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Mini Cheese Ball Appetizers

November 12th, 2016September 4th, 2020

This post may contain affiliate links, please read our disclosure policy.

Mini Cheese Ball Appetizers

The holidays are just around the corner so I wanted to share some wonderful recipe and craft ideas to help you all prepare 🙂 I will be sharing 12 Days of Christmas Ideas along with some of my favorite bloggers. Kicking off this round is Cyn from Creative Cynchronicity. She was reminiscing the other day about all of the great holiday parties her mom and dad threw back in the day and how much she loved all the yummy savory appetizers that her mom would make for them.

One of her favorites was always the cheese ball. Creamy, delicious, and packed with flavor, they were always one of the highlights of the celebration. These days Cyn makes her own version, turning them into mini cheese balls on a stick. Instead of crowding around one large cheese ball, her guests can grab their own individual ones and get out there and mingle. And, you can easily make a variety of different flavors to satisfy everyone’s tastes. Cyn gives you several variations to try – be sure to check her number one pick (the secret ingredient is dill pickles!).

Be sure to check out all the recipes on Food Wine Sunshine and follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google + and Instagram.

Basic Wine Information For Beginners | Wine Basics

November 11th, 2016April 10th, 2021

This post may contain affiliate links, please read our disclosure policy.

Love wine but don’t know a lot about it? Here are 5 easy steps for getting comfortable with wine tasting, talking about wine, and learning about new wines.

Basic Wine Information For Beginners | Wine Basics

Entering the world of wine appreciation can be intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. All that is required to appreciate wine is an open mind, a few bottles of wine and a few easy steps. So let’s get started exploring the wonderful world of wines.

Step 1. Study a Favorite

For beginners whose experience with wine has, to this point, been limited to the under $10 price point, it is essential to determine why they choose the wines they do. If a person regularly buys the popular, widely-available CK Mondavi and Family brand wine for about $8 a bottle, they should purchase several varieties of CK Mondavi and Family to compare. For instance, the crisp, slightly sweet CK Mondavi and Family Pinot Grigio, a white wine, tastes completely different from the similarly-colored yet crisper and citrusy-er, CK Mondavi and Family Sauvignon Blanc. Another CK Mondavi and Family white wine, the Chardonnay, tastes entirely different from both the Pinot Grigio and Sauvignon Blanc. I recommend grabbing all three so that you can taste the differences.

Step 2. Explore Alternatives

After determining which variety is preferred, a beginner should expand beyond their comfort zone by purchasing the same variety at the same price point but from a different vineyard or winemaker. For instance, if the CK Mondavi and Family Pinot Grigio was preferred, the next step is to try other similarly priced Pinot Grigios.

Additionally, as CK Mondavi and Family is grown in California, it is important to try the preferred variety from other wine regions from around the world. Pinot Grigio can grow in New Zealand, Australia, Italy, and South Africa, among other places. Purchasing a wine journal and notating the subtle differences can help determine which country’s Pinot Grigio you ultimately favor.

Step 3. Understand the Very Basics of Wine

There are several common-sense principles about wine to learn and keep in mind when wine tasting:

All wine is made from two main ingredients: grapes and yeast. Grapes + Yeast = Wine.
The different soils, climates, and aging processes used in different countries impact the taste, aromas, acidity, and texture of the wine. A tannat wine grown in France tastes noticeably different from a tannat grown in Uruguay.
White wine is made from grapes that have had their skins removed. Red wine is made from grapes with their skins left on, making them richer in antioxidants.
Many wines are “blends,” meaning they contain more than one kind of grape (for example, a Shiraz/Cabernet blend is made from Shiraz grapes and Cabernet grapes). Wines that are made from only one kind of grape are called “varietals.”

Step 4. Step Outside the Box

The way wine is aged has an impact on its flavor: wine aged in stainless steel barrels maintain their natural flavor, while wines aged in oak barrels take on some of the oak-flavor, lending vanilla, smoky, or cedar taste. Some people dislike oak-aged wines; some people prefer them. When you determine your preference, it can help you know which wines to look for.

If you have narrowed your preference down to a certain variety of wine, you will begin to understand what to look for in exploring new wines. One should never paint themselves into a corner when it comes to tasting wine; simply determine what is liked best about the favorites, and look for it in other varieties. There is a world of wines to explore and appreciate!

Step 5. Host a Wine Tasting

Wine lovers enjoy sharing their favorites with their friends, and hosting a wine tasting at home is a fun alternative to beer & chips parties. Cut up some cheese, pour out tastings, and pass out an index card to gauge guests’ reactions to the wines poured.

