Product Review | Serengeti Tea Company Ticolino Tea Sticks

Today I would like to introduce you to the Serengeti Tea Company which has been in business since 1993. The Serengeti Tea Company caters to the most demanding consumer and is redefining the tea and coffee experience with their new line of tea and coffee sticks. The company uses only the finest ingredients in their teas and coffees and they ingredients are sourced from around the world.

Information About The Product: The Ticolino Tea and Coffee Sticks deliver the ideal combination of quality, style and convenience. Each state of the art infuser works as it's own stick so you won't need a spoon. All products are manufactured in the United States in a clean and sanitary facility. Each one is nitrogen flushed and wrapped in an aroma barrier film for maximum freshness of the product. The tea sticks are comprised of all natural ingredients and flavors, nothing artificial at all.

They are really easy to use and all you do is boil your water, place a tea stick into your tea cup and then pour the hot water into the cup and let it steep for a few minutes. Once it is done steeping you simply toss the tea stick and enjoy your drink!

My Review: The generous folks over at Serengeti Tea Company sent me 2 boxes of their Ticolino Tea Sticks to try out for all of you. Each box contains 18 tea sticks and sells for $4.95.
I received a box of their Cardamom Black Tea and a box of their Pomegranate White Tea to try out for all of you.

First up...the Serengeti Tea Company Cardamom Black Tea which is an all-natural tea with real cardamom seeds. This is a medium body tea, strong aroma and has a medium tannins. This is a popular Eastern favorite, spiced black tea. I decided to let my mother test this tea out for us since she loves cardamom and she loves black teas. Mom made the tea as outlined above and added a little cream and sugar to it. She told me it had a nice taste to it and she loved how easy it was to make (without having to use teas and stuff) and she really enjoyed it. For the past 4 mornings she has enjoyed a cup of this tea with her morning breakfast. She likes strong tea and this one is perfect for strong tea lovers.

Second up...the Serengeti Tea Company Pomegranate White Tea which is all-natural with real fruit and it's antioxidant rich. This is a white tea with a light body, medium aroma and light tannins. I have been enjoying this tea for the past several evenings and I must say, it has become one of my favorites. It is a naturally sweet tasting tea but yet you can taste the slight tartness in it from the pomegranates...really nice combination of flavors. If you love sweet teas with a fruity taste...this one would be perfect for you!

Overall Impression: I love the teas from Serengeti Tea Company! I love these Ticolino Tea Sticks as I can take them on the go with me. You don't need tea bags, straingers, spoons, etc. All you need is a cup of hot water and a tea stick and you are good to go!

I would also like to invite you to "like" Serengeti Tea Company over on Facebook so that you are kept up to date on sales specials and coupons/discounts.

We would like to thank Serengeti Tea Company for sponsoring this review.

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!

4th of July Cocktails and Recipes from Iconic Americana Spiced Rum

Today I am sharing a few recipes with all of you given to me by the PR company that
represents Sailor Jerry. These all look delicious and are perfect for a backyard barbecue this summer.

For lighter summertime fare, the Backyard Tea – made with lemonade and iced tea – strips the innocence and adds a bite to the classic barbeque beverages. Easy to make and great for group, it can batched and served as a punch so guests can serve themselves -- and you can focus on manning delicious burgers and steaks searing on the grill.
Back Yard Tea Recipe

2 parts Sailor Jerry
1 part iced tea
2 parts lemonade
Glass: highball

Method: Add ingredients to in ice-filled glass and garnish with a lemon wedge.

Made with a spicy combination of ginger beer, pilsner, Tabasco and our beloved Sailor Jerry, the ingredients aptly explain its name – The Hellfire. Not for the faint of heart, this cocktail - a place where sweet, spicy, and salty come together harmoniously – can also provide a much needed “hair of the dog” the morning following a successful summer celebration.

Hellfire Recipe

1 part Sailor Jerry
2 dashes Tabasco sauce
¼ of a fresh lime
1 part ginger beer
Pilsner beer of favourite larger beer
Glass: beer glass

Method:
· Squeeze quarter of a lime into beer glass.
· Fill with Ice
· Add Tabasco, Sailor Jerry and ginger beer
· Top with beer

Sailor Jerry, not only limited to cocktails, can be included in all aspects of your grill out! By adding a Sailor Jerry spice to your BBQ sauce or mixing it into your hamburger meat to help with caramelization on the grill, the liquid has more uses than you would ever imagine.

SAILOR JERRY BBQ SAUCE RECIPE

In a medium pot, add 1 liter Sailor Jerry Rum,

4 to 5 quartered oranges, 3 lemons and 2 limes
3 – 4 tablespoons of mixed fruit juice concentrate optional)

Reduce at a rapid boil by about 75% or until slightly thickened, strain and let cool

Pick your favorite brand of BBQ sauce. In a new pot bring desired amount of BBQ sauce to a slow warm adding the Sailor Jerry Rum mixture a little at a time. For us, about 5/6 parts BBQ to 1 part rum mixture worked out well but taste along the way to see how you like it Tasty on ribs and pulled pork!!

11 Budget-Smart BBQ Tips for 4th of July

Although the upcoming long holiday weekend has many dreaming of a beach vacation, small budgets may be keeping people from going away. Staying home during the 4th of July means that you can host a barbecue with beer, hot dogs and fireworks--a true American celebration. So whether you're planning a celebration with extended family or a few college buds, remember that there are a few tricks to help reduce party costs.

