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Gorgeous Placemats from Amazon: Perfect for Christmas and Winter… Color Me OBSESSED!

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Gingerbread Man Placemats

Gingerbread Men Christmas Placemats (Amazon Affiliate Link)

I have a new obsession and I don’t care who knows about it… I am OBSESSED with colorful, seasonal placemats and I have a feeling the infatuation is just beginning. I ordered the beautiful, festive Gingerbread Men Christmas Placemats (Amazon Affiliate Link) from “Artoid Mode” last month and fell SO deeply in love with them that I went to Amazon the next day to see what other placemats Artoid Mode made.

To give you an idea of just how successful my venture was, you’ll notice them pictured below! I wanted to have a set of their placemats to take the place of the Gingerbread men placemats when Christmas was over. Given that the new ones are a tribute to winter, they’ll see me through to spring.. at which point, I’ll need to order my next beautiful placemats from them. Oh, let’s be honest, I’ll order them probably before the month is over. Problem is, they have so many gorgeous Spring placemats (Amazon Affiliate Link), I have no idea how I’ll choose.

Artoid Mode (Amazon affiliate link) has a gorgeous variety of placemats, kitchen towels, kitchen mats, and more. It won’t be long before I’ve filled my kitchen and den with just about everything they make – the products are THAT gorgeous, THAT eye-catching, and THAT exceptionally made.

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Gingerbread Man Placemats

Gingerbread Men Christmas Placemats (Amazon Affiliate Link)

 

I love the idea of having placemats and table decor compliment one another, and given the fact I collect gingerbread men and women, this one was a real cinch. I’ve been looking for a great-looking Gingerbread house to go in the center of the table… that would complete the look beautifully, especially if the house lights up.

 

Gingerbread Man Placemats

Gingerbread Men Christmas Placemats (Amazon Affiliate Link)

The only problem I have run into with these placemats (The Gingerbread ones as well as the Hello Winter ones) and with this post is the fact that the photos don’t even come close to showing how beautiful these placemats are. The colors are so vivid and they’re so well-made – when you walk into the room, they catch your eye and don’t let it go.

Gingerbread Man Placemats

Bright and Beautiful Gingerbread Men Christmas Placemats

I broke out the newest placemats, the Hello Winter Placemats (Amazon Affiliate Link) long enough to take a few pictures. Fortunately, we already have a few miniature trees to compliment the table setting but I’d like to find a few more.

At night, the way the candles reflect on these little trees is absolutely beautiful. (The trees, incidentally, came from Target).

Hello Winter Blue Placemats

Hello Winter Placemats (Amazon Affiliate Link)

While I ordered the blue Hello Winter placemats, I noticed they did have a gorgeous red one available as well. If you go to Artoid Mode’s Amazon Page (Affiliate link), you’ll find countless other placemats, towels, etc. They’re all stunningly beautiful and have added so much color, beauty, and personality to our kitchen and den, I only wish they also made bathroom decor!

Hope you’re having a peaceful and blessed Christmas season!

~ Joi (“Joy“)

Hello Winter Placemats

Hello Winter Placemats (Amazon Affiliate Link)

Gorgeous Purple Dutch Oven… My Ideal Soup Pan!

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I couldn’t possibly be MORE in love with this Amazon Basics Enameled Cast Iron Covered Dutch Oven (Amazon link). Seriously, I’m half-certain it’s going to be a Christmas gift TO me, FROM me this year. I love the Amazon Basics brand (phenomenal quality at very, very reasonable prices) and the color (purple) is my absolute obsession.

