Reviews | Pure Sugar

Green Giant Has a Surprise: New Veggie Chips!

March 18, 2013 12:49 pm \ Leave a Comment \ Carol B.

{Sponsored Post}

Although I am not a big snacker, I do enjoy having a side of something crunchy with a bowl of soup or with a sandwich at lunchtime. Of course, most chips aren’t super healthy. But imagine if there was a tasty chip made from whole grains and veggies! Well, Green Giant has a big surprise for you: its brand-new Veggie Chips.

That’s right, we all know Green Giant for canned and frozen vegetables. Well, now they have a delicious new way to sneak more veggies into our diets. Thanks to a Green Giant rep sending us some free bags, I was able to sample two varieties: Roasted Veggie Tortilla Chips and Multigrain Sweet Potato Chips.

The tortilla chips were hands-down, the family favorite. They were full of flavor and delicious! The sweet potato chips were very yummy too, but a little more subdued. They were the perfect accompaniment to my sandwich.

Here are some fun facts about the new chips.

The Green Giant™ Roasted Veggie Tortilla Chips – Zesty Cheddar Flavor are made with real vegetables, 17 grams of whole grain per serving (48g are recommended daily), and are naturally flavored.
The Green Giant™ Multigrain Sweet Potato Chips – Sea Salt Flavor are made with real sweet potatoes and made with 14 grams of whole grain. Plus, they contains 40 percent less fat than regular potato chips*!
*Green Giant Multigrain Sweet Potato Chips (6g per 28g serving) have 40 percent less fat than regular potato chips (10g per 28g serving).

The folks at Green Giant want to know what your surprise talent is. Here are just a few that they have unearthed — check out more on their YouTube Channel or head over to the Green Giant Facebook page and show the Giant what you can do!

Green Giant has provided me with a printable coupon for Pure Sugar readers who’d like to try out their new veggie chips. Save 85 cents on a bag — I bet you’ll be surprised by how good they are, too!

Thank you to The Green Giant™ for being a sponsor. Show the Giant your surprise talent at www.facebook.com/greengiant

Posted in: Food & Wine, Reviews \ Tagged: #AGiantSurprise, #spon, chips, clever girls, food, green giant, product review, review, snacks

{Review} Morningstar Farms Meatless Burgers

January 30, 2013 3:36 pm \ 3 Comments \ Carol B.

I love a good burger. A big, juicy, meaty, medium-rare burger, with lettuce, onions, pickles, ketchup, and mayo. I am not a veggie burger kind of gal. I love many vegetarian dishes, but I didn’t really see myself picking up a package of frozen veggie/soy burgers from the market. So, when I was afforded the opportunity to do so for free thanks to my participation in a BzzAgent Campaign for Morningstar Farms products, I gave it a go.

We do try to eat one meatless meal a week, and while I prefer a whole foods meatless meal, sometimes that just doesn’t happen. And if the choice is between a semi-healthy veggie burger from the freezer, or a completely unhealthy fast-food option, I think the decision is a no-brainer.

The other day I decided to try out these Morningstar Farms burgers. I chose Spicy Black Bean Burgers and a package of “Grillers” — which are supposed to taste like real hamburgers. I did not tell my kids they would be having veggie burgers for dinner.

As you can see, frozen out of the box they don’t look too exciting. They are definitely smaller than a burger I would make with fresh beef or turkey, but we were having soup, salad, and fries on the side so I didn’t think portion size would be an issue (and it wasn’t).

I served the kids first and asked them to let me know what they thought. (I served them the “Grillers” with their usual toppings — trying to see if I could fool them.) The response was overwhelmingly positive. My 10-year old thought they tasted a little different than usual, but not in a bad way. My 7-year-old also really liked the burger and finished it without having to be prodded, even after he learned it was a veggie burger. I’d say that’s a positive review!

For myself, I made up a black bean burger with pepper jack, lettuce, jalapenos, salsa, and mayo. I didn’t really know what to expect, but I really enjoyed it. Drew had one of each (bunless), and liked both of them, but felt that the “Grillers” were a better substitute for someone craving a burger.

