How to Make Holiday Individual Turkey Pot Pie

Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by Better Than Bouillon as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.  For more recipes and inspirations, please visit: http://goic.io/GpuqMV

My family loves the holiday season when we get to gather around the dinner table to share our favorite dishes and recipes.  When I host holiday gatherings at my place, I always prepare a main dish while my family and friends would bring appetizers and side dishes to share.  It's always wonderful to share and create memories with my family through food!  If you can't tell by now, everyone in my family are foodies!  I guess you can say that the apples don't fall far from the tree!  This year, I'll be sharing these amazing Holiday Individual Turkey Pot Pies with my friends and family!

If you haven't done so, be sure to check out my video tutorial above.  This recipe is so much fun and so easy to make, yet its super festive and scrumptious!  Best of all, you can prepare them a day in advance.  Simply prepared the pies (without the egg wash), covered, and keep them in the fridge until ready to bake.  On the day of the party, simply brush the egg wash on the pastry and pop them in the oven before your guests arrive.  This way, you can join in and enjoy the party, too!  As much as I enjoy a holiday feast, I don't think anyone should, or wanted to, slave inside the kitchen for the holidays!  This recipe is a perfect solution for you if you are hosting a gathering for your friends and family this holiday season!  Think of how easy it will be for the upcoming Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving, Christmas, or New Years' parties!   

The flavors of these Holiday Turkey Pot Pies are so amazing that your guests would think that you've spent hours in the kitchen preparing them!  Thanks to the Better Than Bouillon Turkey Base, it adds a depth of flavor in the turkey pie fillings in a cinch.  It truly elevates and transforms the flavors of your ingredients.  You would feel like you're enjoying a traditional slow roasted turkey, but in a pie form, which is a lot more fun to eat than just a traditional roasted turkey (sorry Mr. Turkey!)  Rather than the traditional bouillon cube, the Better Than Bouillon Turkey Base is a paste, which makes it a lot easier to incorporate with the ingredients because you don't have to wait for the cube to dissolve.  The flavor is so concentrated that it won't dilute your sauce at all!  It's truly a flavor bomb, in my opinion!

I'd been using Better Than Bouillon for many years now and always have them on hand.  Besides the Turkey Base, my favorites are Roasted Beef Base and Roasted Chicken Base.  I make my family's favorite beef stew at least once a week and Better Than Bouillon Roasted Beef Base is the secret ingredient that make it tastes so amazing!  Better Than Bouillon Roasted Beef Base intensifies the beefy flavors in the stew without diluting the sauce.  I also use it create a soup base, to build flavor in my sauces, to make a quick beef au jus for roasted beef, and to create gravy with it as well.  Also, you can substitute the turkey meat in this recipe with chicken (and swap in the Roasted Chicken Base) to make chicken pot pies.  And I promise, they will be the best chicken pot pie you'll ever had!  They are so good that my kids always wonder if I ordered and pick up the Chicken Pot Pies from the restaurant!  There are so many different flavors of Better Than Bouillon to explore, such as the Seasoned Vegetable Base, Roasted Garlic Base (perfect for making garlic bread), and Mushroom Base, & etc. Be sure to grab a few on your next grocery run to take your holiday recipes to the next level and make your life a whole lot easier and flavorful!  You can use the product locator on the Better Than Bouillon site or order online to get those hard to find flavors as well! 

For more product information, please visit:

 https://www.betterthanbouillon.com/our-products/?utm_source=Influence-Central&utm_medium=Social-Influencers&utm_campaign=BTB-Social-Influencers&utm_content=holiday-social-influencer

Back to these Holiday Individual Turkey Pot Pies!  Imagine buttery and flaky pie crust, fresh mixed vegetables, and tender turkey meat surrounded by creamy and velvety sauce that has a "cooked all day" flavors, thanks to the Better Than Bouillon Turkey Base. This decadent turkey pot pie is served with sweet and tart cranberry sauce for a contrast of flavors!  Each bit is simply heavenly!   You'll definitely be making this recipe again and again!  What are your family's holiday traditions?  Do you have a family's favorite recipe?  Have you tried Better Than Bouillon products before?  If so, which one is your favorite?  Be sure to leave a commend below and share with me.  Can't wait to hear from you!  Happy Holidays, from my kitchen to yours!








