Peanut Butter Grown-Up Style! #Recipe and #Review PB Crave

I grew up eating peanut butter! The taste was so delicious and I'd eat it by the spoonfuls if I wasn't enjoying it in sandwiches and cookies. I must have eaten too much of it, though, because it became one of those flavors that made me say.....meh. I know....it has lots of protein, which is a good thing, yada yada yada!

 One thing that kinda turned me off, however, was finding out that many commercial brands have hydrogenated oils in it, which pretty much neutralizes much of the good in it.
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Then I heard about Peanut Butter Crave, with their 4 yummy flavors and I decided to give it a try! You've got Razzle Dazzle--raspberry jam and organic honey mixed into the peanut butter, Coco Bananas--Bananas and cocoa in the mix, Choco Choco--a chocolate lovers version, and Cookie Nookie--my personal favorite 'cause it's chocolate chip cookie dough mixed in!

What was especially appealing is that it doesn't have hydrogenated oils or artificial flavors for starters. You still have the amazingly high protein content, and of course it is gluten free and has no high fructose corn syrup, or added sugar. Maybe I could become the fan I once was, back in the day! 
After all, peanut butter has reached the status of super food because it is a rich source of niacin, folate, vitamin E, along with other essential nutrients and minerals. It is also high in protein and fiber! It wouldn't hurt to try and fall in love with it all over again!
Long story short, I love this stuff and feel like it's a guilty pleasure. PB Crave was created by women, who have very discriminating taste and created some amazing flavors that make the old, familiar taste of peanut butter a new taste sensation, thus making it exciting again!!! I really enjoy their website because they have great recipes for snacks, breakfast, lunch, and dinner, using all of their awesome flavors!
Easy Recipe
I made 'Overnight Peanut Butter And Chocolate Oats' because it used my favorite flavor, Cookie Nookie! It was delicious! And with 20 grams of protein in a single delicious serving, it is a smart move in the morning! To make it, mix all the following ingredients together!

5 Surprising Benefits of Rosemary + Healthy Rosemary Salad Recipe

When you've got a benefits list as impressive as this herb, you probably want to have more of it in your life! Rosemary is one of the most beneficial herbs for prevention of diseases such as diabetes, and cancer.  It is also great for memory enhancement! Back before big pharma, there were herbs. Now science is picking up the slack in terms of research in the herb realm and finding astonishing benefits.  From these scientific testing results, here is a quick list of the benefits of rosemary:

1. Heightened memory and concentration - Scientists have found that rosemary fragrance seems to have a positive effect on future memory, as opposed to present and past memory. The part of the brain that makes and remembers to-do lists for future reference is an important cognitive skill. For instance, "when you come to a yellow sign that says 'Breaking Point', you should stop at the first gas station and pick up 3 cans of diet coke and a hogie." Those landmarks are meant to signal other actions in a healthy cognitive system. The best way to pick up the pungent aroma of the herb is with rosemary essential oil. You can use it in combination with other oils to create a scent that is both advantageous and pleasant. Combine them in a diffuser and use it to increase your cognitive abilities.

2.  Diabetes Protection - Among several other herbs, rosemary is found to be a natural way to keep glucose levels at a normal level. You can use the needles to brew into a tea. Take 1 1/2 tsp. of the needles, bring water to boil, steep in one cup of hot water for 5 minutes, and drain.

3. Prevents Brain Aging - In a Japanese study, rosemary was found to prevent aging of the brain. It may protect neurons from free-radical damage because it contains a substance called carnosic acid. Benefits can occur in food form, tea, and fragrance.

4. Cancer Protection - Studies show that rosemary can prevent tumor growths in leukemia and breast cancer. It is also beneficial against inflamation and tumor protective. Use in food, tea, and fragrance form.

5. Protects Eye Degeneration - Macular degeneration is the most common age-related, eye-related problem in the U.S. and rosemary's carnosic acid prevents this. Best results when used in food form or tea form.

Because of all this goodness, I put a bit of rosemary in my salads (usually 1/2 tsp. of chopped leaf is sufficient), use it in a garnish or bouquet to flavor my food, and use rosemary essential oil in a diffuser! Here's a tasty and simple example of how you can use rosemary in your food!


