McCormick Gourmet Garlic & White Wine Chicken Scaloppine

On a scale of 1 - 10 I rate this product a 10+

I found this package of McCormick Gourmet Garlic & White Wine Chicken Scaloppine on sale and decided to give it a try.  Sure glad I did.  This is one of the best chicken dishes I've had in a long time.  The flavors are perfectly blended and absorb into the chicken and orzo giving both a wonderful taste.  The original recipe called for 1 1/2 cups of water or chicken stock and 1/2 cup of white wine.  I increased the broth and eliminated the wine.  My food testers that were given this to try have all raved about how good this turned out.  And it's so simple to make.

Scrub Daddy

On a scale of 1 - 10 I give this product a 10+.

Now and then someone gives me something that is simply great.  For Christmas this year a friend gave me 2 Scrub Daddy 'sponges'.  I'm actually not sure if this qualifies as a sponge or not but I do know it is right up there with sliced bread.

This little cleaning tool works a couple of ways.  If you use it in cool water it stays firm.  Use it in warm water and it softens up.  This dual texture makes it more useful than any sponge I've ever seen.

Now does it work?  I've been using it with cool soapy water on my counter tops.  I hate to admit it but I've removed stuff that I didn't even know was there.  Don't get me wrong, I keep a clean kitchen but apparently the counters end up with a build up from cleansers.  I've also used it on my refrigerator door handle.  It's textured and no matter what I've sprayed it with it never seems to come clean.  Does now!  The door handle on my refrigerator looks new.

I'm now on a cleaning spree and can't wait to try this little smiley face on all kinds of things.

Almost forgot - everything washes off and you can even put it in the dishwasher.  Can you tell how much I love this simple little present?!  Now, where do you buy them.  Go to the Scrub Daddy site and you'll find where they are available in your area.

Sun Bird - Phad Thai Seasoning Mix

On a scale of 1 - 10 I rate this product a 9.

I used this mix to make the Phad Thai not knowing what it even was.  It's a product I've not tried before so had no idea as to how it would turn out.  I followed the recipe on the back of the package, which was really simple.  It required soy sauce, water, chicken, oil, noodles, and of course the packet.  I'm not one who has tried too many different Thai dishes so I'm not sure exactly how this was supposed to taste but I have a couple of friends who love Thai and after eating a good helping they both told me the flavor was great.  It is slightly sweet and has a touch of heat (flavor wise).

I've given this dish a 9 because it is so easy to make and judging by my Food Testers the taste is really good.  I would recommend this product to anyone who likes Thai food and a touch of heat.  I am now planning to try some of this company's other products, such as their Honey Sesame Chicken (that is one dish I love even though it is sweet), their Lettuce Wrap seasoning and maybe even the Bourbon Chicken.

Nonni's Thin Addictives

On a scale of 1 - 10 I rate this product a 100!

I've found my new favorite snack. I love almonds and pistachios but when I saw these little Biscotti style 'cookies' I had my doubts.  The almonds I've eaten in Biscotti before but never pistachios.  I've also never eaten almonds and pistachios together.  And with the unmistakable 'nip' that comes from pistachios I just couldn't see the combination working.  BUT... they were on sale buy one get one free and that was a sale I couldn't pass up, especially when I could buy just 1 and get it for half price.  That turned out to be a really big mistake.

I decided to give these new cookies a try so as soon as I got home I opened the box.  Inside there are 6 packets with 3 Biscotti in each.  I took my 1st bite.  OMGoodness!  They are delicious and I only bought 1 box.  Well, the next day I went back for more.  They had ONE box left.  I bought it and also got a rain check to buy more.  I have now been to 2 of the grocery store locations and they were both out so I guess I'll have to wait until the sale goes off and hope they restock.

There are other flavors that I fully intend to try.  They come in Cranberry Almond, Cinnamon Raisin Almond, Blueberry Oat Almond, Banana Dark Chocolate Almond, Mango Coconut Almond, and of course the Pistachio Almond.  Oh Yeah, did I tell you that there are only 100 calories in each pack?  The sugar is 5 g and the sodium is 65 mg.  Not too bad for some really tasty treats.

