Holiday Cooking & Baking, Beverages and On-The-Go Snacks!

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

We have you covered today on all your cooking, baking, beverages and on-the-go snacks this holiday season! Check out all my favorites below:

COOKING + BAKING

Explore Cuisine Pulse and Bean Pastas

Take the guilt out of your favorite pasta meals with Explore Cuisine! Explore Cuisine integrates beans, peas, lentils, and rice to provide you with nourishing meals which are easy, quick, colorful, and simply delicious!

All Explore Cuisine products are vegan, gluten-free, non-GMO and jam packed with nutrients. ($4.99 at www.explorecuisine.com and retailers nationwide)

Field Roast Vegan Frozen Snack Line

• ·Miniature Corn Dogs : Our award-winning Miniature Corn Dogs harken back to county fairs, amusement parks and summertime fun. We begin with our Field Roast Frankfurters, dunk them in a traditional sweet cornbread batter and crisp them to perfection.

• Fruffalo Wings: Spicy and piquant, daring and bold, crispy and saucy…dare to behold! Our #1 selling Field Roast Smoked Apple Sage Sausage cut on the bias, lightly battered, fried to perfection. Finish in your own sauté pan, crisp them up, add our spicy FRuffalo sauce and FRvoila!

• Sunflower Katsu Cutlet: An all American classic country-style breaded steak turns Japanese and merges with a traditional Katsu style cutlet. A sliced steak of Original Lentil Sage Field Roast battered and breaded with our own special recipe of seasonings, bread crumbs and sunflower seeds.

• Field Roast Chao Creamery – Vegan Mac n’ Cha

• Creamy Mac n’ Chao: It was only a matter of time before we became inspired to craft a rich, flavorful sauce using our Creamy Original Chao Slices. A homestyle classic and perfect combination of creaminess, texture and umami. Simply made, simply satisfying.

• Chili Mac n’ Chao: A southern favorite with zesty chili made with Field Roast brand FieldBurger and pinto beans simmered in a creamy sauce made from Tomato Cayenne Chao Slices. Simply made, spicy good!

KRUPS Grind and Spice 

($19.99; Available @ Walmart)

Quickly grind your favorite coffee beans with the iconic KRUPS F203 coffee grinder.

Product features:

· Two-in-one compact and powerful blade grinder grinds coffee perfectly, and can tackle dry spices, fresh herbs, or nuts for your most adventurous seasoning creation.

· Powerful motor grinds beans from coarse to fine in seconds

· Large grinding capacity yields up to 12 cups of coffee

· Stainless steel power blade for ideal performance

· Versatile unit grinds all kinds of dry spices

· Lid activated safety switch

· Oval blade shape for uniform, even grinding

· Designed for easy pouring and handling

Coconut Protein Powder

NEW from Carrington Farms, Organic Coconut Protein Blend is made with only 3 organic ingredients. It's the perfect way to add plant-based protein to your diet and to your favorite holiday cookies for added nutrition. MSRP: $16.99 www.CarringtonFarms.com

BEVERAGES

AquaBall

AquaBall's naturally flavored water is THE zero-sugar, zero-calorie, zero-preservative children's beverage perfect for regulating the kids’s sugar intake this holiday season WITHOUT jeopardizing taste. Available in four flavors – Berry Frost, Fruit Punch, Grape, and Strawberry Lemonade – AquaBall features fan favorite characters from Disney’s Frozen, Disney Princesses, Marvel’s Avengers and Disney Classic Characters. The bottle alone will bring a smile to any kid's face! www.aquaballdrink.com

Sparkling Ice

An excellent soda alternative, Sparkling Ice is slightly carbonated with B-Vitamins, Vitamin D and antioxidants. This light and refreshing beverage contains Zero Calories, Zero Carbs, is Gluten Free, and Sodium Free.

