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Kitchen Gadgets From Trudeau 

22 Aug

I am a gadget fanatic and I love cooking and entertaining. Trudeau sent me an assortment of gadgets to try. Just because summer is ending doesn’t mean my gadgets have to be put away. These can be used year round. I loved the bottle stoppers and the strawberry huller. The floral bottle stoppers are so pretty and the strawberry huller is very easy to use. I’m always burning my hand or arm in the oven so the glove came in handy. Seasonings are a must in my house. The pink sea salt was a winner. Tastes great on meats and grilled veggies but you could try it on whatever you like. 

Check out this collection of innovative gadgetry, cocktail and barware that put the summertime ease in entertaining! Whether preparing seasonal foods fresh from the land or sea, serving up a favored liquid treat or just relishing in an at-home staycation – Trudeau has the perfect tool for the backyard host/hostess to serve up the tastes of summer.
 

– Strawberry Huller –

There are some helpful gadgets that you just have to have and the new Strawberry Huller from Trudeau is the one to get! Removing the stem and core from strawberries eliminates bitterness and enhances taste instantly! Innovative design offers a simple, safe, and effective alternative to knife hulling and coring. The stainless steel tube and silicone bulb come apart for easy cleaning and are dishwasher safe. #09912141 MSRP $8.99


Classic Pink Sea Salt Mill –

Chefs rave about Pink Sea Salt making it summer’s #1 accouterment for perfectly grilled meats and vegetables. This 6-inch tall Pink Sea Salt Mill from Trudeau is a beautiful addition to cookout tables and seasons all foods deliciously. The Mill features a corrosion-resistant ceramic grinder, has a crystal-clear body, and comes filled to be the star of summer soirées. #0713711 MSRP 13.99 – 


Oven and Grill Glove –  

Get your grill on! A safety necessity when either grilling or baking, this glove fits either the right or left hand and has anti-slip silicone grips on both sides. The glove offers maximum dexterity and the flame-resistant exterior fibers protect while holding grill tools over open flame or pulling hot pans out of the oven. #09912084 Oven and Grill Glove MSRP $19.99 


Floral Bottle Stoppers –

Bring blooming flowers indoors with these wine bottle stoppers from Trudeau. The conic shape and flexible silicone fins offer a tight seal, ensuring that this Floral Bottle Stopper fits most bottles to preserve every last drop! #0978053 MSRP $2.99 each.


For more info check out http://www.trudeau.com and @TrudeauCuisine on Twitter

Disclosure: I was given product to review. Opinions are mine 100%. 

CELEBRATE FERRAGOSTO WITH BARONE FINI AND I TRULLI RESTAURANT ON AUGUST 15 #baronefini #ferragosto

8 Aug

On August 15, Barone Fini wines will partner with I Trulli Enoteca e Ristorante, located at 122 East 27th Street between Lexington and Park Avenues, to bring a taste of Ferragosto to the United States. Ferragosto is an annual Italian holiday celebrated on August 15; I Trulli and Barone Fini have created a celebratory menu in honor of this tradition. For every glass of Barone Fini wine that’s poured, 100% of the proceeds will be donated to The Food Bank For New York City. 


Ferragosto originated as a celebration of the Italian harvest. Enjoyed by peasants and aristocrats alike, the festival gave everyone the opportunity to gather together, break bread, and enjoy the fruits of the labor season. Today, Ferragosto is celebrated on August 15th marked with parties, abundant feasts, and fireworks.


 

Barone Fini dates back to 1497 when two noble Venetian families (Bonmartini and Fini) united in marriage and began producing wine. Today, 15th generation family member Giovanni Bonmartini-Fini serves as President of Barone Fini, overseeing the winery’s production, including the winery’s hand harvesting and sorting to produce quality Italian wines at an affordable price point. 


 

I Trulli Enoteca e Ristorante is one of New York City’s landmarks of fine Italian dining. Its wine list features more than 450 Italian labels personally selected by owner Nicola Marzovilla, and the pasta remains hand-rolled daily by matriarch Dora Marzovilla. On August 15, I Trulli will feature some of its finest foods paired with Barone Fini wines with a specially-curated menu to commence the Ferragosto celebration in NYC. The four-course menu will be $58, plus $10 per glass of Barone Fini wine.


