La Tartine Gourmande and The Charmed Life

I enjoy cooking with my family and I get a rush when they actually like what they are eating. I tend to love cookbooks that are more personal. I love the shared anecdotes by the writer and the food that feels like you are part of their lives. La Tartine Gourmande:Recipes for an Inspired Life by Béatrice Peltre is just that kind of cookbook. La Tartine GourmandeL Recipes for an Inspired Life is based on Béatrice Peltre's, author of the award-winning blog LaTartineGourmande.com, recipes.

To cook is to delight in the best of what life has to offer—the people and places we love. Welcome to a world where flavors are collected as souvenirs and shared as heirlooms, and where the dishes we create are expressions of our joie de vivre.
With nearly 100 recipes and charming anecdotes, La Tartine Gourmande takes you on a journey, not only through the meals of the day but around the world, as Béa revisits her inspiration for each dish. Though her style is largely inspired by her native France, you’ll find a wide array of influences as she brings creative twists to classic recipes—all while remaining effortlessly healthful and balanced. The gluten-free recipes use whole grains like quinoa, millet, buckwheat, and nut flours, lending surprising depth of flavor and nutrients, even to desserts. You’ll taste the best of her adventures abroad from Denmark to New Zealand, her childhood in the French countryside, and the simple wholesomeness of her charmed life at home in Boston

Each recipe feels like a special gift. I love that she uses so many whole grains in new and exciting ways. Her Zucchini Salad recipe has pepped up a boring chicken dinner. The burst of mint with the spring zing of the Zucchini is the perfect complement.
The Millet, Oat and Apple Muffins have been made no less than four times in two weeks in my home (my daughter is addicted). I think the tahini in these muffins is inventive and offers a creamy nutty taste. I also cannot argue that these muffins are the perfect breakfast with tons of protein and fiber.
I am nuts for the Nutty Maple and Vanilla Granola which marks the first time I have ever made my own granola and it has actually turned out right (and delicious). The blend of lush photography, personal anecdotes and delicious recipes are a delight for the heart, soul and stomach.

Goji Gourmet the Superfood Cookies!

While I am not opposed to a treat every now and then, I am very conscious of what I will allow my family to eat. My daughter has a massive sweet-tooth and sometimes she needs a little snack when she gets home from school. I know that Goji berries are nutrient-rich fruits that are high in antioxidants and provide vitamins A, C, and B-complex. They are also rich in iron, beta-carotene, selenium, germanium, and include 18 amino acids (a source of complete protein). I found Goji Gourmet while looking for treats that included these super berries. Goji Gourmet makes five different kinds of cookies including: Goji Almond Oat, Goji Cherry Cacao, Goji Chocolate Chip, Goji Ginger Walnut and Goji Orange Mintchip. The cookies have No preservatives, are all-natural, no refined sugar added, low calorie,mostly organic ingredients, energizing and handmade. They are truly a treat and your children will not get that blood sugar spike and drop like with refined sugar items.

Goji Gourmet is committed to using Superfoods such as almonds, oats, oranges, ginger, honey, and walnuts to ensure that your sweet snacks still contribute to your overall well-being.
Our mission is to provide preservative-free (no icky chemicals!), low-sugar (we love antioxidant-packed buckwheat honey instead of refined sugar), low calorie and carbohydrate, nutrient-packed treats for you and your family to enjoy anytime of the day!

Do they taste good? You bet! They are delicious and addictive! We no longer have any other kinds of cookie in the house. I like the nutrition my daughter gets from these cookies and she loves the taste! We all win with Goji Gourmet!

Vegetable and Apple Spaghetti?!

I try to incorporate as much healthy food as I can into our diets. As any parent knows, that can be tricky with picky little eaters. I am lucky that my daughter will eat most things, but sometimes I have to get a little creative. I am not a fan of the refined sugars in conventional pasta, so I was looking for a new way to make it fun. Through a good friend, I found Paderno World Cuisine which carries that best tools for any chef (or plain ol' cook like me). Their spiral vegetable slicer is my little trick to making healthy food fun.

