Cole's Blocks Co.

I recently came across a gold mine of a company!

I was surfing Instagram and saw a post by another blogger that had a customized cutting board with the name of her blog on it.  I immediately thought, "OMG! I LOVE THIS!  I want one NOW! Where do I get one?"

After a little researching on her blog I found a wonderful company that produces fantastic cutting boards, and does customized boards to boot!  Jackpot!  

Cole's Blocks Co. is family run company with 40 years and three generations invested in the wood industry and are located in Southern Michigan.   They use a high temperature roasting process to enhance the curly maple used in each of their cutting boards, cutting blocks, and serving boards. Their boards and serving platters are more durable, lighter-weight, and less likely to warp due to a higher resistance to moisture.

Naturally Stain and Chemical Free

Roasting darkens the wood naturally to an honey or espresso finish without the use of any harsh stains or chemicals.

The Advantage of Roasted Maple Cutting Boards over Plastic Ones

Maple cutting boards won't scar as easily as plastic since maple is a hardwood.

You won't have to replace your wooden cutting board regularly if cared for properly. 

Your knives will last longer because hardwood boards won't dull your blades as quickly as plastic will. 

Your won't want to hide your cutting boards because wooden boards, even well used ones, add warmth and beauty to your kitchen.

So I ordered my personalized cutting board.  Isn't it a beauty?  I just love, love, love this board.  Along with it I got an array of other wood items as well such as initialed coasters, and several serving platters.  I love the one in the shape of my home state "California". 

I've used several of my boards and one of the serving platter boards already (below is an example). They are beyond my expectations.  The boards keep well, they are easy to cut on, and clean up is a breeze.  The serving platters are beautiful, functional, and decorative at the same time.  I can't wait to throw a huge wine and cheese tasting party using my boards, just to show them off!  Wine anyone?

I also have to brag about their customer service.  I dealt with Betsy from the beginning and I have to say that she is exceptional.  From the start she took my order and worked with me by making fantastic suggestions until I had the board of my dreams!  This is how you want your service to be everywhere and Betsy and her family are top notch proprietors.

You can't go wrong with one (or several) of Cole's Block's Co boards.  I'm already thinking ahead to Christmas gifts.  They would also be a wonderful wedding present.  You can purchase your own here, which I highly recommend that you do.  You're gonna love them!

Sheet Pan Meal: Simple Citrus Herb Chicken and Tomatoes ( and a Product Review )

Yum

Sometimes you just have to give in to it.

Give in to the pressure.  You know the one, using the oven in summer?  Yea, that pressure.  The other night I came home late from work and I was dog tired.  I did not want to stand over the stove or the grill cooking anything.  Nope not today.  So I gave in and cranked up the air conditioner and turned on the oven.  Sometimes you need a break like that and it's okay.  Truly, to save me some work in cooking dinner that night I would stand any extra heat the oven caused.

So with chicken breasts in the refrigerator I decided to make a sheet pan meal.  Love them!  You just throw everything on a large baking sheet pan and cook it all together.  This meal was particularly easy with just chicken and tomatoes.  Yum, golden chicken flavored with citrus and blistered cherry tomatoes bursting with flavor!  You could easily substitute chicken thighs, or pork or fish with this dish as well as changing up the vegetables.  It's all good and easy to put together.

For the chicken I used some help from my favorite store, Williams-Sonoma, by using the Williams-Sonoma Citrus Herb Rub.

It is a dry rub that you sprinkle over your protein and can also be used on vegetables, or mixed in with a salad dressing...yum!  Here is their promo for the rub:

The sweet-tart flavors of orange, lemon and lime mingle with jalapeño peppers for a Latin-inspired rub that brings gentle heat and mouthwatering flavor to everything from beef and pork to poultry and vegetables. The rub is blended with California garlic and Mexican oregano, and finished with pure citrus oils for an aromatic finish.

