Mrs. Fields Cookie Cutting Grid Review and Giveaway

Let's face it... I am the worst baker in the history of baking bloggers...

When it comes to birthday's and parties, you will find me in the bakery of my local grocery store

sifting through books of themed cakes that I hope my kids will like.

I try to get creative every now and then but it usually turns out as a failure.

 

This month my youngest daughter turned 9 and I wanted to make her day special.

I did order a cake for the party but I wanted to do something a little more personal too.

I received this Mrs. Field's Cookie Cuttables Cookie Cutting Grid for free to review.

So I definitely wanted to try it out.

I had high hopes of my skills when I gathered these supplies. 

My plan was to roll out some sugar cookie dough cut and decorate to look like this

 

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But It didn't work for me.... My dough did not turn out good and I burned them...

OOPS! I think I rolled them a little too thin.

So I tossed it and tried again....

This time I used some seamless crescent dough sheets. 

My plan this time is to make some little cinnamon sugar bites for

her to wake up to on the morning of her birthday.

 

I first laid out 2 rolls of the refrigerated dough wide enough for the grid to fit.  

I probably could have just used one sheet of dough and just stretched it just a little bit to fit the entire grid but, like I said I am no baker and I didn't think of that soon enough.

Next, the fun part.... cutting out all those shapes. 

Easier than it used to be! This cuttables grid is so simple to use.

It has all the letters to spell out HAPPY BIRTHDAY and have a couple candles, hats, and balloons.

Such an awesome idea that makes cutting shapes so much easier than one little cookie cutter at a time.  

So, I laid all my little doughy creations out on cookie sheets to bake and popped them in the oven for just a few minutes since they are thin little bites.

I almost let them burn again. I get so distracted....

But they turned out good.  

I brushed with a little melted butter and dusted

with cinnamon to give them a little extra flavor.

All of this was done in less than 15 minutes thanks to the help from my

Mrs. Field's Cookie Cuttables Grid.

I know they could be prettier but they did taste good and Kt loved it!

 

I love this grid so much I am giving one away to

a lucky reader.

  Please enter at the Rafflecopter Below!!!

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

Disclaimer: I received the product mentioned in exchange for review. All opinions are my own and not influenced in any way.

Tortuga Rum Cakes Review

 

The Tortuga brand is well-known by the more than 20 million annual Caribbean tourists and cruise ship passengers. Tortuga Caribbean Rum Cakes are the #1 export of the Cayman Islands and named the 2012 "Best Cruise Souvenir" by Porthole Cruise Magazine for the eighth consecutive year. Tortuga products are sold in gift and specialty food departments and gourmet stores throughout the Caribbean and North America, in on board gift shops of nearly 100 cruise ships and shipped to 70 countries around the world.

Thanks to Tortuga for allowing me the chance to try their cakes without having to take a cruise.

I admit I have a taste for Rum. I remember my mom making rum balls when I was little but it didn't happen often. It seems like maybe that was holiday treat.

 I was in for a blast from the past when I tried Tortuga Rum Turtles.

These turtles are so delectable. With such a prominent rum taste I thought would be over powered but it wasn't. The rum flavor seems to be more in the caramel inside than in the chocolate coating. Tortuga really popped the bottle on this one! These turtles are amazing.

 

Another of my favorites is the Key Lime Rum Cake.

"Key lime juice is the distinctive ingredient in our pleasingly sweet yet tart Tortuga Key Lime Rum Cakes. Baked in the Caribbean with only the finest ingredients, each rum cake is hand glazed with special 5-year-old, oak barrel aged Tortuga Gold Rum then vacuum sealed to lock in the delicious freshness. The cakes have a shelf life of 12 months, or indefinitely if refrigerated or frozen."

 

 I would imagine all of their treats are just as high quality as the few I tasted. I am so glad you don't HAVE to take a cruise to have a taste of the Caribbean.

Tortuga also offers lots of other tasty treats along with their cakes and turtles.

Flavored coffee, jellies, sauces and gifts packs are also so awesome finds

within the Tortuga Website.

Please take a look and see what you like.

You can also visit Tortuga's Facebook Page to keep up to date on all their news and special promotions. 

 

 

 

 

Disclaimer: I received the products mentioned in this post free for review. All opinions are my own and not influenced in any way.

 



Heart Month Special from Panasonic

In Honor of February being Heart Month Panasonic is offering a great deal on
All Panasonic Blood Pressure Monitors 30% off for Heart Month + Free Shipping
There are different ones to choose from. I have included a couple here that are easily portable and perfect for easy storage as well.
This wrist model makes for easy do it yourself testing.