Rosemary Chicken & Bacon Salad:

Ingredients:
4 slices of bacon, diced
2 chicken breasts
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. chopped rosemary
3 cups spinach
1 cup other greens of your choice (I used arugula)
1/2 c. cherry tomatoes
3 tbsp. chopped green onions
2 tbsp. white onion
1 small avocado, sliced

Rosemary Vinaigrette:
1 tsp. dijon mustard
4 tsp. olive oil
2 tbsp. red wine vinegar
1/2 tsp. fresh minced rosemary
1/4 tsp. salt

Directions:
1. Cook bacon then drain fat, leaving enough to coat the pan. Set aside.

2. Season uncooked chicken with salt and rosemary, cook over medium high heat until golden brown and cooked through.

3. Make a bed of the greens. Scatter tomatoes, onion, and bacon on top. 

4. Slice the avocado, season with a pinch of salt and add the avocado and chicken to the salad.

5. Add together the ingredients to the vinaigrette, whisk, and pour over salad. Serve immediately.

Note: Along with the rosemary vinaigrette, I also used a healthy commercial raspberry vinaigrette to give it more body. Totally optional of course! 

 Yield: 2 servings. Serving size: 1/2 salad. Calories: 350.
Sources: Medical News Today, Feb 28, 2012; ACS July 23,2014;
 Cell J 2011, Spring; Medical News Today; Oncol Rep, Jan 2007; Biosci Biotechnol Biochem

Medical News Today, Sept 2015;

I'm linked up to Homestead Blog Hop 89!

More Tools To Help You Prevent Diabetes

 It is much easier to prevent or delay the onset of Type 2 diabetes than to manage it. Did you know that Type 2 diabetes is genetically predisposed? Yes, if you have one or more family members that has diabetes, be careful! You can be active, be at a normal weight, and a healthy eater, BUT if your genetics say diabetes, you should be even more vigilant about your healthy lifestyle! Because my father has type 2 diabetes, I am very much aware that my chances of getting the disease are increased significantly. 
Pregnant women who are diagnosed with gestational diabetes also have a greater risk of contracting Type II Diabetes when they are older. (For more facts, see my earlier post, here)

Not sure if you are at risk? Take this easy Type 2 Diabetes Risk Test! It will help you make wise choices to help you delay or prevent the onset of Type 2 Diabetes!
If you know you are at risk for type 2 diabetes, eat as well as possible (avoid processed food!) and be active. Surround yourself with people who will support you and understand the changes you need to make. Healthy food tastes better than processed food, but it takes just a little more effort. Don’t feel like you have to explain or justify how you eat to people. Take back your life and know it's time to take control!

 There are plenty of success stories from people who have beat the odds and have come up winners in the fight against diabetes. If you are unsure about how to start, try this starter diabetic prevention kit, with free recipes, a free glucose tester, and free samples! Or subscribe to Diabetic Living Magazine (get it for free here).  If you're serious, start now!
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Facts About Diabetes And A Free Wristband! November Is #DiabetesAwarenessMonth

Diabetes or Prediabetic Syndrome is an alarming and growing epidemic that needs to be addressed and then eradicated. It is expensive for tax-payers and very devastating to those who have the disease. I am personally concerned about this disease because when my father passes away, it will probably be due to complications of  his adult-onset Type II Diabetes. He has worked hard all of his life, very hard! In the past, whenever there was a donut, a good cut of meat, pizza, or ice cream, he went for it! He looked at eating as a reward for being such a hard worker, and I totally concur. He deserved to have some kind of reward, for all of his hard work. Except that the reward he chose was bad for his health. Now he has to take his blood sugar every morning and night to make sure his sugar limits are within acceptable levels. Finally the message has gotten through to him that you are what you eat! He eats a huge salad every day filled with good veggies and fruits. But it will never cure him of diabetes. All he can do now is manage it. I don't ever want to live like that (I hate needles, for one thing), so I try to avoid foods that I know are bad for me, sometimes not very successfully. Because once you have it, that's it!

Here are some facts about diabetes you should know:

Disturbing New Trend. There is an emerging global epidemic of diabetes that can be traced back to rapid increases in overweight, obesity and lack of physical activity.

Death Toll Rising. Total deaths in diabetes are projected to rise by more than 50% in the next 10 years. Most interesting is that they are projected to increase by 80% in upper-middle income countries, like the U.S.

Types I And II. Type I Diabetes is characterized by a lack of the body's ability to produce insulin, which is apparent in early childhood. Type 2 diabetes is flagged because of the body's ineffective use of insulin. This can be adult onset and triggered because of a number of factors. Type 2 Diabetes is much more common than Type 1 and accounts for 90% of all the world cases of Diabetes.

Younger And Younger. Reports of Type 2 Diabetes in children, previously rare, have increased worldwide. In some countries it accounts for almost half of newly diagnosed cases in children and adolescents.

