholesome dish. No excuses for boring, lame dinners when you have Primal Kitchen Foods marinades on hand.

 

Question Time!

Check out all of the dressings/ marinades at Primal Kitchen and leave me a comment telling me which one you will try first and what you will create with it.

Primal Kitchen haul of healthy foods
Primal Kitchen haul of healthy foods

 

Check out these other posts at 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

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

 

Click HERE to shop at Primal Kitchen.

Save 10% OFF at Primal Kitchen Foods with my Primal Kitchen coupon code: GIVEITAWHIRL10

 

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

Want to learn more about the benefits of turmeric?
Read more about turmeric benefits HERE.

 

PIN FOR LATER

Lemon Turmeric Primal Kitchen Chicken and a Primal Kitchen Coupon With Give It A Whirl Girl
Lemon Turmeric Primal Kitchen Chicken and a Primal Kitchen Coupon With Give It A Whirl Girl

 


 


Kettle &amp; Fire Bone Broth - Shop Now

KETTLE & FIRE COUPON CODE – WHIRLGIRL

PALEO POWDER COUPON CODE
Use my special Paleo Powder coupon to save (click the image to shop) Coupon code is GIVEITAWHIRL

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

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

Kombucha popsicle with passion fruit and blueberries

 

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Chloe with her dragon fruit popsicle

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

Zoku Duo Quick Pop Maker
Zoku Character Kit

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

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

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

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

Passion Fruit Popsicle
Kevita Kombucha Blueberry Passion Fruit Popsicle
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Svelte Vanilla Protein Shake Popsicle
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Svelte Vanilla Protein Shake Popsicle

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

Final Thoughts

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

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

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


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

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Primal Kitchen Collagen Fuel – Smoothie RECIPE – Tried It Tuesday

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

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

Primal Kitchen Collagen Fuel Smoothie Bowl
Primal Kitchen Collagen Fuel Smoothie Bowl

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


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

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

Primal Kitchen Collagen Fuel Bowl w/ Dragon Fruit and Guava

RECIPE (makes two servings)

Ingredients:

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

Recipe:

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

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

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

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

Primal Kitchen coupon code GIVEITAWHIRL10

during checkout.

 

Other posts you might enjoy at Give It A Whirl Girl

 


 

Good Day Chocolate Supplement REVIEW – Make Your Day A Good Day – Tried It Out Tuesday

I am a self-confessed chocolate addict. There! I said it and it is true. Chocolate not only tastes great but if you are eating the right type of chocolate, there are some wonderful health benefits to it. Good Day Chocolate is a brand I have been curious about for quite some time. I am a huge fan for life now for the Good Day Chocolate supplement. I received a variety pack to review and I have nothing but good words to say about this line of chocolate. Read on! I have a good feeling that after reading this you will want to give ’em a whirl! Keep reading my Good Day Chocolate review to find out more about his tasty supplement and how it can benefit you.

Good Day Chocolate Supplement comes in 5 varieties
Good Day Chocolate Supplement

Standard Disclosure: I received these products in exchange for a review. All opinions stated here are my own.

 

My Good Day Chocolate Review

 

About Good Day Chocolate Supplement

Good Day Chocolate only uses Fair-Trade certified chocolate in their supplements. It is also vegan-friendly and does not contain any dairy. Their products are not organic but they do promise that they only source premium, Non-GMO ingredients for their products. The coloring on the candy shells is also nothing to worry about because they only use natural coloring to dye the shell (example: green is spirulina). If you are wondering about calories, the candies are about 60-70 calories per 4 piece serving which is not too shabby.

The Good Day Chocolate Supplements - 6 varieties of different suppelments
The Good Day Chocolate Supplements – 6 varieties of different supplements

Good Day Chocolate Energy Supplement

I often feel sluggish in the day and need some kind of a pick-me-up to kick my butt in gear. The first Good Day Chocolate supplement that I decided to try was the energy pack. My first impression when I took my first taste was, “WOWZA! These are fantastic!” It was around 5pm and I am pretty bold when it comes to caffeine so I decided to try out the entire pack. The box claims that 8 of these candies will have me “jumping Jupiter”. They certainly did perk me up! I do not recommend eating the whole box if you are sensitive to caffeine. Please just take it nice and slow! There are 20mg of caffeine per piece. For reference, 1 cup of coffee contains approximately 95 mg of caffeine.

I often go to bed early so I can be an early riser and get my fitness in for the day. I wanted to stay up late, though, to watch Doctor Pimple Popper. Good Day Chocolate did not let me down. The show was over at 11 pm and I made it through the entire show without any jitters. I just felt good and I felt alive. I also had no problems whatsoever falling asleep. It was just good, clean fuel for my body.


