Get the Fall Scoop on Ciao Bella’s Grown Up Sorbetto & Gelato Treats

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When we think of fall, we think of treats that are savory, indulgent and decadent. While Spring and Summer reminds us of light and refreshing treats, and Winter reminds us of minty flavors, the fall season has us thinking of comfort flavors, such as caramel, bourbon, and vanilla. This is why we are fully enjoying the heavenly, more grown up flavors of Ciao Bella’s premium gelato and sorbetto. For fall, we are totally indulging in the Bartlett Pear Hibiscus and Marion Blackberry Cabernet Sorbettos, and Madagascar Vanilla and Bourbon Caramel Chocolate Gelatos.

We love the rich flavor of Hibiscus tea and the distinctive buttery taste of pear, so when we saw this divine combination of flavors in the Ciao Bella Bartlett Pear Hibiscus Sorbetto, we had to indulge. The early onset of the fall season always has us thinking of sweet blackberries and nothing relaxes you more than sipping on a nice glass of Cabernet. For all you red wine lovers, you’ll want to add the Ciao Bella Marion Blackberry Cabernet Sorbetto to your shopping list.

If you think of Vanilla as boring, think again. the rich, smooth, buttery taste of the Ciao Bella Madagascar Vanilla Gelato will definitely change your mind. This savory treat will delight and captivate your taste buds. And speaking of captivating flavors, no three words have ever been more delicious than Bourbon Caramel Chocolate. This trifecta of flavor explosion is lure you a journey of culinary escape like no other. Give in to the Ciao Bella Bourbon Caramel Chocolate Gelato‘s rich, dark chocolate, decadent french caramel, and smooth, smoky bourbon.

While you’re at it, look out for their newest fall flavor, Fig Honey Toasted Almond Gelato, featuring a mash-up of juicy figs, sweet honey, and toasted almonds for a delectably sweet, fruity and nutty taste.

Grab any (or all) of these for $6.99 each and enjoy a $1.00 off Coupon to save on your favorite grown-up flavors.

Holy Guacamole!! It’s National Guacamole Day

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In celebration of the day, we hope you’re out there enjoying this delicious and versatile dip and topping. We don’t know about you, but we like our guac freshly made and seeing as it is the day to celebrate, we’re sharing these delicious recipes from our friends at Dos Caminos and Sauza Tequila…..well, you can’t enjoy guacamole without some tequila. Take the traditional guacamole recipe, like the one from Chef Ivy Stark and feel free to give it a fun twist with variations like Lobster Guacamole, Chipotle-Goat Cheese Guacamole or Artichoke Guacamole with Toasted Pine Nuts.

Pairing 1 – Marvelous Mango Margarita and Chipotle-Goat Cheese Guacamole

1 part Sauza® Blue Silver 100% Agave Tequila
½ part JDK & Sons™ O3 Premium Orange Liqueur
½ large ripe mango
2 parts fresh orange juice
⅔ part lime juice
½ part simple syrup
4 parts ice
Peel, seed and chop your mango. If you have time you can freeze your prepared mango at this point. Otherwise, put all ingredients except for the ice into your blender and blend until smooth. Then add the ice. Pour the margarita into a glass and enjoy!
Rock the guac and celebrate with these guacamole and margarita pairing ideas

The sweet and fruity flavors of the Marvelous Mango Margarita provide the perfect complement to the smoky heat of the Chipotle-Goat Cheese Guacamole:

2 tbsp. finely chopped cilantro leaves
2 tsp. finely chopped white onion
2 tsp. minced jalapeño or Serrano chilies (Optional: remove seeds and membranes)
½ tsp. teaspoon Kosher salt
2 large ripe avocados, peeled and seeded
1 small plum tomato, cored, seeded, and finely chopped
2 tsp. freshly squeezed lime juice
4 oz. crumbled goat cheese
2 tbsp. chopped canned chipotle chilies

Pairing 2 – Spicy Sauza®-Rita and Artichoke Guacamole with Toasted Pine Nuts

1 part Sauza® Blue Silver 100% Agave Tequila
2 parts beer
1 part frozen limeade concentrate
1 part water
A dash of hot sauce
Sugar (for garnish)
Salt (for garnish)
Red pepper (for garnish)
Chili pepper (for garnish)
In a glass, combine all ingredients. Chill and serve in glasses rimmed with sugar, salt and red pepper. Garnish with a chili.