If this particular color doesn’t float your boat (what are you thinking?!), know that this gorgeous Dutch oven comes in a wide variety of colors:

  • blue
  • gray
  • white
  • navy
  • red
  • pink
  • green
  • matte white
  • orange (very good looking)
  • teal
  • purple (some things are worth repeating)

Features:

  • 6-quart cast iron Dutch oven pot for cooking and baking in the oven or on the stovetop; Oven safe up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit
  • Smooth enamel finish provides long-lasting durability and non-stick convenience
  • Cast iron provides even heat distribution and retention; Hand wash only
  • Dual side handles and fitted lid
  • Roast meat, bake bread, marinate food, sauté vegetables, prepare soups, stews, casseroles, and more
  • Backed by an Amazon Basics limited 1-year warranty

See Amazon Basics Enameled Cast Iron Covered Dutch Oven (Amazon link) for more information and to see the other gorgeous colors…. in addition to the stunning purple.


Review: New Zealand Honey Co. Raw Manuka HoneyNew Zealand Honey Co. Raw Manuka Honey

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New Zealand Honey Co. Raw Manuka Honey

New Zealand Honey Co. Raw Manuka Honey

Are you familiar with Manuka honey? If you’re as obsessed with honey (and for that matter, bees) as I am, I’m sure you have heard of this delectable honey before – whether you’ve had the opportunity to try it or not.

When I was contacted about reviewing Manuka Honey from the New Zealand Honey Co. in exchange for telling my readers all about it, I absolutely jumped at the change, with my cup of tea in hand. I use honey many ways in my kitchen (literally every day) and stirring it into a cup of hot tea is one of my favorite ways to enjoy it. I also combine it with my chocolate obsession on the daily as well – more about that in a minute.

The New Zealand Honey Co. is a wellness company that considers my beloved worker bees a key asset to their company. Manuka Honey is so rare, it is only able to be harvested for two to eight weeks each year!  In fact, The Manuka Honey UMF™ 26 is considered one of the rarest superfoods in the world.

You can absolutely taste the exclusive goodness.

From New Zealand Honey Co.

The brand has a complete line of Manuka Honey, a complex and high-strength raw honey from the native New Zealand Manuka tree. As the bees gather nectar from the tree’s flowers, they’re helping bring a vital superfood  to the lives of thousands who love what goes into their bodies to boost immunity and overall wellness. Plus, it tastes sweetly delicious!

The result is an end product bringing pure goodness to consumers worldwide. It tastes great, is a terrific natural sugar alternative, and delivers amazing health benefits (gastrointestinal, immune support, skincare, haircare, first-aid, wound care, and oral health). Even dogs and other animals benefit from Manuka Honey.

(Review Continued Below…)

Manuka Honey and Giant Sunflower

New Zealand Honey Co. Raw Manuka Honey

The Manuka Honey I was sent to sample is pictured here (with tea, chocolate, and one of my beloved “giant sunflowers” from my sunflower bed this summer… the jar of honey is not small, the flower is simply enormous) and I can 100 percent say this about it: It is extraordinarily delicious and so completely unlike any honey you will find in the store. Not only in taste, but in nutritional value as well.

Health Benefits of Manuka Honey

Manuka honey has far superior antibacterial strength than other honeys. While honey is a healthy food, when it’s Manuka honey, it’s basically a superhero. Manuka honey has antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antioxidant superpowers.

People actually use manuka honey to treat wounds, it’s that potent. It’s also said to improve your oral health, soothe a sore throat and treat ulcers. I used some a few days ago when allergies had given me a sort of annoying cough. Just half a teaspoon of the deliciousness chased the ticklish cough away faster and more effectively than any cough drop.

Manuka honey is also a natural source of energy.. and who couldn’t use a little more energy in their days (says a MiMi to three boys all under 5 years old!). For more health benefits of Mauka Honey, as well as MANY creative and wonderful ways to use it, please see New Zealand Honey Co.’s excellent resource, 176 Ways to Use Manuka Honey.

