Ozeri Deluxe Stainless Steel Frother with 4 Attachments

I have been disappointed time and time again by frothers, because they’re made so shoddily and don’t last. I’ve bought several, from big national brands to smaller, lesser-known brands and to a one, they’ve all failed. I think, finally, I’ve found a frother that will be with me for the long haul. And I have Ozeri to thank.

Most frothers seem to made to be uni-taskers, as well as disposable. Use it to froth milk and then put it away, hoping it works the next time you need it. Ozeri, however, made their Deluxe Stainless Steel Frother to be used all over the kitchen , for multiple jobs, and to last and look good doing it. The frother comes with 3 different attachments, and a spare frothing head. The beater and whisk heads seem dainty, but the whisk held up to a couple of eggs in a cup for an egg wash, and the beater did just fine for a small amount of ganache for a cake. Ozeri refers to it as a “cocktail mixer”, but I’ve retasked it in this house since we don’t drink cocktails. It was dynamite, however, for a vinaigrette for my salad. Yay. Powered by two AA batteries, it has two settings (low and high, up to 15,000 RPM’s!!) to meet the needs of whatever task you throw at it. And the stainless steel body is a cinch to clean and feels solid in your hands. The top mounted clicker to turn it off and on is easy to use and reach as well. It comes with a matching stainless steel stand, but it’s a little finicky about placement and because there’s heft to the frother can become unbalanced easily, so I don’t always use it. But that’s a minor quibble about what I consider a bulletproof product. After a soild 2 weeks of use, this frother has had nary a hiccup and I foresee it becoming a long standing member of our little family. Ozeri even included the batteries this time (How I love that!) so you’re good to go right out of the box.

Frothers come and frothers go, and anyone who’s had one can attest to that. Nothing’s more frustrating than a product you come to depend on and it fails you. Ozeri understands this and makes their products top-notch and made to last. But I know that Ozeri would stand behind their products 100% if for some reason it failed you, and for that, as well as the above reasons, I recommend this product highly!

Get in touch with Ozeri’s family of products:

• On the web
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• On Amazon
• On Pinterest
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• Buy your own right here!

I received the above product(s) free of charge from Ozeri.  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.

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MatchaDNA: Wireless Milk Frother Review #MatchaDNAmilkfrother

I’ve been fortunate enough to review a couple of types of Matcha green tea here on my blog, and until now I was content using a whisk to mix it up nice and frothy. A couple of downsides to that is, as I’ve mentioned before, the tea stains things almost instantly and fairly permanently. The other is beating up my poor mugs with the whisk. That’s a thing of the past now thanks to MatchaDNA’s frother. For those unfamiliar with a frother, let me tell you it’s a kitchen tool you don’t know you need until you have it. And once you have it, you don’t know how you got along without it.

Mine is a no frills, simple frother. I use it for sweet drinks, savory drinks, for teas, milks and coffees, hot products or cold. It was a stainless steel whisk and shaft meaning it shouldn’t stain, rust, discolor or be affected by whatever drink or sauce you use it for. Yes, you can use this frother with a bechamel sauce or a vegetable puree. It’s small and compact which means it won’t take up a ton of precious counter space, and lightweight and maneuverable enough to not be a burden when you need it, like some hand mixers. Also, unlike hand mixers, this little dynamo is powered by by 2 “AA” batteries (sadly, not included), so no worries of dragging a cord through a sauce, or the sink, or a hot  stove-top. When I’m done with it, I put a couple of drops of dish soap and turn it on in some hot water, wipe and it’s ready to go again or go back in the drawer. It feels well made enough to last me many years, too. Sounds like a winner to me.

A little tip for those of us who love whipped cream but hate the calories and overly creamy texture: A few tablespoons of milk in a small sauce pot, over a medium heat for a couple minutes, and then froth to create a light and airy foam. Spoon over hot tea or milk, with a little grind of cinnamon sugar, and Starbucks ain’t got nothin’ on this. With 1/3 of the calories and fat too.

 

Connect with MatchaDNA:

• On the web
• On Facebook
• On Twitter
• On YouTube
• On Amazon 
• #MatchaDNAmilkfrother

I received the above product(s) free of charge from MatchaDNA.  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.

HouseParty: Lavazza Taste the Passion House Party #LavAzza #Review

Lavazza has been a household name and favorite for over 100 years in Italy! That is a lot of roasted coffee beans! Once I tasted this coffee, it has been my go-to for drinking and a must for baking. Nothing intensifies chocolate notes like coffee, so like wine, you want to use the very best and Lavazza is just that.

