Food Reviews

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

August 13, 2022 By Joi Sigers

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…)

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

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

Plush Puffs: Hand-Crafted Gourmet Marshmallows That Will Blow Your Mind!

March 30, 2018 By Joi Sigers

Have you ever heard of Plush Puffs Gourmet (Handcrafted) Marshmallows? If not, hold on to your smores, your summer is about to get deliciously exciting. These are unlike any marshmallows you’ve ever tasted or seen. These hand-crafted artisan marshmallows are packed with so much flavor you’d think you were eating an entire dessert. While they are excellent in hot chocolate and even coffee, I think they’re at their best either eaten right out of the box (especially the Toasted Coconut or Caramel Swirl marshmallows!), roasted over a campfire, or teamed up with graham crackers and chocolate for the world famous smores… something I wouldn’t venture into summer without.

Toasted Coconut Plush Puffs

My favorites are the Toasted Coconut and the Caramel Swirl. They’re out of this very world. Given that coconut is one of my personal culinary obsessions, it’s not surprising that this was the first one I tried.

They’re just as delicious as you’d imagine – and, frankly, a lot of fun to eat.

Caramel Swirl Plush Puffs

I tasted the Caramel Swirl Plush Puffs and was as blown away by them as the coconut ones. My daughter, Brittany, is all about caramel, so I sent the rest of the box with her to work. About an hour later, she texted me and said, “OMG! THESE ARE ADDICTIVE!!!” – including all kinds of happy emojis.

Addictive is the perfect word for these little beauties.

Caramel Swirl Plush Puffs

The Plush Puff Story

Once upon a time (Halloween time that is) a young boy asked “hey Mom, let’s make pumpkin marshmallows today”. Mom said, “hmmm, that sounds interesting, let’s give it a go!”. Well, that Mom called another Mom (who both coincidentally already worked as chefs together) and they went to it. After many painstaking hours in the test kitchen and many “almost batches”, Plush Puffs were born! Much to our delight, a whole bunch of other flavors turned out beautifully, and finally a special flavor we added last fall Pumpkin Praline! From the first hit, Toasted Coconut to the Chocolate Chipetta, they have all been a labor of love. In fact, it is still hard to resist more than one taste test when the batches are being made. – Read More…

Peppi-Mint Plush Puffs Marshmallows

The Peppi-Mint Plush Puffs Marshmallows are especially pretty, aren’t they? They have a really strong peppermint flavor and, if you love peppermint, you’ll find them to be a beautiful match made in heaven!

Like the two flavors above, these would also make wonderful smores and would be downright gorgeous roasted over a fire.

Mochaccino Plush Puffs

Last but certainly not least are the Mochaccino Plush Puffs. The minute you open the box (even before you open the bag), you know what you’re in for. The aroma reminds me of a coffee shop… something that I find especially exciting. These (along with the Toasted Coconut marshmallows) are my favorites for floating in hot chocolate. Both are unspeakably delicious.

Visit Plush Puffs Hand-Crafted Marshmallows for more information.

One of our cats, Delilah, admiring the deliciousness.

Montana Mex: The Most Exciting Sauces and Ketchup Your Kitchen Ever Invited to Dinner

October 17, 2016 By Joi Sigers

Montana Mex Tomato Ketchup, BBQ Sauce, and Habanero Sauce

As mentioned in my Montana Mex Avocado Oil Review, I also received a set of delicious Montana Mex sauces to review:

Montana Mex Tomato Ketchup
Montana Mex Sweet & Spicy Habanero Sauce
Montana Mex Sweet & Spicy BBQ Sauce

I’m feeling a little overwhelmed at the moment, because I’m honestly not sure where to begin. My fingers are typing so hard and fast, my cat’s expression is somewhere between fear and awe. I love each of these condiments so much and am so eager to tell you about them, I’m kind of star struck.

Why don’t we take them as they are in the picture, left to right. Each one is gluten free and is a perfect 10 on a scale of 1-10.

Montana Mex Tomato Ketchup

My family is a little odd when it comes to ketchup. We are ketchup picky and proud of it. My husband and youngest daughter (before trying Montana Mex’s Ketchup, that is) have only eaten Heinz ketchup for years. They simply want nothing to do with any other brand. As for my other daughters and myself, we love Heinz and Hunt’s evenly. Again, that was before tasting Montana Mex’s Tomato Ketchup.