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Holiday Individual Turkey Pot Pie Recipe
Makes: 6 (8 ounces Pies)

4 tablespoons butter
1 yellow onion, diced
1 cup pumpkin (frozen, diced)
1 cup mixed vegetables (frozen)
4 cups roasted turkey (diced)
1 tablespoon sage (chiffonade)
1 teaspoon thyme
1/3 cup all-purpose flour (plus more for rolling puff pastry)
2 tablespoons Better Than Bouillon Turkey Base
2 cups turkey stock (low sodium)
3/4 cup heavy cream
2 sheets puff pastry (thawed)
1 egg yolk
1 tablespoon water
Cranberry Sauce (for serving)
Fresh Cranberries and Sage leaves (optional, for garnish)

Preheat the oven to 425°F.  In a large pot, melt butter over medium heat.  Stir in onions and cook until translucent, about 3 to 4 minutes.
Add in pumpkin, mixed vegetables, turkey, sage, and thyme.  Sprinkle the flour over the ingredients,  stir gently, and let the flour cook for 1 minute.  Add in the Better Than Bouillon Turkey Base and turkey stock.  Let the sauce cook until thickened, about 3 minutes.  Remove from heat and stir in the heavy cream.  Let the fillings cool off slight while you prepare the puff pastry.

Gently roll out the seams of the puff pastry on a lightly flour-dusted surface.  Place your ramekins up-side-down on the pastry as a guide.  Cut out 3 pastry per puff pastry sheet.  Repeat with the remaining puff pastry sheet.

Evenly divide the turkey fillings into the 6 ramekins.  Top each one with a cut out puff pastry.  Place the filled ramekins onto a foil lined baking sheet.  Whisk the egg yolk and water to create an egg wash.  Brush a think layer of egg wash onto each puff pastry.

Bake for 22 to 25 minutes, or until the puff pastry is golden brown and cooked through.

Let cool slightly before serving.  Be very careful, fillings is extremely hot.  Garnish with cranberry and sage (if using.)  Serve these Holiday Turkey Pot Pies with cranberry sauce and enjoy!

JACK O' LANTERN S'MORES SLIDERS

Disclosure: Thank you King's Hawaiian for sponsoring my video.  All opinions are 100% my own.  For more fun and festive recipe ideas, please visit: http://bit.ly/hallowaiian-19_149d
 Are you ready for Halloween?  Do you usually host or attend Halloween parties?  My family always attend a friend's Halloween costume party every year.  They went all out and decorate their house inside and out!  It's always spooktacular and fun!  My friend's Halloween party is usually a potluck style, so everyone brings a dish to share.  Since my friends know I love baking, they always assign me to bring a dessert or a sweet treat.  This year, I'm planning to bring this festive, yet super easy to prepare, and scarily delicious Jack o' Lantern S'mores Sliders to share with them.

My Kids are huge fans for anything with S'mores flavor!  After all, who doesn't love melt-y chocolate, charred and gooey marshmallows, along with the crunch of graham cracker, right?  My kids inspired me to create this Jack o' Lantern S'mores Sliders featuring King's Hawaiian's Original Hawaiian Sweet Rolls (#ad), which is something that I always have on hand.  They make a quick and convenience snack.  I also use them to pack kids' sandwich lunches as well.  Since these rolls are slightly sweet, they make the most delicious sweet and savory sandwiches as well.  They go well with so many dishes, in my opinion.

 

These S'mores Sliders are such a cinch to make, and they are so easy to serve too, which makes them the perfect party food.  You can easily grab and go!  No fuss, no mess! So, go check out my video tutorial above on how to make them!  To make these S'more Sliders more festive, I dress them up with some cookie icing and turn them into Jack o' Lanterns!  My daughter loves helping me in the kitchen especially when she can decorate and play with food! I guess the pumpkin doesn't fall far from its vine.

Please leave me a comment below and let me know what's your (or your kiddo's) favorite treat?  Be sure to go grab a (or a few) package of King's Hawaiian Original Hawaiian Sweet Rolls and make these Jack o' Lantern S'mores Sliders this Halloween!  Wish you all a fun, safe, and spooktacular Halloween!

