tastemaker Archives - Alida's Kitchen

Silk’s Tastemaker Challenge

May 1, 2013 ·

I have been selected by Silk and DailyBuzz Food to be an ambassador for Silk Soymilk. While I have been compensated for my time, all opinions are completely my own.

When I told my kids that the new taste of Silk Soymilk left me speechless, their reaction was, well…you can see for yourself.

Indeed. While I did not capture photographic evidence of Mike’s reaction, it’s safe to assume the refrigerator is going to be well stocked with Silk. Ha! I didn’t remain speechless for long though. Let me tell you how Silk Soymilk transformed two of my everyday staples into something so extraordinary that it almost left me speechless!

I began my Silk Tastemaker Challenge with the most important meal of the day: breakfast! I enjoy the same old breakfast day after day: oatmeal, unsweetened cocoa, and flaxseed, all cooked in water and topped with a sliced banana. It’s basic, it’s simple and it’s tasty! I decided that replacing the water with Silk Soymilk would be a good way to test the new taste of Silk. And now enter the speechless moment. My (slightly) boring old breakfast became something different; something better!

For my next Silk Tastemaker Challenge, I decided to use Silk Soymilk in my favorite mixed berry smoothie. I replaced the usual juice with Silk Soymilk. The result? Let’s just say this post-workout smoothie did not last long. In fact, the only thing slowing me down was the ice cream headache. You know, when you consume something icy cold so fast that your head literally hurts? I think some people call it a brain freeze. Anyway, I have not had an ice cream headache since I was a child! I told Mike ‘This is the best smoothie I’ve ever had in my life. You have to try it!’ Mike took a sip and his eyes lit up. I could tell he wanted more, but he politely declined since he knew how starving I was after a long run. However, the next day, when I got back from my run, I found two glasses innocently placed next to the blender. I guess I’m not the only one who was left speechless by the new taste of Silk Soymilk!

Be sure to visit Facebook.com/SilkUS for a chance to create your own taste description and to be a part of Silk’s Tastemaker Challenge!

This post is brought to you by Silk. Take the Tastemaker Challenge on facebook.com/silkUS.

Filed Under: Admin Tagged With: silk, soymilk, tastemaker

healthy blueberry strawberry blackberry yogurt smoothie

Diet Mixed Berry Smoothie

March 11, 2013 ·

This Diet Mixed Berry Smoothie is quick and easy to make and perfect for breakfast on a busy morning, a post-workout recovery drink, or an afternoon pick me up. Made with just a few healthy ingredients, it’s a vitamin-packed smoothie that can be enjoyed anywhere, anytime (and portable too for when you’re on-the-go!).

Recently, I was given the opportunity to try Ocean Spray’s Diet Juice Drinks and thought it would a tasty addition to this smoothie recipe. At only 5 calories per serving, swapping out full-calorie juices in favor of Ocean’ Spray’s Diet Juice Drinks can help save calories (and carbs, if that’s a concern), while still tasting delicious. For this recipe, I used Ocean Spray’s Diet Cranberry juice and it went nicely with the berries used in the rest of this smoothie. For next time, I have my eyes on the Diet Blueberry Pomegranate!

To learn more about Ocean Spray’s Diet Juice Drinks, visit http://www.oceanspray.com/Products/Juices/Diet-Light/Diet-Cranberry-Juice-Drink.aspx.

Diet Mixed Berry Smoothie

Yields: 1 servings

Ingredients

½ cup Diet Ocean Spray Cranberry Juice Drink, any flavor
½ cup frozen mixed berries (strawberries, raspberries, blackberries and blueberries)
1 ripe banana, frozen and cut into slices
3 ounces fat free plain or berry-flavored Greek yogurt
1 tablespoon flaxseed (optional)

Instructions

Combine all ingredients in a blender (or Magic Bullet). Blend on high speed until ingredients are thoroughly combined. Pour into a chilled glass. Enjoy!

Notes

Tip: slice banana before freezing...it's much easier!

Adapted from Ocean Spray

I have partnered with Ocean Spray through DailyBuzz to help promote their new Ocean Spray Diet product. I have been compensated for my time commitment to work with this product, however my opinions are entirely my own and I have not been paid to publish positive comments.

