}]; Noreen's Kitchen: 09/01/2016 - 10/01/2016

Friday, September 2, 2016

Make Life Sweeter!! Try a Candy Club Subscription! A Box of Sweet Deliciousness Delivered To Your Door!!



Go to Candy Club's Website:  http://candy.do/2bAeeCh
Use Coupon Code: 50f-candydeal to get 50% off your first order and free shipping!

Today we are excited to share the Candy Club box!  The premier candy of the month club!   The best part?  You get the choice of either selecting a master curated box that is specially hand selected for you or you can curate your own box!  That is what I did!  This was so much fun! 

I was able to go to their website, which is super easy to navigate and choose three different candies from their selection, that rotates. They had a ton of awesome things to pick from!  So many that it was hard for me to pin point exactly what I wanted.  In our family we are huge gummy fans and there was no shortage of fantastic gummy candy.  Both regular, super chewy, sour, super sour.  Bears, fruits, kids, belts, licorice, chews, cream chews and more.  In the end I chose some orange cream chews, some of our favorite Gimbal's 40 flavor jelly beans and the wierdest candy I have ever seen, gummy chicken feet.  Yes, you read that right!  Chicken feet.  The Candy Club then adds in a handful of another fun treat that will be a surprise when you receive your box.  In my case we got some delicious caramel toffee chews in different flavors like vanilla, butter rum, maple and raspberry!  


Candy Club estimates that there are over 7000 possible combinations that you can choose from with their newest "pick your own" plan.  You can also choose from different size boxes that start at $19.95 per month.  There is no obligation and you can cancel any time.  You can go all in or you can just get one.  

The box has over three pounds of candy when you receive it.  The portions are generous and they are well packaged.  They come in a great box that is protected from the heat with mylar bubble wrap and the containers are secured with a special box insert so they won't roll around in transit.    The package arrived very quickly in under a week and when I placed my order they let me know they would update me on the shipping.  I was notified when the order shipped and I received it a few days later!  I was impressed all the way around.




I think that Candy Club would be a great idea for just about any gift giving occassion!  With back to school upon us this would be a great treat for you children or grand children for the beginning of the new school year or even a great treat for the college student who is away from home to remind them you are thinking of them.  I think this is a great idea for the upcoming holiday season as well!  Knock a bunch of your friends and family off your gift list by sending them a month of Candy Club to enjoy during the holiday season, making their holiday even sweeter!   Giving Candy Club will also help you to stay on a budget because their price points are great!  



Candy Club has extended a special offer for Noreen's Kitchen subscribers!  Using the coupon code listed above and the link provided, you will receive 50% off your first order as well as free shipping!  That is an awesome deal!  You will get your first box to try at just under $10!  What do you have to lose?  Go to the www.candyclub.com and get started on selecting the candy for your first box!  Give it a try!

I hope you try Candy Club and I hope you love it!  How could you not?  

Happy Eating!

FTC DISCLOSURE: Thanks to Candy Club for sponsoring today's video!  All opinions expressed are those of myself and my family and they are honest and true.  

You can see our family Candy Club unboxing and tasting on our YouTube channel here:



Pick Your Produce: Corn On The Cob!! A Pick and a Trick!!

 Another installment of "Pick Your Produce"!  This time around we are sharing with you, Rick's fail proof way to choose the perfect ears of corn!    I am also going to share with you a simple and effective way to remove fresh corn from the cob without making a giant mess of flying corn kernels in your kitchen!

We love doing these simple and informative videos for everyone.  We feel like there are those just beginning to get out on their own and cook for themselves and this is a great way to teach people all about different types of produce and how to choose them properly for maximum enjoyment!

Picking the perfect ears of corn for your barbecue, cookout or just plain eating can be tricky if you don't know what to look for.  It truly was not until I met Rick that I understood how to properly do it.  Normally I would just throw some in a bag and move on.  Sometimes it was good and sometimes not so good.  With this method you will always be assured that the corn you choose will be delicious.

First you want to scope out the freshest looking ears.  Making sure that the silks are not slimy, the husks are green and not dried out and that the ears are plump and not pencil thin.  A great ear of corn is anywhere from an inch to an inch and a half in diameter.



Next you will want to pull a small amount of the husk away from the tassel end.  When you pull back that husk, does it take a bit of strength to release it from the cob?  Do the kernels look plump and not dented?  Do they go all the way to tippy tip of the cob?  You want your corn to look supple and plump.  The kernels should be full and not indented and if you should see all the kernels are indented this is an indication that the cob is old and may have dried out.  You also want to be sure the kernels are fully developed and that the cob is full instead of only being partially full or looking as if birds ate the kernels on the pointy end near the silks.  This could be an indication that the corn was not fully pollinated or that the crop was picked too soon and not all the cobs were able to fully develop on the stalk before being harvested.

