Wine Glass Toppers - Appetizer Plates and Coasters

Complimentary wine glass toppers/appetizer plates/coasters were provided by Blissful Drinks By the Best of Life so that I could try them and share my expierence.

Summer is here! One of my favorite things in summer is meeting up with friends and hanging out. Often times, this means meeting at one of the local wineries and enjoying their decks and scenic overlooks. There is something so therapeutic about the simple activity of catching up and laughing together over the happenings in our lives. This inspired me to have my husband put together a design to use for the custom printing option for the Wine Glass Toppers | Appetizer Plates | Coasters that are available over at Blissful Drinks.

From the site:

Our custom made wooden wine glass topper appetizer plates nestle onto the rim of a standard wine glass to hold your appetizers and keep your hands free while mingling. It’s a mini plate for the top of your wine glass that becomes a coaster when you are done! Perfect for mingling and sharing your love of wine with others!

Our engraved wine glass toppers are a fun drink marker, too! Mix and match designs and use them when entertaining so everyone knows which wine belongs to them. Simply use these fun wine glass topper appetizer plates to cover your wine, enjoy small appetizers, and then use it as a coaster for your drink when you are done snacking.

An added perk?

They keep the bees and bugs out of your wine when sipping outside and are a well loved hostess gift! Wine glass toppers fit a wine glass rim of 2.75 inches or smaller and are 4 inches in diameter on top.

Our wine toppers are designed and handmade just for you by our family.

The bamboo that they are made from makes the glass toppers easy to care for. I simply handwashed them and dried them off. Each of the coasters is handmade and on a unique grain pattern, leading to slightly different imprint on each coaster, making each one slightly unique and individual (just like me and my friends - alike but unique). They stack nicely in the cabinet, making them easy to store and to keep at the ready for your next gathering. The 4" size for the top of the plate is perfect for holding a couple of small snacks while you visit with your friends and family. The slight lip on the bottom of the coaster helps keep it from sliding off your glass (which a small plastic plate will do - trust me, I have spilt a snack or two when the plate fell off my glass).

I knew when I found them that they would be perfect for the gatherings with my friends at the winery. I first took them when I met up with my friends at a winery overlooking a field and creek. We were seated, so it was less about having a free hand to snack while holding my wine, and more about topping the wine glass to protect it from bugs while we were busy chatting. My friends loved them and appreciated that I had brought them to share.

The next event I took them to was a small gathering of amazing women that I had worked with. This group of women were all former employees - whether by retirement or role elimination - but all amazing and inspiring women. I am honored to be included in the group and love the visiting and storytelling that we share about quarterly (unfortunately, covid disrupted this a bit but we are now back on schedule). I brought a coaster to share with one very special woman and since we were inside, we used them as coasters to help identify our glasses when we we sat them down and to hold our snacks while we were standing in small groups and visiting. Again, they served their purpose well at this event.

I really love this product and with 22 available designs and the ability to order a custom design, you can find one to match yours and your friends' personalities. And, since you can buy them individually you can create a unique set and use them to help identify glasses at your next gathering. Be sure to head over to their site to order your own Wine Glass Toppers and check out their other offereings, including customized trays and charcuterie boards, wine bottle coasters and more.

I liked the design on mine so much I made a shirt to match (it's on TeePublic - e-mail me for the link)

No compensation was received for this review. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family. Complimentary wine glass toppers/appetizer plates/coasters were provided by Blissful Drinks By the Best of Life for my friends and I to try, so that I could share my experience.

Wewalka Baking Party and Review #Tryazon #wewalkaparty

As a participant in the Tryazon Wewalka Party, I received an Wewalka party pack which included a coupons to try the product at the party and to share with my guests. All opinions expressed are my own.

Pizza is a staple at our house. We have it on a variety of crusts. We do open face quesadilla pizzas on tortillas, we use leftover buns and bagels to make pizzas, we use bread dough, dough mixes and homemade dough. We top them with all sorts of toppings - simple to complex, sweet and savory. We enjoy it at any meal and as a snack too. So, when I got the opportunity to try Wewalka European Bakery Style Dough, I was excited.

The party pack included an apron and an oven mitt for me and some insulated bags, magnetic shopping lists, Wewalka pens and measuring spoons and coupons for product to share with guests. (not all pictured)

I spent a couple of evenings studying the website and finding inspiration and recipes to try at our party. I wound printing out a recipe for shrimp flatbread, a buffalo chicken calzone, a chocolate cherry cheesecake pizza, jalapeno popper puffs, bread sticks and a prosciutto pizza. I made up my grocery list and headed off to find my ingredients and the dough. My store carried four varieties of their dough - Puff Pastry, Flatbread, Classic Pizza and Bistro Pizza. I decided to grab a couple of each to try at the party, using the recipes I found or improvising with other pizzas we enjoy.

Before the guests arrived, I started with prep work and even got a couple of the things in the oven. I wanted the guests to see and work with the product, but with basketball on in the background and plans to play poker, I knew attention would be divided and I would have to prepare to ensure we got to also try more product than we prepped during the party. Plus, you can only have so much in the oven at a time and I only have three baking stones.

I love that the dough comes on parchment paper and is refrigerated, so when you are ready to bake you can simply unroll, top and bake. The packaging is great too, as it is a flat sleeve and can easily stack on the side of my refrigerator, making them easy to access. As I opened the packaging to make the first recipe, I noticed this small valve on the inside. I assumed it had something to do with minimizing moisture build-up on the dough, but to be sure I looked it up on the website and learned that the valve is part of their packaging because they "use real, live baker’s yeast which needs to slowly release carbon dioxide, so we’ve added specialized valves to the packaging. Our yeast ensures your pastries and pizzas always rise up and bake to perfection." (I like it, great way to ensure the freshness and deliver performance of the product). Baking on the parchment paper sure made clean-up easy, which was especially good for the party, since we only had three stones and one pan that we were using.

Buffalo Pizza:
Started with a traditional pizza crust, used ranch dressing to cover the dough, added chicken that had been mixed with buffalo sauce, then added onions and shredded colby jack cheese and baked according to the package.

 Margherita Pizza:

Shrimp Flatbread:

Buffalo Chicken Calzone:

Jalepeno Popper Puffs:

Margherita and Cheese Flatbread:
Started by unrolling a flatbread and scoring it to create two halves. Added pizza sauce as a base to each side. Added fresh mozzarella slices on one side and shredded Italian cheese on the other. Baked it according to the package directions. Then, added fresh sliced tomatoes and fresh basil. Returned it to the oven for 5 minutes, then drizzled with balsamic.

