Product Review | Barbara's Bakery Jalapeno Cheese Puffs

Today I would like to introduce you to the company called Barbara's Bakery that makes all-natural cereals, animal cookies, crunchy granola bars, multi-grain cereal bars, fruit and yogurt bars, fig bars, crackers and cheese puffs. This wonderful company started it's business back in 1971 when Barbara opened up a small all-natural bakery in northern California. Babara's Bakery is committed to creating and selling the best-tasting natural products that are free of artificial preservatives & ingredients, hydrogenated oils and refined white sugar. This company has a nice selection of products available for purchase and I hope you check out this company while you are here.

My Review: Barbara's Bakery 2 bags of their Cheese Puffs in the Jalapeno flavor for me and my family to try out for all of you. The Cheese Puffs are made with real Jalapenos and Cheddar and Blue Cheeses. This is an all-natural snack food with no artificial flavors or additives. Serving size is 3/4 of a cup and there are 150 calories per serving.

I have never had Jalapeno Cheese Puffs before so I was really looking forward to giving them a try along with my husband when we sat down for our movie night. We opened the bag and got busy snacking! The first thing I noticed was these cheese puffs are actually stick shaped and not a puffy curly shape. As soon as you take a bite you realize that they are crunchy but not too hard where they would hurt your teeth. As soon as I tasted them I tasted the Jalapeno and Onions in them and then after a few seconds I tasted the cheese. It really is a nice combination of all three of those flavors. I had never had a snack like this before so I was unsure if I would like it but was pleasantly surprised at how tasty they were. I will admit though...hubby enjoyed them a LOT more than me so I ended up giving him most of them. So if you are looking for a new snack to try out with a little bit of a spicy kick to it, I would like to recommend that you check out Barbara's Jalapeno Cheese Puffs!

I would like to thank Barbara's Bakery for sending us the Jalapeno Cheese Puffs to try out for our product review. This item makes a great snack for someone who enjoys something a little different from the norm. We give them 2 thumbs up!

Disclaimer: Shelly Hill has personally reviewed the product listed above. Shelly has not received any monetary compensation for her review. Shelly did receive a free product to try out so she could evaluate and use it for her review. Her thoughts & opinions in this review are unbiased & honest and your opinions may differ. The Shakin N Bakin Blog is not responsible for delivery of any giveaway items won from this blog. We are not responsible for injury or mis-use of any products won from the Shakin N Bakin Blog. Please read our Terms of Service & Disclaimer Policy before entering our giveaways. Thanks!

Delicious Chocolate Crumble Cookies Recipe

We love baking cookies especially during the cooler fall and winter months. One of my family's favorite cookie recipes happens to be this recipe for chocolate crumble cookies that I got from my great aunt several years ago. They are delicious, sweet and surprisingly moist!

Chocolate Crumble Cookies Recipe

1/2 cup vegetable oil
4 squares melted baker's chocolate
2 cups granulated sugar
2 cups all-purpose flour
4 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 cup confectioner's powdered sugar

In a large mixing bowl combine together the vegetable oil, melted chocolate and granulated sugar with an electric mixer until well blended. Add in one egg at a time until all four eggs have been added, mix well. Add in the vanilla extract, salt, all-purpose flour and baking powder. Cover bowl and place into the refrigerator for 4 hours to chill. Remove bowl from refrigerator and shape dough into 1 1/2" diameter bowls. Roll each ball into confectioner's sugar and place onto a greased cookie sheet 2" apart. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 10 to 12 minutes or until done. This recipe makes 45-50 cookies

3 Tips To Clearing Clutter In The Kitchen For Holidays & Everyday

3 Tips To Clearing Clutter In The Kitchen For Holidays and Everyday by Marilyn Bohn

When you think of clearing clutter what do you think of? I know from my experience as a professional organizer many of us think of getting rid of things but this is just part of clearing clutter. I was given some plates for Christmas that are for everyday use that I love. I put them in the cupboard but I rarely ever used them. I wanted to use them and felt bad because I didn't, so I came up with a simple solution.

I simply moved them to a different shelf in my cupboard. I had one of those corner shelves that doubled my cupboard space and I just changed places with some other plates I had had there for a long time and only used infrequently. What a difference such a simple exchange made. I can now use my plates and eat on them too. (Just like having my cake and eating it to).

We don't always have to get rid of things to think we are clearing clutter. With a few organizing tips and organizing ideas we can create a home that is organized, functional and welcoming to us and to our guests. As the holidays approach by starting early to look at each room in our homes to see if we need to do some clutter clearing we will be less stressed not only during and before the holidays, but actually all year around.

Here are some of my favorite organizing tips. Let's start with the kitchen: junk drawers can be a hassle and junky or they can be resource drawers. Because so many people in our homes use them and are in and out of these drawers, make it easy for them to put things away after they use it. Have you noticed it is easier to get things out than put things away? In the resource drawer the key to clearing clutter is to have plenty of containers, you can use several different sizes, depending on your needs. In one container place the pens and pencils. In another have glue and tape. I recommend having one place for every kind of tape your family uses. Then if you ask someone to get tape for you they will know exactly where to go to get it.