Pick a flavor from the 20+ different delicious options including a line of Teas, Lemonades and 8oz Slim Cans, to enjoy in your favorite cocktails or as a refreshing snack. ($1.19-$1.29/bottle, available in retailers nationwide)

Brooklyn Crafted Ginger Beers & Ales

The newest craft beverage collection to come from BCGA, Brooklyn Crafted brings seven bold ginger flavors into the mix due to popular demand. Made with 100% real ginger, the 12 oz. bottle flavor profiles include Extra Spicy Ginger Beer, Sugar Free Ginger Beer and Sugar Free Ginger Ale. The 7 oz. mini bottle flavor profiles include Traditional, Earl Gray, Lemon & Lime and Mango.

ON-THE-GO SNACKS

Munk Pack Oatmeal Fruit Squeezes

This ready-to-eat oatmeal, packed with grains and fruit bites, is perfect for a quick breakfast or snack on the go! Available in five delicious flavors, including Apple Quinoa Cinnamon, Maple Pear Quinoa, and more, they are gluten-free, non GMO, vegan and high in fiber.

Munk Pack Protein Cookies

With 18G of plant-protein and 6G of fiber per cookie, Munk Pack Protein Cookies are a delicious, on-the-go protein bar alternative. In flavors like Double Dark Chocolate, Coconut White Chip Macadamia, Peanut Butter Chocolate Oatmeal Raisin Spice, these vegan and gluten free cookies are soft baked and filled with fiber.

Welch's Fruit Rolls

The NEW Welch’s Fruit Rolls deliver the same quality consumers love in Welch's Fruit Snacks, in a new, irresistibly fun format. Featuring fruit as its first ingredient, the Fruit Rolls are gluten free and available in three mouthwatering flavors: Berry, Tropical Punch, and White Grape Strawberry. (6ct box with 0.75oz roll / $2.99)

Go Organically Fruit Snacks

Go Organically fruit snacks are tasty, on-the-go, USDA-certified organic fruit snack made with real fruit. Even better, these fruit snacks are gluten-free, contain 100% DV Vitamin C, GMO Free and contain no preservatives, offering families a delicious and authentic snack. Available in three delicious flavors, including: Fruit Medley, Mixed Berry and Tropical. (8-Count Boxes with 0.8oz. Pouches / $3.99)

* Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Eat Healthy this Holiday Season with @VegyVida!

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

With Christmas quickly arriving, we all know how hard it is to get kids (and some adults too!) to eat their veggies, especially with all the delicious treats and unhealthy food around. Now we all know the problem, but here’s a solution you never thought of!

Vegy Vida is a delicious Greek yogurt-based dip, “topper” and more that was exclusively designed for kids to encourage them to enjoy the flavor of vegetables.

Did you know kids have 3 times more taste buds than adults!?!? That’s why they typically don’t like vegetables; they’re just too bitter! Unlike other dips on the market, VegyVida contains a special cucumber extract that changes the way bitter compounds in foods interact with the taste receptors in their mouths.

This dip is perfect to serve at holiday parties, packed in school lunches, as an afternoon snack OR can be mixed into other delicious ingredients. My children LOVE to dip their veggies in these delicious varieties - they especially love the Ranch and what child wouldn't love Cheddar!?!

I love the concepts of these dips and I especially LOVE that Vegy Vida is completely natural, made in the USA, and available in tasty flavors such as Creamy Ranch, Cheesy Cheddar, and Zesty Southwest! What a great idea for kids (and adults too!) and a great way to help children eat their veggies and be EXCITED about them!

Buy It:

You can purchase Vegy Vida at local Walmart, Fresh Thyme and Meijer stores for a suggested retail of $2.99 per bottle.

* Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Mangalitsa Bacon and Holiday Ham Now Available from @absteaks

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

When I think of holidays I think of a big meal with turkey and ham and the fixings!

If your holiday dinners sound like mine, then let me recommend Allen Brothers and their delicious Mangalitsa Smoked Holiday Ham!