Of course, there is always a caveat. In this case, the long ingredient list is kind of a put-off to me:

I am not really sure if a processed “veggie” burger is healthier for me than a burger made with high-quality beef. It is also unclear if Morningstar Farms uses GMO soybeans, if that is a concern to you.

Would I purchase these products again? Even with my hesitations I would probably buy them again. I’m not sure I would make them a regular item on my menu. Honestly, I prefer a less processed vegetarian option (and truthfully, one that does not use soy as a primary ingredient). But as I said at the beginning of this review, in a pinch and between a Morningstar Farms veggie burger or a fast food burger, I think the veggie burger wins on both convince and overall healthfulness. And it is surprisingly tasty.

As member of BzzAgent, I received coupons for Morningstar Farms products, including a coupon to try a product free of charge. I did not receive any further compensation. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Posted in: Reviews, This & That \ Tagged: bzzagent, free product, product review, review

{Book Review} The American Lighthouse Cookbook: The Best Recipes and Stories from America’s Shorelines

January 15, 2013 9:34 am \ Leave a Comment \ Carol B.

I don’t know about you, but I’ve always loved lighthouses. Growing up in Massachusetts, and spending plenty of time on the coasts of Maine and New Hampshire, I guess that’s no surprise. So when I was asked to review a cookbook that focused on recipes from some of the country’s beautiful landmark lighthouses, I eagerly accepted the opportunity.

The American Lighthouse Cookbook: The Best Recipes and Stories from America’s Shorelines, by Becky Sue Epstein and Ed Jackson is just as much a history book as a cookbook. Divided into eight regions (the Northeast Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast Atlantic, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, Gulf Coast, Hawaii and California, Pacific Northwest and Alaska, and the Great Lakes), this book gives you a taste of various regional cuisines along with facts and stories about each lighthouse. As you might imagine, the recipes focus on seafood dishes, but there is actually a wonderful variety of recipes.

I decided to test out a recipe for Cranberry Nut Bread from the Bass River Lighthouse in West Dennis, Mass. (that’s on Cape Cod for those who aren’t familiar with the area). Cranberries are synonymous with Massachusetts, so I knew this was going to be good. And I was right. The recipe formed a perfectly shaped, slightly dense quick bread that was just amazing warm from the oven.

I was given permission to share this recipe with my readers, and I know you’re going to love it. If nothing else, be sure to bookmark it and give it a try next fall when everyone is craving the sweet-tart taste of cranberries.

Cranberry Nut Bread
from The American Lighthouse Cookbook: The Best Recipes and Stories from America’s Shorelines

2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 c. sugar
2 Tbsp. butter, melted
2 c. AP flour
1/4 tsp. salt
2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 c. milk
1 c. walnuts, toasted
1/2 c. dried cranberries

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a standard-sized loaf pan. In a mixing bowl, beat together the eggs and sugar. Mix in the butter. In a separate bowl, blend together the flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Alternately add the flour mixture to the milk and egg mixture. Fold in the walnuts and cranberries. Power the batter into the greased loaf pan and bake for 50-60 min. Bread is done when a cake tester or toothpick inserted into the the middle of the loaf comes out clean.

Another thing I like about the book is that it’s not just a grouping of random recipes. Each lighthouse has recipes that together form a complete meal. If you want to find a unique menu for dinner with friends, chances are there’s something in The American Lighthouse Cookbook that will sound delicious and take all the thinking out of planning your meal. It’s a really unique way of setting up a cookbook, and I see myself referring to this one quite a bit when the weather warms up and I’m feeling more like fish and vegetable recipes.

The introduction of the book states that it “couples food with the romance of the seacoast, adding a dash of history and wrapping it in the very current ‘eat local’ movement.” I am definitely looking forward to taking that to heart because it features a delicious breakfast from the Saugerties Lightouse — less than half an hour away from here. Ah yes… Saugerties Lightouse pancakes, New York cherries with granola and yogurt, oven-roasted bacon, scrambled eggs, and fried potatoes with cheddar cheese and scallions. Sounds like a perfect Sunday brunch if you ask me!

