Black Truffle + White Cheddar Popcorn by 479 Degrees Popcorn
Okay time to get a little honest here. I am not a popcorn fan. I hate the fact that kernels tend to get stuck in my teeth. The fact that occasionally they don't pop fully and you bite down and it hurts! Not to mention I just never really got excited over most popcorn. The flavor rarely does anything for me.
So when I saw this bag turn up in my love with food box I kind of shrugged it off. I tried it the other night with my husband though and I was rather impressed. It smelt heavily of mushrooms. Which would be nothing more then the truffle oil that was drizzled over it.
The truffle actually complimented the cheddar nothing was overly strong. It was light and airy. Never bit into anything hard nor did I have any kernel issues with this popcorn. I could easily sit there and get this and feel happy eating it. Specially since it is non GMO, Gluten Free and low calorie and not feel guilty about eating it while dieting.
My only one complaint with this popcorn was that the bag that it came in was not resealable. For me that is a issue because I peck like a bird at things. If I do not finish it in one sitting I do not want to be coming back to a stale pack of popcorn later. So that is my only real negative issue with this product. Something worth to invest and try. A nice fancy treat for those date nights.
TCHO Chocolate Review
Okay, okay I admit my house hold has a bit of a chocolate fixation that constantly needs a fix. My issue with chocolate is that most hurt my teeth. Dark Chocolate because of the lower sugar content does not hurt my teeth. So I am always on the hunt for a yummy dark chocolate to put into my snack bin.
I received four pieces of TCHO chocolate to try and was excited to do so. Since natural is better then the fake stuff anyway. The first one we tried was the "Mokaccino" Serious Milk + Blue Bottle Coffee. The taste of coffee was overwhelmingly present. Though it was creamy and rich. Smooth in texture and over all rather delicious. The undertones of the chocolate being able to be tasted as a small after taste of the coffee. This would be good for a quick pick me up through the day. Plus fill that sweet tooth need.
The second bar we tried was PureNotes Dark Chocolatey bars. This particular bar was rather bitter. Like pure dark cocoa typically is. It also had a chalk like texture and a little on the dry side. It was good but even in the small size of this bar I would only be able to eat this in nibbling type bites. It was good just need to be prepared to not pop this whole thing in your mouth at one time!
Dark Chocolate Covered Blueberries by Emily's Chocolate
I received these in my Love with food box. I have to admit I had never heard of the company or about any of their chocolates. So I was unsure about this product at first. Though if you haven't caught on yet I like trying new things anyway so this did not bother me to try out. I happen to like chocolate covered fruits for the most part. Though I have to admit I was a little curious about these.
The packaging was really cute and it is something that would probably grab my attention in a store if I saw it. These bags were easy to open with no real struggle. The chocolate pieces no one was the same size, though they all packed the same taste. The chocolate was smooth and creamy with just a tiny bitter bite. Now the issue I did have with this was the blueberries. You could barely taste them at all. It was more like eating a chocolate covered raisin then a blueberry. Perhaps if I was to eat more then two or three at a time I may start tasting the blueberry but right now it lacks it.
This wouldn't stop me from trying other products by them but it would stop me from buying THIS product by them. I feel they may have over dehydrate the blue berries to the point they lost all their flavor. That or they are using ones that don't have much flavor to begin with. Perhaps if they were to change to a different blueberry or juicer ones they would hold more of their taste. Needless to say I am not overly impressed with their product.
Restaurant Style White Bean Chips by Beanitos
Ever have that hankering for chips though with the fact of your dietary needs or wants you have a hard time finding something to fit you? Well thanks to Love with Food I found something I have fallen in love with. My husband and I are always on the search for healthier ways to snack. Without feeling like we are totally cheating on our dietary needs and wants.
So in my box I received I had to bags of Beantio's White Bean Chips. The bag was about snack size which is all I really need when I am trying new things out. So I was unsure about these because both my husband and myself our weird about gluten free things. Though I think I am a bit more open about trying things like that then he is. So I figured these weren't going to be all that great when I first saw them.
