Beetology

Beets - either you love them or you stay far away. I personally love beets and am thrilled to have discovered beetology beverages.

 
Beetology is made from beets blended with fruit juices. Each of the varieties contains real 100% non-GMO, Certified Organic and Certified Fair Trade ingredients. There are no preservatives, additives or any artificial colors or flavors. Gluten free too. What makes these drinks so vivid in color is the actual beet ingredient!











The color is incredibly rich. I would say it is beet color. But how would it taste? As a beet devotee, I could handle a beet flavored drink, while my hubby, is not much into beets. We did a taste test.

The flavors provided for this review are:
beet + berry
beet + cherry
beet + lemon + ginger
beet + tropical fruit
beet + veggie

I did not mention to hubby that beets were in the beverage. One sip and there was a big smile on his face. He loved it! The taste is deliciously sweet. There is no earthy beet taste that I was expecting. The fruit blend makes all the difference in enhancing the sweetness. His favorite flavor - beet and berry. The bottle was gone in a flash. My favorite flavor was the beet and veggie. It had a slightly savory taste which I enjoyed. The beet and cherry is amazing! Who knew beets could taste so delicious! One flavor we did not care much for was the beet with lemon and ginger. The ginger was too overpowering. If you like ginger, give this flavor a try.

Each bottle contains 100% cold pressed juice with more than 50% beet juice. The calorie count is around 100 for the bottle. I can see using beetology in a cocktail mix. I liked them straight. The taste and texture is very refreshing.

Look for beetology beverages at health food stores.

Connect with beetology on Facebook.

Smart Summer Snacking Tips from Justin’s.

As summer moves along, your friends at Justin’s want to be sure you are keeping those hard earned summer bodies in check with ease. Below you will find a full list of snacking tips from Justin Gold himself, designed to keep you full and fit all season long, including ways to satisfy your sweet tooth without over-indulging!

1. Road trip? BYO fast food. Would you like Snack Packs with that?

2. Stay energized! Outdoor activities may require extra fueling (and extra nut buttery protein).

3. Snack cooler – literally. Don’t go to the pool without one!

4. Pair protein with seasonal fruit. Fresh berries + Chocolate Hazelnut Butter = Heaven.

5. Maximize airport options. Pack your carry-on with an emergency stash of snacks.

6. Chill out. Frozen PB Cups satisfy the need for something cold and sweet.

My Thoughts: 

I am a huge fan of Justin's products for a variety of reasons. They are all natural, healthy, filling, and the best part; Justin's products let me enjoy my favorite treats like nut butters and peanut butter cups without the guilt! I was thrilled to try a variety of Justin's favorite treats for summer! 

Justin's  Almond Butter Squeeze Packs- Classic, Maple and Vanilla: 

Almond butter is something I've recently added to my diet. I love how rich and hearty it is. A good treat to have when you want something to fill you up quickly, but not skip on deliciousness. Justin's has some of the freshest almond butters I have ever tried. I love snacking on these during mid day breaks or as a late night indulgence. The classic flavor tastes just like munching on a delicious almond, but with the enjoyment of spreading it on your favorite foods! The maple and vanilla are like a gift from sweet heaven. You can treat yourself without worry! The Maple variety reminds me of natural maple syrup delight, and vanilla is reminiscent of a classic vanilla bean ice cream. 

Justin's Chocolate Treats- Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups, Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups and Chocolate Hazelnut Snack Pack:

Like many of us, I LOVE chocolate. Two of my favorite chocolate treats are Peanut Butter Cups and Hazelnut spreads. I've tried many, but Justin's has raised the bar for me. When I tried Justin's varieties of Organic Peanut Butter Cups I was blown away. The dark chocolate one is now my new favorite. It's so rich and creamy. The amount of peanut butter is also just right. The milk chocolate choice is smooth, flavorful with the right amount of sweetness. Along with these delightful chocolate treats is the, Chocolate Hazelnut Snack Pack that comes with pretzels for dipping. These are perfect for on the go treats. The pretzels have a nice sprinkle of salt, and the hazelnut is thick and bursting with flavor. The best part is the reminder that all of these are natural!  

I want to send many thanks to Justin's for allowing me to try all of these wonderful products!   

