Food

Hello Fresh Food Subscription Review

/ realmofvibes / 1 Comment

I am a woman who is easily tempted by a coupon code. I am also that woman who orders her groceries online because setting foot in a supermarket, although a necessary evil, is not my cup of tea. Most of the time, I don’t feel like being creative with dinner, so after I was able to secure a coupon code for Hello Fresh, three dinners for two people came to $40. What a steal!

Food subscriptions are a new rage. Hello Fresh is a food delivery service that ships dinners right to your door. You can choose from the Classic (meat and fish), Vegetarian, or Family plan for either 2 or 4 persons.

Our Classic Carnivore menu consisted of:

  • Juicy Lucy Burgers
    • 840 calories
    • 10-minute prep
    • 40-minute total time
  • Zesty Crusted Catfish
    • 650 calories
    • 5-minute prep
    • 30-minute total time
  • Gremolata Strip Steak
    • 880 calories
    • 10-minute prep
    • 40-minute total time

These are the 3 meals we chose out of 8 offered options.

Hello Fresh is packaged in a cooler box, so I didn’t have to worry about rushing home from work to find spoiled food. Everything is neatly packaged in recyclable cardboard. I like how Hello Fresh keeps all of the different meals organized.

The first meal I made was the Jucy Lucy Burgers. I was happy I had the additional ingredients on hand (olive oil and sugar). The burger was cooked perfectly and Jason kept raving about the dressing on the arugula salad. However, I did have quite a few pots, pans, and bowls to clean up, which makes for a fun after dinner chore.

The second night we had the Zesty Crusted Catfish, which was deceivingly filling. I love roasted broccoli and jasmine rice (staples in my home). I rarely have catfish which was a nice treat. The panko breading was crunchy and flavorful with the included fish seasoning.

The third meal was the Gremolata Strip Steak. I love strip steak! Cauliflower mashed potatoes is also a great way to include vegetables into my diet. The pesto on top of the steak really added flavor. I would absolutely make this again!

 

The Good:

  • I didn’t have to think about dinner. It was nice to grab a box and get to work.
  • Each dinner was tasty and flavorful. Jason and I really enjoyed the variety.
  • The variety offered is plentiful. I love adding different meals to my nightly menu.
  • You won’t spend more than 40-minutes preparing a meal.
  • Good portions.
  • Easy to follow, step by step directions with pictures.
  • Cost effective with a coupon.

The Bad:

  • I used more pots, pans, bowls, and utensils than usual.
  • The calories are a little high. (I try to stick around 500 for dinner).
  • No leftovers. (I usually have leftovers for lunch the next day).
    • I could order the 4 person option to solve this problem.
  • Expensive without a coupon code

Verdict

I would absolutely use Hello Fresh again, especially on crazy busy weeks where I don’t have enough time to order groceries online or get to a supermarket. I would also use them if I am in a “dinner rut” and want some new ideas.

Hello Fresh, you certainly made dinner much easier!

Sign up HERE to get $40 off your first box!

Namaste.

PS. This is not a sponsored post. I wanted to share my experience with Hello Fresh with you. All opinions within all of my posts (whether sponsored or not) are my own. If you would like to have your product/brand/service on Realm of Vibes, please visit the Contact page or e-mail realmofvibesdg@gmail.com. Realm of Vibes is also looking for guest bloggers in the lifestyle niche. 

 

for busy people who love to eat

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Flavored Kale Chips

/ realmofvibes / 23 Comments

I love kale. I always purchase kale for my salads and smoothies, so I decided it would be more cost effective to grow kale in my garden this year. I also found that it was very difficult to find a bag of kale chips without artificial flavors and preservatives. Kale chips could also be quite expensive, so I started making flavored kale chips at home. It took a few some experimenting to come up with the perfect recipe.

Shopping List

  • Fresh kale, cleaned and cut into bite-size pieces.
  • Flavored olive oil (I used cilantro & roasted garlic.)
  • Flavored salt (I used garlic.)
  • Side note: Get creative. Add crushed red pepper, minced ginger, black salt, etc.

