Dash Multi-Mini Waffle Maker Review: How Do You Waffle?

"Brinner" breakfast for dinner, has become quite an enjoyable time in our household. I don't think there should ever be set rules for when something should be eaten. Do what makes your tummy happy. So after making delicious stacks of pancakes usually on weekends, sometimes for a good start to the day and other times, a nice way to start the evening, it was time to try waffles! 

I cannot believe how many waffle makers are on the market! Prices ranged from $40 to *gulp* over $1000.  I like a quality product that is easy to use and gives me the results desired, plus a good price is always on my mind - frugal shopper here!

Dash's Multi-Mini Waffle Maker fit my wish-list of what I wanted in a waffle maker! The size was perfect too, as our kitchen area is small and so it fits well in our appliance drawer, without taking up a ton of space. 

After making waffles several times now, here are my honest thoughts below!

Gluten-free waffles made with Dash Multi-Mini Waffle Maker

Here is Bill pouring the batter into the waffle maker!

PROS

✔No complicated instructions; plug in, pour batter and close the lid

✔As you can see from the photo, it has a great drip-channel feature to control any overflow of batter

✔4 mini waffles are made in approximately 5-6 minutes! (depending on how crispy you like them)

✔Nonstick surface made without PFOA

✔Easy to clean once cooled with a damp cloth

Cons: 

❌Would love if this plate was fully removable, so you could insert other waffle shapes, as Dash has so many cute ones to choose from. 

💜So what do you like to put on your waffles? Send me an email or leave a comment below. I love hearing your comments!  

💜Visit  their website! https://bydash.com

💜If you want to purchase this waffle maker, feel free to use my code for $10 off!  your purchase! Who doesn't love to save money?  In return, I do get reward perks, so I would appreciate it!

Keep up the BEET: Wholly Veggie Patties Review!

Wholly Veggie is a Canadian company (based out of my hometown of Toronto!) founded by two friends who love their veggies and want to make sure every table has access to them! Their mission is to create a more sustainable food system, which I think is very important considering the incredible population growth reaching now 7.8 billion in 2021.  How do we continue to feed everyone? This is definitely a challenge but they are up for it!

The company has a great line of veggie products to choose like their taco bites which has a sweet potato crust (yum!), Buffalo Cauliflower wings, veggie pizzas and more! 

Trying out the "Southwest Beet Burger" the ingredients and nutritional profile looked great.  Beets are loaded with various vitamins and minerals, including potassium, magnesium and Vitamin C. 

Packaging

I sliced a beet patty into strips and added some dressing

on top underneath a mixture of zucchini and carrots.

My Honest Thoughts?

By themselves, these patties are fairly bland tasting and a bit more on the chewy side, as opposed to a softer texture that I was expecting. I'm not sure if "beets" are more of an acquired taste overall, but I don't like to turn down a healthy vegetable.  Since 4 patties come per package, day two of trying these out tasted a lot better. I enjoyed them more sliced up, instead of like a regular patty.

Although it does have some spice, it's pretty minimal, so it helps to add your favourite condiments!

They also check off the boxes of being:

✔vegetarian 

✔gluten-free

✔soy-free

✔dairy-free. 

So if those are labels that are important to you, then this would be a good fit!

Another awesome thing to know is that you can "donate a meal" by making a purchase on their website.

"For every meal you donate, we'll match it with another meal to Community Food Centres Canada. 

Your meal donation will go to Harmony Community Food Centre (CFC), one of 13 Community Food Centres supported by CFCC. Harmony CFC is a welcoming place in Toronto where people come together to grow, cook, share and advocate for good food. Their programs support local families and individuals by increasing access to healthy food, skill-building, knowledge sharing, and providing leadership and advocacy opportunities."

I'm excited to try other products from this brand, and I'll be sure to fill you in on whether they'll make my shopping cart again or if they'll stay on the shelf.

Try them out and let me know your thoughts! You can leave a comment or send me a private email using my contact form!  I always love to hear your comments. 

💜Wholly Veggie Website

💜IG

💜Facebook

*Note: All opinions of this product are always my own.

Plant-based Review: Dr. Praeger’s Spinach Littles

As the summer starts to wind down, soon will be back-to-school for a lot families. This may mean less than optimal meals because of having to rush off to extra-curricular activities or facing another night of picky eaters who would rather go on a hunger strike than eat anything you’ve prepared.

Here, we don’t have any kids, but that doesn’t mean figuring out what to eat is any easier sometimes when we are both very busy and just need something to grab and go.   Also, who says that adults can’t love some fun shapes? We’re all kids-at-heart, so I was slightly giddy when I entered the grocery store and saw these Spinach Littles by Dr. Praeger in the frozen aisle section. 