Check out your utensil drawer or holder. Are there utensils there you never use and are just clutter? Are there too many spatulas and pancake turners? Are any broken, stained, or rusty that could be thrown away to give you more room in your drawer or holder? If your utensils are in a drawer, install a drawer divider to keep them contained in one place so they don't slide all over.

Do your cupboards hold more dishes that you use making your cupboards crowded and let's say not user friendly? Divide your shelves by type of space. Premium spaces are the places you get into to use the items stored there on a daily basis. The dishes you use about once a week place in a secondary space.And dishes you use about once a year, such as holiday dishes place in semi-storage. You know where they are but they aren't visible on a monthly basis.

By using a few organizing tips and organizing ideas you will feel more confident with clearing clutter, creating space and end clutter in your homes for the holidays and for everyday.

Marilyn is a creative organizer who helps women, seniors & their families to create space and end clutter in homes and offices by setting up custom made systems.
Visit her website http://www.marilynbohn.com/ for free organizing tips.

Article Source: WAHM Articles

How To Prevent Food Bourne Illnesses At Home ~ Great Tips By HomeFoodSafety.org

Did you know that every year over 76 million people in the United States get some type of food poisoning? With summer being in full swing and people hosting family reunions, summer parties, backyard barbecues, etc. now is the time to educate yourself on how to prevent food bourne illnesses from ocurring in our own homes.

There is a wonderful web site online called Home Food Safety where you can learn all about food poisoning, food bourne illnesses and how you can prevent these illnesses at your next summer gathering. Here are some tips I found from their web site that I think all of you could use.

* When purchasing deli meats for your summer sandwiches and subs, you want to use white deli meats within 3 days of purchase and red deli meats within 5-7 days. I never knew that so from now on, I will be tossing my deli meats if they don't get eaten soon enough.

* When using canned goods, always wipe off the top of the can before opening it so that you prevent germs from entering the can during the opening process. In addition, canned goods are only good for up to 12 months unopened. Most canned goods now come with expiration dates so always toss expired ones. If your cans are leaking, bulging, rusted or look swollen, toss and don't eat!

* Here is a great tip on buying and using fresh produce. We all know that we should wash our apples, grapes, pears, peaches, etc. before eating them but most people never wash the skin of a banana, orange, grapefruit, etc. You should always wash the skin before handling them and peeling them as their skin can have harmful bacteria on it. I never knew that so from now on...my skinned vegetables and fruits will now get a washing too!

* While shopping at your local food store you are often approached by the staff to try a few samples. Are you guilty of reaching in and trying a sample? If so, did you immediately wash or disinfect your hands before reading in to grab the sample item? If not, shame on you! While you are shopping the grocery store you are touching your shopping cart, food packages, shelving, etc. and millions of other people have also touched the same items! You should never grab a sample to try out unless you have washed your hands or disinfected them first. If you love to eat a few samples during your shopping trip, they recommend carrying a bottle of hand santizer with you and using it before you grab your sample. I think that is a fabulous tip!

* Another great tip they give for grocery shopping is that you should always purchase your meat products last and you should keep them separated from your other food items. When checking out at the register, ask the clerk to bag your meat products separately.

* Now that summer is here me and my family are enjoying grilling our foods a few times every week. Did you know that you should be cleaning your grill rack before each use with hot soapy water? That is another great tip on their web site that I found to be very important, especially during this time of the year. Once you are grilling your foods, you always want to grill them until they reach the proper internal temperature and you can ensure your items are at the perfect SAFE temperature by investing in a meat thermometer. Once your meats are done cooking, never place them back onto the plate/platter that you had your raw meats on! Always use a clean plate/platter to avoid cross-contamination.

* Another great tip I found over on their web site is that you should always use 2 or more cutting boards. You should use one specific cutting board for your raw meats and a separate cutting board for your other food items. I know here in my own home I have 3 cutting boards and my white cutting board is ONLY ever used for cutting up raw meats and nothing else! I always clean my cutting boards with hot soapy water and disinfectant before using them again. Do you?

As you can see, there are many fabulous tips over on the http://www.homefoodsafety.org/ web site and I hope you take a few minutes out of your busy day to go over there and educate yourself on how you can prevent food bourne illnesses in your own home, prevent them at the grocery store and how you can prevent them while dining out!

Disclosure: For helping spread the word about the importance of home food safety, I was entered into a drawing for a $15 Starbucks gift card and an iPad through Summertime Food Smarts, a contest run by the American Dietetic Association and ConAgra Foods’ Home Food Safety program. Home Food Safety is dedicated to raising consumer awareness about the seriousness of foodborne illness and providing solutions for easily and safely handling foods. Learn more at http://www.homefoodsafety.org.

Delicious Iced Chocolate Brownies Recipe

If you like rich and deccadent chocolate brownies then this recipe is for you! It is the chocolate lover's ultimate brownie recipe!

Brownies:

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
4 eggs
2 sticks butter
1 can of chocolate syrup --- we like to use Hershey's (TM)

Icing:

1 cup granulated sugar
5 tablespoons cold milk
6 tablespoons softened butter
1/2 cup milk chocolate chips
2-3 tablespoons peanut butter

Brownies: Cream butter. Add all other ingredients and beat with a mixer until smooth. Bake at 325 degrees for 25 minutes in a greased pan.