Olive Oil and Garlic Salt

Directions

  • Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Spread one layer of kale onto a baking sheet.
  • Drizzle olive oil over kale. Make sure each leaf has olive oil on it.
  • Sprinkle with salt.
  • Cook in the oven for 12-15 minutes. Watch kale closely. If you overcook, it will taste bitter and burnt. If you don’t cook it long enough, it will not be crunchy and will be slick with olive oil.

Kale on Baking Sheet

The final result…

Kale Chips

Crunchy, yummy, healthy kale chips with a nice flavor of cilantro, onion, and garlic.

Do you like kale? Have you ever made kale chips? 

Share your kale recipe in the comments!

Flavored Kale Chips

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Chomps: A Jerky Stick to Sink your Teeth Into

/ realmofvibes / 24 Comments

I am training for my first half marathon. I am also mostly dairy and wheat free, due to intolerances that make my skin break out into a nasty red rash. To prevent a lovely red glow, I stick to a mostly Paleo/Whole 30 diet, which makes me feel great – inside and out.

As an occupational therapist, I work in nursing homes and home care. Sometimes my lunches are in my car, or I am stuffing my face in the hallway before I enter my patient’s room. I work long hours, so eating something that is healthy and fills my belly is non-negotiable when I look for an on-the-go snack/meal.

Chomps

Take Chomps out to the ball game! Peanuts are good, Chomps are better!

Enter Chomps.

Chomps is founded by Pete Maldonado, who knew he struck gold with his homemade jerky snacks.

Chomps

Chomps Sticks

Millennials like me are awfully picky nowadays. We want grass-fed, non-GMO, sustainable food. We actually care about what we put into our bodies. We follow diets like Whole 30, Paleo, and do things like Intermittent Fasting. We like variety, too. Chomps hits the nail on the head…here’s why:

Chomps jerky sticks are:

  • 100% Grass-Fed, Non-GMO Beef
  • 100% Grass-Fed, Non-GMO Venison
  • 100% Free Range Chicken
  • No added sugars
  • No MSG or nitrates
  • No fillers or binders (celery juice is used, instead!)
  • No added preservatives
  • No antibiotics
  • Gluten-Free
  • Whole 30 and Paleo approved

Chomps is sustainable, which couldn’t make me happier. Each Chomps stick has at least 9 grams of protein and is 100 calories (Crankin’ Cran is 110 calories), which makes this a perfect snack for in between meals. A box of 5 Chomps sticks costs $11.25 USD. They can be ordered online through the Chomps website or you could search their store locator.

Chomps

Yours truly with the flavored Chomps

Enjoy Chomps in FIVE different flavors:

  • Beef, Original Flavor
    • Feedback: I love the natural beef taste mixed with the spices. I especially taste the garlic and coriander. I feel good that the beef is 100% grass fed and that there are no synthetic materials. Chomps shows me the beef!
    • Ingredients: 100% grass fed beef, water, salt, encapsulated citric acid, celery juice, black pepper, red pepper, garlic powder, coriander, stuffed in a collagen casing
  • Beef, Hoppin’ Jalapeno
    • Feedback: I am the jalapeno lady. I have a jalapeno plant in my garden. I am constantly adding jalapeno to cocktails and garnishing meals. The jalapeno compliments the beef; it isn’t too spicy, either. My husband LOVES this one!
  • Beef, Crankin’ Cran
    • Feedback: I love cranberries. I often purchase real cranberry juice and add it to my smoothies. I also make one hell of a Paleo meatloaf with cranberries. I love the Crankin’ Cran Chomps stick. It’s like Hoppin’ Jalapenos arch nemesis. This is the sweeter, softer stick. Excellent for a midmorning snack!
  • Chicken Flavor
    • I did not sample this flavor.
  • Venison, Cracked Pepper & Sea Salt
    • Feedback: I love venison because it isn’t gamey and is super lean. Chomps perfects being able to taste the meat, and adding delicious spices to enhance the flavor.
Chomps Sticks

My mom, Anna, loving her Chomps sticks

Final Thoughts

Invest in your health. Sink your teeth into Chomps. You won’t be disappointed.

Namaste.

Chomps

My husband leaving for work with a backpack full of Chomps

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Disclosure: Chomps sent me their product in exchange for an honest review. All opinions within are my own.