(Review Concluded Below…)

New Zealand Honey Co. Manuka Honey and Chocolate and Ghee

New Zealand Honey Co. Manuka Honey and Chocolate and Ghee

How I’ve Been Enjoying Manuka Honey:

  • Even a tiny amount stirred in hot tea is excellent. It pairs especially well with citrus tea!
  • I’ve been using it as part of one of my favorite “good fat” treats. I take a square of dark chocolate and add a little great-quality ghee (Ancient Organics Ghee is BY FAR the best I’ve ever had), a little honey, and either flaky sea salt or pink Himalayan salt on top. The combination of flavors will blow your mind.
  • Another healthy snack I’ve always loved is a sliced banana, topped with either peanut butter or almond butter with a drizzle of honey. Manuka brings even more flavor and health benefits than my regular “go to” honey.
  • I’ve also enjoyed a little manuka honey added to Vanilla Greek Yogurt.
  • I love to add a little, along with butter, to my gluten-free oatmeal.
  • 176 Ways to Use Manuka Honey has many, many, many other uses and recipes… easy homemade beauty products, recipes, pet uses, hair masks, throat lozenges made with manuka honey (saving this one for cold and flu season, y’all).

Yes, Manuka honey is more expensive than regular honey – but, the good thing is, you can taste the difference and it is absolutely worth it.

For more information, please visit their wonderful website: New Zealand Honey Co. When you arrive on the website, you’ll even be given a chance to receive a discount on their extraordinary products. This wonderful honey would make a VERY thoughtful gift idea this Christmas!

Manuka Honey

Manuka Honey

Gifts from the Kitchen: 100 Irresistible Homemade Presents for Every Occasion

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Gifts from the Kitchen: 100 Irresistible Homemade Presents for Every Occasion
Inevitably, after months of shopping and planning, my best-received gifts are the cookies and candies I’ve made for my loved ones. That’s why, in the days leading up to Christmas, you can only find me if you look in my kitchen. I’m the one covered in powdered sugar, chocolate, and corn syrup – dancing around to Christmas music.

Man, I love this time of year!

If you love giving gifts you’ve made in your own kitchen, too, here’s a cookbook you’ll want to add to your library right away.  Gifts from the Kitchen: 100 Irresistible Homemade Presents for Every Occasion, by Annie Rigg (Amazon link) is an uncommonly beautiful book. As a cookbook collector, one of the first things I notice about a cookbook is how good it feels about itself –  the cover, artwork, and photographs let you know, right off the bat, if the cookbook feels really good about itself or if its heart is only half in it.

Gifts from the Kitchen (Amazon link) feels amazingly good about itself – we’re talking “supermodel” confidence, here.

Naturally, for a book to be a great book – there has to be more than just great looks going for it. Thankfully, Gifts from the Kitchen comes through in the personality department, too  – it’s not just a pretty face.

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Gifts from the Kitchen: 100 Irresistible Homemade Presents for Every Occasion
The book covers all celebrations and all seasons. Not only can you use the beautiful delicacies for gift-giving, you can also use them to celebrate special occasions.

Special Occasion Recipes Include

  • Fortune Cookies (Chinese New Year)
  • Chocolate Valentine’s Cakes (Valentine’s Day or Anniversaries)
  • Love Heart Sugar Cubes (Valentine’s Day)
  • Double Dark Chocolate, Pecan and Ginger Cookies (Father’s Day)
  • Easter Nest Cupcakes (Easter)
  • Rugelach (Jewish Celebrations)
  • Baby Shower Cakes
  • Wedding Cake
  • Stained Glass Snowflake Cookies (Christmas)
  • And More…

Recipes for Gifts That Fit Any Occasion Include

  • Chocolate Truffles
  • Peanut or Macadamia Brittle
  • Creamy Vanilla Fudge with Chocolate and Nuts
  • Pickled Beets
  • Pickled Shallots
  • Spiced Cranberry Jelly
  • Florentines
  • Chocolate-Coated Candied Almonds
  • Mango Chutney with Chili Pepper and Ginger
  • English Muffins
  • Cherry Jam
  • Strawberry and Vanilla Preserves
  • Chocolate and Hazelnut Spread
  • Honeycomb (look especially perfect for Halloween)
  • Pesto
  • And Many more….

In addition to the clear and simple recipes, Gifts from the Kitchen (Amazon link) provides beautiful examples of ways to present many of these food gifts to your lucky foodie.