Another Type. A third type of diabetes is gestational diabetes, which is characterized by hyperglycaemia, or elevated  blood sugar.

Complications. Lack of awareness or the unavailability of healthcare services can lead to more severe diabetic complications such as blindness, amputation, and kidney failure. 

Widespread Implications. People with diabetes can live with the condition for years and the implications are widespread, the complications many. Often times, upon death, many reports indicate that the primary cause of death is heart disease or kidney failure when, in fact, those conditions are symptoms and complications of diabetes!

Prevention. With these facts in mind, we can see that this is an epidemic which is spreading too fast and much too easily. There are some basic things we can all do to make sure we don't get this "disease of the armchair and donuts". Basically, make sure you are getting at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity exercise on most days and that your diet is healthy, with a minimum of junk food. Know your family history. Do other members of your family have diabetes? If so, you may have a higher risk of getting diabetes yourself! Make sure you are getting plenty of fiber because fiber flushes out toxins and extra sugars that might contribute to diabetes. Avoid white flour and go for the whole grains! Whole grains help to stabilize blood sugar levels. If you are overweight, lose some of the extra weight. Studies show that if you lose even 7 percent of your initial weight, the chance for getting diabetes is reduced by at least 60 percent. So even losing some of the weight will help immensely!

November is Diabetes Awareness Month! Show your support to get rid of this disease by sharing what you know, doing what you can, and wearing the wristband!


Sources: Mayo Clinic, World Health Organization

Fall Healthy Snack #Giveaway [$60 ARV]

Welcome to the Fall Healthy Snack Giveaway featuring the Gluten Free Bar! Even if you aren't the least bit gluten-sensitive, these bars will pass the taste test because they are so delicious. With flavors like Cranberry Toasted Almond, Coconut Cashew Crunch, Dark Chocolate Coconut, or PB&J,  you'll definitely be able to find a flavor that you love! In addition to being gluten-free, these bars and bites are also:

• High in protein from brown rice and healthful peas
• Vegan
• Soy-Free
• Non-GMO
• Dairy-Free
• All Natural
• Casein Free
• Low Sodium
• No Trans Fat
• Cholesterol Free
• Wheat Free
• Contains Omega 3 from Flax
• Good Source Of Fiber 
• 100% guaranteed

As you can imagine, with such wholesome ingredients, you are sure to be full and stay full until your next meal!

Based in Grand Rapids, MI, the Gluten Free Bar Company was founded by two Celiac brothers, Elliot and Marshall Radar. The company produces its own bars, crafts its own flavors, and picks ingredients based on their production schedule and demand. This hands-on process makes their ingredients fresher and brings a level of dedication to their products that can be tasted in every bite! Connect with the brand on Twitter and Facebook!
 
DISCOUNT CODE: the Gluten Free Bar would love you to try them out. If you aren't 100% satisfied, they will return your money. For 15% off your purchase, use AGALNEEDSGFB at check-out through October 3rd!

GIVEAWAY: One winner will receive a $60 Prize Package of Gluten Free Bars and Bites! Open to U.S. only, age 21+, and one entrant per household. All entries are optional! Remember the more entries you complete, the better your chances are for winning!

Thanks to the great bloggers who are participating in this giveaway! Please consider liking all participating bloggers on Facebook. They worked hard to bring you this giveaway and others like it! Don't miss out on any future events! Sponsor is responsible for delivery of prizes, not participating bloggers. This blog received no compensation for the facilitation of this giveaway. Enter the giveawy in the Rafflecopter below! Giveaway runs from 9/15/15 - 10/03/15. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

the Gluten Free Bar + #DiscountCode

When you think of a healthy snack, what do you think of? Raw fruits and veggies? A Smoothie? A bar of some kind? It may depend on where you are, what you are doing, and how long before your next meal! To be satisfying, a snack should have some protein in it! If you are looking for a convenient, satisfying, and wholesome snack, please look at the Gluten Free Bar! It is the most tasty gluten free bar on the market. It comes in many flavors and in a smaller Bite size.

When I was given the chance to try these meals in a bar, I was really impressed. Having recently been diagnosed as "gluten sensitive", I really dreaded trying to eliminate or cut down on some of the foods that I've grown up loving, like popcorn, bread, cereal, (sniff, sniff) cakes, cookies, pies, (sob) and pizza (now we're doing the ugly cry). But these bars have given me a brighter hope. With 10 yummy flavors such as peanut butter, dark chocolate coconut, coconut cashew crunch, and chocolate hazelnut, I think I can safely cut down on the glucose without having to feel deprived. That's really good news for me! Plus, they're less than 300 calories!