The traditional margherita pizza and the half margherita/half cheese flatbread were delicious. I think that margherita pizza is one of my favorites, there is just something about the fresh tomatoes and the drizzle of balsamic that is so tasty. We wound up making a buffalo chicken pizza in addition to the calzone. The jalapeño poppers, which we left the bacon out of, were delicious, but I would make them smaller next time - everyone was cutting them in half to enjoy anyway. The shrimp flatbread was tasty, but compared to the other offerings, just wasn't as popular. Everyone loved the chocolate cheesecake pizza, it was super rich though and so we had a good amount left over (not a bad thing at all - meant we got to enjoy some the next day).

Chocolate Cheesecake Pizza:

I liked the flavor of the product, but found that based on the timing on the directions and/or on the packaging for those that we improvised, that the pizza and flat breads did not bake up as much as I prefer. I don't mind a soft crust and it works fine for a lightly topped flatbread, but it made it difficult to plate up the chocolate cheesecake pizza and the calzone was also difficult to cut and plate for sharing. I found that extending the cooking time helped it cook up a little more. Also, those items that I tucked in the oven to reheat also crisped up nice directly on the stone.

The ease of use of the Wewalka pizza and flatbread products is tremendous. As a busy mom, I could feasibly make and bake a (nearly) homemade pizza for my family in about 20 minutes including prep, which is important on those nights with games and practices that leave little time for dinner. The dough being rolled up with the parchment paper not only makes it easy to use, but makes clean-up a breeze - another time saver on a busy night.

The puff pastry feels like a very versatile product to me, one that can be used for both sweet and savory dishes and the fact that it is fresh and not frozen makes it an easy go to for dinners or dessert. I look forward to trying more of the puff pastry recipes, since we wound up only trying the jalepeno poppers at the party.

There are so many more recipes that I look forward to trying, you can peruse them yourself here. You can find a local store that carries the Wewalka line, using their store locator here.

The guests and my family all enjoyed the opportunity to participate in the Wewalka Baking Party through Tryazon.

As a participant in the Tryazon Wewalka Party, I received an Wewalka party pack which included a coupons to try the product at the party and to share with my guests. All opinions expressed are my own.

Get Your Salsabration on with CHI-CHI’s

No compensation was received for this post. Content and a complimentary prize pack was provided by Chi-Chi's.

This week, Kent State is playing Western Michigan and Akron is playing Bowling Green, and there’s a special treat for anyone attending the game! CHI-CHI’S, makers of Mexican food favorites, including sauces, tortillas, salsas and dips, will be at the game throwing a “Salsabration”!

What is a “Salsabration”?

During the "Salsabration", fans will have the chance to win free merchandise, dance in a virtual conga line, and snack on an endless supply of CHI-CHI’S zesty salsas and chips.

Of course, you can also enjoy the fiesta experience at home with your family. In a world where everyone is glued to their phones, CHI-CHI’S wants to help people connect with each other—and with the moment—over tasty chips, crowd-pleasing salsa and fun times. At our house, we are fans of Mexican food. Whether it is a snack of chips and salsa in the evening, or a quick dinner of quesadillas, chips and tortillas are a staple at our house and part of nearly every shopping list. Chi-Chi's can help bring the fiesta to the table by adding a zesty kick to your favorite meals.

CHI-CHI’S products are made from quality ingredients, including real tomatoes, vegetables, and flavorful seasonings. For more information about CHI-CHI’S, please visit www.chichis.com, become a fan on Facebook or follow us on Pinterest.

Giveaway
For those who are not able to attend one of the games, no worries because I’ve got a special surprise—you too can host your own “Salsabration”! CHI-CHI’S is offering one A Busy Mom of Two reader the chance to win a giveaway prize, including chips, salsa and tortillas to make your gatherings and celebrations more enjoyable and irresistibly flavorful.
Prize Pack:

· (1) Mild Thick & Chunky Salsa ($3.29)

· (1) Medium Thick & Chunky Salsa ($3.29)

· (1) Hot Thick & Chunky Salsa ($3.29)

· (1) Authentic Original Tortilla Chips ($2.99)

· (1) Rounds Original Tortilla Chips ($2.99)

· (1) Strips Original Tortilla Chips ($2.99)

· (1) Fajita Style Flour Tortillas ($2.49)

· (1) Burrito Style Flour Tortillas ($2.49)
a Rafflecopter giveaway


Giveaway will remain open through November 12th. Giveaway is open to residents of the US only. Winners will be selected through Rafflecopter. The winners will have 24 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected.

No compensation was received for this post. The content of this post and the prize pack were provided by Chi-Chi's. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family.

Rediscovering Quesadillas

*information for this post was in part supplied by Hormel Foods through their Hormel Extended Family Blogger program. No compensation was received for this post.

We have a new favorite, quick and easy meal or snack at my house - Quesadillas. They are so simple to make from whatever you have on hand. I am completely surprised by families sudden enthusiasm for quesadillas. When they were little, my kids would always turn their nose up at the option of quesadillas when we went out for Mexican. The good news is that they ate Mexican food and didn't just ask for the hot dog or chicken nuggets.

Anyway, back to the quesadilla explosion. It all started one day with leftovers. We had grilled some chicken the night before and had some leftover. Most of the chicken was eaten as a topping for salad, but there was a small amount left and my husband asked for a quesadilla. We took the leftover chicken and chopped it up, placing it on one tortilla in a small skillet and then added peppers, onions and cheese and warmed it up to melt the cheese. Since that day, they have become a go to request for a leftover or grab what you want type meal.

I generally have some tortillas on hand because soft tacos are a popular go to menu option, but lately I have had to add tortillas (Chi Chi's tortillas are our go to brand) to my 'pantry' shopping and make sure that I have an extra pack on hand, so that we don't run out.

I think my favorite part is how versatile a quesadilla can be. You can chose to have no meat or whatever meat you have on hand (typically leftovers) - chicken, ground meat, sausage, pepperoni. You can use any type of cheese - cheddar, mozzarella, goat. You can add a variety of vegetables - onions, hot peppers, bell peppers, squash. You can serve it with any number of dips - sour cream, salsa, queso, ranch, pizza sauce. Essentially, you can make it your own and everyone can have their own variety with ease.

My small skillet is the perfect size to fit a soft taco shell. It's non-stick and the quesadilla only takes a few minutes to warm over a medium heat. I also like that it is easy for the kids to make their own too. It may just be a phase, but for now quesadillas are a quick, easy snack or meal option for our family.

What is your go to snack? How do you repurpose leftovers?

No compensation was received for this post. All opinions expressed are mine or those of my family. I am completing this post as a participant in the Hormel Foods Extended Family Blogger program. Hormel Foods provided some product samples for my family to try. I also receive thought starters, information and photos that can be used in a post.

The Day After Thanksgiving

*information for this post was in part supplied by Hormel Foods through their Hormel Extended Family Blogger program. No compensation was received for this post.

Thanksgiving was a wonderful (and quiet) holiday. It was just the four of us at home celebrating and one of my friends, whose husband and kids had traveled to his hometown for the week, joined us for the meal. Everything was so flavorful and it was nice just to relax at home and spend time together.