Turn your cocktail up a notch this National Guacamole Day with the Spicy Sauza®-Rita. This spicy cocktail brings the heat with red and chili pepper flavors and pairs well with the mild flavors of the Artichoke Guacamole with Toasted Pine Nuts:

2 tbsp. finely chopped cilantro leaves
2 tsp. finely chopped white onion
2 tsp. minced jalapeño or Serrano chilies (Optional: remove seeds and membranes)
½ tsp. teaspoon Kosher salt
2 large ripe avocados, peeled and seeded
1 small plum tomato, cored, seeded, and finely chopped
2 tsp. freshly squeezed lime juice
1 cup marinated artichoke hearts, chopped
¼ cup toasted pine nuts

Pairing 3 – Strawberry Sparkler and Lobster Guacamole

1 part Sauza® Blue Silver 100% Agave Tequila
½ part DeKuyper® Strawberry Liqueur
½ part (chilled) rose champagne
½ part limeade
3 strawberries
1 tbsp. sugar
1 lime wedge
Wash, stem, quarter and freeze strawberries for at least 1 hour (can be done the day ahead). Run a wedge of lime around the rim of your champagne flute and dip in a plate of sugar to coat rim. Place 3 frozen strawberries in the bottom of the prepared flute. Pour champagne into the glass. In a shaker filled with ice, combine tequila, limeade, and strawberry liqueur. Shake and pour into glass. Add a squeeze of fresh lime if desired and serve immediately.

Try the Strawberry Sparkler with the Lobster Guacamole for a fresh take on the traditional lobster/champagne pairing.

2 tbsp. finely chopped cilantro leaves
2 tsp. finely chopped white onion
2 tsp. minced jalapeño or Serrano chilies (Optional: remove seeds and membranes)
½ tsp. teaspoon Kosher salt
2 large ripe avocados, peeled and seeded
1 small plum tomato, cored, seeded, and finely chopped
2 tsp. freshly squeezed lime juice
1 lb. whole lobster or 4 oz. lobster meat, steamed, cleaned and rough chopped
Japanese pickled ginger for garnish (Optional)
In a medium size bowl, use the back of a spoon to mash 1 tablespoon of the cilantro, 1 teaspoon onion, 1 teaspoon of minced chile, and ½ teaspoon salt together against the bottom of the bowl. Steam, cool and pick meat from lobster and rough chop. Then add to bowl. Add the avocados and gently mash them with a fork until chunky-smooth. Fold the remaining cilantro, onion, and chile into the mixture. Stir in tomatoes and lime juice, taste to adjust the seasonings. Add Japanese pickled ginger for garnish (optional). Serve with warm corn tortilla chips.

Super Food, Super Delicious | Nature’s Path Qi’a Superfood Breakfast Cereal

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We’re always looking for foods that are healthy, things we can easily apply to our daily routine. While hunting down these foods can be a chore as not every supermarket even carries an organic section, there is a way to ensure your meals provide you with the power and nutrients of superfoods such as Chia, Buckwheat, and Hemp, all in one great source from Nature’s Path.

Qi’a (pronounced “key–ah”), which appropriately means energy, is an organic and vegan, nutrient-rich, superfood that combines chia, hemp and buckwheat to provide an excellent source of ALA Omega-3s and a great source of fiber. Qi’a is laden with Omega-6s, amino acids, protein and essential vitamins and minerals. You won’t find any added sugar, salt, artificial preservatives, additives or synthetic pesticides in this power punch of nutrients, it is also gluten free and Non-GMO Project Verified.

