Beverages

PBfit Review: Healthy and Delicious for the Whole Family

October 4, 2018 By Joi Sigers

Delicious PBfit – All Natural, Vegan, and Gluten-Free

While I’m normally the class clown, I want to be somewhat serious for a minute.

I guess that’s somewhat of a benefit to being the person who’s never serious, when you ARE serious, people know it’s… well… serious.

Think back to when you were in grade school. If you’re a parent or grandparent, odds are you have trouble thinking of overweight kids or even teachers. I can, honestly, remember the names of the overweight kids because they were so few.

Today, sadly, things are much, much different. You cannot go to the store, it seems, without seeing precious children who are already dealing with weight as an issue – at an age when they’re only “issue” should be homework or keeping their little brother from snitching on them!

I don’t have to tell you how unhealthy and dangerous carrying extra weight is. I won’t insult your intelligence with any diabetes statistics. You know that there is an epidemic in our country – with children and adults. An epidemic that HAS to be confronted head-on with better nutrition.

Chocolate PBfit Smoothie with Apple and Banana

The problem is… kids have incredible appetites! They’re growing and busier than any self-respecting Type A bee, so that’s only natural. Starving them is most certainly NOT the answer. Fun activities and healthy food are the answers needed and, fortunately, healthy food couldn’t be easier.

I’ll let you in on a little secret, too. It’s delicious! In fact, eating healthy is so delicious – and makes you feel so much better – that the entire family will benefit.

PBfit is one of my family’s newest obsessions and it will surely become one of your family’s as well. With 87% less fat than traditional peanut butter and 1/3 the calories, all natural PBfit makes meals and snacks healthier and even more delicious than ever.

You simply mix a little water with the PBfit mixture and… badabing!… delicious and creamy peanut butter. You only make the amount you need for the moment, so it’s always fresh and fantastic. If you want to add a little chopped peanuts or even a mashed banana, have at it. While the options are endless, it’s never better than when it is in its simplest form – good old fashioned peanut butter.

Chocolate PBfit Peanut Butter

It’s wonderful spread on bread, toast, or English muffins (with or without banana slices – YUM!) but I actually prefer dipping apple slices into the peanut butter. I also love making smoothies with the traditional PBfit as well as the Chocolate PBfit (it makes outstanding peanut butter, too… very reminiscent of Nutella).

When making your favorite smoothie, simply toss in some PBfit for extra protein and flavor. It is absolutely perfect in chocolate and banana smoothies. I usually throw an apple in, too, for good measure.

After all, an apple a day and all that…

There are a lot of excellent sounding PBfit recipes on the official website. I’m slowly but surely going to workmy way through each of them. Seriously, this is outstanding – you are going to love each of these – Chocolate PBfit, Organic PBfit, and the Original PBfit.

Kids will get a huge kick out of “making” their own peanut butter and you’ll never have to let them know how much healthier it is for them. Heck, even I get a kick out of “making” my own peanut butter and my qualification for “kid” expired quite a while back!

Each of the three varieties is IDEAL for smoothies and even milkshakes. They smoothly incorporate into the other ingredients – seemingly even better than traditional peanut butter does. I’ve actually been surprised just how smooth and creamy my smoothies are.

Below is a recipe from PBfit that’s a perfect example of the options when it comes to smoothies.

PBfit & Jelly Smoothie

1 cup frozen blue berries
4 tbsp pbfit
1 scoop vanilla protein
1 tsp low carb sweetener, monk fruit
3/4 cup milk of choice
*** optional, 1 tsp goji berry powder for color added nutrients

Blend and enjoy!

Find more recipes, nutrition information, and a lot more on PBfit.com.

PBfit sent me the samples in the picture above in exchange for telling my readers about their product. They also graciously shared the PBfit & Jelly Smoothie recipe and picture with us. The raving words and opinions are all my own, of course (as are the rest of the pictures). I was blown away by PBfit – I honestly had no idea how delicious it would be, for one thing, or how many different ways it could be used for another.

You can find PBfit in most grocery stores as well as on Amazon. I hope you’ll check it out – you and your family will absolutely love this!

Latte Pops with Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk

August 12, 2017 By Joi Sigers

All cooks have their favorite, “go to” ingredients – many of us actually share a lot of the same faves:

butter
garlic
freshly cracked black pepper
Kosher salt
cumin
cayenne pepper
garlic powder
vanilla extract
EVOO
etc.