This is not a “gluten free” cookbook, but many of the candies and other recipes are, in and of themselves, gluten free. I have not tested any of the other recipes with gluten free flours, so I can’t say how well they’d take to substitutions. It is, however, in my opinion, more than worth having in your collection. The candies, spreads, jellies, etc. outnumber the cakes and cupcakes… and even they provide inspiration and ideas for the gluten free cook.

I’m especially excited about a recipe for “Wholegrain Honey Mustard.” Wholegrain mustard is an obsession of mine – I add it to more recipes than you can imagine (potato salad, BBQ sauce, deviled eggs, egg salad sandwiches, salad dressings…). I can only imagine how amazing this homemade Wholegrain Honey Mustard will be!

See Gifts from the Kitchen (Amazon link) for more information.

While you’re on Amazon, check out the other beautiful cookbooks by Annie Rigg!

Gifts from the Kitchen: 100 Irresistible Homemade Presents for Every Occasion

Have You Invested in a Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer Yet?! Here’s Why I Think You Should….

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Ironically, in spite of ALWAYS saying, “You’ll only be as great a cook as your tools and ingredients allow you to be,” I put off buying a KitchenAid stand mixer for years. And years.

The very person who consistently pays more for most ingredients and who grabs every new kitchen gadget that hits the market put off buying something because it, “… seems so high.”

If I didn’t do a great deal of baking, it’d be more forgivable but with a large family, there are always birthday cakes to make, homemade icing to throw together, candies, pies, and whatnot. And that in’t even counting Thanksgiving and Christmas – my annual grand finales!

I knew Kitchenaid stand mixers were gorgeous and knew the brand had one of the best reputations in the business but I  honestly assumed my handheld mixer could do anything it could and I knew it was far cheaper. More on the faulty assumption in a minute.

Earlier this year, my youngest daughter got a Kitchenaid stand mixer (Amazon link) and immediately began to rave about it. She’s one of the rare humans who does as much baking and cooking as I do, so when she recommends something, I listen. I decided to test her Kitchenaid out with something I make each week – Homemade Whipped Cream. My husband and I love it in our coffee (as well as on ice cream, cakes, cookies… heck, I’ve even seen him eat it right out of the bowl).

(Continued Below the Whipped Cream!)

Homemade Whipped Cream

Homemade Whipped Cream (Recipe) 

First of all, I fell in love with the fact that all I had to do was put all of the ingredients into the bowl and that the Kitchenaid did the rest. My right arm marveled at something being beaten without it feeling the burden.

However, if the results had been the same, I would have stayed loyal to my handheld for the rest of my life.

The results were not even remotely the same. My homemade whipped cream has always been delicious but this time it had a MUCH better consistency – a consistency that made it look better and, somehow, even taste better. I remember picking it up with a spoon and thinking how much it looked like store-bought whipped cream. My handheld never did that.

Then it hit me… if the Kitchenaid stand mixer (Amazon link) makes this big of a difference with something as simple as whipped cream, imagine the difference it can make with cakes, pies, cookies, brownies, divinity, fudge… that was it. I was sold.

Yes, a Kitchenaid stand mixer  is more expensive than hand held mixers and, yes, for most of us, they’re somewhat of an investment. But here’s the thing, if the meals we make for our loved ones aren’t worth it, nothing is.

I would never recommend anything to my readers that I don’t absolutely love and use. I’d never suggest you buy something unless I knew you’d love it – I’m just not built that way.

I’m 100 percent certain you will love a  Kitchenaid stand mixer (Amazon link) as much as I do.  From what I’ve read, other stand mixers do not hold a candle to the Kitchenaid brand, so I wouldn’t get sidetracked there, if I were you. Kitchenaid is a household name and experience has shown me why.

See Also: Recipe for the Best Whipped Cream!

KitchenAid

KitchenAid Stand Mixer

The Absolute BEST Homemade Whipped Cream

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Whipped Cream

Homemade Whipped Cream

I’ve made many different versions of homemade whipped cream (or whipped topping, if you prefer) and was decidedly loyal to another version for years (one that called for granulated sugar). After making it with powdered sugar, however, I have NEVER gone back to the other version and I never will. This one is simply much, much better.

