Good Foods Come in Threes

I promised to do some foodie reviews and have kind of dropped the ball... and I've been meaning to tell you about my new favorite breakfast cereal, too. I'm thrilled to have THREE great items to share with you: a snack, a drink, and a cereal (aren't those the three basic food groups?).

Anyway, here are the great things our family has discovered in the past few months (and have subsequently added to our master grocery list):

Home Free Organic Cookies


These little goodies are food allergy approved! They contain no nuts, no eggs, and no dairy (and are made at a dedicated bakery). I promise, they DON'T taste like the box! Organic sweets are wonderful to have around the house when the munchies take over. Home Free did a great job on these, considering all they left OUT.

I feel good feeding these oatmeal cookies to the munchkin - since he's on a baby food strike and we are having trouble getting him to eat anything at all right now that doesn't resemble a cookie or a chip. Good thing I'm still nursing him, or he would probably starve himself to death.

Hop over to homefreetreats.com and find out more about their standards on their FAQs page if you are feeding a sensitive tummy. Or you can click on their Store Locator page to find out the nearest place where you can purchase these yummy snacks.

These cookies are great for people with food allergies, but they DO contain gluten. Are you confused about food allergies and celiac disease (gluten sensitivity)? You aren't alone. Check out this informative Celiac vs. Food Allergy article that Home Free sent to me with their free cookie sample.

Crystal Light Pure Fitness Sport Drink

I almost said no to Crystal Light before they ever sent the samples - because I figured they had artificial sweeteners. I was VERY impressed that they have opted to go 'healthy' by eliminating the fake stuff and adding evaporated can juice and Truvia (an all-natural, calorie free sweetener derived from the stevia plant). Another cool thing about the samples that they sent was that they are individual sized servings (a tiny packet you can dump in to your cold bottled water - or add to your water glass at a restaurant). If you want to drink more water but you really aren't a big water-fan, this stuff is for you! It also is handy if you eat out - because ordering water at a restaurant can save you oodles of money. Now everyone can have a flavored drink without paying an extra 8$ or more on the tab (my kids love this angle).

If you enjoy Crystal Light, follow them on twitter: @CrystalLight. Tell them Sprittibee sent you. Maybe that will make up for how long it took to review their drinks!

Dark Chocolate Almond Granola

Cascadian Farms have outdone themselves this time. This stuff is 13.25 ounces of pure breakfast bliss. I didn't get a free sample of it - but I do have a serious addiction. I figured if I told more people about this chocolate-lover's secret, maybe more of my favorite grocery stores would carry it. So far I haven't seen it at Walmart (for shame). According to their website, you could snack on it without milk (why didn't I think of that?) and use it as a topping for ice-cream (OH. MY.)... but please - do yourself a favor and BUY SOME. Who cares that it is completely natural and organic. It's all about the flavor, baby.

There you have it. Three new finds to treat yourself on. Off to the store you go!


Disclosure: As stated in this post, the cookies and drink were provided for my honest opinion, free of charge. The granola was purchased by me (but you still got my honest opinion).

Owl Baby Shower and Bee's Berry Punch

"Whoooo doesn't love a baby?" That was my baby shower theme. These are the photos from yesterday's festivities - and YES, I got my cupcake... but was not impressed with the fact that it didn't start my labor like I had hoped. See that little finger indentation on the icing? That's my friend Ammie's little girl's mark. Party tip: make sure you watch the little ones if the cake is out on the counter!



Morgan was wearing her 'inspiration' shirt - complete with the little bird and branch that is very similar to what we'll be painting on her wall. I tried in the last two weeks to get the energy up to go paint the murals in the baby room, but it wasn't meant to be. There will be plenty of time for that later, I hope.



Decorating with owls was quite fun. The theme was expanded on with birds nests, ribbons and eggs. I used some older owls I have collected over the years - including this Avon owl that I've had since I was a wee little girl. We gave him a pretty new collar and he stood watch over the perfectly colored jelly bellies.



