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HomeMade Cinnamon Sugar Toast Like Grandma Would Make With Chef Shamy Butter

This post contains sponsored links from Chef Shamy.



    One of my fondest memories of my grandma is cinnamon sugar toast. She would make the best cinnamon sugar toast every morning for me. When I was little we lived above my grandma. My grandma owned a duplex. She lived in the bottom house and my family lived in the top house. I was the youngest of five kids and I remember my grandma always making the best cinnamon sugar toast for me. My brothers and sisters would leave for school and I would walk down the stairs to my grandma’s house. My grandma would pull out the loaf of white bread, with all the colorful dots on the package, out of her bread box and then open her cabinet to get down the bowl that contained the sugar and cinnamon. My grandma knew how to mix up the sugar and cinnamon so that it made the best toast. My grandma would toast my bread to a perfect light brown and then slather margarine on the bread. My grandma would then sprinkle the perfect amount of cinnamon/sugar on my toast. My toast was so delicious. I just loved my mornings with my grandma and cinnamon sugar toast. My grandma made the best cinnamon sugar toast!

    I still crave this delicious toast, but now I make mine on homemade whole grain bread as that “Wonder”ful white bread is not bread/food in my opinion. I also use real butter on my toast, none of that chemical margarine for me. So when I met Chef Shamy at the Everything Food conference a couple of weeks ago and he offered to send me samples of his gourmet butter, I asked him about the ingredients in his butter. He informed me that the milk for his butter comes from cows that are fed  Non-GMO grains and No rbST. He uses no artificial ingredients in his 100% butter and adds things like spices, honey, and herbs to give the butter awesome flavor. Once Chef Shamy described the different flavors of the butter, I knew I had to get my hands on some of them.


   Chef Shamy sent me seven delicious flavors of his gourmet butter and my taste buds drooled as I pulled them out of the box. I just had to try a little bit of each one right away, so I may have stuck my finger it the butter packages,shh don't tell anyone. This butter was amazing! They were so creamy and full of flavor!


   The honey butter varieties were so full of flavor! I could use the Cinnamon & Brown Sugar Honey Butter, Vanilla Bean Honey Butter, and Passion Fruit Honey Butter on things like toast, pancakes, biscuits, waffles, cookies, on so on.  I need to make a homemade frosting with the Vanilla Bean honey butter as the specks of real vanilla beans would make for an awesome flavor. Chef Shamy even recommends the Vanilla Bean Honey butter in coffee, hmm note to self, need to try.

  I can see my family enjoying the Parmesan Basil Garlic Butter and the French Onion Butter with Asiago Cheese on bread, veggies,  and mashed potatoes. No more having to combine garlic and butter when I make garlic bread on pasta night. My boys might even ask for seconds of their veggies if I use a little bit of delicious Chef Shamy butter on them. The French onion even had little bits of real onion in it! There is so much flavor in this butter that I did not need to use salt on my corn on the cob.


   Chef Shamy also makes this incredible sauté butter in flavors like Lemon Dill and Southwestern. His sauté butter is so flavorful that a little goes a long way as they have lots of seasonings in them. They are awesome to use when cooking things like meat, eggs, fish, and rice. I like that his company thought of a southwestern flavor for us folks who like things spicy.


  Chef Shamy's butter tastes just like/better than homemade and can be found in stores like Walmart, Sams Club,and Costco. Here in New Mexico, I found Chef Shamy’s butter at my local Walmart Neighborhood market. If you can’t find them in your stores, don’t worry, you can order them online from his website and have them shipped to your front door.

                              https://butter.chefshamy.com/

                                            Check out Chef Shamy's Gourmet butter on
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     Here is my new recipe for grandma’s cinnamon sugar toast. I open a package of Chef Shamy gourmet Cinnamon & Brown Sugar Honey Butter and spread it on toasted homemade whole grain bread, take a bite and mmm it is just as good, if not better than how grandma made it.

                        Which Chef Shamy Gourmet Butter would you like to try?




"These opinions are my own and I receive seven delicious Chef Shamy gourmet butters to facilitate this post."