It’s interesting to learn how different people can react to the same wines. Where one person tastes leather, another may taste pepper or smoke. All it costs is three or four bottles of wine, a few wedges of cheese, and a box of crackers for a fun, unique party your guests, will remember. Plus, everyone will learn a bit more about wine!

Once you have learned more about what kinds of wines you enjoy, here are a few more wine tips to help further your wine appreciation and knowledge:

What is one of your favorite types of wine? How did you learn to appreciate and discover new wines?

Be sure to check out Food Wine Sunshine on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram for more wine tips, cocktails, healthy recipes, and fun things to do.

Made From Scratch Shrimp Scampi in 10 Minutes

October 18th, 2016July 3rd, 2019

This post may contain affiliate links, please read our disclosure policy.

All ideas, recipes, & opinions are entirely my own however, this is a sponsored post on behalf of Michael Angelo’s™

Made From Scratch Shrimp Scampi in 10 Minutes

Is it possible? Is it really possible? Yes, a meal that is made from scratch with ZERO preservatives can be yours in about 10 minutes. And want to know what is even better? You don’t even have to turn on your stove or oven.

You know those nights, the ones where your son forgot that he had a Spanish Presentation the next day and he needs a tri-fold poster board for it, your daughter has run club, your spouse is running late and you have to figure out dinner in a pinch. If you are like me, you try to limit the take-out meals, you try to give your family the best at all times. But some nights, you just need a hand. You need someone that can help put a delicious dinner in front of your family.

Some nights you need Michael Angelo’s.

In fact, Michael Angelo’s meals are in my weekly meal plan. My son started middle school and homework is a new animal for us to tame, then we have baseball three nights a week, run club 2 nights a week, choir one day a week, I NEED A BREATHER. I need Michael Angelo’s.

Michael Angelo’s is a family-owned and -operated company that makes the best-tasting prepared meals in the freezer aisle. For example, last night, my family and I had made from made from scratch Shrimp Scampi that was in a heirloom garlic-butter sauce. There were NO preservatives or artificial ingredients added, and you can tell. It is fresh and delicious. You can probably tell the rest of your family that you made it from scratch and get away with it pretty easily 😉

Are you familiar with Michael Angelo’s meals? Michael Angelo and his mom Sara are extremely proud of their meals, using only real ingredients…you can see that just by looking at the label.

Where can you find Michael Angelo’s Meals?

I found mine at Publix, but I know they also carry them at Walmart and Kroger.

Find Michael Angelo’s Meals Near you

Michael Angelo’s makes a wide variety of meals, my family and I are really enjoying the seafood meals at the moment. Affordable…and good…seafood is hard to come by! Especially when it’s basically prepared for you 😉

The Michael Angelo’s Seafood meals to keep a look out for at Publix, Walmart and Kroger are:

Michael Angelo’s Shrimp Scampi – Made with semolina pasta, chemical free shrimp, and our perfectly blended sauce made from lemon butter, and freshly diced garlic.
Michael Angelo’s Stuffed Tilapia – Made with tilapia, sautéed spinach, fresh garlic, tomato strips and a cracker filling.

Be sure to follow Michael Angelo’s on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest for meal inspiration, money-saving offers and more.

Don’t forget to follow me too! Find Food Wine Sunshine on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google + and Instagram for more helpful tips and family-friendly recipes.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Michael Angelo’s . The opinions and text are all mine.

Florida Prepaid College Plans Promo Code + Pay For College for As Low As $34 Per Month

October 17th, 2016January 24th, 2024

This post may contain affiliate links, please read our disclosure policy.

Use this Florida Prepaid College Plans Promo Code SAVING20 to save on your application fee! Filling out the application just takes minutes, and the savings will last a lifetime. This post is sponsored by the Florida Prepaid College Board, through my role as a Believer Blogger. All thoughts are my own.

Florida Prepaid College Plans Promo Code

+

Pay For College for As Low As $44.28 Per Month

It’s one of my favorite times of the year! Open enrollment for Florida Prepaid College Plans started Feb 1st and will continue through April 30th. That means us Florida Residents have 3 months to get started with a new Florida Prepaid College Saving Plan for our children’s educational future. And I have a Florida Prepaid College Plans Promo Code to share with you all so you can save on the application fee!

Florida Prepaid College Plans Discount Code

If you aren’t familiar with Florida Prepaid College Plans and you live here in the Sunshine State, you should be. It is honestly and truly the only way my husband and I have been able to afford a college education for our children. School products are usually on sale this year. So, not only do I love Florida Prepaid College Plans because of the amazing college savings plans they have for us Florida Residents to help plan our children’s futures, but I am a 2-time customer.

