Easy Vegetarian Chili With Olde Westport Spice Company

     I love when I can make a great dinner in a short amount of time. I also love when the recipe has a few ingredients and I have them all in my pantry. I was able to make this Vegetarian Chili in my slower cooker with 4 ingredients- beans, tomatoes, tomato juice, and Olde Westport Spice Company Championship Chili Spice Blend. The recipe on the package called for ground beef but I just used more beans as a substitute. The ingredients all went in my slow cooker. I cooked it on low all day and I had a wonderful chili ready at dinner time. My family loved it!

   Olde Westport Spice & Trading Company is a 33-year-old spice manufacturer that is still going strong. This online company operates a small plant in Goodland, Kansas, and knows a thing or two about spices, seasonings and soups. This family owned and operated company was originally founded in the Kansas City area and has stayed true to its mission of making custom spice blends for main meal dishes and appetizers as well as nearly 20 varieties of dry soups.

I was sent the Championship Chili Spice blend so I could make this wonderful chili.

Exactly what its name implies! This championship spice has helped chili creators win state and national championships!

I was also sent Chili Verde Spice blend

 a versatile seasoning especially formulated to enhance the flavor of green chiles

and

Chicken Enchilada soup mix.

I can't wait to try these out! I am thinking a white bean chili and taco soup.

Olde Westport Spice Company also sent me a bottles of 

Gold Coast Garlic Shake

 Gold Coast Garlic Shake spice blend is truly one of those special blends of garlic, herbs and spices that our customers use in sour cream dips, sprinkle over steamed vegetables, fresh vegetables from your garden, garlic mashed potatoes or steak on the grill.

  Smokey Canyon Mesquite Grille Seasoning

Olde Westport Smokey Canyon Mesquite Grille Seasoningis just what the doctor ordered for those who find it difficult to get outside and cook your favorite meat with that grill flavor you love. 

Check out the many spices and soup blends that Olde Westport Spice Company sells along with cookbooks for many great recipe ideas. They even have a recipe blog to inspire you in your decision on what to purchase.

https://oldewestportspice.com/

Slow Cooker Vegetarian Chili 

4 cups cooked beans, I used pinto and black

5 plum tomatoes, chopped

2 cups tomato juice

1 package Olde Westport Spice Company Championship Chili spice blend

Combine all ingredients in slow cooker. Cook on low 8 hours. 

"These opinions are my own and I was sent the above mentioned products to write my review."

Oliver & Hope’s Superhero Saturday, A New Inspirational Children’s Book to Help Families in Need

   My boys love bedtime stories and won't go to sleep without a story. I look forward to bedtime stories with my boys as this is a time not only for reading but a time for hugs and kisses. My boys are 6 and 8 years and can read chapter books but they also love picture books read by mom. These books give them a start for sweet dreams. 

   The UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation (UHCCF) unveiled its new children’s book, “Oliver & Hope’s Superhero Saturday,” this past weekend at the North American International Toy Fair in New York City.

   The 32-page book, geared toward children ages 3-8, delivers a fun story and engaging images that enable readers to imagine how they might become a hero like the characters.  The heartwarming story also teaches subtle lessons about the power of friendship, resiliency and imagination.

  This book is filled with imagination and lovable characters who put on hero capes to have fun pretending to save a pirate ship, rescue a hot air balloon and face an evil mud monster. The stars of the book  Oliver™ the bear, Hope™ the butterfly and Millie™ the barn owl join their friend Charlotte the fox on a superhero adventure, but when they discover their friend Chewie™ the English bulldog really needs their help, the friends must work together to become real heroes.

        “Oliver & Hope’s Superhero Saturday” is the highly anticipated follow-up to the first two award-winning books in the series: “Oliver & Hope’s Amusing Adventure” and “Oliver & Hope’s Adventure Under the Stars.” Each book in the series is written by Meg Cadts and beautifully hand-illustrated and painted by Samantha Fitch. Meg Cadts is the pen name for the UHCCF team of writers and contributors.

