Starkist Tuna creations!

October was a good month for me for crowdtap samples! (check out the blog I posted earlier today about truvia sweetener!) The second one to arrive at my door was for Starkist Tuna creations.

I won't lie, I was a tad nervous when I found out I was getting a ranch sample, as I'm the girl whose addicted to the ranch McWraps at mcds....and orders them with out ranch sauce! The thought of ranch and tuna together also made me nervous as I usually take my tuna plain with a pinch of relish on some white bread. However, I love tuna and was more than willing to give it a go--and I was pleasantly surprised!! The ranch flavor was not the over-ly creamy mess that popped into my head when I read the word "ranch." It was a pleasantly seasoned taste, I could have taken a spoon and eaten it straight from the pouch it was so good! However, I was really craving a wrap...

I made a 8-inch tortilla with some shredded lettuce, cheddar jack cheese, and a slice of tomato. The pouch made two of these (and I did spoil myself with a spoonful of relish on the second one!). The taste was amazing and everything went well together. The pouch was the perfect size to make the two snack sized wraps, and the amount left me full and satisfied after I was done. I would absolutely purchase this product in the future (are there coupons for this?? lol), I love tuna and it was a nice change to the plain sandwiches I usually make when the craving hits!

Truvia Sweetener

Last week I received a sample of truvia sweetener. The goal was to use it instead of traditional sugar in Tea/Coffee. So my husband and I sat down to try it!!

I added two packets to my tea, while my husband added it to his coffee from Mcds. He tried his first. He said it was okay, but not sweet enough. I imagine most of that is because he usually has at least 8 sugars in his medium coffee! ;) I tried mine next, as I like to let me drinks cool a bit before I drink them. I enjoyed the taste. It was the right amount of sweetness I'd expect, and I felt good drinking it knowing that I had a natural product made from Stevia leaves! As a side note, my mom has bought this product before when she changed her diet to eliminate unnecessary chemicals. I drink my teas mostly at home, so until now I never did get the chance to try it, but she seemed to enjoy it with her morning coffee! Just recently I saw this on the shelves at our newly expanded walmart, so it is also becoming easier to find and buy! For more info, check out their facebook page!

Green Mountain Naturals and some of the best lemonade I've ever tried...

Who doesn't love samples? I'm on of "those" folks that will hunt down all the samples possible. I refresh links like a champ. And while some samples are lame (after all, what do you really expect for nothing?) I've scored quite a few awesome ones. For instance, last month, Green Mountain gave away 4-packs of k-cups, via the Vitamin burst facebook page, promoting their fruit line up: apple cider, lemonade, strawberry pomegranate vitamin burst, and Acai berry. As a big apple cider fan, I had bought a box of that last season. I had also tried the strawberry pomegranate vitamin bursts through a previous sample. When the box came in, I immediately opened it and brewed the Acai berry vitamin burst. it was every bit as yummy as I thought it would be! I used up the other two over the course of the next few days, but saved the lemonade for last. I'm not a huge fan of lemonade (unless it's the strawberry lemonade from mcds!), but figured I might as well give it a shot. I was excited to find it was delicious! It lacked the strong artificially sweet taste. It was a bit tart, which is what I would expect from real lemonade. It's one of my favorite lemonades I've tasted! I drank every drop. ;)

just brewed :)

sample box--don't them look good?!?

no sample is complete without coupons!

my lemonade cup :) so yummy!!

Facebook recipe: easy Peanut butter fudge

I tested another facebook recipe today! Here's the post:

EASY PEANUT BUTTER FUDGE

2 sticks butter
1 cup creamy peanut butter
1 tsp. vanilla
1 lb. powdered sugar

Melt the butter and peanut butter (you may use microwave). Stir in vanilla. Beat in powdered sugar. Quickly spread into a buttered 8x8-inch square buttered dish. Chill to set. Cut into 64 squares.

 

I happened to have all the ingredients on hand and I had some time to kill before Under the Dome started....so I figured why not! So glad I did! This was not only the easiest fudge I've ever made--it's freaking delicious! This one def. goes in my "approved" file! 

my fudge before I put it in the fridge to set :)

Lunchable jr.

Last month I got selected to sample and share new lunchable jr. snacks! They arrived today--my kids were so excited!! They made a great treat for before Topher went into preschool at noon. We were sent ants on a log (peanut butter, raisins, gramcracker sticks), and very beary crunch (teddy grahams, cheese crackers, and dried strawberries). The kids had fun eating them (Topher lined up his bears while Adam dipped the sticks in peanut butter and put the raisins on top). For a once in a while snack (esp. if we are in a hurry or going on a trip!) lunchable jr. is a perfect choice! It is yummy and fun and my boys (ages 3 & 4) absolutely loved them! I took some photos to enjoy--scroll down and check them out. You can see how much fun they had eating. :)

"okay boys...want a lunchable snack??"

wow, cool!!

The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones

A few years ago...late 2009 or early 2010...a good friend of mine lent me a series of books called the mortal instruments by Cassandra Clare. after the first chapter of city of bones, I got hooked. They got a mention in my blog on July 27, 2011 about teen series I adore. As new books get released (the infernal devices is the newer series by the same author), I find myself buying them with in the first week in hardcover--a habit formally reserved only for Stephen King and Emily Griffin. When crowd tap first joined up with the mortal instruments, I was so excited! I answered every quick hit and felt extreme disappointment every time I missed a discussion opportunity. When they announced the first sample and share--I got so excited! I had a few people come over to share the movie trailer (so excited for the movie!!) and get introduced to the City of Bones book and cast. We watched a few cast interviews--I adore Lily and Jamie and can't wait to see them bring Clary and Jace to life! I made some City of Bones theme cookies (key lime--yum! adored with runes and character names in blue icing), served some soda and began to chat. I've recruited some people to go to see the movie--my baby sister, in particular, is dying to go! Over all, it was a fun evening, and we all can't wait to see the whole movie--and the ones to come! I'll leave you with photos from the get together---enjoy!!

cookie dough :)

i'm team jace :)

rune cookies

all the cookies :)

misty with a rune cookie

yum!

starting the trailer

enthralled :)

Facebook share test: clean microwave

I'm sure you see them all the time....those facebook post that tell you "share this so it saves to you wall!" it's either a recipe or fun, easy trick. I got one on my newsfeed today, about cleaning your microwave. and I thought..."hmm...not a bad idea..." because THIS is my microwave:

yuck....

Lots of left overs and four growing boys to feed...along with a full time job for each parent, endless loads of laundry, and a house that just won't clean itself...the microwave never crosses my mind. Until I saw that facebook post tonight and took a peek. gross. So this is the facebook post going around:

"CHECK this out!! We all know the microwave can get out of hand!! Who loves to scrub that bad boy?? NOT THIS GIRL!

Try this! --- SHARE IT TO KEEP IT ON FILE!!!

1 c vinegar + 1 c hot water + 10 min microwave = steam clean! Totally works. No more scum, no funky smells."

Well, this girl, also, does not like to scrub anything...so I grabbed my pretty pyrex cup and measured out the water and vinegar and let 'er rip for 10 minutes:

After the 10 minutes timer beeped, I grabbed some paper towels. And indeed, while it didn't come out perfect like the photo showed, it was pretty close. And everything came off easy, just a quick wipe down!

Much better....

I had put aside the hot cup of water/vinegar mix, so I dipped my paper towel in to wipe off the pesky remaining spots. Came off easy--took no more than 5 minutes! I'd guestimate about 3.5 minutes, tops. Not bad for a microwave that hasnt been clean in at least a year and a half...good call, facebook....