Filed Under: Admin, breakfast, healthy, Recipes Tagged With: beverage, drink, easy, quick, smoothie, snack, tastemaker, yogurt

Soup’s on at Panera!

December 19, 2012 ·

A couple weeks ago, we got blasted with snow, and it’s been a chilly December ever since. Definite soup weather! Fortunately, I was given the opportunity to check out Panera Bread’s soup line…and am so glad that I did. While I’m not generally a soup person, I found a soup that I not only love, but have been dreaming of ever since!

I’m always trying to find a soup that I like, so thought it best to test out a few different flavors. Mike and I made a weeknight dinner of it and shared 3 different soups: broccoli cheddar, French onion and low-fat garden vegetable pesto.

Mike and I both liked all three soups, though Mike’s favorite was the broccoli cheddar. There were actual chunks of broccoli, as well as a generous amount of carrots, all in a smooth cheese soup. It really was delicious…especially for dipping the baguette.

Hands down my favorite soup was the garden vegetable pesto. So many delicious fresh vegetables, including Swiss chard, chunks of zucchini, and bell peppers, swimming in a light tomato broth, topped with a nut-free pesto. It’s one of those things I would happily eat every.single.day. (hint hint, every day please Panera!)

Panera Bread has a new website (panerabread.com/soup) devoted to their soups, which hosts the daily soup schedule, as well as other fun facts about their soups.

Disclaimer: As part of the DailyBuzz Food Tastemaker program, I received a giftcard and stipend to try Panera Bread Soups. All opinions are my own.

Filed Under: Admin Tagged With: tastemaker

RedLaser – the secret weapon for smart shoppers!

December 16, 2012 ·

For several weeks now, I have been sharing favorite recipes for cookies, bars, and cakes to help make your holiday celebrations a little sweeter. In lieu of a recipe today, I am excited to share with you a secret weapon designed to help you save money and make your life a little easier ~ all with ease using a free app on your smart phone, called RedLaser. I tested out several of RedLaser’s features, including price comparison, loyalty cards storage, and scanning food items to get allergen and ingredient information and more. Here are some of the highlights:\

Welcome to Red Laser!

Save Money with Price Comparison and Deals!

This feature is by far my favorite, and what I found most useful (and timely with holiday shopping). I was shopping for a few Christmas gifts for Adam and wanted to save money by getting the best price possible. I powered up RedLaser, entered “b symphony.” The handy app let me know the lowest price was just down the street at my local Target store. Easy!

To locate a product, simply enter the product into the search bar (left) or scan a barcode (right). I entered B Symphony and easily found what I was looking for in the search results (left).

The search results for B. Symphony in B tells me the best price is at Target. Later that day, we drove to our local Target down the street and picked up this toy…happily knowing we found it at the lowest price!

Whether I was at home searching or scanning a product at the store, RedLaser helped me find the best price available for toys, toiletries, clothes, etc. I was able to easily verify if an in-store price was better than online since RedLaser did the research for me with one quick scan. The app also pulls up current deals associated with each store (powered by Retail Me Not), which saved me yet another internet search.

Consolidate Your Loyalty Cards!

Mike was most excited about the ability to scan all of his loyalty cards into his smart phone. With so many cards, his wallet is out of control.

How nice is it to be able to just whip out a smart phone (you always have it with you, right?) to access your card. There are pre-loads, such as CVS, Walgreens, Panera, etc, where you can just scan your card. You can also scan local grocery cards, and I even scanned my fitness club card ~ all easily accessibly on a smart phone. Your wallet will be a little lighter, and you will never be without your cards again!

Allergen Information:

As a person with a tree nut allergy and a mother to a child with a peanut allergy, I was most interested in this feature of RedLaser. I had very high expectations for the ability to scan food items and get allergen information. I did some test scans with various food items to see how this feature works.

First I scanned pretzels. As you can see, the details (left) show nutrition information as well as allergen information. I expanded the allergen information (right) and it gives a nice snapshot of allergens associated with these pretzels.