Then you want to get your nose in there.  Smell the corn.  Rick always says it should smell like sweet dirt.  I say it smells like fresh green grass right after a summer rain.  If your corn smells like weeds with a bitter after aroma, leave it.  You will not be eating good corn if it smells like that.  We have turned away more corn this summer than we have purchased for this very reason.  



If your corn passes all these rules, then you are ready to enjoy corn for dinner.  Whether you grill it, steam it, pressure cook it or boil it, you are going to love it!  I have even seen people microwave whole ears in the husk and then it pulls right out after it is cooked.  Not my favorite way, but it is effective if you only have a microwave.



I love to make fresh fried corn in my skillet and that requires I remove the corn from the cob.  I have found the best and easiest way to do that is the use of a Bundt pan!  Just pop the corn cob in the middle and then run your knife all around.  The corn is caught in the pan and there is no fuss or muss in the kitchen!  Then you are ready to move on with your recipe!

I hope you give these tips and tricks for choosing the perfect ear of corn and then removing it from the cob a try and I hope you love it!

Happy Eating!

You can see our installment of Pick Your Produce; Corn on the Cob on my YouTube channel here:


Start The Year Off Right!! Back To School Fundraising with Rada!!



Check out Rada Cutlery for your next fund raiser!   http://bit.ly/2bpszpa

Today we are sharing the Rada cutlery fundraising program that is perfect for you if you are going to be organizing a fund raiser for your school, PTA, PTO, Little league, Pee Wee or Pop Warner Football, your high school Chorus, Band or Orchestra or even your church group!  

Thank you to Rada for all the support they give to our channel and the way they share with our subscribers!  Be sure to stay to the end!  

Rada Cutlery Fundraising features 100% Made in the USA kitchen products – kitchen knives, utensils, gift sets (also cookbooks, stoneware, and quick mixes). There are no upfront costs and your group will make a 40% profit.

Products
Rada Mfg. Co. has been manufacturing kitchen knives and helping fundraising groups since 1948! Last year over 19,000 Schools, Churches, Teams, Clubs and Youth Groups chose to sell Rada Cutlery for their fundraiser.

Made in the USA Kitchen Items 
Rada Cutlery products are 100% Made in the USA. We started with just three knives and now have a complete line of kitchen knives, utensils and cutlery sets as well as stoneware, cookbooks, and quick mixes.

The wide variety of items available to your fundraising supporters means that everyone will be able to find items they want and need to support your cause. You can do the fundraiser year after year because people will want to add to their collections or buy gifts. Also, the quick mixes are delicious and people like to stock up when they get the chance.

You will find that many of your customers recognize Rada Cutlery products and know their reputation for quality and value (over 135 million Rada knives have been sold). For this reason, many fundraisers say that Rada Cutlery “sells itself”!



Your group will make a 40% profit – but that is only part of the story!

The 40% profit your group earns is impressive. But the added benefit is the remarkable value your customers receive while supporting your cause. This value is created because you are working directly with the manufacturer and there are no middlemen (local sales reps) adding costs and driving up the prices.

Value has always been a priority for Rada Mfg. Co. In fact, our mission is to “provide the BEST VALUE in kitchen knives for the dollar.” Your supporters will appreciate you offering them Rada Cutlery products!

Rada Mfg. Co. started in 1948 as a fundraising company. We have helped hundreds of thousands of groups since we started and our whole system is geared to helping volunteers raise money.

I hope you will consider giving Rada Cutlery a try the next time you need to organize a fundraiser for your group or organization!  They really are second to none when it comes to profit and customer service!

You can see my presentation regarding Rada Cutlery in my YouTube video:



Back To School and Out The Door!! PB&J Protein Smoothie Recipe!



There is no better, quick and easy breakfast hack than a smoothie!  Make that a protein smoothie and you are really in business!  This one is no exception!  Today I am sharing a great breakfast smoothie that you can whip up quick before leaving the house and you will be fueled and ready to go for the morning and won't be hungry before lunchtime comes around!



This smoothie is taking some inspiration from the peanut butter sandwich.   I have used almond milk, ice, peanut butter, protein powder and some frozen mixed berries as well as a frozen banana.  Do you like to add greens to your smoothie?  Throw in a handful of power greens or spinach or whatever you have on hand to boost the nutrition or green factor if you like!  This smoothie is low in added sugars but high in flavor.  It is high in protein coming in with 22.8 grams of protein!  Perfect for getting you going!  This also has great fiber from the berries as well as a ton of calcium!

You can hack this smoothie by getting your "smoothie packs" ready to go whenever you do your weekly meal prep.  Just stock your freezer with these packets that you can make up with the frozen fruit of your choice all in one place, you can even toss in the peanut butter and the protein powder if you want as well.  Stow them in a basket in your freezer and pull them out on those busy mornings when a smoothie is in order and waz one up by adding the milk and ice.  Ready, set go!  Pour that into a mason jar, screw on the lid pop in a straw and you are on your way to work!