I have mentioned a that Florida Prepaid College Plans has several different Florida Prepaid Plans available, and they do! They have a plan that can fit within any budget, in fact, you can get started on paying for your child’s college education for as little as $44.28 per month!

How is that possible? Well, Florida Prepaid College Savings Plans has a savings plan that is the 1-Year Florida University Plan.

How does the Florida Prepaid College 1-Year Florida University Plan work?

You can purchase one year, or 30 credit hours, at a time according to your budget and timeline, without feeling the pressure of having to buy all four years at once. The plan also allows multiple purchasers to buy a plan for the same child. So now you can team up with other family members to help pay for your child’s higher education. For example, let Grandma and Grandpa buy one year and you purchase another. A child can have up to four 1-Year Florida University Plans. This is definitely the most flexible of prepaid plans and it is the lowest cost of Florida Prepaid College Plans. The Florida Prepaid College Board strongly believes in making a college education affordable for all families. I am sure you have seen that they have dramatically reduced prices. What a blessing!

What other Florida Prepaid College Plans are available in addition to the 1-Year Florida University Plan?

2-Year Florida College Plan
4-Year Florida College Plan
2+2 Florida College Plan
4-Year Florida University Plan

With all Florida Prepaid College Plans every cent of the value of the plan that you choose can be applied at any university or college nationwide and is guaranteed by the state of Florida. You cannot lose the money you put in, in fact, just this past year we received a refund thanks to the recent price reduction! Can you believe that? I purchased something 10 YEARS ago and I am receiving a refund! I was absolutely in shock! For a company, the state of Florida, to do that for us is absolutely incredible. Many people were affected and many people are now able to make saving for college possible. The prices for the Savings Plan are the lowest they have been in 20 years, do not let this huge savings opportunity pass you by! The 1-Year Plan is very flexible, and you can always add on to it, but remember that no matter what Florida Prepaid College Plan you select, you can use Florida Prepaid College Plans Coupon Code SAVING20 to save on your application fee. The more savings the better, right? Of course!

And don’t forget that you can use the Florida Prepaid coupon code SAVING20 to save you some money when you are ready to enroll in a Florida Prepaid College Plan.

Florida Prepaid College Plans is a Guaranteed Investment In Your Child’s Future

Ready to get started on opening a Florida Prepaid Savings Plan?

Head HERE and use Florida Prepaid College Plans Promo Code SAVING20 to save on your Florida Prepaid College application fee.

When is open enrollment for Florida Prepaid College Plans?

The Open Enrollment period is thru April 30th – be sure to use Florida Prepaid College Savings Plans Promo Code SAVING20 to save on your Florida Prepaid College application fee. Also, don’t forget to check aldi weekly ad for back-to-school shopping in Florida.

Still have questions about how Florida Prepaid College Savings Plans work?

Here are FAQs about Florida Prepaid College Plans and the answers.

Still have questions? Their customer service team is exceptional, the Florida Prepaid College Plan Phone Number is 1-800-552-4723.

You can also follow Florida Prepaid College Plans on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube to stay up to date with information on not only the scholarship program and open enrollment but get tips on college and more.

Promo Code for Florida Prepaid College Plans

Be sure to follow Food Wine Sunshine on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram for more helpful tips, things to do in Florida, and family fun.

A Letter To My Son

October 17th, 2016September 4th, 2019

This post may contain affiliate links, please read our disclosure policy.

A Letter To My Son

I was recently asked if I were to write a letter to my son, what would it say? So, I sat down at the computer and started typing. I am a very emotional mom, so I will promise you, that I cried the whole time while writing this letter. But, I am thankful I did…and he is too 🙂

Dear Steven,

I remember the day your dad and I decided that we were going to start a family. Young, in love, and ready to share that with someone, the timing was perfect. Dad came with me to all the doctor appointments (well, all but one), and made sure that the house was stocked with chocolate milk to cure my morning cravings and take the edge off of my morning sickness.

I LOVED being pregnant. Feeling you in my belly, I would talk to you, sing to you, I even put earphones on my belly and played you classical music! Until that day I thought I played the music too loud and called grandma in a panic asking if somehow I could damage your ears by playing the music too loud. In fact, you loved being in my belly…so much so, that on my 36 week check-up the doctor told me and daddy that you weren’t coming out any time soon. So, on the next appointment I told daddy he didn’t have to miss work and I could go by myself.

When I got to the doctor, everything went on as usual until she told me to go to home, grab my hospital bag, and head directly to the hospital. My body was ready for you to get out! I called daddy and both your grandmas and everyone was headed to the hospital for you to arrive. And after a LONG 21 hours, you did.

And when you did, my heart melted. Nothing can describe the feeling that overwhelmed me. I knew at that very moment, you would be my world. And the world would be yours.