This spiral vegetable slicer cuts vegetables and fruits into curly, ribbon-like slices. By placing the vegetable or fruit on the prongs of the wheel and turning the wheel while pushing the base toward the vertical julienne blade, continuous spiral strands and curled julienne strips are created. The slicer is made of plastic. It comes with 3 sets of blades with 1/8" (3mm), spacing, 1/4" (6mm) spacing and a straight blade for ribbon cuts.

My daughter loves raw sweet potato and she is a huge fan of apple spaghetti. I even use it to make fun shapes in fruits and veggies that I can easily dehydrate for healthy snacking on the go. My daughter is throughly enchanted with the cool shapes it makes. I am enchanted with how easy healthy eating can be with a little imagination.

Very Fond of Sophie Dahl!

I first fell in love with Sophie Dahl when I lived in London and read her fiction books. I like her natural style and whimsical nature. When I found out she also wrote cookbooks, I was overjoyed. Her newest cookbook is Very Fond Of Food. Very Fond Of Food is full of 100 recipes that will delight the palette and your heart. Sophie writes in the introduction that if you are looking for "stern culinary advice", then this is not the cookbook for you. This cookbook is about being with family and friends and delighting in dishes that use natural ingredients and fresh produce.

Bestselling author Sophie Dahl offers up 100 wholesome recipes for health-minded home cooks who yearn for a bit of indulgence in her gorgeous second cookbook. Favoring natural sweeteners, minimal meat, and abundant produce, these dishes satisfy yet never feel ascetic. Recipes ranging from Roasted Pumpkin with Sautéed Greens and Toasted Cumin Dressing to Rhubarb Rice Pudding are organized seasonally, and the book finishes with a full chapter of luscious desserts. But the recipes are only part of the story--Sophie’s food-filled memories and musings on the good life make this a book to treasure for its writerly charms as much as for its advice in the kitchen.

Very Fond Of Food includes some of Dahl's personal anecdotes as well as her own whimsical drawings. It is a very personal cookbook that draws you in again and again with the gorgeous recipes and photography.

We keep coming back to Very Fond Of Food for our meals. We love the Zucchini Muffins which are the right balance of savory and sweet. I love the grains that Sophie includes in dishes like quinoa an millet, and she inspires me to use them in new and different ways. My biggest food addiction from this cookbook is the Salad of Brown Rice and Pearl Barley with Cranberries. I cannot get enough. My daughter is partial to the Chickpea and Mushroom burgers which bring a healthy dose of fiber and protein.
I remain one of Dahl's biggest fans and I am very fond of her too!

Not Nuts Just Yummy!

Food allergies have become a serious issue. I know in my daughter's school they take it very seriously. My heart nearly stopped when I got there to find an ambulance waiting outside of her school because a child had eaten something no one even knew she was allergic to. Enjoy Life Foods is a company I recommend over and over again. They make fabulous treats for everyone that are free of common food allergens.

All Enjoy Life foods are specially made to be free of the eight most common allergens. That means they contain NO wheat/gluten, dairy, peanuts, tree nuts, egg, soy, fish or shellfish - the allergens that account for 90% of all food allergic reactions in the United States. Enjoy Life products are also made without casein, potato, sesame and sulfites.
Our products are made in a dedicated nut- and gluten-free bakery in Schiller Park, IL. We’ve invested in a dedicated plant, so that you can have the added confidence and assurance that you and your family can eat Enjoy Life products without worries.

We do not have food allergies, but we enjoy their food nonetheless. My daughter and I are addicted to every treat of theirs we try. My new favorite food from Enjoy Life are the Not Nuts! Seed and Fruit Mixes. We use them on salads, in cereal, in yogurt. My daughter was pretty excited to finally be able to bring trail mix to school. They come in two flavors, Beach Bash and Mountain Mambo. They are healthy and delicious treats. In fact, during my last shopping trip to the natural food market, I cleaned out their entire stock and then went to tell the manager to order more. These are a great on-the-go snack and another winner from Enjoy Life Foods!

SeaSnax Giveaway!

My biggest issue with eating happens at night. I mindlessly cram things into my mouth and then feel guilty the next morning. I try to set a good example with what I eat and drink, so my daughter can develop healthy habits. I love a good crunch and good flavor. Enter SeaSnax. These delicious seaweed snacks come in many flavors and are simply delicious!

SeaSnax is a nutrient-packed roasted seaweed snack which is vegan, gluten free and Non-GMO Project verified. It is made using 100% olive oil and just a pinch of sea salt. This vegetable of the sea is all natural with no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives.

SeaSnax are made from nori and porphyra (red algae, which have many nutrients.

seaweed draws an extraordinary wealth of micronutrients from the sea, including iodine, calcium, sodium, magnesium, potassium, iron, zinc, copper, and selenium. (In fact, seaweed has a large proportion of iodine compared to dietary minimum requirements. While actual amounts per product vary, the average sheet of nori is estimated to provide 70% of the recommended daily intake of iodine.) Red algae also contains vitamin A, vitamin C and vitamin B12.seaweed lipids also have a higher proportion of essential fatty acids (EFAs) than land plants. Red algae have a high EPA content, a substance mostly found in animals, especially fish. While the amount of EPA and DHA in a sheet of nori varies with the level of nutrients in the ocean while the algae grows, one sheet of nori contains about 0.5 grams of Omega-3 fatty acids.(from http://whole9life.com/2011/07/steal-this-snack-seasnax-strangely-addictive/)

Best part of all, kids love SeaSnax! Over a recent school vacation, I was fighting my nephews and daughter (I lost) to leave my SeaSnax alone. One nephew would not believe it when I told him it was seaweed. Nighttime snacking is actually beneficial to me now that I have these tasty delights at my disposal.

Want to win you own SeaSnax? I thought so! SeaSnax is offering on lucky Product Mommy winner a choice of either a Grab-and-Go 12/pk in your flavor choice, or a 4 pack of the full-sized sheets.

Here's How:
Giveaway Rules:
This contest is only open to US readers. You must be 18 years or older to enter. You must be a Product Mommy follower. All entries must be received by 11:59pm on April 8, 2012. Please include your email address in each entry. Winners will be chosen at random. I will notify the winners on April 9, 2012 via email (please respond within 48 hours) and your the SeaSnax of your choice (either Grab and Go 12/pk or 4 pack of the sheets) will be sent to you directly from SeaSnax.

How to Enter: You must be a Product Mommy follower.


Extra Entries:
You must do the "How to Enter" first and be sure you leave a "comment" for each extra entry and tell me which one you did. Don't forget your email address too.
1.Become a fan of SeaSnax on Facebook
2.Become a fan of SeaSnax on Twitter
3.Become a fan of Product Mommy on Facebook
4.Become a fan of Product Mommy on Twitter
5.Subscribe to Product Mommy by email (top left of blog page)
6, Twitter about this contest (and leave a link to the Tweet)
7. Post this giveaway on Facebook (and leave a link)

It's so Easiyo!

Some people dream of making the perfect souffle, or the perfect cake. I (no joke), have wanted to make the perfect yogurt for quite some time. We go through tons of yogurt in our home, because we know how much protein and vitamins are in it. Better yet, we know those fabulous cultures help our digestive systems. I have tried, and failed to make my own yogurt, and then we got Easiyo.

The inventor of the EasiYo System, knew how good freshly-made yogurt was for his family of eight children.

He decided he had to find a better way of making this staple food, and came up with an ingenious way of producing yogurt perfectly - every time!

In 1992 EasiYo Products Limited was born. The simple 3 step EasiYo System is now exported to over 20 countries around the world, making EasiYo world leaders in this field!

Easiyo is a simple 3-Step system to making the perfect yogurt for you and your family. We have the Family Starter Pack, which made things super simple and fun! We filled the jar with water and the mix, we did a little shake, then poured boiling water into the yogurt maker and set our yogurt jar inside and voila! home-made yogurt for breakfast the next morning. It was that easy, and yummy! My daughter and I only really fought once (hey, I wanted to shake it too!), and we enjoyed the yogurt for days. I look forward to trying the different flavors and styles (especially Greek Yogurt). I do not see our yogurt addiction going away any time soon, especially when making it ourselves is so much fun.

Plenty

I stopped making New Year's resolutions a long time ago. I love food, so pretending I am going to exist on water and crackers is not an option. Delicious, healthy food, makes life a whole lot easier. I am head over heels for Plenty by Yotam Ottolenghi. It is a cookbooks full of fabulous recipes that are all vegetable-based.

