New Kosher Products by Manischewitz
November 12, 2012 - Written by DianaEvery year Kosher Fest is usually part of my food news. Kosherfest highlights kosher product companies with emphasis on new product lines. It’s held at the Meadowlands Exposition Center in Secaucus, NJ and is on schedule for tomorrow. Manischewitz has a few new products for this year’s Kosherfest, that can help you get through the jewish celebrations and holydays as well as any regular day. I wasn’t sure what I would get when I agreed to do to the review. Without further ado – here’s my review of some of Manischewitz new product line of 2012.
- Mediterranean Matzos – flavored with Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Onion, Garlic and Herbs – This was one of my favorites. The underlying herb, and olive oil flavor comes through as almost an after note. It’s mild, but still there and leaves a good impression. This would be fantastic with tomato soup.
- Chocolate Gluten Free Cake – As far as cake mixes go, this is good, especially gluten free. I’ve found some of the gluten free cake mixes to have a different texture than I’m used to but this feels like a …
Daylight Savings Ends – Time to Check Your Batteries And Maybe Something Else.
November 1, 2012 - Written by DianaDaylight Savings is ending this weekend. Usually we are told to check our batteries in our smoke detectors. I have a suggestion though. I have been trying out a new smoke detector, one that can be used near your kitchen. The Iophic Smoke and Fire Alarm with Universal Sensing Technology won’t go off when you open the oven even when the food is a little charred. So when you change your battery this weekend, think about changing that smoke detector with all of the nuisance alarms, the one that’s affected by the kitchen the most.
I was skeptical when I accepted the offer to review the smoke detector. I have them throughout the house, but the biggest problem is that the detector down the hall from the kitchen goes off every time we open the oven door. When the smoke detector arrived I was determined to do a good test of the smoke detector because if I was endorsing it, it had better work.
So, this is what we did. We took the new smoke detector and we placed it on a wall …
Introducing Sea Beans or Salicornia
June 16, 2012 - Written by Diana
This week in our market bag we received sea beans or salicornia. I’ve never heard of them before, but once I saw them, I knew that I’ve come upon them before in the wild. They’re a succulent type plant that grows in salt mashes, beaches and mangroves. As expected straight from the sea, they’re very salty tasting but with a quick blanch and rinse, the saltiness recedes a little and it tastes like a grassy asparagus with a little extra salt.
I had to look up sea beans – actually salicornia by it’s genus to figure out what they were and how to use them. That’s one of the great things about a market bag or csa – you come upon some specialty ingredients you might not buy normally, but if they come in your bag, you’ll figure it out. Our marketbag comes with a newsletter that tells us what we are getting and has suggestions on it’s use. My suggestion is that however you use it, go light on the salt, because the sea bean will add it’s own …
Announcing Ben and Jerry’s New Greek Frozen Yogurts
February 23, 2012 - Written by Diana
Have you all been waiting with bated breath for Ben and Jerry’s announcement? Over the weekend the bloggers (there were 5 of us) were able to taste the new Greek Frozen Yogurts though when I asked if we would get a taste at the beginning of the trip, the response was pretty much we can neither confirm nor deny the existence of certain flavors. This is their way of not lying to anyone while keeping secrets as long as humanly possible as shelves are filling up with product. I will do a recap of my weekend later, but I thought I would address the big news for today – Ben and Jerry’s now has Greek Frozen Yogurts – Banana Peanutbutter, Vanilla (scoop shops), Raspberry Fudge Chunk, Blueberry Vanilla Graham, and Strawberry Shortcake.
While we were visiting, we were given a short lesson in scooping the Ben and Jerry’s way at their very own ScoopU. So while we were perfecting our 3 ounce scoops, we were able to snatch spoonfuls of the flavors on hand – 4 of them were the Greek …
Jennie-O Turkey Burgers – Will You Make the Switch? Coupon Giveaway.
September 7, 2011 - Written by DianaJennie-O Switch to Turkey Promotion
This Contest has been closed.
Jennie-O has a new Switch To Turkey Burgers Promotion. Jennie-O sent a food truck to NY to show people how tasty turkey burgers could be and to convince them to make the switch to turkey over other burgers. For dinner, we tried out Jennie-O Turkey Burgers and let me tell you, they get an A+ from my family. No, they don’t taste like beef hamburgers, they don’t taste like vegetarian Luna Burgers, they don’t taste like bison burgers, they taste like Jennie-O Burgers, delicious in their own right.
NYC Inspired Turkey Burgers
Cookerati Alert – Free Lipton Iced Tea
June 10, 2011 - Written by DianaJune 10th is National Iced Tea Day – Lipton is celebrating by giving away free iced tea to Facebook Followers.
