Saturday, September 24, 2011

Marx Foods Dried Peppers

  Marx Foods is the place to fill all your culinary ingredient needs. When I asked to do a review of their products they were nice enough to send over some dried chiles for us to try out. I love chiles. They are so incredibly versatile. You can use them in everything from appetizers to dessert. We were sent 6 different types of peppers. These chiles were of excellent quality. Though  dried they were not dried out. You can really tell they are fresh. The flavor and textures of the chiles is superb.

Here are the descriptions of em from Marx Foods:
Habanero Chiles
Habanero Chiles

Habanero Chiles (Capsicum Annuum) are very hot chiles. Behind the heat is a fruity flavor that makes these chiles a wonderful way to spark up a dish. Habanero chilies are round, oblong and about ¾ inch wide. Consider the habanero to be a 10 on a scale of 1-10 (10 being the hottest).  The only hotter chile we offer is the famous ghost chili.
Cascabel Chilies
Cascabel Chilies

Cascabel chilies (aka rattle chilies, little bell chilies) are mild chilies that are round and have several loose seeds that rattle loudly when the chilies are shaken.
Hubby and I got in the kitchen and played with three of em over the weekend.

Mulato Peppers

Mulato Peppers
Mulato peppers are dried versions of the popular poblano pepper. However, though they come from the same pepper as ancho chilies, mulato chilies tend to be sweeter, softer, and darker in color. Mulato peppers are often used to replace ancho peppers in the trinity of chilies (with pasilla negro chilies and gaujillo chilies) used to make traditional mole. Mulato peppers possess mild heat with an earthy fruitiness.

Hubby and I had some fun in the kitchen with the next three varieties:


Aji Amarillo
Aji Amarillo

Aji Amarillo (aka yellow chile, Peruvian chile) is the chile most commonly found in Peru. Despite being called the yellow chile, they are actually orange when ready for consumption. 

The Aji Amarillo Chile was a perfect addition to Marx Foods Chile-Lime Grilled Corn Recipe
Since it is so dry in Texas right now we didn't want to risk lighting the BBQ pit.  Hubby and I switched it up a bit  and decided to boil the corn on the stove topping the finished product with the wonderful Aji Amarillo chile lime compound butter.

De Arbol chile
De Arbol chile
The long, thin De Arbol chile has become a symbol of southwestern cuisine. Similar to a cayenne pepper, these chilies are hot, but not overwhelming.

Our Meal
With this beauty we made Marx Foods Chile-Coconut Crusted Shrimp Recipe The chile called for in this one is a Thai chile. We didn't have Thai chiles so we improvised with the De Arbol Chile. I cannot express to y'all how good this recipe is. The shrimp cooked perfectly. the ultra light crust was amazing. The coconut calms the heat from the chile and turns the shrimp into a mouthwatering delight.
Result- absolute perfection

Japones Chilies
Japones Chilies
Japones chilies get their name from the Spanish word for Japanese. They are somewhat similar in appearance to dried de arbol chilies but have thicker skins and can be a little bit hotter on average. They are most commonly found in spicy Thai and Chinese dishes.

 These Chiles are the perfect compliment to my homemade Hot and Sour Soup. This recipe is super simple and really delicious.

Rachel's Hot and Sour Soup

1 Tbs sesame Oil
chopped Japones chiles (to taste)

Heat oil in pot. Add chopped chiles and saute slightly to flavor the oil.

ADD
1 can chicken broth
1 can cooked chicken
Rachel's Hot and Sour Soup
1 can mushrooms
1 can bamboo shoots
1/2 c rice vinegar
1/2 c white wine
1 TBS soy sauce

Cook for 15 minutes over low heat.

ADD (while stirring soup)
1 whisked egg

You may thicken with a mixture of corn starch and cool water if you want.

Please make sure to take special care when working with chiles. I wear gloves and am very careful not to touch my hands to my eyes etc while working with peppers to avoid certain irritation.

Hubby and I will be testing out the other three chiles soon. I will post about them when we do. I would absolutely love to try out some of Marx Foods other fantastic ingredients. I can't express to y'all enough how important the quality of your ingredients is when you cook. I try to use the best ingredients I can afford on my budget. It makes a real difference in the outcome of your recipes.

Marx Foods Sells Ingredients is all these Great Categories:
On Sale

Want to keep up with all things Marx Foods? You can like em on Facebook, follow em on Twitter, sign up for their newsletter, and check out all three of their blogs MarxFoods.com blog , Ask Marx Foods, Justin Marx CEO MarxFoods.com

Want Recipes? You can find lots of  dried chile recipes here.

Ready to buy? Head on over to Marx Foods and get ya some of these amazing products.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Celadon Road Eco-Friendly Products

 I got a chance to test out some of the great products from Celadon Road. They sell a vast array of the highest quality organic, eco-friendly products for peoples everyday needs.