I was invited to I Trulli to a wine tasting and enjoy authentic pasta and learn about  Barone Fini wines. I just have to say I really enjoyed this special day and the delicious meal and wine. It was a pleasure meeting everyone. It is also great to see 100% of the proceeds from every glass of Barone Fini wine that is poured will be donated to The Food Bank For New York City. August 15th where will you be? Hopefully enjoying great wine and food at I Trulli Enoteca e Ristorante. 

Disclosure: I was invited to attend this amazing press event at I Trulli. Opinions are mine 100%. Swag was given. 

Char-Broil Nights NYC Pop-Up Shop #CharBroilNights

1 Jul

I love BBQ and grilling and the smell of meat on the grill. I attended Char-Broil’s first ever NYC Pop Up Shop. This invite only event was a hands on experience complete with grilling and smoking stations, deliciously prepared foods, cocktails, spice bar and s’mores bar. I just have to say a two-in-one gas grill and smoker is on my wish list. The baby lamb chops with chimichurri sauce, the pulled pork sliders, sausage souvlaki tacos,skirt steak skewers and jumbo grilled shrimp were banging. Cocktails on point and appetizers were very good. I made a jar of spices to take home and roasted s’mores. I enjoyed the evening with my friends.



Char-Broil is offering grillers the best of both worlds with the debut of Gas2Coal™, a two-in-one gas and charcoal grill that provides grillers the option to grill with the ease and convenience of gas or with the smoky flavor of charcoal – all within one sleek grill. The grill features a first-ever, patented charcoal tray which lights coals with the touch of a button, eliminating the hassle and mess of lighter fluid and helping grillers of all skill levels to take their meals to the next level.

Gas2Coal saves space while eliminating the hassle and mess grillers typically experience with charcoal, while making it easy to experiment with different grilling methods. With Gas2Coal, grillers of all experience levels can explore different cooking methods to help expand their palates and culinary imagination just in time for grilling season.

Gas2Coal is available for purchase exclusively at Lowe’s store through June 2016, or online at Lowes.com.


Char-Broil, one of the world’s oldest and most respected outdoor cooking companies, made it easier than ever today for consumers to monitor and control the smoking process with the launch of the Simple Smoker ($299) and Digital Electric Smoker ($399) with the Char-Broil app and SmartChef™ technology. The first of their kind, these smokers sync to your smart device over Wi-Fi utilizing the Char-Broil app, which allows connected users more convenience and freedom than ever before. Users of all skill levels will have an outdoor cooking experience that is all about leveraging innovative technology to consistently create superior taste, perfect cooking techniques and enjoy an effortless smoking routine.

Adding to Char-Broil’s portfolio of innovative products and features consumers can get real-time cooking info through the Char-Broil app and make adjustments as needed, including:

*Meat temperature

*Estimated cook time and done time

*Chamber temperature 

When users are connected to their home network, they have the ability to control and adjust these settings at their fingertips. But – unlike other competing products – once users are out of their network range, they can continue to monitor the smoker from the Char-Broil app.
Signaled by an integrated meat probe, the app will send notifications at key cooking times, so users never need to worry about overcooking or continuously checking their meats. The app also provides a preprogrammed library of recipes for the amateur or adventurous cookers and is compatible with iOS and Android phones.
Both are perfectly suited for holiday meals and everyday use. The Digital Electric Smoker gives users long lasting smoke and more capacity allowing for large meal preparations, while the Simple Smoker offers convenience and versatility, allowing users to slowly smoke a brisket at a low temperature or safely fry a turkey to perfection without oil.

The Simple Smoker and Digital Electric Smoker are available for purchase on the Char-Broil website ( http://www.charbroil.com) and Amazon. 

Disclosure: This is not a compensated post. Opinions are mine 100% as always. I was invited to attend this event. 

Braun Helping Everyday Cooks #ConquerTheExpected in the Kitchen

27 Jun

I was very excited to attend a launch event with Braun at the German Consulate. I love kitchen appliances and gadgets as the home cook and foodie that I am this was right up my alley. The tables were decorated so lovely and the views from up above was amazing. Brunch was very good and hands on demos made me want to whip up a recipe right on the spot. I also tested out the hand blender. I’ve always been a big fan of Braun appliances and was happy to see what Braun could come up with next. It was also nice to see some of Braun’s appliances from decades ago up until now. I was beyond happy to take home the Multiquick 7. 


