Rock Your Next Party with Charlie Cat

When it comes to baking, I am usually a total failure. I have tried a hundred times to make those cute little cakes for my children's birthdays or school gatherings. Either they wind up in the trash or I want to hide my face in shame when I compare them to the masterful creations the other mothers come up with. Luckily, Charlie Cat is here to save the day.  If you want to make the cutest cupcakes at your next parent-teacher conference, you need to add Charlie Cat to your baking arsenal.

Charlie Cat is an adorable dessert mold designed in the shape of a cat. The unique mold is about the size of a cupcake, and made using heat-resistant silicone. The mold comes in one simple piece. Simply add your desired mix into the mold using the opening at the top. Once it's filled up, you can put it in the oven, microwave, or freezer. The result is a perfectly molded dessert that looks just like a sweet little kitty. Whether you're baking a cupcake or creating a jello mold, the dessert slides out easily. There is no sticking, no breaking, and no frustration whatsoever. You get a perfect treat every time with hardly any effort at all. Decorate it to taste and you're all done!

In addition to being able to create edible delights that will appeal to the eye as well as the tongue, you also get a break when it comes to clean up. Leftover crumbs wipe away easily, and Charlie Cat is completely dishwasher safe.  In minutes, you'll have the best dessert tray you've every created. It's perfect for birthdays, school parties. showers, and many other special occasions.  I'll never look at baking the same way again!

Another thing that I love about Charlie Cat is that they give back to the community. Even before their business was off the ground, they were making donations to the animal shelter for every person who signed up for their newsletter. Their pledge to help animals will continue as the business continues to thrive.

If you'd like to order a Charlie Cat Dessert Mold for yourself, they are available exclusively on Amazon. Right now, they are 40% off the regular asking price! You can learn more about these amazing products by visiting their website. Be sure to check out their recipe for Rich Vanilla Cake while you're there.  Grab your Charlie Cat Dessert Mold today and you'll be the envy of all the other moms at the next get-together!

Jell-O Simply Good: New Product Launches with #DelightfullyHonest Campaign!

Jell-O has officially introduced a new product line to the family: Jell-O Simply Good! Inspired by kids and their unfiltered honesty, new Jell-O Simply Good pudding mixes are made with real ingredients like banana, cocoa and vanilla bean. The new gelatin mixes are flavored with real fruit juices. New Jell-O Simply Good contains no artificial flavors, dyes or preservatives. Since kids inspired Jell-O Simply Good, the brand invited them to try the new product and their candid, unscripted reactions are the basis for the Jell-O Simply Good campaign. Dubbed ‘Delightfully Honest’, the campaign features video of real kids providing unfiltered, surprising and sometimes hilarious reactions to a variety of topics including their impression of Jell-O Simply Good.

My Thoughts:

Jell-O is a classic treat enjoyed by all generations. Whether it be their puddings or fruity gelatin, it is something that can bring a whole family together for a good time. I was excited to try out the new line of Simpy Good products. Hearing that they were now made with natural ingredients was something I was curious about in terms of flavor and consistency. When the products arrived the first thing I noticed was the adorable new packaging. I then read how to make each and saw that it was surprisingly simple, no pun intended, just like the traditional recipes. 

I decided while boiling the water to make the gelatin, I would begin a couple flavors of pudding. I started with two of my families favorite flavors, Banana and Vanilla Bean. The recipe called for 2 cups of cold 2% milk which was to be whisked for 2 minutes. It stated that any non-dairy alternative would not set. After whisking the mix and milk, you allow the pudding to set for 5 minutes. Make sure to refrigerate the leftovers.  

The pudding was about done by the time the water had been brought to a boil. I grabbed a bag of Simply Good Strawberry and poured 1 cup of boiling water into a measuring cup. Afterwards, I followed the recipe and mixed the gelatin contents into the water, whisking for about 2 minutes until all of it was dissolved. Afterwards, it instructs to add 1 cup of cold water, then refrigerate for 4 hours or until firm. 

