Not Just another Southern Gal is a blog that shares everything from product reviews, travel, food, beauty and fashion. Follow me on my journey of my lifestyle blog!
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I'll be the first to tell you, I'm not the type of person that depends on others to cook and prepare my meals, unless I'm going out for the evening to a nice restaurant. I like to prepare my own meals, when I have the time. I love to cook and love creating new recipes for my family. Recently, I happened to discover (and try) Hello Fresh. You may have seen Hello Fresh advertised throughout your social medias, tv and other places, but have you been brave enough to try this home delivered meal service? If you have any doubts about having your meals home delivered, especially by a very well known and reputable company as Hello Fresh, let me put your mind at ease.
Hello Fresh provides simple and pre-measured ingredients in each box, for the amount of meals and people that you select. The meals are very easy to make because each meal comes with a card, giving you step-by-step instructions, with photos, on how to prepare your meal. The meals come in a box labeled with the Hello Fresh logo. Inside the box, you will find that it is insulated very well and contains ice packs to keep your food as fresh as possible. You can choose what plan benefits you and your family; Veggie, Classic or Family. You can choose how many meals you want for the amount of people in your family. You have the option to continue getting meals each week, or...if you plan on being away from home, you can always skip a week of delivery. You can even schedule this up to 8 weeks in advance!
When I opened my Hello Fresh box, I pulled out two brown bags (2 meals for 2 people.) Each bag was labeled with the meal. My two meals were Korean Beef Bibimbap and Creamy Dill Chicken. I've already made the Cream Dill Chicken and it was wonderful! It looks like some professional cook created it and I am definitely going to try making this again! As for the Korean Beef Bibimbap...I am planning on cooking this today! Don't forget to check back later to see how it turned out!
Each ingredient that I pulled out of the bag was the freshest of the freshest. The carrots for the Korean Beef Bibimbap were pretty good size and the golden potatoes for the Creamy Dill Chicken was WAY plenty for both meals. I found that these meals definitely were enough for two people, but, depending on if you have huge and hungry eaters in your family, you may be wanting more. Hello Fresh did not skimp on the ingredients and they sent plenty to cover the recipe. You can find out more about Hello Fresh by visiting: https://www.hellofresh.com/plans
***I may have received a complimentary product, in exchange, for my honest and unbiased review. REGARDLESS...All opinions expressed are 100% my own.
I LOVE food storage containers that come in sets; better yet, I love storage containers that are nestled inside each other, has a vacuum seal and are not half way small, where you can't hold very much food.
That is why the Ozeri INSTAVAC Nesting Food Storage Container Set has me hooked! I love how easy these snap lids open and I don't have to struggle with them. Not only that, but these gems comes with a Date Dial! WHAT??? Yes...a Date Dial! On the top of the lid, there is not only a vacuum seal valve, but a little dial that you can turn, to the date you put the product inside. When you go back to your fridge a couple days later and notice some strawberries in this set, but really can't remember WHEN or HOW OLD they are, this dial will let you know the date this was stored. SO COOL!
Here's a little more info on the Ozeri INSTAVAC Nesting Food Storage Set: *Patented Valve: reduces air volume so naturally occuring bacteria is less able to grow, and food stays fresh longer. *Date Dial: to track the number of food storage days. *Release Valve: prevents spills and splatters in microwave. *Wave Pattern: on bottom keeps cut fruit and veggies elevated from water and juices. *Stain Resistant, Shatter Proof and transparent as glass. *Freezer, Microwave and Dishwasher Safe.
The Ozeri INSTAVAC Nesting Food Storage Container Set contains instant vacuum freshness without pumps, motors or confusing parts; Simply press down on the lid and air is forced out via the one-way valve. This set is an 8 piece set, with lids that contain:
I love that I can save space and money with these containers. Being that these nests inside one another, I won't have to worry about having four separate bowls, taking up all my cabinet space and I can keep them all in one place. Order Today - https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JM3VFVE ***I received a complimentary product, in exchange, for my honest and unbiased review. All opinions expressed are ALWAYS 100% my own.