Qi’a comes in three distinctly delicious flavors: Original, Apple Cinnamon, and Cranberry Vanilla. While they are perfect as a morning cereal or mixed into hot oatmeal, they can also be blended into snacks and meals such as yogurt and fruit smoothies; sprinkled into salads and soup; mixed into muffin, scones or bread recipes, and other delicious goodies. For breakfast, simply add milk, a milk substitute, or even water for a complete and healthy meal in five minutes. For something more adventurous, try one of Qi’a delicious recipes like Chocolate Mouse (pictured below) or Superfood Sesame Dressing for added nutrients.

1/2 cup Nature’s Path Qi’a – Original
1/4 cup organic cocoa powder
1 cup chocolate almond milk
2 tbsp agave syrup
1 cup plain 2% Greek yogurt
1/4 cup shaved coconut
1/4 cup shaved chocolate curls
20 raspberries
Add Qi’a, cocoa powder, chocolate almond milk and agave syrup to blender; purée until smooth. Chill, stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes or until thick. Fold in yogurt. Divide among 4 serving dishes. Garnish each with coconut, chocolate curls and raspberries. Sweeten to taste

Qi’a is also a quick and convenient pre- or post-workout energy boost or snack, great for runners, hikers, power walkers, and all athletes. Two tablespoons of Qi’a boasts six grams of protein, four grams of fiber and only 130-140 calories. It is a satisfying start to the day and provides long-lasting fuel and energy. Nature’s Path Qi’a Superfood is available at health and natural foods retailers at a price of $10.79.

Bon Appetit | Eat Good, Feel Good

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We love being introduced to new delicious culinary delights. We consider our palates eclectic and therefore are always open to trying new cuisines, snacks, etc. This is why we love attending events which introduce us to new food brands, plus it gives us a break from cooking. Today we are highlighting some of our favorite food items we were recently introduced to and what we’d definitely go back for seconds of….and thirds.

Today we’re featuring culinary pieces of heaven (and a beverage) from the following brands: Veggie Fries, Uncle Matt’s Organic, Ciao Bella and Saffron Road. Some of these brands we’ve previously enjoyed and some are new to us but we’ve enjoyed all just the same.

Veggie Fries

If you thought fries couldn’t be healthy, think again. Veggie Fries features a sophisticated blend of potatoes and select farm-grown vegetables and beans. Consider this a healthier alternative to one of America’s favorite food and a rescue from boring, tasteless vegetables. veggie fries comes in four flavors – Carrot, Broccoli, Chickpea & Red Pepper, and Tuscan Bean & Herb. These crispy fries are all natural, good source of fiber and Vitamin C, Vitamin A (Carrot fries) is gluten-free, and low in sodium.

Uncle Matt’s Organic Juice

Ready for tasty, delicious juices that are good for you and for the environment? Say hello to Uncle Matt’s Organic lineup of products are free of synthetic pesticides and GMOs and by purchasing their products, you’re supporting over 25 small family growers dedicated to bringing you the the healthiest juices and fruits. We love the Organic Orange Tangerine but you should try their other flavors as well including their Organic Orange Juices – Calcium + Vitamin D, With Pulp, and Pulp Free (they were actually the country’s first makers of organic orange juice), Organic Grapefruit, Organic Apple, Organic Lemonade, and Organic Orange Mango.

Ciao Bella Sorbetto

We’ve actually featured Ciao Bella before because we’re a bit addicted but we’re doing so again because they are delicious and they have new packaging. Even though they’ve stopped making our favorite flavor – Passion Fruit, there are still lots more flavors to love. There are a total of eleven delicious Sorbetto flavors all of which features non-GMO verified fruit, hormone-free dairy and made with fair trade cocoa. We usually go back and forth between Mango, and Blood Orange. We look forward to trying the others.

Saffron Road

We love foods that tend to be a bit more exotic and we think heaven must taste like Saffron Road meals. They source their ingredients from only the finest producers available and all of their livestock are humanely raised with 100% vegetarian feed and are never given antibiotics. They offer a variety of frozen entrees, hors d’oeuvres, crunchy chickpeas, broths, sauces, desserts, etc. We’ve only just started our Saffron Road journey and we are already in love with the Lamb Saag, an utterly delicious leafy green spinach dish made with free roaming lamb and a blend of Indian spices, ginger and yogurt; and the Korean Taco with Chicken, a real Korean Style taco that you can enjoy in minutes. Say goodbye to hunting down food truck locations and enjoy a grilled chicken drizzled with Bulgogi sauce, spiced up with cilantro and fresh veggies and thrown in an heirloom corn tortilla, right from the comfort of your home.

