Celebrate Summer with Hi Mountain Seasonings' Western Grill Bundle

 

About Hi Mountain Seasonings

Hi Mountain Seasonings is a Wyoming‑based company known for crafting high‑quality rubs, marinades, brines, dip mixes, jerky kits, and specialty blends made for outdoor cooking and backyard grilling. Their products are designed to help home cooks elevate everyday meals with bold, western‑inspired flavor. Whether you’re grilling for a crowd, smoking ribs all afternoon, or experimenting with new recipes, Hi Mountain Seasonings offers blends that make it easy to turn simple ingredients into something unforgettable.

My Unboxing Experience

For the Fourth of July, I unboxed the Western Grill Bundle, and it felt like opening a treasure chest of flavor. The bundle includes six of their customer‑favorite seasonings and rubs: Cajun Campfire Seasoning, Original Burger Seasoning, Garlic Pepper Rub, Rib Rub, Alaskan Salmon Seasoning, and Zesty Western Gourmet Burger Seasoning.

I was excited to try them out at our holiday barbecue. Each blend smelled incredible right out of the bottle, and the variety meant we could season everything from burgers to ribs to fish without repeating a single flavor profile. Check out the video below to watch the full unboxing and see my first impressions.

@authorlauradeluca Hi Mountain Seasonings Unboxing! #seasoning #barbeque #unboxingvideo #4thofJuly ♬ original sound - Laura Deluca

My Full Review

We put every seasoning to the test at our Fourth of July cookout, and each one brought something special to the table.

• Cajun Campfire Seasoning — I don't do spicy, but my stepfather used this on chicken and grilled veggies, and it added the perfect bold, smoky kick. Not too spicy, just enough heat to make everything pop.

• Original Burger Seasoning — This one became an instant favorite. It made our burgers juicy, savory, and perfectly seasoned without overpowering the meat.

• Garlic Pepper Rub — We tried this on steaks, and it gave them that classic steakhouse flavor — garlicky, peppery, and delicious.

• Rib Rub — We used this on a rack of ribs, and it delivered exactly what you want: deep, rich, championship‑style flavor that caramelized beautifully on the grill.

• Alaskan Salmon Seasoning — This was perfect on fresh fish. It added brightness and depth without masking the natural flavor.

• Zesty Western Gourmet Burger Seasoning — We used this on a second batch of burgers, and it gave them a tangy, bold twist that everyone loved.

Every seasoning was easy to use, packed with flavor, and versatile enough to work on multiple dishes. The bundle made our Fourth of July spread taste like a full‑blown cookout feast. No guesswork, no complicated recipes, just great seasoning doing its job.

Final Thoughts

Hi Mountain Seasonings made our Fourth of July meal unforgettable, and their Western Grill Bundle is perfect for any summer barbecue. Whether you’re grilling for a crowd or just cooking for your family, these blends make it easy to serve food that tastes amazing. Stock up before Labor Day so you’re ready for every cookout, camping trip, and backyard dinner coming your way.

Connect with High Mountain Seasonings.

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The Only Measuring Cup You Will Ever Need in the Kitchen Again

The Kitchen Cube is an All-in-1 measuring device that will save drawer space, increase organization and decrease the time spent looking for the correct utensil

Made from a FDA food grade plastic compound, it's safe to cook with. It's also dishwasher and microwave safe making it the perfect cooking gadget that's a must for every kitchen, dorm room, cabin and household. 

19 common measurements in one practical device

• Measurements are in both US and Metric
• Save drawer space and reduce clutter
• FDA approved food grade plastic compound is safe to cook with
• Microwave and dishwasher safe for easy cleaning 
• Perfect gift for any kitchen, dorm, cabin or household
• FREE US SHIPPING ✈  
• "Every Teaspoon, Tablespoon and Cup in One Gadget"  

My Thoughts 

This thing is a definite must for many different situation. It is perfect for tiny houses, rvs, dorm rooms, boats, etc. It is an amazing tool for regular homes as well, but it can be a real space saver when it is needed. Not that I use both systems, but having US and metric systems on this is a smart tool. The thing that I do use, or like, is that I can just throw it in the dishwasher. I am one of those types of people that won't buy a piece of clothing that says dry cleaning only or hand wash. I am just not that type of person. I am kind of the same way about dishes. Hand wash only is not something that comes into my home often. And you can put it in the microwave which is great too. 