Then there are those of us who have our own unique favorites that we wouldn’t dream of EVER running low on, let alone out of.

In addition to those above, a few of mine are:

cilantro
buttermilk
Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk
honey
orange marmalade

Yes, sweetened condensed milk and yes, it must be Eagle Brand. It’s simply better, period.

I use sweetened condensed milk in so many different ways, a good 3 cans has to be in the pantry at all times. If it got under 2, I’m pretty sure a culinary nervous breakdown wouldn’t be far away.

Three of the ways I use Eagle Brand the most are…

I add a can to cake mix batter – it makes the cake more moist and (as you’d expect) richer. Gluten-free cakes tend to dry out sooner than other cakes and Eagle Brand keeps this from happening. Magic!
I also use Eagle Brand often… make that OFTEN… when making “Coffeehouse” type fraps and lattes. There isn’t any need to add sugar, obviously. Just combine the sweetened condensed milk and coffee (hot or iced) in a blender and you’re set.
Eagle Brand makes the best pies of all time, including my personal favorite Sweet Potato Pie recipe. Trust me, save this one for Autumn. You’ll want it for Thanksgiving as well as the days leading up to it!

This summer I came up with another favorite way to put this particular favorite ingredient to use – Frozen Latte Pops. Again, as is the case with anything you make with Eagle Brand, it couldn’t be simpler.

I pour iced coffee and Eagle Brand into frozen Popsicle molds and freeze them until solid. It doesn’t get any easier than that, right? Sometimes I add a splash of Vanilla Syrup along with the “magic” and coffee, but it isn’t necessary.

These pops taste Heavenly and I get a giddy kick out of the white stripe at the bottom. That white stripe is pure deliciousness.

If you don’t have Popsicle molds, fill an ice cube tray up with the combination and freeze. When solid, crush the yumminess up with a spoon and…. well, you know what to do at this point.

For wonderful Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk Recipes, visit their website.

Review: Miss Ellie’s Coffee – More Than a Pretty Face

April 10, 2017 By Joi Sigers

Miss Ellie’s Coffee New Orleans Roast (Perfect)

I always love the sweet life of being a food blogger, but there are times I love it even more than others – such as the times I’m sent coffee in exchange for telling my readers about it. Oh, yeah, that’s when I love it almost as much as my next breath.

I was recently sent a great collection of Miss Ellie’s Coffee, as well as a beautiful coffee cake – which was above and beyond cool of them – and it’s my supreme pleasure to tell you all about this wonderful coffee.

First of all, a reminder about my coffee reviews. I keep the reviews simple and pretty much in everyday Jane and Joe language. I don’t get too heavily into the extra details of a coffee because my food blog audience (like me) are most concerned about…

… the taste of the coffee.
… the value of the coffee.
… the people on the other side of the label.
… if this is a coffee they have to order online, what makes it worth the effort?
… and perhaps most importantly, what sets this coffee apart from the rest?

If we’re being honest, the question, “What sets this coffee apart from the rest?” is always the first question I ask myself when trying a new coffee. If I can’t come up with an answer, then Houston, we have a problem!

Fortunately, it’s been my experience that if people are willing to send you their coffee in exchange for telling your readers about it, they are confident about what they’re bagging and this confidence is almost, without fail, very well placed.

That’s certainly the case with Miss Ellie’s Coffee. When I eagerly opened the box of coffee (think 5 year old on Christmas morning), one look at the coffee bags gave me my first glimpse into one of the things that sets this coffee apart from the rest… as in all the rest.

This is the first time I’ve ever seen a bag of coffee carry the individual’s face.

And what a beautiful face, at that! I mean we’re talking Disney Princess level beautiful – but that’s beside the point. As the mother of three Disney Princess level beautiful daughters, I just happen to notice things like this.

Naturally, the loveliness of the face isn’t what truly matters. To me, it’s the bold confidence and warm friendliness.

Bold Confidence: To put your face (lovely or not) on a bag of coffee, you have to be very confident about that coffee. You have to feel darn good about what you’re bagging to stand behind it… well, in front of it, if we’re being literal. Almost always.. almost without fail… those who are the most confident are this way for a reason.
Warm Friendliness: The smiling face on the coffee bags says, “Let’s have a cup of coffee together!” to me. In fact, everything about Miss Ellie’s online presence carries the same warm attitude and that totally and completely stands out to me.

