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Keeping My Kids Energized for School & Sports With CLIF Kid

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As a family, our lives tend to be a bit hectic and busy.  I just consider us busy because we are out in the world, making memories and enjoying life.  This year all three boys started school the same week they started Football practice for Pop Warner.  Let’s just say it has been a busy month so far and keeping the littles on task for school while still getting them to and from practice and games can be a challenge but overall rewarding and we make it work to the best to our ability.  With a schedule that starts from 6am and ends at 8:30pm for the boys, they have a long day and their little bodies keep truckin from rise to bed.  To keep t hem on top of their game and play, I try to incorporate great tasting snacks like CLIF Kid Zbar® that have important nutrients for active kids.

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It seems like I have a household full of guys that literally eat like crazy, but with three growing boys that’s exactly what is going on.  To keep them on their toes, I give them CLIF Kid Zbars, which are nutritious snacks that are made from organic ingredients, all of which are specially-crafted for kids’ developing taste buds and active lives.  My sons absolutely love how the CLIF Kid Zbars tastes and they have asked me to purchase them many times.

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CLIF Kid Zbars are the perfect portion size for kids. I especially love that they come in flavors that they love and they fit perfectly in their lunch box or backpack to take with them to school.  All three boys snack on their CLIF Kid Zbars during break for that mid day snack so that they are not starving when they come home from school.  I enjoy that they are made with organic ingredients, are Non-GMO (something we try to steer clear of in our household) and have no high fructose corn syrup, artificial flavors or synthetic preservatives.

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CLIF Kid has been an essential part of our back to school routine and the boys have been loving the taste and flavors of the snacks they have tried.  But, what I love is that they don’t need to be used for just school.  CLIF Kid is dedicated to reclaiming play!  With balance and active play laying the foundation for skilled, healthy, resilient and successful society, we are keeping our kids active and still providing them fun.  This is one of the reasons why my sons are engaged with Play time, no matter what it is.  Our play time is football and the boys enjoy CLIF Kid Zbars as a part of their snack after practice.

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When my sons are on the filed, they not only get a little active time, but they have a lot of fun and CLIF Kid helps to encourage that.  Let’s face it, play is disappearing at home, in school and in communities now a days, especially since technology, television and video games have a little part in that.  I remember as a kid, I played outside all the time and it’s sad to see that 70% of moms like me played outside while only 31% of our kids play outside today.  I encourage outside play whole heartily and enjoy that my sons love to play and keep active.

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Whether it’s back to school or on the field, foraging through the woods or riding a bike – no matter the play time your family enjoys, get out and enjoy it all.  Remember, like I said before… make memories while having some fun.

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What about you?  Do you remember being out exploring and playing till the lights came on?  What are your favorite memories of your play time?  Encourage play time with your kids if you don’t already, have some fun and create memories.

Check out the CLIF Kid Video.

Signature Honey

 

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

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What’s Mine Is Yours – My Secret Summer Indulgence

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I have been married to the love of my life for over 15 years and we have been together as a couple for almost 20.  In those years together, we have had to learn how to work with one another, to compromise, to share and while it seems easy, it can definitely be a challenge at times.  Our passions and favorites are the same in many ways and since we love and “indulge” in the same things, we live our lives by a simple mantra…

“What’s Mine Is Yours, What’s Yours Is Mine!”

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Of course, lipstick and planner goods are easy for me to keep in the open without worrying that my hubs will get his hands on them, but things like cars…  magazines…  pens… silk sheets… pizza, they are all indulgences we share and if I leave them out, well – let’s just say, they may disappear without a trace… lol.  One of my favorite summer indulgences is ice cream or cold sweet treats.  With the hot summer heat gracing Hawaii right now, nothing cools you off more than a Chocolaty Dipped Ice Cream Sandwich and my husband would snatch those away from me too if I didn’t share.

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My secret stash of Skinny Cow Chocolatey Dipped Ice Cream Sandwiches is my summer indulgence for the hot days that we are experiencing.  It’s in stock at all times and I have a few boxes hidden in the freezer in Vanilla Bean Dream for those days when I need a little “me time“.  Sweet treats are my husband’s secret indulgence and he has a major sweet tooth so I knew that I had to pick up a few extra boxes just in case he planned to grab a few of my ice cream sandwiches.

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Skinny Cow Chocolatey Dipped Ice Cream Sandwiches in Vanilla Bean Dream are yummy!  If you are looking for something sweet to indulge in, reach for the vanilla bean bliss with vanilla ice cream sandwiched between two chocolate wafers and veiled in rich, chocolatey coating. YUM.  Skinny Cow is an indulgence for all, it’s not just for women – so my whole family can take part in it.  Even my kids love the chocolatey goodness that brings a little cool to our summer.  Skinny Cow comes in 3 delicious flavors:  Vanilla Bean Dream (my favorite), Ultimate Chocolate and Creamy Caramel.  The creamy ice cream is sandwiched between two chocolate wafers that are fully dipped in chocolatey coating making it the perfect indulgence any time of day.

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While women buy Skinny Cow for themselves, we know that men in their lives are eating it too!  And, why shouldn’t they take part in and taste the chocolatey dipped goodness.  Just because Skinny Cow comes in a pink box or smells like a ladies powder room doesn’t mean it’s a turn off for him.

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Husbands really are the direct extension of their wives, as we are the direct extension of them.  Instead of my husband sneaking Skinny Cow from me, and leaving me with a mysteriously empty box in the freezer, I share my indulgences with him instead.  I use this opportunity to bond with my husband over shared love of indulgent products and enjoy the good life together.

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So what about you… do you have an indulgence that your husband or special someone in your life shares?  Are you an ice cream lover too?  This delicious treat can be shared with any loved one.  Find a store near you and get a box (or more) of these great treats.

Learn more about Skinny Cow Chocolatey Dipped Ice Cream Sandwiches and all they have to offer on their product page here.

 

Signature Honey

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

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Foodie Friday – Poisson Cru, Tahitian Style Poke Recipe

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Being a Hawaii girl – born & raised, I have a love for all things seafood… yes, even raw seafood.  The islands are my home and as a child I learned to fish and dive for my food to provide for my family.  Because of this, special recipes passed down over the years are favorites of mine and I absolutely love sharing my love for my culture with my friends around the World.  Poisson Cru, otherwise known as Tahitian Style Poke (poke = po – ke) is different from the familiar Ahi Poke you see in Hawaiian style restaurants.  It’s a poke that is similar to ceviche with ingredients like lime juice to marinate the fish, but also uses coconut milk to give it a different texture and taste.  It’s a tangy take on the original Poke you may be used to at a Lu’au but just as delicious and full with fresh ingredients to make a hearty and tasty dish.

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Foodie Friday – Poisson Cru, Tahitian Style Poke Recipe

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 10 minutes

Yield: 8

Ingredients

  1. 1 lb fresh fish (I used ahi – but you can select to use snapper or swordfish also). Cut your fish in 1 3/4 inch x 1/4 inch cubes
  2. 3 tablespoons Masago/Tobiko (orange fish roe) this is not a traditional ingredient, but I love it and it really adds to the flavor and texture
  3. 1 small sweet round onion (Kula Onion from Maui is the best, but any sweet round onion will do). Minced
  4. 1 small Japanese cucumber, chopped
  5. 4-5 stalks green onion, chopped. Separate the white and the green parts – chop both
  6. 1 large tomato – seeded and chopped
  7. 1/2 cup lime juice (fresh preferred)
  8. 1/4 cup coconut milk (fresh preferred, but you could get the type in a can or frozen in the ethnic food section.)
  9. 2 pinches Hawaiian Rock Salt or Ala’e
  10. Sprig of Cilantro (I use this for garnish)

Instructions

  1. In a mixing bowl, combine the ahi (or fish of choice) with all of the ingredients, except use only the white parts of the green onion.
  2. Allow to sit for 10 minutes (place in the refrigerator while waiting).
  3. Prior to serving, drain the excess liquid and taste the poke to adjust seasoning.
  4. Add more hawaiian salt or coconut milk if you need.
  5. Garnish with the green parts of the chopped green onion and cilantro.
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Ingredients:

  • 1 lb fresh fish (I used ahi – but you can select to use snapper or swordfish also).  Cut your fish in 1 3/4 inch x 1/4 inch cubes
  • 3 tablespoons Masago/Tobiko (orange fish roe) this is not a traditional ingredient, but I love it and it really adds to the flavor and texture
  • 1 small sweet round onion (Kula Onion from Maui is the best, but any sweet round onion will do). Minced
  • 1 small Japanese cucumber, chopped
  • 4-5 stalks green onion, chopped.  Separate the white and the green parts – chop both
  • 1 large tomato – seeded and chopped
  • 1/2 cup lime juice (fresh preferred)
  • 1/4 cup coconut milk (fresh preferred, but you could get the type in a can or frozen in the ethnic food section.)
  • 2 pinches Hawaiian Rock Salt or Ala’e
  • Sprig of Cilantro (I use this for garnish)

Preparation:

In a mixing bowl, combine the ahi (or fish of choice) with all of the ingredients, except use only the white parts of the green onion.  Allow to sit for 10 minutes (place in the refrigerator while waiting).  Prior to serving, drain the excess liquid and taste the poke to adjust seasoning.  Add more hawaiian salt or coconut milk if you need.  Garnish with the green parts of the chopped green onion and sprig of cilantro.

