Brookside Dark Chocolate Crunchy Clusters - Berry Medley Flavors Review

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Oh lord am I excited to share this product with you. On the internet that is, I already consumed the whole bag here so you'll need to go buy your own.

I received this product for free from +Crowdtap and Brookside for review. All opinions here are my own (and the ones shared by my fellow reviewers.)

Brookside Dark Chocolate Crunchy Clusters - Berry Medley Flavors

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Smooth dark chocolate, multi-grain clusters and alluring, fruit flavors create an enticingly delicious taste experience. Its unexpected crunch and texture like you've never experienced before. Eat it on the go, at home, during work, share it with friends and take photos to show how you #DiscoverBrookside.

My Review

I can't believe I received this product for review! I loved EVERYTHING about it! Let's start with the packaging. These treats come in a brightly colored, resealable bag. Not that I needed to reseal it too often. I couldn't get over how delicious these were! It was a struggle to not eat the whole bag in the first sitting!

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The flavor and texture combinations in these crunchy clusters are to die for. There is a nice crunch with the multi-grain and the chewiness of the dried fruit plus the sweetness of the fruit and the bitterness of the dark chocolate. Sigh, I might need to go shopping just for these soon.

I shared these with my family and friends. This was probably the worst part of this whole sample and share, letting them go. I mailed a package of items to a friend in Florida and she suggested I include a small bag of these since she follows my Instagram and saw me posting about them. I reluctantly did and she was ecstatic! She scarfed down the whole bag in minutes and told me it was a good thing I didn't send more or she would have ruined her diet.

I made cookies for some coworkers and slipped a few of these crunchy clusters into each cookie. They were an even bigger hit than I thought they would be. Three dozen cookies gone in less than half an hour. 

I also took what was left of the bag home to visit my family. I offered some to everyone in the house and before I knew it, they were gone. I miss them already. I will be heading to Meijer today to buy more since they are on sale 2 for $7. I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free from Crowdtap.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Sweet'N Low® Seasonal Recipes and Swag Crowdtap Sample and Share

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With cooler weather upon us and the holiday season in full-swing, it’s time to sweeten things up with your favorite zero calorie sweetener. The ‘skinny’ versions of the popular holiday favorites use Sweet’N Low® instead of sugar to sweeten without the caloric guilt... and it is oh-so-yummy! I whipped up some new, Sweet'N Low® inspired recipes and invited over some girlfriends to enjoy every sip over some quality girl time. I received these samples from Crowdtap and Sweet'N Low® for free in exchange for my honest review. The package I received included: 

• 18 Two pack samplers of Sweet'N Low®
• 1 Sweet'N Low® tote bag
• 1 Sampling insert
• 4 Sweet'N Low® recipe cards

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I was really excited to try the En-Lightened Vanilla Chair Latte (pictured) and wanted to share the recipe with all of you!

Ingredients

• 4 cups boiling water
• 4 regular tea bags
• 12 packets Sweet'N Low® zero calorie sweetener (4 tsp)
• 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1/2 tsp ground cardamon
• 1 pinch freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 2 cups skim milk, heated

Directions

1. Pour boiling water over teabags in a 1 1/2 quart nonmetal, heatproof pitcher.
2. Steep 3 minutes.
3. Remove and squeeze out tea bags
4. Stir in 
   Sweet'N Low®, pumpkin pie spice, cardamon, pepper, vanilla, and skin milk
5. Pour into individual cups
6. Sprinkle individual servings lightly with pumpkin pie spice.

Makes about 6 servings

Tip: Top each serving with some whipped cream from an aerosol can.

ip: If desired, top each serving with a little whipped cream topping from an aerosol can.

