Carrot Pineapple Mini Loaves #SpringSweetsWeek

This post is sponsored in conjunction with #SpringSweetsWeek. I received product samples from sponsor companies to help in the creation of the #SpringSweetsWeek recipes. All opinions are mine alone.

These delicious little mini loaves are full of fresh pineapple, carrots and pecans.  Perfect for breakfast, snack or dessert.  It is just as nutritious as it is delicious.

Join us for Spring Sweets Week starting today!!!

Apple Tea Brined Pork Tenderloin #FallFlavors

Disclosure:  I received sponsor products for use in creating recipes for this week's Fall Flavors Event.  All thoughts and opinions are strictly my own.  I received no monetary compensation for this post.

This pork tenderloin marinated in Apple Cider Tea and then grilled to a perfect medium rare is sure to become one of your favorite fall recipes.

Welcome to Day 2 of Fall Flavors Week.......

Sweet and Spicy Wings and a Giveaway #VirtualTapasParty

Sticky and Sweet with just a touch of heat, these wings are finger licking good.  Asian flavors come together to create the perfect flavor profile.  You won't be able to get enough of these wings....better make a double batch!

Join me and a few friends as we host a Virtual Tapas Party featuring recipes from Nibbles and Bites by Sidsel Munkholm McOmie.......

Welcome to the 2018 Edition of #CookoutWeek

#CookoutWeek 2018 is here! During the next week, I am joining over 50 of my blogger friends to celebrate summer by posting delicious cookout-themed recipes. If you love grilling, frozen treats, picnics, berries, s'mores, campfire meals, and other summer goodies... you are in the right place!

Chocolate Chili #Choctoberfest

Welcome to Day 2 of Choctoberfest, where we are sharing all things chocolate all week long.  This fun event is hosted by the gals over at PinterTest Kitchen and sponsored by Imperial sugar among others.

You can read all about our sponsors and enter to win some great prize packages by going to my Welcome Post.  As an added bonus, you will also find a recipe for some Bootiful Halloween Bark.

Today I am sharing with you a savory recipe.  Yes, chocolate can be savory too.  This chili gets it's deep, gorgeous color and great depth of flavor from the addition of  cocoa.

We were sent some Gourmet Baking Cocoa from one of our sponsors, Rodelle.  I was happy to use this product in my chili today and in baking that I will be sharing with you during the week.  The cocoa is of high quality and dutch processed.  I did not receive any monetary compensation from Rodelle or any of the other sponsors and, as always, all opinions voiced in this blog are 100% my own.

Topped with shredded cheese and a dollop of sour cream and served with a side of jalapeno cheese cornbread or tortillas, this chili makes a hearty lunch on a brisk fall day.

Chocolate Chili

inspired by a recipe from Paula Deen

1 lb. ground beef

1/2 small onion, chopped

1/2 T. chili powder

1 t. cumin

1 T. unsweetened cocoa powder (I used Rodelle)

1 clove garlic, minced

1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced

1 (15 oz) can pinto beans, drained and rinsed

1 (15 oz) can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 dash hot sauce (I used Tobasco)

1/2 t. dried basil, crushed

1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes with juices

1 (15 oz) can tomato sauce

1 c. beef broth

Shredded cheese and sour cream for garnish, if desired

Place the ground beef in a large pot or dutch oven placed over med high heat. Cook and stir, breaking up the beef for a couple of minutes.  Add the onions, chili powder and cumin.  Cook and stir until combined and onions are starting to soften.  Add the cocoa,  garlic and jalapeno and cook for a few more minutes.  Stir in the the beans, hot sauce and basil.  Add the tomatoes with their juice, tomato sauce and beef broth.  Cover and simmer for an hour, stirring occasionally.

Garnish with cheese and sour cream if desired.  Print Recipe

More Day 2 Choctoberfest Recipes

An InLinkz Link-up

Apple Oatmeal Muffins to welcome you to #AppleWeek #MuffinMonday

Happy Muffin Monday everybody and Welcome to the first day of Apple Week.

This week long party is being hosted by Carlee of Cooking With Carlee.  She invited a slew of bloggers to join in the fun and she also arranged for some amazing sponsors who, not only supplied us with product to use in the creation of recipes, but also are offering great prize packages to be raffled off to you, our readers.