“Braun is known for an intuitive and reliable product design that lasts for ages – so our marketing campaign will focus on key consumer life stages, from first home purchase and weddings, to growing families and home remodeling,” said Maria Colon, Director of Marketing, De’Longhi Group North America. “We are excited to bring the Braun Household line to market with a campaign that is relevant, inspirational and exciting no matter where you are in life.”
Whether a new homeowner, recently married, a busy parent of young kids, or just looking to refresh the daily cooking regimen, Braun inspires confidence and simplicity in meal and beverage preparation, while saving time to help consumers realize their true culinary potential. Braun helps the home cook conquer the expected tasks in the kitchen, so unexpected meals can be created with amazing ingredients.

Braun closely studied the design process and evaluated the importance of ergonomics. For example, understanding how one holds handheld appliances led to developing products that are so comfortable and intuitive they seem to mimic the natural extension of one’s arm. The brand’s intuitive design is also reflected in the settings and display. They are listed left to right just like reading a book with the most important features grouped where the eye will naturally move to first. And while the new products continue the legacy of Braun’s premium and sleek look, the new line has new technologies that will change how home chefs prepare and enjoy their meals.

The new Braun line of products is available now:

The Braun Multiquick Hand Blenders come in several models and configurations for a variety of culinary creativity right in the palm of your hand.

Through its research, Braun found that many delegate two hands to control their hand blender during food preparation, gripping harder as the blender uses more power. Braun built its new hand blender to give the user more control, featuring a brand new Smart Speed variable control technology inspired by German automotive engineering – allowing you to intuitively change the speed and power of the hand blender using just your touch. The more you squeeze, the more power you get, making it easy to regulate speeds with just one

Braun also developed and applied an exclusive PowerBell Technology for the line of Multiquick hand blenders, combining durable stainless steel blades and a unique bell-shaped blending shaft for fast and finer results – pushing your mixture inside the bell instead of toward the edges of your mixing bowl. The Braun Multiquick 7 Hand Blender (model MQ777) brings premium design and power to the kitchen, complete with five attachments, along with the anti-splash shaft – including a whisk, masher, food processor and 20 fl. oz. beaker that make food preparation easier and more enjoyable, allowing its user to explore new culinary feats. The model will also include an EasyClick system, a patented design made to ensure that all attachments can be removed in one simple click. The Multiquick 7 Hand Blender (model MQ725), includes a beaker, whisk and 1.5-cup chopper for whipping up ultimate creativity in your kitchen. your kitchen. The Multiquick 5 Hand Blender (model MQ505) includes a beaker and whisk and has two speeds for easy blending, whisking or pureeing.

The Braun Multiquick series hand blenders range in price from $59.95 to $149.95 and from $89.99 to $199.99 CAD.

The Braun PureMix Countertop Blender (model JB7130BK) in stainless steel and premium black finish introduces a new level of speed and style to your countertop. Its complete blade and pitcher re-design allows you to create a range of delicious smoothies and drinks faster and with more precision than ever before.

The new PureMix blender eliminates counter mess, with its Easy Wipe Clean Panel – with no cracks between buttons for food to fall into. The 56 fl. oz. jug is BPA-free and features an imbedded measuring cup. Also available in a sleek black finish with 3 blend functions, the PureMix blender (model JB7000BKS) lets you stir, liquefy, and crush ice for nutritious smoothies, delicious fruit daiquiris and more. Additional accessories like the Smoothie2Go Blending Set features its own blade assembly that lets you fill your cup and take your favor blend with you, all with a secure stay lid with a flip drinking spout. This is sold separately. The Braun PureMix Countertop Blenders range in price from $99.95 to $129.95 USD and from $129.99 to $199.99 CAD.

The Braun BrewSense Drip Coffee Makers echoes Braun’s durable design – creating a consistently delicious cup of coffee using an inherently simple process. Braun has perfected flavor conservation in its new BrewSense coffee maker, introducing a PureFlavor Brewing System to preserve coffee’s great flavor from the first to last drop.

The 12-cup FlavorCarafe has a uniquely-designed top air filtration system to ensure coffee stays warm for longer. The lid is designed to minimize the contact between air and coffee to avoid its oxidation and loss of flavor. While your flavor and temperature stay consistent – the BrewSense coffee maker has an anti-drip system that lets you pause and pour mid-brew with virtually no mess. Its warming plate also maintains a constant temperature so your coffee won’t burn after sitting.

