WIAW #33 Kevita Sparkling Probiotic Drink Review - A Liquid Treat!

Are you craving something clean, refreshing, a little bubbly, and healthful to boot?  No, it's not kombucha, I've got something else you need to try....Kevita Sparkling Probiotic Drinks!

Like kombucha, these are loaded with stomach pleasing probiotics and not loaded with sugar like I do see in kombucha drinks. Plus, they even add apple cider vinegar which I'm a fan of already. Kevita has several coconut flavors sweetened with stevia and I stuck to only trying these. There are some flavors with higher sugar content, but I liked the coconut versions having only 10 to 20 calories for the whole bottle.

When not drinking plain water, these are the ingredients I like to see in a beverage!

Since my meal pictures are still lacking, I am focusing more on this fun filled "treat" that's not spooky in the slightest. Sorry for deviating from the normal What I Ate Wednesday procedures, but sometimes you just have to change it up.  Plus, these Kevita drinks are worth talking about. I do want to give a great, big thanks to Jenn at Peas and Crayons for hosting as usual; now go on over and pay her a visit!!


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I had the Mango Coconut first thing in the morning on an empty stomach instead of my morning coffee. The result? I felt more energized by this caffeine-free beverage than my big mug o'coffee; and no stomach pains either! Win! I wanted to go and be outdoors all day with this in my body, but I had to go to work instead...boo.  Fortunately, I was able to focus on my work better, so I'll take that for now.

I brought the Strawberry Acai Coconut one to work for a special beverage to enjoy with my lunch and again, I just felt good all over.  Plus, I work standing up and eating lunch can be a chore, but at least the drink was no problem!

My favorite is the pure Coconut Kevita with it's clean, effervescent taste that just makes you feel....good. The other flavors look and sound like they'd be tasty treats too, and their sugar content is the same as or less than kombucha.  If you are looking for a cleaner, crispier alternative to the more pungent probiotic drinks, look no further than Kevita Sparkling Probiotic Drinks.

Pick one up next time you're at the store, and let me know your thoughts.  Have you already tried these?  If so, what's your favorite flavor?

 

Oh, and here's a quick look at some of my eats....

 

 



[B] Spicy Carrot and Cauliflower Dip; iced black tea with vanilla rooibos; [S] Drew's Salsa and goat cheese crackers with green tea; [L] Medley of steamed veggies and Wild Planet Tuna topped with Drew's Salsa; Zevia to wash it all down; [D] Huge salad with radishes and grilled chicken topped with salsa; [D2] Chocolate delicata squash and spinach smoothie with pistachios, PB; then a cup of chocolate protein overnight oats...for good measure ; )

Happy WIAW, hope you have a great a week and your Fall is filled with pumpkins and apples!

Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil Review and a Pumpkin Pie Omelette

How many things do you know of that are good on and in your body?  Coconut oil is just that, and Tropical Traditions makes some of the best quality coconut oil out there!

When the noble people at Tropical Traditions sent me a quart-sized jar of their high quality Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil to try, I quickly searched for ways to use it. I first thought I would only find recipes to cook with it, but found it offers more than great, healthy cooking.

Like what you see? Get your own by clicking the giant picture of goodness and find your own ways to use this versatile oil.

Please note: If you order by clicking on any of my links and have never ordered from Tropical Traditions in the past, you will receive a free book on Virgin Coconut Oil, and I will receive a discount coupon for referring you."

Plus, have you seen the prices of some coconut oil in stores? I urge you to at least check out what Tropical Traditions has to offer and possibly help me out at the same time. I'll be very thankful....even more than I already am that you're here reading my blog. Thank you for that. : )

I have very dry hands from always washing them while in the kitchen, and sometimes they'll be painfully cracked for days.  Enter my new jar of coconut oil and my hands are healing nicely.  Every night after my shower, I'll rub a little on the problem areas to keep them hydrated; no greasy mess! This stuff is absolutely wonderful for my dry skin and I think it will help fight the upcoming winter dryness I experience perfectly.

But, obviously, we all want to know how it fares in food, right?  Simply put; awesome! This versatile and heat stable gift to us kitchen dwellers will keep your breads and pancakes safe from sticking to pans and impart flavor. Even egg dishes like my Pumpkin protein omelette inspired by Heather's (from Kiss My Broccoli) pumpkin omelette recipe easily slid right onto my plate for fast consumption.

As described on their website….

“The best and highest quality coconut oil is the wonderfully flavorful Gold Label Virgin Coconut Oil. This oil is the most nutritious, but not the most consistent in taste. It is handmade and has a strong, unique coconut smell and taste that will vary slightly from batch to batch. Therefore it is not the best cooking oil if you want a consistent taste. The oil usually retains most of its natural "coconutty-ness" during cooking (e.g. stovetop cooking) but when baked almost all of the strong coconut taste will dissipate.”

Just look at it; that thing is huge!! Pumpkin was the obvious ingredient of choice here considering the season, but I'd like to try another squash like kabocha or maybe even half pumpkin and half apple?  Hmmm, I sense some more work fun in the kitchen soon.

Luckily, I have a lot left for more adventure in the kitchen and to keep my hands from cracking.  I even gave some to my mom who has been wanting to try it herself.

I found that Tropical Traditions Coconut Oil added to my favorite overnight oats mix makes it extra thick and nutritious. They list so many ways the oil can be used including baking, in dips, for ketchup, homemade salad dressings, in soups, healthy fudge, pudding, in your tea or coffee (helps chapped lips too!), and many more; check out their full list here for the many uses.

I feel very lucky to have had the chance to sample and review such a great product to me, and I have my eyes set on trying some of their Coconut Peanut Butter soon.  Two good things in one; synergy at it's finest.  It must be good, because it's currently backordered! But never fear, you can make your own delicious spread by mixing Tropical Traditions Organic Coconut Flour with your favorite peanut butter and a little water.  

Special Price! - 1 Organic Coconut Flour - 2.2 lbs.

Check out their site for dozens of recipes for drinks, entrees, desserts, baked items, etc.

Disclaimer: Tropical Traditions provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose. Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review or sponsor a product giveaway in return for the free product.

Oh yeah, I mentioned a recipe, didn't I? I'll be making this for Kelley and me (as you've already seen) all the way through into next year....and probably longer!  

Have you used coconut oil before? Please share your favorites (or non-favs that we should avoid) and the best ways to use the oil out of the kitchen too!

Pumpkin Pie Protein Omelette

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients (Serves 2)

1/2 cup pumpkin puree; canned or fresh

2 1/2 t pumpkin pie spice

1/2 t pure vanilla extract

2 scoops vanilla protein powder; I use stevia sweetened egg white protein

4 T unsweetened almond, soy, hemp, coconut, or other milk of choice

1 T coconut oil, melted

Instructions

Heat a lightly greased skillet over medium heat

In a small bowl, combine all ingredients and mix until well combined

Pour contents into hot skillet

Let mix set for 30 seconds and then slowly swirl your skillet around until the egg mixture coats the edges of the pan to avoid a heavy center

Cook for 5-6 minutes; the edges should start to pull away from the skillet

Using a spatula, carefully flip one half over to the other side to create a half moon shape

Let cook for about 2 - 3 more minutes to cook the inside and carefully slide onto plate

Optional: Top with plain, non-fat Greek yogurt and a sprinkle of cinnamon

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Lightlife Vegetarian Foods - How They're Making a Healthier World

Have you heard of or tried Lightlife's veggie protein products?  I have only tried their vegetarian hot dogs and was pretty impressed with the taste and texture.  I'm not a dedicated vegan or vegetarian, but my consumption of meat is very limited and I make sure it's from a clean source.

Lightlife makes it possible to get plenty of high quality protein with their non-GMO soy products with no preservatives.  If you have read my blog before, you'd know I like to make most of my meals from whole food sources not in packages, but Lightlife products will help me when short on time.

I choose acceptable packaged food by studying the ingredients and nutrition, and I have found Lightlife has plenty of clean products to offer.  I'm really interested in their line of tempeh products and can't wait to try all versions, especially the wild rice!

With fall here and the slight chill (only slight because I'm in Texas) in the air, I've been craving comfort food that's healthy and delicious.  When I don't have time (a lot lately) to make my own from scratch, I am ready to pick up their Smart Chili to try out on a cooler day.  If you have tried it, please let me know your thoughts.