Miss Ellie’s Coffee is Truly Exceptional Coffee

We buy a lot of different coffee in our household. It’s a great passion and we love to try as many different ones as possible. I’m also (blessed, blessed, blessed, blessed…) sent coffee regularly to review on my food blog and (blessed, blessed, blessed, blessed…) tea to review on my tea blog. So, if I say someone has carved out an identity for themselves that stands apart from the majority of the rest – please take my word for it.

Each coffee we’ve sampled from Miss Ellie’s has rocked our coffee world. EACH one. We opened the New Orleans first – what can I say, we liked the name. It’s as deep as that.

I may have mentioned this on the food blog before, I’m not sure – but my first cup of coffee each morning is “Bulletproof Coffee.” This is a delicious and healthy technique for fixing coffee which involves a little real butter and nutritious coconut oil. If you click the link I just dropped (after finishing this coffee review, of course!), you can learn how to make it from the master himself, Dave Asprey.

Miss Ellie’s New Orleans Makes an EXCELLENT Bulletproof Coffee

Fascinatingly, we have found that not all coffee makes wonderful bulletproof coffee. I guess it’s really common sense, but it always fascinates me nonetheless. Some coffee makes okay bulletproof coffee, some makes good bulletproof coffee, some makes great bulletproof coffee, and some makes exceptional bulletproof coffee.

Miss Ellie’s New Orleans Roast makes some of the most exceptional bulletproof coffee we’ve ever had. In fact, I’ve never had a coffee that made a better one than New Orleans.

After my bulletproof coffee each morning, I go on to have 2-4 cups of pour-over coffee, so I was really anxious to see if the New Orleans roast was as fantastic on its own….. in a more traditional cup of coffee.

Was it ever?! This is simply a beautiful, beautiful coffee and I cannot recommend it highly enough.

From Miss Ellie’s Coffee: This medium roast New Orleans coffee is a blend of selected beans from Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Colombia. We chose this Nawlin’s roast because of the history of the south. Miss Ellie’s medium beans are hand roasted to perfection.

Miss Ellie’s New Orleans in Bulletproof Coffee

Miss Ellie’s Colombian Roast

The next Miss Ellie’s Coffee we tried was the Colombian Blend. Naturally we tried it in a Bulletproof Coffee, first. We were anxious to see if it made as excellent a cup of Bulletproof Coffee as the New Orleans blend did. While it was absolutely delicious, I’d have to say that the New Orleans beans were EVEN better. This isn’t a knock, at all, against the Colombian.. it’s just a nod to the New Orleans.

The Colombian does, however, make every bit as wonderful a cup of pour-over coffee as the New Orleans. It’s rich, bold, and unmistakably Colombian. I love for a Colombian coffee to be proud of its heritage and this one is as proud as it gets!

Miss Ellie’s Colombian with Heavy Whipping Cream – Decadent and Delicious

When it comes to most coffee, if I’m not drinking it Bulletproof-Style, I drink it black. However, when it’s a Colombian blend, I love a little heavy whipping cream in my cup. It is simply HEAVENLY! Miss Ellie’s Colombian makes an absolutely perfect, ridiculously delicious cup of coffee – especially (in my opinion) with a little heavy whipping cream. Decadent and delicious.

As you can see in the picture above, I decided to celebrate the first day of baseball season (GO CARDINALS!!!) with the Colombian. For this baseball fanatic to choose a coffee as the one she celebrates the first day of baseball with is a compliment of the highest order.

The Colombian with whipping cream and the New Orleans in Bulletproof Coffee have become two of my newest and most treasured obsessions. They’re legendary, that’s all. Legendary.

Miss Ellie’s Coffee is, obviously, delicious (I hope I’ve thoroughly conveyed that fact!). It’s also very reasonably priced, so the value is definitely there. I love the way they go about their business – small-business values with a big-business approach. My dealings have been top-notch in every way.

I’m not sure if you order coffee online very often – I’d say we probably order more coffee online than we buy offline. Buying coffee (or anything for that matter) online is so quick, easy, and painless that it becomes your favorite way of shopping. Zero lines, you can order in your pajamas with your cat in your lap, the coffee is brought right to you… and did I mention you can order in your pajamas with your cat in your lap.

Absolutely my favorite way to shop.

I also received some sample-size packets of flavored coffees as well and will tell you all about them tomorrow. Not surprisingly, they’re each extraordinary – it seems Miss Ellie only Makes extraordinary coffee.

