Palmolive Fresh Infusions - An Influenster Review

I remember growing up, my Grandma always used Palmolive. Therefore, whenever I hear "Palmolive", I tend to flash back to the past. Until I received my Palmolive Fresh Infusions from Influenster.

"Just like the best recipes, the freshest scents & elegant simplicity are what inspire us in the kitchen. Taking cues from nature, we created inviting, naturally inspired fragrance blends - and combined them with the sparkling clean you've always trusted from Palmolive dish liquid."

My favorite is the Ginger White Tea (it has more of a floral scent) with the Lime Basil a close second. I decided to let my friend try out the Lemon Thyme. (All reports came back that she loved it.) The scents are so strong that you almost get lost in them while you're washing dishes. Oh but I bet that makes you wonder if any of that scent stays on your dishes. The answer, is no. I know this because I tested it...several times. 

What else did I test? How well Palmolive Fresh Infusions cuts grease of course. The end result...what grease? Just a drop & you can see it dissipate. 

But I have to say, one of my favorite features (which is probably overlooked), is the bottle. The bottle itself is tall & round, making it very easy to grab. I don't know how many times I've reached for more dish soap & dropped the bottle in my water. Now with my new Palmolive Fresh Infusions, I can do the dishes without looking like I went for a swim. 

Cuts grease, no soapy residue & smells great! My Grandma would be happy at how much I'm loving Palmolive Fresh Infusions!

Want some of your own? (Yes!) Check out your local Target & Walmart today. Or tomorrow, that would work too. 

**Disclaimer: I received this product from Influenster & am simply sharing my personal opinion which may vary from yours. I was not compensated for this review.

Cabbage Rolls

I have to admit, I kind of like it when the weather cools down a bit. For many reasons, including the comfort food. And one of my favorite comfort foods, is Cabbage Rolls.

I like mine with a sweeter sauce. It makes for the perfect balance from the pepper I have in my filling & in my mashed potatoes. Yes, mashed potatoes is a requirement as a side dish. At least they are in my book.

And here is my massive head of cabbage. That's a full size dinner plate it's sitting on. Perfect for cabbage rolls.

Lots of people think that cabbage rolls are too time consuming or difficult to make. Neither of which are true. I whipped these up in practically no time at all. And I had my 11 month old attached to my leg almost the entire time. Therefore, I've included all of my shortcuts too. You're welcome.

First things first, gather all of your ingredients. Next grab a large pot, fill it with water & bring to a boil. While you're making your filling & sauce, you'll be boiling the cabbage leaves to cut down on cooking time. Just slice a bit off the bottom of the cabbage & carefully start peeling the leaves off. If some of them rip, as long as they're plenty big enough, it's OK. Just be sure to boil both sides until they're a slight bright green color. 

For the filling, you'll need:

1 egg, beaten

1 lb. hamburger

2 small onions, chopped

1/2 C. instant white rice

salt & pepper

Place all ingredients in a mixing bowl. I don't even mix this until I'm ready to stuff my cabbage leaves. Just place the bowl to the side & move on.

For the sauce, you'll need:

2 small onions, chopped

1-28 oz. can crushed tomatoes

1/2 C. lemon juice

a little more than 1/2 C. brown sugar

salt & pepper

Mix all ingredients in a separate mixing bowl. 

Take a 9x13 in. baking dish & coat with nonstick cooking spray. I used an 8x8 in. & didn't have room for all of my sauce. (I didn't have enough for another batch, but I used that as an excuse anyways when I made more a few days later.) Cover the bottom of your dish with some sauce.

Assembly time! Lay your cabbage leaf out. Mix your filling, & grab enough to make a large meatball. A long & large meatball actually. Place in the center of your cabbage leaf.

Roll up from the bottom & tuck.

Now working carefully around any possible tears or difficult parts, fold your sides in & finish rolling.

Start placing them in your baking dish.

 Until you're all done. As you can see, I fit 7 in my 8x8 in. dish.

Thoroughly cover with sauce. If you're using a smaller dish like me, be sure to leave a bit of room to avoid overflow while baking. 

350 degrees for 1 hour & this is what you've got.

Fresh from the oven cabbage roll (complete with steam), mashed potatoes & some extra sauce from the baking dish.

Enjoy!