Nutrition with whip cream added:
Calories: 60
Fat: 2.5g
Sodium: 60mg
Carbohydrates: 8g
Dietary Fiber: 0g
Sugars:7g
Protein:3g - See more at: http://www.sweetnlow.com/recipes/beverages/en-lightened-vanilla-chai#sthash.x8oWDLEs.dpuf

4 cups boiling water

4 regular tea bags

12 packets Sweet’N Low® zero calorie sweetener (4 teaspoons)

1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom

Pinch of freshly ground black pepper

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups skim milk, heated

- See more at: http://www.sweetnlow.com/recipes/beverages/en-lightened-vanilla-chai#sthash.x8oWDLEs.dpuf

Ingredients

• 4 cups boiling water
• 4 regular tea bags
• 12 packets Sweet’N Low® zero calorie sweetener (4 teaspoons)
• 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
• Pinch of freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 cups skim milk, heated

Pour boiling water over tea bags in 1 1/2-quart nonmetal heatproof pitcher. Steep 3 minutes. Remove and squeeze tea bags. Stir in Sweet’N Low®, pumpkin pie spice, cardamom, pepper, vanilla and skim milk. Sprinkle individual servings lightly with additional pumpkin pie spice. 6 servings (about 8 ounces each).

Tip: If desired, top each serving with a little whipped cream topping from an aerosol can.
- See more at: http://www.sweetnlow.com/recipes/beverages/en-lightened-vanilla-chai#sthash.x8oWDLEs.dpuf

Ingredients

• 4 cups boiling water
• 4 regular tea bags
• 12 packets Sweet’N Low® zero calorie sweetener (4 teaspoons)
• 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
• Pinch of freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 cups skim milk, heated

Pour boiling water over tea bags in 1 1/2-quart nonmetal heatproof pitcher. Steep 3 minutes. Remove and squeeze tea bags. Stir in Sweet’N Low®, pumpkin pie spice, cardamom, pepper, vanilla and skim milk. Sprinkle individual servings lightly with additional pumpkin pie spice. 6 servings (about 8 ounces each).

Tip: If desired, top each serving with a little whipped cream topping from an aerosol can.
- See more at: http://www.sweetnlow.com/recipes/beverages/en-lightened-vanilla-chai#sthash.x8oWDLEs.dpuf

Ingredients

• 4 cups boiling water
• 4 regular tea bags
• 12 packets Sweet’N Low® zero calorie sweetener (4 teaspoons)
• 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
• Pinch of freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 cups skim milk, heated

- See more at: http://www.sweetnlow.com/recipes/beverages/en-lightened-vanilla-chai#sthash.x8oWDLEs.dpuf

Ingredients

• 4 cups boiling water
• 4 regular tea bags
• 12 packets Sweet’N Low® zero calorie sweetener (4 teaspoons)
• 1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom
• Pinch of freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 cups skim milk, heated

Pour boiling water over tea bags in 1 1/2-quart nonmetal heatproof pitcher. Steep 3 minutes. Remove and squeeze tea bags. Stir in Sweet’N Low®, pumpkin pie spice, cardamom, pepper, vanilla and skim milk. Sprinkle individual servings lightly with additional pumpkin pie spice. 6 servings (about 8 ounces each).

Tip: If desired, top each serving with a little whipped cream topping from an aerosol can.
- See more at: http://www.sweetnlow.com/recipes/beverages/en-lightened-vanilla-chai#sthash.x8oWDLEs.dpuf

Check out more recipes from Sweet'N Low® HERE. Drinks, main dishes, desserts, anything imaginable!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free from Crowdtap.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Anti-Viral and Lotion Kleenex Brand Tissues Review

Before I left for my holiday break, I received a package from +Crowdtap and +Kleenex® Brand that included:

• 1 Sampling insert
• 1 box of Kleenex brand tissues with Lotion (Aloe & E)
• 1 box of Anti-viral Kleenex brand tissues  

I am a long time user of Keenex brand tissues so I am excited to share with  my readers my review of these awesome tissues AND a coupon too!!

The coupon can be found HERE.


I’m a member of the Crowdtap Kleenex Brand® rewards program, and Kleenex® Brand sent me this product to review.
 

Anti-viral Kleenex brand tissues

I was a bit scared to use these tissues at first. Being anti-viral is a great thing but when I hear those words, I immediately think of hand sanitizer and how it dries out my skin. I want to kill the germs but my nose is already sensitive from blowing it all the time that I don't to make it worse! Luckily my fears were unfounded and these tissues didn't bother my nose a bit but kept my germs locked inside. 

The tissues do have a slightly medical scent to them and if you look closely you can see small blue dots on the tissue which I can only assume is the anti-viral that locks in your germs. The tissue is three ply and the middle one is most important as it contains the moisture activating 99.9% killer of viruses!

