Strawberries~N~Cream Squares

Strawberries~N~Cream Squares

Being that Easter is approaching and we are embracing Spring, I wanted something light that would showcase the fruit.  I also wanted something that was quick because I again purchased strawberries and picked for the perfect case, to then just forget them in fridge for 3 days!

My crust is identical to the one I made for the Key Lemon bars and since it was a hit, not changing it!  It's a shortbread crust and please view that recipe here http://samplesandfreebiesgallery.wordpress.com/2013/03/14/welcome-the-first-day-of-spring-with-key-lemon-cream-bars/ for details on preparation but I will note the ingredients needed.

Crust: 

1 stick of Salted Butter (softened)

1 stick of Unsalted Butter (softened)

110 grams of Powder Sugar

2 teaspoons of Vanilla Extract

3 drops of Almond Extract

300 grams of All-Purpose Flour

Vanilla Bean Cream Filling:

3 5/8 ounces of Mascarpone cheese (softened)

8 ounces of Cream Cheese

1 1/2 tablespoons of White Sugar

3/4 ounces of Sweetened Condensed Milk

1 teaspoon of Vanilla Extract

1/4 Vanilla Bean

2 tablespoons of All-Purpose Flour

You soften both cheeses by leaving out until soft or like me, I use the microwave in the defrost setting.

With a mixer or by hand with a whisk, you blend until combined.  You add the white sugar and sweetened condensed milk and again whip, making sure you are mostly lump free.  Then you add both the vanilla extract, and 1/4 of the scrapings from a Vanilla Bean.

Again, whisk until combined.  Last comes the flour and I usually do one tablespoon at a time in order to keep everything nice and smooth.

Fruit Filling:

5 1/2 ounces of Strawberry preserves

I made my own using the strawberries I purchased before they went bad.  I just cook them down on the stove with some water, a teaspoon of sugar (more or less depending how sweet the berries are), and a teaspoon of fruit pectin.  I add a used Vanilla Bean and cook about 15 minutes or when the product reached the thickness I desire.

Topping:

2/3 cup of All-Purpose Flour

1/4 teaspoon of ground Ginger

1/4 teaspoon of Cinnamon

A couple gratings of fresh Nutmeg

1 tablespoon, plus 1 teaspoon of White Sugar

3 tablespoons of Unsalted Butter (cold)

To make topping, you combine all the dry ingredients and when incorporated, you then start to add the cold butter until you get crumbles.  Very easy to do by hand or even with a fork....whatever works best for you.  You can also add less or more of the spices to fit your taste.

Once you have pre-baked the crust, you allow for it to cool down just a bit (10 minutes).

You add the Vanilla Bean cream filling and just spread out evenly.

I then add the Strawberry Filling and make swirls so everyone gets a good helping of fruit and cream filling, it also looks pretty.  Short on time....you can stop here and bake and still have a great final product!

If you have a little time, you then make your topping and sprinkle over before baking.

Once everything is assembled, you simply put it in the oven and bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes and then at 375 degrees for 10 minutes.  Test for doneness by simply measuring the jiggle but keep in mind like brownies, you do not want to wait until firm.  This is sort of like a cheesecake and will continue to cook when you take it out.  I cooled it down 2 hours outside and 2 hours in the fridge.

I then cut different sized squares because sometimes we want to eat more or less.

You can serve as-is or with vanilla bean ice cream.  Enjoy!

Crowdtap: Woolite Washed In-Home Boutique!

Wooliteers – Hosted Party



Being part of Crowdtap, I was invited to host a Woolite Sampling party. The objective is to introduce friends and family to the Woolite family. Being that I use both the Everyday and Dark formulas, I am very familiar with what the brand has done,or in some ways prevented to be done to my clothing. I love the Dark Woolite for jeans and I use the formula with my $10 pairs to my "I feel guilty buying jeans at this price" pairs of jeans. Woolite protects my jeans from fading and keeps their color and hues true. Their texture remains just like the day I bought them. I admit it, I like the feel of N-E-W! I also wash any shirts or blouses that lean more towards the darker tones than the lights with the Dark formula.

Woolite's Everyday formula is perfect for everything else and even when I run out of the Dark formula, I prefer to wash what I care for in Woolite versus another detergent. I no longer just separate by delicate and non-delicate, I separate by what I want to last longer no matter how little or how much I paid for it. If I want it to last, I put it in Woolite's care.