Get your mind off your finances and onto the festivities with these 11 budget-friendly party planning tips:

1. Re-consider Renting
Why spend tons of money renting chairs, tables or canopies, when you may be able to borrow these items for free from family, friends and/or neighbors? If borrowing isn't an option however or you can't find a friend who owns 20 folding chairs, compare rental prices around town before committing to any company's fee. You may find that some items are cheaper to buy at big-box stores than to renting, so do your homework first. Should you find yourself table and chair-less, set up blankets in a picnic style fitting for any outdoor barbecue get together.

2. Homemade Food
Supermarket relish and snack trays are mighty tempting, but you'll save roughly 50 to 60 percent by making these foods at home. The same goes for store made macaroni and potato salads--it's much cheaper and probably tastier when you make these at home. Rather than trying to doit all yourself, get the family involved in the party prep or consider hosting a potluck barbecue by divvying up the menu. Guests who bring their own alcohol can really help cut your party costs.

3. Coupon It Up
Don't forget to break out the coupons for all your party needs, from food and drinks to paper goods and decorations. Print coupons from CouponSherpa.com before heading to the store or use online coupons for instant savings when ordering party goods conveniently from the Internet.

4. Skip the Babysitter
A holiday party isn't relaxing for parents who have to watch their children all day. However, there's no need to order a babysitter for the occasion. Set-up a kid's play area away from the adults and have parents or grandparents take turns watching the tots or ask an older child or teen to play with the kids in exchange for a few bucks or a gift card to their favorite store.

5. DIY Games
Keep the kids outdoors and away from the video games without spending extra by creating old-fashioned entertainment. Arrange a scavenger hunt; set-up a game of kick-ball; or use the "That Ain't It" app for a trivia game both adults and children can play.

6. Cheap Decorations
Tap into your child's creativity for home-made decorations. Although these may not look professional, they'll sure be adorable and cheap. Alternately, head to the dollar store for inexpensive seasonal decorations, like festive table clothes, balloons, streamers and beads at prices up to 70-percent off a standard party store.

7. Fireworks Shows
Instead of driving neighbors and dogs crazy this year with an at-home fireworks, attend a public display which will also save you some cash. If you absolutely must make a big noise, however, check to make sure fireworks are legal in your region, especially if you reside in a dry region, to avoid a hefty fine.

8. Send Invites for Free
Paper invites are a thing of the past, particularly since free and instant evites make RSVPing a snap. You can also coordinate carpooling from the evite website a bonus for family. Check out their selection of 4th of July invitation designs and you'll be sold.

9. Reduce the Guest List
It's easy to let the guest list get out of hand when everyone seems to be looking for a party. Entertaining family? Aunt Kate likely wants to bring a plus-one (or two). Contain the guest list and you'll contain the costs...and the amount of clean-up required afterwards.

10. Buy In Bulk
If you weren't able to contain the guest list and need to lay in extra supplies, shop wholesale stores like Costco or Sam's Club. If you don't have a membership, ask to borrow a friend's card. Consider order the bulk goods online to avoid carrying the oversized and heavy items from the car.

11. Buy a Keg
Most barbecues call for beer, but the cheap and easiest alcohol route is to buy a keg or boxed wine rather than splurging on six-packs and pricier liquors. You also might pass the hat around to cover the price of the keg.

Consumer Savings Expert, Andrea Woroch, is available to share "11 Budget-Smart BBQ Tips for 4th of July" with your audience for an in-studio, satellite or skype interview. Andrea has been featured as a media expert source on The Today Show, NBC Nightly News, FOX & Friends, ABC News NOW, MSNBC, Kiplinger Personal Finance, Smart Money and many more. To view recent interviews or for more savings tips visit AndreaWoroch.com.

Grilling | Homemade Hawaiian S'Mores and Peanut Butter Jelly S'Mores Recipes

This summer try changing up the ingredients you use to make homemade roasted or grilled S'mores! Sure...you can stick to regular graham crackers, roasted marshmallows and a few bars of chocolate but why just stop there?

Have you ever tried a Pineapple Coconut S'more? It is really easy to make and totally yummy!

Hawaiian Pineapple Coconut S'Mores Recipe

You will need a few squares of chocolate, pineapple tidbits (drained), some coconut flakes, marshmallows and graham crackers. Toast or Roast your marshmallows like you normally do and then place your chocolate square onto the graham cracker, then the roasted marshmallow, sprinkle on some coconut flakes and then 2 small pieces of pineapple and then top it with another graham cracker. Thats it!

The kids in our family like homemade Peanut Butter & Jelly S'mores and this is how we make those.

Peanut Butter and Jelly S'mores Recipe

You will need a few graham crackers, some creamy peanut butter, your favorite jelly and some roasted/toasted marshmallows. Spread some creamy peanut butter onto one of your graham crackers along with some jelly. Toast/Roast your marshmallow and place it on top along with a second graham cracker. Let it cool for a minute or two and then let the kids enjoy them!

Review and Giveaway | 4 Loaves Organic Bread From Manna Organic Bakery

Today I would like to introduce you to the company called Manna Organic Bakery which is an organic bakery that is an independent family owned business and an all organic bakery that uses USDA certified organic ingredients. Manna bread is an organic delicious bread that is cake-like in it's consistency. The Manna Organic Bread line is broken up into two divisions...the Sourdough Breads and the Manna Breads.