The Kleenex brand in general has always been high quality. These new Anti-viral tissues are effective at stopping the spread of virus especially the flu. In the future when any of my family gets sick this is the variety of Kleenex we will be running to.

Kleenex brand tissues with Lotion (Aloe & E)

I have been using Kleenex brand tissues with lotion for as long as I can remember. I love how soft they are and gentle on your nose.

I have used lotion tissues from other brands that left my nose feeling greasy but the Kleenex brand tissues have just the right amount of lotion on them.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free from Crowdtap.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Sweet'N Low® Not-So-Naughty Egg Nog - Recipe Party

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The ‘skinny’ versions of the popular holiday favorites use Sweet’N Low® instead of sugar to sweeten without the caloric guilt... and it is oh-so-yummy! I whipped up some new, Sweet'N Low® inspired recipes and invited over some girlfriends to enjoy every sip over some quality girl time! A holiday party was perfect for this! 

The package I received included:

• 20 Two pack samplers of Sweet'N Low
• 1 Sweet'N Low tote bag
• 1 Sweet'N Low purse hanger 
• 1 Sampling insert
• 1 Recipe card

The recipe was for some super easy and festive Not-So-Naughty Egg Nog made with Sweet'N Low! Let's face it, none of us want to gain weight over the holidays so why not give this low calorie egg nog a try!

Ingredients

• 4 pasteurized eggs
• 12 packets Sweet’N Low® zero calorie sweetener
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 5 cups cold skim milk
• Pinch ground nutmeg

Instructions

1. Place eggs, Sweet’N Low® and vanilla in blender container.
2. Cover and blend on medium or high speed 10 seconds or until foamy.
3. Add milk. 
4. Cover and blend another 5 seconds. 
5. Pour into a 1 1/2-quart pitcher. 
6. Sprinkle individual servings with nutmeg.

In my recipe I used almond milk rather than skim milk. I'm not lactose intolerant, however I am not a fan of the texture of milk. The flavor of the vanilla almond milk added to the recipe nicely.

For your warning, if you're not a fan of the aspartame flavor and after taste, Sweet'N Low is not for you. While this egg nog is lower in calories than other recipes it has a STRONG aspartame flavor and it really put me off.

After three days in my refrigerator, the Not-So-Naughty Egg Nog was rancid. I opened the container and nearly threw up again. It smelled VERY bad and was separated completely (see image on the left.)

Check out more recipes from Sweet'N Low HERE. Drinks, main dishes, desserts, anything imaginable!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free from Crowdtap.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Scott Naturals® Toss The Tube Sampling - Crowdtap

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I received a four pack of Scott Naturals® Tube-Free toilet paper this week from Crowdtap to review. I can't wait to share this greener solution with my followers!

What Was In The Package?

• 1 4-roll package of Scott Naturals® Tube-Free toilet paper
• 1 sampling insert

Why Is This Important?

Reducing our footprint is important to me, so why not start with something small: toilet paper tubes! What do you do with your toilet paper tubes currently? Most people just throw them away and think nothing of it but there's much more that you can do! Doing a quick internet search pulls up all kinds of ideas of how to reuse them such as recycling, composting, or more creative uses such as cord organizers. 

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But why use them at all? Why even have them in the house. Keeping them out of a landfill is great but that's just one half of the problem. The other half involves the manufacturing process. As with any product, tubes require resources and energy. If a company doesn't make their own tubes, then packaging and transportation are also added to the environmental cost. And, of course, not everyone finds a use for them ... billions end up in landfills each year.

Scott Naturals® Tube-Free toilet paper is coming to the rescue to reduce your paper usage and assist in keeping these paper products out
of landfills! Toilet paper and a cardboard tube has been around for centuries but what if they didn't have to go hand-in-hand?

I learned that Scott Naturals® Tube-Free toilet paper is the only major brand that is Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified. The FSC has confirmed that this product has been sourced in an environmentally-friendly, socially responsible and economically viable manner. The company tried adding recycled content to the product but found that the quality and softness was compromised. They are currently researching alternative fibers for potential use in the future.