The company is charitable as well. They donate a meal to starving children for each cube sold. So I decided to make my lemon bars with this. It has a lot of measurements and I usually make a big mess. This thing was great. I had to measure out little, big, liquid and dry ingredients. It was so much faster. I even used it to melt the butter that I needed. I didn't necessarily need it measure but I also did not have to pull out another bowl to melt the butter. When I was done I just threw it in the sink to be run through the dishwasher when I finally got around to doing them. Very useful little tool. Super space and dish saver. 

Connect with The Kitchen Cube 

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Father's Day Gift Guide - Uten Air Fryer

If you have a man in your life who enjoys spending time in the kitchen, the awesome Uten Air Fryer might be a great choice for a Father's Day Gift this year. This fryer allows the user to cook enough to feed the entire family in a fraction of the time it would normally take. The Uten Air Fryer comes with several amazing features that make it unique from other brands as well as a great deal.

The Uten Air Fryer comes with a  large 6.9 qt. basket and it has eight different settings. These settings allow you to select different temperatures for different types of food. The time control gives you complete flexibility over whatever you are cooking. The large basket enables you to cook large meals such as a whole chicken or a cake. This makes meal prep easy for the whole family or even for a party.

One of the best perks of this air fryer is that it allows you to prepare all your favorite foods in a healthier way. The air fryer uses less 20% less oil than traditional fryers, which helps to reduce the fat and the calories in your meals. When frying, the ingredients are heated from all sides, providing even cooking with little to no oil being soaked up into the foods. This gives you a deep fried crispy texture without all the greasy oil.

Some other features worth mentioning are the easy clean up. The removable basket is dish washer safe. The air fryer also has important safety features, such as an automatic shut off which prevents over cooking. It also shuts down automatically when you remove the basket. The smart touch panel is easy to use even for novice chefs. 

The best news of all if that the Uten Air Fryer is currently available for the low price of only $74.99. The regular price is $154.99. That's a savings of $70!  Plus, shipping is free if you are an Amazon Prime member. A deal this great can't last for very long. Head over to Amazon now and get your Uten Air Fryer for a special man in your life. It will be a Father's Day gift he will enjoy for many years to come.

Get Ready for Summer with the YRYM Grill&Bake Mat

Summer is on the horizon, and that means it's time to break out the grill. This summer, make your barbecues easy with a YRYM Grill Mat. These mats are taking backyard parties by storm by giving grillers the ability to cook with less mess and less hassle. The grill mat not only reduces oils, but  prevents expensive foods from falling or being wasted.

Best of all, the  BBQ Grill Mat is FDA approved, reusable and super easy to clean. They are made from cooper, so they are sturdy and dishwasher safe. No more scraping and scrubbing grease and food remnants from your grill after you've served your guests. They are also compatible with gas, charcoal, and electric grills. It can even be used in oven and stoves. You can cut them to any size to fit any surface. You get all the flavor without the mess.

If grilling isn't your thing, these versatile mats are also perfect for baking. Create all your favorite baked good without worrying about sticking. It also makes for a quick and easy clean up. Because they can he shaped to suit your needs, you can use them in a variety of ways. As an added bonus, the set comes with a FREE silicone brush.

If you'd like to purchase one of these amazing YRYM Grill&Bake Mats for yourself, you can find them exclusively at Amazon. They are available in both black and gold, and can be used again and again. At only $11.99 for a pack of five, you are getting a great deal.  Right now, there is also a coupon available for 5% off your order!  With Father's Day approaching, these nifty grill mats would make a unique gift for all the men in your life. Head to Amazon now and pick up a few to ready your home ready for summer fun.

Prep a Full Meal with a Single Skillet!