Crowdtap sent me 10 sample sized packets for my guests and I to use. Each packet contained enough for one full load, so very generous. I kindly asked guests to bring their most loved articles of clothing from sweaters, blouses, jeans to even vintage shirts. Each guest brought between 3 to 5 garments. As guests arrived, I used our prettier wicker hampers and separated by like colors. Some guests brought clean clothing that they had washed with their own detergent, while others wanted to also see how clean Woolite can get their clothes. I invited 10 guests and had 12 arrive, so those hampers filled quickly!

I wanted everyone to have fun while everything washed and we did good separating everything into 3 full loads. It was fun seeing how some of my friends seem to be color blind because they swore something was dark when it was not. We resorted to voting to squash that debate! That resulted into many giggling moments while we made piles and redid others. The first load goes in and being that at this point we lost the guys to outside, we washed the pinks first and figured they get that for abandoning us :) Below is a cute shirt I received for my birthday and it was it's first wash. Just like new and you can see the black lace remained dark while the pink was perfectly clean. I love how it retained it's shape because some fabrics tend to lose it quickly. Love that Vintage look and even though it cost $8.00, I still want it in my closet making me smile :), versus frowning :( because it aged so quickly.



Another shirt from a guest in the pink colored load is the shirt below. Not only does the wrap have lace, but there are small intricate beads sewn within the laced pattern.  No job is too hard for Woolite's Everyday detergent!



The next colors were the blues and below is a silk shirt that has long sleeves and ruffles at the end. Perfect for Spring and this was a shirt that was clean already but after hanging it in the closet for a couple seasons, it needed a refresh wash. We washed these articles of clothing under the "quick wash" setting and Woolite Everyday did not miss a beat! Everything smelled clean and once this shirt air dried, you could not tell it is over a decade old! That is a decade of only being washed with Woolite from when it was just the "Original" formula to now the "Everyday", I do not trust it with any other brand.



The jeans below are from a guest named Mary and you can see the pockets are ornate and you have to be careful on how you wash these. We flipped all the jeans inside out and this preserves their color but also keeps those embellishments on the pockets from banging in the wash. They could break, crack or just come off, so taking those two extra seconds to turn them inside out is really worth it! These jeans I was told the fabric tends to lose it's shape with wear but after Mary wore them for 14 hours, the waist remained intact and she did not get that bunching effect like with her former detergent. Mary has purchased a Woolite bottle at Costco, so she went for the warehouse sized bottle and is not messing around!  Great tip I shared with guests, I use hangers for baby clothes to hang my jeans with.  They are perfect in size and compact!  I rewarded my guests each with a pack to take home, along with their Woolite packet.



Being that Winter has left us, many of us in California have been experiencing a mix of weather with April showers arriving in March to windy afternoons. This wet and cold weather makes it hard to put the sweaters away for good but here we are trying to hopefully give them the final wash so maybe...just maybe we can see them until Autumn. I love my sweaters but I dislike a cold and chilly morning to then be regretting by the sunny afternoon on why I wore a sweater. Below are two sweaters we washed and they are wool blends. Just like new and still nice and soft. I love how Woolite Everyday smells, the scent is just so clean and the colors even if they are dark, they still remain vibrant!



I can't have my guests starve and I bought meat to grind, so I could make burgers. Bought everything and even remembered the pickles! Guess, what I forgot? The hamburger buns but my "oops" will now be remembered because in a moment of desperation, I cut a Challah loaf into buns. Challah bread tends to be high so I cut the bread twice, reserving the middle portion for later use (croutons to even making french toast). We toasted the buns on the grill (experiencing light rain so we used a grill pan inside) and they are the best burger buns I have ever had! My oops means I no longer will be purchasing hamburger buns. As it is, I usually use Sourdough bread or even a French Bread (sliced) because I prefer buying a bread that can serve multiple uses.....sort of how Woolite Everyday does when it comes to clothing, no longer just for delicate. That said, I end this with go beyond the bun and use Woolite Everyday, well for your Everyday clothes :)



Plates from guests and I also encouraged healthy eating by making a salad with pumpkin seeds, cranberries and a poppy seed dressing. The salad was mixed baby greens with spinach and avocado.  Some guests skipped on the salad and loaded their plates with more curly fries, which I baked in the oven.  Burgers had a New York White Cheddar cheese with Gorgonzola crumbles and bacon.



