Go Gluten Free with Pasta Lensi - #Giveaway #Recipe

I was raised in a very Italian household, so of course pasta has always been a big part of my life.  I remember when I was little my grandmother would make the sauce and even sometimes the pasta from scratch. It would take her all day, but the end result was worth the time.  But that's not something I will ever have the time or patience to do. So the next best thing is Pasta Lensi. It's quick and easy, but still tastes as good as homemade. Plus, it's a  gluten free and cholesterol free option. Each one is made with a single ingredient you can feel good about putting into your body. 

I received a few boxes of Lensi Pasta  including the Red Lentil Fusilli, Black Bean Sedani, and Chickpea Casarecce. While these names sounded intimidating at first, they actually taste pretty good and have a much better texture than some other gluten free pastas I've tried. They also cooked to perfection. It wasn't too hard or too soft. It was just right, and it tasted wonderful too. This pasta is perfect for Alfredo or red sauce. It's great for a main course or a side dish.  My whole family enjoyed eating it and it's so easy, my daughter was even able to cook it by herself. One of the things we decided to make together was a quick and simple pasta salad. Here are the instructions. 

Ingredients

1 Cup Each of Chickpea Casarecce, Black Bean Sedani, and Red Lentil Fusilli Pasta

1/4 Cup Sharp Provolone Cubes

1/4 Cup Salami Cubes

1/4 Cup Mixed Black and Green Olives

1 Bottle Italian Dressing of Choice

Instructions:

1) Boil pasta to desired texture

2) While Pasta is boiling slice your black and green olives.

3) Strain Pasta and place in bowl

4) Add in cheese cubes, sausage cubes, and olives

5) Add Salad dressing to taste and stir

Gluten-free, vegan,  and low in sodium, these pastas are a awesome way to switch up all your recipes. I especially love how pretty the different colors made this dish look.  Pasta Lensi Legume Pastas are an authentic Italian pasta brand made in the Lombardy region of Italy. They strive to keep mealtime peace, while inspiring delicious new ideas for dinner. Pasta Lensi Legume’s single ingredient pastas introduce contemporary flavors like chickpea, black bean and red lentil, and pack extra protein and fiber to round out the nutrition in your dish.  To see all they have to offer, be sure to visit their website.  For some fun and unique recipe ideas, check out their extensive recipe collection.

The Giveaway 

One lucky winner is going to receive a prize pack that includes three boxes of Pasta Lensi, a reusable tote bag, and a $50 Walmart gift card.  To enter, just fill out the Giveaway Tools form below. This giveaway will end 11/3/16 and is 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 great prize!

Entry-Form

New Lunchbox Solution: Healthy Noodles (at last!) + A Giveaway!

Revolution Foods launched In a Cup, the first convenient, healthy, high protein, clean label noodle meal. Kids love noodles. Delicious and oh so fun to eat; they are simply one of kids’ most favorite foods. So it seems crazy that they haven’t been available in a healthy, convenient, kid-friendly/mom-approved meal to pack in kids’ lunches until now, doesn’t it?

 Back to school time is always busy, and In a Cup makes it easy to pack healthy lunches kids (or the whole family) will love to eat.

·        Each cup contains all you need for a delicious, healthy meal: noodles (with real vegetables) in a pouch, a sauce pouch, and a spork.

·        Kids (or parents) can eat them either cold or hot; the cup is BPA free and microwaveable safe

·        In A Cup comes in kid-favorite flavors Spaghetti Marinara, Sesame Noodles and Thai-Style Satay Rice Noodles (gluten-free and peanut-free)

·        They are made with real veggies, provide 8 to 10 grams of protein per serving and 12% to 20% of daily recommended fiber values, and they have no artificial colors, flavors or sweeteners.