Icing: Combine sugar, milk and butter. Bring to a boil. Cook 3 minutes. Remove from heat. Add chocolate chips and peanut butter. Beat until chips and peanut butter are completely melted. Spread on top of cooled brownies.

Product Review: Mimuno Insulated Beverage Glasses & Mugs!

Today I would like to introduce you to the company called Mimuno who sells smart and modern glassware that is also beautiful to look at. The Mimuno line of glassware is all double-walled which helps your beverages to stay at the proper temperatures. In addition, these insulated glasses prevent condensation from wetting your hands or table surfaces. We all know that condensation can ruin a nice table or piece of furniture so it is important to have the proper drinking glasses in your home to prevent that.

When you visit the Mimuno online store you will find insulated tumblers, insulated mugs, insulated beer glasses and you can purchase your glasses in sets if you prefer. Their web site store is really easy to navigate and you can find what you are looking for quickly by just clicking on the SHOP link at the top of the page.

My Review: Mimuno sent me two glasses to check out for my product review. I received the Insulated Tumbler that holds 12.5 ounces of liquid. It measures 2.5" by 3.5" by 5.5" tall. This is the perfect tumbler for both hot and cold drinks. I love the modern shape to this drinking glass and because it tapers it fit comfortably in your hand. My hubby loves his soft drink on ice and has a habit of letting his glass sit on my end table and then it sweats and makes a mess. So, this new glass has become his favorite new glass in the house because it doesn't sweat and his soft drink stays colder for a longer period of time. You can purchase this Insulated Tumbler directly from their web site store for $14.00 each.

We also received the Insulated Mug that holds 8 ounces of liquid. It measures 2" by 3.5" by 4" tall. This is the perfect mug for your hot drinks like coffee, hot cocoa, hot cider and/or hot tea. This mug will also be a nice addition to your home if you like iced beverages. We also love the modern shape and beauty of this mug! The way that the handle is made makes it a comfortable fit in the hand...even for tiny hands like mine or big hands like my husbands. He has been using this mug with his morning coffee and loves it because it doesn't burn his hands. In other words, even though this is glass, you can pick it up and not burn your hands! You can purchase this Insulated Mug directly from their web site for $12.00 each.

Overall Opinion: We love that these pieces are double-walled as it prevents sweating and it keeps your beverages hot or cold for a longer period of time as compared to a non-double-walled glass. If you love sleek and modern glassware, you will love the design and style of these two pieces. When you hold them in your hand, they are comfortable and you can tell right away that they are "quality" pieces just by the weight and feel of them. We highly recommend that you check out Mimuno for all of your glassware needs whether it be for yourself or for a gift.

I would personally like to thank Mimuno for sending me the two products to try out for my product review! Both of these beautiful glasses have become my husband's favorite glasses in the house!

Disclaimer: Shelly Hill has personally reviewed the product listed above. Shelly has not received any monetary compensation for her review. Shelly did receive a free product to try out so she could evaluate and use it for her review. Her thoughts & opinions in this review are unbiased & honest and your opinions may differ. The Shakin N Bakin Blog is not responsible for delivery of any giveaway items won from this blog. We are not responsible for injury or mis-use of any products won from the Shakin N Bakin Blog. Please read our Terms of Service & Disclaimer Policy before entering our giveaways. Thanks!

Product Review: The Silver Gallery ~ Chip & Dip Serving Tray!

Today I would like to introduce you to the company called The Silver Gallery where you will find exquisite items for yourself, your home and for gifts. When you shop The Silver Gallery you will find Silver & Pewter Engraved Gifts, Baby Gifts, Wedding Gifts, Jewelry & Silver Charms and products by Arthur Court.

You will find silver trays, silver bowls, silver & pewter cups, silver tea sets, napkin rings, water pitchers, keepsake boxes, baby banks, silver money clips, sterling pocket knives for men, engravable picture frames, silver and pewter desk items and so much more! This is truly a one-stop gift shop!

My Review: The generous folks over at The Silvery Gallery sent me their beautiful Arthur Court Grape Glass Chip & Dip Tray for my product review. As all of you know, I love cooking, baking and entertaining guests in my home so I was super excited about reviewing this piece. This Chip & Dip serving center measures 17" in diameter by 2" high...it is huge so it makes it a fabulous piece for when you are entertaining guests throughout the year or during the holidays. The serving center is primarily made out of mottled clear thick glass and then on each side of the serving center is a grape motif made out of aluminum. It is just beautiful to look at!

I had a few guests over the other night for game night and I used the Chip & Dip Tray to serve my Tostitos and homemade peach mango salsa in. I loved that this tray held entire large bag of Tostitos and in the center was the deep-welled section for the salsa. Every guest asked me about my new Chip & Dip Tray and I told them all to check out The Silver Gallery! Once we were done entertaining our guests, I simply hand washed the serving center and towel dried it. You never want to put an elegant piece like this into your dishwasher. When not in use, I have it displayed on my buffet table holding our fresh fruits and in the center section I have some wrapped candies. It looks absolutely stunning on my buffet and it is just too pretty to put into a cabinet! I absolutely LOVE my new Chip & Dip Tray from The Silver Gallery! It is extremely well-made, functional and absolutely gorgeous!!!

