Friday, April 10, 2015

Friday Freebies: Send Me Gluten Free Box, Club Wine, Ebooks and more

        TGIF!  How was your week so far?  Before you relax, check out these amazing deals I found for you today. 

        There are ebooks that will help us cope and manage stress, prepare paleo kid's lunches and more.  I also found a nice coupon for wines and gluten free product subscriptions.  

        Enjoy the last days of Spring Break.

- Roz


Brand Coupons 



           If you are not yet aware, Pillsbury now offers gluten free pizza crusts, pie and pastry dough, cookie dough and more. 



Subscription

         
 

            If you are a wine lover, this is nice to have. Wines start at $13 so it is very affordable too. 



Send Me Gluten Free: Gluten Free Subscription Box

Get 20% OFF your membership with coupon code WELCOME20.  
Send Me Gluten Free Box.

Ebooks

        As of this posting, these ebooks are free. The prices however can change anytime so I suggest, you check the price before downloading.  




Paleo Kids Lunch Box by Angelina Dylon 



Stress Management by Richard Carroll



Zap Your Procastination by Romuald Andrade



This is My Energy by Lisa Townsend


Tuesday, April 7, 2015

4 Reasons to Try Organic India Moringa

    One of the things I enjoy as a Moms Meet blogger is that I am able to try new and healthy products which I wouldn't notice otherwise. A perfect example for this is Organic India Moringa.  

    Before this review, I have to say, I thought I have no clue what this nutritional supplement is. Though it is slowly creating a buzz in the healthy living community, I never really paid much attention to it.  At the back of my mind, this is just another "trending" product for the billion dollar weight loss market.  

   When I received the information that I was chosen to try this product, I began to make some research about the plant called Moringa.  To my surprise, Moringa is nothing new to me.  In fact, it was a staple in my diet as a child growing up in the Philippines. Back there, Moringa is called malunggay.  Its small round leaves were widely used in our favorite dishes such as Mung Bean Stew and Chicken Tinola. The recipes were posted here on the blog by the way.
       
      As I read more about moringa or malunggay, it brought back so many memories. I remembered my grandma forcing me to eat these leaves a few times a week especially when my iron and blood count are low. (I have Thalassemia.) She also made me drink tea made with these leaves whenever I have stomach aches. Most importantly, it also reminded me of my first job in my grandma's kitchen which is to separate the leaves from the stem.  

        For generations, my family has used moringa and I have to admit, I did benefit from it. But don't just take my word for it.    



      I have gathered some information that will let you think about adding Organic India Moringa in your diet today.

1. Certifications and Labeling.
    As most of us allergy people know, the US FDA has a long way to go when it comes to efficient labeling and regulations. When it comes to dietary supplements for instance, manufacturers must register their facilities with FDA but they are not required to get FDA approval before producing or selling.       

    Organic India Moringa has done all the hard work for us conscious customers. It is USDA Certified Organic, Non GMO Verified, Kosher and Halal Certified. The Moringa Leaf Powder is also gluten free, vegan and doesn't contain any fillers such as sugar, salt, starch, yeast, wheat, corn, soy, milk, egg, shellfish or preservatives.  This means that only the best quality moringa is in each container. 

2. A Super Food.
     Moringa is considered as one of the most complete, nutrient-dense plants on earth.  It contains over 90 nutrients, 46 antioxidants and abundant minerals. A 1/2 tsp serving of Organic India Moringa leaf powder for instance, has these recommended daily values: 4% Vitamin A, 15% Vitamin C, 110% Thiamine, 130% Riboflavin, 106% Vitamin B12, 3% Calcium and 5% Iron. 

3. Time tested.
     The Moringa leaves have been eaten for thousand of years and are often used to combat malnutrition in impoverished countries.  It has been a part of the diet of people in tropical countries such as India, Cambodia, Maldives, Bangladesh, Thailand, Taiwan, Sri Lanka, Central America, the Caribbean, Africa and the Philippines. Not only is it known for its culinary uses but for its healing and energizing properties as well. 

4. Convience
     The Moringa tree is grown mainly in tropical and subtropical areas. Since it cannot tolerate frost or freezing temperatures, the best way to enjoy its health benefits here in the US is in a dried form. 

    Organic India has made moringa not only accessible but also really convenient. The capsule form can be easily taken just like any nutritional supplement. While the moringa leaf powder can be added to any smoothies, soups, dips, drinks, puddings and even sauces for that extra boost of vitamins and minerals. 


      I've never been excited over a nutritional supplement before. Through Organic India, my family and I were able to get the health benefits of moringa in such an easy and convenient way. My kids didn't even realize that that their favorite foods is now packed with extra nutrients.  

      Have you ever tried moringa in your diet?   Love to hear your thoughts.  

      If you have any questions or like to learn more about Organic India, your can check them out in  Facebook and Twitter too. 


- Roz
(Note:  I received this product for free from the sponsor of the Moms Meet program, May Media Group LLC, who received it directly from the manufacturer.  As a Moms Meet blogger, I agree to use this product and post my opinion on my blog. My opinions do no necessarily reflect the opinions of May Media Group LLC or the manufacturer of this product.) 

Monday, April 6, 2015

A Closer Look At Goya Foods

At the GFAF Expo last September 2014, I was surprised to see Goya Foods as one of the exhibitors for the event.  The brand has been a staple in grocery stores for ages. That is why I wondered what are they doing in a gluten free and food allergy expo. Though I was really curious, I wasn't able to have the chance to talk to their representatives there because of the big crowd that never disappeared in their booth.  

    Then, earlier this year, I got an email from them asking if I would be interested to be part of their blogger campaign. Since I have been a consumer of their brand way before our food allergy journey, I decided to say yes and give it a try. After all, I'm a big fan of their canned calamari, olives and beans.  

    As I did some research about the company, I was delighted to find out that this company is actually based here in the Garden State.  I love local businesses!

    Anyway, here are the products Goya foods sent me to try.  



Extra Virgin Olive Oil

       I've seen this on grocery shelves for years.  However, I never really had the confidence to grab a bottle. Even if it is really affordable.  Maybe it's because of the simplicity of the packaging. Perhaps, it's the notion that specialty ingredients such as oils and vinegars have to be pricey to be good.  I don't really know.  That's why I got really excited to use it on my recipes.  

      To my surprise, Goya's extra virgin olive oil's quality is at par with some of my favorite expensive brands.  It has a nice sweet undertone that works perfectly well with seafood and fish.  The flavor is really mild which makes it a good butter substitute.  


Adobo Light Seasoning

      The original Adobo seasoning has been a staple in many households for generations.  Though many of my chef friends swear that it is their secret ingredient, I haven't really used it in cooking.  I find the original one too salty that's why I barely use it.  
  
      Then came the Light versions of Adobo seasoning (less sodium).  Both versions (with black pepper and without black pepper) is not a staple in my pantry. I used it to add flavor to my gluten Fried Calamari and it turned out really good.  

        
  
Frozen Yuca 

    Growing up in the Philippines, I have known yuca (also known as Cassava) as a common ingredient in desserts. Back there, this starchy root vegetable with a very mild flavor is used in different types of snack cakes.  When mixed with coconut and sugar, this potato like vegetable becomes a well loved delicacy. 

     When the people at Goya sent me some recipe ideas for yuca, I was shocked to find out that in most countries, it is served as something savory and not a dessert which I am accustomed to. 

      Since the hard work of peeling the hard skin was already taken cared of, I started to use it as a  ingredient to replace potatoes in some of my well loved dishes.  


        Above, is my Drunken Stew Recipe.  I used frozen yuca in place of potatoes and it readily thickened the sauce which I love.  The sweetness of yuca also enhances the flavor of fennel and cognac.  



       
       With potatoes as inspiration, I made Yuca Mash using my the Dairy Free Mashed Garlic Potatoes recipe here on the blog.  To my surprise, all four of my kids love it.  The smooth and creamy texture is really close to the dairy laden mashed potatoes yet, it didn't require plenty of butter or any cream. Thus, it is way healthier and lower in calories.  

       This review has been a eye opener for me. Who knew that Goya Foods has long been making products which are naturally gluten free and food allergy friendly all these years?  The best part is that we don't have to spend an arm and a leg to enjoy them.  Not to mention, most are already readily available in our local grocery stores.  

        By taking a closer look to well loved brands such as Goya Foods, we can actually have delicious gluten free foods while on a budget.  

        Have you tried any of the above Goya products?  What are your thoughts? 


- Roz 
(Note: I was given free products to review for this post. This, however has no effect on my opinions and experiences about the brand. Please see my full disclosure here. )

        
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