I make up a batch each week to use in coffee, on cake, on ice cream, between cookies… you get the idea. We also love it on pancakes and waffles!

Due to its popularity in our home, I make up a larger amount than you may want – in which case, you’ll need to half this recipe.

One more thing, while a KitchenAid Stand Mixer isn’t necessary for this whipped cream, the consistency will be better if one is used!

  • Beat 2 cups of heavy whipping cream until it begins to thicken. Be sure it’s Heavy Whipping Cream and not just Whipping Cream (makes a big difference).
  • Add 4 Tablespoons powdered sugar and beat to incorporate.
  • Beat in 2 teaspoons of clear vanilla extract until stiff peaks form

About the clear vanilla: Obviously any vanilla extract can be used, but if you use clear the whipped cream will be even prettier.

Hamilton Beach Juice Extractor: Arming Your Kitchen for Greater Health!

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While almost everything about the Pandemic has been tragic, hideous, ugly, and negative in every way – a few small benefits can’t be overlooked.

Most of us will never take anyone in our lives for granted ever again – young or old, I truly believe our loved ones will be cherished more than ever before. I also believe we’ll be more apt to be more thankful for the simple joys in life, things we once took for granted, like simply going out for a hamburger with your spouse or shopping at Target with your daughters.

Another benefit, I believe, will be a lot more people getting serious (really SERIOUS) about their health and weight. COVID, like so very many diseases, did not and does not discriminate when it comes to its victims BUT it most certainly does more damage to those who are older, those with pre-existing diseases, and/or those who are overweight.

Many people are realizing that the time is now (past now, if we’re being honest) to get in better shape and lose excess weight where it may lurk.

Fortunately there are a lot of healthy kitchen tools and small appliances that make it easier to eat and live much healthier. Juice extractors, for example, are one of the easiest, fastest, and most efficient ways to make sure we’re getting all the fruits and vegetables we need in our diet.

I am as big a fan of smoothies as anyone in the world, but even I admit that they can tend to be pretty high in calories. When it comes to juicing, you can get the benefits of the vegetables and fruits without all the extras we put in our smoothies.

The beauty pictured here is the Hamilton Beach Big Mouth Juice Extractor and it is one of the best on the market.

Features

  • Fits whole foods – for less pre-cutting
  • Easy to assemble and store
  • Powerful 800 Watt motor
  • Dishwasher safe parts
  • Includes recipes, tips and juicing cup
  • Extra-large pulp bin lets you juice longer – use pulp in recipes or for composting

Product Description

Tired of those expensive, sugary juices filled with preservatives and questionable additives? Ready to retire your old juicer and upgrade to something better? The Big Mouth Pro Juice Extractor can take nutrition to the next level and help you kick-start a healthy lifestyle.

Eating healthier and incorporating fruits and veggies into snacks or meals doesn’t have to be boring, expensive or time-consuming. In no time flat, before you can say “over-priced juice bar,” the Big Mouth Pro Juice Extractor extracts the juice from a whole apple. This kitchen staple and secret weapon proves that there’s a fast, easy way to add more produce into your daily diet. What’s more, there is no need for adding sweeteners or preservatives, making juice the ultimate healthy drink.

Rated a “Best Buy” by a leading consumer advocacy publication, the Big Mouth Pro Juice Extractor flawlessly performs the task of extracting juice from whole fruits, vegetables, citrus fruits and tomatoes with efficiency and speed. Equipped with a powerful 1.1 horsepower motor, an extra-wide feed chute and a stainless steel cutter/strainer, it quickly processes whole fruits and vegetables — with no pre-cutting — to produce invigorating, healthy juice.

See Hamilton Beach Big Mouth Juice Extractor (Amazon link) for A LOT more information.