In the Manna Bread line you will find Banana Walnut Hemp Manna Bread, Carrot Raisin Manna Bread, Cinnamon Date Manna Bread, Fig Fennel Manna Bread, Fruit and Nut Manna Bread, Millet Rice Manna Bread, Multigrain Manna Bread, Sunseed Manna Bread and Whole Rye Manna Bread.

In the Manna Sourdough Bread line you will find Bavarian Rye Sourdough Bread, Multigrain Flax Sourdough Bread and Sunny Sourdough Bread.

My Review: I was sent 4 loaves of bread to try out for all of you. I am giving you a brief description of each one below that I received.

* Bavarian Style Sourdough Bread - This is an organic multigrain flax bread that is an excellent source of ALA Omega.
* Millet Rice Bread - This is an organic 100% sprouted whole grain , unleavened bread that is high in fiber and yeast free.
* Fruit and Nut Bread - This is an organic fruit and nut bread that is high in fiber and yeast free.
* Carrot Raisin Bread - This is an organic carrot and raisin bread that is high in fiber and yeast free.

The first bread we decided to try out was the Carrot Raisin Bread and we had it with our breakfast. I decided to toast my 2 slices in my toaster oven and I topped them with some honey butter. My hubby just ate his 2 slice plain. This is a nice cake-like bread with a nice flavorful taste. The raisins were plump and juicy and you could definitely taste the carrots. I think I actually like this bread better than a plain old carrot bread! It's delicious! Later that evening my hubby wanted to try a slice of the Fruit and Nut Bread with his evening coffee so I gave him a piece without anything on it. He gobbled it right down. He said the fruit was flavorful and moist and he enjoyed having the crunchy texture of the nuts in the bread.

My mother loves rice breads so I decided to give her that loaf to try out for all of us. The very next day she gave me a call and told me she absolutely loves this Rice Millet Bread. She told me that most of the other "rice" breads are dry breads but this particular loaf was very moist and she liked that. She told me she has been eating it plain (with her coffee or tea) and she has also toasted it. Finally...the Bavarian Style Sourdough Bread. This is a really nice bread for those of you who don't like a lot of bells and whistles in your bread. It's a nice bread that is moist and flavorful. I don't want to describe it as plain as it is so delicious but out of the 3 other breads I would say this one makes a great everyday plain bread for your family.

Overall Impression: These breads arrived to our home quickly and were well packaged in a box. They all tasted bakery fresh...meaning like they were just baked and didn't sit on a store shelf for weeks on end. I love the smaller loaf sizes that these breads come in because it is just my husband & I and sometimes we can't finish up a full-size loaf before it goes bad...so I LOVE these smaller loaf sizes. In addition...you can freeze these breads for up to 1 year in your freezer which is fabulous! We enjoyed all 4 of the loaves they sent to us. My favorite was the Carrot Raisin Bread! These breads are sold by the case...so you can purchase a case and freeze them for future use.

Giveaway: One lucky winner is going to win the same 4 loaf package of organic breads that I got to review!

Giveaway Details: This giveaway is open to residents of the USA ONLY who are age 18 and over. Please read the Terms of Service and Disclaimer Policy before entering. You must be a PUBLIC FOLLOWER of this Blog to have your entries count in my giveaways. (Follow via Google Friend Connect) All non-blog followers will have their entries disqualified after the giveaway closes. This giveaway will close on July 10th, 2011 at midnight EST time.

Mandatory Entry ~ Earns 2 Entries: Please visit the Manna Organic Bakery web site and take a look around. Come back here and tell me another product you would love to try besides the item(s) I reviewed.

Bonus Entries: You may complete these after fulfilling the mandatory entry above. Please leave a separate comment for each one that you complete.

Earns 2 Entries: Follow Manna Organic Bakery over on Facebook.
Earns 2 Entries: Follow Manna Organic Bakery over on Twitter
Earns 2 Entries: Fan/Like Shelly over on Facebook.
Earns 2 Entries: Follow Shelly over on Twitter.
Earns 5 Entries: Place my foodie blog button on your blog or web site. Please leave link so I can visit you!
Earns 5 Entries: Write up your own post about this giveaway along with live links, post it on your blog (leave link).
Earns 2 Entries: Enter another giveaway here on this blog or on our sister Two Classy Chics Blog. (leave a separate comment for each)
Earns 1 Entry Daily: You can copy and paste the following Tweet over on Twitter once per day. (leave status link)

Copy & Paste Tweet:

Win 4 Loaves of Delicious Organic Breads from @MannaOrganics on Shakin 'N Bakin Foodie Blog http://bit.ly/lTQBmh Ends 7-10 #Giveaways #Food

I would like to thank Manna Organic Bakery for participating in a product review here on the Shakin 'N Bakin Foodie Blog and for sponsoring a giveaway for my readers. We appreciate your generosity and we love your products!

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/shipping of giveaway items won from this blog nor are we responsible for mis-use or injury caused by items won from this Blog. Content on this blog is copyrighted, all rights reserved. We reserve the right to legally pursue anyone who violates our rights and/or steals our copyrighted material.

Homemade Grilled Italian Pizza Recipe | For Summer Grilling

We love using our grill to make our family's meals and one of the things we love to grill is a good homemade pizza! This is a great recipe for all of you grilled pizza lovers out there.