These sponsors ask for nothing in return except for our complete and honest review of their products. None of us received any monetary compensation and all opinions on this blogsite are always 100% my own.

I decided to start off this week by joining another great group to which I belong, Muffin Monday.  I had received a wonderful gift package from Flahavan's, a company with which I was not familiar before this event.  Flahavan's is a century old company based in Ireland. You can buy their products here in Michigan only by mail order, however they do sell at other locations throughout the USA.

Apples and Oatmeal are a natural so I knew that they would make a terrific muffin to share with everyone from both groups today. 

We were lucky enough to receive a shipment of gorgeous HoneyCrisp apples from Rainier Fruit Company out of Washington that were perfect to match with the oatmeal in today's recipe.

They are perfectly flavored with pure vanilla extract from Rodelle, a French Company that moved to Colorado in the 1930's.

I used these nifty measuring cups and spoons, provided by DreamFarm, while making this recipe. These measuring tools not only stack but snap together at the handles so that they don't get separated. They also level off your dry goods with a squeeze of the handle saving a step during preparation.

I was very excited to be able to introduce you to so many of our sponsors in this first recipe. You will find information about all of our sponsors, what gifts they are offering to our readers and be given the opportunity to enter the raffle, at the bottom of this post.  I really hope one of my readers is a lucky winner!!

Oatmeal Apple Muffins

1 1/2 c. flour

2 pkgs, single serving 3 minute oats, or 1 c. quick cooking oats

2 1/2 t. baking powder

large pinch kosher salt

1/2 t. ground cinnamon

3/4 c. sugar

2 eggs

1 stick butter, melted and cooled

1/2 c. milk

1/2 t. vanilla

1 Honeycrisp apple, peeled, cored and diced

Whisk together the flour, oats, baking powder, salt and cinnamon in a large bowl.  Create a well in the dry ingredients and set aside.

Whisk together the sugar, butter, eggs, milk and vanilla.  Empty into well of dry ingredients.  Mix just until moistened. Fold in the apples.

Divide between 12 muffin cups that have been lined with paper cups or treated with baking spray.  Bake in a preheated 350* oven for about 20 minutes, or until a skewer inserted removes cleanly.  Print Recipe

More Amazing Apple Recipes

• Apple Bacon Turkey Burgers from Jonesin' for Taste 
• Apple Brickle Mini Tarts with Oatmeal Crust from The Freshman Cook 
• Apple-Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal from Amy's Cooking Adventures 
• Apple Cobbler French Toast Casserole from Tip Garden 
• Apple Fritter Yeast Bread from House of Nash Eats 
• Apple Oatmeal Coffee Mug Cake from Corn, Beans, Pigs and Kids 
• Apple Oatmeal Muffins from A Day in the Life on the Farm 
• Apple Pie Steel Cut Oatmeal from Cooking With Carlee 
• Caramel Apple Nut Bars from Family Around the Table 
• Cinnamon Apple Cider Sangria from The Redhead Baker 
• Creamy Maple Gouda Apple Soup with Pecan-Oat Granola from Culinary Adventures with Camilla 
• Healthy Apple Muffins from Caroline's Cooking 
• Mulled Apple Cider from Books n' Cooks 
• Oatmeal Crusted Apple Stuffed French Toast from Jolene's Recipe Journal 
• Salted Caramel Apple Cake from Grumpy's Honeybunch 
• Savory Apple Sausage Tart from The Crumby Kitchen 
• Vanilla Brined Pork Chops with Applesauce  from Bear & Bug Eats 
• Swedish Apple Oatmeal Pie with Vanilla Sauce from All That's Jas 
• Torta di Mele Sicilian Apple Cake from Girl Abroad

More Magnificent Muffin Recipes

• Appalachian Pawpaw Muffinsfrom Palatable Pastime
• Apple Oatmeal Muffins from A Day in the Life on the Farm
• Pineapple Coconut Banana Muffins from Passion Kneaded
• Sourdough Date Nut Cranberry Muffins from Karen's Kitchen Stories
• Sweet Pineapple Muffins from Food Lust People Love
• Whole Grain Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins from Farm Fresh Feasts

Don't Forget to Enter the Giveaway!!