How Does Scott Naturals® Tube-Free TP Stack-up Against The Competition?

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Each roll contains four hundred unscented one-ply sheets. Typically, one-ply sheets are thin and flimsy but these ones are thick and sturdy. My toilet-paper holder has a compressible roll holder that is quite large in diameter but it still slips easily through the roll's opening. The best part about this paper is that at the end of the roll, the final sheet slips easily off the holder.

The paper is appropriate for use in septic tanks or direct sewer line connections. There's nothing to dislike about this toilet paper and everything to love about reducing your family's waste!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free from Crowdtap.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 

Creamy Poblano Mac & Cheese Made With Campbell’s® Condensed Creamy Poblano & Queso Soup

Yummy Mac & Cheese Recipe! It's just slightly spicy, yummy though!! The recipe was extremely easy to make and it turned out creamy, smooth, and highly recommended.

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 medium onion, chopped (about 1/2 cup)
• 1/2 cup red bell pepper, chopped
• 1 cup medium tomato, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, chopped
• 1/8 teaspoon salt and ground black pepper
• 1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Campbell’s® Condensed Creamy Poblano & Queso Soup
• 3/4 cup milk
• 1 cup shredded Cheddar Jack cheese (about 4 ounces)
• 8 ounces (1/2 of a 1-pound package) elbow macaroni, cooked and drained
• 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro   

Instructions

1. Heat the butter in a 3-quart saucepan over medium-high heat.  Add the onion and pepper and cook for 5 minutes or until the vegetables are tender, stirring occasionally.
   
   
2. Add the tomato and garlic to the saucepan and cook and stir for 1 minute.  Season with the salt and black pepper.
   
3. Stir in the soup and milk and heat to a boil.  Remove the saucepan from the heat.  Add the cheese and stir until melted.  Stir in the macaroni.  Sprinkle with the cilantro.

I doubled this recipe so that I would have enough for all my friends who were planning to visit.... Of course, only two of them showed up in the end. I have all kinds of left overs!

I didn't serve it directly after cooking but rather I cooked it on Friday and let it cool in the refrigerator  over night. I put some bread crumbs on top before baking at 350*F for 30 minutes.

It was still creamy and delicious! Also, as proof that I do have friends who enjoyed this meal with me, here's Bonnie and Ian enjoying the soup and mac & cheese!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free from Crowdtap.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. 

Loaded Potato Soup Made With Swanson Cream Starter Broth

Another easy recipe, and SO delicious! I'm realizing again that this whole cooking thing is super easy and maybe I was making this whole thing out to be harder than it ought to be! Who am I kidding, it's always come easy! Using Swanson Traditional Cream Starter made it super easy too.

Ingredients

• 1/2 of a 1 lb. package of bacon, diced (about 8 strips)
• 1 one pound russet potato, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch pieces (about 3 cups)
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 carton Swanson Cream Starter Broth (Traditional or 25% Reduced Fat)
• 1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
•  3 green onions or fresh chives, chopped
• 
  

Instructions

1. Cook the bacon in a 4-quart sauce pan over medium heat until crisp, stirring often.  Remove the bacon from the saucepan and drain on paper towels.  Pour off all but 2 tablespoons drippings
2. Add the potatoes and onion to the saucepan, season with salt and black pepper and cook for 5 minutes or until the vegetables are tender-crisp, stirring occasionally.  Add the garlic and cook and stir for 1 minute.
3. Stir in the cream starter and heat to a boil.  Reduce the heat to low.  Cover and cook for 20 minutes or until the potatoes are tender, stirring occasionally.  Stir in half the bacon and half the cheese.  Top with the remaining bacon, remaining cheese and the green onions before serving.

As per usual, I made my own changes to the recipe. You may have noticed from one of the first image in this post that I did NOT peel the potatoes, and yes, I pluralized that. I had a lot of potatoes to get rid of and I used them all, so yes..... I doubled the recipe!

I used one package of Traditional Swanson Cream Starter Broth and one of the 25% Reduced Fat Swanson Cream Starter Broth. It was a huge hit with everyone!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free from Crowdtap.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.  