And this portable one makes for easy storage for on the go.
Never worry while traveling... It is important to keep an eye on things that really matter.
Like your HEART!!!
 

Franks Redhot Wing Sauce Review and Giveaway

I know I am a little late with this post. It should have been before the Superbowl

since hot wings are a major football snack food.

 Who doesn't like wings any time of the year though right?

I always use Franks RedHot Sauce and since it is the 50th anniversary of the Buffalo wing,

 I thought I would share these wings with you....

Just too bad you can't actually taste them. They are sooooo good!

I made these very simply. I just deep fried some naked wings, drained

and coated with my favorite sauces.

The traditional buffalo and this Sweet Chili sauce.

I love the sweet heat of the chili sauce. It was amazing. Even the kids liked it

and it wasn't too spicy for them. They were able to enjoy the grown up

feeling of chowing down on some wings with everyone else.

 I snatched a few recipes from Frank's to share with you all. 

I hope you enjoy!

Oh and Frank's is also kind enough to allow one lucky reader the chance to win some

 Frank's RedHot Swag Items

Enter the Rafflecopter Below!!!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway  

 

Get your party started with these great recipes and look for additional options at www.franksredhot.com.

FRANK’S® REDHOT® BUFFALO CHICKEN DIP

This robust creamy dip tastes like Buffalo Chicken Wings but without the mess! Serve hot with celery sticks, veggies or your favorite chips.

Prep Time: 5 min.  Cook Time:  20 min.

 
1 (8 oz.) package              PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened
½ cup                              Blue cheese or ranch salad dressing
            ½ cup                             ½ cup                              any flavor FRANK’S® REDHOT® Sauce
½ cup                              Crumbled blue cheese or shredded mozzarella cheese
                                                  2 cans (12.5 oz. each)       SWANSON® White Premium Chunk Chicken Breast in Water, drained  
 
1. HEAT oven to 350ºF. Place cream cheese into deep baking dish. Stir  until smooth.
2. MIX in salad dressing, Frank’s RedHot sauce and cheese. Stir in chicken.
3. BAKE 20 minutes or until mixture is heated through; stir. Garnish as desired. Serve with crackers or cut up vegetables.
 
Makes 4 cups dip
 
Microwave Directions:  Prepare as above. Place in microwave-safe dish. Microwave, uncovered, on HIGH 5 min. until hot, stirring halfway through cooking.
Tips:  You may substitute 2 cups shredded cooked chicken.
Slow Cooker Method: Combine ingredients as directed above. Place mixture into small slow cooker.                           Heat on HIGH setting for 1 ½ hours until hot and bubbly or on LOW setting for 2 ½ to 3 hours. Stir.
Tailgating Tip: Prepare dip ahead and place in heavy disposable foil pan. Place pan on grill and heat dip until hot and bubbly.
 

 

FRANK’S® REDHOT® ORIGINAL BUFFALO CHICKEN WINGS

Prep Time: 10 min.     Cook Time:  20 min.

 

2 ½ lbs.                                   chicken wing pieces

¾ cup                          any flavor FRANK’S® REDHOT® Wing Sauce

 

1.             BAKE wings in foil-lined pan at 500°F on lowest oven rack for 20 minutes until crispy, turning once.

2.            TOSS wings in sauce to coat.

 

Makes 6 to 8 servings

 

Tip:  You may substitute ½ cup FRANK’S® REDHOT® Sauce mixed with 1/3 cup melted butter for the Wings Sauce. Alternate Cooking Directions: Deep-fry at 375°F for 10 minutes.

Broil 6-inches from heat 15 to 20 minutes, turning once.

Grill over medium heat 20 to 25 minutes, turning often.

 

CAJUN BUFFALO CHICKEN WINGS

Prep Time: 5 mins; Cook Time: 20 mins

 
2 ½  lbs.           chicken wing pieces   
½  cup              any flavor FRANK’S® REDHOT® Buffalo Wings Sauce 
1/3 cup            ketchup
2tsp.                 Cajun seasoned spice blend
 
1.   BAKE wings in foil-lined pan at 500 °F on lowest oven rack for 20 to 25 min. until crispy, turning once.   
2.   MIX Buffalo Wings Sauce, ketchup and spice blend.
3.  TOSS wings in sauce to coat.
 
Makes 6 to 8 servings 
 
Tip: You may substitute 1/2 cup FRANK’S® REDHOT® Sauce mixed with 1/3 cup melted butter for the Wings  Sauce.   
 
