Bourbon Barrel Maple Vanilla Scones

December 22, 2015Andrea Leave a comment

I was recently contacted by Kite Hill to review their almond milk based yogurts. They are the only company that I’ve come across that makes almond milk based products and I have been wanting to try them out for quite some time. This gave me the perfect reason to finally dive in!

I know a lot of people who are dairy free for a number of reasons and these products seemed like a nice alternative to dairy based cheeses and yogurts.

I admit that I did go in with some hesitation. I’ve tried non-dairy yogurts in the past and it hasn’t gone well. The texture was off and the flavor was a little astringent with a fake sweetness to it. I put my previous experience aside and went in with optimism.

Kite Hill sent me all of their flavors:

Plain
Vanilla
Blueberry
Strawberry
Peach

The strawberry I gave to Scott since I’m allergic but all of the other flavors I was able to test out. I tried it as I normally eat yogurt, by making a yogurt bowl for breakfast.

I have to say this yogurt is pretty spectacular for a dairy free yogurt. It is a little on the thinner side texture-wise but not by much. It’s creamy and rich with tons of fruit flavor. It is lightly sweetened and if I had to give a critique, it would be to lessen the sweetness just a tad.

Kite Hill’s yogurts are hands-down the best non-dairy yogurts that I have tried. These are perfect for those that are avoiding dairy or are looking for an alternative. Plus there’s no soy in these products either which is a lovely added bonus!

I wanted to see how well these yogurts would work with baking so I decided to make some sweet scones with the vanilla yogurt. These scones are dairy-free, egg-free, grain-free, and vegan.

I win blogger bingo for that!

I also used bourbon barrel aged maple syrup in the recipe. (drops mic)

Andrea’s Bourbon Barrel Maple Vanilla Scones

2.5 C Almond Flour

1/2 C Tapicoa Flour

1/4 C Coconut Flour

2 tsp Vanilla Extract

2 TBSP Bourbon Barrel Aged Maple Syrup* (see note at bottom)

5 oz Kite Hill Vanilla Yogurt

2 tsp Baking Soda

1/2 tsp Ground Cinnamon

For the glaze:

1/2 C Powdered Sugar

4 TBSP Bourbon Barrel Aged Maple Syrup

Preheat oven to 400 degrees (If you live at sea level, reduce heat to 375) and line a baking sheet with either parchment or silicone.

In a food processor, combine all ingredients for the scones and pulse until the dough comes together in a ball. Sprinkle the counter with a little extra coconut flour and place the dough on top. Shape dough into a square about 1/2 an inch in thickness. Cut dough into 8 triangles and place those on the baking sheet.

Place in oven and bake for about 10 minutes. Remove and allow to cool before adding the glaze. For the glaze, mix the sugar with the syrup and spread over scones. This is a thicker glaze, if you want a thinner glaze add more syrup or a splash of almond milk to the mix.

*I purchased the bourbon barrel aged maple syrup at Trader Joe’s. If you can’t find any or don’t want to use that, regular maple syrup will work just fine.

These scones are great as a breakfast treat or a little nighttime snack. If you want to freeze them, then do not glaze them until you are ready to serve.

The yogurt did great in these scones providing a nice little sweetness along with enough acid to kickstart the baking soda. It also provided enough moisture that I didn’t need to add any eggs to the mix.

Kite Hill yogurts are great straight up or you can use them in recipes in place of dairy yogurt. I believe that currently these are only available at Whole Foods so you’ll have to swing by your local store to check them out. Definitely try their products to see what you think!

Disclaimer: Kite Hill sent me these products for review. All opinions are my own and I was not further compensated for this post.

Review: Safe Catch Tuna

August 6, 2015Andrea Leave a comment

I was contacted by the people at Safe Catch to review their new tuna. Since we eat a good bit of seafood I was up for tasting the newest tuna on the market.

The idea behind Safe Catch is that every tuna is tested for mercury levels before purchasing. Since mercury is such an issue right now with fish, this is a new line of tuna that provides a safe product with 100% of it’s tuna tested for mercury levels.

From the press release: Safe Catch is also the only canned tuna to be able to surpass the purity and Omega 3 criteria for “best seafood” as set by the Environmental Working Group.