Overall, I was very impressed with the Jell-O Simply Good line! Everything was very delicious that I tried. I noticed that the flavor of the puddings were much more rich after letting them set in the fridge for a few hours, getting cold. They were good once made, but I got maximum flavor after allowing them to sit. The Vanilla Bean even had little pieces of black specks you could see. I did wish that one was a bit more sweet since it was made from cane sugar. However, I adored the Banana! All you need is a few vanilla wafer cookies and you will have the ultimate dessert! Each pudding was rich and creamy. The gelatin was ready at about 4 hours like the instructions suggested. It was very flavorful, soft and thick! You could taste the natural fruit juice which made it such a treat. I was pleased it still had the consistency of the traditional Jell-O gelatin. My family loved it! 

I would highly recommend this line for any parents and families looking for a wholesome, yummy dessert that can be enjoyed by everyone. 

   

 Connect with Jell-O:

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The Perfect Summer Travel Snack- Walkers Shortbread Review and Giveaway!

Summer is meant for spending time in the sun, road trips and just enjoying the outdoors. Walkers Shortbread makes for the ideal addition to your packing list: The “World’s Finest Shortbread” comes in mini, re-sealable packs, perfect for on-the-go—especially when you have hungry kids in tow.

Made with just four simple, all-natural ingredients (flour, butter, sugar and salt), Walkers Minis will satisfy that sweet tooth craving without spoiling appetites. They’re also the perfect dessert addition to any picnic (for diners of all ages)! Walkers also offers a (truly delicious) new Gluten Free Shortbread portion pack that will satisfy any dietary needs for the road.

My Thoughts:

The smell and taste of a delicious shortbread is something that always brings back childhood memories. My grandparents loved them and we always enjoyed a few together, especially around the holidays. Walkers variety of shortbreads bring me right back to that place. Read my review below of the three flavors Walkers was so kind to share with me and for you all through a giveaway.

Gluten Free Pure Butter Chocolate Chip Shortbread: 

As a chocolate chip lover, these shortbreads hit the spot. There are two in each individual pack. The texture is soft yet with a light crisp. They may be gluten free, but going off of taste alone, you'd never know. The chocolate chips are always melty and rich, and in addition you get a nice hint of butter. These will make any day a little more sweet! 

Gluten Free Pure Butter Shortbread: 

A classic flavor with a gluten free twist, this treat will have you remembering the good old days when you had your very first shortbread. They are crunchy, thick and oh so buttery! You can enjoy them without the guilt.  

Pure Butter Mini Shortbread Fingers:

These may be mini but there is nothing small about their taste! These little shortbread fingers are delicious and addicting. You can never have just one. I was guilty of putting my hand in the resealable bag a couple times through the day. They have a light crisp and just the right amount of buttery flavor. 

I am now a true fan of Walkers Shortbreads! They are a fantastic treat to get you through the day! When they arrived, my family was quick to give them a try and each one of us enjoyed! My dad loved to take these to work for lunch and share with his coworkers. If you love shortbread treats as much as me, you will love these, whether you are choosing to go gluten free or not.

                            Connect with Walkers Shortbread: 
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The Giveaway:

Entry-Form

Gimmee Jimmy's Cookies

I have always enjoyed cookies, but they were just cookies. Nothing that special. However, a few weeks ago I received a package in the mail from Gimme Jimmy's Cookies. They make cookies, but they aren't like any cookies I've ever had before.  These cookies are a gourmet, melt in your mouth piece of heaven. They are soft, chewy and so delicious that just thinking about them now is making my mouth water. These are the kind of cookies that you will take just one bite and become hopelessly addicted.

I was sent one of their sampler tins that contained some of their signature
flavors including oatmeal raisin, chocolate chip, and white chocolate chip.  Believe me, every one of them tastes just as good as they sound. All of the cookies are nice, big portions that are chewy and delicious. They are packaged in individually layers to provide long lasting freshness, and come in a beautifully arranged tin that would make the perfect gift for any occasion. This was a big tin of cookies, and even after two weeks, they still stayed fresh and delicious in the tin.