This stuff is phenomenal. It tastes like you’d expect homemade ketchup to taste.

It’s… well.. words are failing to show up but let’s put it like this: If ketchup were a supermodel, it’d be Montana Mex Tomato Ketchup.

This FULL and FLAVORFUL ketchup is perfect on fries, hamburgers, corn dogs, tater tots (don’t look at me like that, you know you love them too), onion rings, hash browns… everything. It presents a quandary – the fact that it tastes like a gourmet ketchup makes you want to save it for extra special foods (hash browns from scratch, for example)…. but the fact that it’s so spectacular means it’s your go to for tater tots and hot dogs too.

Just. So. Dang. Good.

Montana Mex Tomato Ketchup and Habanero Sauce

Montana Mex Sweet & Spicy Habanero Sauce

I’m sure I’ve confessed before to being a big wuss when it comes to hot sauce. While peppers (bell peppers, mini sweet peppers, jalapenos..) are a staple in my kitchen and I probably don’t go a day without using them in some form, I cannot handle really hot peppers. I’m pretty famous in my family for this ridiculous weakness. And yet… and yet… here I was putting Montana Mex’s Habanero sauce on anything that didn’t move.

Sure, I squealed each time while reaching for my iced tea, my husband’s ice tea, and the cat’s water bowl… but I couldn’t stop. The flavor is just so ridiculously fantastic. The rest of my family simply enjoyed each drop without the floor show I put on. It’s just delicious.

My taste buds will play truth or dare with this sauce any day of the week.

Montana Mex Sweet & Spicy BBQ Sauce

Like ketchup, my family is also a bunch of snobs when it comes to BBQ Sauce. We have our faves and that is that. As the brand did with ketchup, Montana Mex broke down our snobby barriers and introduced us all to a new favorite BBQ Sauce. This particular delicious BBQ Sauce has a perfect blend of spice and sweetness that makes it mesmerizing. It’s thick, which is something else I always appreciate about a sauce.

It made one of the best BBQ Chickens I’ve ever had in my life – and I’ve had a life filled with BBQ chicken. With this sauce’s thick deliciousness, the chicken never knew what hit him.

Did I mention it was thick?

And delicious?

Where Can You Find These Montana Mex Sauces?

Apparently these sauces aren’t on Amazon yet (I’ll come back here and edit the review if they ever show up on Amazon… I’ll be the first to know, as I live on the website). In the meantime, see Where to Find Us on Montana Mex’s website for more information.

Visit Montana Mex‘s Official Website for more information and read more about their delicious sauces here.

You can also follow Montana Mex on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest.

The Best Butter My Kitchen Has Ever Enjoyed: President Butter

September 29, 2014 By Joi Sigers

Admirably, the French consume the most butter per person globally. How they top us here in the states is mind-boggling, but I tip my hat to them. Knowing they share my passion for butter like few others, I jumped at the opportunity to review Made in France President Butter.

I never knew President even made butter. Of course, I’m well aware of (and a huge fan of) their cheeses – AMAZING in their own right. In fact I just recently bought a President Brie Cheese that I’m fascinated with.

But back to their butter. Their delicious butter, that is. (Warning, this review includes tons of pictures, so be sure to continue reading after each picture.)

I was sent the following President butters to review:

President Sea Salt Butter
President Spreadable Salted Butter
President Salted Butter Bar

I’m almost as obsessed with sea salt as I am butter, so naturally the first one I tore into was the President Sea Salt Butter.

When you open the little dome-shaped container, you find that the butter is wrapped beautifully in gold paper. So very classy. So very French.

The first thing I noticed about the Sea Salt Butter was its great looks. Truth be told, she’s a beauty. The streaks of darker yellow running throughout the paler yellow was striking. I thought then, “This butter would be GORGEOUS on a Thanksgiving or Christmas table!”

I’m not ashamed to admit that the first thing I tried the President Sea Salt Butter on was my finger. I sliced off a chunk and into the mouth it went.

My first thoughts:

Creamy
Delicious
This is how butter should taste

Beautiful and delicious – how does it get any better?

As for the taste of salt, it was subtle – just as it should be. Detectable? Yes. Over-powering? Not in the least.

The first non-body-part thing I ate with the Sea Salt was Steamed Rice and it was spectacular. Since I knew I’d be using Sea Salt Butter, I simply didn’t salt the rice after taking it out of the steamer.

President Sea Salt Butter with Steamed Rice

The President Sea Salt Butter is out of this world – not only on rice but pasta too. I’m certain it’d be delicious on anything.

Including fingers.

If you know me at all, you know my obsession with sweet potatoes. I make baked sweet potatoes pretty often – so I was anxious to try out my new favorite butter on one of my greatest culinary loves in the world. So the next night, I baked sweet potatoes and allowed some Salted President Butter to melt down into them before adding the brown sugar.

Off the charts delicious!

When my husband and I were eating supper, he said, “These are the best sweet potatoes I’ve ever had. What did you put in them?”

Funny thing is, I made them just like I always do – the ONLY difference was this time I used President Butter instead of one of the ones I normally use.

I thought it was a great testament to the butter that he noticed without me saying anything. I knew I had noticed how much better they were this time, but I was afraid I was just being partial to my new found butter obsession. He had no idea the butter was new… so he’s an even better judge than me.

Sweet Potato with Butter and Brown Sugar

I’ve read butter reviews online before where people have either given or taken away proverbial points awarded to a butter based on color. Apparently I’m in the great minority here because…

I honestly don’t give a very big flip about color.
The little flip I do give is actually TOWARD a more pale color for butter.

The majority of people seem to want their butter to be quite yellow. Again, I know I’m in the minority here, but I prefer my butter to be paler. If it’s terribly yellow, it just screams “MARGARINE!” to me. But when it pale, it purrs, “Creamy butter…” – with an emphasis on cream.

President butters are incredibly creamy and more delicious than is seemly. It just isn’t right for anything to be this good.

Okay, so where can you find President butter? I’ve found a few on Amazon (if I didn’t already love Amazon, I would now):

You can also visit President Cheese‘s website and search for stores near you. You can also read more information about President butter and cheeses on their beautiful website.

I’m watching my local grocery stores in the hopes that President Butter will soon be available. This is exceptional butter and… take it from me… once you’ve tasted it, everything else seems like a distant second.

I HIGHLY recommend getting your hands on some President Butter right away – as in the sooner, the better but whatever you do, make sure you have plenty for the holidays. My mind is buzzing at the thought of President Butter on corn on the cob, mashed potatoes, and rolls – to say nothing of the extra creamy goodness it’ll bring to homemade fudge, butter cookies (I think I’m beginning to drool…), casseroles, dressing…

The Best Store Bought Pizza Sauce (Insert Drum Roll)…. Classico!

April 17, 2014 By Joi Sigers

We eat a lot of pizza in our family. A LOT LOT LOT of pizza. We prefer different types of crust – some of us go gluten free, some like a thin crust, and some say the thicker the better. We also have our own favorite toppings (green olives, black olives, pepperoni, Canadian ham, bacon, banana peppers, onion, ground beef, Italian sausage…).

A few even put their own unique spin on eating pizza by drizzling a little Ranch dressing on the crust.

There’s one solid thing we can all agree on, though, and that’s the answer to the question, “What’s the best store bought pizza sauce?” The answer is unanimous: “Classico!”

I should point out, before I go any further with the review, that this is not at all a sponsored post, endorsed review, or anything of the kind. I wasn’t even sent samples to review. Whenever this is the case with my posts/reviews, I’ll always say so right off the bat.

This is simply a case of me being so excited about a WAY better than average product and wanting to let everyone know.

I actually planned for this to be a “Top 3 Pizza Sauces” review. I bought every brand of pizza sauce I could find. I went to a wide variety of different stores, making sure I could find every conceivable brand and even store-brand.

Along the way, I bought a brand I’d actually never tried before – Classico. One Saturday when my husband was grilling a few pizzas on the grill, I fixed one with the brand I’d automatically bought for years (and years and years). I fixed the other pizza with Classico.

As I was spreading the sauces over the crusts, I noticed a couple of HUGE differences right away.