Ingredients:

California garlic, kosher salt, jalapeno pepper, cane sugar, crystallized orange (evaporated cane juice, citric acid, orange juice, orange oil, ascorbic acid [vitamin C]), lemon peel, cilantro, crystallized lemon (citric acid, evaporated cane juice, lemon oil, lemon juice, ascorbic acid [vitamin C]), crystallized lime (citric acid, evaporated cane juice, lime oil, ascorbic acid [vitamin C]), orange peel, citric acid, Mexican oregano, orange oil.

I always feel confident using Williams-Sonoma's products because of the ingredients.  You can read them...understand them, and they don't use all the chemical fillers/preservatives you find in most commercially produced spice blends.  You can purchase this rub at your local Williams-Sonoma store or online here.

So dinner was a success.  I mean look at this gorgeous meal.  I really must say this was the perfect seasoning for our chicken dinner.  It was light and citrusy and perfect for a light summer dish.  Oh, and the heat from the oven was totally worth it!

Enjoy!

Simple Citrus Herb Chicken and Tomatoes (a Sheet Pan Meal)

serves 4

4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts
citrus herb rub (Williams-Sonoma Brand)
olive oil
salt and pepper to season
2 pints of multi colored cherry tomatoes
cooked rice (optional)

Preheat the oven to 350°F Line a large sheet pan with parchment paper.

Drizzle olive oil on both sides of the chicken.  Sprinkle both sides liberally with rub.  Arrange the chicken breasts on the baking sheet and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the sheet pan and add the tomatoes around chicken.  Place back in the oven and cook another 15 minutes.  Turn on the broiler and broil meat and tomatoes to obtain a little char on it, about 4 minutes.

Serve each chicken breast with the tomatoes over cooked rice if desired.

Chocolate Peppermint Cocoa Drink and a Product Review: King Arthur Flour's Premium Hot Chocolate Mix

One of MGG's favorite pass times is going to get coffee.  I tell you it's not just an addiction, it's a "thing".

A thing like a social gathering kinda thing.  He loves his coffee and has to have it, but wants to go get coffee at a coffee house and then sits there, barely sipping his coffee. Unwinding and socializing I guess.  I tell you it really is a "thing".

So his favorite haunt is Starbucks.  Well..I must confess it's not my favorite. Only because I'm not a coffee drinker, and Starbuck's doesn't offer much for non-coffee drinkers.   So I usually end up with a Chai Latte, Hot Tea, or Hot Chocolate.

When it turns cold out I love a good hot chocolate.  I crave that chocolaty goodness which is so comforting to me, and if I can hop in my PJ's and have a cup of cocoa at home all the better!

(picture source: King Arthur Flour)

Which leads me to today's product review of King Arthur Flour's Premium Hot Chocolate Mix.  I splurged recently and order this.  The word "premium" got me.  It totally did.  So like I said I splurged on a 3lb bag of hot chocolate mix in anticipation of cocoa euphoria.  (3lbs! talk about an impulse buy).  Not to worry though, they sell this in a nice 12 oz. can as well.  

Let me tell you something.  This mix IS THE BOMB!  It is so creamy and has the best, I mean the BEST chocolate flavor. It's just incredible!  They use Guittard chocolate which in this case makes a decadent cup of hot chocolate.  I just about swooned when I had my first sip.

All you do is mix it with some hot milk and BAM!  The BEST hot chocolate to sip on.  No more Starbuck's for me.  I'm staying home and having my King Arthur Flour's Premium Hot Chocolate!

Then I got all fancy and created a Chocolate Peppermint Cocoa drink using the mix.  O M G !  Heaven!

Honestly, I've been bragging about this mix all over town. Strangers and co-workers alike think I'm off my rocker, but believe me...this stuff is good.  Try some....please...you've got to.

Below is my recipe for the Chocolate Peppermint Cocoa.
Enjoy!




Chocolate Peppermint Cocoa

serves 1

1 cup 2% milk (or whole if you choose)
3 Tablespoons Premium Hot Chocolate Mix (King Arthur Flour)
1 Tablespoon Peppermint Crunch (chopped peppermint)
Whipped Cream
Peppermint Crunch for sprinkling

Heat up the milk on the stove or 2 minutes in a mug in the microwave until the milk is nice and hot.  Add the chocolate mix and whisk to combine. Add the peppermint crunch pieces stirring until melted.  Top with shipped cream and more pepper crunch and serve.