The BrewSense has a user-friendly control panel with LED indicators and easy-to-read buttons and functions. Among them, the Brew Strength selector allows you to enjoy your coffee regular or bold and you can choose between 1-4 cups timed to when you want to enjoy your beverage. The coffee maker also features a handy ledge on its back side that catches condensation that gathers from the brewing process and inserts it back into the machine so that water does not end up on your counter top.

The Braun BrewSense Coffee Maker comes in a variety of finishes from a stylish mix of stainless steel and premium black (model KF7150BK) and all premium black finish (model KF7000BK) and range in price from $69.95 to $99.95 USD and from $119.99 to $159.99 CAD.


For more information on Braun, visit braunhousehold.com/en-us or braunhousehold.com/en-ca. To see what other home chefs are creating with Braun products, follow the hashtag #ConquerTheExpected on Facebook and Instagram. Check out the website: http://www.braunhousehold.com/en-us

Disclosure: I was invited as press to attend this event. I was given a gift bag. Opinions are mine 100% as always. 

Easy Party Planning With BJ’s Wholesale Club #ShopTheClub #ad

24 Jun

Things I love about the month of June.

*My daughter was born. 

*Summer begins

*School ends

*Graduations/Promotions

I also love to throw parties and break out the grill. The best place to get all the things I need for my parties are in my favorite one stop shopping store BJ’s Wholesale Club. I throw a celebration every year for my kids who get promoted to the next grade or are graduating. I know I’m getting my money’s worth when I walk into BJ’s because bulk is what I need and I go in with my list and coupons ready to shop till I drop. 

My son is being promoted to the 8th grade and my daughter is being promoted to 4th grade. This time I decided to let BJ’s do the party planning for me. The party platters are great. I just put in an order and that’s it. Easy breezy. 

Here is what will be served at the party:

Wellsley Farms®
Sandwich Ring Serves 12 – 15
Wellsley Farms® Deluxe Sandwich Ring with Honey Ham,
Smoked Turkey Breast and Swiss Cheese, include
sliced Tomatoes and Lettuce.

Wellsley Farms ® Entertainer Platter
Serves 20 – 25
Wellsley Farms® Honey Ham, Roast Beef, Oven-Roasted
Turkey Breast, Oven-Roasted Chicken Breast, Provolone
Cheese and Land O’Lakes® American Cheese


Wellsley Farms®
 Mini Croissant
Sandwich Platter Serves 10 – 15
Contains 30 Mini Sandwiches. Wellsley Farms®
Roast Beef, Oven-Roasted Turkey and Honey Ham. 


Can’t forget the dessert. BJ’s has great sheet cakes and ice cream cakes. Prices are amazing. You can also get a full sheet custom cake hat serves 60-75 people for under $40. Yes, you heard me right. Where else can you get a custom made sheet cake for that price? If you need a smaller cake that feeds 12-16 or 15-20 people you’ll spend less than $20. Amazing!!! 


I grew up on ice cream cakes and love Wellsley Farms Ice Cream Cake – A delicious sheet cake featuring
premium chocolate and vanilla ice cream blended with chocolate
cookie crunch. Sizes small and large. Kosher.


For those who want cookies, Wellsley Farms Cookie Platters – One example is Wellsley Farms
® Brownie & Cookie Tray that serves 36 – 48. Something for
everyone! Includes a premium assortment of 48 freshly baked Wellsley Farms Cookies — Chocolate Chunk, Oatmeal Raisin and
White Chocolate Chip — PLUS 45 Wellsley Farms Brownie Bites. Rich,
chewy and delicious, they͛re our most popular treat.


Plastic cutlery , paper plates and cups are also a must for my guests for easy cleanup. Don’t forget to use the coupons for even more savings. 

 Berkley Jensen Premium Heavy Duty Clear Cutlery – Made from clear
super premium heavyweight plastic. Full-size design is perfect for any
occasion. Includes 180 forks, 120 spoons and 60 knives. 

 Berkley Jensen Premium Heavy Weight Dinner Plates – These
durable plates come in two sizes (ten 10.25-inch plates and ten 7.5- inch plates) and can hold plenty of food, so you don’t have to worry  about taking that second piece of pie you’ve been eyeing. Includes 20
Berkley Jensen heavy weight premium plastic plates (ten 10.25-inch plates and ten 7.5-inch plates). Also, be on the look out for new Berkley Jensen Printed Paper Plates to add color and flair to your table.  

