web analytics
You are here: Home / Archives for Lifestyle / Shopping / Reviews & Giveaways / Food & Beverage

Bertolli Premium Meal Soup: The Taste of Made-From-Scratch in a Flash #BertolliMealSoup

January 31, 2012 By 2 Comments

Bertolli Meal Soup logoAs someone who cooks from scratch, just about everyday.  I am a bit spoiled and fussy, when it comes to food.  Let’s face it though, no matter who you are, none of us have the time or inclination, to cook everything from scratch.  A time crunch does not mean you have to sacrifice having a quality meal.  I recently tried Bertolli Premium Meal Soup, and found it to be an excellent solution for busy weeknights special.
Bertolii frozen soupI had originally planned to serve some bread or salad with the soup, but once I had emptied the contents of the pouch into my saucepan, I realized that they weren’t kidding, when they called this a “meal soup”.  It was chock full of chicken, veggies and pasta.  This hearty soup would be plenty in itself.

To prepare, all I had to do was add a cup of water and turn the burner on high.  After a few minutes, when most of the frozen sauce cubes had melted I gave it a quick stir.  Once it came to a boil, turn the burner down to simmer, cover and cook for about 5 more minutes, to ensure everything was nice and hot all the way through.  Presto, done.

bertolli soupThe Roasted Chicken & Rotini soup had great flavor, not too salty and full of well trimmed chicken, and veggies that seemed like they had been cut to order.  Both the vegetables and the pasta had a fresh texture.  I loathe mushy pasta, so this is especially important to me.  The process Bertolli has used to freeze the soup as separate components, really gives the results of fresh homemade soup.

For more information about the Premium Meal Soups from Bertolli check out the Bertolli website, and follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

I was compensated by Bertolli to participate in the Weeknight Meal Special Challenge.  All experiences and opinions presented here are my own.

Filed Under: Food & Beverage
Pin It

California Wine Club: Great Last Minute Holiday Gift!

December 16, 2011 By Leave a Comment

california wine club holiday giftLooking for a last minute holiday gift, they will really love? Why not a membership to the California Wine Club .  It would be a fantastic present for any wine lover, as well as, the foodies in your life.  I have sampled a few shipments, and have been very pleased with the quality of the wines sent.

wine clubThe club is not stuffy at all.  California Wine Club makes tasting wine an easy and enjoyable experience, that you can have right in your own home.  Each moth the club sends two bottles of wine from a small (usually family run) California winery.  They arrive nicely packaged in a specially designed double wine insulator, to ensure no broken bottles.   An informative magazine is also included with each shipment.  The magazine shares interesting information about the producing winery, and the family that runs it. There is also a section in the back, offering bottles that have come in earlier shipments (great if you haven’t been able to find them locally).  If you have never experienced small estate wines before, you’re sure to be surprised at how distinctive they each are, and knowing about the people that made your wine, adds a little to the enjoyment, as well.

You can send as many months as you like to your recipient. Discounts are available on 3, 6, 9 & 12 month packages. The first shipment will also include a $25 voucher so they can re-order their favorite wines.  Each shipment contains two bottles, if you prefer to do two red or two white wines, rather than one of each no problem.  To take advantage of this deal and get an additional 10% off your order, use the promo code: blommi and follow this link to  The California Wine Club. 

Product sample provided.

Filed Under: Food & Beverage, Holiday Gift Guide 2011 Tagged With: ,
Pin It

NewAir AIC-210 Ice Cream Maker Review

December 13, 2011 By 2 Comments

ice cream makerI was recently sent a NewAir AIC-210 Ice Cream Maker for review.  This ice cream maker is much different than the one my parent’s used when I was a child.  Memories of packing salt and ice into the sides of the old style ice cream makers , and waiting for hours to have any ice cream to eat, didn’t draw me back to the process, as an adult.  This ice cream machine is far different from the set-up my parents used though.

homemade frozen yogurtThe NewAir AIC-210 Ice Cream Maker has a built in compressor, so making ice cream becomes as simple as mixing your ingredients, pouring them in, setting the timer, and pressing the button.  I made some frozen yogurt in the machine, and it was ready in just 40 minutes, with minimal cleanup.  My daughter loved the yogurt, and it is a great way to try out something unusual.   Our frozen yogurt concoction was made with vanilla frozen yogurt, milk, chocolate Slimfast powder & a banana.  I figured my daughter and I both liked this combination as a smoothie, so why not a frozen treat.