I guess that’s why she’s always smiling.

For more information, see Miss Ellie’s Coffee on Coffee.org.

Beginner’s Guide to Wine Tasting

March 29, 2017 By Joi Sigers

If you’ve never been wine tasting before it can be a little daunting. But wine tasting is not complicated and it’s very much about enjoying yourself while you enjoy some delicious reds and whites. There is no right or wrong way to do it, but if you want to get the most out of it read on for some hits, tips and advice for beginners.

Where to go wine tasting?

Vineyards around the world offer wine tasting sessions so if the wine regions of France, Chile and Australia are within easy reach or you’re going on holiday there soon, make sure you make a trip to a vineyard a priority. However, if there’s nothing like that on horizon, don’t despair! There are plenty of fantastic wine tasting opportunities in the UK from champagne tasting sessions in London to tours of organic vineyards in the countryside – see experience specialist Into the Blue. You might not realise how close you are to a quality winery, so do a little research to find one you can visit.

What to wear

This will depend largely on where you are going to taste wine, but in the majority of cases there is no specific dress code unless you are informed of one. Of course you are always running the risk if you’re drinking reds, so it might worth avoiding wearing white – just in case. It’s worth noting that you should probably avoid wearing perfume or cologne to the vineyard as it may affect your ability to enjoy the smell of the wines.

Wine tasting etiquette

There are a few things to be mindful of when wine tasting – one of the most controversial is whether you spit the wine out or not. The truth is that it’s up to you. It’s perfectly acceptable to spit the wine out, whether you’re trying to avoid consuming too much alcohol or you just don’t like the flavour. Alternatively, you are perfectly allowed to drink if you wish. If it’s your first time here are some extra tips to get the most out of the session:

Cleanse your palate in between each tasting with a sip of water and a bite of a plain cracker, if offered
Don’t turn down wine based on your known preferences – remember even if you hate it you can spit it out after sampling the flavour
Hold the stem of the glass rather than the bowl. This will ensure that the heat from your hand doesn’t affect the temperature of the wine and impair the flavour
Make sure that you eat beforehand. Going wine tasting on an empty stomach is a bad idea, even if you’re not swallowing most of the time

The three steps of wine tasting:

Sight

It’s a good idea to inspect the colour of the wine, to see what you can discern. You may be surprised to learn that there can be a lot of colour variation from the centre of the glass to the rim. If it is paler at the edge of the rim this usually indicates it is a younger wine. A brownish tint in a red is often a sign that this is a more mature wine. Remember, however, that age and colour does not necessarily indicate quality – you will have to move on to the next steps to get a better idea about that.

Smell

The ‘nose’ of the wine is very important to the flavour, so swirl around the glass and then take in the scent and see what you can get. There is enormous variation in the different smells that a wine can give off with everything from sweet fruits like pears and melon, and citrus notes of lime and lemon to woody and earthy aromas like vanilla, chocolate and sandalwood. See what smells jump out to you – there’s no right or wrong answer.

Taste

Take a good amount of wine into your mouth – not a tiny sip – and make sure you don’t swallow straight away. Savour it; swirl the liquid round and coat the inside of your mouth. The taste will come in three parts: the first impression, the evolution and the finish. Hold the wine in your mouth and see where the flavours go.

The first impression usually brings out many of the same smells you found on the nose – but see what stands out on the tongue. Then the evolution is as other, subtler flavours come to the surface. Finally, the finish is the lingering notes that hang around.

Raspberry Gradient Smoothie: Paleo, Vegan, Colorful, and Delicious

February 20, 2017 By Joi Sigers

As I said in my 350 Vegan Recipes review, I am crazy about the Desert Sunrise smoothie… all of the recipes I’ve tried from the book have been great, in fact.

One of my favorite things to do with recipes is (after trying them as is) to take them for spins around the block to see what else we can get into. Since raspberries are a particular obsession of mine, I knew this particular spin around the block would involve these outrageously beautiful berries.

I love Deb Roussou’s idea of using aloe vera juice and sparkling water in smoothies – then adding juice at the end. It makes for a gorgeous smoothie that’s also downright delicious.

I’ve been a smoothie fanatic for years, now, and I’m pretty sure I’ll be one for life. The tricky thing about smoothies is that they’re like another personal reason for getting out of bed in the morning – SALADS. They are only “healthy” if you, literally, make them healthy. Throw in too many bad or borderline bad ingredients and you’ve defeated your healthy purpose and shot yourself in the foot.

