Wild Planet Foods: Albacore Wild Tuna, Chicken and Wild Sardines #Review #Sponsored by #MomsMeet

 

​​I received the above product(s) free of charge from Wild Planet Foods and MomsMeet. I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion. I received no other compensation in exchange for my review. My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

 

Finding Tuna anymore that is edible and from a company that practices safe standards, well it is not that easy. I find many canned versions pretty much a “surprise-in-a-can” because you can’t see the product, so you have take that leap of faith that it will look good and not just be minced fish that should have been discarded. I have bought many brands that allege to hold high standards, to just be disappointed or worse, the only difference is the label and price tag, but the questionable source remains the same. I just stopped eating tuna! Not the best answer when I crave a salad or tuna sandwich, but it was my way to not even deal with it. I then heard many people stopped too because like with many industries, we found out how things are made. The pink goop that made nuggets, well call tuna the grey-ish soup that looked or tasted nothing like the fish. I don’t want to hide the fish with condiments, so why bother was my attitude.

Then came Wild Planet. Okay, I was skeptical because I saw the glossy pamphlets, the pretty pictures and read the materials. It sounds really good:

The company is all about sustainable resources and practices. The main part was traceable responsibility when it comes to the foods they distribute. Not only does Wild Planet have high standards when it comes to fishing, but also on the product they deliver to your family’s table. So, pretty much I don’t have to dress up my tuna to hide getting a not so good can. Wild Planet is a control freak! I like that because that is how I shop and how I would want someone picking my food for me. They are involved with all the fish they purchase to ensure quality, flavor and that texture remains as premium as it can be. No over handling, no hiding yucky questionable “flakes” of fish meat in a can, and making sure that if your can states Albacore Tuna, you get what is labeled.

 

Wild Planet also offer many varieties that come in canned, jarred or pouch versions.  You also can pick products that are packed in oil to no salt varieties.  Every selection is just the fish and no water added:

• Albacore Wild Tuna
• SkipJack Wild Tuna
• Wild Yellowtail
• Wild Sockeye Salmon
• Wild Pink Salmon
• Wild Sardines
• Wild Mackerel
• Wild White Anchovies
• and Organic Roasted Chicken

 

You can see the only thing that comes from a farm, is the chicken and that is even held to organic standards. The rest is all wild caught with strict guidelines like no long lines, no nets, no FAD (fish aggregating device) and turtle safe. Founded in 2004, Wild Planet respects the consumer by first showing the same regard to the seafood they catch. We hear about cage free eggs and how that misnomer is used, but there is no funny stuff when it comes to Wild Planet. They are open about the practices they keep and it has become the mantra the company proudly lives by. Wild Planet is based in my home state of California and all their products are part of the Non GMO project. Like I mentioned, there is really finally a company you can trust when it comes to seafood (and chicken).

 

 

Taste Matters: 

Okay, I missed the heck out of Tuna! The fish is fresh and the flakes are large in size.  Think of a fish steak that was kindly packaged in a can with little to no over handling.  You see how the natural fish is shaped and the “breaking of the flake”, that fish meat is up to you.  You want larger pieces for salad, you got that! Want to fork it and make smaller pieces for a sandwich or to enjoy with crackers, again you are in control of that.  I should have tried Wild Planet longtime ago but I did not want to take that leap……take the jump with both feet in and pick up a can, pouch and/or jar.  This is a can packed with fish and not water, oil, fillers or anything.  Just purely good seafood!

 

You can Connect with Wild Planet Foods at:

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• Coupon

#WildPlanetFoods #MomsMeet

 

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House Autry Mills Seafood Breader, 8 oz. Box

Here in this house, though we’ve never lived anywhere but the West Coast, we’re somewhat southern at heart, especially in the kitchen. Catfish? Check. Spicy Fried Chicken? Check. Po’ Boy Sandwiches? Check. Gumbo? Check. Etouffee? Check. The list goes on and on. And when I got the opportunity to give House Autry Mills’ Seafood Breader, I was ecstatic. I’m always on the lookout for a good, light batter for fried fish and shrimp, especially since that’s about the only way Hubby eats fish. I’m glad I got to try it, too.

Too often, when something is sold as a breading, it’s just that, with bread crumbs or panko breading, and that’s so very different from a batter. It’s not light, airy, or truly crispy, just kinda crunchy and that’s just not the same thing. This House Autry Mills breading was just what I was looking for, and tasted like a million bucks. Lightly seasoned and crispy, it was dynamite on tilapia, pollock, shrimp, and made absolutely to-die-for onion rings. It’s just as economical for us as mixing our own batter here at home from scratch, and because it’s just the Hubby and I, one box went a loooong way. Want to mix it up? Add some buttermilk for extra southern tang, or mix in a little cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes (Or both!!) to spice it proper! Dip some potato wedges. Any way we used it, we loved this batter. Right out of the box the instructions are simple, and easy, and your right down to business in about 5 minutes. It doesn’t get any easier than that!