By far the biggest hit was the cake my friend Ammie ordered. We got the cupcake idea off of Flickr and altered it to be a buttercream icing creation. My downfall is buttercream icing. It wasn't as pretty as fondant, but it was EXTRA yummy.



We also had chili dip, artichoke dip, chips, crackers, cheeses, fruit, candy, and an incredible punch to go with our cupcakes and cake. The punch was my own creation. Here's the recipe:

BEE'S BERRY PUNCH

Adjust the amounts of each ingredient to fit your taste and the size of your punch bowl.

chilled ginger ale
frozen piña colada mix (run hot water over it to soften before putting in the punch)
bag of frozen mixed berries
raspberry sherbet
chilled berry/cranberry juice
crushed ice

Everyone enjoyed the punch. We got a lot of compliments on it. I wanted more myself, but by the time people started leaving and I had a chance to make it back over to the punch bowl, there wasn't any left.



Aside the punch bowl was the "diaper cake". Another baby-shower Flickr idea. I told you that Flickr was the bomb. So many creative people out there! We used wadded up grocery sacks as the center of each layer and rolled diapers to go around the edge before tying them off. It just so happened that I had a package with light green and white - which went perfect for our nursery-color schemed party. The tip top has a nesting stuffed owl. I had planned on tying off some pacifiers with ribbon and letting them dangle from the nest - but time got away from me and I forgot to add them.



Ammie found this cute white cupcake stand at Target. I glued a tiny orange bow at the top. We added ribbon to all the white table-top accessories. I thought her flowers she got half price at Lowe's were a nice touch to the table-top, too. You don't have to break the bank to have a nice looking party spread (well, if you know how to decorate cakes yourself, that is!).



Interestingly, I found out that Ammie had planned to do her two year old daughter's room in an owl theme, too. Not quite the same colors (she was adding in pinks), but her Pottery Barn owls were a cute touch as party decorations. Great minds think alike. I was glad little A let us borrow her owls (even if she did pull them down a few times to tell us which one was her favorite).



This was our artistic contribution to the party. I made an owl out of card-stock, scrapbook paper, and ribbon - colored with crayons and markers - to hang on the wall over a row of chairs. The little ones enjoyed coloring a few of them that I drew on paper, too. It kept the tiny hands busy while the grown-ups scurried to prepare for the guests.

During the party we played a few games - the guys got to identify the chocolate 'poo' in newborn diapers and the girls had a relay race to see who could dress and diaper a doll. More of the younger girls played than the grown-ups during the women's race. The doll owner finally got tired of sharing and took our prop, so we ended that contest early. We gave away two Starbucks gift cards to the winners of each.

All in all, the party was a lot of fun. I had to enlist my husband at the end to help open gifts because I started having some contractions and was unable to bend forward to look in the bags. I feel like I swallowed an exercise ball, I'm soooo big.

It's nearly 11pm on Sunday night and I'm having contractions as I write. All our bags are packed and now that we've had the shower, the carseat is ready and installed in our vehicle. We're as ready as we can be for the little 'hoot' to get here. If he comes tonight, we'll know for sure he's a night-owl.

I'll try to 'tweet' when I can if we head to the hospital. Until then, I may be hard to find online.



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Buzz Words: labor, baby shower, owls, life, food, decorating, baby, motherhood, party planning, pregnancy, delivery, mommy, contractions

Red

Cherry Limeade. Not exactly your 'health'-drink... but when you are on vacation or on the go, they sure are a treat. I captured this one (after my daughter stole a few of the cherries) on our trip this past week. I thought I would share it for Thursday Challenge. Enjoy! I know I did.

In case you want one for yourself, you can get them at Sonic or Dairy Queen. This one was a DQ Cherry Limeade (and it had about 8 cherries in it!). Mmmmmm.