There have been scary moments along the way, from the first time we put you in a car seat, or when you rolled off the bed and I rushed you to the doctors because I was afraid you got a concussion, or when I found you playing in a pool of ibuprofen and swirling it on the floor (no, you didn’t drink any…yes, I still called Poison Control) to when you rode the bus to school for the first time, to the time you had that kick-butt save in soccer and broke your hand.

You are growing up. One day, not too far away, you are going to be driving and going away to college. I want you to know, that you have been amazing since the day you were born and your dad and I believe in you. You CAN design cars, you CAN own that mechanics shop, you CAN invent that rocket car and fancy air boat. You can go BIG because you are YOU. YOU are BIG. YOU got this. You can handle every challenge that comes your way, and trust me, there will be plenty, but you are my boy. You are my son. And you are nothing short of AMAZING and I will always be your biggest fan.

I love you always and forever.

Love,
Mom

Yep, cried the whole time. And cried again when I proofed it. Our kids are amazing. Each and every one of them. And they need to reminded of that every now and then, that’s why when Yoplait Go Big challenged me to write the letter, I gladly accepted.

In fact, Go Big is just about as awesome as my son, because it says right on the package GO BIG. It is a constant reminder to my son that HE CAN GO BIG, because he is AWESOME, because he is AMAZING.

More Reasons To Love Go Big:

The big pouch is the perfect size for your growing teen’s hunger
Easy to open – just grip & rip! Very easy, great for on-the-go!
No artificial colors
No high fructose corn syrup
Contains real fruit
Good source of calcium
Gluten free
Kosher Dairy

I found Go Big at Walmart this week when I was getting some chicken for dinner, an easy meal for baseball nights 🙂 It was the perfect addition to my cart since he is always starving the minute we leave the ball field…and on the the way to the field, and when he gets home from school…well, you get the idea. There are two 8-count variety packs to keep a look out for: Strawberry/Mixed Berry and Peach Mango/Cherry. At the moment, my teen is loving the Strawberry.

You know what? I bet I’m not the only parent out there with an amazing teen. I bet your teen is pretty darn amazing too.

Why not let Go Big spotlight that amazingness? For a chance to win the spotlight for your teen, go to the Go Big Amazing Teens contest page and share how your teen inspires you. Go Big will select three teens with amazing stories and give them a platform to show the world! For more information, full contest rules can be found on the Go Big Facebook Page.

Enter the Go Big Contest HERE

I challenge you to write a letter to your child too. It’s good to tell them how amazing they are!

Disclosure: This post is produced in collaboration with Yoplait Go Big, but the content and opinions expressed here are my own. Yoplait Go Big provided us the product for this partnership.

Here’s my boy in action, showing off some of the stuff he LOVES to do:

Be sure to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and Google + .

Fitness After 40

October 13th, 2016May 7th, 2019

This post may contain affiliate links, please read our disclosure policy.

Do you lead a healthy lifestyle? You know that eating healthy is a lifestyle, not a diet, and so is fitness! Read on to see how I am handling Fitness After 40.

Fitness After 40

Yep, I said it. After 40. I just recently had my birthday and according to my birth certificate I am officially over 40. I will admit, I don’t feel much different and I don’t all of a sudden feel older than I did a few months ago. But I do know that my body is going to start changing, if it hasn’t already. My bone mass will start to change, I will start losing muscle – just because I am over 40…no other reason (no fair!), the need for exercise will actually begin to increase in order to keep my mind and body healthy, I will start to lose elasticity in my skin and places will start to sag that haven’t before, more fine lines and wrinkles will eventually pop up, it will be easier to gain weight, it will be harder to lose weight, my joints will hurt more than they did 20 years ago, and if you are a women too – those fun hormone fluctuations will be coming.

Geeze, doesn’t that all sound like a lot of fun? I mean, wow, I can’t wait! Saggy skin, wrinkles, and hot flashes – woohoo!! But, no matter how much I don’t want any of that to happen, there is no way to stop it completely. One way to make sure I am taking the best care of ME for the many years I still have left to enjoy is by following a fitness routine.

It’s important to work out different areas of our body’s and be sure we are including both cardio and strength training. If you follow me on Instagram, you know that I do exercise, I like to run, bike, and go to Jazzercise. But if you haven’t been following a regular fitness program, and now you have decided it’s time to give it a try, GREAT JOB, this will be one of best decisions of your life!

As I mentioned above, after 40 we start to lose muscle mass, and the only way to keep it and/or get some back is by including a solid muscle strengthening component into our workout plan. Loss of muscle can lead to balance problems down the road, and balance problems can lead to much bigger problems…like falling and breaking a hip.

Physical fitness after 40 can help protect us against illness, frailty, heart conditions, and more. In fact, regular midlife exercise might be a powerful way to prevent chronic illness, and even help to keep dementia away. Working out can help stop osteoporosis, and a study published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism found because pre-menopausal women who worked out for as little as two hours a week maintained healthier bones than those who do not exercise. Come on guys, we can handle two hours a week in order to help us maintain healthy bones, can’t we?!

In fact, The American Heart Association states that regular, moderately intense physical activity can lower your risk of heart disease, heart attack and stroke, diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Just another great reason to add exercise into your daily routine.

When you lead a healthier lifestyle – you just FEEL better. That means you will be sleeping better, dealing with stress better, have a bit more energy, and more than likely – you will just be a happier person.

A healthier lifestyle includes:

Doing some cardio at least 3 times a week
Strength training
Stretching before and after workouts. Don’t forget to stretch! Stretching is great for those muscles that we are trying to keep 😉
Following a healthy diet and increase your protein intake
Drinking water (and then drinking some more water)
NOT smoking
Limiting your adult beverages

Don’t rush it! As we get older, adding that muscle and losing fat will take a little longer, that’s completely normal. Don’t give up, with patience and determination we CAN DO THIS!! No matter how old, or young, you are, making commitment to take better care of your body will give you benefits that last a lifetime.

*When starting a new exercise routine, moderation is the key, like when trying anything new. Remember that injuries take longer to heal as we get older as well, so don’t push it. I am NOT a doctor, nor is this post meant to give any medical advice. Always consult a doctor with questions regarding your health and your body.

Disclosure: I did receive one or more of the products pictured above for review, however my opinions and my need to follow healthy lifestyle and be involved with Fitness After 40 are my own!

Where to buy some of the items featured:

You may have noticed that the items above are all made of Bamboo, bamboo is not only amazingly soft, but it keeps you 3 degrees cooler than other fabrics, and naturally resists odor. Which makes it perfect for working out in!

Make sure to check out Cariloha on Facebook and Twitter to stay social and up to date with deals, specials, and everything luxuriously bamboo!

Be sure to follow Food Wine Sunshine on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google + and Instagram for more tips, fabulous recipes and more!

Why I Take Probiotics

October 10th, 2016July 3rd, 2019

This post may contain affiliate links, please read our disclosure policy.

This post was sponsored by Nature Made® as a part of an Ambassador Program for Influence Central.

Why I Take Probiotics

Do you strive to lead a healthy lifestyle? Do you exercise when you can? Avoid processed foods when possible? Try to eat healthy? Strive to get enough sleep? I know that there are so many factors involved when leading a healthy lifestyle, and the most important one is that you are trying! As long as you are doing YOUR best to be the best that you can be, then that is what matters. Did you know that there is one easy way to make sure that you are headed in the right direction to feeling your best?

Taking care of your gut. Your gut is the center of your being, so it would make sense that if your gut is functioning at it’s best – you will feel better too. Did you know that Hippocrates, the ancient Greek father of medicine, said “all diseases begin in the gut.” ? What does that mean? That means that what goes on in our gut has a big impact on our overall well being.

What is your gut? It’s your intestinal tract, and what goes on there has a huge impact on you. In fact, what goes on in your gut can directly affect your mood. Have you ever noticed that when your stomach hurts, your mood is off? Or when you are nervous about something your stomach hurts? Everything is linked in our bodies and we have to make sure we are taking care of our centers!

I am sure you have heard the term gut flora, in fact, you will hear it more and more because we know that it’s important to support digestive balance in our small and large intestines. So, how do we do it? How do we add another step into our daily routine that helps us lead that healthier lifestyle? Do we have time in our day for it? Is it affordable?

The answer is Nature Made® Probiotics.

What is a Probiotic?

Nature Made® Probiotics: Nature Made® Advanced Dual Action Probiotic has been clinically studied and provides dual support to both your small and large intestine for comprehensive coverage to help support digestive balance and healthy gut flora.†

Why Nature Made?

Nature Made® is the #1 Pharmacist Recommended brand for many key dietary supplement categories*. Plus, I KNOW Nature Made, they are a 40-year heritage brand.

Where do you find them?

Walmart carries a large variety of Nature Made® products in-store and they everyday low prices on Nature Made items, so it’s easy to stock up and save. So, I always know that I am getting the best products as the best prices.