After receiving feedback from fans of the original 5-section MasterPan, its creators are launching the smaller, convenient and versatile 2- and 3-section MasterPan through a Kickstarter campaign. These skillets allow users to prepare full meals with the use of a single pan, like a full breakfast of eggs, pancakes and sausage, burgers with bacon for lunch, and grilled chicken and veggies for dinner. Cooking with the MasterPan can also help users with preparing the right amounts of food, helping to control portion sizes and minimize food waste. This is a great product for use in smalls dorms and apartments, camping with the family, or at home.

 Key features for the new products from MasterPan include:

•   Detachable handle for use in oven (up to 360 degrees)

•   Safe non-stick coating for easy cleanup

•   Induction steel plate for evenly distributed heat and for use on any stove top

My Thoughts:

MasterPan is paving the way for innovative cooking supplies. Whether you are a master chef or new to the game, MasterPan will have you enjoying your cooking experience. No matter if you are whipping up a single meal or one for family, there is something for everyone.

For more information on the latest grill and griddle addition to the MasterPan family, check out the Kickstarter campaign:

KickStarter

Attached are two pictures as I made pancakes in the morning from the Kickstarter model. I absolutely loved it! It cut my normal cooking time in half since I could cook multiple pancakes, as well as eggs and breakfast meats together. I also adored that it allowed for proper portion control. The pancakes were the perfect size, yet still thick and fluffy!

My family loves to have breakfast at all times of the day, and these pans were ideal. MasterPan was kind enough to send me multiple products, and they all were incredible. The non-stick texture, the shape of the pans, as well as the ability to cook so many different things at once was a true blessing. They were ideal for grilled chicken, steaks, and vegetables. I'd recommend MasterPan to anyone!

Connect with MasterPan:

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Bake it Happen & Help Fight Breast Cancer #bakeithappen @bakeithappen00

Bake It Happen is an internet campaign that helps to raise money for breast cancer research. It was started by two sisters after their mother, Judy Levin, lost her battle with the disease.  Judy was an avid baker whose recipes were in high demand.  After receiving multiple requests for Judy’s recipes, her daughters, Shari and Stacy, realized they could spread Judy’s culinary love and benefit  Metastatic Breast Cancer research at the same time. This is how the Bake it Happen campaign was born.

Every year, Bake It Happens releases new recipes. To get access to these amazing treats, you need to sign up at www.bakeithappen.net.  Bake it Happen will be featuring four different recipes this year including Banana Chocolate Chip Loaf, Pumpkin Oatmeal Chip Cookies, Judy's Black Bottom Cupcakes, and Compost Cookies.  After you bake one of these delicacies, you can snap a photo and share it on social media using the hashtag #bakeithappen.  For every photo posted of their Bake it Happens recipes, they will DONATE $5 to The Cancer Couch Foundation! 

In addition to the internet campaign, Taste Buds Kitchen will also be hosting Bake it Happen baking classes throughout their seven kitchens nationwide!  In these themed classes, children can bake a special TBK versions of the Bake it Happen Pumpkin Oatmeal Chip Cookie!  Each kitchen has graciously dedicated to donate a portion of the proceeds from these classes to The Cancer Couch Foundation!!

Even if you don't like baking (I know I don't), you can still contribute to the campaign. Just look for the donation button on the website. Even a few dollars will help in the fight for a cure!  Visit the Bake It Happen website today and see how easy it is to make a difference. 

Gobble - Fresh Ingredients & Delicious Recipes Delivered Right to Your Door -#Giveaway #DinnerSolved (5 Winners)

Sometimes the hardest part of making a delicious  meal is finding all the ingredients you need. I always find tasty recipes online, but there are always one or two things I'm missing--a spice, a certain herb--and who wants to drive all the way to the grocery store with four kids to pick up one or two things? Thankfully,  Gobble makes it easy to create delicious recipes without any hassle at all. This fantastic service hand picks yummy recipes that meet your specifications, and delivers all the ingredients right to your door. They gather all the ingredients, and do most of the prep work for you, so that you can enjoy a homemade meal in minutes instead of hours. Each meal takes 15 minutes or less to prepare!