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Technorati Tags: Fast Food, Pictures, Photos, Drinks, Delicious, Photography, Thursday Challenge, Beverages, Good, Parenting, Foto, Softdrinks

Non-Alcoholic Apricot Spritzer

My kids love drinking carbonated drinks. Yes, I know they are bad for me. "Cokes" as we call them here in Texas are a rare treat with a good meal. This one is one of my favorite mixed carbonated drinks because I love the taste of apricots, peaches and nectarines. This would make a good party punch, too... or just something different to serve your guests when they come over for dinner. If you 'drink', you can always add some vodka... however, we don't drink alcohol, so we just enjoy this the good-old-fashioned way... without liquor.

INGREDIENTS
2 cups mixed strawberries with red and black raspberries
1/4 cup tiny chunks of peach, nectarine or apricot
2 cups apricot nectar (one can of chilled nectar will do)
2 cups seltzer, chilled
2 cups ginger ale, chilled
2 cups white grape juice, chilled

If you don't have the seltzer and ginger ale, you can use Sprite. I have a bottle of Sprite and apricot nectar waiting on me outside so we can make this again. We have also made it without the extra grape juice and it is still good. Mix it up a bit and add in red sparkling grape or just purple grape instead to see if you like it better. Have fun and enjoy your "mixed drink" that even the kids can enjoy!


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Technorati Tags: party, beverage, drinks, fruit, yummy, recipe, delicious

Homemade Chantico (Old Fashioned Hot Chocolate)

It is almost a crime to post this old fashioned hot chocolate recipe without a photo. Better yet, I wish I could just pass you a tiny cup of it through the screen. My husband makes this for me when he wants to score brownie points. It is so rich and wonderful that it MUST be drank in VERY small quantity or you WILL get SICK. Remember the Chantico from Starbucks? For some reason it didn't go over well and they deleted it from the menu. Probably because of the large glass they sold it in... and most likely all of the tummy aches that followed if someone tried to finish off such a large amount in one sitting! I would serve this in tiny espresso cups. If you are brave (or crazy), go back for a second helping.

Homemade Chantico or Old Fashion Hot Chocolate
3/4 cup warm water
3 heaping tbsp Frys Coco Powder
8 heaping tbsp sugar (if you want it to taste like Starbucks, use LESS sugar)
2 tsp cornstarch + (1 tbsp water)
1 pinch salt
2 tsp butter (optional)
pinch of cayenne pepper (optional, but VERY good)

Mix well and serve hot.


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Technorati Tags: drinks, chocolate, beverages, food, sweets, dessert, cooking, Starbucks, yummy, copy cat recipes, hot chocolate, delicious, holidays

Coffee Snob: Why I Like Italian Coffee Best

My husband and I enjoy coffee. We often get Starbucks cards for Christmas because our relatives know we love to drink it. We have tried a great many different brands (from a great many various continents and countries). We like to eat international foods when we go out to eat (and even at home we cook international foods)... so sometimes we try new coffee and tea flavors to match our cuisine just for fun.

I was quite content to think that the coffee I had been drinking at international restaurants (even Starbucks) and at home was good stuff. However, a well-meaning friend of ours recently introduced us to some wonderful coffee that has trumped it all. We liked it so much that we got rid of all of our American and Mexican coffee at home that we previously purchased. No one can say we have never "given" at the office now. I am sure my husband's buddies at work are glad to have all those new brands to try... and since most of them probably have never tried Italian coffee, they won't know that the office stuff stinks.

You can guess from the title of this post what kind of coffee we were introduced to: Italian. I'm not sure the bean itself actually is grown in Italy. It is probably from the Mid-East. Yet the difference in Italian coffee (I believe) lies within the cooking methods and brewing methods. It is so sad that many Americans have never really had GOOD coffee before. It is interesting to note that there are oils in Italian coffee after you brew it. I have NEVER seen oil in American coffees (I have been told it is because the plant oils have been burned out by over-cooking of the bean). No matter what the reason is for the taste difference, it has surprised me enough to make me a believer in the Italian brand.

We bought a hand-crafted Bialetti Moka Express coffee maker that you use on the stove-top as well. I think cooking the coffee over the burner rather than percolating it has a lot to do with retaining the flavor of the bean. We are actually making espresso and mixing it with milk and sugar... a "caffè e latte" or "coffee with milk" - what you would simply call a latte here in the States.