Yotam Ottolenghi is one of the most exciting new talents in the cooking world, with four fabulous, eponymous London restaurants and a weekly newspaper column that's read by foodies all over the world. Plenty is a must-have collection of 120 vegetarian recipes featuring exciting flavors and fresh combinations that will delight readers and eaters looking for a sparkling new take on vegetables. Yotam's food inspiration comes from his Mediterranean background and his unapologetic love of ingredients. Not a vegetarian himself, his approach to vegetable dishes is wholly original and innovative, based on freshness and seasonality, and drawn from the diverse food cultures represented in London. A vibrant photo accompanies every recipe in this visually stunning book. Essential for meat-eaters and vegetarians alike!

There recipes are all one better than the next. It got to the point recently when we decided to grow our own parsley and mint indoors, because Plenty has it in so many recipes that I was craving to try. I have literally been cooking my way through this book, and have not once been disappointed. I feel good after eating!

This butternut squash with lime segments and greek yogurt was so good that my daughter finished my portion before I could. We took our pumpkins from Halloween and roasted them according to another recipe, which taught my daughter not to waste and enjoy the harvest. My favorite recipe in this book has to be the Quinoa and Sourdough Bread Salad. The citrus and vinegar make the tomatoes pop and how can anyone resist quinoa?
I love showing my daughter how easy cooking and eating healthy can be. I do not believe in hiding vegetables in food to trick her. They have been a part of her diet from day one. Plenty gives so many new and delicious ways to enjoy those vegetables and cooking together.

Le Creuset Giveaway!

I love cooking with my family. From a very young age, my mother and my Nana always made us part of the cooking process. I have recipes from great-great grandmother that I still use today. I also knew from early-on that better cookware makes better meals. Le Creuset is the worldwide standard of high-performance cookware. it began when Armand Desaegher, a casting specialist, and Octave Aubecq, an enameling expert, recognized an opportunity to improve the versatility of cast iron cookware by coating it in a porcelain enamel glaze. The heat retention and even heat-distribution that Le Creuset cookware provides makes a real difference on the stove-top and in the oven. We have the Heart Casserole by Le Creuset. You get the performance and quality of cooking in Le Creuset enameled cast iron with the adorable (and romantic) heart-shapes design. Its functional 2-quart capacity allows for preparing a variety of recipes, while its heart-shaped lid still seals in heat and moisture like all Le Creuset enameled cast iron ovens. It has:

Scalloped side handles
Even heat distribution and superior heat retention for cooking on the stove top or finishing in the oven
Durable, nonreactive sand-colored interior enamel provides a smooth surface for cooking, as well as an optimal palette for food presentation
Colorful, long-lasting exterior enamel that resists chipping and cracking
A secure lid that locks in heat and moisture while cooking
Phenolic knob withstands temperatures up to 375°F

We recently made Italian Wedding Soup on our Heart Casserole. (The gorgeous Acacia Paddle is Michael Ruhlman, post to follow soon). My daughter loves the heart shape and recently told me "that means we made it with love." Truly, the best meals really are made right at home. You can win your own Heart Casserole! Here's how:

Giveaway Rules:
This contest is only open to US readers. You must be 18 years or older to enter. You must be a Product Mommy follower. All entries must be received by 11:59pm on December 1, 2011. Please include your email address in each entry. Winners will be chosen at random. I will notify the winners on December 2, 2011 via email (please respond within 48 hours) and your Heart Casserole will be mailed directly to you.

How to Enter: You must be a Product Mommy follower. Leave comment after the post with your email.