The Classico sauce had herbs and tomatoes that you could actually see.
My normal brand didn’t. It was a uniform color without any noticeable herbs, let alone tomatoes.
When I opened the jar of Classico sauce, the aroma made my knees weak. It smelled like the sauce you’d expect in a pizzeria.
My knees never even knew when I opened up the other jar.

Classico is perfectly thick, staying in place like a good sauce should. Quite frankly, it’s just perfect in every way.

As my much ballyhooed pizza sauce taste test continued (even if I was the only one hooing the bally or ballying the hoo), something became painfully clear – none of the rest could even begin to compare to Classico’s. True story: I couldn’t even come up with a runner-up.

Doing a “Top 3” post suddenly seemed unfair to Classico because it’d be implying that the other two were in its league and, unless there’s an awesome brand I haven’t tried yet, there are no other sauces in Classico’s league or even on its planet.

While we’re at it, I just have to throw this out there. If your pizza sauce is actually sold in a squeezable bottle, you definitely aren’t doing things the Classico way.

For the grilled pizza – pictured above, my husband (inspired by Papa John’s Cheeseburger Pizza) used Classico Pizza Sauce…. of course, of course… and topped it with browned ground beef, onions, pickles, mozzarella cheese, and cheddar cheese. Oddly enough, the pickles were actually delicious on the pizza – it was one of the best pizzas he’s ever made and he has made some great ones!

French’s Flavor Infusers Add A LOT to Chicken

April 10, 2013 By Joi Sigers

The baked chicken, pictured above, was so delicious it almost breaks my heart that it isn’t in front of me this very minute!

I was sent a few of French’s wonderful new Flavor Infusers to review on the food blog. I received the following flavors (click the links to find the infusers on Amazon):

French’s also makes these promising sounding other flavors of Infusers:

I knew that French’s (makers of the mustard and Crispy Fried Onions we all swear by) would be launching these new products in April, so I held on to them for a while – planning to use them when we whipped out the grill when the weather warmed up. I figured that the products coming out right at grilling season would be a perfect fit for a post featuring grilled meat.

Ah, the best laid plans.

Needless to say, I didn’t make it. Each time I fixed chicken, beef, or pork, I’d pick up one of the infuser bottles and flirt with the idea of going ahead and trying it out. New food products and kitchen gadgets are toys in the playground I call a kitchen and me… well, I’m just a little girl who forgot to grow up. I always figured it wasn’t quite what it was cracked up to be.

Suffice to say, they didn’t stay in the Spice Cabinet long. The first to disappear was the Teriyaki Flavor Infuser. I used it to add an uncommon amount of flavor and unexpected sassiness to baked ribs. I HATE that I forgot to take pictures of the ribs before they disappeared. They were juicy, flavorful, and amazingly delicious.

I did, however, learn my lesson when I used the second Flavor Infuser to disappear – The Classic Steakhouse. I took several pictures before they disappeared! Although I had huge plans for using it on the first grilled steaks of the grilling season, the temptation was just too much for me. One evening, as I was getting ready to bake chicken for supper, I found myself deciding on a marinade. Why even bake chicken if you don’t marinade it for an hour or two, right? When I went to the cabinet to begin retrieving ingredients for a marinade concoction I saw the French’s Classic Steakhouse Flavor Infuser sitting there looking all enticing. I tried to tell it about my grilled steak plans… but, as the words were coming out of my mouth, my hand was reaching for the bottle.

What will power? Haven’t seen any around these parts.

If the chicken hadn’t been so uncommonly delicious (best baked chicken I’ve ever had), I’d feel a little remorseful. But, as it is, I just feel pleased.

The French’s Flavor Infusers are a cinch to use. You simply open the bottle and insert the tip into your meat – then you squeeze the desired amount of magical goodness right into the meat. Not over the top, where you watch helplessly as it pours down the sides and runs all over the dish. The French’s Flavor Infuser tip gets to the heart of the matter and you LITERALLY taste the difference with each bite.

I’ll be buying these up by armfuls as soon as I see them in my local store. My mouth is watering thinking of ways to use them with the grill – hamburgers, steaks, chicken, pork, hot dogs… I also can’t wait to experiment with them with Boca Burgers and Black Bean Burgers.