Quick And Easy Mom Approved Healthy Summer Snacks


   The kids are home for the summer and it seems like they are always eating. No sooner do I get the breakfast dishes done, my boys are saying they are hungry. During the school year, my boys eat breakfast and lunch at school. I like that the cafeteria ladies make their food and I don’t have to clean up any messes. I get it they are growing boys but mom just wants a break from kitchen duty. My solution is to have plenty of quick and easy healthy snacks in the fridge and pantry. That way they can get their own snack and not make a mess in my clean kitchen. I also like healthy snacks that don’t require dishes as summer also means the dishwasher is doing overtime. I made a great list of quick and easy healthy snacks that my boys love to eat in the summer. These mom-approved snacks are also easy for the boys to make themselves.

                                 Apple slices and peanut butter
                                 Frozen grapes
                                 Bananas
                                 Watermelon slices or cubes
                                 Sliced strawberries
                                Carrots and broccoli dipped in hummus, salsa or bean dip
                                Slice apples and vanilla yogurt
                                Fruit and veggie squeeze pouches
                                Granola bars
                                Whole-grain crackers and cheese 
                                Cereal
                                Trail mix-nuts-cereal-dried fruit
                                Fruit popsicles
                                Popcorn
                                Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
                    What are some snacks that you would add to this list?



  My boys are 8 and 9 so for the most part they can get their own snack and do some prep work like making a sandwich or pouring the snack into a bowl. They are not allowed to use knives yet so I will slice up apples or cheese for them. My boys will usually ask me what they can have for a snack and then make it and clean up afterward. My boys know what are acceptable snacks as I write a list of approved snacks and post it on the fridge. I also have  baskets in the fridge and pantry with the snacks I want my boys to eat, that way they can help themselves.  If your children are younger, then you can pre-portion the snacks into single size containers so your children can grab their own snacks.



   My boy’s favorite healthy grab and go snack that is mom-approved is Slammers. These  pouches are packed with 1 whole serving of organic fruit, vegetables, and vitamins. The Slammers Protein have the same healthy ingredients with a boost of protein! My boys love to squeeze them into their mouth and I love that they have no added sugar and no artificial stuff. They are also high in antioxidants. These Slammers pouches also have cool names! The bright colors will entice your kids to grab one out of the fridge for their next snack. The pouches are also great to pack in a bag for a healthy snack when you are out running errands or playing at the park.


Slammers come in six amazing flavors and my boys ask for them by their amazing names.

                                                  Epic
                                                 Awesome 
                                                 Chill'N
                                                 Pumped
                                                Pomegranate Grape Crush
                                                Watermelon Kiwi Burst











Go to http://slammerssnacks.com/ to discover all the delicious healthy fruits and veggies that are packed into these squeeze pouches.


What healthy mom-approved snacks do your kids like to eat in the summer?

Check out Slammers on
and


"These opinions are my own and I receive samples of the above-mentioned product to facilitate this post"





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Show Dad Love With A Spicy Meat Gift

Dad does not need or want another tie for father's day.



   Father's day is almost here. It is a day to celebrate dad and most people like to give dad a gift for being such a great father. This year skip the usual gifts like ties, grill utensils, golf clubs and coffee mugs. I think dad has enough of these and give dad what he really wants-food! My husband loves meat but does not get it as often as he likes. I don't eat meat so I don't cook meat. So the only time my husband gets meat is when he eats out or when he cooks it. So, on father's day, I let my husband buy his favorite meat and grill it on the BBQ, my husband enjoys grilling. This father's day things are going to be different, my kids are going to give dad a one-of-a-kind gift. Dad is going to get what he enjoys, meat. This is not just any throw-on-the-grill meat. This year I went all out and my husband's gift is a premium meat gift set that has spicy all natural meat in it.


  This meat gift is an authentic, handcrafted charcuterie from around the world and it contains three all-natural meat items with varying spice levels. My husband loves spicy foods and eats them all the time. This place sells the good stuff, high-quality meat that is so much better than what you can buy at the grocery store. Meat lovers can choose from four quality meat gift sets. The Charcuterie Shack seeks the best southern European dry-cured meats, such as Prosciutto, Serrano Ham, Chorizo and Italian Salami for their gift sets. These sets are great for gift giving or entertaining. Your friends will be impressed that you served them these delicious meats. You can also enjoy these meats alone. The below picture shows how the meat looked when delivered. I love that it does not require any refrigeration until it is opened. Once the packages are open you just simply slice the meat and enjoy. For entertaining, you can serve the meats on a platter like above. I would serve these meats with some crackers, cheese, bread, and olives.



