Pillsbury® New Ready-To-Bake Gluten Free Doughs: Review, Fudgy Chocolate Cream Pie

I’m excited to let you know that Pillsbury has launched its first-ever line of ready-to-bake gluten free pizza dough, cookie dough and pie & pastry dough, ensuring that gluten free homes everywhere can also enjoy these classic items.

The new line of gluten free dough comes in convenient, refrigerated containers and will be available at most major grocery retailers for about $4.99 each.

For more information on Pillsbury Gluten Free Dough including recipe inspiration, please visit www.pillsbury.com/glutenfree.

I had recently heard of these through Instagram so I was happy to receive an offer to try these gluten free products out. I am happy to say that I had no tummy troubles after trying each product so I can safely say that these should be ok for your GF tummy as well if you decide to try them out.

Please follow along with Pillsbury on Facebook and Twitter. Product locator here.


Pillsbury Ready-To-Bake Gluten Free Cookie Dough

Pillsbury Ready-To-Bake Gluten Free (chocolate chip) Cookie Dough

Straight from my door to my oven! I baked these at 350 for about 11-12 minutes. They came out so soft and delicious. This container gave me 16 small cookies as it says (I use the same scooper for all of my cookies). My oldest says she couldn't tell these apart from a glutened cookie. :)

Pillsbury Ready-To-Bake Gluten Free {thin crust} Pizza Dough

This come with enough dough for one 11" pizza. Directions say to oil your hands to help handling it, but honestly water is fine, you just want your hands wet if it feels too sticky. I used my silpin rolling pin and it didn't stick. I rolled it super thin to fit my baking sheet. You pre-bake it for about 15 minutes, then add your toppings and bake for another 12 minutes. 

Once my Margherita pizza was done I added fresh basil and cut a piece. Well, the middle of the crust seemed under baked, I wasn't pleased with that. The edges were nice and crispy like a cracker though. The flavor of the crust wasn't so great either, it was pretty plain. Sorry I just wasn't a fan of this store bought pizza dough. I'll stick to my other gluten free brand thanks.

Pillsbury Ready-To-Bake Gluten Free Pastry Dough

This comes with enough dough for two crusts. Simply divide it into two and knead it so it comes together. I rolled out enough for one crust between two layers of plastic wrap. Gluten free crusts are pretty delicate so while adding to my tart pan, I had to piece it back together but I got it. 

 I prebaked this crust using foil and rice (directions below). I baked it an extra few minutes to be sure it was baked through and as you can see (aside from my oven not browning evenly) that the crust did shrink. 

The chocolate cream pudding filled my tart pan perfectly and so I let it chill all afternoon before giving in. The crust was flaky but kind of chewy in a strange way. The pie was delicious though, great chocolate pudding pie. Next day, the crust was better, not chewy like it was before.

Fudgy Chocolate Cream Pie
adapted from Allrecipes

1 (9 inch) gluten free pie crust, pre-baked
1 1/4 cups white sugar
2 tablespoons gluten free flour blend
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups milk, slightly warmed
2 tablespoons coffee, cooled
4 egg yolks
2 (1 ounce) squares unsweetened chocolate, chopped
1 tablespoon butter
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

In medium saucepan, combine sugar, flour, cornstarch and salt and whisk to combine. In a medium bowl, whisk milk and egg yolks until smooth. Gradually stir into sugar mixture.

Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and comes to a full boil (about 10 minutes since the milk was already warm). Boil and stir for one minute. Remove from heat and stir in chocolate, butter, and vanilla. Stir until melted.

Pour into pie shell. Place plastic wrap over filling to prevent skin from forming and chill for several hours.

Top with whipped cream and cocoa before serving.

*Disclosure* I wrote this review and or giveaway for "Mommy? I'm Hungry!" about Pillsbury. The product(s) in this review were provided to me free of cost for the purpose of conducting my review. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Product info and stock images if any are provided by PR or Co.