 Berkley Jensen Premium 18 oz. Cups – These 18-oz. cups are perfect
for serving cold beverages. They are made from premium plastic in a classic red color. Great for parties. Includes 240 cups.  

Don’t forget about Wellsley Farms Organic Tortilla Chips, Salsa and Macaroni Salad. 


Browse through BJ͛s Party Planning brochure, then fill out an order form in-
Club — or download one at home from https://www.bjs.com/deli-bakery.content.services_deli_bakery.A.services-then, simply drop it into  the kiosk at your local club. Your order can be ready for pick-up in as little as 24 hours!  

. 

 To help ease consumers’ pain in the pocket, BJ’s Wholesale Club is offering non-members a Free 90-Day Membership available now through Sunday, July 3.

 · Shoppers can print the coupon at http://www.bjs.com/savings.content.minisite_map.D and visit their local BJ’s club to activate their trial. Once enrolled, shoppers are given a membership number and will receive a membership card upon visiting the member services desk. 

 · BJ’s is also currently offering a 15 month membership for $40 now through Sunday, July 3 plus a coupon book with more than $2,000 worth of savings.

Follow @BJsWholesale on Twitter for more info. 


I also carry free membership coupons in my purse incase someone could use one. That happened to me before and I gave a husband and wife a free coupon to join. They were so happy. 

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. I am a BJ’s Ambassador. Opinions are mine 100% as always. 

Tessemae’s All Natural Line Of Organic Salad Dressings #BlogginMamas

16 Jun

I’ve always loved all types of salads and having a good salad dressing just puts the icing on the cake. What I tried to deny to myself was even though I’m eating a healthy salad I knew once I added that creamy dressing it wasn’t as healthy as it should be. 

What I started doing was reading labels. I looked for hidden ingredients like high fructose corn syrup, xanthan gum, how much sodium, calories and cholesterol was inside and lots of ingredients I couldn’t pronounce. I stopped supporting bad habits and decided to either make my own dressing or find a healthy one just right for me and my family. 

I took my kids to the Kids Food Festival in Bryant Park a few years ago and at one of the booths there were two guys (brothers) who were sharing their heathy organic ketchup and organic mustard with the kids. The name of the company was Tessemae. I purchased a few bottles and from then on they have been on the top of my shopping list. 

It doesn’t stop there though. They also have salad dressings, marinades, BBQ sauce, dips and mayonnaise. 

Tessemae’s All Nat­ural is a grow­ing nat­ural food com­pany from Annapo­lis Mary­land that makes clean, fresh dress­ings, mari­nades, and condi­ments with real ingre­di­ents and no preser­v­a­tives.

Tessemae’s All-Nat­ural makes 25 mari­nades and condi­ments – all of which are USDA organic, gluten free, non-gmo, vegan and Whole30 approved – and con­tain no added sugar or xan­tham gum… ever!

The Vet­ter broth­ers, Greg, Brian, and Matt, launched the brand in 2009 at their local Whole Foods Mar­ket in Annapo­lis, Mary­land, using a sim­ple recipe cre­ated and used by their mom through­out their child­hood. Tessemae’s com­mit­ment to healthy eat­ing and liv­ing is the core of their mis­sion, to pro­vide sim­ple, yet deli­cious food to con­sumers made with real ingre­di­ents.

I love their products and was given four bottles of Tessemae’s All Natural Organic salad dressing to review. The flavors were: Lemon Garlic, Balsamic, Honey Balsamic & Green Goddess. Don’t they just sound devine? It can be used as a salad dressing or marinade. The first one I tried on my salad was Honey Balsamic. I absolutely loved it because I mean come on, how can you resist anything with honey? I also love balsamic so the two together just made me want it even more. It tasted clean and fresh and my salad wasn’t weighed down nor soggy. All natural and my stomach thanked me. My doctor also thanked me. 


I’m definitely going to marinate my chicken with a few as well like the Lemon Garlic and Green Goddess. I  recently purchased the Southwest Ranch. Loved it! Amazing things can happen with Tessemae. 


Tessemae’s All Natural products are sold at Target, Stop & Shop and Whole Foods in the Northeast. 

Facebook: facebook.com/tessemaes

Twitter: @tessemaes

Instagram: @tessemaes

All prod­ucts are also avail­able for purchase directly from Tessemae’s at tessemaes.com


Disclosure: This is a sponsored post on behalf of Bloggin Mamas. Opinions are mine 100% as always. 