Pumpkin Cranberry Scones - Product Review: King Arthur Flour Harvest Pumpkin Whole Grain Scone Mix

I love having girl time with old friends.

There is just something about a test of time friend that comforts you.  You may not have seen each other for a while but when  you come together it's as if a day hasn't passed. Do you have friends like that?  Someone that you can just be girls with.  Laugh, be silly, and have fun!

Plus, they know you.  My friend Andrea is like that.  We've been friends for years.  Lately, we haven't been able to get together too often.  Life is busy.  The other day she called and we made a date to meet for brunch at a great spot down in Santa Monica, facing the beach.

We laughed and reminisced about our antics in the past. Watch out, Lucy and Ethel are together again!  We had so much fun that I didn't want the afternoon to end.  It's always such a joy to be with good friends.  And this good friend came baring gifts!

In she came with a pretty bag containing several King Arthur Flour mixes.  Ahhhh, she knows me! I adored the gift and her for thinking of me.

So this weekend I broke out one of the mixes and whipped up a batch of Pumpkin Cranberry Scones using King Arthur Flour's Harvest Pumpkin Whole Grain Scone Mix.  It was very easy to follow and only needed several ingredients such as butter, eggs, salt and milk.  I added dried cranberries because I love the flavor combination. I'm glad I did, because they came out GREAT!

The whole grains provided a nutty flavor, and it was bursting with pumpkin and spices.  They were very tender and moist and with the addition of the cranberries, WOW!  These are the perfect fall breakfast, brunch, or snack time bite.  MGG inhaled one down right off the bat.  He said these were a winner, and please can I make them again.  SOLD!

The package gives you instructions for drop scones, which is what I did as well.  It's just easier than rolling them out and they come out with that rustic look.  I got 9 pretty large scones out of the mix, and the box states you'll get 8 using a 1/3 cup measure.  I used a scoop so that would account for the extra piece of heaven!

Overall these were a hit.  I would certainly recommend this mix to anyone that wants a shortcut from making them completely from scratch.  In my opinion King Arthur has some of the best quality products out there.  I use their flour religiously, so it's no wonder that their scone mix is a winner.

You can purchase this mix here.




Pumpkin Cranberry Scones

1 17oz box of King Arthur's Harvest Pumpkin Whole Grain Scone Mix
1/2 teaspoon salt
8 tablespoons cold butter, cut into pats
1 large egg
1/2 cup milk
3/4 cup dried cranberries

1. preheat oven to 400°F. Grease a baking sheet, or line with parchment paper.

2. stir together scone mix and salt, then work in butter with a pastry blender, mixing until everything is crumbly. In a separate bowl, stir together egg and milk. Add to dry ingredients, stirring just until moistened. Fold in cranberries. (If dough is too dry add a splash of milk)

3. scoop dough onto the baking sheet, using a large scoop for each scone.  Space by 2" between them. Bake for 14 to 16 minutes, until they're a light golden brown. Remove from oven, wait 5 minutes and serve warm.

adapted from King Arthur's Harvest Pumpkin Whole Grain Scone Mix box instructions.

Garlic Ginger Chicken Asparagus Stir Fy - Recipe and Product Review

It's been a long time since I've done a product review, but when I find an outstanding product that will save you time in the kitchen I feel I must tell you about it...like now!

I just happened to be walking by my favorite store (Williams-Sonoma) and a display of stir fry cookware and food stopped me dead in my tracks. I love a good stir fry, don't you? I've posted many recipes that prove this such as Tangerine Beef and Bok Choy, Cashew Chicken, and Chicken, Brussels Sprouts and Noodle Stir Fry.  

What's not to love? Great flavors, quick meals, and a wonderful weeknight dinner is served!


I quickly told myself it wouldn't hurt to just pop in the store and take a look at the display. Get some ideas of inspiration for a new dish. Hmmm....yea right.