Crowdtap and Woolite's generosity allowed my guests to leave with samples to use at home, coupons, and they included a Visa pre-paid card to help the host with party costs. I am not obligated to provide a positive/favorable review, just my honest opinion. My opinion is based on my experiences with a brand and may differ from yours.  Want to throw a party like mine?  Join Crowdtap and become a member at no cost at http://www.crowdtap.com .  Also, don't forget to check out Woolite at http://www.woolite.us/ ; on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/WooliteUS ; Twitter: @WooliteUS or on Pinterest at: http://pinterest.com/wooliteus/.  You can great ideas from laundry care to the latest fashion trends!  Hope to see you there!

BzzAgent Campaign: Nescafé Memento in Caramel, Mocha and Cappuccino

There's few things better than a hot, flavored coffee on those brisk spring nights. And nothing spoils one like grinding, brewing and mixing your own. Why, oh why doesn't someone finally make an instant coffee that gives you all the pluses with none of the minuses?

Along comes Nescafé and their Memento line of "Flavored Coffee Beverages". Uh-oh. That they can't just call it coffee is a huge, flapping red flag. But, sometimes these types of liquid desserts are "good enough", so I'll forge bravely ahead. First up:

Nescafé Memento Caramel Latte



Okay, I can see what they were going for here, but I have to say they missed the mark by quite a bit. Very sweet, not a whole lot of "coffee" flavor comes through, and none of that buttery yum you'd expect from true caramel, and a quick look at the ingredient list shows why. Sugar, nonfat milk, hydrogenated veg. oil, glucose syrup, THEN you finally get soluble coffee, and then more sugars and artificial ingredients. I'm sad to report, this a hot cup of yuck. So, I'll just pour this hot mess down the drain and start over anew with:

Nescafé Memento Mocha



Okay, smells good. Looks good. A little on the bitter side, which makes me flash to that bottom-of-the-pot diner coffee that's been on the heater plate all night, and Flo the waitress decided she's got your fancy-schmancy Starbucks "right here!" and mixed in some Nestlé Quik and then went full froo-froo and put some milk foam on top. Yes, I heated and foamed some milk for this. Sue me. I'm trying to like this, because coffee+chocolate=YUM. But there's just enough off and missing to bork this cup too. At least milk and cocoa were listed within the first 3 ingredients, so it's got that doing for it, but the usual cast of characters that you'd need a degree in chemical engineering to understand. So, half a cup down. That means they're getting better, right?

Nescafé Memento's Cappuccino



Oh goodness, Do I love cappuccino. And after the last two characters masquerading as coffee got the bums rush, I need a good, stiff drink. No, I'm not going to Irish this one up, but I will cleanse my palette a little. So, the smell is good. Check. The look is right. Double check. The taste. Kinda creamy, kinda rich, good flavor and sweetness without fear of your teeth "ceding from the Union" so to speak. Okay, this is no Grand Slam. Not even a home run. Maybe a triple, probably closer to a ground rule double. I see what Nescafe had in mind, what they were trying to accomplish, and this flavor really got the closest. Which is admirable. I'll pay it one more compliment: I'd try it again.

I am happy with the last of the trio and hope they improve the Caramel formula in the future, but these coffees are easy to make with just leaving you with a cup and a spoon to clean up later.  I would make the Cappuccino for those days I am in a hurry and they unfortunately come by more often than I would desire.  The coffee mixes are not high in cost and you add the coupons I have been sharing, it is actually a pretty good deal price point wise.  Those Caramel candies in the picture still tease me!



I received the above products free of charge from BzzAgent and Nescafe.  I am not obligated in providing a favorable/positive review, just my honest opinion.  My opinions are based on my experience with the products that may differ from yours.

Triple Berry Lattice & Crumble bars

I made these bars after making preserves, since I figured it would showcase the berries perfectly.....let's begin.

You start with your crust recipe and double it, as you would when making a double crust pie. I use a William's Sonoma one that has both butter and shortening. I know there is a debate on which one makes a better crust over the other, so I figure both make a phenomenal crust then :). Use whatever recipe you commonly use, I have no rules!