My markets sadly don’t carry this brand, but thankfully, you can find it on Amazon shipped to your door for a very reasonable price. The ingredients are simple, with 95% of the ingredients being things you probably have in your kitchen or pantry already. I so love when ingredient labels don’t read like some mad scientist’s experiment. And House Autry Mills has been around since 1812, so they probably know a thing or two about making a good product. I’m hoping to trying their entire line and seeing what other gems House Autry Mills has in store for me!

Connect with House Autry Mills:

• Online
• On Facebook
• On Twitter
• On YouTube
• On Pinterest
• On Amazon

I received the above product(s) free of charge from Creative Energy Group and House Autry Mills.  I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

Tryazon: Gourmet du Village Dipping Party #Review #GourmetDuVillage

 

Tryazon has been very good to me and when I got to host the Gourmet du Village party…..I even did a happy dance. I love to cook and try new food companies and Gourmet du Village has a site where you can get happily lost looking at everything and your mind, plus tummy will be making a list of all the things you want to try. I spent one late evening looking around and it turned into me going to bed late because I just love everything Gourmet du Village has to offer.  In my book, I call that doing research 🙂 .

You don’t need to host a party to enjoy Gourmet du Village’s products and kitchen essentials. You have items that come in all quantities and even a single person can easily purchase what they want and need, without having to purchase in bulk. I always keep that in mind as it’s usually just Hubby and I at home. Gourmet du Village satisfies your savory tooth by offering dips, mixes, cheese toppings, to potato chips that are not like what you buy at the usual supermarkets. Got a sweet tooth? They have chocolates to candies, dessert toppings and more! You will love the bakers they sent because I love not only using but collecting articles of this kind that tend to not only bake great foods, but they sort of find a way to bake memories into them too. I can pick-up a baker and clearly think back to a time I made such and such, for this event and what a great memory of the people that were there. It’s nice when things serve more than a purpose than cooking with them, so join me while I share a little of our Memorial Day weekend with you!

The Dips:

Let’s start with the dips.  Each dip has a beautiful illustration of the kind of dip it holds.  I love the pictures and artwork so much, I kept the front cover of each dip packet and decorated the back of my pantry and the cabinet that holds my baking dishes with them.  I told you I collected bakers and the such!  The dips are easy to make and most require dairy products like cream cheese, mayo, to sour cream.  What is needed to complete the dip varies by type, like the artichoke one requires the vegetable in can form but what I like best, are what I call “off-road” uses.  Using products beyond what they were made for and Gourmet du Village provides just for that to happen.  They not only give you ideas but I was able to create a stuffed scallop cake using the Gourmet du Village Crab mix.  I simply took homemade country bread and used it as a base for my stuffing.  I added Bay scallops and scooped them into gorgeous shells.  It makes the plating look expensive but Bay scallops are those smaller ones that are also called “baby scallops”.  They sell at a lower price point and you get the scallop craving satisfied and pay less.  A little parsley and chive topping and you are done.  It was so simple just using the entire seasoning packet from Gourmet du Village and it provided a full amount of flavor that kicks out any bay seasoning that comes out of a shaker any day!  Flavorful and not salty is what I look for and that is what you get with these dips packet.

Retail Price Point: $3.99 each but you do save when you purchase more and they have trios to collections.

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The Bakers:

Gourmet du Village has beautiful bakers that are perfect for Brie to any cheese that plays well with melting.  You can use those grilled cheeses for added texture and flavor to even blends.  The bakers I received are a beautiful Cranberry red and easy to wash and clean after use.  I love adding these to my collection and the larger size does not limit me as much when it comes to serving and uses like my previous bakers. I got my hands on a beautifully aged Manchego cheese and you bet I added it to the Brie.  These dishes allow your guests to add what they want and make it their own way and that is sure to please everyone on any day.  The bakers also come with recipes, so it’s a great value.  They are oven and dishwasher safe too!

Retail Price Point: $19.99 per baker and you have gorgeous colors to choose from.

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The Chips:

Next, comes the chips for the dips.  These babies are just simple russet potatoes and some salt.  Simple foods make for the best eats!  The chip has heft where it can withstand dipping without breaking.  I found myself munching on these on their own and because they are not salty, the don’t interfere or ruin the flavor of anything you combine them with.  As odd as it may sound, we also enjoyed the “real tater” taste.  These are real slices and not just a mash of potatoes to resemble a chip.  The crunch of the potato is just as you desire and they are not oily.  Many of the kettle type chips are an oily mess that even if they are natural, who wants pools of oil?  Gourmet du Village makes a chip that is not ordinary and very crave-able.

