Saturday, April 30, 2016

Amanda Topinka shares her recipe for HOMEMADE Hummus in 3 Easy Steps (#HummusMadeEasy)

A note to my readers: I was paid to try to make this amazing hummus and share it with all of you.  This in no way swayed my opinion on this product.  I was not otherwise compensated and I truly, truly love this new product!


Hummus has always been the life of any party I’ve ever thrown.  So when my son had his First Communion last weekend and we were having a BBQ (reception) afterwards, I knew that I wanted some hummus that our guests could snack on before the Burgers and Hot Dogs.  But I wanted to ‘wow’ our guests -- so I didn’t want just any ol’ store bought hummus, I wanted homemade.  And I found just that!

Next to the Bush’s canned beans and chickpeas you will now find a NEW product called Bush’s Hummus Made Easy.  I found a pouch of Bush’s Hummus Made Easy at my local Wal-Mart on the top shelf.

 
And now, after making and serving this Hummus, it’s the only kind I’ll buy!

What makes Bush’s Hummus Made Easy the best Hummus?  It’s just that … THE BEST hummus I’ve ever had!  And I’ve eaten my weight in hummus many, many times {and while a girl never discloses her weight, let’s just say that’s a LOT of garbanzo beans}.

This hummus has been hands-down my favorite snack or appetizer to whip up when I have last-minute company.  It’s the perfect blend of simple ingredients like tahini, olive oil and spices.  And I’ve found with Bush’s Hummus Made Easy, it’s really easy to experiment with and make them yours by adding personal touches like jalapenos, roasted red peppers, blue cheese, or even sour cream!


Making hummus at home is not only fresher and healthier, but finding the time and ingredients can be difficult.  With Bush’s Hummus Made Easy, making homemade hummus is as easy as 1-2-3.  Literally!
 
1.  Drain and rinse beans. Pour into food processor.


2.  Open pouch. Pour into food processor.  It won't look very pretty...


3.  Blend to desired consistency.  {We actually left a few chunks of Garbanzo beans whole}


And then ENJOY!  That’s all that's to it for amazing, creamy, delicious hummus!


Next time you’re in Wal-Mart, grab a pouch of Bush’s Hummus Made Easy and Bush’s Brothers’ beans and just keep them both in your pantry.  That way you’ll always have something ready to whip up that is healthy AND yummus, errr, I mean scrumptious the next time you have guests stopping by.
They’ll never believe it only took you 10 minutes and 3 easy steps to make this homemade hummus.  That is, IF you want to tell them how easy it was :::wink wink:::


Not Pictured:  Classic Version.  Because, well, we ate it before I could take pictures.

Now, for a limited time, you can save $1.00 with this coupon!
 

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ABOUT BUSH BEANS
BUSH'S is all about family, friends that feel like family, and a certain Secret Family Recipe. When you enjoy our beans (doesn't matter if they're Baked Beans, black beans, pinto beans, great northern beans...you get the picture), you can trust that they're the very best. Because we wouldn't serve your family anything less. Since we got our start more than 100 years ago in Chestnut Hill, Tenn., BUSH'S® has always maintained that quality is the best policy. We pursue excellence and exceptional taste in our beans, sauces and everything we do. That's why, from mouthwatering Baked Beans to satisfying bean recipes, you're cooking up the best with BUSH'S BEST.

Disclosure:  I’d like to thank @KendalKingGroup, #SoapboxInfluence, The Women Bloggers, Bush Brothers’ Beans and #HummusMadeEasy for including me in this new product launch.  I am a customer for life now!

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Wednesday, April 13, 2016

Amanda Topinka: Bountiful Baskets - Bringing Fresh Produce to your Hometown!

Photo Credit: Dylan Brown / IR

Just because Rose Hill, Kansas is left without a grocery store doesn’t mean there isn’t a place to get groceries anymore - or at least fresh vegetables at a low cost!  And everybody that knows me knows that I’m a sucker for a good deal.  Especially when it comes to food --- and --- oh my goodness am I stoked about my latest {LOCAL} discovery!

