THE blog for Women over 45! Our Giveaways are always over $50! We let younger people be our friends too!

Category: food reviews

Nature’s Hand Granola Review and Flash sweep (Starts Tonight at 5:00PM)

[ 49 ] May 18, 2012 | Shelley Zurek

Nature’s Hand Granola Enhances your Breakfast and Recipes

Flash Giveaway for Two Packages of your Choice Starts Tonight starts at 5:00PM

Nature's Hand Granola

Nature’s Hand Granola (note the almost empty bag..We couldn’t even wait to eat it to take the picture !)

Nature’s Hand Granola — A Whole Lot of NO!

What I first noticed about Nature’s Hand Granola was all the things it DIDN’T have. NO Artificial Colors or Flavors. NO Preservatives. NO Sodium. NO TransFats. NO High Fructose Corn Syrup. Well..YEAH! Sounds like a great snack. But really, without all of those things..how did it taste? At 140 Calories for a 1/4 cups serving, I was hoping for a great flavor punch. I first sampled the Wild BlueBerry Flavor of Nature’s Hand. Oh Boy..I had to stop myself as I wanted to use it in this recipe for Baked Oatmeal and I had to have enough to use the Granola to top the recipe. (Aside>> this Baked Blackberry Granola Oatmeal recipe was super delicious with the Wild Blueberry Granola by Nature’s Hand!) The Maple Pecan was Very Mapley…In a good way. We tried the Maple Pecan as a stand alone cereal and also over salad..both good choices. The other flavors of Granola they offer are:

- Original Vanilla Almond
- Cranberry Delight
- French Vanilla Almond
- Raisin Hazelnut
- Cinnamon Apple

Women Over 45 (and all our younger friends)– If you love granola like my family, the way you might enjoy it the most is the old-fashioned European way for breakfast sprinkled over yogurt. My husband thought the granola was the best this way and he even added a little Tangerine Balsamic Vinegar over the whole mixture! You can also cruise over to http://www.natureshand.com/ for some great recipes like Ice Cream Pie, Chewy Granola Cookies, and Caramel Apple Treat. I want to send them my Baked Blackberry Granola Oatmeal (you can submit your recipes too! info@natureshand.com) Join Nature’s Hand Granola’s growing Facebook family and Twitter followers.

THE GIVEAWAY:

Giveaway is for 31 Hours Only. Ends May 19th at 11:59 PM

THE PRIZE:

1 Winner will take home 2 full size bags of Nature’s Hand Granola in the Flavor of their choice!

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a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure:This review was made possible by Mom Spark Media. Thoughts are my own. All prizing for MSM giveaways is handled by a third party unless otherwise noted. For this reason prize fulfillment can take up to 90 days after the winners information is received.

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Soup and a Party for My Love!

[ 6 ] February 9, 2012 | Shelley Zurek

Bartolli Meal Soups can make your Weekday Special!

Frozen Meal Soups can Make the Evening a Little less Stress for Both of US!

My Life is a zoo! And my Husband’s is worse. He is working on a major electric vehicle project for one of the Big 3 car companies. Even though, he is the sweetest man..he has been burning the candles at both ends, so I decided to make at least one weeknight special! The only problem is…I only had one hour to prepare and a LOT to do. How could I get it all done?

Unfortunately, it had snowed quite hard and the driveway was full of snow. I knew if my husband came home and found that, he’d be out there shoveling and snowblowing (he’s Polish…he just has to have EVERYTHING just so!) So in order to make the night extra special..I SHOVELED THE DRIVEWAY..sort of. Okay..don’t be shocked. I even have pictures to prove it:

The Chief Blonde Shoveling Snow?

Consider Frozen Meal Soups as a Real Time Saver and for REAL FLAVOR

Well, 40 minutes of that Nonsense (WHY DO I LIVE HERE???) , left me a mere 20 minutes to get a hearty dinner on the table for my 6’6″ husband, who comes home hungry as a bear. Quickly, I made some breadsticks and popped them into the oven. For the main dish, I used Bertolli Premium Meal Soup in Chicken Minestrone. The Meal soup was a breeze to prepare. I just put it into a sauce pan on the stove and added 1 cup of water. After the mixture came to a boil, I reduced the heat and covered it for another 5 minutes stirring occasionally. In between the soup meal, I set the table, got out some beverages, and put the breadsticks out to cool.