With a mid-day meal, we didn't do anything formal for dinner. I pulled out some finger foods and dessert (pumpkin cheesecake) for the group to munch on. Times like this my family enjoys snacking on cheese and crackers. A perfect time to enjoy a Hormel Gatherings Party or Snack Tray (we love the Snack Tray size - they are great for snacking with just the family!)

In fact, we kept and cleaned the tray from the HORMEL GATHERINGS™ Supreme Party Trayand actually as pictured here refilled it with the contents of the smaller HORMEL® Snack Tray Pepperoni Bites (the pepperoni, cheese and pretzels)

and served it with some crackers and dip to make it a one stop snack station.

I hadn't planned to go out shopping at all yesterday, but the family joined my friend for one quick stop so she could have others check out the furniture she was going to get - since her family wasn't there to help her. Then, after the kids went to bed, I ventured out to Target to pick up a few of the less popular Black Friday deals. It was strange, there was almost no lines and there were even some of the displays that were not on the beaten path that were still fully intact (I had to remove the little plastic disc from the end of the hanging posts that holds the items in place during transit in order to purchase the item - all but one post had the disc still there). I was able to get everything that was on my list and more - 40% off all clothes was a great deal, I might have gotten more if I didn't want to get home at a decent time. I was glad I didn't linger, as the parking lot and minor road ways were icy and it only got colder as the night went on.

This morning, again, no early alarm setting for me. When I did get moving, I made three quick stops - Target (10% off Target Gift Cards), Kohl's (assorted doorbuster deals through 1 pm) and Giant Eagle (Amazon gift cards, 20% Fuel Perks). I had planned to get to CVS, but was beat and decided I could go later or tomorrow.

We enjoyed leftovers for lunch and now, we are just relaxing and the kids are watching movies. I love long holiday weekends with nothing specific scheduled to be done. I think it is a wonderful contrast to our normally (over) programmed lives of sports, activities, school and work.

No compensation was received for this post. All opinions expressed are mine or those of my family. I am completing this post as a participant in the Hormel Foods Extended Family Blogger program. Hormel Foods provided some product and some of the information and images for this post.

The Return of the Busy Life

*information for this post was in part supplied by Hormel Foods through their Hormel Extended Family Blogger program. No compensation was received for this post.

It's funny to me how cyclical busyness is in our lives. We either have nothing going on or we have a hundred and two things going on.

As we start to get back into the school routine, we are also getting back into soccer for two kids and baseball for one. That is one less sport than the spring/summer season, but still proves to be very busy. The good news is that by some coincidence, both kids have soccer practice at the same field, on the same day, at times that overlap by 45 minutes...meaning that although they will each get a bit of time to sit before or after their own practice, I get to have a much easier than normal schedule.

Of course, even though their practices are on the same night, we still have to get there pretty quick after I come home from work. This makes dinner a real challenge, but it is important to me that we get the chance to eat together as often as possible. I tend to take two approaches to dinner on these busy nights. Either I select a meal that I can prepare ahead so that I can get it on the table in a quick turn before we head off for soccer or I plan a meal that I can prep while they shower after practice.

One of my quick prep favorites is tacos. By cutting the vegetables and preparing the meat the night before, we can quickly warm the meat and eat before heading out. Another favorite is chicken Caesar salad. When I cook dinner the night before, I prepare a couple of extra chicken breasts, slice them up and have them ready to go, along with romaine lettuce, some shredded Parmesan, some dressing and croutons.

When we have to wait for dinner, it is important to me that the kids get an afternoon snack that I know will help hold them over through practice until dinner. This means that I look for snacks that have both carbs and protein - I have always heard that a sustaining snack has some protein along with carbohydrates to help fuel their energy needs. Some of our go to favorites are string cheese and crackers, or apples and peanut butter, or yogurt and granola.

Another item that the kids enjoy as a snack before we head out the door (or sometimes, as we do) is Hormel Rev Wraps. I like that they have a good amount of protein, but don't seem to be such a big snack as to spoil their dinner. The kids like that there are so many varieties to choose from, although experience says that Pepperoni Pizza is their favorite.

Then, dinner is usually some sort of a dish that requires a little bit of prep time - either on the stove or in the oven - that times up well with them getting their showers.

It can be a challenge, but sitting down as a family for dinner is important and we find ways to work around that.

What is your approach to dinner when your schedule is full?

No compensation was received for this post. All opinions expressed are mine or those of my family. I am completing this post as a participant in the Hormel Foods Extended Family Blogger program. Hormel Foods provided some product and some of the information for this post.

Little Green Pouch - review

No compensation was received for this post. A complimentary sample was provided for the purposes of this review. All images courtesy of Little Green Pouch.

It seems to me that lately, there are more and more items available at the store in pouches. I think I first tried a pouch product in the baby food aisle. I thought the concept was interesting, a squeeze pouch that could allow your young child to feed themselves fruits or vegetables without the need for a spoon. Then, I tried a product that was designed for adults - I can't remember the brand now, but it was a during exercise type of snack that would give you energy on the go. I liked the idea of a snack that I could put in the bag on my bike and enjoy on the way.

A while back, I was contacted by someone from a company that is offering a new product - Little Green Pouch. The product is a reusable pouch, that is dishwasher and freezer safe. It opens at the top with a interlocking zipper bag closure (like on your sandwich bags), to allow for easy filling of the pouch.

I told them that I would love to try this product and share it with my readers.

The pouches are very easy to clean. I cleaned them by hand the first time and then used my dishwasher. The zipper opening allows you to easily fit a bottle brush inside to clean. Trying to reach your hand in with a washcloth is a little bit harder. The dishwasher - simple. Open up your pouch, invert it and place over one of the tines in your upper rack.

The opening created with the zipper, allows for the pouches to easily be filled. They even have a little picture on the back of the pouch to suggest that you use a spoon, a funnel or a pitcher to fill. We tended to fill most with a spoon, or a pitcher (blender). Once filled, seal the zipper and remove the cap on the spout to enjoy the contents.

Each pouch can be filled with up to 7 oz of product, but I found that closer to 4 oz was the level to which I could fill and have the contents consumed. Coincidentally, this is also close to what are found on many of the other pouch items. The pouch does have a graduation on the back that shows you 2 oz increments, as well as the 7 oz max fill, which takes the guess work out of filling the pouch.

Each pouch also has a label spot on the back, so that you could mark whose pouch it was. I don't know about your house, but at my house it seems to be very important to my kids that they don't share a straw, a spoon, or cup...so this makes it an easy way to keep each person's pouch as their own.