I got to try out the Gobble subscription and it was an amazing process from start to finish. First, when you sign up, you can choose certain preferences. If you're a vegetarian or happen to be allergic to shellfish, you won't have to worry about getting items you won't eat. You can handpick the types of food that you enjoy. You can even adjust you meals for your family size.  Once the box arrives, you'll be in for a real treat. Absolutely everything you need is included, from the meats to the condiments. I was amazed by how fresh and beautiful their produce was. There were succulent meats and lush greenery, all delivered in a big box. The box is packed with dry ice to ensure your food arrives in pristine condition.  They even throw in a few cookies for dessert. 

My daughter is studying culinary, so she was especially excited about trying Gobble. She loves learning about unique recipes, and the ones we received were certainly original ideas. There were ingredients for three recipes in my box. This was enough for three meals for two people. All of these meals  were right up my ally. The meals they offer are different every week, so there is lots of variety.  From classic favorites to adventurous world cuisine, the array of Gobble entrées promises something for everyone each week. Here is a little about each of the meals we got to try, all of which were created in three easy steps.

Grass Fed Filet Mignon with Asparagus and Blue Cheese Butter - First of all, I was excited to see this was grass fed beef. It's always much more tender and I like knowing my meat hasn't been pumped full of hormones. The asparagus was perfect as well. It was thin and perfect. I can never find asparagus in such great condition at my grocery store.  The meal turned out beautifully, and the rosemary was the perfect garnish to finish it off.

Chicken Tika Masala with Rice and Naan - This was an exotic treat that wasn't too spicy.  The sauce comes pre-made so there's very little prep work.The Naan was nice ad fresh.   I was just amazed at how quickly we got this done!

Brown Sugar Crusted Salmon with Smashed Avocado & Basil Tomato Vinaigrette- This was my favorite of the three. I have never tried cous cous,and was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it. The smashed avocado was tasty too.  This is combination of foods I would never consider putting together, but the result was outstanding!

All three of these meals were absolutely delicious. The recipes are easy to follow, and laid out with step by step instructions complete with illustrations so you know you're on the right track.  You can even call the chef if you have any questions.  It's also nice getting to try new things without buying tons of ingredients you may only use once and then throw away.  It's a fun way to try new foods and add some diversity to your kitchen. 

Visit Gobble.com to view the weekly dinner options and choose a preferred delivery day.

delivers on the West coast, with plans for national expansion in summer 2017.  To keep up with new products and promotions, follow them on their social media.

The Giveaway

Five lucky readers will receive an exclusive sneak peek in advance of Gobble’s national
expansion this summer by winning one of five Gobble Kits! To enter, just fill in the Giveaway Tools form below. This giveaway will end on  4/14/17. Open to the US only. The winner will be notified via email and will have 48 hours to reply. Thanks again to the sponsor for offering this fantastic prize.

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Save the Day with Slow Cooker Family Favorites by Maggie Shi!

The new year is officially here! That means back to busy school schedules, chilly evenings, and nights in. If you have had a chance to look at Maggie Shi’s new, Slow Cooker Family Favorites (October 2016; Paperback; $19.95), I think you’ll agree that it’s the perfect cookbook for this time of year.

Hearty, hands-off dinners like Spicy Mexican Chicken Stew and Pesto Stuffed Shells are the easiest way to get the whole family sitting down to a home-cooked dinner, no matter how busy your night is. But your slow cooker is good for so much more than stews and soups—recipes for dips, appetizers, desserts and warm drinks will carry you all the way through the year!

8 out of 10 American families have a slow cooker—put it to use whipping up treats like Cheesy Bacon Dip, Banana Caramel Cake, and Honey Bourbon Cider!

My Thoughts: 

One thing I love to do is cook! It is something that has always been so relaxing to me to kick back, throw some nutritious ingredients together, and make a meal my whole family will enjoy. However, sometimes time does not always allow me to spend some extra time in the kitchen. That is where a slow cooker comes in handy. It is much quicker for families and college students like me to throw my favorite things in and allow the slow cooker to do the work for me! 

Maggie Shi shares some of her yummy gourmet ideas that are family friendly and not overly difficult to do! Everything from dinners, dips, drinks, and my favorite- desserts! Who knew you could do so much with a slow cooker? I had no idea I could make sure an array of unique things. This book is a must have for people who are pressed for time, but still wanting to spend time with family enjoying a good meal. It will help save you time and still have the joy of cooking a fresh dish. 