Gimmee Jimmy's Cookies  offers a variety of gourmet cookies including sugar cookies, rainbow cookies, double chocolate chip cookies, and many more delicious options.   There are also samplers available where you can mix and match your favorite flavors for a nice variety. To learn more about this great company and all they have to offer, you can visit their website or follow them on social media. 

Connect with Gimmee Jimmy's Cookies 


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Let Tastefully Simple help with your dinner menu

Tastefully Simple has pulled together an Easter Celebration Menu that will help guarantee ham turns out just as good as your mom’s. It also rounds out the entire menu leaving you with an impressive culinary display that may even make your mother jealous. That’s a win win!!!

Connect with Tastefully Simple

Website - Facebook  - Twitter

My Thoughts

The first thing I noticed about all of these items was the ease of making them. These weren't complicated items to make. Many of them only needed butter, water, and eggs. That was it. These were things I already had on hand.

One of my favorite items was the Italian Garlic Seasoning. I mixed this with some olive oil and marinaded some chicken in it before putting it on my George Foreman grill. It was really good. Very flavorful and easy. It comes with instruction on it how to use on bread too, so you can make homemade garlic bread.

The next item I made was the Truffle Fudge Brownies. With these, all you needed was a stick of butter melted and 2 eggs. Add those to the mix, stir, then bake. It was a little hard to stir because it was thick, but these were really yummy. Very chocolately, thick, and moist in the center.

Before. You can see how thick the batter is.

After!

One of the other items in the kit I made as well, were the Cinnamon Muffin Melt Mix. To make the muffins themselves, all you needed was water. You added water to the mix and then into the muffin pan. The box recommended to not use paper cups, so I decided to use my square muffin pan. Once they are finished backing, you melt down a stick of butter. I actually just did half a stick and it was enough butter. Then you pour the cinnamon sugar mix in a separate bowl. After about 10 minutes of cool time, you dip the top of the muffin into the melted butter then into the cinnamon sugar mix. Let it cool all the way before eating.

These were really good. I couldn't believe how good they tasted when all I added was water to the batter. I had a hard time eating just one of these, I wanted to have about three for breakfast.

The Easter kit from Tastefully Simple comes with all kinds of products. From marinades to desserts, and even a mix to make your own sangria. Check out all the products HERE. 

Review: Dandies Pumpkin Marshmallows

A new twist on the always-awesome Dandies Minis vegan marshmallows are here just in time for the Fall holidays - get ready for Pumpkin Dandies Minis!

Yes, they're exactly what they sound like - naturally pumpkin flavored vegan mini marshmallows that are perfect for your Fall season baking needs, offering you a creative and flavorful new way to enjoy fluffy sweet goodness in your favorite dishes (or, straight out of the bag!) Dandies are great in any application you would normally use a marshmallow for - just that now you get the delicious taste of pumpkin as well. They make for one heck of a sweet potato topper (as well as the classic sweet potato casserole so many enjoy at Thanksgiving!), make a batch of unique rice crispy treats, enjoy a fun new way to top off your hot cocoa...if you like marshmallows and you're a fan of pumpkin, you can't go wrong using these little gems in place of regular vanilla marshmallows!

Dandies Vegan Marshmallows are a cruelty-free alternative to the traditional marshmallow. They're all natural, contain no corn syrup or gelatin, and are the first ever marshmallow to be certified Non-GMO Verified!

Dandies have a traditional marshmallow texture and flavor. They're perfect for roasting over a campfire, popping into cocoa, or just straight snacking!

Dandies are certified Kosher by cRc.

Dandies Vegan Marshmallows

Dandies Vegan Mini Marshmallows

Dandies Vegan Marshmallows Product Information:

• Melts and tastes just like a traditional gelatin-based marshmallow
• 100% Vegan
• Gluten free
• Corn and corn syrup free
• Free of most common allergens
• Made in a dedicated vegan facility
• Certified Kosher by cRc
• Non-GMO verified

Dandies Vegan Marshmallows are made by Chicago Vegan Foods: The company was started over a decade ago by teenage friends Ryan Howard and Dan Ziegler with the goal of merging their love for animals and activism into a business that could help bring awareness to veganism. 