Connect with Justin's:

Website Facebook Twitter  Instagram Pinterest  Blog

  

Review: Dolcedi

Natural Low-Glycemic Sweetener From Organic Apples

Dolcedì’ is a new, all-natural liquid sweetener that’s made from 100% organic apples and is a low-glycemic* alternative to sugar and other sweeteners.

Dolcedì’ can be used any way you would use traditional table sugar or honey. Its neutral flavor enhances the taste of food and drinks without altering them. Dolcedì’ is also highly soluble in both cold and hot drinks and can be enjoyed with pancakes, on yogurt, in fruit salad, and in baking. With 25% fewer calories than table sugar and higher sweetening power (you just need ½ tsp vs. 1 tsp granulated sugar) Rigoni di Asiago Dolcedì’ is made from the concentrated and filtered sugar extracted from organic apples. It is certified USDA organic, non-GMO, gluten-free, vegan, and STAR-KOSHER.

*Dolcedì’, with a GI value of 22.5**, is suitable for those who want to eat well, following a balanced diet for a healthy lifestyle.**GI = 22.5 +/- 5, determined as set out by the standardized method (ISO 26642:2010(E); FAO/ WHO Expert Consultation 1998; Wolever et al 2008.

About
Rigoni di Asiago® is a family-owned and operated business based in the Altopiano di Asiago, a mountain plateau in Northern Italy (90 miles north of Venice). Committed to sourcing the finest ingredients, their certified organic products include Fiordifrutta fruit preserves (the leading jam in Italy), Nocciolate hazelnut and chocolate spread, Dolcedì’ natural sweetener and Meilbio, honey from the best production areas of Italy.  The company was one of the first in Europe to turn to organic farming in the early 1990s and merit the Certified Organic label.

Find Rigoni di Asiago® products on Amazon or through the "Find a Store" search on their website. 

You can also find Rigoni di Asiago® on:

Facebook
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Our Thoughts
Being into whole fresh foods and the nutrient-dense paleo way of eating, as you can imagine, I've tried a variety of natural sweeteners - including some that are fruit-based. Dolcedì’ is made from apples - that's it, nothing else added. Organic apples, at that! (Actually their whole company focuses on organic farming - one of the first in Italy to "go organic" - and sustainable, eco-friendly manufacturing processes.)

The first thing I did was taste Dolcedì’ all by itself.  It's a clear, thick syrup. The taste is pretty neutral, as promised. 

So let's see how it worked for me: it's suggested use is for teas, baking, and any other place you'd use sugar.  I don't drink much tea in the hot summers, and I've never been a fan of iced tea, so I skipped that option. 

The first recipe I made with Dolcedì’ was one I recently created and have been enjoying this summer, an avocado and ginger coleslaw dressing. 

This is a fully raw recipe, no cooking involved. My recipe calls for maple syrup, and the substitution ratio calls for the same amount.  Maple syrup of course has its own flavor; substituting it with Dolcedì’ didn't go quite as I expected.  The dressing was missing the full, round flavor maple syrup provides and actually left the dressing with a somewhat bitter aftertaste (I find stevia to have the same effect).

Ok, next up, baking! I wanted to see if the aftertaste disappeared with the heat of baking.  We have a Harrelson apple tree and recent storms had knocked down several small apples.  Now, Harrelson's are TART and the young apples are even more so.  Storms knock some early apples down every year and I use them in a easy stovetop dessert that consists simply of apple slices, cinnamon, maple syrup, and cherry wine, cooked until the apples are soft and the sauce reduced.  And really, apple sweetener used on apples?  Should be a perfect combination!

Again, I was surprised that Dolcedì’ didn't perform as expected. While I didn't get a bitter aftertaste, I used way more than I would have of maple syrup as the Dolcedì’ did not overpower the tartness of the apples no matter how much I used.  I ended up adding maple syrup, which immediately reduced the tartness.

For me, I'll stick with my trusty maple syrup.  I do think that used raw, Dolcedì’ would perform fine in teas, and I'll try that when the cold weather hits in a few months.

I do want to note that Rigoni di Asiago® has a variety of other products that look right up my alley - a chocolate hazelnut spread that looks beyond delicious, as well as several honeys.  I wish I could try them all!  I can't even pick a favorite to try but right now it's a toss up between the Organic Italian Forest Raw Honey, Organic Italian Orange Blossom Raw & Creamy Honey, and the Organic Italian Wildflower Raw & Creamy Honey.