These star-shaped and prehistoric munchies are made with minimal ingredients, including potatoes and spinach. They are easy to heat up and serve with any sides that you wish.  They are also soy-free/gluten-free, with no artificial flavours either, if those factors are important to you! 

Dr. Praeger’s Sensible Foods® Philosophy:

"We want to contribute to people’s ability to live their lives to the fullest! The biggest impact we can make is by delivering the most delicious recipes made from simple, nutritious and meatless foods that help encourage good eating habits that last a lifetime."

So what are my honest thoughts?

✔Great ingredients that meet my dietary and nutritional needs

✔Cooking time was minimal which is always a plus

✔They taste really good (just need something to dip as the spinach flavour is pretty potent!)

✔Another thing that is amazing about this company is that are extremely philanthropic, so good deeds deserve praise and you can visit their site to learn more about their latest partnership with Farmers Against Hunger –  a non-profit organization on a mission to reduce food waste by helping farmers and wholesalers to share their surplus produce with those in need while reducing food insecurity across New Jersey.

I cannot think of anything negative to really say about these Spinach Littles aside from the price is definitely higher than your traditional frozen nuggets, but I personally feel it's a better health investment when seeking frozen-food options, but as always, you make that choice for you and your family. 

Here's a few photos:

Cute packaging!

From frozen - cooking them up!

Finished! Spiralized some green/yellow zucchini

and dipping sauce is honey mustard.

💜 Make sure to visit Dr. Praeger’s website to see all their products and stay updated with new product launches! 

💜 Facebook

💜 IG

*Note: Thank you to Dr. Praeger's for sending me complimentary coupons!  All opinions of this product are always my own.

DARE to be different: Plant-based Gummies!

We've entered into a world where animals are no longer considered the only source of consumption. Plant-based eating is gaining a lot of momentum from people who once said "i'll never give up meat!" or scoffed at the idea that you can eat a well-balanced diet without animal products. 

Whether you're trying out a veggie "burger" for health reasons or you want to spread more compassion to the animal world, it's an interesting adventure. For some, it's worth diving into head first, and for others, they just want to dip their toes in.

I have been finding some awesome brands that meet my nutritional needs, not to mention taste great, and others...well...they won't be in my basket again. I'll share more in future blogs!

I don't always have the energy to cook-from-scratch, as I do have diagnosed health conditions, which are complicated, I'm now in my 40's, so EVERYTHING is changing, relatable, right? So I'm trying to figure out what works for me. If that is a luxury you have, more power to you. Please bake me a gluten-free bread! ;) 

So let's get to SNACKS!

Snack-wise, it's been fun and a little frustrating, so when I saw Dare Real Fruit was launching plant-based gummies, I had to get my hands on them. They come in a variety of flavours, like strawberry-kiwi, cherry, pineapple and more! 🍍🍒🥝🍓  

A sample of some of the flavours
 - including the "sour" ones are on the far right!

Now do these taste the same as the regular ones? No. There is a distinct difference. As many have commented, they have a more "wine gum" texture than a gummy.  This seemed to cause a huge uproar, but everyone's tastes are different. Personally, I love the taste and the texture!

I will warn you that they are addictive, so portion them out so you don't eat the entire bag in one-sitting. 

Of course you can still purchase Dare's Real Fruit NON plant-based gummies, but I'm sold on these. :)

I think these will be a real hit for friends and family to try at our movie nights and hopefully we can get out "Clue" for a fun board-game evening soon. I have wanted to play this since our 80's wedding!

Things to note that may/may not be important to you:

👉Gluten-free

👉No Animal Gelatin

👉Plant-based

👉Vegan

👉Peanut-free

Have you tried these? Let me know what you think! Leave a comment below or use the contact form to reach out to me!

💜To learn more, visit the Dare Real Fruit site: https://darerealfruit.com/medley/

💜Keep up with the latest on FB and IG

NO Whey! Review on Powerbar Plant-Protein Bars

Just a few things to mention before I start into the review.

Fat often gets a bad wrap, but we need certain types in our diet. Usually it’s the trans fats and saturated fats that many tend to stay away.  Then there are the “healthy” fats, like avocados, which can be an acquired taste and taste great whether tossing a few slices on bread, in a salad, or blending up to make guacamole for dipping veggies and another snacks.  Careful though, if you have a sensitive digestive system, eating too many per day will give you uncomfortable bloating.