Once your crust has rested in the fridge for an hour or so, it's time to get you to work. I used a lasagna pan because I was making squares. I sprayed the pan with PAM (with flour), then placed two "lifters" made of foil. This makes removing your masterpiece easier when it has cooled in the fridge. I then spray a little more PAM and add a layer of parchment, cut and shaped like the pan. In case you are wondering, I do make sure the parchment sticks up a little on the sides, because I want nothing sticking or oozing where it shouldn't. The PAM helps keep things in place while you assemble and also serves for the purpose of helping things release when needed. It's my little insurance for my projects. After I complete my craft project above, I roll out the pie dough that will serve as the bottom of my squares. I then make the cream cheese filling.

Cream Cheese Filling:
8 ounces of Cream Cheese (softened)
2 tablespoons of All-Purpose flour
1 teaspoon of Vanilla
Plus, 1 tablespoon of All-Purpose Flour (to be added before filling)

Before adding the Cream Cheese filling, take a tablespoon of flour and just sprinkle it on the pie dough.

To make the Cream Cheese Filling, you just combine ingredients until they are smooth and then spread evenly, as this is the first layer. After comes the fruit!

Triple Berry Fruit Filling:
1/4 cup of Blackberry Preserves
1/4 cup of Strawberry Preserves
1/4 cup of Blueberry Preserves

I wanted each bite to have all three berries, so I plopped spoonfuls of each in segments. It was my way to not lose track and to make sure I spread everything evenly without disturbing the cream cheese bottom. I then lightly smoothed out the filling with a spoon.



Before Baking (all assembled)

As you see the picture shows a crumble and lattice top, I figure like the pie dough debate, I nip this one by making both. I added my lattice top and this I just used a dough cutter to make strips. As you can see, it is not perfect but has that "made at home" appeal. After I did the lattice top, then comes the crumb topping.

Crumble Topping:
2 Tablespoons of Unsalted Butter (cold)
2/3 cup of All-Purpose flour
1 Tablespoon of Sugar

I whisk the flour and sugar until incorporated and then used a fork to add the butter. I literally just start pushing down on the butter until everything mixes and sometimes I even use my hands when the butter starts giving me an attitude! You want about pea-sized crumbles, since you add them to the "open squares" in your lattice top. If a crumble rebels and gets on the lattice, no worries as you will be fine.

I then place the pan in the oven, at 400 degrees for 50 to 60 minutes. If your top starts browning too quickly, just cover lightly with foil.  From my experience, I only covered for the last 15 minutes in case I got distracted.



Right out of the oven (after baking)

Once done, I then left the pan out for about 2 hours and then placed it in the fridge for about 2 more hours, while I fixed dinner. Once cooled nicely, I use the foil lifters to lift the entire thing out and begin to cut into squares. You may sprinkle with powder sugar if you desire and these go great with ice cream! Enjoy!

Swaggable brings you WAFU Original Japanese Vinaigrette

WAFU Original Japanese Vinaigrette



I love Japanese cuisine and I make a great sticky rice with vegetables when we have our "trips to the Orient" on dinner nights.  I am always a little lost when I want a salad with my meal because I was unsure how to still make it go flavor wise with dinner.  I ended up using a cold pressed Sesame oil that I emulsify with a little Olive oil and a red wine vinegar.  The dressing was sort of there taste wise but was missing something that truly incorporated it with my meal.  The worst thing you can have is an "almost there" dressing, so let's say my Japanese homemade dressing did not get made very often.



WAFU is the answer to my salad dilemma!  They take Canola oil, water, rice vinegar, Soya sauce, Soybeans, sea salt, onion and sugar to create a well balanced flavor that I love.  WAFU also adds garlic, Sesame oil, and the only odd ingredient was pasteurized frozen egg yolk but again, you recognize easily what the product contains.  I imagine the yolk gives it that yummy creaminess, so I welcome it!  They use zero colors or artificial flavors.  The product has 0 grams of Trans Fat per serving and is also Kosher.  A serving size of 1.5 fluid ounces is just 190 calories and my packet that was considered one serving, dressed three salads nicely, so that was a major plus.  The company is based in Canada and is currently working on their US site at: www.wafu.us.com.  In the meantime before they launch over here, you can check out their Canadian site at: http://www.wafu.ca/.  They make other dressing varieties like the Original above but also in a "Light" version.  WAFU also makes a Ginger Carrot and Wasabi Edamame.  Have a gluten allergy or you are restricting it from your diet?  WAFU has you covered with their "Natural WAFU Dressings".  The Natural line is gluten free and GMO free too, plus they have a new flavor called Roasted Sesame.  I put roasted sesame seeds on my salads so this is a flavor I hope to taste in the future.  The Natural line also offers all the above flavors, except there is no "Light" versions available yet.


Taste wise, it is excellent and this I would classify as a creamy vinaigrette.  You pick up the sesame flavors that come through as nutty and roasted.  Very delicious and I can't wait until they launch in the U.S.  I liked it so much, that I want to be able to try the product on other dishes, like chicken.  This would make an excellent marinade, but I was in salad mode and used mine all up on lettuce.  Definitely a company I will be contacting and I hope to do a follow-up piece on how many ways I can WAFU in the kitchen!  Imagine the Wasabi version used as a dip for tempura shrimps......oh' my!  Even a fish dish!

I received the above product free of charge from Swaggable and WAFU.  I am not committed in providing a positive/favorable review, just my honest opinion.  I base my review on my experiences with the product, which may differ from yours.

Calvin & Hobbes Reward via Kred and GoComics

GoComics and Kred partnered up and offered their members a free exclusive 30-day PRO-Membership. It gets better! Just for signing up, they would be sending Kred members the first and the last comic strip printed from Calvin & Hobbes. I imagined little pieces of paper with copies of the strip and was pleasantly surprised when I received what is pictured below. Being that my Husband is a huge Calvin & Hobbes fan, these go perfectly with his comic's collection. Kred is not just about rewards for yourself but others can definitely benefit from your membership too. Sign-up today, so you do not miss out on the next reward! Go now! Also, visit GoComics and what is best, both Kred and GoComics membership costs a whopping $0.00. Want to go PRO at Gocomics.com? It's just $0.99 cents a month or $11.88 for the year. Thanks GoComics.com  & Kred! This reward is still available right now so like I said, "GO!"

Olay ProX Deep Wrinkle Treatment

I saved reviewing this for last because I wanted to know if I could notice a difference, and I have! I have a plethora of anti-aging creams that go hand in hand with the broken promises. I always go back to my RoC because for the price point and results, you can't beat it. The last few years I have been using RoC Multi-Correxion night treatment and I have been happy. I use it in the day with sunscreen because the cream has no idea it's daytime and the lack of SPF is what makes it a night cream.



I know there is no genie that will be granting me wishes or a magic potion, but I just want to slow it down (okay, trying to slam on the brakes here) when it comes to those lines that are starting to linger. I have been happy to report that so far the line I have in middle of my eyebrows (that tells on me when I dislike something or worse, someone) has lightened. I have very fine lines around the eyes that mostly come from laughing and because I have dimples, I tend to have come into this world already with creases. I think for a non-surgical option, ProX surpassed my expectations! I did not expect in 3 weeks to notice anything and I have noticed what they advertise, diminishing of wrinkles. I wish they made a magic eraser for faces but until they come up with one, ProX is as close as you can get without visiting a doctor's office. I like that it dries to a matte finish so it does not interfere with my make-up or for the days I go make-up free. The last thing you want is a greasy mark that highlights the things you are trying to hide. Not one pimple or clogged pore has emerged in the areas I have used the deep wrinkle cream and like I stated, I am going on a little over three weeks here. I have sensitive skin in certain areas and they tend to peel even on the days that are just windy. No peeling and I have noticed that it has taken away problems that I did not even think I needed solutions for, like evening the skin tone. I thought I was even but after using ProX, I obviously needed improvement. You use small dabs and gently treat the areas you are unhappy with. Product comes in a tube so nasty jar collecting germs. I don't think I even use a pea sized worth, so I also like how a little goes a long way. The best way I can describe what is occurring, is almost like the lines/wrinkles are being flattened out slowly. I know now that I will be using this ProX and it has made my arsenal list of things I throw at my face and actually work!

I have stated before (just scroll down) on why you should join Kred (www.Kred.com) and now they are even keeping me looking younger! It does not cost to join and they have wonderful rewards!

I received the above product free of charge and I have zero obligation in providing a positive/favorable review. My honest opinion is based on my experiences that may differ from yours.