I would personally like to thank The Silver Gallery for sending me their beautiful Chip & Dip Serving Tray! This is a quality piece that I look forward to using for years to come! I highly recommend that you check out this company as they have beautiful products for your home and/or for gifts!

Disclaimer: Shelly Hill has personally reviewed the product listed above. Shelly has not received any monetary compensation for her review. Shelly did receive a free product to try out so she could evaluate and use it for her review. Her thoughts & opinions in this review are unbiased & honest and your opinions may differ. The Shakin N Bakin Blog is not responsible for delivery of any giveaway items won from this blog. We are not responsible for injury or mis-use of any products won from the Shakin N Bakin Blog. Please read our Terms of Service & Disclaimer Policy before entering our giveaways. Thanks!

Guest Blog Post ~ Tomato & Veggie Soup Recipe

This is a wonderful light yet filling soup that I use as a filler before dinner or with a salad. It has extremely little fat and burns calories fast! ~ Chris

Tomato & Veggie Soup Recipe

2 cans 15 oz Veggie (or chicken) stock or 1-32 oz box
2 cans 15 oz Tomato Sauce or Chopped Tomatoes
1 Box frozen spinach, defrosted and squeezed dry
1/2 bunch Bok Choi or Napa Cabbage, sliced thin
2 tsp good olive oil
salt to taste
Italian Seasoning or a pinch of thyme, basil, and marjoram, or whatever is in the cabinet
garlic powder or fresh garlic

In a large sauce pan combine all of the ingredients and simmer for 20-30 minutes. Enjoy!

Chris is a work at home mom that has made direct sales her business of choice and enjoys sharing information and tips with others. You can find her at her business site http://directsalestalk.com/ . She has also partnered with a friend on a product review site for small business owners at http://twoclassychics.com/ .

Delicious Garlic Vegetable Dip Recipe

This is a great veggie dip recipe but it also works well with chips, crackers and pretzels too! Once prepared, refrigerate it for a few hours to allow the flavors to infuse together.

Garlic Vegetable Dip Recipe

12 oz. cottage cheese
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 tablespoons 2% milk
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion salt

Blend all ingredients together in a blender or with mixer until smooth. Serve chilled with vegetable tray or snack tray.

Don't Judge Me for Loving Olive Garden

Don't Judge Me for Loving Olive Garden

Authored by Rickey Combs

Yes. I said it. I said the dreaded "O G" word. You know what? Don't judge. I love Olive Garden. I do. I can't help it. Those breadsticks are phenomenal and they are bottomless. I've turned salad-haters into salad-worshippers after tasting an Olive Garden salad. The dressing is always just right. Yes, I know that the whole "fresh cheese grated at your table" thing is a total gimmick. You know what? It totally works on me. I love to see all that fresh parmesan piled on top of my salad bowl.

Their wine list may not be a mile long, but it certainly won't contain $30 glasses like you'd find at a pricier place. Who can afford to spend that much money on one single glass of wine? I certainly can't. That's one of th! e best things about Olive Garden: it's good food and it's affordable.

I also love that everyone loves Olive Garden. It's comfortable. It's familiar. There's nothing on the menu you wouldn't like--it's all familiar and it's all really good. Who doesn't love lasagna? Who can say to no to a huge bowl of pasta? I pack up the whole extended family, set the home security alarm (home Alarm systems packages), and it's off to Olive Garden.

I never turn down the opportunity to try one of their current specials. They're always fresh and always delicious.

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post written by Shelly Hill on behalf of the advertiser. I was compensated to write this post by the advertiser...however, the wording, subject matter and my opinion are all my own. Your thoughts and opinion may differ from mine. Please read the SNB Blog Terms of Service & Disclaimer Policy for additional information. We are not affiliated with this company in any way.

Decadent Peanut Butter Chip Brownies Recipe

This is a nice homemade brownies recipe with a little twist because of the addition of the peanut butter chips in the brownie batter. You will want to bake these in a traditional 8x8" brownie baking pan. You can frost them or leave the top plain like I do as I find that adding a frosting makes them too sweet for us.

Peanut Butter Chip Brownies Recipe

1/3 cup softened butter
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup corn syrup
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 medium eggs
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup cocoa
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup peanut butter chips

Cream butter or margarine and sugar in large bowl. Blend in corn syrup and vanilla. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. In a separate bowl, combine flour, cocoa and salt. Gradually add to creamed mixture. Stir in peanut butter chips. Pour into a greased 8" square baking pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes. Cool in pan and frost if desired.

Homemade Black Forest Cake Recipe

Looking for an easy to make dessert cake for your next party or family get together? If so, you should try this Black Forest Cake recipe that was given to me years ago by a family member. This cake is very sweet, moist and deccadent!