These chips texture wise were really light. Which I found odd for a chip to begin with. Then again one really does not realize how much wheat puts weight into a product. Not only was this chip light and airy. It was even crispier and crunchier then normal chips are. Which I like crisp and a nice crunch sound when bitting into a chip. The taste though...
WOWZER! I was highly impressed this chip was a nice and very pleasant taste. It reminded me a lot of navy beans with a sun flower seed follow up. Which after saying it to my husband I looked at the facts on the bag and saw they were both ingredients in this chip. So it made sense to be able to pull those flavors out the most. This chip also had just enough of a salt that it wasn't gross and overly salty making you need a drink every couple chips. It was actually a real treat to have such a grease free (Unlike most chips), savory and crispy chip.
What was better is my husband Mr Anti Gluten Free stuff couldn't stop eating these! He loved them as much as I did! These chips are all around amazing and let us guilt free eat them! We will certainly be looking for these in the future.
Gavottes Dark Chocolate Crepe Dentelle
These actually have a interesting background. The company alone was founded in 1920 in the Loc Maria District in Quimper France. This is where they hand rolled each crispy crepe for decades. It wasn't until four decades later that they became a industrialized factory. Twelve years later finally the rest of the world got to get there first taste of these delectable tasting crispy crepes. With the start of such a large tempting treat came into demand they were determined to keep up with the times. Keep their customers wanting more and being pleased with the product. From this in 1978 they started coating their Brittany Crepes in chocolate. Which as we jump forward to today is only one of the many products they make.
With that quick history lesson about the company, I will jump over to a little noting before getting into the review. I first got these this past Christmas (2013.) My father and Step mother had gotten my husband and myself these as part of our present. They were something different and new to us. She was thrilled about these things. So I have had these in the past, though at the time it was just the plain milk chocolate. I received seven to eight of these things in my Love with Food box. (Not sure what Love with Food is? Check out the blog entry on Love with Food. For all you foodies out there!)
These were slightly different from the ones we got on christmas. These instead of milk chocolate were covered in dark chocolate. Which I won't lie I was thrilled about. I love dark chocolate. So these little treats are very brittle and easily break at the slightest bit of tension. So these can get messy fast if you are not careful with them. Several in my box were smashed to pieces.
When you bite into these and start actually chewing you realize this is a very light and airy type of treat. It is a interesting and yet new kind of texture in the way it is so smooth. The taste was amazing, just enough sweetness that it is in no way disgustingly sweet but not overly bitter from the dark chocolate either. The chocolate compliments the crunchy crepe that it covers. I can see how quickly these could become in high demand. The issue I do find with them is that because of how light it is, one can easily get carried away with eating these.
This for someone like me who is on a diet would not be a good thing. None the less these things were amazing. Compared to the milk chocolate ones I like these better as did my husband. The milk chocolate was a little to sweet and if you have sensitive teeth like myself it makes eating them hard to do. All in all these are well worth the money and amazing! I can't wait for the chance to try more from this company!
Mario Camacho Pitted Green Olives
I tend to have a love for olives. I like the bitter bite they tend to carry with them. I will even go as far as buying olives just to eat them out of the jar. I got these two delectable treat in the Love with Food box. I have to admit, I was a bit skeptical. Even more so when my husband made the comment that typically these things weren't very good. So I put off trying these and put off trying these until I could not anymore.
So looking at Mario Camacho's store website apparently they sale six different types of these. The two I received was Savory Pepper and Garlic. A bit of a spike interest but still very skeptical. So the other night we sat down and tried these after dinner.
The Savory Pepper was up first. The packaging on this one was hard to open and in fact required me to use scissors. So suddenly these on the go packets have already became something that unless you unnaturally carry a pair of scissors with you are no longer on the go friendly. So once I finally got into the packet the aroma was pleasant. Which was a plus in the pro side about these since for the start was already a con. They were kind of smashed up a little which I a, not really looking to eat smashed up olives, though it was expected after all they are in a small packet.