So why am I posting about Lightlife without really trying a lot of their products?  Someone on behalf of Lightlife asked me to share a new video they have posted and I liked its message.  The video depicts a farm where all of the animals are made out of veggies.  I think the message comes across loud and clear and it's just a neat video to watch.

Please watch this short video and let me know what you think.  Can you name the veggies that make up the animals?  Some are hard to figure out, but the bell pepper body on the cows is pretty cool; same for the corn cob pigs. With so much news about the world's meat supply dwindling, it's a "smart" choice to reduce our meat intake and eat more veggies.  I agree veggies give us most of what we need and meat is not needed with every meal.



Please, let me know how you add more veggies to your diet and if you have any great ideas to get enough vegetable protein from healthy sources and products like Lightlife.

Check out their website for info on how they can make you and the world a healthier place and see what they're up to on Facebook and Twitter.

WIAW #28 How Do You "Fall" Into Good Habits?

Well what do you know, we're cruisin' through September at ludicrous speed! Spaceballs...anyone? For you dorm dwellers, I'd recommend adding this movie to your collection; it provides comic relief to an intense study session, I promise.

Speaking of studying, how do or did you prepare for a long session? I don't have to study anymore, but I could never just sit down and get right to it.  I'd take a while to collect reading and writing material, snacks for snacking, a drink, and do any random thing I could find to delay actually sitting down to study.

Are you the same, or can you just jump right into studying?  For things like exercise and choosing healthier food, I can stop or start pretty fast.  No need for "baby steps" to cut a certain food that I know is bad from my diet.  If I see/hear it's bad, then it's not on my plate or in my cup from there on out.

When I get ready for a run or to lift weights, I don't waste time getting started like I would trying to study. Obviously, I know I must warm up before lifting, but for my runs, I just start going and warm up for the first mile or two. If I delay, the looming workout will get into my head and I'll over-think everything.  Not good...just get out and do it!

I was not as health-minded for most of my college days and would eat fast food, Cheez-Its, sugary cereal, and many other foods I simply turn my head at now. But my change was not gradual; I heard how bad trans fat was and immediately cut out anything with the stuff.  So basically, no more fast food or those addicting Cheez-Its.

They removed hydrogenated oils, but this list paragraph of ingredients looks worse than what's listed in dog or cat food.

I got over it fast as I noticed how much better I felt before, during, and after exercise and everyday life.  The people who whine saying "But it's just so hard to give X Food up." or "I don't know where to start." just tick me off.  Sorry if this is you, but if you know it's bad, why continue consuming it? If the vet said your most loved pet will get severely sick or even die if you keep feeding them their favorite treat, would you still give it to them?  I hope the answer is no.

So, as the title for today's post asks, how do you fall into good habits?  Is it a gradual change or can you change on a whim? I figured this is a perfect question to ask along with this month's What I Ate Wednesday theme of "Fall Into Good Habits." Thanks to Jenn at Peas and Crayon's for putting on this fun event every Wednesday!

Speaking of WIAW, lets move on to my eats.  Time has been pretty scarce lately, so sorry for the lack of pictures this week. Hope you enjoy what I do post (some are recycled from the past), I plan on getting back on track by next month with more pics.

Breakfast

Just like last week, I enjoyed a bowl of steamed veggies with spaghetti squash and tuna. Of course there was coffee brewed with Navitas Naturals Cacao Powder to round it out; sooooo good!

Lunch

I froze the extra Coconut Salmon Cakes from last week and had them again for lunch; freezing extra food for later is the best! Usually. A dessert cup of Lucuma Powder sweetened quinoa pudding rounded out the meal perfectly.

Dinner

Giant salad with brussels, red pepper, cucumber, tuna, and homemade pureed lentil dressing thick enough to be a dip; protein smoothie with Navitas Naturals Cacao Powder and homemade Let's Do..Organic Coconut Granola; one.....okay, two, microwave overnight oatmeal muffins with unpictured peanut butter spread in the middle.

Happy WIAW, Thanks For Stopping By!!!

Just in case you missed them, I have two product reviews and giveaways I highly recommend you read and enter to win.