Service:

Serve the preparation of the Poisson Cru immediately after it has sit for the 10 minutes.  This mixture will serve about 8.  If you will not be serving this mixture immediately – please prep and cut all items but do not mix together until ready to serve.

**This is my take on the Poisson Cru recipe.  There are many available now a days with personal interpretations of the recipe as well as additional or less products.  You can definitely use my recipe as inspiration to add different takes.

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What is Pokē?

Pokē is traditionally made with yellowfin tuna or ahi.  The traditional poke consists of ahi tuna, green onions, chili peppers, hawaiian sea salt, soy sauce, sesame oil, roasted kukui nut (candlenut) and limu and served as an appetizer in Hawaiian cuisine.  It is often referred to as a raw fish salad. Pokē is the Hawaiian verb for “section” or “to slice or cut” and refers to the slices / cuts of the pieces that are mixed into this salad.

I hope you enjoyed this easy to create recipe.  Some of the ingredients may be a bit challenging to find, but you can get the roe and fish at most fish markets and the other items like coconut milk at the ethnic section of your store.  If you try this recipe, please come back & let me know.  Are you a fish eater?  Do you think you would enjoy something like this?

Signature Honey

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Foodie Friday – A Sandwich You’ll Love Featuring BFree Foods Brown Seeded Loaf

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When it comes to food, I really am a “eat all the yum” type of gal.  I consider myself the Andrew Zimmern in woman form and really am an open-minded person that would try just about (most of the time) anything.  But, just because I am willing to try new foods and cuisine, doesn’t mean that I don’t love simplicity.  Things like a good hot dog, a simple fresh out of the fryer doughnut or even a sandwich made in the comforts of your own home can really satisfy that craving.  Since it’s starting to get a bit warmer here in Hawaii and the sun is setting later in the day, I thought a sandwich would be the perfect “hit the spot” meal for our family for dinner.  My husband Kevin took the reigns on this one and created gorgeous sandwiches fit for a King to serve as our meal.

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My husband’s delicious creation consisted of:  Oven Roasted Turkey, Smoked Ham, Provolone Cheese, fresh tomato and avocado and bacon (because all sandwiches taste great with it) all placed within two thick slices of BFree Foods Brown Seeded Sandwich Loaf Bread.  Kevin toasted the sandwich to give it some added texture as well as to melt the cheese and placed this beautiful creation in front of me.  Let’s just say… it didn’t last very long and I ate it up quickly.

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Quality ingredients make for a great sandwich, no matter how simple it may be to put together.  We decided that we really wanted this sandwich to not only taste great, but offer something new for the boys to try.  Our choice of the BFree Brown Seeded Loaf was interesting and one we all enjoyed.  It was the first time that anyone in my family had tried bread like this one and I think it will become a favorite in our household.  It offered great texture with a slightly dense and firm hold to the ingredients on the inside of the sandwich.  The Brown Seeded Loaf made for a great addition to our meal last night.

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So what is BFree Brown Seeded Sandwich Loaf bread?  It is a loaf of bread that is made with a unique blend of flours, starches, proteins and fibers with sunflower seeds and golden linseeds that give the bread a great texture, awesome flavor and make it extraordinarily high in fiber in each and every slice.  The BFree Brown Seeded Sandwich Loaf is sliced on its side to give you a bigger better sandwich slice (I especially enjoyed how thick my slices were).  These are the perfect loafs for home freezing as well.

The BFree Brown Seeded Sandwich Loaf is Wheat-free, Certified Gluten-Free and free from added sugar.  It is Non-GMO, Low-Calorie and Low-Fat and suitable for celiacs.  What I really like about this bread is that it not only tastes great (it really does), but it’s high in fiber.  My whole family absolutely loved it.  I’ll be honest, I thought the boys would notice a big difference in how the bread tasted in comparison to our usual Multi-Grain bread, but they didn’t and in fact commented on how much they loved it.  I especially love a bread that has sunflower seeds in it, so this particular bread stole my heart at first bite.

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This awesome bread is exclusive to Costco (sold in the traditional Costco two pack) and is rolling out in Costco Hawaii stores so if you are one of my Hawaii readers, you can expect to start seeing it pop up at your location.  This delicious bread is a great and nutritious alternative to conventional breads that can leave you feeling bloated or tired.  It’s a hearty bread (very filling and firm) and unlike other wheat-free products that can crumble or break, the BFree holds together keeping your hearty sandwich in tact.  This also tastes great in french toast and even better toasted or as a part of your grilled cheese sandwich.

My husband and I do our best to feed our children healthy meals and we are always on the lookout to stock our pantry and fridge with foods that are not only good for us, but foods that taste good too.  We cleaned through two loaves of this stuff in a matter of a week because it really is that good.  If you are near a Costco, stop in and see if they have it in stock or check out BFree Foods online and see the other products they also offer.  From Tortillas to white bread, they literally have it all.

So – what about you?  Does this sound like the kind of bread you would enjoy?  Are you a sandwich eater, could you see yourself enjoying our version of a Turkey, Avo and Bacon sandwich?  Comment below and let me know how you would use the BFree Brown Seeded bread.

Signature Honey

Disclaimer:  Some of the products discussed and/or featured in this post were sent to me for feature purposes and review.  All opinions are my own, 100% honest and unbiased (as with anything you will find here on this site).  I was not paid to provide my thoughts or feature this product, but affiliate links are posted through out.

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Easy Macadamia Nut Pesto Recipe – Foodie Friday

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If you are anything like me, then you have a craving for some form of pasta or pasta sauce on a weekly.  I try my best to eat it in moderation, but any form of pasta is my favorite as Italian food literally is my favorite type to eat.  While I don’t knock those that choose to use jar or can pasta sauce (you can take any of those and really turn it up in flavor if you do it right), I make many of my sauces from scratch.  It’s easy and I tend to have the ingredients on hand for any given moment.  One of my favorites is Pesto.  Pesto keeps pretty well so you get a lot of use out of it and I also use it as a seasoning to some of my traditional pasta sauces like my homemade alfredo.  A favorite pesto of mine is the Macadamia Nut Pesto and it’s one you can find in my house often.  It’s easy and today I’m going to share it with you my easy macadamia nut pesto recipe.

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Creating the perfect Pesto is about great “green” ingredients.  I love fresh basil so the fresher you can get it – the better it tastes and the longer it will last once you make your pesto.  I have done pesto with Kale and spinach before and they all come out really nice, so it really is up to you.  Before making your pesto, check to see if your local Farmer’s Market has some fresh basil, grab a few sprigs from your garden or pick up a fresh batch from your local grocer.

Check out the video walk through here:

 

When selecting your ingredients, you can go all fresh – but I chose to use what I had on hand. What I love about recipes like this is that you literally can taper the ingredients and when I’m craving something, I like to be able to cook things on a whim.  This is a no cook recipe… so if you’re in the mood for some really good pesto and have the ingredients on hand or can pick it up – try this out.

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Easy Macadamia Nut Pesto Recipe – Foodie Friday

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Ingredients

  1. 1 1/2 cups fresh basil
  2. 2-3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (you will add this in according to the texture you want, if you want it more on the liquid like side - add more)
  3. macadamia nuts (approximately 20 - 25 nuts for this particular recipe, more or less depending on your taste preference) You can also use: Pine nuts, walnuts, etc.
  4. 1/4 cup parmesan cheese or three cheese blend with parmesan and asiago blend (great for a nutty taste)
  5. 4 cloves minced garlic
  6. 1 Pinch kosher or rock salt (to taste)
  7. Add ins: If you are looking for a little added flavor and some awesomeness, add in a pinch or two of truffle salt or a drizzle of truffle oil. I usually add something along those lines for a great flavor profile.

Instructions

  1. Add all of your ingredients except for the oil, into your chopper, blender, food processor - what ever it is you decide to use. I'm using my Ninja chopper.
  2. Blend/chop/process the ingredients to the consistency you are looking at for your pesto dish.
  3. Stop the process and add in your oil a little at a time until it is well combined. If you want a thinner consistency, add more oil - a little at a time.
  4. Once you get the flavor and texture you want, you're done.
  5. Store in an airtight container, or use right away. If you are storing, add a little bit of your extra virgin olive oil over the top of the pesto prior to storing to keep it fresh.
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Don’t forget to check out the video (embedded above) or click the link here for all the details, a step by step walk through and more.  This is such an easy recipe, you can use so many other products in place.  If you are not a fan of macadamia nuts, you can replace them with the traditional pine nuts or use walnuts, almonds… whatever you are in the mood for.  Like I mentioned previously, you can also replace the basil with items like kale or spinach.  The texture will be a bit difference, but overall – it will have the same type of concept.  I like to also add a little bit of coconut oil into my recipe, but chose not to since the weather is a bit cold, I didn’t want it solidifying in the mixture.

I hope you enjoyed this recipe and if you decide to try it out, be sure to come and let me know.

Bon Appetito

Signature Honey

Disclaimer:  This recipe is utilizing products and ingredients I purchased with my own money.  All opinions are my own, 100% honest and unbiased and I was not paid to provide my thoughts.  This post and video are not sponsored.  Affiliate links are posted through out.

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