King’s Hawaiian on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KingsHawaiian/

King’s Hawaiian on Twitter: https://twitter.com/KingsHawaiian

King’s Hawaiian on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kingshawaiian/

King’s Hawaiian on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/kingshawaiian/

JACK O' LANTERN S'MORES SLIDERS:

1 (12 count) King's Hawaiian's Original Hawaiian Sweet Rolls
1/2 cup chocolate hazelnut spread
1 1/4 cup mini marshmallows
3 graham crackers
1 tube of black cookie icing
sprinkle of your choice
2 bread sticks (cut into 1 1/2-inches)
a few decorative toothpicks (optional)

Take the King's Hawaiian Sweet Rolls out of the package.  Cut the roll in half lengthwise (horizontally).  Reserve the top half of the rolls and set them aside.  

Place the bottom half of the sweet rolls in a baking tray.  Spread the chocolate hazelnut spread on top evenly.  Sprinkle the mini marshmallows on top in a single layer.  Toast the marshmallows 6-inches under the boiler for 1 minute.  Rotate the baking tray half way through.  Do not walk away from this process.  The marshmallows can toast up really fast. When the marshmallows are all charred up, remove the baking pan from the oven and let cool slightly.

Meanwhile, place the graham crackers into a zip top bag.  Seal it up and crush with a rolling pin. When the sweet rolls are cool enough to handle, transfer it to a serving platter.  Sprinkle the crushed graham cracker crumbs on top evenly.  Place the reserved top half of the sweet rolls on top.

Draw the Jack o' Lantern facial features onto each bun.  Decorate with sprinkles and stick a bread stick in between the buns to mimic the pumpkin stems.  Enjoy!

#Hallowaiian #FeedMonstrousAppetites #KingsHawaiian #IC #ad

Mermaid Chia Seeds Pudding (Pitaya Dragon Fruit & Butterfly Pea Flower Tea)

Are you enjoying the Fall weather?  I'm loving the cooler temperature and the fact that I actually needed a jacket in the morning! If you've been following me on Instagram and my YouTube Channel, you probably have seen this Mermaid Chia Seeds Pudding that I shared a while ago!  Sorry for the delay in posting this blog post and recipe.  The weather was still super hot when I created this recipe!  But nevertheless, it's still a delicious recipe, even in this Fall weather.   

Check out my YouTube video tutorial above, if you haven't done so.  You'll see this gorgeous Mermaid Chia Pudding is really easy to put together.  You can prepare it the night before and it's ready for you in the morning as breakfast.  But I personally enjoy this as a quick snack or "dessert" in the afternoon more than as a breakfast item.  Yes, it's sweet enough as a dessert, yet it's still healthy and good for you.  The pink bottom layer is make with whole milk (you can substitute with almond milk, or soy milk if you like), Chia Seeds, a touch of honey for sweetness, and this gorgeous Dragon Fruit Powder that makes it pink.  It's packed with vitamins and anti-oxidant!  I'll list the product link at the end of the post for your reference.   

The upper blue-ish and purple-ish layer is made from Butterfly Pea Flower tea. It's also a vitamin and anti-oxidant rich ingredient that will make you feel beautiful from the inside out after enjoying it!  I love pretty food that also have such health benefit.  But since I'm not a doctor or nutritionist, please don't hold me accountable for that.  You can google it and read more for yourself if you're interested.  The original color of the Butterfly Pea Flower Tea was blue.  After adding the honey, it changed to this gorgeous purple-ish color because of the acid.  

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.  I'll be wearing pink this month to raise awareness.  Hm....maybe I'll share more pink food and recipes too!  If you want to read more about Brest Cancer Awareness Month, here's the post that I shared last year:

http://utry.it/2018/10/new-meanings-to-breast-cancer-awareness.html

Just this morning, I heard on the news that Beyoncé's Father, Mathew Knowles, was diagnosed with Breast Cancer!  This horrible disease not only affect women, but men as well.  I encourage you to do a regular self check because early detection is important and can save lives!  Check out my last years post on details and symptoms to look for.

Until next time, please take care!

Ingredients and Tools Used:

SunCore Organic White Chia Seeds:

https://amzn.to/2kuHOD7

SunCore Pitaya Dragon Fruit Powder:

https://amzn.to/2kxvBO2

Organic Butterfly Pea Flowers:

https://amzn.to/2lOJZS7

Organic Honey:

https://amzn.to/2kxpXeQ

Mini Bowl Set:

https://amzn.to/2keLGb4

Star Shape Cookie Cutter:

https://amzn.to/2lMkW26

Disclosure: uTry.it is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

How To Make Low Carb Dark Chocolate Mug Cake (Keto Friendly, Sugar Free, Flour Free, Gluten Free)

Have you jumped onto the low carb bandwagon yet? If not, you might really want to considered that.  Ever since I cut down on sugar and refine carbs, I feel more energetic than before!  I used to feel super tired and sleepy after lunch; Now, not anymore!  Well, it doesn't mean that I wouldn't want an afternoon "pick-me-up".  It's just that I don't NEED it.  I would enjoy one just because I can.  And this Low Carb Dark Chocolate Mug Cake is definitely a perfect afternoon pick-me-up!