Have you tried any of these delicious products? Any of these your favorites? 

Long, Hot Summer? Cool Down with a Basil Hayden’s Bourbon Popsicle

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Yesterday was a very hot day. Before the rains came down and saved us all from melting, our lips were practically glued to bottles of water. While water did help keep us hydrated, we needed much more to cool down. One of our favorite frozen treats to help us stay cool and happy on those scorching summer days are Popsicles. We have enjoyed quite a few this summer and are always on the lookout for new, fun recipes to try. While Popsicles are always fun for kids of all ages, we’re concentrating on ones for the 21-and-over crowd. We came across two Popsicle recipes created by Molecular Mixologist, Rob Floyd – Basil Hayden’s® Berry American Popsicle and Basil Hayden’s® Spiced Chocolate Popsicle, that are sure to be a hit during these sweltering summer days. They’re frozen cocktails on a stick – what could be better! Are you ready to enjoy a Basil Hayden’s Bourbon Popsicle this summer?
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Whether you’re at the pool, relaxing on your back/front porch, or entertaining friends, these Basil Hayden’s Bourbon popsicles will make great summer treats. the perfect snack to cool you down from the heat the best way we know how – with bourbon! The recipes, which are made with Basil Hayden’s trademark spicy bourbon and delicious fruit or decadent chocolate, are very easy to make and we’re sharing them with you today.

Basil Hayden’s® Berry American

7 parts Basil Hayden’s Bourbon
1 1/2 parts Elderflower Syrup
2 parts Water
2 parts Fresh Lime Juice
4-5 Strawberries, medium size
12 Blueberries
Poke a hole in each blueberry and soak in 4 parts of bourbon for 30 minutes. Set aside.
Add strawberries to cocktail shaker and muddle.
Add fresh lime juice, Elderflower syrup, remaining bourbon and water to the cocktail shaker and shake hard.
Add to the popsicle molds.
Add three bourbon-soaked blueberries to each mold and freeze.

Basil Hayden’s® Spiced Chocolate

2 parts Basil Hayden’s® Bourbon
16 parts Low Fat Milk
1 1/2 parts Unsweetened Chocolate
1 1/2 parts Sugar
1 bar of Dark Chocolate (4 oz bar)
4-5 dashes of Chipotle Chili Pepper
In a saucepan over low heat, combine milk, unsweetened chocolate, sugar and dark chocolate.
Warm, and stir continuously until all ingredients are combined (Do not boil).
Remove from heat and let cool.
Add bourbon and chipotle chili pepper and stir.
Add to popsicle mold and freeze.

Are your mouths watering yet? Why not try one or both of these delicious Popsicle recipes this summer  as temperatures continue to rise, you’ll thank us for it.

A Taste of the Food Life | Mike’s Organic Curry Love & White Girl Salsa

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We hate bland foods and are always on the lookout for great sauces, dips, seasonings, etc that will add bit more oomph to our snacks and meals. Thanks to our recent visit to Food Fete, we were able to get our hands (and taste buds) on samples of some wonderful treats, two of which we particularly fell head over heels in love with. Get your taste buds ready foodies, because we’re taking you on a bit of an international tour. Today’s tasting tour takes us to India and Mexico as we tantalize our tongues and appetites with the variety of curries from Mike’s Organic Curry Love and fresh, vibrant Tomatillo-based salsas from White Girl Salsa.

CURRY LOVE

Why not stay in tonight and delight your family with dishes made with one of the available six curries. Whether you want mild, medium or hot, the organic Curry Love has an ideal curry for any dish. Created by Chef Mike, who’s cooked for the likes of Sydney Poitier, Frank Sinatra, Milton Berle, Sidney Sheldon, and Kirk Douglas, Curry Love is 100% organic, vegan, Gluten-free, dairy-free, and soy-free (the Green and Red Thai curries are not soy-free). You can’t go wrong with whichever curry you try, they are all amazingly delicious and a great way to liven up your cooking. Your best bet is to try them all.