My Thoughts: 

My family and I love noodles! Every type of pasta dish is a treat in our home. The idea of a healthier option was very intriguing when I heard that Revolution Foods had released, In a Cup. It seemed like the perfect lunch that was an ease to have on the go for school or work, and even at home. They were kind enough to send me two of their three options, as well as a Bixbee lunchbox! Thank you, Revolution Foods!

The first step when making these noodles is to flip up the tabs on the top of the cup. All the contents are in their own individual wrapped packets. After shaking the ingredients together in the cup, place it in the microwave (if you'd like it hot. It can be eaten cold as well) for one minute. The cup is BPA free and completely safe to heat the product in. Be careful, contents will be HOT upon removal. Once it cools, you're ready to enjoy a hearty lunch with a spork included!

Sesame Noodles: 

These were oh so delicious! I heated mine up in the microwave before eating. The noodles were al dente and thick just like the perfect chow mein noodles would be. I cut them up to make them easier to get on my spork. There was plenty of sesame sauce to accompany the amount of noodles. The sauce had a nice sweet yet tangy flavor. The noodles held the flavor well! The vegetables included were carrots and edamame. They were nice and tender. Plus, this meal is packed with 9g of protein. A healthy and wholesome lunch for all! I was very impressed! 

Spaghetti Marinara: 

My little brother's favorite food is spaghetti. He loves a good, fresh sauce and plenty of it! Just like the Sesame noodles, preparation was a breeze and they came out delicious! The sauce was thick and creamy. The flavor was savory. The smell of the noodles filled the room as they were cooking. The pasta was fresh durum noodles that were thick and soft. It was very filling and little brother approved! With 10g of protein, you can't go wrong! 

The Bixbee Lunchbox: 

This adorable Bixbee lunchbox was the perfect addition to, In a Cup. The design is a beautiful blue that is covered in adorable sharks. The lunchbox is completely insulated, which is perfect for carrying your food and keeping it fresh. It's lightweight as well!

Connect with Revolution Foods:

Facebook  Twitter Website

The Giveaway:    

Thanks to Revolution Foods, one lucky winner will receive two In a Cup products, a Bixbee lunchbox and 4 free product vouchers! Thank you to Revolution Foods for this wonderful opportunity! 

  

Entry-Form

Bialetti's Red Hot Pasta Pot - Valentine's Day Gift Guide

Bialetti's Pasta Pot in RED is ideal for re-enacting that famous Lady and The Tramp pasta moment with your sweetie--be it a new flame, your wife of 25 years or your favorite 5 year old. A timeless essential, Bialetti’s Pasta Pot features an innovative lock-on lid with a built-in strainer. Fill the colorful pot with a box of pasta and a jar of sauce to make it the perfect gift. The 5-qt, oval shape lends itself to making the perfect spaghetti noodles without breakage. The Pasta Pot is available in red, black, purple, and orange at Bed, Bath & Beyond, Amazon.com and Bialetti.com.

Our Thoughts

I hate washing strainers or colanders, so I never use one. I leave the lid on the pot to strain any and everything, and after one too many times of having my food be dumped into the sink I was kinda over it. Really excited to try this out. It's big! It can hold a typical soup I cook for my family and it's so shiny on the outside (not an eye sore) and very soft on the inside. Non-stick makes it excellent for cleaning up quickly!

As for using the post, the lid actually goes on sideways and then you slid it into normal position so the clips hook on to the side of the lid, this way you're able to use both pot handles to dump it over without the lid falling off (something I clearly need). All the holes are tiny enough that food doesn't fall out, but they are large enough that the water leaves quickly. I also like that when I set it back on the stove the food doesn't stick to the inside of the pot immediately since it's non-stick!

Typical for noodles and the likes, but I cook soups, veggies and pastas in this. It's really versatile and a must have for all kitchens!

Bialetti offers a wide array of kitchen gadgets and accessories, one of them being a beautiful terracotta set!

Buy yours here and don't forget to check them out on Facebook, Youtube, Pinterest and Instagram!

Reviewed by Jackie