Food

Workin’ like a Mule? Time for a Drink from Culinary Cantina’s 100% Copper Moscow Mule Mugs

/ realmofvibes / 22 Comments

Disclosure: This post contains sponsored and affiliated items. If you click on the links and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission. All thoughts and opinions within are my own. 

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FRIDAY. Or, like I say, FRI-YAY. My husband will call me on his way home from work and ask the million-dollar question, “What are we drinking tonight, Danielle?” He will proceed to tell me he is on his way to the liquor store, will pick up take-out, and come home to our beautiful palace. Lately, I have been obsessed with Moscow Mules – an old-school vodka drink that is served at restaurants in a shiny copper mug. I, on the other hand, did not own such a vessel, and was serving them in mason jar mugs and beer glasses, but thanks to Culinary Cantina, I now have a set of real copper Moscow Mule mugs. And, I learned WHY they taste so much better!

20170426_19430320170425_173028About Culinary Cantina

Culinary Cantina was founded in December 2016. Their mission is to create products to assist all of your kitchen endeavors combining science and a sleek design. The first product Culinary Cantina has to offer is a set of four 100% Copper Moscow Mule Mugs.

What I love:

  • 100% Copper
    • HOLY COLD – my Moscow Mule is COLD, and STAYS cold.
    • No liner
    • Improves the flavor of the vodka
    • Increases carbonation
    • Intensifies the tang
  • 16 ounces of pure deliciousness
  • Brass Handles
    • Strong metal to withstand the weight of your beverage
    • Perfect resting spot for your thumb and pinky fingers
    • Jason seriously loves the handles…he could probably write this review…
  • 100% Guarantee
    • Register your Culinary Cantina Moscow Mule mugs and you will be set for 5 years!
  • Price: $49.99 USD
    • This is a great price. Seriously, I have seen ONE mug go for $15-20 a pop in home goods stores.

My Moscow Mule Recipe

  1. Get your Culinary Cantina Moscow Mule Mug.
  2. Muddle mint leaves at the bottom of your mug. This brings out the mint flavor.
  3. Add ice.
  4. Add vodka.
  5. Add fresh lime juice.
  6. Add Ginger Beer.
  7. Add a slice (or two) of jalapeno. (optional)
  8. Stir.
  9. Garnish with a slice of lime.

Substitute tequila for vodka for a Mexican Mule.

My Thoughts

The Culinary Cantina Moscow Mule mugs are awesome. My drink stays cold, and the concave bottom makes it stable. The handles are awesome and fit both my (small) hands and my husbands (rather large) hands. The brass handles are super sturdy. They look classy and are statement pieces.

Consider purchasing the set as a gift – package together the Culinary Cantina Moscow Mule mugs, a bottle of vodka, a pack of Ginger beer, a potted mint plant, and some limes (or Lime essential oil!). I would LOVE to receive a gift that thoughtful and creative!

Care Tips and a Moscow Mule recipe are printed on the box!

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Support a small business and order your Moscow Mule mugs from Culinary Cantina on Amazon. Visit Culinary Cantina’s website to get a 25% off coupon (while supplies last).

Visit Culinary Cantina on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest.

Culinary Cantina’s 100% Copper Moscow Mule Mugs

Namaste.

If you are interested in having your product or service on Realm of Vibes, please visit the Contact page or e-mail realmofvibesdg@gmail.com 

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Spicy Sambal Shrimp with Mango Salad

/ realmofvibes / 24 Comments

by Lovoni Walker 

People assume because I cook for a living that I whip-up elaborate, gourmet meals every night. After food styling, being in front of the camera cooking, or writing recipes all day, the thought of spending hours in the kitchen to knock together the evening meal holds little appeal, no matter how much I love to cook. Meals that are fresh and fast are where it’s at during the weeknight grind. Salads and stir-fries are both perfect speedy, wholesome meals for the time challenged and are my savior for when I’m short on time, energy or inspiration (and sometimes all three).

Keeping a well-stocked pantry is key, so I tend to have a selection of vinegars, nuts, oils and Asian sauces at the ready. Buying meat and seafood in bulk, portioning them and throwing them into the freezer to have on hand means all that’s left to pick up from the store is a few fresh ingredients.

If you have any energy left at the end of your day, doing 15 minutes prep for the following night’s meal will have you feeling like a kitchen maven.  Here are a couple of quick recipes:  an Asian inspired shrimp and mango salad and a ginger spritzer to wash it down, both with lots of make-ahead elements, so you can have dinner on the table with a minimum of fuss maybe leaving a little time left for you at the end of your long day (it helps to dream, right?!).