Let's Do...Organic Coconut Flour - Ends this Friday, 9/14

Navitas Naturals Cacao and Lucuma Powder - Ends next Friday, 9/21

Both companies do their part to be economically responsible and have deliciously healthy products I know you'll love.  Good Luck!

Navitas Naturals Fun and Functional Powders: Review + Giveaway

It's confirmed, every healthy kitchen should have at least one thing from Navitas Naturals in their pantry! The very kind Mic from Navitas Naturals was gracious enough to send me these to review....

Cacao Powder

Lucuma Powder

Cacoa Goji Super Food Power Snack

Click on each link to read more about these delightfully nutritious and delicious "super foods" and ideas on how to use them.

I tend to get more satisfaction from tasty food when it's either A) made by yours truly (me) or B) from a socially and environmentally responsible business.  Since I lack the ability to make such functional food, Navitas Naturals falls under my "B" category.  Here's what their About Us section has to say..

The “Navitas” in our name is the Latin word for energy.

And like our name implies, our mission is to provide premium organic functional foods that increase energy and enhance health. Part of this effort is to continually search for the world’s most beneficial natural foods. Navitas Naturals is a certified organic, green business headquartered in Marin County, California.

We specialize in organic functional foods, and strive to lead the industry in this expanding market. Health conscious consumers choose our nutrient-rich products because they are loaded with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. Our premium quality “superfoods” are always free of additives and trans fats; the absence of these elements speaking to the purity and effectiveness of the products.

Our company is committed to socially and environmentally responsible business practices. We source our premium functional foods through direct partnerships with farming communities around the world. An essential part of our mission is to create economic opportunities among indigenous people in developing countries, and our support of native agriculture helps expand development of global organic farming practices.

I've tried several cacao or cocoa powders in the past and some are very pungent or lack flavor. Navitas Naturals' Cacao is mild and creates a happy medium for me.  If anything, I would ask for a little more chocolate flavor, but I just add a little extra in my smoothies to get what I'm looking for.

The easiest way to use the cacoa powder was to add to the ground coffee in my French Press for pleasant chocolate coffee beverage to kick-off the day.  If you don't have a French Press, just add the cacao to your grounds in a traditional brewer for the same effect. With a little milk added, you have hot chocolate coffee! You don't need a sweetener, but if you prefer, I recommend a few drops or a packet of stevia to do the trick.

Here are some other recipes I posted in the past and recreated with Navitas Naturals' Cacao Powder with great success:

Peanut Butter Chocolate Protein Spread – Better than Nutella!

Microwave Chocolate Protein Cake - Enjoy with Hot Cacao Coffee

Sugar Free Chocolate Protein Brownies

 Basically, you need/want this in your kitchen. Read this post I wrote in the past on the benefits chocolate powder and for more healthy recipes. For more recipe ideas, click here.

I have never heard of Lucuma before it was in my wonderful review package from Mic, but I won't forget it now! I mixed the powder into smoothies, baked treats, and plain yogurt to add an extra depth of flavor and nutrition.  It has a taste reminiscient of maple and pairs well with blueberries or all alone. Forget the non-nutritive sugar, Lucuma is where it's at.

Cacao and Lucuma Green Smoothie with homemade protein granola and almonds

And for the Organic Raw Cacao Goji Power Snacks? YUM!  These have both the cacao and lucuma powder and are similar to most no-cook treat recipes found on the web.  One difference; they are already made for you and nicely packaged to bring in the car or keep at work.  I still have these at work and use them for my emergency hunger attacks if my lunch was not enough.  Try them, you won't be sorry.

I'm still using all of these and hanging on to the cacao powder for dear life; I don't want it to run out! Thank you, Mic, for sending such functional "super food" my way, I'll be getting more cacao powder soon.

Cinnamon Quinoa Pudding sweetened with Lucuma Powder...recipe to come soon.

Sorry, this giveaway has ended, but you should still try Navitas Naturals if you get the chance.

Have you read enough about how wonderful these products are and now you want to try for yourself?  Well lucky you! If the title didn't "give it away", Navitas Naturals has agreed to giveaway a package of Lucuma and Cacao Powder to one lucky reader.  You have 6 easy ways to enter as listed below.  The contest will end on Friday, September 21, so get your entries in and sit by the calendar in anticipation.