Energy - Good Day Chocolate
Energy – Good Day Chocolate

Good Day Chocolate Calm Stress & Anxiety Relief Supplement

The Good Day Chocolate Calm pack is great for those that experience anxiety. The main ingredient in this chocolate is l-theanine. This chocolate has a nice, calming effect. Two chocolates will have the “chill pill” effect, 4 will have you “feeling fine”, 6 is “hello mellow”, and 8 will have you “maxin & relaxin”. The calm pack is also great for winding down in the evening.



Calm – Good Day Chocolate supplement

Good Day Chocolate Turmeric Supplement

The next Good Day Chocolate supplement that I tried out was the turmeric pack. Each box has 800mg of turmeric. Turmeric has powerful anti-inflammatory effects, is full of antioxidants, and it is also known to boost brain function. So this would be great for post-workout.


Turmeric supplement - Good Day Chocolate
Turmeric supplement – Good Day Chocolate

Good Day Chocolate Probiotic Supplement

The Good Day Chocolate Probiotic Supplement is great when you need some balance in your gut. Each box contains 8 billion CFUs (colony forming units). I felt pretty regular after taking a small dose of these for a few days.

Probiotics supplement by Good Day Chocolate
Probiotics supplement by Good Day Chocolate


Good Day Chocolate Vitamin D3 Supplement

Good Day Chocolate Vitamin D3 Supplement is like eating the sunshine! My doctor told me that I was deficient in Vitamin D earlier this year and I am on a 4000 IU dose. Each chocolate contains 1000 IU (international units) of Vitamin D3. So for me, I needed to eat 4 pieces of chocolate instead of my two tablets that I take at night-time. Vitamin D is helpful for mood, bone health (helps calcium absorption), and immunity.


Good Day Chocolate Vitamin D supplement
Good Day Chocolate Vitamin D supplement

Good Day Chocolate Sleep Supplement

I really enjoyed the Good Day Chocolate Sleep Supplement to help me combat my ongoing issue with insomnia. Each piece contains 1mg melatonin and they suggest taking this supplement 30-60 minutes before bedtime. These worked like a charm for me! Good Day Chocolate suggests starting small with this supplement and slowly work your way up to more if you feel that you need more. For me, a 4mg dose was my sweet spot.


Sleep supplement from Good Day Chocolate is very effective!
Sleep supplement from Good Day Chocolate is very effective!
How many Good Day Chocolate Sleep Supplements to take
How many Good Day Chocolate Sleep Supplements to take
Supplement facts for Good Day Chocolate Sleep
Supplement facts for Good Day Chocolate Sleep

Good Day Chocolate Supplements For Children

Good Day Chocolate also has a line of supplements for your little one! I did not get a chance to have my daughter review these products but I will be placing an order soon so she can try these out. There is a multivitamin, probiotic, sleep, and calm supplement. If you are interested in trying all of them with your child they do offer a variety pack. The current price for a variety pack is $12 on Amazon.


Good Day Chocolate Supplements For Children #Review

 

Want to keep in touch with Good Day Chocolate?

You can find them on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

 


Which supplement will you be giving a whirl now that you read my Good Day Chocolate review? Leave me a comment below and let me know your thoughts.

 

 


PIN FOR LATER!

Good Day Chocolate Supplement REVIEW by Give It A Whirl Girl

 

DISCLAIMER: I am not a medical professional and this post is not to be taken as medical advice. Please consult with your doctor if you have questions/concerns about starting a new supplement.

 

 

 

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Cactus Pear Smoothie RECIPE With Raspberries- Tried It Out Tuesday

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

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Nino Salvaggio’s

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

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

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

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


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Cactus Pear Smoothie

Cactus Pear Smoothie Recipe

 

Cactus Pear Smoothie Recipe With Raspberries

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

  • 2 Cactus pears (Peeled)
  • 1 Frozen banana
  • 1 handful Raspberries
  • 1/3 cup Unsweetened almond milk
  1. Place all of the ingredients in your blender.

  2. Blend until smooth.

  3. Serve, eat, and enjoy!

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Cactus Pear Raspberry Smoothie
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Chloe enjoying her cactus pear smoothie

 

Tidbits of info on the cactus pear:

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

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

 

 

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

 

You might also enjoy these posts:

 


 

 

 

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

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

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How I created the Epic Exotic Fruit Smoothie Bowl

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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


Kiwano Horned Melon For Tried It Out Tuesday!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Would I ever purchase this fruit again?

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

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

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

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

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.


Infuse Your Salad With The Superfood- Hemp Oil

I received a bottle of artisan cold-pressed Hemp Oil from Foods Alive to try out. The wheels in my brain were turning and I came up with a delicious salad dressing. This recipe will give you 2-3 servings of this tasty dressing. So simple to make and it has plenty of health benefits too, so it is a win-win situation!