Book Review: The Complete Wild Game Cookbook

 A comprehensive and fascinating cookbook on preparing sublime game dishes.

This enticing and informative cookbook explains, from forest to table, how to make the most of wild game. Absorbing and engaging, it is not only full of information about game birds and animals but also introduces you to several wild plants that pair especially well with the suggested dishes, and includes recipes for broths, gravies, marinades and glazes.

In addition to the 150+ mouth-watering recipes, it features tips on preparing and cooking game, and details on the different species available throughout North America. You’ll also learn how to use the flesh and giblets of game, as well as wine-pairing suggestions, information on the various cuts of meat and general terms used in butchery.

This valuable primer is perfect for anyone who already includes game in their diet and for home cooks who are just discovering wild game for the first time.

With the advice in this wide-ranging book, you’ll rediscover the taste of nature on your dinner plate.

The Complete Wild Game Cookbook can be purchased from major online retailers like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Target.

JEAN-PAUL GRAPPE  had a long and prolific career. He has been the chef and owner of four major restaurants and has also taught for 22 years at the Institute of Tourism and Hotel and Quebec. Jean-Paul has published numerous cookbooks, many of which have won awards.

Jean-Paul says The Complete Wild Game Cookbook is much more than just a book of delicious and unusual recipes. He says it is a comprehensive text that explains, from forest to table, how to make the most of what you hunt.

Robert Rose, Inc. based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and founded in 1995, is one of North America’s leading publishers of bestselling and award-winning cookbooks and health books designed to guide, inform, advise, and do everything possible to make your life easier. Our books contain an abundance of full-color photographs, important diet and nutritional guides, accessible charts and tables, handy and delicious meal plans, practical make-ahead meal ideas, and easy-to-understand step-by-step instructions.

Our Thoughts

Seriously, I just want to hug this guy, Jean-Paul.  We eat venison as our main meat and have been exploring other wild game during the appropriate hunting seasons.  Generally, when I do a search for wild game recipes, all I can find are the same basic recipes over and over that call for commercial sauces or spice blends - or a whole lot of nightshade food ingredients.  The whole reason we've turned to eating wild game is because of our son's special dietary needs, so all those commercial spice blends and sauces (and especially nightshades!!) are out because of the ingredients they contain. What this means is, basically I've been on my own for creating new wild game recipes for my own cookbook(s). And I've come up with some that are actually pretty close to ones in The Complete Wild Game Cookbook!

The first one I tried was the Venison Tartlets with Wild Herb Emulsion.  I had to substitute a few ingredients like the pastry, potato starch, and cow-dairy items, but the resulting venison tartlets turned out great (and delicious!) - big thumbs up from the hubby!  I used up the very last of our venison stash with this one so I'm happy it turned out so well!

Venison tartlets fresh out of the oven!

Plated, with the Wild Herb Emulsion.

The next one I tried was the Wild Boar Chops with Currants and Sauerkraut Marinated in Cumin and Maple Syrup. This one is fairly close to a much simpler recipe I already have and love - but this really jazzed it up and was fabulous!!  I used pork steaks instead of wild boar chops since that's what I had on hand.  I had to skip the juniper berries - I actually meant to harvest some this year from up at our cabin . . . but sadly, they stayed behind.  I'll harvest some next year - there are plenty of recipes in this book that call for them and I've been looking forward to experimenting cooking with them.

The pork steaks still in the roasting pan.

This has been, out of all of my cookbooks, my most favorite one to read! When Jean-Paul says "the complete wild game cookbook" he's not kidding.  It is incredibly informative about a HUGE variety of wild game - from different species of birds all the way up to large animals - even seal! And not only that, but information on the animals themselves as well as gastronomy, structure and tenderness of meat, the effect of cooking on meat tenderness, and selecting the right cooking method - charts included!  Granted, the average person probably isn't going to have some of the ingredients readily on hand but with enough research good substitutes can be used, or the exact ingredients purchased from specialty shops. 

At the time of this writing, we are patiently waiting for this hunting season's deer to be processed at our local butcher shop and I cannot wait to try more of the recipes in this cookbook!