***This post may contain affiliate links, which means, if you make a purchase, I may earn a small commission.
I am a HUGE fan of sushi. I love sushi in many different ways (except sushimi!) I love the spicy tuna roll, the California Roll, deep fried tempura sushi rolls; the list goes on and on. I love dining out at a Chinese or Japanese restaurant, that has a wide variety of sushi to choose from; not just two or three.
I've somewhat thought about how it would be like to make my own sushi, but that was just a passing thought...until I received this awesome Tiger Sushi - sushi making kit! Once I received this, I could not wait to try my hand at sushi making!
The first roll I wanted to make, was of course, the California Roll. The California roll consist of cucumber, avocado and crab meat in the center. The second, was the spicy tuna roll. This was my very first attempt at making sushi, therefore, my rolls turned out a little larger than normal. Below are my creations (yes, I need to work on this!)
Another thing, when making sushi, you can't just use regular long grain white rice. It has to be the Sushi rice or a short grain rice, in order for it to be sticky and hold together. When using Sushi rice, you also need to use rice vinegar, salt and sugar; to give the rice some flavor or seasoning. I failed to do this at first, with the sugar and salt and it really doesn't help, when you have a cold and can't really appreciate the taste (or taste at all!)
I had so much fun using this gadget. It was easy to use, comes with a single instruction page on how to use the Tiger Sushi and has several different pieces, to create your own sushi. The Tiger Sushi includes individual pieces that allows you to make round, square, heart and triangular sushi. It even comes with a chef's knife, that has a Lifetime Warranty, as well as a rice spreader and wide tooth fork utensil.
The Tiger Sushi is an 11 piece set, that makes creating sushi a breeze, not to mention fun! You can grab your Tiger Sushi Making Kit here, on Amazon! http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071ZB43V9 ***I received a complimentary product, in exchange, for my honest and unbiased review. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.
Do you love chips, but feel deprived because you are on a low carb diet? Being on a low carb diet is not so bad, unless you are used to eating certain snacks that are not good for you, such as chips, breads and pasta. I've done the low carb thing before and finding low carb snacks seems harder than the finding actual meals.
When it comes to snacks and substituting chips, I found that pork rinds are a great alternative! Not only are they low carb, but you can get these in several flavors and they satisfy that crunch! If you live in a small town as I do, there's not many options when it comes to pork rinds. There is either the plain or bbq flavored....that's it!
Julias Pantry Etsy Shop just made my options a little bit better! She has these wonderful tasting pork rinds, that are these sweet cinnamon sugar flavor. They are definitely a different take on the original pork rinds! They come in an 8 oz bag that makes one gallon! These pork rinds are called Pork Puffies and they have only 1 carb per 1 cup serving. They have a slight sweet taste with a hint of cinnamon sugar, perfect to curb any sweet and crunchy craving!
These pork puffies has 65% less fat, 33% less sodium, 40% less calories and 32 mg less cholesterol than original fried pork rinds. You can cook these pork rind puffies three different ways; microwave on a paper plate, oven bake them and fry them. It's just that easy!
These taste so good! I love the sweetness and the desert like snack that these pork rind puffies provide. If you aren't into the cinnamon sugar goodness of these pork rinds, you can find other flavors at Julias Pantry Etsy Shop. She has the Original, Jalapeno, BBQ, Sassy Red Pepper, Habanero and Smokey Chipotle!
Not only do these make for a great snack, but you can also use these as a breading! You can make a 'bread-less" bread pudding or crush them and use as a low carb breading. That bread pudding sure does look good! Go check out Julias Pantry Etsy Shop for these great pork rind puffies! Not only will you find these great pork rind puffies, but you will also find Dips, batters, sauces, Pancake and waffle mix, oats, grains & grits, Southern drop biscuits and a whole lot more! If you're looking for a great rub for meat grilling, you have to try Julia's Pantry Sassy Red Pepper Caramelizing Rub!