Now, that I can find the coffee here, I have noticed new items and selections available. I was so fortunate in being able to host another party and decided with the colder days ahead, baking a Coffee Chocolate Chip cookie, which went perfectly with the coffees. Simple, quick and the bittersweet chips mixed with the semisweet ones, makes this an irresistible cookie!

First Let’s start with what LavAzza’s Taste the Passion House Party included:

• 1 Barista apron with the Lavazza logo for host
• 4 bags of Lavazza Coffee in different varieties
• Coffee Mug for host with the Lavazza Logo
• Generous Coupons for guests to save on Lavazza coffees
• Magnets shaped like a coffee mug for guests
• Coffee Cups that were just like you get from your local Coffee Shop, with even the little sleeves to go over the cups
• Fun cards and games to entertain guests, including the “Italian hand gestures” game, which we all tend to “speak”.

The LavAzza Selections:

• Gran Aroma- Medium roast, smooth & aromatic, with citrusy notes.  This is the coffee that appealed to everyone and a perfect “everyday and at any season” cup you can enjoy.

• Classico- Medium roast, rich & full-bodied, with hints of dried fruit.  This was my second favorite and most guests really enjoyed this variety.  For some the roast was a little stronger than expected but welcoming.

• Gran Selezione- Dark roast, intense and chocolaty. 100% sustainably grown coffee that comes exclusively from Rainforest Alliance™ certified farms.  My favorite and every dark roast lovers favorite! This one is just delicious and strong, but without the bitter notes.  The aftertaste is nice and just makes you crave another cup of coffee!

• Perfetto- Espresso roast, dark and velvety with a lingering caramel finish.  I’m an espresso girl and this is it without the work.  You get the strength that wakes you up and also everything you love about coffee in one cup, but just in a non-espresso size!

LavAzza Coffee Chocolate Chip Cookies

• 2/3 cup of All Vegetable Shortening
• 3 Tablespoons of Unsalted Butter (softened)
• 3 Tablespoons of any LavAzza Coffee (I brew a strong cup so I can get that intense coffee flavor. I used the Gran Selezione in this batch)
• 1 1/4 cups of Dark Brown Sugar
• 1 Tablespoon of Whole Milk
• 1 Teaspoon of Vanilla Extract
• 1 Large Egg at room temperature
• 2 cups of All Purpose Flour
• 3/4 Teaspoon of Kosher Salt
• 1 Teaspoon of Baking Soda
• 1 cup of mixed Chocolate Chips (I use Bittersweet & Semi-Sweet)
• Optional- you can add 1/2 cup of toasted pecans or walnuts if you desire. You can get adventurous and even add dried fruits and the Lavazza Classico variety is perfect for that combination with it’s fruity notes.

Set your oven to 375 degrees (I use convection)

Using your mixer with the beater attachment, just combine the shortening, butter, coffee and brown sugar. Beat until you have a nice creamy and fluffy consistency. Then add the milk, extract, and egg and blend well. Remember to scrape down to make sure you get a smooth batter. In a bowl combine the dry ingredients, the flour, salt and baking soda. Add the dry ingredients to your mix and blend until combined. Make sure to not over beat. Then add the chocolate chips and combine (fold) with a spatula, so the chips do not get destroyed by the beater.

To make the cookies, I like to use a large ice scream scoop and just scoop (leave in ball form) about six scoops (cookies) on a silpat or parchment lined cookie sheet. Bake for 14 minutes and allow the cookies to rest for about 5 minutes before moving them onto a cookie rack to cool.

The cookies will be nice and soft, plus gooey when split open to eat. Really delicious and they hold well in a covered plastic container (room at temperature) for about 3 to 4 days. You will get about 12 cookies that are medium/large in size out of this recipe.

Don’t be sad if you a one cup machine!  Fate would have it that LavAzza sent me this postcard via mail, so their great coffees come in K-cups too.

Connect with LavAzza and find your favorite cup of coffee at:

• On-line
• Facebook
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• Instagram
• Pinterest
• YouTube
• Sign-up to get notifications, special promotions and offers here
• #LavAzza

I received the above product(s) free of charge from HouseParty and Lavazza.  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.