Allen Brothers’ Mangalitsa Holiday Ham is an easy-to-slice, lightly-smoked, whole boneless ham crafted to reveal delicate, yet decadent, old world flavors. It’s designed to be just heated and served, or you can add your own glaze for a more elegant presentation. Often compared to Japanese Kobe, Mangalitsa hams have a ring of flavorful fat that fully encases the tender meat, amplifying the full flavor and rich mouthfeel, promising an intense and mouthwatering flavor with every bite.

You can order the  Mangalitsa Holiday Ham here: https://www.allenbrothers.com/mangalitsa-ham.html

Another super delicious product from Allen Brothers is their Hickory Smoked Bacon from Mangalitsa by Møsefund, the nation’s largest producer of 100% Pure Bred American Mangalitsa.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Mangalitsa bacon is “The 'It' Bacon from the 'It' Pig”. Deep and sweet- tasting with gentle, hickory- smoked flavor and luxurious ribbons of silky white fat, Allen Brothers’ Mangalitsa bacon is rich in delicious “good” monounsaturated fat and high in Omega fatty acids.

Let me tell you from experience, this bacon is delicious and works great with eggs, BLT's, or any meal you want bacon with (or just plain!!).

To order: https://www.allenbrothers.com/mangalitsa-bacon.html

* Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Sweet Stocking Stuffers from Heavenly Organics

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

Heavenly Organics is a raw, organic honey company. Founded in 2005, Heavenly Organics produces and distributes organic, non-GMO, fair trade and kosher certified Chocolate Honey Patties™, Raw Honey and Whole-Cane Sugar. Heavenly Organics Chocolate Honey Patties received the 2016 NEXTY award for Best New Sweet/Dessert. Flavors include Mint, Pomegranate, Almond, Peanut, Double Dark and Ginger. Wrapped in brightly colored packaging, these patties would be the ideal treat for any stocking.

Heavenly Organics was created as a way to help sustain the economic and cultural survival of indigenous people located in remote and conflicted areas of Northern and Central India and parts of the Himalayas. The company was built on the belief that the only way to eliminate conflict is to provide ethical job opportunities. Heavenly Organics has created worker-owned cooperatives that have been leading the authentic fair trade movement and creating big change for over ten years.

Heavenly Organics raw 100% organic honey is so divine and different from other organic raw honeys because it comes from naturally-occurring wild beehives found deep within the pristine forests of Northern and Central India and parts of the Himalayan Mountains. That means that neither the hives nor the free-range bees have ever been exposed to pesticides, pollutants, genetically modified crops or antibiotics. Their honey is chemical free!

Heavenly Organics is truly something special and is the cleanest sourced honey you can find!

Buy It:

You can purchase Heavenly Organics at your local retailer.

* Thank you to Heavenly Organics for their product for review! Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Spread Holiday Cheer & Healthy Snacks with @TheLittleKernel

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

The newest popcorn brand on the market, The Little Kernel is the perfect holiday healthy snack with a unique, hulless, "miniature kernel." Popped in 100% pure olive oil, each popcorn is gluten-free, non-GMO, dairy-free, kosher and certified with whole grains.

THE LITTLE KERNEL left his mother’s cob on a small farm at a young age to join the Flavor Brigade, hungry for a taste of adventure. He quickly popped to the top of his class because of his insatiable desire for exploration and daring flavor combos. He continues to live his motto today: Never surrender to subpar snacks!

THE LITTLE KERNEL keeps it real with no artificial ingredients. Popped in pure olive oil and using only quality ingredients, the Little Kernel is on a quest to bring you the best. Prepare your taste buds for their arrival at the frontline of fun with his lineup of adventurous flavors.

Even better, The Little Kernel comes in six delicious flavors, including:

⦁ Truffle Sea Salt
⦁ Sweet & Salty
⦁ Pink Himalayan Salt
⦁ White Cheddar
⦁ Butter
⦁ Naked (No Salt Added)

Buy It:

You can purchase The Little Kernel at your local store.

* Thank you to The Little Kernel for their product for review! Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Healthy Holiday Snackin' with @theskinnypop

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

Don't want to ruin your diet this holiday? Then let me recommend snackin' on SkinnyPop popcorn! It is not only delicious but healthy, non-GMO and Gluten-free! It has been a HUGE hit already with my holiday guests and I am sure it will be for yours as well!

At SkinnyPop, they believe in snacking without compromise. That means using the fewest, cleanest and simplest ingredients possible to bring you the best tasting popcorn. - That’s the Skinny!

SkinnyPop starts with a premium popcorn kernel, sunflower oil and the perfect amount of salt. From there, Pure Popped Perfection® says it all. Our popcorn has no GMOs, gluten or preservatives, making SkinnyPop a tasty, guilt-free snack you can enjoy everyday.

They offer several delicious varieties including:

• SkinnyPop Original - Guilt-free snacking with just the right amount of salt.
• SkinnyPop Black Pepper - An intentionally subtle amount of black pepper.
• SkinnyPop White Cheddar - A dairy-free white cheddar flavor.
• SkinnyPop Naturally Sweet - Just the right amount of sweet.

Plus, they have two NEW flavors including Jalapeno and Dusted Dark Chocolate!

This holiday season, you can indulge in some sweet chocolate without the calories! Sweet lovers can indulge guilt-free with Dusted Dark Chocolate; a perfect balance of light yet dark, sweet yet salty

PLUS, SkinnyPop comes in 100-calorie packs perfect for on-the-go snacking and/or stocking stuffers!

Buy It:

You can purchase SkinnyPop popcorn online or at a local retail store.

* Thank you to SkinnyPop for their product for review! Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Stocking Stuffers from @CarringtonFarms

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

Have a health conscious person's stocking to stuff this year? Look no further than Carrington Farms and their NEW Organic Coconut Flour below – a great flour alternative for healthy baking this holiday season! Plus, they also offer Organic Ghee, which is better for you than butter and is also great for baking this holiday season!!

Check out more below:

Organic Ghee

Ghee is an ancient ‘health food’ that contains significant levels of Vitamin A, D and E. Ghee is a clarified butter that is heart healthy and contains Linoleic Acid to help balance cholesterol levels. It is known to reduce inflammation and increase energy and is dairy free – no casein, whey, or lactose!

This Ghee from Carrington Farms is USDA Organic and Gluten Free! We love using it on everything - from toast to pancakes to baking! So healthy and so creamy!

Organic Coconut Flour

Bake your holiday cookies with this great-tasting, healthy flour alternative from Carrington Farms and your treats will be a crowd pleaser at your holiday party.

Carrington Farms’ Organic Coconut Flour is naturally gluten-free, low in carbohydrates, and perfect for paleo and gluten-free baking. Not only that, but it contains the lowest level of carbohydrates on the market and is an excellent source of soluble and insoluble flour. Light and fluffy – Carrington Farms Organic Coconut Flour is a must this holiday season!

Buy It:

You can purchase both the Coconut Flour and Organic Ghee from the Carrington Farms online store

* Thank you to Carrington Farms for their product for review! Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Stay Healthy this Holiday Season with Wonderful @HalosFun

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

Mandarins are back in season!

And My Family IS VERY HAPPY!!!!

It may be below zero where we live but we love November and December because Mandarins are back and we are loving eating our non-GMO Wonderful Halos again! My children literally beg for these several times a day and I am so happy to oblige!!

In season November through May, sweet, seedless and easy to peel Halos are easy to pack in lunches, great to share at kid’s activities and sporting events, and make a healthy snack choice any time of the day. Additionally, Wonderful Halos mandarins are a healthy alternative, delivering 45 percent of the recommended daily value of vitamin C in about 50 calories. Wonderful Halos give families a healthy snack alternative that’s filled with “pure goodness.”

Halos® mandarins are Mother Nature’s perfect snack—sweet, juicy, seedless, and easy for little hands to peel. Even better, these li’l guys are 100% California born and raised, and absolutely, positively Non-GMO Project verified. So be sure to enjoy Halos® when they’re in season, from November through April.

This holiday season, instead of reaching for a cookie or sugary treat, grab a Wonderful Halo or fill a bowl full for your guests! The easy-to-peel treat will please guests of all ages!!

Buy It:

You can purchase Wonderful Halos at your locat retailer until May!

* Thank you to Wonderful for their product for review! Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*

Tasty Gift Ideas from @1800flowers

A product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.

I love receiving tasty gifts for the holidays and I know many of the people on your list will too!

I am so excited to feature four of my favorite tasty treat companies from 1-800-Flowers.com, Inc. Gourmet Food and Gift Baskets brands, including Cheryl’s Cookies, Fannie May premium chocolates, The Popcorn Factory gourmet popcorn, and 1-800-Baskets.com. Each of these brands are featuring holiday collections and gift basket ideas that will delight the senses with beautiful and indulgent treats.! Check them out below:

Fannie May

One of the most enjoyable activities and aromas of the holiday season is baking for friends and family. To bring people's favorite tastes and smells into their own kitchens, Fannie May is introducing the Apron & Spoon Collection. This collection includes mixes to bake at home, hot cocoa spoons, powdered cocoa mix, artisan marshmallows and coffee flavors inspired by our classic recipes, which are perfect gifts for others and yourself.

They are offering fun gift ideas like this Pixies Caramel Coffee, Hot Cocoa Tin and, sure to be a hit with the kids, the Cookies for Santa Gift Set!

These make great gift ideas for teachers, friends and family this holiday season!

All Apron & Spoon collection items available from FannieMay.com

The Popcorn Factory

The Popcorn Factory features several tasty gifts the whole family can share with favorite seasonal varieties arriving in gallon iconic tins.

Two of their top flavors this holiday season are Holiday Kettle Corn, that is a little bit salty with a whole lot of crunchy sweetness, and Peppermint Bark, where they cover their premium kernels with luscious creamy white coating and sprinkle with refreshing peppermint pieces.

Holiday popcorn varietes available from thepopcornfactory.com

Cheryl's

Cheryl’s Holiday Cookie Jars are packed to the brim with delicious seasonal varieties that will have the whole family feeling the holiday spirit. Even better, once all the cookies have been enjoyed, the recipients will have a great keepsake that will be a beautiful addition to their kitchen and can be filled with goodies again and again for years to come.

This is one of my favorite companies because their cookies are DELICIOUS and I love the Collector's Edition Snowman Cookie Jar set we received! I can't wait to use the Cookie Jar every year for our own homemade baked cookies!

This delightful keepsake cookie jar is hand-crafted from high quality ceramic and arrives with a yummy assortment of Holiday goodies! They’ve also included an assortment of their famous buttercream frosted cookies – perfect for sending Holiday wishes!

13” tall. includes 10 cookies.

Available for $39.99 from Cheryls.com

1-800-Baskets.com

1-800-Baskets.com recently unveiled their brand-new “Snack On This” collection, featuring nut gift boxes with a zesty kick that are perfect for both self and shared consumption.

The collection currently offers jumbo fresh peanuts in twelve outrageous flavors like Coconut Curry, Whiskey, Irish Stout, 5-Spice, Cherry, Spiced Cocoa, Guinness and more.

We tried the Honey & Sea Salt flavor and it was absolutely DELICIOUS and hard to stop eating!!! :) It also comes in a nice tin container so it is perfect for gift giving too!

Available starting at $15.99 from 1800baskets.com

*Disclosure - This product was given for review for my honest opinion. No other compensation was given.*