We filled our pouches with an assortment of items. I liked that not only could I choose what to put in them, but also that I had more control over the ingredients and texture (some of the pouch items that I have bought and tried were too smooth, I like a little texture to my nourishment). I used them for yogurt - easy to consume and a great way to eat it on the go. We mostly enjoy blended yogurts at my house, so there weren't to many pieces of fruit...if you used fruited yogurt, might have to check and make sure it won't clog the spout. I also used them for pudding when I made some homemade pudding for the kids. We used them for smoothies, which we are a big fan of at my house. It is not only a great way to use up the assorted fruit in the house, but you can even sneak in some veggies for more nutrition.

Looking for more ideas? On their website, they offer several recipe ideas for things to make and fill in the pouches. They have recipes for sweet and savory - one savory option that I noticed is Chicken, Sweet Potatoes and Kale puree. They even have a separate search to find Paleo friendly recipes. I really think that the options are endless...anything you can puree, can go in the pouch.

What would you put in your Little Green Pouch?

No compensation was received for this post. A complimentary sample was provided for the purposes of this review. All images courtesy of Little Green Pouch.

National Snack Food Month - #Giveaway

No compensation was received for this post. As a Hormel Foods Extended Family Blogger, product samples, coupons and information were provided. All opinions expressed are entirely my own or that of my family.
February was National Snack Food Month! At our house, snacking is a way of life. It has to be. With school, after school activities and sports in the evenings, there is not a consistent time that dinner is at our house. To help us through, we have the kids (and ourselves) take a snack break between activities. If dinner will be a more typical time, they will have just a small snack to tide them over, but if dinner will be after evening sports, then we typically rely on a more filling snack - something with protein.

"According to a Hormel Study (conducted by Penn Schoen Berland), 90% of teens eat at least one snack a day - and no wonder, since snacking is a great way to increase energy and help curb hunger until the next meal."

Looking for some ideas for a snacker in your life? Here are some ideas from Hormel

"Hormel REV Wraps - These pre-made wraps make the perfect after school snack to fuel an active lifestyle. Each wrap contains 15 grams of protein, and with eight varieties of varying assortments of meats and cheeses, they're the perfect way to satisfy afternoon cravings!

Hormel Pepperoni Stix - Packed with protein, pop one of these individually wrapped stix in your bag for an on-the-go snack to tide you over until the next meal. Available in original and turkey pepperoni.

Chi-Chi's Snackers - These portable salsa snack cups paired with veggies or chips for dipping make for a great snack option - enough to satisfy, but not so substantial that it will ruin your appetite."

I haven't tried the Pepperoni Stix, but I imagine that we would like them - slices of pepperoni are sometimes part of our snacks. I can also tell you that my the kids love the Hormel REV Wraps. We actually use them for lunches, as well as snacking at our house. They prefer them microwaved, but will eat them direct from the package too.

Would you like to try Hormel REV Wraps for yourself?

Giveaway!
Thanks to Hormel, two lucky readers will each win 2 (two) coupons each good for one FREE Hormel REV Wrap.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Giveaway will remain open through March 10th. Giveaway is open to residents of the US only. Winners will be selected through Rafflecopter. The winners will have 24 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected.

No compensation was received for this post. As a Hormel Foods Extended Family Blogger, product samples, coupons and information were provided. All opinions expressed are entirely my own or that of my family.

Del Monte FruitBurst review and #giveaway

No compensation was received for this post. DelMonte provided information for the post, a gift pack for my family and one for the giveaway. All opinions expressed are entirely my own or that of my family.

We recently had the chance to try a new product from Del Monte® - new Fruit Burst™ Squeezers. We tried Simply Fruit - Strawberry and Fruit + Veggie - Peach-Mango. As a mom, I really like the convenience of getting 1 1/2 servings of fruit or fruit and veggies in an easy to eat pouch. When we are enjoying them at home, we typically will have them right from the fridge, but when we are on the go, I like knowing that they are portable, easy to consume (no utensils required) and don't require refrigeration (unless you don't eat it all at once, then you should refrigerate the remaining product). I like that all of the sweetness in the product comes from fruit puree and juice concentrates. For me, the strangest part was the texture - it is a very smooth puree, but it has a great flavor. The kids consider them to be a treat (as a mom, I love when fruits and vegetables are a treat) and are excited when they are included in their lunch or as a snack. I have already been asked to buy more for them to have as snacks and in their lunches.

About Fruit Burst™ Squeezers

Made in the U.S.A., Del Monte Fruit Burst™ Squeezers contain 1 ½ servings of fruit or fruit and veggies and are an excellent source of vitamins A and C. In addition, Del Monte Fruit Burst™ Squeezers contain no artificial flavors or high fructose corn syrup.

Fruit + Veggie Varieties:

- Peach-Mango: Pear puree concentrate, water, pumpkin juice concentrate, peach puree concentrate, pear juice concentrate, carrot juice concentrate, carrot puree, mango puree concentrate, natural flavors, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), citric acid.

- Blueberry: Pear puree concentrate, water, pumpkin juice concentrate, pear juice concentrate, natural flavors, carrot puree, blueberry puree concentrate, fruit and vegetable extracts for color, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), citric acid.

Simply Fruit Varieties:

- Apple Cinnamon: Pear puree concentrate, water, apple puree concentrate, pear juice concentrate, natural flavors, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), cinnamon, malic acid.

- Mixed Berry: Pear puree concentrate, water, pear juice concentrate, natural flavors, strawberry puree, red raspberry puree concentrate, blueberry puree concentrate, fruit and vegetable extracts for color, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), malic acid.

- Strawberry: Pear puree concentrate, water, pear juice concentrate, strawberry puree concentrate, natural flavors, carmine, ascorbic acid (vitamin C), malic acid.

Also to kick off the school year, Del Monte launched the “First Day of School Photo Contest” through Facebook (facebook.com/delmonte)! The contest is closed now, but everyone was invited to upload an original photo of your child on their first day of school or yourself on your own first day of school. The top 20 Finalist photos were posted to the Del Monte Fruit Squeezers website, and fans had the chance to vote for their favorite photo. The winning entry will receive a $10,000 donation to a school of their choice!



Giveaway!
Courtesy of DelMonte, I have the opportunity to share with one A Busy Mom of Two reader a gift pack like I received.

The Gift Pack will contain:
* Two boxes of Fruit Burst Squeezers™ (one Fruit + Veggies 4-pack and one Simply Fruit 4-pack)
* One Del Monte lunchbox
* One orange-shaped eco-friendly shopping tote
* One strawberry-shaped eco-friendly shopping tote
* One Del Monte magnetic frame

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Giveaway will remain open through October 1st. Giveaway is open to residents of the US only. Winners will be selected through Rafflecopter. The winners will have 24 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected.

No compensation was received for this post. DelMonte provided information for the post, a gift pack for my family and one for the giveaway. All opinions expressed are entirely my own or that of my family.

Baked Wonton Cheese Sticks

No compensation received for this post. Complimentary packages of Frigo Cheese Heads string cheese were provided. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family.