Homemade Black Forest Cake Recipe

2 (20 oz.) cans tart pitted cherries, undrained
1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 (9-inch) chocolate cake layers, baked and cooled
3 cups cold whipping cream
1/3 cup confectioners sugar

Drain cherries, reserving 1/2 cup juice. Combine reserved cherry juice, cherries, granulated sugar and cornstarch in saucepan. Cook and stir over low heat until thickened. Add vanilla and stir again. Split each cake layer in half horizontally. Crumble on half layer; set aside. Beat cold whipping cream and the confectioners sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer set a high speed until stiff peaks form. Reserve 1 1/2 cups whipped cream for decorative piping.

Place one cake layer on serving plate. Spread with 1 cup whipped cream; top with 3/4 cup cherry topping. Top with second cake layer, 1 cup whipped cream and 3/4 cup cherry topping; top with the third cake layer. Frost cake sides with remaining whipped cream. Spoon reserved 1 1/2 cup whipped cream into a pastry bag fitted with star tip; pipe around top and bottom edges of cake. Spoon remaining cherry topping over top of the cake.

Product Review: Thirty-One Gifts: Thermal Insulated Tote Bag

Today I would like to introduce you to Kristyn Gill who is a Thirty-One consultant. If you have never heard of Thirty-One let me tell you about them. This wonderful company sells exclusive products like tote bags, wallets, thermal lunch bags, coin purses, wristlet key fobs, manicure sets, scarves, purses, laptop cases and so much more! What is really cool about this company is that you can select your items to match one another or to coordinate with one another. I love looking at all of their fun colors and prints (fabric selection) as they have stylish, modern, trendy and classic selections available and they are all affordably priced!

Company Info: Our products are exclusive to Thirty-One and provide style and convenience at an amazingly affordable price. From our key product line, to our “direction” line for teens, or our uniquely crafted “31kid” line for children and moms, you will find so many options to fit every personality type and every situation. We continue to develop new products built on the idea that our products must be stylish, functional, affordable and easy to give as gifts to encourage someone special.

May Mystery Hostess Raffle: Running now through May 27th, 2011. The winner recieves all the hostess benefits. There are several ways to enter : Place an order; for every $31 spent your name goes in the raffle. If a friend places an order (and mentions your name) you and your friend both get an entry. If you are a previous customer and place an order (at least $31) you get an additional entry. If you are a previous hostess and place an order (at least $31), you get another 2 entries. If place an order (at least $31) and agree to host a party, you get an additional entry. Host the party before May 27th, you get an additional entry also! The hostess benefits can be anywhere from $20-200 free products and up to 5 half off items. Prizes are dependent on amount of orders recieved.

ONE DAY ONLY SALE: Starting May 10th, 2011 at 8:01pm until the items are gone for the following items;

Tote-Ally Awesome Beach tote in Chains Ahoy
Wristlet Wallet in Chains Ahoy
Wristlet Key fob in Chains Ahoy
About Town Blanket in Floral Celebration
Icon Coin Purse in Chains Ahoy.

Customers can get 31% off those items only! No additional purchases neccasary. These orders do not count towards the Raffle. Customers have do a retail order through my website at http://www.mythirtyone.com/kristyngill to get the sale price.

My Review: Kristyn was very generous to send me the Thirty-One "Thermal Tote" in the Paparazzi Dot print for my review. This tote measures 9 1/2" high by 14" wide by 4 1/2" in depth. It features and outer front large pocket and two canvas carrying handles. The thermal tote opens up via a zipper closure (in the center) and the inside is lined in a silver colored thermal lining. I love that the bottom of this bag is flat so that my tote will stand upright when I sit it down on the table.

The outside of my tote was embroidered in red lettering and says "Let's Do Lunch!" which is totally cute and I love how that red just pops on the background! I have been using my new thermal tote as a lunch bag and I love how roomy this bag is! I do use a small ice pack in the lunch bag and then I place my beverage, sandwich, soup, fruit and snacks inside. Trust me...it holds a lot! I use the outside front flap pocket to hold my napkins, utensils and my book. (I like to read during my lunch breaks). I think this bag makes the perfect lunch bag, picnic for 2 bag or moms can certainly use it as a baby bottle bag! I load up my bag at 6am in the morning and when I take my lunch break at 12:30 in the afternoon...everything is still nice and cold. I usually take my afternoon snack break around 3 pm and trust me...my items are still nice and cold so it does a fabulous job at keeping things cool.

Thirty-One has several thermal tote styles available and you can get them in a variety of sizes and prints. What is really cool is that I look hip and stylish (at the ripe age of 43) when I carry around my tote because it looks like a beautiful handbag instead of a lunch bag! Gotta love that!

Purchasing Info: The Thirty-One Thermal Tote Bag is affordably priced at only $14.00 each. You should check out all of the beautiful prints that this bag comes in! In addition, check out the personalization guide for all of the cute fonts that you can pick out to get your Tote personalized with your name or message.

I would like to thank Kristyn with Thirty-One Gifts for sending me the fabulous Thermal Tote for my product review! I love the design, style and function of this tote!

Disclaimer: Shelly Hill has personally reviewed the product listed above. Shelly has not received any monetary compensation for her review. Shelly did receive a free product to try out so she could evaluate and use it for her review. Her thoughts & opinions in this review are unbiased & honest and your opinions may differ. The Shakin N Bakin Blog is not responsible for delivery of any giveaway items won from this blog. We are not responsible for injury or mis-use of any products won from the Shakin N Bakin Blog. Please read our Terms of Service & Disclaimer Policy before entering our giveaways. Thanks!