You can also mix this up any way you like.  I used mixed berries, but you can use frozen strawberries, pineapple, peaches or whatever fresh frozen fruit you like best.  What flavor of "jelly" do you like on your PB&J?  Make it your own.  Take it a step further and add in whatever delicious extras you like in a smoothie.  A handful of spinach, power greens or kale.  A splash of juice, or even a squeeze of agave if you like things a little sweeter.  No matter what you do here you can make it delicious!

I hope you give this PB&J Protein smoothie a try and I hope you love it!

Happy Eating!

You can see how I made this smoothie in my YouTube video:


Dinner on the Fly! Southwestern Pork Tenderloin Quick Roast!!




Here is a great idea that you can use to make a super quick supper using the smoky southwest seasoning that we made in our previous video!

I simply sprinkled a liberal amount of the seasoning mix over a thawed pork tenderloin and baked it at 400 degrees for about 30 minutes.  This was a super succulent and flavorful protein to serve my family for our evening meal.  I paired this with a baked sweet potato with compound cinnamon, brown sugar butter as well as steamed green beans for a complete dinner.



This is a great meal to get on the table quick.  Those evenings when you are in a rush, forgot to thaw or plan something for your dinner or just have no idea what to cook, this is an option for you.  The meat roasts quickly and while it is in the oven you can get your veggies steamed and your potatoes cooked quickly in the microwave.  Your family is going to love this meal!



I hope you give this southwestern quick roast pork tenderloin a try sometime soon and I hope you love it!

Happy Eating!

You can see how I made this in my YouTube video:



Spice is Nice! Homemade Smoky Southwest Seasoning Blend Recipe!!




Today I am sharing with you another awesome spice blend that you can reach for anytime!  This is my Smoky Southwester Seasoning blend and it is just a little smoky and a little spicy, but not too much and give amazing southwester flavor that you will love!

I love making these seasoning blends and sharing them with you. Judging from your responses and requests for more, you love them too!  They are all so versatile and can be used in multiple ways and this one is no exception.  I am making a quick roasted pork tenderloin for dinner using this blend and I will be sharing that with you soon!

As with all good southwestern blends, this one starts with chili powder and paprika.  Then the requisite garlic powder and onion powder, but in this case I have used a roasted garlic powder that lends a different flavor profile from plain granulated garlic.  It is much deeper and has a more mellow tastes.  Of course cumin has to make an appearance as well as oregano.  I like to use Mexican Oregano in a blend like this but whatever you have on your spice rack will do fine.  Then we added dried cilantro and marjoram.  Now for the real business of this spice mix that makes it smoky and delicious!  If you have never seen it, I highly recommend that you seek out smoked salt on your next visit to the spice aisle.  I have used a hickory smoked salt that I purchased online.  This lends the salt factor along with a delicious smoky undertone that is going to be perfect to accentuate the flavors of this spice blend.  Now for the heat!  I have used a combination of chipotle chili powder, ancho chili powder and cracked black pepper to give this some oomph.  



I poured all the spices and herbs out onto a parchment then folded it together and poured them into a mason jar.  I only made enough so that it would fit into a jelly jar, which is approximately 1 cup in size.  This way you can make it fresh when you need it if you are running low.  Give the jar a good shake and you are off to the races!

This seasoning mix would be a great holiday gift idea!  Make a bunch in a big bowl then jar it up in either quarter or half pint jars, with pretty lid decorations and you will be remembered for Christmases to come long after the spices are gone!

Be sure to keep your smoky southwestern seasoning blend in a cool, dark and dry place.  This will help to ensure that it stays fresh and does not lose any of it's awesome flavor!  



I recommend using this seasoning as a dry rub for chicken, beef or pork, or even as a great seasoning for grilled shrimp or fish.  I think it would be delicious mixed into a compound butter that is used to flavor grilled or roasted corn on the cob.  The possibilities are endless and you will find yourself reaching for this seasoning often!  

When I served our dinner of quick roasted pork loin using this seasoning, my youngest exclaimed how good she thought it was.  That was saying something, since she is a pretty tough nut to crack when it comes to tasty meals.  I hope you will give this seasoning blend a try and I hope you love it!

You can find smoked salt here: 
 http://amzn.to/2bxsPmy

You can find Badia roasted garlic powder here:
http://amzn.to/2bxsTmi

Happy Eating!

You can see how I made this in my YouTube video:




Noreen's Kitchen
 Smoky Southwestern
Seasoning Blend


Ingredients
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon paprika
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon roasted garlic powder
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon dried cilantro
1 tablespoon dried marjoram
1 teaspoon chipotle powder
1 teaspoon ancho chili powder
1 teaspoon cracked black pepper
1 tablespoon smoked salt


Step by Step Instructions

Combine all spices in mason jar and shake well to combine.

Use as a rub for chicken, beef or pork and add to vegetable dishes or eggs for a smoky southwestern flair.

Use as a seasoning for fajitas by adding 1 tablespoon per pound of meat.

Store in a cool, dark, dry place for best results and to retain flavor.  Use within 6 months. 

Enjoy!


You can find a printable version of the recipe on my website: