Baconery

  I love bacon. I mean absolutely love bacon. and Chocolates, well who doesn’t love chocolate? So when I found the Baconery I was naturally thrilled. These guys bake with bacon. Yes that’s what I said. Check out these truly unique snacks I was sent to try out.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Bacon Cookies

Chocolate chip cookie with bits of salty bacony goodness. Hubby says” Pretty Dang Good”

A Chocolate and Bacon cookie deserves Haiku, or maybe some other Romantic stanzas of poetry. Maybe we’re over thinking it, and a limerick will do just fine. There once was a cookie from Dublin, that got my stomach a-rumblin… Maybe I just need to eat a few of these.

Chocolate Bacon

Thick sliced bacon compliments the chocolate well. Wouldn’t think it would go together, but it is amazing. Really, who would think bacon and chocolate would go together? Delicious.

Bacon Chocolate Pretzel Rods

Crunchy salty pretzel, rich chocolate and bacon. MMMmmm

Pretzels love bacon, just like they love mustard and cheese. When Pretzels and Bacon fall in love, they like to take trips to the country to go swimming in lakes made of chocolate. Luckily, chocolate is awfully hard to wash off. Yum, just yum.

Bacon Brownies

Crumbly, yummy brownie is sweet, and salty with bacon, velvety and would go well  with a glass of milk.

You can add anything to a brownie, but it’s still a brownie. It’s chocolate, chewy, and decadent. Bacon is flavorful, salty, and decadent. See, they share the decadence! It works, just admit it and give in.

Bacon Marshmallow Bars

Everyone’s favorite. Sweet treat mixes bacon with rice cereal, marshmallows and chocolate. totally tasty.

It’s like a Marshmallow Bar, that same buttery, chewy, crispy bar. It’s changed somehow. Why would we mess with perfection? You may have not known there are actually 5 levels of perfection. The addition of pork brings this treat to Level 4. Level 5 is secret.

Want to keep up with all things Baconery? You can like em on Facebook, follow em on Twitter,  and sign up for their newsletter.

Ready to buy?  Head on over to Baconery and get ya some of these truly unique treats. Check out their Menu here.

SeaSnax Giveaway

  I am one of those people that adores really good sushi. So naturally I enjoy nori. If you don’t know, nori is a seaweed having a mildly sweet, salty taste, usually dried, used in Japanese cookery mainly as a wrap for sushi. SeaSnax sells a line of flavored nori that is sure to peak your interest… more

Earth Box

I was sent an Earth Box to check out. I have been wanting one of these for awhile so I was really excited to get a chance to review one. I got to pick what color I wanted and I went with Terracotta. Earth Box is a wonderful way to container garden. I love that the Earth Box is so simple to set up. No weeding, no tilling. Earth Box waters from underneath so there is no worrying about fungus that can be brought on by watering from above. This is particularly a problem with melons and squash. We are fixing to move to town and I dreaded the prospect of not having a garden anymore.n. With Earth Box it’s possible to have fresh vegetable, herbs and berries in town. You can even use Earth Box on the balcony or roof of your apartment building. I am really looking forward to being able to  garden in a whole new way.

I think Earth Box is great for those who are getting a little older and not able to til, weed and do the digging it takes for traditional gardening.  Earth Box is a great gift idea for everyone. You can teach your kids about growing food. You can grow your own herbs for those who enjoy the culinary arts. Fresh foods are so much higher in nutrients than store bought fruits and veggies. And the flavor, don’t get me started on the flavor. With Earth Box you can be sure what is in your food. If you want to grow organic you can without wondering if your food is truly organic.

Description from Earth Box website:

Terracotta EarthBox Container Gardening System G-R-O-W…Grow, Grow, Grow! That’s exactly what your plants will do in an EarthBox®! Poor soil conditions and small backyards are no match for the EarthBox®. Now it’s easy to garden anywhere–even on balconies, porches, and rooftops! Anyone can enjoy delicious homegrown veggies, fruits, and herbs grown in an EarthBox®. A sustainable product that uses less water and fertilizer, the EarthBox® will grow bigger and tastier plants faster than a conventional garden–with virtually no effort and zero guesswork! Great results, no matter what color your thumb is.

Kit Includes: 1 EarthBox® container, 1 aeration screen, 1 water fill tube, 2 reversible B/W mulch covers, and instruction sheet. All plastic components are durable, food-safe, and UV-stabilized. Container holds 2.0 cu. ft. of growing media, and reservoir holds 3 gallons of water. Measures 29″L x 14″W x 11″H. Integrated caster sockets. Choose from Green, Terracotta, or White. Each EarthBox includes our One-Year Satisfaction Guarantee. Items shipped to AK, HI, Guam, VI and other US territories are delivered by Parcel Post and charged at our 2nd Day Air shipping and handling rates. For customers wishing to ship orders to APO/FPO addresses via Parcel Post, please call Customer Service at 1-800-821-8838 between 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday. We regret that we cannot ship to foreign countries.