Homemade Grilled Italian Pizza Recipe

1 package refrigerated or frozen bread dough, thawed
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided (we use extra virgin olive oil)
1 cup prepared pizza sauce
1 to 1 1/4 cups shredded Mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup sliced mushrooms
1/4 cup sliced pepperoni

Bring your grill up to temperature. Divide dough in half and shape each piece into an 9" round pizza pie shape. Brush evenly with the olive oil and place the rounds directly onto your grill rack. Grill for 5 minutes or until the crust is golden brown on the bottom. Brush the top with additional olive oil and flip the dough crust over. Spread your pizza sauce on top, sprinkle on the cheese and add the sliced mushrooms and pepperoni. Grill for an additional 7-9 minutes or until done. Serve immediately.

Product Review | Davinci Gourmet Flavored Syrups Review

Today I would like to introduce you to the company called Davinci Gourmet who sells some of the most delicious syrups that I have ever tried. You can use their gourmet syrups in your coffees, iced teas, lemonades and in your favorite dessert recipes. Their products are sold in gourmet shops, coffee shops, food service outlets and grocery stores in over 40 countries. You can also purchase their products online through their online website store.

My Review: The generous folks over at Davinci Gourmet sent me 4 bottles of their flavored syrups to try out for all of you. We are big coffee and tea drinkers here so I was really excited to receive them. We received the following 4 flavors:

Caramel Sugar-Free Syrup - which has a buttery toasted sugar and vanilla taste to it. This syrup sells for $7.99 a bottle and my hubby has been using it in his evening coffee the past few nights and absolutely loves it!

Kahlua Flavored Sugar-Free Syrup - If you love the taste of Kahlua you are going to love this syrup! My hubby has been using it in his coffee and I added 2 teaspoons of it to my chocolate cake batter over the weekend and wow...that chocolate cake tasted fabulous! This one sells for $7.99 a bottle.

Classic Vanilla Syrup - This pure flavor is extracted from real vanilla beans and is very versatile. You can use it in your hot teas, iced teas, coffees, espressos, desserts, etc. We have been enjoying it in our coffees and I made a batch of homemade vanilla ice cream in our ice cream maker on Sunday and I added 2 teaspoons to the mix and I love how our ice cream came out. It had a nice (but not over-powering taste to it). This one sells for $7.49 a bottle.

Classic Toasted Hazelnut Syrup - This syrup has your classic roasted hazelnut flavor that is perfect for hot coffees and hot teas. Since receiving this syrup...my adult daughter and mother have been using this in their coffees along with some whipped cream and love it. This one sells for $7.49 a bottle.

Now...you might be wondering how easy are these syrups to use and I am going to show you. You just brew your favorite cup of coffee (we made some espresso in our Tassimo) and once done by hubby simply adds a teaspoon of the syrup directly into his coffee cup. That's it! You don't have to go out and pay expensive coffee shop prices anymore because you can purchase a bottle of Davinci Gourmet Syrups and make your own at home!!!











Our family is LOVING these syrups and over the coming weeks, I plan on trying out a lot of the Davinci Gourmet Recipes and blogging about those as we try them. We give them 10 stars out of 10 stars because they are easy to use, taste fantastic and they are totally affordable because one large bottle goes a long way!!! I would like to thank Davinci Gourmet for participating in a product review here on the Shakin 'N Bakin Blog. These syrups are absolutely fantastic!

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: Delicious Gourmet Teas From Serengeti Tea Company

Today I would like to introduce you to the Serengeti Tea Company which has been in business since 1993. The Serengeti Tea Company caters to the most demanding consumer and is redefining the tea and coffee experience with their new line of tea sticks and coffee sticks. The company uses only the finest ingredients in their teas and coffees and they ingredients are sourced from around the world.

Information About The Product: The Ticolino Tea Sticks and Coffee Sticks deliver the ideal combination of quality, style and convenience. Each state of the art infuser works as it's own stick so you won't need a spoon. All products are manufactured in the United States in a clean and sanitary facility. Each one is nitrogen flushed and wrapped in an aroma barrier film for maximum freshness of the product. The tea sticks are comprised of all natural ingredients and flavors, nothing artificial at all.

They are really easy to use and all you do is boil your water, place a tea stick into your tea cup and then pour the hot water into the cup and let it steep for a few minutes. Once it is done steeping you simply toss the tea stick and enjoy your drink!

My Review: Today I am reviewing 5 more flavors of the Serengeti Tea Sticks for all of you. Last Friday I invited a few friends over for a tea party at my home. I used to hold tea parties often for my girlfriends but I haven't had one in a long time due to family commitments. I had a lot of fun putting my new table linens onto my table, getting my tea set out of the hutch and preparing for my guests. Once they arrived I told them that we would be sampling a variety of tea today provided to me by Serengeti Tea Company. The 5 flavors we sampled today are as follows:

High Tea Blend - This is a strong body tea, light aroma, medium tannins and is all-natural. This is a premium black tea blend. (my mom's favorite)

Earl Grey - This is a medium body tea, medium aroma, medium tannins and is all-natural. It has bergamot in it with a hint of a citrus taste to it. (my friend Sara's favorite)

Mango Black Tea - This is a medium body tea, medium aroma, light tannins and is all-natural. This one is considered to be an Hawaiian exotic tea. It is a woodsy black tea with a juicy mango flavor to it that is just out of this world! (my favorite out of these five).

Passion Black Tea - This is a medium body tea, medium aroma, light tannins and is all-natural. This one is considered to be an Hawaiian exotic tea. This is a black tea that has been flavored with passion fruit. (this was my friend Renee's favorite).

Pineapple Black Tea - This is a medium body tea, medium aroma, light tannins and is all-natural. This is considered to be an Hawaiian exotic tea. A nice black tea with an authentic pineapple flavor. (This tea was Kathy's and Jenelle's favorite).