*If you would like less of a sweeter sauce: 

1 small onion, chopped

1-15 oz. can crushed tomatoes

6 Tbsp. lemon juice

1/4 C. brown sugar

salt & pepper

Mom's Garlic Braid

When I was growing up, my Mom braided my hair. Now she braids my garlic. Really, she does.

My parents grow garlic in mass quantities & every year they give me a garlic braid. Each braid has 10 decent size bulbs on it. But, due to the fact that I love fresh garlic, it doesn't last me as long as you would think.

Perhaps I'll make some Hummus. Or some 40 Clove Chicken. Oh the possibilities!

What's your favorite thing to make with fresh garlic?

Great Coffee, Good Vibes, Pass It On

Ever notice that some things taste better from the cause behind them? OK, maybe not entirely. But it sounded good. Know what else sounds good? Coffee. But not just any coffee, Green Mountain Fair Trade Certified coffee. Can you even picture how excited I was when I got into the Green Mountain Coffee Fair Trade BzzCampaign? (There's that BzzAgent status coming up again.) Probably not, which is a good thing...for me. 

What is fair trade?

Fair trade is a movement which strives for fair treatment for farmers. In a fair trade agreement, farmers, who in other situations might be more susceptible to the will of the purchase, will negotiate with the purchasers in order to receive a fair price for their products.

Why is fair trade important?

Farmers who engage in fair trade also aim to pay their workers a fair price & engage in environmentally-friendly practices.

Green Mountain Coffee has been a leader in the fair trade movement for more than a decade. Translation: Providing you with a better cup of coffee & a better quality of life for coffee farmers in 10+ years. 

Want to know how it could get even better? Of course you do!

Great Coffee, Good Vibes, Pass It On

October was Fair Trade month, but it doesn't stop there. To celebrate the good vibes of fair trade, Green Mountain Coffee took Grace Potter to Columbia & Michael Franti to Sumatra to experience fair trade firsthand. To keep the celebration a celebration, Potter & Franti held concerts in New York (Potter) & Los Angeles (Franti) in October. I know you're wondering how all of this is relevant seeing as how it's November now. Well, Green Mountain is re-broadcasting the concerts!

Sadly Michael Franti's has already been re-broadcast, but you can catch Grace Potter's TONIGHT at 9:00 p.m. EST. Just head over to the Green Mountain Coffee Facebook page. While you're there, check out the photos taken from Grace Potter & Michael Franti's source trips & even snag a coupon for your favorite fair trade brew.

And while I'm at it, might I suggest my favorite fair trade brew, Sumatran Reserve. I often refer to this extra bold brew as "Heaven in a mug". I really do. Usually, I always have these K-Cups handy. But let's face it, some days are a 2 K-Cup day instead of 1!

"The farmers I met in Sumatra deepened my passion for fair trade & the incredible impact it can have on their quality of life. I'm hoping to inspire people everywhere to think about the difference they can make just by choosing to purchase fair trade products." ~Michael Franti

"During my trip to Columbia, I didn't just meet the coffee farmers, I met their children & families. Fair trade has truly brought a better quality of life to farming communities, from access to education to community development, & meeting with these people really opened my eyes to the impact fair trade has had on their lives." ~Grace Potter

Don't forget to follow Green Mountain Coffee on twitter!

Beer Cheese Soup

This is the time of year for my soup recipes to come out. Not that I don't make soup year round, but now we're on a weekly basis. And there's one soup in particular that I insist on making at least once. The reason? It's yummy.

Beer Cheese Soup, grilled kielbasa, a side of chopped pickles (suggested by a friend & it is delish!) & a fresh baked pretzel roll. You can get the pretzel roll recipe here. And as a side note, they make for some yummy sammies.

Let's get started, shall we?

You will need:

1 Tbsp. margarine

2-3 small onions, finely chopped

2 stalks celery, finely chopped

2 cans cream of celery soup, undiluted

1 bottle beer

1 C. milk

1 tsp. parsley flakes

1/2 tsp. paprika

1 lb. Velveeta cheese, cubed

2 tsp. Worcestershire sauce

(pictured later because I completely forgot about it)

salt & pepper to taste

In a large saucepan, saute onions & celery in margarine until tender.

Stir in cream of celery soup, beer, milk, parsley & paprika.

Then realize that something is missing & add your Worcestershire sauce. There, all better now.

Reduce heat & stir in Velveeta until melted.

That's it. I'll warn you now that this soup comes together very quickly. The most time consuming parts being the chopping & waiting for the cheese to melt. Impatiently, I might add.