Here is a great video that shows how to plant a double row garden in your Earth Box:

 Earth Box sells products in these Departments:

Planters

Automatic Watering Systems

EarthBox Accessories

Planting & Replanting

Garden Tools & Accessories

Insect & Disease Control

Plant Treatments

Repellents

Organic & Natural Products

Beneficial Insects

Seed Starting & Indoor Growing

Greenhouses

Food Preserving

Educational Products

Replacement Parts

EarthBox Gear

Gift Certificates

Want to keep up with all things Earth Box? You can like em on Facebook, follow em on Twitter, sign up for their newsletter and subscribe to their YouTube channel. Earth Box will soon have their own blog.

Ready to buy?  Head on over to Earth Box and get ya some of these awesome planters. They even have a catalog you can order.

Butt Bench Giveaway

  I found a great product for the bathtub. It is called Butt Bench. This handy device is perfect for making it super easy for women  to shave in the tub. It is also perfect for seniors who can’t get in and out of the tub easily. The Butt Bench is very well made of your choice of either pine or cedar. Super sturdy and can hold up to 300 pounds. I love  how easy it is to install. It even has adjustable suction cups that  make sure you can…more

Thrive Foods Cookbook Giveaway

I was sent Thrive Foods – 200 Plant-Based Recipes for Peak Health by Brendan Brazier from my friends over at Da Capo Books. This is a highly informative book. Thrive Foods shows how to reduce nutritional stress on the body by eating properly and reducing over consumption. Let’s face it y’all we have an obesity problem in this country. Thrive Foods is a great way t…more

The Ginger People Giveaway

  I don’t know about y’all , but I love ginger. Not only is it delicious, it also has medicinal values. Some even call it an aphrodisiac. Never a bad thing, right? I know most y’all only think about ginger in cookies or Oriental foods. Ginger is so much more versatile than that.  We were fortunate enough to get to sample a wonderful selection of products from a great company called “The Ginger People”. These guys are awesome…more

Cloud 9 World Children’s Books

Cloud 9 World sells an amazing line of children’s books that not only entertain your children, but teach them import virtues. I love the stories in these great books. They keep my attention. You are not going to get bored reading these stories. They have incredible detail, beautiful illustrations and a fabulous story line. Each book teaches a virtue using animals to keep your child’s attention. I highly recommend these for your own children or as a fantastic gift for any child you know. I can see these in a school or church library easily. Wonderful.

Here s a little info from the sponsor:

mission statement

Cloud9Kids™, a division of Cloud9World™, is dedicated to raising our children’s self esteem by teaching them values that will help them become happier kids and better human beings.

The level of our children’s self esteem defines and shapes how well they are able to cope with the pressures of adolescence, and meet the challenges of adulthood.

Our children’s self-esteem informs every aspect of their life from the quality of their relationships to his or her success in school. Building self-esteem acts like a magic spell that transforms the child’s life and guides them toward a brighter future.

about us

Over the last half-century, our fast-paced culture has radically altered the nature of the American family. Our children are required to grow faster and in doing so are faced with challenges in life that can be very difficult to over come. Unfortunately now a day their self esteem is exposed to a number of situations at school and in their everyday activities.

Cloud9World™ was created by mothers who developed a common language that helped them aid their own children during challenging times. The messages were simple, but results were incredible.

Thus, the Cloud9Kids™ collection was born. By instilling good thoughts, engendering good behavior and boosting the wearer’s self-esteem, Cloud9Kids™ products empower both children and parents to become better human beings.

Want to keep up with all things Cloud 9 World? You can like em on Facebook, follow em on Twitter,  and subscribe to their YouTube channel.

Ready to buy?  Head on over to Cloud 9 World and get ya some of these wonderful books

Copykat.com’s Dining Out at Home Cookbook Giveaway

  Love to eat out but hate spending all the money it takes to feed your entire family. Why not enjoy your favorite restaurant meals at home? With Copykat.com’s Dining Out at Home Cookbook you can. We made a simply delicious recipe from the cookbook this evening it is for Chipotle Mexican Grill’s Cilantro Rice. I put a pic of it below. Turned out amazing. Perfect texture and flavor.This cookbook has so many amazing recipes that I am…more

Tork Home Kit Giveaway

Tork Home sent over their Tork Home Kit for review. This is an awesome way to keep napkins and paper towels neat and nearby. These are the same great napkin dispensers you see in restaurants and cafeterias. Love the fact that they are super easy to keep clean. I had no idea that you could get Tork at home.Tork Home napkin dispenser is also fun. You can change the decor of your…more

Fog Free Shaving Mirror Giveaway

Shave Well sent over one of their Fog Free Shaving Mirrors for review. This is a great product idea. Hubby says shaving his face in the shower is the best way to get super soft and smooth skin. I like that idea. Hubby also says he has not been able to shave in the shower for years for the lack of a shaving mirror. Don’t want to nick that sexy face of his.With the Shave Well Fog Free Shower mirror I get to enjoy his amazingly close shave. Apparently having…more

Chef’s Catalog

I love all things that have to do with the kitchen. I love cookware, gadgets. flatware, cookbooks, serverware etc… So I was super excited to get the oppurtunity to review some of the great items available from Chef’s Catalog.

