Hamilton Beach 5 Qt. Slow Cooker Review

 
For Christmas 2013 I received something I've been wanting for years, a slow cooker.  No more putting pots of food in the oven for hours to cook on a low heat.  Now I can have a pot on my counter cooking for hours and not worry about it.  I was so excited to receive it.  The first thing I made was a slow cooker rice and beans.

I've had this slow cooker for a few years now.  I still use it on a regular basis.  It doesn't matter the season, I use it a several times a month. 

Hamilton Beach 5 Qt. Slow Cooker

The Hamilton Beach 5 Quart Slow Cooker is very easy to use.  Super easy clean up and it's dishwasher safe.  The slow cooker also came with a 3 year warranty.

My favorite recipe to make with the slow cooker is fudge.  The recipe is from Skinny Ms and you can find it here.

Slow Cooker Fudge

You can get the Hamilton Beach Slow Cooker at Amazon for an amazing price! This is an excellent  first slow cooker or if you're just looking for something very basic. Go to Hamiltonbeach.com to find out more about their products.

Do you use a slow cooker? What are some of your favorite slow cooker recipes? Tell me in the comments section below. 
  

Disclaimer: I received no monetary compensation for this review.  I am under no obligation to provide a positive review.  The opinions are my own and results may vary. This post does contain affiliate links.If you click on one of the product links and make a purchase, I'll receive a commission.

Make Yummy Soups and Smoothies Easily

My dad received this Cuisinart Smart Stick Hand Blender as a gift. He told me he had no use for it so I took it off his hands. Yes, I know I'm such a good daughter.  Anyway, I was so excited to receive this.  I imagined making all kinds of soups and smoothies with it.

First of all, it's very easy to use and to assemble. The motor body and detachable blending shaft snap together. After use detach the blending shaft. The clean up is a breeze. I basically just rinse it off the blending shaft and wipe off the motor body.  I have made soups and smoothies with the hand blender.  It makes the soups thicker in a matter of seconds. Smoothies blend easily and get super thick. It's a great product and I'm always looking for ways to use it.

My super thick protein smoothie

The blender came with a mixing beaker (pictured above). I make the smoothies right in the beaker. The detachable blending shaft and beaker are both dishwasher safe. The beaker is microwave safe. Also included was an instructional recipe booklet (pictured below).

I highly recommend the Cuisinart Smart Stick Hand Blender. To find out more about this and other Cuisinart products please visit their website at Cuisinart.com.  You can also follow them on Twitter, Instagram and like them on Facebook.

Here's a recipe for Coconut Curry Soup from Pinch of Yum I made recently with the Cuisinart Smart Stick Hand Blender. 

Coconut Curry Soup

Please feel free to connect with me on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and on Instagram!


Disclaimer: I received no monetary compensation for this review.  I am under no obligation to provide a positive review.  The opinions are my own and results may vary.

The Promontory-Chicago Restaurant Review

When The Promontory opened a couple of years ago, I immediately wanted to go. Mainly because it's in my favorite neighborhood, Hyde Park.  Also because of the concept of a restaurant, bar and concert venue all in one place. 

While in my hometown this summer I went there with a couple of friends.  The atmosphere was laid-back. I felt comfortable sitting there chatting with my friends well after the meal was over.  They didn't rush us out.  The staff were friendly and service was excellent. 

The food was very good.  My friend had the salmon and crab cakes. My other friend and I had the lamb burger with chickpea fries.  Yes, chickpea fries!  I had never heard of chickpea fries and was nervous and excited to try them.  The meal was delicious and if I never have potato fries again that would be ok because the chickpea fries were better than I imagined they could be.  

Lamb Burger with Chickpea Fries

I haven't attended a concert there yet, but it seems like every night there is someone performing there.  I like having a neighborhood place where I can just hang out and listen to music on any night.  The concert list is here. 