Olive Garden’s Never Ending Family Table Kicks Off At Highline In NYC 

6 Jun

Olive Garden Unveils New Breadstick Sandwiches and Deep Dish Spaghetti Pies.

Summer Sampling Tour Gives Families and Friends Nationwide Opportunity to Gather Around the Table. Last summer, America fell in love with Breadstick Sandwiches when they debuted in restaurants and on food trucks touring the country. Inspired by fans’ excitement and passion, Olive Garden is hitting the road again helping guests across the country create summer memories. The Olive Garden Never Ending Family Table will cross the nation to give fans the opportunity to gather together and sample the new menu items. 

Olive Garden is doubling its offering of Breadstick Sandwiches and bringing new twists on an Italian classic. Beginning this week, iconic Olive Garden menu items will transform with new varieties of the legendary Breadstick Sandwiches and brand new Deep Dish Spaghetti Pies. To celebrate, Olive Garden is giving unique and customized opportunities for families to come together around the table.

This first-of-its-kind summer-long celebration kicks off in New York City where the table will grow along the High Line. From there, the two versions of the Never Ending Family Table will continue across the country delighting guests with the new food. One will have a planned route through a new city every week. The second is dedicated to surprising guests and will continuously pop up at summer celebrations, such as birthdays, family reunions and graduation parties. To submit your summer celebration story and to learn more about the mobile tour, visit olivegarden.com/familytable. All summer, guests will be selected to receive customized Olive Garden dining experiences at the Never Ending Family Table or in restaurants.


I was invited June 2nd to the High Line for the kick off and sat at the family table where I  had great conversation, met lots of people and tried out delicious new items on the menu. Thousands of people showed their support and love of The Olive Garden. 



Available for lunch, the new Breadstick Sandwiches joining the popular Chicken Parmigiana and Italian Meatball Breadstick Sandwiches are:

**Spicy Calabrian Chicken Breadstick Sandwich: Lightly breaded chicken, fried and tossed in our spicy Calabrian sauce served with tangy gorgonzola sauce on Olive Garden’s signature breadstick.

Eggplant Parmigiana Breadstick Sandwich: Hand-breaded eggplant, fried and topped with Italian cheese and marinara served on Olive Garden’s signature breadstick.

 

Olive Garden is giving guests new ways to enjoy spaghetti throughout the day:

**Meatball Deep Dish Spaghetti Pie: Spaghetti, seven cheeses and Italian bacon baked to perfection in a flaky crust and topped with meatballs and homemade meat sauce.

**Chicken Alfredo Deep Dish Spaghetti Pie: Spaghetti, seven cheeses and Italian bacon baked to perfection in a flaky crust and topped with grilled chicken and our homemade Alfredo.

Spaghetti Rosso with Chicken & Bacon: Tomato-infused spaghetti with grilled chicken, bacon, red peppers, tomatoes and asparagus tossed in a homemade Parmesan pesto sauce.

**These are what were on the menu at the High Line along with the Italian Meatball Breadstick sandwich. 

I can’t wait to try them all. I was beyond stuffed because these were being served all day. I met the sweetest staff and chefs who took care of me throughout the day and was also informed by staff and the manager that an Olive Garden is coming to Harlem this summer. I can’t wait because as a Harlem resident this is great for my community. I am really looking forward to the ribbon cutting ceremony and maybe joining the team. Also looking forward to taking the family out to eat and try the new sandwiches and spaghetti pies. 

Disclosure: This is not a compensated post. I was invited to attend event. Opinions are mine 100% as always. 
 

Have You Tried Nellie’s Free Range Eggs? Check Out Recipe & Giveaway

30 May

Did you know the month of May is Egg Month? Do you enjoy eating eggs? What type of egg person are you? You have Scrambled, Fried, Over-Easy, Omelette, Boiled or maybe you don’t want to see the eggs but you will eat it baked in a cake or in your homemade waffles.

Are you the type of shopper who just pick whatever eggs are on sale or do you research and pick eggs that are organic, cage free or certified humane?  What do these words mean?

Nellie’s Certified Hunane Free Range Eggs are committed to providing better lives for hens, which means better eggs for you and your family! Coming from the first Certified Humane® farm in the country, Nellie’s girls (aka hens) are never caged and have as much, or as little, access to outside as they want. Nellie’s also supports a network of small family farms, unlike competitors with massive factory-farm set ups.