This  Low Carb Dark Chocolate Mug Cake is super delicious.  The cake itself is soft, tender, and fluffy.  Best of all, it's sugar free, flour free, gluten free, and you just simply feel guilt-free after eating one!  In this video, I topped the cake with a little sugar free chocolate shaves.  But it's just as awesome if you add berries on top!  And if you haven't watch the video tutorial yet, you need to head right to my YouTube channel and watch it!  It's super easy to prepare and only need a few simple ingredients (I'll list them at the end of this post).  In fact, my kids know how to make these on their own!  That's how easy these Mug Cakes are.

If you tried this recipe, please let me know how it goes and tag me on Social Media! It truly makes my day when you try my recipes.  Stay tuned for more easy and healthy recipes. Wish you all a wonderful start of Summer Holidays!

Tools and Ingredients List:

Closed Star Piping Tips
https://amzn.to/2MCKKe2

Pastry Bags
https://amzn.to/2IxFpQ6

Organic Vanilla Extract
https://amzn.to/2QXJWir

Lakanto Sugar Free Chocolate Bars
http://bit.ly/2Xe3aCU
(Use Code: UTRYIT15 For 15% off Regular priced items)

Tea Cup and Saucer Set
https://amzn.to/2MJQG5c

Valrhona Cocoa Powder
Ihttps://amzn.to/2WUqAjI

Lakanto Monkfruit 2:1 Powder Sugar
https://amzn.to/2MxX3bz

Organic Almond Flour
https://amzn.to/2I451oD

Disclosure: uTry.it is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

How to Make Baby Kale Shakshuka

What is your favorite vegetable?  For me, it's kale!  Not only it's packed with wonderful nutrients, such as Vitamin A, Vitamin K, Vitamin C, Calcium, and Potassium, just to name a few.  Kale is also the power house of  delightful flavors. I love the earthy, refreshing, and unique flavors from their dark green leafs. 

Unfortunately, I've heard many dislike kale because of its tough texture.  Today, I'm going to show you the secret to turn this healthy vegetable into a delectable dish that you would want to make it over and over again!  The secret, is to quickly sauteed them, instead of eating them raw in salads.  Also, I'm using baby kale in this particular recipe, so the leafs are particularly tender. 

Traditionally, Shakshuka is a dish with poached egg baked in a vegetable and tomato sauce.  Today, I'm making it lighter by replacing the tomato sauce with chicken stock instead.  You can also substitute with vegetable stock as well.  This way, you can truly taste the wonderful flavor of the kale and not over powered by the tomato sauce.

As you can see from my video tutorial, I topped the Baby Kale Shakshuka with a sprinkle of sumac for a refreshing and lemony punch.  If you haven't tried sumac yet, I highly recommended it.  It truly wakes up the dish and adds such a delightful freshness to this decadent dish.  I served this dish with a couple slices of toasts made from my 90 Seconds Low Carb Quick Bread.  Serving this dish with a slice of rusty bread or toasts is a must!  They will soak up the sauces and runny yolk in this dish.  You can find my low carb bread recipe in the link below.


I hope you enjoy today's video tutorial and recipe.   Stay tuned for more delicious and healthy recipes soon!


90 Seconds Low Carb Bread Recipe:
http://bit.ly/2WxBzzc

Tools and Ingredients Used:

Individual Baking Dish Set

https://amzn.to/2HLL6up

Calphalon Nonstick Bakeware, Baking Sheet
https://amzn.to/2EG6hMj

Organic Sumac:
https://amzn.to/2VYQdeF

Baby Kale Shakshuka

Servings: 2

2 teaspoons olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 small shallot, chopped
8 ounces baby kale
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
3 tablespoons chicken or vegetable stock
1 ounce feta cheese, crumbled
2 large eggs
kosher salt
black pepper
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon sumac

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.  In a medium skillet, heat oil over medium heat.  Add garlic and shallots and cook until fragrant.