I received a free copy of The American Lighthouse Cookbook: The Best Recipes and Stories from America’s Shorelines. The opinions expressed in this blog post are mine and mine alone. I received no further compensation for writing a review of the book.

Posted in: Reviews \ Tagged: book review, cookbook, cooking, food, gift, gift idea, gifts, lighthouses, review, The American Lighthouse Cookbook: The Best Recipes and Stories from America's Shorelines

{Recipe} Overnight Bone Broth

September 13, 2012 10:07 am \ 1 Comment \ Carol B.

I have admitted in the past that I am a soup snob. And it’s true. As a child, I was spoiled by my mom and grandmother with their delicious, homemade soups. Sure, there was the occasional bowl of Campbell’s Tomato, but the soups I remember from my childhood were full of barley, veggies, and homemade broth. The stuff in the cans or cartons just can’t compare, I don’t care which celebrity chef is on the label.

Making your own stock, or bone broth, is so ridiculously easy that it shouldn’t even need a recipe. In fact, I feel a little silly even writing about it. But I know people who have found it daunting to make homemade stock. If you’re making it on the stove top, it’s true — you need to pay a little bit of attention to it (only because you don’t want it to boil for too long). But there’s an easier way, perfect for even the laziest cook: just use your Crock Pot.

In the fall and winter, I roast a whole chicken twice a month on average. And often the weeks I don’t roast one on my own, I’ll pick up a rotisserie bird at Sam’s. After dinner, I just throw everything into my slow cooker and let it go. Here are the basic directions!

Overnight Bone Broth

carcass from a roasted (or rotisserie) chicken (or turkey!), including skin, bones, and any resulting cooking liquid from roasting if you don’t use it for gravy

1 medium onion

celery fronds or 1-2 celery stalks

1-2 carrots

2-3 bay leaves

1/4-1/2 tsp. black peppercorns

1 Tbsp. vinegar (white or apple cider recommended)

water

Combine first 7 ingredients in your slow cooker. Cover with water (I usually fill it to 1-2 inches below the top of the crock). Cook on HIGH for 2 hours, then turn to LOW and cook overnight. Strain out and discards solids. The amount of broth you end up with will depend upon how much water you use and how hot your Crock Pot cooks, but you should end up with quite a bit.

I know, it’s super-technical and specific right? LOL! Seriously, you just throw it in the pot with water and cook it. Sometimes I add a few cloves of garlic. Sometimes I add oregano or other seasonings, depending on whether or not I have a specific use for the broth.

So now that you have all this yummy stock, what do you do with it? Well you could use some of it to make Spicy Black Bean Soup, Creamy Chicken (or Turkey) and Wild Rice Soup, or maybe some Lazy Stuffed Peppers? I seriously love soup and even though I eat it all summer, it is extra delicious and comforting in the fall and winter. Now I just need some butternut squash so I can make a big pot of autumn bisque!

I’m linking up with Sandra at Diary of a SAHM
because it’s Cooking Thursday!

Posted in: Food & Wine, Reviews \ Tagged: cooking, cooking thursday, crock pot, food, healthy, recipe, recipes

{Review} 2012-2013 Erin Condren Life Planner

September 11, 2012 10:56 am \ 7 Comments \ Carol B.

Last year around this time I started hearing about Erin Condren on various blogs. Several of the online deal sites had specials last fall and I was able to snag a half-price voucher. So, for my birthday, I got myself my very first Life Planner. And I fell in love with it!

I’ve been using it daily (well, let’s be honest — multiple times daily) for almost a year now and I can honestly say that no other planner has worked so well for me since my old Filofax in college. Since I’m starting to plan appointments and school events into next year, I decided it was time for a 2013 planner and again I chose Erin Condren.

There are so many cute designs that I literally (literally!) agonized over this decision for a couple weeks. My husband was so tired of me going back and forth and asking his opinion on color combos. He’s a saint for putting up with me, I swear! Last year I chose the Zig-Zag pattern. This year I wanting something totally different so I went with the Candy Lace design in a custom colorway (lime and dark gray). I also requested that my first name be printed in purple because I wanted one more color on the cover.