Sucre Seven Chocolate Bar Collection Giveaway

Here's a sweet giveaway for you! Remember those Sucré macaroons I posted about, well they are generously offering another giveaway for you guys! This time it's their beautiful and delicious chocolate bars.  Enter to win this great gift below.

Seven Chocolate Bar Collection from Sucre {a $39.00 value}
All seven of our artisan chocolate bars hand tied together with a brown grosgrain ribbon, ready for gifting. Flavors include Pistachio & Rose, Nibs & Brittle, Sucré 65, Candied Violet, Coconut & Toasted Almond, Strawberry Amaretti Crunch, and Salted Pretzel.

Follow along with Sucre on Facebook and Twitter.

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*Disclosure* I wrote this review and or giveaway for "Mommy? I'm Hungry!" about Sucre . This giveaway is provided by the company. Product info and stock images if any are provided by PR or Co.

Cans Get You Cooking: Review, Easy Taco Salad

This is a sponsored post on behalf of the Cans Get You Cooking program.

As Summer winds down and we prepare to head off to school next week, I am back to thinking of easy dinners to prepare. Even though our Summer may be over, we're still having warm weather here in San Diego. So for this month's Cans Get You Cooking post I thought I'd bring back an old favorite salad of mine. A perfect cool and quick dinner for a busy night, Easy Taco Salad. This actually became my dinner after work one evening. Sure was nice to make such a quick meal after being in my feet for hours.

Here I am using HORMEL® Chili. Using the chili gives the salad a wonderful flavor without the addition of dressing. I love how the warmth of the chili warms up the salad mix and then with the crunch of the fritos, Mmm. This may serve about three people, but since it was just me this night, I only used a little of each and kept the ingredients separate for another meal later on.

Please be sure to check out Cans Get You Cooking on social media:
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Easy Taco Salad
from my blog post

1 can HORMEL® Chili Chunky with Beans
12 oz bag of ready made salad mix
2 cups Chili Cheese Fritos
1/4 cup shredded Cheddar Cheese

Warm up chili, gently toss with salad mix, Fritos and cheese. Serves 3-4.

I'm doing my Cans Get You Cooking shopping at Albertsons. (they are not affiliated with this program)

Which is your favorite chili? I like the chunky with beans. I also like to just have it hot with lots of cheddar cheese and hot sauce. 

*Disclosure* I wrote this review and or giveaway for "Mommy? I'm Hungry!" about Cans Get You Cooking. The product(s) in this review were provided to me free of cost for the purpose of conducting my review and or giveaway. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Product info and stock images if any are provided by PR or Co. 4

Dr. Praeger’s Sensible Foods: Review

With the back-to-school season upon us, family planners will soon be busy. While coordinating our crazy family schedules, we'll be looking for convenient meal and snack ideas for our loved ones that are as nutritious as they are delicious.

This is a daunting task made simpler with Dr. Praeger’s Sensible Foods, perfect for us busy parents, vegans, vegetarians, celiacs and health-conscience meal planners. Dr. Praeger’s all-natural frozen foods are made with only the finest, recognizable ingredients most of which are vegetables that make sensible eating quick, simple and delicious.

With products you can feel good about eating and serving, all are made with no artificial flavors or colors, and are low in saturated fat and cholesterol. Also, as more consumers spend more time examining product ingredient lists, Dr. Praeger’s has been leading the way by making the cleanest-label prepared products in the freezer section for 20 years, including:

California Veggie Burger & GF California Veggie Burger - Unlike other “veggie burgers” this tasty burger is loaded with real carrots, onions, string beans, zucchini, peas, broccoli and spinach. Each all-natural burger is only 110 calories and contains no preservatives, cholesterol, saturated or trans fat.

Fish – A great source of heart-healthy protein - Dr. Praeger’s uses only the finest white fish (Marines Stewardship Certified Sustainable) that are lightly breaded in seasonings and crumbs with no added fillers or excessive fatty breading. Gluten-Free and kid-friendly varieties are also available!