Retail Price Point: $4.00 per 5 ounce bag

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This was not only an enjoyable an event but a time to spend with those we care.  Friends enjoyed the food, Gourmet du Village made it simple to create and everyone was left with a full and satisfied tummy.  Good memories and make your own by visiting Gourmet du Village and seeing what catches your eye.  You won’t be disappointed! Also, save while you are there and that just makes the deal even sweeter.

Connect with Gourmet du Village at:

• On-line
• Found them on Amazon too
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Pinterest

I received the above product(s) free of charge from Tryazon and Gourmet du Village. I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion. My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

Kiva Health Food: Hot Smoked Paprika and Sweet Smoked Paprika #Review #SmokedPaprika

When I first began to cook, I started with blended spices and herbs. Such blends are easy to use and take the guess work out of finding a balanced flavor, however you usually are charged for fillers like with most products of this kind. If the flavor notes are savory, you get salt and if you get sweet, you get a plethora of sugars to choose from and making up 50% of the product you just purchased. After a year of trial and error, I finally learned to purchase individual ingredients and let me be the one in control of flavor!

Kiva offers you with pure products and what you see, is what you get. Sounds so simple but in a world where sodium and sugars are not the only fillers, you get products that are made with higher standards from Kiva:

• All Kiva products are non-GMO certified.
• Kiva uses a third-party testing facility to ensure purity and safety.
• Eco-friendly methods are used by Kiva from Sustainable Farming to cultivating in smaller batches.
• Kiva also minimally processes everything from their Superfoods to their spices.

The food word has changed dramatically in the last 20 years and we now know more about food processing to ingredients that sound healthy-ish but are not. There is no excuse when it comes to not knowing where to buy from because there are still good companies that take pride in what they make like Kiva. My first products to try from Kiva, is their paprika and they sent me two kinds to review.

• Kiva Sweet Smoked Spanish Paprika-

With my father originating from Spain, paprika was highly used at our home. We made on a weekly basis a Paprika chicken dish, which was braised chicken thighs and are paired it a simple vegetable (whatever was in season) saffron rice. I am very familiar with this pepper spice that is usually made by air drying the chili peppers, however smoked versions use a fire to add flavor, and the woods will enhance and even add to the taste. Kiva’s sweet version is made in the La Vera region of Spain. Their peppers are hand harvested and are dried by using Holm oak. The oak toasts the peppers nicely and adds a nice true smoked flavor. No fake liquid smoke used here! You don’t get a sugary sweetness but a mild pepper flavor, which differs from the hot version. The sweet version also usually has the seeds removed to decrease any bitterness, which you usually find in the “bittersweet” Agridulce version. This sweet version plays well with seafood, rices to even spreads. I also used the Kiva sweet version over avocados that I added to a simple salad and the flavor complemented the simple vinaigrette I made very well. You will use less dressing when using Kiva’s sweet smoked paprika because flavor is there and it did not need sugars to notice it!

Sweet Paprika & Chives Shrimps. The shrimps were grilled on skewers!

 

 

• Kiva Hot Smoked Spanish Paprika-

Like it’s counterpart, the Hot version of Kiva’s paprika is smoked for 14 days to increase intensity and richness. You get chili peppers that have been ground to produce a light powder that delivers those smoky notes, which derive from the Holm oak. Holm oak trees is the only wood used if you are making true Pimenton from the La Vera region of Spain, so think of it like Champagne, you can only call it that if comes from the grapes that came from that region of France. The Holm oak also produces acorns, which is a food source for Iberico pigs of this region. I like to pair the smoked hot version with pork tenderloins to create a nice rub and it gives roasted potatoes a beautiful hue and peppery taste, that you can only find in paprika from this region. Kiva’s paprika is milled perfectly and no bitterness or fillers are ever detected. You get true spice from the peppers without the high price tag!  I also halved potatoes and we grilled them over charcoal, added sour cream and a touch of butter with a nice sprinkle from the hot smoky paprika.  It’s a tater you cut to eat and enjoy every bite!

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Retail Price Point: The duo costs $10.99 via Amazon or $11.80 from Kiva’s website

Connect with Kiva and their other Superfoods at:

• On-line
• Link to product on Kiva’s website
• Amazon
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Pinterest
• #SmokedPaprika

 

I received the above product(s) free of charge from Kiva Health Foods.  I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.