Toward the end of my 20 minute whirlwind, my husband walked in and the first thing he said was, “Wow, what smells so good?” Then he was all smiles because he didn’t have to shovel the driveway. So 20 minutes from the time I came in from outdoors, I was already to serve my big gorgeous husband a wonderful Bertolli Chicken Minestrone Soup Meal. WHICH HE LOVED! We both agreed that this soup was the best store bought soup of any kind that we had ever eaten. My husband said that if he didn’t know, he’d swear the Bertolli Soup Meals was homemade by ME! He felt it was that good..apparently I am quite the little SUZY HOMEMAKER in his mind!! Take a look at the two beautiful hearty bowls of soup it made!!

Bertolli Chicken Minestrone Soup with and without Parmesan ($5.99 )

Frozen Bertolli Meal Soups can Satisfy all your Family Members

I loved the fact that I can keep this frozen soup on hand and serve a wonderful hearty soup with a homemade taste–Anytime! I also thought I would pick up some of the Soup Meals for my aging parents or some people from church that I take meals to…wouldn’t that be convenient for them? Meal Soups solves the problem about what to serve for dinner when you have no time or energy to create a homecooked dinner! I also think my 3 adult sons would love this..they are just a tad lazy when it comes to cooking but don’t mind heating up something. I found Bertolli Meal Soups very filling, my boys can eat a ton!

3 tips to Make your Weeknight Meal Special

1. Frozen Meal Soups can Make the Evening a Little less Stress for Everyone! (Maybe you can shovel the driveway too!)

2. Frozen Meal Soups are a Real Time Saver for REAL FLAVOR!

3. Frozen Bertolli Meal Soups can Satisfy all your Family Members

Check out Bertolli on Facebook: facebook.com/Bertolli
Twitter: twitter.com/Bertolli
Website: villabertolli.com

Blog Note: I was compensated by Bertolli to participate in the Weeknight Meal Special Challenge.

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GOLDEN DOOR COOKS AT HOME–2010 1st Quarter Book Review

[ 0 ] March 28, 2010 | Shelley Zurek

Favorite Recipes from the Celebrated Spa

By Dean Rucker with Marah Stets

Golden Door Spa Recipes and Tips – the Perfect Gift to Kick-Start Healthy Living in the New Year!

With Easter and Spring right around the corner, it’s time to turn to the health and wellness experts at the Golden Door spa for the perfect gift idea to promote healthy living. Since the opening of the world-renowned Golden Door spa fifty years ago, guests have dined on an inspired collection of bold and innovative, yet healthy cuisine. The Golden Door chefs, eschewing food fads and fleeting diets, have always created an ever-evolving menu grounded in timelessly healthy and delicious whole foods — reminding guests that a healthy lifestyle can be a pleasurable choice. And now in Golden Door Cooks at Home: Favorite Recipes from the Celebrated Spa (Clarkson Potter, April 2009; $40.00/hardcover), the spa’s executive chef Dean Rucker shares his most sought-after recipes and cooking tips.

With a focus on lean proteins, whole grains, fresh vegetables, and other wholesome foods, the recipes in Golden Door Cooks at Home combine ingredients in remarkably delicious ways. After one bite of any of Chef Rucker’s dishes you’ll understand why his cuisine is a highlight of the Golden Door spa experience. These are just some of the creative recipes in the book:

· Creamy Cauliflower Soup with Caramelized Cauliflower

· Teriyaki Black Cod with Sticky Rice Cakes and Seared Baby Bok Choy

· Adobo-Marinated Grass-Fed Flank Steak

· Soft Rosemary-Lemon Polenta with Sweet Corn, Oyster Mushrooms, and Rainbow Chard

· Warm Flourless Chocolate Cake with Orange Sauce

Copies of the book, autographed by Chef Dean are available from the Golden Door Boutique:

(800)857-0500 www.goldendoorboutique.com

The Chief Blonde remarks: Oh, this book is jammed with yummy recipes. Pictures galore! So very healthy and tasty! I made the Garden Vegetable Soup with Pistou!!! Oh my goodness. It was beyond yum! Really! Take a look at picture below, the video of me making the soup and final–the recipe! HIGHLY HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS COOKBOOK!