Alternate Cooking Directions: Deep-fry at 375°F for 10 min.  
Broil 6-inches from heat 15 to 20 min., turning once.
Grill over medium heat 20 to 25 min., turning often.   


 

 

HONEY BBQ SESAME WINGS

These sweet honey sesame wings will delight your guests at any party.

Prep Time: 10 mins; Cook Time: 10 mins

 
¼  cup              honey barbecue sauce
¼  cup              FRANK’S® REDHOT® Cayenne Pepper Sauce 
¼  cup              apricot jam 
1 Tbsp.             Asian sesame oil 
2 ½  lbs.           chicken wings, split and tips discarded 
2 Tbsp.             toasted sesame seeds 
 
1.  Combine barbecue sauce, Frank’s RedHot Sauce, jam and sesame oil; set aside. 
2.  Deep fry* wings at 375°F (HIGH) for 10 min. or until cooked and crispy; drain. 
3.  Toss hot wings in jam mixture. Place on serving platter and sprinkle with sesame seeds. 
 
Makes 8 servings 
 
*Alternate Cooking Directions: Bake 20 min. at 500°F until fully cooked and crispy, turning halfway; Broil 6-inches from heat 15 to 20 min., turning once; Grill over medium heat about 20 min., turning often. 
 

SWEET CHILI ASIAN CHICKEN WINGS

Prep Time: 5 mins Cook Time: 20 mins

 
3 lbs,                chicken wing pieces   
¾  cup              FRANK’S® RedHot Sweet Chili® Sauce
2 tbsp.              light soy sauce
1 tsp.                grated peeled ginger
1 tsp.                minced garlic
2 Tbsp.             minced green onion or cilantro
 
1.    BAKE wings in foil-lined pan at 500°F on lowest oven rack for 20 to 25 min. until crispy, turning once.   
2.    MIX Sweet Chili Sauce, soy sauce, ginger and garlic in large bowl.
3.   TOSS wings in sauce to coat. Sprinkle with green onion or cilantro.
 
Makes 6 to 8 servings 
 
Alternate Cooking Directions: Deep-fry at 375°F for 10 min.  
Broil 6-inches from heat 15 to 20 min., turning once. 
Grill over medium heat 20 to 25 min., turning often.     
 

FRENCH’S Foods, a division of Reckitt Benckiser Inc., the maker of FRANK’S^® REDHOT^® Cayenne Pepper Sauce, is a leading manufacturer, marketer, and distributor of food and household products. Some other well known, trusted household names in the Reckitt Benckiser Inc. family of food products include, FRENCH’S^® mustards and FRENCH’S^® French Fried Onions.
 

 

 

Disclaimer: I received the discounts on the products mentioned above in exchange for review.

I was not compensated for this post and all opinions are my own and not influenced in any way.

Upfront Foods Granola Review

 

It’s what’s up front that matters.

Great Tasting Granola. Straightforward Food. Healthy Snacks



Can we be up front with you? There is no secret ingredient in our granola. In fact, our granola is so good because we have nothing to hide. There’s just no room with only 9 delicious natural and organic ingredients and 100% whole grain in our signature Upfront Nutty™ Granola. Here’s what you get:

• No artificial ingredients or preservatives
• 100% whole grain
• Certified Vegan
• Non GMO Project Verified
• Kosher Certified
• Certified organic oats
• 4 grams of fiber
• Convenient 1/2 cup serving “Grab & Go” pouch, a perfect healthy snack on the go.
• Delicious as an easy breakfast or a healthy snack food
• Southern pecans and natural almonds
• Great with milk, yogurt, or just alone as a healthy snack

You’ll even find the label right up front so you can easily decide for yourself how our granola fits in your healthy diet. Our whole grain cereal makes for an easy breakfast that is also a healthy breakfast, and the “Grab & Go” pouches are perfect for healthy snacks on the go. This is simply how we honor our honest-to-goodness promise to make real, straightforward food. The result is healthy snacks made from whole grain cereals. Our granola cereal finally gives you the healthy breakfast that is also an easy breakfast. After all, we might as well be Upfront about it; healthy snack foods this delicious are hard to keep a secret.

 

 

 

I was lucky enough to be allowed to review Upfront Granola and I love it and the little packs it comes in. These little buggers are the perfect size. Either topping my favorite yogurt

or tossing in my purse for a snack on the go, this is a flavor filled granola. My favorite is the Upfront Nutty Granola with my vanilla yogurt and  some diced apples. I could eat that combo every day!