 Check out these great categories:

Relax
Nurture
Grow
Clean
Bark
Create
Decorate
Entertain
Move
Live
Groom


Chef's Towel 

These are great for the kitchen or any place you need a fast spill cleaner. These babies are super thirsty and love to soak up whatever you need quickly and easily. They are strong and durable.


set of 2
Soak Up, Scrub Down, and Dry Off. Kitchen gods and goddesses, pick your battle! From the toughest clean-ups to simply drying the dishes, Celadon Road™ Chef’s Towel is the perfect tool for the job! Made of natural fabric that can absorb up to ten times its weight in liquid, this earth-friendly, grime-busting towel is durable, light-weight and fast-drying. Available in sets of two and in assorted colors.
Price: $9.00

Lavender Eucalyptus All Purpose Cleaner

I  love the scent of this one. Lavender and eucalyptus blend together to give your home a clean smell without all the harsh chemicals found in many household cleaners.  Cleaned really well all around the house.

24oz
The Chores Get a Makeover. A mixture of Lavender, Eucalyptus and Tea Tree oils, this is not your favorite spa treatment… it’s your favorite natural household cleaner! Celadon Road’s™ Lavender Eucalyptus All Purpose Cleaner is a unique, all-natural and environmentally safe formula that works fabulously on any surface - melting away everything from pesky hand prints scattered along the stairwell to the stubborn mold and mildew stains in the shower.
Price: $6.00


Lavender Hand Soap




Smells amazing. I love lavender. Gets my hands clean quickly and leaves a lovely fragrance. Makes my hands feel soft after use.

7oz

Get Your Foam On. Excitingly rich and foamy, this is not just any hand wash! Celadon Road’s™ Lavender Hand Soap starts with Certified Organic ingredients and infuses them with oxygen to create a foaming wash that boasts a wonderful feel and luxurious lather. Wrapped in a handy refillable dispenser, you’ll never go back to the same old, same old again!

Price: $8.00


Want to keep up with all things Celadon Road? You ca like em on Facebook and follow em on Twitter


Ready to buy? Head on over to Celadon Road and get ya some of these great products. Click to locate a consultant near you. You can even become a consultant yourself. Enroll here. Read below for more info.


How to Order

There are two ways you can purchase our products:


  • Consultant’s Website – If you would like the ease of ordering our products online, please click here to be directed to our “Find a Consultant” page.  All you need to do is enter your information (no obligation) and one of our consultants will contact you and give you her or his personal website. This is where you can order products directly on online in a shopping cart format and they will be shipped directly to you. Our consultants are very willing to answer any questions you may have.


  • Host a Party – If you would like to take advantage of all of the great discounts and benefits of hosting a party, click on the same “Find a Consultant,” and you will be contacted by one of our consultants. Just let them know you are interested in hosting a party and they will check to see if there is a consultant near you.


Ginny Owens "Get In, I'm Driving" CD

 I recently got the opportunity to try out the new CD by Ginny Owens "Get In, I'm Driving" Ginny's sultry voice and amazing sound  blend perfectly with uplifting beat to create an awesome musical experience. This is Christian music at it's best. The background beats keep you moving along while the lyrics give you the beautiful message of God's love for us all.
 Ginny Owens is a gifted singer who uses her talents to spread the message of how God truly cares about each of us. The whole family really enjoys the entire CD. Every song lifts you up.

A little about Ginny Owens:

A three-time Dove Award winner, including the Gospel Music Association’s 2000 New Artist of the Year recipient, and multiple ASCAP Award winner, Ginny Owens has sold nearly one million albums. A top performer on the Christian radio charts with hits like “If You Want Me To,” “Free” and “I Wanna Be Moved,” among others, Owens’ music has impacted mainstream audiences at Lilith Fair, the Sundance Film Festival and the White House. Her music has received widespread film and television placement, including songs on the popular WB series’ “Roswell” and “Felicity.” Owens was featured on national television, including NBC’s “Today” and CNN, for her contribution to help rebuild New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina.
Born and raised in Jackson, Miss., Owens was discovering melodies on the piano almost before she could complete a sentence. Songs began to emerge from her fingers as the vision began to leave her eyes and by the age of three.  A degenerative eye condition left Owens completely blind.  Despite her physical challenge, Owens pursued a music career.  Songs provide a window into a world Owens can’t see and an outlet for her to express her thoughts and dreams. Owens’ unique musical style and inspirational lyrics continue to appeal to Christian and mainstream audiences alike.
In 2005 Owens launched The Fingerprint Initiative, a hands-on, non-profit organization designed to “bring hope to the world, one project and one touch at a time.” The organization has partnered with  and raised money for groups such as Compassion International, International Justice Mission and Habitat for Humanity.

Want to keep up with Ginny Owens? You can like her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter.

Ready to buy? Head on over to Ginny's website or iTunes and get this great CD or any of Ginny's other  music for your self or a friend.