Add the kale in 2 batches.  They will wilt significantly as they cook. Continue to stir for even heat distribution. 

When the kale is slightly softened, add the salt, black pepper, red pepper flakes, feta cheese lemon juice, and chicken stock.  Stir well and taste the mixture.  Adjust the seasoning if needed. 

Evenly distribute the kale mixture into 2 oven safe baking dishes.  Gently create a well in the center of each one and crack an egg into each well.

Bake, uncovered, for 12 to 15 minutes.  Or until the egg whites are cooked but the yolks are still runny.

Sprinkle sumac on top.  Let cool slightly and serve warm with toasts or crusty bread.

Disclosure: uTry.it is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Exciting News and Happy Memorial Day Weekend

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!  What are your plans for this long weekend?  For me, I'm spending time with my family, probably have a small cook out this weekend.  Barbecue, maybe? If it's not going to rain.  To me, spending time with the family is the best activity for a long weekend.

On to the exciting news! If you follow me on Instagram and Facebook, you probably have seen some of my recent posts with dessert using Lakanto Sweeteners.  I've tried several of their products at the beginning of this year and felt in love ever since.  Lakanto Monk Fruit Sweetener is the only zero calorie, zero glycemic sweetener that is just like sugar.  Best of all, it tastes just like sugar and there is NO after taste!  Their Classic Monkfruit 1:1 Sugar Substitute is one of my favorites.  I tested out some of my old dessert recipes and replace the regular sugar with Lakanto's Sugar Substitute.  The dessert came out just like my old recipe would in both texture and taste!  Isn't that amazing?  

Because I love their products so much, I became one of their ambassadors and joined their affiliate program! What's in it for you?  When you purchase their product through my link and use my coupon code, you get 15% off your purchase on regular priced items!  Click here to check out their products for more details!  Please use coupon code UTRYIT15 at check out for your discount.  Currently, they are also having a huge Memorial Day weekend sale from 20-40% off on selected items!  So, don't miss out on this opportunity to try out their amazing products!

Have fun shopping and have an awesome Memorial Day Weekend!

How to Make the Classic Buttermilk Mickey Mouse Pancakes - With Lola and Alicia

Last week, my Daughter and I met with my Niece, Lola in the kitchen to create this video!  We had so much fun filming and cooking together.  Lola picked a simple yet delicious recipe, Classic Buttermilk Mickey Mouse Pancakes!  As you can see in the video, these pancakes are so easy to make.  The Girls pretty much make the recipe on their own, except that I help them with the hot griddle (safety first!)  These pancakes are light, fluffy, and delicious! You can serve them with maple syrup, whipped cream, and fresh berries, or whatever your heart desires!

As I mentioned in the video, Lola has her own YouTube Channel called, Lola's Toy Review.  Please support her in subscribing to her channel as she works so hard to build it.  Why should you follow her channel?  First of all, her videos are fun to watch.  Plus, they always have wonderful activities and games idea that you can create and play with your kiddos.  Last but not least, you get to see how the most popular toys work before purchasing them for your own kids.  It sure saves you money over time for not spending on the toys that you don't think your kids would enjoy!

I hope you enjoy watching the video as much as we had creating it!  Please stay tuned for more fun recipes and videos!  Wish you all a wonderful weekend!









Tools and Ingredients Used:

Cuisinart Griddler Electric Grill & Griddle:
https://amzn.to/2VBRzvr

Ice Cream / Batter Scoop:
https://amzn.to/2Jsg1Oy

Lakanto Monkfruit 1:1 Sugar Substitute
https://amzn.to/2WlZCxE

Baking Powder:
https://amzn.to/2w7Kad4

Spatula:
https://amzn.to/2VNcgtx

Measuring Spoons and Cups Set

https://amzn.to/2VMH2mf

Baking Soda:
https://amzn.to/2Vz5t1o



Classic Buttermilk Mickey Mouse Pancakes:
Makes 10 Pancakes 

1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons Lakanto Monkfruit 1:1 Sugar Substitute
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup buttermilk, at room temperature
1 large egg, at room temperature
2 tablespoons salted butter, melted and cooled, plus more for cooking
1 teaspoon vanilla extract or Vanilla Bean Paste
Maple syrup, for serving 

Preheat your griddle to 350 degrees F.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the all-purpose flour, Monkfruit sweetener, baking powder, and baking soda. In a separate bowl, whisk together the buttermilk, egg, and melted butter until well incorporated. 