Next I scanned peanut butter to see how allergen information would appear for a peanut product. It was consistent with what I would expect. The allergy information is informative and helpful. So far so good!

As I continued additional scans on a jar of peanuts and a bag of whole wheat pastry flour, I expected both to be flagged for allergens. Unfortunately there was no allergen information for either item.

So while the allergen information is useful when present, the inconsistency makes me uneasy. People without allergies or folks with newly discovered allergies always have lots of questions about what foods are safe. I was hoping to be able to point them to RedLaser. However without reliable results, I just can’t do that…yet. I see great potential here and am interested in seeing where RedLaser goes with this. Like I said, when it does work, it really is an amazing feature.

RedLaser is available for download on iPhone, Android and Windows smart phones and has been downloaded over 22 million times. Clearly the secret is out!

This post is brought to you by RedLaser. Get the free app at RedLaser.

Disclaimer: As part of the DailyBuzz Moms program, I have been compensated for my time on this post for RedLaser, however the details and opinions are completely my own.

Filed Under: Admin Tagged With: redlaser, tastemaker

Cookies for Kids’ Cancer ~ Cookie Exchange

December 5, 2012 ·

Every year I have a list of must-make holiday cookie recipes, including Peanut Blossoms, Pretzel Kiss Candies, something with ginger, as well as several others. It’s always fun to add new recipes to the mix, and that is where the genius idea of a Cookie Exchange is great. You get the benefit of trying several new recipes without a) having to do all that work and b) the risk of making several dozen of something that you wished turned out differently (or sadly wished you never made!).

This holiday season, I had the privilege of hosting a Cookie Exchange, courtesy of GLAD, to help raise awareness for the Cookies for Kids’ Cancer campaign. And I was GLAD to be a good cookie!

Cookies for Kids’ Cancer is a non-profit organization founded by parents inspired by their young son’s fight against cancer. Pediatric cancer is the number one cause of death by disease of children in the United States, due in large part to the need for funding research into new and improved therapies. It is unthinkable, yet according to the National Childhood Cancer Foundation, one in every four elementary schools has a child with cancer. While many children are cured, there are still many children who will not survive.

In the spirit of holiday giving and in being a good cookie, I made a personal donation to the Cookies for Kids’ Cancer program. I have also created a Cookies for Kids’ Cancer Donation Page so that you too can be a good cookie and help fight pediatric cancer!

Thanks to GLAD, you can also join in the some fun by exchanging a virtual cookie with a friend at www.glad.com/Glad-Cookie-Exchange. GLAD will donate up to $1.00 to Cookies for Kids’ Cancer for each cookie sold, exchanged or given this November and December 2012 – up to $100,000! Encourage your friends, family, coworkers, anybody and everybody, to do the same!

As far as my Cookie Exchange, I am very excited that GLAD is generously donating $1 per cookie that was exchanged. How awesome is that! There were several dozens of cookies sampled and packaged, recipes printed and exchanged. As a result, I have many recipes to share with you!

I have partnered with The Glad Products Company through DailyBuzz to help promote their Food Storage products. I have been compensated for my time commitment to work with this product. However, my opinions are entirely my own and I have not been paid to publish positive comments. Thank you GLAD!

Diclaimer: The donation page is my personal page that I set up to offer an option for people to assist in the fight against pediatric cancer. It is not affiliated with the sponsor(s) of this post.

Filed Under: Admin Tagged With: tastemaker

Golden Grahams S’mores Bars

September 26, 2012 ·

This post is sponsored by Nestlé® Toll House® Morsels, the perfect special ingredient for all of your family’s favorite treats!

Golden Graham’s S’mores Bars are a no-bake, graham, chocolate, and marshmallow bar that is super easy to make. These classic flavors never get old, and it is always fun to find new ways to enjoy the taste of s’more. These bars are similar to a rice krispie treat, only using graham squares cereal , and chocolate is melted with the marshmallow mixture. They take about 10 minutes to melt and mix together and then about an hour in the refrigerator to set the chocolate.