Earth Balance Coconut & Peanut Spread

On a scale of 1 - 10 I rate this product a 20+

I don't think I'll ever eat regular peanut butter again... on purpose.  I like peanut butter and I love coconut.  I would never have thought to put the two together to make a spread but someone did and in my book it is a winner!  I could sit and eat this from the jar, on crackers, as a sandwich with bananas.  The possibilities just keep going.  I now want to make peanut butter cookies using the coconut and peanut spread and maybe sprinkle a little coconut in the batter.  This is the best thing since 'sliced bread.'

And listen to these ingredients:  Peanuts, organic extra virgin coconut oil, agava syrup, palm fruit oil, natural flavor and salt.  It is Non-GMO and doesn't require refrigeration after opening.

So, if you're a coconut lover and at least like peanut butter, you have to give this spread a try.  I don't think you'll be sorry.

Blue Dragon Stir Fry Sauce

On a scale of 1 - 10 I rate this product a 10.

I don't always use products as the package suggests and that was the case with this Stir Fry Sauce.  It is actually called Broccoli Beef Stir Fry Sauce.  It's a blend of ginger, garlic and sesame oil and made to be served with stir fried broccoli and beef over noodles or rice.  I'm not a big beef eater so I decided to give it a try with chicken.  I had originally planned on making the dish as directed on the package but use chicken instead of beef.  I also wanted to cook my chicken first so I baked 2 large chicken breasts, let them cool so I could pull the meat from the bone and go from there.

This all changed when I opened the package of sauce.  I gave it a taste and really loved the flavor.  I then dipped a piece of chicken in the sauce and gave it a taste.  That was all it took.  This sauce became a dipping sauce for me.  It is something that I will eventually use as a sauce in stir fry but I will also be serving it to friends and family as a dip for chicken, beef, pork, and shrimp.  So, if you too like the delicious blend of ginger, garlic and sesame, give this one a try as a dip or as a sauce.  I don't think you'll regret it.  There are other flavors of this company's product, which I plan to try in the very near future.

If you can't find Blue Dragon in your grocery store check out their website for places that do carry their products.

This is another perfect example of what happens when you Think With Your Taste Buds!

Eat Well Embrase Life Hummus

On a scale of 1 - 10 I rate this product a 15+!

One of my local grocery stores ran a sale on a Hummus that I had never tried.  The company was listed as Eat Well Embrace Life and the hummus was made from baby soybeans, which is something I've never tried either.  Well the price this was being sold for (under $2.00) made it impossible for me to not give it a try. 

I first spotted one that was flavored with roasted red peppers and toasted sesame, 2 of my favorite flavors.  I looked at the package and it said Gluten Free and Cholesterol Free.  It had only 80 calories for 2 tablespoons.  And the edamane bean is rich in protein, fiber, magnesium and vitamin K.  I decided to buy this one as well as one they listed as Sweet & Spicy Black Bean Hummus with Spicy Roasted Corn Relish.  More flavors I like.  Then I saw they were located in my home state of Georgia.  After reading that there was no way I couldn't give them a try. 

Then I went on the internet to see what I could find out about this company and their products.  This is what I found.  'Made from the finest ingredients and with the greatest attention to detail, Eat Well Embrace Life has Americanized the hummus category by creating hummus form other beans.  What makes them different and better is their commitment to product innovation, resulting in new, exciting flavors with the Wow! taste and healthy attributes you've come to expect.'

Now, did these 2 products live up to the hype?  YES! and then some.  The roasted peppers and sesame is so good I could take a spoon and just eat it from the container.  I can taste both and when I put some on a piece of chicken I just wanted more.  Then I tried a slice of cucumber.  YUM!  The black bean was a bit spicy hot and also good on the chicken but not the cucumber so I tried it on a corn chip.  It has a slight Mexican taste so it was of course perfect and it gave me another idea.  I took a taco shell, spread some of my black bean hummus on it, added some shredded chicken, a little cheese, lettuce, and just a touch of sour cream.  Made the best taco ever!  This stuff is great and I can't wait to try their other flavors.