This was a sign though that they were soft. Which for myself and my husband is a likable thing we are not big on the firm olives to much. So the softness was a nice surprise for these. This can also be a good attribute for people whom have issues with there teeth or other dental issues in general. Now the taste of these at first it tasted nothing like pepper on it. Which made me recheck the package to make sure I read these right. They were over powering in the taste of what a natural green olive taste like. After a couple of olives though you could pick up that pepper taste. It was just a small hint of it though and was more like a underlining tone.
The Garlic olive packet on the other hand was easy to open. This takes me back to the fact that it being a on the go snack. This was much more friendly towards it. Perhaps nothing but a fluke with the first one? None the less, Same stance in the way the olives were smashed in the packet. Kind of flattened. The aroma on these though were strongly of garlic. The thing I did not like about that is the fact it wasn't even a fresh garlic smell but almost like a old or artificial smell.
The taste was not much better, at least not to me. My husband seem to like them. I found them to over powering in garlic. I think the smell got to me more then anything though. None the less not something I would buy for myself.
All in all with these its hard to make a good judgment call. Based on the fluke package of the first one and they only come with eight to a packet it really is hard to tell if they are something I would put money out for. Perhaps just not those flavors? I would be willing to try the others before fully writing them off. They weren't bad but they were not something to write home about if you get what I am trying to say. Try it for yourself don't just take my word for it. After all everyone's tastebuds are different.
Love With Food Review
So we head back over to the subscription boxes that are out there today. I love food, I am always looking for little snacks I can keep around the house for when I get that odd craving. Well with a Monthly Subscription for Love With Food you can have a monthly delivery to your door step of little snacks to try that are both hard to find as well as all natural and organic.
What Came in my box:
Snack Olives by Mario Camacho: (2 packs) These are a gluten free snack and seem to be something I am really interested in trying since I have a love for olives. There will be a review coming on the two different flavors I got once they have been tried. These 1.05 oz packets run between a 1.89-1.99.
Dark Chocolate Crepe Dentelle by Gavottes: This came as seven total in the package. They are a super fine layer of crispy crepe coated in French Dark Chocolate . They have been made the same way since they were first made in 1920. Now I have had these before, in fact I got a tin of them for this past Christmas from my father and step mother. These I will do a review on because they are surprisingly a very delectable treat. The price of these depends on where you buy them from and what quantity you are buying them in for they are a gourmet treat.
Restaurant Style White Bean Chips by Beanitos: (2 Bags) These chips are made of navy beans and whole grain rice. Packed full of fiber, protein and carbohydrates. All while being gluten-free & non-GMO, with a light salted taste for a savory punch. These bags change in price depending on where you find them and what size you find them in.
Dark Chocolate Covered Blueberries by Emily's Chocolate: (2 Packets) These antioxidant whole dried blueberries are covered in a creamy dark chocolate. I look forward to trying these. They are priced between 5.25-5.99 depending on where you find them and buy them.
Honey Graham Sticks by Back to Nature: (2 Packets) Exactly what you would think they are except they have no artificial flavoring, coloring or preservatives. Price differs depending on where you find and buy it from as well as quantity you buy in.
PureNotes Dark 'Chocolatey' by TCHO: (2 Pieces) Rich, intense pure dark chocolate that will certainly indulged that sweet tooth. Could not find a price for these.
'Mokaccino' Serious Milk Chocolate + Blue Battle Coffee by TCHO: (2 Pieces) These award winning pieces are made up of a cult coffee roasters beans and a cult chocolate makers chocolate. That should give you that extra boost you need through out the day. Could not find a price for these either.