You can visit Chicago Vegan Foods on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Purchase Dandies Vegan Marshmallows online and in stores at major retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Thrive Market.

Our Thoughts
Chicago Vegan Foods generously sent me all 3 Dandies marshmallow packages to try - oh yum!  I have seen them in stores before but hadn't yet tried them.  With fall's cooling temps, it's the perfect time to try them out with some baked goods.

Now, we follow the paleo diet here - and true, marshmallows aren't exactly paleo, LOL, but hey.  A girl's gotta have a treat every now and then!  I haven't rice crispy treats in 6 years . . . well, can't exactly have the rice crispies, so I found a recipe online that called for almonds and macadamia nuts instead.  I may not have eaten rice crispy treats in at least 6 years, and it's been much, much longer since I made them.  Of course, I only remembered to grab the ingredient list (1 c. almonds, 1 c. macadamia nuts, 1c. marshmallows, 1 Tbsp butter)- after all how hard can making the treats be?  I remembered you melt the butter (I used a combination of unrefined coconut oil and palm shortening) and the marshmallows together. It takes 10 of the big Dandies Vegan Marshmallows to make a cup, by the way! Haha, I counted as I stuffed them in the measuring cup.

It seemed to take a long time for the marshmallows to melt and once they did, it was really tough to get the nuts to mix in with the melted marshmallows.  I think I should have used a double boiler instead.  I ended up kneading the nuts into the melted marshmallows - got that to work. 
 

Tasty!  Although, I think next time I'd use either all almond or another type of nut; the macadamia nuts were a little too rich for my taste in this recipe.  Knowing how this recipe turned out, Dandies marshmallows would be a fun addition for making a chewy grain-free granola bar.

I keep meaning to try the Dandies Minis vegan marshmallows in with a cup of pumpkin spice latte - here I like to use Bengal Spice tea along with a Pumpkin Spice tea (I like my tea on the strong side), combined with honey and coconut milk - these would be a perfect addition - except it's been really warm the last few days so I'll wait until it's a bit cooler.  I also have a fabulous recipe for grain-free gingersnaps (aka Grandma's molasses cookies) - I need to make a batch and then melt some of these pumpkin minis in between 2 cookies like an oatmeal cream pie, only with gingersnaps. 

I keep meaning to try these all these recipes with the marshmallows . . . but darn it, these are SO freakin' tasty I'm snacking on them straight!  I'm so glad to have a marshmallow alternative that is corn, dye, and artificial flavor free!

P.S.  The dog loves them too ~ she tries to steal them right out of my hand!  Terrible beggar, she is. :)

Sonic Cheesecake Bites

***Product was received for free in exchange for an honest review.***

We are excited to announce SONIC’s Cheesecake Bites, a long-time customer favorite, are back just in time for National Dessert Day on Monday, October 14! With the return of this beloved limited-time offer, fans can once again satisfy their craving for this popular dessert offered exclusively at SONIC. 

With the holiday season fast approaching and temperatures dropping, Cheesecake Bites are sure to keep your teeth from chattering. These tasty bites have cheesecake on the inside, surrounded by a warm graham cracker crust and are paired perfectly with a tasty strawberry dipping sauce to top it off. 

Our Thoughts

Oh my these are delicious! My youngest daughter is obsessed with anything strawberry, and with Sonic being the only fast food restaurant around here we go there quite often, so why not try this delicious sounding snack out? I am very happy we did because they taste amazing!

The cheesecake bits don't look that big in the picture, but they actually are a pretty good size! The strawberry dipping they give you is more than plenty for your bites, unlike a lot of other snack places where you're always having to ask for more sauce!!

Both of my kids devoured these in no time at all and now ask for it all the time. They have never been big cheesecake eaters but they really enjoyed these. I think they taste just like cheesecake from the store and they're warm!! Perfect for winter.

Check out what else Sonic offers by visiting their website and their Facebook page too!

Reviewed by Jackie

***Please note that I received no form of monetary compensation for this post. The opinions expressed in the review are my own and were not influenced in any way.***