The possibilities are as endless as they are delicious.

Baked Chicken with French’s Classic Steakhouse Flavor Infuser

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Rinse chicken pieces in water and pat them dry with paper towels – then toss the paper towels. Infuse some of the Classic Steakhouse Flavor Infuser (or any flavor you choose) into each piece of chicken. A little will run out, which is perfectly fine. Infuse the flavor into several different parts of each piece of meat.

Spray the bottom of a roasting pan with Olive Oil Spray (or use Olive Oil straight from a bottle – just be sure to coat the entire pan lightly).

Arrange the pieces skin-side up in the roasting pan, being careful not to over-crowd the pieces. Salt and pepper the pieces of chicken at this point. Be sure to get the bottom sides as well as the top sides.

Cook for 30 minutes at 400 degrees, then lower the temp to 350 degrees and cook for 10-30 minutes more (about 14 to 15 minutes per pound total cooking time) until juices run clear (as opposed to pink) when you gently poke the chicken with a sharp knife – or the internal temperature of the chicken breasts is 165 degrees F and the thighs are 170 degrees F.

This last part can be a little risky, but I like the effect. During the last 5 minutes of cooking, you can turn put your chicken under the broiler. Don’t even think of walking away, though, or your entire meal will be a hot mess. Putting it under the broiler for the last 3-5 minutes gives it a cool brown color on top that reminds me of grilled chicken. You just have to be very careful not to overdo it – dried, overly browned chicken is darn near sinful.

Click the links at the top of the post to find French’s Flavor Infusers on Amazon. Be sure to check your grocery store as well, they may be there on the shelf – just waiting to rock your culinary world. These, honestly, are amazing.

A Healthier Way to Fry Eggs

January 26, 2013 By Joi Sigers

I was shopping for Olive Oil a few days ago (EVOO is one of those things I never, ever let myself run out of) when a bright and beautiful bottle caught my eye. It was Pompeian’s new 100 percent Grapeseed Oil.

After I put my EVOO in the cart and turned it to look the other way, I didn’t want it to see me checking out another oil, after all, I read the back of the Grapeseed Oil:

Pompeian imports 100% of its Grapeseed Oil from France. Grapeseed Oil is an all-natural cooking oil known for its high smoke point, a characteristic that makes it an ideal choice for stir-frying, deep frying, and sauteing. Its light flavor preserves the natural flavors of food. Grapeseed oil is a rich source of Vitamin E, an antioxidant.

Pompeian Grapeseed Oil is made from the seeds of wine grapes and the flavor is extra-special and delicate. I think of it as Olive Oil’s very laid back cousin.

I made a Rosemary White Bean Spread yesterday and used a combination of Grapeseed Oil and Olive Oil rather than all Olive Oil. I thought the flavor would be smooth and delicious (it was) while giving my loved ones a nice extra kick of antioxidants.

This morning, I used Pompeian Grapeseed Oil in my skillet before frying my egg for breakfast. The flavor was subtle and outstanding. Truth be told, I think what I enjoyed most was the fact that the Grapeseed oil just complimented the egg’s flavor instead of competing with it for attention. Although I have to admit, I do enjoy the heck out of an egg fried in a combo of butter and Olive Oil.

Look for Pompeian Grapeseed Oil in your favorite grocery store. I give it a 10 out of 10. Click here for more information.

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

Plush Puffs: Hand-Crafted Gourmet Marshmallows That Will Blow Your Mind!

Montana Mex: The Most Exciting Sauces and Ketchup Your Kitchen Ever Invited to Dinner

The Best Butter My Kitchen Has Ever Enjoyed: President Butter

The Best Store Bought Pizza Sauce (Insert Drum Roll)…. Classico!

French’s Flavor Infusers Add A LOT to Chicken

Baked Chicken with French’s Classic Steakhouse Flavor Infuser

A Healthier Way to Fry Eggs

Read More About Grapeseed Oil:

T-fal… As Good as Good Gets

Subscribe to Get Cooking

Food Reviews

Baked Chicken with French’s Classic Steakhouse Flavor Infuser

Read More About Grapeseed Oil:

Footer

T-fal… As Good as Good Gets

Subscribe to Get Cooking