30 minutes later I exit the store with said bottle of Garlic Ginger Stir Fry Sauce in hand. I surprised I had the control and only bought one item as the whole display was so tempting....pans, woks, tools, and the sauces and spices...oh my! To be honest I'm sooooo glad I bought this sauce. It's amazing.

Photo source: Williams-Sonoma.com

Filled with good stuff like, ginger and garlic with peppery chilies, toasted sesame and rice vinegar.  You can purchase yours here.  

I quickly went home and made this wonderful stir fry filled with chicken, asparagus, summer squash, cashews, and of course the garlic ginger sauce.  Oh man...this is some good stuff! (and the recipe is awesome too.)

Note: this is not a sponsored post, just my love of good products.

Garlic Ginger chicken Asparagus Stir Fry

serves 4

2 Tbls. canola oil
1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/3 c cornstarch
kosher salt and pepper
1 bunch of thin asparagus, trimmed
1 summer squash, halved and sliced
1/3 c roasted cashews
1 8.5 oz jar of Garlic Ginger Stir Fry Sauce

Cut chicken in to bite sized pieces. Place cornstarch on a plate and dredge chicken, covering all sides.

Heat oil in a wok or skillet. Add chicken and stir fry over medium high heat about 5-7 minutes until chicken is cooked through. Remove to a plate and set aside.

If necessary add another tablespoon of canola oil to the skillet. Add asparagus and squash, stirring until crisp tender; about 3-4 minutes. Add cashews and stir 1 minute until toasted brown. Return chicken to the skillet and add the stir fry sauce. Stir constantly until all items are coated and sauce has thickened. Serve over rice or noodles.

Honeycrisp Apple and Romaine Salad

I like to shop at grocery stores that I don't frequent often to see the different variety of items they sell.

The problem with that is that I'm usually there for hours on end checking out all the food. Mouth watering as I discover new items, and a cart so full of ingredients for new dishes, that I don't know what came over me!

On one such shopping expedition, I came a across some salad kits by Dole. I had seen these being used around the blogesphere and spotted one that I recall being praised as particularly good. Dole's Endless Summer Salad Kit. I don't care if it isn't summer any longer, I wanted to try this salad kit and that's what I did. So I grabbed some really nice Honeycrisp Apples and headed for home with a Harvest salad idea in mind.

Soooo glad I bought this kit. I must say that it's the bomb with the flavors and the freshness! Filled with Red Cabbage, Romaine, Carrots, a Summer Vinaigrette, Swiss and Gruyere Cheeses, Roasted Sunflower Kernels, Artisan-Style Croutons, Pepper and Herb Seasoning. You don't need much more than this. Just a small addition of some sliced apples, candied walnuts, and some red pepper for a little zip, and you have a wonderful summer turned harvest salad!

It was perfect to use what was included in the kit. I only left out the croutons and fresh herb seasoning, which I kept for another use. Their summer vinaigrette is also a winner! The perfect accompaniment for the apples in the salad.

Thanks to Dole for making such a great salad kit. I hope to try other versions soon. I hope you enjoy a nice harvest salad this fall.

Honeycrisp Apple and Romaine Salad

serves 4

1 pkg. Dole Endless Summer Salad Kit
Swiss and Gruyere Cheese, Shredded (from salad kit)
Roasted sunflower kernels (from salad kit)
1/4 cup roughly chopped candied walnuts
1 Honeycrisp apple
Summer Vinaigrette (from the kit)
About 1/4 tsp. kosher salt
About 1/4 tsp. pepper
red pepper, a pinch

Cut sides off apple into 4 pieces, leaving the core. Slice the apple pieces thinly with a mandoline or a knife. 

Place salad greens into a large bowl.  Add cheese, and sunflower seed from the kit to the bowl.  Add the candied walnuts as well.  Dress salad with Summer Vinaigrette tossing to coat.  

Add sliced apples to salad and toss to coat. Season with salt, pepper, and a pinch of red pepper.  Serve.

Valentine's Day Breakfast and a Product Review

 February is all about Valentine's Day, and love, chocolate, and hearts!