Please leave a separate comment for each entry; a winner will be picked at random after the contest is over.

1. Check out Navitas Naturals' page and tell me what product you want to try most.

2. Follow Navitas Naturals on Twitter

3. Like Navitas Naturals on Facebook

4. Follow Just Add Cayenne on Twitter and Tweet the following – "I entered to win Lucuma and Cacao Powder from @NavitasNaturals with @I_Love_Cayenne and you can too! "

5. “LIKE” Just Add Cayenne on Facebook. If you already “Like” Just Add Cayenne, leave a comment letting me know.

6. Help support Just Add Cayenne and subscribe to my blog. Just post a comment if you are already subscribed.

Thanks for reading and Good Luck!!

Let's Do Organic Coconut Flour: Recipes, Review, and a Giveaway!

"Gluten Free - Low Fat - High Fiber"....and not from a grain!

If coconut and peanut flour were competing to be the best flour or kitchen "necessity" for me, it'd be a close race!  Before trying Let's Do Organic Coconut flour, I thought nothing could knock my beloved peanut flour off its totem pole.

Besides the fact that I don't really have a totem pole for my flour to begin with, I'm finding new and flavorful ways to the coconut flour that Let's Do Organic (owned by Edward & Son's) graciously sent me to review.  How have I not tried this stuff for so long?!

Here's some information worth reading about the health-minded company:

• Edward & Sons Trading Co is family owned and run. Founded in 1978.
• Our motto is "Convenience without Compromise" ®
• We do not tolerate artificial ingredients in packaged foods so Edward & Sons™ products will never contain artificial flavors or colors, chemical preservatives or hydrogenated fats
• All of our items are vegetarian and most are suitable for vegans
• We offer many options for those with food allergies and special diets such as Gluten Free or Kosher
• Our product family encompasses several brands, including Edward & Sons ™, Native Forest®, Let's Do...Organic®, The Wizard's®, Premier Japan®, Let's Do...® and Road's End Organics®

I definitely enjoy whole grain flour for baking, but sometimes I feel like something without using a grain flour.  Thanks to Let's Do Organic, I had the chance to make some delicious, gluten and sugar free treats as well as a savory meal for work lunch.

Upon opening the bag, you receive the welcoming scent of coconut flooding your nostrils and an instant desire to eat any and all things coconut!  First thing I did was whip up a protein smoothie with vanilla protein powder, frozen papaya, squash and carrot puree, and coconut flour.

WOW! I used 2 heaping tablespoons in the smoothie and the first sip was like a mini coconut grenade exploding on my tongue and encompassing my mouth with it's wonderful flavor.  Whoever says they don't like coconut, well, too bad you'll never know this great flavor.

I've been adding the coconut flour to almost every smoothie since, but not as much as the first and love the flavorful thickness it creates.  I like to eat my smoothies with a spoon, so it's basically coconut, veggie, fruit, and protein "ice cream" I guess.  Whatever it is, I'm A-D-D-I-C-T-E-D.

Unlike regular flour from grain, you don't have to cook this coconut flour, so it's a splendid ingredient in the plethora of no-bake recipes found all over the internet. I want to use it in my Quinoa Almond Protein Cookies next; can't wait!

With nutritional stats like these, why wouldn't you use it? 
Besides being allergic...

What I did use it in and create recipes for are my new favorite lunch items, baked coconut salmon cakes, and a crunchy new treat, gluten-free protein granola.  The flour absorbs liquid more than others which makes it great in the salmon cakes and as mentioned earlier, to thicken smoothies.

My bag of Let's Do Organic Coconut Flour is almost empty, and that makes me sad, but I will surely be getting more soon.  Would you like to try some for yourself? Yes? What if you could try for free? YES?

Well okay then, check out this gluten free granola recipe to get you excited about trying the gem of a flour, and enter to win one of 2 bags.  The salmon cake recipe will be posted soon, most likely tomorrow.

Gluten-free Coconut Protein Granola



by RC Liley

Cook Time: 30 min








Ingredients

2 cups puffed corn cereal; I used Arrowhead Mills
2 cups puffed millet cereal; again, Arrowhead Mills
1 T Cinnamon; I like it very cinnamon-intense, add only 1/2 a tablespoon if you like
2 scoops vanilla protein powder; I use egg white protein sweetened with stevia
1/2 cup Let’s Do Organic Coconut Flour
1/4 tsp Sea Salt
1/4 cup oat bran
1/2 cup pumpkin puree; mashed ripe banana is excellent too
2 T non-dairy milk or water
1 T Coconut oil or butter
3 packets of stevia powder or 25 drops of liquid stevia; this could be sweeter, but I don’t like it too sweet
1 tsp Vanilla
Optional: 2 T honey, agave, or molasses for personal preference (I did not use these and can’t attest to the outcome).




Instructions

Preheat oven to 325.

Mix the dry ingredients together in a large mixing bowl using a wire whisk.

In a separate mixing bowl, add the pumpkin puree with 2 T milk or water.

Melt the coconut oil/butter and mix into pumpkin mixture.

Add the wet to the dry and stir until well combined; this takes a while, be patient

On a parchment lined cookie sheet spread the mixture out evenly and bake for 30 – 35 minutes.  Every 10-15 minutes stir and break up the granola for even baking.

Remove from oven once you see granola turning a deep golden color.

Allow to cool and enjoy however you would.

The clusters make excellent portable snacks and smaller pieces can be used for your milk/yogurt “dressing”.


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Now, for that giveaway..... 2 people will have the chance to win a bag of Let's Do Organic Coconut Flour to make their own delicious treats.  I recommend this recipe or the salmon cakes; coming soon!

This contest has ended; keep checking back for the next giveaway!!

You can enter up to 6 times by doing each of the following action items and leaving a separate comment for each:

Tell me your favorite coconut flour recipe or how you would use it.

Follow Edward and Son's on Twitter

Like Edward and Son's on Facebook

Follow Just Add Cayenne on Twitter and Tweet the following – "I entered to win coconut flour from @EdwardandSons with @I_Love_Cayenne! Enter for your chance too!  "

“LIKE” Just Add Cayenne on Facebook. If you already “Like” Just Add Cayenne, leave a comment letting me know.

 Help support Just Add Cayenne and subscribe to my blog. Just post a comment if you are already subscribed.

The contest will end on Friday, September 14th and I will announce the winners soon after.

I want to thank Hannah from Edward & Son's who agreed to send me the coconut flour and for me host a giveaway for 2 of my readers! This is a wonderful product to have in any home, even if you can have gobs of gluten, and I will keep my pantry stocked with the stuff.

Good luck and thanks for reading!

WIAW# 23 Artisana Nut Butters Review and Giveaway: My New Summer Staple

I just noticed my past two WIAW posts were number 21, oops….so now I’m back on track at 23.

It seems like everyone else in the foodie blog world has tried and loved Artisana Organic Nut Butters, and I am just now experiencing their awesomeness! I have seen the Artisana Coconut Butter in stores, but never committed to purchasing some.

Artisana was kind enough to send some samples my way for review, so I had no excuse not to try all of their amazing butters, spreads, and oil. I have tried other nut butters before, and they’re all good to me, but the coconut butter and oil were both new to me. I love coconut, and now I have fallen in love with coconut butter!

If you love Artisana or have been wanting to try it, keep reading and enter for your chance to win some for yourself.


I love the site of a freshly opened food package!

Straight from the jar, their raw coconut butter transforms all of my worries into happy thoughts and delights each one of my taste buds. Sounds far-fetched (unless you’ve tried it too), but I’m serious! I used the coconut oil in smoothies, baking, and microwave egg dishes all with great success in the taste department. I even added 1 tablespoon to my Microwave Protein Cinnamon Bread recipe using the Macadamia, Pecan, and Cashew butters to see what made the best flavor.

Conclusion? They will ALL be made again, but the cashew butter makes a deliciously dense bread I enjoyed most. Not to be left out, I used the Almond butter to make my favorite Overnight Oatmeal Crisps with great results.  I have to only bring a few to work for snacks each day, otherwise I'd eat them all in one sitting!

Kelley had a tasty surprise in the daily protein smoothie I made her when I added coconut oil to the mix. If you have been using coconut oil and butter for a while, do you remember being overwhelmed with pleasure with your first taste?