Are you a small business owner? I am looking to feature your products/brand on Realm of Vibes. I am also looking for bloggers looking to guest post in the lifestyle realm. Please visit the Contact page and fill out the form or e-mail realmofvibesdg@gmail.com for more details.

Part 1: Lake Placid, NY – Where to Stay & Eat

/ realmofvibes / 12 Comments

Lake Placid, New York has always fascinated me. My friends have told me stories about skiing, hiking, the Olympic sites, and the quaint downtown. My husband and I purchased a Groupon Getaway to the Golden Arrow Lakeside Resort in Lake Placid, New York for January 2017. I injured my back, and the hotel allowed us to reschedule our 4 night, 5 days stay for May 2017. We were thrilled. We stayed on the fifth floor Marcy Specialty room, which had a jetted tub, fireplace, and private balcony.

Lake Placid, NY

Lake Placid, NY

Here’s why I would strongly recommend staying at the Golden Arrow:

  • Beach access, right on Mirror Lake
    • Canoes, kayaks, paddle boats, docks, plenty of water toys
  • Indoor pool with two hot tubs, a wet sauna, and a dry sauna
  • Fitness Center with locker room and dry sauna
    • Insider tip: use the sauna in the fitness center instead of the indoor pool area
  • Generations Restaurant
    • Happy hour all day when you show your room key
      • $5 house wine, $3 well drinks, $4 select draft beers
    • Free breakfast included with your stay
      • This was delicious!
  • Alpine Mall Shopping attached to hotel
    • Restaurants, shopping, and liquor/wine store
  • Location of hotel
    • Right in the center of Lake Placid, convenient to shops and restaurants

There are two issues with Golden Arrow: parking for a full size truck (even though they have a lot across the street, the parking is terrible during peak season) and the layout of the hotel (could only access the fifth floor from certain elevators & the elevator signage is confusing and varied in each elevator).

Lake Placid, NY Balcony View

View from the Balcony

We would absolutely stay at the Golden Arrow again. This was an incredible resort and we not only enjoyed our room but took full advantage of the amenities.

Where to Eat

Smoke Signals

If you love BBQ, put this on your list. Smoke Signals has indoor and outdoor seating and a fabulous menu that will make your mouth water. We had not one complaint about eating at Smoke Signals. The food was really delicious after a long drive up to Lake Placid.

What we ordered: 

  • Perpetual Pig BBQ Wings
  • Jason: Brisket and Macaroni & Cheese
  • Danielle: 1/2 rack of ribs and Macaroni & Cheese
  • Two local draft beers
Ribs, Brisket, and Macaroni & Cheese
Eat Here, Drink Beer
First Page of the Menu

Big Mountain Deli & Creperie

After a long day seeing the sites, we stopped here for delicious sandwiches.

What we ordered:

  • Jason: Table Top with chicken and a bag of Kettle Chips
  • Danielle: Algonquin sandwich with a side of potato salad

Big Mountain Deli and Creperie has 46 sandwiches to represent the 46 High Peaks. They also have soups, salads, and crepes. The sandwiches are very filling, great after a hike!

Big Mountain Deli & Creperie

Lisa G’s

Lisa G’s was another fantastic restaurant that had indoor and outdoor seating. The outdoor seating overlooked a scenic waterfall. Everything on the menu is homemade and the drink I ordered, Salty Rikki, was strong.

What we ordered:

  • Jason: Chicken Parmesan
  • Danielle: Crispy Goat Cheese Salad with Chicken
  • Drink: Salty Rikki

Salty Rikki

Honorable mentions:

  • Generations Restaurant (adjacent to our hotel)
    • We ate breakfast here every day as it was included in our stay. The blueberry pancakes were incredible, as well as the special egg concoctions. The Sunny Cove ($2 upcharge) was my favorite. We never had a bad breakfast here!
  • Emma’s Lake Placid Creamery
    • Dairy makes me sick to my stomach but I couldn’t help myself. I got a small maple ice cream. Jason had a scoop each of cookies and cream and double fudge ice cream. Incredible.
  • The Lake Plaid Pub & Brewery
    • Besides the long wait, this had three floors of fun and a store to purchase pint glasses and other keepsakes. Jason enjoyed the Ubu Ale while I imbibed the Golden Ale. The food was hot and delicious. I ordered the Josh’s Fire Fish for dinner while Jason enjoyed the Schulzy Burger.