Pantene Pro-V AgeDefy Collection for Hair

I gave these products a good 2 1/2 weeks and my hair thanks me for it. I shared a posting earlier about the beautiful kit I received from Kred (www.Kred.com) and again recommend giving Kred a try!  They reward you for being Y-O-U!  Kred has great rewards for the family and I say family because even my dog got her own water bottle (Kred & Purina perk)!

Pantene Pro-V Expert Collection AgeDefy Shampoo, Conditioner, and Treatment
As much as we all hate to admit it, we're getting older. Somethings are losing their bounce, their luster, their shine. Like our hair. (Eyes up here, boys!) And some of us ladies are willing to throw big bucks at products that will reverse the signs of aging. Thankfully, I found something that helps turn back the hands of time without breaking the bank. Enter Pantene, partnered with Olay, and their Pro-V Expert Collection of hair care products.



Pantene Pro_V Expert Collection AgeDefy Shampoo is step one. It says it helps fight the "7 Signs of Aging", like breakage, split ends, frizz, unruly grays, lackluster color, thinning and dryness. I like this product. Being a fan of Olay products, seeing their name on the label put the proverbial foot in the door for me. It's gentle enough for every day use, as well as for color-treated hair. There is a nice, floral fragrance that holds strong for several days after washing. It lathers thickly, so a little bit goes a long way! No build-up that I have noticed and even my fly-aways seem more manageable, as I have very long, fine hair. But what's a shampoo with out a conditioner? That's like cookies without the milk, so on to...

 



Pantene Pro-V Expert collection AgeDefy Conditioner for Step 2. Olay and Pantene have pulled out all the stops here, and it shines through in shinier, fuller hair. Like I said before, I have fine hair that's prone to build-up with heavy conditioners, but again this one is light enough for regular use. Great scent, too. It also kept my hair from breaking, so expect a few less hairs in the drain, ladies. We can all appreciate that! But wait! There's more!

 



Pantene Pro-V Expert Collection AgeDefy Advanced Thickening Treatment, is step three, and for me this one misses the boat a bit.  For starters, you have to use quite a bit of it, and at nearly $16.00 a bottle, it's more expensive than some of the salon treatments that treat a broad spectrum of hair issues.  While the results are satisfactory, rounding out the hair care treatment nicely, it is cost prohibitive for a lot of people to use regularly.  So while I like it and it works as advertised, you might think about a couple other brands more competitively priced to round out this routine.  A coupon may make the sting ache less, so that can also be an option when it comes to future purchases.



Back of treatment box (above)

 





(Back of card with haircare tips)

The kit also included a card with tips on haircare and it was suppose have a headband but mine was missing it.  My box was factory sealed so it just got overlooked but I have hairbands, so not a huge loss.  A ProX skin Analyzer and a $5.00 off coupon was also added.  The box also included a great Olay product for deep wrinkles, which I will be reviewing next week.....so stay tuned as I turn younger!

 

Pangea Organics Facial Scrub, Egyptian Geranium with Adzuki Bean & Cranberry

 

Pangea Organics Facial Scrub from Swaggable

Another product to try and this one is not your typical run of the mill facial scrubs. It is called Egyptian Geranium with Adzuki Bean and Cranberry. I am unsure if I want to wash my face with it or use it as a dip! I like that the product is for all skin types and it does the job of three by exfoliating, clarifying and cleansing. The product is rich in antioxidants from the Cranberry, which aids in brightening of the skin. This is classified as an Organic product and it was very simple to use.

You use a quarter sized amount, rub palms together and gently apply (massaging) to your face, neck and decollete. You then just rinse and you are instructed to use it once daily or weekly.



The product felt very gentle on my face, almost like a very light lotion. The facial scrub also left my hands nice and soft. It can be said it is nutrient-rich, because my hands remained in the same state even after washing them through out the day, so I saw an improvement there. My face and neck were also baby soft and I found that I did not get greasy after a few hours from using.  Sometimes my pores can go crazy and overproduce oils when I use a scrub. I actually kept feeling my cheeks because the softness felt pleasant. I did not get any blemishes or irritations from the product and I find it hard to still get a clean feeling without over stripping my poor face. This scrub gave me the advantage of getting both. Now when it comes to long term use, I unfortunately did not receive a sufficient amount of product to even know if in a week there would be build up or not, so I can't comment on that aspect.



I received this product free of charge from Swaggable.  I am not obligated in providing a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion.  My opinion is based on my experiences with the product and may differ from yours.