       I love that this book is part of a three book series and proceeds from the books and plush toys from the series help fund UHCCF grants that help families pay for children’s medical expenses not covered, or not fully covered, by their parents’ commercial health insurance plan. The Oliver & Hope series were created to provide joy and inspiration for children.

The  Oliver & Hope series are available through UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation for $13.95 each.

www.uhccf.org/shop

About UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation

The UnitedHealthcare Children’s Foundation (UHCCF) is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that provides medical grants to help children gain access to health-related services not covered, or not fully covered, by their parents’ commercial health insurance plan. Families can receive up to $5,000 annually per child ($10,000 lifetime maximum per child), and do not need to have insurance through UnitedHealthcare to be eligible. UHCCF was founded in 1999. Since 2007, UHCCF has awarded more than 8,600 grants valued at over $26 million to children and their families across the United States. UHCCF’s funding is provided by contributions from individuals, corporations and UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH) employees. To apply for a grant, donate or learn more, please visit www.UHCCF.org.

Connect with UnitedHealthCare on Facebook and Twitter

"These opinions are my own and I was compensated to write this post."

Love Is In The Air With Orchard Choice Fig Spreads And A Giveaway

   Valentines day is a day for love. It is a day for old and new lovers to spend time with each other. The way I show love to my husband on Valentines day is by making something special in the kitchen. My husband worked in the restaurant business for many years and that meant working on Valentines day. So we like to stay home on this special day and enjoy a meal that I made with love. This Valentines day my love meal with have figs in it as they are not only tasty but so good for you. Here are some fascinating facts about figs. My favorite is perfect for Valentines day--The fig tree is a symbol of abundance, fertility and sweetness.  Figs are also very healthy as they are full of fiber and calcium. I love that Fig puree can be used to replace fat in baked goods.

I was sent some yummy fig spreads along with a bag of dried figs to use for my lovers day meal. I was sent four jars of fig spread in yummy flavors like:

                                 California Orange  Summer's best figs laced with a tangy twist of orange

 Balsamic Pepper  Sweet, earthy and bursting with fig flavor

 Port Wine sweet figs join sassy balsamic vinegar and spicy black pepper

                     Organic Mission Fig Imagine sweet, luscious figs drenched in port  

These California fig spreads are made with naturally sun-dried figs and taste so awesome! The spreads have a nice sweetness to them and can be used in a variety of ways from a spread on toast to a glaze for meat. I love that these spreads are:

 Non-GMO

 Vegetarian

Nut Allergen-Free

Gluten-Free

Cholesterol-Free

Sodium-Free

My favorite way to use the California Orange Fig Spreads is to pour some over a brick of cream cheese and serve with crackers. This will make a great appetizer for my Valentines meal. I will make grilled cheese sandwiches with the Balsamic Pepper fig spread for our main course. My lovers meal will end with Chocolate Fig Bon Bons. My husband and I will enjoy Valentines day with a great meal made with California figs. Love will be in the air.

To learn more about these yummy fig spreads, click on the below links.

Website: http://www.valleyfig.com/about-our-figs/fig-spreads

Fig recipes http://www.valleyfig.com/recipes

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ValleyFig

Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/valleyfig/

I have a awesome giveaway for my readers to win 4 jars of Orchard Choice Fig Spreads and a package of dried figs so you too can make a fig amazing meal. Just enter on the Form below and good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway is open to US residents 18 years of age or older. No entry is mandatory. Chances of winning giveaway depends on number of entries. All entries will be verified. Winner will be notified within 24 hours of end of contest and will then have 48 hours to respond to the email or a new winner will be chosen. Sponsor is responsible for shipping out prize. Void where prohibited.


"These opinions are my own and I was sent the above mentioned products to create these recipes."

$50 Gourmet Gift Basket.com Giveaway

Hosted By: On The Scene with Mrs. Kathy King Sponsored by: GourmetGiftBaskets.com

                                     This would make a great gift for your sweetie!