Extra Entries:
You must do the "How to Enter" first and be sure you leave a "comment" for each extra entry and tell me which one you did. Don't forget your email address too.
1.Become a fan of Le Creuset on Facebook
2.Become a fan of Product Mommy on Facebook
3.Become a fan of Product Mommy on Twitter
4.Subscribe to Product Mommy by email (top left of blog page)
5, Twitter about this contest (and leave a link to the Tweet)
6. Post this giveaway on Facebook (and leave a link)

Beaba Babypote

From the makers of Beaba (the same people who made it impossible for you NOT to make your own baby food), comes the Beaba Babypote. I made my own baby food, which turned out to be so convenient and healthier for my daughter. I knew everything that she was eating because I had prepared it myself. My one issue was the the early toddler years. Sometimes a parent cannot hop into the back seat or stroller to feed their children, so we resort to those squeezable baby food packages. It bothered me that I had no option for allowing her to be independent while eating on the go. Of course Beaba had the solution. The Beaba Babypote is made of soft silicone, and is easy for little hands to squeeze. The removable, snap on lid keeps the spout clean. A large neck makes filling and cleaning easy. My four year old can fill it herself. You can make your own travel baby food. The Babypote is also dishwasher safe.

My daughter is now four and she really loves the squeezable fruit and applesauce you see everywhere. With the Beaba Babypote, I make my own and fill it for her. It is also a great option for smoothies on the road. The Beaba Babypote easily transitions from baby to child, and makes feeding on the go a healthy, easy snap.

Vitamin Friends Save the Day

I always have the best intentions when feeding my daughter. I want her to have a healthy, well-balanced diet. I sometimes fail on this mission, so in order to make sure she gets the proper nutrition, I use vitamins. As a kid, I never took vitamins because I could not stand the taste. Thank goodness, we have come a long way. Vitamin Friends makes taking vitamins a treat and not a chore. They have something for everyone. Vitamin Friends has Calcium, vitamin D, Multi-vitamin, probiotic, vitamin C, Omega and Propolis & Echinacea supplements. There are sugar-free options and the gummie vitamins are gluten,egg, nut, wheat, corn, eggs, transfat, gelatin, preservative, artificial color, flavor and sweetener FREE! More importantly the taste of all of the different vitamins are so delicious your child will literally ask for them.

My daughter, things the ProbaYo Yogurt Bears are candy. I had to explain she could only have a certain amount per day. This from the same child I previously had to chase down to get to take anything.

I recently felt a cold coming on so I popped some of the PropoBear Propolis & Echinacea gummies. They were super yummy and they helped my body fight off the infection.

Vitamin Friends are the tough super-hero vitamins and supplements you kids need. They are the best friends a kid could have.

Vegan Lunch box and Vegan Lunch Box Around the World

Are you finding that your lunchbox and snack-making skills are experiencing a slump? I hear you. I really do not want to send my child with crackers or apple sauce everyday. I am on the constant search for healthy snacks and I love to cook (or not cook if I am going raw). We eat all different kinds of food, from raw, vegan to international. If it sounds good, I make it.

Vegan Lunch Box by Jennifer McCann is a fabulous book full of 130 great recipes. Vegan Lunch Box offers an amazing array of meat-free, egg-free, and dairy-free meals and snacks. They recipes are actually organized into menus so you can plan it all out, and it includes allergen-free indexes identifying wheat-free, gluten-free, soy-free, and nut-free recipes. Even the pickiest eaters will find a treat they love! We are huge fans of the Cheezy Roasted Chickpeas. My daughter brought them in for snack, and I had the teacher calling for the recipe.

I love Vegan Lunch Box, but I could not live without Vegan Lunch Box Around the World. This book has 125 recipes from across the globe. Jennifer McCann was inspired to do the book by her son’s request for sushi on the first day of school. This recipe book comes with special icons, letting you know which recipes are especially quick and easy, kid-friendly, and free of wheat, gluten, soy, and nut allergens. We have made so many dishes from this, including the Potato Salad Balls, Cinnamon-Sugar Almonds and Apple Bunnies!

I make the Cinnamon-Sugar almonds at least once a week now, and my daughter thinks the Apple Bunnies are hysterical. You do not have to be vegan to love this delicious, healthy, inspired recipes. Make lunch time fun again!