Spicy Sambal Shrimp and Mango Salad

Spicy Sambal Shrimp with Mango Salad

Spicy Sambal Shrimp with Mango Salad

MARINADE

  • 1/4 cup sambal oelek (Asian chili paste)
  • 2 large garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 tablespoon fish sauce, optional
  • 1 tablespoon minced peeled ginger
  • 1 tablespoon soy sauce
  • 2 teaspoons sesame oil
  • 20 large, raw shrimp (prawns), peeled and deveined leaving tails intact
  • 4 to 5 metal (or bamboo) skewers
Mint and Mango for the Spicy Sambal Shrimp and Mango Salad

Mint and Mango for the Spicy Sambal Shrimp with Mango Salad

SALAD

  • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons canola oil
  • 1 large, ripe mango, peeled and sliced
  • 1/2 English cucumber, thinly sliced
  • 1/2 small red onion, cut into thin wedges
  • 6 to 8 small radish, halved or sliced
  • 1/2 cup mint leaves
  • 1/4 cup cilantro (coriander) leaves
  • 1/3 cup chopped roasted peanuts

To make the marinade: Combine sambal, garlic, honey, fish sauce, ginger, soy and sesame oil in a small bowl. Pour 1/2 of the mixture into a blender (this will become the dressing for the salad). Add shrimp to the remaining mixture in the bowl; mix well to coat. Thread shrimp onto skewers. Cover and set aside in the fridge.

To make the dressing for the salad: Add vinegar and canola oil to sambal mixture in blender; blend until smooth.  Cover and set aside in the fridge.

Just before serving: Toss mango, cucumber, onion, radish, mint & cilantro together in a medium bowl. Drizzle with salad; toss to combine. Sprinkle with peanuts.

Cook shrimp on greased grill of a hot barbeque, 2 to 3 minutes each side until they turn pink – do not overcook.  Serve shrimp with mango salad. Serves 3 to 4.

Note: As an alternate, you could marinate and grill the shrimp the night before & toss them into the salad, cold, just before serving.

Ginger Cucumber Spritzers

Ginger Cucumber Spritzers

Ginger Cucumber Spritzers

  • 1 cup water
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 3-inch piece ginger (it doesn’t have to be peeled), sliced
  • 2 rosemary sprigs
  • 1/2 English cucumber, sliced
  • ice
  • sparkling water or club soda to serve

Combine water, sugar, ginger & rosemary in a small saucepan. Stir over medium heat until sugar is dissolved. Simmer, uncovered, without stirring, for 5 minutes; strain into a small pitcher or jar. Cover and chill until read to use.

Place cucumber slices and ice into a serving jug or individual glasses. Top with sparkling water; stir to combine. Serve immediately. Serves 3 to 4.

Here is a timeline to prepare during a week night:

Timeline for the Spicy Sambal Shrimp and Mango Salad and Ginger Cucumber Spritzers

Don’t forget your shopping list: 

Shopping List for the Spicy Sambal Shrimp and Mango Salad and Ginger Cucumber Spritzers

Realm of Vibes wants to thank Lovoni Walker, Foodsmith for guest posting. E-mail her at Lovoni@freshhunger.com. Fresh Hunger, her new website, is coming soon. Connect with Lovoni on social media: Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and visit The Fresh Aussie blog.

If you are interested in being featured on Realm of Vibes, please fill out the form on the Contact page or e-mail realmofvibesdg@gmail.com to get started.

In EPIC Proportions – Eating like our Ancestors

/ realmofvibes / 28 Comments

Most people may not know that during the week, I eat mostly Whole 30/Paleo friendly. It started when my friend and I did a Whole 30 challenge and I realized that I have a dairy intolerance (my skin breaks out into a red rash, and I suffer from severe GI issues – TMI, I know). When I ingest grains, my stomach distends and I feel exhausted. (Don’t get me wrong – on the weekends I love a slice of pizza or bowl of cereal; I just know I will not feel optimal.) That’s why, I eat a Hunter and Gatherer diet most days of the week consisting of grass fed meats, wild caught fish, fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, and seeds. When I saw EPIC in my local ShopRite, I was intrigued. Grass fed? Gluten free? Wild caught? Bars, Strips, and BONE BROTH? I cook my bone broth for 48 hours; now I can BUY it? Score! You could only imagine how I felt when EPIC sent me a box full of goodies to review…

About EPIC

  • EPIC supports improving animal welfare so all animals eat and roam free outdoors.
  • 100% Grass Fed, 100% Wild Caught, Ducks are cage free.
  • 100% Animal Based Protein
  • Paleo
  • Gluten Free
  • Made in the USA

Reviewed Products

  • EPIC Strips
    • Wagyu Beef
    • Venison Steak
    • Turkey
    • Salmon Fillet

All I can say is Thank God EPIC sent me the sampler pack of strips because as soon as my husband saw these, he grabbed one of each and shoved them in his work backpack. (Funny how I do all the blogging and he reaps a lot of the benefits…) Since we both work professions where lunch is usually on the go, these are fantastic! They are low in sugar, high in protein, gluten free, 100% natural, and easy to eat quickly. They give us the stamina to get through our shifts. What I like is that the Wagyu Beef is tender, and the Venison Steak is super lean with the right amount of salt. The Turkey is flavorful and the Salmon helps fills my fish quota for the week. There is no BS in any of these strips! You want meat or salmon? You have meat or salmon! My husband’s favorite was the Wagyu Beef, while mine was the Venison Steak.