   About the Company: GourmetGiftBaskets.com was founded with family values and the desire to provide exceptional gifts for all of life’s special occasions. Through years of working in his family’s flower shop in New Hampshire, President & CEO Ryan Abood naturally realized an opportunity to provide handmade, high quality gift baskets. What began with two family members in the basement of a flower shop has exploded into a multi-million dollar company recognized multiple times by Inc.500, Internet Retailer, Enterprise Bank, and more, while still remaining true to its core values of exceptional gourmet ingredients handcrafted with care. As this entrepreneurial family spirit continues in the next generation with the birth of the youngest Abood last spring, this proud family business will continue to exceed gourmet gifting expectations.

  Click {Here} for more information on Gourmetgiftbaskets.com 5 top Valentines gift basket ideas.

Follow GourmentGiftBaskets.com on Facebook| Twitter | Pinterest

How to Enter!

Prize: 1 Heart Gift Tower valued at $50

Ends: 2/18/2015

Simple submit your entries in the form below.

Entry-Form

*Disclaimer:This giveaway is sponsored by GourmetGiftBaskets.com and is in no way sponsored, endorsed, or associated with Facebook. Giveaway will end on 2/18/2015 at 11:59 PM PST. You will have 24 hours to claim by replying to the announcement in our newsletter”the Giveaway Lounge” or replying back to your congratulation letter. A winner will be randomly chosen and will be announced in a blog post and newsletter. This Giveaway is open to USA . Please allow 6 to 8 weeks for prize shipment. click the link to subscribe to the giveaway lounge newsletter http://goo.gl/lWK2W5 If you are a business and would like a campaign created like the one above please email Kathy King @ me {at} mrskathyking {dot}com

Make A Girl's Dream Come True With A Princess Personalized Book

   Almost every little girl dreams of being a princess. I know I did as a girl and so did my daughter when she was younger. Little girls love to pretend to be a princess through play and dress up. Now you can make a young girls dream come true.

  Now any girl can be a princess with the help of A Princess Personalized Book from I See Me Inc. Your daughter, granddaughter, niece, or any special girl can be the star in a princess book made just for her. With her name and favorite color on every page, this book is a dream come true for your little princess!

     Your special little girl will love seeing herself as the princess in her very own personalized princess book? A Day in the Life of a Princess allows you to personalize the book by incorporating the child’s name, skin tone, hair color, photo, hometown, birth date and favorite color throughout the story. You can even chose words that describe your child to make the book a real life story.

     The book is simple to order with easy to follow instructions that includes up loading a picture of the child to transform her into a princess. There is even a tour to see how the book will look. This personalized princess book will make a great gift for a birthday or any ocassion. It will become a favorite book that your little princess will want to read over and over.

For more information on ordering A Princess Personalized Book, click on the below link.

http://www.iseeme.com/princess-personalized-book.html

  I See Me Inc. sells many other types of personalized books and gifts. They sell personalized items for both boys and girls, if there is no princess in your life. I love the books that tell your child about the day they were born. 

Check out their website and tell me what you would like to order for a special child in your life.

"These opinions are my own and I was compensated to write this post to promote the Princess Personalized Book."

Ignite Your Senses Giveaway

I am helping promote this awesome giveaway. There are many wonderful prizes to win! Six people will win!

Prizes focus on the five senses (Taste, Touch, Sight, Smell, and Hearing)!!!

Hosted by:

A Lucky Ladybug + Java John Z's

Co-Hosted by
Monica's Rants, Raves, and Reviews, Budget Earth, and A Ladybug on the Go.

Welcome to the Ignite Your Senses Giveaway!!  I have to thank each and every wonderful sponsor who helped truly make this giveaway event possible!

Please be patient with our bloggers websites and load times since this is such a large event.  The forms may take a little extra time AND it may seem like this one has a little extra work to enter.  Even though each of the packages have their own giveaway form, you will find that most of the entries are identical.  This way if you like/follow a page in one you will already have it done for the next!