Brad's Raw Foods

I am always looking for healthy snacks for my family. I have to admit that when it comes to choosing something to snack on, healthy does not always win. We like Brad's Raw Foods when we want a delicious snack that has that crunch without all of those bad-for-you ingredients. Brad's Raw Foods was started by Brad. He realized how unhealthy he felt and because necessity is the mother of invention, he created his own line of healthy snacks to make his raw diet even more delicious. The chips are not fried or baked and are all vegan and gluten free making them a healthy snack for the entire family. You may be skeptical...can a healthy chip really taste good? You betcha! The raw chips and raw snacks from Brad's Raw Foods are all so tasty, you can fool even the most discerning toddler into forgetting they are actually eating something healthy!
Brad Says:

My mission is to inform people, young and old, of the benefits of eating raw foods.
My chips are made from vegetables grown by local farmers in Bucks County, Pennsylvania (when available). Blended with sprouted flax seeds, buckwheat groats, and spices, my chips are rich in protein and enzymes.
The result is a wholesome chip that is both a delicious and complete food.

We are particularly partial to the Kale Chips. My daughter and I fight over who gets them. My four year old has a big thing for the Vampire Killer Leafy Kale Chips. She is a garlic aficionado, so this satisfies her needs for a snack with a kick. She actually taunts me with them, before she gobbles them so I cannot have any. We actually eat the Kale Chips in place of popcorn and crackers now.

I like to serve the Red Bell Pepper chips with homemade hummus. They are the perfect texture!

Be sure to check out Brad's Raw Foods on Facebook, and on Twitter for the latest news and flavors. Happy (healhty) snacking.

One Lucky Duck

One Lucky Duck.com is an online boutique where you’ll find the best raw vegan snacks, that are handmade in small batches at NYC’s best raw vegan restaurant, Pure Food and Wine. I have been dying to go to Pure Food and Wine, so getting their treats sent to my door is the next best thing. One Lucky Duck.com offers you everything from ingredients, supplements and everything you need for and organic lifestyle.

One Lucky Duck.com was founded in July 2005 by Sarma Melngailis, the co-creator of the raw,
vegan and organic Manhattan restaurant Pure Food and Wine, and co-author of Raw
Food Real World (Harper Collins, July 2005) and Living Raw Food (Harper
Collins, May 2009). Sarma started One Lucky Duck to help bring the raw, vegan and
organic lifestyle out of the underground and into the mainstream.

We got a few of the raw food goodies. The Striped Cinnamon Squares put old sugar cookies to shame. They are delicious and use nutritious raw almond flour and other raw ingredients so you never feel guilty eating them.


The Blonde Macaroons and the Chocolate Macaroons are so light and delicious that they have sparked a family debate over which is the best. I am torn between both sides.

If you are just thinking about going raw, or want a way to have a yummy healthy treat, you have to check out the goodies at One Lucky Duck.com. You will feel like one lucky foodie!

Navitas Naturals

I am always looking for ways to add more healthy foods to our lives. You all know about our love of smoothies and seeds etc. I am also trying to work with more "green companies" to provide us with the products we use. Navitas Naturals is a company based in Marin County, California that provides certified organic functional foods. The “Navitas” in the name is the Latin word for energy. The foods are all free of additives, trans fats and are always as pure as can be. Navitas Naturals says:

Our company is committed to socially and environmentally responsible business practices. We source our premium functional foods through direct partnerships with farming communities around the world. An essential part of our mission is to create economic opportunities among indigenous people in developing countries, and our support of native agriculture helps expand development of global organic farming practices.

We got a few products to try. We loved every single one. The Goldenberries are nutritionally packed with anti-inflammatory bioflavonoids, vitamins A and C, and protein. They are 100% pure are certified organic, kosher, gluten-free, vegan, and raw. They do not contain any added sugar or preservatives. My daughter loved the sweet and sour taste. We did not even get the chance to bake with them because she ate them right out of the bag for snack.

The Maqui Powder, made from ground Maqui berries offers more antioxidants than any discovered fruit.

Recent studies have demonstrated the nutrition in maqui berries can support a wide variety of bodily functions, including brain performance, heart health, liver strength, anticancer activity and – as the Machupe Indians likely know – overall longevity.

We added ours to smoothies, and even sprinkled on to oatmeal for a tart delicious treat!