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  • EPIC Salmon Smoked Maple Bar
    • Wild caught
    • 120 calories
    • Salmon is my favorite fish. EPIC’s Salmon Smoked Maple Bar is perfect for a mid-day pick-me-up. If I can’t sit down to have an actual lunch, but know I will be home in a few hours, this is the perfect snack. The taste of the maple mixed with salmon is perfect; and the texture couldn’t be better – it’s not too soft, and not too hard. I would absolutely purchase this again.
  • EPIC Bison Apple Cider Bone Broth
    • 14 fluid ounces
    • 8g protein per serving
    • Hand crafted, small-batch
    • 100% pasture raised bison
    • I was making my own bone broth. It took 48 hours in a slow cooker. It was exhausting. Buy everything at the supermarket, prep the bones and vegetables, try to make everything fit in the slow cooker, let it cook for 48 hours, let it cool, strain everything, put it in the refrigerator to let the fat harden, skim the fat with a large spoon…ugh. Who has time for that? EPIC’s ready to heat Bison Apple Cider Bone Broth is a time saver. It is also delicious. I heat a cup in the morning, and sip on it until when I leave for work. I love getting natural vitamins and minerals and not being dependent on coffee. It has awesome flavor. I don’t eat bison frequently, but I prefer it over beef since it is naturally sweeter. You taste the sweetness, then the smooth tart flavor of the apple cider, making EPIC’s Bison Apple Cider Bone Broth very easy to drink. Bone broth is great to give your immune system a boost.

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I am happy to have had the opportunity to try and review EPIC’s strips, bar, and bone broth. I love that EPIC makes sustainability and careful selection of sourcing of their products a priority. I enjoy looking at the pictures on their website, which consist of people being active and alive in nature. So many processed items are on the shelves…and so many people live sedentary lifestyles. EPIC is a part of a solution to the problem. They provide products that can change lives – starting with the rancher who raises the livestock to the blogger behind the computer. You are what you eat – and I try to eat foods created by companies like EPIC that are sourced responsibly, taste great, and give me a natural source of energy to power me through a day of work.

Visit EPICBAR.com to shop or to find a store near you.

Follow EPIC on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

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Disclosure: I received EPIC products in return for a featured post on Realm of Vibes and social media platforms. All opinions and views within are authentic. Have you considered featuring your business or service on Realm of Vibes? Please visit my Collaborate page or e-mail realmofvibesdg@gmail.com to get started. 

Namaste.

Jessie’s Hola Granola – Say Hi to Deliciousness

/ realmofvibes / 8 Comments

Who doesn’t love a good bag of granola? My husband adds it to his yogurt every morning while I enjoy a big bowl of granola and almond milk for breakfast on weekends. When we go hiking, I pack it for a snack. I am honored to feature Jessie’s Hola Granola as she is a small business owner from the Jersey Shore. Let’s take a look into her brand…

Jessie’s Hola Granola Etsy store features four kinds of granola:

  • Original – Coconut Cinnamon Flavor
  • Shorely Spicy
  • Peanut Butter Supreme
  • Chocolate Coconut Dried Cranberry

What I love about Jessie’s Hola Granola:

  • Homemade by Jessie
  • Vegan
  • Gluten Free
  • Price: $12 for 12 ounces
  • Compostable packaging (brown bag style, super cool!)
  • Ingredients and nutritional information directly on packaging
    Original – Coconut Cinnamon
    Shorely Spicy

Jessie sent me (and Jason, by default) two different varieties to review:

  • The Original – Coconut Cinnamon Flavor
    • This was absolutely delicious. Jason tried a handful and said, “Give me that bag and a jug of milk…that is some good granola.” We loved the pumpkin seeds, and that we both really tasted the coconut, cinnamon and brown sugar. We would integrate this into baking, cereals, yogurt, and as a snack.
  • Shorely Spicy
    • Pecans are one of my favorite nuts, and I am glad these are incorporated in this bag of granola. When you taste this variety, it is sweet, initially, and then ends on a spicy note. Shorely Spicy has the right amount of cayenne – it is present but not too overwhelming. This is awesome as a snack!