Thanks to local volunteers, Rose Hill now has a healthy alternative when shopping for fresh, healthy produce...
Bountiful Baskets.

Bountiful Baskets Food Co-op (BBFC), which distributes produce purchased from a small producer, has started a brand new pick-up site in Rose Hill in the Rose Hill Rec Center.

Previously, the closest pick-up sites were in Derby, Andover and Wichita.

Volunteers for BB said a lot of people in the Rose Hill area were interested based on small town talk and social media touts. It only took a few weeks to find a location and submit paperwork to get the whole process going.

The volunteer-based group offers $15 baskets with half fruits, half veggies {without an advance list of what will be included}.  One example of the contents includes: a pineapple, a watermelon, a cantaloupe, a couple cucumbers, nine rainbow carrots, bunches of green onions, a jicama fruit, six apples, six nectarines, four bok choy, and baby lettuce.  To order a basket, you must first sign up to become a member of the co-op.  There’s a one-time fee of $3.00, which pays for a laundry basket {that stays at the pickup location}.

Photo Credit:  Bountiful Baskets

Organic produce is $10 more per basket.  Add-ons are available and can be selected in advance.  Examples of add-ons were 25lb boxes of nectarines or 8 lbs. of strawberries, banana bread, Italian herbs and veggies, and SO much more!  There are also tortilla or bread add-ons with 9 grain, honey wheat, banana, or sourdough varieties.  A case of five loaves of bread runs about $10-12.

The orders or contributions are placed online every two weeks between Monday at noon and Tuesday evening, on a first-come first-served basis.  Pickup is the following Saturday at 10:30am and you have 20 minutes to pick up your basket at the designated area.

Volunteers help unload the truck and check inventory sheets. Bountiful Baskets are always looking for volunteers, who are required to have contributed towards that week's baskets and must be over 13-years-old.

The produce is then distributed into the baskets.  When people come to pick up their order, they need their confirmation number, then they are given a basket number, which changes each time. People bring a container for carrying their produce home, leaving the basket to be used again.  If, for any reason, there are baskets left over, the food will be generously donated to the local fire department.

I took advantage of this delicious deal for the first time this week and fully plan to continue doing so!  The variety in foods from week to week forces myself {and my family} to expand our repertoire and eat healthier as well!

Thanks, Rose Hill volunteers … for giving us ANOTHER reason to love our awesome small town!


For more information, visit the Bountiful Baskets website and sign up for a location near you!



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Friday, April 1, 2016

WIN TICKETS to LEGO KidsFest in Kansas City, MO!

At the beginning of this month I told you about LEGO® KidsFest making its way to Kansas City, MO May 13th - 15th.

Welllll, I’m just so excited about this event that I’ve decided to GIVE AWAY TWO tickets to ONE of my followers because I love you all so much - and LEGO® as well!

The tickets will be good for the opening night session on Friday, May 13, 2016 (4-8:30pm) – which is the event you’ll find ME Periscoping and Facebooking LIVE from.

I encourage you to LIKE and Follow LEGO® KidsFest on Facebook, Twitter and/or Instagram for all the latest ticketing updates as this event has been selling out in prior cities.

RULES:  Must be 18 to enter –1 entry per day allowed – random drawing by USFG!

Winner will be randomly chosen by USFG on Thu, Apr 14 and announced on my Blog as well as notified via email (so make sure you leave that info)! 

ENTER HERE


Remember:  The event can (and has in other cities) sell out in all promotions and I strongly urge you to buy tickets in advance online to avoid missing this AWESOME event! 

GOOD LUCK! 




PS:  I’m working on finding out if they’ll have the new Series 1 Disney LEGO® minifigs on display and/or for sale at this event as well.  I haven’t heard back from LEGO as of yet.


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