I found the recipe years ago on the back of a Nestlé® Toll House®Morsels bag, but had not had an opportunity to make them. Fortunately, as part of the DailyBuzz Food Tastemaker program with Nestlé® Toll House®Morsels, I received a baking kit and coupon for free Nestlé® Toll House®Morsels and was invited to spend the afternoon baking with my favorite little man. It just so happens that Adam is very interested in all that goes on in the kitchen these days. He was more than excited to help!

This was the perfect recipe to get Adam involved in the kitchen. He served as chief ingredient pour-er and chief mixer (before melting, of course), and may have done some on-the-job sampling. He took his jobs very seriously and took great pride in his work. It was fun to have a little baking buddy, and fun to have an excuse to make these Golden Grahams S’mores Bars!

Golden Grahams S’mores Bars

Yields: 24 bars

Ingredients

12.5 ounce box Golden Graham's Cereal
6 cups (10.5 ounce bag) miniature marshmallows, divided
1½ cups NESTLE TOLL HOUSE Milk Chocolate morsels
5 tablespoons butter, cut into small pieces
¼ cup light corn syrup (optional)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Cooking spray

Instructions

Pour cereal in a large bowl and set aside.
5 cups of marshmallows, chocolate chips, butter and corn syrup in a medium sauce pan over medium heat. Stir constantly, until melted and smooth. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla extract.
Pour chocolate mixture over cereal, stirring until well coated. Add remaining marshmallows and stir.
Spray 13x9 baking dish with cooking spray.
Pour mixture into prepared baking pan, using a spatula or back of wooden spoon to press the mixture into the pan. Refrigerate for 1 hour, until firm. Cut into bars and serve.

Source: back of the Nestlé® Toll House® Morsels bag

Disclaimer: As part of the Foodbuzz Tastemaker Program, I received a baking kit, a coupon for free bag of Nestlé® Toll House® Morsels, and a stipend. Sponsored posts are purely editorial content that we are pleased to have presented by a participating sponsor. Advertisers do not produce the content.

Filed Under: dessert, kid-friendly, Recipes Tagged With: chocolate, easy, graham, marshmallow, nestle, no bake, s'mores, tastemaker

healthy buttermilk chocolate banana swirl bread

Marbled Chocolate Banana Bread

June 14, 2012 ·

Marbled Chocolate Banana Bread is a moist banana bread with a chocolate swirl. The addition of chocolate to the classic comfort food of banana bread is not only delicious but it’s pretty too!

Truth be told, the first time I made this bread, the result was less than stellar. The bread was pretty, and it tasted okay, but texture was off. It was dense and chewy, not quite the light and fluffy texture I look for in a banana bread. And actually come to think of it, even though it tasted good, it didn’t taste like banana bread. Clearly, this recipe was in desperate need of a do-over!

Thankfully Frigidaire is encouraging folks to share do-over moments, which gave me the extra push I needed to try again. I never like wasting ingredients on an unsuccessful recipe, but I loved the concept of the chocolate swirl in banana bread. So I took the original recipe and gave it a makeover.

I made several tweaks, such as using buttermilk instead of yogurt, oil instead of butter and eggs instead of egg substitute. I also added some vanilla and a few extra chocolate chips on top. Then…I crossed my fingers!

A little over an hour later, the results of this do-over were in. The bread rose nicely, had the perfect banana bread texture, and the chocolate swirl was harmonious with the banana bread. This is exactly what Marbled Chocolate Banana Bread should be like! I look forward to making this recipe again and again, and I thank Frigidaire for this do-over opportunity!

Marbled Chocolate Banana Bread

Yields: 1 loaf (16 servings)

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour
¾ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup granulated sugar
¼ cup vegetable oil
1½ cups mashed ripe banana (about 3 bananas)
2 eggs
⅓ cup low fat buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup semisweet chocolate chips
Cooking spray
Additional mini chocolate chips, for topping (optional)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 8½ x 4¼ inch loaf pan with cooking spray and set aside.
In a medium bowl, whisk flour, baking soda and salt.
In a large bowl, beat sugar and oil on medium until blended (about 1 minute). Add banana, egg, buttermilk and vanilla, and beat until blended.
Fold the flour mixture into the banana mixture, gently stirring batter until just moist.
Place chocolate chips in a medium microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 1 minute (on high) or until almost melted. Microwave for an additional 30 seconds, if needed. Stir until smooth and let cool slightly.
Add 1 cup batter to the chocolate, stirring until well combined.
Spoon batter into prepared loaf pan, alternating between plain batter and chocolate batter. Swirl batters together using a knife. Sprinkle top with additional chocolate chips, if desired.
Bake for 1 hour and 10 to 15 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes in pan on a wire rack and the remove from pan to wire rack to cool completely.

Adapted from Cooking Light

Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Frigidaire. When you share your own do-over moment at Facebook.com/Frigidaire, Frigidaire will donate $1 to Save the Children’s U.S. programs. Plus, Frigidaire will help cover the costs for one lucky visitor to win the ultimate do-over.

Filed Under: bread, breakfast, healthy, kid-friendly, Recipes Tagged With: banana, buttermilk, chocolate, cooking light, easy, frigidare, low fat, quick, tastemaker

Easy Creamy S’more Pie

June 5, 2012 ·

This Easy Creamy S’more Pie is very simple to make and tastes like a chilly, creamy version of a s’more. It starts with a graham cracker crust, topped with a smooth chocolate layer. It is then topped with a fluffy marshmallow layer, which has a similar consistency to the soft, pillow center of a marshmallow that has been toasted in the fire. The result is a creamy, delicious s’more pie.

This pie is made with only 5 simple ingredients, which can be kept on hand at all times. The hands on time takes less than 10 minutes, making this pie a cinch to make any time.

Easy Creamy S’more Pie pie is a refreshing treat for a hot summer day, a tasty way to end any day or share with family and friends. The recipe is easily doubled, making it perfect for get-togethers or to have one as a spare. Enjoy!

Easy Creamy S’more Pie

Yields: 6-8 servings

Ingredients

1 pre-made graham cracker pie crust
1½ cups miniature marshmallows
1¼ cup skim milk, divided
1 (1.4 ounce) package instant chocolate pudding
4 ounces COOL WHIP whipped topping
COOL WHIP whipped topping, optional, for garnish
graham cracker crumbs, optional for garnish
chocolate squares, optional for garnish

Instructions

Stir marshmallows and ¼ cup milk together in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave on high for 1½ minutes and stir. Continue to microwave and stir in 30 second increments until marshmallows are melted. Refrigerate until cooled (about 40 minutes).
Once marshmallow mixture has cooled, fold in 4 ounces of COOL WHIP whipped topping.
Whisk together the pudding mix and remaining 1 cup of milk for about 2 minutes or until mixture thickens.
Pour pudding mixture into graham cracker pie crust.
Spoon dollops of marshmallow mixture on top of pudding mixture, and then gently spread using a silicone spatula.
Refrigerate for at least 4 hours to overnight. Decorate with additional COOL WHIP whipped topping, chocolate squares, and graham cracker crumbs, as desired.

Adapted from Kraft and allrecipes

Disclaimer: As part of the Foodbuzz Tastemaker Program, I received coupons for free COOL WHIP Whipped Topping and a stipend. Sponsored posts are purely editorial content that we are pleased to have presented by a participating sponsor. Advertisers do not produce the content.

What you add makes it. #coolwhipmoms

Filed Under: dessert, Recipes Tagged With: chocolate, easy, graham cracker, holiday, make ahead, marshmallow, no bake, pie, quick, s'mores, summer, tastemaker

Summer Kick Off with Drumsticks!

May 28, 2012 ·

We have been enjoying unseasonably warm weather lately, which has put us all in summertime frame of mind. With summer comes lots of time with family and friends over barbecues and ice cream cones. Accordingly, we decided to celebrate the unofficial kick off to summer in all its glory, christen our new grill and try Nestle’s Drumstick Pretzel Dipped Cones.

We had a busy day planned, so I wanted dinner to be a no-fuss classic summer menu. The low-maintenance menu for our perfect summer day included:

*Crudites

*Cheddar Cheese Burgers with Caramelized Shallots
*Grilled BBQ Chicken (recipe to follow)

*Baked Sweet Potato Rounds
*Roasted Broccoli

*Watermelon
*Drumstick Pretzel Dipped Cones

I was able to prepare the burgers, marinate the chicken, chop the veggies, and cut up the watermelon, all the night before. Thanks to Nestlé Drumstick, dessert was easy.