Next up, protein. Most of us probably think we are getting plenty, but chances are, we are not getting enough. One main source is meat. For ethical or even health reasons, as well as the higher costs of purchasing good quality meats, this is not a top choice for many people.  Another big source is beans. You know the tune, “Beans, beans, the musical fruit. The more you eat, the more you toot.”  Pinto, kidney, chickpea, lima, etc... These are all excellent sources of protein, but not everyone can tolerate huge amounts in their diet.

Next we have our friend, fiber, which includes: soluble and insoluble. You can read about the differences with the links I provided.  Fiber is your digestive system’s best friend! You can get it in meats, grains, fruits, various vegetables and other sources of proteins, like nuts and seeds (especially flaxseed).

Then we have sugar, which I think we could all use less of overall. If you look at a lot of different protein bars, you’ll see they do contain a lot of good ingredients, but it is surprising to know how much sugar some of them have.

On with the review! Xy Stuff sent out 3 flavours of Powerbar Plant Protein bars to try out, in return for honest feedback! Thank you so much guys. :)

I know how much Bill loves the combination of peanut butter and chocolate, so I was quite excited to have him give his thoughts on that one.

The generous amount sent! #gotitfree

These bars have the following labels, if you care about them:

-No artificial flavours, colours or sweeteners 

-Non-GMO Project Verified

-Gluten-free

-No soy ingredients (they use rice and pea protein) 

I dig my cute planner and often I am snacking at my desk doing work. :) 

*Just so I don’t repeat myself – all had good amounts of protein and fiber, just wish less than 10 grams of sugar per bar!

• Almond, sea salt and dark chocolate - It had a good chewy texture and no aftertaste. A perfect on the go snack that will keep you filled. I really like the sea salt and chocolate taste.

• Dark chocolate peanut butter  -  There was no aftertaste, but even with the tempting combo of chocolate and peanut butter, it still tasted quite bland. I would have enjoyed a more chocolate and/or peanut butter flavour.  With the high amount of sugar, you’d think it would be sweeter. Bill was very underwhelmed by it.

• Cashew, salted caramel and dark chocolate -  the holy grail of deliciousness! They sure got this flavour spot on with the salted caramel. It has a nice chewy texture, no aftertaste and satisfied any desire for anything sugary the rest of the day.

Overall, these protein bars have some merit. They definitely keep you full and have a good amount of nutrition.  The price is comparable with many other brands. On their site it is approximately $30US for 15 bars. You can find them cheaper on other online shopping sites. The big deal breaker is the amount of sugar at 10 grams per bar.

The biggest test for me was having to wait at the specialist for over 3 hrs. Side note, I had a good appointment and will blog about that later. I made sure that I had a cashew/salted caramel and dark chocolate bar with me and I only started to get a bit of an appetite after I left. So it definitely curbs those afternoon hunger pains – but in no way would replace a meal, at least in my opinion.


What kind of protein/nutritional bars do you grab? Leave me your comments below or feel free to email me!  

Spicing Up Your Life: A. Vogel Herbed Sea Salt Review

It’s always a bit of a panicked feeling when you realize that you’re pretty low on spices and yet in your head there are numerous dishes that you want to make. I received a complimentary bottle of A. Vogel Herbed Sea Salt from Social Nature, which came to the rescue today for lunch!  I will admit that i’m not usually a big fan of sea salt, but lately it’s been really growing on me.

The blend of organic spices (rosemary, thyme, basil, chives, etc...) mixed in is quite tasty. I added only a sprinkling to my veggie/hummus wrap and a little bit on the sweet potatoes, which was the perfect amount.  I can envision putting this in mashed potatoes, meatloaf, and all kinds of soups! I honestly don't think I would like this as much without the herbs.

My lunch - Mixed veggies with hummus on a tortilla wrap,
side salad with blueberries, roasted sweet potatoes and pickles!

The bottle design was a bit tricky to figure out with opening at the top, but I really like the sliding feature that allows you to put in the desired amount and then just gently slide back into place to seal and stay fresh.

Instead of having the salt shaker around, I think this Herbed Sea Salt by A. Vogel, has earned a place on the table.

A few extra bits of product information claims:

Free from artificial flavors, additives, and preservatives
Free of top 11 allergens
Certified Organic
Non-GMO Project Verified
MSG and Gluten-Free

#trynatural  #howdoyouherbamare #gotitfree

Food Review: A crunchy bite with Flamingo!

Photo by Melissa F. Arditti

It's really great when I come across a product line that offers delicious quality and taste because I know many people are always looking for easier ways to get dinner on the table.  Sometimes it's awesome to cook from scratch, but other times, if you can find a quick and healthy meal option that won't break your budget, why not?