 

Love Food Review of their Monthly Subscription Box

Love with Food is a monthly subscription program that not only packs a lot delicious samplings, but also a good bang for your buck.  I subscribed around the start of January for the February box.  It was a Spicy & Sweet theme and you get to see what I received!  You can sign up at www.lovewithfood.com/shop.  They even included a cute list of the 9 items they included, and 10 if you add the extra Nektar packet.  I paid a little over $2.00 to try the products because they had a promotion but even at normal price, they really deliver a box full of goodies and deliver it to your door on a monthly basis.  You can cancel at anytime and each box purchase, means a meal for the homeless!  This company not only delivers on top notch customer service but better their community!

 



Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Truffle Piglet from Hagensborg Chocolates (www.hagensborg.com) (Twitter: @TrufflePigBar):
I had never heard of the company but just one chocolate embedded the piggy image forever in my head and taste buds.  The company uses a European method that just makes you go crazy.  I like peanut butter but I'm not a lover of it like my husband but we divided the piggy in half (I got the part with cute little tail) and I became a lover of PB!  The peanut butter filling was smooth but not dry and perfectly roasted.  I could taste the peanut and against the milk chocolate, it was better than any peanut butter cup I have ever had.  My only question was, "do they make it with dark chocolate?"  I looked on-line and seriously should have not because they have other flavors and I'm hooked.  I loved these piglets so much, I am hoping to pitch them in the future because Hagensborg Chocolates deserves an entire article on them!

 



Naturally Flavored Cranberries from Funny Face (www.funnyfacecranberries.com) (Twitter: @FunnyFaceCran):
I usually purchase my dried cranberries at Trader Joe's because Ocean Spray's Crazins are just too soaked in sugar anymore that I have noticed they came out with a "less sugar" version.  Glad to know it was not just me.  I received the "Freckle Face Strawberry".  I opened the package and you could just smell strawberries and it smelled like the real stuff, not just the perfume they seem to add to strawberry flavored foods that smell better than they taste.  The berries are large in size, plump but not a sticky mess.  Their color is vibrant but I noticed their cranberry had more fruit to it than the wrinkly ones I have been buying.  I noticed 50% less sugar, so I turned the package around and the ingredients are so simple.  You have Cranberries, Soluble Corn Fiber, Evaporated Cane Juice, Citric Acid, Safflower Oil, and Natural Flavors.....that is all!  You do taste the strawberries and these would make a great cookie, I'm thinking white chocolate with these cranberries or even a dark chocolate one!  You know they are good when you wish you got more of a good thing.

 



Pico de Gallo Bean & Rice Chips from Beanfields (www.beanfieldssnacks.com) (Twitter: @BeanfieldsSnack):
I have walked by these bags at my local Sprout's and I'm a huge fan of the brand "Food Should Taste Good" chips.  I wondered how they were and after having the PopChips nacho version, I was unsure because some were great and some flavors were not that hot!  You have long grain rice, navy and pinto beans that really create an awesome crunch.  I shy away from tomato based flavors because many are just over powdered with tomato powder that just tastes like dried condensed soup or worst, ketchup.  I opened the bag and noticed an herb like smell and picked up Bell Peppers.  Okay, this seems interesting now.  I put a triangle in my mouth and the spices with the chips were outrageous but in a good way!  Not over salty with a perfect balance of spice and again the ingredients are so simple.  You even have a natural smoke flavor that I could have sworn was a roasted pepper, but wait I see green bell pepper powder in the ingredient list.  They also have 4 grams of fiber and 4 grams of protein, plus they are corn free.  You have what goes into the actual Pico de Gallo and the black beans just add that extra "umph" that I never get from chips.  These babies are crispy and do not create mush in your mouth like many of these multigrained chips I see hit the market.  I will be buying these and not that they needed to be better, but Beanfield's is also verified by the NON GMO project.  I wish I had found them sooner and they are a family owned company too!