In addition to the taste treat, the Gluten Free Bar really packs a nutritional punch! They are made with all natural ingredients like flax, organic plant proteins, organic dates, nuts, seeds, chocolate liquor! They are non-GMO, non-Soy, and much, much more!

Reasons To Pack the Gluten Free Bar:

• You won't be eating a meal for awhile and need something nutritious to maintain your glucose levels.
• You want something in between meals to kill hunger pangs
• You want a snack that is healthy
• You are doing a prolonged sport where you need to have steady energy supplies
• You need something easy and convenient when your schedule is busy

Last weekend my husband and I took a hike to a beautiful lake in Little Cottonwood Canyon. It said 'moderate hike' on the description, but I feel like it was really hard! Hoisting yourself up rocks for a mile isn't my idea of moderate! By the time we were finished, it had been a 6 hour trek. We each took a sandwich, water, and a Gluten Free Bar. We ate the sandwich at the lake, and the bar on the trail down. It was perfect! The bars were so filling and provided the energy needed to make the whole trip.

 I am a believer in these little nutritional powerhouses and plan on incorporating them into my life! 

DISCOUNT CODE: the Gluten Free Bar would love for you to try them out. If you aren't 100% satisfied, they will return your money. For 15% off your purchase, use AGALNEEDSGFB at check-out through October 3rd!

Disclosure: I received product in order to facilitate an honest and fair review. All opinions are my own

K Is For Kale, Kiwi, Kiefer---Anything But Cuties!

Today was the first day back to work after a wonderful Spring Break. During that time I must have hiked about 20 miles with my dog, blogged about 30 more hours, watched catch-up TV for 10 hours, had a wonderful Easter Dinner and generally had a great time! (I'm a lover of simple things)

Today the life-after-break avalanche that was waiting to happen let loose. I got buried by it . I left home at 7 am and returned 11 hours later, after work having done errands with son J, including getting his driving permit, shopping, and battling commute traffic back home. Just the everyday grind. But I love doing mom things, so this wasn't a bad thing.
Except for one item---my food choices.  I didn't plan well. I went too light in the early part of the day because I was rushed and didn't bring enough nutritious food. I skipped the vending machines because I was trying to be good. But 3 o'clock rolled around and I was a little starved (OK, a lot starved). When we went into the grocery store, I wigged out. If I had been smart I would have stuck with some great foods like:
Smoothie Made With Kiefer

Maybe a Kale & Kidney Bean Salad

Perhaps a few Kiwi's 

I would have been in great form having any of these great choices. And if I had planned right, I could have.  But by the time I got to the store, I was pretty ravenous. The thing that caught my eye was this box in the freezer section.

Cuties

Yeah, of all the things I could have picked, it was this. Notice that there are 8 per package. Each has 130 calories and 16 grams of sugar. Guess how many I ate? Just 7. That's all, just 7. Epic Fail for sure! Any of the K foods would have been so much better and better tasting too! But a person who is too hungry doesn't think reasonably. How silly of me! Cuties doesn't even start with K!

Lesson learned. It's one I've had to learn and re-learn many many times. When will it end? 

What is a crazy food choice you've made when you've been super hungry?

Swiss Chard and #Bacon With Parmesan

  If you haven't cooked with Swiss Chard, I suggest you do it this summer!  It's delicious! 
 I'm embarrassed to say I had never cooked Swiss Chard before a couple of years ago, but after I did, there was no turning back.  The leafs are very thick and don't look like they would be very good raw, like in a salad.

 First, I cut up an onion, 2 carrots and some garlic.  I sauteed these in some bacon drippings until they were tender. (I love bacon drippings.  I'm like my grandmother, I save it every time we cook bacon!)

I then added some chicken broth and put in the finely chopped red stalks of the chard.  I cooked these until they were tender and lastly, added the leaves and cooked them until they wilted!  I added some crumbled bacon, lemon juice and topped it with Parmesan Cheese.

The result was amazing!  I felt like a chef indeed!  I absolutely love the subtle zingy taste of the chard.  It is a great addition to any meal!

Don't Go Too Big Up Front! What??

