Need a great way to keep your breath fresh? If so, Hint Mint is something you should definitely try. These are 100% vegan and there is no gelatin, no aspartame, and no animal fat. They have several different flavors: Citrus, Black Currant, Green Tea and Peppermint just to name a few.  Besides the flavor, I love the size of these containers.  They are small enough to slide into your pocket without anyone noticing.  Also, even though they are itty bitty they do pack a punch and do take care of your breath.  They make excellent stocking stuffers for your kids too! The best part is that these Hint Mint Petit are under $1 for a tin!  You won’t find another great deal like this anywhere else.  My husband and I both like these and give them two thumbs up!

I have two words for you:  Easy.  Yummy.  Seriously, if want some of the easiest dips, dressings, and spreads to make, head over to Pam’s Pantry.  You know your dip is going to be good when it smells yummy before you even open the package.  I have been able to try their strawberries ‘n cream, cheesy garlic, spinach surprise, and our favorite sweet ‘n sassy salsa.  These dips are super easy to make.  You just need a cup of mayo and a cup of sour cream.  That is it!  Now, the strawberries and cream is slightly more complicated - you have to mike the cream cheese and you need cool whip.  Seriously, not to difficult at all.  On the back of each packet, it tells you what ingredients you need, how to make, and what would go best with each one.  They also have cheesecake Mixes, Bar-B-Q’s and Picklers.   What I love best about these is that they taste great and can be made in no time at all!  Since these are made from fresh ingredients, you can even claim these awesome dips as your own! 

Did you know that Thomas Jefferson was the first American to write a recipe for ice cream? Did you know that Mrs. Hill’s New Cook Book was the major southern cookbook published in the aftermath of the Civil War?  If not, you definitely need to read American Food Writing: An Anthology With Classic Recipes.  This is an excellent collection of essays, anecdotes, and recipes that span over three centuries (and yes, some of the old recipes aren’t too bad either!).  There is really interesting chapter on the thirteen course meal (I am still trying to figure out how to eat that much and can you imagine the dishes?!?).  There are more than 50 recipes that range from vintage (like the Thomas Jefferson’s ice cream recipe) to modern (like Lady Bird’s Pedernales Chili). Some surprising authors that are included in here are Nathaniel Hawthorne, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Walt Whitman, Thomas Wolfe, Willa Cather, and Langston Hughes.  Who knew they all were interested in food?  Chefs and critics discuss culinary philosophies and offer advice on the finer points of techniques too. This is a must have for all foodies.

Take a look at the juice you have in your house. What is the first ingredient on most of it? Most of the time, even if your juice is 100% natural without fillers, the first ingredients include corn syrup, propylene glycol, and artificial sweeteners. If that sounds like something you don’t want to be drinking, you should check out Boost Juice.

Boost Juice is made with Superfruits. Superfruits are called that because they have higher amounts of nutrients per serving than other fruits and vegetables. They contain vitamins, minerals, amino acids, enzymes, Polysaccharides as well as other trace minerals. There also is scientific evidence to indicate that Superfruit Juices can offer benefits thought to be associated with health supplements.
Boost Juice is 100% natural, contains no artificial flavor, sweeteners, stimulants, or preservatives. They are the only superfruit juice that have 100% of the daily of Vitamin C, 72 plant based trace minerals, up to 4 grams of protein, and the highest ORAC rating! The Boost Juice is available in 12 ounce recyclable glass bottles and is found in the refrigerated juice section in the produce section in your local grocery store.

There are four different flavors of Boost Juice, and they all taste great (I had a couple of taste testers help me with this review, and they loved it too! I did have one taste tester tell me that the Beauty Boost did taste more like tea than juice, and the Inner Boost was more fruity but still had a small tea flavor.). The first flavor is the Beauty Boost. It contains 10,000 mcg of Acai per bottle. This juice supports healthy skin, hair, nails, anti-aging, cardiovascular health, and digestive health. It also provides 100% of the daily allowance you need of Vitamin C, 600 mg of plant based trace minerals, plus 21 essential and non-essential amino acids. This helps our bodies to repair, rejuvenate, rebuild, and stay strong. Next, there is Happy Boost. This supports positive moods, healthy aging, eye health, healthy energy levels, and liver and kidney heath. It provides vitamins A, B, E, plus 100% of your daily allowance of Vitamin C. It also has 2 grams of protein, 600 mg of plant based trace minerals plus Solavetivone, Betaine, and Lycium Barbarum Ploysaccharides (LBPs 1 – 5). Next, there is Inner Boost. The juice supports natural cleaning, healthy digestion, healthy immune function, and healthy energy levels. It also provides Acubin, Alazarain, Asperuloside, Anthraquinone and Scopoletin which is suppose to help support circulatory health. You also get 100% of your daily allowance of vitamin C, 600 mg of plant based trace minerals, and 4 grams of protein. Lastly, there is Youth Boost. This supports healthy aging, joint health, healthy immune function, and cardiovascular health. It also provides 100% of your daily allowance of vitamin C, 600 mg of plant based trace minerals, 2 grams of protein, plus Xanthones.

If you are looking for a refreshment without the artificial ingredients found in other drinks, Boost Juice is what you want. It tastes great and is good for you.

You have to get the Mama says, “No More Frozen Pizza!” cookbook. This is the coolest cookbook I have ever owned. This cookbook has 24 nutritious recipes that are designed for new cooks! Now, the first thing that makes this cookbook unique is that it is in the shape of an order out pizza box. It looks like a pizza. When you open the box, you will be for a surprise. I know I was! Each recipe is on paper that is shaped like a pizza (circle). You can easily go in there and grab the recipe you want. The first thing you see is a picture of a pizza. When you flip it over, there is a nice little forward about the book. Plus, there is also some advice: “All we ask is that you wipe off the recipe cards before you store them, do the dishes within one week’s time, and send a “thank you” not to whomever sent you this recipe box. Oh, and call your mother once in awhile”.
Now, each recipe card is pretty unique. There is a picture one side of the card, and all of the recipes look absolutely delicious. When you flip the card over, it tells you what the recipe is, how long it takes to make, and how many it will feed. They also have an ingredient list, how to make list (preparation), and equipment. I have to giggle that under equipment they include things like a can opener, large knife, and large frying pan with lid.

There are several awesome recipes we will trying this next week are Dad’s Special Meat Loaf, Italian Roasted Potatoes, and Southwest Chicken Soup. These easy to make recipes are perfect for new cooks (and not so new cooks) with limited time and limited budgets.