Chocolate Chip Biscotti by Biscotti di Suzy: These handmade treats are made of pure and all natural ingredients. Twice baked to give it just the right amount of crunch with each bite. Finally sprinkled with chocolate chips to help satisfy that chocolate need. I could not find a price on these.
Black Truffle + White Cheddar Popcorn by 479 Degrees Popcorn: (1 bag)This is a non-GMO cheddar popcorn that is drizzled with a black truffle oil. This suppose to be prefect for a nice date night with your other half! A Pack of 24 .5 oz bags runs around 38.40
Chocolate Truffles by Guylian: (1 Box) Containing two seahorse shaped truffles by the world famous Belgian chocolatier. Once again the prices of these differ from where you get them and where they come from.
About Love with Food
Love with Food brings to your door step organic and all natural snacks for you to try each month. Members receive a curated box of unique, hard to find snacks which change from season to season. This is not all though. With every box they sale they donate a meal to several food banks that help feed children. So not only are you receiving tasty treats that are hard to find and organic as well as all natural treats. You are helping feed a child in need a meal?!
So now to cover the question you are probably all asking yourself, 'ya well how much do I have to pay for it?' That is the best part yet. It is as little as $10.00 a month.
With the ten dollar box you receive
8+ Snacks each month
10 points each month
Free shipping (For some plans)
Cancel at any point if you are dissatisfied in anyway.
This box also donates 1 meal to hungry children in America.
Now they do have a second plan at a great deal for seven dollars more. ($17)
This box contains
16-20 snacks each month
20 points each month
Free Shipping
Cancel at any point if you are dissatisfied in anyway.
This box also donates 2 meals to hungry children in America.
Both boxes guarantee snacks are either organic, all natural, GMO-free, gluten-free or free of artificial junk.
If you find a treat in this box that you like you can also go to their website to order more of that treat there!
If you want to find out more about the founder (Aihui Ong) of Love with food, you can find her story on their website.
Website: https://lovewithfood.com
Wrap Up:
So in the end as you can see with just a couple of the products it had already paid for itself within one or two items. Not to mention you are helping starving kids. What better way to pat yourself on the back for doing your good deed then with a delectable treat. Your taste buds will thank you for it and you can sleep easier knowing there is at least one if not two least children starving because of you!
I have this secret, well perhaps not so secret love for cooking and baking. With this love comes a love for trying new things all the time. Specially when it comes to things like personally made sauces, mixes and things of that nature. I am always looking for new things to try to top it off. With that being said I am a huge hot sauce fan. I use hot sauce all the time.
Well I happen to stumble across a Etsy store called Rushy Spring Farms. Whom is known for their unique salt brine fermentation chile sauces. Upon investigate I did happen to notice what they had stated to me was true. Almost everything when you look up this form of fermentation for chile sauces it does normally come back to them. So first I am going to give you my review, then we will get more into what exactly this process is.
So I had a couple friends come over to try these with me this past weekend. When it comes to food I like to have more then just my opinion on things. So here is our review shortened to the point for you all.
My Review:
Aji Amarillo
Starting line, so here we are starting with the Aji Amarillo. So we all seem to agree this was a very mild sauce. Flavorful and a nice flavor at that. Almost border lining a lime taste. It in my personal opinion had a very sweet overtone to it. None the less it was a pleasant sauce. I had to agree with my friends on this one. It would be good for anyone who can't handle the heat of a hot sauce. (Such as the Trinidad or Tennessee Cherry) It is very complimentary to Mexican food though. In fact thinking about it, it kind of made me want a margarita.
Aji Limo
Here comes round two the Aji Limo. This was a interesting flavor for a chili sauce. Though I myself did not find much of heat in this at all. (If any) I did find this to be flavorful. A bit on the sweet side not as sweet as the Amarillo but enough to notice it. We all also noticed a small hint of lime mixed in there though it was followed by a big taste of vinegar. Though not as sour as vinegar would be alone. It still had the tinge of sweetness to take that bite away. I will actually be looking into a recipe I may be able to mix this into to see if it changes the taste at all or pulls out any flavors it did not intentionally.