Speedy Sausage Rigatoni - With Campbell's® Soups for Easy Cooking

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Another easy one, maybe I was making this whole cooking thing out to be harder than it ought to be! Who am I kidding, it's always come easy! Using Campbell's® Soups for easy cooking made it super easy too.

Ingredients

• 1 lb. sweet Italian pork sausage, casing removed
• 1 large zucchini, cut lengthwise in quarters, then sliced crosswise (about 3 cups)
• 1 Carton (14.5 oz.) Campbell's® Savory Portobello Mushroom Soup
• 1/2 of a 1-pound package of rigatoni pasta, cooked and drained

Instructions

1. Cook the sausage in a 12" skillet over medium-high heat well browned, stirring often to separate meat. Pour off fat.
2. Reduce heat to medium. Add zucchini to skillet and cook for five minutes or until tender-crisp, stirring occasionally.
3. Stir in soup and heat to a boil. Reduce heat to low. Stir in rigatoni and cook for 2 minutes or until mixture is hot stirring occasionally.

How I made it

I have made a habit of messing up.... or maybe more so "improving" these past few recipes. Here's my changes:

Ingredients

• 1 lb. package of Jimmy Dean Hot pork sausage
• 1/2 of a 1-pound package of rotini pasta, cooked and drained
• 2 small zucchinis, cut lengthwise in quarters, then sliced crosswise (about 3 cups)
• 1 Carton (14.5 oz.) Campbell's® Savory Portobello Mushroom Soup 

 Instructions

1. Cook the sausage in a 12" skillet over medium-high heat well browned, stirring often to separate meat. Pour off fat.
2. Reduce heat to medium. Add zucchini to skillet and cook for five minutes or until tender-crisp, stirring occasionally.
3. Stir in soup and heat to a boil. Reduce heat to low. Stir in rigatoni and cook for 2 minutes or until mixture is hot stirring occasionally.

This product is probably my favorite so far. I LOVE how creamy it is and I already know at least three recipes that I want to make with it including stroganoff. I can't wait to use this at home when visiting my family and impress them with this creamy flavorful soup for cooking. 

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free from Crowdtap.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.  

Bacon Ranch Alfrado Mac & Cheese - With Prego® Light Alfrado Sauce and Hidden Valley Ranch Dip

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This is another fairly simple recipe, even if Kyle and I decided to complicate it a bit. Well, he's not to blame at all, it was all me. I may have read the directions wrong. I'll give you the recipe that I was given and add my comments in the instructions.

Ingredients

• 1/2 of a 1-pound package penne pasta, cooked and drained
• 1 Jar (14.5 oz) Prego® Flavored with Savory Bacon Alfredo Sauce
• 1/2 of a 1-ounce envelope ranch salad dressing mix
• 1/2 Cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Instructions

1. Heat the oven to 350*F
2. Stir the penne, sauce, dressing mix and half the cheese in a large bowl. Spoon the penne mixture into an 8" x 8" x 2" baking dish. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese.
3. Bake for 30 minutes or until the penne mixture is hot and bubbling.

My recipe followed this one quite closely but there were a few changes that I made..... by accident. Below are the steps I followed:

1. Heat the oven to 350*F
2. Cook the 1/2 of a 1-pound box of penne pasta - it's pretty hard to measure out 1/2 of a box so it might have been 3/4 of a box in my recipe.... Never mind, I totally misread the recipe and used the whole box of pasta.
3. Cook 1/2 of a 1-pound package of bacon - I microwave mine but in a skillet is fine too, let it cool before use.
4. Mix the penne pasta with 1 Jar (14.5 oz) Prego® Light Alfredo Sauce
5. Add the 1-ounce envelope ranch salad dressing
6. Crumble the bacon into the pasta, ranch, Alfredo mix
7. Mix in 1/2 of the cheese
8. Spoon mixture into a 9" x 13" x 2" pan
9. Cover the pasta mixture with the remaining cheese
10. Cover the pan with aluminum foil and bake at 350*F for 30 minutes
11. Remove the aluminum foil and back for another 10 minutes.

Our company LOVED the pasta, the bacon was probably the best part!

Kaylyn and Drake also provided dessert - Funfetti Angel Food Cake, home made whipped cream and mulberries!

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free from Crowdtap.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.