Winner ~ Prefense Hand Sanitizer Giveaway!

We had a giveaway close last night for the Prefense No-Alcohol Hand Sanitizer Giveaway so we have a new winner to announce this morning! Thanks everyone who entered this fabulous giveaway!

Our Winner is:

teressajoe said...
Follow Prefense on Facebook. teressajoe @ comcast.net
April 27, 2011 10:26 AM

Congrats Teressajoe! I am sending you an email now!

Foodie Review: The Cute Little Cake Shop!

Today I get to introduce you to a company called "The Cute Little Cake Shop" based out of the great state of Ohio. This wonderful company is owned & operated by the mother, daughter team of Marcia Rehak and Janet Yurcik. These two beautiful ladies have over 40 years of combined experience in the baking and candy making industries.

The Cute Little Cake Shop specializes in making homemade Cake Balls, Cake Ball Pops and Chocolate Covered Strawberries. They also do custom work for weddings, parties and holidays too! When you shop their web site store you will find over 50 delicious flavors to choose from and they frequently add new flavors and seasonal flavors to their line up too! Just browsing their store makes me crave for more!!!

My Review: Janet with "The Cute Little Cake Shop" contacted me and asked me to review a box of their gourmet cake balls and I of course said...YES, I would LOVE to! Working with Janet on this review has been a wonderfully pleasant experience. My order arrived in 3 days to my home and I love that my cake balls were packaged in a beautiful gift box with a ribbon bow. As I opened my box I found a list of the flavors that were included and inside the box...12 beautiful looking cake balls! Here's a list of the flavors I received.

* Chocolate Blackout (dark chocolate candy coating)
* Vanilla Almond (white chocolate candy coating)
* Banana Nut (milk chocolate candy coating)
* Peanut Butter Cup Classic (milk chocolate candy coating)
* Red Velvet (white chocolate candy coating)
* Carrot Cake (white chocolate candy coating)
* Classic Chocolate (milk chocolate candy coating)
* Toffee Bar (milk chocolate candy coating)
* Cookies 'N Cream (white chocolate candy coating)
* Cookie Dough (milk chocolate candy coating)
* Chocolate Chip Cream Cheese (milk chocolate candy coating)
* Wedding Cake (white chocolate candy coating)
* Creamsicle (white chocolate candy coating)

To see their entire list of cake ball & cake pop flavors, click ---> HERE

My husband and I decided to immediately taste test these goodies and he selected the Red Velvet and I selected the Classic Chocolate. The cake portion of the ball is moist, flavorful and absolutely delicious. These tasted like they were baked just a few hours earlier. The candy coating is sweet (not overly sweet) and delicious...just like candy should be! Hubby raved and raved and raved....about his Red Velvet cake ball! He was really disappointed that there was only one LOL! So, we decided that we were going to treat ourselves and taste test two more (we couldn't resist). This time around hubby selected the Banana Nut and I selected the Creamsicle. I asked hubby what he thought and he said it tasted like the best banana bread ever that was dipped into milk chocolate. He licked his lips a few times and asked for a third. (told him to wait until after dinner for his third). I ate the Creamsicle flavored cake ball and I wasn't sure if I would like it or not but I was pleasantly surprised with this one. There was a slight creamsicle taste to it (like the popsicle) but it wasn't overly powering orange flavor (not a huge orange fan). The cake portion was moist, chewy and flavorful. The white chocolate was sweet and there was orange drizzle over top of that. This cake ball was absolutely delish! Over the past few days we have been snacking on our cake balls and we each have a different flavor that was our favorite. Hubby's favorite cake ball was the Red Velvet one and my favorite cake ball was the Carrot Cake with white chocolate topping. I will admit, we ate the entire box in just a few days (we have been on the treadmill working it off but it was soooooo worth it!!!!).

Overall Impression: Wow...we have never had cake balls before until now and I will admit...we are hooked on them! They are the perfect sized snack or dessert and would be fabulous for a party, wedding or just keep a box in your own home for treating yourself to delicious goodness! The cake itself is flavorful, moist and tastes freshly baked! The chocolate toppings are sweet (not overly sweet) and add just the right tough to making the cake balls the PERFECT snacking/dessert item! Hubby has already informed me that we will now be regular customers of this fantastic bakery & candy store! We give "The Cute Little Cake Shop" a huge 2-thumbs up! We highly recommend this company to you as well as their delicious cake balls!

Purchasing Info: One dozen of the *Traditional* flavored cake balls costs $15.00 and if you want them turned into cake pops, there is an extra charge of $3.00 per dozen. If you want a dozen of the "Premium" flavored cake balls they cost $16.50 per dozen. Wow...totally affordable for these gourmet treats! They would make a fabulous hostess gift, birthday gift, Christmas gift, bridal shower gift and Valentine's day gift!

Please check out their wonderful web site store "The Cute Little Cake Shop" and please go over to Facebook and follow them there too!

I would like to thank the girls over at "The Cute Little Cake Shop" for sending me a dozen of their delicious cake balls to try out for my product review! These cake balls are absolutely delicious!!!