“Candy Cookies” – No Bake Peanut Butter and Oatmeal Cookies (With Gluten-Free Option)

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Candy Cookies or No Bake Peanut Butter Cookies

Over the years, I have baked, sliced, cut, and molded every kind of cookie imaginable. Given that I am the human equivalent of Cookie Monster who also happens to love to bake – this is completely understandable.

Expected, even.

What isn’t understandable or expected, however, is the fact that one of my absolute favorite cookies is one of the simplest.

What’s more, it doesn’t even have to be baked. No need to turn the oven on for these guys!

Most people refer to this type of cookie as “No Bake Peanut Butter and Oatmeal Cookies” or “Haystacks.” When my daughters were little, I would actually shape them into little haystacks because they got such a kick out of how they looked.

Today, however, I just drop them by a tablespoon onto parchment paper and allow them to spread. I have always referred to them as “Cookies that are Really Candy,” I recently began calling them Candy Cookies. I mean… that’s what they are after all.

Below is the easy as it gets recipe.

Notes:

  • For gluten-free cookies, use gluten-free oats. I use Quaker Gluten-Free 1 Minute Quick Oats… available online or in just about any store.
  • If you want “haystacks,” use a teaspoon when you drop onto the paper. As the mixture cools, shape the cookies into cute little haystacks.
  • For the “Candy Cookies” pictured here, use a tablespoon to drop the mixture onto the parchment paper.
  • Keeping the ingredients for these cookies on hand at all times is always the right thing to do – especially during the months leading up to Christmas. You never know when you’ll need to whip up a batch of something delicious to give as a “Well.. of course I got you something too!” gift. Been there, cooked that.

I preach a lot about parchment paper and it’s many, many, many, many wonders but, when it comes to candy and cookies, it is all but downright necessary. I give a lot of my candy and cookies to family members and having parchment paper on hand to put between layers makes my life easier and everything neater for those who dive right in.

Seriously, once you start using parchment paper regularly, you’ll wonder how in the world you ever got along without it.

Easy Christmas Cookies

Gift Ideas for Pig Collectors

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If you scroll through my food blog for any length of time, you’ll see pig after pig after pig. I’m completely and utterly (if only cows were my obsession, what a joke this would be) in love with pigs and you can find them everywhere in my kitchen.  The deliciously unique pig platter (pictured on the right) needs to join my crew as soon as possible.

In fact, I plan to see to it that she does.

Made of resin, I plan to use her more for looks than anything else.

Equally beautiful is the adorably unique small pig bowl pictured to the left. How gorgeous is this?! When you click through and see the picture on Amazon, you’ll notice they have a few artificial flowers in it, along with a candle. LOVE the way that looks and that’s exactly what I’ll be putting in mine.

Originally carved out of a knotty wood, this adorable pig bowl measures 4″ wide, 8″ long, and 3″ wide.

Like the beautiful pig platter above, the pig bowl is also made of resin.

Click through the links or the pictures to take a closer look.


Gorgeous Pfaltzgraff Football Platter

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The gorgeous Pfaltzgraff Football Platter shown here isn’t just on my gift-giving list this year, it’s at the top of my, “Buy for my own darn self” list as well.

My family celebrates any and all seasons, days and occasions as we can. What can I say? We love to eat, love to laugh, love to make a lot of noise and look for a reason to do all of the above at once.

Football season was made for families like this one!

Whether it’s college football or the NFL, weekends just become a lot more fun this time of year, don’t they?

Product Description from Amazon

  • This rectangular Football Platter will be a big winner on game day
  • Designed to look like a football field, this platter is perfect for serving your guests lunch meat and cheese, hors d’oeuvres and more
  • Football platter measures 17 inch long x 11 inch wide
  • Crafted of ceramic
  • Use & Care: Microwave and dishwasher safe

I’m picturing so many delicious things on this gorgeous platter…. pigs in blankets, cookies, brownies, sandwiches, chips, cheese and crackers… and, just like that, I’ve made myself hungry.

See Pfaltzgraff Football Platter for more information and a closer look. This is a beauty.