Not Your Kangaroo's Pouch!

I received a set of 6 Reusable Food Pouches from Yummi Pouch #RevelaeKids for a #ProductReview.

I'll be honest, I was not sure if I would like these or if they would even work, but they are pretty cool! These pouches are great for portioning bulk food whether it is for health or diet reasons or to save money by purchasing in bulk. They are also wonderful for sack lunches and snacks on the go. I could easily see these used on road trips to make eating the types of foods that usually require a spoon much easier for those of all ages. And I know as a driver I would appreciate getting food in a nice, simple pouch like this. And don't let me forget to mention these reusable pouches are much more environmentally and economically friendly than the pre filled, one use food pouches.


The plastic that these are made of is quite thin, but that also makes it pliable which is useful for a squeezable food pouch. On the back of the pouch is a fill line which I highly suggest you follow. These pouches can be frozen, but if you over fill and freeze, you'll most likely end up with a busted pouch and a frozen mess to clean up because water expands when it is frozen.

On the back of each pouch is a place where you can write the date and contents of the pouch. Another good though that went into designing this product! This would be a good place to write the name of the person for whom the pouch is meant. Makes it much easier to pass out specific portions to children (or adults) when on a trip or a picnic. I am not sure what type of writing utensil should be used in order for it to be permanent enough to stay until washed in a dishwasher. Maybe the china marker crayon thing that my Dad used to keep in the garage. Its almost like a pencil that has a colored wax "lead". It is made with a rolled paper outside that you can unwrap in a spiral to show more of the lead. I'll have to see if I can find one and use on these.

There is a very sturdy zip closure at the top of the bag. The opening for filling the pouches is almost the same width of the pouch itself. What I really appreciate with this pouch is the base that opens up to make it stand up for filling and for storage.


I received this product at a discount or free in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Fine Naturals has a Fine Product!

Playing Ketchup with Chocolate...punny, no?

I am still catching up on product reviews and the next one is for the Premium Dark Organic Cacao Powder from Fine Naturals. I really do feel bad about how long this has taken for me to review. I received the product back in September 2015, used it, then got really sick and had to focus on surviving. Yes, that is an excuse, but it does the company no good. I have good intentions when I agree to do something, like test and review a product, but I also have a dismal sense of how long something will take for me to complete. Add in the inconsistencies of life, my ADHD brain, mix well and wait... Okay, enough of my little pity party and onto the review!

I have to say that the interactions I had with the company showed them to posses not only patience for dealing with me, but integrity and the pride in a good product.

Cacao powder is not something you will readily find in local grocery stores, well known recipes or everyday life. It is on its way to the mainstream and I am glad. Cacao powder is different from Cocoa powder in more ways than just spelling. According to iquitsugar.com the main difference is how the fruit is treated.

Raw cacao is made by cold-pressing unroasted cocoa beans. The process keeps the living enzymes in the cocoa and removes the fat (cacao butter). Cocoa looks the same but it's not. Cocoa powder is raw cacao that's been roasted at high temperatures.

You'll find parallel situations when looking at olive oil (cold pressed, extra virgin, etc.), other nut and grain oils, coffee and more. So, why should you care? Well, I care because of the flavor. In my "oh-so-not-scientific" testing, I conclude that there is more flavor that my tongue can taste when using Cacao Powder vs Cocoa Powder. I like making hot chocolate with Cacao, but hot Cocoa (made with the same amount of hot water and stevia based sweetner) leaves a bitter aftertaste in my mouth. I have not had the time to bake with Cacao vs Cocoa powders, but I'm pretty sure the same would happen.

My next conquest is using it in savory applications like a mole or a bbq dry rub. I wonder if ketchup can be made with a chocolate ingredient. Mole styled meatloaf? Yummm!

Disclaimer: I received this product at a discount in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Top 10 items to have in your pantry

10. Spaghetti Sauce and Spaghetti - you never know when you need to make a homey dinner fast!

9. Flour, sugar, salt, baking powder, baking soda - the basics of baking.

8. Beans - dry (if you know what to do with them) and canned.

7. Evaporated Milk. This may seem weird, but in a pinch, you can water it down and use it as milk in hot chocolate or even cereal. I like this better than powdered milk because it can still be used in baking.

6. A cookbook you trust. Whether it is something fast, something easy, or something you are used to, having a cookbook you trust will make it easy to whip up something or even ask someone to make something you know you will like.

5. Oils. I like different oils for different jobs, but you have to make sure you will use them within 3-6 months and that they can be stored in a dark and cool place. Peanut oil has a great high smoke point, olive oil for flavor and health, vegetable oil for baking.

4. Onions and potatoes. You can make so much with just onions and potatoes: hash browns, soup, mashed potatoes, french fries and onion rings (okay, a bit more skill is needed for these), etc.

3. Broth - chicken, vegetable, beef. I have all three for different reasons. I use beef broth the least because we tend to eat more chicken. I like having it in the boxes because I can sometimes taste the can.

2. Rice. Cheezy rice, need I say more? Okay, I will. Rice + cheese = yummy. I do also suggest you have a rice cooker. It may seem lazy, but I can't tell you how many times I have burnt rice. Ugh, the smell!

1. Canned meat/fish - sounds weird, but it isn't. We are all familiar with tuna. I prefer tuna from a can. I also like to have chicken on hand. Husband likes sardines and such, so I usually have something like that for him. You can get other seafood as well as turkey in cans. And, corned beef in a can is great for hash!

These may not be staples for you and your family, but it is important to have them. What happens if you have an extra bill and can't go grocery shopping this week? Having these on hand will make it so you can make simple food for a little while without spending too much money.