I will certainly be having some fun with this next summer, making ice cream and frozen yogurt featuring fresh fruits and berries.  I might try a couple wacky recipes I have seen online, like bacon ice cream, as well… why not.  The Newair AIC-210 would make a wonderful gift for the foodie or ice cream lover in your life.   It is quicker and easier to use than most ice cream makers , so I think they will be pleasantly surprised.

Product sample provided.  All experiences and opinions presented here are my own.

Filed Under: Food & Beverage, Holiday Gift Guide 2011, Household Tagged With: , ,
Pin It

Apothic Red: A Versatile Wine for Your Holiday Table

December 13, 2011 By 1 Comment

apothic red reviewApothic Red is a delightful vinter’s blend.  It is rich and smooth, with the flavor of cherries and a bit of spiciness.  The blend is a mixture of Syrah, Zinfandel and Merlot, and has acquired excellent characteristics from each.  The wine retails for a reasonable retail price of $14, but I recently purchased it 2 for $19.99, from a local wine seller.

I would suggest Apothic Red as an excellent red choice to serve with dinner, or as a hostess gift.  In my opinion this is a smart buy.

Disclosure: Sample provided.  I have indeed bought it since then.

Filed Under: Food & Beverage Tagged With: ,
Pin It

Spaghetti w/ Crispy Pancetta and Aspargus Recipe from Barilla (Gift Card Giveaway & Coupon)

December 7, 2011 By

I generally develop and write my own recipes here, but this week I have a great recipe for you from the Barilla Taste & Share Challenge’s Dinner Kit.  To help families transition into eating more whole grains,  the folks over at Barilla have developed a nice catalog of healthy recipes, utilizing their line of whole grain pastas.  There are quite a few vegetarian choices among the recipes, but I ended out selecting one which featured the Italian equivalent of bacon.  Just a small amount of this delectable pork fat treat, truly brings this dish to a higher level, while not adding much actual fat, since it is very well rendered in the cooking process.  I also loved the way the diagonal cuts to the asparagus, made it cook through quickly, while maintaining a nice texture.  As an added bonus, this recipe was fully prepared and on the table in about 20 minutes.  I will certainly make this recipe again.

barilla whole grain pasta

SPAGHETTI WITH CRISPY PANCETTA AND ASPARAGUS

Ingredients:

  • 1 box Barilla Whole Grain Spaghetti
  • 2 oz. Pancetta (julienned)
  • 2 bunches of  Asparagus (sliced thin on  bias)
  • 1 clove of  Garlic, Chopped
  •  tbs.  Fresh Italian Parsley (chopped)
  • 1 cup Cherry Tomatoes
  • 1/2  cup Parmigiano Reggiano Cheese (grated)
  •  Black Pepper to taste (freshly ground)
  • 3 tbs.  Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Directions:

  1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
  2. HEAT a medium sized skillet over medium heat. Add the oil to the pan and sauté garlic until slightly browned, about 1 minute.
  3. ADD asparagus, sauté over medium heat for 4 minutes. 
  4. ADD tomatoes, season with salt and black pepper, sauté for 3 additional minutes or until tomatoes are warmed through and skins are slightly blistered.
  5. SAUTÉ pancetta in a small sauté pan on low heat until crispy, and drain the extra fat. 
  6. COOK Whole Grain Spaghetti according to package directions, drain and toss with the sauce. Stir in cheese, parsley, and top with pancetta before serving.

Note: I mistakenly purchased 4 oz. of the Pancetta, so I fried it first, drained it well & left half in the pan which I used to cook the vegetables, then topped the plate with the reserved Pancetta, as directed in the recipe.  ( I know, extra fat… but it is far too good to waste.)

barilla taste and share challenge Check out this and many more wonderful recipes,  learn about the importance of eating whole grains, and share some money saving coupons for yourself and some friends on the Barilla Taste & Share Challenge.