Garden Vegetable Soup with Pistou

Made from basil, garlic, olive oil, and Parmesan cheese, pistou is stirred into soups, stews, and pastas to add aromatic flavor and color. Ordinarily, that savory burst comes from a large amount of olive oil and cheese, but my version uses no oil and just a bit of Parmesan. The trick is to puree the pistou ingredients with some of the hot soup and then stir this mixture back into the soup. This method gives the soup the extra body and robust flavor of classic pistou without the added fat. Serves 8

1 cup dried flageolet, great northern, or cannellini beans

6 cups Chicken or Vegetable Stock (pages 268 and 269) or store-bought low-sodium broth

1 bay leaf

1 medium carrot, diced (1/2 cup)

2 celery ribs, diced (1 cup)

1 medium zucchini, diced (1 cup)

4 ounces green beans, cut into 1-inch pieces (1 cup)

1/2 small leek, thinly sliced (1 cup)

1 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste

1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste

1 cup packed coarsely chopped fresh basil leaves

1/4 cup chopped fresh Italian parsley

2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

2 teaspoons tomato paste

1/2 cup sliced scallions (white and green parts)

2 garlic cloves, smashed

1/2 large ripe red tomato, seeded and diced (1/2 cup)

Rinse the beans in cold water and pick over them, discarding any stones or debris. Place them in a large bowl and pour in enough cold water to cover by 2 inches. Let stand overnight.

– Drain the beans, discarding the water. Transfer the beans to a medium saucepan and add the stock and bay leaf. Bring to a boil and then reduce the heat. Simmer gently, partially covered, until the beans are tender, 40 to 50 minutes.

– Stir in the carrot, celery, zucchini, green beans, leek, salt, and pepper and simmer until the vegetables are tender, about 15 minutes. Remove and discard the bay leaf.

–Combine the basil, parsley, Parmesan, tomato paste, scallions, and garlic in a blender. Add 2 cups of the hot broth to the blender and process for 20 seconds, until the mixture is well blended and smooth. Pour the blended mixture into the soup and stir to combine. Stir in the diced tomato. Ladle the soup into warm bowls and serve hot.

Nutritional Information (per serving): 120 calories; 1g fat; 0.5g sat fat; 10g protein; 19g carb; 6g fiber;10mg cholesterol; 308mg sodium

Reproduced with permission from Golden Door Cooks at Home: Favorite Recipes from the Celebrated Spa by Chef Dean Rucker with Marah Stets

(Published by Clarkson Potter, April 2009, Hardcover, 288 pages.)

Blog Note: Chief Blonde was provided a review copy for this Blog post. Opinions are the Chief Blonde’s alone.

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Super Bowl Snacking for Women over 45! The 100 Year Lifestyle!

[ 0 ] January 25, 2010 | Shelley Zurek

THE 100 YEAR lifestyle can help you avoid Super Bowl Snacking FAT!

We’re two weeks away from Superbowl Sunday; a day that’s become better known for feasting than football. Nabisco tells us to “Snack Happy,” but how happy will you be when you step on the scale after the eating frenzy is over?

Health and fitness expert Dr. Eric Plasker, best-selling author of The 100 Year Lifestyle and The 100 Year Lifestyle Workout, wants to help you get through the game without the gain. He has compiled some Superbowl Superfoods that will satisfy a snack attack and keep you looking slim and trim.

Dips that Don’t:

Hummus and babaganoush are two great dips that add some edge to your party. Plus, they’re much healthier than heavy cheese dips. For variety, buy an assortment of flavors, like red pepper, garlic and olive. Pair these with pre-cut veggies like carrots, broccoli and celery, rather than chips. You can also buy whole grain, stone ground or 100 percent whole-wheat crackers, which contain fiber and nutritional value. You’ll get all of the flavor and less of the fat.