Jiva Organics: Organic Mishri/Misri, Rock Sugar #JivaOrganics

With the Fall weather in full motion and soon Winter will be upon us, I wanted to try different teas this season to try to change things up a bit. I feel new warm drinks doesn’t make every holiday feel the same, so I do try to always incorporate new products into the rotation. I figured if I was trying new warm drinks, I might as well try new sugars!

I began reading and one of the types of sugars I came across is commonly used in India, is Misri. The sugar crystals resemble the shape of rock sugar/candy. As I read further like with salt, sugar has it’s differences too and it goes beyond the grades of brown and dark sugars. Misri, is not like refined sugars so you do get minerals, which help keep a more natural taste profile to whatever dish you add it to. Since the size of the crystals are larger in size, the dissolving occurs at a slower rate, so you can get that “sugar fix” with very little product. I like making sugar sticks and slowly dissolving them into teas and coffees. You can combine Misri with flavored syrups, extracts, and/or even natural food coloring to enhance your tea drinking experience. I use bamboo sticks and make little lolly pops that are not only beautiful to look at but can be used. Great for holiday gift giving along with baked goods and a bag of coffee or tea assortment. The lolly pops are also great if you have a sore throat and you don’t desire a candy full of unnatural ingredients, so you get many uses out of a simple but better for you product.

Nutritional Facts: 5 grams is about 12 calories

I obtained my Misri sugar from Jiva Organics and they are available on Amazon. The product carries the USDA Organic label and comes in a resealable pouch. No artificial colors, preservatives, additives, or flavors. You get clean products that never met a chemical or pesticide.

Retail Price Point: $3.59 for a generous 7 ounce bag

Jiva Organics carries a multitude of products that range from spices like turmeric. Fengugreek seeds, to black seasame seeds. They also carry blends like chili powders and Garam Masala.

Connect with Jiva Organics at:

• On-line
• Amazon
• FaceBook
• Twitter

 

I received the above product(s) free of charge from Jiva Organics.  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.

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

 

Smiley360: Tazo Chai Teas in Classic Chai, Chocolate Chai and Vanilla Caramel #Review #SweetMeetsSpicy

Tazo is a company I am very familiar with and already love! Not a product have I tried that I did not like, so when Smiley offered the Tazo Chai campaign…..well I was overjoyed!

Tazo makes several Chai products that come in filter-bags for seeping/brewing or in liquid (carton) concentrate form, which is perfect for cold drinks. I was able to test out their three latest flavors that are perfect for the colder weather:

• Classic Chai-
  Made with a blend of black tea,cardamom, a touch of black pepper, cinnamon and ginger

• Chocolate Latte Chai
  Made with black tea, cardamom, black pepper, cinnamon, ginger, and cocoa powder

• Vanilla Caramel Chai
  Made with black tea, cardamom, black pepper, cinnamon, ginger, vanilla extract, and caramel (natural flavor)

• There are 12 Varieties to choose from if the ones above do not tempt you. You even have Organic options with the Chai Organic Latte concentrate to Pumpkin Spice to satisfy the seasonal palette. There are also decaffeinated varieties to choose from.

My first and favorite of the trio was the Vanilla Caramel Chai. You get the nice real Vanilla flavor, which then leads off to almost butter toffee notes, brought on by the caramel. The cup is great with or without milk. The milk tends to intensify the vanilla by giving it warmer notes that smooth out. I used honey to give it a touch of sweetness and depending on what honey I used, I was able to change the flavor just a bit.

Next on my list, is the Chocolate Latte Chai. This one makes you love those peppery chocolate flavors. They play so well together and the pepper really enriches the cocoa experience. With milk and I used almond, I was able to bring in a nutty taste and make a light caloric cup of tea that made me not miss one bit a cup of hot cocoa. If you are seeking an alternative, this is the flavor for you!

Last but not least, the Classic Chai. This is the flavor that puts you at the beginning of the Chai experience and I like that because I can make it my own. I added a Orange Blossom honey with a squeeze from a fresh Valencia orange slice, and this cup became my warm citrus-y journey. The second time I had a cup, I went the old fashion way with a touch of milk and a little bit of vanilla sugar and it did not taste like the previous one. Make your own flavor is what I call this selection. Very versatile and always delivers that premium experience Tazo products are known for.