HOW:
1. “Like” Lipton Iced Tea on Facebook
2. Share free Iced Tea coupon with at least one friend.
3. Claim your free Iced Tea coupon.
New 100% Natural Lipton Iced Tea is available in four flavors: long-time fan favorites, Green Tea with Citrus and Iced Tea with Lemon, as well as two new flavors: Iced Tea with Blueberry Pomegranate and Green Tea with Passionfruit Mango. New Diet Green Tea with Watermelon joins the beloved Diet Green Tea with Citrus flavor.To celebrate the new line and National Iced Tea Day, Lipton is also treating tea drinkers to unplugged music programming. Check out “The Natural Side of Music” online videos featuring cuts and conversations with music artists.
Sundried Tomatoes – the Tasty Winter Alternative to Bland Store Tomatoes
January 31, 2011 - Written by Diana
I agree with Zerrin. Tomatoes in summer, delicious, juicy, fragrant; tomatoes in winter – ugh bland, tasteless, not worth buying. I have used canned tomatoes and still will use them, but I’ve found a really good alternative in sundried tomatoes. Sundried tomatoes will add the texture and the taste without the added water or liquid. They also don’t break down in your cooking when you use them. Plus they have all that lycopene goodness, 12 times the amount in a regular tomato. Yummy goodness!
My sister in law made her own dried tomatoes using a dehydrator this summer and stores bags of them in the freezer. Our tomatoes didn’t do as well, so no dehydrating for us (we also don’t own a dehydrator – on the list). I was sent some Bella Sun Luci sundried tomatoes and I love them. There are both the reclosable zip packs and the jars with olive oil coated sundried tomatoes. In my eggs I usually …
Wrapping Your Gifts With Chico Bags
December 10, 2010 - Written by DianaReusable bags are my wrap of choice for Christmas presents and have been for years. Chico has a neat holiday reusable bag that covers the gifts nicely.
Years ago, I tried to make my own wrapping bags. I’m not an artist with the sewing machine, though I’m not great I have repaired a seam or two. Well, I sewed a couple of big material envelopes with buttons to seal it closed. They were functional, not gorgeous or pretty, or even on the sides, but they were functional. I never saw them again, and I’m pretty sure they were never used more than that one time. Since then I’ve used paper sacks, thinking they were reusable, but knowing people probably just threw them away rather than keep them a year. Lately I’ve been buying reusable bags and giving them away (though don’t tell my sister Dawn – somehow I end up asking her for my bags back because I run out – she’s been a trooper about that). I do have special bags that I keep for my family and yes, Chico Bags are among them.
There was an uproar earlier this year because some of the grocery bags sold in …
Astrological Crypton Apron
December 8, 2010 - Written by Diana
Don’t you think I have the prettiest 80 year old to model the new Astrological Crypton Apron? I have had my own Crypton Apron for a year but they sent me their newest style to check out. I didn’t need a new one because my apron is still in perfect condition, even after many uses. I told my mother in law, Shirley, that if she posed for me, she could keep this apron. She had no problems modeling because she wanted the apron, and this apron was also perfect for her, since her birthday was this week and she is a Sagittarius.I want you to notice the coverage. I wash dishes in my apron all of the time, and the only thing that gets wet is my feet. I’m a sloppy washer and I end up with a wet stomach and pants, but not if I wear my apron. It’s waterproof, stain proof, washable and comfortable. My daughter leaves my kitchen a disaster, but she shucks my apron off and walks away clean as a whistle. My mom, will be …
Celebrate National Trail Mix Day
September 1, 2010 - Written by Diana
August 31 is National Trail Mix Day – yep, there’s a day for that too. We eat a lot of trail mix, it’s a handy nutritious snack, much better than chips to have on hand.- My husband likes to take it to work and eat handfuls all day. He also likes to top his yogurt with it.
- We grab a pack when we go hiking to munch on while walking.
- My son packed it for his track meets and band trips in high school.
- I just sent my college daughter some trail mix as a treat when I sent a package to her school. (They will love you for this one.)
- The whole family munches on it at home as a treat when we have a few hunger pangs.
Some fun trail mix trivia:
- Trail mix has been eaten by Native Americans for thousands of years, and originally included buffalo meat.
- Trail mix is featured in Jack Kerouac’s iconic 1958 novel The Dharma Bums.
- Trail mix is the favorite healthy snack of celebrities such as Jessica Biel and Blake Lively.
- Captain Robert Falcon Scott munched trail mix to maintain his energy …