 

The Gourmet Nut: Tilapia Fish Bites made with the Himalayan Pink and Hiwa Kai Hawaiian Sea Salt #Recipe #Review

With fish prices rising and myself still craving fish, I have pretty much made every fish readily available in a manner of ways. Nothing satisfies a dual craving of seafood and fried food like the recipe below. The combination of salts brings a unique flavor to the dish as do the flours, which create a perfect thin crust that is super crunchy but remains light. You can make the dish using pretty much any fish (that is not ultra oily)or even use shrimps….po’ boys style or just bites to enjoy. You can also make “Devil Fish” bites by adding Sriracha to the buttermilk soak. Great for fish tacos too because the batter is crunchy but not heavy!

Himalayan Pink Salt

Salt Crystals are a nice size!

Hiwa Kai Hawaiian Sea Salt

Nothing in the salts I have tasted is like this one. Unique and delicious!

The combination of salts is what makes the impact because the salinity in the Himalayan Pink Salt is great in the buttermilk soak but does not “pickle” the meat. The Hiwa Kai Hawaiian Salt brings those earthy notes that is almost like a truffle but so unique that is difficult to pin point. In the end, you just end up with a flavor combination that is perfect and better than anything you can buy. It’s also quick to make!

Let’s get started……

I start the night before to allow the fish soak up all the flavors and I like making meals that allow me to prep the evening before, so I get less mess but the benefit of capturing every flavor note without doing a thing.

 

I purchased Frozen this time and just defrosted the fillets.

I use 3 Tilapia Fillets.

You cut the fish into bite sizes

• Start with 3 Tilapia Fish Fillets and cut them into finger size pieces and I usually try to make bites in size that take one to two bites each to eat.

Buttermilk Soak:

• 1/8 of teaspoon of each (Dried Herbs)- Thyme, Oregano, Parsley, Dill Weed, Marjoram, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Black Pepper, and the Gourmet Nut’s Himalayan Pink Salt.
• Optional- You may add 1/8 of a teaspoon of Cayenne Pepper or more to suit your taste. I have added Sriracha in the past to create “Devil Bites” but again this is to your own discretion. You can also make 1/2 normal and 1/2 deviled to get different bites out of one dish.
• 1/2 cup of Buttermilk

Combine the dry ingredients

Then add fish and coat evenly

You add the dry ingredients and the fish to a bowl and mix to combine and cover everything evenly.

Allow the fish to soak at least 4 hours but best overnight.

You will see the buttermilk level just lower to the point very little is left.

Then add the buttermilk and allow the fish to soak over night. I like to give it at least 4 hours but the more you give it, the more the fish absorbs and the better the flavor.

The following day, take the fish out and allow it to lower in temperature for about 20 minutes and then begin making the coating/batter.

Batter/Coating:

• 1/4 cup of Corn Flour
• 1/4 cup of Rice Flour
• 1/2 cup of All Purpose Flour
• 1/2 teaspoon of Gourmet Nut’s Hiwa Kai Hawaiian Sea Salt
• Cracked Black Pepper to taste
• Optional- Cayenne Pepper to taste

Add all flours

Then ingredients and combine

Batter fish until evenly coated and usually set mine on a plate as I go

Combine the batter and no egg needed bath is needed as the buttermilk serves as a great “glue” to make the coating stick. You simply drop each bite and coat evenly, repeat until finished.

 

Frying:
I use Peanut Oil to produce a nice crisp outside and a clean taste when frying but you may use any oil you desire. I heat up the oil between 370 and 395 degrees because I find this heat point perfect for less spatter and spitting, even though my chicken tends to cause more than the fish does. Simply drop the bites and because this is a light batter, the fish coating will remain light in color and you will achieve a light golden tone. The fish literally stops making noise when they are done. You will see within the oil the bubbling starts to subside and it takes only a few minutes to fry in small batches. It’s quick and self telling when it’s done, so that works for me.

Heat oil and I use Peanut

Fry in small batches to not over crowd

Color is a light golden just like the batter’s texture. It only takes a few minutes to fry.

 

 

Serving:
You can make fish tacos or serve the fish as-is with a side of tartar sauce. I made shrimps and crab cakes that evening, plus fries because I wanted to nip my fried food craving. I also like to grind a little finishing salt of the Hiwa Kai Hawaiian Sea Salt when serving because it gives it touch of extra flavor and the color against the white meat of the fish is just gorgeous! Enjoy!

 

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I received the above product(s) free of charge from The Gourmet Nut.  I am not obligated to provide a positive or favorable review, just my honest opinion.  My review is based on my experience with the product and/or brand, which may differ from yours.