Salmon and Crab Cakes

The Promontory also gives back to the community with #hashtaglunchbag. On the last Saturday of every month they feed the homeless. Everyone is encouraged to come to The Promontory to help assemble and distribute 1000 lunch bags to Chicago's homeless.  When I'm there next year, I will make sure to attend #hashtaglunchbag.

Celebrate New Year's Eve at The Promontory with their NYE Tasting Menu. Find out more here.

The Promontory is located at 5311 S Lake Park, Chicago, 312-801-2100.

Hours

Dinner Nightly

Sun–Thurs: 5pm–11pm
Sat–Sun: 5pm–1am

Weekend Brunch

Sat–Sun: 9am–3pm

Weekday Lunch

Mon–Fri: 11am–3pm

Box Office

Thurs–Sat: 5-10pm

To find out more about The Promontory, go to their website.  You can also follow them on Twitter,  Instagram or Facebook.

Urban Herbivore:Foodie Friday

I live in Toronto and one of the biggest malls here is the Eaton Centre.  Recently while shopping there, the family and I stopped to get something to eat.  The kids went to Subway, but the husband and I wanted something different.  He had heard good things about Urban Herbivore, so we thought we would give it a chance.

You can custom make your own bowls by choosing from these fresh ingredients!

The Urban Herbivore is not your typical restaurant.  They take pride in offering foods with no chemicals, preservatives or additives.  Everything they make is from scratch.  It's plant-based food. Their packaging is biodegradable, the cutlery and straws are made from corn. Even the lids and bowls are made from sugarcane. 

And they have cupcakes too!

These things alone make it worth to eat at Urban Herbivore, but you know what else makes it worth it, the food. It is delicious, nutritious and amazing.  I have only had two meals from Urban Herbivore, but the next time I'm at The Eaton Centre I will go back to try more.  The bowls (Moroccan and Coconut Curry) are so good.  And they give you so much food that I split the bowl.  I have half for lunch and the other half for dinner. It is filling and makes you feel good about what you're eating.  

Moroccan Stew

If you are in Toronto and want to have some delicious and healthy food, especially after a marathon day of holiday shopping, I highly recommend the Urban Herbivore.  You will not be disappointed. 

Here is a link to their menu! 

To Find out more about Urban Herbivore you can follow them on  

Twitter 

Instagram

Facebook

Foodie Friday: Batter & Berries Part Deux!

Batter & Berries Burger with Sweet Potato Fries

The hashtag Batter & Berries use most frequently is #comegetyousome and indeed I did!  I made a second visit there this summer.  I couldn't leave Chicago without visiting the restaurant. Read my first review of Batter & Berries here.

Scallop Omelette

As usual the restaurant was packed, but it only took us 20 minutes to get a table.  Pro tip: Go during the week, the wait for a table is better than the weekend.  I have a friend who went during the weekend and had to wait over an hour for a table.  The cool thing is that now they text you when you when a table is available.  So, you can walk around the neighborhood, but don't go too far.

Benjamin Loose-Leaf Teas

I wanted to try the French Toast Flight, but I saw the burger with onion rings and sweet potato fries on the menu and decided to try that.  I think they should offer samples of their signature dishes.  I would have gotten a sample of the French Toast Flight and then my order.  The food was delicious and the service was outstanding.  I know it was only my second time there, but I will be going back every visit to Chicago because the atmosphere is very welcoming. I felt like I was going to a friend's home to eat.  We saw our favorite server Tim there and he greeted us with a hug.

Batter & Berries Menu

Check out the Batter & Berries menu here. Have you been to Batter & Berries?! Please share your experience in the comments section. To find out more about Batter & Berries follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

G.H. Cretors Chicago Mix Popcorn Review (It's not Garrett Popcorn, but still good)

I live in Toronto, but I'm a Chicago girl. To me Chicago is a fantastic city known for its architecture, live theater, wonderful people (like me) and of course the food. When you think of Chicago food, deep dish pizza immediately comes to mine. We are also known for what's called the "Chicago Mix." That's a mixture of cheese and caramel popcorn.  If you're a Chicagoan and you hear the words "Chicago Mix" Garrett Popcorn comes to mind.