Veggie Pancakes – This Dr. Praeger’s line includes highly nutritious Broccoli, Sweet Potato, Spinach and Potato varieties. Getting the family to eat their veggies is simple with these delicious pancakes that prepare crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. An added plus, all pancakes are free of saturated and trans fat, and also low in sodium. Available in fun, kid-friendly shapes too!

NEW Thai & Asian Veggie Burgers - Adding to their line of globally inspired, trend-forward frozen food products, Dr. Praeger’s has recently launched new all natural Asian & Thai Veggie Burgers. Loaded with the finest, recognizable ingredients, these first-of-a-kind veggie burgers are perfect for helping consumers create flavorful, as well as sensible and convenient Thai-inspired burger, stir fry and salad dishes.


I was sent a box full of Dr. Praeger’s frozen foods to try out with my family. I already knew of these because I had attended a gluten free tent event at one of our local stores and they served a few of these products! I think I had tried their spinach cakes and really liked them so I was eager to try more.

I received many varieties both gluten free and non gluten free products. They are marked which are gluten free on the front so no guessing and reading through the list of ingredients before realizing yes they are gluten free. I love that they use simple ingredients, lots of veggies.

Even though they have specific cooking temps and times, I cooked (the below) at 375' for probably 20 minutes (higher temp/time as called for) and they came out just fine.

Please follow along with Dr. Praeger's on Facebook and Twitter. For a store near you check here.

 

 Lunch time included these products to taste test: 

Dr. Praeger’s Lightly Breaded Fishies, Asian Veggie Burger, (Gluten Free) Veggie Littles, (Gluten Free) California Veggie Burgers, (Gluten Free) Potato Crusted Fishies.

The kiddos tried the Lightly Breaded Fishies, Asian Veggie Burger and the (Gluten Free) Veggie Littles. 

The kids did enjoy them, probably the fishies most of all, they wanted more (and I cannot get my family to eat fish). I was also happy that they tried the veggie littles. They also liked the burger.

My lunch munchies: (Gluten Free) Veggie Littles, (Gluten Free) California Veggie Burger in a lettuce wrap, (Gluten Free) Potato Crusted Fishies with homemade tarter sauce.

I also thought the fishies were great, the inside is more of a mashed potato texture, it's not going to be a flaky piece of fish. The veggie littles and the veggie burger were very similar ingredients just in different form I guess. The burger I found to be too delicate to eat in a lettuce wrap, it was very soft, but still pretty good.

*Disclosure* I wrote this review and or giveaway for "Mommy? I'm Hungry!" about Dr. Praeger’s Sensible Foods  The product(s) in this review were provided to me free of cost for the purpose of conducting my review and or giveaway. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Product info and stock images if any are provided by PR or Co.

Wallaby Organic Kefir: Giveaway and Review

This is a sponsored post on behalf of Wallaby Organics.

Wallaby Yogurt recently launched it's first line of Organic Lowfat Kefir and I was able to review it.
Kefir is a probiotic milk beverage that contains a variety of live and active cultures and has long been associated with different health benefits. Wallaby Organic Lowfat Kefir provides consumers with a smooth, creamy, and satisfying beverage that is great on its own, and can also be used in smoothies and recipes. Just like their other products, Wallaby Organic Kefir is made using fresh organic milk from local pasture-based family farms and premium blended organic fruit.

please excuse the quality of my photos, having a heck of a time finding a photo spot at this house ;)

Their new Kefir comes in four different flavors, all in 32oz bottles. Flavors include Blueberry, Strawberry, Vanilla, and a traditional Plain, which contains two wonderfully pure and simple ingredients: premium organic milk and a blend of 12 traditional live and active kefir cultures. The entire product line is now available nationwide in Whole Foods Market (for now), with a suggested retail price of $4.29.

An afternoon at Carlsbad State Beach, then off to Whole Foods.

Little Boy and I tried the strawberry and blueberry flavors right away, we loved them!

We don't live too close to Whole Foods here, so I waited until we trekked that way after the beach to pick these up. You'll be able to find this kefir next to the other yogurts/dairy in the case. They had all the flavors except the Plain. Having had kefir before, I  knew my kiddos would like this. Kefir like a thinned out drinkable yogurt. It was great after some time playing at the beach in the sun. My oldest had a friend over and loved it so much she too went and picked some up. I'll have to think up some recipes to use the rest in, maybe some muffins?

Please follow along with Wallaby Yogurt on Facebook and Twitter. Check here for a location near you.

Enter to win a set of four VIP coupons to try this Wallaby Organic Kefir, 3 winners!
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*Disclosure* I wrote this review and or giveaway for "Mommy? I'm Hungry!" about Wallaby Organic Kefir . The product(s) in this review were provided to me free of cost for the purpose of conducting my review and or giveaway. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This giveaway is provided by the company. Product info and stock images if any are provided by PR or Co.

Old El Paso Fajita Kit by MyBlogSpark: Giveaway and Review

This is a sponsored post on behalf of Old El Paso & MyBlogSpark.

Summertime means it’s Farmer’s Market season, and Old El Paso® wants to help plan your next shopping trip!

As with all recipes, Mexican food is best with fresh ingredients, and produce doesn’t come any fresher than direct from your local Farmer’s Market. So add some flavor to your fresh vegetables with Old El Paso® Taco and Fajita Seasonings.

 

Old El Paso makes dinner just a little bit easier using their Fajita Dinner Kit. Inside you'll find flour tortillas, fajita sauce and seasoning mix, just add your favorite meat.

Follow along with Old El Paso on Facebook and on Instagram.

My gift pack came with some great products to review, including a produce basket to take to the Farmer's Market.

Old El Paso Chicken Fajitas with the fixings, click here for their ingredients list.

Lettuce wrap Fajitas for me

This giveaway prize pack includes:
- Market basket
- Avocado keeper
- Chopper with storage bowls
- Old El Paso® Taco & Fajita Tortillas
- Old El Paso® Traditional Refried Beans
- Old El Paso® Taco Seasoning
Retail Value: $55

a Rafflecopter giveaway


*Disclosure* I wrote this review and or giveaway for "Mommy? I'm Hungry!" about Old El Paso . The product(s) in this review were provided to me free of cost for the purpose of conducting my review and or giveaway. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This giveaway is provided by the company. Product info and stock images if any are provided by PR or Co.

Rock the Lunchbox: Back to School 2013: Giveaway and Review

 

 

School starts soon (next week for us!) and we'll be back to thinking about those school lunches made at home.

Honest Tea is teaming up with Annie’s, Organic Valley, and Stonyfield (YoKids) for back to school to help make lunches easier on parents everywhere. Making lunches daily can be a daunting , tasksearching for healthier options that kids will actually eat is a challenge!  They've created a site called “Rock the Lunchbox” where parents can find inspiration and ideas for what to pack for school lunch and how to make it fun for kids, too. While exploring ideas on the site, parents can also submit an idea of their own and download coupons from Honest Kids and their partner brands. I was asked to help spread the word about rockthelunchbox.com and share a couple of lunchbox ideas with you.

Packing your child's lunch can be challenging. Ask them what they'd like to have in their lunch and work around that. Choosing items they'll eat and like as well as being sure it holds over well until lunch time. Well, one way I try to make thier lunches fun so they're inspired to eat is to make the food fun. Cut out shapes of veggies, cheese, meats and even bread. Use a long toothpick/cocktail stick to skewer the foods onto (see mine below). Instead of bread that can turn soggy, try lavash bread or tortillas. Bagel sandwiches hold well too.