Serrano
Lets get going on some of this heat we have been waiting on. So we are now finding ourselves at the Serrano. On first taste it almost brings out a nice sweet flavor. With a very mild heat. Now at first I thought this was because I just ate a lot of really hot sauce typically so the mediums seem to taste like a mild to me anymore. Though with confirmations with my two other friends whom have been helping me thus far with this review. It turns out that it was not just me. It is pleasant tasting but it lacks in bite and we all three consider this to actually be along the lines of a mild sauce. Perhaps I will come back to this later with it mixed into something and see if it brings forth a different result.
Tennessee Cherry Chile
Now we are starting to get to the big boys ball park with the Tennessee Cherry Chile Sauce. We felt this sauce was a lot more potent and your first taste to hit is that of the chili itself. Followed slowly by the burn. Though as the taste of the chili fades you are left with a vinegary aftertaste. In someways I myself found this to actually be a compliment to the flavor in the end. Though for others it was preferred not to be there. In the end this could be comparable to a high grade hot sauce. It was certainly a welcoming taste bud tingler to start our final round. This would be good to add into something like a chili for that extra ompha without over doing it.
Trinidad Scorpion
So we finally make are way to what is currently the worlds hottest pepper. The Trinidad. This baby packed a punch. Upon tasting it we all could agree that though there was major heat involved you could also pin point a tinge of sweetness. Encompassing that of the actual flavor of the chili when you get past the heat portion of this. As well as you can find a underlining tone of vinegar taste in this.
All in all we come to find that the Trinidad Chili sauce packed not only the flavor but the heat as well. Leaving your mouth to tingle and burn in a pleasant way. A little of this goes a long way!
Overall
So in the end we all liked them all but all were in agreement. The best sauce we felt out of these was the Trinidad Scorpion. It held the most flavor and it had the biggest bite. It was a well rounded Chile sauce and one of the best we have ever tried. This is not saying like I stated that we did not like the others. I rather enjoyed them all though do feel each one should be used in a proper way it may develope the flavors better. They are totally worth checking out and trying! I promise you will not be disappointed!
Tid-Bits on Rushy Spring Farms:
Rushy Spring Farms was established in 2004 in Knoxville Tennessee by a man known as Tennessee Jim. It began as a diversified chemical free vegetable, herb, greens, and fruit producer. However, year by year, economic imperatives have forced specialization. Currently, production is concentrated in high quality garlic, a few carefully chosen heirloom tomato varieties, and over two dozen exceptional chilies that cover an extensive array of flavor and heat variations. In addition to selling fresh chilies, primarily at the Knoxville, TN Market Square Farmer’s Market and high end restaurants there, they are transformed into world class salt brine fermentation chili sauces as well as dried whole chilies and single variety gourmet chili powders.
Rushy Spring Farms has a large Chile collection in which the centerpiece for is a unusual yet unique Chile. The Tennessee Cherry Chile. It was named this due to the size, shape and color of this chili was all very much similar to a actual cherry.
To find out more about Rushy Spring Farms Please follow the following link: http://rushyspringsfarm.wordpress.com/faq/
Rushy Spring Farms Etsy Link:
Nuts.Com
This website was built for you to be able to buy any nuts you could want any time of the year. I recently used this site to get Flax Seed for the herbal packs I create. They are extremely reasonably priced. As well as I order the night before and the next day they were in my mail box! The turn over time for orders is AMAZING! I can't express in words how happy I was with this company.
The packaging of the Flax seed came in a nice air tight resealable bag. It is a bag I actually kept because I could re-purpose it for holding herbs later. Though this review is short and to the point. My whole experience with this company was OUTSTANDING! I certainly recommend them for anyone looking to buy nuts or seeds in the future. (Keep in mind they sale more then this but it is what they mainly focus on.) So go check them out!