Grab a Coupon!

Barilla has made it even easier for Blommi readers to take the Whole Grain Taste & Share Challenge!  For a limited time, visit: http://on.fb.me/TryWholeGrain, enter box code 1129 and select two of your Facebook friends to share Whole Grain with. You’ll be instantly eligible to print a $1-for-2 coupon and your friends will each receive a $1-for-1 coupon good for any variety of Barilla Whole Grain pasta.

Disclosure: I was given the opportunity to share my experience with Barilla Whole Grain pasta, as part of a sponsored blogging program.  I  was compensated for my participation. All opinions and recipes presented here are my own.

Visa Gift Card Giveaway

One lucky Blommi reader will win a $100 Visa Gift Card courtesy of Barilla, to help get them on track with healthy eating.

Entry Options (do as many or as few as you like, but make sure to leave a separate comment for each entry)

      • Tell me in a comment below, that you will try the Taste & Share challenge.
      • “Like” Barilla US on Facebook
      • “Like” Blommi on Facebook
      • Follow this blog via email or RSS  (One entry each).
      • Follow both  @TwiMommi and @BarillaUS on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway can be done 3x per day at least 1 hour apart (account must be public and have at least 50 followers). feel free to use this tweet: ” Win a $100 VISA Gift Card from @TwiMommi & @BarillaUS  http://blommi.com/?p=24007 #Giveaway  ”
      • Follow me on Stumble Upon , Pinterest or Google + (one entry each, leave your user name in comment).
      • Stumble, Pin or +1  this or any other recipe post from Blommi.com (each can be done once per day) The dropdown sharebar on the left side of page makes these easy.
      • For 3 entries! Grab my ad button (available here), or add Blommi.com to your blogroll -> blog must be public with minimum 25 followers. Leave a link where it can be found, in your comment. (remember to leave 3 separate comments)
      • For 3 Entries! Blog about this giveaway with a live link back to this post  -> blog must be public with minimum 25 followers. (be sure to leave 3 separate comments)

One winner will be randomly selected from all valid entries, and will have 48 hours to respond to their prize winner email notification. If winner fails to respond, within that time period, a new winner will be drawn. Giveaways hosted on Blommi are sponsored by third parties. Site owner will of course endeavor to see all prizes are fulfilled, but is not responsible for missing or damaged prizes. Contest ends December 15, 2011 at 11:59 pm CT. Open to US residents , age 18+.

Filed Under: Food & Beverage, Recipes
Pin It

Go Whole Grain with Barilla’s Taste & Share Challenge (and Visa Gift Card Giveaway)

November 30, 2011 By

barilla taste and share challengeI have been enjoying the switch to Barilla Whole Grain pasta, that I instituted a couple weeks ago.  My daughter eats it up just as heartily as she always has eaten her pasta, so no problems there.  She has liked all the pasta shapes.  For myself, I prefer the linguine, spaghetti & thin spaghetti varieties in the whole grain line.  With these shapes,  I really don’t find any textural difference, at all, and have had excellent success using them in recipes (some of which will be appearing on the blog).

The primary benefit of choosing whole grain pasta, over typical pasta, is the higher fiber content.  Barilla Whole Grain pasta provides 3x the amount of fiber as regular pasta, a full 6 grams per serving.   While adding fiber to our diets is important, so is taste and texture.  Barilla has achieved both a healthful and palate pleasing product, with their Whole Grain line of pasta.  This was accomplished with the use of 51% whole wheat.

Want to make the switch to whole grains for your family?  A great place to start is at the Barilla Taste & Share web page.  They have a “Dinner Kit” feature on there, that will help you pick a recipe to try, based on who will be eating it, and the shape of pasta you want to use, or you can just go straight into checking out the recipes.  Here are a few that caught my eye:

penne with cabbage and mushroomsPenne with Cabbage and Mushrooms

Spaghetti w Zucchini and Yellow SquashSpaghetti with  Zucchini and Yellow Squash

Rotini with Cherry Tomatoes Mozzarella and BasilRotini with Cherry Tomatoes Mozzarella and Basil

These look like great recipes, and I can’t wait to try them out, but the one I have tried so is the Spaghetti with Crispy Pancetta and Asparagus.  I was very pleased with the results, and it will be featured here next week.