Now that the kids are back to school, there seems to be more snacking occasions than normal. They seem to come home from school hungry for a snack, which works out well on days when we have sports and can't eat until after. Of course, on those days, I find myself grabbing a snack to go too! Then, there are the evenings, after the kids are in bed and I am looking for a little something to nibble on with a glass of wine, as I relax, wind down from the crazy day and watch a show.

I don't know about your house, but at our house, string cheese is a favorite snack. Personally, I am a fan of cheese of all forms and find it to be a satisfying snack. I feel good providing string cheese to the kids because I feel it is a reasonably healthy option - the pack I have at home right now is only 80 calories per serving and provides 6 g of protein and some calcium. I don't know that the kids think of it as a healthy snack, but I know that they think that it is fun to eat as they tear off string after string.

As America’s Favorite String Cheese, Frigo® Cheese Heads® String Cheese is:
- Perfect for school lunches and after school snacks
- High in calcium and a good source of protein
- Individually wrapped for wholesome and fun snacking on-the-go
- Easy to use in recipes the entire family will enjoy

Typically, I think of string cheese as a stand alone snack or an accompaniment to a bowl of crackers. But last weekend, as we geared up for the official start of football season, we decided that it would be nice to have a little snack while we watched the games. We had had our fill of chips the prior day as hosts of the fantasy football draft, so I decided that I could use string cheese as an easy way to enjoy baked cheese. I decided that breading them and trying to fry/bake them would likely turn into a mess, but figured that wrapping them up in wontons would allow us a way to have baked cheese with less mess. When I suggested the snack and started to pull out the ingredients, both of the kids were anxious to help, so I let them help me roll them up and took over when it came to bake.

Baked Wonton Cheese Sticks

Wonton Wrappers
String Cheese
Oil
bowl of water

Open the string cheese and cut each piece into three equal sections. Place on the wonton wrappers and roll up like an egg roll, using the water to wet the edges to help the wrapper seal.

Place the wrapped cheese in a skillet with oil, over medium heat. Turn until browned.

Place the cheese sticks into an oven safe glass dish and bake for 10-12 minutes at 375.

Serve with a side of marinara.

Everyone liked the baked wonton cheese sticks and agreed that we should definitely make them again.

No compensation was received for this post. Complimentary packages of Frigo Cheese Heads string cheese were provided for the purpose of sharing. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family.

New Lunchtime options

*information for this post was in part supplied by Hormel Foods through their Hormel Extended Family Blogger program. No compensation was received for this post.

I can absolutely not believe that my children start school in 3 weeks. That's right, there are only three weeks of summer left. Where does the time go? I remember how fast it seemed to go when I was a child, but as a parent, I think it goes even faster.

During the school year, my kids tend to pack their lunch a couple of times a week. Normally we know about it ahead of time and I am able to plan during my weekly shopping, but sometimes they decide in the morning that they just aren't in the mood for that day's option. For those times, I like to have options on hand that are easy to grab and go, for just those days.

A new option that we have available this year are REV Wraps from Hormel.

Just in time for back to school lunches and after school snacks, Hormel Foods is launching a brand new product: Hormel® REV® wraps. Hormel® REV® wraps are the perfect way to satisfy hunger because they’re ready to go with you wherever life takes you.

Hormel® REV® wraps have many benefits to your everyday life including:

*Endurance: protein-rich to provide real sustaining energy

*Nutrition: made with real meat and cheese, an excellent source of protein and a good

source of calcium and fiber

*Convenience: no preparation necessary, eaten hot or cold and designed to be hand-held

and portable; and

*Flavorful: classic deli combinations geared towards teens, as well as new, bold flavors for

variety

The new wraps are available in eight delicious varieties including:

o Ham and Cheese - ham, cheddar cheese & soft white wrap

o Pepperoni Pizza - pepperoni, mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese & soft white

wrap

o Peppered Turkey - peppered turkey, mozzarella cheese, Italian herb wrap

o Meat Lovers Pizza – pepperoni, spicy salami, Genoa salami, mozzarella cheese &

soft white wrap

o Italian Style Ham – smoked ham, mozzarella cheese & Italian herb wrap

o Hot Pepper Ham - ham, hot pepper cheese & soft white wrap

o Italian Style – pepperoni, Genoa salami, mozzarella cheese, Italian herb wrap

o Spicy Italian Style – spicy salami, mozzarella cheese & Italian herb wrap

REV Wraps were an instant hit with my kids. They loved the variety of options, although the pizza varieties are their favorite (go figure!). I liked that the wraps have 15 grams or more of protein and seem to range from about 200 - 300 calories each. It is a lunch box option that I feel will keep them fueled for their day. I also see them as a potential after school snack on game nights, where we sometimes have to wait until after sports to have a meal. Normally, I offer them a snack with a good protein level like string cheese or yogurt, so now there is another option. I also like that I can pick up varieties that each member of the family enjoys and don't have to pick up five different types of meat at the deli to meet each person's individual tastes.

You can get a $1 off of 2 coupon to try REV Wraps for yourself here.

No compensation was received for this post. All opinions expressed are mine or those of my family. I am completing this post as a participant in the Hormel Foods Extended Family Blogger program. Hormel Foods provided some product and some of the information for this post.

Game Day Foods

The big game is coming tomorrow. It's funny, I don't really remember watching the Super Bowl as a child. In college, it was a great excuse to get together with a group of friends and visit. After graduation, I continued to join friends for the game - we would visit, eat and watch the commercials. When we were first married, my husband and I even hosted a few Super Bowl Parties. The two things I remember about those parties are the food and the contest that one of his friends would do each year - in the form of a poll with questions about the coin toss result, the category of the first commercial after kick off, who would score the first field goal, who would punt first. It made it fun and kept everyone engaged in the game. When we moved to Ohio, we started to go to parties instead of hosting them. It is still fun for me, because I get to create fun dishes to share and visit with others. To me, I guess you could say it is more of a social and food experience than a game.

How are you planning to celebrate this Sunday?

Hormel Foods recently conducted a survey about different Big Game traditions and recipes.

The survey found that 57% of people, if given the choice, would want to have Rachael Ray plan their party menu. Do you have a favorite chef or celebrity that you would want to cater your party? Personally, I am torn. I have several favorite celebrity chefs. Alton Brown appeals to the scientist in me with the explanations that he provides. I also really like Rachel Ray. Her 30 minute meals are a favorite with me.

Did you know that 61% of those surveyed said that pizza is a top pick for their game day menu? I am a fan of the classics, but I also like to bring new ideas to the table when we celebrate. One of my favorite new ideas from last year is Buffalo Chicken Rolls - they are easy to prepare, super tasty and a lot neater to eat than a stack of wings.

Other survey findings:

With this year's game in New Orleans, maybe it is time to try out a Cajun style meal. Maybe swap out the chili for some Easy Cajun Jambalaya - a quick recipe to spice things up in classic New Orleans style.