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients until just combined. It’s okay that it’s still lumpy. Do not over mix the batter! Otherwise the pancake will be chewy instead of tender and fluffy. 

Slightly grease the surface of the griddle (I used avocado cooking spray). Spray the inside of the pancake rings with cooking spray and place the rings on the griddle. 

Scoop batter into the pancake rings and gently spread the batter into an even layer. (You can also scoop batter directly onto the griddle to make round ones if  you're not using a pancake ring) When the edges of the pancakes are set, remove the pancake rings (use a butter knife to help release the pancake).

When you see bubbles on the pancake surface, they are ready to be flipped.  Cook the other side until it's golden brown, about 2 to 3 minutes more. Transfer the pancakes to the serving plate.  Serve with maple syrup, whipped cream, and fresh berries, and enjoy!





Disclosure: uTry.it is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

90 Seconds Low Carb Keto Quick Bread

If you follow me on Instagram, you might remember that I shared some pictures and videos of this 90 Seconds Low Carb Keto Quick Bread for a few times when I was testing out the recipe.  Well, it's finally here and I am super excited.  Thank you for your patience if you're one of the many that requested this recipe.

Every since I cut down on sugar and carbs after my breast cancer diagnoses last year, I had been testing out new ingredients and different ways to prepare old recipes that I love with healthier alternatives.  This 90 Seconds Low Carb Keto Quick Bread is one of them.  It doesn't contain any refine sugar, it's flour free, and it's gluten free.  Best of all, my kids are loving it too.

Best the fact that this bread tastes great, I also love how easy and quick it is to put together.  And as you can tell in my video, my kids enjoyed making this quick bread too.  This bread is made in a coffee mug in the microwave.  In my video tutorial, I shared some tips and what coffee mug (in terms of sizes) to use as well.  I'll list those information and mug size at the end of this post for your reference.

This quick bread doesn't contain any flour. Instead, I used almond flour as the main ingredient.  Please make sure to use almond flour from blenched almonds and not almond meal.  The texture of almond flour is more tender and smooth because the almond skin is removed.

The texture of this bread might not be exactly like your traditional sandwich bread.  I find it similar to a sponge cake actually.  However, giving the fact that it's so easy to make and only includes healthy ingredients, I would choose this bread, any day that I crave for a slice of bread or toast. 

This quick bread is wonderful for sandwiches, it also toast up nicely.  You do get a hint of nutty flavor after toasting because of the almond flour, which is quite a nice addition to the crunchy texture.  Next, I'm planning to cut this bread into cubes and give them a quick toast and turn them into croutons for salads!  I will share a picture on my Instagram when I do that.  

My daughter loves to use this bread to replace her bagel! Spread a little bit cream cheese, a couple of smoked salmon, top it with capers, chives, and dill and you get a gourmet Open-Face Smoked Salmon Sandwich!  Boy, what a foodie!  I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree! 

From this picture above, you see the 2 different sized of bread I made using different diameter coffee mugs.  I think the small one is perfect for party food and snacks while the bigger ones are perfect for sandwiches.  If you try this recipe, please kindly leave me a message and let me know how it goes.  Thank you for stopping by today and stay tuned for more delicious and healthy recipes soon.

Coffee Mug Measurements (Please refer to the video tutorial): Mug #1 (Sweetest Mom): 3-inch Diameter X 3 3/4-Inch Height Mug #2 (Star Wars): 3 1/4-inch Diameter X 5-inch Height Mug #3 (Starbucks/Disney): 3 3/4-inch Diamemter X 3 1/2-inch Height https://amzn.to/2Lm9g2z Ingredients and Tools Used in this Recipe: Monkfruit 1:1 Sugar Substitute: https://amzn.to/2WlZCxE Organic Almond Flour: https://amzn.to/2GZaQmI Mini Whisks: https://amzn.to/2LmB0Uz Recommended Starbucks/Disney Mug: https://amzn.to/2Lm9g2z

Aluminum-Free Baking Powder: 

https://amzn.to/2Y4OZjh

Disclosure: uTry.it is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Super Cute Origami Kit Review

Recently, I had the pleasure to review the Super Cute Origami Kit By Yuki Martin and Illustrations by Emily Watanabe.  It contains a Full-Color Instruction Book, 48 Folding Sheets, stickers, sequins, rhinestones, pearls, and a lace washi tape.  Pretty much everything you needed to create some super adorable origami, and then some.