KORMA (Mild) – creamy and mild with hints of cardamom and curry leaf. The almonds and cream lend a richness while the yogurt adds the perfect amount of tanginess. Your taste buds will be delighted.

CARIBBEAN CURRY (Mild) – a wonderful blend of ginger, sundried banana, coconut and lemongrass. Mild and sweet with hints of cinnamon, cardamom and allspice, it is a curry that is loved by kids and grown ups alike.

SAAG (Mild) – an Indian classic. It’s a blend of spinach, tomatoes, warm spices and cream. Pairs beautifully with chicken, paneer or just a bowl of basmati rice. Mild, tangy and delicious.

GREEN THAI CURRY (Medium) – rich and delicious and yet light enough to be eaten every day. An authentic blend of coconut milk, lemongrass, jalapeno pepper, cilantro and makrut lime. It is a curry that makes for a scrumptious meal every time.

TIKKA MASALA (Medium) – a vegetarian’s dream come true. Not too sweet and just the right amount of heat. It is a rich blend of tomato, cream, coconut and warming masala spices. Serve it with rice, naan, chicken, lamb and vegetables. It can even work magic on a bowl of boiled potatoes.

RED THAI CURRY (Hot) – a traditional curry with coconut milk, lemongrass, makrut lime, chili peppers and ginger. It’s HOT and delicious. Goes well with vegetables, beef or chicken, shrimp, tofu or just a bowl of rice.

WHITE GIRL SALSA

You may be thinking, what does a white girl know about Salsa and from what I tasted at Food Fete, this girl, Julie Nirvelli, knows A LOT!! Taught the culinary secrets of making homemade flour tortillas, rice and beans, and tamales from the women of a Mexican family she is close to, Julie Nirvelli tried her hand at making an authentic green salsa to delicious results and with a glowing stamp of approval from the women who taught her and a new name for her salsa – White Girl Salsa, thanks again to that family. Today, Julie’s range of salsas includes three tomatillo salsas, a smokey chipotle, and our personal favorite, cranberry-mango.

HOT TOMATILLO – Spicy and sassy, this mix of tomatillo, chiles, cilantro and onion is hot to trot! Hot is perfect for dipping and is known for giving any recipe a kick in the pants.

MEDIUM TOMATILLO – A perfect middle-of-the-road mix of tomatillo flavor and spice! Medium boasts the ideal zesty kick. For the spicy snacker, this is your go-to gal.

MILD TOMATILLO – Mild-mannered? Perhaps, but the blend of tomatillo, cilantro, and onion is the life of the party! Choose your dipping device…Mild is ready for anything.

CRANBERRY-MANGO – Sweet meets saucy in a salsa that brings cranberries and mango to the cilantro-onion-tomatillo mix! From cream cheese and crackers to good old-fashioned tortilla chips, Cranberry-Mango is the sweetie that turns mere snacking into an event.

SMOKEY CHIPOTLE – Savory, zesty, spicy… this unique combination of chipotle and tomatillos is a fantastic find for any foodie! Smokey Chipotle will add zip to any dip or grilled favorites.

whether you’re in the mood for a savory Indian dish or a delicious Mexican snack, get to know these two amazing brands. they are sure to be staples on your grocery list. Want some Curry Love? Click http://www.mycurrylove.com/locate/ to find out where you can purchase them. To find a list of grocers selling White Girl Salsa, click http://www.whitegirlsalsa.com/home/find-us/.

Jonty Jacobs Opens New York’s First South African-Style Biltong Shop

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At the beginning of the year (during the craziness of the Polar Vortex), we highlighted some of the snacks we were pigging out on while stuck inside and away from the cold, you can refresh your memories here – 5 Foods We’ve Been Enjoying During the Polar Vortex. One of those five foods was Jonty Jacobs Fine Beef Products – Biltong (dried meat slices) and Droewors (dried sausage). Cut to the warm months of July, which not only brought us hot, sunny days, but the debut of Jonty Jacobs first Biltong Shop; actually New York’s First South African-Style Biltong Shop.