Overall, I cannot say enough good things about The Complete Wild Game Cookbook and am so glad it's a part of my kitchen!

The Real Company - 100% Single Origin Foods

Where is YOUR Food From?

Transparency Comes to U.S. With

The Real Co

100% Single Origin Foods

Valley Cottage, New York (May, 2015) - TheReal Co, Inc announces its U.S. debut of the first certifiable 100% Single Origin products including Himalayan Pink Rock Salt, Organic Raw Cane Sugar, and organically grown White Basmati Rice. The Real Co is pioneering Single Origin in food products, which is an exciting and transparent new food category and method of sourcing products globally and delivering it at a local level.  The Real Co enters partnerships with farmers and growers around the world that don't have an established route to distribute their products and creates a way to share their commodity with the world. The company brings full transparency and sustainability to the U.S. food industry. The Real Co products are carefully inspected and sourced by company representatives, and go straight from farm to shelf, eliminating the need for any middlemen.   This unique 100% Single Origin method allows everyone in the world to enjoy what is usually impossible to experience: unique, tasty, freshly farmed/mined products at affordable prices.

Every grain of salt, sugar and rice can be traced to its source, which is shared on every package of food bearing The Real Co name. Every food item has the Non-GMO Project Verified seal and is harvested from one single place, single farm or single family.

The packaging offers its own “transparent” view of the food, with a clear window that shows off the natural salt, sugar, or rice inside. The workers at every farm are paid a fair wage, and the end result is the highest quality organic food. Every product is then packaged in the United States.

The business model for The Real Co is founded on a direct farm-to-market delivery system, which offers farms distribution to the U.S., cutting out the middleman, and offering both retailers and stores great natural food products at low costs.

“We are a company founded on the notion that transparency is vital, and that consumers have the right to know where their foods are from,” says Belal Elbanna, CEO of The Real Co Inc. “The Real Co foods come right from their source and offer best of class products at best prices.”

The Real Co Inc foods include:

n  The Real Co Himalayan Pink Rock Salt, handcrafted, at the Himalayan Mountains. This salt is 100% pure; 100% Single Origin; non-GMO; has 84 active minerals in every grain; is unrefined and mountain washed in Himalayan mountain water. The salt is available in a 20-ounce tub container for a suggested retail price of $6.99 or in a saltshaker container for a suggested retail price of $9.49.

n  The Real Co Organic Raw Cane Sugar is 100% natural and organic; 100% Single Origin; raw and alive with natural vitamins and minerals; instantly dissolves in hot or cold liquids and is non-GMO. The sugar is available in 2 sizes: 8-ounce at a suggested retail price of $3.69 and 16-ounce at a suggested retail price of $4.49

 

n  The Real Co White Basmati Rice is 100% natural and 100% Single Origin; low-GI and pre biotic; non-GMO and is gluten free. The rice is available in 2 sizes: 16-ounce at a suggested retail price of $3.99 and 32-ounce at a suggested retail price of $6.49.

About The Real Food Co., Inc.

The Real Food Co., Inc. was founded in 2013 in Valley Cottage, New York with a direct farm-to-market approach for the organic food industry. The new 100% Single Origin Foods concept supports farms at their source, cuts out the middleman, and delivers directly to the U.S. market, cutting costs of products compared to other manufacturers.

The Real Food Co., Inc. offers transparency to the consumer, and is developing the first

Certification of 100% Single Origin Foods in the U.S.

Our Thoughts

With our family's special dietary needs, finding high quality, non-GMO, whole food products beyond what we can grow or hunt ourselves is mandatory.  The Real Co generously sent me both their Himalayan Pink Rock Salt (Fine Grain) and their Organic Raw Cane Sugar.  What's really cool about The Real Co is that these products are SINGLE ORIGIN.  That means it comes direct from the people who harvest or mine it, and is then inspected, packaged, and out to the consumer. No middleman.

Now, I'm a big fan of Himalayan pink rock salt. I like the flavor and the fact that it's got so many minerals in it - something essential to our way of eating.  It's pretty much the only type of salt we use anymore.  The Real Co offers it in both a shaker (fine grain) and a tub (coarse grain).  The shaker is easy to use - just twist the top for either shaker, bulk, or to close.  Although I've already used it for many dishes, for the purpose of this review I made my "Just Wing It" Paleo Chicken Pot Pie, where the salt is used in both the almond flour crust and the filling.