Why not take some time out this Valentine's Day and make a breakfast that shows you love them.  Making an easy meal such as pancakes goes a long way to show you care.  What is even better is making heart shaped pancakes.  Just a little spin on the traditional by free forming a heart shape when pouring the batter on the griddle.  

If free forming isn't your forte, you could use a mold...or one of those handy squirt bottles for batter.  They all work well and the sentiment will be appreciated.

You can even go modern and make XOXO pancakes.  Too cute!

So let's talk about the batter.  You can use your favorite pancake batter but, I wanted to introduce you to a new product I came across.  I'm sure you've all used an 'all purpose baking mix" before.  There are quite a few different brands out there.  I recently came across one from one of my favorite brands, King Arthur Flour.  I just love their flour (and many other items as well...) because it seems to make my baked items so much more tender and any other.  So I new I had to try it.

King Arthur Flour All-Purpose Baking Mix comes in a 36oz box for $6.95.  here's what they say about it.

The first all-purpose baking mix developed by the King Arthur Flour test kitchen. The fastest, easiest way ever to tender pancakes, fluffy biscuits, beautiful quick breads and coffee cakes. Made with our quality unbleached all-purpose flour, aluminum-free baking powder, and real buttermilk. Our all-purpose baking mix is a good source of calcium.

care + storage: Store cool and dry; for longer storage, freeze in an airtight container.

dietary information: Kosher.

The pancakes came out light and fluffy with a slightly tangy flavor which is from the buttermilk powder. Tasted just like homemade. I must say this is a superior all purpose baking mix to the old stand by. The mix seems very versatile and I can't wait to try the biscuits, dumplings, and shortcake recipes soon.

Hope they come out with a whole grain version too!

So remember that you can take a shortcut and make wonderful Valentine's Day pancakes that are quick and easy, tasty, and full of love.

Enjoy!

Valentine's Day Pancakes

2 cups King Arthur All Purpose Baking Mix (or other brand)
2 eggs
1 cup milk

In a large bowl add the baking mix. Then add the milk and egg and stir until combined.

Preheat a griddle and use either cooking spray or butter to grease the griddle. Pour batter in heart shape and allow to cook over medium heat until small bubbles form on top. Flip over when golden brown and cook another 1-2 minutes until cooked through.

Serve with butter and heated maple syrup.

Product Review: Frontera Taco Skillet Sauce

 

You may know that we love our tacos around here.

We love them any way we can get them!

Chicken, oh yea,

Beef, yes please!

Fish, oh my!

 

So it was taco night and I had ran out of my homemade taco seasoning (click here for the recipe), so I picked up a quick skillet sauce at the market that is marketed by Chef Rick Bayless.  It had to be good right?

 

Well I'm pleased to say that it was!  So I bought some more...

 

The one I'm sharing with you today is the Texas Original Taco Skillet Sauce with mild red chili and cumin.  It has wonderful flavor that you can smell as soon as you open the pouch.  Just brown up some ground beef and then add the sauce and simmer.  Can't get quicker than that!

 

The flavor is "mild" and brings a great southwest taco flavor to your meat.  Excellent!  He has many other flavors for tacos, enchiladas, fajitas, and more.  Can't wait to try some of the others.  I've already bought the taco sauce for quick chicken tacos.  It is perfect for quick night meal, plus the whole family will love them!

 

See how great the tacos look?  Oh, and I fried my own taco shells.  I love the real deal!

Frontera Taco Skillet Sauce Tacos

1 lb 10% ground sirloin

1 pouch of Frontera Texas Original Taco Skillet Sauce

optional toppings:  shredded cheese, diced onion, diced tomato, shredded cabbage or lettuce

Brown ground sirloin in a skillet over med-high heat for about 8-10 minutes.  Add skillet sauce and simmer for 3-4 minutes to heat through.  Spoon into taco shells and top with your favorite toppings.

Looking for other taco recipes?  Here are a few...

Chicken Verde Tacos

Baked Tacos

 

Tex Mex Soft Tacos

Chicken and Mango Rice Salad

Hope you all had a great Labor Day weekend!