The quaint shop, located at 114 Christopher Street (between Bleecker and Hudson) in the heart of the West Village, will allow patrons to custom-order their gourmet cuts of beef by choosing the type of biltong (traditional, grass-fed or aged), lean or traditional, with or without spice and cut-style (chunks, shreaded or – for the aged biltong – prosciutto-style thin-cut).

Jonty Jacobs tapped South African chef and entrepreneur Hugo Uys to consult on menu development. The event’s menu features Boere Wors Rolls with a homemade ginger peach chutney, and Curry-flavored Sosaties, which were paired with Seven Sisters Wine.

The Jonty Jacobs shop will offer prepackaged droewors (dried beef sausage) available with or without spice, boerewors (south-african style sausage) available in regular beef, grass fed, lamb or pork, sosaties (marinated and skewered meat) available in all beef, beef, lamb and pork or lamb and beef. Additionally, they carry a select range of truffle products, caviar, cheese, smoked fish, dips and South African snacks such as cookies, chocolate, dried fruits and teas.

Want to experience what Jonty Jacobs has to offer? You should definitely pop in the store to get to know them.

Champion of Breakfast: Oats

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When it comes to eating while updating the blog, we’ve been very bad lately. Sometimes we forget to eat or just continuously snack on one thing, usually a bag of chips or cookies, until the bag is empty and our guilt is full (not to mention our calorie intake). But thankfully, we’ve been introduced to some great new, healthy breakfast choices to help begin our day the right day. Today we start with Oats from three brands, a great meal for breakfast or as a midday snack. Truthfully although breakfast is known as the most important meal of the day, it is most often the most skipped meal of the day. Below are some of our most recent Oat-based favorites from Lifeway Kefir, Modern Oats, and Oatworks.LIFEWAY KEFIR W/ OATS

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Ready for a complete on-the-go breakfast or a satisfying snack break any time of day? You will love Lifeway’s latest fusion of classic oatmeal with the probiotic benefits of their low-fat kefir, spices, and fruits – Lifeway Kefir with Oats. Available in three refreshing and delicious breakfast flavors, you start your day with 1.5 grams of prebiotic (non-digestible fiber compounds), soluble oat fiber, which is shown to encourage growth of healthy stomach bacteria, help to manage normal levels of cholesterol, regulate your blood sugar, and satisfy your hunger. This delicious breakfast beverage is available in cinnamon apple, blueberry maple, and vanilla plum.

MODERN OATS

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For those who want artisanal crafted, small-farmed oatmeal packed with the wholesome goodness of whole rolled oats, organic evaporated cane juice, superfruits like goji berries, cherries, mangoes, Saskatoon berries, blackberries and blueberries, omega 3 rich seeds and nuts, all packaged in “on-the-go” cups that do not require microwaving, you will want Modern Oats for breakfast. Featuring all natural oatmeal made with organic ingredients, 48+ grams of whole grains, is Non-GMO and certified Gluten-free, vegan certified and a great source of protein and fiber, Modern Oats is great for those who care about what they eat and where it’s from. Modern Oats is available in six delicious flavors: Apple Walnut, 5 Berry, Goji-Blueberry, Mango Blackberry, Nuts & Seeds and Chocolate Cherry.

OATWORKS

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Here’s another candidate for those who has their breakfast on the go or to battle that mid-day slump. Oatworks is a natural oat-based smoothie with fresh fruit mixed in that provides a great dose of beta glucan that works to make you feel fuller longer and provides natural energy with ingredients that are full of vitamins and minerals. On a diet? No problem, Oatworks Smoothies are vegan-friendly, dairy free, soy free, kosher, sweetener-free, and gluten-free. The fruit blended drink is available in three natural flavors: Strawberry Banana, Peach Mango, and Pomegranate Blueberry and can be found at Whole Foods, FreshDirect.com, and Amazon.