When I'm home I always try to go to Garrett Popcorn. Why?! Because it's the best popcorn ever! That's where the "Chicago Mix" was born. Recently Garrett Popcorn has had to stop using the name "Chicago Mix" because of a lawsuit by a company called Candyland. Candyland holds the trademark for "Chicago Mix." They had to change the name to "Garrett Mix". But I still call it "Chicago Mix." Shhhhh! Don't tell anyone!

I was very happy to find G.H. Cretors' "Chicago Mix" here in Toronto. I was amazed at how close it was to the "Garrett Mix." The caramel popcorn definitely reminded it me of Garrett's "CaramelCrisp."  It was sweet, buttery and just yummy.  The cheese popcorn could have been cheesier, but when you put the two together....heaven.

Chicago Mix

G.H. Cretors' "Chicago Mix" is the closest brand I've tried that tasted like Garrett's.  When I ran out of it, I made a special trip to the store to get more.  I hope that the store continues to sell it. It's like having a little piece of home with me in every bite. 

Their popcorn is gluten-free and contains non-GMO ingredients. Another reason to like them, right?! Check out G.H. Cretors' website for more flavors. You can also like them on Facebook, follow them on Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram!

Please feel free to connect with me on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and now finally I'm on Instagram!  Have you tried G.H. Cretors Popcorn?! What did you think?!

Foodie Friday: Batter & Berries Chicago Restaurant Review

Cluck-N-Gaufre (Goof)

I love Chicago and great food!  Chicago has thousands of restaurants, but there is one I had to get to during my last visit. Batter & Berries is that restaurant.  I heard so many great things about it.  It was also featured on Chicago's Best.

I went there with my mom and a couple of friends. The restaurant was very crowded, but it took only about 15 minutes for us to get a table.  I ordered the Cluck-N-Gaufre (Goof) or sweet potato waffles stuffed with chicken. I enjoyed my meal.  I was so stuffed I couldn't finish it all. The flavors of the waffle, the chicken and the butter together was heavenly.



My friends ordered the Lobster Omelet and raved about how delicious it was. Sadly, I didn't get pictures, but I did try some of my mom's Fish and Chips. The fish was crispy and well seasoned.  The chips were delicious.  The food was great, but the service was better. Our server Tim was fun and attentive.

Fish and Chips

Batter & Berries is located at 2748 N Lincoln, Chicago. 1 773-248-7710. Hours of operation is Mon-Sun 8am-3pm. If you get there right before 3pm you will still get served and they don't rush you to get out. My mom, friends and I were there from 2pm until almost 3:30pm.  Felt very much at home there.Take a look at the menu. They are always adding new and delicious dishes!

Healthy Food: Protein Bar (Chicago) Restaurant Review

When I heard about the Protein Bar opening in Chicago I was anxious to visit.  I'm always excited to try a new restaurant and as a person who works out a lot, protein is very important to my diet.  Also it's great to have a healthy food option in downtown Chicago. We visited Chicago in March 2014.  I was able to get to Protein Bar two times.

Protein Bar was clean, very well lit, the wi-fi was great and the service fantastic! The first time I went there I tried the Guac N Roll. A Bar-rito filled with roasted chicken, veggies, and a cilantro lime dressing.  Satisfying meal!  It has 540 calories and 30 grams of protein!

Guac N Roll

The next time I went to Protein Bar I tried the Spinach and Pesto Bowl and the BGT Drink.  The Spinach and Pesto Bowl was a lot better than I thought it would be.  It has quinoa, basil pesto, roasted chicken, spinach and Parmesan cheese. The bowl is 480 calories and has a whopping 38 grams of protein.  The BGT Drink contains milk of your choice, I chose almond, Matcha Green Tea, vanilla whey protein and banana. The BGT Drink has 240 calories and 19 grams of protein.