But don't worry, you can spend that time chopping pickles. Just sprinkle a few in every now & then. And if you're not feeling that daring, it's OK. As long as you're feeling hungry!

Enjoy!

Influenster: Relaunched

I know it's actually been a few weeks since Influenster relaunched their site with a sleek new layout. But I wanted to learn my way around & share some of the details with you instead of just saying "Hey, look at Influenster, they got a makeover!".

Now for those of you that don't know what Influenster is, you're missing out. It is the hub of influential trendsetters. The mecca, if you will. The members here are keen to sharing their knowledge & experiences on products to everyone they come in contact with (online & off).

First & foremost, is your Influenster badge score. This baby changes daily based on your social media & Influenster interactions. It also changes based on the ranks of your trendsetting peers. And it just so happens that your Influenster score has an impact on your Expert (limit of 5 to start) & Lifestage Badge scores. Which in turn helps you qualify for Voxboxes & programs. Of course demographics play a role in that too.

Wait, what's a Voxbox? A Voxbox is what makes grown women feel like a kid on Christmas morning. No lie, it really does. And it's a themed box, chock full of goodies! The latest products (that fit into the given theme) just waiting to be tried, tested, reviewed & shared. But that's not where the fun stops. Each Voxbox has 2 mandatory tasks, checking in your box once you receive it & the post experience survey. But then there's bonus tasks & brand challenges (you know you want some brand badges too). Not to mention the chance to win a challenge prize.

My Summer Beauty Voxbox 2012

Sounds like a lot, I know. Mostly because it is. But that's OK. Because on your profile page, Influenster gives you a "Plan of Attack" to help you out. You can also find your recent activity, unlocked badges & your "Fun File" (which showcases your current programs & Voxboxes) on your profile page.

I know you're excited, so go & request an invite on Influenster if you're not a member yet. Then tell all of your friends. But you only get to invite 5 to have on your "team". If you are already a member, go & unlock those badges you Influenster!

Be Thankful for Smartfood

It's that time of year. Halloween has passed & so has half of the candy you volunteered to try. (For quality measures, of course.) Next up, Thanksgiving. Where the turkey isn't the only thing to get stuffed. So now it's a time to eat a bit better. A salad for dinner, baked vs. fried...& Smartfood Selects. 

I know you remember me mentioning I'm a BzzAgent once or twice (or more). Well, one of my latest BzzCampaigns was for Smartfood Selects.

"With SMARTFOOD® Selects snacks, we've spiced things up (literally) with SMART combinations of REAL herbs and spices. So what exactly is a SMART combination, you ask? Well, it's the careful pairing of select ingredients to create perfectly complementary, unforgettably delicious flavors.

Yes, you could say we've been having a lot of fun playing with our food. Our hummus and multigrain popped chips are bursting with flavor, and our puffed corn snacks will melt in your mouth. Try them all and discover new SMARTFOOD® brand favorites!

Talk about delicious! & they weren't lying, the puffed corn really does melt in your mouth! I got to try:

Sour Cream Onion Puffed Corn

"Sour cream and onion work so well together because the cooling effect of sour cream balances the up-front, tangy flavor of onion. We've added a tasteful touch of herbs to complement this classic, popular flavor combination."

This was the family favorite. (Mostly because it is a very popular flavor in our house.) 

Garlic Tomato Basil Hummus Popped Chips

"By roasting the garlic in this hummus-based popped chip, we've caramelized its natural sugars to give it a sweet flavor. Parmesan, tomato, basil, and thyme complement the garlic in this scrumptious, smart combination."

I loved this! I'm a huge fan of Tomato Basil Soup & that is exactly what every bite reminded me of.

Cinnamon Brown Sugar Multigrain Popped Chips

"This flavor is twice as nice. We start with a naturally sweet blend of grains in our multigrain chips, and then top them with cinnamon and brown sugar for a delightfully sweet treat."

These were comparable to French Toast! I'm serious! French Toast in a multigrain chip. Pure genius if you ask me.

Bold flavors delivering a mouth watering sensation in each healthy bite. Ranging from popcorn (granola popcorn included) to popped chips (including hummus). There's something for everyone. & you can find out which retailers carry Smartfood Selects here. 

Be Smart & get your snack on with Smartfood Selects!

Check out all the varieties of flavors at www.smartfood.com