As you know, I love to blog about health and wellness.  I've got a great guest post for the kinds of food your body needs when you are trying to get in shape for whatever reason!  I do especially agree with the last quote in the last paragraph of the article!  You've only got one body, so treat it with respect!  Oh, and the first paragraph explains the title of this post more clearly!  lol!
Thanks to author, Whitney Hollingshead

If you are training for a 5K, 10K, half marathon, marathon, an extreme athletic event, or even just hoping to get in shape, your diet will play a crucial role in your success.
Depending on how long you have been training, you may have already made a lot of key improvements to your diet. If you are just starting, however, it’s really important to phase into changing your diet gradually. Brad White of Sole Fitness has been participating in races and athletic events for years. Here’s his advice on changing your diet: “Don’t go too big upfront because if you go too big upfront you will quit next week.”
So how do you know how to change your diet? Let’s take a look at the foods that will benefit you the most and compare them to the foods you need to avoid.
Here are the foods/beverages that will help:
Whole Grains

 Oatmeal: contains a surprising amount of protein
Whole Grain Cereal with Protein: can contain up to 40% of daily fiber
Brown Rice: very high in fiber and known to drastically reduce the chances of illness
Whole Grain Bread: make sure it’s 100% whole grain
Whole Grain Pasta: quick carbs with more fiber to fill you up
Lean Protein

Eggs: one equals 10% of daily protein
Canned Black Beans: 60% of daily fiber
Chicken: versatile, easy to cook
Kidney Beans: rich in iron and protein
Fish
Salmon: high quality protein, essential omega-3 fatty acids
Tuna: also a good source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids
Fruits
Oranges: help with muscle soreness
Frozen Mixed Berries: powerful antioxidants
Lemons: one has more than 100% of daily vitamin C
Bananas: high in potassium
Vegetables
Sweet Potatoes: excellent source of vitamin A
Mixed Salad Greens: various phytonutrients (help keep your body working properly)
Frozen Stir-Fry Vegetables: contain beta-carotene & vitamin C
Broccoli: contains vitamin K & vitamin C
Snacks
Dark Chocolate: boosts heart health
Almonds: excellent source of Vitamin E
Low-fat Yogurt: provides protein and calcium and aids with digestion
Beverage

Water: drink water in its pure form for the best hydration and no calories

Here are the foods/beverages to avoid:
Sugary Food: Most sugary foods contain a lot of calories, as well as a lot of fat without giving you the key nutrients you need. On the flip side, natural sugars like those found in fruit are much better for your body.
Fast Food: Again, most fast foods contain fatty proteins and steal your calories while robbing you of good nutrition. If you have to eat at a fast food restaurant try alternatives like grilled chicken, or a baked potato with chili, and a side of fruit or yogurt.
Fried Food: Fried foods contain tons of calories and fat grams and usually taste so good that it’s hard to stop eating them after just a small amount. Try baking or steaming these foods instead.
Soda, Sugary Drinks, & Sports Drinks: These are full of sugar and a lot of calories with little to no nutrition. Sport drinks are really only helpful when you are working out for a really long period of time. When you are thirsty, grab some water instead.
Caffeinated Beverages, Energy Drinks, Coffee, & Alcohol: All of these will cause dehydration and can affect your workouts, as well as your sleep cycles.
Protein Bars & Energy Bars: The key here is to limit your consumption of these bars as they are highly processed. Focus on fresh fruits and nuts instead.
Remember, phase into these changes gradually. Start making a substitution or two each day until you can ease into changing everything. For example, plan dinner with brown rice instead of white rice tonight. Tomorrow you can have mixed salad greens instead of iceberg lettuce. If you can transition to making one key change each day, it will be easier to get to the point where all of the changes stick.
Also, do a lot of research online to find fun, fresh, and tasty ways to prepare the good foods listed above so that you don’t get tired of them. The key is to make sure the recipes aren’t adding a lot of additional fat. Also, pay close attention to how these foods are prepared when you are eating out.
Brad White also cautions that you need to prepare for the financial implications: “The other thing that is really hard is that eating healthy is not cheap. When you are talking about price per calorie, the price per calorie is a lot cheaper in bad foods.” So make sure you budget for the increased cost of groceries.
While making healthy and training-friendly changes will be expensive, time consuming, and at times even challenging, your body is well worth the sacrifice.

Foods That Heal!

After eating all that great Thanksgiving food yesterday, I am now thinking about food.  It's on my mind a lot, that's for sure! In addition to being one of the greatest sources of enjoyment ever, food really can help what ails you and prevent little things from creeping up.  Nutrition is the most effective beauty treatment and ailment preventative that you can give yourself!  I am actually a believer in additional supplementation with a good vitamin as well, to fill in some of the inevitable nutritional voids left during the day.  Nutrition is a valuable component that can help both athletes and regular exercisers protect themselves and improve performance.  Have you noticed that kids are getting bigger, stronger, faster, more into the weightlifting, more into nutrition, more into size? It is becoming ever more apparent that nutrition is the key to well-being and longevity and performance.

