Products I Enjoy

Disclosure: I received these products to review last year. I like them and want to share them with you. I was not otherwise compensated for my opinions.

Happy New Year, guys! I hope you all had a great time ringing in the new year. I didn't go out, though I cooked up a feast (ribs, pinto beans, jalapeno poppers, homemade tortillas, and guacamole) and watched the Twilight Zone marathon.

Although I haven't been running much (I haven't given it up), I have been semi-active. Or a quarter-active. I went hiking the other day, an activity I greatly enjoy. I'm standing next to Tripod Rock on the Pyramid Mountain hike! I hope to increase my hiking this year and go on some longer hikes.

A long long time ago, I received these products to review. Mostly out of laziness (for which I apologize to the companies), I didn't put them up, but I kept the pictures because they were products I enjoyed and want to share with everyone.

First up is the Hoo Rag Seamless Bandana. What I like about this product is that it can be worn multiple ways, as demonstrated. I like wearing it as a neck gaiter, since my neck is often exposed and it bothers me. It can also be worn as a headband, or folded to create a beanie in case you misplaced your actual beanie. It's lightweight and not great for super cold or windy weather, but when it's in the 30s or above, or not very windy, it's the perfect weight. In the summer, you can wrap it around your wrist and use it as a sweatband to wipe sweat off your eyes. There are even more ways to style it, as demonstrated in this video. Hoo Rags start at $15.

Next up is Pur Pak single serve daily supplements that contain electrolytes. A long time ago during the summer, I would take vitamin C drink packs before a run in warm weather, and I did the same with these. I lose a lot of sweat when I run and drinking extra electrolytes before going out seem to help me not fade as badly. Also, if you hate traditional pill vitamins, Pur Pak is a tasty way to drink your vitamins. Tangy Berry and Super Green were my favorite flavors.

Finally, we have Cheetah Chews, a natural chewy chocolate supplement containing caffeine from green tea and guarana, and B vitamins. I took these whenever I needed an extra pep in my step and really liked the chewy texture and dark chocolate flavor.

And, Cascadian Farm sent me a birthday pack! They sent me a pack a long time ago, too, though I'm not sure I mentioned it. They sent me another t-shirt, which I love. I wear it hiking because it fits well and is so soft. Another water bottle (I use the last one they send me all the time, and the convenience of carrying around a water bottle has helped me drink more water) with a cool Cascadian Farm logo, a tote bag, and a box of peanut butter granola bars. I love their bars and would eat them as a post run snack with hot cocoa. Thank you for the surprise, Cascadian Farms!

Let me know what products you like, as I'm always trying new ones. Energy gel recommendations are greatly appreciated as the brand I like (CarbBoom) is going extinct. BOO.

Pumpkin Souffles

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Carton Smart. All opinions are 100% mine.

I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas! Typically, I'd make a pie or some other traditional dessert for Christmas. This time, I decided to try my hand at souffles using pumpkin puree from Pacific Foods. They sent me a kit containing chicken stock, cranberry sauce, and pumpkin puree packed in Tetra Pak cartons. I have sort of been avoiding canned foods, though I've made an exception for pumpkin because I didn't realize I could get it in a box. Besides BPA, there are other reasons why foods packed in Tetra Pak cartons are more desirable:

My kit included:

Pacific Foods Chicken Stock. I like using chicken stock in cooking because it contains less or no salt than broth, leaving you in more control of the seasoning.

Chicken stock can be used in stuffing, gravy, and risotto, etc.

Pacific Foods Pumpkin Puree. The quality of the puree seemed a little thinner compared to the thicker canned puree, and it had more liquid. The taste was fresher.
I'm using this today for the pumpkin souffles, though obviously it can be used for pie and other recipes.

Pacific Foods Cranberry Sauce. I haven't tried this yet. It reminds me of my older brother since we always serve a can of cranberry sauce for him at holiday meals. He loves the texture and taste.

Besides as a condiment, I like using this as a spread for breads, or maybe even cinnamon rolls!

Here, you can see what the consistency of the pumpkin looks like. It really does remind me of fresh pumpkin puree. The container is easy to open, but there is no good way to store it once opened.

The ingredients have been assembled. Since this is my first try at a souffle, I didn't want to be left scrambling for ingredients. First, though, you should prep the baking dishes by buttering four 8-inch ramekins and coating in granulated sugar. Place in a large baking dish and set aside.