We also are known to have a little bit of sweet tooth (just a little one), so the Organic Superfood Chocolate Kit . The kit came with cacao butter, cacao powder and even cacao nibs: a synergistic combination of exciting power ingredients that's packed with antioxidants, phytonutrients, vitamins, essential minerals, and is sugar and dairy free. We decided to use a chocolate mold we had for crafts. My daughter was very into helping to melt the cacao butter and mixing in the powder. I loved the delicious crunch added by the cacao nibs. Hands down, this one was a winner!

We now have a new "go-to" for healthy treats.

Fueling our day

Fuel is a line of on-the-go BPA free products from the Trudeau Corporation. There are containers in every size you could imagine, drinking bottles and even on-the-go utensils. The colors are fun and catchy. We got the Fuel Duo SS Thermal Food Container. It is made from high grade 18/8 (304) Stainless Steel. The 2 part lid becomes a dry snack container, with your moist food in the stainless steel bottom. It even comes with a handy foldable spoon. This is the perfect way to pack nutritious lunches for your children. I have taken a very part-time job, but whenever my mom is watching my daughter, I pack her a nutritious lunch to avoid what I call "Nana's house snacking." I love sending soups in fall, winter and early spring. The Duo SS Thermal Food Container keeps it nice and warm for up to five hours. We have also used it to keep some salads cool. I love the convenience and how earth-friendly it is. My daughter "allowed" her father to take it to work the other day with his homemade chili. This makes is easy to "Fuel" our lifestyle.

Ani Phyo Raw Food Essentials Recipe Book Giveaway!

Ani Phyo's newest recipe book Ani's Raw Food Essentials is dedicated to children. Her raw food diet has changed her life and left her feeling healthier and more energetic, something we all want for ourselves and our children. Ani Phyo is the queen of raw or "living food". She has proven that you can get the nutrition and taste you want out of food that is made from uncooked ingredients. Skeptical? Don't be. I began skeptical, thinking I would never get my family to eat raw. I received Ani's Raw Food Essentials, and set out on a mission to prove that food was not only delicious, but something even the pickiest little ones would eat. It was not only fun to make these delicious recipes, my daughter loved them!!!! I decided to give you all a sneak peak at just some of the many recipes we have tried and loved. The recipes are super easy to follow.

We started with a Basic Green Smoothie. It was filled with fruit, water and...kale. Of course you could use whatever greens you wanted, but I decided go big, or go home. My daughter drank two full cups of it. She also told me it was the best thing she ever had. I was shocked, but encouraged. My mission was working.

We made Almond Mylk and used it on our cereals, and even to drink by itself. It was yummy and great for someone like me, who really dislikes regular milk. It was the perfect add-in for smoothies too.

The Apple-Nut Porridge was a huge hit! Both my daughter and I are not huge fans of regular oatmeal. It always seems to make me feel tired and overly full. This fruit based porridge was so good, I would eat it for desert! The flax was a great source of fiber and omega's. We all fought over the last helping.

The Avocado-Pistachio Pesto is like heaven. It is so creamy and delicious. My meat-eating husband gobbled it down. We used it on kelp noodles and it was the perfect decadent meal. I not a fan of regular pesto (too oily for me), but this was just divine.

My daughter fell in love with the Chickenless Burger. It is dehydrated at 104 degrees and looks just like a real burger. The coconut adds some texture. She had eaten one the night before, and as I packed a picnic the next morning she specifically requested "the delicious burger from last night" (thank goodness, I had saved one). It was not only healthy, but super tasty. I am looking forward to our garden this summer so I can experiment with tomato toppings.

We finished off our day with some delicious Cookies made with Almond meal, Agave Syrup, Goji Berries, Chocolate chips and pumpkin seeds. Because it was a hot day, I also whipped up some Basic Banana Ice Kream.

There has yet to be a recipe in this book I do not like. If the pics of the food look good, imagine how it tasted?! So I bet you are drooling and wishing you had Ani's Raw Food Essentials. Well the publisher, Da Capo is offering a very lucky Product Mommy reader a chance to win a copy!

Giveaway Rules:
This contest is only open to US readers. You must be a Product Mommy follower. All entries must be received by 11:59pm on May 16, 2011. Please include your email address in each entry. A winner will be chosen at random. I will notify the winner on May 17, 2011 via email (please respond within 48 hours) and your copy of Ani's Raw Food Essentials will be mailed directly from the publisher.