Prize Pack #1 from Rodelle:

A baker's dream come true! This delicious prize pack includes premium vanilla products, gourmet dutch-processed cocoa and specialty extracts.

Items include:

Pure Vanilla Extract
Gourmet Dutch-Processed Baking Cocoa
Gourmet Vanilla Extract
Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Beans
Organic Vanilla Extract
Organic Chocolate Extract
Almond Extract
Vanilla Paste
And some fun baking supplies to whip up your next batch of goodies with!

Prize Pack #2 from Dreamfarm and Casabella:

Items include:

a 2 'n 1 veggie brush
a clip n strip shears
a set up levups
a set of levoons

Prize Pack #3 from Flahavan's Irish Oatmeal:

A goodie basket of Flahavan's items

Prize Pack #4 from Pyrex and Chicago Cutlery:

A Prime™ by Chicago Cutlery® 7 Slot Digital Tablet Holder Block

Prize Pack #5 from Rainier Fruit:

A prize pack from Rainier Fruit including a box of freshly farvested Rainier Fruit apples, a stainless steel apple slicer, apple corer, "Baked with Love" ceramic pie pan, copper apple loaf pan and a $25 Williams Sonoma gift card!

Prize Pack #5 from Veggie Wash:

A prize pack from Veggie Wash

Disclaimer: Thank you to #AppleWeek Sponsors: Rodelle, Dreamfarm, Casabella, Flahavan's Irish Oatmeal, Pryex, Chicago Cutlery, Rainier Fruit, and Veggie Wash for providing prizes for #AppleWeek free of charge. These companies also provided the bloggers with samples and product to use for #AppleWeek. All opinions are my own.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Welcome to #Cookout Week and a Great #Giveaway

 

 Get those grills fired up... because it's #CookoutWeek 2017! This week, I'm joining forces with over 40 food blogger friends to bring you delicious recipes perfect for every backyard BBQ, picnic, summer party, or cookout. We also have a fabulous giveaway featuring products from the brands who have made #CookoutWeek possible! You can enter below to win:

• From blog host The PinterTest Kitchen: $100 Amazon gift card, to use to buy all the supplies you need for your next cookout
• From our sponsor The French Farm: A gift pack of gourmet products hand-crafted by small businesses and using only the finest ingredients - La Favorita Genovese Pesto, Caprichos del Guadalquivir Cadenera Orange Marmalade, and L’Abeille Occitane Lavender Honey
• From our sponsor Smokin'-Os: A sampler pack of their "smokin'-os" wood rings, to help you add wood-fired, smokey taste to your grilled foods, even if you don't own a smoker
• From our sponsor Primal Kitchen: $200 of Primal Kitchen goodies, including condiments made with avocado oil and bars and shakes with grass-fed collagen
• From our sponsor Langers Juice Company: Your choice of 10 bottles of Langers Juice, with flavors including traditional Apple and Grape, as well as interesting mixes such as Pineapple Orange Coconut, Cranberry Blood Orange, and Mango Peach
• From our sponsor True Made Foods: A 3-bottle sampler pack of sauces with real flavors made from real vegetables and less sugar - Ketchup, BBQ, and Veracha

This prize pack has an ARV of over $400! You have until July 1 at 11:59 PM to enter by following our sponsors and bloggers on social media.

  a Rafflecopter giveaway

Stay tuned... remember, throughout the week, all of the participating bloggers will be posting delicious cookout recipes.  I am posting a dish each day so that by the end of the week you will have a complete Cookout Dinner to enjoy for the weekend.  It is quick.  It is easy.  It is delicious.  I can't wait to share it with all of you.

Here are all the bloggers who are part of #CookoutWeek 2017.