While the overall layout is the same, there are a number of changes to last year’s design. Most noticably, it now has a metal coil (instead of plastic), and laminated monthly tabs. I never had a problem with the plastic coil, but the metal coil is certainly sturdier and looks a lot nicer.

Another change is the monthly calendar page. It went from a single page to a two-page spread. I was thrilled to see this! It’s much easier to write information down on the larger calendar blocks. Of course, there’s a trade-off and gone are the lined note pages before each month. I liked to use those as a line-a-day journal (when I remembered to do it), but I can easily include that information in the weekly spread. And there are also several blank sheets (both lined and unlined) toward the back of the planner so there’s plenty of room for notes and doodles.

The weekly spreads are the same, with the exception that the weeks no longer break up (even if the start of a new month disturbs the continuity. To me, it’s fine either way. Here’s a peek at what a weekly page looks like:

Now, while we’re talking about the bulk of the planner let’s also talk about paper. In the old version, the monthly calendar was on a heavier cardstock-weight paper. To me, it served as a great divider and I could easily flip between months. The current version no longer has this. I’m a little worried the monthly tabs might rip off, so I’ll have to be careful. I’m sure it’ll hold up just as well, though. I think this might be a way to help trim down the thickness of the planner. As you can see, the new version is not as thick.

Erin Condren’s new version of the Life Planner also comes with sticker sheets, though fewer than last year. This year you get three sheets of pre-printed stickers and one sheet of blank stickers. Last year I got two sheets of pre-printed stickers and four sheets of blank stickers (I still have so many left unused!). Overall, this isn’t a big deal to me. I still have my “leftover” stickers, plus you can purchase extra blank sticker sheets. Or you use washi tape (like me) or other calendar stickers.

The folder design at the back is slightly different. The new version is one sided with a deeper pocket. This is great because my papers are always falling out of the old version of the folder. And there’s still the zip-lock pocket at the back, the perfect place for the labels that come with the planner as well as stamps and appointment cards.

Oh, one addition that I really like but don’t see mentioned in many other reviews: the Address Page. You can write down addresses & phone number for up to 14 people. It’s a great quick-reference for people you contact the most. And yes, there is still the My Important Numbers page. I use this all the time and keep the numbers for my kids’ school, my hairdresser, oil company, plumber, our doctors… they’re all right there.

Overall, I’m very happy again. At $50, this planner is a huge splurge for me, but I use it faithfully and it works for my style of organization. (Keep in mind that each planner is hand-produced in the U.S.A. — to me, that’s worth shelling out a little extra money!) It averages out to about 14 cents/day for something that helps keep me on time, remember birthdays, know what’s for dinner, and remember everything I need to do on any given day.

The only other thing I’d like to see on the Life Planner is some sort of elastic band to help keep it closed. But I improvised and just made my own, instead

So there you have it! Do you use a planner (EC or otherwise)? What you think of the changes to this year’s version?

* I was not compensated in any way for this review. I purchased the Life Planner completely on my own and just wanted to let you know why I love it! *

Posted in: Reviews \ Tagged: day planner, erin condren, life planner, oraganization, oranizer, organizing, planner

dr. oetker ristorante pizza {product review}

March 14, 2012 2:13 pm \ Leave a Comment \ Carol B.

In honor of “Pi Day” I thought I’d write up a quick review of one of my favorite kinds of pie — pizza! I don’t eat it as much as I used to, but on occasion I still indulge. I like to make my own, but sometimes it’s easier to pick up something at the supermarket. There are plenty of options in the grocer’s freezer case, but most of them are just OK. So when I was offered a chance to participate in the Dr. Oetker Ristorante BzzCampaign (I’ve been a BzzAgent for years!), I looked forward to trying something new.

I’d heard of Dr. Oetker products before. In fact I’ve purchased the creme brulee and other dessert mixes and I enjoy them. So I was hopeful that the Ristorante pizzas would deliver great taste, as well. The first pizza we tried was the Spinaci (spinach). When I took it out of the box, I was impressed by how much cheese was on the pizza. Usually, with frozen pizzas you get a sprinkling at best.