Back to work, and back to the routine....so I've been on a salad kick lately and made a few more so I could take them to work for lunch. It is just too dang hot here to go outside...ever!  

You are gonna love this salad!  Plus, it's quick and easy to make.

The wonderful people at Tasty Bite sent me some samples to try and review.  Please note, that all opinions are my own.  Tasty Bite invites you to "Explore all natural, exotic flavors from around the world. Enjoy Tasty Bite by itself as a quick and easy bite, as a side dish. Tasty bite is your solution to a delicious and flavorful meal, ready to eat in 90 seconds!"  They have wonderful prepared packaged Indian and pan-Asian dishes.  

I chose to use the Thai Lime Rice to make a wonderful Chicken and Mango Rice Salad.  I just love rice salads.  Since they are served cold or at room temperature you don't have to fuss with heating them up.  I love the flavors of Thai food, so I decided to keep that theme and jazz up the salad a bit with some fruit and a protein.  Leftover chicken is perfect for this dish, or you can poach some chicken breasts as a quick fix.  The addition of cilantro keeps with the Thai flavors as well, or you can use basil.  The rice itself is steamed in coconut milk, ginger, lemongrass, garlic and basil.  This was a wonderful tender, flavorful rice.  All combined together this made a wonderful rice salad!

The rice is easy to make, just heat the pouch in the microwave for 90 seconds and your good!  Love the ease of having ready made ingredients handy to make these quick dishes.  I was pleasantly surprised by the  ingredients.  See for yourself.

INGREDIENTS
Water, Rice, Coconut Milk, Sunflower Oil, Raw Sugar, Lemongrass, Salt, Lemon Juice, Natural Flavoring(Soy, Vegetables), Basil, Kaffir Lime, Onions, Garlic, Green Chilies, Galangal, Spices. Contains: Coconut. 

I've spotted Tasty Bite pouches recently at Sprout's and Cost Plus World Market, however, they are also in most main grocery stores such as Ralph's, Von's, Whole Foods, Super Target etc.  Be sure to check the site for stores in your area.

All in all, this made a quick meal.  Tasty and fresh, with a good flavor profile.  I look forward to using some of their other items including this rice again.  I'm thinking it would make and excellent side dish to some Thai Basil Chicken Kabobs!  Don't you think?

Chicken and Mango Rice Salad

serves 2

1 pouch 8.8oz Tasty Bite Thai Lime Rice
1 mango, peeled and chopped
1 chicken breast, cooked 
2 T cilantro, chopped

Cook rice according to package directions.  Place in a medium bowl or container and allow to cool slightly.  Meanwhile peel and chop a fresh mango into bite sized pieces.  Add to bowl with rice.  Chop cooked chicken breast into bite sized pieces, or shred if you like.  Add to bowl.  Add chopped cilantro to bowl and stir to combine.  Rice may be refrigerated and served cold or at room temperature.

Chicken and Pumpkin Stew

Some things are worth a second look don't you think?

Well this stew certainly is!  In October of last year I posted a dish of Pork and Pumpkin Stew.  It's an easy crock pot dish using Williams-Sonoma's product.  Stewsday Pumpkin Stew Starter.

Well I couldn't resist posting is again.  This time I made it with Chicken.    Pumpkin Stew Starter is an all-natural blend of roasted pumpkin, tomatoes and carrots, gently seasoned with garlic and aromatic autumn spices.  Pretty much all natural ingredients.  I love that about their items.  While it is a little costly $16.95 each or 2 for $30.00 this stew makes a great meal, and calls for 3lbs of pork, so it will feed quite a few people.  Great to make a big batch and freeze part of it for future meals.

This is so easy to do, and with the holidays staring me in the face I need something hearty but quick.   You just need 3 pounds of chicken cut up into chunks.  Season it with salt and pepper and toss it in your slow cooker.  Pour the jar of stew starter over the chicken and place the lid on it.  Cook it on high for 3 hours or low for 5-6.  Woohoo, instant stew!

When it is done the chicken will be pull apart tender.  Just take a fork and shred up some of the chicken and mixing it with the sauce.  I always serve it over a nice bed of rice.  Yum!