Their tuna also comes in BPA free cans and they raw pack their tuna. There’s no additives or water added, the tuna is cooked right in the can so all juices in the can are from the fish. Making it extra tasty and still full of nutrients.

Pretty interesting, right?

I was sent a can of tuna to test out. I made some basic tuna salad with it, nothing fancy. I wanted to get a taste for the tuna to see what it was like.

It flaked nicely and wasn’t overly strong in aroma. It had a pleasing fish smell, nothing overpowering. Both Scott and I enjoyed this tuna. Plus we felt good knowing that it was low in mercury, packed well, and canned in a BPA free can.

The tuna is currently available at our local Sprouts and runs between $3-$4 per can with the albacore tuna in the $4-$5 range. That’s actually not a bad price considering everything you’re getting with this tuna; tested for mercury levels, raw packed so all the nutrients remain, and a BPA free can. Pretty good deal!

I don’t shop at Sprouts all that often but when I do stop in, I will most likely pick up a few cans of tuna. It would be great to see this tuna expand to other markets as well making it more accessible to people.

Disclaimer: I was sent a can of Safe Catch Tuna in exchange for a review article. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated further for this post.

Review: Block Island Organics Sunscreen

July 30, 2015Andrea Leave a comment

Sun protection is a big issue here in the mountains and needs to be taken seriously. The sun is hot and intense. You can burn a lot more quickly here than at sea level. Most people doing outside activities actively wear sunscreen along with big hats to help keep their face and head covered.

However most sunscreens are filled with a lot of nasty chemicals. Yeah they are keeping you from getting sunburnt but at what cost? What exactly are we putting on to our skin to keep it “safe”?

When I was contacted by Block Island Organics to test out their all natural sunscreen I immediately jumped at the chance. Block Island focuses on bringing natural skin care products to consumers. I was told that all of their products are free of parabens, sulfates, petrochemicals, phthalates, dyes and artificial fragrances. No animal testing and all products have a vegan base formula.

I was all in! Since I’ve been doing more hiking this year, outside yard work, and running, I needed a quality sunscreen. I like that this sunscreen was made from all natural zinc and didn’t have any junk added to it.

The Pros:

There’s no fake smell or fragrance with this sunscreen. You won’t smell like a beach or attract bugs.
It’s not overly greasy or heavy.
All natural, made with only zinc.
Doesn’t sweat off.
Safe to use on face.

The Cons:

A little goes a long way, so start off with a small amount.
If you use too much, you’re skin will be white or streaked white which can last for a while.

Using this product does have a bit of a learning curve to it because you do need to start off with a small amount and make sure that is fully rubbed in before doing more. If too much is used, I’ve found that it can streak and not really absorb into the skin as it should. Leaving your skin pasty white looking or with random white streaks.

That can be quickly dealt with though. Other than that, I had no problems with this sunscreen. I used it during several different activities and I was pleased that it didn’t come off with sweat or leave me feeling greasy. Plus there’s no fragrance so you aren’t left smelling like a pina colada.

If you’re looking for a high quality sunscreen that isn’t going to break the bank or leave you feeling all goopey, give Block Island a shot. You won’t be disappointed!

Block Island also offers other products such as moisturizers and cleansers. If you’re looking for all natural products, check out their site.

Bonus for Food Embrace readers! There’s a discount for purchases through the Block Island Organics site! You’ll get 15% off your purchase valid only from July 30th – Aug 5th. Enter code “andrea” at checkout.

Disclaimer: I was sent this product in exchange for a review post. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated in any other way.

Review: The Better Chip

July 10, 2015Andrea 2 Comments

The folks at The Better Chip contacted me recently asking if I would sample and review their chips. I love chips and tortillas but I’m picky about what I eat. After learning more about their chips, I agreed and decided to give them a try.

I was sent some small sample bags of each flavor.

Spinach and Kale
Jalapeno
Beet
Corn
Chipotle

I admit that I was intrigued by this chips! The concept is that the flavoring is in the chips. There are real jalapenos and beets included in the mix to make the chip. I liked this idea a lot because it provides different flavor profiles without the use of powders and additives.

The ingredient list is short and readable. You can understand and pronounce each ingredient listed. The chips boast the use of non-gmo products and they are certified gluten free. This is good news if you’re looking to cut those items out of your diet.