How to Enter: You must be a Product Mommy follower. Leave a comment with your email address under this post.

Extra Entries:
You must do the "How to Enter" first and be sure you leave a "comment" for each extra entry and tell me which one you did. Don't forget your email address too.
1. Become a fan of Ani Phyo on Facebook
2. Become a fan of Product Mommy on Facebook
3. Become a fan of Product Mommy on Twitter
4. Subscribe to Product Mommy by email (top left of blog page)
5. Twitter about this contest (and leave a link to the Tweet)
6. Post this giveaway on Facebook (and leave a link)

[me] & goji

Have you ever been at the store, trying to pick out a healthy cereal for you and your family, but unable to find what you need? Enter [me] & goji, an incredible new site that allows you to build your own cereal! [me] & goji leads you through the process with a cereal base (I chose flax seed flakes) and then you can add anything from dried berries to chia seeds. Your own design is then carefully prepared by [me] & goji and voila! This is a great option for people with food allergies too!

You get your cereal delivered within days in a very cool capsule. The capsules are 100% recyclable and the shipping boxes are 100% post-consumer waste. A store-bought box of cereal contains only 11-16 ounces of cereal , but since the capsules hold 20 ounces of cereal and 30 ounces of granola or muesli (depending on which cereal you make) you are getting 50-90% MORE CEREAL than a standard box. You can even name your creation and add a picture to the packaging! Even cooler is the fact that they put nutritional information on there for you. The company is very eco-friendly. They hand mix the cereals so there is no electrical and machine use (except for seaming). They also use all-natural and organic ingredients.

I designed two cereals. My first I named “Super Mega Mommy Crunch”, which is made up of Flaxed and Flaked (the base), Choco Goji, Raspberry, Goldenberry, Blueberry, Cranberry and Sliced Almond. My other cereal I named “It’s All in the Seeds” and that one was Golden Granola (made up of tons of oats, seeds and flavorings), Cinnamon, Apple, Currant, Pumpkin Seeds, Sunflower Seeds and Chia. Both cereals are delicious. Product Baby enjoyed the “Super Mega Mommy Crunch” with milk and she shovels in the “It’s All in the Seeds” completely dry. [me] & goji is simply genius! I love having a choice in what I eat (without having to do all of the actual work to make the cereal). Mmmmmm..mmmmmm…mmmmmm….

The Good Kind of Dehydration!

Healthy Snacks while we are on the run has always been tricky for me. I often forget what was once fresh fruit in my car or our diaper bag. I resorted to spending a fortune on dried fruit and fruit leathers and crackers for quick snacks that would not go bad in a day if I forgot them. That got me to thinking that maybe I needed a dehydrator. Excalibur is the leading supplier of Dehydrators. We got an Excalibur #3526T which has 5 trays and a 26 hour timer. It is simply perfection!!! The timer switches off automatically when it reaches the time you set, and it has 8 square feet of tray area. It is wonderfully sized for my family, and though the pics looks small, this is one perfect-sized dehydrator. Excalibur has many Dehydrator choices for you. You are sure to find the one to best suit your family needs.

I am a Dehydrator novice, and I literally had this up and running in five minutes. I decided to make fruit leather first, and with the success of that, I did Flax Seed Crackers the very next morning.

I have the ParaFlexx sheets which are reusable for years and help all of your foods come off easily from the trays (perfect for fruit leathers). Other fruits and veggies can go directly on the screen on each tray. These sheets also make clean-up that much easier. I was shocked at how easy it was.

So now I am quite simply, obsessed with my Dehydrator and with the Preserve It Naturally Book from Excalibur, I have plenty of recipes to keep me busy. I love that it also includes recipes for Raw and Living Foods. I am pretty thrilled that I now can save those herbs I spend all summer cultivating (because freezing them does not work for this Product Mommy).
I love that my Excalibur Dehydrator is so easy to use, and that my daughter can help me make the snacks she enjoys. Excalibur dehydrators are top of the line and after the initial purchase, you will instantly realize how much you are saving (a $5.00 carton of strawberries makes two full fruit leather trays). I now know what goes into the food we are eating (you would be surprised what is in your store bough dried food). Eating healthy has never been so easy!