Where am I?

Hey Blogger friends!
Just letting you know that I'm still around! You can find me posting over at Scraps of Life, my other blog!
I have a Wednesday Homeschool/Educational Link Up! I will also be reviewing Homeschool Curriculum at that blog, too! If you have a product that you want review just send me a message!

I"m keeping this blog up because of all the resources and links that I have gathered here. I don't have a spot for them on my other blog.  The right side bar is FULL of links that I use for homeschooling.

Stop over!  Just click the Scraps of Life button!

Healthy Pantry Whole Grain Oatmeal Cookies

My dear daughter, Anna, (almost 15) made cookies for her dad for Father's Day! He loves oatmeal cookies. Instead of using the tried and true Grandma B's recipe, she used The Healthy Pantry's Whole Grain Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Mix. This Kit is one of their bestsellers.

Guess what? After eating them we have to agree! This is our 3rd kit. I'm still amazed at how healthy these pre packed product kits are for you! They Healthy Pantry states this claim, "We do the "prep" and provide wholesome, nutritious, and tasty ingredients to mix with an item or two from your fridge. Enjoy a delicious, fresh & healthy dinner in just 10 minutes." They have lived up to this statement in everything that we have made.


The packaging is usually very clear in instructions. Anna found a few errors in this labeling! I'm sure The Healthy Pantry knows about them but just in case they don't this is what she found out.

• According to our label, we were to provide 6 T of butter yet in the instructions it stated to add 12 T of butter. She added the 12 T.
• Also according to label we were to provide one egg and the instructions also stated to mix in one egg. The problem was when she was reading the nutritional label it stated 2 eggs. So she added 2 eggs.
  

• The only other problem was the applesauce. The Kit included the 1 container of applesauce. The instructions stated to use "1/2 cup of applesauce" and so she wasn't sure if that meant half of what was provided or actual 1/2 cup measurement. She did measure out the container and it was over 1/2 cup but not quiet a 1 cup. She used the entire container.
  

The richness of the Turbinado sugar was wonderful!

Accordingly to Wikipedia:
"Turbinado sugar, is made from sugar cane extract. It is produced by crushing freshly cut sugar cane; the juice obtained is evaporated by heat, then crystallized. The crystals are spun in a centrifuge, or turbine (thus the name), to remove excess moisture, resulting in the characteristic large, light brown crystals. It is similar in appearance to brown sugarbut paler, with larger crystals, and in general the two can be exchanged freely in recipes. Turbinado sugar differs from refined white sugar in that it is obtained or crystallized from the initial pressing of sugar cane....In the U.S., most turbinado sugar is produced in Hawaii and is often sold as an organic product. The popular Hawaiian product sold in the U.S. is produced on Maui and marketed under the name brand "Sugar in the Raw."Other dry ingredients included Rolled Oats, 100% Whole Wheat Flour, Flax Seed Meal, Sea Salt, Baking Powder and Nutmeg.
The Healthy Pantry states this about their ingredients "It also has fewer calories per teaspoon, and when combined with our whole grains significantly reduces the sugar rush which is always followed by a crash! And because we use a 100% whole grain wheat flour and nutritious rolled oats, the higher fiber in these cookies will tide you over until your next meal as well as provide other digestive benefits. The Whole grain benefits with nearly 3 grams of fiber, 3 grams of protein and Flax seeds for Omega-3 fatty acids to protect against heart disease, promote bone health, control high blood pressure, and balance hormones."

These by far are the best cookies I have eaten that were not from our own recipe. They recipe included raisins. Anna did not add the raisins but added chocolate chips!!! We like to eat raisins but just not cooked. I wondered if carob chocolate chips could be an option with the kit? I don't personally bake with them but I know people who do. They were very yummy and moist. Best bet would be to put them in an air tight container when they have fully cooled.

The next morning I caught Anna eating them for breakfast. She said "but mom they are oatmeal and are healthy!" I totally agreed and ate one myself!

Please go check out The Healthy Pantry. They just came out with 5 more kits. We are wanting to try the Mac and Cheese and Chicken Tenders with Cheese and Shells. For more of our Healthy Pantry reviews please visit my other blog, Scraps of Life, and check out Gourmet Turkey Asian Burgers and Wild Salmon Patties with Quinoa!

SpellQuizzer GIVEAWAY!

Do you want to improve your child's spelling test scores? How about more than just improving a score? I know as a parent of three school aged children I want them to do more than just study for a high score! I want them to enjoy learning!
We used the SpellQuizzer software to assist our 5th grader in practicing her word list. I recorded her spelling list into the SpellQuizzer. She was then able to practice her words on her own. She enjoyed the independence it gave her in studying! This allowed me to work with her sister on another subject. You can record the words and SpellQuizzer plays them back! It became a game for her and she was excited to practice and learn! I found that this made it more of a learning game vs. a learning chore!
SpellQuizzer allows you to download a free 30 day trial!! I love trying something before buying! Don't you? SpellQuizzer wants you to try out their product! One lucky reader will WIN the software, SpellQuizzer!

Participants -

...must provide an email in the first comment, email me directly with an email address or have email accessible from their profile. Winner has 48 hours from posting/notification to respond. If winner cannot be contacted, I will move on to the second random selection.

Sometime on May 12, 2009, one winner will be chosen at random (using random.org) from all valid comments left.

How to enter:

For the first entry -

(1) Visit the SpellQuizzer website.

(2) Come back here and tell me about something you learned that you can do using the software.

If you want to increase your chances of winning, here are some options to earn additional entries -

1) Go to my other blog and read the post on Kiss Me Mothers Day Gift Pack & MOM IT FORWARD . Leave a comment there about which product you would love to try in the Kiss Me Gift pack. Come back here and leave a comment that you did that! (3 entries)

2) Buy a Kiss Me Mother's Day Gift Pack. Come back here and leave a link to that order! (5 entries)

3) Follow my blog (1 entry)

4)Go follow my Scraps Of Life Blog. Come back here and post that you did that! (1 entry)

5)Blog and link back here about My SpellQuizzer giveaway or Kiss Me Mother's Day Gift Pack. Come back here and post that you did that! (3 entries)

6) Follow me on twitter (@susieqtpie) and tweet this contest. You can do this once a day for a new entry. (1 entry)

7)Share this post via one of the following: Technorati, Digg, Stumble or Facebook. Leave a comment with which ONE you did and come back and post a link or your your ID for that service. (1 entry)

8)Download the 30 day trial of SpellQuizzer and link back here with a comment. (5 entries)