If you are a parent or person on the go, this book is a must have for you! Bring your family together with these delicious recipes from Maggie Shi!

Connect with Maggie Shi:

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Holiday Gift Guide - Review: Viking Pressure Cooker with Steamer

 

The Viking Pressure Cooker uses a simple non-slip lock knob to easily and securely clamp the lid down on the vessel. Set the lid on in any direction you wish, then just turn the knob to create a pressure safe seal and you are ready to cook.

• Open & Close the Lid with the Turn of a Knob
• Can Be Used on any Cooking Surface, Including Induction
• Energy Saving – Reduces Cooking Time by Half or More
• Pressure Release Dial Allows You to Easily Adjust the Pressure
• Durable Stainless Steel Construction
• Pressure Indicator Identifies when the Cooker has Reached Full Pressure
• Stay Cool Handles

The commercial cooking technology and innovation once reserved for only restaurant kitchens is available for your home; only from Viking. To make it even better, Viking is now infused with a new culture from Middleby under which are continuously striving to ensure that their products, quality and service are the best available.

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Our Thoughts
I love to cook. And it's a good thing, given my son's special dietary needs.  I plan my days around what I want to make for supper and the time it takes to make it.

Did you know a pressure cooker can cook 3 - 4 times faster than conventional methods? That does tend to make life a little easier . . .

Viking sent me their fabulous 8 Quart Stainless Steel Pressure Cooker for review and I have made quite a few meals in it already - veggies, roasts, dessert.  I detest cheap cookware and the Viking Pressure Cooker is very nicely heavy duty - no cheap thin walls, no hot spots. It even has measurements on the inside of the pot.

Really, a pressure cooker is pretty easy to use.  Put your food mix in, put the lid on, set the pressure to whichever setting the dish needs, and turn the top knob to close the lid tight.  Turn the heat to high until the little red pressure indicator pops up (indicating the pot is now sealed), then turn the heat as low as you can without the pressure indicator falling back down (if it does, just turn the heat back up again for a bit until it re-pressurizes). You need to make sure you have enough liquid in there, and the heat (once pressurized) needs to be set to the minimum in order to retain the pressure.  Upon mentioning I had a new pressure cooker to try out, one of the first things someone said to me was to be careful because someone they knew blew two of them up! 

First up was turkey thighs with an assortment of veggies - onion, celery, and parsnips. First I fried the (skin covered) turkey thighs in oil and salt & pepper, then removed the thighs and cooked the veggies a little bit in the oil.  Then add the thighs back in, cover, and pressurize for a quick fully cooked meal. For this dish I used the recommended amount of water based on the manual that comes with the cooker, and by the time the food was done, it looked more like turkey thighs resting in veggie soup.  But, I just pulled out the thighs, set them aside, and strained the veggies, which had melted down into a nice textured dish. Now, I figured the veggies would rather be turned to mush if I cooked them the entire time with the meat, and they were. The interesting thing was that I had spiralized the parsnips and the time in the pressure cooker actually riced them for me.  The (fried) turkey skin was understandably soggy. I think doing skinless meats would be better in the pressure cooker - either that, or you'll need to oven roast the meat to crisp up the skin once it's finished in the pressure cooker. Time in pressure cooker - about 30 minutes, but I think I could have done a little less.  Oven roasting takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Hinging on that outcome, next up I decided to make riced parsnip pudding.  I have always loved rice pudding, but as we are grain & dairy free now, I needed to come up with a new dish.  Parsnips are delicious with coconut milk, cinnamon, and sugar - have done that mashed quite a few times, sometimes adding pears and/or apples.  Since using the pressure cooker on spiralized parsnips turned them to a riced consistency in the first dish, I figured I'd try spiralizing them again and let the pressure cooker do the work that my little food processer is really too small to do.