 

• Retail Price:$3.49 usually but $3.00 when found on sale at Target.  I was able to pick up a box of the Vanilla Caramel Chai (20 count) for the same price as the concentrate. Want to save? Check-out my twitter feed or

• Get a Coupon here: Try the perfect blend of #sweetmeetsspicy in Tazo Chai. Save up to $2.00 Off #Tea #FreeSample http://h5.sml360.com/-/boya

Get your Chai fix with Tazo at:

• On-line
• Facebook
• Twitter
• Instagram
• Pinterest
• #SweetMeetsSpicy

 

I received the above product(s) free of charge from Tazo and Smiley360.  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.

Influenster: Red Rose Simply Indulgent Teas #SimplyIndulge

Voxbox madness! The next one up in the parade is Red Rose Teas. Red Rose is a Canadian company, which has been making teas since the late 1800’s. The Simply Indulgent line uses a black tea base combined with natural extract, which bring you wonderful dessert-like flavors like Lemon Chiffon, Creme Caramel to Peach Cobbler and even Cinnamon Bun. You can purchase the products in tea bag form or single serve cups. I received two flavors to try from the Simply Indulgent line, Creme Caramel and Lemon Chiffon.

Taste Test: I love teas and coffees and I happen to be fond of Black teas….they are the espresso of teas for me, since I tend to like a stronger and deeper brew. Seeing these and the flavors was like getting a dessert in a cup minus the bake time or the hefty calories.

• Creme Caramel: I opened the bag while my water heated up and the tea appears very minced and fine. I was hoping to pick-up a sweet caramel or even a caramelized sugar scent, however nothing really came forward to my nose that made me think of the image featured on the front of the bag…..a cheesecake smothered with caramel sauce. I still proceeded and made the cup without adding any sweeteners. I left the tea steeping and noticed for being derived from black tea leaves, the cup’s liquid was pretty light in color but I can report the color was like that of caramel. This is as caramel as anything got for me. The tea was simple and light, but not bold in taste. I did not pick up a pleasant taste and I even have some teas that are not straight out black, but blends prior to this one. It just did not deliver in the tea or caramel department. I added honey and just a touch hoping it would maybe help but I just tasted the honey I had added. I tried a second time with another bag and left it steeping a longer amount of time, but the bag really only has so much punch that it did not aid my quest in this creme caramel pursuit.

• Lemon Chiffon: This is a decaffeinated blend and you see a pretty glowing yellow slice of lemon chiffon pie on the package. It even has a small dollop of whipped cream and a lemon zest shaving to compliment (aka: draw me in) the look. I again follow the directions and steep for 7 minutes, as it stated between 3 to 5 on the bag or until the desired strength. I went to the point the lemon smell was present to my liking! I added a small touch of honey and proceeded. This tea smelled like sweet lemons and very much like you would imagine before steeping and delivered the same results after. I thought I was a caramel girl but with Red Rose, I am definitely Chiffon-ing it! This one I liked…..this one I would buy. The black tea blend had the perfect strength and was not as powdery in texture as the caramel one. I enjoyed it and I felt it was worthy of the Simply Indulgent title!

Price Point: $4.49 for a carton that contains 20 tea bags

Ingredients (as listed on the site): You will read on the site that the tea comes from the finest tea estates, natural extracts, even rich undertones but other than being a black tea blend, you will find zero on the contents. I have no idea if the lemon has lemon oils, dried lemon zest, if it’s a Meyer Lemon or anything and much less can be figured out on the Caramel. The packet, the site on-line…..nothing lists contents or ingredients.

The price for 20 bags makes it worth trying. I kept in mind that this is a blend and the tea leaf is not loose but rather crushed to powder form in the packet. For a quick change or you just want a lighter black tea, Red Rose fits that spot nicely. Would I want the Caramel Creme to taste like advertised? Well, I never thought of such notes in a tea and even though I must admit I am heavy into the Fleur de Sel Caramels in any form…..maybe tea should be left alone there. I much rather have that slice of cheesecake with the caramel sauce featured on the packet! The Lemon Chiffon delivered in smell and taste so Red Rose is batting a 50/50 with me. I suggest keep that in mind when picking flavors…..make sure you have associated them with teas before like the cinnamon ones and you should be fine.

You can find these and other Tea selections at:

• Red Rose Site on-line– http://www.redrosetea.com/
• Connect via Facebook– https://www.facebook.com/RedRoseTea
• Connect via Twitter– https://twitter.com/shareRedRoseTea
• #SimplyIndulge

I received the above product free of charge from Influenster & Red Rose Teas. 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.