I made some tea from each of the above flavors and I actually pour about 2 ounces into everyone's tea cup and left everyone sample each of the five flavors. After our sampling was done...I made each person a full cup of the tea that they preferred the most. (you can see those results above). We each had a different favorite flavor but admitted to one another that they were all delicious! My friends had never seen tea sticks before and after I should them how to brew a cup of tea using the tea sticks they tell me they never want to use messy tea bags again! yeah!

We give the Serengeti Tea Company a huge 2 thumbs up! We love their tea products and we recommend this company and their products to you. Please follow Serengeti Tea Company over on Facebook so that you can keep up with company news, product specials and get coupons towards your purchases.

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!

Review and Giveaway | Robert Rothschild Pineapple-Habanero Dip Giveaway!

Today I would like to introduce you to the company called Robert Rothschild Farm who makes some of the most delicious gourmet food products I have ever tasted. For the past 8 years or so...I have been a HUGE fan of their raspberry honey mustard pretzel dip and you can always find a jar of that here in my home. I was really excited to be contacted by them to do a review for all of you on the Robert Rothchild Roasted Pineapple & Habanero Dip.

The Roasted Pineapple & Habanero Dip can be used in many ways. It can be used as a snack dip straight from the jar or mix it with a block of softened cream cheese for a creamy-style dip. This dip can also be used as a marinade for meat, fish and poultry and for the review...we decided to use our jar to marinate some pork chops. They included the Pineapple Habanero Pork Chops recipe in with my package and that is what we used. The recipe was easy to prepare and instead of grilling our pork chops, we baked them since it was raining outside. You can see the recipe here on my blog ---> HERE

We used the entire 14 ounce jar to marinade our pork chops for 8 hours before we baked them and they came out just perfectly! I was a little worried that they would be too spicy for me to eat since I have gastric problems but I was pleasantly surprised that I could eat them and they were absolutely delicious. The combination of the "sweet" pineapples tasted fabulous with the "spicy" taste of the habanero peppers. The pork chops were nice and moist and they had a wonderful flavor to them...matter of fact...I have never tasted anything like this so it was fabulous. My husband raved and raved over these pork chops and actually ate 2 large pork chops that night for dinner. The next day...he had the leftovers too!
We give this Roasted Pineapple-Habanero Dip a huge two thumbs up! Next time we are going to try it out by marinating some chicken in it and then throwing those chicken pieces onto our grill. I bet they are going to taste fantastic! We invite you to check out all of the wonderful gourmet food products that Robert Rothschild has to offer and trust me...they offer a lot! When you go over to their web site...make sure you check out their fantastic recipes while you are there.

Giveaway: Two lucky readers of the Shakin 'N Bakin Foodie Blog are each going to receive 2 Robert Rothschild Roasted Pineapple-Habanero Dips to try out in your own home! You are going to love them! Each jar retails for $8.99 each so a great prize to be won!

Giveaway Details: This giveaway is open to residents of the USA ONLY who are age 18 and over. Please read the Terms of Service and Disclaimer Policy before entering. You must be a PUBLIC FOLLOWER of this Blog to have your entries count in my giveaways. (Follow via Google Friend Connect) All non-blog followers will have their entries disqualified after the giveaway closes. This giveaway will close on July 6th, 2011 at midnight EST time.

Mandatory Entry: Please visit the Robert Rothschild Farms web site and take a look around. Come back here and tell me another product you would love to try besides the item I reviewed.

Bonus Entries: You may complete these after fulfilling the mandatory entry above. Please leave a separate comment for each one that you complete.

Earns 2 Entries: Follow Robert Rothschild Farm over on Facebook.
Earns 2 Entries: Visit their site & take a look at their recipe section and come back and tell me which recipe you would like to try out some day in your own home.
Earns 2 Entries: Fan/Like Shelly over on Facebook.
Earns 2 Entries: Follow Shelly over on Twitter.
Earns 5 Entries: Place my foodie blog button on your blog or web site. Please leave link so I can visit you!
Earns 2 Entries: Enter another giveaway here on this blog or on our sister Two Classy Chics Blog. (leave a separate comment for each)
Earns 5 Entries: Write up your own post about this giveaway along with live links, post it on your blog (leave link).
Earns 1 Entry Daily: You can copy and paste the following Tweet over on Twitter once per day. (leave status link)

Copy & Paste Tweet:

Shakin N Bakin Blog: Win 2 Jars of Robert RothsChild Pineapple-Habanero Dip @Ravish30 http://bit.ly/iwqjcx US ONLY! Ends 7-06 #Giveaways

I would like to thank Robert Rothschild for participating in a product review here on the Shakin 'N Bakin Foodie Blog and for sponsoring a giveaway for my readers. We appreciate your generosity and we love your products!

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/shipping of giveaway items won from this blog nor are we responsible for mis-use or injury caused by items won from this Blog. Content on this blog is copyrighted, all rights reserved. We reserve the right to legally pursue anyone who violates our rights and/or steals our copyrighted material.

June 20th is National Milkshake Day! Fabulous Milkshake Recipes By Krups

Did you know that June 20th is National Milkshake Day? Celebrate this holiday with a few yummy recipes and a KRUPS KB790 Blender!

The KRUPS KB790 blender is a quiet but powerful 1000 watt blender with Motor Technik Technology. It has 6 powerful blades made of highly resistant stainless steel. Five levels of speed create different types of textures including a “pulse” mode for each setting and an ice crushing function.