 This company prides itself on being upfront. Showcasing the nutritional facts but there is no reason to hide it on the back of the package when there is so much good stuff to show!

Granola has many great health benefits already and when you come straight up with no additives and 100% whole grains you can't go wrong.

 

I suggest going to the Upfront Foods Website and checking out their story. Do a little research of your own and see if this is something you may like as well as I do.

You can check out their Facebook Page and Twitter as well!

 

 

 

 

Disclaimer: I received these products in exchange for review. All opinions are my own and not influenced in any way. I was not compensated for this post.

7th Heaven Naturals Review

I was given the opportunity to try out some face masks from 7th Heaven Naturals.

I was sent several samples to try out.

I have combination skin. That can be very difficult to contain.

I do love the many products I have been able to try and the Bella Pulse is working great.

 I do still love the feel of masks.

There are many to choose from.

 My first pick was the exfoliating mask. I don't know what it is with me and exfoliation but it

makes my face so smooth and I just love that feeling.

I didn't there there would be enough product in that little packet for my entire face.

I was so wrong. There was plenty mud in there. I don't

know how they managed to fit it in that little pack. 

So all I can really show you is the beautiful beast that is my face.

I can't show you in a picture how smooth and fresh my face felt when I washed this stuff off.

But I assure you.... It felt great!

It was such a cooling and fresh feeling, I cannot wait to try another!

 

You can learn more about 7th Heaven Face Masks on

Their Facebook www.facebook.com/7thheavennaturals

Twitter: www.twitter.com/love7thheaven

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/7thheavennatura/ 

And Their website is: www.7thheavennaturals.com

 

 

Disclaimer: I received these products free to review. I was not compensated for this post. All opinions are my own and not influenced in any way. 

Bella Sun Luci Sun Dried Tomatoes Review

 Bella Sun Luci Sun Dried Tomatoes

I am such a carb-oholic. Is that a word?

I could eat bread all day and if it weren't gaining weight it wouldn't bother me at all.

There is nothing that doesn't taste amazing with a side of butter toast.

So it is only fitting that I share with you one of my favorite snacks.

I am a southern girl with Italian roots, so I am probably not doing this right

but at least it tastes good.

 It was super simple... Bread, mozzarella cheese, butter,

and some of this yummy Bruschetta spread from Bella Sun Luci.

I lightly buttered one side of the bread and put it face down into a skillet on med heat.

Note: I also tried this in the oven @400 for about 8 minutes and it worked perfectly.

Then I plopped some of the bruschetta spread onto each piece of bread.

I used quite a bit this time but not as much later and it was still yummy.

I topped with a little mozzarella and just placed lid on top to

keep the heat in to melt the cheese.

Now, I will tell you, the stovetop methos made a nicer crunch on the bottom

but the oven method was easier.

These do not look as good as they taste I promise ya that.

They would have been nothing with out the bruschetta spread either.

OMG that stuff packs some flavor!

So, of course, I was sent some of this stuff to review.

I was also lucky enough to try some of the Bella Sun Luci sun dried tomatoes as well.

They come in a variety of flavors.

I tried the tomatoes with zesty peppers in a pot of chili.

I don't have a real recipe for this one though. It was just your basic homemade chili

and I just dropped in some of the sun dried tomatoes instead of canned tomatoes

for a little added flavor.

It worked! They turned this chili around for sure.

 

If this sounds as good to you as it did me, then you

should check out Bella Sun Luci's facebook and twitter pages.

Hunt them down and try some for yourself!

Disclaimer: I received these products for review purposes. All opinions are my own and not influenced in any way. I was not compensated for this post.

Sheila G's Brownie Brittle Review

Never fight over the brownie edges again!

OMG this snack totally blew my diet outta the water. I opened the mint chocolate chip and

couldn't stop eating it. I ate almost the entire bag until the kids and my husband caught me and snatched it away! Now they are all gone....

 

Lucky for me I have a few more bags in a couple different flavors.

Chocolate chip was delish too!

I wished I could have made it the store before we ran out, this would have been

so good on top of some ice cream.

My husband really loved the toffee crunch! I assure you these are not lacking

any of the stated flavors. If it says mint chocolate chip you can bet you will taste some mint chocolate

in there. I was never a brownie bit thief from a normal pan of brownies

 but I don't think my brownies ever tasted this good.

You would be missing out if you didn't try this stuff! It is amazeballs!

 

You can learn more about Brownie Brittle on their website and facebook page!

Disclaimer: I received the products mentioned in exchange for a review. I was not compensated for this post. My opinions are all my own and not influenced in any way.