This left very little work to do the day-of, so we were able to enjoy our day of outdoor recreation, which included a trip to the park, blowing bubbles, and playing with Grandma and Grandpa.

Come dinnertime, grill master Mike grilled the chicken and burgers to perfection. The roasted broccoli and sweet potato rounds were delicious and healthy accompaniments to our dinner. We enjoyed every bite, and then it was time for dessert.

Once we opened the box of Drumsticks, that’s when the magic happened.

Everybody started talking and reliving memories of Drumsticks. It was so fun to have different generations sharing memories of eating Drumsticks as kids.

These were the same old Drumsticks that we all remembered, except with pretzels in the chocolate coating instead of a peanut topping. We savored every last morsel from the chocolate-pretzel covered vanilla ice cream down to the chocolate at the bottom of the cone.

Our summer celebration went off without a hitch, from our activities to dinner to the magic of Drumsticks. With today being the unofficial start of summer, in the months to come, I hope that you get to enjoy many perfect summer days with many magic moments!

Disclosure: Nestlé has provided me with free product and other items in order to help with my review, but anything I receive from Nestlé does not affect my thoughts on its company or their products.

Filed Under: news Tagged With: summer, tastemaker

Guacamole Grilled Cheese Sandwich

May 25, 2012 ·

Cheese has always been one of my favorite foods. As a child I remember sneaking some cheese whenever my mom was in the kitchen, or simply grabbing a Kraft Single on my way out to play. I also remember my mom always made my brother a ham and cheese sandwich using Kraft Singles, but I liked my cheese plain. That is…until I discovered the grilled cheese sandwich. Melty cheese on bread? So simple yet so delicious!

When I went to college and had my own apartment, I started experimenting with grilled cheese sandwiches. It was around this time when I noticed Kraft Singles came in more varieties than American, and I was very excited to see they came in Swiss! I made a tasty little combo with a slice of cheddar, a slice of Swiss, some sauteed onions, all on multi-grain bread. Grilled cheese perfection every time. Oh…the memories!

That was all many years ago, yet my love for experimenting with grilled cheese sandwiches continues to this day. Mike and I like to mix it up with tomatoes, sunflower seeds, onions, bacon (for him)…really nothing too crazy, but always tasty. This time, I thought it would be fun to experiment with guacamole and make a Guacamole Grilled Cheese Sandwich.

For a while now, I have had a recipe flagged for a grilled cheese made on the stove top and in the oven, without any butter. This sounded like the perfect method for the Guacamole Grilled Cheese Sandwich. The result? Amazing! The stove-to-oven method gives the bread a crispy exterior without any frying or being greasy. The cheese is perfectly melted, and the guacamole can shine right through. This Guacamole Grilled Cheese Sandwich is a fun and tasty twist on a childhood favorite.

Do you have childhood memories or a family story to share about Kraft Singles? You can share your story at https://www.facebook.com/KraftSingles. Put your story on the map and join the conversation about Kraft Singles!

Guacamole Grilled Cheese Sandwich

Yields: 1 sandwich

Ingredients

2 slices whole grain bread
2 to 3 tablespoons guacamole, any variety, such as Edamame Guacamole
1 or 2 slices Kraft Singles 2% Sharp Cheddar
Cooking Spray

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment and set aside.
Spread guacamole evenly on one side of each slice of bread.
Place a Kraft Single cheese slice on top of the guacamole on each slice of bread, and then flip to make a sandwich (so cheese on cheese).
Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat and spray with cooking spray. Place sandwich in pan for about 1 to 2 minutes or until bread is toasted. Flip and repeat on the other side.
Transfer sandwich from skillet to the prepared baking sheet. Bake for 3 to 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted. Remove from oven, cut in half and serve immediately.

Disclaimer: As part of the Foodbuzz Tastemaker Program, I received a coupon for free Kraft Singles and a stipend.