Disclaimer: Shelly Hill has personally reviewed the product listed above. Shelly has not received any monetary compensation for her review. Shelly did receive a free product to try out so she could evaluate and use it for her review. Her thoughts & opinions in this review are unbiased & honest and your opinions may differ. The Shakin N Bakin Blog is not responsible for delivery of any giveaway items won from this blog. We are not responsible for injury or mis-use of any products won from the Shakin N Bakin Blog. Please read our Terms of Service & Disclaimer Policy before entering our giveaways. Thanks!

Easy To Prepare Mexican-Style Dinner Recipes That Your Family Will Love

When it comes to making Mexican-style dinners for my family's dinner we love to use easy to prepare recipes that use readily available ingredients that are found in our normal grocery store. As a busy mother and wife...I just don't have time to look for speciality ingredients.

The following two recipes will take 15-20 minutes to prepare and then while they bake you can do your other activities. The Tex-Mex Lasagna should be prepared 6-8 hours ahead of time so I like to prepare it early in the morning and refrigerate it for when I get home from work. I then just pop it into the oven. Each of these recipes will easily feed a family of 4-5 people.

Tex-Mex Lasagna Dinner Recipe

12 pieces lasagna noodles, uncooked
3 cups spaghetti sauce (with meat or mushrooms works great)
1 cup water
1 (15 1/2 ounce) can red kidney beans, drained
1 (10 ounce) package frozen yellow or white corn, thawed
1 packet chili seasoning mix
2 cups ricotta cheese
1 1/2 cups low fat Monterey Jack cheese, grated

In a large mixing bowl combine together the spaghetti sauce, water, red kidney beans, yellow corn and the packet of chili seasoning mix. In a 9" x 13" baking pan, spread 1 cup of the sauce mixture across the bottom. Arrange 4 pieces of the uncooked lasagna noodles on top of the spaghetti sauce layer. Pour 1 cup of the sauce mixture on top of the noodles. Pour half of the ricotta cheese on top and then another cup of the spaghetti sauce...working in layers as you go along. Gently spread the remaining ricotta cheese on top and then arrange the final 4 lasagna noodles on top. Finish up by pouring the remaining spaghetti sauce on top. Cover the baking dish and place into the refrigerator for 6-8 hours. Cover your baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 45-50 minutes. Remove aluminum foil from the pan and sprinkle the grated Monterey Jack cheese on top. Place baking dish back into the oven and bake uncovered for an additional 15 minutes.

Fiesta Bake Casserole Recipe

1 lb. lean ground beef
1 (28 oz.) can baked beans
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup chopped green pepper
1/2 cup picante sauce
1/2 cup crushed tortilla chips
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

In a large frying pan, brown your lean ground beef with the chopped onions and peppers. Drain off fat. Stir in the can of baked beans and the picante sauce and simmer for 2 minutes. Spoon the meat mixture into a 2 or 3 quart casserole dish. Crush the tortilla chips and place on top of the meat mixture. Bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 25 minutes. Remove from oven and sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese on top. Place back into the oven and bake for an additional 5-7 minutes or until all of the cheese has melted. Remove from oven and let casserole sit for 5 minutes before serving.

Winner ~ Freschetta Simply Inspired Pizza Giveaway

We had a fantastic giveaway close last night that was sponsored by the great folks over at Freschetta! The winner is going to receive a coupon for a FREE Freschetta Simply Inspired Pizza (flavor of their choice) along with a bamboo cutting board.

We used Random.org to select our winner and it's comment #42.

Natalie A. said...


I follow them on Twitter! @natdey #42
coolnatty12 at yahoo dot com
May 3, 2011 3:28 AM


Congrats Natalie! I am sending you an email now to obtain your mailing information. Thanks for entering the giveaway!

Canning ~ Apple Butter, Pumpkin Butter and Peach Butter Canning Recipes

During the Summer and Fall months I enjoy harvesting the fruits and vegetables that we grow in our garden every season. Once our food is harvested...I like to get busy in my kitchen canning a variety of relishes, soups and fruit butters.

Canning is not a difficult process like most people think and it can be learned in just a few short hours if you are a beginner. Canning is a great way for you to preserve your garden harvest to use during the next year...since most canned items will last for 1 year if properly processed.

The following three recipes are my family's favorite fruit butter recipes. You will need a water bath canner and basic canning supplies to make them. I recommend processing them in 1/2 pint or 1 pint sized mason jars.

Cinnamon Peach Butter Recipe

18 medium sized peaches to make pulp
water
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
4 cups of granulated sugar

To make pulp: Wash and remove any bad spots. Scald fruit in hot water and remove peel and pit. Once cool enough to handle, chop fruit into small pieces. In a large stock pot, add in your fruit pieces and just enough water to keep them from scorching and sticking. Cook pulp over medium heat until soft. Run the pulp through a food mill and place back into your stock pot. Stir in the granulated sugar and ground cinnamon. Simmer the mixture on low, stirring often to prevent sticking. You will want to simmer it for only a few minutes until it thickens up. Once done, remove from heat and ladle into hot sterilized 1/2 pint glass mason jars. Process the jars in a water bath canner for 10 minutes. This peach butter will last for up to 1 year if properly canned.