You can also make this from scratch.  For the recipe click here.

Enjoy and easy meal during the holidays!

Product Review: Giada De Laurentiis' Classic Minestrone Soup Starter Mix

Has the weather changed where you are?

Here in Southern California the weather is up and down.  Today it is down and raining, and they say we'll have ran for a few days.  Boy, do we need the rain, so it's welcome.

When the weather changes I like to make some simple dishes for packed lunches to take to work.  Soup is one of my favorite midday meals.  

So, the other day I was walking around Target and found this soup starter from Giada De Laurentiis.  I adore her and her food is simple, tasty, and easy to prepare.  So this caught my eye and I picked up the package for the Classic Minestrone Soup.  It comes in a cute little box which includes white beans, pasta, dried vegetables, and herbs.  A lot of times I don't feel that the dried vegetables are substantial enough and I end up adding some of my own.  So I though I'd give this a try.

To make the soup all you have to add of your own ingredients are onion, olive oil, stock, and diced tomatoes.  Not bad!  Pantry items in my house, so I was all set!

So I made made the soup, and was pleasantly surprised that the vegetables were nice and hearty.  They had plumped up really well.  Carrots, cabbage, bell pepper, zucchini, and celery were all included and even recognizable   Great job Giada!  I didn't even need to add a thing.  This soup calls for vegetable broth, but I substituted chicken broth as I like the flavor better.  One of the best things is that the ingredients are straight forward.  This doesn't have all the additives that other packaged soup mixes have.  

The package says that this make 5 1 cup servings.  I'm not sure about you but I eat more than 1 cup of soup as a main course.  Even with the side of crusty bread!  So I would say that there are about 2-3 portions in here.  Not much so you might want to double this if you are cooking for a family. 

The soups gets a thumbs up from me!  It is really tasty.  Just perfect for the rainy weather.  I placed the soup in a nice handy take along container to heat up at work.  A nice thermos would be good as well and you can take this along with you most places.

You can find the soup at Target, or click here.

Try Giada De Laurentiis' Classic Minestrone Soup Starter Mix.  You can't go wrong!

Teriyaki London Broil

How about a product review?

I haven't done one in quite a while and I thought I should put some of the product's I've bought to good use.  So this is a product review for Organicville's Island Teriyaki sauce.  

I had just picked up a London broil on sale and couldn't decide how to prepare it.  I usually associate teriyaki with chicken, but then I remembered I used to get a teriyaki steak at one of my favorite restaurants, The Charthouse in Malibu.  Boy, flashback to eating dinner there on my birthday with my parents when I was younger.  The teriyaki steak was fabulous.  So that's what I would make.

I had bought Organicville's Island Teriyaki sauce because it was sweetened with agave nectar and very, very, low in carbs.  So many Asian sauces are loaded with sugar and this one uses a more natural sweetener.  It's also vegan, and gluten free.

I used the sauce to marinate my London broil for about 1 hour and then I grilled it in my grill pan, on the stove.  You could also broil it, or grill it on an outdoor grill.  Several methods would work here.  Let me tell you...this marinade is outstanding!  It's not overly sweet, with the flavors of pineapple, ginger, and garlic shining through.

See how luscious this steak turned out?

Another benefit is that with such a large steak, you get leftovers!  Utilize them in a wonderful steak salad the next day, using an Asian dressing.  Perfect!  They would be equally wonderful in a steak sandwich, or an Asian steak wrap!

If you happen to come across this product you should definitely buy it, or you can purchase it online as well.

Teriyaki London Broil

serves 6

2 1/2 - 3 lb London broil
1  bottle Organicville's Island Teriyaki sauce

Marinate the steak in a plastic bag using 1/2 of the bottle of sauce for 1-2 hours, turning occasionally.  Cook on a heated grill pan over medium heat for 12 minutes, turning once.  Remove from pan and allow to rest on a cutting board for 10 minutes, tented with aluminum foil.

Slice steak against the grain on an angle.  Serve with your choice of side dishes.