The Real Co's Organic Raw Cane Sugar has a slightly different flavor than I'm used to with raw cane sugar - it's somehow brighter, fresher, with a better flavor. I attribute this awesome flavor to it being single origin and as unprocessed as you can get for raw cane sugar!  It's quickly become my favorite dry sugar!

Next up, I used both The Real Co salt and sugar to make a batch of banana pancakes, which my son calls "cookies". I don't know why; the kid's never eaten a cookie in his life because of the drier texture cookies have (he hates dry textures). But, he deemed these pancakes "cookies", so "cookies" they are. LOL.  Normally I don't add sugar to these, but the bananas I had were not as ripe as I'd like them to be so I added a bit of extra sweetener.  This batch also included coconut flour, which makes for a crumblier, less-smooth pancake than does almond flour alone - sometimes I like to play around with the ingredients.  The green bits are some fresh purslane from our garden - gotta sneak some veggies into the "cookies"! :)

The last food photo I have for you is the refrigerator pickles I made a couple days ago!  I didn't have enough maple syrup on hand to complete the recipe, which is what I normally use, and the organic raw cane sugar made a nice substitute. My cucumbers are producing like crazy this summer so I imagine lots of pickles will be made!

UNFI, one of the largest distributors of natural foods in the U.S., is distributing the foods across the nation to supermarkets, specialty retailers and independent operators. Consumers may also purchase products online on www.amazon.com or www.healthygoodness.com. Visit the Real Co website at http://TheReal.co.

Food Review : Red's Burritos

I'm really picky with my diet (Organics all the way), so when I saw that Red's had some Organic options, I jumped at the chance to try them. Unfortunately, the ones I came across in the stores near me were their non-organic ones. Out of 12 varieties, only 3-4 were available in my local Publix stores (and I tried several). My husband, who is less picky with his diet, ended up trying two kinds: steak and cheese and chicken and cheese. 

He loved the steak and cheese one the best, since he's a huge red-meat lover and would happily get one again. Still, he was pleased with the taste of the chicken and cheese version as well. The burritos held together well for the most part, although the chicken and cheese one came apart in the microwave. After it was folded again, the burrito stayed in one piece and wasn't messy at all, which can be a problem sometimes for frozen foods like this. 

While the brand is Natural (a label which has no official legal guidelines), it uses dairy free of rGBH and the animals they source are hormone and antibiotic-free. The brand also doesn't use preservatives-- a step in a positive direction for pre-packaged foods.

Overall, they get points for being tasty and well-made but but lose some with a lack of variety available in stores.

Connect with Red's Burritos

 Website         Face Book     Twitter

Review: Justin's Nut Butter & Peanut Butter Squeeze Packs

For an extra punch of protein, take-with-you Justin’s squeeze packs come in a variety of flavors, such as Classic Peanut Butter, Chocolate Hazelnut Butter, Vanilla Almond Butter and more! Packed with around 6g of protein each, these squeeze packs are a must-have!

 

It all started with a jar. With the help of a simple food processor and the highest quality ingredients available, Justin revolutionized the world of nut butter to create products driven by a passion for delicious taste, unique texture and quality ingredients. First, he created them for his adventures. Now, he makes them for you.

As a health conscious athlete, Justin still felt there was something missing. He realized that gel packs and energy shots filled with sugar were not the most nutritious snack. Why, he thought, had no one ever packaged a clean protein such as nut butter in an on-the-go squeeze pack? With this, came the next game-changing idea: the squeeze pack. The squeeze pack provided a portion-controlled and convenient source of protein to take cycling, put in a lunchbox, and use for sampling Justin’s different flavors:

Peanut Butter

Classic

Honey 

Almond Butter

Classic

Honey

Almond

Vanilla

Maple

Chocolate

Hazelnut Butter

Chocolate

As the first nut butter brand to market protein-packed nut butters in single-serve squeeze packs, Justin’s provides a convenient source of nutrition for an active lifestyle. Give your favorite nut butter a squeeze anytime, anywhere and on anything.