Well I'd like to introduce you to a fantastic company that has been around for over 50 years and sought after by those in Québec, called Flamingo. Available all across Ontario now too, they offer a large selection of chicken and turkey products that you can see on their product list here: http://www.flamingo.ca/en/products

I have only tried the Breaded Chicken breast Strips so far, but after purchasing one box, I went out and got another because they were so good! Sadly, most of the other varieties seem to be out of stock all the time, so I haven't been able to really experiment with other products, but I would like to.

A few things to mention:

• Flamingo prides itself on offering many gluten-free options.  Personally, this was not a deciding factor for me, but if you or a loved one does suffer from Celiac Disease, I would highly recommend checking out this brand

• The bread coating is made from puffed rice! I love the crunchiness too.

• Far less greasy than most breaded chicken strips that I have tried in the past.

• Lower in sodium (always a good thing!)

• Place into the oven for about 20-25 minutes, make sure to flip over half way, cook the rest of the time and you're done.

• Happy that they didn't stick to the tinfoil like many other frozen food products

• Bake in the oven the whole batch and then use the rest for leftovers, which turns out great.

• I really enjoyed dipping them into a honey mustard sauce for added flavour.

• Breaded and unbreaded varieties are available

My only negative is that the price can be a little high at $10 per box, BUT they always seem to have promotions going on and if you can get a coupon (I lucked out on getting a $3 off coupon) and see a discount sale in-store, you can't beat that! Plus they are a healthier alternative than a lot of other frozen chicken products that are loaded with sodium and really greasy, so that is something to keep in mind.

Snack Review: Living Snactive with Mediterranean Snacks

I hate the word “diet” when it is referred to people's weight loss regimes because as everyone knows, it's short-lived and usually meant for short-term success. It's the same routine, you go on a health kick and feel great, like you can conquer the world, but then it goes downhill because the motivation weens and you're back to the very start. The miserable beginning where it all feels hopeless.  So what do you do?

Well for starters, you can ditch the sugar-laden sweets, salty chips that make your hands glisten from all the grease, but don't be duped, even the “health” snacks can be loaded with sugar and tons of sodium, plus other ingredients that may be problematic, based on your individual circumstances.

We need to Live Snactive! Nope that's not a spelling mistake. Going on the philosophy of Mediterranean Snacks, having a Healthy Attitude + Nutritious Snacks + Active Lifestyle = Living Snactive! Everyone has their marketing buzz word, but I can say this really meshes well with me, and I think many others can relate.

 Now there is a full line of products by a great company called Mediterranean Snacks that offers a glorious amount of options for people who have specific dietary needs or just choose a different way to eat.

Here is the assortment that I received in the mail. I was blown away at this big haul. I will go into more detail on what we liked and ones we probably wouldn't buy again.  I ended up sharing these with my boyfriend and the rest of my family.

Before that, I need to talk about how much I love the bold packaging. It's full of vibrant colours, plus the fonts are easy to read, so you don't have to sit and squint wondering what flavour you're getting or what the main features are of the product. All the ingredients are also listed on the back, which is great because I'm a label reader.

So here we go.  I have also taken a bunch of photos, so you can get an idea of what some of the products look like.

Vegetable Medley – An absolute favourite and as you can see, you get a lot of them per bag. I love how they are slightly rounded, so ideal for dipping, or still worth munching on without any extras. Oddly enough, they are seasoned with sea salt, which I usually don't like, but these are a winner.

Baked Lentil Chips (Rosemary) – Baked not fried which is a huge plus. They were also very savoury and crunchy. My parents raved over these, especially my Dad. Due to his condition, his sense of smell has been impaired, so I was pleasantly surprised that he could taste the Rosemary.

Baked Lentil Chips (Roasted Pepper) - A personal favourite and a great chip to dip into some homemade guacamole.

Bean Stalks (Sea Salt, Cheddar and BBQ) – A whole lotta crunch to these babies! Since the number one ingredient is actual beans, they are packed with fibre and protein. Unfortunately, i'm not a fan of sea salt to begin with, so that bag was the least favourite of the bunch.

Cheddar ones were great on their own (think of a healthy version of a cheesie!) and my boyfriend liked the tangy BBQ ones.

Tapaz 2 Go – Mixed feelings here. Although these are meant to be eaten without refrigeration required, I would personally recommend refrigerating them, before taking on-the-go.  For me, it was just awful at room temperature. It had a strange off-putting taste. On my second attempt, I decided to stick it in the fridge for a while and that really made a big difference. It had a nice cooling taste. A good serving size too.