But the real test was yet to come. After baking it in my oven, I served it for lunch with a side salad. The pizza had a great flavor and if I hadn’t been sharing it, I would have been tempted to eat the whole thing. (Yes, it really was that good!) The spinach flavor wasn’t overwhelming, the cheese was tangy, and I really liked it a lot.

The other pizza we tried with the Speciale, which is topped with pepperoni and Canadian Bacon. Here it is frozen, out of the box. There is noticably less cheese on this one than on the spinach pizza.

This tasted more like a standard frozen pizza. I wasn’t all that impressed because I think the spinach version set the bar pretty high.

One thing I liked about both of the pizzas, though, was the thin crust. I could have a serving of pizza and not feel like I was completely sabotaging my diet. There are six different varieties including four cheese, mushroom, vegetable, mozzarella, spinach, and the pepperoni and Canadian bacon. Dr. Oetker pizzas are routinely on sale at my local Stop & Shop, and in the future I would probably pick one up to have as a quick meal.

Disclosure: I received promotional materials and coupons to try Dr. Oetker Ristorante pizzas for free as a result of my status as an active BzzAgent and my agreement to participate in this campaign. I did not receive any financial compensation for this post. The opinions expressed are my own. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

Posted in: Food & Wine, Reviews \ Tagged: food, product review

{product review} caveman cookies – rainforest flavor

December 20, 2011 9:55 am \ Leave a Comment \ Carol B.

It’s been killing me to see all these delicious-looking cookie recipes posted on blogs this month. After all, December is the month of cookie swaps, homemade gifts, and treating yourself. Still, I am trying hard to resist the temptation and avoid as much flour and sugar as possible. So when I read an e-mail about Caveman Cookies, I was intrigued. Paleo cookies? That I don’t have to make myself? Why yes, I would be very interested in trying those!

Caveman Cookies are made with Paleo-friendly ingredients including nuts, honey and berries. They are certified Kosher, gluten-free, and dairy-free. I was sent a package of the new Rainforest flavor for my review. The flavor is described like this in the marketing material:

The cookies feature an exotic combination of Brazil nuts and chewy dried cherries, with a kick of cayenne pepper. The other ingredients are honey, almond meal, chopped almonds and nutmeg.

Drew and I both tried them before we read the ingredients and thought there had to be ginger in the cookies – we were very surprised there wasn’t! There’s a definite kick from the cayenne and I guess when combined with the nutmeg, you get that taste of ginger.

We also had very different opinions on the flavor. Drew didn’t like them at all, I am sorry to say. I thought they were interesting and I kind of like them. They are very different from your standard chocolate-chip cookie, or even one made with coconut flour, but I found the slightly sweet taste and sticky texture enjoyable. The cookies are also available in original (similar to oatmeal-raisin), Alpine (carob and hazelnuts), and tropical (coconut and macadamia nut).

Here’s a peek at the nutrition facts:

A bag of 12 cookies costs $9.95. While that seems pricey, the ingredients are expensive and they’re not loaded with the junk found in most other mass-produced cookies. They’re not that big, but I found one was plenty to satisfy my sweet tooth, and technically the serving size is two cookies, so if one doesn’t do it — go for the second one!

You can purchase different sized bags (including sampler bags) on the Caveman Cookies website. Each cookie is individually wrapped in a cello bag to preserve freshness (which also means you don’t have to eat the entire bag as soon as you open it). As I read through the reviews on Amazon, I noticed that there is some argument as to whether or not these cookies are really Paleo. There seems to be a lot of bickering lately about what, in general, a Paleo diet means, but as far as I am concerned the ingredients meet the definition. (Of course, I am not a strict Paleo person by any means, as evidenced by the milk in my tea in that photo at the top of this post.) At the very least, these are certainly a great choice for those following a GF diet.

To sum it all up: I love the idea of a healthy cookie that I don’t have to bake myself. And although the Rainforest flavor is a little spicy for my taste, I’d give another variety a try without hesitation.

Disclosure: I received one free bag of Caveman Cookies in the Rainforest flavor to review on my blog. I did not receive any financial compensation for this post. The opinions expressed are my own. This disclosure is in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.