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Ingredients:

  • 1/4 cup of hemp oil (I used Foods Alive)
  • 1/4 cup of white wine vinegar (I used Star Fine Foods)
  • 1 tablespoon of minced garlic (I hate mincing garlic so I use Spice World)
  • A splash of lemon juice (I used DeLallo)

Instructions:

Pour the hemp oil, white wine vinegar, minced garlic, and lemon juice into a bowl. Start whisking until the ingredients are well incorporated. I let my dressing sit in the refrigerator for a few hours so the flavors would be infused more.

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How I created my salad

I am a really big fan of Kroger’s Simple Truth line of prewashed, organic salad mixes. They are my absolute favorite to work with. I used a mix of their Power Greens and Spring Mix. I used Perdue grilled chicken along with a variety of peppers (green, red, orange, and yellow), and I also used some sliced red onion. Oh gosh and how could I forget the pepperoncini??!  This was my first time using them in a salad like this. I usually like to include them in my cold pasta salads. It all came together wonderfully with the hemp oil dressing that I created. If it is worthy of a blog post then I can assure you that it is great!

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What are some of your favorite salad dressings? Let me know in the comments below! 

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Two Hiccups In The Kitchen In One Day

You know what? We eat our mistakes here. Sometimes you end up with a happy accident. Well, that happened today! There were two obstacles that I had to overcome in the kitchen today. It was one of those days where everything seems to go wrong but in the end, it turns out alright.
The first hiccup in the kitchen occurred during lunch. I used Enjoy Life Foods gluten free pancake/waffle mix and put some LivFit cacao powder in the mix to make chocolate waffles. I have been craving breakfast foods like crazy and I had a craving for some waffles.
I forgot to spray the waffle maker to make it nonstick sooooo…
Here are my chocolate [messy] waffles topped with Enlightened Red Velvet ice-cream. I was so lucky that I was able to salvage these waffles because they tasted incredible. It was my first time trying out this gluten-free waffle mix. Enjoy Life is free of many common allergens: wheat, dairy, soy, sulfites, peanuts, tree nuts, casein, egg, and more! That makes this mix vegan and paleo friendly!

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Chocolate Enjoy Life Waffles with Enlightened Red Velvet
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Enjoy Life Gluten Free Pancake/Waffle Mix and Enlightened Red Velvet

My daughter and I grabbed two forks and fought over every bite… it was that good!  The presentation was not there but the flavor combo of the waffles with the ice-cream was on-point! And we also had to add a bit of maple syrup because a waffle is always deserving of that.

If you are looking for a healthy option for ice-cream look no further than to Enlightened! The entire pint of this particular flavor is only 280 calories and only 5g of net carbs. I will be doing a post in more detail soon about this product. The Red Velvet paired perfectly with the chocolate waffle. This flavor has a cream cheese frosting and chocolate flavor.

The second obstacle that happened was during the dinner hour. I was whipping up more breakfast food. Whenever I have breakfast for dinner I like to call it “brinner”. This time I was making some paleo-friendly French Toast with chia and flax seeds. I am trying to boost my fiber intake and adding those seeds really assists in some smooth moves. I also really enjoy paleo baking. I have this thing for making fresh, gluten-free breads. It brings me a lot of joy.

This particular recipe for the bread used coconut flour. I used a square baking dish and that gave me 4 nice, thick slices of bread to work with. The batter was egg-free and I used a mashed banana mixed with some unsweetened almond milk and cinnamon. I also made some caramelized bananas, using coconut sugar, to top the French Toast.

I had my bread baked and cooling on the countertop. My batter was prepped and prepared. The bananas were caramelized. All I needed to do was cook the slices that were dipped in batter. Then all of the sudden out of nowhere we experienced a power outage! It was totally unexpected because there was no inclement weather. I was a little bit freaked out at this point. How was I going to cook the rest of my dinner without any power? Thank goodness my hubby came home from work. We brainstormed and came to the conclusion that our best bet was to bust out the cast iron pan and finish “brinner” off on the grill outside. Genius plan! It totally worked too.

I am so happy to report that my little family of 3 enjoyed this meal. Each one of us joined the Clean Plate Club and were left wanting more. It was so delicious! Next time I make this dish I will be sure to have more bananas because those were like eating candy!

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Candied Banana Paleo French Toast

Cooking sure does require a lot of critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Knowing what to do when things are not going your way is critical. My two problems in the kitchen turned out awesome in the end. So when you are cooking do not be discouraged if things are not going the way you intended them to.

 

 

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

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