Check out Justin's online on their blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.  Purchase Justin's at major retailers like Target and your local grocery & natural food stores: check to see where Justin's is sold in your area!

Our Thoughts
I was introduced to Justin's a couple of years ago when my mom & I found something rather decadent in one of her local grocery stores: Justin's Chocolate Hazelnut Butter.  Healthy eating is very important to us, so to find something with chocolate and hazelnuts that wasn't loaded with dairy, high fructose corn syrup or other high amounts of sugar, and artificial flavors - and still tasted not only delicious, but beyond delicious . . . now that's a product we'll buy again and again.  "What it will taste like is a delicious combination of premium hazelnuts and organic chocolate for an addictive, skip the bread and eat it with a spoon delicacy." You got that right, Justin!

Justin's offers not only jars of nut butters (which is how I first found it) but squeeze packs and now peanut butter cups!

You can spread the nut butters on just about anything - also great to use in baking or just for a quick snack with a spoon. Mom has used Justin's Chocolate Hazelnut Butter and rolled it into balls with crushed hazelnuts and other assorted natural ingredients, then refrigerated for delicious dessert poppers. 

Seriously, go buy yourself some of this!

The squeeze packs are perfect to toss in your pocket, lunch box, purse, diaper bag, cycling shirt pockets - wherever you go, you can take them with you!  My husband likes to take super long bicycle rides and food on the go can be a problem when you need to travel light.  Justin's sent me 8 different samples in the squeeze packs to try.  Out of them all, besides the chocolate hazelnut which just tops any list I have - the chocolate, maple, vanilla, and honey almond butters were my favorites.
 

Then there's the chocolate peanut butter cups:  offered in dark chocolate, milk chocolate, and white chocolate.

The dark chocolate and milk chocolate peanut butter cups are absolutely delicious and a much better alternative to the unhealthy commercial ones, but I will admit I didn't care for the white chocolate one.  But then again, I don't like white chocolate, so no big surprise for me there. 

What we really need . . . are you listening, Justin?  We need chocolate hazelnut cups.  Oh yeah.  Really. :)

Peanut Butter Cups

What’s more perfect than peanut butter and chocolate? By blending his artisanal peanut butter with high quality chocolate, Justin created a better-for-you alternative to the conventional peanut butter cup. 100% organic, Rainforest Alliance-certified, gluten free and delicious. Yup, it’s how a peanut butter cup should taste.

Cookbook: Cavemom's Cooking

Cavemom's Cooking, simple paleo meals. 168 Recipes.  Print Version, 125 pages, full color photographs. E-book version, PDF format. 122 pages. 2215 KB file size.

one mom's journey to help heal her son

Cavemom's Cooking was written by Anne, mom to a sweet little boy with Down Syndrome, who used to have Infantile Spasms.  When Anne felt the doctors and specialists had failed her son, she followed her gut and began keeping food and seizure logs, and eventually figured out which foods were triggering her son's seizures: carrots, sweet potatoes, and all nightshade foods - tomatoes, potatoes, all peppers - sweet and hot, eggplant, paprika, etc.  After eliminating the offending foods, not only did her son's seizures stop, his development began to fly!

"Cavemom's Cooking is not only a cookbook, but my son's story: how I stopped my son's benign myoclonic seizures and awoke his sensory processing abilities, our decision to go paleo, and the simple paleo recipes that followed. When we went paleo, I never thought about writing a cookbook. But as time went on and my son made so much progress, I knew his story needed to be told. And what better way than with what helped him the most? Food! Volume 2 is currently in the works!"

Paleo eating is grain and gluten free, dairy free, legume free, and nightshade free. Simply fresh, whole foods - fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, nuts, and seeds. Easy to make, tasty to eat! If you're looking to get away from today's processed foods filled with artificial ingredients, preservatives, colors, and flavors, give Cavemom's Cooking a try.

Anne also owns Greenchild Creations, where she makes some pretty awesome cloth diapers and natural skin care!

For more information on Greenchild Creations, visit greenchildcreations.etsy.com, on Facebook, and her blog. 

To purchase Cavemom's Cooking, visit greenchildcreations.etsy.com where you can purchase the cookbook in either Print or E-book.  Visit Cavemom's Cooking blog too!