If you are accustomed to sweetening your smoothies to the point that they taste like milkshakes, I’d love to propose that you put down the sugar and step away. Some green smoothies or other vegetable-based smoothies DO need a little honey but fruit-based smoothies are perfectly sweet, as is. Your tastebuds will adjust to the difference and you will soon (very soon) prefer the ability to actually taste the fruit and healthy ingredients as opposed to just automatically thinking, “Sweeeeeeet.”

The smoothie recipe below is paleo, vegan (and, of course, therefore gluten-free and vegetarian).

All smoothies don’t have to have milk, alternative milks, or yogurt in them. Experiment and always try to keep your smoothies as natural and organic as possible.

This is the Grape Juice and Sparkling Water I Use

Raspberry Gradient Smoothie (based on Desert Sunrise, 350 Best Vegan Recipes.)

1-1/4 cups frozen raspberries
1/2 cup aloe vera juice
1 cup ice
2 TBS chia seeds, soaked in a little water for two minutes
1 cup sparkling water
1/2 cup grape juice

Combine the ingredients and pour into 2 glasses. Top each with 1/4 cup grape juice.

The pictures in the post were before I stirred the smoothie together – something you’ll want to do to distribute the juice throughout the drink. I just had to take a picture because it looked so darn pretty!

Experiment with juices and frozen fruit in this smoothie – make it your own and give it a name. All smoothies should have names, after all.

The recipe in 350 Best Vegan Recipes called for fresh peaches (instead of raspberries), chopped dates (instead of chia seeds), and pomegranate juice (instead of grape juice).

350 Best Vegan Recipes: Great Cookbook for ANYONE, Vegan or Not

February 20, 2017 By Joi Sigers

One of the cookbooks I’m currently getting the most use out of is Deb Roussou’s 350 Best Vegan Recipes.

Am I a vegan? No.

Am I a vegetarian? No.

Am I a vegan half the time? No.

Am I vegetarian half the time? Not so much.

And yet… this is a cookbook that I use regularly for recipes, ideas, and inspiration for my own recipes.

The last part of that, “inspiration for my own recipes” is probably the number one way I use cookbooks. While I almost always make it the way the recipe states first, I do love to take a great recipe for a joy ride and see what wonderful other sights we can see.

I’ll be posting a recipe in a few minutes that’s actually based on one of the smoothie recipes in 350 Best Vegan Recipes. The original “Desert Sunrise” is delicious, as are the other variations I’ve tried. Adding aloe vera juice and sparkling water makes for some out-of-this-world smoothies. As soon as I post the recipe, I’ll come back here and link to it right about here.

Some of the recipes in this cookbook:

Pan-Fried Onion and Potato Hash Browns
Basic Pizza Dough
Quick Cherry Tomato and Pesto Pizza
Manicotti Florentine
Orecchiette Pasta with Eggplant Garlic Sauce
Roasted Red Pepper and Chipotle Dip
Ranch Dressing
Fragrant Rice-Stuffed Peppers
French Onion Soup with Croutons
Lemon Cucumber Tabbouleh
Stacked Green Chile Enchiladas
An a lot more – 350 in all.. and more when you “tinker” with the recipes and create new ones.

While this is not a “gluten-free” cookbook, substitutions are always possible and it’s usually as simple as replacing a regular pasta with a gluten-free pasta. Easy peasy.

350 Best Vegan Recipes is perfect for anyone’s cookbook collection, because even if you aren’t a vegan or vegetarian and even if you (like me) have zero intention of becoming one (my love for burgers and fish are simply too strong), the healthy, creative, and delicious recipes will add both flavor and nutrition to your meals.

If you ARE a vegan or vegetarian… you’d better go ahead and order this book today because you will love it with all your vegetarian heart.

Let Hot Ruby Cider Spice Up Your Holidays

November 16, 2016 By Joi Sigers

Delicious Hot Ruby Hot CiderA while back I was sent some gorgeous jars of Hot Ruby to try. I’d never tried Hot Ruby but I’d heard about it and I was anxious to see what the fuss was all about! I’m a HUGE fan of warm drinks (coffee, tea, apple cider, hot chocolate) and have at least one variety in my hand all day everyday from the first day of autumn to the first day of summer – so I could not wait to get my mitts on this beauty.