 With that said, let's look at some foods that can help banish the occasional headache or upset stomach, etc.!

Stress - Eat a banana!   It has vitamin B6, which helps the body produce calming serotonin, which can get you through a crisis peacefully!

High Blood Pressure - Raisins are extremely high in potassium, which is proven to bring down blood pressure.  Also anything having to do with grapes will aid your heart because of the high polyphenols!

Constipation or gas - Yogurt is great for this because it has cultures that feed the intestines.  The beneficial bacterias found in it will improve your gut's ability to digest food like beans and dairy, which produce pain and gas.

Kidney Stones - Eat dried apricots.  It has a great combination of nutrients that will help prevent  minerals from accumulating in the urine and forming calcium oxalate stones, the most common form of kidney stones.  

Winter Blues - Tuna fish has 800 mg of omega-3's, which treats the kind of blues that make someone feel low or anxious. But the top source of omega-3 fatty acids would be flaxseed and walnuts.  Eat a good supply of this and you're bound to be less depressed this winter!

Nausea - Pregnancy or motion sickness can be treated with ginger, one of the oldest remedies for nausea. Keep ginger ale, fresh ginger or ginger cookies on hand. Purchase ginger root capsules and take according to directions.

Other Stomach issues - Cramps or diarrhea can be caused by bacterias such as Salmonella or Listeria.  Basil, which contains eugenol, can ward off and kill these before they have a chance to wreak havoc on your system.  Use fresh, minced basil in sauces and salads for great flavor and preventative maintenance.

Coughing - Even more effective than OTC cough remedies was thick, dark brown honey!  It limits severity and frequency of a cough in children. 

Fatigue - Orange juice has natural fructose, a perfect pick-me-up when you're feeling sapped of energy.  Also the Vitamin C helps combat oxidative stress caused by free radicals and helps metabolize iron, which helps move energizing oxygen through the body!

Insomnia - Studies show that people with insomnia are deficient in tryptophan.  Eating 3 oz. of turkey will give you all the tryptophan you need in a day.  So eat a turkey sandwich before bedtime if you know you'll have trouble sleeping! 

Yeast Infection - Garlic has an ingredient known to kill Candida. Have plenty of garlic in sauces, marinades and dressings!

These are just a few things I found on the internet and in Prevention Magazine.  I always believe that natural is better because it provides the body what it needs to heal itself.  Before you reach into the medicine cabinet for that drug of choice, go and Google some natural ways to help yourself and as always, an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure, so eat up on those great foods that you love and find out what good they are doing you while you enjoy them!  

 One of the foods that I really enjoy, not only during Thanksgiving, but all year long, is yams or sweet potatoes.  These are full of  beta carotene and resin glycosides, a relatively new nutritional group that scientists are very optimistic about.  I also found a really great blog post about the debate concerning sweet potatoes vs. yams with some great references about the different varieties of sweet potatoes!  Hope you had a happy Thanksgiving and are well on your way to another happy holiday coming up in a few short weeks!  


 

A Way To Get Fresh Fruits and Vegetables For Low Prices --Bountiful Baskets

 

My brother and his wife, Alicia, just started participating in Bountiful Baskets.org.  It's a co-op where you sign up to volunteer and reap the rewards of a fresh fruit and vegetable delivery to a specified place in your city.  Before you read any further, it is currently only available in Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, Texas, Washington, Arizona and Nevada.  But with more participation and widespread demand, I'm sure it could spread out to other states.  I haven't tried it before, but my brother says it is really good.  They deliver a very generous amount of random seasonal fruits and vegetables to you and you take what is given.  But it is really good stuff at a really great bargain.  He showed me the tomatoes and they looked delicious!  I definitely want to try this!  I'll let you know how it goes!  If you have some experience with Bountiful Baskets or food co-ops, please fill me in as well!

Update:
I went on to be a huge fan of Bountiful Baskets and for about a year and a half I faithfully went every week to pick up my basket of fruit and veggies at great prices.  I became disillusioned, however, when I saw that the amount of fruit and even the quality of the fruit sometimes wasn't as great a bargain as I thought.  I slowed up my participation and finally quit once I moved to Sandy from Provo.  I do have fond memories of this time and maybe will start up again this summer!