So, now when I am at Walmart doing my grocery shopping or stocking up on my fresh fruits and vegetables for my smoothies or just running in for something for a school project for the kids I can also grab my Nature Made Digestive Probiotics. There are 60 capsules in a box and I take two a day (one of each), so that is perfect timing for whenever I need to restock 🙂

The way I think of it as…If your gut isn’t happy, you may not be either. So, I am thankful that Nature Made can help me lead my healthier lifestyle. In fact, Nature Made® vitamins and supplements are an easy, convenient way to help your body get the nutritional support it needs every day, whether it be to support bone health, immune health or energy metabolism (helping convert food into energy).†

Are you ready to get started on your healthier life journey too? Not sure HOW to get started? Visit Nature Made Healthy Habit Builder and join the Nature Made® Healthy Habit Builder program where you can get motivation and tips around your specific health goals.

Want to learn more? For more information on Nature Made® vitamins and supplements available at Walmart, visit the Nature Made® Retailer Hub and while you are there, be sure to enter to win one of 60 Walmart gift cards (each worth $50) by taking part in the sweepstakes on the site! (No Purchase Necessary).

Check out Nature Made on Twitter and Facebook, to learn more about the variety of vitamins, minerals and supplements (VMS) to help support nutritional gaps with your health goals in mind ranging from Digestive Support, Heart Health & Function, Energy Metabolism, Women’s Health and much more!! You can find Walmart on Twitter and Facebook as well to stay up to date with deals and more.

Do you take Probiotics?

And be sure to follow me, Food Wine Sunshine, on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google + and Instagram for more helpful tips and delicious recipes!

*Based on the 2016 U.S. News & World Report – Pharmacy Times Survey.

†These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, cure, treat or prevent any disease.

DIY Freezer Smoothie Prep Packs

October 6th, 2016March 17th, 2020

This post may contain affiliate links, please read our disclosure policy.

Make your mornings easier with these simple freezer smoothie packs! Plus you will be saving produce. Fill up your freezer with a healthy lifestyle with the help of these smoothie freezer packs.

DIY Freezer Smoothie Prep Packs

Save Your Produce + Save Your Time

It’s no secret that I start my day with a smoothie. Smoothies are nutritious, delicious, and so easy to make. In fact, I can make a smoothie made in under 5 minutes easily. But there are those days where I can’t get my kids to bus on time, let alone find 5 minutes to make a smoothie. And that is just one reason why I love these Freezer Smoothie Packs. In fact, the #1 reason I love Freezer Smoothie Packs is why I came up with the idea in the first place…

I HATE WASTING PRODUCE.

How many times have you grabbed for a banana and discovered it was mush? Or you buy a bunch of apples because your kids LOVE them, then they decide they don’t want apples this week. Or you go to make a salad only to discover that the lettuce is black….lettuce is not supposed to be black. Or you grab several containers of strawberries or blueberries because they are on sale and realize that there is just no way you can eat them all before they go bad. You are throwing money down the garbage disposal. Ugh, I just HATE that!

Hello Freezer Smoothie Prep Packs!

Stop throwing out all those beautiful fruits and vegetables and start freezing them. If you know you have more than you can eat, grab for the freezer ziploc bags and start loading them up. Put whatever you would normally put into your smoothie right into the freezer bag, minus the liquid. You may be able to toss the liquid in, but I haven’t done that yet, and I really don’t see the need for it since pouring in a few ounces of juice/milk/coconut water only takes a second or two.

Here’s an example of what are in my Freezer Smoothie Prep Packs:

1/2 banana
4 strawberries
Generous handful of greens
5-6 baby carrots
5 slices of cucumber
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon chia seeds

I will add protein powder and the liquid at the time of use.

If you need smoothie recipes, I have posted about 4 million…check out all the smoothie recipes here.

Know what else I love about these Freezer Smoothie Prep Packs? I can add to them at any time! For example, if my family all of a sudden goes on a no-strawberry kick, I can get out some freezer bags and toss 4 strawberries in each bag. Then in three days when I realize that my salad is on its last day, I can then add in lettuce to each bag. And so on….

I have packets in my freezer of all combinations – from leftover watermelon to mango, to pineapple to carrots and cucumbers!

In each completed (the ones that are ready to use and I am not adding to them anymore) Freezer Smoothie Prep Pack I make sure I have these 6 ingredients:

2 fruits
2 vegetables – almost always my selection is carrots and cucumbers
Big handful of greens
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon chia seeds

Why turmeric?

Turmeric has a wide variety of benefits, but since I am close to the age of 40 and love to work out – my favorite is that it helps with inflammation. Which helps my muscles 🙂

Why cinnamon?

Cinnamon also has many health benefits, but my favorite is that it helps with metabolism. Again, I am approaching 40, need I say more??

Why chia seeds?

Chia Seeds are nutritional powerhouses if you don’t have them in your daily diet…you should.

Now, on those crazy busy mornings when I can’t seem to get things in order, I can open my freezer, grab one of my Freezer Smoothie Prep Packs, my liquid of choice, protein powder and toss it all into my Nutri Ninja Auto iQ, hit start, put my shoes on and race out the door… With my smoothie 😉

I hope these Smoothie Freezer Packs make your morning easier too!

Check out all the delicious smoothie recipes on Food Wine Sunshine and follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.

What are some of your favorite smoothie recipes?

Looking for more great recipes?

Sweet & Spicy Shrimp Recipe – Cooks In Under 5 Minutes

October 3rd, 2016July 9th, 2021

This post may contain affiliate links, please read our disclosure policy.

This easy Sweet and Spicy Shrimp recipe cooks in just 5 minutes! Make this Sweet and Spicy shrimp recipe as an appetizer or a meal, either way, you’ll love it!

Sweet & Spicy Shrimp Recipe – Cooks In Under 5 Minutes

Creating recipes can be a lot of fun, you can research your favorite ingredients, see what flavors blend well together, source cookbooks and Pinterest, you can spend hours in the grocery store just using your creative imagination. And then reality sets in. You need something delicious, you something quick, and you don’t want to spend a fortune on ingredients. And that is exactly what this Sweet & Spicy Shrimp recipe is. With only a few (THREE to be exact) ingredients you will have this delicious Sweet and Spicy Shrimp dish ready in less than 5 minutes!

Last week, my husband planned a wine tasting and pairing party to celebrate my birthday. We had six small plates and wine pairings for 8 people. That’s 48 plates that needed to be made! Since we didn’t want my husband spending the whole night cooking so he could actually enjoy the night too, we needed plates that could be prepared ahead of time and that could be ready easily. And they needed to go with our wine pairings of course 🙂

Just as important as the meal itself was actually the ease of clean up, with a house full of guests, or just on a simple Monday night, no one wants to spend more time cleaning up than necessary. One of the ingredients in this Sweet & Spicy Shrimp is honey, honey tends to be sticky.

So, I strongly recommend using a good non-stick pan when you saute this Sweet & Spicy Shrimp recipe.

We used our Bialetti Sapphire 10” Saute pan. The cookware is a heavy-gauge, aluminum vessel for superior heat distribution. The shrimp cooked quickly, evenly, and turned out absolutely perfect. Plus, with Bialetti Sapphire cookware, clean up is a breeze. The honey marinade just slid right off thanks to the Nanotec™ Infused Nonstick coating, we were cleaned up in no time. Bialetti Sapphire cookware is dishwasher safe too, but since it washes so easily, I would rather save the space in the dishwasher and do it by hand 🙂

Now, here is my Sweet & Spicy Shrimp Recipe, be sure to Print It and Pin It so that you can make it again and again.

Print Recipe

Easy Sweet and Spicy Shrimp

This easy shrimp recipe cooks in under 5 minutes and only has 3 ingredients!

Prep Time2

Cook Time3

Marinating1

Course: Appetizer, Dinner

Cuisine: American

Keyword: easy appetizer, easy recipe, shrimp, spicy

Calories: 1425kcal

Author: Tracy

Equipment

Stove

Ingredients

2 tbsp Sriracha
¼ cup honey
2 lbs jumbo shrimp - thawed, peeled, deveined with tails on

Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions

Place the shrimp, honey and sriracha into a ziploc bag and let it marinate for at least 1 hour.
When ready to cook, heat your saute pan and dump in the shrimp mixture.
Cook for 2-3 minutes, flipping if necessary.
When cooked thoroughly, shrimp will no longer be opaque, they will be white in color.
Enjoy!

Nutrition

I hope you enjoy this Sweet & Spicy Shrimp Recipe as much as we do! It makes for a perfect appetizer, or serve with rice and vegetables for a nutritious well-rounded meal.

If you follow WW (Weight Watchers) like I do, here are the points for the WW Blue Plan:

2 TBSP Sriracha – 2 Points on WW Blue Plan
1/4 Cup Honey – 16 Points on WW Blue Plan
Shrimp – ZERO Points on WW Blue Plan

Those points are for the whole 2 pounds of shrimp, and you won’t eat all the sauce…but that will give you an idea of the WW Points for this Sweet and Spicy Shrimp recipe.

As I mentioned above, I used Bialetti Sapphire cookware, while I did receive it for review, my opinions and the recipe are my own. The cookware is beautiful and I look forward to creating meals in it for years to come.

What is one of your favorite shrimp recipes?

Looking for some recipes with a spicy kick?

Spicy Mustard Chicken Salad with Grapes

Roasted Red Pepper Dip

Be sure to check out all my delicious recipes and follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Instagram, and Google +.