After you pick up some Whole Grain Barilla pasta, make sure to use the code on the box & share the news with a couple of  your Facebook friends.  They will each get a $1 coupon good on one box of Barilla Whole Grain Pasta, and you will get a $1 off 2 boxes coupon to help you continue to explore cooking with this pasta.

Disclosure: I was given the opportunity to share my experience with Barilla Whole Grain pasta, as part of a sponsored blogging program.  I  was compensated for my participation. All opinions and recipes presented here are my own.

Visa Gift Card Giveaway

One lucky Blommi reader will win a $100 Visa Gift Card courtesy of Barilla, to help get them on track with healthy eating.

Entry Options (do as many or as few as you like, but make sure to leave a separate comment for each entry)

      • Tell me in a comment below, that you will try the Taste & Share challenge.
      • “Like” Barilla US on Facebook
      • “Like” Blommi on Facebook
      • Follow this blog via email or RSS  (One entry each).
      • Follow both  @TwiMommi and @BarillaUS on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway can be done 3x per day at least 1 hour apart (account must be public and have at least 50 followers). feel free to use this tweet: ” Win a $100 VISA Gift Card from @TwiMommi & @BarillaUS http://blommi.com/?p=24019  #Giveaway  ”
      • Follow me on Stumble Upon or Pinterest (one entry each, leave your user name in comment).
      • For 3 entries! Grab my ad button (available here), or add Blommi.com to your blogroll -> blog must be public with minimum 25 followers. Leave a link where it can be found, in your comment. (remember to leave 3 separate comments)
      • For 3 Entries! Blog about this giveaway with a live link back to this post  -> blog must be public with minimum 25 followers. (be sure to leave 3 separate comments)

One winner will be randomly selected from all valid entries, and will have 48 hours to respond to their prize winner email notification. If winner fails to respond, within that time period, a new winner will be drawn. Giveaways hosted on Blommi are sponsored by third parties. Site owner will of course endeavor to see all prizes are fulfilled, but is not responsible for missing or damaged prizes. Contest ends December 8, 2011 at 11:59 pm CT. Open to US residents , age 18+.

Filed Under: Food, Food & Beverage Tagged With: , , ,
Pin It

Chicken & Homemade Gnocchi in Buttermilk Blue Cheese Sauce Featuring Betty Crocker Instant Potatoes (with Giveaway)

November 17, 2011 By

homemade gnocchis with chicken and blue cheese sauceInstant potatoes are far more flexible than many people realize.  I haven’t made gnocchi (potato pasta/dumplings) for some time, because it can be a rather time consuming process, although my daughter adores participating.  Using Betty Crocker Roasted Garlic Instant Potatoes not only saved me a step, but provided some wonderful roasted garlic flavor.  Perhaps the best part of using Betty Crocker instant potatoes over cooking and mashing myself, is the consistency the recipe provides.  The flakes are easy to measure, no lumps (very bad for gnocchi) and homemade gnocchi sweet pepper butter saucethere is no concern over varying water content in potatoes.  The gnocchi came out nice and tender and I really couldn’t get enough of them, especially in this sauce.  I put aside some of the gnocchi and simply tossed them in butter with sweet red peppers for my daughter, which she enjoyed (great simple side dish).  I will be making my gnocchi with Betty Crocker Roasted Garlic instant potatoes from now on.