• The PinterTest Kitchen • 
• 2 Cookin Mamas • 
• A Day in the Life on the Farm • 
• A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures •
• Amy's Cooking Adventures • 
• Ashees Cookbook • 
• Baking Sense •
• Body Rebooted • 
• Bottom Left of the Mitten • 
• Chef Sarah Elizabeth • 
• Cook's Hideout • 
• Cookaholic Wife • 
• Cooking with Sapana • 
• Eat, Drink, Be Healthy! • 
• Fairyburger • 
• Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice • 
• Family Around the Table •
• Fix Me a Little Lunch •
• For the Love of Food • 
• Full Belly Sisters •
• Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks • 
• Home Sweet Homestead • 
• Join Us, Pull up a Chair • 
• Kate's Recipe Box • 
• Kelly Lynn's Sweets and Treats • 
• Little House Big Alaska • 
• My Southern Sweet Tooth • 
• Our Good Life •
• Oven Tales By Syama • 
• Palatable Pastime • 
• Rants From My Crazy Kitchen • 
• Savory Moments • 
• Seduction in the Kitchen • 
• Sidewalk Shoes • 
• That Recipe • 
• The Freshman Cook • 
• The Mad Scientists Kitchen • 
• The Pajama Chef • 
• The Redhead Baker •
• The Saucy Southerner • 
• The Spiffy Cookie • 
• The Weekday Gourmet •
• Tramplingrose • 
• Turnips 2 Tangerines •
• Uncle Jerry's Kitchen 

As one of the bonus entries in the giveaway, leave a comment on this blog post... what is your favorite dish to eat at a cookout?

Here are some recipes being shared today

An InLinkz Link-up

#InspiredbyNature Progressive Summer Potluck #Giveaway

With the help of Charles Viancin, we've set a lovely summery table for you. And the Republic of Tea added to the fun with one of their brand-new iced teas, the Organic Black Currant Rosemary Large Iced Tea Pouches. Some of us have incorporated that into our recipes as well.

Here's our schedule...

We hope you'll follow along as we share recipes for a delicious, five-course meal. The bloggers will share recipes, post their thoughts about the Charles Viancin product, and provide the chance for readers to win a prize package from our sponsor. Read about their drinkware line, the air-tight lids, the utensils, the cooking line, and the tea accessories. You may visit the Charles Viancin Amazon Store: here. And enter the giveaway below. One lucky winner will receive one of everything we're featuring. Good luck!!

Here's our Summer Equinox Progressive Picnic menu...

I.

Black Current Rosemary Chiller

by Café Terra

featuring the Drink Covers

II.

Pico de Gallo

by Amy's Cooking Adventures

featuring the Timber 5-Piece Cutting Board

III.

Garden Pasta Salad with Lemon-Oregano Dressing and

Summer Fruits with a Black Current Rosemary Drizzle

by Culinary Adventures with Camilla

featuring the Air-tight Lids

IV.

Strawberry Tiramisu

by A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures

featuring the Spatulas

V.

Black Current Rosemary Tea Ice Cream

by A Day in the Life on the Farm

featuring the Coasters, Bottle Stoppers, and Lids

Progressive Picnic Recipe Round-Up

by Culinary Adventures with Camilla

The Giveaway...

One of our generous sponsors has contributed a prize package for this event.

The giveaway runs from June 19th and ends on June 26th, 2017
and is open to US residents only. No purchase necessary.
Individual bloggers are not responsible for prize fulfillment.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Grateful to Our Sponsors*...

and how you can find them around the internet

Charles Viancin

on the web, on Twitter, on Facebook, on Instagram, on Pinterest

The Republic of Tea

on the web, on Twitter, on Facebook, on Pinterest, on Instagram

*Disclosure: Bloggers received complimentary products from sponsors for the creation of this event. This is a sponsored post that contains affiliate links.

Although this post is sponsored, all opinions are our own.*

Welcome to #RecipeMakeover Week and enter our Fantastic #Giveaway

After a long winter of snowstorms, stews, and sweets, spring is the perfect time to get back to the basics - delicious, whole foods and dishes packed with fruits and veggies that are great for your overall health.

To eat a healthier diet, you don't need to make drastic changes (unless recommended by a doctor). It's not about denying yourself that occasional treat; it's about taking baby steps to reduce the amount of sugar, carbs, red meats, and empty calories in your meals.

This week, I've joined forced with 40+ of my food blogger friends to present #RecipeMakeover. During this week, we'll all be sharing our favorite better-for-you alternatives to unhealthy dishes. Follow along on any of the blogs below or with the hashtag on social media to find nutritious dishes that are packed with flavor.