My husband is now using a lot less sugar and cream because the coffee we are making is not as acidic and bitter. I am sure he is right (it does taste smooth), but I haven't given up on my hazelnut creamer just yet. I have been told that it is sacrilege to introduce flavored coffee creamer into pure Italian espresso (but that has not scared me off). I am sure that if I found a good hazelnut syrup, I would not mind just mixing that in with my frothy, warm milk. ...Anyone have a favorite hazelnut coffee syrup to recommend?

Italian coffees cost a bit more, but if you are willing to do some research, you can find it at a reasonable price. I found a place online where you can buy LavAzza for only $6.95 plus shipping. I like LavAzza decaf myself. Amazon's prices are considerably higher at over $20 dollars a can! Grocery stores where we have found it in Texas range between $9-13 dollars, but here in Arkansas, we found a store that carries a version of LavAzza (not decaf) for $6.99 (not bad since we didn't have to include shipping). Illy is another great coffee brand from Italy that is just a tad bit more expensive than LavAzza. I haven't seen a decaf version of Illy, but they may have one. I love the little silver tins that Illy coffee comes in.

While you are thinking about trying some Italian coffee out, you can stop in and read more about Italian coffee (and coffee in general) at LifeinItaly.com.


Technorati Tags: delicious, beverage, latte, drink, java, java, breakfast, Italy, Italian, yummy, coffee, American, reviews, grocery, Starbucks, caffe

H 2 O

I happened to pop in on Linda Carlton's blog and saw her post on the benefits of drinking enough water. I felt that it was really great info to add to my food / health / home-tips blog here at Gathering Manna, so I have copied some of her post here (highlighting and emphasis mine):

You should drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. (duh, I bet you knew that)

The fact is:
--The body is 80% water
--We need to drink at least half our body weight in ounces of water
--Water removes harmful toxins from the body
--Dehydration slows down the body's metabolism
--Lack of water causes daytime fatigue
--Water plays a vital role in almost every bodily function

A mere two percent drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory trouble with basic math problems and difficulty focusing.

Water regulates the temperature of the human body, carries nutrients and oxygen to cells, cushions joints, protects organs and tissues, and removes wastes.

Water Stats:
75% of the U.S. population chronically dehydrated
37% of the U.S. population
mistake thirst for hunger
98% of dieters use water to deter hunger pangs

The kids read a book this weekend that discussed heat and how the body sweats to release heat. You may be amazed by this, but the average person sweats out a quart of water a day! You need to drink a half a gallon of water every day to replace fluids you loose and provide ample water for all your bodily functions (This article by the Mayo Clinic is really a good link to read for more information). I also wanted to add that I have heard of a neat way to remember how much water to drink each day. You can either mark a gallon jug and keep pouring out of it all day (boring) , or you can get a 16 oz. glass and put 4 rubber bands around the glass. Each time you drink it down, take one rubber band off. The object is to fill the cup four times, and have NO rubber bands off by bedtime! Of course, if you are like me, you should try and drink most of it before dinner.... or you'll be up all night running to the restroom and it keeps you from really restful sleep.

Drink to Your Health!

Fruity Party Punch

Everyone always wants a good party punch recipe. I created my own recipe when I did the last theme party at my house for my children's birthdays. Below, I have listed the ingredients I used, but you can substitute for whatever flavors you like:

• kiwi-strawberry sodas
• frozen strawberry cream sherbet
• lime/sprite type soda
• can of pineapple juice
• ice

You will need to duplicate the recipe depending how many bowls you'll need to fill.

When I made this mix of flavors, the guests at the party LOVED it. I kept running out and having to make more. You can really just mix and match depending on the flavors you like best. Just make sure you add one frozen drink mix or sherbet to keep it frothy and cold, some ice, one soda (usually ginger ale or a sprite type soda), and a juice of your choice. Be creative. Pick your flavor you want first (such as peach, apple, orange, etc.) and then mix in a soda, sherbet, and juice of similar flavors to match. You will have people begging for your recipe!