  My husband was excited to receive meat for fathers day. He, of course, had to sample the spicy meat items with french bread.My husband said a glass of wine would have been perfect too. He also said the meats had the perfect amount of spicy flavor without being too hot to enjoy. My husband just loved his gift and the boys and I scored points this year. It is going to be hard to top this gift next year unless I buy another meat set gift from The Charcuterie Shack next year.


                        Check out the selection of authentic, handcrafted meats sets at
                     
                       https://www.thecharcuterieshack.com/

                          and get dad the gift he wants this year for father's day.

"These opinions are my own and I received a gift set from The Charcuterie Shack to facilitate this post"

Cranberry Baby Broccoli Salad

This post contains sponsored links from Tessemae's.

 I discovered a delicious summer salad that uses baby broccoli.


 I love broccoli so when I discover baby broccoli at my produce store I was excited to try it! If you have never had baby broccoli, then you are in for a treat. Baby broccoli is sweeter and more tender than regular broccoli. Unlike regular broccoli, the baby version has slimmer stalks that cook up much faster and taste wonderful. Baby broccoli, in my opinion, tastes better when steamed. It was lunch time and I wanted a veggie for my lunch. When I saw the baby broccoli in my fridge, I grabbed it and steamed it up. As it was steaming I decided to make it into a cranberry salad. I grabbed my roasted sunflower seeds and dried cranberries from the pantry. Then I went to my fridge to get a dressing for my salad. I grabbed my bottle of all natural Honey Balsamic dressing as I knew its sweet light taste would be perfect on my salad.


   The delicious honey balsamic taste comes from an all natural salad dressing that I am loving. This dressing is made by Tessemae's and can be found in stores like Whole Foods, Heb, and Kroger. It tastes so good on my salads and veggies right now. I usually do not use dressing on my salads as most are full of salt, chemicals, and unhealthy fats. So when I discovered an all natural dressing that is made with real ingredients that I would use if I made it myself, I just had to try it. Ok, the cool looking bottles and flavors are what made me want to try these dressings. Once I read the ingredients, I felt good about using this all natural dressing. I first tried the Honey Balsamic dressing on a cole slaw mix that I had. This dressing added an amazing light flavor. My husband who is not a fan of cole slaw enjoyed this yummy mix on his fish tacos. I was enjoying this dressing so much that I am using a little bit on all the veggies I eat instead of using salt.



   Tessemae’s All Natural product line includes many other flavors like Green Goddess, Lemon Garlic, Balsamic, and more. They make 25 delicious marinades and condiments that are made with real ingredients and no preservatives. All of Tessemae’s All-Natural products are USDA organic, gluten free, non-gmo, vegan and Whole30 approved- and contain no added sugar or xantham gum…ever!  I love that they are low in sodium and have very little saturated fat. These dressings have the good fat from extra virgin olive oil and most of the ingredients are organic. I can feel good about using dressing on my salad and in my cooking. Did you know that using healthy oils on salads actually helps the body absorb the vitamins and minerals better?

So if you have been looking for an all natural dressing for your veggies then check out the all natural line from Tessemae's. You can find them in stores like Heb, Kroger, and Whole Foods.

                                               Which dressing would like to try?

                            http://www.tessemaes.com


                 Check out Tessemae on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TessemaesAllNatural/
                       Twitter  @Tessemaes  and Instagram  @tessemaes


                    Cranberry Baby Broccoli Salad
                        Ingredients
                         one large bunch baby broccoli, chopped and steamed
                                 4 tablespoons Tessemae's Honey Balsamic dressing
                                 1/2 cup dried cranberries
                                 1/4 cup unsalted roasted sunflower seeds

Steam the baby broccoli and let cool. Once cooled, chop into bite size pieces. Toss the baby broccoli in a bowl with the Honey Balsamic dressing. Then add dried cranberries and sunflower seeds. Toss all ingredients together. This salad can be served right away or chilled for several hours to let the flavors mingle. Makes 4 servings.
If you can't find baby broccoli at your store then use regular broccoli.