I saved this review for November because this drink just goes beautifully with holidays and special occasions. This is THE hot drink you need to serve at all of your Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s get-togethers. Not only is is delicious, it’s unique and everyone gets a kick out of the extraordinary.

What is Hot Ruby?

Originally created by the late Ruby Faye, Hot Ruby is made from a special family recipe. Unlike typical cider, this drink is made out of cranberry, pineapple and citrus juices along with an exquisite blend of spices. Not only will the house smell delicious while it’s simmering on the stove, but it will warm the souls of your guests with its goodness.

What makes Hot Ruby different from other ciders?

•   Fresh and homemade, Hot Ruby use the same ingredients and steps as Ruby Faye did 45 years ago
•   Cranberry based with pineapple, hints of citrus and infused with cinnamon and cloves
•   No artificial dyes or preservatives
•   Hot Ruby is versatile making the possibilities endless; it’s the ideal base for both non-alcoholic and alcoholic drinks
•   It’s a special treat everyone in your family will love

Hot Ruby can be consumed by all ages. Originally made to serve hot, it can be prepared over ice or used as a mixer with your favorite alcohol. Hot Ruby also offers tasty drink recipes for you to experiment with here.

About Hot Ruby

The story of Ruby Faye starts in the 1950’s when she and her husband Roy established their home together on a South Plain Texas farm. Her delicious twist on cider would fill her home with its irresistible scent. Made with fresh cranberries and tons of love, it instantly became a family tradition during the holidays.

What I Think About Mrs. Ruby’s Drink!

It’s a feast for all of your senses. Not only is it gorgeous (in and out of the jars it comes in), the fragrance in your kitchen as it’s heating on the stove is a beautiful thing. (You can also simmer it on the “warm” setting in your crock-pot for large crowds – and for a Heavenly smelling house.)

Find ordering information here – this is a sure fire way to make your holidays even more delicious!

Giraffes – Sticking Their Necks Out in the Kitchen….

August 15, 2016 By Joi Sigers

While I collect farm-related animals in my kitchen (pigs, roosters, chickens, cows..), I have a crazy crush on these giraffe kitchen items. In fact, I’ve been picturing how they’d look among my pigs for a few days now. I’m not sure how they’d get along, but I willing to risk it.

The first giraffe kitchen product I fell hard for was the Giraffe Whistling Tea Kettle (above). I’ve had my eye on her since I first wrote about her on my tea blog.

Enamel coating on both inside and outside of teakettle
Use on a gas and electric stove
Excellent heat resistance
2.4 qt capacity

And how about the adorable Giraffe Paper Towel Holder (below)? Love them!

Antique, Cast-Iron Stand
Vintage-Style Decor
High Quality Material, including genuine solid cast iron construction heavy enough to detach paper towels or toilet paper one-handed; vintage style and antique finish resists wear, looks better with age
Beautiful and Unique gift idea!

Amazon even has giraffe print cupcake liners! If you happen to prefer zebras, elephants, or farm animals (like this animal lover), you’ll find them on Amazon, too. Just go to the Kitchen and Dining Section and search for the animal or animals that populate your kitchen!

Raspberry Bliss Smoothie Made Extra Fast (and Tasty) with SlimFast

July 22, 2016 By Joi Sigers

Raspberry Bliss Smoothie - with SlimFast Smoothie and Chia Seeds

As I’ve said before, I am beyond obsessed with raspberries, strawberries, and chia seeds. They don’t just float my boat – they power it, steer it, wash it, own it… At least my obsessions are healthy ones. Although the whole strawberry sundae addiction might raise a few question marks.

As you’d imagine, I try to work the thrillsome threesome into my life as often as possible. My Applesauce Raspberry Parfait recipe is a quick way to get my raspberry and chia seed fix, as is a smoothie I have on a regular basis – my beloved Raspberry Bliss Smoothie. It is, of course, just as delicious with other berries – strawberries, blueberries, blackberries… just use whichever berry is your own personal obsession.

This smoothie all begins with a cold bottle of SlimFast – if you have to/choose to eat gluten free, be sure you check the front of the bottle or case for the magic words GLUTEN FREE. You can experiment with the flavors, but I usually go with Vanilla (unless Strawberries are the star of the day, then I go with Strawberry).

Pour the cold SlimFast into your blender and add:

1 Cup Frozen Raspberries
2 TBS (or however much you want) Chia Seeds

Blend until you have a beautiful smoothie staring you in the face.