Chicken & Gnocchi in Buttermilk Blue Cheese Sauce Recipe

Ingredients:

2 chicken breasts (trimmed & sliced)

8 oz. Crimini mushrooms (halved, then sliced)

2 tbs. butter

3/4 c chicken stock

1 cup butter milk

1 cup crumbed blue cheese

generous pinch of dried thyme

homemade gnocchi (recipe below)

Directions:

  1. Make your gnocchi first.
  2. Place butter in large saute pan, on med heat.
  3. Saute the mushrooms, chicken and thyme, until outside of chicken is cooked and mushrooms are nearly done.
  4. Add the buttermilk, chicken stock and blue cheese.  Stirring until sauce starts to thicken.
  5. Add gnocchi, and simmer while gently stirring, for about a minute.
  6. Serve.

Makes 4 servings

roasted garlic potatoesHomemade Gnocchi Recipe(using Betty Crocker Instant Potatoes)

2/3 c buttermilk

1 cup water

1 tbs butter

generous pinch of dried crushed thyme

salt & pepper

1 pouch Roasted Garlic Betty Crocker instant potatoes

1 egg

1 3/4 c flour + 1/2 cup for kneading

2 tbs Parmesan cheese

making homemade gnocchi

Directions:

  1. Place buttermilk, water, butter & thyme in sauce pan.  Bring to a boil, then remove from heat.
  2. Mix in the rest of ingredients (except the flour for kneading).  I do this in a stand mixer with dough hook.
  3. Generously flour a kneading and rolling surface.
  4. Knead the gnocchi dough, then roll out “snakes” of the dough about a 1/2″ round.
  5. Cut the rolled dough into gnocchi.  Keep the surface well floured.  If you want to freeze the gnocchi to use later, make sure to shake them in a bit of flour before placing in freezer container, so they don’t stick together.
  6. Drop batches of the gnocchi into boiling water, and remove with a slotted spoon as they float to the top. They cook quickly.
  7. Serve with your sauce of choice.

While I of course would love to have you try my recipe (I sure enjoyed it), there are many delicious and easy recipe ideas that incorporate Betty Crocker Specialty potatoes, at the Spud Hub on BHG.com.  I encourage you to stop in and browse the recipes there, as well as enter their Sweepstakes (they are giving away $250 gift cards).  You may just find that perfect dish for tonight’s supper.

Disclosure: I was given the opportunity to share my experience with Betty Crocker Specialty Potatoes, as part of a sponsored blogging program.  I  was compensated for my participation. All opinions and recipes presented here are my own.

Giveaway

One lucky Blommi reader will win a $50 Visa Gift Card, so they can create a special meal for their own family, featuring Betty Crocker Specialty Potatoes

Entry Options (do as many or as few as you like, but make sure to leave a separate comment for each entry)

      • Visit the Spud Hub, and tell me your favorite recipe there.
      • Follow this blog via email or RSS  (One entry each).
      • Follow @TwiMommi on Twitter and tweet about this giveaway can be done 3x per day at least 1 hour apart (account must be public and have at least 50 followers). feel free to use this tweet: ” Win a $50 VISA Gift Card from @TwiMommi & Betty Crocker Specialty Potatoes http://su.pr/1XnuDV  #Giveaway  ”
      • “Like” Blommi on Facebook
      • Share or “like” this giveaway on Facebook
      • Follow me on Stumble Upon (leave your user name in comment).
      • Stumble this or any other recipe post from Blommi.com (can be done once per day)
      • For 2 entries! Grab my ad button (available here), or add Blommi.com to your blogroll -> blog must be public with minimum 25 followers. Leave a link where it can be found, in your comment. (remember to leave 2 separate comments)
      • For 3 Entries! Blog about this giveaway with a live link back to this post  -> blog must be public with minimum 25 followers. (be sure to leave 3 separate comments)

One winner will be randomly selected from all valid entries, and will have 48 hours to respond to their prize winner email notification. If winner fails to respond, within that time period, a new winner will be drawn. Giveaways hosted on Blommi are sponsored by third parties. Site owner will of course endeavor to see all prizes are fulfilled, but is not responsible for missing or damaged prizes. Contest ends November 30, 2011 at 11:59 pm CT. Open to US residents , age 18+.

 Be on the lookout for another recipe & giveaway featuring Betty Crocker Specialty Potatoes coming next week!

Filed Under: Food & Beverage, Recipes
Pin It
« Older Posts
Email Feed Twitter Facebook