Here’s how Nellie’s break down the meanings:

What is Free Range?

You don’t want to buy eggs from companies that quite literally cram hens into tiny cages and never let them out. Sad to say, 9 of 10 egg-laying hens in the U.S. are still forced to live this way.

At Nellie’s, we’re very proud to raise all our hens in a Certified Humane, free range environment. This guarantees that on every one of our small farms:
Hens have easy access to the outdoors with real grass to peck, play and dust bathe.
The have access to antibiotic free feed and fresh water 24/7.

And much more.

What is Certified Humane?

Nellie’s Free Range Eggs are Certified Humane® Raised and Handled. In fact, we were the first egg farm in the country to earn this respected seal on our cartons.

The Certified Humane label means that all our farms meet the strict requirements of the Humane Farm Animal Care Program, the world-recognized leader in animal welfare certification. It’s your guarantee that our hens always have what they need to thrive—not just to stay alive! 

Don’t be fooled by generic terms you might find on other egg cartons, like “humanely raised,” or “humane,” which have no regulations to back them up. And yes, sadly, even “cage-free” doesn’t always mean what it should since some less scrupulous brands cut corners, meeting only the barest technical definition of the term. Some eggs labeled cage-free actually came from hens in cages.

So if you want to know for sure that your eggs come from farmers that truly care for their hens, look for the Certified Humane seal on your eggs.
To learn more about the Certified Humane Program, check out certifiedhumane.org.

I made scrambled eggs with cheese and added peppers and onions which tasted great. I am very happy I tried these eggs out and even happier they’re in my local supermarket. I will be picking up more. The whole family enjoyed them. I also found the recipe below on the website that I will definitely try to. 


Pumpkin and Pecan Pancakes 

Courtesy Tasting Table

We tested countless batches of these pumpkin pancakes to get the perfect spice blend, the right amount of pumpkin and just enough pecans for crunch. Once we got them to become perfectly pillowy, they were gone in minutes.

Ingredients

2 cups flour

4 tablespoons sugar

1 tablespoon cinnamon

2 teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon ground ginger

¾ teaspoon ground nutmeg

½ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon ground allspice

½ teaspoon ground clove

¾ cup canned pumpkin purée

1 cup heavy cream

½ cup whole milk

4 tablespoons melted butter, plus more for serving

2 large eggs, lightly beaten

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

¾ cup chopped pecans

4 tablespoons canola oil

Maple syrup, for serving

Directions

1. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, ginger, nutmeg, salt, allspice and clove.
2. In a separate bowl, whisk together the pumpkin purée, heavy cream, milk, butter, eggs and vanilla extract until smooth. Stir the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients using a wooden spoon. Fold in the pecans.
3. Heat a large nonstick skillet or griddle over medium heat. Add a tablespoon of canola oil. Working in batches, pour ¼ cup of the pancake batter into the skillet to form a 3-inch round disks. Cook the pancakes until bubbles begin to form and the edges begin to brown, about 1 to 2 minutes. Flip and continue cooking until golden, about 2 minutes more. Repeat with the remaining oil and batter. Serve the pancakes hot with butter and maple syrup.

*GIVEAWAY*

Nellie’s was nice enough to offer one of my readers two coupons for 2 dozens of eggs. How cool is that? 

How to enter::

Must be subscribed to my blog: Five Little Words

Must be following me on Instagram: @nilimo

Must be following me on Twitter: @nilimonicky

Follow @freerangenellie on Twitter 

Answer this question: 

What would you make with your eggs? 

Leave your handles in comments so I can contact you if you’re a winner. 

Giveaway begins 5/30 and ends 6/5. Winner announced on social media 6/6. 

Check out http://www.nelliesfreerange.com for more info and recipes.  To find a store near you click on this link for the store locator: http://nelliesfreerange.com/buy/

Disclosure: I was given coupons, gift card and swag. This is not a compensated post. Opinions are mine 100% as always. 

New RAGÚ Homestyle Pasta Sauce Tested at NYC Live Event

23 May

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Disclosure: This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of RAGÚ® Homestyle pasta sauce.