Let’s check out what I received:

Wallace Silversmith Lux Hotel Flatware, Service for 12, 77 piece

Feel like royalty using this flatware service for 12, of the most popular patterns from Europe’s grand hotels.

This is truly a beautiful set of flatware. All items are sturdy, well weighted and perfectly formed to fit your mouth. I hate it when some flatware just feels wrong while you are eating. The picture does not do these guys justice at all. They are incredibly shiny. When they arrived I was quite impressed with the packaging. Each individual piece of flatware was wrapped in it’s own plastic sleeve to keep it from harm during the shipping process. If you are looking for a wonderful gift the elegance of this flatware is sure to please. I like that the patterns are eclectic with six different patterns scattered about the setting. All are beautiful and unique.

White Divided Serving Bowl, Oval

Restaurant-quality serving bowl serves two side dishes at once.

These are really nice. Perfect size for everyday use at the family table. I love the white finish. Looks casual or elegant depending on what table accessories you pair it with. Oven, microwave, freezer and dishwasher-safe.

Large Divided Oval Serving Platter, White

CHEFS exclusive – elegant serving platter serves a choice of meats, vegetables or desserts.

This divided serving platter is enormous. Will work for serving even the biggest family’s Holiday meals. Super sleek design fits in well on any table.

White Porcelain Gravy Boat, 30 oz.

Timeless, elegantly designed gravy boat with generous capacity.

Perfect companion to the large divided oval serving platter. Beautifully lined for ease of pouring and cleaning when you are done. Great for gravies, sauces and desert toppings.

Chef’s sells products in these great categories:

Cookware

Cutlery

Kitchen Electrics

Kitchen Tools

Bakeware

Kitchen Cleaning & Storage

Furniture

Outdoor Cooking

Specialty Foods

Tabletop

Want to keep up with all things Chef’sCatalog.com? You can like em on Facebook, follow em on Twitter, Google+ em here, request a catalog, and sign up for their newsletter . They even have a Wedding and Gift Registry

Looking for Recipes? Click here.

Ready to buy? Head on over to Chef’sCatalog.com and get ya some of these great kitchen products.

We were going to do a giveaway of the white divided serving bowls. Unfortunately one of them arrived broken and I have been getting the run around from them by e-mail to get it replaced.

Lidia’s Italy

 Lidia’s Italy sent over some of their wonderful pantry staples for review. The flavors of Lidia’s Italy will knock your socks off.

Marinara Sauce

I have found heaven in a jar. Lidia’s Marinara smells so amazing while cooking. Tastes even better. I don’t even know how to put into words how this tastes. It is absolutely wonderful. Texture, aroma and flavor are all Italy. What more can I say? I was also sent some spaghetti noodles that were BY FAR the best pasta I have ever had. The spaghetti was made in Italy. Even before cooking I could tell it was going to be different. You know how store bought pasta is smooth this spaghetti had a rougher texture. The noodles cooked beautifully. The combination of spaghetti and marinara sauce with some homede meatballs prompted Hubby to ask me to tell Lidia thank you. So, thank you Lidia for the care you take in producing such amazing flavors. Truly a delight.

 Lidia’s Marinara Tomato Sauce is loaded with imported Italian plum tomatoes and fresh vegetables, as light and refreshing as ones straight from the garden, and blessed with fresh basil and Colavita olive oil. Delizioso! 

I was also sent a copy of Lidia’s Italy in America. This is a great cookbook. Lidia tours America to find over 175 of the best of Italian American recipes from across the country. I love how Lidia intertwines a bit of Italian American history among the fabulous recipes. We decided to try to make pizza crust. I have been looking for a good Pizza dough for years. Never having been happy with the store bought varieties or any recipes I have tried in the past. I thought hey why not give it another try with Lidia’s cookbook. Don’t get me wrong this cookbook isn’t just about pizza. There are so many great recipes in categories from Antipasti to Zuppe. and everything in between. I found myself drawn to the people in the book. Lidia really shows you the Italian American side of life throughout the book.  Anyhow, back to my pizza dough attempt. Recipe was really much easier than I imagined. And the flavor. Oh the flavor.  Perfectly crunchy on the outside with a light bready interior. I imagine if I would have made it thinner it would have been beautifully crisp all across.  I like that the crust cut well without breaking apart. It’s not to heavy either. I think I have found the perfect crust for our family. Yeah. Thanks again Lidia.

Lidia’s Italy in America

Shifting the spotlight from Italy to the United States, Lidia brings viewers on a road trip into the heart of Italian-American cooking. Join Lidia as she crosses the country to talk with fishermen, chefs, farmers, butchers, families, and entrepreneurs to learn more about the rich and diverse development of Italian American culture. This new series explores the enduring role food has played in the creation of the Italian-American identity by celebrating the ways in which Italian immigrants adapted the traditional cuisine of their old homeland to fit the new.

Want to keep up with all things Lidia? You can like her on Facebook, follow her on Twitter, sign up for their newsletter and check out Lidia’s blog. She is even sharing some awesome recipes with y’all.

Ready to buy?  Head on over to Lidia’s Italy and get ya some of these Delizioso products and cookbooks.