Cinnamon Apple Butter Recipe

16 cups prepared applesauce
1/2 cup white vinegar
3 lb. granulated sugar
2 1/2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves

When I make this recipe I use 2 large baking dishes. In a large mixing bowl, combine together the applesauce, white vinegar, granulated sugar, ground cinnamon and ground cloves. Pour mixture into your baking pans and bake in a preheated 325 degree oven for 2 1/2 to 3 hours. You will need to stir the mixture once or twice every 30 minutes to keep it from sticking and scorching. Once done, ladle mixture into clean sterilized pint-sized glass mason jars. Process jars in your water bath canner for 10 minutes or according to your canner's directions.

Cinnamon Pumpkin Butter Recipe

3 1/2 cups canned pumpkin puree
2 1/2 cups brown sugar
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon grated lemon rind
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/2 cup water

In a large stock pot, combine together the canned pumpkin, brown sugar, lemon juice, lemon rind, ground cinnamon, allspice and the 1/2 cup of water. Bring the mixture to a boil using medium to high heat. Once it reaches a boil, turn the heat down to low and simmer mixture for 20-25 minutes. You will need to stir the mixture often to prevent sticking and it's done when it has thickened up. Ladle the mixture into clean sterilized pint-sized glass mason jars. Process jars in a water bath canner for 10 minutes.

Product Review ~ Pomi Italian Tomato Products!

Today I get to talk to all of you about a few great tomato products made by the Italian company called Pomi. I personally had never heard of this company or their products so when I was contact by them and asked if I wanted to review their Chopped Tomatoes and their Strained Tomatoes I jumped at the chance.

Here is some information about the products (provided to me by the company): Canned tomatoes are synonymous with high sodium and chemicals. Packaged with preservatives, citric acid, toxic BPA and other additives, we all know canned tomatoes are not a good alternative to fresh tomatoes. The best way to “kick the can” and bring safe, healthy tomatoes to the table is to Pomì! Pomì is a brand of 100% all natural, BPA-free boxed tomatoes straight from Italy. It is packaged in a SIG Combibloc without preservatives, additives, water or citric acid and the tomatoes are never grown with pesticides or through the use of genetically modified seeds. Pomì is also rich in Lycopene, a powerful antioxidant which can help decrease a person’s risk for certain types of cancers, such as prostate and lung cancer.

My Review: Once the 2 cartons of tomato products arrived, I decided to make my family a big pot of chili so that I could utilize both cartons at the same time. I was really impressed with the packaging because I try to avoid purchasing and using canned products and the Pomi tomato products are packaged in easy to use cartons. Stamped right on the carton it says they are All-Natural, No Fat and No Sodium added and I certainly appreciate that since we don't like consuming preservatives or un-needed salt. This is an imported product direct from Italy and we all know that Italians know their tomato products! No refrigeration is needed until after you open the carton and then you place any left-overs into the refrigerator where it will keep for up to 10 days.

The Pomi Chopped Tomatoes have no preservatives, coloring agents or GMO's and this carton ONLY contains one ingredient...fresh sun ripened tomatoes that have been chopped into chunks and packed in the area of production to lock in their freshness. Wow! I love reading that it's only one ingredient!!!

The Pomi Strained Tomatoes are made from 100% Italian fresh tomatoes and then strained and packed into the carton at the area of production. Again...only one ingredient...tomatoes!

So...I got busy making a big pot of chili using my favorite chili recipe which I made in my slow cooker (crock pot) and after 3 hours our dinner was done. I simply replaced the tomato products that I normally use with the Pomi tomato products that I was sent for my review. I gave each member in my family a big bowl of chili and they dug in for dinner. One thing I noticed right away was the taste...our chili definitely tasted like I had used fresh tomatoes picked from my backyard garden! I loved that the sauce didn't taste sweet nor salt...had the perfect tomato taste to it. Once the dinner was done...my hubby commented to me the following. "Honey, I don't know what you did differently this time with the chili but it absolutely rocked!" Well...that tells me that just the simple replacement of tomato products made a huge difference in the recipe that I normally use to make chili! Yeah!!!

Overall Impression: I absolutely love the Pomi Italian Tomato Products! I know when I head to the store I will be purchasing these products from now on! I love that there are no other ingredients in this product other than fresh Italian tomatoes! I love that the product is packaged in easy to use cartons that don't need refrigeration until after I open them. Once I purchase some Pomi Strained and Chopped Tomatoes, I am going to make a big pot of vegetable tomato soup next week and I am sure it will be just as delicious as our chili. I highly recommend that you check out Pomi for all of your tomato product needs! I give this product a HUGE 2 big thumbs up!

Disclaimer: Shelly Hill has personally reviewed the product listed above. Shelly has not received any monetary compensation for her review. Shelly did receive a free product to try out so she could evaluate and use it for her review. Her thoughts & opinions in this review are unbiased & honest and your opinions may differ. The Shakin N Bakin Blog is not responsible for delivery of any giveaway items won from this blog. We are not responsible for injury or mis-use of any products won from the Shakin N Bakin Blog. Please read our Terms of Service & Disclaimer Policy before entering our giveaways. Thanks!