I added as much water to the mix as I thought I'd need, because parsnips absorb A LOT of water, especially by the next day in the fridge. I wasn't sure how long to cook them to get the right consistency, so after about 10 minutes in, I de-pressurized the pot and checked on them.  They were still very watery (although delicious!!) so I added in some arrowroot to thicken and re-pressurized, cooking for another 5 - 7 minutes or so.  In actuality I should have just riced the parsnips first to get the texture just right (but again, I need a bigger food processor), but the whole dish was unbelievably delicious with a thicker, creamy-smooth sauce, just like one would expect with rice pudding.

Next up was a fresh venison roast.  Venison can be tricky to cook, and if you don't do it right it dries out and is pretty much like eating shoe leather. I have found that cooking a venison roast slathered in coconut oil with some salt & pepper for 4 hours on low in a crock pot makes for a nice tender roast.

First I braised the venison roast in coconut oil and salt & pepper.  Then I threw in a little onion, garlic, rosemary, with more salt & pepper, and added some water.  This roast . . . was OMG tender.  I mean OMG OMG OMG DROOL DELICIOUS tender!!  Now, I know from years of experience that sometimes it's more the cut of meat and less the cooking method, so I need to try another venison roast to see if I get the same results but I have high hopes. The packages are just stamped "Venison Roast" so I don't know which roast packages are which cut.  But this has me soooooo encouraged to try it again, and if all my venison roasts turn out this tender and moist, this pressure cooker will be my #1 go-to method for venison roast. Time in pressure cooker: 25 - 30 minutes since it was a small roast. Did I mention the crock pot takes 4 hours??

Next up was a cow tongue - one of my absolute, hands-down favorite cuts. My husband hates the texture of tongue - it is a bit spongy - but he loves the texture of brisket and I can't stand it. LOL.  Anyway, more tongue for me!

Cooking tongue in the crockpot has always been my best way to get the tongue skin to peel off, but it invariably always has some dried out spots that are tough to peel, so I end up fileting it off.  In the Viking pressure cooker, the tongue came out as delicious and tender as I expected and as a bonus, the steam made the whole thing incredibly easy to very quickly peel it. Time in pressure cooker: 25 minutes.  Crock pot - 6 - 8 hours.

Last dish for this review is lamb shanks.  I was SO excited to find lamb at our local big box store - I raw feed my dog and so I'm always browsing the meat aisle for cheap cuts of meat for her and they're one of the few places that sell a good selection of offal.  And right next to where the cow offal was, I found the lamb shanks.  Two $10 packages later, I had supper all planned.

Normally I oven roast this dish with lamb steaks or chops, but shanks are much thicker and have the large bone inside of them.  I usually use the crock pot for lamb shanks, but here again, I wanted to try using the pressure cooker because it saves so much cooking time.

I did manage to set off the smoke alarm while braising them (oops!) but they braised up beautifully.  I pulled them out, set them aside, and then added in my veggies (zucchini, mushrooms, garlic, & rosemary) and a little sweet cherry wine & balsamic vinegar.  Stirred them to coat, and added the shanks back to the pot.  Added a little more balsamic vinegar, salt & pepper to the meat, put in some water - not too much, knowing zucchini are very watery, and pressurized the pot. I still ended up with quite a bit of liquid from the zucchini and the meat but the whole dish was so delicious.  I love lamb.  I hate sharing lamb.  LOL.  Time in pressure cooker: 45 minutes.  Crock pot takes 6 - 8 hours.

Now the funniest part of this whole pressure cooker experience was the dog.  Bella is an 11 month old Rottweiler and she just did not know what to do about the noise the pressure cooker makes as it releases little bits of steam while cooking.

First she had to inspect this new noise-maker:

Then she laid down in front of the stove and quietly woo-wooed at it until the food was done.

Overall, the Viking Pressure Cooker is incredibly easy to use.  There are tons of recipes online, and you'll also find a couple in the manual. It comes with a steamer basket too. I am a big fan of high-quality cookware, and most of my cookware is vintage because it's better quality than the cheap stuff you can buy at big-box stores.

The only thing I wish was a little different about this pressure cooker is that it's tall and narrow, and I have an easier time with the more squatty pots.  Just something for me to adjust to.  5 stars!!