I halved a recipe from Epicurious. The method to make these souffles consists of a custard-like base, which is milk whisked with corn starch, a little sugar, and spices. After it's cooked, pumpkin puree is whisked in. In my stupidity, I didn't quite get that and I added the puree from the very beginning.

Although this mistake didn't ruin the souffles, I would advise you to follow the recipe according to the directions and not my oversight. For this particular pumpkin puree, my error worked out in my favor as it thickened up the moisture from the pumpkin.

Once the custard has cooled to room temperature, you proceed with the recipe by whipping up a meringue, which is folded into the pumpkin custard. I think I did a pretty decent job, though I need to look up how thoroughly a souffle batter should be folded. Mine had just a few streaks of custard throughout the bottom, and I didn't want to go any further to prevent the meringue from deflating.

The mixture looks very light, but I assure you it's still flavorful.

Divide mixture between prepared ramekins. The original recipe called for 6-ounce ramekins, though it seems to me that the smaller size ramekins would have been too small for the amount of batter. Maybe I'll smooth the tops next time.

Mine rose quite dramatically! Although they didn't rise very symmetrically, and that might have been because the ramekin dishes weren't properly greased and dusted. In any case, they tasted delicious on their own with just a light dusting of confectioners' sugar. The sides were cooked while the centers remained softer. There were a few visible streaks of egg white in the center, which is probably my folding error . Again, I'm not quite sure how a proper souffle should be in consistency, though from what I remember of Master Chef, I'm on the right track!

I was pleased with the quality of Pacific Foods Pumpkin Puree. Since there is so much pumpkin left, I might make more souffles.

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HERSHEY'S Dark Chocolate Treats at Duane Reade

Disclosure: I received compensation and information about dark chocolate from The Hershey Company. All opinions expressed within are my own.

We all have our go-to treats, and for many of us, it's dark chocolate. I enjoy it as a quick treat throughout the day, or after dinner as a dessert. The Hershey Company offers a wide variety of chocolate products to choose from that are convenient and portion-friendly and can be purchased at your local Duane Reade.

Duane Reade is new to me, as it's not a store I ever saw in Indiana. Now that I'm on the East Coast, I've become well-acquainted with Duane Reade, which is conveniently located all throughout New York City. I often stop there when I'm in the city and in need of a bottle of water or something easy to eat. Besides food, a variety of household items, personal items, and pharmacy items can all be purchased at Duane Reade, making it a one-stop shop if you're in need of any of those items.

There are also a few locations in New Jersey, which is where I stopped at today to pick up BROOKSIDE Dark Chocolate and HERSHEY'S BLISS Dark Chocolate. I couldn't walk there, but it was just as convenient to drive to. Parking was readily available, and I was in and out quickly thanks to the short lines.

I purchase BROOKSIDE Dark Chocolate on my own quite often, and it is a favorite of my dad's, too. I have a particular fondness for in dark chocolate with fruit flavored centers, so it's only natural that I'd pick up a bag. I like to enjoy these while I'm working on projects (right now, for example), or a quick treat whenever I happen to walk by the bag. (I have no shame.)

Chocolates with fruit flavored centers can often be too sweet, but BROOKSIDE Dark Chocolate is well-
balanced with the dark chocolate complimenting the fruity flavors instead of the sweetness of the two components clashing. I picked the BROOKSIDE Dark Chocolate Goji and Raspberry Flavors because it's my favorite from the variety available.

Since it’s always a good idea to have more chocolate on hand, I picked up a bag of HERSHEY'S BLISS Dark Chocolate. I find that individually wrapped dark chocolate is convenient to take with me, so I'll stash a few pieces in my purse for on-the-go treats.

HERSHEY'S BLISS Dark Chocolate is very smooth with a rich chocolate flavor. Its deep flavor really makes this a favorite of mine, especially since it’s not bitter. It’s just a great chocolate.

Growing up, my familiarity with Hershey was with their chocolate bars that are most commonly used for s'mores. Now that I've developed more of an adult palate, I find myself gravitating towards dark chocolate with complex flavors, and it's nice to see a great selection of dark chocolate available by a company with whom I am familiar. I see myself enjoying dark chocolate from Hershey throughout the winter season with cups of hot cocoa.