Florida Prepaid Foundation Scholarship Program 2016 – Win 1 of 10 Scholarships!

September 21st, 2016July 3rd, 2019

This post may contain affiliate links, please read our disclosure policy.

This post is sponsored by the Florida Prepaid College Board, through my role as a Believer Blogger. All thoughts are my own.

Florida Prepaid Foundation Scholarship Program 2016

Win 1 of 10 Scholarships!

If you could invest just 5 minutes and you could get your child or grandchild a college education would you? Whether your child is just a baby or is in 8th grade, NOW is the time to start planning for college. I know that the financial burden of college is scary, but there are ways to make it less frightening.

There are ways that you can start planning and paying for college now and reduce the financial stress. Now is the time to learn about the benefits of saving early for college and saving early really is possible, with a little planning and budget consideration. More and more across Florida, students are starting at one of our 28 colleges to save money and get a strong start.

In fact, there is a way that you can actually give your child or grandchild that strong start for FREE.

How?!

The Florida Prepaid Foundation Scholarship Program has opened up again this year and they are GIVING AWAY ten 2-Year Florida College Plans.

What is the Florida Prepaid Foundation Scholarship Program?

Thanks to Florida Prepaid College Plans, you can enter to win two years of free tuition. Registration only takes a minute, but the rewards will last a lifetime.

What is a 2-Year Florida College Plan?

Florida Prepaid’s 2-Year Florida College Plan covers tuition and other specified fees for 60 lower division credit hours at a Florida College. This plan offers a child the opportunity to earn an associate’s degree or trade certification in any number of fields, and is an excellent springboard to a fulfilling career or further education.

The 2-Year Florida College Plan is one of five available Florida Prepaid Plans, which all include tuition and other specified fees.

What is Florida Prepaid College Plans?

In short, Florida Prepaid College Plans is the only way my husband and I will be able to afford a college education for our children without putting us into debt for the rest of our lives.

But, here is a bit of history on how and why Florida Prepaid College Plans got started:

In 1987, Stanley G. Tate fought to put higher education within the reach of the average Florida family, and chose the Florida Prepaid College Program as his way to accomplish it. Tirelessly, he championed the college savings program until, on September 22, 1988, Governor Bob Martinez’s twin granddaughters became the first two beneficiaries, bringing Mr. Tate’s vision into a reality.

The program grew quickly, repaying the “start-up” loan it had received from the Florida Legislature in just one year and remaining self-supporting ever since. Florida Prepaid College Plans have been offered every year since, with the Florida 529 Savings Plan being added in 2002. This gave Florida families even more flexibility and options to save for college.

Now celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the first Prepaid Plan sales, the Florida Prepaid College Board oversees the largest and most successful prepaid program of its kind. More than 1.6 million Prepaid Plans have been purchased and nearly 350,000 students have attended college using their Prepaid Plan. The Florida 529 Savings Plan, which the Board also oversees, has been ranked among the best performing college savings plans by both Morningstar and SavingforCollege.com. Certainly, Mr. Tate’s legacy will continue to live on through the children the program he started helps year after year.

How do you enter to win 1 of 10 Scholarships from Florida Prepaid College Plans?

Easy, just go to www.floridaprepaidscholarshipprogram.com

Then you get chances to earn extra entries by answering questions, learning more about saving for college and sharing on social media. As a bonus, there will also be chances to win weekly prizes.

How often can you enter?

You can keep coming back to the site every day to learn more and get extra chances to win!

Who can enter to win?

The giveaway is open to legal residents in the state of Florida with children or grandchildren between the ages of newborn through 8th grade.

When does the giveaway period end? When do I have to enter by?

Registration is open NOW and ends October 23 2016

Every entry counts for a possibility to be one of 10 to win a FREE 2-Year Florida College Plan, in fact, check out a video from one of last year’s winners HERE

Want to get started with a Florida Prepaid College Plan?

Prepaid Plans are available for purchase during Open Enrollment, which begins October 15, 2016 and ends February 28, 2017. For more information, visit Florida Prepaid College Plans online.

I am not only a Florida Prepaid College Plan Believer, I am a customer. My husband and I started our 1st plan about 11 years ago when our son was just 6 months old. His college education is now PAID FOR. My daughter is 9 and her college education is now PAID FOR. It is my pleasure to be able to share not only the details of the program, but also our experiences with you. Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions as well, I would be more than happy to answer them.

Don’t forget to enter to win one of those 10 scholarships

Follow Florida Prepaid College Plans on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube to stay up to date with information on not only the scholarship program and open enrollment but get tips on college and more.

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