 



Original Nuts from Bobbysue's Nuts (www.bobbysuesnuts.com)  (Twitter: @bobbysuesnuts):
The blend is dry roasted almonds, cashews and pecans that when you read their motto, "delicious nuts with a mission", I raise my expectations.  The ingredients are the nuts I mentioned above, sugar, egg whites, water, salt and spices.  No corn syrup and they taste like someone made creme brulee nuts!  The coating is light so it preserves the natural crunch you get from nuts and sweetness was perfect and delicate.  I kept looking for honey or some form of caramel.  They had a very light cinnamon flavor that complemented the sugars well and I hope Bobbysue's comes to a retailer near me soon but Amazon can fill that niche because I found them there.  Every nut dollar goes towards building a shelter for the homeless animals so they not only respect what they make for us humans, but they look out for the furry kind too.

 



Tomato Basil Sipping Broth from Millie's Savory Teas (www.milliessavoryteas.com) (Twitter: @SavoryTeas):
I was excited so much that I missed that this sipping broth has green tea in the ingredients.  I like to taste items as-is without looking what is in them so I don't go with an idea of what I should expect.  My first bite, I want it to be going into it with almost unknown expectations and the second one I take after, I see what has what.  I will say that when I put the tea bag in the cup, the smell was not appetizing.  The product advertises itself as a savory alternative to coffee or tea.  I think it missed being a savory good tasting broth and also a good tasting tea.  The green tea and basil were overpowering and after the second sip, which was smaller than my first, I had to skip in having more because I just could not.  The idea is sound to a degree and I even had it on a cold night but the blend was just off.  It was so off putting that if someone said it was medicinal, then maybe you can force yourself in having it if it made you feel better!

 


Nektar Honey Crystals from Nektar Naturals (www.nektarnaturals.com) :
Powdered Honey.....you got me.  I saw powdered Maple Sugar the other day and wondered how it would be and then my mind began to think of ways to use it!  I received two packets and I'm a fan.  I mixed the Nektar with powdered sugar and used it to sprinkle my Lemon Bars and, "oh my"!  These little bees at Nektar have gold in their hands.  No sticky mess and the product dissolves well that I have been using the rest for my teas.  I even made a hot tea and later added ice and this should have reached my hands sooner!  Ingredients are granulated honey (natural honey and sugar).  Simple and I am thinking of making honey biscuits when I purchase this and even a ham glaze.  Yeah, I started thinking again and lets say my imagination can really get creative at times :)

 


Milk Chocolate Caramel Truffle Piglet from Hagensborg Chocolates (www.hagensborg.com) (Twitter: @TrufflePigBar):
This little piggy can visit me again all it wants!  The caramel filling made this one my second favorite and wonder if this piglet makes anything bad.  With all natural ingredients and having one of the best milk chocolates out there, I so hope to see this piggy in my area again soon!

 



Chocolate Madeleine from Donsuemor (www.donsuemor.com) (Twitter: @Donsuemor):
I dislike package cookies or any baked good because they always are dry and taste like the package they came in.  The ingredient's list makes you wonder why the cookie does not glow so I usually bake myself at home.  I love Madeleine cookies because they are the in-between cookie and cake treat that I can enjoy in small portions and always so buttery.  This one came in chocolate and I liked already that the hue was deep color, so I expected a good amount of chocolate.  The shell shape always makes me smile so that alone on how this little cake was presented, it made me smile.  I had bananas so I decided to add some sugar to them and caramelize it with a torch, to create a nice brulee top.  I pop the cake out and notice it smells like real food and then came that chocolate wave.  I also noticed the edge crumbled so it was not a dry sea foam like I expected.  The company has been around since 1976, so you know they must be doing something right!  They are!  This is probably the only "packaged" cookie I will eat.  I will always try different brands and varieties but rarely finish a package but if I had these, it would be a dangerous territory for me because they tasted so good.  I looked on their website and they have scones and biscotti......I'm in love!  If you served this Madeleine to me, I would not be the wiser it came from a package.

 



Jer's Squares (www.jers.com)  (Twitter: @JersChocolates):
I saw Toffee Break and this is the first item I opened from the box.  I use to eat Heath bars until they stop tasting like they use to.  Jer's uses Valencia peanut butter as the center, mixed with buttery rich toffee bits and covered in dark chocolate.  This bar is made for me!  It has everything my husband and I like but someone crammed it together and created AWESOMENESS!  I loved the crunch from the toffee but the buttery flavor is really there so it goes great with the peanut butter.  I already buy Valencia peanut butter but I want the PB that Jer's has.  It does not taste like what I have in the fridge.  The dark chocolate cover is not waxy and has a great taste, no bitterness like you get with some dark chocolate coatings.  I want more!