{Health Benefits of Raspberries Below}

Health Benefits of Raspberries

Given the rich antioxidant and anti-inflammatory phytonutrient mixture found in raspberries, it’s not surprising to see studies showing raspberry benefits in cancer prevention. Chronic excessive oxidative stress and chronic excessive inflammation can combine to trigger the development of cancer cells in a variety of human tissue. By providing a rich supply of antioxidants, raspberries can help lower risk of oxidative stress, and providing a rich supply of anti-inflammatory nutrients, raspberries can help lower the risk of excessive inflammation. When combined, these results mean decreased risk of cancer formation. In animal studies to date, the cancer types most closely examined in relationship to raspberry intake are cancers of the breast, cervix, colon, esophagus, and prostate. – WHFoods.com (Click the following link to read more about the health benefits of raspberries!)

As you can see in the picture above, I use The Raw Food World Organic Chia Seeds – you can find them for a great price on Amazon. Naturally, any Chia Seeds you have will be awesome. You could even leave them out if you wanted to… though I’m not sure why you’d do that. They’re healthy, delicious, and… let’s face it.. fun to eat.

You could also throw in a little flaxseed for extra nutrition. It doesn’t alter the flavor and, although I didn’t this particular time, I often do sprinkle at least a tablespoon in.

Alkaline88 Water: You Can Taste the Difference (and That’s a Really Good Thing)

June 29, 2016 By Joi Sigers

Alkaline88: Naturally created PH balanced water with no chemicals or additives.

I drink a lot – so much that I’ve often say it’s a good thing I don’t drink alcohol. I’m pretty sure I’d drink Otis under the table. Fortunately, I stick to tea, coffee, and coconut water. I’ve also started drinking more water lately – it’s hard to ignore all the health benefits that are associated with water. My biggest problem has always been that it didn’t do anything for me, taste-wise.

A recent bottled water I was sent to review, Alkaline88, has not only opened my mind about water, itself, it has also changed the way I look at the water I use to make tea and coffee.

Very Refreshing After an Afternoon of Yardwork!

About Alkaline88:

What do Miranda Kerr, Elton John, Bill Gates, Martha Stewart, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Aniston, Kate Hudson, Kelly Ripa, Janet Jackson and Ray Kurzweil all have in common? They’ve all gone on the record to say that they drink alkaline water! Many athletes and celebrities including are attracted to the benefits of an alkaline diet as balanced body pH results in greater energy, more restful sleep, improved digestion and fewer colds according to some medical authorities.

Alkaline88 achieves its 8.8 pH level through a state-of-the-art, completely chemical-free scientific process. Some people turn to alkaline water after over-indulging in alcoholic drinks or food while others use it as a part of their healthy lifestyle.

Dr. Jamie Koufman, an internationally renowned expert on reflux, and researcher Dr. Nikki Johnston studied how alkaline water destroyed pepsin, a stomach enzyme that when activated by acid causes painful reflux symptoms that can lead to cancer. According to the findings published in the Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology, July 2012, natural artesian alkaline water with an 8.8 pH instantaneously inactivated human pepsin in laboratory studies. Ordinary tap and bottled waters had no such effect.

As someone who suffers from GERD and reflux, that last paragraph really got my attention.

Naturally, if the taste isn’t there, the health benefits don’t carry as much weight with us, do they? For better or worse, that’s how it is with us foodies…. it’s all about the taste!

Alkaline88 is outstanding. It’s uncommonly clean-tasting and refreshing – yes, more so than other bottled water.

Something else I love about Alkaline88 is the fact that it comes in a variety of sizes. If (like me) you make a lot – make that A LOT – of tea and coffee, you’ll want to buy larger containers as well as the individual bottles (what they refer to as “small bottles”).

Alkaline88 Makes Perfect Coffee and Tea

Alkaline88 is, like I said, refreshingly delicious and “clean” right out of the bottle, but It’s especially wonderful when used for….

coffee
tea
lemonade
hot chocolate

It’s also a perfect summer drink when poured over ice with a few sprigs of mint and/or cucumber slices. Fantastic!

While Alkaline88 is growing rapidly and quickly popping up in stores around the country, one sure-fire, convenient place to find it is on Amazon.

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About Alkaline88:

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Beverages

PBfit & Jelly Smoothie

Health Benefits of Raspberries

About Alkaline88:

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