My daughter was super excited when we received the set.  We opened the package together and she started to read the instruction booklet on her own.  She told me that besides the instructions on creating the origami, the booklet also includes some fun facts.  I love it when a play set is also educational.

My daughter started with a couple easy ones, and she was able to complete them all on her own.  She loves the fact that they were rated in different difficulty levels so that she could practice on easy ones first.

Did you know what the Russian Nesting Dolls are called Matryoshka?  I certainly didn’t.  It was one of the fun fact from the set!  I love learning new things every day!  This Super Cute Origami Set is amazing.  Beside entertaining, it also help the kids follow instructions, and also inspire them to be creative.  My daughter designed and drew the patterns for the dolls’ little dresses (see picture below).  I think they are super adorable!

The Maneki Neko, the infamous Japanese Lucky Cat, was one of the origami with the highest difficulty.  At first, my Daughter wasn’t sure if she can handle it all by herself.  But after completing the cupcake and Russian Nesting Dolls Set, she built up her confident and gave it a try.  She was so proud of herself when she did it!

My daughter had so much fun playing with this Super Cute Origami Kit.  She brought it to a play date to share with her friend (a couple years older than my Daughter) and they had fun making Masquerade Party Masks together!  If you’re looking for fun and educational activities for your kiddos on Spring Breaks, weekends, rainy days, or the up coming Summer Breaks, I highly recommend this Super Cute Origami Kit.  Simply click here for more information.  Thank you again for Tuttle Publishing for sending the kit for review. 

Disclaimer:  I received a copy of “Super Cute Origami Kit” for the purpose of this review and I was not compensated in any way to write this post.  All comments and opinions are 100% my own.

How to Revive and Use Dried Vanilla Beans

Let’s talk about Vanilla Beans.  Do you use whole vanilla beans in your recipes?  I personally love and adore vanilla beans.  They have this unique, sweet, floral, and earthy (depending on the regions) aromas that you don’t get from any other ingredient.  They certainly make any baked goods and desserts tasted gourmet.  Ever since the shortage of vanilla beans a few year ago, the price of them had been sky-rocketed.  (That is totally a different topic so I’m not going to go in-depth today).

My point is, since vanilla beans are so expensive, you do want to utilize them the best you could so that nothing goes to waste.  If you live in an area that has a dry climate (such as Southern California), you might have experienced that your vanilla bean dried out before you use it.  No need to panic!  I’m here for the rescue today.  Watch my video below on how to revive a dried vanilla bean and many different ways you can use them. 



If you’ve missed my previous video, click below to watch the tutorial on how to split and seed a vanilla bean and other usage ideas.




If you have any other questions, please feel free to leave me a comment below.  

For more product information and vanilla recipes, please visit www://SingingDogVanilla.com



Vanilla Simple Syrup

Ingredients:
1 vanilla bean
1 cup sugar
1 cup water

1) Place all ingredient in a medium pot.  Let the mixture simmer for 5 minutes, stir occasionally.  Let cool completely before use.

2) The simple syrup is wonderful to mix into teas, cocktails, and fruit punches.

Vanilla Spice Poached Pears

Ingredients:
2 Semi-Ripe Pears, peeled
3 Cups water
1 cup Sugar
1 lemon, peel off rind and juiced
1 cinnamon stick
2 cloves
1 star anise
1 vanilla bean

1) Place all ingredient, except the pears, in a medium pot. Heat mixture over high heat until it comes to a boil.

2) Lower the heat to a simmer and add in the pears.  Simmer for 20 minutes or until fork tender.

3) Let pears cool slightly and enjoy them warm or at room temperature!  Accompany poached pears with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, dark chocolate sauce, or fresh berries.

Vanilla Lavender Bath Salt

Ingredients:

1 cup of lavender Epsom Salt
1/2 cup sea salt
1 tablespoon dried lavender buds
A few drops of purple soap colorant (Optional)
1 dried vanilla bean, break into thirds

Stir all ingredients together until well incorporated.  Transfer to an air tight container until ready to use (preferably after a week to let the vanilla bean infused into the bath salt). 

To Use:
Scoop 1/2 a cup of the bath salt mixture and add into a tub of bath water.  Soak, relax, and enjoy!  















Thank you Singing Dog Vanilla for sponsoring these videos.