Below please find a few milkshake recipes to use with a KRUPS KB790 blender to enjoy on this delicious day!

Classic Chocolate Cherry Milkshake

4 scoops vanilla ice cream
3/4 cup cold milk
1/4 cup chocolate syrup
5 maraschino cherries, stems removed
Whipped topping & additional cherry

Directions:

Place all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth. Garnish with whipped topping and cherry.

Smooth Caramel Latte Milkshake

1 cup cold milk
1/3 cup caramel syrup
2 cups coffee ice cream

Directions:

Place all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth and thick. Garnish with whipped topping and caramel syrup

Fresh Strawberry Milkshake

2 cup milk
1 cup fresh strawberries
1 pint vanilla ice cream

Directions:

Place all ingredients into blender. Blend until smooth. Garnish with whipped topping and fresh strawberries.

We would like to thank the PR company who works with Krups for sending us these recipes to post here on our blog. Krups Rocks!!!

Robert Rothschild's Grilled Pineapple Habanero Pork Chops Recipe

This recipe was given to me by the generous folks over at Robert Rothschild Farm who make some of the best tasting gourmet foodie products that I have ever tried. This is their Pineapple-Habanero Pork Chops recipe that utilizes their jar of Roasted Pineapple & Habanero Dip which is used as a marinade on the pork chops.

Pineapple-Habanero Pork Chops Recipe

4 pork loin chops, 3/4" thick
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 red onion, sliced
1 clove of garlic, diced
1 jar (14 ounces) Robert Rothschild Farm Roasted Pineapple & Habanero Dip

Heat oil in a saute pan. Add the onions and saute until the onions become transparent, add in the garlic and saute for another minute. Season the pork chops with salt and ground black pepper and brush with olive oil. Grill on each side for 2 minutes. Brush with Roasted Pineapple & Habanero Dip and continue to grill until cooked to desired doneness. Pork chops can also be baked in a 350 degree oven until done. (we baked ours).

Wine Pairing Suggestions: Viognier, Montravel White
Beer Pairing Suggestions: Pale Ale, Light Wheat Beer
Cheese Pairing Suggestions: Gorgonzola, Gouda

Product Review | Women's Bean Project | Chili and Corn Bread Mixes

Today I would like to introduce you to the non-profit organization called the Women's Bean Project that was established back in 1989. This wonderful organization has been helping women break the cycle of poverty and unemployment by employing them in their gourmet food products and handmade jewelry business. I think this is absolutely fabulous and we should all be supporting this wonderful organization if we can.

The Women's Bean Project sells a variety of gourmet food products like chili mixes, bread mixes, cookie mixes, beverage mixes, baking mixes, gift baskets, etc. and all of these mixes and baskets are hand assembled by the women who are employed there. In addition...you will find beautiful handcrafted pieces of jewelry that have also been made by the women who work for this organization. Wow...I am totally impressed with this organization.

My Review: The generous folks over at the Women's Bean Project sent me their fabulous Chili and Cornbread Bundle to try out for all of you. This set includes 2 different styles of chili (one spicy hot and one mild) and the cornbread baking mix. I decided to make the mild chili a few evenings ago since I was expecting some friends over for dinner. I read the instructions enclosed on the package and soaked my beans in water overnight. The next day I assembled the ingredients I needed to prepare the chili and made the child following the directions which were really easy to understand and follow. I cooked it stove top for about 1 1/2 hours over low heat and then transferred it to my slow cooker to keep warm until my dinner guests arrived. I then got busy preparing the corn bread that came in the package and placed that into my oven to bake. About 20 minutes later it was done and I took it out to cool. Once my guests arrived I served them salads, chili and the corn bread. I asked each guest what they thought about the chili and all of them enjoyed it. I asked them about the corn bread and they really loved the corn bread because most corn breads are dry and grainy but this one was moist and flavorful. We give everything we tried a big two thumbs up!

I haven't made the spicy chili mix yet but I am sure it will be just as delicious as the first one. I found the chili and the cornbread mix to be really easy to prepare and you only have to add a few other ingredients. You can purchase this same gift set that I received for the review from their site for only $14.25 and it comes beautifully packaged making it the perfect gift for a foodie lover on your gift list.

You can follow the Women's Bean Project over on Facebook and/or on Twitter so that you can be kept up to date on product specials and news. I would like to thank them for participating in a product review here on our blog.

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: Lady Fortunes Customized Chocolate Confections

Today I would like to introduce you to the company called Lady Fortunes which is the nation's premier giant fortune cookie company but fortune cookies is not all that they sell. You will also find various types of cookies, small fortune cookies, chocolate covered graham crackers, cupcakes, chocolate dipped Oreo cookies and so much more! What really sets this company a part from the rest is that you can provide to them your logo or photograph and they can apply that to your candy or cookie confection! If you have a business event or a party that you are throwing (baby shower, birthday, holiday, wedding, etc.) You have got to check out these products!

My Review: The generous folks over at Lady Fortunes sent me several chocolate confections to try out for all of you. I supplied them the graphic from one of my blogs and they were able to put it onto each of my chocolate goodies!!! When my box arrived I could hardly contain myself and I immediately opened it and stood there looking at my beautiful personalized chocolate goodies! I received a white chocolate dipped fortune cookie, Oreo cookie, graham cracker, marshmallow and rice krispie treat...all of them dipped in delicious Belgian Chocolate with colored sprinkles on top. OH MY! Besides that...each piece had a 100% edible Two Classy Chics logo applied to it! Amazing...I have never seen anything like this!

I immediately sat down with my best friend Renee and we got busy taste testing all of these chocolate confections. First...the white chocolate that they use is some of the BEST chocolate I have ever tasted! Every piece was completely covered in white chocolate goodness on all sides! Each marshmallow, Oreo cookie, graham cracker, rice krispie treat and fortune cookie tasted absolutely delicious and everything tasted so fresh that you would of thought that you had made them all yourself just hours earlier! Fantastic!!!

These products are so fabulous that I can't wait until my daughter sets a wedding date as I certainly want to order some of these for the wedding as favors as they are fabulous! You have got to check out Lady Fortunes to see all of their fun chocolate confections that they have to offer!

I would like to thank Lady Fortunes for sending me the chocolate confections sampler box for me to try out for all of you. I give this company a huge two 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!

Product Review | Serengeti Tea Company Ticolino Tea Stick Teas

Today I would like to introduce you to the Serengeti Tea Company which has been in business since 1993. The Serengeti Tea Company caters to the most demanding consumer and is redefining the tea and coffee experience with their new line of tea and coffee sticks. The company uses only the finest ingredients in their teas and coffees and they ingredients are sourced from around the world.

Information About The Product: The Ticolino Tea and Coffee Sticks deliver the ideal combination of quality, style and convenience. Each state of the art infuser works as it's own stick so you won't need a spoon. All products are manufactured in the United States in a clean and sanitary facility. Each one is nitrogen flushed and wrapped in an aroma barrier film for maximum freshness of the product. The tea stick is comprised of all natural ingredients and flavors, nothing artificial at all.

My Review: Today I am reviewing two different packages of Ticolino Teas for you from the Serengeti Tea Company. First up...the Ticolino Peach Green Tea. This is a light bodied green tea that features the sweet taste of fresh peaches. It is loaded with antioxidants and made with real fruit. In this box I received there are 18 tea sticks. Using these tea sticks is a really simple process. You boil some water and pour it into your tea cup with your tea stick in the glass. You let it sit to steep for 3-4 minutes. If you want a strong flavor...use the stick to stir it around a few times and if you want a lighter flavor...just let the stick sit in the cup for the steeping time. Once it is done steeping you simply remove the tea stick and toss it away. There are no messy tea bags or spoons to deal with. Once mine was done steeping I sat down to enjoy my first cup. I like light teas and this tea is certainly that! I am a big fan of flavored teas but I don't like when the "fruit" over powers the tea and makes me feel like I am drinking warm fruit juice...this is not that! This is a great tasting peach green tea and I could taste the wonderful blend...tasted like a green tea with just a -hint- of the peach flavor which is exactly how I like my flavored hot teas. I give it 10 stars out of 10 stars! I love this flavor! You can purchase this product for $4.95 per box.

Next up is the Ticolino Jasmine Green Tea by Serengeti Tea Company. This is a mild body green tea and is all natural. Matter of fact...it has only 2 ingredients...green tea and jasmine blossoms so you can not get any more natural than that! You make this tea exactly like the first tea that I outlined above. Yesterday during breakfast I decided to try out this particular flavor so I made my husband and I each a glass of this tea. What I really love about this particular flavor is that one some days I am not in the mood for a fruit flavored tea but yet...I want to sit down and have a nice cup of hot green tea and this tea...is fabulous for those who just want a green tea without the fruit flavoring. It has a nice "clean" taste to it and has a little stronger "green tea" taste to it as compared to the first tea we tried out but seriously folks...it is fabulous! You can purchase this product for $4.95 per box.

Out of these two flavors...my favorite was the Peach Green Tea and I have enjoyed several cups of this tea since receiving it. However...out of these two flavors my husband prefers the Jasmine Green Tea. They are both excellent teas and it will just depend on your individual taste buds on which one you prefer. What we both love about this tea stick system is that NO tea flakes leaked out of the sticks and got into our tea. They are super easy to use and make a fabulous cup of hot tea. We give these products a huge two thumbs up!

Please visit Serengeti Tea Company and check out all of their flavors that these Ticolino Teas come in as I am sure they have a flavor that will appeal to you. We love the quality, wide-variety of flavors and their affordable prices!

I would also like to invite you to "like" Serengeti Tea Company over on Facebook so that you are kept up to date on sales specials and coupons/discounts.

We would like to thank Serengeti Tea Company for sponsoring this review. I will be posting more reviews on their tea over the next two weeks so keep checking back for my next installment.

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!

5 Ingredients or Less Vegetable Side Dish Recipes

A healthy diet should include 5 to 7 fruit and vegetable servings every day, are you getting enough vegetables in your diet? If not, I have a four 5 ingredients or less vegetable side dish recipes to share with you.

Two of these recipes are made in the microwave oven and one is made on the stove top so they are great for busy weeknight evenings. The final recipe is made in your conventional oven and is great for weekend family dinners.

Marinated Soy Sauce Mushrooms Recipe

2 sticks butter
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1/2 bottle of soy sauce
4 (12 ounce) packages of sliced mushrooms

In a large frying pan, saute the sliced mushrooms over low heat. Stir in the granulated sugar and soy sauce. Cover and simmer the mixture on low to medium heat for 15-20 minutes or until mushrooms are tender.