Wings for Winners

Buy baked chicken wings instead of fried ones. When they’re covered in sauce, you won’t taste the difference. Just be sure to steer clear of blue cheese and ranch dressings, or buy low-fat versions.

Sub Saviors

Sub sandwiches can be a good way to get your protein and fill up on not-so-fattening food. Limit the mayo, pack your sandwich with extra lettuce and tomato, and eat it open-faced to save on calories.

Dessert Danger

Finger foods can be the most dangerous, as they’re easy to pop into your mouth without thinking. Don’t be a grazer. Load your plate with a small portion of whatever you want to try, and then step away from the dessert table. That way, you’re practicing portion control.

Workout Warriors

Plan ahead. If you think you’ll be taking in an extra 1,000 calories on Superbowl Sunday, make sure to get in a good workout on Friday, Saturday and Sunday before the game. That way, you can compensate for the extra intake and net out without weight gain.

About Dr. Eric Plasker

Health and fitness expert Dr. Plasker is author of The 100 Year Lifestyle, a best-selling book and wellness system that enables people to make the most of their years through a unique, total-life program that addresses health, nutrition, exercise, mental agility, creativity, finances, friends and

family, work, community, and achieving a sense of purpose. Also author of the just-released100 Year Lifestyle Workout, Dr. Plasker is a member of Gold’s Gym Fitness Institute, the world’s largest think tank for health and Fitness issues. Owner of two highly successful family practices for almost 20 years, Dr. Plasker has been featured extensively by the media, including

CNN, FOX, NBC, Self, Woman’s World, Health and in major newspapers around the country.

Blog Note: The Chief Blonde was not compensated for this post about the 100 YEAR lifestyle. She felt her readers would like the information.

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Mobile IPhone App Lets You Choose Enviro-Friendly Seafood

[ 1 ] December 17, 2009 | Shelley Zurek

Blog Note: In preparation for the 2010 CES in Las Vegas Nevada, we are running a series of articles on the latest consumer electronics including Iphone apps.

S. Zurek

If you’re a seafood lover and an iPhone fan, it’s your lucky day. Monterey Bay Aquarium’s popular Seafood Watch guides, including the sushi guide, are now available on your mobile phone to help you make sustainable seafood choices quickly and easily – whether you’re at your favorite restaurant or sushi joint, or shopping at your local market. The guides identify which fish are good options and which to think twice about because they’re overfished or contain contaminants like mercury.

This app will be especially useful in the New Year as sustainable seafood heats up more restaurant menus in 2010 and more people resolve to eat food that’s healthy and environment-friendly. Sustainable seafood has been listed as one of the top trends for 2010 according to the Nation’s Restaurant News’ Annual Chef Survey, the Food Channel, and hospitality and restaurant consultants who keep the pulse of the industry.

Seventy percent of the world’s fisheries are either in decline or are already fished at their capacity. Fortunately, there are many types of tasty fish that are plentiful and are readily available. Through your iPhone, iPod Touch or mobile device with internet connection, you can search by fish and a color-coded grid identifies fish by: Best Choice, Good Alternative and Avoid.

You can download to your Apple iPhone or iPod touch in one of two ways:
1. Visit us on our Seafood Watch pages to get your iPhone app.
2. Browse the App Store on your iPhone or iPod touch and download the free, official Seafood Watch app direct to your device.

Don’t have an iPhone? Seafood Watch recommendations are available for any mobile device with an Internet connection.

Want some Sustainable Seafood Recipes? As you plan their holiday menus, some of them might be inspired by the Feast of Seven Fishes, an Italian American tradition of serving seven different seafood dishes on Christmas Eve. Click here for some environmentally-friendly seafood recipes by some of the nation’s leading chefs, including Rick Moonen.

Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program is the most recognized and trusted resource for sustainable seafood recommendations. Seafood Watch recommendations are science-based, peer reviewed, and use ecosystem-based criteria. Since 1999, we’ve distributed tens of millions of pocket guides, our iPhone application has been downloaded nearly 175,000 times, and we have close to 200 partners across North America to build awareness to ocean-friendly seafood choices, include zoos, aquariums, restaurants, retailers, universities, food co-ops, seafood suppliers, and more.