I love to cook and grill, but only get to enjoy it maybe once a week - Sundays, as I work through the week and my husband just can't seem to wait,until I get home, to cook. I love experimenting with new recipes, new foods and even trying to convert an oldie recipe into a new one. I can probably say, 99% of the time when I prepare a dish, I'm using some kind of spice, herbs or sauces. Of course, salt and pepper are the main spices, but there are those recipes and everyday dishes, that just needs that extra something special...something that's going to make your dish stand out.
Shown here, are several different rubs, mainly for grilling and baking, but they can also add something extra to stove top dishes. These BBQ rubs are by CocinaStina Etsy Shop. CocinaStina has tons of different rubs to choose from, and are excellent, depending on what type of meat you are preparing.
I was baking and frying up some chicken for Sunday night's dinner and decided to try the Sweet Mesquite Rub. This rub is excellent for BBQ chicken and pork and contains a blend of: Smoked Mesquite Salt, onion, garlic, paprika, chili pepper, bell pepper, raw cane sugar, pepper and natural smoke flavor. It's not too spicy and add a great texture to the skin of the chicken. I also decided to do some wings and tried the Six Pepper Spice, as I was turning these babies into hot wings, but needed that extra kick. The Six Pepper Spice contains: Salt, dehydrated chili pepper, white pepper, black pepper, red pepper flakes, mixed bell peppers, citric acid and caraway. Can you see why this would be perfect for those hot wings?!! Yes, it is a bit spicy, but that is what you want, when at times, your hot sauce just doesn't do the trick!
Six Pepper Spice
Are you looking for a different take on a BBQ rub? Something that adds a little cafe flavor to your ribs, roasts and mole sauces? Try this Cafe BBQ Rub by CocinaStina Etsy Shop. It has a blend of organic coffee granules, organic sucanat sugar, sea salt, tomato, roasted chili powder, red chili, garlic, pepper, mustard, onion and allspice. This is great as a dry BBQ rub or as a finishing seasoning.
Bayou Honey BBQ Rub
These are just a few of my favorite from CocinaStina Etsy Shop. These, are by far, only a sampling as to what CocinaStina has to offer. You have to check out CocinaStina Etsy Shop and view over 350 handmade spices, crock pot creations, soup mixes and more. Kristina Arnold is the owner of CocinaStina Etsy Shop and creates spice mixes from her kitchen to yours! CONNECT WITH COCINASTINA COCINASTINA ETSY SHOP ***I received a complimentary product(s), in exchange, for my honest and unbiased review. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.
Good morning, all! I am proud to announce, that #SunRypeUSA has partnered up with Disneynature, for the upcoming #Disneynature film, #BorninChina, opening in theaters April 21st - Earth Day, by opening up a #Sweepstakes! #SunRypeUSA is know for their healthy gluten free, vegan & nut free snack bars. I had the pleasure of trying both their Fruit & Chia and their Fruit to Go snacks and they taste wonderful! I will admit, the Fruit & Chia whole grain bars are the best healthy bars I've tried...and I love them!
The Fruit & Chia bars have this texture, that reminds me almost of a fig newton, but better! They are chewy, sweet and have this Mango fruit taste that I love. You get a bit of tiny crunch, with the chia seeds and a satisfying snack, that is packed with whole grain, phosphorous, magnesium, fiber and Omega 3 fatty acids. They are available at: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CF4A3BE
#Disneynature, in its ongoing quest to bring the natural world to the big screen as never before, is presenting its most ambitious project yet. They are taking moviegoers on a grand journey into the wilds of China. “Born In China” follows the adventures of three animal families – the majestic panda, the savvy golden monkey and the elusive snow leopard.