A huge THANK YOU to our sponsors, who have made #RecipeMakeover possible! They've provided a number of awesome products that you can win by entering our #RecipeMakeover giveaway below. Just follow the instructions below, and you could win the following prize pack:

• Butter-flavored coconut oil and digestive blend from our sponsor Barlean's - Barlean's butter-flavored coconut oil is an organic, dairy-free alternative that can be used as a 1:1 substitution for butter. Their digestive blend is an organic, vegan combination of flaxseed, chai seed, quinoa, unsweetened shredded coconut, and a proprietary pumpkin blend, that is delicious sprinkled into salads, smoothies, oatmeal, and more.
• Sampler pack of original, mesquite, and applewood Smokin O's from our sponsor Smokin O's - Instead of frying, choose a healthier cooking option like grilling! Smokin O's is an innovative new product that allows you to add a natural wood taste even if you are using a propane grill, and they work great in charcoal grills and smokers too. No soaking, no mess, no wait - just delicious wood flavoring from a 100% natural product with no binders or chemicals.
• 4 flatbread pizzas from our sponsor American Flatbread - Choose from any of America Flatbread's 15 all-natural, handmade pizza varieties, available at your local grocery store. These pizzas feature 100% organically grown wheat crusts and are topped with fresh herbs, vegetables, and cheeses (no rBST growth hormone!). They’re all-natural, with no preservatives, artificial colors or flavors, and handcrafted from scratch and par-baked in wood-fired ovens.
• 5 containers (48 oz) of ice cream from our sponsor Turkey Hill - Ice cream for a health food event? Try out their line of no-sugar-added products for a sweet treat without the guilt or their line of light ice creams, which have a rich taste with a fraction of the fat. They also have a rainbow sherbet option, which is Vitamin C and naturally low in fat. These all make great dessert options for special occasions. Turkey Hill also believes in implementing green initiatives to cut down on waste, reduce packaging, and minimize outputs into the environment.
• 15 tuna creations pouches from our sponsor StarKist - StarKist tuna pouches all have at least 13 grams of protein, and their BOLD line now includes three gluten-free varieties: Tuna Creations® BOLD Thai Chili Style; Tuna Creations® BOLD Jalapeño; and Tuna Creations® BOLD Hot Buffalo Style.
• Mueller Spiral-Ultra 4-Blade Spiralizer from blog hosts, The PinterTest Kitchen - this 4-in-1 gadget allows you to spiralize your favorite veggies, and it also has extra attachments for a juicer, mandolin and grater.

This prize pack is valued at over $200, and one lucky winner will get it all! This giveaway is open world-wide except where prohibited. A winner will be randomly drawn on April 29, at the conclusion of #RecipeMakeover, and the winner will be contact via email.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you to all of our participating bloggers. Click the links below to find out what recipes they're cooking up for #RecipeMakeover: 

The PinterTest Kitchen • Fix Me a Little Lunch • Rosie Discovers • crave the good • Zesty South Indian Kitchen • That Recipe • The Domestic Dietitian • Authentically Candace • Eat, Drink, Be Healthy! • Body Rebooted • Cindy's Recipes and Writings • Faith, Hope, Love, & Luck Survive Despite a Whiskered Accomplice • Feeding Big • Natural Contents • Seduction In The Kitchen • Everyday Eileen • Family Around The Table • Fairyburger • Jane's Adventures in Dinner • Kitchen Counter Chronicles • Kate's Recipe Box • Kelly Lynns Sweets and Treats • Chocolate Slopes • Little House Big Alaska • Makes, Bakes and Decor • 2 Cookin' Mamas • Meadoe Out on a Limb • Strawberry Blondie Kitchen • Mel Claire • Cookaholic Wife • For the Love of Food • The Saucy Southerner • Cook's Hideout • Two Lazy Gourmets • Ink and Sugar • Cookingwithsapana • The Chef Next Door • Sarah Cooks the Books • Chef Sarah Elizabeth • Frankly Entertaining • Palatable Pastime • Our Good Life • The Food Hunter's Guide to Cuisine • A Day in the Life on the Farm

Stay tuned to see all of the delicious recipes bloggers create during #RecipeMakeover!