I love pasta so much I feel like I have some Italian roots in me. My love for RAGÚ® pasta sauce started when I was a teenager. I used to watch my aunt cook her famous spaghetti and meat sauce. She always used RAGÚ and her meal was amazing. As I started cooking I also used RAGÚ for my pasta dishes and I made a great choice in carrying on the tradition. RAGÚ had been my go to pasta sauce for years and we love it.

I was invited to partner and attend RAGÚ NYC Live Event and try RAGÚ Homestyle pasta sauce. Did you think I would turn down this invitation? The event took place at the Bowery Hotel on the Rooftop. Jars of RAGÚpasta sauce were placed all around tempting me to cook. Luckily I didn’t have to because chefs were waiting to take orders of whatever you wanted to try. I told the chef to hook me up with spaghetti, ground turkey, garlic, fresh basil, asparagus fresh tomatoes, Parmesan cheese and of course the star of the event RAGÚ pasta sauce. My dish was the first one made and everyone was snapping their cameras and salivating over my dish. RAGÚ Homestyle pasta sauce hugged my pasta so right and tasted so good I had to go back for seconds. I also had the pleasure of meeting actress/talk show host Tamera Mowry and You tube/Instagram star Honey Suckle Catering. They were so kind and are also partnering with RAGÚ. 


RAGÚ Homestyle sauces are perfect to use on classic family meals like spaghetti and meatballs or ravioli. RAGÚ Homestyle is available in five flavorful, thick and hearty varieties – Traditional, Meat, Roasted Garlic, Four Cheese and Mushroom.

I already used my jar of sauce and made my family Spaghetti and Meat Sauce. It came out great and was devoured so fast I wasn’t able to get any pictures. Next up will be lasagna. 

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of RAGÚ® Homestyle pasta sauce.

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Easy Ways to Cook with Johnsonville Sausage for Mother’s Day 

6 May

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post with Johnsonville. Opinions expressed are mine 100% as always. I am a Johnsonville Influencer. 
Mother’s Day breakfast has never been easier with these Fully Cooked Breakfast Sausages! Ready in 30 seconds, these breakfast sausage patties have all the big, bold flavors of Johnsonville without the fuss. Available in both Original and Turkey varieties, these patties are the perfect size for breakfast sandwiches. Whether your morning schedule is busy or relaxed, you’ll always find the time for these sensational sausages.Johnsonville nvited moms and kids to make Johnsonville  part of their morning routine – from a quick weekday breakfast before school to Mother’s Day morning brunch. Breakfast sandwiches are the new way to get your fill of protein-packed deliciousness and Johnsonville is making it easier with a new line of fully cooked sausage patties. For more information, visit Johnsonville.com.


 

Johnsonville believes in bringing the family together through food, but the meal doesn’t have to be complicated.• Johnsonville is the number one brand of sausage in America.

• Convenience is key when kids are cooking for mom; make it easier by cooking with Johnsonville.

Johnsonville asked me to create my own variation of a kid-friendly breakfast for Mother’s Day. My kids were excited to work in the kitchen with me. We love cooking together and thinking of new recipes. 

We came up with a corn muffin, sausage with maple syrup. Easy to make, don’t have to turn on oven and easy clean up. Perfect for any size hands. It’s like stuffed French toast. 

Recipe: 

*1 or 2 packages of store bought corn muffins or you can make from scratch. 

*1 package of Johnsonville fully cooked breakfast sausages (turkey or original)

*Maple syrup (drizzle on what amount you want)

Directions:

In a skillet or frying pan heat up sausages for 7-9 minutes (or maybe even less than that). Flip a few times. 



Cut muffins in half, place in frying pan with butter already melted and heat till nice and bubbly. You can brown on both sides or just one side. Place sausage pattie on corn muffin, add maple syrup and place other half of muffin on top. 





There you have it! Three ingredients, fast and ready in no time. Johnsoville sausage patties fit perfectly on corn muffins. 

My daughter also came up with a quick snack or appetizer with Johnsonville sausages. She put crackers on a plate and added the Johnsonville sausage and tater tot on top. The tater tot had cheese melted on as well. You can add so many things to it. I thought she did a great job.




We also made a classic breakfast wrap with egg, cheese and Johnsonville sausage. We love our wraps in the morning. 

My Mother’s Day breakfast is looking good. Johnsonville makes it so easy for a fast and tasty meal every time. We enjoyed creating these recipes for you. Hope you enjoy making them with your kids as well. Happy Mother’s Day!!!

For more info about Johnsoville products head here: 

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