Get ready to go back to school with lunchbox ideas and coupons from brands including Honest Kids, Stonyfield Farm, Organic Valley and Annie’s Homegrown at www.rockthelunchbox.com.

 

We were sent goodies/coupons from each company to include in our lunchbox creations. My Rock the Lunchbox entry for my kiddos include Annie’s Homegrown Fruit Snacks, Graham Cookies, Organic Valley Stringles, Stonyfield Farm YoKids Smoothie, squeezer and yogurt cup (either one for snack time) and an Honest Kids Berry Berry Good Lemonade. I also added in Bacon & Avocado Cream Cheese Rollups, fruit (melon and grapes), cheese (cheddar and mozzarella) and veggie (olives, cucumber and bell pepper) kabobs.

My kids must've missed my homemade school lunches because they exclaimed this was the best lunch ever! Summer lunches just aren't as creative I guess. ;)

 

Don't forget to pack lunch and a snack for yourself too! I made myself a veggie omelette & ham rollup along with fruit and veggies on a stick. A great gluten free brunch kind of lunch along with a 

Stonyfield Farm YoKids Smoothie and yogurt cup and an Honest Kids Berry Berry Good Lemonade.

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*Disclosure* I wrote this review and or giveaway for "Mommy? I'm Hungry!" about Rock The Lunchbox. The product(s) in this review were provided to me free of cost for the purpose of conducting my review and or giveaway. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This giveaway is provided by the company. Product info and stock images if any are provided by PR or Co.

Aloha Island Lei: Review

  

Aloha Island Lei is your source for beautiful Hawaiian leis. They offer many types of leis for men and women from fresh fragrant orchids and flowers to kukui nut and ti leaf leis. They also offer gorgeous tropical arrangements. Floral leis are perishable so keep this in mind when ordering yours, they offer special tips on their site for ordering and taking care of your lei.

 

The history of the Hawaiian lei dates back to the first Polynesian settlers, who introduced the lei to the Hawaiian Islands as a sentiment of love, friendship, celebration and in honor of the Hawaiian Gods. Leis are a perfect for any occasion such as birthdays, graduations, weddings and for showing sympathy.

Aloha Island Lei contacted me to see if I wanted to review their company with a beautiful Hawaiian flower lei. I said yes!! You see, I lived in Hawaii my teen years when my Dad was in the Navy. I had a great time living there, meeting lots of friends through school and church so I was around many of the locals and culture. I have great memories of Oahu and miss it dearly. This package arrived overnight and well packed that the leis were untouched! But what really got to me, was the scent of the leis! OH MY!! It was as if I just stepped off that plane again to receive a beautiful lei around my neck! The aroma was so wonderful, I think I got a tear in my eye because the memories came flooding back. It sure brought the warmth of the Islands to my home.

 

In celebration of their new website, Aloha Island Lei is offering 10% off your order with promo code GRAND! Please visit their website to see what they can offer you! *Orders must be placed by 8/31/13 and shipped by 9/15/13.

I was surprised to receive two beautiful Hawaiian leis. They arrive safe and sound, well wrapped with cold packs even. They stayed laying out as shown, they didn't even budge!

 

Let's not forget about the ever so delicious chocolate covered macadamia nut candy!! Oh my!

The orchids are tightly weaved on, making this lei very sturdy and beautiful. You can almost smell it in this photo.

I let the orchid lei dry and hung it on our hutch that sits in the living room.

 

 

Aloha Island Lei
99-1366 Koaha Place, Unit C
Aiea, HI 96701

Phone: 808.596.0707
Toll Free: 1.888.572.5642

http://alohaislandlei.com/
Become social with Aloha Island Lei: Facebook, Instagram and Twitter



*Disclosure* I wrote this review and or giveaway for "Mommy? I'm Hungry!" about Aloha Island Lei. The product(s) in this review were provided to me free of cost for the purpose of conducting my review and or giveaway. All opinions expressed in this review are my own Product info and stock images if any are provided by PR or Co.