How will you celebrate the big game? Do watch the game or just the commercials? What is your favorite game-time food?

No compensation was received for this post. All opinions expressed are mine or those of my family. I am completing this post as a participant in the Hormel Foods Extended Family Blogger program. Hormel Foods provided some of the information for this post.

Fiber One 90 Calorie Chocolate Chip Cookie Brownies

I may have mentioned before that I have a liking of chocolate, so when I have a chance to try something new that is not high in calories and has the added benefit of providing fiber, I usually am game. Such was the case when I was asked to try the new Fiber One 90 Calorie Chocolate Chip Cookie Brownie.

I wasn't sure exactly what to expect, but always worry that with items that have fiber, that they will be dry. I was pleasantly surprised at how soft and chewy they were. I like that I can easily throw one in my work bag and have it on hand for those afternoon snack needs. Much better for me than the candy that I occasionally keep at my desk for a mid-day chocolate fix.

"Dreaming of a brownie that will satisfy your sweet tooth craving to help you stay on track? New Chocolate Chip Cookie flavor Fiber One® 90 Calorie Brownies, combine your favorite dessert flavors: chocolate chip cookie AND brownie! When you’ve got brownies on the brain, but don’t want to over-indulge, this moist and chewy chocolate chip cookie brownie is the perfectly portioned 90-calorie snack.
- Each serving provides 20 percent of the Daily Value of fiber (5g)*
- Delicious Chocolate Chip Cookie flavor features semisweet chocolate chips in a cookie-batter brownie topped with a dark chocolaty flavored drizzle

*3g of total fat per brownie.

New Fiber One® 90 Calorie Brownies: Chocolate Chip Cookie flavor make the perfect afternoon pick-me-up, satisfying your chocolate cravings at work or at home. We recommend keeping a supply at your desk or kitchen snack drawer (that’s what we do!)."

Want to learn more? You can check out this and other products at the Fiber One Website and Like Fiber One on Facebook too!

Giveaway!
Courtesy of General Mills through MyBlogSpark, I have the opportunity to give away to one A Busy Mom of Two reader a Gift Pack that contains:
1 box of Fiber One® 90 Calorie Brownies, the Chocolate Chip Cookie flavor
and a Survival kit including:

- Brain Stress Ball
- Water Bottle
- Ear Tube Buds
- Office Turf
- Mini tote bag

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Giveaway will remain open through September 4th. Giveaway is open to residents of the US only. One winner will be selected through Rafflecopter. The winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected.


No compensation was received for this post. The product, gift pack, information, and additional sample have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark. All opinions expressed are entirely my own or that of my family.

Fiber One Chewy Bars - a giveaway

What a whirlwind it has been! The past couple of months have been full of baseball, soccer, end of school activities, family events and more. With us always on the go, we sometimes have to wait to eat dinner until after a given event. So, this means that we need to give the kids (and us!) a snack before we head out the door. Something that will provide them with energy and hold them over until dinner is ready. Those snacks can vary and in part depend on whether they are eating them on the run or if they can sit down at the table. Usually the snack is a yogurt, a piece of fruit, or a granola/cereal type bar.

Recently, we had the chance to try new Fiber One Chewy bars in two fun flavors - Chocolate (always a favorite of mine) and Strawberry PB&J. They seemed to be a hit with everyone. I particularly enjoyed the fact that Chocolate ones only had 100 calories per bar. Since I am trying to manage my calorie intake, this satisfying snack fits easily in my day.

"Looking for a snack that combines the taste kids’ love with the nutrients they need? Be one of the first to try new Fiber One® Chewy bars, the perfect wholesome snack that the whole family will enjoy! Available in Chocolate and Strawberry PB&J varieties, these chewy bars are perfect for in-the-house, on-the-go, and everywhere in between. Complete with a peanut butter or chocolate bottom and yummy drizzle in every bite, kids won’t be able to resist the taste and parents won’t be able to resist the nutrition of this enjoyable snack.

- Fiber One Chewy bars contain 20% of the Daily Value of fiber and 10% of the Daily Value of calcium
- These 100 or 110 calorie bars contain no high fructose corn syrup, and only 7 or 8 grams of sugar"


Giveaway!





Thanks to General Mills, through MyBlogSpark, I have the opportunity to share with one A Busy Mom of Two reader a Fiber One Chewy Bars Gift Pack that contains:

(1) Box of Fiber One Chewy Chocolate Bars
(1) Box of the Fiber One Chewy Strawberry PB&J Bars
Drawstring Sack Pack
Water Bottle
Flexi Flyer
Soccer Ball
Sidewalk Chalk

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Giveaway will remain open through July 2nd. Giveaway is open to residents of the US only. One winner will be selected through Rafflecopter. The winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected.


No compensation was received for this post. Prize pack, information, and giveaway have been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark. All opinions expressed are entirely my own or that of my family.

Sun Chips 6 Grain Medley Parmesan & Herb flavored multigrain snacks

I'll admit it, I love a nice crunchy snack. I have gotten in the habit of including a chip of some sort in my lunch, so that I can break up an otherwise mono-textured meal. Typically though, I will wait until mid-afternoon to snack on them. I count the Points up when I figure out my lunch so I have planned for them. Then, it gives me chance to break up my afternoon with a snack that I have already planned on (better that what I used to do where I would just add an unplanned snack). Since I eat them on their own, I prefer to have some different flavored chips.

SunChips have always been a favorite choice of mine. I have always enjoyed their Garden Salsa and even their Original. There is just something so appealing about the flavor that the multi-grain mixture provides - I might say it tastes a little nutty, but that would sound odd since I'm not much of a nut eater and yet find their flavor so appealing.

Recently, I had the chance the try the newest flavor for SunChips - SunChips 6 Grain Medley Parmesan & Herb flavored multigrain snacks. "This new member of the SunChips family packs 21 grams of whole grains and 4 grams of fiber per serving into a crunchy snack with a distinguished parmesan and herb flavor -- making them not only super scrumptious, but a snack you can feel better about eating. We think they’re the perfect complement to your grown-up lunch box." The 6 grains are Corn, Wheat, Oats, Brown Rice, Buckwheat and Quinoa.

I really enjoyed the smoothness of the Paremsan flavor coupled with the taste of basil, contrasted by the toasty, crunchy flavor of the chip. Unfortunately, my kids discovered them too and they seem to really enjoy them. It seems that as soon as a bag of them is opened, they are gone. I suppose though that since they are lower in fat than most chips and are made with whole grains, I should be glad that they choose these over others.

I stopped by their site today and saw another flavor that was new to me that I just have to try...Jalapeno Jack. That just sounds good. Pepper Jack is one of my favorite cheeses to snack on with crackers, and this flavor (and what I know from enjoying SunChips) makes me think of crackers and cheese - baked into a chip. I guess I know what flavor I will be trying this week.


No compensation was received for this post. Sample product and information was provided to me by Frito Lay. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family.

Crsipy Green

I am not sure when exactly it happened, but I turned into a snacker. In many ways, this is not a bad thing. What it means mostly is that I don't tend to sit down and eat all at once. For breakfast, as example, I will start my day with a banana. Then, a little later in the morning I will prepare myself some oatmeal. Then, I'll have some other fruit a little later in the day. I started packing my lunch so that I could 'save' something from it for the middle of the afternoon. Then, the exception to my day tends to be dinner. I generally will eat my dinner all in one sitting and only very occasionally have a snack in the evening.

When it comes to snacks, I am generally try to keep them healthy - a piece of fruit, a cup of yogurt (or pudding :-0!), some carrot sticks, etc. But sometimes, I find myself craving something crunchy. Yes, you could argue that carrots and apples are both crunchy, but they don't meet that crunchy snack craving that I have. Perhaps they are too 'wet'.

So, a while back, when I came across Crispy Green, I thought this is a snack that I must try. Crispy Green are 100% freeze-dried fruit. Now, when I think of freeze-dried, the first thing that comes to mind is that astronaut ice cream we used to get on field trips to the science museum. The first that I tried was the Crispy Mangoes. The first thing that I noticed on the package is that indeed, the only ingredient is Mangoes. The Crispy Mangoes have just 40 calories in a bag. The sweet and crispy bites of fruit were both sweet and crispy, offering just the right combination of sweet and crunchy to perfectly fit my snack craving.

I soon came to find that there is a whole variety of Crispy Green products. In the crispy fruit product, they offer five tasty fruits - Crispy Apples, Crispy Bananas, Crispy Asian Pears, Crispy Pineapples and Crispy Mangoes. In addition, they also have a line that they is called FruitziO, which is also freeze dried fruit, but with a bit of cane sugar added for a light, sweet and crunchy taste. The FruitziO line offers - FruitziO Apples and Strawberries, FruitziO Apricots, FruitziO Kiwi, FruitziO Peaches and FruitziO Strawberries.

At first, I wondered about the addition of cane sugar, but realized after tasting that it didn't make the product 'sweet' but mostly balanced the tartness of the fruits. The bags, which are resealable, only have 100 calories in them. So, it still makes for a yummy snack without much guilt. In fact, they are labeled as containing 2.5 servings, which based on the bag I took to work seems about right. I found myself enjoying the strawberries a handful at a time. The slightly sweet, crunchy snack was just what I needed mid-afternoon to get me through the rest of the day.

My kids have been very excited to try all of the different flavors and have share many bags. My son's favorite: Crispy Apples. My daughter's favorite: Crispy Bananas. My son says that he likes them because they taste exactly like an apple. My daughter says because they taste like the fruit that she is having. As a mom, having them excited about fruit is a good thing (not that they don't request fresh fruit too, but bags of freeze dried fruit are more portable).

You can find a store near you that carries Crispy Green, by using their product locator. Interestingly, the store that I bought them at, Earth Fare, was not listed. You can purchase online through Crispy Green. They are currently offering free shipping on orders over $75 and if you purchase in bulk, they work out to be less per bag than you would pay at the store.

No compensation was received for this post. I received a variety pack of their products for the purposes of trying and sharing with my family. Images are from the Crispy Green Website. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family.

Chex Party Mix-change

Sure, everyone has heard of Cookie Exchanges. You know how it works, a group of friends or coworkers each bake their family favorite, packaging them up in dozen cookie packages. Then, everyone gets together for a little bit of camaraderie and exchanges cookies. You wind up with a collection of cookies to fill your cookie trays at holiday gatherings and at least for me, find yourself a new favorite.

This year, why not have a Chex Party Mix-change instead. The concept is similar, everyone make up their favorite Chex Party Mix recipe to share. The best part = is that you can "make Chex Party Mix in just 15 minutes" instead of spending hours baking. You can still get together for a the same camaraderie and come away with a number of varieties of Chex Mix to share with your family and friends at your holiday gatherings. Chex has even done some of the work for you - simply stop by the Chex Party Mix-change webpage and you can print up festive invites, shopping lists and recipe cards

With so many recipes to choose from, their is a Chex Mix to suit your want for sweet or savory. My newest favorite has to be the Snickerdoodle Chex Mix. It uses the Chocolate Chex, Cinnamon Chex and some popcorn, along with butter, cinnamon and sugar to create a yummy sweet party mix. I must admit though, as I was scanning the list of Chex Mix recipes to find the link I found several that I can't wait to try.

Giveaway!
To help you get started on your Chex Party Mix-change, Sam’s Club, Chex Party Mix and General Mills through MyBlogSpark are providing one A Busy Mom of Two reader with a Chex Party Mix-change Prize Pack, which includes a box of Chex Cereal and a $25 Gift Card to Sam's Club.

Read More>>

Cereal Treats Bars - Giveaway

As a busy mom, I try to plan my days around being home at meal time (unless we are eating out, of course!). Sometimes though, in order to get everything done that I need to, I wind up stretching the time-frame for meals. Usually, this means that I have cranky, hungry kids running errands with me. I have found that keeping some snacks on hand in my purse is a great way to help me bridge the gap when we are not going to be home in time for a normal meal time. Especially, when I am not expecting to be out that long. I have found that cereal bars are an easy snack to keep in my purse. They seem to be fairly resilient, even if they spend a few weeks in my purse. For the most part, the bars don't seem to melt and they don't get sticky. Plus, with flavors like Golden Grahams Treats and Lucky Charms Treats, my kids are excited to have a "treat". Of course, I don't tell them that these

"Cereal Treats Bars contain less than 140 calories per bar and are made with wholesome cereal, making them a snack option that you can feel good about giving your kids."

My family enjoys eating these cereal bar treats. I like that they are convenient and made with cereal.

In addition, right now you will find "TWO Box Tops for Education seals on each box of Cereal Treat Bars, making earning cash for your school doubly cool!"

You can learn more about Cereal Treats Bars on their website and on Facebook.

Giveaway!

One A Busy Mom of Two has a chance to win a Cereal Treats Prize Pack courtesy of General Mills through MyBlogSpark. The prize pack contains the following:
One box of Lucky Charms® Cereal Treats Bars
One box of Golden Grahams® Cereal Treats Bars
Lunch bag
Locker whiteboard
Colored pencil set

To enter: Leave a comment sharing which cereal treat bar you or your kids are most interested in trying.

Additional Entries (please leave a separate comment for each entry):

Follow ABusyMomofTwo on Twitter.

Tweet about this giveaway. You may complete this entry once per day. (You may use the following or write your own: Enter to win a Cereal Treats Bars Prize Pack. #giveaway Ends 9/25 http://bit.ly/mQd3xn #MyBlogSpark)

Follow A Busy Mom of Two. Subscribe to updates in your feed reader or in e-mail. Leave me a comment letting me know that you signed up, or that you already subscribe.

Like A Busy Mom of Two on Facebook.

Like Betty Crocker on Facebook.

Share this giveaway with friends - on your blog, on Facebook or by posting it on a giveaway link-up. Leave me a comment letting me know how you shared or leave a link to the giveaway link-up. You may have one additional entry for each giveaway linky that you submit it on.

Leave a comment with a link to your blog where you have either my button or have a link to A Busy Mom of Two in your blog roll.

Giveaway will remain open until September 25th at 6 pm. Giveaway is open to residents of the US only. One winner will be selected using a random number generator. The winner will be contacted by e-mail (be sure to leave one!) and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected.

No compensation was received for this post. All opinions expressed are mine or those of my family. I received a Cereal Treats Bars prize pack for my family to experience and information for this post from General Mills through MyBlogSpark. In addition, they are providing a prize pack for the giveaway.

Peeled Snacks - Review and Giveaway

I like fruit. I think I mentioned that before. I don't eat much dried fruit, but on occasion like to pick up some dried fruit. The kids, of course, enjoy raisins and usually, if I buy a bag of dried fruit for me, they eat it too.

I recently had the opportunity to check out Peeled Snacks. Peeled Snacks offers a line of organic dried fruit snacks and they contacted me because they are now available in store in Ohio (you can always buy them online too!). In fact, they recently became available at Marc's Deep Discount stores and will soon be available at Acme and Giant Eagle.

They sent me an Organic Fruit Pouch Sampler to check out all of their great products.

Organic Fruit Pouch Sampler

-Enjoy our 8 new organic fruit pouches including 4 brand new varieties
-Each stay-fresh, resealable pouch contains 2 to 6 servings (depending on the variety)
-Natural source of vitamins, minerals, iron & fiber
-Contains 8 pouches: 1 each of Apple-2-the-core (2.8oz), Apricot-a-lot (5oz), paradise found (3oz), much-ado-about-Mango (2.8oz), Banan-a-peel (3oz), Raisin expectations (8.4oz), farmer's market trio (4.5oz) & GoFigure (5oz)

When the package arrived, my kids could not wait to try it. I asked my son to at least wait until I was home, because I wanted to get to try them too!

The first variety that we tried was the Banan-a-peel. The first thing that I noticed was that the banana aroma when you open the bag was intense, in a good way. When I tried the first one, I was surprised to discover that the bananas were chewy. When I think of dried bananas, I actually normally think of banana chips (based on some quick research, banana chips can be dried or deep fried - interesting). Looking at the bags, I noticed that they say "gently dried" and "nothing added". I'm guessing the gently dried is the difference between chewy and chip. I was pleasantly surprised by the dried banana - it had a rich flavor and a good texture. Visually, the bananas are a little brown and at first, my kids hesitated, but after eating one, they immediately grabbed another.

Over the course of a few days, we worked our way through sampling all of the varieties. The overall consensus was good. The dried fruit seems to be plumper and moister than other brands that we have had in the past. The raisins in particular were a much larger size fruit than the raisins that we regularly consume. The product delivers well - most offer a good fruit flavor and are just the right sweetness, using just the natural sweetness of the fruit.

According to the package, the product is made with organic fruit from sustainable farms. As a mom, I love that the ingredient list is only the fruit in the bag. The varieties that I am currently viewing, have about 120 - 130 calories and 2 - 4 g of fiber per serving.

As my husband was standing in the kitchen, sampling from the various open bags, he asked aloud, "what is the advantage of dried fruit?" and then proceeded to answer his own question and I kicked in. His first thought is that it can be shared. You would rarely offer someone half of an apple (or other fruit), but you could easily pour out a handful of dried fruit. The next thought is that it is less messy. Our children are uniquely qualified (okay, probably not unique, but they are certainly pros) at making a mess of even the most innocent looking food items. With the dried fruit, there is none of the juicy, sticky mess that you can achieve with their fresh fruit counterparts. The next answer is portable. It is a lot easier (and the experience at the end of the day probably much better) to throw a bag of dried fruit into a back pack or diaper bag before heading off to school, a hike or a day at the park, zoo, etc. My answer it stays fresh longer. No worries about the bunch of bananas getting brown in a few days time, the bags of dried fruit (at least the ones I have) are good until late in the fall. That's five or six months vs five or six days.

My favorite is the much-ado-about-Mango and the variety paradise found which includes Mango, Pineapple and Banana. My kid's favorite is definitely the Apple-2-the-core, although they seemed to really enjoy them all. My husband didn't really select a favorite.

Want to give them a try? There is a deal that is available until sometime on Saturday on Gaggle of Chicks, you can get a $40 voucher for only $20 to purchase from the Peeled Snacks website. Click on bonus deals to see this offer.

For those of you that are local and shop at Giant Eagle, you will definitely want to check out the giveaway that Peeled Snacks will be doing to promote their launch at Giant Eagle. To enter, you must "like" Peeled Snacks on Facebook and then complete the entry form on their website (not there yet, starts tomorrow). They will be giving one lucky winner a $100 gift card for Giant Eagle!

Giveaway!
Thanks to Peeled Snacks, I have the opportunity to share one Organic Pouch Fruit Sampler with one A Busy Mom of Two reader.

To enter: Visit the Peeled Snacks website. Come back sharing something that you learned about their products and let me know what variety you are most interested in trying.

Additional Entries (be sure to leave a comment for each entry):

Like Peeled Snacks on Facebook.

Follow Peeled Snacks on Twitter. Please be sure to include your user name in the comment.

Follow A Busy Mom of Two on Twitter. Please be sure to include your user name in the comment.

Tweet about this giveaway. You can copy and paste this directly: I just entered to win a @PeeledSnacks Organic Pouch Fruit Sampler #Giveaway. http://bit.ly/ko0alk hosted by @ABusyMomofTwo, ends 5/24. This can be once daily, please be sure to leave a link to the tweet in your comment.

Post about this giveaway on your blog and leave a comment with a link to your post.

Sign up to receive daily updates. Leave a comment letting me know you subscribe (or that you already do).

Add my button to your sidebar or my blog to blog roll. Leave a link letting me know where you added it.

Share this giveaway on a link-up and come back and let me know where you shared it. (This can be done five times)

The Giveaway will run through May 24th at 6pm and is open to residents of the US and Canada only. Winner will be selected using Random.org random number generator. The winner will be contacted by e-mail (Please make sure that your email address is either in your comment or clearly visible on your profile or blog) and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner may be selected.

No compensation was received for this post. Peeled Snacks provided a complimentary Organic Fruit Pouch Sampler so that my family could experience the product and share our reactions. In addition, they are providing the same sampler to the winner of the giveaway.