The classic hummus is very mild, the garlic hummus tastes pretty much the same, but I couldn't really taste a very strong aroma of garlic at all. The red pepper hummus has a real kick, my mouth was kind of on fire, but if you like spice, this one is for you. Keep in mind, you'll need to swirl around the mixture a bit. The pretzels were ok, but if you're watching your sodium, probably best to pack a little container and toss in some of their lentil or veggie chips.

I am truly blessed to have my Dad still with us today.  He has made huge strides in improving his health, both physically and mentally.  We all struggle in different ways and it's good to know there is a company looking out for us and providing healthier options.

I am grateful for companies like Mediterranean Snacks that exist and will probably be leading the pack for naturally-based nutritional health snacks for many years to come.

If you would be so kind to excuse me now, I have the munchies and eyeing a bag of Vegetable Medley Straws that are calling my name!

UPDATE 2018: I am not sure what has happened to this company or their website!
You can still purchase from here though: 

Windsor Restaurant Review - Blooming inside and out: A look into the Sunflower Organic Cafe

Remember the days when you couldn't even order anything “on the side” because it just came prepared however the restaurant made it. Substituting was met with a sigh or “I'll have to ask if we can do that” reply. Choices were really limited and if you had any sort of allergy or special request, you'd have to phone up days in advance to figure out if they could arrange an alternative. I actually went through a time period when I just stopped eating out at restaurants because it was always a frustrating experience and slightly awkward, especially if I was the only one in the group with restrictions.

Now, a new way of thinking has sprouted for certain businesses, especially one that I recently had lunch at last week called Sunflower Organic Cafe, here in Windsor, Ontario.

I loved the vibrancy of the space with all the knick-knacks, neatly organized above the green trim. It kind of reminded me of entering into grandma's house, with a eco-hipster twist.

I was very impressed with how much this cafe caters to each individual and whatever circumstance you're dealing with. Celiac? No problem. Lactose intolerant? Many alternatives available.  Have another kind of auto-immune issue or follow a certain lifestyle, like vegetarian or vegan? Just let the waitress know and she'll figure out a way to make your meal completely customized to your liking. Oh and if you're into the whole organic movement, then you'll feel right at home.  Personally, I don't subscribe to one philosophy when it comes to food, I hold many beliefs that may align with yours, or perhaps be totally contradictory, so take my review with a grain of salt, if you wish and try it out for yourself.

Customer service was top notch. There's no two ways around that.  Our waitress was really friendly and offered to answer any questions that we had about the menu. Speaking of... the menu is large, so there is a lot of variety to choose from.  Start the day with an energizing breakfast, grab a salad, or just power up with one of their smoothies.

Another plus is how reasonably-priced everything is. Many items are under $10, like the Black Bean Wrap, Grilled Cheese, Baby Bella Mushroom and Cheese Omelette, and more.  Check out the menu here: http://www.sunflowerwindsor.com/cafe-menu/

I have to say that my Vegan Apple Cinnamon Buckwheat Pancakes rocked for only $8.95! I couldn't taste the cinnamon all that much, but the mixed berry compote, side of pure maple syrup, plus some refreshing apple splices hit the spot. 3 pancakes might seem stingy since we live in a society where quantity is valued far more than quality, but it was the right amount. I will say though that if you are not familiar with buckwheat, it is rather dense and a little bit on the heavy side, so it won't taste like your traditional pancake.

Vegan Apple Cinnamon Buckwheat Pancakes

On a personal note, I am also happy that there is a new place that I can take my parents. With all the major changes going on for my dad, eating healthy is a top priority. Having a nice customized meal that will give him lots of energy is important because he is so active. Oh and of course, this gives my mom a much-needed break, so she doesn't have to cook.

Thanks to my friend Gail for suggesting this spot for our lunch date! :)

Make sure to check out Sunflower Organic Cafe on Facebook!

Update as of Jan 2016: Sadly, it looks like they have closed their doors for good!!

Nature's Path: My prize-winning entry!

Here is my winning entry from Nature's Path Organic Foods and all the yummy products I won! They just arrived at my door step!

What does "Eating Clean" mean to me? *Note that I made no mention about avoiding all GMO-labelled food, eating chemical-free (everything IS a chemical, which is not necessarily bad! Check out the long list of what makes up an organic apple!), processed food, natural, or any term like that. I wrote from my heart and how I choose to live.

Personally, "eating clean" means making healthier choices. Adding more vegetables and whole grains, substituting french fries for a salad, reducing the amount of sodium, sugar and saturated fat intake, and nourishing the body with food that helps to prevent illness and keeps my mental health in good shape.

My lovely gift basket, courtesy of Nature's Path Organic Foods.