Jessie’s Hola Granola is perfect. It doesn’t have any artificial junk, and is super versatile. From a big bowl of granola and milk, to healthy snack on the trail, or topping pancakes off with a crunch, say hi to Jessie’s Hola Granola and you will taste the deliciousness. I strongly recommend purchasing Jessie’s Hola Granola!

Be sure to visit Hola Granola on Etsy, Facebook, and Instagram.

For our readers, enter promo code VIBES during checkout on the Jessie’s Hola Granola Etsy store and you will receive 10% off your purchase!

Disclaimer: I reviewed items from Hola Granola in return for a review and posts on social media platforms. All views within are authentic and my own. Have you considered featuring your business or service on Realm of Vibes? Please visit my Collaborate page or e- mail realmofvibesdg@gmail.com to get started.

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In a Nutshell

/ realmofvibes / 14 Comments

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I grew up on bars. All kinds, really, – granola, nut, fruit…My mom would buy them in bulk at Costco and pack them into our lunch bags and backpacks. She would have several in her handbag, and store them in the glove compartment of all our cars. “You never want to be cold or hungry,” she would say as my sister and I were running out the door to meet with friends or rushing to arrive at the next extracurricular activity.

I also grew up wanting to be a food critic. I used to read restaurant and product reviews on new places and food items and think, “Why can’t I do that?” So thanks, Nutshell, for making my dream come true and making my mom happy that I have followed in her footsteps by stuffing your nut bars into every pocket, purse and facet of my life.

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This week Realm of Vibes has had the pleasure of reviewing  Nutshell bars. They are hand-crafted in Connecticut and are sold in bakeries, cafes, and farmer’s markets. Nutshell bars are also sold online (shipped to your door in 2-3 days) by packs of 12. Here is the  Nutshell nitty gritty:

  • All bars are: Organic, Gluten-Free, Vegan
  • Eco-friendly packaging: fully compostable cellulose material
  • Each bar is 2.3 oz (65g)
  • 5 flavors: Java, Devil’s Detox, Peanut Butter & Banana, Big Fig, Chipotle
  • Best kept in the refrigerator for optimal freshness
  • Motto: Fresh, Nutritious, Delicious

Nutshell bars have complemented my morning coffee as I blog on the weekend, are awesome to take as a pick-me-up on a long hike, and are an excellent meal replacement when taking a lunch isn’t a reality. Nutritional information is located on the website – each bar is approximately 320 calories.

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Here are the highlights of the four Nutshell bars I received:

Java

Crunchy with intense cinnamon flavor. Loved getting the pop of espresso bean and the hint of coconut with the almonds, hazelnuts, and cashews. Perfectly salted. Not too sweet, and perfect with my morning coffee. Hands down my favorite Nutshell bar.

Devil’s Detox

The cashews and cranberries really stand out in this one; I wish it had a thicker layer of chocolate spread (you can never have too much chocolate). I like how this includes flax seed, the ultimate detox ingredient.

Peanut Butter & Banana

I love peanut butter. It’s second best, only to chocolate. Whenever I make a protein shake, I add a scoop of peanut butter and a banana. This was incredibly delicious, softer than the other bars, but still firm and crunchy. This was absolutely fabulous, and Bailey smelled the goodness as soon as I took the Nutshell bar out of the fridge.

Big Fig

This bar made me feel nostalgic. My Nonno has many fig trees and my Nonna always made sure that when I left her house, I would leave with a big bag of figs. This bar was crunchy, had nice chunks of sweet fig that blended well with the cashews, almonds, and walnuts. Yum!

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In a Nutshell:

  • Absolutely delicious; whether on the go or for a sit-down breakfast the taste is unbeatable
  • I wish the nutritional information was on the packaging.
  • With shipping, Nutshell bars costs approximately $4 each. My health is paramount. I fuel my body with fresh, nutritious ingredients. The Nutshell bars serve as my meal replacement and give me the energy to sustain my lifestyle.
  • I love the compostable packaging and support companies that are environmentally friendly. (I compost and recycle!)
  • The flavor combinations and texture are on fleek. Nutshell bars don’t crumble and taste great a little cold from the fridge or at room temperature. You could also crumble your Nutshell bar on top of yogurt.

Nutshell, you get 5 stars, hands down! Be sure to shop small, and live large. Visit  Nutshell, follow them on Facebook and Instagram!

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Disclosure: I received a sample pack from Nutshell in return for a featured post on Realm of Vibes and social media platforms. All opinions and views within are authentic. Have you considered featuring your business or service on Realm of Vibes? Please visit my Collaborate page or e-mail realmofvibesdg@gmail.com to get started.