“These opinions are my own and I received samples of Tessemae's all natural dressing and $25.00 to purchase the ingredients to facilitate this post.”

Summer Hydration Tips For Runners & A Giveaway


The weather is hot and hydration is important when exercising.


   I just recently started running again and I am finally able to run five miles. My recent running goals are to increase my speed and distance. Summer has arrived and the temperatures are rising here. This means I have to adjust the time of day when I run. I used to run in the afternoon and now I have to get up early like 7 AM. The temperature at 7 AM is still warm but a whole lot cooler than in the afternoon. I also have to adjust my liquid intake and the type of liquids that I drink in the summer as I don't want to get dehydrated from running. I am going to share with my favorite ways to stay cool and hydrated while you exercise in the summer heat.

Run early in the morning or later in the evening

 Choose a time that best works for your schedule but run when the temperatures are cooler. For me, that means getting out for my run at 7:00 AM as by 8:00 AM the temperatures start to climb.

Wear light clothes

 I like to wear shorts and a tank top when I go running. I wear a lightweight tank top or a nylon shirt as those keep me cooler.


Drink a hydration drink before or after running
 Your body needs plenty of water in the summer and when you exercise in the heat you sweat more and lose not only fluid but also essential minerals like sodium and potassium. I like to give my body those minerals before I run so I don't dehydrate while running. I discovered a natural 3-1 hydration drink that not only gives me important electrolytes but also energy and my daily vitamins. My Sport Oxylent 3-1 Supplement Drink is loaded with amino acids, antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and electrolytes. I like to mix up my supplement with at least 8 ounces of water. This drink has a delicious blueberry taste and contains no sugar, caffeine or GMOs. This supplement transforms my boring water into a fizzy effervescent drink. Did you know that an effervescent drink offers greater and faster absorption than pills? So I get my daily vitamin and hydration at the same time, very cool!

Run past water sources
 I always plan my run by parks that have drink fountains and/sprinklers. That way I don't have to carry heavy water bottles that slow me down. There is a park a couple miles from my house that has a drinking fountain, so I make that my turn around point after I drink some water. If I find sprinklers on while I am running, I make sure to run through them to get a great cool down. If you don't have any water sources on your paths then bring with some water in a backpack style water pouch or one that attaches to your waist. It is important to drink 3-8 ounces of water every 15-20 minutes when exercising. Then drink at least 8 -16 ounces of water when you are done exercising.

Start slower
 When it is hot out your body has to work harder, so take it easy and don't overdo it on hot days.

Know the signs of dehydration
 It is important to drink water before you get thirsty as thirst is an indication of early dehydration. Here are some signs that your body needs more water:

                               Headache
                               General fatigue
                               Dizziness
                               Nausea
                              An increase in body temperature
                              Weakness
                              Muscle cramps


Exercise indoors
If you are able to exercise indoors on hot days then do so. This would be a great time to visit a gym, roller rink, rock climbing place, or ice skating rink.


  Hydration is important for all ages during the summer and not just limited to people who are exercising. It is important to drink plenty of liquids on hot days. Fruit is another excellent way to get water into your body. Oxylent makes several delicious products to help all ages stay hydrated. My kids love the delicious Bubbly Berry Punch flavor when they drink the Children's Oxylent Multivitamin supplement drink. On days that I am not running, I enjoy the Sparkling Mandarin flavor of the Oxylent Multivitamin supplement drink. Oxylent also makes it easy to take your supplement drink on the go with their Sparkling Pomegranate flavor. My favorite Oxylent product is the Sport 3-in-1 drink, I just love the Blueberry Burst flavor and it keeps me hydrated while I run on hot days. All these products are sweetened with stevia and loaded with vitamins, and minerals. These drinks also contain no sugar, gluten, dairy, soy, caffeine, or anything artificial. The effervescent fizz of the drinks not only makes for a great fizzy drink but it helps the body absorb the nutrients faster.

Which Oxylent Supplement drink would you enjoy this summer to stay hydrated?


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