Microwave Cheesy Mixed Vegetables Recipe

1 small bag of frozen mixed vegetables
1 cup stuffing mix
8 oz. shredded cheddar cheese
4 tablespoons butter or margarine

Microwave the frozen mixed vegetables according to package directions. Place butter in a glass measuring cup and microwave it for 15 seconds or until it is melted. Pour the melted butter over the stuffing mix and stir well so that everything is combined. Place the veggies, stuffing mix and shredded cheese in a microwave safe dish and microwave on high for 2 minutes or until the cheese has melted. Serve immediately.

Oven Baked Frozen Peas Recipe

20 oz. bag of frozen peas
1 can cream of celery soup
1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs
4 tablespoons butter, melted
salt and pepper to taste

Grease a 2 quart casserole baking dish with butter. Defrost frozen peas in the microwave according to package directions. Place thawed peas and soup into the casserole dish and stir them together. Melt butter in the microwave and mix it with the seasoned bread crumbs. Pour bread crumbs into the casserole dish along with salt and pepper. Stir so that all ingredients are well combined. Bake uncovered in a preheated 350 degree oven for 35-40 minutes or until done.
Microwave Glazed Carrots Recipe

1 lb. fresh carrots
1/4 cup water
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 teaspoon dill

Wash and peel the carrots and slice them down into 1/4" thick rounds. Place water into a 2 quart casserole baking dish and add in your sliced carrots. Cover dish and microwave on the high setting for 7 minutes. Let it stand in the microwave for 3 minutes and then drain away the water. Stir in the butter, brown sugar and dill and microwave for an additional 2 minutes. Serve immediately.

This article was written by Shelly Hill, copyright 2011, All Rights Reserved.

Product Review: New Crystal Light Mocktail Drink Mixes!

Summer is finally here and there is one thing that I always look forward to during a hot summer day and that is cooling off with a nice delicious cold beverage. Today...I am going to talk to you about the new limited edition Crystal Light mocktail drink mixes! I was recently sent 2 of the Crystal Light Mocktail drink mixes to try out for all of you and I was really excited about receiving them. As you know...mocktails don't contain any alcohol.

About The Product: Crystal Light Mocktails are a low-calorie drink mix available for a limited time in Margarita, Mojito and Appletini flavors. With just 5 calories per serving, they offer all the flavor of your favorite summertime beverage, without the compromise on calories. New Mocktails easily mix up the perfect pitcher without the hassle of muddling limes, blending ice or using a cocktail strainer. Just add water, mix it up and toast to summertime!

More about Crystal Light Mocktails:

· Contains just 5 calories per 8 fl. oz. serving, compared to leading beverages*
· Contains 0 carbohydrates per 8 fl. oz. serving
· Sweetened with a blend of non-nutritive sweeteners
· Gluten free
· Available in multi-serve canisters with five 2-quart packets so there is always enough to share
* Leading beverages contain 70 calories

My Review: I received the Margarita and the Appletini flavors to try out for all of you. The first one that we decided to try was the Appletini because we love the alcohol version of these drink so we wanted to see if the mocktail version was just as good. We read the instructions on the canister and mixed the packet of mix with cold water...stirred it up for a few minutes and then poured it over ice in our drinking glasses. Each packet will make a full 2 quart beverage pitcher. My husband, 25 year old daughter and I sat down to have some appletini mocktail and wow...we were super impressed with this drink! It actually tasted better than the alcohol counterpart and we just loved it! Matter of fact, we finished the entire 2 quart pitcher of Appletini in just 4 1/2 hours! It was refreshing, sweet (but not overly sweet) and had a wonderful apple flavor to it.

We also received the Crystal Light Margarita Mocktail Mix to try out for you. The very next day I made up a 2 quart pitcher of the Margarita flavor and chilled it for about an hour or so. Once the gang arrived home from work and ate dinner...I served them their Margarita Mocktails and immediately the gang told me that they loved them! Again...refreshing taste and tasted just as good, if not better than the alcohol version of this drink.

Overall Impression: I will definitely be purchasing more of the Crystal Light Mocktail Drink Mixes in the future...matter of fact, it's on my grocery store shopping list for Friday! They taste absolutely delicious and they are super easy to prepare because all you need to do is add cold water! I love that each 8 oz. serving only has 5 calories so it's great for those of us who are watching our weight. We give these drink mixes 10 stars out of 10 stars! We hope you will go out to the store and pick up a few yourselves and give them a try...I think you will love them!

Disclaimer: Shelly Hill has personally reviewed the product listed above. Shelly has not received any monetary compensation for her review. I received a sample of Crystal Light Mocktails from Kraft Foods. 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!

Decadent White Chip Chocolate Pecan Brownies Recipe

If you are looking for a deccadent dessert style brownie recipe than this recipe is for you! It is a very moist and sweet type of brownie dessert that is perfect for parties and entertaining. If you don't like Pecans you can omit them or substitute with your favorite type of nut.

Decadent White Chip Chocolate Pecan Brownies Recipe

3/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup baking cocoa
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, cut up into pieces
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
3 large eggs, divided
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup chopped pecans
3/4 cup white chocolate chips
1/2 cup caramel ice cream topping
3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Bake in an 8" square pan in a 350 degree oven. Combine flour, cocoa and salt in a bowl. Beat butter, sugar and brown sugar in a large bowl until creamy. Add 2 eggs, beating well after adding them in. Add vanilla and mix well. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Reserve 3/4 c. of batter. Spread remaining batter into prepared baking pan (see size above). Sprinkle pecans and white chocolate chips over batter. Drizzle caramel topping over top. Beat remaining egg and reserved batter in same large bowl until light in color. Stir in chocolate chips. Spread evenly over the top. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until done.