Spinach and Pesto Bowl and BGT Drink

There are several locations open in Chicagoland.  Most of them are downtown Chicago. Hoping that they will expand to more neighborhoods. If not full restaurants maybe they could have Protein Bar Express restaurants located in grocery stores.  I think a partnership with Mariano's would be great!;-)

I highly recommend Protein Bar.  They are located around Chicagoland, Colorado and Washington DC. Check out their website and connect with them on Twitter and Facebook!

Update 4/3/15: Since I originally posted this restaurant review, Protein Bar has added more locations in Chicago and have expanded their menu!  Can't wait to get back to Chicago and try more things!

Caribbean Food: The Real Jerk Restaurant Review (Toronto)

We've been living in Toronto for several months now.  I've walked by this restaurant with the clever name dozens of times, but never went in until a couple of days ago.  The Real Jerk Restaurant specializes in Caribbean food.  I ordered the 1/4 chicken. The chicken wasn't dry and it was seasoned well. It had the classic jerk flavor.   It was smokey and spicy, but not too spicy. The entree included the chicken, rice and peas, plantains and coleslaw.  Everything was delicious.  The entire meal was filling and satisfying.

1/4 chicken meal

The staff were friendly and greeted me as soon as I walked in.  My take-out order was ready and waiting for me when I arrived. The Real Jerk has a bar inside the restaurant with plenty of seating.   They have events there every week. I will definitely return to try more things off of the menu. 

Gerrard Location Hours

The Real Jerk Restaurant is located at 842 Gerrard in Riverdale 416-463-6055. That's the location I went to.  The other location is The Real Jerk Beaches 416-690-8752.  It's located at 1004 Kingston Road. The Beaches hours are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday 11:30am-10:00pm, Thursday 11:30am-11:00pm, Friday and Saturday 11:30am-12:00am. Reservations are accepted.  To find out more about The Real Jerk Restaurant follow them on Twitter and Facebook.  Also check out their website for the latest events at TheRealJerk.com.

Honey Butter Fried Chicken (Chicago) Review

From the first time I heard those four words Honey Butter Fried Chicken I have wanted to visit that restaurant.  I finally got the chance while visiting Chicago on a very cold day in March 2014.  I made my way from my mom's house on the far south side to Honey Butter Fried Chicken on the northwest side of the city.

As I entered the restaurant I noticed it was packed with people.  There was also a long line for takeout orders.  I stood in the line trying to see the menu.  I finally decided on the four piece meal.  I saw the price and was a bit shocked, but I decided to get the buttermilk biscuit and a side of kale and cabbage slaw.  The price for all of that was $22.  I had to wait about 15 minutes for my meal, but I enjoyed the atmosphere and the staff were very friendly.

4 piece meal with corn muffins

It was a long trip home and I was very anxious to eat the food.  I had heard so many good things about it.  Finally home and I open the box.  I was surprised at how big the pieces were and that it was only white meat.  I share the meal with my dad.  Unfortunately the chicken got cold and I had to reheat it.  I put the honey butter on it.  It was good, crunchy and seasoned well. Probably would have been better right out of the pan.  Very pleased that the chicken was boneless. My dad loved the corn muffins that came with the chicken.  I thought the buttermilk biscuit was delicious.

Buttermilk Biscuit and Honey Butter

The kale and cabbage slaw was good and I loved the yogurt cumin dressing.  I would go to Honey Butter Fried Chicken again, but because it is a bit pricey it would be on special occasions.  I do want to try some of the brunch items.  My next trip to Chicago I will make it a priority to eat there again.  They give you plenty of honey butter.  I had enough left over to put on my toast and in my oatmeal. So good!

Kale and Cabbage Slaw with Pomegranates Yogurt Cumin Dressing

Honey Butter Fried Chicken is located at Located at 3361 N. Elston Ave. Chicago, IL 60618
(773) 478-4000.  Their hours are Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday 11am-9pm.. Friday and Saturday 11am-10pm. You can connect with them on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook!