Let’s get ready to party!
I’m proud to announce the first-ever Twitter Party from ADSG, sponsored by Aleia’s! Get ready to chat all things cookies as we get closer to the holidays (and maybe some real sweater weather?)
Aleia’s has generously sponsored the event with multiple incredible prize packs but you *must* RSVP to be eligible to win.
RSVP below and see you all Tuesday night!
Take it easy, but take it.
Brianna
Located in River North, Ema is the hot new spot for Mediterranean food and one of the newest editions to the Lettuce Entertain You Group.
No matter what, when I walk in the door of a Lettuce restaurant, I feel entirely safe. With eggs newly on my strict cannot-have list, I’ve been a bit more anxious dining out than usual, but all concerns were easily diminished with a kind waitress last week at Ema.
Though we could not get a reservation between 5:30 and 7:30 on a Wednesday night (hot spot, I told you!) there is an area of tables for walk-ins and between that space, the rain, and a major Cubs game (Go Cubbies!), we were seated immediately upon walking in at about 6pm.
This restaurant is tapas-style but with the standard Mediterranean offerings–they suggested 2-3 plates per person at each table to share.
We ordered the spicy hummus (which came with gluten free, vegan house-made crackers!), cauliflower romanesco (with yogurt and honey), the lamb-beef kebab, and the salmon kebab.
The star of the show was absolutely the cauliflower, which is typically the most underrated veggie of them all. This beauty was gorgeous on the plate and filled with bold flavors and a variety of textures.
Next visit, I’ll opt to order more from the vegetable plates over the standard kebab plates–sadly, they were only 1 kebab per order and the plate was mainly rice (which would throw my BG for a rollercoaster).
Will absolutely return, and soon.
Take it easy, but take it.
Brianna
For those of you who know me, you know that chocolate is life-sustaining for me.
I am a full-blown chocoholic and am not afraid to admit it.
And while a square of Dove or a Hershey’s Kiss is fine now and then, I’m always on the hunt for the newest beautiful, tasty, and dare-I-say healthy chocolate on the market–especially if it has other philanthropic or environmentally conscious aspects (remember my Raaka review?)
Well, let me tell you– Nib Mor Chocolate understands me.
Not only are their chocolates and drinking chocolates (OMG, right?) natural, certified organic, certified non-GMO, certified gluten-free, and certified vegan– but they’re Fair Trade Certified and the cocoa is even Rainforest Alliance Certified, something I’ve had my eye on for Fair Trade Month this month.
While they sell multiple drinking chocolates and many bar flavors–including my favorite, Sea Salt Dark, and even super fruit bars like blueberry and cacao nibs–my favorite is hands down the “Daily Dose of Dark” squares. These little friends, available in several flavors, find their way to my purse daily and are exactly that–a daily dose of dark. Who said chocolate isn’t medicine?
Now, Halloween season is about to kick-off, and I knew all ADSG readers would be looking for something a little more allergy-friendly and a lot more human-friendly (close out Fair Trade Month strong, everyone!) so I’ve partnered with Nib Mor to bring ADSG readers a special 20% discount code that is even valid on their Halloween specials.
Use code: C9D9OIWWI3XA on their shop website! They’ll even arrive by Halloween if you order in the next 3 days and shipping on orders over $25 is free.
But wait, it gets even better for one lucky reader–you could win everything you see in the picture below, thanks to Nib Mor!
Holy moly, right?
We’re going to do this a little differently this time, though.
Head over to my Instagram (@breezygfreezy) to enter!
Take it easy, but take it.
Brianna
*Nib Mor provided chocolate for this review*
I don’t know about you, but my self-restraint when it comes to chips just goes out the window. So, when it comes to blood sugars post-chip binging, they take it a little easier if the chips happen to be chock full of fiber and protein.
Chips?! Fiber and protein?! What is this madness, Brianna?!
Well. It’s Beanitos.
This is a company that runs by the motto “Beans are Better” and describes each of their snacks as “lean bean protein machine(s),” adding tons of beneficial goodies, including antioxidants.
With a line of products that just keeps growing {and all are certified gluten free, some vegan, all vegetarian friendly, all corn free, all low sodium, no trans fat, all kosher, the list goes on!}, I tore into the box when they arrived at my door.
Better Cheddar and Sour Cream Pinto Bean Chips were munched through in hours and my colleagues devoured the NEW Baked White Bean Mac n’ Cheese Crunch snacks–think healthy Cheetos.
Okay, well, I have to admit something. I had my family members hide the rest of my stash for fear of eating all of them in no time! I’ll be on the hunt soon.
Now for the exciting stuff– Beanitos has sponsored the largest ever giveaway on ADSG! One lucky winner will get 2 cases of the ELEVEN flavors of Beanitos snacks!
Holy moly, right? Enter below.
#vivalabean
Take it easy, but take it.
Brianna
It’s been written up in nearly every magazine and newspaper across the globe in the last year–the explosion of a new food trend that’s said “not to be going anywhere” by TIME: bone broth.
While not technically a broth, but rather a stock chock full of minerals, amino acids, cartilagenous compounds, and more from the animal bones, this concoction is being called a “magical elixir” as individual believe it’s helping everything from digestion issues to allergies.
Shape Magazine has noted that people have attributed help with leaky gut, joint protection, younger look, better sleep, immune support, stronger bones, and more energy all to drinking this cup of wonders.
While I’m not sure if all of the above are applicable with me, I can tell you that sitting down for a warm cup of Osteobroth always calms my stomach–not to mention it boasts a nice 12g of protein in one cup (and only 50 cal)!
Osteobroth is my current go-to for bone broth for a few reasons:
I have one main lesson I learned when preparing my Osteobroth, counter to the instructions on the label. Instead of adding the 2 tbs. before the boiling water (crucial to help it dissolve!), try 1 tbs. before, add water, dissolve, then add the other tbs–it’s less likely to clump when you stir part at a time!
Now, who’s ready for some allergy friendly, paleo, low carb, gut healing, life changing potion?
Two winners get 1 jar of each size Osteobroth sells! That means one for your cabinet, one for your desk, because trust me–you won’t want to stop drinking this. You can even check out their website for recipe ideas!
Click here to enter!
Take it easy, but take it.
Brianna
*This post was sponsored by Osteobroth, though–as always–all opinions are my own and I only review products that I love and believe in.*
Calling all individuals who care about their hoo hoos!
Do I have your attention now?
This week’s product feature and giveaway is something new for ADSG–a non-food product called healthy hoohoo! Founder Stacy was appalled by the ingredients in the cleaning products ladies were using on their most delicate body part and set out with a mission: “provide a healthier cleansing option for women of all ages interested in the well being of their intimate area.”
healthy hoohoo respects a woman’s body and believes it should be treated like a temple. Reducing the amount of chemicals we are exposed to on a daily basis is simply one step to better health. We value wellness, the best ingredients, and being relentlessly authentic.
An adorable package arrived at my door with quite honestly the best marketing material I think I’ve ever seen. With all the important features laid out– like the fact that the products are paraben/fragrance/glycerin free–alongside tag-lines like “Woo hoo for hoo hoo,” I could not stop laughing nor reading!
One of the inserts even discussed how to know if “your hoo hoo {is} balanced” and tips to ensuring it is! Another explained the chemicals to avoid (and the names they’ll be called in ingredient lists) and what parts of your hoo hoo should get some cleanser love.
Now ladies, without becoming far to intimate for ADSG, these products will leave you feeling clean and happy. I’m totally hooked on a product category I never thought I’d ever buy/want/need!
Who wants some hoo hoo love? Enter the giveaway below!
Take it easy, but take it.
Brianna
This is not the same-old pizza sauce you’ve been grabbing off the shelf for years. With flavors like chipotle and asiago, any recipe calling for some tomato sauce is about to be escalated in flavor by Leonardo’s Pizza Sauce.
All four of their delicious flavors are gluten free, soybean oil free, and nut free- though they do contain dairy.
I used the asiago sauce as the top to my tedious, though gorgeous, zucchini ravioli! It added such an unexpected taste and element–I’m absolutely going to continue to grab it for my recipes’ sauce needs.
And guess what– there’s a chance for you to try any 2 flavors of your choosing!
Oh, but it gets better because…THERE WILL BE TWO WINNERS! A first in ADSG history, two lucky readers will be able to choose 2 sauces to use in their own cooking!
Enter to win here!
Take it easy, but take it.
Brianna
*Leonardo’s provided product for myself and the giveaway in exchange for an honest review*
*Jewel-Osco sponsored this review by providing a $50 gift card to their store in exchange for recipe development using items available at their locations*
Jewel-Osco put me on a mission: create a gluten-free meal (enough to feed 4) using products from their stores. Oh, and it was not to exceed $50 for everything, including a dessert item.
As you all know, I’m not the blogger who creates recipes weekly–though I cannot be more grateful to all the GF bloggers that do, as they’ve given me inspiration for years!
Well, I took a stab at it– and I made the meal TOP 8 FREE.
Yep, that’s right. Top 8 free, under $50, enough for at least 4 people {though definitely could be 5-6!}–which means, for all you college and young professional readers, tons of leftovers.
I had all the dry spices I needed in my cabinet, so I didn’t have to account for those in my total–feel free to swap for your available spices to save on the $$$!
Jewel-Osco is my go-to grocery store in Chicago– between it’s gluten free section, gorgeous produce, and great prices, I’m always set after a Jewel run. I couldn’t be more thrilled to create these recipes on their behalf.
This entire meal was created for $48.82!
Without further ado, Moroccan Chicken {with a vegan garlic sauce} + Sweet Corn Succotash + Mixed Berry Crisp!
Preparation…
Final Product!
Preparation…
Final Product!
Preparation step 1…
Preparation step 2…
Final Product!
Take it easy, but take it.
Brianna
*I was sent the new vegan allergen-free Bloomfield Farms bread to review honestly*
To say this is the spongiest, most fluffy gluten free bread I’ve ever had wouldn’t do this bread justice.
I could *bend* it. I could probably roll it up, if I hadn’t chowed through the whole loaf in a matter of days. I kept squishing it in confusion of it’s behavior.
We’re all used to GF bread that needs toasting and still just barely does the trick for bread. This bread is not only gluten free, but vegan/ALLERGEN FREE. Yes, you got that right– this is counter stable, non-toast-needed, airy, delightful top 8 free bread.
Look at that fluffy slice!
Bloomfield Farms nailed it.
You absolutely must get your hands on some–and their Facebook page is hosting frequent giveaways of it as it moves into stores!
Take it easy, but take it.
Brianna
*Luce’s Artisan Bread Mixes has provided mixes for a review/giveaway*
Okay, ADSG readers– I know it’s not the normal Sunday time for posting, and it’s not even just a little delayed to Monday. It’s Tuesday and this week, life just got hectic. But, nonetheless, I have a fantastic review and giveaway for all of you!
Charles Luce began his line of mixes, and a bakeshop in NJ, after he was diagnosed with celiac in 2002 {boy, don’t I remember the days of hockey puck buns and crumbling “bread”} and launched a line of gorgeous,unique, and tasty artisan bread mixes in 2012. Each bread mix {Classic Sourdough, New Italian, Really “Rye”, Bold Buckwheat, OMG Flatbread, and others depending on the season} are simple– just add water.
(Okay, there are a few steps that go with that water adding process, like letting the bread rise, etc. but you catch the drift).
The breads come out of the oven with a fun crusty exterior (dusted with rice flour and a sight most celiac people have never seen), begging to be ripped apart and devoured.
Each mix was absolutely more delicious than the last. My favorite is definitely the New Italian, though a hard choice.
The only thing to be aware of–that messed me up–is to be careful the bag is not stuck on the dough when you bake it. Otherwise, like me, you may eat some paper with your bread.
And lucky ADSG readers– Charles has decided to sponsor an amazing giveaway of their Tasting Package, which includes Classic Sourdough, New Italian, Bold Buckwheat, Really “Rye,” OMG Flatbread, and even their Mile High Pancake Mix (which I’m yet to try, so share photos and recipes, tagging me and #ADSG!)
Take it easy, but take it.
Brianna
A Different Survival Guide 