Final Thoughts

Have you visited Lake Placid? Where did you stay? What was your favorite restaurant?

If you haven’t, what restaurant would you want to try?

Stay tuned for Lake Placid, NY Part 2: What to Do!

Lake Placid, NY Where to Stay and Where to Eat

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Peter’s Brew: Jamaican Rum Flavored Coffee

/ realmofvibes / 23 Comments

Disclosure: This post features sponsored items. All opinions within are my own.

I’ve been a coffee drinker since I was ten years old. I added a little coffee, lots of milk, and lots of sugar. (Isn’t that how every kid starts drinking coffee?) As my palate and dairy allergy developed, I now take my coffee with a little almond milk, no sugar, I am sweet enough. Whenever I travel, I always find a local coffee shop,  and purchase a bag of coffee to bring home. You can never have enough coffee! Since I work long shifts in healthcare, and my husband works in law enforcement, we make EIGHT cups every morning. Coffee is a staple in our home and powers us through our days. This week on Realm of Vibes, I am featuring Peter’s Brew Jamaican Gourmet Coffee.

Peter's Brew Coffee

Peter’s Brew Coffee in front of my favorite machine

About Peter’s Brew

Jamaican born Peter Thomas started Peter’s Brew to share his delicious coffee with the world. (You may have seen Peter on the Real Housewives of Atlanta. Not going to lie, I’m a huge RH fan…)

On their website, three different varieties of coffee are offered:

  • Jamaican Blue Mountain Blend
  • Jamaican Blue Mountain
  • Jamaican Rum Flavor
    • Available in K-Cups, too!

You can select whether you would like whole or ground coffee.

Peter’s Brew imports Jamaica’s finest coffee beans from the world’s best growers. They meticulously examine each pound of green beans for the perfect size, color, and texture.

Peter’s Brew Coffee
Peter’s Brew Coffee

Review

I was sent a one pound bag of Peter’s Brew Jamaican Rum Flavor, which consists of 100% Arabica beans. This variety combines the flavor of White Jamaican Rum! (There is no alcohol in any of Peter’s Brew products.) I love Jamaican Rum, so I was really excited to sample this variety.

Packaging: Super cool. Love the picture of Peter overlooking the Blue Mountains. There is a recipe on the side of the bag to make an iced Jamaican cocktail called The Rude Boy.

Peter's Brew Coffee

Smell: Yum! Originally, I thought it smelled like chocolate and vanilla. Jason nailed it – he said it smells like vanilla and almonds. We aren’t professional foodies/drink taste-testers by any means, but the Jamaican Rum flavor combines chocolate, nuts, and vanilla.

Flavor: Jason drinks his coffee black, while I add a little almond milk. I tried Peter’s Brew black, and instantly felt like I was sipping on a strong alcoholic coffee beverage in Jamaica. (I have never been, but if I close my eyes and think hard enough, I can be anywhere for a few minutes!) You can taste the delicious rum flavoring. I added a little almond milk, and the nutty flavor is amplified. Jason isn’t really a big flavored coffee kind of guy, but when I blended the coffee with ice and a sprinkle of Cinnamon in my Blend-Tec, this made for one heck of a refreshing treat.  I also tried pouring the coffee over ice, and this was equally as refreshing and delicious. I like how Peter’s Brew isn’t acidic; the flavor is smooth and easy to drink.

Recommendation: I would recommend Peter’s Brew Jamaican Rum coffee to anyone who appreciates responsible sourcing, meticulous examination of Jamaica finest coffee beans, flavored coffee, and Jamaican Rum. I would also recommend this to anyone who likes to get creative in the kitchen; the flavor is so unique, that you could probably infuse Peter’s Brew coffee into drinks or add when baking to get a rum inspired food or drink.

Peter’s Brew Jamaican Rum Flavor coffee is pretty amazing. My sister has visited Jamaica and has raved about the coffee, so purchasing from Peter’s Brew allows me to experience Jamaica’s finest from the comfort of my own home.

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Danielle with her Peter’s Brew coffee & trusty coffee maker

Order your own bag on the Peter’s Brew website and make sure you follow their social media: Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook!

Namaste.