These chips are hearty. They aren’t your basic super thin, breaks when you scoop guacamole, tortilla chips. They have some heft and bite to them. They are great as stand alone chips or with dip.

I’ve tried them with salsa, guacamole, and hummus. The beet flavor chips go great with hummus!

The jalapeno and chipotle chips were too spicy for me (I’m a wimp) but my husband loved them. They had just enough heat for him to accentuate the salsa and guacamole.

The kale and spinach chips had great flavor and I ate those on their own.

Honestly these chips were great and I would not hesitate to buy some. Especially if I was hosting a party because they would provide a unique look along with flavor. These chips would be good to take camping or for a picnic as well! Or to take to a brewery for a snack, if you’re like us and bring food to breweries.

If you see them out, give them a shot. You might find your new favorite tortilla chip!

Disclaimer: The Better Chip sent me these samples in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated further for this post.

Review: FlipBelt

April 24, 2015Andrea 2 Comments

The folks at FlipBelt reached out to me and asked if I would sample their product for a review. It was timely because I just happened to be looking for something I could wear while running and walking the dogs that would hold keys and my phone.

I have a phablet size phone (Samsung Note 4 and it’s awesome) and finding a holder has proved challenging. I didn’t really want an armband but was struggling to find something that would fit my needs.

FlipBelt to the rescue!

It’s a band that you wear around your waist and it has pockets that go along the length of the band. You can slide your phone in there, keys, or snacks, flip the belt over and everything is secure.

Right now I am “curvy” and I actually have junk in my trunk, so I was curious how the FlipBelt would do with a frame like mine.

I have been running with the FlipBelt for about 3 weeks at this point and it has preformed quite nicely. It does ride up on me a little and ends up around my waist. If I try to keep it down around my hips it does not stay there. It will roll and twist a little if I try and keep it down around my hips.

This is a me issue and not a FlipBelt issue. Like I said, I actually have an ass which prevents the FlipBelt from being able to stay around my hips.

That said, I have no issue with it being on my waist. It is not uncomfortable and I don’t even notice it when I’m running or walking the dogs.

Like I mentioned before, I have a huge phone and this accommodates that just fine. It’s bulky but I expected that. When you have a phablet sized phone you can’t really expect it to not be bulky.

I also appreciated that there is a little key fob provided as well to keep keys secure. I definitely utilize this feature every run.

I don’t put ID or credit cards/cash in the FlipBelt. I have shoe pouches for those types of things. I use the FlipBelt primarily for my keys and phone.

The material of the Flipbelt is not itchy or uncomfortable. It’s really stretchy so definitely check out the sizing chart to make sure you get the right size for you. I have a medium and it’s perfect.

It’s easy to put on, it’s secure, and it’s comfortable. What more can you ask for in a gear belt? If you’re curvy make note that you will probably be wearing it around your waist and not your hips.

If you are in the market for something to hold your phone, keys, and snacks while running or hiking, definitely check out the FlipBelt. It will suit your needs and you won’t be disappointed.

Disclaimer: The Flipbelt was sent to me to sample and review. All opinions are my own and I was not further compensated for this post.

Giveaway: Win Laundry Detergent

November 28, 2014Andrea Leave a comment

Workout clothes get stanky. There’s no getting around that. Whether you’re hiking, biking, running, or whatever, your clothes are going to smell. My workout gear gets gross. I sweat in places that no one wants to talk about. So my gear after one use smells gross. I’ve tried so many things to get them clean and nothing has worked. Even DIY soaps and methods that are guaranteed to get the stank out, do not work. Oh sure the gear comes out of the laundry OK but there’s still always that faint workout smell in the background.

I’ve been wanting to try Win detergent for ages and I finally got a chance! Win sent me the detergent to test out and I can share the love! Win will be giving away detergent to a lucky reader as well!

Win recently came out with a dye free and fragrance free version as well. They have also revamped their packaging, making the bottles bigger but have not increased the price. Still the same price but now for almost 50% more detergent for your money.

Personally I prefer the dye and fragrance free version but the original isn’t bad! The scent isn’t overpowering but pleasant and even perfect for the fellas who want to get their gear clean.

The detergent worked great at getting my workout clothes clean and smelling fresh!

Do you have stanky workout gear? Of course you do! Now is your chance to try out some Win! Lots of ways to enter this giveaway which runs from Today until Sunday. I will be picking a winner on Sunday so please make sure to use a legit email address so that I can contact you.

Win is also offering up $1 off the purchase of a bottle of detergent with the coupon code WINGIVE1. Just plop that in during checkout!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: I was contacted by Win and Sweat Pink to offer this giveaway. I was not compensated for this post.

Review: President Sea Salt Butter

November 14, 2014Andrea 4 Comments

President Butter recently contacted me and asked if I would be interested in reviewing their butter. President butter is made in Normandy France from the cultured cream of grassfed cows (The press release stated). Since I love grassfed butter and it’s the only butter I will eat, I was curious to give this a try. I’m always looking to expand my butter palate!

They sent me a few different styles to sample but the one that I enjoyed the most was the Sea Salt Butter. It’s a softer butter making it easier to spread when at room temperature but the unique part is that it has ribbons of sea salt mixed throughout. You can even see the salt lining the rim of the container.

I’m not a huge fan of salt in butter, but this butter stands out with a balance of creaminess with a salty bite. It goes great with bread and would be amazing on a baked potato, cornbread, or fresh biscuit. This butter actually enhances the food that is paired with it.

The Sea Salt butter comes in a fancy little container that would not look out of place on a table at your dinner party.

This would make a great addition to your holiday table this season. Place this butter on a pretty plate and it will be the star of your holiday spread.

If you’re looking for something unique this holiday season to serve at your parties, definitely give this one a try!

Disclaimer: I was sent this butter for review and was not obligated to post about it. Opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this post.

Spicy Cranberry Chutney from The Spicy Paleo Cookbook by Emily Dionne

October 23, 2014Andrea Leave a comment

I was contacted to review the The Spicy Paleo Cookbook by Emily Dionne and since our eats tend to lean towards more of a primal nature I was happy to take a look at the book.

The first thing you’ll notice is that the book is on the smaller side for a cookbook and that there are no pictures that accompany the recipes. If this is important to you, you’ll need to keep that in mind. Personally, I like the size of this book and that it is a paperback. Sometimes cookbooks become such large tomes that they are a little unwieldy when you’re in the kitchen.

The cookbook is broken down into 6 chapters that features everything from appetizers to desserts. Yes spicy desserts! It’s packed full of recipes that you will no doubt start to incorporate in your meal planning and that will spark some inspiration in the kitchen.

While the cookbook does have Paleo in the title, you don’t have to eat primally to enjoy this book! It’s full of recipes using real whole foods and that’s something we can all benefit from.

What do you mean this picture is ironic?

I decided to go with the Cranberry Chutney from this book because I love the use of cranberries in nontraditional ways. This was super easy to put together and full of flavor. It would be a great addition to your upcoming Thanksgiving menu!

Spicy Cranberry Chutney
© Emily Dionne, reprinted with permission from Adams Media

Serves 6-8

4 Cups Fresh Cranberries

1 1/2 jalapeños, chopped

1/3 Red Onion, chopped

1 1/2C Cilantro, chopped

1/2C Fresh Orange Juice

3TBSP Raw Organic Honey

1tsp Sea Salt

Place all ingredients in a food processor or blender and blend until combined but not completely smooth. Create a consistency that is slightly chunky. Chill overnight and serve.

Sweet and spicy, this was very well balanced! I did process it so that it was a little smoother just because that’s the consistency that I enjoy. It was great on crackers and as a spread on some turkey and ham. It would also be perfect as a chicken or turkey burger topper as well!

If you enjoy recipes that pack some heat, definitely check out The Spicy Paleo cookbook!

Disclaimer: I was asked to review this cookbook. All opinions are my own and I was not compensated for this review.

Review: The Taco Revolution by Brandon Schultz

September 24, 2014Andrea 5 Comments

We love tacos in this house. On the whole we probably eat tacos at least once a week. It’s easy to quickly cook up some ground meat, season, and serve in a shell or wrap. Putting a pork shoulder in the slow cooker and we’ve got pulled pork tacos for days. Plus you get to load up your taco anyway you please with a variety of condiments.

Tacos fall into the crowd pleaser category, almost everyone loves taco night!

Sometimes we can fall into a rut with tacos, having the same style frequently. I was happy to accept The Taco Revolution by Brandon Schultz for review. This cookbook is jam packed with some pretty creative taco ideas like the Zuccini Pesto Taco and the Korean Taco, just to name a couple.

Along with recipes this taco cookbook also offers up a list of what kitchen items you’ll need in order to prepare all of these recipes, spice mix recipes, and how to make your own taco shells and tortillas. Plus a section devoted to making sauces and salsas at home.

It’s pretty much an all-in-one book full of taco inspiration!

I went with the Barbecue Pork Taco because I had some pork already out that needed to be used and some barbecue sauce ready to go.

Barbecue Pork Taco

© Brandon Schultz, reprinted with persmission from Skyhorse Publishing

Makes 6-8 tacos

1TBSP Butter

1 medium white onion, sliced

2 pounds pork, cut into 7 or 8 large chunks

2 cans vegetable broth (14.5oz each)

1 1/2 C barbecue sauce

1tsp black pepper

2C lettuce, torn into large pieces

1 large tomato, diced

1TBSP sour cream per taco

Tortillas

Melt butter in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add onion and saute until tender, about 6-7 minutes. Add pork and brown on all sides, about 10 minutes. Add vegetable broth and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook 1 hour.
Shred pork into large pieces using two forks to pull meat apart. Cover and cook 10 more minutes. Pull meat apart into smaller shreds, cover, and cook 10 more minutes.
In a medium mixing bowl, mix pork, barbecue sauce, and pepper.
Loosely cover a tortilla with torn lettuce. Top with pork, tomato, and sour cream.

I used hard taco shells instead of soft and the tacos turned out great. I used a homemade sauce but you can use your favorite barbecue sauce.

This cookbook is full of creative recipes for tacos and I bet you would find inspiration on how to repurpose weeknight leftovers into tacos.

Thanks to Skyhorse Publishing for sending this book my way!

Disclaimer: I was sent this cookbook for review. I was not compensated for this post and my statements are my own.

Dog Gone Good Cuisine by Gayle Pruitt

September 10, 2014Andrea 3 Comments

I’m really picky about what food and treats my dogs get. I read all ingredient lists on treats with the same scrutiny as if I was going to be eating it. There’s no kibble in this house, my dogs get real foods to eat. I’ve been doing this for years. Avery and Penny are my second and third dogs that I’ve successfully switched over to a real foods diet.

In total, I’ve been feeding dogs this way for over 10 years. I geek out over dog nutrition and I’ll gladly talk with you about it and offer advice if you ask. Not only am I a believer in eating real foods for myself but it also applies to my dogs.

So when I was approached to review the Dog Gone Good Cuisine cookbook by Gayle Pruitt, I jumped at the chance. I don’t home-cook for my dogs much, they are on a more raw based diet. However, I’m always learning and reading about dog nutrition and viewed this book as a resource.

If you’re new to a real foods diet for dogs and are thinking of making the switch, this would be a great book to help ease you down that path. It offers a lot of homemade dishes that you can feed your dog and that you can also eat.

This cookbook also provides information about what foods and spices are OK for dogs, along with what kitchen equipment you will be using. It prepares you for cooking for your dog without making this seem like an overwhelming or difficult task (because it isn’t).

Another thing that won me over about this cookbook is that all the dogs pictured are rescue dogs. All my dogs are rescue dogs so I have soft spot when it comes to providing second chances to our canine companions.

I decided to go with a veggie recipe from the cookbook for my two punks.

Carrots and Zucchini with Tarragon
Reprinted with permission from St. Martin’s Press
© Gayle Pruitt

1TBSP Butter or Coconut Oil

3 Medium Carrots, washed, peeled, and sliced into thin carrot sticks

2 Zucchini, washed and cut into 1/4 inch thick sticks

1tsp Dried Tarragon

Melt the butter or coconut oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the carrots and cook for about 1 minute. Add the zucchini and cook for 1 minute. Remove the vegetables from the skillet, sprinkle with tarragon, and serve.

I didn’t have any zucchini but I had these great baby carrots that I picked up at the local farmer’s market. They worked great for this recipe. Avery and Penny both love carrots and this was definitely a winner for them!

If you’re thinking about cooking for your dogs or are at least interested in learning more, check out this cookbook! Plus you’ll get to see some great pictures of rescue dogs!

Disclaimer: I was provided a copy of this cookbook for review. All opinions are my own.

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