Food, Natural Foods

Opal Apples, the only naturally non-browning, non-GMO apples

I was sent samples. Opinions are my own and this post may contain affiliate links. Thank you for visiting.

Opal Apples, the only naturally non-browning, non-GMO apples

A post about apples. This is new to me but very much needed. There is not a sweeter treat then a crisp apple full of flavor…until it browns on you. It doesn’t take long for most apples to brown either. Then it is a bummer when you are like me and eat with your eyes so if it is brown – apples, bananas, potatoes I don’t crave them anymore and choose another food. Opal® apples are a game changer and now they have kids packs available.

Opal apples are non-browning, non GMO and so full of sweet flavor! They are yellow and have a bit of a floral aroma making them perfect for baking, but only if you love the smell of apples baking in your kitchen!

Because Opal apples don’t easily brown they are great to last in salads, to cut up with dips for kids snacks they can can come and go to in the afternoon and their aromas are great for baking as I mentioned already.

Opal apples are available at select locations across the USA and Canada. Visit the Opal apples website for more information, store locator and delicious recipes.

Brands with a Cause, Food, Natural Foods

CHUM Fruit Bites have the simplest, purest ingredients

Comment: I was sent these sheets. Opinions are my own and this post may contain affiliate links. Thank you for visiting.

CHUM Fruit Bites have the simplest, purest ingredients

There are fruit snacks and then there are CHUM Fruit Bites. They are like fruit snacks in that they are fruit-flavored but unlike the fruit snacks you know because they are ONLY fruit. Also, despite the fun colors and animal designs they are not just for kids because I can’t get enough of these myself. I love these as a mid-day working snack.

I feel like I should tell you all about these CHUM fruit bites so you know what they are made of but the ingredient lists are literally just fruits. That’s it! 100% wild without the fake stuff!

I can tell you that when you buy CHUM Fruit Bites you are helping them make a difference. They donate 15% profits to Wild Aid, protecting wildlife.

You can find these REAL fruit bites online at the CHUM Fruit Bites shop and on Amazon. Right now they are having a #StaySafe sale and shipping is free on their site!

Food, Healthy Living, Natural Foods, Recipes

Lemon Chicken Edamame Spaghetti Recipe

This post is in partnership with Explore Cuisine. This Edamame Spaghetti recipe is my own

Lemon Chicken Edamame Spaghetti Recipe

My husband and I are month 2 into a low carb/low calorie diet. The two things I miss most is steak and pasta. The good thing about changing eating habits is that we are doing it together. I have never been so successful on a healthy change prior to having my husband jump on board. We hold each other accountable and at night discuss what we ate during the day, almost in competition form to who kept closest to the new regimen. Then we allow ourselves a cheat night once a week and look forward to our reward.

Both of us have dropped weight and I reached my goal weight this week. I also learned something else and that is how to get real creative in the kitchen. Ever heard of Edamame Spaghetti? It exists and I am so glad I tried it because I don’t have to crave actual pasta anymore.

Explore Cuisine have taken that popular soybean and created a delicious pasta noodle that I personally love better than actual pasta for more than one reason. First, it cooks in about 4 minutes in boiling water so that saves time. Second, it is delicious and that is an understatement.

When I first served it my husband was a bit skeptical as if we were cheating on our diet. It is so  much like spaghetti but I handed him the box to read and we felt so good about our meal that night because it fits right in with how we are eating. We can have pasta again and not wait until our cheat night run to Italian restaurants.

This Edamame Spaghetti recipe was literally thrown together with leftovers in my kitchen. We are moving next week and living in transition until the home build is complete so I have to use up what we have in the fridge and freezer. It turned out delicious. The house LOVED it. Edamame is loaded with plant-based protein (25 grams per serving), fiber and iron. Explore Cuisine Organic Edamame Spaghetti is made from 100% organic ingredients and is vegan, gluten-free, non-GMO and kosher. Let’s get to the recipe!

Lemon Chicken Edamame Spaghetti Recipe

I had some green peppers I needed to use up so that is what I added to my recipe. It is nice to have a crunch with this dish so you can use any bell pepper and even some pine nuts or zucchini. I just sauted my peppers in some coconut oil and garlic until cooked down a bit.

Tip: When cooking down spinach remember that spinach holds a lot of water. I used fresh spinach and rinsed. Then I drain and blot as much water out as possible. Cook down in olive oil. It just takes a moment or two so don’t overcook. Then I drizzle with some lemon juice and take it from the pan and lay it out on a paper towel lined cookie sheet and cool a tad before grabbing more paper towels to absorb the water still remaining in the cooked spinach.

The picture above is the final step. Put all of your cooked ingredients back together in a large pan or wok. I have cooked chicken breast, cooked spinach and sauted green peppers and minced garlic. Add the cooked and drained Edamame Spaghetti noodles and toss. Drizzle more lemon as you toss. Plate it and top with grated parmesan cheese.

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Food, Natural Foods

DREAMS AREN’T THIS GOOD Salsa is Inspired by the sights and sounds of NYC

DREAMS AREN’T THIS GOOD Salsa is Inspired by the sights and sounds of NYC

If there is one go-to evening snack for me it is hummus or salsa. I am not much into fire-hot salsas but I do appreciate a mild to medium salsa where I can taste the veggies, fruits and herbs that may be infused. I also don’t appreciate preservatives or added sugars. Those are not at all necessary in a good salsa.

I had not heard of Dreams Aren’t This Good Salsa and Tortilla Chips before I was sent a press release. I live near Seattle and this is clearly a NYC-based brand so it makes sense that I was not familiar. I saw the line, “Focused on flavors, not heat levels, all salsa flavors and tortilla chips are gluten free, vegan and contain no preservatives.”.

I then looked at their flavors and when I saw The Fighter (the garlic cilantro salsa) I had to give it a try. I love cilantro and garlic in about anything I cook. It is a medium heat salsa and because the ingredient list reads: diced tomatoes, onion, garlic, cilantro, jalapeno pepper, water, salt and lemon juice concentrate it was no wonder I could taste only freshness.

Then there was the Dreams Aren’t This Good tortilla chips! Thick cut and best when you warm them up! It is the perfect pair that far outdoes any store-bought tortilla chip I can find.

They do a fantastic job combining flavors of the South with the sounds and styles of the city that never sleeps. The salsas are available in stores throughout the tri-state area and online at Dreams Aren’t This Good Salsa shop. A portion of sales go to charity!