Along with this collaboration SunRype is running a Sweepstakes starting March 13th - May 31, 2017 for chances to win great Born In China Prize packages, including an early bird private screening prize package for up to 150 people (Draw Date: April 3) and weekly Prize Packages that include 4 movie tickets, a plush panda and SunRype Snacks! No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited. See official rules for details. To enter the sweepstakes, you can ENTER HERE. *NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. The sweepstakes begins on March 13, 2017 at 8:00am PT and ends on May 31, 2017, at midnight PT. Open to legal residents of the 50 U.S. or D.C. who are 18 years of age or older. The sweeps can be entered ONCE PER DAY. Find a full list of the prizes available to be won, how to enter, odds of winning and drawing dates along with the full rules and regulations at www.facebook.com/SunRypeUSA. Void where prohibited. Sponsor: Sun-Rype Products Ltd. At http://nature.disney.com/born-in-china you will find an Educator’s Guide and an Activity Packet that you can download and share with your kids. ***I may have received a complimentary product(s), in exchange, for my honest and unbiased review. All opinions, regardless, are always 100% my own.
Memorial Day weekend is a busy weekend for most. Some of us will grill for the family, some will travel to be with families and some will spend the weekend relaxing...at a campground! I fall in the latter part...I love to camp, especially when it's a holiday weekend. Camping for me and my family is a way to get away, a way to just relax, even if it's only for a short amount of time.
Now, I'm not the type who will drive half a day just to camp. I want to spend most of my Memorial Day relaxing my a nice cool stream, lake or river and enjoying the sunsets at the end of the day. Some of the things we will do (on our short mini vacation) is grill, have some ice cold beverages and maybe take up a hike or a walk to enjoy the scenery.
After many many year of camping at the same campgrounds, it's time for a change. I'm yearning for something new, something more adventurous and something that will promise a fun time. I'm constantly searching for new places, places I've never been. Some of the places my family and I have camped are Wappapello Lake, Missouri, Van Buren, Missouri and West Memphis, Arkansas, which is right on the border of Memphis, Tennessee.
Van Buren (Current River) campgrounds has several campgrounds to choose from...Current River Campground, Van Buren Campground, Big Spring RV Camp, Big Spring Campground and Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park. Floating down Current River is one of the main attractions, while in Van Buren, and although you don't have to camp to float, it's always nice to have a camp site to relax afterwards...although floating can be totally relaxing. I love to float. You spend hours floating down the river on a tube or in a canoe. It's a time to lay back, relax and enjoy the warm sun beaming down on you. During your journey, you will see many houses that sit on top of high cliffs and hills, inviting you to enjoy the marvelous view of each house.
Van Buren is one of my favorite spots to camp. There are people of all ages, young and old, that you will find camping. You make new friends and everyone is so friendly! I love the whole camping by the river, dipping your feet into the cool water and enjoying background music from all the campers. As a matter of fact...I've just reserved my spot at Current River Campground on Memorial Day weekend and I can't wait! Some of my favorite places to stop and enjoy a bite at Van Buren are Float Stream Restaurant and Jolly Cone Drive In.
JOLLY CONE DRIVE IN
Jolly Cone Drive In is the perfect place to grab an ice cream cone after a hot day on the river. You have tons of options when it comes to flavors and toppings. Float Stream Restaurant is a great place to dine for some down home country cookin'! You can expect to find fried chicken, meatloaf and many side items that will have you leaving full. I've dined here on my last visit to Van Buren and the food was awesome! Food arrived fast, hot and I devoured every morsel of food on my plate! So, if you're ever in Van Buren, Missouri, check out the campgrounds, be adventurous and try your hand at floating. It'll be an experience you won't want to miss out on. *What are your favorite things to do on Memorial Day weekend? *Do you love to camp? *What are your favorite camping places to visit? I would love to hear what your plans are for this upcoming Memorial Day Weekend! If you found this post helpful, or even interesting, please share, tweet or pin. I would be forever grateful!
When I visit Memphis, and I'm winding down the night and looking for something to eat (especially having a few drinks on Beale Street), one of the first things I want is a burger...don't ask me why, it just seems to just end up that way! There are many places that serves burgers in Memphis and many that are within walking distance from Beale Street ( this is one of the infamous streets everyone hangs out on) and are all good, but one of the places that I am familiar with, is Huey's.
Huey's is located in downtown Memphis, Tn. on 77 S. 2nd St., as well as many other locations. They have several in the Memphis area, as well as Collierville, Tn, Southhaven, MS, Cordova, Tn. and Germantown. But, if you are strolling down Beale Street in Memphis and want the closest Hueys, 77 S. 2nd Street is just a few blocks over.
Huey's serves more than just burgers. They have an enormous menu to choose from ranging from shrimp baskets, Po Boys, catfish baskets, appetizers of all kinds, grilled chicken and chicken tenders as well as their Famous Huey Burgers. The options are endless. This time, I decided to try something a little different. I went with the Shrimp Po Boy. If you're not familiar with what a Po Boy is, it a sandwich that is served on a hoagie bun, topped with shrimp, chicken or other meat. My shrimp po boy came with round disks like shrimp that was deep fried, of course, topped with tomato, lettuce and a side cup of buffalo sauce.
This po boy was almost more than I could eat, but I did manage to get half of it down! I was in Memphis with my son and my husband who both decided to go with the steak sandwich, which consisted of a 7 oz. tenderloin fillet, tomato and lettuce, served on a buttered toasted hoagie bun. They both devoured it! I didn't get to try their steak sandwich, but by the looks of it, they seemed to love it and didn't leave a trace of it behind. My po boy was awesome. The shrimp had just enough of the crispiness from being fried and the buffalo sauce gave it that extra kick that I like in a sandwich.
As my side item...Sweet Potato Waffle Fries. I like that these were served, waffle cut instead of the traditional cut fries.
Huey's is a very popular place among the locals and tourists. We arrived right at opening time, 11:00 am and before we left, there was not an empty seat in the restaurant. It seemed like everyone was taking advantage of the alcoholic drinks that were on special, which included the Bloody Mary, Mimosa and Screwdriver. I, on the other hand, went with the house margarita! It was served in a mason jar with a straw (the mason jar is a Southern thang!) I loved how this drink was served, Southern style!
Oh, and as far as the feel on the inside of Huey's...well...take a look.
Are you wondering what those little prickly things are on the ceiling? Well, this is a thing that every local (or tourist) tries their hand at...or should I say mouth? These are toothpicks, the ones that come in your burger or sandwich. You take the toothpick, place it in your drinking straw and shoot it up toward the ceiling by blowing the toothpick up toward the ceiling...hoping it sticks. Needless to say, I didn't quite make it half way! If you want to get a feel of what Huey's has to offer, go visit their site at https://hueyburger.com I think there is something to please just about everyone. I had a hard time choosing, because there are so many wonderful choices on this menu. CONNECT WITH HUEY'S FACEBOOK TWITTER INSTAGRAM WEBSITE Huey's Restaurant 77 S. 2ND Memphis, Tn. 38103 901-527-2700 901-527-3344 Hours: Sun-Thurs 11 am - 2 am Kitchen 11 am - 1 am Friday - Saturday 11 am - 3 am Kitchen 11 am - 2 am What do you look for in a casual restaurant? Is it burgers, sandwiches or a wide selection? I'd like to know your thoughts! If you found this post helpful, or even interesting, please share, tweet or pin. I would be forever grateful! ***This post has been sponsored by Huey's. Although a complimentary meal may have been provided, as always, all opinions are always 100% my own.
I love my burgers! As a matter of fact, if I see a burger on a menu that is unique, different and meaty...I'm going to order it! I don't know what it is about all these variety of burgers that appeal to me, but I do know one thing, the thicker and meatier they are, the more I love them! I love a burger that is thick, has tons of toppings to choose from and something I've either never heard of, or is totally unique.
Look at this bad boy here! This burger is the Buffalo Chicken Burger, served by Hops and Barley. When this burger was brought to my table and I first laid my eyes upon it, my first thought was, "How in the world am I going to eat this!"
Then it dawned on me...there was reason behind the fork and knife that was on my table. I literally had to hold the burger, while taking a knife down this burger. It was that thick! To make this burger even better, it was served with a generous heaping of buffalo chicken dip (shredded chicken in buffalo sauce, and I'm guessing with a little cheese mixed into that). This buffalo chicken dip was the bomb! It had just a little bit of kick, with the meatiness of the shredded chicken and a hint of cheese flavor. What more could you ask from a burger?
Not only was the buffalo chicken dip served on this burger, but you also had a regular beef burger as well! This was truly a different and unique burger and I was told by our waitress, Kristy, that Megan, one of the owners of Hops and Barley, specifically made my burger. Thanks Megan! The bun reminded me of a croissant like bun, with a lightness to it and it complimented the burger well.
As an appetizer, I chose the fried pickles, with my side item, the beer battered onion rings. I'm a sucker for fried pickles (it's a southern thang!) and these were fried to perfection. They were lightly battered and had just the right amount of seasoning to them....I tend to over salt mine. Even my husband loved them and he doesn't normally eat fried pickles! The onion rings were home made and you could tell that they were not store bought. For me, I have a hard time frying onion rings without them being too oily or not having that crunch. These onion rings were neither! The had a surprising crunch to them, that I really love and look for in onion rings. They were not greasy or oily and I ate every single one...with a little help!
My husband chose the 8 oz. Flat Iron Steak, baked beans and steak fries. Before I could even get a picture of his steak, he has already cut into it and took several bites! Although I did not take a bite of his steak (how could I, I was busting at the seams after my burger), he said that his steak was cooked perfectly well done! He did not leave even a single bite on his plate. The food was very filling and when Kristy asked if we wanted dessert, we both had to decline. There was no way, by any means, I as able to eat another bite. I was stuffed! Our waitress, Kristy, was very knowledgeable about the menu and was very pleasant. She even made several trips, to ensure that our food was cooked the way we liked it and to refill our drinks.
Hops and Barley Cafe is a restaurant that has more of a pub/bar like feel. I noticed it had at least 4-5 flat screen TV's throughout the restaurant. One of the things I also noticed, that I love, was an old wooden door, that was turned into menu special board...How cool! The restaurant had plenty of seating to hold quite a few people. We arrived early that afternoon, so the place had not started hopping quite yet. Megan said we picked a good time to come, because later on that evening, the place would start to get packed and would be a little more busier.
Hops and Barley is known for their burgers, but as you can see by the menu, they have plenty of other options to choose from. They have an 8 oz. Flat Iron Steak, 12 oz. Ribeye, Pastas and more.
Hops and Barley Cafe is located in Union City, Tennessee. The owners are Megan Hines and Renee Dillion. If you are looking for that unique burger, or just want to try the many appetizers and sandwich options available, you have to check out Hops and Barley in Union City, Tn. You won't be disappointed! Hops and Barley 1202 S. Ury St. Union City, Tn (731) 599-9730 Tuesday-Thursday. 11:00 am - 9:00pm Friday-Saturday 11:00 am-? FOLLOW HOPS AND BARLEY FACEBOOK What is your favorite restaurant, dive or place to eat? Do you like grill and bar or are you more of a formal restaurant diner. I'd like to know your choice! If you found this post helpful, or even interesting, please share, tweet or pin. I would be forever grateful! ***This is a sponsored post by Hops and Barley. I want to give thanks to Megan and Renee for hosting me. Although this is a sponsored post, all opinions are ALWAYS 100% my own.