So, obviously, I have sampled Artisana’s coconut products and have become a major foodie fan. Although these weren't my Summer Staples in the past, they will become my year round staples. For this reason, I feel this review ties in perfectly with August’s Summer Staples theme.

About the other samples Artisana sent, I really enjoyed each of the squeeze packs for easy, satisfying snacks at work. Just open the pack, squeeze on spoon (or in mouth), be happy and healthy! Although some have a mix of two nuts for better consistency, the main ingredient really stands out and you can distinguish its flavor. So, if you are a fan of walnuts, you’ll be a fan of their Walnut Butter.

My favorite thing to do is mix the coconut butter with vanilla protein powder and pumpkin puree for the best spread, icing, or dip I’ve ever had. Really, just mix a tablespoon of coconut butter with a scoop of protein powder and a 1/2 cup of pumpkin puree and you’re ready for a party! In your mouth, at least; I wouldn’t want to share this food treasure with anyone else!

A big thanks to Artisana for providing delicious samples for review. I will happily go to the store for more; soooo good. To any foodies who haven’t tried Artisana’s nut butters, I highly suggest you do soon; trust me. Look below to win some for yourself!

Lets try and move on to have a look at my eats now. As always, thanks to Jenn and Peas and Crayons for putting this super fun and fantastic event together every week!

Happy What I Ate Wednesday!


Breakfast
Overnight Oatmeal Crisps with Artisana Almond Butter (pictured above); baby carrots with Artisana Walnut Butter; two bags of unsweetened black tea

Lunch
Slow-cooker salsa chicken with veggies and brown/wild rice blend; dehydrated okra; 2 bags of unsweetened green tea plus 2 bags rooibos tea on ice;

Dinner
Spring mix salad with brussels, mushrooms, homemade salsa (for dressing), mustard, and lots of herbs and spices; whey protein smoothie with ginger and nutmeg (maybe some bourbon too) and microwave protein bread cooked with Artisana nut butters; Chobani Pumpkin Protein Yogurt with Artisana coconut butter and plain CHO on top.

Think I used Artisana products enough? I don't; this stuff is good!  I went a little overboard with the coconut in Kelley's smoothie, so beware if making something for others! But it was no problem, I added some unsweetened cocoa powder and peanut flour for a quick fix that she liked. Phew! #husbandsave

I don't know why I did that hashtag thing, I don't do it a lot, but I keep seeing it and now it's catching on.  Oh well, makes me laugh.........a little......on the inside.

In the fitness department, I am still following the Supreme 90 day videos exactly as laid out.  In addition, the Olympics have inspired me to practice the Olympic lifts like snatch, clean, and jerk, so I've been slowly adding weight to the barbell and doing this twice a week. And, b/c I can't escape, I will go for a random run in the heat just for a good sweat, mow the lawn with a reel mower while wearing a 20lb vest (today), and do swim sprints.  It very varied and fun!

Before I part with you, would you like to know how you can win your own Artisana to savor and secretly hide from share with friends and family? You can enter up to 6 times by doing each of the following action items and leaving a separate comment for each:

1. Tell me your favorite Artisana product and how you do or would use it.
2. Follow Artisana Foods on Twitter
3. Like Artisana Foods on Facebook
4. Follow Just Add Cayenne on Twitter and Tweet the following – "I entered to win creamy Artisan nut butters from @ArisanaFoods with @I_Love_Cayenne! Enter for your chance too!  "
5. “LIKE” Just Add Cayenne on Facebook. If you already “Like” Just Add Cayenne, leave a comment letting me know.
6.  Help support Just Add Cayenne and subscribe to my blog. Just post a comment if you are already subscribed.

The winner will have their choice of any 8oz. jar of Artisana spreads/nut butters and an assortment of their wonderfully convenient squeeze packs. Please make sure to leave some way for me to contact you if you are the winner.

The contest will end Friday, August 17, 2012 and I will choose a winner at random and announce on Monday, August 20, 2012. Winner must be from the U.S. in the lower 48 states. 

This contest has ended. Congrats to Christy at Chocolate Covered Diamonds for winning!

Hope you all have a wonderful day and good luck!

Q:  Do you have any new foodie finds that will become a staple in your diet? It's all about coconut butter for me!

Q2: Have the Olympics inspired you to take on something new? If so, what?